Mrs. Myra Smith's Language Arts Class

April 26

2010-04-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

Students have been given class time to research information for birthday cards. Students should have already shown their parents the research worksheet and should have gotten parent's signature. Students have been encouraged to ask parents, grandparents, or aunties and uncles for suggestions for the lip sinc portion of the project. If they choose to do the performance as a group, they should practice at home. Unfortunately, we can not practice at school because of behavior issues.
All information for the card is due on May 5th. Students should bring $.50 if they wish to have the card printed on card stock paper. Student may, of course, hand write and decorate the cards. The cards can also be done on home computer. In fact, several students have already turned in their cards. It will be due May 7. The lip sinc portion of the project will begin on the same day.

April 19-23

2010-04-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Students should have learned to spell the words in Unit 7 last week and should know the definitions for each when taking the test on Friday. Students should be able to write a sentence showing that they know the meaning of the words. The sentences are due on Thursday. We will go over these in class before taking the test.

Periods 1, 3, 6, and 7
1. brilliant-brightest
2. conference-meeting
3. destination-place of arrival
4. discourage-downhearted
5. indebted-owing to
6. jointly-together
7. lack-absence
8. opinion-judgement
9. plunge-fall
10. possess-to have or to own
11. prefer-to choose
12. segment-part
13. suspect-adj. ,n. - person of interest v. -guess
14. transform-change
15. urgent-serious or immediate

Period 8

1. badger-pester; hassle
2. benevolent-compassionate; generous
3. elapse-pass
4. fitful-stopping and starting intermittently
5. genre-category or type
6. haven-place of safety or shelter
7. immaterial-unimportant or of little or no importance
8. innate-instinctive or inborn
9. kindle-ignite (as to kindle a fire) or stimulate or provoke (as to arouse strong feelings)
10. listless-lethargic or tired without cause
11. octogenarian-someone between eighty and eighty-nine years old
12. permeate-to penetrate through
13. republic-a government in which citizens elect officials to represent them
14. meager-scanty or inadequate: lacking abundance
15. tether-n. a rope or chain used to restrain v. to use a rope or chain to restrain

Students have been given the worksheets for their research paper. The information should be filled in by May 5th. We will be going to the library to make our "birthday cards" on May 7th.
Students may make their cards on computer on their own on homes or by hand on or before that date.

I will begin seeing lip sinc acts the next week. Please ask your child to see the information sheet given out in class.

2010-04-15T13:27:00.001-07:00

April 5-9

2010-04-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

I have read The Children's Story by James Clavell to the students. As a class we have discovered the meaning of the following words.
1. pledge-promise, swear, or vow
2. allegiance-loyalty
3. republic- democratic government
4. indivisible-inseparable or united
5. liberty-freedom
6. justice-fairness
The students should rewrite The Pledge using the synonyms discussed in class. Students should use the nouns instead of the pronouns "it" and "all." I have given students computer paper on which to rewrite The Promise and then decorate it using colored pencils or the assignment can be done on the computer.

April 1-2

2010-04-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

The student has been assigned a take home Daily Oral Language test. From his notebook, he should copy and correct the following sentences: Week 13 numbers 4 and 7, Week 14 numbers 2 and 6, and Week 15 numbers 3 and 8. Each sentence should be corrected and errors along with the grammar rule numbers should be listed under the sentence. There will also be a fill in the blank test for Grammar Rules 1-15.

March 8-12

2010-03-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

Students have been asked to decide if they will be writing in manuscrpt or in cursive on the SAT. Write the alphabet at least once in the style you choose before showing it to your mom or dad. Then write the alphabet both upper and lower case letters.
Students should then write the following sentences. 1. My legal name is ______. 2. I am _____ years old. 3. My complete address is _________. 4. I have ____ siblings whose names are ____, ___ ....
We are reviewing for the nine week test which will be on Thursday, March 11. Study guides were given out on Monday. Have a great Spring Break!

