Vocab 5a and Cultural Book Project

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F 8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Vocab 5a

Definitions - due Thu., Dec. 16th

Quiz - Fri., Dec. 17th.

aghast

ample

apparition

assert

cower

disdain

epitaph

ethical

facetious

inaudible

Cultural Book Project - project due Wed., Dec. 15th

A few weeks ago each student was given a packet for this project. Students should read daily and follow the directions in the project packet. This week Ms. Barnes will teach about more aspects of the cultural book project and present some examples of previous student work for this assignment.

Main elements of the project: day-to-day bookmark, calendar schedule, parent signature, reading log, cultural words list, expository connection paper, creative choice assignment, outline for speech, cover for project, oral presentation

Cultural Book Project

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F 8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Movie - Swing Kids

As part of the broader study of cultures, relationships and conflicts, the 8th grade Language Arts groups will be shown this historical fiction video about a groups of students in the Hitler Youth League and the resistant "Swing Kids." This week we will conclude this movie and complete a question/ review packet about it.

Cultural Book Project - project due Wed., Dec. 15th

A few weeks ago each student was given a packet for this project. Students should read daily and follow the directions in the project packet. This week Ms. Barnes will teach about more aspects of the cultural book project and present some examples of previous student work for this assignment.

Main elements of the project: day-to-day bookmark, calendar schedule, parent signature, reading log, cultural words list, expository connection paper, creative choice assignment, outline for speech, cover for project, oral presentation

Permission Slip, Lit Circle Sharing, Book Project

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Movie - Swing Kids - permission slip due Tue., Nov. 30th

As part of the broader study of cultures, relationships and conflicts, the 8th grade Language Arts groups will be shown this historical fiction video about a groups of students in the Hitler Youth League and the resistant "Swing Kids."

Lit Circles

Groups finish sharing about their reading selections from the textbook; audience takes notes

Post - Thanksgiving

week-long writing assignment

Cultural Book Project - written project due Wed., Dec. 15th

Read daily and follow the directions in your project packet

Left side of book mark - due 11/24

Plan and parent signature - due 11/24 (ok 11/29)

Lit Circle Sharing and Cultural Book Project

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Lit Circles

Groups finish sharing about their reading selections from the textbook

Quick Edit

Yamodo

Creative word/picture assignment

Cultural Book Project - Due 15th

Read, read, read - and follow the directions in your project packet

Left side of book mark - due 11/24

Plan and parent signature - due 11/24 (ok 11/29)

Cultural Book Project and Vocab 4b

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Classwork/Homework
"Thanksgiving Guest" essay - due Thu., Nov. 18th

Multicultural literature circle sharing
Cultural book project instructions presented - project due Dec. 15th

Journal Prompts (5 entries, 1 per day)

Theme - "Cultural Diversity"

Vocabulary #4b

Definitions - due Wed., Nov. 17th
Cloze sentences (fill in the blank) - due Thu., Nov. 18th
Quiz - Fri., Nov. 19th
peruse
porous
promontory
prone
qualm
recourse
residue
solicitous
staid
sustain

"Thanksgiving Guest" and Lit Circles

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Thanksgiving Guest
Write a descriptive two paragraph essay about a special Thanksgiving dinner you create.
Include details about the special guest, the meal, conversation, entertainment, and other guests.
The assignment sheet listing requirements was provided in class.

Literature Circles
The week we are focusing on culturally diverse selections from our textbook:
"Mrs. Flowers"
"The Circuit"
"Camp Harmony"
"Raymond's Run"
"Ribbons"
"The Treasure of Lemon Brown"
"The Medicine Bag"
"An Hour with Abuelo"

Everyday Edits
Grammar practice - this week's focus is punctuation.

This week we started our culturally diverse literature circles:

Vocabulary
Yamodo - creative word/picture assignment

Writing Portfolios - Poetry- Vocab 4a

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Book Report - PAST DUE (10/27)

We've introduced and discussed the "Book Report Guidelines - Standard Format for Fiction" which follows a 5-paragraph writing format. This was to be used for our book reports, which were due October 27th.

