Homework:
None! Enjoy your break!
Today:
We were in the writing lab. The students finished typing their essays. They submitted them and handed in a copy. I will take the GoMyAccess score for 100 points, and Miss Bastnagel and I will grade them for another 100 points.
After break we will begin a unit on media literacy. We will study magazines, TV ads, NASCAR sponsorship, and marketing strategies. I will be asking students to bring in a magazine so we can study it in depth.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
March 29, 2007
Homework:
The bully essay will be collected at the end of class tomorrow. Students who have been absent during the writing lab time are still responsible for writing an essay. Miss Bastnagel and I will be scoring the essays as well.
Today:
Miss Bastnagel and I both did lessons for students on improving sentence structure in their essays. We also discussed ideas for improving organization by adding transitions. Finally, we looked at the model essay provided by GoMyAccess. We analyzed it to see why it scored so well.
The bully essay will be collected at the end of class tomorrow. Students who have been absent during the writing lab time are still responsible for writing an essay. Miss Bastnagel and I will be scoring the essays as well.
Today:
Miss Bastnagel and I both did lessons for students on improving sentence structure in their essays. We also discussed ideas for improving organization by adding transitions. Finally, we looked at the model essay provided by GoMyAccess. We analyzed it to see why it scored so well.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
March 28, 2007
Homework:
Sections 1 and 2 should have finished the worksheet we began Tuesday.
Today:
We were in the writing lab. Many students spent their time trying to slowly improve their scores. Tomorrow, Miss Bastnagel and I will teach lessons to help them improve their letters.
The final essay will be due when they leave class on Friday. It will be scored by Miss Bastnagel and me. Judging by the model essays provided by GoMyAccess, she and I will be scoring the essay more thoroughly than the computer does. We will stress the importance of NO grammar errors.
Sections 1 and 2 should have finished the worksheet we began Tuesday.
Today:
We were in the writing lab. Many students spent their time trying to slowly improve their scores. Tomorrow, Miss Bastnagel and I will teach lessons to help them improve their letters.
The final essay will be due when they leave class on Friday. It will be scored by Miss Bastnagel and me. Judging by the model essays provided by GoMyAccess, she and I will be scoring the essay more thoroughly than the computer does. We will stress the importance of NO grammar errors.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
March 27, 2007
Homework:
Sections 1 and 2 should finish the packet we started in class today for Thursday.
Today:
In sections 1 and 2 I talked about how to improve the readability level of an essay. We looked at the readability statistics that Microsoft Word can display when doing a spelling and grammar check. I taught them that the higher readability comes from the words to syllables ratio. Fewer words with more syllables will result in a higher readability. I reminded them about the word bank in GoMyAccess. They should pick words that are one level above their current level. If they write using 25 cent words now, they should not use $50 words! They should use $1 words. Otherwise, the huge words will sound silly... if they even know what they mean!
Sections 3, 6, and 7 reviewed comma usage. Miss Bastnagel taught sections 6 and 7.
Sections 1 and 2 should finish the packet we started in class today for Thursday.
Today:
In sections 1 and 2 I talked about how to improve the readability level of an essay. We looked at the readability statistics that Microsoft Word can display when doing a spelling and grammar check. I taught them that the higher readability comes from the words to syllables ratio. Fewer words with more syllables will result in a higher readability. I reminded them about the word bank in GoMyAccess. They should pick words that are one level above their current level. If they write using 25 cent words now, they should not use $50 words! They should use $1 words. Otherwise, the huge words will sound silly... if they even know what they mean!
Sections 3, 6, and 7 reviewed comma usage. Miss Bastnagel taught sections 6 and 7.
Monday, March 26, 2007
March 26, 2007
Homework:
None
Today:
We were in the writing lab. We began typing in the bullying essay. Tomorrow we will work on lessons to improve their sentences. We will be back in the lab on Wednesday. That's it, really. Not much to say.
None
Today:
We were in the writing lab. We began typing in the bullying essay. Tomorrow we will work on lessons to improve their sentences. We will be back in the lab on Wednesday. That's it, really. Not much to say.
Friday, March 23, 2007
March 23, 2007
TGIF!
Homework:
Ideally, I would like a letter writen for Monday. This way, when the students get on the computers on Monday, they will be able to use GoMyAccess for revision and not just a word processor. However, if the letter is not done, that is fine, too.