March 1--5

2010-03-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

Students will be writing a poem about friendship. The poem should be a minimum of 8 lines. It can be written as a rhyming poem or as free verse. At least five character words such as kind, inspiring, honest, trustworthy, reliable, loyal, supportive, caring, generous, forgiving, dependable, or others that the student feels that are important in his choice of a friend must be used. Do not use vague words such as nice, sweet, good,etc.
The poem will be graded on the following 5 criteria which will count 20 points each.
1. The title which should be short but descriptive. It should not be Friend or Friendship.
2. The poem should be a minimum of 8 lines or 2 stanzas.
3. The poem should be typed or handwritten in blue or black ink on white copy paper or card stock. No loose leaf or notebook paper will be accepted.
4. The poem should be tastefully decorated and colorful.
5. If the poem is not on computer grade card stock, it should be mounted on construction paper.

The poem will be due on Thursday, March 4th.
Please remember that all 10 points are due on Wednesday, March 3rd.

February 8-12

2010-02-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

Students should be able to use each word given in last week's Spelling/Vocabulary list in a sentence and spell each correctly. The test will be given on Tuesday when we return to school from President's Day.

February 1-5

2010-02-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

All students remember the deadline for the first 5 AR points is this Friday. All 10 AR points are due in the computer by March 3.
Students will learn to spell the words by Thursday, February 4, and should know the definitions well enough to use each in a sentence by Thursday, February 11.

Spelling /Vocabulary
Periods 1, 3, 6, and 7 Wordskills
1. assume- v., supposed
2. dense- adj., thick
3. dependent- adj., n.,relied on
4. dispose- v., get rid of
5. extinguish- v., put out
6. factor- n., ingredient
7. judgement- n., sense
8. majority- n., a large number ( 51% or more)
9. neglect-v., n., failed, not properly taken care of
10. restore- v., repair
11. slogan- n., saying
12. surplus-adj., n., leftover
13. thorough-adj., complete
14. utter- v., adj., speak
15. various- adj., several

Period 8 PreAP Power Plus

1. adjacent- adj., lying near; adjoining
2. candor- n., sincerity; honesty
3. compassion- n., awareness; sympathy for the suffering of another
4. democratic- adj., of; or for the people
5. disperse- v., to scatter; to distribute
6. doleful- adj., causing grief; sad
7. duress- n., a threat of harm forcing someone to act against his or her will; pressure
8. irk- v., to annoy; to irritate
9. ratify- v., to approve formally; to sanction
10. sobriety- n., a seriousness in manner; a state of abstinence from drugs or alcohol
11. stagnate- v., to become inactive; or motionless
12. subordinate- adj., of lower importance or rank; subject to the control of another
13. talon- n., a claw of a bird of prey; or similar animal
14. taut- adj., pulled, drawn; or stretched tight
15. wallow- v., to roll about in something unclean

January 25-29

2010-01-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

Students will have a Spelling/Vocabulay test on the words that were posted last week on Friday.
Students are also suppose to get their progress reports on that day.

January 19-22

2010-01-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

All students will be turning in their I Learned My Lesson stories by Friday. Most students have already typed their stories into the AlphaSmart and many have already run these off on the classroom printer. Remember to read at least 10 pages from the AR book each day including weekends. February 5th is the deadline for the first 5 points and all 10 points should be in the computer by March 3rd. Please don't forget to show parents your skills agenda.
Students will be expected to be able to spell the words in the following list by Friday, Jan. 22 and know the definitions well enough to use each in a sentence by Thursday, Jan. 28.
Periods 1, 3, 6, 7 Spelling and Vocabulary Unit 5 Wordskills
1. assure-v. convince
2. benefit-n., v. help
3. claim-v., n. collect
4. condition-n., v. situation
5. contribution-n. addition to
6. effort-n. work
7. express-v., adj., adv., n. communicate
8. immediate-adj. an instant
9. increase-n. expand
10.issue-n., v. question
11.oppose-v. go against
12.participate-v. take part in
13.prompt-v. quick
14.result-n., v. an outcome
15.society-n. community

