Verbs Recap

You should be familiar with this grammatical terminology (blue phrases) by now:

The six voices of the verb to be
How to conjugate any verb inot its six voices
A basic understanding of the 3rd person limited -v- omniscient voice 
List the 5 ways to remember linking verbs
Know the two ways to spot the difference between linking verbs and action verbs
Label an auxiliary verb (helping verb)
Label the different parts of a verb phrase

this is a video recap of today's session. Graham class MUST watch it!

Don't forget - Spelling Test is this Friday!

Voki

Don't forget, from now on you should always click on my VOKI  everytime you go to the blog for last minute updates.

Is your verbitis antidote for the horrible 'to be' verb still working? We'll find out with this week's writing assignment!

Buxton Family on Spring Break

Hope you all had a great break. We did!

Word Girl Definition Competition | Scholastic

Word Girl Definition Competition Scholastic

Live online National Competition
Coming Late April

Homework - Week 4

Remember to print out your H/W sheet.



Below is an overview of the entire Ubuntu Project with many new photos.

Charlotte Doyle (Ch. 9-15) and Spanish Links

Try just the vocabulary and multiple choice questions to help you practice for 9-15 test on Friday


http://www.smls.org/downloads/pdf/doyle/Doyle_9-12.pdf
(Can you create a question like those above with a voc.  word for answer, different from he text.

http://www.smls.org/downloads/pdf/doyle/Doyle_13-15.pdf
Make sentences GRAAB, SSS or Advanced (Bring Fri)

http://www.smls.org/downloads/pdf/doyle/Doyle_Skills_Wkst.pdf
Print and bring answers

FROM SPANISH
Use these links below to help study for your Spanish

1. Hangman game for South America

http://www.syvum.com/ 

(At the top right (orange area) type in: south america hangman and click search.

Next screen will show documents 1 - 10 of 60 matches. Select the first one, "General Knowledge Quiz & World Geography: South America: Countries & Capitals". A list will pop up and at the top (lavender bar) click on "Quiz" it will take you to the page with the games, hangman, multiple choice, fill in the blanks, then if you want to revers the quiz select "Reverse Quiz" above (lavender bar).

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpYkL4ejW8U&feature=related

The Ubuntu Project - Closing Thoughts

Change to H/W  sheet. No Figurative/Sensory Charlotte Doyle writing H/W. That assignment has been cancelled. Therefore no final draft due for this work on Friday either. (we have a music concert to attend)

See a copy of today's winning presentation below.

Everybody was truly a winner today. I am VERY proud of you all. Why would I say that? Comments welcome...

Greatest Leader in history on Prezi

Homework Week 3

Congratulations on those teams  that made it to the final. Now your work really begins! Finish strong...

The Ubuntu Project - Session 3

Just to reiterate...
The only  change to the H/W sheet this week was the flipping of days for the two vocabulary tests. Everything else on the H/W is the same.

Charotte Doyle - Test Prep.

Charlotte Doyle TEST is now FRIDAY
Vocabulary Test from your Vocabulary books is now THURSADAY (I have just switched the dates for these tests)


Play these games to practice your knowledge of Charlotte Doyle.
TQ for millionaires
http://www.quia.com/rr/36492.html 

Hint Hint!
Can you write sentences using multiple vocabulary words?


Matching www.quia.com/jg/91953.html

Just do the vocabulary questions. Excellent practice for the test. Print the sheetsfor TQs
http://www.smls.org/downloads/pdf/doyle/Doyle_1-2.pdf
 http://www.smls.org/downloads/pdf/doyle/Doyle_3-5.pdf
http://www.smls.org/downloads/pdf/doyle/Doyle_6-8.pdf

Change to H/W sheet

Charlotte Doyle TEST is postponed. It will NOT be this Thursday.

We can make it Fri or Mon. We can choose tomorrow. (The Lesson 7 Vocabulary Test from the book will still be Friday.)

Homework: 3rd Tri. Week 2

You must still download and print this document.

Charlotte Doyle: Prologue through Ch. 2 & H/W

Write a paragraph that answers this question:

How does the author use foreshadowing to hint at what might occur later in the story?  (Due: Fri)


Clue: Do not write your prediction of the story. Instead, search for the examples of foreshadowing in the opening chapters. Your topic sentence should contain the word 'foreshadowing.'

