6th Grade Environmental Research Paper

The sixth grade has begun a research paper (3 pages typed) this week. During this writing unit, students will learn how to write a thesis statement, evaluate the credibility of a website,correctly utilize source material in a paper, and type a citation page in MLA style. This year, students will select from a list of science topics in order to enhance the school community's sensitivity to the environment and to compliment the study of the novel "Hoot". The list of current environmental topics is intended to help students understand new energy sources, conservation and responsible use in order to sustain our earth. Students will also be expected to give a 2-3 minute presentation on their topics in addition to submitting the research paper. In the novel "Hoot", the main character fights to preserve the owl's habitat. Please assist your child in identifying credible resources on their topic. Students should become familiar with the use of online magazine archives for the most up to date information presented in a highly accessible format.

Seventh Grade Literature Studies: Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Please encourage your seventh grader to complete the reading assignment for spring break --pp. 1-94 (Part One). Paul, the main character, and his family move from Houston, Texas to Lake Windsor, Florida. Paul lives in the shadow of his older brother Eric and is haunted by flashbacks of a mysterious childhood experience that resulted in the loss of his eyesight. Paul is an avid soccer goalie. His values are challenged in a few important ways in this young adult classic.

NJASK State Testing: Mark your calendars!

The NJASK will be administered to all students in Grades 7 & 8 during the week of April 26. Students need to be well rested and eat a healthy protein source in the morning to stabilize energy levels! The writing section of the assessment will include a persuasive essay, and may include a "Quotation Prompt" - a new writing task designed to test analytical and expository writing skills. In this task, students will be required to analyze a famous quote and then relate it to their own lives and to some example from history, culture or the world around them. The SAT includes a similiar writing task at a more advanced level.

Quarter 3 ends.....

On April 3 & 4, Grades 6 & 7 were responsible to present a "Book Talk" for the end of the quarter in which they will share their enthusiasm for their self-selected book choice. Students created original artwork and shared a prop to represent the "climax" of the novel. Grade 8 participated in an African American History month project in which they shared their analysis of a poem by an African American poet in their powerpoint show.

Environmental Research Paper: Grade 6

Sixth graders will learn the research process this year in English class. Soon they will select an environmental topic to research, in conjunction with reading the novel "Hoot". In this novel, the protagonist must determine who is responsible for the destruction of the owl's nesting holes. Redevelopment continues to threaten the delicate balance of the setting in this exciting young adult novel.

Their first task is to write a thesis statement. which will be followed by collecting information on notecards, creating a "Works Cited" age, and finally composing a 3 page research paper. We encourage families to learn all about these important environmental issues!

8th Grade Literature Studies

The eighth grade class is completing their study of "The Diary of Anne Frank" this week. Working with a partner, they are also currently involved in completing a powerpoint presentation on an example of African American poetry, in celebration of Black History Month. Our focus on the destructive nature of prejudice continues next week with the introduction of "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. Students will view the great film version starring Gregory Peck. This unit includes a study of some of the historical events that probably influenced the author, including the murder of Emmett Till and the Scottsboro Trial. the emphasis of this novel study is both literary and thematic -- it is important for students to recognize the harmful effects of bias, discrimination and all forms of intolerance.

7th grade Wax Museum Update

Students in the seventh grade are immersed in a expository writing assignment that culminates in a performance and speech of a famous person. The research paper is another challenging component of this project. The paper must be typed, double spaced (3-4 pages) and must include a WORKS CITED page in MLA format. By today, students should have created 60 research notecards from their extensive research on their chosen "famous person". In addition, the following have been collected and scored: thesis statement, sentence outline, "internet research article" check, "book source" check, notecard check. The first draft of the paper is due on February 26th. The first draft must be stapled to the APPROVED SENTENCE OUTLINE and submitted on Feb. 26th.

