LAST UPDATED: 1:15PM, Wed, DECEMBER 21th, 2011
1) Root Word Quiz #2, words 1 thru 50:
A Block: 1/17
B Block: 1/18
C Block: 1/18
D Block: 1/19
E Block: 1/19
NOTE: See below for more info on the Root Word Quiz
Please Download and Print a copy of the root word review sheet from my
TeacherWeb page. You can use this link:
http://teacherweb.com/MD/FQMS/MrBatson/photo2.aspx
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2) Reading Quest #2 (Multiple Reading Assignment) Packet Due:
A Block: 1/12
B Block: 1/12
C Block: 1/13
D Block: 1/13
E Block: 1/11
NOTE: See below for more info on the Reading Quest
If needed, please Download and Print a copy of the Reading Quest from my
TeacherWeb page. You can use this link:
http://teacherweb.com/MD/FQMS/MrBatson/photo2.aspx
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3) Nonsense Quiz: This is an unannounced quiz (Pop Quiz). The only way to
study is to have students read a book at or above his level and search for
words they do not know the meaning of. Then, students should use the context
clues around the word to try to figure out its meaning. Check meanings in the
dictionary.
All Blocks: Nonsense quizzes are unannounced, but only after practice and
discussion in class. I will say that Nonsense Quiz #2 should fall
during the week of January 2nd thru 6th.
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4) ACE Quiz: This is an unannounced quiz (Pop Quiz). We practice
"writing about our reading" every week. And we utilize the ACE forumla,
ANSWER, CITE, EXPLAIN. Students get BCR instruction in other classes as well,
so we expect students to be ready at any time.
About the Reading Quest...
The Reading Quest is an adventure game based on students' reading totals for
the month. It takes the place of the normal "reading log" and requires
students to read across many genres.
Students now have a "yellow" colored Reading Quest Packet. Parents review
the boxed "Questlist." These are the texts the students must read. Unlike a
normal scavenger hunt where it's okay to skip some items, the Quest requires
students to read EVERY ITEM ON THE QUESTLIST.
Students must time their readings and record them (with all requested
details) on the Quest Chart.
Parents must sign to verify that each reading has been completed. (Parents,
if you want to sign once and initial the others, that's fine.)
Students must total all reading statistics at the end of the packet.
Disclaimer: The Quest is designed to build a student's background knowledge
of ALL of their other subjects: math, social studies, science, english, art,
health, FACS, etc. Because of this, students cannot use their school textbooks
or teacher supplied handouts, articles, packets, or texts of any kind.
Students must hunt each Questlist Item down and read them.
About Root Word Quizzes...
Root words are word parts that came to the English language from other
"parent languages" like Greek, Latin, Hebrew, etc. These include prefixes,
base words, and suffixes. Learning root words will expand your child's
vocabulary and increase their performance on verbal test sections like the
MSAs, HSAs, and SATs.
Students in my reading class are required to learn lists of 25 root words
at a time, beginning with a drill called The Root Word Challenge in class. Ask
your child to explain.
Students must memorize these root words, but also be able to recognize how
these words give meaning to other words in our language. Example: "chron" is a
root word meaning "time." Students must know that, but also be able to
recognize the meaning in words like chronic--something that occurs regularly
or repeatedly over time.
To study, students must begin with memorization. Then, they should
practice by looking up words that contain each root and analyzing the
definition of each from its root parts.
Here's an example of what a Root Word Quiz question might look like:
1. What's the best definition of: epicenter?
a) time of an earthquake, measured in number of hours, minutes, and seconds
b) the middle of the a machine that flies above the earth
c) located under or beneath
d) the point on the earth's surface directly above an earthquake's origin
e) a DVD rental place known for its selection of Kung Fu movies
What's the answer? How do you know? Search for the root(s) in the unknown
word: epicenter. See it? "epi" is a root word that means "above, over,
or beyond." Armed with this knowledge, you must know the answer is: D.
Always read ALL choices before you pick. Why are the others incorrect?
a) has nothing to do with epi AND it mentions "time" so the root "Chron"
should be in "epicenter." But it's not.
b) Oooh, this is tricky. Epi means above, so why isn't b) correct? Again,
notice that epicenter does not include the root "mech" for machine.
c) sub means under or beneath.
d) DING DING! Correct answer.
e) Is just as goofy as can be. I like to include a silly tension breaker
answer here and there for those kids who get tense during tests.
Here's another example:
1. What's the best definition of: biosubchronofer?
a) an underground animal that searches for clocks
b) the sound of a living creature scribbling on a chalkboard
c) the sound that a person makes after eating too many bean burritos
d)a person who writes letters to little animals who live above the clouds
e)a living creature that likes to carry off one of your shoes and hides it
under the sink
If you said e) was the best answer, you're right. It's the only answer that
uses bio+sub+chron+fer in its definition.
Finally, I like to include a comparison section where students must be able to
tell if two root words are similar in their definitions.
sub _____ epi (these are nearly opposites)
trans_____ epi (these two are nearly the same)