Work as a group on your KIPP persuasive argument 'story board'. Each team should have a skeleton outline by next Monday.

Complete Vocabulary Book - Lesson 7 All exercises. Due: Next Mon.

Don't forget: www.prezi.com is a great tool for presentations



From Spanish Class
Spanish Speaking Countries - Song by Barbara MacArthur


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v95FATsydI

The Ubuntu Project - Persausive Arguments

Team leaders - You can download and print out this file t ohelp organize the timeline for your persuasive arguments.

Ubuntu Project - Session 2

Congratulations on turning in your State Reports on time. I am very proud of all of you. I know you are relived to have it over. Think of  about the journey through the research process. You have now learned the skills to be successful on any other research project in the future!

See a summary of  Session 2 in the video below.



 

H/W - Due  Thur

• Finish Charlotte Doyle Vocabulary -  Ch 3-5. (Do not read any of the story)
• Work on your portion of the Ubuntu Project
• Start practicing your lines for your BBC theatre scripts

Ububtu Project - Better Sharing Tool

Wow,

I've come across an incredibly simple online sharing tool for you guys to use to share your brainstorms and notes for the next sessions. You can still use Google docs. to store you finished pieces. This requires no sign ups, no passwords just one simple link. It is like a sticky note board for ideas. Groups would just need to copy their URL link into an address bar to get to their specific corkboard.  You would all then use this same link at anytime to get back to the corkboard. This 1 min video expalins how it works. The links below are set for for each of the 12 teams. I think this is FAR easier than google docs for online collaboration, especially during the brainstorming stage.




Team 1 http://corkboard.me/w2fOfq9MZP

Team 2 http://corkboard.me/R97qHea75X

Team 3 http://corkboard.me/xISlwYSaQ7

Team 4 http://corkboard.me/Rc1fQ1pAtm

Team 5 http://corkboard.me/mOLMuW3tOY

Team 6 http://corkboard.me/YajwaBWn7Z

Team 7 http://corkboard.me/R1zeAIemy6

Team 8 http://corkboard.me/S9pI8aexs0

Team 9 http://corkboard.me/iBvaVCQvIV

Team 10 http://corkboard.me/wbSBqnMv0m

Team 11 http://corkboard.me/IRoBA3uaxw

Team 12 http://corkboard.me/hRG7AWxmk0


Ignore what it says about limited support in the Explorer browser, it works fine. You can post images by copying the URL (web address of the image)in a sticky note). Try it out and let me know what you think.

Ubuntu Project - Research Person

This is the feedback  I received from KIPP teachers. 5 out of 6 teams are on the same page. One team  has work to do !!!

Teams


CHECK
1.Team D.E.K.A. Princess Diane (theme:All great leaders give back) Mr. and Mrs Bill Gates, Extreme Make Over, Home Edition, ?????, ????

CHECK
2.Team Lions Adolf Hitler (theme: Leaders all start with potential but can abuse their power and be evil -twist The worst leaders) Voldermort from Harry Potter, Darth Vadar from Star Wars, ????, ????

CHECK
3. Team The Scarificers (relates to team theme) Mother Teresa's Mother (theme:Always a mother behind every great leader) President Obama's mother, Animal mothers, mothers in history, some of team's own mothers)


CHECK
4. Team Bursting Stars MLK Jr (theme: optimistic attitude) Demonstrated by : Rosa Parks, People with Diabeties, Hurricane Katrina/Saints NFL team, Abbey's Dad (not giving up when her dad lost his job)


CONFUSION - Team name is Team Determination but they thought they were looking at The Tinman...they do agree on the Role Model part though...
5. (Team no Name yet!) The Penguin (theme: The Role model) Sea Turtles, Parents, Yourself, ???

CHECK
6. Team C.U.P.P. Ruby Bridges (theme: Inspired first step) Baby's Firt Step, Women voting, Neil Armstrong, Edmond hilliary

Coming Next Week

• Charlotte Doyle
• BBC Readers' Theatre Scripts
• The Ubuntu Project: Session 2 - Research
• Living Wax Museum Preparations

The Ubuntu Project - Session 1

Enjoy highlights below. Please comment on what you learning experiences you gained from the session today, (both students at KIPP and at LATIN).






