Middle School Language Arts

Folklore Continues...

2011-09-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

Week of Sept. 19-23 6th grade
I have recently read some amazing Pourquoi Tales! I now know everything from Why Elephants have Long Trunks to How Pigs got Curly Tails.

Now, we are exaggeratin' like nobody's business with a tale or two from some frontier folk and good ole country boys and gals in our Tall Tales. The students are working in groups to hone in on their skills of story tellin'. They must develop characters, assign that character appearances and abilities, develop settings, problem, solution/accomplishments, and resolutions. We should complete this task by Tuesday.

Then we will take some time to read a few folk tales from other countries. Our first will be "The Disobedient Child"- a Guatemalan tale.

The Vocabulary for this week:
fanciful
colossal
omen
imagery
exaggeration
personification
hyperbole
culture
tradition
point of view

2010-12-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

I know, I know...it's been awhile. I apologize. I can't get on my blog at school. Filters will not allow it.
I've been sick forever and had some family emergencies-let's hope 2011 is a fresh start.

Have a safe and joyous holiday season. I'll see you in 2011!!

2010-10-30T16:12:00.001-07:00

As stated earlier, October was POE and POETRY. We are still learning about different types of poems.

Our vocabulary for last week and this week include poetic terms. Students have a handout.

The 7th grade will be taking their 1st state writing test the first week of November.

2010-10-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

7A Vocabualary words for the week

myriad

perspective

perturb

prodigious

relevant

skittish

tether

unison

vie

willful

7B if you scored below a 92%, you will have the same words as last week. Grades were not good-retest Thursday.

6B

believe

calendar

category

cemetery

collectible

conscience

conscientious

conscious

definitely

discipline

embarrass

equipment

exhilarate

existence

experience

2010-10-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

Recently, we have been learning the elements of short stories. As we continue to read and discuss them, we inevitably come into contact with Edgar Allan Poe-the Father of the Short Story. During the month of October we will discuss mood, tone, style and setting while reading some of Poe's works.

After that we will be learning about some of the many types of poetry-news to follow.

Your child has a nightly reading log. Please verify their reading times by signing each night.

2010-09-29T18:49:00.000-07:00

Attention Parents/Guardians of 6B students:
We will be doing "How To" demonstrations next week. Several of the students have expressed interest in doing food items (cupcakes, cookies, etc) They each need a visual aid for their presentations. The students doing food want to bring in samples. I have researched food allergies and made restrictions. NO student is required to taste anything. I will not deduct points from anyone for not trying food items- no one's grade will be based on eating samples. Please email me if you absolutely do not want your child tasting "How To" items. Thank you for allowing us to do "hands on"/language arts projects.

Project for 7th grade

2010-09-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Students will need to complete a project for Stargirl. Due date is September 23, 2010. NO exceptions. The highest grade for any late work will be a 70% (as per newsletter at the beginning of the year).

Students have been told from what projects they may decide.
Here is a list:
Illustrate a scene from the book
Find song lyrics that define one of the characters
Act out a scene from the book
Create original music for the novel
Create a diorama
Create puppets and have performance
Create a advertisement poster
Create a poster for a new cover

Rubrics will be handed out to each student after they have made a decision on project.

7th grade Vocabulary from Love, Stargirl

2010-09-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

No test this week-these are words for next Thursday-
eccentric
individual
self-confidence
mea culpa
conformity
tolerance
enchanted
community
beautiful
solstice

Vocabulary for 6B

2010-09-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

Vocabulary for 6B this week is from Freak the Mighty. Test will not be this Thursday but next.
evidence
mastadons
phony
unvanquished
weird
invincible
allowance
bulkhead
ornithopter
sobriquet

Social Studies Website

2010-08-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

-Click on the mrdonn.org website to the right of the page

-Click on 50 states

-Click on North Carolina

-Learn lots!!

2010-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Summer is winding to an end and it's time to think about back to school.
I consider it a privilege to be a member of this school and am looking forward to sharing in an exciting and rewarding year with you and your child.

Classroom Supply list is on school website. Please have those items the first week of school.

Summer reading was required. So, 6th grade please make sure you are ready to discuss and be tested on Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. Seventh grade, you were to have read Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

A brief newsletter will be coming home the first week of school.

Supply Lists

2010-07-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

Supply Lists are posted on Neuse Charter's Webpage. Please make sure you have supplies on the first day of school.

SUMMER

2010-07-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hope you all are having a safe and fun summer. I just got back from spending a few weeks with my family in Pennsylvania. We had a great time.