Welcome to LA Tech!

     Welcome to Tech Class!  You will have Tech class throughout the year.  Sometimes we will use a writing period for tech, other times, when we are working on a Tech project, we may reserve the lab for several days in a row.  You will be using technology a lot in Language Arts class as a way to communicate with other people , record your reading, share your work and show what you know. 
     Today 7th graders will begin to design their own blogs and 8th graders will decide what they want their blogs to look like this year.  We will learn how to sign in and work on choosing a template--or design--for the blogs.  The 8th graders are pros at this and will have a 7th grade buddy to help during tech class this year.  Here is a list of your tech buddies.  You will be sitting near them in the computer lab and this person should be the first person you go to for help. 

Tech Buddies

Cloud-Leah
   Angel-Jordan
    Zach-Maddie
         Brian-Connor S
     Ethan-Jessica
          Kyle-Connor W
    Tyler-Emma
   Caleb-Alex

     You will also be getting a Tech password handout.  It is your responsibility to keep track of your log in information and passwords.  Please keep this paper in the Tech section of your binders and record any user names and passwords that you have.  It can be very frustrating if you can't log into a site or your blog!

     I am looking forward to an exciting year of Language Arts and technology!  Remember to be respectful and responsible online. Happy Blogging!

Ms. Casassa

 

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to 7/8 Language Arts!  I hope you all had a relaxing summer with lots of time for reading.  I am looking forward to reading and writing with you this year.  I am excited that we will have a Writing class this year in addition to Reading every day.  I am also excited to be teaching five days a week!  Today we will review class expectations and look ahead at the routines for the upcoming year.  You have a Family letter (click here to view) to review with you parents.  The letter needs to be signed and returned by next Tuesday, September 4th.
     This blog will be a great place to see what is happening in 7/8 Language Arts.  I encourage you and your family to check in regularly.  Your class homework page will have your homework posted nightly by 4:30.  Once your own student blogs are up and running, be sure to visit them from home as well.  I look forward to a wonderful year of reading and writing!  Ms. Casassa
    

Be prepared!  Be sure to bring the following items to LA class: ·      A positive attitude ·      LA Binder ·      Reader/Writers Notebook ·      Writing Folder ·      Textbook ·      Vocabulary Workbook ·      Independent Reading Book ·      Writing utensil (pencil, black or blue pen, highlighter) ·      Completed homework

Weekly Homework Requirements:  The list below outlines the basic homework that you can expect each week. You will have a Book Project due approximately once a month.  You will also have writing assignments that will require work at home during the term.

Weekly Homework Schedule Expect homework of some sort M-Th nights.  Monday night:   ·      Vocabulary:  new lesson assigned, due Friday. Wednesday night: ·      Complete Reader Response Letter.  The topic of the letter will be assigned on Thursdays and be due the following Thursday.  You have a week to work on it.  Friday:  Vocabulary test (every other week) Throughout the week:  ·      3 R/W Notebook entries—write for at least 20 minutes and fill at least a whole page with quality writing! ·      Read 100 minutes of your independent reading book each week (5x a week for 20 minutes). ***Homework is posted on our classroom blog by 4:30 that day.

Mythology

Mythology is another type of oral storytelling.  You will be learning about the Greek gods and some of the earliest myths in this unit.

Perseus and the Gorgon   

Read the myth

Want to read another version of the myth?  Click here! 
And here's another version

Watch the video

Medusa-Clash of the Titans (compare the original and the remake)

Watch this video on Perseus and the Gorgon


Watch Storyteller-Greek Myths - Perseus and the Gorgon in Educational | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

You will be choosing a Greek god to become an expert on.  You will be creating a "fakebook" page for your god.  I've started one on Hestia that you can see below.  Be sure to save your work and the link you will get so you can go back and add information as you learn more about your god.

Greek Mythology Resources:
Greek Mythology
Mythweb
Theoi Greek Mythology
Family Tree of the Greek Gods 
Encyclopedia Mythica 
Greek God videos 
Greek God games and actitivies

Click here to view assignment requirements and rubric

Click here to view my Fakebook for Hestia 

When you save your Fakebook page, please copy and past the URL link to this google document so I can access all the Fakebook projects.  Thanks!

View Fullscreen | Create your own

Introduction to Tall Tales

We are beginning a new unit!  We will be studying Oral Traditions and storytelling, starting with the study of American Tall Tales and Folklore.  Today you will learn about some of the New Hampshire folklore and some legendary heroes in American Folk history.  Complete the questions on the handout and enjoy learning about some bigger than life heroes!

 Quizlet-  Oral Tradition Flashcards.  Study the definitions of important terms you need to know during this unit.

Sites you will be visiting today:

American Folklore-  Use this site to find tall tales from different parts of the country
Tall Tales -the basics  A lot of good links to different tall tales
American Tall Tales-  good site with some videos to watch
Animated Tall Tales- a fun, interactive site to learn more about tall tales
Myths, Folklore and Fairy Tales- Read different myths and legends from around the world
Aesop's Fables- online collection of Aesop Fables
Beowulf-  want to learn more about Beowulf.  Check out this site!
 

