Ms. Crockett's Way Cool Web Page: Fighting the Evil Forces of Illiteracy and Run-On Sentences Everywhere!

Week Fifteen: Introduction to Persuasion!
For Tuesday: Complete the draft of the paragraph if you did not
do so in class. Prepare to present your PowerPoint presentations.

For Friday: Keep Reading and complete and total your reading log.

Week Fourteen: PowerPresentation Preparation Week! We'll complete
the presentation in the computer lab.
For Tuesday: Bring money if you would like to make Book Fair purchases.

For Thursday: Study for the parts of speech definitions test.

Week Thirteen:   Research Wrap Up! We go to the Book Fair next Tues!
Due Wednesday: Typed  (12 point TNR)question list,  bibliography(follow the format from your packet or from below),
and summary (three paragraphs - approx 10-12 sentences each)
Due Friday: * Reading log - Also plan to take an AR test Friday.
                         * PowerPoint visual organizer that we began in class Wed.
                             (We will create the PowerPoint presentations in class beginning Monday.)

Week Twelve: The final copy of the Arachne transformation description will be due
Friday. It must be typed (12 point TNR) or written in blue or black ink. Read Textbook
pages 54 and 55 and complete page 56 if you did not already do so. I have decided to delay the parts of speech definitions test until the week of November 9.
The research bibliography, question list, and summary will still be due next Wed, Nov. 4.
I have cut and pasted below the page form your packet that contains the sample
bibliography and the guidelines for typing.

Bibliography

Your Name

Author's last name, Author's first name. "Title of Article/Document." Name of Group that Created the Document, URL.
Date of visit.

Author's last name, Author's first name. Title. Place of publication: Publisher, Publication date.

“Title of article or feature on website,” Title of Website,

Address (URL) of website, Date of publication if available.

Name of Encyclopedia. Date, Vol., "Title of article."

Name (Last) of Person Interviewed, Name (first) of Person Interviewed.
Person’s Title or Organization, Date of interview.

REMEMBER:

Be sure to type or write neatly in blue or black ink.

Include only your best THREE sources.

Give title (Bibliography OR Works Cited) and your name.

Put them in alphabetical order by first word. Do NOT number entries.

ALWAYS follow your teacher’s directions for formatting. Here, for example, you will NOT indent any part of your entries.

Follow the format…including the correct punctuation!

Skip lines between entries!

Week Eleven: We will wrap up the notetaking process this week. The final
note check will be Friday. The list of prepositional phrases for the treasure
map is due Tuesday. We will then draft the map in class, and the final will be
due Friday along with the reading log. (Be SURE to follow all directions for the
treasure map!)
Week Ten: We are continuing the research process. Students are required to
bring print materials to class DAILY! The second card check is this Friday.
AR testing resumes this week. The last day for AR testing will be December 11.

Keep Reading!

Week Nine: We are continuing the note taking process. Students are required to
bring print materials to class DAILY! The first card check is Friday. The reading
log is also due Friday. AR testing will resume NEXT week.
Week Eight: We've begun our work for our research unit. Discuss your topic with your parents and ask about planning a trip to the public library. Get your research packet signed once you have filled in the due dates. Finish the preposition packet through page three, including finishing your Preposition Picture modeled after the bee in the bottle picture. In your planner, record the number of pages for each book you have finished, including books that you read this summer. Keep reading! The final AR deadline for the nine weeks is this Friday.

Week Seven: STUDY your Parts of Speech definitions for a test Friday. You will need to be able to write them word for word. Also complete your reading log and bring a pack of index cards Friday. We'll begin using them soon for our research. Finish the final draft of your Preposition Picture. I will delay the due date for the final picture - on computer paper, in ink, and colored - until Monday.

Week Six: Your first draft and TWO copies of your final draft of your narrative paper are due Tuesday.
Be sure to use a black 12 point Times New Roman font for your final draft. Study for your
test for Tuesday also (Parts of speech definitions/noun notes/noun packet). Decide on your
research topic question for Wednesday. Page 39 in your textbook is due Wednesday.
STUDY your Parts of Speech definitions word for word so you can actually write them all
out for a test next week on Friday, Sept. 25. You will also have a Reading log due that day.
Your last day for AR testing will be Friday, October2.

