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February 28, 2007
Using our bibliography cards, students began typing their Works Cited page.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing informational text from note cards
Paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism
Writing topic and clincher sentences
Writing Works Cited page
HOMEWORK:
Read for 20-30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 04:17 PM
February 27, 2007
Students received assistance writing their topic sentences. Students read their detail sentences of their rough draft, then the class offered suggestions for a basic topic sentence. After putting that on the overhead, everyone used a thesaurus and their topic sentence guide sheets to suggest improvements on structure, descriptive vocabulary, and content. The result - a messing overhead with very interesting and descriptive topic sentences.
Special notice
Reading 25 books - 3rd nine weeks ends the middle of March; leaving only 2 1/2 weeks to bring total number of books read to 20. The state criteria for books read each school year is 25 books and we are almost there. (Some students have already accomplished this and more!)
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing informational text from note cards
Paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism
Writing topic and clincher sentences
HOMEWORK:
Writing Analysis - Analyze 5 sentences from your research rough draft.
Read for 20-30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 05:18 PM
February 26, 2007
Welcome and thank you for checking our blog! Bonus points are available: Print this page and MARK the sentence below ...
Each student has completed 20 note cards because they are writing a research paper.
Formula ________
Special notice
Reading 25 books - 3rd nine weeks ends the middle of March; leaving only 2 1/2 weeks to bring total number of books read to 20. The state criteria for books read each school year is 25 books and we are almost there. (Some students have already accomplished this and more!)
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing informational text from note cards
Paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism
HOMEWORK:
Writing Analysis - Analyze 5 sentences from your research rough draft.
Read for 20-30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 05:11 PM
February 23, 2007
Students are discovering how difficult it can be to rewrite another person's research in their own words. Students continued to construct sentences that paraphrase the facts into their rough draft, with some students moving to the revising stages of adding transition words. We will be working with rough drafts again on Monday.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing informational text from note cards
HOMEWORK:
Read for 20-30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
3rd nine weeks ends the middle of March; leaving only 2 1/2 weeks to bring total number of books read to 20. The state criteria for books read each school year is 25 books and we are almost there. (Some students have already accomplished this and more!)
Posted by Beals at 04:11 PM
February 21, 2007
Students continued to work on turning facts from their note cards into sentences in their rough draft.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing informational text from note cards
HOMEWORK:
3rd Period is to continue working on their rough draft.
Read for 20-30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 03:23 PM
February 16, 2007
Students began writing their rough draft using a paragraph organizer. We focused on turning note card facts into the detail sentences of a paragraph. When the details have been developed we will write the topic and clincher sentences of the paragraphs.
Enjoy the long weekend and read a wonderful book!
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Parent signature on progress report for the students who forgot (Avoid silent lunch).
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 04:27 PM
February 15, 2007
Today we focused on organizing information - developing a web and sorting note cards in readiness for writing the rough draft. So many steps...
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Parent signature on progress report for those students who forgot (Avoid silent lunch).
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 02:56 PM
February 14, 2007
Most students completed their 20+ note cards today. Tomorrow we begin organizing our information and start writing the rough draft.
Progress reports were distributed today.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Parent signature on progress report.
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 04:17 PM
February 13, 2007
We continued to work on the research note cards. DEAR today.
Progress reports go home tomorrow.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 10:10 PM
February 12, 2007
It was wonderful being back in the Write-Place today. Monday can be marvelous.
We reviewed note cards and most students completed 1/3 or 1/2 of the required note cards.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Complete KS workbook pg. 53, sentences 6-10 (Several students demonstrated independence and foresight by working ahead and have already completed this page of the workbook.
DEAR tomorrow - remember to bring the book you are currently reading!
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 01:35 PM
February 07, 2007
Note card format was introduced today. Students read over their several pages of resource materials and chose the 4 best resources. They will begin to search for facts and then copy those facts to their note cards. We discussed how to avoid plagiarism; note cards can not have more than 8 words. We are also working 'smarter not harder' to help with future organizing of information; write only 1 fact on 1 note card.
No one noticed yesterday's BONUS points. :o
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Researching facts
Writing note cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Complete KS workbook pg. 53, sentences 1-5
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 03:04 PM
February 06, 2007
Students worked in the computer lab to finish up their Response to Literature project and bibliography cards.
BONUS points to any student that copies the sentence below, underlines the dependent and independent clauses, and MARKs the sentence.
While studying for my science test on ecology, my dog ate my social studies project about Egypt.
GOOD LUCK!
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 11:19 AM
February 05, 2007
Students worked to finish their bibliography cards. Great workers!
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
***Complete KS workbook pg. 52, sentences 6-10 (2nd period - Please note the page is 52, not page 53 - I'm sorry I did not catch that error during your class period.)
Several students have reported that they have finished reading their most recent book, and they have been encouraged to complete their book report over the weekend.
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 05:23 PM
February 02, 2007
Students continued to work on their bibliography cards in class. The classwork assignment was to complete an additional 5 cards; students received a grade based on completion.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
Several students have reported that they have finished reading their most recent book, and they have been encouraged to complete their book report over the weekend.
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 02:45 PM
February 01, 2007
I'm sorry this is being posted so late in the evening; we seemed to be experiencing server problems at school today. I hope the delay has not created a problem for any students and their families.
Today we trudged through the numerous details of bibliography cards. Students have collected several reference sources to help them practice writing their bibliography cards in class tomorrow.
SKILLS:
Using multiple sources to research a topic.
Writing source citations and bibliography cards
Writing complex sentences.
Applying MARK and COPS strategies to writing.
HOMEWORK:
KS workbook, pg. 52, sentences 1-5
Read for 30 minutes 5 days each week/Book report-You should be working on your book reports as you read, adding information as you go along.
Posted by Beals at 01:39 PM
