BASIC DUE DATES:(work is due on those days) MONDAY: - agenda
for the week
- spelling pretest
- spelling worksheet handed out
- grammar
or writing lesson
TUESDAY: - writer's workshop
or grammar lesson
WEDNESDAY: - grammar
lesson or writer's workshop
- no homework
THURSDAY: - no
homework due for Thursday unless assigned the previous week, or on Monday
- sentence development
FRIDAY: - spelling post test
- spelling
worksheet
- writing
OTHER BASICS: - use the assignment book
- name-first
and last, date,and assignment topic should be in the top right hand corner of your paper
- positive
attitudes go a long way!
- students know on Monday what is due the rest of the week.
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In language arts your student will be doing a variety of exploring through writing and speaking.
In
Language Arts a major focus is writing. Skills we will focus on include grammar, the 6 Traits of Writing, and a variety of
writing formats. Your student will have grammar work. It is important to know the working parts of a sentence so our students
become well-rounded writers and speakers. The 6 Traits of Writing breaks down specific writing categories for your student
to focus on within his/her writing.
We will do spelling each week. Spelling skill worksheets are handed out
on Monday and due on Friday. Spelling pre-tests are on Monday and post-test on Friday. Grammar and sentence structure
work will also be completed weekly. Your student will generally have language homework on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Students
will have plenty of class time, most days, to complete the work in class or study hall. If students make good use of
the class time they are given to work on assignments, they should have very little actual homework. SPAS
(Skill Practice Activities) consist of: two weekly "caught ya's" completed in class, one Skillstutor exercise,
and two TweenTribune.com response pieces. All three are internet based and can be completed anywhere one has internet
access. If students complete more than the three required SPA activities, they will be used as extra credit.
Students will be giving speeches in grades 6-8. Getting up in front of a crowd, particularly
a crowd of one’s peers, can be a scary experience for students, yet speaking in front of others is an important life
skill.
Writing can help students learn much about themselves, as well as doing a lot of thinking “Outside”
the box. Very seldom will your student have the same writing topic as others in the class. Their topics, what
they choose to write about, will, the majority of the time, be of the student’s choice, where the format of the
writing may be the skill we are working on at that time.
These pieces will be used in their portfolio.
REMINDERS: September SPAS are due at 3:30 October 29th.
SPELLING TEST AND WORKSHEET DUE ON FRIDAYS
Click here to upload pictures for the middle school yearbook. Please be sure they are in the medium or large format, not the
smallest. Thanks!! Mrs. Neuberger
LANGUAGE
ARTS RESOURCES 6 TRAITS OF WRITING
IDEAS
Writing is full of details, keeps
reader's attention, "shows" what is
important about the topic.
KEY WORDS: meaningful,
focused, clear, shows not tells, vivid
ORGANIZATION
Order
of writing works well, beginning gets reader's attention,
gives clues about what's coming, details
are in the right part,
everything fits like a puzzle.
KEY WORDS: logical, clear, introduction
hooks
VOICE
Paper has a lot of personality, full
of confidence/sincerity, it can
make reader laugh, cry, agree, or disagree.
KEY WORDS:
individual, lively, courageous, passionate
WORD CHOICE
Right
words used in the right places, not overdone or vague,
energetic verbs, vivid phrases and correct words chosen
for the
audience.
KEY WORDS: dynamic, powerful, sensory details, word-
smithery
SENTENCE FLUENCY
Paper is easy to read aloud, excess
wording has been cut,
Sentences flow, have rhythm, pacing, Varied sentence
beginnings and length.
KEY WORDS: long/stretchy and short/snappy, graceful,
smooth connections, sentence "sense"
CONVENTIONS
Few errors, ready to publish, correct grammar,
punctuation,
spelling, paragraph format, etc.
KEY WORDS: "clean" copy, edited,
proofed
INTERATIVE WEBSITES FOR READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS:
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