Week Five:
We will work on the rough draft of your narrative in class Tuesday and Wednesday and peer edit on Thursday.
Remember from our study of great narratives in class that you will need to include a clear focus(no bed-to-bed stories),
good supporting details, and good sensory descriptive details, and a meaning beyond the events of the story ( for example,
how your life changed as a result, what you learned, etc.)

Your noun packet is due Monday. Study your parts of speech definitions
from your index cards(after making sure they were copied correctly from your LA Handbook) and study your noun notes chart and
noun packet for a test next Tuesday. Your final draft is also due Tuesday( 12 point Times New Roman-black ink).
Return your first draft with the final draft AND bring TWO copies of the final draft with you. Keep reading! Your
reading log will be due again this Friday. The last day for AR testing and/or turning in summaries will be Friday, October 2.
Week Four:

Bring 30 3x5 cards t0 class to make flash cards for the parts of speech. Complete the noun notes class activity for Wednesday. Also create the prewriting timeline activity in the narrative packet for Wed. Keep reading! (Have you taken your AR tests yet???? Remember that you need to pass a minimum of three AR tests - with a 70 or better - on books that are very close to or above your reading level OR write 1 1/2 to two page handwritten summaries of those books -in ink. )

Finish the prewriting chart for Tuesday, so you'll be ready to write your draft. Be sure to choose a good subject

for your narrative. Remember from our study of great narratives in class that you will need to include a clear focus(no bed-to-bed stories), good supporting details, and good sensory descriptive details, and a meaning beyond the events of the story ( for example, how your life changed as a result, what you learned, etc.) Study your parts of speech definitions from your index cards and study your noun notes chart for a test later next week. Keep reading! The last day for AR testing and/or turning in summaries will be Friday, October 2.
Week Three:

Draft a thank you letter OR letter of explanation to your folks explaining why we needed the play dough in class to create
a metaphor for the steps in the writing process. You will need to include these terms and their meanings as part of your explanation:

(Also include the words metaphor and writing process.)
*prewriting - generating ideas for a paper

*drafting - first effort at organizing those ideas

*revising - another look at the draft to change as needed

*proofreading and editing - checking for needed corrections

*publishing - sharing with others

The final draft of the letter (hand written in ink)to your parents explaining our use of play dough as a metaphor for the writing process is due Thursday. Your first reading log will be due Friday (a minimum of 300 minutes recorded).
Be prepared for an announced divider and planner check Thursday. Divider labels: Handbooks/Assignments
Vocabulary. (After Thursday, planner checks will be random.) Keep Reading!!!

Week Two: Bring your media center book and text book to class daily. Bring playdough for our extended metaphor creation Wed.
Your Brown Bag Biography is due Thursday. I will collect your summer reading cards this Friday. Your first reading
log will be due a week from Friday (a minimum of 300 minutes recorded).

Week One:

Hope your first day was wonderful!!! Please have your parents sign the second sheet of the letter packet you received. 

Share the letters from me with your parents and ask them about a favorite school memory. Please bring contact info for 

Mom and Dad (email/cell). Summer reading cards will be collected Fri., Aug. 21. Begin reading at home 20-30 minutes per 

night on average. Have all supplies by Monday. Complete your letter to me and bring it to class Thursday. 

Follow all directions on your rubric very carefully as it will be graded on the degree to which you followed instructions. 

Be sure to write it in blue or black ink OR print in black ink - 12 point Times New Roman Font. Be SURE to print at home 

unless you bring a note from home about a non working printer! Keep reading at home 20-30 minutes on average per night!



Ask your parents to help you get playdough to bring to class next Wednesday. Here's a recipe to make at home if you aren't  able to buy:

Recipe for children's playdough
2 cups cornstarch

2 cups baking soda

1  1/4 cups cold water
Gradually add water till smooth. Heat, stirring constantly until mashed potato consistency. Turn onto plate, cover with damp cloth, let cool. Knead dough.
Uncooked Playdough (salt and flour)
1/4 cup salt

1 cup flour

1/4 cup water
Have your child mix the flour and salt in a bowl then add water.  Knead and squeeze the dough to make a clay consistency.  You may need to add more water.
Note: You will find that this playdough doesn't last as long as the cooked recipes.

Ms. Crockett's Way Cool Web Page: Fighting the Evil Forces of Illiteracy and Run-On Sentences Everywhere!

Homework - School Year 2009-2010

Recipe for children's playdough

Uncooked Playdough (salt and flour)

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