March 10th, 2009
Class activities for Tuesday, March 10
Spelling: None today due to extra time with writing.
Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due Fridays.
Reading: Today was a reading day in Literature Circles; most groups finished their books today. Some groups worked on synthesizing as a reading strategy.
Writing: Students turned in their persuasive letter today. Thursday, students will have an opportunity to stay after school until 5:00 pm to send their letters to whomever can make a decision on their letter, and also to the Flint Journal and Grand Blanc News. Students can also work on their novel at that time.
Novel Writing Project
Our piece due March 27 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 after school 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 some metric measurement and unit converting activities from last week. There will be a MiniQuiz over these topics tomorrow, and a test over this and decimal addition and subtraction within the next week. Homework is to complete Journal p. 106 if not done previously.
Science: We reviewed our recent electromagnet experiment and circuit Response Sheet.
Social Studies: None today due to extra time with writing.
- Yellow magnets: 0
- Orange magnets: 0
- Red magnets: 0
- STAR Awards: 0
- Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 3
- Hours with no yellow magnets (record: 58): 1
- Days with no orange magnets (record: 39; previous score: 10): 5
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: Lauren and Donovan
- Sign up for Spring Conferences here.