QW: "I could tell whatever was behind me was impatient." (Can read on Friday)

Spell test #5 trade/grade/turn in
Return Biog check #2
Work on sentence types: simple, complex, compound, complex-compund
Worksheet -- simple and compound sentences.

Peer/edit/grade "Not To Go With Others" paragraph.

Go over essay conclusion and transitions -- handouts on phrases and words

Returned IOA essays. Rough draft and peer edit due EOP Monday. Read assignment over. Make sure you label your essay parts, write transitions between paragraphs, and write a conclusion at the end. Can bring in draft on flash drive on Monday to work on during class. Rough draft must be edited using form I gave you.


Thurs: 10/30: Spelling corrections and post-test #5 (DATE CHANGE)
Mon: 11/03: IOA rough draft with self edits. Due EOP. Will have class time.
Tues., 11/04: Biography check #3

QW: "I got trampled by the duck..."

* Finish notes on Hokusai and Zaremski, p. 636
* Class discussion on main points of each
* Compare the 2 works. Use chart on p. 643 as guide. Can have 1 partner
* Write 1 paragraph, essay style, how the title “Not To Go With Others” relates to the main point of Hersey’s story. (Use labels.) Hand in EOP or finish for HW. Due Weds.

HW: Weds: Essay graph on title of Hersey’s story. BOP.
Thurs: 10/30: Spelling corrections and post-test #5 (DATE CHANGE)
Mon: 11/03: IOA rough draft with self edits. Due EOP. Will have class time.
Tues., 11/04: Biography check #3

Returned biography check #1 and discussed biography check #2, due Tuesday.

Spelling pretest #5. Sentence work and post-test on THURS (not Friday!)

QW: On the economy. Read NY Times article: As Yard Sales Boom in Hard Times, Sentiment Is First Thing to Go. Write your own definition of rich/poor. Then write: What would you sell at a yard sale? What price would you put on it? At the end of the day, what would be your everything-must-go price?

Textbook work on biographical narratives continued on Tuesday.

HW:
Tues., 10/28: Biography check #2.
Thurs: 10/30: Spelling corrections and post-test #5 (DATE CHANGE)
Mon: 11/03: IOA rough draft with self edits. Due EOP. Will have class time.

WOD: frugal (adj). avoiding waste; thrifty. Thomas was frugal with his allowance, choosing only to buy a chocolate bar once a week and put the rest in a savings account

Spelling Test # 4 Test/trade/grade

Read biographical narratives, “Hokusai: The Old Man Mad About Drawing” and John Hersey’s “Not To Go With Others.” P. 634.

Fill in chart for main points of paragraphs and main point of the excerpts. Finish in class on Monday.

Coming up:
Tues., 10/28: Biography progress check #2
Fri., 10/31: IOA paragraphs, rough draft with edits

QW: If your parents told you your best friend was a bad influence and that you were no longer allowed to hang out together, how would you feel? Would you do what they said?

Discuss Maya Angelou questions. Hand in.

HW: Spelling Unit 4, post-test. Hand in work sentences and pre-test.

IOA paragraphs handed in. Rough draft due Friday, Oct. 31. Follow instructions on handout. Do not submit in pencil. Typing is the best. Double space. 12-point font.

Handed out 2nd quarter late passes. Must submit at end of quarter for 5 points extra credit, or use for one late assignment turned in one day late. Don't lose. This is only one issued for the quarter.

Finished Maya Angelou I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Exercises p. 38, 1-6. Complete sentences. Finish for HW.

HW: Textbook, exercises, p. 38. 1-6.

WOD: figurative (adj) of speech, not literal; Her hair was like snow, soft, light and nearly weightless is an example of figurative language.

QW: Write a letter that your grandchildren will open in 50 years telling them what the world is like today.