Today:
I handed out the pen prizes to sections 1,2, and 3. We finished the movie for those classes. We discussed what should be included in the letter to the bullied friend.
Homework:
Ideally, I would like a letter writen for Monday. This way, when the students get on the computers on Monday, they will be able to use GoMyAccess for revision and not just a word processor. However, if the letter is not done, that is fine, too.
Today:
I handed out the pen prizes to sections 1,2, and 3. We finished the movie for those classes. We discussed what should be included in the letter to the bullied friend.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
March 22, 2007
Homework:
Continue working on the letter to the friend who is being bullied.
Today:
I only saw sections 6 and 7, and both of those classes were 35 minutes long. We finished watching the movie. The kids are pretty fried after testing anyway!
Continue working on the letter to the friend who is being bullied.
Today:
I only saw sections 6 and 7, and both of those classes were 35 minutes long. We finished watching the movie. The kids are pretty fried after testing anyway!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
March 21, 2007
Homework:
Students should be working on the letter to their friend who is being bullied. Unfortunately, I don't think many students are working on it now. The essay is due Monday, though.
Today:
Ms. Bastnagel taught the lesson today. This was here first day teaching, and she did an excellent job. Since she has been teaching second graders for 9 weeks before this, she had more than enough experience to handle the more mature? seventh graders. :)
Using a lesson she created, Ms. Bastnagel reviewed the characters from the movie and how each coped with Joe, the bully in the movie. After discussing the different reactions to a bully, she asked the students to put themselves in the same situation and decide how they would handle it. She had four different choices for the students to elaborate on. The students chose a paper that symbolized their choice and wrote out how they would handle being bullied. Some students read their papers to the class.
Students should be working on the letter to their friend who is being bullied. Unfortunately, I don't think many students are working on it now. The essay is due Monday, though.
Today:
Ms. Bastnagel taught the lesson today. This was here first day teaching, and she did an excellent job. Since she has been teaching second graders for 9 weeks before this, she had more than enough experience to handle the more mature? seventh graders. :)
Using a lesson she created, Ms. Bastnagel reviewed the characters from the movie and how each coped with Joe, the bully in the movie. After discussing the different reactions to a bully, she asked the students to put themselves in the same situation and decide how they would handle it. She had four different choices for the students to elaborate on. The students chose a paper that symbolized their choice and wrote out how they would handle being bullied. Some students read their papers to the class.
Monday, March 19, 2007
March 19, 2007
Homework:
Work on the bully letter (new assignment page on MrBoZ.com)
Today:
We read over the suggestions on this page. Then we watched more of the movie How to Eat Fried Worms. Today we focused on the bystanders and the role they play in allowing the bullying to continue. Later, we will see how they can affect change.
FYI:
I sent home grade e-mails today. They should be the grade they receive for the 3rd marking period. This week is testing, so there will not be any new grades. Then the marking period is over. There are a few things that can be made up.
Work on the bully letter (new assignment page on MrBoZ.com)
Today:
We read over the suggestions on this page. Then we watched more of the movie How to Eat Fried Worms. Today we focused on the bystanders and the role they play in allowing the bullying to continue. Later, we will see how they can affect change.
FYI:
I sent home grade e-mails today. They should be the grade they receive for the 3rd marking period. This week is testing, so there will not be any new grades. Then the marking period is over. There are a few things that can be made up.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
March 15, 2007
Homework:
None
Today:
I saw the rest of the classes today. We are starting a new essay on bullying. We watched 10 minute from the beginning of the movie "How to Eat Fried Worms." We discussed how three characters in the movie deal with being bullied. One ignores it. Another gives into it and is miserable. And the main character thinks he will stand up to the bully and be strong. He takes a bet that would humiliate the bully if he wins, but the bet will humiliate him in the process. He has to eat ten worms! We will watch some other parts of the movie, but we are mainly going to be focusing on reading an article that has suggestions about what to do if you are being bullied.
FYI:
I have a student teacher who will be with me until the end of May. Here is a letter she sent home with your child. (Some classes do not get it yet.)
Dear Parent(s) /Guardian(s)/ Families of Seventh grade team:
My name is Elizabeth Bastnagel and I will be student teaching in your child’s seventh grade English class for the next eight weeks. I am a student at the University of Delaware working to receive my degree in Elementary Education.
I have had several field experiences through the University, including three other placements in the Red Clay School District at Heritage Elementary School, Richardson Park Elementary School, and at H.B. Dupont Middle School. I have also worked for the Western Family YMCA of Delaware in the before- and after-care school program. These experiences have made me confident that I can succeed in working with your child.
