Graphing Writing?

Yes, you read it correctly; writing is graphable!  Students in grade 7 recently graphed the first 10 sentences in their essays explaining one of the quotes in the novel Walk Two Moons. They also recorded the first 10 words that their sentences began with.  This exercise provides two types of information to the student: do my sentences have varied lengths and varied beginnings. N2SSWTSW means that No 2 Sentences Start With The Same Word in the same paragraph. When we talk, our sentences begin differently and when we write, the same idea holds true. We also say sentences of different lengths when we talk or our language would sound robotic!  A great graph for writing has lines that jump up and down the grid and 10 sentences that begin with different words.  Ask to see your son's or daughter's writing graph when they come home with their work from unit one this week. See if you can interpret the sentence structure! :)

We graphed our writing and are learning more about varying the beginnings of our sentences and their lengths!

Inside the Mind

Grade 8 students are currently completing projects on symbolism in literature.  They are taking a look inside the minds of the characters to see what items, symbols and images play a role in explaining more about the main character and the character's relationship to others in the story. For example take the ring in the book Fellowship of the Rings. What synmbol does the ring stand for in the book?  What is the meaning? In The Hunger Games, what symbolizes the strength, capability, and talent of Katniss? Evidence of symbolism is all around us.  Discovering how symbols alter our perception of literature is often interesting, amazing, and quite profound. Stay tuned for more projects to be posted as completed.

What are you afraid of?

If you want to view some spooky artwork and read about weird phobias, come to Mrs. Huber's room, 311, and take a look at the Teen News bulletin board for the month of October. An interesting phobia is ephebiphobia - a fear of teenagers! Do not believe your teen when he or she comes home and tells you they have lachanophobia - fear of vegetables. One believable phobia is testophobia - fear of taking tests. From a fear of mirrors to a fear of beards, there are some VERY interesting phobias out there!

Relationships 101

This is the new unit 8th graders will be engaged in over the next six weeks or so as they explore relationships with parents, friends, teachers and people in the community.  The Unit 2 question is "What makes a healthy relationship?" We will be reading the novel The Pigman in class and taking a look at the different relationships among the characters, some healthy and some not.  Ask your child why Mrs. Huber's dress is hanging in the classroom (did she run out of closet space?), why a credit card and a death certificate are dangling from the ceiling, and why there is a cool poster of John Lennon. All will be revealed in time. . .

Poetry Tree

Do you have a poetry tree in your home?  We have one in our classroom!  It is an 8' tall Norfolk Island  Pine and we have to remember to douse it with a generous gulp of water every Friday. A poem from every grade 8 student hangs on its branches and we have a good time reading them. Come and see the Poetry Tree and read for a spell. :)

Bewitching Books!

Students in grade 7 were offered an opportunity this month to write epilogues (the chapter that comes after the last chapter) for books they have been reading independently this month, or they could have chosen to write a reading reflection (which they learned is NOT a book report!). Would you like to read the new ending for The Hunger Games? Maybe you would prefer to hear how the author used suspence to create an atmosphere of doom and gloom. Come to room 311 and check out the comics and reading reflections that fill the cauldron of reading possibilities!

Note Taking Tip!

I was impressed with how easily and efficiently students in grades 7 & 8 took notes in Grammar Camp!  Several students used different colored pens to write the headings for various note topics.  Using a different color really made the heading stand out from the other information and it was so easy to find the answers to questions when writing.  Very smart tip!  Other students were highlighting the headings for notes and that was a smart note taking tactic to use as well.  Great thinking, students!