G and T MUR:
This week our MUR class took their MCA reading test, so we did not have MUR Monday - Wednesday.
Reading -Closing out the week we finished our unit on Animal Farm. Students presented their cover ideas to the class. We have some budding artists and some very unique cover designs. I was so impressed with the quality of thought and creative ideas the students came up with. We also worked on developing a moral for the story. We had an in-depth discussion on why Animal Farm is a "Fairy Story", and students shared their self created morals through an expository essay.
In writing, we have completed the research portion of our essay, and student's are conferencing with me one on one to begin the editing process. This week I am helping students create quality topic sentences for their essays before they begin their rough draft. Next week, we will be writing our rough drafts and again, students will conference with me to get one on one help with the editing process.
***A reminder to return your permission slips for the tablets by Monday, April 30, 2012
Advanced MUR:
In reading, we began our unit on The Scarlet Pimpernel. We started off the week with a biography scavenger hunt and group pair share on the author. By midweek, we took an in-depth look at irony and the difference between situation, verbal and dramatic irony. Students will continue to identify irony through out our study of the Scarlet Pimpernel. We will also be using the tablets to watch portions of the movie, allowing the students to gain a better understanding of the clothes, styles and rhetoric of the time.
In writing, students completed their fictional short stories. I am amazed at the creative story plots and use of suspense many of the students have developed. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to allow students to display this talent in a school assignment. I am hoping to enter some of the stories into writing contests and will keep you updated on our progress in this area.
In elements of style, we closed out our unit on the use of commas. This topic is one we will continue to revisit for the remainder of the school year to allow students to become proficient in this area.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Advanced MUR:
As we begin our study of the Scarlet Pimpernel it is important to refresh your memory on the French Revolution. Please click on the link below and watch this student made video of the Revolution. Please complete the sheet in your packet that corresponds to the French Revolution and color in the map!
Friday, April 20, 2012
All Animals are equal...but some are more equal than others!
What an exciting month this has been. For the last two weeks students have been presenting their Propaganda Power Point Projects. WOW! I am continually blown away by what the students are able to create and their creative ideas. We have some budding sales people in our classroom as well. My favorite projects were one's where students made their own video commercials. What a creative use of technology incorporated into the power points.
This week we finished up our reading on Animal Farm and learned that some political ideals start off with good intentions, but end in exploitation and disaster. Many times our conversations diverged to our own society and events occurring today. It was wonderful to see student's making connections and their horizons broadened!
We also spent this week taking our fourth and final interim assessment. For more information regarding your child's progress or if you have any questions about the final interim assessment, please feel free to contact me at jgordon@cologneacademy.org.
Good Luck to all next week on your reading MCA test!
This week we finished up our reading on Animal Farm and learned that some political ideals start off with good intentions, but end in exploitation and disaster. Many times our conversations diverged to our own society and events occurring today. It was wonderful to see student's making connections and their horizons broadened!
We also spent this week taking our fourth and final interim assessment. For more information regarding your child's progress or if you have any questions about the final interim assessment, please feel free to contact me at jgordon@cologneacademy.org.
Good Luck to all next week on your reading MCA test!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Down on the Farm
Reading: This week we began reading Animal Farm by George Orwell. Student's took an in-depth look at The Beasts of England, the animal's new anthem. Many students were able to make connections with our own National Anthem and the pride in which a song can instill. We continued our study by looking at the "ten commandments" Major brought to the animals and how this might propagate a rebellion among the farm animals.
G and T Writing: The research period has drawn to a close and students are working in their packets to organize their information. I will be meeting with students over the next two weeks to conference on topic sentences, paragraph organization and incorporating research into their essays.
Advanced MUR Writing: We are have finished our stories and students are currently typing. We will be meeting over the next two weeks to begin the editing process and then typing our final drafts.
Spelling: G & T MUR is working on less 32 in Red Hot Root Words and Advanced MUR is continuing their study in Wordly Wise.
Elements of Style: We continue to explore the 8 rules of commas with rules 3-6 this week. We will be completing this unit next week. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the 8 rules in their essays and story projects.
G and T Writing: The research period has drawn to a close and students are working in their packets to organize their information. I will be meeting with students over the next two weeks to conference on topic sentences, paragraph organization and incorporating research into their essays.
Advanced MUR Writing: We are have finished our stories and students are currently typing. We will be meeting over the next two weeks to begin the editing process and then typing our final drafts.
Spelling: G & T MUR is working on less 32 in Red Hot Root Words and Advanced MUR is continuing their study in Wordly Wise.
Elements of Style: We continue to explore the 8 rules of commas with rules 3-6 this week. We will be completing this unit next week. Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the 8 rules in their essays and story projects.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Short Stories!
G & T MUR
This week we finished reading Dragonwings the play and continued on with the Junior Great Books series. We had excellent discussion groups and were able to talk in depth about how characters change over time.I am continually amazed at how the students are able to have such high level discussions with their peers. It is wonderful to witness this academic independence.
In spelling, we are working in Red Hot Root Words. Students are working in stations to develop new words with their roots, create stories with our spelling words and test our peers.
On Friday, I introduced our independent writing project for the trimester. We worked in the computer lab doing research on our chosen topics and will slowly work through the essay writing process.
Advanced MUR
This week we read two short stories about the adolecencent problems bullying and sibling arguments. Students were able to give numerous personal examples on the topics, and we worked to get to the root of these overwhelming problems. On Wednesday, we had a seminar and students were able to share ideas with each other.