Biography check in #1 due in basket

Maya Angelou excerpt from I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in Prentice Hall textbook. Popcorn, class read aloud and discuss. Notice Angelou's use of figurative language:
"I sopped around the house, like an old biscuit, dirty and inedible... Then I got to know the lady who threw me my first lifeline."

More on Maya Angelou http://www.mayaangelou.com/ShortBio.html

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper.
It takes the human voice to infuse them with the shades of deeper meaning."
-- I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Do Q&A at end, individually. Finish in class on Weds.


HW: IOA paragraphs due Weds., use essay style format.

QW: “And that’s when it started to get weird…”

Spelling Unit Four, pretest. Trade/Grade. If miss more than 2, write each missed word 5X and do exercises 1-20 for Friday and take post-test

Grammar Test group project due today in basket.

Class-time to work on: Biog check #1; IOA paragraphs; Unit 4 spelling sentences and test Friday

HW:
Tues: Biography check #1 -- double-entry journal with direct passages and page numbers noting influences, obstacles or accomplishments of subject of your biography.
Weds: IOA (influences, obstacles and accomplishments) paragraphs due. Your own. Use essay style format and label. No pencil.
Fri: Spelling sentences and post-test Unit 4.

WOD: resolute (adj) firm in purpose or belief; unhesitating. The soldier stood resolute against the enemy.

Spelling Unit Three: take, trade, grade, hand in.

Time to polish final draft of group grammar test. Make it neat and clear!

Work on Influences, obstacles and accomplishments essay paragraphs.

10/20: Grammar Test final group project.
10/21: Biography response #1. Should be well into reading & using post-its.
10/30: Report cards sent home.

QW: So I went to the zoo and stole 200 flamingos.

Essay Paragraph. It's back! Commentary, what is it?

Influences, obstacles, accomplishments, your own, in essay format. Handout. Pre-write using any one of six ways of prewriting. In class.

HW:
10/17: Spelling test Unit Three sentences and corrections and post-test.
10/20: Grammar Test final group project
10/21: Biography response #1. Should be well into reading & using post-its.
10/30: Report cards sent home.

Go over biography check-in # 1 due Tuesday, 10/21.
Questions on grammar test design?

Grammar Test Design group work, first draft due today, EOP.
Semicolons worksheet.

First quarter ends Friday.

Coming up:

10/17: Spelling test Unit Three sentences and corrections and post-test.
10/20: Grammar Test final group project
10/21: Biography response #1. Should be well into reading & using post-its.
10/30: Report cards sent home.

QW:What is the one fairy tale character you hate and why? How would you make it/him/her different?

Go over comma splices and run-ons – two handouts

Grammar Test group work (design)
Rough due Weds. – will have class time.
Final due Mon 10/20

Group roles:
Reporter/notetaker; co-chairs, organize and lead; researcher: book & handouts; accountant – makes sure you have enough questions; final draft – responsible for

WOD: myth (n) -- a traditional story, esp. one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events; a humorous or horrific story or piece of information circulated as though true.

Columbus Day activity. Handouts, discuss, and:
QW: Is history a permanent, unchanging story (myth) of the past or is it something that changes over time? (Think about the story of Columbus)?

Spelling pretest Unit 3 Trade/grade/ Sentences and post-test on Friday
Check and go over comma splices & run ons

Make sure you are reading biography. First progress report due Tues, 10/21.

HW: Due Tuesday: Comma splices and run ons (#2) handout

WOD: nebulous (adj.) -- indistinct, vague. Betty Sue's description of the film was so nebulous that I'm still not sure what it is about.

QW: "Loneliness should not be a habit."

Spelling post-test Unit 2. Trade/grade/

Sentence fragments 2 checked and discussed.

HW: Comma Splices and Run Ons -- handouts due Monday.

Grammar Test Design, groups of 4. Handout. First draft due Weds., Oct. 15; final due Mon., Oct. 20.

QW: If for one day you could do exactly what you want and not get punished or caught, what would you do?

