Melton's Minutes

Late Work Policy

1. One day late= -11% in grade
2. Two or more days late= -100% (no credit given)
3. Late work policy applies to absenses, also. Students are allowed one day for each day of absense to turn work in on time.

This policy has become necessary due to the "relaxed nature" many of my students now seem to have in regards to turning work in on time. I find that I am buried in papers the day before progress reports go home! In addition, it is important to instill good work habits and to reinforce advance planning for their workload.  Julie Melton

Week of May 19th

L.A. (8th Grade)

Students will finish viewing the film version of "The Diary of Anne Frank". They should complete their notes on a character of their choice. Students will then create a "Found Poem" based on the book, movie, and their notes. This poem will be due Wednesday, May 21st. In addition, we will work in the grammar workbooks diagramming sentences.

RCICA

This week students are performing their puppet plays based on a fairy tale. Students will be assessed on their oral reading fluency, the ability to correct reading mistakes, and effort. I will not be checking journals or reading logs this week!

Week of May 12th

L.A. (8th Grade)

Students will finish reading the play "Diary of Anne Frank". Their speaking ability has improved tremendously the past two weeks; I am very pleased with the effort of all of my students. They will receive an oral reading grade as a part of this unit. Next, we will watch portions of the film "The Diary of Anne Frank" Students will keep a record of quotes that are important to the character of their choice.

Anne Frank Mid-story test will be returned this Tuesday!

RCICA (6th & 7th Grades)

Today students read and wrote a journal entry. Their journals are due tomorrow and  should contain five entries since the last grade. For the next few days, students will practice their lines with their puppets. They will focus on appropriate meter, rythym and volume. Self-correction of reading mistakes will also be monitored. They will have a "dress rehersal" this Thursday in front of another group for compliments and feedback. Plays will be performed next week!

Roots test will be returned this Tuesday!

Week of May 5th

L.A. (8th Grade)

We continue reading the play "Diary of Anne Frank". Students are focused on reading fluently and self-correcting mis-cues. In addition, We are evaluating the characters and their reactions to one another during their period of hiding in the secret annexe. They have received two packets of handouts: Act I Scenes 1 & 2  and Act I Scene 3. Students should answer the questions in the "sidebar" of  these handouts. These questions should be completed by this Thursday. Students will have a mid-story test this Friday, May 9th. It is open-book and they will need to use their handouts.

RCICA (6th & 7th Grade)

Monday: SSR and journal entry

Tuesday: We will begin our final unit of the year! Reading fluently and correcting oneself while reading are skills that only improve with practice. Students will practice these skills through puppetry arts! They will work in groups to read several plays and select one to perform. They will make sock puppets to h match the characters and, the last week of school, they will perform the play. Students should bring a sock, glue, felt, and any other supplies they would like to use on their puppet. They will need these supplies by Wednesday or Thursday. :)

Week of April 28th

L.A. (8th Grade)

Students received a handout of the first act and scene for the play "Diary of Anne Frank". Students will be taking parts and reading the play aloud. We will focus on oral speaking skills as well as the elements of the plot. They should come prepared each day with their copy of the play, paper, and pen. We will not have a vocab quiz the next two weeks, but students will be responsible for the vocabulary in the play. Eighth-graders typically enjoy reading this play and I look forward to watching their speaking skills and confidence grow as the play progresses.

RCICA

Students continued to work on their "Twisted Fairy Tales" today. They should be ready to read their tales out loud tomorrow. I have enjoyed their creativity so far!

HW: Bring a novel, journal, and roots flash cards Wedneday through Friday.

Week of Mon. April 21st

L.A.

No Vocab this week !

Students will be working in their grammar workbook for the first part of this week. We will be reviewing grammar and writing practices. Any pages not completed in class should be completed for homework.  Wednesday we will begin the play "Diary of Anne Frank" for a much needed literature break! Students will focus on a variety of skills including oral speaking as they read each part of the play aloud.

HW: Complete classwork

RCICA

SSR and study roots 13-30

HW: Study for roots test tomorrow!

Thurs., April 17th

L.A.

Vocab: there, their, and they're

Students worked on two handouts to determine the correct usage of pronouns.

HW: Grammar workbook p. 7, 8; Vocab quiz tomorrow!

RCICA

Students concluded the Mock Trial. Judges read their rulings! We began to review roots 13-30 for Tuesday's test

HW: Bring a novel and journal

Wed., April 16th

L.A.

Quiz today on "The Devil and Daniel Webster"

HW: Grammar workbook pages 41 and 42

RCICA

Today we began our "Mock Trial" to explore point of view

HW: None

Mon., April 14th

L.A.

Vocab: its and it's

Read "The Devil and Daniel Webster" with a focus on the following literary techniques: exaggeration, similes, allusions, and tone.

HW: Grammar workbook page 33 and 34 (adverbs). Tomorrow students will turn in the handouts on Adjectives and Adverbs with the text exercises attached.

RCICA

SSR and Journal entry. I collected the journals for a grade today

HW: Reading logs checked tomorrow.

Thur., April 3rd

L.A.

Vocab: burrow

Complete WAG pages 366-367' Exercises 31-38; problems 1-5 only (adjectives and adverb review)

HW: Study for vocab quiz; complete class work; bring all the notes and handouts for

and adverbs.

RCICA

We studied roots 1-12 and used context clues in the article "Subversive" . In addition, students took a practice test to prepare for the test tomorrow.

HW: Study roots 1-12; bring a novel and journal.

Wed., April 2nd

L.A.

Vocab: commenced

Reviewed adjectives and adverbs. Students took notes on the steps to identifying these tricky parts of speech! Complete WAG page 366, Exercises 24-28 (skip 26)

HW: Complete classwork.

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RCICA

Students practiced roots 1-12 for Friday's test. In addition, students read the article "Route 66" and used context clues to identify unknown words. Context clues will alson be included in Friday's test.

HW: Study roots