The Outsiders by SE Hinton: Grade 7

Students in seventh grade are reading "The Outsiders" as a class. The novel was written in 1967 and attempts to capture the era of the late 50's and early 60's, the time period of ...monogrammed sweaters, poodle skirts, and Greasers. It would be helpful for families to view a few episodes of "Happy Days", "Laverne & Shirley" or watch a film..."West Side Story", or "Grease" are two that are critically acclaimed. Please evaluate these films before showing them to your children, as they include adult themes..... and every family has a different comfort zone. The students will be asked to reflect on the way, in our society, we classify each other based upon which "side of town" we're from, and based upon our socio-economic status. The effects of this form of discrimination can be very destructive.

Wax Museum Biography Project (cont'd)

Students in seventh grade need at least one book source for their bibliography. Some students have elected to research a famous person from the entertainment industry (although I would prefer they choose to research the life of a person of greater historical significance). Those students have been asked to purchase a book, perhaps through an online bookseller like Amazon or B&N, about their chosen "famous person" if our library cannot furnish a book source.

Literary Day Postponement for Grade 6

Due to some scheduling changes during exam week, the character collage is now due on Monday January 26. Literary Day is scheduled to begin the following day. Students will need sketchbooks, a prop, and their notecards for Literary Day.

SSR Reading for Grades 6 7 & 8

Self-selected reading is an important part of a rich middle school language arts curriculum. At Cranbury School, we support reading beyond the classroom, and we provide book suggestions and stock a classroom library to promote it. We also provide class time for students' self-selected reading. I keep a log of the student's selections, to encourage all students, but especially my "reluctant readers" to read at least one book per marking period. An assessment is designed for each quarter on the student's self-selected reading. Parents should always review their child's book selections for appropriateness.

LIterary Day: Quarter Two for Grades 6 & 7 only

Literary Day is around the corner: January 26. Students should be prepared with an original visual representation of their chosen poem (this artwork must be completed in a sketchbook). The 3-4 minute presentation must include a discussion of the theme of the poem, a memorized recitation of a section of the poem, and a brief biography of the poet - the notes should be recorded on note cards. Students should also be prepared to identify poetic devices in the poem- metaphor, imagery, symbolism, tone, etc. The final question is: Why did you choose this poem? Why does this poem mean something special to you? This project develops poetry appreciation, art and public speaking skills.

Grade 6: Character Collage: Art/Writing

This poster project and comprehensive writing task should be a fun exploration of the variety of writing modes for the students. Assignment#1: In the descriptive mode, students will write about a favorite meal, vacation spot, season or nature activity, focusing on the sensory experience. Assignment #2: In the persuasive mode, students will convince the reader that they are "THE BEST" in an area- for example: comforting a friend, wrestling, cleaning their room, studying for a test, etc. Assignment # 3: Describe yourself from teh point of view of another person Assignment #4: Compare yourself to a natural phenomenon (ex: lightning) or to another living thing (ex:tiger). Although the pre-writing and outline are assigned as homework (must be saved on a flashdrive) students will compose in our computer lab. The entire completed poster is due January 26. Students need to obtain their own poster board for this project - any color 24" X 30".

Grade 7: Writing/Research/Public Speaking--the Annual Cranbury Wax Museum

This exciting project incorporates and develops many skill areas for young adults. Students begin by selecting a famous person to research, then write a 4-5 page paper about the person's life. Research skills will be reviewed and will include: writing a thesis statement, taking notes using three different techniques, evaluating the credibility of a website, organizing your information and finally, writing a bibliography in the MLA format. In addition to the weightier writing component, the student must also create a lively poster to represent the person, select an appropriate costume, and perform the role on "Wax Museum" night at the school. Props help to make the characterization come alive!! A night to look forward to--- parents, you will enjoy this!!! The performance is scheduled for March 18.

The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Students in the seventh and eighth grade will read the authentic version of Dickens' Christmas Carol and discuss it's literary and thematic importance. All students will attend the performance at McCarter Theater in Princeton on December 9. Permission forms and a $20 check for the bus are due by Thanksgiving. Students learn about the Victorian Era and discuss the meaning behind the visits by the three spirits. This is a marvelous holiday experience for everyone!!