Classwork

This week we will evaluate our Halloween literature circles, set up our writing portfolios, read poetry, review punctuation.

Four kinds of sentences - due Fri., Nov 5th

declarative, imperative, interrogative exclamatory

Write 2 sentences for each, 8 sentences total.

Journal Prompts (5 entries, 1 per day)

Theme - "Books"

Vocabulary #4a

Definitions - due Wed., Nov. 3rd
Cloze sentences (fill in the blank) - due Thu., Nov. 4th

Quiz - Fri., Nov. 5th
annul

blasé

bolster

deplore

frivolous

muster

nonentity

obsess

ornate

oust

Halloween Lit Circles and Vocab 3b

REMINDER: Fri., Oct. 29th Fall Social

Students who have not completed assignments may be required to do such, in a designated classroom, instead of attending the social.

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Book Report - Due Tue., Oct. 27th

We've introduced and discussed the "Book Report Guidelines - Standard Format for Fiction" which follows a 5-paragraph writing format. This is to be used for our book reports, due October 27th. By this point, students should have chosen a fiction book (one they've previously read or one they are now finishing) and begin writing their book reports, paragraph by paragraph. We will have some time in class to do this as well.

Journal Prompts (5 entries, 1 per day)

Theme - "Education"

Reading Focus

This week we begin our Halloween literature circles, with the following selections from our text:

"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl

"The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs

"The Third Wish" by Joan Aiken

"The Open Window" by Saki

"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury

Vocabulary #3b

Foldable pattern sheet - due Wed., Oct. 27th
Visual representations - due Thu., Oct. 28th

Quiz - Fri., Oct. 29th - listing words and their synonyms
myriad

perspective

perturb

prodigious

relevant

skittish

tether

unison

vie

willful

"Signs of Fall" and Vocab 3a

REMINDER: Fri., Oct. 22th - early release

Friday school will be held from 12:15 to 3:15 in the cafeteria on the 22nd. This is an academic intervention for students who need to complete outstanding assignments or projects and are referred by teachers. Teachers will contact a parent/guardian and have them sign and return forms by Thursday. Please note that transportation home is not provided. If you have any questions, call the school.

Tardy school will also begin this Friday after school. Tardy school is not an optional intervention like Friday/Saturday school. Students who do not attend tardy school on the assigned day will still be held accountable.

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

"Signs of Fall" - Due Fri., Oct. 22nd

Write a descriptive paragraph from your outdoor observations of autumn.

Remember:

5-8 sentences

Topic sentence, detail sentences, concluding sentence

Six traits of good writing

Clearly reworked rough draft

Final copy - neat and ink or word processed

Signature of adult who helped you proofread for content and presentation

All three papers stapled together with final on top

Book Report - Due Tue., Oct. 27th

We've introduced and discussed the "Book Report Guidelines - Standard Format for Fiction" which follows a 5-paragraph writing format. This is to be used for our book reports, due October 27th. By this point, students should have chosen a fiction book (one they've previously read or one they are now finishing) and begin writing their book reports, paragraph by paragraph. We will have some time in class to do this as well.

Journal Prompts (5 entries, 1 per day)

Theme - "effort"

Reading Focus

This week we begin learning how to participate in literature circles. Next week we will set up our Halloween literature circles.

Vocabulary #3a

Foldable pattern sheet - due Wed., Oct. 20th
Visual representations - due Thu., Oct. 21st

Quiz - Fri., Oct. 22nd - listing words and their synonyms
allot

amass

audacious

comply

devoid

elite

grapple

incapacitate

instigate

longevity

"The Broken Chain" and Vocab 2b

Homework/Classwork Assistance

Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), or after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Book Report - Due Oct 27th

We've introduced and discussed the "Book Report Guidelines - Standard Format for Fiction" which follows a 5-paragraph writing format. This is to be used for our book reports, due October 27th. By this point, students should have chosen a fiction book (one they've previously read or one they are now finishing) and begin writing their book reports, paragraph by paragraph. We will have some time in class to do this as well.

