Mrs. Villastrigo Language Arts

We are finishing up peer editing this week and will make final changes to stories by Thursday and Friday. Students will begin presenting stories as early as Friday, on a volunteer basis. We will sneak a few in each day to allow everyone to share. We are wrapping up irregular verbs in the next couple of days and reviewing for an upcoming verbs test. Fitting spelling in each day in a period shorter than an hour is difficult as we focus more on writing, so our spelling tests will continue to be spaced a bit longer than week and typically about two. Our practice test is scheduled for Monday and the final test on Tuesday, but dates are subject to change.

Unit 4 -- Double Consonants

1. hurricane
2. annual
3. vanilla
4. alligator
5. dissolve
6. pudding
7. antenna
8. commercial
9. hammock
10. innocent
11. bulletin
12. channel
13. gorilla
14. commuter
15. alley
Challenge:
parallel
immediate
corridor
exaggerate
immense

Mrs. Villastrigo Reading

Students did an excellent job on the Walk Two Moons final book and vocabulary tests! It is great news that the class average ranged beetween an A and B in all classes. I would attribute this to how interesting the novel was, most students said they enjoyed it very much. Way to go studying in class and at home!

On the flip side, we did a study guide in class and I am concerned about students who forgot to turn it in because it caused grades for students with a zero to plummet. I know all students completed them, so let's get them in. We have so few assignments at this early point that one zero can make a big difference! I appreciate that families check on student progress on Family Access and encourage him or her to stay organized. I have about ten packets without names, as well.

We will begin pre-reading activities for Jaguar tomorrow and dive into the story this week. We are going to have such a great time reading this novel. Thanks for keeping up on your half hour of reading every night, I am loving seeing so many students taking AR tests each day.

Mr. Seidenschwarz Language Arts Class

Second Trimester Major Projects are just around the corner. We have just under three weeks before holiday break and only a week when we get back. Many students find it is important to break the project into manageable portions over several weeks. Cramming it in at the end may result in stress and a poorly prepared project. Here are the choices and guidelines that were handed out in class:



Book report alternatives
2nd Trimester major project
Due on Jan 19th

1. Write a missing chapter (about 3-4 pages typed, includes explanation) that could have happened in the book you read but didn’t. After you have written the scene, explain how it would have changed the outcome of the book.

2. Create a board game based on events and characters in the book you read. By playing your game, members of the class should learn what happened in the book. (Students will play your game, and must be able to explain your story in class) Your game must include the following: a game board, a rule sheet and clear directions, events and characters form the story on cards or on a game board. (Share)

3. Create models of five objects which were important in the book you read. Use five different mediums, don’t use paper. On a 4X6 index card attached to each model, tell why the object was important to the story line of the book. Fill out the entire card. (Share short oral summary in class)

4. Complete a series of five different styles of drawings that show five of the major events in the plot of the book you read. Fill out 4X6 cards with a summary for each drawing so that someone who did not read the book can understand the illustrations. Must use at least 8X10 sketch paper. (Creative Artists only)

5. Type a test for the book you read. Include ten true false, ten multiple choice, and five long paragraph essay questions, about ½ a page each. After writing the test, provide the answers for your questions.

6. Imagine that you are about to make a feature length film of the novel you read. You have been instructed to select your cast from members of your Language Arts class. Cast all the major characters in your novel from your Language Arts classmates and tell why you selected each person for a given part. You should compare and contrast several personality traits with examples, so I know enough about the characters to agree with your choices. Consider both appearance and personality. Approximately four character descriptions per type written page. (Minimum 10 or more characters)

7. You are a prosecuting attorney putting the book you read and its author on trial for interest, logic, plot, climax, ending etc. Prepare your case/script on paper and videotape it (CD-R/RW or VCR) giving all your arguments showing details of character traits and examples from your book. This would appear like a court drama from T.V. (5 minute minimum-good acting required)


8. Make an architect’s model or big box of a scene from the book you read. Type a two page paper giving a summary of the story and also explaining the importance of the specific scene. Attach it to the project. (Creative Artists Only-Limit 5 per class, by drawing.) (Share)

9. Pretend that you are one of the characters in the book you read. Tape an audio or video monologue (one person talking) of that character telling of his or her experiences. (CD-R/RW or VCR) Be sure to write out a script before taping. (5 min w/o commercials-Good acting required)

10. Make a television box show of seven scenes in the order that they occur in the book you read. Cut a square from the bottom of a box to serve as a T.V. screen and make two slits in opposite sides of the box. Slide a butcher paper roll on which you have drawn the scenes through the two side slits. Make an audio narration tape to go with your television show. Be sure to write out a script before taping. (5 min w/o commercials-Share)

11. Tape an audio or video interview with one of the characters in the book you read. (CD-R/RW or VCR) Pretend that a magazine or a newspaper reporter is interviewing this character. You may do this project with a family member or friend, but be sure to write a script before taping. (5 min w/o commercials-Good acting required)

12. Imagine that you have been given the task of conducting a tour of the town in which the book you read is set. Make a videotape (CD-R/RW or VCR) describing the homes of the characters and the places where important events in the book took place. You should use a musical background for your tape. (5 min w/o commercials-Share)

13. Make a list of at least 15 proverbs or familiar sayings. Write short paragraphs describing which characters in the book you read should have followed the suggestions in the proverbs and why. Here are some proverbs to get you started: He who hesitates is lost. All’s fair in love and war. The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine.

14. Write the copy for the first few pages of a newspaper, this should look as much like a real newspaper page as possible. The articles should be tied in to events and characters in the book. Small pictures, headlines, captions, advertisements etc. are part of this.

15. Make a “science fair-trifold” collage that represents major characters and events in the book you read. Use pictures and words cut from magazines as well as short summary paragraphs you write in your collage. (Some artistic ability-Share)

16. Make a paper doll likeness of five of the characters in the book you read. Design at least two costumes for each character. Next, type one good paragraph for each outfit; tell what the clothing reflects about the character, the historical period, and important events in the book. (Creative Artists Only-Share)

17. Pick a national issue. Compose a 2-3 page speech to be given on that topic by one of the major characters in the book you read. Be sure the contents of the speech reflect the character’s personality and beliefs. (Good for biographies)

18. Let’s make a deal after school or during free time. (See me by Dec 15th)