Mrs. Downs

Wow!!! I have not written here all week…sorry!!!

Today in class we took our 5 most important words: subject, verb, phrase, modifying words, and sentence test.  You also had to know the 23 verbs of existence.  We have been going over these since last spring. Those of you  who failed will be staying afterschool on Tues. will go over again the five words…

You also wrote a journal reaction to your language arts grades.  You had to tell me about the good, bad and ugly about these grades.

HOMEWORK:

1. By Tues. you have to have your children’s story typed and saved on the school server.  You can use your laptop or a desk top computer at school.  You then need to hand in your 2nd draft.

2. I will be giving you a new reading log on Friday.  It will be due 10/17.  You will have to again do vocab. words.

Have a great day on Friday and I will see you on Tues.  Enjoy the long weekend….

Mrs. Downs

Today in class we edited each other’s stories.  I also gave out a new reading log #5

HOMEWORK:

1. Reading log #5 due 10/9

2. 2nd draft retyped from 1st draft due 10/8.  You have plenty of time to get it typed at home or here on your laptops.

3. Check your grades

Have a great night,

Mrs. Downs

Today in class we corrected mugshot #3.  Then you passed in reading log #3.  You also passed in your version of the children’s story and the original book.  We began to edit each other’s stories.  We will continue to do this in class on Wed.

HOMEWORK:

1. I did not give you a new reading log, but you still must read for 30 mins. tonight.

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Downs

Today in class we reviewed the 5 most important words.  We talked about using voice in your writing.  We created a better sentence than, The dog ran.

HOMEWORK:

1.Reading log #3 is due with at least 5 questions or thoughts.

2. 1st. draft typed and either double or 1.5 spaced in between each line of your version of the children’s story.

3.Mugshot #3 corrected

Have a great night,

Mrs. Downs

Today in class we talked about how to improve our goals to make them measurable and specific.  I goal conferenced with some of you about your goals and will continue throughout next week.  You worked on your mugshot #3 while I was conferencing with students.

HOMEWORK:

1. Your 1st draft of your children’s story typed and printed out is due on Tues. 9/30 ready to have editing done on it by your peers.

2. Mugshot #3 is due also on Tues., 9/30.

3. Reading log #3 is due also on Tues., 9/30.

Have a great weekend.  Try to stay dry and out of the storm’s way.

See you Monday,

Mrs. Downs

Today in class Mrs. Connolly came up to help talk about NWEA goals.  We looked at your RIT scores from last spring and wrote a new target goal.  Then you wrote your goal plan identifying  3 actions that you would do to help improve your RIT score.

HOMEWORK:

1. Finish writing your 3 actions on your goal plan to improve your reading and math score for NWEA.

2. Continue your 30 mins. for 5 nights of reading for reading log #3 and be sure you are writing a question or thought you have after each day.  This is due Tues., 9/30.

3. Your first rough draft of your story needs to be completed and typed by Monday.  Be sure you double space or 1.5 each line.

Have a great evening,

Mrs. Downs

Today in class I went over the plot line.  You MUST complete the plot line as you, the villain.  Not from the original book.  You are the creator of the new story.  You are the “good person.”

HOMEWORK:

1. Continue reading for the reading log #3 due Tues. 9/30.

2. Start writing/typing your 1st rough draft of the NEW story.  The one that the villain writes.  Use your villain worksheet and plot line for ideas to get you going.

See you Thurs.,

Mrs. Downs

Hi everyone,

Today in class Ms. Casteel passed back the villain worksheets.  Then I taught you about the plot line.  We did an example on the board.  I had you look at pages 184-185 in your Write Source 2000 books.  Then if you received a 100 on your villain worksheet, you then were to start your plot line.  Remembering you are the villain and it is now your story you are telling.

HOMEWORK:

1. Complete your plot line for your story.  Be sure you include all parts on your paper.  It should have exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and conclusion.  We talked about each of these today in class.

2. Reading log #3 was handed out today, except LA3, and is due next Tues. 9/30.

3. You are to complete your journal which was started in class.  It was a free write day.  This mean write a minimum of at least 8 sentences about anything you wish.

Have a great evening,

Mrs. Downs

Today in class I read you a book about how to create a book.  Then we talked about how to begin a story with a “grabber” or “hook.”  You can start with a question, dialogue, flashback, setting, starting with the problem, etc.  Then I broke you up into groups and you read a few pages of a children’s story and identified how that story began.  We looked into our Write Source 2000 and looked at various pages on how to write a story.

HOMEWORK TONIGHT-

1. Continue thinking about your book and how you want it to start.  What will be the beginning, middle , and end of the story?

2. Reading log #2 is due tomorrow.

3. Walking permission slips need to be brought in if you have not done so as of yet.

See you tomorrow,

Mrs. Downs

Today in class we went over the villain worksheet and it was passed in.  Ms. Casteel read the book Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Then we began writing a story together to show how to begin your children’s story.  We will continue this next week.

Homework:

Reading log #2 is due on Tues., 9/23.

Began planning in your head your children’s story told from your perspective, the villain.

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Downs