Reading over the break...

As we head into the Christmas break I'd like to remind parents/guardians about the SIS reading initiative. Students are expected to read a minimum of 2 hours per week. This practice should continue over the break.  I  will be conferencing with students upon their return and I'm excited to hear about the stories students have read.

Students have had a fantastic start to the school year and I would love to see this continue into 2015! 
Hopefully students receive a book or two for Christmas!

Also, please 'like' our SIS Library Facebook page to find keep up-to-date on the latest news in our library!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/SIS-Library/351813258292260?ref=br_tf

Grade 8's - Historical Narratives

Historical narratives are due Thursday, December 18th.

Grade 9 - Parts of Speech

Parts of speech test - Thursday, November 20th.

Reading Ladders - Grade 8 & 9

All students will complete a reading ladder before the end of first term. Students will be given time in class to work on their ladders. See below for assignment guidelines.

Reading Ladder – Analyzing your reading process

A Reading Ladder is simply a piece of explanatory writing where students rank the books they’ve read according to complexity, reflect on their reading habits, and make plans for future growth.

Purpose: to step back and look at what you have accomplished as a reader in order to measure progress and set new goals for term two and the rest of the school year.

Process

1.    Compile a list of all of the books you completed and abandoned so far this school year. List the books in order of most difficult to least difficult.

2.    Write a “Why this Order?” paragraph.  Explain your reasons for ranking books. Discuss what make a book ‘difficult.’

3.    Reading Rate – calculate the number of pages you've read this term. Then calculate the average number of pages you read per week. This will determine your reading rate for this term. Compare this new rate with your reading rate at the beginning of the term. Discuss your at home reading habits.

4.    Summary – summarize four books. Provide a true summary of the book, not just a comparison between books.

5.    Personal Goals – set goals for term two and the rest of the school year. These should be specific: I will read 15 books by June. I will read one nonfiction book. I will develop an at home reading habit. I will…

Due date:__________________________

What we're doing in room 112!

Grade 8's

We've just finished studying main idea(in both non-fiction & fiction). This week we stared studying the elements of a short story. Hopefully next week students will begin writing their own short story.

Book Talks - Next week students will sign up for a date to present their book talks. Below are the guidelines for book talks.

Book Talk Assignment Guidelines

For this assignment you will give an oral presentation about the book you have been reading to the class. Please bring the book or a printed picture of the book.

Criteria:

1. Prepare notes for your speech. Your notes will count as 10 points of your total book talk grade.

2. Begin your book talk with an introduction. Introduce the book you read with an interesting lead or hook that get’s the readers attention. Be sure to identify the author(you may want to tell a little about the author) and title of the book. Also, why you chose the book.

3. Tell about the different literary elements in your book, including:

____ Setting: Briefly describe the time period and place where the story takes place.

____ Protagonist: Describe the main character and explain his/her conflict.

____ Minor Characters: Describe any minor characters that are important to the plot.

____ Plot: Briefly summarize the main events of the book. Don’t try to tell everything, but give the listener a good idea of the events of the plot.

4. Share a selection. Read a short passage from the book that you like. This could be descriptive writing, suspenseful part, a scary part...or something that you think the author has done well. Read this selection out loud from the book. Be sure to explain what is happening in the book at the point you are reading.

5. End with a recommendation/critique. Explain whether or not you would recommend this book to your classmates. Which audience would enjoy it most? Be sure to give a strong supporting reason to your opinion. 

Remember to practice your book talk aloud before the due date!!!!

Grade 9's

Most students are finished or almost finished writing personal narratives. I would like all narratives by Thursday, October 29th. 

Book Talks - We've started book talks for first term. All grade 9 students will present before November 5th. Students are expected to prepare book talk on their own time and practice their 'talk' at home. 

Grade 9's are currently studying the parts of speech.

 

Grade 8's - Two Islands Advertisement

Greenel or Graynel Poster due Friday, October 3rd. If students did not finish this assignment in class it is homework. 

Advertisement – Graynel or Greenel

Design an ad that encourages people to settle in either Greenel or Graynel at the time of their development. The purpose is to encourage people to move to the island. The ads should focus on what the island has to offer and the values the island upholds.

Grade 8's

Quiz on Thursday, September 25th - Personification, Making Connections(Reading Strategy), and Confusing Words:Sheet 1.

Nightly Reading!

All students at Summerside Intermediate are expected to read on a nightly basis. Mrs.Boyd(our librarian) has met with all Language Arts classes to discuss the important of nightly reading. Students have calculated their current reading rate and should now be recording their reading on a daily basis in their reading scribbler.

Soon students will set a reading goal for each term and ultimately the year. 

Students should be reading a minimum of 2 hours per week at home. Mrs.Boyd and I will be tracking their reading and also conferencing with students. Students will create a "reading ladder" at the end of each term.

Please support and encourage your son or daughter with their nightly reading. Ask questions about their reading! Ask what their reading rate is. Ask what their reading goal is for this term.

Welcome Back!

All students in my Language Arts classes will receive a parent/guardian letter. Please read, sign and return as soon as possible. Also, you may include your email address if you would like to be contacted via email.

My contact information can be found on the letter and below. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns or questions throughout the year.

I'm looking forward to a fantastic year!

Shellilee Ballum
Phone: 902-888-8470 extension 112
Email: sxballum@edu.pe.ca

Grade 9's

Capitalization, jargon, and end punctuation test on Monday, April 7th.

Students will be writing the Provincial Intermediate Language Arts Assessment on April 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd.  All grade 9 students in the province will be writing during these four days. Attendance is especially important!

Grade 8 Biography Presentations

Next week students will  present an oral report of their biographies.  This presentation needs to be about 2-3 minutes in length.  Students are encouraged to dress in costume like their famous person.  This is not a 

requirement, but it certainly makes it a lot more fun!  

Biography Presentations Guidelines:

• presentation must be no longer than 3 minutes
• you must use note cards(I have lots!)
• you must rehearse at home
• you should dress like your subject or have relevant prop(s) for presentation OR create a visual that shows your subject.

You must include:

• 8 things you learned about this person
• answer these questions: do you consider this person a role model? why?

Grade 8's - Biography Writing

Grade 8's have started studying biography writing this week;each student has chosen a person they will be researching and ultimately writing a biography about this person.

This writing will be the most formal piece of writing they have written thus far. Students will be shown how to properly construct an outline, introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. In addition students will be shown how to research properly(taking notes..not copying!) and correctly cite their sources. Lastly students will be expected to give a short presentation about their subject.

Grade 9's - Grammar Retest

Grammar retest will be held Monday at lunch. Extra help/practice is available Thursday, Friday, and Monday morning beginning at 8:10. Help is also available Friday at lunch in the library(12:30-1:15).

Grade 9's

Grade 9's -  Parts of Speech test will be Tuesday, February 4th.

Grade 8's

Grade 8's have recently finished 'voice' writing and synthesizing while reading. This week we're studying nouns, pronouns, similes and metaphors. Students will be assessed on these concepts on Friday, January 24th.

Grade 9's

Grade 9's are making final revisions to their short stories. Some students have passed final stories to me. I would like ALL stories by Friday, January 24th. Students have been working very hard on their stories; I'm looking forward to reading them!

Grade 9 students are also studying the Parts of Speech. The test will be Tuesday, January 28th with review on January 23rd(weather dependent). Students should be reviewing material on a nightly basis.

Book Talks - Students have all chosen a date to present their book talk(January through June). Let me know if you'd like to know when your child is presenting.

Reading! 
A reminder that students are expected to read on a nightly basis.