Mrs. Kuhr's Language Arts Blog

Reminders:

Diagramming Test Tomorrow 5/20/13 :  LA 7 and LA 8

Poetry Recitation Week Begins 5/20/13:  All grades

• LA 6: Poetry from Mirrors and Windows
  • Be prepared to recite any day from Mon. 5/20 – Thurs. 5/23
  • Assessment based on memorization and presentation
• LA 7:  Classic Poetry showcasing poets from the late 1800′s – present
  • Be prepared to recite any day from Tues. 5/21 – Fri. 5/24
  • Include brief poet bio. and your interpretation of the poem’s meaning
  • Assessment based on poem memorization and presentation, and supplemental information
• LA 8:  Shakespeare’s Monologues
  • Be prepared to recite Wed.  5/22 or Thurs. 5/23
  • Include information about:
    • The Play
      • identification: one of the tragedies, comedies, histories, etc.
      • brief plot summary
    • Explanation of the scene from which your monologue cometh
  • Assessment based on memorization and presentation, command and understanding of the language, and comprehension of the storyline

CHAI Reading: due May 8, 2013

• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Book Review: Posted to Shelfari AND linked on blogfolio
  CHAI-light:  Assume the persona of your book’s protagonist and write a blog post using his/her voice.  Post to blogfolio with reflection.

POETRY Recitation: week of May 20-24

• 6:  “How To Eat A Poem” and other sensory works
• 7:  Assorted poems by Frost, Browning, Dickinson, Poe, Donne, etc.
• 8:  Shakespeare’s monologues

POETRY Written Exam: May 29

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

The art of editorial cartooning is no laughing matter – meaning, it is no easy task to convey a message using few, if any words, with just the right balance of humor:satire that resonates with readers on both sides of often painfully controversial issues.  Editorials, letters to the editor, opinion pieces and political cartoons all have distinctive traits and common literary elements/devices, such as: tone, point of view, and figurative language.

 is proud to feature  April’s editorials.  Enjoy!

I chose this topic because I love technology. I can never put my phone down. I’ve heard that texting and driving is dangerous before, but after I researched more about this, I am never going to even glance at my phone when I drive. This topic is important because it affects all of America. Now that our phones are getting more advanced, and more types of phones are coming out, people are starting to get more addicted to texting and calling. If you text while you drive, you’re distracted and it increases your chance of getting into a severe car wreck. I believe that I showed very well what my point was. This cartoon doesn’t need anybody talking, or even a text box explaining it. It just shows exactly what I intended it to show.

Head Injuries In Sports – Max M.

Reflection:

This cartoon is about the harm of head injuries especially in sports.  This a major problem in sports and there should be an effort to stop it.  What my cartoon shows is that the player has had so many concussions that he can barely think.  While the coach may be sad, anyone smart wouldn’t allow someone to play in the conditions that this player is in.  Because of continuous head injuries, his brain has  deteriorated; he cannot back down, because he can’t use his brain to its full potential.

Gun Control by Josh F.

I think that this is important because gun control in the United States has gotten out of hand.

 

 

Contributions to http://smartphonesintheclassroom.wikispaces.com/ are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 License.

Today the Middle School participated in the last day of this year’s edJEWcon.  Grade 8 students presented a session on The Sunflower Project (more on this later), and the entire Middle School attended the closing keynote address by Steve Hargadon, director of Web 2.0 Labs.  A consultant on educational technology, specifically on social networking, he shared his thoughts on how new technology is changing learning practices and expectations for teaching and learning.  The students used laptops, iPads and other tablets, as well as iPhones/Smartphones to backchannel (a record and running commentary of the event in real time) Steve’s presentation.  Here are some highlights from student notes.