Period 8 PreAP Spelling and Vocabulary Unit 5 Power Plus
1. bizarre-adj. unusual; weird
2. bungle-v. botch
3. deduce-v. determine; understand
4. dynamic-adj. 1. energetic; intense; forceful 2. continuously active or changing
5. irrelevant-adj. inapplicable; immaterial
6. loiter-v. dawdle; amble
7. obstinate-adj. headstrong
8. scrutinize-v. to examine a great deal
9. stunt-v. to limit or hinder growth n. an unusual or dangerous feat
10.superficial-adj. 1. on or near the surface 2. concerned with the obvious only; shallow 3. insignificant; trivial 11.ultimate-adj. 1. last in a series; conclusive; final 2. highest; extreme
12.vapid-adj. bland; dull
13.viable-adj. feasible; possible
14.wan-adj. unnaturally pale, as from an illness or distress
15.wane-v. to decrease gradually

Week of January 5-8

2010-01-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

Wasn't this the best Christmas holiday ever!! Welcome back to school!

Tonight complete your 1 1/2 to 2 page story of a lesson that you have learned. We will begin typing these into th Alpha-Smart tomorrow Remember the fewer mistakes that you make on the first draft means that you will have fewer mistakes to correct on the final copy.

Week of December 7

2009-12-07T08:12:00.000-08:00

As you may know by now the STI program on which the students grades are kept is experiencing problems. Hopefully it will be oporational in a few days. Probably because of the work being done on STI, the AR Reader program is also having difficulties. Students are not allowed to take AR test now, but we have been reading in class and I have been calling parents of those students who have not been keeping up their 10 page per day reading homework..
Students should be reading as much as possible so that when they are able to take tests again they can take tests on all the books that they have read. The deadline for taking tests will be extended until Mrs. Erwin, the librarian, gives us permission to take test again.
Study guide for the language 9 week test will be given to students by Thursday of this week.
The guides should be completed by Monday, so that we can go over these as a class. The language 9 week test will be given on the last day of classes before Christmas holidays, December 18.

Week of November 16

2009-11-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

Periods 1, 3, 6, 7 and PreAP Deadline for all 15 AR points is December 10. The grade for the first 5 AR points is in STI and I am making an effort to call parents of students who are not reading.

Periods 1,3,6,7 Review test on Friday for Spelling/Vocabulary Units 1-3 Please see lists that were posted last week
Period 8 Test on Unit 4 words which were posted last week

Week of November 9

2009-11-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

Remember to read 10 pages from AR book every day. First 5 Points are due on November12th. Remember books read in the reading classes do not count.

Student are typing their rough drafts of their embarrassing moments on the AlphaSmart keyboards as they finish with group work. I am proofreading as many of the drafts as I possibly can, but it would be of great help if parents could also proofread.

Below is a list of vocabulary words that we have been working with since school started. Perhaps parents would like to use some of these words in conversation with their children to reinforce their knowledge of the words.
Students are being encouraged to listen for these words on T. V.,radio, and in conversations in their homes.
Notice this is a review. Students have already been tested on this material and and should know it , but I will narrow the list to 20 for the test and will advise the student of the 20 words before the spelling test on Nov. 13 and the vocabulary test on Nov. 19.
Students in periods 1, 3, 6, and 7 will review meanings and spelling for Unit 1-3.

Unit 1 Target Words /Related Words --Unit 2 Target Words /Related Words
1. assault /1. advantageous--1. application /1. applicable
2. collide /2. collision-- 2. appreciate /2. appreciative
3. completion /3. demolition --3. attention /3. attentive
4. demolish /4. disband-- 4. career/ 4. discourteous
5. disadvantage /5. disorderly-- 5. common /5. dishonorable
6. effective/ 6. dissolve-- 6. courteous /6. inattentive
7. estimate /7. effect-- 7. deceive /7. indirect
8. invader /8. ineffective-- 8. devour /8. indirectly
9. mishap/ 9. invade-- 9. direct /9. unappreciative
10. mission /10. invasion-- 10. disguise /10. uncommon
11. navigator /11. navigator-- 11. honorable /11. untroubled
12.realize /12. realization--12. landscape
13.twilight --13. serious
14. severe--14. troubled
15. vicinity--15. victim

