February 26th, 2009
Class activities for Thursday, February 26
Spelling: None today due to discussing our persuasive letter project for Writer’s Workshop.
Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due Fridays.
Reading: Today was a reading day in Literature Circles. Some groups worked on making connections as a reading strategy.
Writing: Students shared their question for our persuasive letter to the editor project. Here are some sample questions students came up with:
- Should there be more sidewalks in Grand Blanc?
- Should Grand Blanc have a dog park?
- Should students have to walk from the buses at Anderson to McGrath?
- Should students be allowed to choose inside or outside recess?
Students also surveyed other students in class to see how others felt about their question.
Homework tonight is to finish collecting survey data.
Here’s an overview of this persuasive letter project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due March 6.
The piece after that will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write a novel. You read that right. Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,500-3,000 words, based on their reading level (each student’s minimum writing goal is equal to their reading level multiplied by 500). The novels will be written in Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com) to make use of the word count feature. Final novels will be uploaded to lulu.com and published as paperback books, which can be purchased for reasonable prices. So yes, students will actually write and publish their own novels. This project is based on the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers program. Here are more details:
- We will start this project in class on March 9 and it will be due on March 27; however, students can begin early.
- This is our final fiction project; the novel can be any type of fiction story (mystery, science fiction, fantasy, realistic, historical, etc.)
- We will be working in the computer lab most days, using docs.mrhowd.com to type the novel. Students can also work on this from any internet-connected computer outside of school.
- Students might want to start thinking now about how they will use a computer afterschool if they need to, and if they will go to the library, use a home computer, or use a friend or family member’s computer.
- If friends and family would like to order a paperback version of the book, we will upload the final texts to lulu.com. Most books will cost between $5 and $10.
- A big portion of this grade will be if students complete their own, personal word count goal.
Math: We reviewed the metric system and students measured several class objects to the nearest centimeter. Homework is to complete Journal pp. 98-99.
Science: None today due to discussing our persuasive letter project for Writer’s Workshop.
Social Studies: We read about Michigan’s role in helping slaves escape on the Underground Railroad. Homework is to complete review worksheet p. 19.
- Yellow magnets: 0
- Orange magnets: 0
- Red magnets: 0
- STAR Awards: 0
- Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 2
- Hours with no yellow magnets (record: 58): 6
- Days with no orange magnets (record: 39; previous score: 25): 10
Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.
Notes:
- View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
- Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
- This week’s juice volunteers: Abigail and Kayla L.
- Sign up for Spring Conferences here.
