Thursday, June 23, 2011

Have a Great Summer!



I just wanted to take this moment to congratulate everyone on passing the NYS ELA exam and for all the hard work you have done which led up to this point.

I am proud of every one of you for working so hard and achieving so much this year. I'm wishing you a safe and happy summer break.

Remember to keep up with your reading!

Monday, June 13, 2011

TOP READER IN CLASS 751

Congratulations to Jaqueline for reading the most books in class 751 this year. She has been awarded a $25.00 VISA Gift Card.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Individual Virginia Hamilton Final Project Choice Board

Directions: Choose ONE project to match with your Virginia Hamilton novel. Follow the directions carefully.

DUE DATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 17th at the beginning of Period 4.

NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER PERIOD 4 ON FRIDAY.

If you feel you will be absent then send in your project with another student or email the project to me: kmcnulty2@schools.nyc.gov before

8AM on Friday.

1. CREATE A FACEBOOK PAGE: In the Point of View of One Character From Your Novel

2. Create a STORY QUILT

3. Write a Sequel (Chapter One) of a Virginia Hamilton Novel

4. Create a PowerPoint or Film a Book Talk about a Virginia Hamilton Novel



CHO

Friday, June 10, 2011

REVISED PROJECT DATES

We will be using the citywide test you completed between this past Wednesday and Friday as your final exam for reading/writing. So, the final scheduled for Wednesday, June 22nd is canceled.

UPDATES...

Monday, June 13th: Begin bringing back CLASS LIBRARY BOOKS

Friday, June 17th:
  • Final PORTFOLIO/ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY check (for a grade)
  • Individual VIRGINIA HAMILTON choice board PROJECTS are due
Wednesday, June 22nd:
  • ALL LIBRARY INDEPENDENT READING BOOKS due back today
Thursday, June 23rd: Fines for library books will be collected today. Portfolios will be completed between today and tomorrow and boxed.

Friday, June 3, 2011

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR READING STARS THIS YEAR

celebration_balloons-1302.gif

Congratulations to all the students in class 751 who achieved their 25 BOOK reading goal this year:

Cesar

Vallery

Lesly

Ysaira

Brenda

Solangie

Guianina

Jonathan

Mitchelangelo

Margarita

Divanur

Abraham

Daniela

Diana

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, June 17th:
  • Final PORTFOLIO/ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY check (for a grade)
  • Individual VIRGINIA HAMILTON choice board PROJECTS are due
Wednesday, June 22nd:
  • FINAL reading comprehension exam
  • ALL LIBRARY INDEPENDENT READING BOOKS due back today

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Writing a Film Critique

Your film critique of "The House of Dies Drear" is due Wednesday, May 25th. Remember to include:

Paragraph 1: Offer your overall impression of the film while mentioning the movie's title, director, and key characters.

Paragraph 2: Summarize the plot of the film

Paragraph 3: How did the actors portray key character roles? Did they fulfill your expectations given your knowledge of the original novel or play (if one exists)?

Paragraph 4: Were any particular film techniques used in key scenes? How did the film techniques anmd music enhance the setting and themes of the film? You may need two paragraphs to explain this information.

Paragraph 5: Ending paragraph--your last opportunity to guide the reader. Offer a clincher that tells the reader to attend the film or not.



Here are some websites to help you with writing your film critique of "The House of Dies Drear":

http://www.sage.edu/faculty/salomd/phil490/spring2002/filmcritique.htm
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/ht
http://www.ehow.com/how_2278441_write-movie-critique.html

Monday, May 2, 2011

Joanne Fluke Mystery Book Club Projects




Everyone did a great job on their group projects. Here are just a few samples.

READING STARS

Congratulations to our class reading stars: Lesly, Ysaira, Solangie, Divanur, and Diana. They met their April reading goal of 23 books. And, congratulations to Jaqueline for being the first to reach her year's goal of 25 books. Wonderful, girls!

Remember that the next annotated bibliography check is at the end of May with a total of 25 books for the school year. If the entire class reaches this goal, there will be an ice cream sundae party scheduled for sometime mid-June. The students who reads the most books will receive a VISA debit card.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

READING LOGS beginning April 14, 2011


Anyone who has not yet reached their reading goal of 20 books as of 4/1/11 is being given a reading log which must be completed nightly and signed by one of your parents every 5 days.

Here is the site if you want to download your own copies of the reading log: https://sites.google.com/a/safetyharbormontessori.com/shma-ms/reading-log



The next Annotated Bibliography PORTFOLIO check is May 1st = 23 books GOAL
The final Annotated Bibliography PORTFOLIO check is June 1st = 25 books GOAL

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Early Morning Test Prep CANCELLED

Thursday, March 17th Test Prep class at 7:55 is canceled this week. I'll be in Manhattan that day, so you'll be with a substitute teacher. Remember to work on your annotated bibliographies and independent reading.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Morning Test Prep Begins Tomorrow

Morning Test Prep classes begin February 10th in room 338 during period 1. If you are signing up, remember you are signing up for all ten sessions. Please be prompt. We start at 7:55.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Book Club Evaluation Essay

We have finished with Session 1 of our Book Club. Next week, we will be starting our Gary Soto Book Clubs. Write a five paragraph essay describing what parts you liked, disliked, were successful at, and/or had difficulty completing.

Here is a suggested writing frame:

Paragraph 1: Describe your initial reaction or feelings toward the book club or talk about experiences you've had with book clubs in other schools or classes.

Paragraph 2: Discuss activities you liked and/or were successful

Paragraph 3: Discuss activities you disliked and/or had difficulty

Paragraph 4: Make some suggestions about changes you would like made to the new book club meetings. For instance, was there something you would like to add, subtract, or do more or less of next time.

Paragraph 5: Closing thoughts/overall impression of the book club

Final Copy is due Monday, January 31st with the writing frame.

REMEMBER that is a time when you are given a voice. I will be seriously looking at what you have to say in order to make changes, so that you have an enjoyable experience next time. Be honest, give examples, and fully explain your position.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Gary Soto's "Seventh Grade"

Reread the story:
www.sandi.net/depts/literacy/diagnostic_assessments/7.pdf




Friday, January 7, 2011

Special Treat: Film on Monday

To celebrate the completion of our advertising unit, we will be viewing the film Super Size Me. This is a documentary follows Morgan Spurlock's journey as he examines the influence of the fast food industry and the consequences on his health when he sustains himself with a diet consisting solely of McDonald's food for one month.

Only those students who are current on their work will view the film. If you still owe work, you will be given 90 minutes to work on incomplete assignments.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Check out Robert E. Lee on PBS Tonight

If you want to get some information about one of the most famous generals in history during the time of the Civil War, check out your local PBS station:


  • Robert E. Lee
  • Further Reading: Related Books and Websites
  • Primary Resources: Surrender Documents
  • Photo Gallery: Lee the Man
  • General Article: The Army of Northern Virginia
  • Teacher's Resources: Lesson Plans from EDSITEment
  • Trailer: Robert E Lee Promo

  • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/lee/