Throughout the middle school, over the past month, I have focused on increasing vocabulary through having students create vocabulary scrapbook pages. They seemed to really enjoy the hunt for new words and the opportunity to "steal" a word from me once a week!
In sixth grade, we have just started a unit on punctuation based on sentence structure. So far most students have mastered phrases and clauses, and now they are on to learning to identify compound and complex sentences. It's a delight to see students learning and being excited about what they're learning.
The seventh grade has just concluded a grammar "spa" -- a relaxing unit on diagramming direct and indirect objects. Now, we'll get back to reading and comprehending what we are reading. The seventh grade had the top AR point earners third quarter with one student earning 161 AR points. WOW!
The eighth grade finished reading A Wrinkle in Time. Almost all the wonderfully creative time travel projects have been presented, and students are working on vocabulary related to this novel using student-created, sentence completion worksheets. We'll finish out the year with reading a play adaption of The Diary of Anne Frank, reading and analyzing poetry, and, of course, writing, writing, writing!
AR Points will be due on May 20, 2014, for the following classes.
6A 15
7F 21
8C 18
8D 23
7E will have points due on two different dates, and they will be required to earn a total of 15 points over the next quarter.
8 points will be due on April 18, 2014
7 points will be due on May 20, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
Comprehension Scores Have Increased!
All grade levels have shown an improvement in comprehension scores on both the Star Reader Assessment as well as the Easy CBM MCRC (reading comprehension) test. Students are excited about their improvement and really seem motivated to continue their growth. The next area of focus we will seek to improve is vocabulary.
AR Points will be due on March 13, 2014. The point goals for the classes are as listed below.
6A 12
7E 12
7F 18
8C 15
8D 20
AR Points will be due on March 13, 2014. The point goals for the classes are as listed below.
6A 12
7E 12
7F 18
8C 15
8D 20
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Comprehension is improving!
All middle school students are currently developing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and citing textual evidence to support their opinions by reading, discussing, and writing about the excellent literature in our new textbooks.
Our benchmark assessments are progressing well, and I am hearing from Mrs. Dusbabek that comprehension seems to be increasing, so that is wonderful. I am eager to learn the results from our benchmarks which will be administered over the next couple of weeks.
Mr. Smith will give the the Star Reader test right after Christmas break, so it will great to see those results. I predict the students' AR reading level (which it determined by the Star Reader exam) will increase.
AR points are due on December 19th, so it's a good idea read at home as well as school.
Sixth grade will not have finals, but the seventh and eighth grade will have them the week of the 16th.
Blessings to everyone! Thank you for your wonderful children.
All middle school students are currently developing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and citing textual evidence to support their opinions by reading, discussing, and writing about the excellent literature in our new textbooks.
Our benchmark assessments are progressing well, and I am hearing from Mrs. Dusbabek that comprehension seems to be increasing, so that is wonderful. I am eager to learn the results from our benchmarks which will be administered over the next couple of weeks.
Mr. Smith will give the the Star Reader test right after Christmas break, so it will great to see those results. I predict the students' AR reading level (which it determined by the Star Reader exam) will increase.
AR points are due on December 19th, so it's a good idea read at home as well as school.
Sixth grade will not have finals, but the seventh and eighth grade will have them the week of the 16th.
Blessings to everyone! Thank you for your wonderful children.
Monday, October 28, 2013
What's Happening?
Thank you to Emily Wilcox and Sydney Silver who volunteered to label
the AR books in my library with the book level and AR point value! Your
hard work has made AR easier for EVERYONE! Thanks again!
Parents, if you would like to meet with me, please know I would be happy to schedule a time with you after school (2:45-3:15 any work day except Tuesday) or during my plan time between 8:45-9:45.
Currently, the sixth grade is finishing up The Iliad. We'll learn about five-paragraph essay format in our next unit.
The seventh grade currently is working on a grammar unit about subjects and predicates and knowing how to find them in questions, commands, and inverted order sentence after eliminating any prepositional phrases.
The eight grade is absorbed in the unit on short stories.
Book Orders are due this Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.