7th Grade Tech Class:  Understanding Tall Tales In Tech Class today (5/22/12) you will be creating a poster introducing your Tall Tale hero (You can make the poster using a word document).  You will use this poster during your oral presentation.  You only have one class to complete this assignment! Your poster must include:    Picture of Hero   Name of hero Brief summary of his feats/accomplishments—these can be bulleted    A quote from the story that shows what he is like and is an example of hyperbole.  If you can’t find one, you may write one yourself. Your poster should fill the entire page (81/2 x 11).  Your hero’s name should be large and bold.  Be creative in your presentation. You need to print out two color copies for class.  Post your poster onto your blog by the end of tech class.

Finished researching?  Are you an expert of at least one Folk Hero?  Yes!  Now you try to write a Tall Tale.  Use this Graphic Organizer to get started.  When you finish.  practice reading it and then record your tall tale on the ipad.  Upload the finished version onto your blog!

The Diary of Anne Frank--Exploring the Secret Annex

Today you will begin to explore the secret annex and learn about its inhabitants.  Visit the secret annex and answer the questions on the handout.  Please take your time, explore the different sections, watch the videos and read the descriptions.  There are so many interesting things in this site to do and learn about.  Click here to download the worksheet.

Click here to go to The Secret Annex Online

When you finish...

The United States Holocaust Museum

Go to the site above.  Choose a topic that you want to learn more about.  Research the topic:  look at the photographs, read witnesses' account.

Complete the Graphic organizer (click here for a copy)

Then write a summary of the events and why the event you chose is important for us to remember to help us understand the Holocaust.  Create a power point presentation explaining the event using photos, text, and if possible, brief video clips.

Post your Power Point onto your blog.

7th Grade Poetry Tea Party

In  7th Grade Language Arts today, we had a Poetry Tea Party.  Dressed in our finest attire, we gathered in the conference room to read some of the funniest and silliest poems we could find.  Afterwards we enjoyed beverages in teacups and snacks.  Click the student's name below to watch them read their poem.  You can even listen to Miss Gagne read a favorite from Shel Silverstein.

Angel                         Kyle

Zachary                     Tyler

Cloud                         Ethan

 Brian                          Caleb

Miss Gagne

Introduction to The Diary of Anne Frank

The Secret Annex Online--Click this link to watch this brief introduction to Anne Frank and her family

Poetry Resources

Use Quizlet to review the poetry elements and types for tomorrow's quiz.

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards | Study arts flash cards

Good Poetry Sites
The Rhyme Zone- rhyming dictionary
Make your own poem- Magnetic Poetry activity. Try it--it's really fun!
Scholastic Poetry site-lots of ideas, poems and poets to read
Poets.org-poetry, poets, and poems
Giggle Poetry-you'll find a lot of great poems here
Poetry for Kids-another site to find funny poems
What am I?-Writing riddle poems- a fun interactive program to help you write riddle poems
Poetry for Kids-different types of poems and instructions for how to write them
Instant Poetry Forms-go here to get help writing a poem
Poetry Splatter-another great place to go if you don't know what to write!
Haiku-write some haiku poems on this interactive site

Introduction to Poetry

Go to the link and watch the Brain Pop video on poetry.
http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/poetry/
username: scasassa  
password: barnardschool

• Take the quiz afterwards and email the results to scasassa@barnardschool.org 

• Then complete the Diamante Poem activity. 
• You may then work on the Sense Diagram.  
• Please print out your completed work and hand in at the end of class. 

If you finish the poetry activities, watch the Brain Pop video on Similes and Metaphors and take the quiz and complete the activities for that video as well.

The Giver:  Museum Box Project

In The Giver, Jonas wonders why one person must be the receiver of all the community’s memories.  The Giver explains that it was decided that it was the best way to avoid pain.  Jonas feels that it would be easier if the memories were shared equally.  In fact, there are memories that he is given that have much pleasure and joy.  We are going to create a Museum Box that holds our collective memories:  memories of our childhoods, of our relatives and of our country’s past.  Each of you will create a cube in the Museum Box that will represent your family memories.  Unlike Jonas’ community, we will all be receivers and shares of memory!

How to access our Museum Box 1.  Use this link to go to the Museum Box:  http://museumbox.e2bn.org/creator/ 2.  Click “load” 3.  Log in: barnardschool       username:  barnardschool 4.  Click “Our Memories” and then the load button. 4.  Find the cube with your name on it.  There are two levels! 5.  Start creating.  Be sure to click save.  Your work does not save automatically!

Your cube needs to include the following:

1.  Picture of you as a child

2.  Story describing the picture and the importance of this memory

3.  Story of a relative’s childhood

4.  Story of a historical event your relative remembers from their life

5.  A picture or video of the historical event

6.  An item of importance to you.  This could be a place you have visited, an interest you have, something that makes you unique.  It can be a picture, a video, a link to a web page, a song, a drawing or poem you made.  Be creative with this!

Examples of our Digital Book Talks

Take a look at a few of the digital Book Talks that your classmates completed.  To see more, go to the individual student blog pages or check them out with a QR code reader in the hallways.  This was a long project and you all really worked hard on it. Well done!