Use the info. below to access the google doc. accounts for collaboartion. Remember- Everything you write is recorded and teachers from both schools are online each evening checking all the accounts and your interactions. Use polite persuasive ideas to when communicating. Remember KIPP students will be online live Thursday wit hthe ir teachers from 5:45pm- approx. 6:45pm. It is purely optional for you to be online at that time.

The Ubuntu Project - Letters from KIPP

I received the first reply to your letters from KIPP over the weekend. Others to follow.

Dear Breck Stenson and Cady Hammer


My name is Joy Washington and I'm a 5th grader at KIPP charlotte. I'm glad that I'm working with you. The biggest goal at KIPP is to prepare us for college, I found out that is your big goal to.

One of your questions was what big projects do you have this year? Well, so far we will have two projects in history class, one is a slave diary we will make. The second one is we are going to act out the civil war. The amount of home work that we have is about two assignments in each block. Since we have four blocks that's eight assignments altogether. We stay in school from 7:30am to 5pm. When school is over I am VERY tired, but it's worth it because I get the education I need.

I have a few questions for you and they are, what colleges do you want to end up in? What are your activities at school like? What do you do each day to get better? I hope to see you soon!!!

From, Your friend Joy Washington at KIPP

Tomorrow, we will work on 'Conclusion' and refining your ideas for the Ubuntu Project. This is the last week with no H/W sheet. Have you balanced your workload other the course of this project effectively so as to comfortably meet Friday's deadline?

Ubuntu Project - Research Person

How can you personify your ideas in order to come up with a creative choice for your leader?

Ubuntu Project - Examples of Creativity

The Ubuntu Project

By Thursday, bring in your choice for the greatest leader in history.

Rmember the different levels of thinking...

1) The Obvious

2) The Unlikely

3) The Abstract

Who will you nominate?

The Ubuntu Project - Research

Use this link to investigate and learn about  KIPP school.

http://www.kippcharlotte.org/

 Find:

• Five things our schools have in common
• Five things the students have in common
• Prepare three questions that you would like your group leaders to ask when they meet up with the KIPP students.

If you want to understand the true value of an excellent education for those who don't take it for granted, follow this link and watch the video.

http://www.kippcharlotte.org/aboutus.htm

This video below gives a little history about the organization



H/W is due for Tuesday

Geographical Features

Feel free to add your typed grographical features to the blog text for comments/suggestions.

Tomorrow, I  will be putting somebody's work on the blog as a mentor text for others to see. Will it be yours?

Geographical Features Mentor Text

What lessons can you learn for the mentor text on geogrpahcal features below written by Robert fuller last year? What techniques can you extract from his writing and apply to your own?

The flapping wings of the brown pelican, Louisiana’s state bird, fill the air as it soars over the ravishing, earthy scented marshland looking for a place to land. Imagine a boot-shaped fertile land of damp, breath-taking marshes, and the ground is partly underwater. The state of Louisiana is truly that place. Louisiana’s unique setting causes a number of this beautiful, marshy wonderland’s terrain features. Because Louisiana sits in one of the closest areas to the equator, it receives ample sunlight. The three states that border Louisiana are Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi. Additionally, this spectacular haven is located in the Southeast region and in the East South Central sub-region. Louisiana overlooks the Gulf of Mexico, so this paradise receives an abundance of dreadful storms during hurricane season.

One simply could not speak of Louisiana without mentioning its bustling cities. Not only is Louisiana home to numerous thriving metropolises, but nearly 75% of Louisiana’s population lives in urban or suburban areas. New Orleans, the most densely populated city in this beautiful state, is the 38th largest town in the United States. Baton Rouge, the second most populous boomtown in Louisiana, has reigned as the state capital since 1882. The third significant city is Shreveport; furthermore, it is the cultural center of the Ark-La-Tex, the area where Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana meet.

Because of all its marshes, lakes, and rivers, the state of Louisiana is often thought of as sodden wetland. In fact, Louisiana is one-third water. The rustling Mississippi River depositing into the Gulf of Mexico impacts both the geography and industries of Louisiana. The mouth of the river has changed the shape of the land in the south of Louisiana and improved the fishing industry. For example, New Orleans sits on land created by silt that the Mississippi carries. This beautiful state has countless lakes, including the rippling, 600 square mile Lake Pontchartain. The Louisiana coastline stretches 397 miles along the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico ranks as planet Earth’s 5th largest body of water.