• Learning models are changing @Shelby W. and Montgomery P. 10:13 AM, 30 Apr 2013.
• 75 years ago you knew most of what you are going to need for work. Now we recognize you learn a lot in the real world. @Sabrina M. at 10:15 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Yes learning models are changing. Also learning tools are changing. @Sydney T. and Sarah S. at 10:15 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Years ago people would learn by reading from books and write everything down by hand. Now we do almost everything on laptops or i-Pads.  @Samuel S. at 10:17 AM, 30 Apr 2013 
• People are learning from technology. @Lily h. at 10:17 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Mike Fisher says education the way we know it is going to completely change. @Mrs. Hernandez at 10:17 AM, 30 Apr 2013                                                                                                         
• Finding ways to contribute that are valuable to students in our community.  @Sabrina M. at 10:17 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• A tech shift ➡ a culture shift ➡ an education shift.  @Reesa Z. at 10:17 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Responsibilities and expectations.  @Joey P. at 10:18 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Lifelong learning.  @Avi chai L. at 10:18 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Back then, we used to send letters by mail. Now we have been sending emails, text messages, etc.  Technology is allowing us to share information as it is happening.Julia K. at 10:20 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Rapid change is right. I can think of so many devices I don’t think I can write[sic] them all down!  @Rachel L.  at 10:21 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Students will have to take a math EOC on a computer, we were not traditionally taught to do math on a computer. I think we should change. @Daniel N. at 10:20 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Need to educate next gen differently. @Avi chai L. at 10:20 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• I think our ideas on education will change. More schools [are] about technology, like coding computers and using things like Scratch.info everywhere. @Joey P. at 10:21 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• The tech shift will change the culture shift and the culture shift will change education. @Joshua F. at 10:21 AM, 30 Apr 2013
• Phones can now be used by online learning over the internet, the same usage the laptop is for.Joshua F. at 10:40 AM, 30 Apr 2013

Photo:
by touring_fishman under creative commons licensure

 The 6th grade agrees with Joshua F.  Now the question becomes, with technology changing the way we learn, why shouldn’t we use all kinds of technology in our classrooms – including Smartphones?

From the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Unbelievably, it is the last nine weeks of this school year.  Lots to do; some exciting changes for next year TBA in upcoming posts; please take note of schedule changes re: CHAI reading (all) and the Sunflower Project (Gr. 8).

READING

• STAR Reading:  Last diagnostic tests for the year were taken this week (4/15-16);  results and recommendations will be sent at the end of the school year
• CHAI Reading:  Book selections made this week (4/15-16)
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
  • Note new due date:  May 8, 2013 
  • Book Review: Posted to Shelfari AND linked on blogfolio
  • CHAI-light:  Assume the persona of your book’s protagonist and write a blog post using his/her voice.  Post to blogfolio with reflection.  Example:

Today my sister Annie’s teacher sent a note home.  She needs a white dress for the Easter play at school.  Annie is one of the angels and she speaks one line.  Mama is furious.  She says we didn’t leave the war in Germany to come to America to be in an Easter play.  She doesn’t understand how important it is that we fit in.  Papa knows.  

Everything here is so hard.  Like the language.  Why are there so many different words for the same thing?  My teacher called me stupid in front of the whole class.  It reminded me of that time in Germany when the teacher called me to the front and said, “‘Look at this Jewish pig, children!  I don’t want to see any of you talking to her.’” (Levitin, 1989, p.9)  I thought America would be different . . .  (based on the character Lisa in Silver Days by Sonia Levitin)

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

LITERATURE

• Poetry Unit – Introduction
  • 6:  Rhyme scheme and sensory language
  • 7:  Types of poems (selections for recitations next week)
  • 8:  Shakespeare and soliloquies as compared to monologues 

WRITING

• Editorials
  • All grades:  Cartoon with reflection already posted to blogs
  • 7 & 8:  Written editorial posted on blog or saved as draft in dashboard
• Blogfolios
  • Check to be sure blogfolio is current
  • Edit and revise, as needed
  • Make corrections to Chai book reviews, as noted on your rubrics 

LIFELONG LEARNING

The Sunflower Project, Grade 8, will now be presented at the edJewcon conference on Tuesday, April 30.  The wiki will be officially launched, and 8th grade students will participate in a panel discussion with edJewcon attendees.  Very exciting!

And now, you are up-to-date … at least, for this week!

Cartoon attributed to:
http://www.jr.co.il/humor/pass69.htm

I hope all of you are enjoying Spring Break.  April promises to be as busy as March.  Be prepared to get right to work when you return to class on Wednesday, April 3.