The Broken Chain

We are studying plot while reading the textbook selection The Broken Chain by Gary Soto. Students have already been introduced to our online textbook http:///my.hrw.com, accessible with a personal, provided username and password. This option has been provided as an enhancement to regular textbook use.

Vocabulary #2b
Flashcards due Wed., Oct. 13th
Crossword Puzzle due Thu., Oct. 14th
glut
incognito
invalidate
legendary
maim
minimize
oblique
veer
venerate
wanton

Reading Log #4 and "The Wise Old Woman"

We are still focusing on retelling stories, specifically The Wise Old Woman from our textbook. Also, students should be thinking about a book choice, novel or short story selection, for our book reports in October. Students have various times to work on assignments or receive help at school: sometimes during class, during morning resource (M/W/F8:30-9:00am), and after school - if arranged with Ms. Barnes or Ms. Hagerty.

Retell - The Wise Old Woman - Due Wed., Oct. 6th

The eight retells for this story are due Wednesday, October 6th. Students can make arrangements with Ms. Barnes to borrow a copy of this story, or visit the school library to borrow a copy of the textbook. Last Friday students were introduced to our online textbook http:///my.hrw.com, accessible with a personal, provided username and password. This option has been provided as an enhancement to regular textbook use and as an alternate to hand writing this assignment. The digital notebook version must be printed, either at home or at school, and turned in during class. By Wednesday, we will have have had four partial in-class sessions, as well as outside of class time, to complete this assignment.

Reading Log #4 - Due Fri., Oct. 11th
Remember to read 30 pages outside of class and complete three log entries this week. Again, the task is to summarize and react to what you are reading about every ten pages. You may read fiction only.

Vocabulary
This week we are doing a creative in-class assignment using ideas from www.yamodo.com ("Read, Draw, Write,... Pass it on!"). Ask your student or friend about his or her definition of "zaplax."

Reading Log #3 & Vocabulary Unit 2a

One focus this week will be on retelling stories. We will begin with the selection The Wise Old Woman, from our textbook. Also, be thinking about a book choice, novel or short story selection, for our book reports in October.

Reading Log #3
Remember to read 30 pages outside of class and complete three log entries this week. Again, the task is to summarize and react to what you are reading about every ten pages. You may read fiction only.

Vocabulary Unit 2a
Week of September 27 -October 1, 2010
This week you will study the first ten words from Unit 2 of Vocabulary Workshop (pages 28 and 29). You will complete a variety of activities using these words. Some exercises will be done in class, and some assignments will be done as homework. This week’s words are also listed below for your convenience.

1. antics
2. avowed
3. banter
4. bountiful
5. congested
6. detriment
7. durable
8. enterprising
9. frugal
10. gingerly

Due Wednesday, September 29th: Flash Cards for each of the vocabulary words listed above. On one side of each card write the term; on the other side of each card write the definition. Use these cards to study for Friday’s quiz.

Due Thursday, September 30th: Crossword Puzzle using this week’s words. This puzzle will be supplied by the teacher.

A quiz over these words will be given on Friday, October 1st.

Check Out the Comic Corner

Your comic characters are up on the bulletin board and beaming down on us with big smiles and lots of teeth. We will rotate the characters since there is not room to display all of them at once.

Reading Log #2 Due Monday, September 27th

Remember to read 30 pages outside of class and complete three log entries this week. Again, the task is to summarize and react to what you are reading about every ten pages. You may read fiction only.

Vocabulary Unit 1b

This week you will study the second ten words from Unit 1 ofVocabulary Workshop (pages 22 & 23). You will complete a variety of activities using these words. Some exercises will be done in class, and some assignments will be done as homework. This week’s words are also listed below for your convenience.

11. hover 16. revert

12. jostle 17. rubble

13. laggard 18. servile

14. plaudits 19. vigil

15. preclude 20. wrangle

Due Wednesday, September 22nd: On a separate sheet of notebook paper define each word listed above. You may use the definitions listed in Vocabulary Workshop or those found in a dictionary.