Louisiana cannot boast of the lofty mountains of Alaska, but soggy textured bayous, a common feature in Louisiana, are unique in the nation. A bayou is a slow moving body of water connected to a river, ocean, or lake. Either saltwater, freshwater, or brackish water, a mixture between the earlier two, can be found in a typical bayou. Historian Harnett Kane described bayous as, “A place that seems often unable to make up its mind whether to be earth or water, and so it compromises.”¹ Few people live in bayous, but they remain a beautiful part of the state.

The low land is another factor that renders Louisiana’s geography unique. Although Driskill Mountain, the highest elevation in Louisiana, is just a hill at 935 feet above sea level, the peak stands as sky scraping to Louisiana as Mt. Everest is to Nepal. Additionally, Louisiana’s low point, New Orleans, is actually nine feet below sea level. This statistic explains why hurricane waves are a quandary in the city. Sadly, citizens are forced to make levees, walls made to regulate a body of water. The average elevation in the Pelican State is a lowly 90 feet. Wetland to the south, flat plains in the middle and a few lush forests to the north combine to give Louisiana very little altitude. The brown pelican flies down into a bayou, and lands on a bald cypress, Louisiana’s state tree. The only noise is the buzz of a honeybee, the state insect.

¹Louisiana by Suzanne LeVert

Now - How good will your geographical features component be?

State Report - This Week

Will you have a minimum of 5 stickers by the end of this week?

State Report Websites

State Report Websites

Use 'only' these sites below to do your State Report online research. If you find a site on your own that you think is better, share it with me first, and I might add it to the list. There is advice under each website to save you a little time.

State Report Websites

1. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition: http://school.eb.com/elementary  [ID=latin, PASSWORD=hawks] You may copy a picture or map from this site. Type the name of your state in the Search box and click Go.

2. NETSTATE.com

http://www.netstate.com/states/index.html  Click on your state.

Advice: (Only good for basic facts about the states)

3. IPL Kidspace: Stately Knowledge: http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/stateknow/  provides basic facts and links to other sources about each state

Advice: (Use the links at the bottom of each state page for detailed information on specific topics)

4. Infoplease: The Fifty States: http://www.infoplease.com/states.html  Choose state from the list below the map.

5. http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/us.htm .

(Advice – Good for geographical features and commerce and industry)

6.  http://www.usworldbook.com/

7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_carolina#Geography
You will need to type in YOUR STATE NAME

Regions Research 2011

Enjoy the winning  Animoto videos from the two classes.







 
Th links beloware  to all other videos you created. I saw some wonderful creativity on this project. Well done to all of you!
 
http://animoto.com/play/rRRhvtM7ZJHBQ9OS15A1oA  - The Southwest
http://animoto.com/play/jnNNU9gmznBKl04rwtSYwQ - TheTV Show Debate
http://animoto.com/play/qTWqSXTkSqK1HHW6YjJODA - Jebidiah's Journey
http://animoto.com/play/dhlkFVExaVrztc9qdEOIFA - We're All in This Together
 http://animoto.com/play/1t05WpclQwSh6BMl7CLcWA Amazing Race 

http://animoto.com/play/FKGLMWORKxRIZbk1cFs9rg  Man -v- West
http://animoto.com/play/8I20uCypVvs06US81z5Drw Judge Judy
http://animoto.com/play/8q8BdZStJy70qXjnIpTlAw Run for the Cure
http://animoto.com/play/9adKDktkLmu2ApPZC2zFfA Iron Chef
http://animoto.com/play/lS1WvPf2XQ5KNAvhmkMDOA Deal or no Deal

Poetry Parties

Congratulations on your wonderful presentations in each of the poetry parties this morning.


Feel free to give 'kudos' to your fellow classmates through 'comments' complimenting them on some of the poems you enjoyed the most.  Enjoy the animoto videos below.

Buxton Class


 
Graham  Class
(The camera we used for this animoto did not take good video shots, so the quality and sound will not  be as good.)

Homework Week11

Click on the link above to see Week Beg, Jan 31st Homework.

This will be the last H/W sheet until after State Reports


Enjoy Nick's poem below. Which emotion is being expressed here?
Assignment Objective: ?????
It Takes Guts


Two brutes began to pick a fight
With a timid child who was full of fright.
As the name-callers jeered and taunted,
The other student was frightened and haunted.