I’m thoroughly excited about the opportunity to work with Mr. Bosler and his seventh graders. I look forward to getting to know your child during the next eight weeks. If at any time during my placement you need to reach me please call the school at (302) 239-3420.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Bastnagel
None
Today:
I saw the rest of the classes today. We are starting a new essay on bullying. We watched 10 minute from the beginning of the movie "How to Eat Fried Worms." We discussed how three characters in the movie deal with being bullied. One ignores it. Another gives into it and is miserable. And the main character thinks he will stand up to the bully and be strong. He takes a bet that would humiliate the bully if he wins, but the bet will humiliate him in the process. He has to eat ten worms! We will watch some other parts of the movie, but we are mainly going to be focusing on reading an article that has suggestions about what to do if you are being bullied.
FYI:
I have a student teacher who will be with me until the end of May. Here is a letter she sent home with your child. (Some classes do not get it yet.)
Dear Parent(s) /Guardian(s)/ Families of Seventh grade team:
My name is Elizabeth Bastnagel and I will be student teaching in your child’s seventh grade English class for the next eight weeks. I am a student at the University of Delaware working to receive my degree in Elementary Education.
I have had several field experiences through the University, including three other placements in the Red Clay School District at Heritage Elementary School, Richardson Park Elementary School, and at H.B. Dupont Middle School. I have also worked for the Western Family YMCA of Delaware in the before- and after-care school program. These experiences have made me confident that I can succeed in working with your child.
I’m thoroughly excited about the opportunity to work with Mr. Bosler and his seventh graders. I look forward to getting to know your child during the next eight weeks. If at any time during my placement you need to reach me please call the school at (302) 239-3420.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Bastnagel
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
March 14, 2007
Homework:
None
Today:
Sorry about not blogging yesterday. We were in the lab yesterday, and they were to enter the Richard Petty essay for a score. I took the score from GoMyAccess as a grade. Students who were absent are excused. You may have heard that it was hard to get a six on the speech. That is true. I also wanted to say that many students were lax about getting drafts done on time. This speech has been like pulling teeth. Their effort will be reflected in their grade slip which I should have for Friday of this week.
Today, I saw sections 7,1,and 2. Tomorrow I will see sections 3 and 6. We are starting our next writing topic. I handed out the prompt today. I will make a web page for the assignment soon.
None
Today:
Sorry about not blogging yesterday. We were in the lab yesterday, and they were to enter the Richard Petty essay for a score. I took the score from GoMyAccess as a grade. Students who were absent are excused. You may have heard that it was hard to get a six on the speech. That is true. I also wanted to say that many students were lax about getting drafts done on time. This speech has been like pulling teeth. Their effort will be reflected in their grade slip which I should have for Friday of this week.
Today, I saw sections 7,1,and 2. Tomorrow I will see sections 3 and 6. We are starting our next writing topic. I handed out the prompt today. I will make a web page for the assignment soon.
Monday, March 12, 2007
March 12, 2007
Homework:
Revise the Richard Petty essay so we can enter it into GoMYAccess tomorrow.
Today:
Buzzword
We read examples of essays that scored 3,4, and 5 for the Richard Petty speech. These were scored by GoMyAccess. I wanted the students to see what the difference is between their essays and the essays we read. All the students have the same details to include, but how is it that they can't all get a five? They must be doing something wrong. My job is to help them find out what that might be.
We used a checklist to see if the 5 had all the details possible in it. It had most of them. Honestly, I don't see what is missing to get the six in the essay we read. I thought it sounded pretty good. But that is the challenge of GoMyAccess. We should keep reading the samples and trying to get our essays to be scored at least a four. The computer is consistent.
We will be in the writing lab tomorrow.
Revise the Richard Petty essay so we can enter it into GoMYAccess tomorrow.
Today:
Buzzword
We read examples of essays that scored 3,4, and 5 for the Richard Petty speech. These were scored by GoMyAccess. I wanted the students to see what the difference is between their essays and the essays we read. All the students have the same details to include, but how is it that they can't all get a five? They must be doing something wrong. My job is to help them find out what that might be.
We used a checklist to see if the 5 had all the details possible in it. It had most of them. Honestly, I don't see what is missing to get the six in the essay we read. I thought it sounded pretty good. But that is the challenge of GoMyAccess. We should keep reading the samples and trying to get our essays to be scored at least a four. The computer is consistent.
