Mrs. Dalton's Classroom: Words At Work

Second Semester Begins

2009-01-29T19:44:00.002-06:00

Second semester has begun. Looking back, I am amazed at all we did in the first semester. There were many highlights for me. We had some fun when the Missoula Children's Theater came and taught us about theater and stage make-up. We shuffled our way through sentence structure (a less fun, but important, part of the Language Arts curriculum).

Producing book trailers was probably the favorite for the majority of the students, and I have to say, I think these were the best book trailers yet! Way to go, 7th graders! Your success made me want to plan a new project using movie cameras. I've been pondering it and am open to suggestions. I thought possibly making a spoof on infomercials, but teach the parts of speech, could be a fun way to use technology and learn some of our less fun curriculum. Seventh graders, think about it! If you have a fun or good suggestions, let me know.

We are now three chapters into our next novel, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. This story is set in Mississippi, during the Great Depression. It deals with the hardships of poverty and racism. We have been learning about the time period as we study the literature. Some students spoke with grandparents and great-grandparents and heard first hand accounts of them living through the Great Depression. It was really interesting to listen to these stories in class.

2008-10-29T10:26:00.004-05:00

It's hard to believe that the quarter is almost over! The quarter ends next Monday and we have Parent/Teacher conferences next Thursday. I hope to see you all there!

We have just finished writing personal narratives, and it is fun to hear all the students' individual experiences. They wrote about a first time experience. Many wrote about shooting their first deer. A few wrote about their first sleepover, and many wrote about their first sport tournament they had ever participated in. Really interesting!

Continue reading your novel! Today, I handed out guidelines for the Independent Novel Project. This is not an assignment that can be put off to the last minute. You have a month to complete ALL the activities, but you need to get started NOW to create a quality product.

Finally, this week we talk about story-telling. We spend Friday telling stories. Get thinking of a cool story YOU would like to share with the class

Writing...Writing...Writing...

2008-09-24T14:11:00.003-05:00

As of yesterday at 10:44, Fall officially began. Fall means many things to me. Football games... Chili...Volleyball... Colorful leaves... Sweaters... And the Fall Writing Assessment.

Students have been busy writing their first essay of the year in their Language Arts class. This is never an easy task. Just remember, this is our starting point. We are going to work on our writing all year. I'll try to have writing tips each week. So check the blog out for some helpful hints to make your writing assignments go more smoothly.

Finally, we will be hiking trails along the Black River Falls, all the way to Lake Superior on Friday. Students - pack a lunch, dress for the weather, and be prepared foran interesting day!

WELCOME BACK

2008-08-29T08:37:00.002-05:00

It is amazing how quickly summer seems to fly by! We are now heading into another school year, and I think it is going to be the best yet. We have some fun activities and projects planned for seventh grade this year. I'm pretty new to blogging, so I will be playing around with this blog to try to make it a truly helpful site for you. I will have weekly assignments, worksheets, lists, and interesting links. I also plan to post some of your classwork here, so we can see what you are doing. Any feedback is appreciated! Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Mrs. D.

Enjoying a Summer Day!!!

2008-07-23T19:30:00.003-05:00

Summer School will be starting soon, and that means that the regular school year isn't far behind! Don't worry, there is still plenty of summer to enjoy before we are all back for another school year. One thing coming up in at our public library is a Twilight Party - for all you Stephanie Meyers fans out there. If you've never read any of her books, you should. Her newest book, The Host is on the New York Times bestseller's list right now. Her novels are a bit creepy and a bit mysterious.

I spent today swimming and laying on the beach at Crystal Lake. It was warm and sunny and fantastic. Make sure to take some time to enjoy our wonderful northwoods before we are all back inside most of the day!

Look at the side of this blog for some new book reviews.
Have a great week!
Mrs. D.

Summer Reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-07-06T14:08:00.003-05:00

Barbecues! Beaches! Books! Here are some great ways to relax on your beautiful July days and nights. First, Be sure to grill out. I like to take advantage of the warm weather by being outside as much as possible. Grilling and eating out on the deck is one reason I love summer. Check out some of my favorite grilling recipes on the side! Beaches are next in line to why I love summer. We spent yesterday swimming and tubing at Lake Katherine. The lake wasn't very crowded and the weather was perfect. Finally, when I lay on the beach, I like to have a good paperback next to me. I've just begun The Secret - I'll keep you posted on my opinion of this book. The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice Series #4) by Flanagan is now out and it is as good as the first three! For any Twilight by Stephanie Meyers fans, Breaking Dawn is due out next month. Ask at the public library in Minocqua because they are planning a special event for fans of this series!

OUR FINAL WEEK: June 2-6

2008-06-04T10:22:00.002-05:00

The students are still working really hard! There are tests, quizzes, and final presentations to complete before we can all relax and call it a year! Students are taking a final test on Poetry on Wed. They may use the notes they took on the three poets we highlighted (Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Langston Hughes). They will also be tested on poetic devices such as similies, metaphors, alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia and hyperbole. They will also recite a poem by one of these poets on Thursday.