Due Thursday, September 23rd: On a separate sheet of notebook paper use each word in a sentence that demonstrates that you understand its meaning.

A quiz over these ten words will be given on Friday, September 24th.

Welcome to Ms. Barnes' Blog!

Yes, you’ve found our 8th Grade Language Arts Blog! I hope that you and your parents will find it helpful in tracking our class activities and homework assignments. This week we will complete the Easy CBM Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary district tests on Monday and Tuesday. Also, we are looking forward to Open House here at Monroe on Thursday evening (September 23rd). See you in class.

Classwork/Homework for the Week of May 31st

LANGUAGE ARTS

Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen

[US Civil War historical fiction novel]
Wed June 2nd - Ch. 5 due; quiz Ch. 3-5

Thu June 3rd - Ch. 6 due

Fri June 4th - Ch. 7 due

Autobiographical Newspaper Project

A green sheet detailing the elements of this FINAL project (alliterative title, colors, theme, imagery, five writing pieces from this year) was distributed last week. This sheet was due with a parent signature June 1st and the final project is due June 9th.

Time Travel Story

You are going to write an imaginative story about traveling back in time to change an important historical event. You may select any significant event in US or world history. However, you must choose a specific event that is well known to others, and you must include the actual date and place of the event in your story. You will need to research the event so that you can write realistically. A trip to the library or a web site search should provide you with needed information. You must also include the details about how you built/found the time machine that allows you to travel back to change the selected historic event.

Examples of previously chosen time travel events include: preventing the assassination of John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr.; saving the Titanic from sinking; assisting Harriet Tubman on the Underground Railroad; and preventing Hitler from ever coming to power. You cannot use violence to change an event; instead, you must find creative ways to attempt to change history for the better. You get to decide whether you are successful or not in changing the event. In either case, you should let your readers know how your intervention impacted future events and how it changed your life. Did you make it back to today? Do you remember the adventure? Will you make further attempts to change history in the future?

You will have some time in class to write this story, but you should expect to spend more time outside of class to complete this project. Your rough draft is due on Wednesday, June 2. The final draft is due on Friday, June 4th.

Journal Prompt: Civil War

Autobiographies, Outsiders essays, and biography reports are past due. If you have not finished yours, visit C-4 during lunch, resource or after school, to edit and neatly type your final copy. Final pieces must have a centered, specific title that refers to something about you, a centered byline, and it must be typeset in double-spaced, 12 point text. Biography reports have additional formatting requirements - check your guideline sheet or check with Ms. Barnes. We are continuing to hold biography presentations - prepare and practice yours if you have not yet presented.

SOCIAL STUDIES
We are currently studying the US Civil War via the text, lectures, PowerPoint presentations, classroom simulations, and other resources.

Classwork/Homework for the week of May 24th

Ellis Island Simulation Wed May 26th (periods 1/2/3)
Please continue to plan your costume for your immigrant profile.
Requirements for Processing:
- Immigrant name
- Name card
- "Memorize" identity information
- Wealth card
- Immigrant checklist
- Costume

LANGUAGE ARTS

Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen
Mon May 24th - Forward, Map, Ch. 1
Tue May 25th - Ch. 2
Wed May 26th - Ch. 3
Thu May 27th - Ch. 4; Quiz#1 Forward/Map/Ch. 1
Fri May 28th - Ch. 5

Time Travel Story

You are going to write an imaginative story about traveling back in time to change an important historical event. You may select any significant event in US or world history. However, you must choose a specific event that is well known to others, and you must include the actual date and place of the event in your story. You will need to research the event so that you can write realistically. A trip to the library or a web site search should provide you with needed information. You must also include the details about how you built/found the time machine that allows you to travel back to change the selected historic event.

