Mrs. Varga's Blog

Greetings 634, 734 & 834. The fourth marking period has begun, as have our new genre studies.
634 - We have begun our Gary Paulsen genre study - and you have begun your Paulsen books. Gary Paulsen learns a lot by observing nature and animals.
734 - We are sharing our nonfiction books. Authors Kristel, Paris, and Leslie - you did a great job presenting your books to us. We are looking forward to listening to more 734 authors! We are also beginning our Virginia Hamilton author study.
834 - We are reading and analyzing historical fiction - and we are beginning to create our own characters and settings for our historical fiction stories.

Homework is as follows:
3/29/06
634 -Read Chapters 4 & 5 in your Paulsen books. Use post-its for comments.
734 - Read the first three chapters in your Virginia Hamilton books. Use post-its to write your thoughts and comments.
834- Highlight details that were researched, and list details that were imagined in "The Voices From the Fields."
3/28/06
634 - Read Chapter 3 in your Paulsen books. Make a Predict/ Support chart.
734 - Research Virginia Hamilton's heritage.
834 - Research the customs, traditions, and traditional foods of your characters
country.

3/27/06
634 - Finish Inquisitor's Sheet for Woodsong. Write 3 or more inquisitor questions for your Paulsen books, and answer them.
734 - Read in your independent books.
834 - Reread Roots excerpt and list at least 5 details about lifestyle and tradition in The Gambia in the 1750's.
Please click on 'comment' below to let me know how you are doing in your genre study.

Posted by Mrs. Varga at 8:48 PM 0 comments

As Spring begins, 634 and 834 begin a new genre study; 734 is going full speed ahead in their current genre study.
THINK ABOUT THIS
634 - Which Gary Paulsen book are you thinking about reading? Congrats to Brandon and Jimmy on a fine presentation of your proposals.
734 - Which nonfiction strategy will you try out to explain a difficult concept in your children's nonfiction book?
834 - Which setting have you chosen for your historical fiction story?

HOMEWORK
3/24/06
634 - Read chapters 1 & 2 in your Gary Paulsen books. Write a summary
on loose leaf.
734 - Bring in final draft of nonfiction book (as well as previous drafts).
834 - Research your character's immigration experience.
3/23/06
634 - In your Reader's Notebook, respond to Gary Paulsen's "wrong or right" statement.
734- Final children's nonfiction due Monday, 3/27/06
834- Enhance your character fact paragraph.
3/22/06
634 - Bring your Gary Paulsen book predictions to class.
734 - Final children's nonfiction book due Monday 3/17/06.
834 - Finish Character Fact Sheet.
3/21/06
634- What do you expect a Gary Paulsen book to be about, after learning something about his life?
734- Add a third nonfiction strategy to your children's nonfiction draft.
834- Write a paragraph explaining your choice for your historical fiction setting.
3/20/06
634- Complete 'Author Study Survey' in your Gary Paulsen packet.
734-Apply a new nonfiction strategy to your draft of a children's nonfiction book.
834 -Write a descriptive paragraph for the setting of your historical fiction story.

Posted by Mrs. Varga at 11:04 AM 0 comments

Greetings to all you girls & guys in 634, 734, and 834. A few messages before I post the homework. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU ON THIS WEEK'S MATH TEST.
834: Congratulations to Elizabeth and Johnathan of 834 for a fine delivery of your Journalistic Feature Article. It is clear that you both did a lot of research, and put a lot of effort into it.
Homework is as follows:
634: It says/ I'm thinking chart for "Freedom Fighter"; revise concluding paragraph on loose leaf.
734: Work on your children's nonfiction book.
834: Summarize the book you are reading now. (JFA past due!!!)
3/14/06
634: Pre final draft revision on loose leaf
734: Continue working on your children's nonfiction book
(834 -No ELA class today due to math test.)
3/15/06
(634- No ELA class today due to math test.)
734- Continue research on children's nonfiction book. Write an introduction for for children's nonfiction book.
834- Write a summary of the book you are currently reading.
3/16/06
634 - Final draft revision due.
734- Write a conclusion for your nonfiction children's book.
834- Write a possible setting for your historical fiction book. (country & time period/ event)
3/17/06
634-Persuasive letter due Monday.
734-Nonfiction draft due Monday (not including conclusion).
834- Finish assignment sheet #1 -6 on Part I of "A Single Thought: Get to America."
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU FROM TIME TO TIME. PLEASE CLICK ON 'COMMENT,' SIGN IN, AND DROP ME A LINE.

Posted by Mrs. Varga at 1:22 PM 0 comments

Week of 3/6/06

Greetings all. Check below for today's (or yesterday's) homework.
Homework
3/6/06
634- Highlight 3 words/phrases in 'Attack on Mosque' article & define.
Rewrite recommendation with counterargument on loose leaf.
734 -Brainstorm for a quote you might use in your children's nonfiction book.
834 -2nd draft due tomorrow.
3/7/06
634- Revise "Desired Outcomes" of Proposal on loose leaf paper.
734- Read a newspaper article and complete an "It says/ I'm thinking" chart.
Continue gathering information for your children's nonfiction book.
834- Read a newspaper article and complete an "It says/I'm thinking" chart.
Revise your Journalistic Feature Article.
3/8/06
634- Reread debate piece. Create an Opinion/Support chart for the OTHER side.
(If you did 'Yes' in class, do 'No' for homework.)
Rewrite revisions of proposal onto loose leaf paper.
734- Finish "Gorilla Talk" article. Highlight main idea of every paragraph on page 2. (If main idea is inferred, write it on the margin next to the paragraph.)
834-Final Journalistic Feature Article due Monday 3/13/06.
3/9/06
634- Rewrite 2nd draft of proposal
734- "It says/ I'm thinking" chart for news article
834 - Final Journalistic Feature Article due 3/13/06
3/10/06
634-Complete template up to 'Desired Outcome'
734-"It says/I'm thinking" chart for news article; complete storyboard
834- Final JFA due 3/13/06
Don't forget to read toward your 25 Book ELA Standard. Please visit my blog if you have any questions -or just to let me know how you are doing. Register as a blogger and sign in. I would love to hear from you.

Posted by Mrs. Varga at 11:48 AM 0 comments