Sentence fragment 1, Go over in class.
Sentence fragment 2, due on Fri.

Work time: grammar cards; spelling unit 2; read biography; sentence fragments 2


HW: Friday:
*Grammar card project due NO LATES. NO PENCIL. NO EXCUSES.
* Study for spelling test Unit 2; unit 2 spelling, word 5 times, exercises 1-20 due.
*Sentence fragments 2 worksheet

WOD: implacable (adj) not to be appeased; incapable of being pacified; inexorable;
She conducted her life and her work with all the steady and implacable seriousness of a steamroller.

Drill and Kill: Grammar pronouns. Worksheet due today. Graded.
Sentence Fragments 1: worksheet, due Thurs. for HW.
It's okay to get some not right. It's not okay not to try and turn in nothing.

Work time: grammar cards, spelling, unit 2, read biography

On grammar cards: read instructions; put in as much detail as can for part of speech; sentences and/or definitoins help grade (not extra credit); include your word list (already graded); pencil gets a zero.

HW: Due Thursday, worksheet, Sentence Fragments 1

QW: "The clouds parted perfectly so the blinding full moon was unavoidable."

(Excellent QW prompt. It came from the writing of one of your peers!)


Returned papers and Writer's Notebooks. Wow! You are great writers. Keep it up!

Filed papers in portfolio in classroom.

Write Source book checkout. Your copy for the year. Use for grammar card project, grammar card worksheets and other work (research, how to write essays, etc.) as it comes up.

HW: Weds: Finish pronouns worksheet
Bring in work to do grammar card project in class.

WOD: rue (v) to feel regret, remorse. As Robert watched Annabelle’s plane leave, he knew he would rue the day he let his true love get away.

QW: Advice to adults on having fun.

Filled in planners for future assignments, including due dates for biography assignment. Turned in biography choices.
Spelling Unit 2 pretest. Corrections and sentences 1-20 due Friday. Post-test on Friday.

Updated grades posted on bulletin board. Check out yours!

Grammar Worksheets. Parts of speech review and pronouns handout. Start in class. Can work on at home; continue on Tuesday.

HW: Spelling test and corrections, Unit two, Friday.
Grammar Card project. Friday. No lates.

Spelling Test Unit One.

Writer's Notebooks handed in and shared.

HW: Biography Choice, Monday. Must be 200 pages! In class on Monday!

Coming Up:
Friday: Spelling test Unit Two
Grammar Card project.

QW: "Time just twisted our hands."

Writer's Notebooks due Friday. Select 5 with post-its for me to read. Number all the rest. I will count.

Went over spelling sentences, Unit One. Post-test on Friday. Hand in pretest and post-test and worksheets.

Grammar worksheets. Went over concrete, abstract, collective nouns. Parts of speech review, overhead.

HW: Writer's Notebooks due
Study for spelling test, Unit One.

WOD: verbiage (noun) an overabundance of words; wordiness. The sheer volume of verbiage she indulged in over the years made her seem intelligent to her classmates.

Biography Work -- Handouts, assignments. Biography pick due Monday, Oct. 6.

Your book must be at least 200 pages. Pick someone you are interested in knowing about. Find a subject you are interested in and a person who was (is) involved in that. Go to my bookshelf, Twin Hills school library, bookstores -- used and new, and the Sonoma County Public Libray: www.sonomalibrary.org. Go to search, keyword a subject you are interested in and select a biography. You can even just put the word "biography" in the keyword, and you'll get a huge list of suggestions. If you have a library card, you can have your choice of book sent to Sebastopol library for pickup. No muss; no fuss, and something you want to spend the next month with!

Mark 8 parts of speech on this quote: "Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are not opened."

Grammar worksheets: Went over nouns. Pronouns. Handouts.

HW:
*Thurs. Grammar worksheets (concrete nouns) due and Manipulating sentences
*Fri: Writers notebooks and spelling post-test