Unit 3 Target Words /Related Words
1. deserve /1. deserving
2. display/ 2. disregard
3. especially /3. finance
4. financial /4. fortunate
5. fortune /5. inform
6. information /6. informative
7. investigate/ 7. investigation
8. observation/ 8. observe
9. opportunity /9. opportune
10. position /10. pose
11.private /11. privacy
12. profit
13. solution/12. solve
14. struggle
15.temptation /13.tempt

Period 8 PreAP students will review Unit 1-3 briefly. I will give students a list of these words on Monday.
They will be expected to know how to spell each of the words in Unit 4 by Nov. 13 and know the meanings of the following words well enough to use each correctly in sentences by Nov.19.
Unit 4
1. acute-adj. serious or sudden
2. durable-adj. sturdy, long-lasting
3. eavesdrop-v. snoop, secretly listen in on private conversation
4. ethical-adj. 1. moral 2. virtuous or decent
5. fjord-n. a narrow inlet of the sea between tall cliffs and steep banks
6. gaudy-adj. flashy, tastelessly showy
7. nominal-adj. 1. existing in name only 2. insignificantly small; token
8. nurture-v. foster; raise
9. pommel-v. to strike or beat n.a knob on the handle of a sword or weapon
10. quibble-v. to evade the main point by arguing over petty matters n. an irrelevant argument
11. rampart-n. defensive structure or embankment
12. respite-n. delay or rest period
13. rite-n. ritual; customary or religious ceremonial act
14. seismic-adj. pertaining to earthquakes or vibrations of the earth
15. terrestrial-adj. of or pertaining to solid land; earthly

Week of November 2

2009-11-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

The student is writing the story of his most embarrassing moment. It should be based in fact, but it can be embellished to make it more interesting or comical. The story should follow the same story line of -Beginning, Action, Climax or the most exciting part, and Conclusion. In addition, the student should end with the lesson that he learned from the experience. As always the story should be a page to 2 pages in length. It should be a minimum of 4 paragraphs not counting dialogue.
The entire rough draft is due on Thursday. Please have an adult proof read your work which will be typed in class over the next 2 weeks.

Vocabulary/Spelling Test on Frday, October 30

2009-10-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

Students will be given mutiple choice test on the words on the blog from last week in which the word is spelled 4 different ways, only one of which is correct. He must be able to pick out the correct spelling.
Students will be expected to choose from last week's spelling list to fill in a blank in a sentence where that word would make sense if the student studied the definitions which were also on the blog last week and given in class.

Week of October 19

2009-10-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

Students should hand in the rewrite of the spooky stories written in cursive in blue or black ink on Monday, October 19, if they wish to be considered for the short story writing contest and on Tuesday if they do not. Of course, stories may be typed but this is certainly not required.

Vocabulary/Spelling Lists- Students should be able to spell these words by Thursday of this week and know the meanings well enough by the end of next week to be able to choose which of the words would best complete a sentence.
Periods 1, 3, 6, and 7
1. deserve- v.- earn
2. display-n. v.-show
3. especially-adv. -unusually
4. financial-adj.-money
5. fortune-n.-large amount of money
6. information-n.-facts about
7. investigate-v.-study
8. observation-n.-watching
9. opportunity-n.-chance
10. position-n. v.-job
11. private-adj.-secret
12. profit-v. n.-benefit from
13. solution-n.-an answer to
14. struggle-v. n.-fight
15. temptation-n.-attraction