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!!!

Assignments for the Week of May 12- May 16

2008-05-13T10:05:00.002-05:00

This week we will be working on our personal narratives. We are looking at examples of past narratives and practicing writing tools that make our essays more effective. For example, we reviewed similes and metaphors yesterday. This can be used to make writing more interesting and effective. Every student must include at least one simile or metaphor in their own personal narratives. We will be revising throughout the week. The final essay is due Thursday.
We are also working on vocabulary. Instead of webs, the students will need to look up the words and complete a worksheet on these words by Thursday. There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday. We will also have Independent Reading on Friday. Some of the students need to read much more to be sure to complete a novel this quarter. Reading fifteen minutes each day would be a reasonable expectation for all students.

Assignments for the Week of April 28 - Friday, May 2

2008-05-01T13:12:00.002-05:00

This week we took the final exam on Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. We also made corrections afterward for extra points. After the test, we worked on improving our writing with a focus on how we punctuate dialogue. Students had to do some creative writing. They needed to write a dialogue between themselves and Cassie Logan (the main characater in our novel) about how schools have changed since 1933. First, we had a mini-lesson on rules on punctuating dialogue. Finally, we are spending the second part of this week viewing the movie, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

Assignments for the Week of April 21 - 25

2008-04-22T13:15:00.003-05:00

This week, we will finish reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. We will listen to Chapter 10 in class on Monday, Chapter 11 on Tuesday, and finish Chapter 12 on Wednesday. Some of the students still owe me a summary of Chapter 9. We will discuss the novel on Wednesday and Thursday and there will be a final test on the novel this week.

Students also have to do Unit 26 in the Spelling Book. We will correct the assignment in class on Thursday and take a quiz on Friday.

Remember: Friday is a half-day for the students.

Assignments for the Week of April 14 - 18

2008-04-17T15:35:00.002-05:00

This week, we are continuing to read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. By Friday, everyone should have read all of Chapter 8 and 9. Students have not been keeping up with their reading, so I believe some Pop Quizzes may be in the near future. The reading is difficult for some, so I have been giving the students question sheets to help them focus their reading. We also have to write a paragraph summarizing each of the chapters.

We are also working on vocabulary this week. Webs will be corrected in class on Thursday, and there will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday! Remember, you will probably see words from past vocabulary quizzes on this quiz.

Finally, we will go to the computer lab and finish up our Spring Writing Assessment. We should also have time to go on a webquest where we can learn more about topics found in our novel.

Monday, April 7 - Friday, April 11

2008-04-08T09:56:00.002-05:00

This is the beginning of the 4th quarter! Wow, this year has gone by quickly. This week we will be working on our Spring Writing Assessment. The students will have Monday to work on their rough draft and Tuesday to word process the paper. If anyone doesn't finish by the end of today, I have reserved some computer time next Monday to finish or do final edits before turning it in.

We are also continuing Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Everyone should be finished reading Chapter 6 by Wednesday. I warned the students that we are going to have several pop quizzes on the novel, so it will be important to keep up with the reading.

Finally, we are having Independent Reading on Friday. Everyone should be reading a novel of their choice outside of class, but this is some classtime where they can catch up on that reading.

Assignments for the Week of March 31 - April 4

2008-04-01T09:05:00.002-05:00

This week, we will continue reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. We read Chapters 1 -3 last week and will read Chapters 4 - 6 this week. At the same time, we will watch segments of a video which gives an overview of the Great Depression. THis video can help us begin to understand the setting of our novel. The 1930's was a difficult time in our country and the video will help students explore the deepening crisis of the Depression.

Students will also work on Spelling: Unit 25. Pages 152-154 are due on Thursday, and we will have a quiz on Friday.

Finally, at the end of the week, we will begin our spring writing assessment. This five paragraph essay must be completed in class, and we will write our rough draft at the end of this week. We will go to the computer lab next week to word process these papers.

On Becoming Better Writers

2008-03-26T14:24:00.005-05:00

Becoming better writers is no easy task. I wish there were an easy button we could all press and suddenly, we'd all be perfect readers, writers, and speakers. Communication is so important and we all do it all the time, so you'd think we'd all be pros.

Unfortunately, effective, well-written prose doesn't just happen. It is the product of lots of reading, writing, and critical practice. There are two sure-fire ways to be better writers. One: Read a lot. Two: Write a lot. I am still working on improving my own writing. I try to write a little daily. Its the best way to improve your skills.

Each week, when we write out the week's assignments, I get similar comments and questions. "Do we have to read this week?" "Let's not write in our journals today, Mrs. D." "I'll give you a dollar if I don't have to learn those vocabulary words because I'm never going to use them." These are just some of the things I hear. I know some of the students may not believe it, but you really will see the vocabulary words in other places, and building your reading and writing skills will help you in many of your classes. Don't get discouraged. Keep writing, and keep reading!