7th Grade Writing

Students will write in the narrative mode this quarter. I call this assignment the "Cartoon Narrative" because students will begin with a set of cartoons on which the conversation bubbles have been removed. I have prepared a wide variety of cartoon illustrations for students to choose from. First, students select a blank cartoon illustration and then imagine a scenario or "story" to support the illustration. Narrative techniques to be covered include the development of a five part plot, setting, characterization, and the use of dialogue. Students will be encouraged to incorporate vivid sensory detail in their stories. Maximum length: 5 pages.

6th Grade Literature Studies/Quarter 2

Students in the sixth grade are reading "When My Name is Keoko" -a two part narrative of the Japanese occupation of Korea told from the points of view of a brother and sister. Students will have the opportunity to imitate Chinese brush painting of a Chinese proverb. My hope is that they can express their personalities with this art project. Keoko struggles to learn her "kanji" throughout the novel, inspired by the stories told by her grandfather of the Chinese influence on Korean writing. Other fun projects and writing assignments are planned for this unit, too. I am looking for a speaker on the subject of Korean culture or Korean history, so please email me if you know of anyone willing to come into our class for this purpose.

LITERARY DAY

Literary Day during Quarter Two is scheduled for January 26. Eighth graders will produce a multi-media project incorporating the use of GarageBand to interpret and analyze a poem. Sixth and seventh graders will interpret their poems in the traditional format.

Literary Day is designed to enhance the students' appreciation for and understanding of the poetic genre. Students have selected a poem, submitted it for approval and begun their project for Literary Day. The project involves an artistic representation (in sketchpad), oral analysis of the poem (accompanied by notecards), and a recitation of a memorized section of the poem. Students will be evaluated on use of the voice- volume, pacing and appropriate tone suited to the subject of the poem --all are important elements of the oral skills required for this project. Students were advised to conduct some brief research on the poet's life and on the meaning and importance of the chosen poem. A discussion and class review of the rubric for this project has also taken place. This assignment is 100 pts.

Thanksgiving Reader:America's Table

In celebration of the diversity of "America's table", the NY Times, in cooperation with the American Jewish Committee, annually publishes a wonderful booklet. In "America's Table" a beautiful tapestry of profiles compliments a poem about the immigrant experience in America. Students have received the booklet to complete over Thanksgiving break. Please share these inspiring stories with your children. The profiles reflect the unique melting pot of cultures, races, and religions that we call our home.

GOTHIC ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED!

Zach Izzo designed the cover for our annual class publication of Gothic tales. This week, the completed anthology was distributed to the students. The finished product is very impressive, but caution, these stories are GRUESOME! It's a bit shocking to discover the macabre leanings of these innocent young minds!! :) But seriously, this assignment has yielded marvelous results. Students stretched their imaginations and demonstrated superb revision and editing skills throughout the process. Please share the stories with your child.

Quarter One: End of Quarter Deadlines

By the end of the quarter, every student in grades 6, 7 & 8 must complete one SSR and will be asked to complete a writing task on the selected book by next week. In addition, students will submit their "Writer's Notebook" for assessment. Students are provided with class time twice a week to write on a topic of their choice. They must demonstrate that they have used this time productively. They should write neatly and vigorously during "writer's notebook" free time, date their entries and show 8-10 pages of writing by the end of the quarter. Homework averages will also be computed. Every missed homework constitutes a three point deduction from the quarter homework average.

Language Arts Exam: October 27

The exam for grades 6, 7 & 8 for Language Arts will be held in the morning on October 27th and will include three parts. The first part is a reading comprehension section. Each grade will be given a complete short story on Friday night to read over the weekend. The exam will include a series of multiple choice questions on the story, and an essay in which they should demonstrate a strong understanding of paragraph structure, theme and an ability to synthesize the reading into a well-organized response. Students should study the first six chapters in the "Vocabulary for Achievement" workbook. It is recommended that students use the flashcards in the back of the workbook and practice with a partner.

ONLINE TEXTBOOKS AVAILABLE!!