AR is progressing well. I was able to add a shelf of new books to my library using my copious bonus points from my Scholastic account! If your student is at a reading level from the 2.to 4. range, it might be good idea to help your child find books outside of my classroom using the AR Bookfinder Advanced Search. Most of the books in my AR library are in the 4.to 6. range.
Parents, if you would like to meet with me, please know I would be happy to schedule a time with you after school (2:45-3:15 any work day except Tuesday) or during my plan time between 8:45-9:45.
Currently, the sixth grade is finishing up The Iliad. We'll learn about five-paragraph essay format in our next unit.
The seventh grade currently is working on a grammar unit about subjects and predicates and knowing how to find them in questions, commands, and inverted order sentence after eliminating any prepositional phrases.
The eight grade is absorbed in the unit on short stories.
Book Orders are due this Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.
AR is progressing well. I was able to add a shelf of new books to my library using my copious bonus points from my Scholastic account! If your student is at a reading level from the 2.to 4. range, it might be good idea to help your child find books outside of my classroom using the AR Bookfinder Advanced Search. Most of the books in my AR library are in the 4.to 6. range.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Currently, the sixth grade is reading The Iliad with great
gusto since we are now past the kissing part and into the fighting
part.We're focusing on asking questions in class to increase
understanding of vocabulary and comprehension.
The seventh grade currently is completing a unit on poetry from the Core Knowledge Curriculum. We have some talented young poets and literary critics in the seventh grade!
The eight grade has just started a new unit on short stories in the NEW LITERATURE TEXT BOOKS! We're loving the new books. Thank you, Corpus Christi Catholic School!
AR for the second quarter is well underway. Some students have already earned 20 points. Wow! AR is meant to increase comprehension though fostering a love of pleasure reading, so if your student is reluctant to read an AR book within his/her level then it may be that he/she just plain doesn't like the book. Please get a new one that the student will enjoy reading and WANT to read. The AR Bookfinder Advanced Search option is a great resource to help you and your student find books that may be of interest.
The seventh grade currently is completing a unit on poetry from the Core Knowledge Curriculum. We have some talented young poets and literary critics in the seventh grade!
The eight grade has just started a new unit on short stories in the NEW LITERATURE TEXT BOOKS! We're loving the new books. Thank you, Corpus Christi Catholic School!
AR for the second quarter is well underway. Some students have already earned 20 points. Wow! AR is meant to increase comprehension though fostering a love of pleasure reading, so if your student is reluctant to read an AR book within his/her level then it may be that he/she just plain doesn't like the book. Please get a new one that the student will enjoy reading and WANT to read. The AR Bookfinder Advanced Search option is a great resource to help you and your student find books that may be of interest.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
What's Happening?
Currently, the sixth grade is reading The Iliad with great gusto since we are now past the kissing part and into the fighting part.We're focusing on asking questions in class to increase understanding of vocabulary and comprehension.
The seventh grade currently is completing a unit on poetry from the Core Knowledge Curriculum. We have some talented young poets and literary critics in the seventh grade!
The eight grade has just started a new unit on short stories in the NEW LITERATURE TEXT BOOKS! We're loving the new books. Thank you, Corpus Christi Catholic School!
AR for the second quarter is well underway. Some students have already earned 20 points. Wow! AR is meant to increase comprehension though fostering a love of pleasure reading, so if your student is reluctant to read an AR book within his/her level then it may be that he/she just plain doesn't like the book. Please get a new one that the student will enjoy reading and WANT to read. The AR Bookfinder Advanced Search option is a great resource to help you and your student find books that may be of interest.
The seventh grade currently is completing a unit on poetry from the Core Knowledge Curriculum. We have some talented young poets and literary critics in the seventh grade!
The eight grade has just started a new unit on short stories in the NEW LITERATURE TEXT BOOKS! We're loving the new books. Thank you, Corpus Christi Catholic School!
AR for the second quarter is well underway. Some students have already earned 20 points. Wow! AR is meant to increase comprehension though fostering a love of pleasure reading, so if your student is reluctant to read an AR book within his/her level then it may be that he/she just plain doesn't like the book. Please get a new one that the student will enjoy reading and WANT to read. The AR Bookfinder Advanced Search option is a great resource to help you and your student find books that may be of interest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)