March 25 - March 28: This Week's Assignments

2008-03-25T08:57:00.003-05:00

Well, we've had a nice long break, and now its back to the grindstone :-) This week, we will be working on vocabulary. The students will be given class time Tuesday to work on their vocabulary webs. The webs are due Friday and we will take the quiz that day also. We will also be spending some time discussing and learning about the Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression. This will give us some background knowledge before beginning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. We will begin this novel by Thursday.

Happy Spring Break!!!

2008-03-14T13:36:00.002-05:00

The week has flown and I know the students are really ready for a break! Many are headed out of town, out of state, and even out of the country. Safe traveling to all who will be on the road this week. When we get back, it will only be a little over a week before the end of third quarter! So, this school year is definitely passing by quickly. Happy Vacation. Happy Easter! See you in a week.

March 10 - March 14: This Week's Assignments

2008-03-10T08:41:00.003-05:00

Weekly Assignments: Well, I've decided to move the weekly assignments to this space because then it will be archived and if you need the information later, you just have to check down in the archives.
This week, we will work on Spelling: Unit 23. We will correct Unit 23 in class on Thursday and take the spelling test on Friday. We will also finish up our discussion of the short story "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. This classic story is a great example of foreshadowing and literary irony. We will discuss and do some writing using this story. We will continue our short story unit by reviewing literary elements and then reading the short story, "Charles" by Shirley Jackson. We will also read "Turkeys" by Bailey White and "The King and the Shirt" by Leo Tolstoy.

Journal entries will be made for each story:
Journal Entry #1: Discuss how the Connell uses irony to build suspence in "The Most Dangerous Game".

Journal Entry #2: Why do you think Charles acted as he did? In answering this question, use evidence from the story as well as your own inferences.

Journal Entry #3: In Tolstoy's short story, explain the line "But the happy man was so poor that he had no shirt".

Remember, journal entries must now be well-written paragraphs with complete sentences.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

2008-02-28T13:29:00.004-06:00

There are so many fantastic books out there, but sometimes it is hard to know what to read. It is really nice to hear suggestions from others because not every book is created equal. I have read some pretty great books this year, and I would like to suggest one right here!

If you are looking for a novel that is fast-paced and suspenseful, I would suggest Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson. This is a story about a group of kids who were raised in a research lab. They have been experimented on, and they are definitely not your normal kids. They have huge wings and can fly. Well, they are tired of being treated like animals, so they escape the lab. Getting away from the bad guys kept me awake and reading long after I should have gone to bed. I think you should check it out and read it. You won't regret it. One other great part is that there is a sequel: Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports.

Check out the comments tomorrow for many of the student's book reviews too.

Total Eclipse of the Moon

2008-02-21T16:16:00.002-06:00

I hope some of you had a chance to view the lunar eclipse last night. It was really neat to see! It made me want to learn more about eclipses and other aspects of astronomy! The amount of stars that we could see last night was pretty amazying too.

Today, we have been able to learn about many other areas of Science through our Science Fair. I hope you get a chance to come and see more of the great projects and listen to Professor Gizmo.

Garden in the Deep Freeze

2008-02-20T11:38:00.000-06:00

Friday is Here!

2008-02-15T14:29:00.003-06:00

It has been a very busy week, but Friday is definitely here. Today is "Independent Reading" in my class. This means that after our spelling quiz, the students get time to read a book for fun. As I went through the day, the students gave me suggestions about good books that they are reading right now. Several girls are reading Camp Confidential by Melissa Morgan. They all said they would recommend it for others to read. Some of the boys are reading books by Gary Paulsen. The Tucket series, by Paulsen, is popular with a few. Two other popular books are She Said Yes by Misty Bernall, and Red Rider's Hood by Neil Shusterman. Individual book reviews, written by students, will soon be another link on this blog. Be patient, we won't get to that for a little while. Stay warm and have a great weekend.

What a Day!

2008-02-14T16:13:00.002-06:00

The 7th grade spent a great day outside, skiing at Indianhead Mountain Ski Resort. We were lucky because the weather was sunny, and there was tons of fresh snow. Some of our students had never been on skis before, and I was impressed with the progress they made in a few short hours with an instructor. Others were obviously advanced skiers, and these students took advantage of the great conditions. Thanks to all who helped chaperone. It was a wonderful way to spend our Valentine's Day.

Welcome to Dalton's Words At Work

2008-02-13T10:32:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my new blog! Dalton's Words at Work will have a weekly update on my 7th Grade Language Arts assignments. It will also have information on teen book reviews and tips on writing. It won't be all just about me. Here, you will also be able to view students' work. I look forward to exploring the world of words with you all! This blog will give us a chance to experiment with technology and communication.