Period 8 PreAP

1. amity-n.-friendship syn: peacefulness
2. cater-v.-to supply what is needed , especially support or food syn: provide; contribute
3. guise-n.-a false appearance syn: semblance
4. inconsequential-adj.-of little or no importance syn: unnecessary; unrelated
5. jubilant-adj.-joyous,especially because of success syn: elated; happy
6. placate-v.-to calm; to pacify syn: appease; satisfy
7. preclude-v.-to prevent syn: prohibit; forbid
8. repress-v.-to hold back or put down with force syn: restrain; stifle
9. saturate-v.-to fill or soak to capacity syn: drench; permeate; infuse
10. slake-v.- 1.to satisfy or quench 2.to make less intense syn: 1.fulfill; please 2.abate; mitigate; diminish
11. sortie-n.-1.a flight of a combat aircraft on a mission 2. an armed attack, especially against surrounding enemy forces syn: maneuver; assault
12. succumb-v.-to submit reluctantly syn: surrender; give in
13. tranquil-adj.- calm or peaceful syn: placid; serene
14. venomous-adj.-1. poisonous 2. intentionally harmful syn: 1. toxic; lethal 2. malicious; spiteful; cruel
15. wrest-v.-to obtain by force, usually by twisting and turning violently
syn: wring; wrench

Spooky or Mystery Story due October 20th

2009-10-13T20:40:00.001-07:00

After students finish with nine week tests tomorrow, they will begin writing a spooky or mystery story. Student are being encouraged to ask parents or grandparents if they know of such a tale. Rough drafts are due on Friday. Only rarely will I give written homework over the weekend and this will be one of those times since I will expect the rewrites to be written in blue or black ink on the front only to be turned in no later than Tuesday so that I may enter our best papers into a contest that is being sponored by CCMS Paw Prints. As usual, the story should follow at least a 4 paragraph format, not including dialogue. The final draft should be 1 1/2 to 2 pages in length.

Week of October 12

2009-10-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

Students have been given the First Nine Week Study Guide which consists of 14 sentences that we are reviewing from our DOL notebooks. Students are to correct each sentence in pencil and then list the errors and grammar rules at the bottom of the guide and finish on their theme paper. All 14 sentences should be completed on Monday. The completed and corrected study guide will add 10 points to the 9 week test grade. If it is incomplete or lost, no points will be given. The Language Nine Week Test will be given on Wednesday.

Students who take the classroom novel AR tests by 3 p.m. on Wednesday will be given credit for that book. This doesn't apply to the PreAP class.

Reading for the second 9 weeks officially begin on October 19 so that any test taken on or after that date will count for the second 9 weeks. Students will have 21 days from October 19 until November 9 to earn 5 AR points. From November 10 until December 11, students will have 31 days to earn an additional 10 AR points. The classroom novel will not count this grading period since those books are being read aloud in class rather than independently by the student. Remember the students are being assigned reading of at least 10 pages from AR book everyday.

Week of October 5

2009-10-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Students will be working on Daily Oral Language exercises in conjunction with grammar rules on the board each day in class until the 9 Week test on October 14. The deadline for all 15 AR points is October 8.

Week of September 28

2009-09-28T08:17:00.001-07:00

All Language Classes
Daily Oral Language test tomorrow, Tuesday, on sentences 7-10 of Week 1 which should be in the DOL notebook.
All students will have spelling test on Thursday. Classwork/ homework is worth 50% of the test grade. Go back to blog entry 9/21 for list of the words.
Students have 10 days from today to have all 15 AR points.
Get AR Reading Report and STAR Test results signed by parent.

Periods 1, 3 6, and 7
Students are given a full class period to work with vocab/spelling words as follows:
1. Write in cursive.
2. Write each of the 15 words from last week 2 times.
3. Copy the one word definition off of the board during class.
4. Write a sentence demonstrating that you know what each word means that is a minimum of 6 words in length.
5. Do 1-5 Part C in the workbook that we are using in class.
Students may finish this for homework if they do not complete it in class.
Each of these categories is worth 10 points or 50% of the spelling test grade. On Thursday, you should have the work finished. You will have 10 of the 15 words each of which is worth 5 points on the spelling test. The test itself is worth 50 points plus classwork/homework which is 50 points totals the 100 points test grade.

AP Language
1. Write in cursive.
2. Use each word in a sentence of at least 6 words in length demonstrating that you know the definition of each of the 15 words.
3. Start each sentence with a prepositional phrase.
4. Read the selection on pages 30 & 31 of the workbook before answering questions 1-5.

