ferrellweb

Nothing to see here, folks. All class period to work on questions. We’ll tie up loose ends tomorrow.

I had some things to talk to you about today, mostly involving writing decent responses to reading questions, and a little bit about working in groups. Then, lo and behold!, I turned you loose to work in groups and start answering the Sindbad reading response questions, even though you didn’t have much time.

I collected Creature Papers today—about 60 of you turned them in through Buzzword. Good job! I’ll be working on grading those this week, but it will be a little while before I get to them all.

We had our first vocabulary quiz today, as well, and here (through the magic of late posting) are some charts of the results, so you can see where you fit:

2nd Period:

3rd Period:

6th Period:

I’ll hand back the papers Monday.

Tomorrow, some heavy stuff going on:

(1) Your Creature Papers are due. Either shared through Buzzword by 8:00 am, or turned in on paper during your class period.

(2) Vocabulary Quiz #1 during class: ten words from Monday, know how to spell them and what the mean. Six words from your notebooks, be able to match them with their definitions.

We took time out to head to the computer lab today, where I introduced you to Adobe’s Buzzword. You got a handout with detailed instructions (available in the sidebar, as usual) explaining how to use Buzzword to format a school paper.

Eventually, you’ll be turning in essays through Buzzword. For your creature paper, though, this is optional. I am offering a few extra credit points, though, if you’d like to use Buzzword for this paper. If you do, be sure you follow our file naming conventions. My paper, for instance (if I were in second period, and if I were writing a paper), would be named:

[2] - Creature Paper - FerrellJ

You do likewise. Full instructions are in the handout.

Today, we reviewed the procedure for our semi-daily “grammar” exercises, and did one. This took a fair amount of time. For the remainder of class, you worked on finishing up your Sindbad vocabulary words.

We collected your 10 words for Vocabulary #1 today. You’ll have your first Vocabulary Quiz on Friday—be sure you can spell each word, and that you know their definitions! (Also remember that your creature papers are due the same day. )

With the exception of a few general remarks, you had all period to work on vocabulary words from Sindbad. We’ll tie up any loose ends on Tuesday. Don’t forget your own vocabulary for Monday!

Before anything else today, we reviewed the implications of your Grading Standards handout, and also looked over a sheet entitled Paper Evaluation Marks (find a link in the sidebar), so that you would have some idea of how carefully you ought to write your creature reports. (Answer: “very.")

After that, we all got copies of “The Second & Third Voyages of Sindbad,” and began working on bonus vocabulary from the story. We’ll finish (I hope) in class tomorrow, since you couldn’t take the stories home with you.

Don’t forget to be working on your vocabulary for Monday, so that (1) you can ask questions early if you have them, and (2) you don’t ruin a perfectly good Sunday night trying desperately to get them done!

Today, an essay/project assignment—you met the creatures under your desks, so to speak, and got a small-scale research assignment. The bottom line is as follows:
» Paper/essay: due Friday, August 22.
» Tissue box project: due Monday, August 25.
» Oral presentation: TBA, beginning sometime after the 25th.

If you need another copy of the project spec.’s, you’ll find a link in the sidebar, as usual. More details and examples to come pertaining to exact typing format, etc. For now, get reading—remember, the best way to write about something is to learn about it first!

We talked about your vocabulary assignment today, at great length. Should you happen to lose your style guide, you can download another copy from the list of handouts in the sidebar. Your Vocabulary #1 assignment is due Monday, August 18th.

Remember, you should have five words total, recorded as we’ve been going over at great length in class. If you have specific questions, email me, hop on the MUSH, or check with me at school!

Standard opening remarks, procedures, etc. Nothing exciting, certainly. I sent home a parent letter (respond Friday for bonus points), and we talked about notebooks and required materials (bring 3-ring notebook, loose-leaf paper, blue/black pens, and a couple of another color (red, green, purple, etc.) on Friday for more bonus points).