As he watched, John grew more incense.
He couldn’t believe how the bullying was so intense.
Strength inside John began to arise.
The power came from somewhere, but it was quite a surprise.


John was shaking but knew what to do.
He approached the boys before the fist flew.
He said, “Leave him alone. He hasn’t hurt you.
You’re only daring because you are two.”


The pests turned away before there was a fight.
John turned to the boy and asked, “Are you alright?”
A wide grin spread across his face.
John felt like the strongest kid in the place.

Poetry Parties

Poetry Parties will take place on Monday morning. These will be a celebration of language, music, and literature. I expect passionate performances and powerful deliveries from ALL of you.  Each of you will have to come prepared to deliver TWO performances.  You will also need to turn in your completed, decorated poetry books containing at least 8 of the 9 poems we have done in class from the list below. You may choose NOT to include any one poem from the list below: (you are welcome to include all 9 if you decide)

Personal Poem - Describing an emotion

Narrative Poem -  Relating the world event

Inside/Outside Poem - The Fruit

Inside/Outside Poem - About yourself.

Published Poem - The poem you recited in class

Midwest Group Perform

Road Less Taken -Interpretation

Beatles song - Interpretation

Free Choice - Show your creativity here!

Side note. I am so proud to observe your brilliant creativity with respect to the regions inquiry based assignment. A perfect example was what Lilly said in class this morning,

"Mr Buxton, can I make my timeline the Brooklyn Bridge? I also want to use different cars (forms of transport) to represent the historical events that occured over time in my region."

Bravo Lilly! How will the rest of  you, 'think out of the box?'

Impressive 'elevator pitches' today  from the Buxton class for your Animoto movies. I am excited to see your finished versions next week.

Thinking Out of the Box?

Are you making sure you are being creative with your ideas for the Regions project and thinking 'out of the box?

Recap. Joint the 9 dots with four lines without taking your pen off the paper.

Regions Research

Use the appropriate videos below to collect further facts on your regions. I have also attached some links for online reserach too. The stronger your research, the easier your written portion becomes.

The West

The Southwest

The Northeast

Week 11 Homework

Click the link above for your H/W sheet this week

For this Friday's Figurative Language Test you should be able to understand, identify, and recreate these types of figurative language:

Simile Metaphor Personification Repetition Alliteration Hyperbole Onomatopoeia

Ignore any out  of date links or terminology that we haven't covered

Do this practice test first. Aim to score 27/29. (ignore the first question) If you can do that, you are fine for the test. Spend time working through the exercises below then retake the practice test Wed. night. Did your score improve?

http://www.quia.com/quiz/449371.html?AP_rand=161924344

EXERCISES AND PRACTICE

Simile

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/quizzes26/gumbie7/PoetryPieces.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/similepractice.html
http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/simile/page2.html
http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/dragonsville/simile1.htm

Personification Practice
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/personificationpractice.html

Onomatopoeia
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-69167.php

Metaphor
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/metaphorpractice.html
http://www.quia.com/quiz/234882.html 
http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/dragonsville/metaphor1.htm

Mixture
http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lang/lmatch/sm1.htm
http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lang/lmatch/sm3.htm
 http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/rdg/onomatopoeiahelp.html (do x3 links at the bottom of the page
Examples of Figurative Language
http://www.beavton.k12.or.us/jacob_wismer/leahy/2006/flb/flb.htm 
http://www.quia.com/rr/397508.html 

This activity is a fun game to play.
http://www.newton.k12.ks.us/tech/fling3.html

Zooburst - Finished Products

Don't forget to practice the online exercises on your subjects and predicates for tomorrow's test. Some of you still seem shaky on this topic

Enjoy some zooburst from today's presentations:

Grammar Test Review Slides

Make sure you review this voice thread. Attach questions to the thread if you would like. You MUST tackle the online exercises published last week as practice. Hope this is helpful!

Week 10 Homework

Click on the link above for next week's H/W.
Pay careful attention to test dates for next week.

For the grammar test, you need to have tackled the exercises put on the blog last week. You NEED to practice for this test!

Inside - Outside Help!