Congratulations

2009-09-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

Many students already have the 15 required AR points which are due on October 8th. Congratulations go to the following students who have gone above what was asked of them.

Matt Parker(82 points), Katie Robinson (56.2 points), Drew Armstong (44 points), Josh Heichelbeck(42.8 points), Emily Lowery (31.9 points), Aubrey Luallen (30 points), Zaria Roberson (30 points), Taylor Brooks (24.7 points), Jacob Riddle (22.0 points)

Week of September 21st

2009-09-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

Students will be working in groups for the next 2 week to learn the meaning and spelling of the 15 words on the vocabulary list. The goal is for the student to incorporate the words into their oral and written vocabularies. Students are doing book work and playing vocabulary games with the words this week. Spelling/vocabulary test will be on Thursday of next week.
Periods 1, 3, 6, an 7

1. application - use
2. appreciate - think well of
3. attention - notice
4. career - work
5. common - familiar
6. courteous - polite
7. deceive -trick
8. devour - eaten
9. direct - straight
10.disguise - conceal
11.honorable - noble
12.landscape - scenery
13.serious -not joking
14.troubled - worried
15.victims of - killed by

Period 8 - PreAP

1. belittle
2. blase' This is not actually an apostrophe but the mark over the e that causes it to be pronounced as a long a.
3. concoct
4. decade
5. diverse
6. enunciate
7. hurtle
8. improvise
9. jostle
10.libel
11.mammoth
12.paradox
13.provincial
14.realm
15.undermine

Grade reports will come home again this Friday. Sign these and return on Monday. Remember all 15 AR points should be in the computer by October 8th.

Week of September 14

2009-09-15T04:41:00.000-07:00

Students will complete the "Why Read" essay. Please have an adult proofread the rough draft on Thursday afternoon before it is rewritten in blue or black ink in cursive to be turned in on Friday. Paper may be typed, but this is not a requirement.
Deadline for the first 5 AR points to be in the computer is this Thursday!

Week of September 8

2009-09-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Students are bringing their progress reports for all subjects home on Friday, 9/4.
Students will take their first Daily Oral Language Test on Wednesday, 9/10, on sentences 1-6.
These sentences should be in their DOL notebooks. I will give one of the 6 sentences. Students will be required to correct it just as it is in the notebook including the grammar rules for each mistake. Students will be allowed to use their grammar rules during the test.
Students will write an essay, "Why Read?", during their group work.
Look on page 681 of the the language textbook "Making the Plan". The paper should begin with a definition of reading in the Introductoy Paragraph section. Use at least 2 of the bullets from the introductory section other than the quote. Choose at least 3 reasons that you feel reading is important. Develop a 5 sentence paragraph for each of these reasons using the Body Paragraphs section on page 681. I will give students a list of quotes from the internet that they may use in the Concluding Paragraph section. Student will use all 3 of those bullets to write the final paragraph. Please proofread it on Thusday night, September 17, before the rewrite is written that afternoon in blue or black ink in cursive and is turned in on Friday, September 18.

Week of August 31

2009-08-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

Language Periods 1, 3, 6, 7, 8 Read at least 10 pages from AR Reader each day. The 1st 5 points worth 20 points each on a test grade are due on September 17. The 2nd 10 AR points worth 10 points each on the second test grade are due on October 8. Students are required to read 15 points this 9 weeks.

Spelling Vocabulary Lists
Periods 1, 3, 6, 7,
assault - attack
collide - crashing together
completion - finishing
demolish - destroy
disadvantage - handicap
effective - useful
estimate - calculate
mishap - an accident
mission - task
navigator - a person who plots the course
realize - understand
severe - harsh
twilight - sundown
vicinity -distant area around something
invader - attacker

Pre-AP
Period 8
articulate
crux
debris
decry
eminent
harass
milieu
opportune
refuse
skeptical
successor
sullen
tinge
trivial
unkempt

Spelling Test will be given on Thursday of this week!

Week of August 24

2009-08-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 28th: "My Worst Accident" story due!