The Weeks Ahead . . .

4/03/13       Welcome Back!  Editorial cartooning in class; bring layout sketches

4/04/13

• Written editorials – drafts due, proofed

• CHAI Reading selections

4/05/13       Editorial cartoons published

4/09/13       End of third 9 weeks

4/8-12/13    Middle School Trip

• Grades 6 and 7 return to class Friday, 3/12

• Grade 8 returns Monday, 3/15

4/14/13        Community University; required attendance

4/17/13        Gr. 8 The Sunflower wiki launched @Makom HHS  6-8:30 P.M.

4/18/13        Written editorials published

4/19/13        Spring Parent Conferences

Welcome back to The Author’s Page.  This month, the showcases some CHAI Reading book reviews formatted in newspaper style*, from LA6.  The literary genre is westerns/pioneer life; settings and characters (specifically protagonists and antagonists) are reflected in banners, headlines and feature articles.  So, hitch your horse and wagon to the post and settle in for some homespun news…

  By Sarah C., Grade 6

By Sarah S., Grade 6

By Brianna G., Grade 6

By Jake G., Grade 6

  All classes, grades 6 ,7 and 8, were charged with the same newspaper assignment.  Results are posted on individual student blogfolios.

*Reflection: Since last presenting this genre and lesson a few years ago, young adult literature and the way in which we get our news have both changed dramatically. Though westerns are, and have been, a less than popular Chai reading assignment, students in previous years have at least recognized the genre. Such is no longer the case.  Furthermore, while aware of the diversified accessibility of today’s media, I was still surprised to learn that only 16% of our Middle School households subscribe to Sunday/weekend newspaper delivery, less than 6% receive daily delivery, and only 3% of our Middle School students have read/seen/touched newsprint. Thus, the newspaper project took longer than anticipated.  I opine that the challenge and subsequent effort were worthwhile.  Mrs. K

March roared in like a lion!

ITBS:  All done, but for a few make-up tests next week.

Back on track:  Next week we return to our regular MS schedule.  Items of note:

1. Blogfolio Updates – Hyperlinked Writing with Mrs. Tolisano
2. Editorials: Purpose and How-To’s
3. Critique the Test – Your Q’s and A’s re: the language sections on the ITBS test

Looking ahead:

• CHAI Reading:  Due Thursday, March 21*
  • Genre: Mystery
  • Review posted to Shelfari (No CHAI-light this month)

* CHAI selections have been made.  Remember to bring your book to class, daily, as required.  This past week’s standardized testing should have provided you with ample opportunities to put  a dent in your novel.  I will not accept any review past the posted due date.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

Have a good weekend and restful Shabbat! ♥

What you should know about ITBS Testing . . .

• Begins Monday, 3/04 through Friday, 3/08
  • Make-up tests are scheduled, as warranted, the following week
  • Tests will be administered only to those students who have excused absences for illness
• Flipped schedule – testing and general studies classes in the A.M., followed by lunch, Jewish studies classes, and resources; periods will be slightly abbreviated
• Light HW may be assigned throughout the week
• Testing is proctored and takes place in your child’s homeroom ( 7th w/Mrs. Kuhr, 8th w/Mrs. Burkhart,  6th w/Mrs. Reppert)
• Students should bring the following*:
  • several #2 pencils, pre-sharpened
  • good erasers
  • eyeglasses/contact lenses
  • a book to read for Chai (this month’s genre is mystery)
  • bottled water
    • liquids must be in bottles with twist-on caps
    • juice boxes/pouches can leak/drip, so please save them for snacks
  • a healthy snack to eat after testing
• Test prep begins at home with:
  • a good night’s sleep
  • comfortable clothes
  • a hearty breakfast
  • medication, as prescribed (cough drops, if warranted)
  • deep breathing and positive visualization

*The sniffles and sneezes continue; thus, we are experiencing a shortage of facial tissue.  Please consider sending tissue boxes with your child on Monday.  Your generosity is much appreciated.

Shabbat Shalom

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com