Our grammar and composition series for grades 6,7 & 8 is available online. The textbook can be found be entering the Holt Rinehardt website at www.go.hrw.com. Click "Language Arts", then "Online Textbooks" and find the appropriate grade level for your child. I have demonstrated how to use the online textbook in class. The user names and passwords are as follows:
Sixth grade: lsixth, y8s8 Seventh grade: lseventh, z6n4 Eighth grade: r5w7
Mini-lessons in grammar and composition skills are infused in our integrated language arts approach. Students will have some homework from the textbook. Note: every student does have a hard bound textbook so they may NOT use "my computer or internet wouldn't work last night" as an excuse for not completing homework.

Grade 7: Writing

The body of the paper on "What is an Individual's Responsibility to Society?" is due Monday, October 6. Students were given a rubric and should use it, combined with the graphic organizer, to construct three paragraphs of the essay. All students are expected to have a key drive and bring the work to class on Monday on the key drive.

Grade 8: Art Project/Written Reflection

Heraldry began in the 12th century when the shields of the knights were painted with charges. In Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" the narrator comments on Fortunato's coat-of-arms. Students will be asked to submit their own coat-of-arms, representing their unique identity. A template was distributed in class on Thursday, and I reviewed some of the symbolism, colors and imagery of heraldry in order to assist students in the creation of their shield. A one page written reflection should accompany the project;students should provide an explanation for the symbols and meanings hidden in their shields. This is an opportunity for the artistic student to excel. Deadline: Wednesday, October 8.

You're Invited!!

This message board has been designed to familiarize you with current projects and writing assignments in your child's English class. My hope is that you will support our projects by maintaining high expectations, offering praise and..... most importantly, helping your child to keep up with deadlines. Long terms projects will be posted here as well as the standard weekly homework expectations for journal writing, vocabulary enrichment and self-selected reading. Postings will occur about bi-monthly in order to update you on important assignments and interesting course elements.

Weekly Vocabulary Enrichment

We are utilizing a new vocabulary series this year: Vocabulary Achievement. Students will be expected to complete one vocabulary lesson per week. Lessons are checked in class on Tuesdays; credit will be given. Students will be tested bi-weekly on two lessons. Lessons are formatted thematically - each lesson focuses on a theme or group of words related to a specific topic. There are flashcards in the back of the workbook. I encourage students to cut out the flashcards and utilize them as a study aid. Vocabulary enrichment is an important component of the development of strong reading and writing skills.

Self-Selected Reading

Students should read daily in their self-selected books - both in and out of school-for at least 90 minutes each week. Students will be asked to write about one of their independent reading books at the end of each quarter. They can choose from a list of projects and writing tasks. Students must read a minimum of one self-selected book per quarter. I keep a record of the book titles in a log in our classroom. All self-selected books will evaluated by the teacher for reading level appropriateness. I encourage students to challenge themselves with book selections and to read often in their free time. (no books made into films, sorry!)

Journal Writing 6, 7, & 8

Students will be asked to write in their writer's notebook in order to create finished pieces of writing at the end of each quarter. Every Tuesday and Thursday, class begins with "time to write". Entries should be dated, written legibly and should meet the minimum length requirement-- every student should try to write at least one page during our "Writer's Notebook" time. The Writer's Notebook is designed to encourage students to begin to see themselves as professional writers do, as keen observers of the world around them. Experiences can begin to be viewed as potential "stories" for writer's notebook. Writing regularly promotes fluency and encourages students to discover themselves through the act of writing, without fear of formal correction. A grade will be given at the end of the quarter for the writer's notebook based on the rubric that has been distributed to the students. I encourage students to develop many different types of writing pieces.

Literary Day: October 20 for Grades 6 ,7, & 8

Literary Day is designed to enhance the students' appreciation for and understanding of the poetic genre. Students have selected a poem, submitted it for approval and begun their project for Literary Day. The project involves an artistic representation (in sketchpad), oral analysis of the poem (accompanied by notecards), and a recitation of a memorized section of the poem. Students will be evaluated on use of the voice- volume, pacing and appropriate tone suited to the subject of the poem --all are important elements of the oral skills required for this project. Students were advised to conduct some brief research on the poet's life and on the meaning and importance of the chosen poem. A discussion and class review of the rubric for this project has also taken place. This assignment is 100 pts.