In spelling we continue our study in Wordly Wise. Students are working with high level vocabulary in a meaningful way.
We began typing our fictional stories as we delve deeper into our independent writing project. We finished up our study of our main characters and will move next week onto our supporting characters. Students completed the introduction and problem of their stories. We now begin the long journey toward the climax. I also spent time conferencing with each student this week, helping them edit and add to their work.
This week we finished reading Dragonwings the play and continued on with the Junior Great Books series. We had excellent discussion groups and were able to talk in depth about how characters change over time.I am continually amazed at how the students are able to have such high level discussions with their peers. It is wonderful to witness this academic independence.
In spelling, we are working in Red Hot Root Words. Students are working in stations to develop new words with their roots, create stories with our spelling words and test our peers.
On Friday, I introduced our independent writing project for the trimester. We worked in the computer lab doing research on our chosen topics and will slowly work through the essay writing process.
Advanced MUR
This week we read two short stories about the adolecencent problems bullying and sibling arguments. Students were able to give numerous personal examples on the topics, and we worked to get to the root of these overwhelming problems. On Wednesday, we had a seminar and students were able to share ideas with each other.
In spelling we continue our study in Wordly Wise. Students are working with high level vocabulary in a meaningful way.
We began typing our fictional stories as we delve deeper into our independent writing project. We finished up our study of our main characters and will move next week onto our supporting characters. Students completed the introduction and problem of their stories. We now begin the long journey toward the climax. I also spent time conferencing with each student this week, helping them edit and add to their work.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Enjoy your Spring Break!
G & T MUR: This week we began the story Dragon Wings we are reading the story in play form. We began by sharing our knowledge of Chinese culture and have moved into lessons on American History and how people from other lands view us as Americans.
For this unit we will be focusing on character traits. Students are developing charts in the classroom on each character and keeping track of how a character changes over time. We are learning that characters as well as people are multifaceted.
In writing we continue to work on Elements of Styles. Our focus is a review on possessives!
Advanced MUR: This week we are learning about Elizabeth and Robert Browning in a unit entitled "Literature's True Love Story." We began by reading Sonnet 43. Students were able to share their thoughts and ideas as well as pose questions about the text. This stirred some great thoughts in our middle schoolers. We briefly touched on the differences between English and Italian sonnets as well as the background of both authors. We finished out the week by reading A Woman's Last Word by Robert Browning and discussing his perspective of women.
Interim Assessment: This week we took our third interim assessment of the year. Students are making tremendous progress. I have noticed a particular improvement in the area of writing. We are becoming more proficient at communicating our ideas in written form.
***If you would like more information regarding your child's progress please feel free to email @ jgordon @cologneacademy.org
For this unit we will be focusing on character traits. Students are developing charts in the classroom on each character and keeping track of how a character changes over time. We are learning that characters as well as people are multifaceted.
In writing we continue to work on Elements of Styles. Our focus is a review on possessives!
Advanced MUR: This week we are learning about Elizabeth and Robert Browning in a unit entitled "Literature's True Love Story." We began by reading Sonnet 43. Students were able to share their thoughts and ideas as well as pose questions about the text. This stirred some great thoughts in our middle schoolers. We briefly touched on the differences between English and Italian sonnets as well as the background of both authors. We finished out the week by reading A Woman's Last Word by Robert Browning and discussing his perspective of women.
Interim Assessment: This week we took our third interim assessment of the year. Students are making tremendous progress. I have noticed a particular improvement in the area of writing. We are becoming more proficient at communicating our ideas in written form.
***If you would like more information regarding your child's progress please feel free to email @ jgordon @cologneacademy.org
Friday, March 2, 2012
Wrap Up!
Josephine and Aunt Edith "Caught" in Crime!
This week we finished our mystery unit. It was exciting to see the student's reactions as they uncovered the final scenes in the book. Many students yelled out "NO WAY!" as they came to the ending. It was difficult to keep everyone quiet until all had a chance to finish the book. Unfortunately, our snow day interrupted our final discussion. I am anxious to read the student's final exam essays and read their thoughts and ideas on the story.
Thursday and Friday we took our final exam and are ready to move on to our next unit!
Advanced MUR Writing Project:
This week we spent time getting to know our main characters. Each student gave a short presentation on their main character, describing the character's personality traits, and sharing a hidden talent of their character. It is exciting to see middle school students so excited about a project. We are all looking forward to next week when we will be sharing our stories with a partner.
***Reminder: Next week is our 3rd Interim Assessment.
Next week we will be working with short stories so we have ample time to review and prepare for our Interim Assessment. This trimester we will be giving differentiated assessments to better suit the needs of students in the class.
This week we finished our mystery unit. It was exciting to see the student's reactions as they uncovered the final scenes in the book. Many students yelled out "NO WAY!" as they came to the ending. It was difficult to keep everyone quiet until all had a chance to finish the book. Unfortunately, our snow day interrupted our final discussion. I am anxious to read the student's final exam essays and read their thoughts and ideas on the story.
Thursday and Friday we took our final exam and are ready to move on to our next unit!
Advanced MUR Writing Project:
This week we spent time getting to know our main characters. Each student gave a short presentation on their main character, describing the character's personality traits, and sharing a hidden talent of their character. It is exciting to see middle school students so excited about a project. We are all looking forward to next week when we will be sharing our stories with a partner.
***Reminder: Next week is our 3rd Interim Assessment.
Next week we will be working with short stories so we have ample time to review and prepare for our Interim Assessment. This trimester we will be giving differentiated assessments to better suit the needs of students in the class.
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