We will be in the writing lab tomorrow.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
March 7, 2007
Homework:
Study for unit 10 quiz
Flashcards (sections 3,6,7, but I explained them to all my classes)
Finish a draft of the Richard Petty speech
Today:
1. Buzzword
2. Reviewed Vocab focusing on parts of speech and preparing for the quiz
3. I talked about being Richard Petty the way an actor has to be in character when he acts. We discussed the many bits of information about Richard Petty that the article contained. We also discussed how he would have a purpose. Some suggested something like following your dreams. His humility might also be a topic. He might stress that even though what he did was great, being a good person is more important. He would not be coming in to gloat about his wins. He would use his accomplishments to inspire the students.
I think there are other purposes he would have. I am excited to see what they come up with. I am trying to get a cowboy hat and sunglasses organized so the students can pretend they are Richard Petty and read their speeches. That would be fun to video tape! (Hum.... )
Study for unit 10 quiz
Flashcards (sections 3,6,7, but I explained them to all my classes)
Finish a draft of the Richard Petty speech
Today:
1. Buzzword
2. Reviewed Vocab focusing on parts of speech and preparing for the quiz
3. I talked about being Richard Petty the way an actor has to be in character when he acts. We discussed the many bits of information about Richard Petty that the article contained. We also discussed how he would have a purpose. Some suggested something like following your dreams. His humility might also be a topic. He might stress that even though what he did was great, being a good person is more important. He would not be coming in to gloat about his wins. He would use his accomplishments to inspire the students.
I think there are other purposes he would have. I am excited to see what they come up with. I am trying to get a cowboy hat and sunglasses organized so the students can pretend they are Richard Petty and read their speeches. That would be fun to video tape! (Hum.... )
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
March 6, 2007
Homework:
Finish Unit 10
Today:
We did a buzzword and reviewed the vocab homework. Then I started taking them through the next text-based writing piece we are working on. I made the assignment page. You can check that out if you want to.
I wanted them to focus on imagining the character who is giving the speech. Since she is in the news, I used Brittany Spears as an example. When I asked them what she would talk to them about if she came into our school, they guessed it would be something on trying to live your live right. (I also told them to image that this was years later, and she had her act together!) The exercise was not to be about gossip. I wanted them to see that if they knew enough about someone, they should be able to think like him/her. That is what I want them to do for the essay. The hard part is figuring out the character of Richard Petty from the article.
I also posted their oral readings. You can listen to them here.
I sent grades by e-mail today. I will give them to the students tomorrow.
Finish Unit 10
Today:
We did a buzzword and reviewed the vocab homework. Then I started taking them through the next text-based writing piece we are working on. I made the assignment page. You can check that out if you want to.
I wanted them to focus on imagining the character who is giving the speech. Since she is in the news, I used Brittany Spears as an example. When I asked them what she would talk to them about if she came into our school, they guessed it would be something on trying to live your live right. (I also told them to image that this was years later, and she had her act together!) The exercise was not to be about gossip. I wanted them to see that if they knew enough about someone, they should be able to think like him/her. That is what I want them to do for the essay. The hard part is figuring out the character of Richard Petty from the article.
I also posted their oral readings. You can listen to them here.
I sent grades by e-mail today. I will give them to the students tomorrow.
Monday, March 05, 2007
March 5, 2007
Homework:
Completing the sentence Unit 10
Today:
We started a new prompt. When I have time, I will put up the assignment page. Basically, they read some information on Richard Petty, the NASCAR driver, and write the speech he would give to students in our school. As I see it, they have to take two things out of the text. They must figure out how to write like Richard Petty. Then they have to include the highlights from his life that are listed in the article. It is an interesting challenge. I think I will be focusing on voice and audience.
I am working on posting the recordings from the in class readings. I have made them into music files. Now I have to make the web page with the links.
Completing the sentence Unit 10
Today:
We started a new prompt. When I have time, I will put up the assignment page. Basically, they read some information on Richard Petty, the NASCAR driver, and write the speech he would give to students in our school. As I see it, they have to take two things out of the text. They must figure out how to write like Richard Petty. Then they have to include the highlights from his life that are listed in the article. It is an interesting challenge. I think I will be focusing on voice and audience.
I am working on posting the recordings from the in class readings. I have made them into music files. Now I have to make the web page with the links.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