Examples of previously chosen time travel events include: preventing the assassination of John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr.; saving the Titanic from sinking; assisting Harriet Tubman on the Underground Railroad; and preventing Hitler from ever coming to power. You cannot use violence to change an event; instead, you must find creative ways to attempt to change history for the better. You get to decide whether you are successful or not in changing the event. In either case, you should let your readers know how your intervention impacted future events and how it changed your life. Did you make it back to today? Do you remember the adventure? Will you make further attempts to change history in the future?

You will have some time in class to write this story, but you should expect to spend more time outside of class to complete this project. Your rough draft is due on Wednesday, June 2. The final draft is due on Friday, June 4th.

Journal Prompt: Travel

Vocab: Section 12b, definitions due 5/27, quiz 5/28
nauseate
negate
pivotal
recipient
ruse
teem
tenet
tractable
ungainly
voracious

Autobiographies, Outsiders essays, and biography reports are past due. If you have not finished yours, visit C-4 during lunch, resource or after school, to edit and neatly type your final copy. Final pieces must have a centered, specific title that refers to something about you, a centered byline, and it must be typeset in double-spaced, 12 point text. Biography reports have additional formatting requirements - check your guideline sheet or check with Ms. Barnes. We are continuing to hold biography presentations - prepare and practice yours if you have not yet presented.

SOCIAL STUDIES
We are currently studying the following subjects via the text, lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and other resources:

The Nation Breaking Apart

- Wilmot Proviso, 1846

- Compromise of 1850

- Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

- "Bleeding Kansas" 1855

- Caning of Sumner 1856

- Dred Scott vs. Sandford, 1857

- Attack on Harper's Ferry, 1859

- Election of 1860

Classwork/Homework for the Week of May 17th

Ellis Island Reminder: Please continue to plan your costume for your immigrant profile. Students will be given their specific profiles and background this week.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Autobiographies, Outsiders essays, and biography reports are past due. If you have not finished yours, visit C-4 during lunch, resource or after school, to edit and neatly type your final copy. Final pieces must have a centered, specific title that refers to something about you, a centered byline, and it must be typeset in double-spaced, 12 point text. Biography reports have additional formatting requirements - check your guideline sheet or check with Ms. Barnes. We are continuing to hold biography presentations - prepare and practice yours if you have not yet presented.

Western Novels:
Students should be finished reading their western novels.

Vocab: section 12a

definitions due 5/18, sentences due 5/19, quiz 5/21

abdicate

bestow

capacious

caustic

crusade

deface

embargo

fallacy

levity

mendicant

* Also on May 21st there will be a Vocabulary Bee against Ms. Smart's class so study the definitions for the following words from the last three units (11a, 11b, 12a):

abdicate bestow capacious caustic crusade deface embargo fallacy levity mendicant

mediate milieu outlandish overbearing pert quirk regale shiftless taint appease belated

calamitous cite conventional decoy delve ensue gallantry impart

SOCIAL STUDIES
We are continuing to study Westward Migration via the text, lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and other resources. 

Crossword - due Monday, May 17th

Quiz - Westward Movement - Monday, May 17th

Unit test and quote collage - due Tuesday, May 18th

Social Studies Vocab:

Manifest Destiny

Louisiana Purchase

Sectionalism

Polk

interest

bias

Tecumseh

Santa Anna

Matamoros

Austin

Lone Star

Guadalupe Hidalgo

Classwork/Homework for the Week of May 10th

REMINDER: No School Friday, May 14th

"Friday School" for those students specially assigned by teachers will be held in the cafeteria from 9am-12pm. Students who have not completed western novel reading and response sheets, autobiographies, and Outsiders essays by Thursday, May 13th, will be assigned to "Friday School."

Ellis Island Reminder: Please continue to plan your costume for your immigrant profile.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Autobiographies, Outsiders essays, and biography reports are past due. If you have not finished yours, visit C-4 during lunch, resource or after school, to edit and neatly type your final copy. Final pieces must have a centered, specific title that refers to something about you, a centered byline, and it must be typeset in double-spaced, 12 point text. Biography reports have additional formatting requirements - check your guideline sheet or check with Ms. Barnes. We are continuing to hold biography presentations - prepare and practice yours if you have not yet presented.