H/W
Grammar Package (Due: Fri)
Spelling Test will be next Tuesday

Inside/Ouside poem about yourself. (Due: Fri) - further advice below

Don't make your poem more complicated than it needs to be...Think about the assignment for a second... all i'm asking you to do is write a poem about yourself. Now...going a bit further...i'm suggesting ways you can go about doing this by using categories...for example.. write about your personality, your dreams, your fears, your weaknesses etc etc... by thinking about categories gives you a way to organize your thoughts... so the next step is ... how do you do that...???


well why not begin by just writing about yourself in a literal way...
What do other think of you?
They think... all i enjoy writng and i a super students...
your poetry might soon like...  outside
A test taking machine some may suggest
Fear of failure is why I strive my best
inside
I think... ..i like doing art....
 how can i do that in a poetic and/or figurative way..?
Drawing and mixing paints brightens my days
Being artistic and creative in countless ways

You need to do just 12 lines like this... and maybe find a special way to end...
no...the title doesn't count....(but give a realistic title)

Also..VERY IMPORTANT...there is a rhyming dictionary on the left side of the blog...use it to find words and phrases that rhyme if you want...

Remember my old phrase... NIKE!!!!

Midwest Test

Due dates +3!

Interesting video. Worth watching for background information for Midwest test.

Snow Day #2

Wow! All H/W due dates are now pushed back 2 days! Midwest test will be Friday. Grammar test will be next Tuesday.

Zooburst - Reminders

Just a few quick reminders as you work virtually on  your zooburst assignments:

• Be respectful to all group members work and contributions

e.g. Ensure the workload is equally shared out among all team players and no one person takes on an unfair load.
e.g. Make sure you don't change or delete another person's work at all. If you notice mistakes or ineffective contributions, make a note to tell them in class or through your zooburst comment box. 

• Make sure you properly save you work when new pages are added. Test save your work once you start a new page before completing the whole page.
•  Never leave the zooburst open on your computer. It will stop other people from accessing and working on it and their changes might be lost.
•  Any questions or issues you are having with the zooburst can be asked on the blog or discussed in class tomorrow.
•  Make sure you have a clear emphasis on the grammar points  and are integrating precise Midwest facts on every page. 

Remember: If effective group work collaboration were easy, we would all be experts at it!  This is why is it the most effective form of learning and the hardest to achieve. There will be things that don't go accordingly to plan. Please try at all times to be flexible, patient, and respectful at all times as we learn and practice these 21st century collaboration skills.

Snow Day - yee pee!!!

All due dates move forward one day due to the snow day.

Midwest test will be Thur. However, Grammar review test will STILL be Friday.

Spelling test (Buxton class) will move to next Tuesday. (next Monday is MLK Day).

Feel free to use some time today to practice the online exercises for grammar and your zooburst (Due: Wed).

Don't forget your piece of fruit for Tuesday now!

ENJOY the snow!!!

Week 9 Homework

Click the link above to see your H/W for next week.

Don't forget to  bring in your piece of fruit for Monday's poetry class

Remember Students #'s 1-5 will recite their poems Monday. Make sure you give a clear, detailed, and precise explanation of why you chose your poem and your intrepretation of its message.

Zoobursts are due Tuesday. I am expecting them to be excellent. Practice how you intend to 'tell' the story to the class as a group.

Grammar Review Package due Tuesday.

I was VERY proud of all your work last week, especially your personal and Midwest group poems. What will you do next week that is even better?

End of Semester Grammar Review Test - Friday January 14th

End of Semester Grammar Review Test Friday Jan 14th

We will review the grammar topics that we covered in so far this year. This will count as a Level IV grade. Spend 5-10mins each night practicing using these links below. Make notes of things that you don't understand and any questions that you might have. Most questions on the test are multiple choice.










NOUNS
http://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz/irpl1.htm
http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/plural/plural.htm
http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/plural/Plural_Forms.htm
http://a4esl.org/q/j/ck/mc-plurals.html
- Possessive Nouns

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/exploring_possessives/index.html http://www.eduplace.com/cgi-bin/hme-quiz-play.cgi  
http://www.english-zone.com/spelling/poss2.html
Past Perfect (less than 5 questions on this topic)
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/past-perfect-simple/exercises


Time Shift Sentences
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/pastperf02.html
http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/tenses/past_perfect/pastperf1.htm
http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/tenses/past_perfect/pastperf3.htm
http://odl.vwv.at/english/odlres/res8/Grammar/grammar_exercises/tenses/past_perfect/pastperf4.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/past_perfect_simple_past.htm

