6th grade 3/11-3-15

Welcome to the NYS ELA Exam Boot Camp!

Looks like this but say 7th grade instead of 8th

The middle school English Department is swinging into full-gear for the next month to prepare students for the exam on April 16th, 17th, and 18th. There are many changes to the exam this year. The biggest change is that the test is now aligned to the new NYS Common Core Standards. Although we have aligned our curriculum this year to those same standards, we have read that this test will focus more on deeper reading skills then the tests that came before. The test is three days instead of two and there isn't a speaking/listening section anymore. Students will write two essays (extended responses) and 8-10 paragraphs (short responses). In addition, the reading passages will be "authentic passages" which I think means published writing instead of state created passages.

Since this exam seems to "kick it up a notch" I am doing the same in my classroom. It is essential that students come prepared to class with supplies like their notebook and pens. No more excuses for being unprepared! Student must complete classwork! Furthermore, student MUST BE COMPLETING THEIR ELA HOMEWORK EVERY NIGHT!!!!! The assignments will help student practice the skills they learned in class that day as well as feel more confident on test day.

Homework will be in their Kaplan Advantage book that they signed out in November before break. It is orange colored with students on the front.

Monday 3/11

^{Kaplan Advantage}

 ^{pgs. 40-43}

Tuesday 3/12

^{Kaplan Advantage}

^{pgs. 30-33}

Wednesday 3/13

^{Kaplan Advantage}

<sup>pgs. 61-64

Tutorial Today for 6th grade 3:15 to 4:15pm</sup>

Thursday 3/14

Parent Teacher Conferences TODAY! 12:30-3pm, 5-7pm

Friday 3/15

HWK: Kaplan Advantage 35-43 Reading Non-fiction

7th grade homework 3/11-3/15

Welcome to the NYS ELA Exam Boot Camp!

Looks like this but say 7th grade instead of 8th

The middle school English Department is swinging into full-gear for the next month to prepare students for the exam on April 16th, 17th, and 18th. There are many changes to the exam this year. The biggest change is that the test is now aligned to the new NYS Common Core Standards. Although we have aligned our curriculum this year to those same standards, we have read that this test will focus more on deeper reading skills then the tests that came before. The test is three days instead of two and there isn't a speaking/listening section anymore. Students will write two essays (extended responses) and 8-10 paragraphs (short responses). In addition, the reading passages will be "authentic passages" which I think means published writing instead of state created passages.

Since this exam seems to "kick it up a notch" I am doing the same in my classroom. It is essential that students come prepared to class with supplies like their notebook and pens. No more excuses for being unprepared! Student must complete classwork! Furthermore, student MUST BE COMPLETING THEIR ELA HOMEWORK EVERY NIGHT!!!!! The assignments will help student practice the skills they learned in class that day as well as feel more confident on test day.

Homework will be in their Kaplan Advantage book that they signed out in November before break. It is orange colored with students on the front.

Monday 3/11

^{Kaplan Advantage pgs. 40-43}

Tuesday 3/12

^{Kaplan Advantage pgs. 30-33}

Wednesday 3/13

^{Kaplan Advantage pgs. 61-64}

Thursday 3/14

Parent Teacher Conferences TODAY! 12:30-3pm, 5-7pm

Friday 3/15

Kaplan Advantage pg. 13-21 How to Read Questions

6th grade homework 3/4-3/8

This week we will be finishing up with ELO 6, and then beginning our non-fiction unit! Therefore, there will be a short exam on Tuesday about historical fiction before the end of the marking period. We will also be writing rough drafts for the book project #5 due next Monday, March 11th.

Important Dates:

Tuesday March 5th- Non-fiction test
Friday March 8th- End of the Marking Period. I will not accept late work on Monday 3/11
Monday March 11th- Book Project #5 due
Thursday March 14th- Parent Teacher Conferences

Monday 3/4

1.  Final draft due tomorrow, Typed copies earn extra 5 points!

Tuesday 3/5

1. No homework because of exam today.

Wednesday 3/6

1. Rough draft of Book review of Watsons' Go To Birmingham- 1963.

Thursday 3/7

1. Find and read a short non-fiction article from any local or world newspaper such as AM New York or other free newspapers
2. Non-fiction response #1: Create a two column notes chart like the one we did in class. Focus on these skills in your reading entry: main idea, author's purpose, structure and vocabulary.

Friday 3/8

1. Book project #5 Due Monday! Book review (2 paragraphs) and Book project (Advertisement about book 1 paragraphs on your inspiration for the ad)

7th grade Homework 3/4-3/8

This week students have a Non-fiction multiple choice test on Tuesday. We will be reviewing the reading skills in class on Monday. Then, we will be wrapping up the rest of our non-fiction unit. We will also be writing rough drafts for the book project #5 due next Monday, March 11th.

Important Dates:

Tuesday March 5th- Non-fiction test
Friday March 8th- End of the Marking Period. I will not accept late work on Monday 3/11
Monday March 11th- Book Project #5 due
Thursday March 14th- Parent Teacher Conferences

Monday 3/4

1. Study reading skill and test strategies from the notes today!

Tuesday 3/5

1. No homework because of exam today.

(Tutorial for ELA Exam start: 3:15- 4pm)

Wednesday 3/6

1. Rough draft of Book review with two counter arguments

Thursday 3/7

1. Read independent reading book for 20 minutes. Make up any missing reading entries.

Friday 3/8

1. Book project #5 Due Monday! Book review (3 paragraphs) and Book project (Ad about book 1 paragraphs explaining why it looks the way it looks)