Western Novels:
Students should be finished reading their western novels by the end of this week, Thursday, May 13th.

Vocab: section 11b

definitions due 5/12; sentences due and quiz 5/13

judicious

mediate

milieu

outlandish

overbearing

pert

quirk

regale

shiftless

taint

SOCIAL STUDIES
We are continuing to study Westward Migration via the text, lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and other resources. This week students took notes on The Mexican-American War and did reflection work on one of President Tyler's speeches. Students were assigned to read pg. 579-584 in the textbook and answer the odd-numbered questions.

Crossword - due Monday, May 17th

Quiz - Westward Movement - Monday, May 17th

Unit test and quote collage - due Tuesday, May 18th

Social Studies Vocab:

Manifest Destiny

Louisiana Purchase

Sectionalism

Polk

interest

bias

Tecumseh

Santa Anna

Matamoros

Austin

Lone Star

Guadalupe Hidalgo

Classwork/Homework for the Week of May 3rd

LANGUAGE ARTS
Autobiographies are past due. If you have not finished yours, visit C-4 during lunch, resource or after school, to edit and neatly type your final copy. It must have a centered, specific title that refers to something about you, a centered byline, and it must be typeset in double-spaced, 12 point text.

Continue reading western novels:
Mon: pages 71-80
Tue: pages 81-90
Wed: pages 91-100
Thu: pages 101-110
Fri: pages 111-120

Journal prompts - Texas sayings
Comparing Texts (p.178)
Read pages 178-182
After reading, complete comparison chart and ALL the activities on page 183.

Vocab: section 11A
appease
belated
calamitous
cite
conventional
decoy
delve
ensue
gallantry
impart

SOCIAL STUDIES
We are continuing to study Westward Migration via the text, lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and other resources.

Homework for the Week of April 19th

HOMEWORK DUE DATES

Autobiography:
Intro paragraph 4/19
1st body paragraph 4/20
2nd body paragraph 4/21
3rd body paragraph 4/22
Concluding paragraph 4/23

Westward Movement Acrostic poem 4/20

Prepare/Practice Biography Speech 4/21 +

Biography reports were due 4/2

The Outsiders essays were due 4/15

Lit Circles - Western Movement Theme

In conjunction with studying Westward Migration in our Social Studies class, we will be reading historical fiction novels of the same era, in our Language Arts class. "Lit circles" (reading groups) will be comprised of the following titles:

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie, by Kristiana Gregory

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman

Jayhawaker by Katherine Peterson

Scrib by David Ives

Lyddie by Katherine Peterson

Shane by Jack Schafer

Runs with Horses by Brian Burks

Call of the Wild by Jack London

Westward Movement Unit

We are now studying Westward Migration and reading historical novels from that time period. On Tuesday, Ms. Barnes will share artifacts from a Westward Migration Trunk on loan from Lane ESD. The trunk contains items that would be included in a family's covered wagon over the Oregon Trail. While listening to the presentation and examining the artifacts, students will take notes on why the items were included and how they would be used in daily life on the trail or at trail's end.

In-Class Writing Assignment

In Language Arts class we are currently writing our autobiographies. These will be five paragraph essays. Paragraph one is the introductory paragraph that includes a grabber (question, anecdote, startling fact, or quotation) and a thesis statement that alerts the reader about the topic of the essay. Paragraph two tells about the student's past, including at least one story about his/her early life. Paragraph three is dedicated to the present, including at least one memory about middle school. Paragraph four explores future plans and goals. Paragraph five is the concluding paragraph that brings the essay to a close with a quotation or "words to live by." We are writing this in class, writing one paragraph a day. Students who do not finish the daily paragraph must complete it that evening for homework. Any student who shows up for class without the daily completed paragraph will join the "Literary Lunch Bunch" in my classroom. After eating lunch, those students report to my class for the rest of the period to work on their missing work.