Uses of the Comma
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/interact/g_commaEX1.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/interact/g_commaEX2.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/interact/g_commaEX4.html

Sentence Fragments and Run ons
Correcting Run-ons
http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/run-ons_ex2.htm

Correcting Fragments
http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/fragments_ex1.htm

Comma Splice
http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/comma_splices_ex1.htm

Games - fragments
http://www.quia.com/rr/90252.html
http://www.chompchomp.com/exercises.htm#Comma_Splices_and_Fused_Sentences
http://www.quia.com/rr/143365.html?AP_rand=1866526223
http://www.quia.com/rr/36765.html

PrepositionsTest Type Questions– Prepositional Phrases

http://www.quia.com/quiz/298373.html?AP_rand=810582058
http://www.eduplace.com/cgi-bin/hme-quiz-play.cgi


Prepositional Phrases - Test Practice

http://www.eduplace.com/cgi-bin/hme-quiz-start.cgi%20Grade=6&Unit=7&Topic=Prepositional+Phrases&x=25&y=9
http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/POS/pos7.htm#Pop%20Quiz%201

Subjects and Predicates
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/quiz/mquiz.asp?filename=msmith5complsubpred
http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/O/1/55.asp
http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/previewtest?MROG4881
http://www.quia.com/rr/36765.html
http://www.quia.com/cb/38873.html


General

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rNYZVvyGS4&feature=related
http://www.hccsc.k12.in.us/technology/tip/SSP/HighSchool/9.6.2%20LA%20Curriculum%20PowerPoint.ppt

Make sure you visit each website at least once over the next 8 days. Much of the test will be multiple choice and 'application'. Make sure you 'know', 'understand', and can 'apply' your grammatical knowledge

Good luck :-)

Feel free to use the blog for questions as you review these topics.

ALWAYS ask yourselves... Why did we study this topic, and how does it make your writing better?

Visuword

Click the link below for an excellent resource for finding synonyms and related words and ideas for your poems. This site can be used  for any form of writing, but it is very useful for your poems. I will put a permanent link on the right side of the blog for future use. Just type in any word you are looking for alternatives or synonyms or related ideas and see what appears!

http://www.visuwords.com/

Don't forget to be thinking of your classic poem for next week's recitations. If you are unsure what is meant be 'classical' poetry, you should ask me first before memorizing your poem. An inappropriate choice will negatively affect your grade.

Enjoy's Bekah's and Will H's zoobursts. Notice how she used her own photos in her creation, and he used his own voice and sound effects. +2.  Well done!

Today's Session

sorry for the software filter issues today. I hope each of you had the chance to see the potential of zooburst in action. Win bonus +3 points if you are able to create your own zooburst.com story. This is purely optional and only for  the tech savvy motivated students among us. Log on using your passowrds from today to
http://www.zooburst.com/

Bravo to Sophie S and Mimi. The first ever 5th grader to create a zooburst +3




GRAAB Techniques.

Feel free to post a GRAAB techqniue that you create for comment. Anybody finds anything similar to a GRAAB technique in their writing, win +2 points.

Poetry

Tomorrow, we will be putting the final touches to your Midwest region  performance poems and your Defining poetry poem.  Due Dates below (these are not on the H/W sheet)

Final draft due date for Defining poetry poem - THURSDAY

Final draft due date for Midwest Region Poem - FRIDAY

Don't forget about your memorized poem for next week. Remember you can ask your parents for suggestions.

Carpe Diem - Make your lives extraordinary

Free free to comment  about today's lesson introducing poetry.  Feel free to add any of your drafts of your personal poems for others to comment.

Below is a chance to see the video clip from today's session again.

H/W Sheet Week 8 2011

Click on link above for your H/W sheet.

For the new year, I've redesigned the blog a little. Do you like it?

We will hit the ground running. Be prepared to learn more than you thought you ever could. Coming in the first couple of months of 2011:

• Poetry Recitals and Poetry Party
• Grammar Review of 1st trimeter
• GRAAB(s) - Advanced non-fiction writing techniques
• Midwest Region test
• The Regions -Inquiry based research learning
• 50 States and Capitals test
• The State Report

Enjoy a little Buxton family fun over the holidays!

This free scrapbooking design made with Smilebox