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Mrs. Baldwin
Language Arts & Computers Teacher
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September & October Language Arts at a Glance |
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Written by Mrs. Baldwin
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Friday, 03 September 2010 20:14 |
6th Grade News-September and October
Next week, beginning on August 31st, we will begin a literature unit on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In this unit, we will study the elements of literature including characterization, setting, plot, theme, imagery and tone, using these elements as a way to continue to build students’ analytical skills. Students will complete a number of shorter paragraph writes and creative responses throughout the unit. At the end of the unit, students will write a character analysis essay in which they compare and contrast two major characters from the novel. There will be periodic mini pop quizzes to make sure students keep up on the reading. Even if students read the text over the summer, they should re-read along with the class. Re-reading is an incredibly valuable skill which will help them hone their critical reading and comprehension skills. I will provide plenty of in-class workshop time for students to draft their final essays. We will do a number of draft reviews and we will thoroughly discuss essay expectations as a class. Thank you for your support at home in keeping your student on top of their reading. We are taking plenty of time with this unit so we can focus on analysis and the process of writing an essay. The nightly reading load will not be unmanageable.
7th Grade News-September and October
This coming week, starting on Tuesday the 31st, the seventh graders will begin a short stories unit. In this unit, we will use a number of selected short stories to analyze the elements of literature including characterization, setting, plot, theme, imagery and tone, using these elements as a way to continue to build the analytical skills the students have begun to develop in previous years. In this unit, students will write a number of shorter pieces such as analytical and creative paragraphs. We will do LOTS of in-class discussion of the short stories to help students develop their discussion skills. Students will also hold a mock trial for one of the characters of a short story, which will help students develop and defend an argument (and to practice thinking on their feet). I will hold periodic mini pop quizzes which will help me to monitor student reading. At the end of this unit, students will write an analytical essay which will demonstrate their understanding of the text and their ability to make meaning from it. Students will be expected to put into practice the elements of an essay which we have spent the last two weeks discussing, modeling and practicing. Students will receive plenty of time to work on their essay and we will hold in-class review dates to discuss draft progress.
8th Grade News-September and October
In this next week we will begin a unit on The Outsiders which is perhaps my favorite book to teach of all time! Students will continue to build on their knowledge of literary elements including characterization, setting, plot, imagery and tone, paying particular emphasis on how these elements shape the themes of the text. In class discussions will push students to focus on analysis rather than summary or retelling, and will help them hone their abilities to feel comfortable talking about texts. Students will be expected to help drive the class conversations—to come up with discussion questions of their own and to begin to take ownership of the “conversation” about The Outsiders. Throughout the unit, there will be mini pop quizzes which will help me monitor student reading…though I don’t doubt that each and every 8th grader is responsible enough to always get the reading done before class. Students will do a number of writing activities throughout this unit and their final project will involve analytical and creative writing elements. Students will also write an analytical essay for The Outsiders. I am very excited about this unit! |
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 September 2010 20:16 |
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August 2010 Month at a Glance |
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Written by Jenni Baldwin
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Wednesday, 11 August 2010 14:56 |
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August Month at a Glance
Sixth Grade
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English
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I am looking forward to meeting all my new students! I hope you have had a wonderful and restful summer and that you are ready to read and write up a storm this fall!
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Class
Work
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We will be reviewing the parts of a paragraph and essay format to ensure that our writing skills are all polished up for the remainder of the year. You will each write a biographical poem that will help me get to know you better.
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Writing and Grammar
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We will have a "bench mark" grammar test the first week of school which will allow me to gain a sense of what you remember from grammar in previous years. You will receive credit for taking the test but the test score will not affect your grade.
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Literature
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We will begin a unit on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at the end of August/early September
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Seventh Grade
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English
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I am looking forward to meeting all my new students! I hope you have had a wonderful and restful summer and that you are ready to read and write up a storm this fall!
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Class
Work
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We will be reviewing the parts of a paragraph and essay format to ensure that our writing skills are all polished up for the remainder of the year. This work will help you prepare for the writing you will do in other classes as well. You will each write a biographical poem that will help me get to know you better.
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Writing and Grammar
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We will have a "bench mark" grammar test the first week of school which will allow me to gain a sense of what you remember from grammar in previous years. You will receive credit for taking the test but the test score will not affect your grade.
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Literature
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We will begin a unit on selected short stories at the end of August/early September
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Eighth Grade
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English
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I am looking forward to meeting all my new students! I hope you have had a wonderful and restful summer and that you are ready to read and write up a storm this fall!
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Class
Work
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We will be reviewing the parts of a paragraph and essay format to ensure that our writing skills are all polished up for the remainder of the year. The essay is the heart of high school writing and I want to make sure we start building your writing foundation from the get-go! Also, you will each write a biographical poem that will help me get to know you better.
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Writing and Grammar
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We will have a "bench mark" grammar test the first week of school which will allow me to gain a sense of what you remember from grammar in previous years. You will receive credit for taking the test but the test score will not affect your grade.
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Literature
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We will begin a unit on The Outsiders at the end of August/early September
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Last Updated on Thursday, 12 August 2010 09:34 |
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2010-2011 Middle School English Supply List |
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Written by Anne Jacobs
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Saturday, 17 July 2010 15:23 |
- 3 sectioned notebook
- Red pen for correcting
- Mechanical pencil
- 3x5 LINED note cards
- Notebook paper
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Last Updated on Friday, 30 July 2010 20:45 |
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Middle School Summer Reading |
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Written by Jenni Baldwin
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Monday, 08 June 2009 09:49 |
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Sixth Grade 2010 -2011 School Year Summer Reading List
There are two assigned books and one book of your choice.
The assigned books are The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis and Pauline Baynes. They will be the first books we discuss during literature.
Your choice should be a book that is your reading level. You will give an oral report on this book the first week of school. Be sure to include the title and author in your introduction. Explain the book and give your recommendation. The speech should be around 2-5 minutes.
Seventh Grade 2010-2011 School Year Summer Reading List
There are two assigned books and one book of your choice.
The assigned books are The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston. They will be the first books we discuss during literature.
Your choice should be a book that is your reading level. You will give an oral report on this book the first week of school. Be sure to include the title and author in your introduction. Explain the book and give your recommendation. The speech should be around 2 – 5 minutes.
Eighth Grade 2010-2011 School Year Summer Reading List
There are two assigned books and one book of your choice.
The assigned books are Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin and The Long Valley by John Steinbeck. They will be the first books we discuss during literature.
Your choice should be book that is your reading level. You will give an oral book report on this book the first week of school. Be sure to include the title and author in your introduction. Explain the book and give your recommendation. The speech should be around 3 – 5 minutes.
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Last Updated on Friday, 09 July 2010 09:55 |
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