Vocab and Project work
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
All classes -- Start the class by completing a vocabulary diagnostic. Follow ALL instructions at the diagnostic link here; then return to this page.
Regular language arts ONLY -- Follow the instructions for our Diigo Project at this link.
- When you have read all directions, get a headset for the video.
- When you complete the video, see me for your username and password.
Honors language arts -- Work on your MAD project.
- NOTE: begin by setting a goal for the remainder of the week. What would you like to accomplish by Friday?
- Post your goal to the Write to Mr. Barnes message board.
How-to blog
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Complete your how-to blog, including improved mechanics and bolded or colored words that make the writing "pop."
If you are finished, leave a comment on someone else's how-to blog.
Improving writing
Friday, February 10, 2012
Today we will work on applying yesterday's lesson on improving writing to a blog post.
- First, discuss Monday's KWL.
- Then, post your how-to blog to KidBlog.
- Next, proofread your blog and improve it:
- make sure all capitalization and commas are right.
- Then, change at least three words to strong verbs and adjectives.
- Bold or change the color of the words you improve.
- make sure all capitalization and commas are right.
- If time, have a peer proof your blog post and suggest one more change.
What MAD work will you complete today?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Please set a class-period goal for your MAD project. You and your group should complete this goal in the time we have in this class period.
In the last 3 minutes, someone from your group go to the classroom message board linked here and tell me exactly what you did this period.
Purposeful Blogging
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Let's consider purposeful blogging.
Blogging should always have a purpose -- to inform, to analyze, to explore, etc. If your only purpose is to entertain, and you are not very entertaining, you should not blog at all.
Blogs should not be used as message boards or social media. In other words, posting, "Hanging at the mall," is not at all purposeful for a blog of any kind, especially a classroom blog.
Well-written, thoughtful, analytical blog posts elicit thoughtful, analytical comments. In other words, if we're doing this right, the blog post and the comments are purposeful. Let's examine some purposeful posts.
Purposeful
Not purposeful
What is your MAD plan?
Very few people posted a plan link on the Write to Mr. Barnes message board yesterday.
You MUST post a plan link today! Follow the instructions below:
- You and your partner(s) should create a plan for the remainder of the year for completing your MAD project. Creating this plan should take approximately 20 minutes.
- The plan should contain at least four detailed steps -- one for February, one for March, one for April and one for May.
- A step should begin with "During (month name) we will . . . ." Then, say exactly what will be done, including when you'll meet, who will do what, how long you'll work, etc.
- Important note: a step may contain many parts, since it is a step for work for an entire month.
- Place the plan on MAD page on one person in the group's Barnesclass web site.
- Go to Write to Mr. Barnes and tell me where I can locate the plan.
- Work on your project.
- Read for 8 minutes.
Reflection, blogging and MAD work
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Read and complete ALL tasks below:
- Begin by completing yesterday's reflection blog and posting at least one comment on a peer's blog. Remember, you should comment on a classmate's blog.
- Next, you and your partner(s) should create a plan for the remainder of the year for completing your MAD project. Creating this plan should take approximately 20 minutes.
- The plan should contain at least four detailed steps -- one for February, one for March, one for April and one for May.
- A step should begin with "During (month name) we will . . . ." Then, say exactly what will be done, including when you'll meet, who will do what, how long you'll work, etc.
- Important note: a step may contain many parts, since it is a step for work for an entire month.
- Place the plan on MAD page on one person in the group's Barnesclass web site.
- Go to Write to Mr. Barnes and tell me where I can locate the plan.
- Work on your project.
- Read for 8 minutes.
Reflecting and blogging
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Spend the first 15 minutes of class in The Reading Zone.
When you finish reading, write a reflection letter at Barnesclass on KidBlog. Follow these guidelines:
- The title of your blog post should include the title of the book you're reading.
- For example: Surviving against the odds in Will Hobbs' Far North
- Your letter should be at least one detailed paragraph in length.
- Be sure to tell the readers how you connect to characters and plot and what important observations you make.
- Proofread your letter: remember, your peers will be reading it.
- Now, go to the letter of one peer from your class and add an insightful comment or question about his/her letter.
Students reading books by the hundreds
Thursday, January 19, 2012
In quarter one, when students were just getting used to the idea that they'd entered a class where they read every day and would set very ambitious reading goals, we combined to read 610 books.
I told students how thrilled I was, even though that number put us just off the pace for our year-long 2,500 book challenge.
They quickly rose to the occasion.
In quarter two, my students read an astounding 757 books. That's an average of nearly 7 feature-length books per student in one 9-week grading period, in many genres.
With that phenomenal dedication to reading, my students have now combined to read 1,367 books, in a little over four months of this school year.
Kudos to these young readers, as they build this most important lifelong skill.
Evaluation, MAD and other activities
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Complete your self-evaluation for quarter 2
Report how many books you read this quarter at this link
Complete the survey linked here
Work on your MAD project or read silently