Creating a Heart Map Wordle

Yesterday you made a Heart Map filled with the important people, places, memories and things in your life.  Today you are going to use that map to create a Wordle that represents what's important to you and who you are.  Your Wordle should contain at least 20 words.  You can play around with the layout.  Click here to create a Wordle.

Some tips:

1.  How do I make one word bigger than another?

The size of a word in the visualization is proportional to the number of times the word appears in the input text. So, for example, if you type

apple banana banana grape grape grape

into the create page's text field, you'll see that banana's font size is twice apple's, and grape's font size is 3/2 that of banana's.

2.  Can I keep some words together? Can I visualize two-word phrases?

Yes! You can use either the Unicode "non-breaking space" character or the tilde character ~ between words that go together. The tilde will be converted to a space when drawing the words, and the words will be treated as a single word.

Done with your Wordle?  Print out 2 copies:  one for your binder and one for me.  Then, post your Wordle onto your blog page.  Click here for directions.

The Monkey's Paw

You are going to create a plot diagram for "The Monkey's Paw" using Inspiration  Fill in each part of the plot diagram.  Be sure to answer the questions in each box.  Save and print a copy of your plot diagram when you are done.   Click on this link to get to the model.

The Fall of the Hindenburg--video footage

What is a Blog?

You will be creating a blog this year, but what is a blog anyway?  Watch this BrainPOP video to learn more about blogs.

Brain Pop Blogs

This In Plain English video offers a good overview of Blogs as well.  Click here to watch!

You can watch this tutorial on how to create a blog for more information.

Digital Etiquette

Today we are going to discuss Digital Etiquette--how we act when we are line.  It is important when you are on the internet and blogging to understand and follow the rules of digital etiquette.  We're going to watch a BrainPOP video to learn more about Digital Etiquette

Brain Pop--Digital Etiquette

Take the quiz! You may take the review quiz first.  When you think you really know your stuff, take the graded quiz.    Click here to go to the BrainPOP quiz on Digital Etiquette.  Please email me the results of your quiz at scasassa@barnardschool.org

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