9/27

Start studying for your vocab quiz on October 3rd. No HW this weekend, have a great weekend!

Mr. Bernazzani

Vocab #2 Due 9/25

Don't forget that Vocab #2 is due tomorrow in class! Be sure to have the proper heading and begin to study for our first quiz on 10/3!

Independent Reading Term 1

Independent Reading

There is an expectation that you will always be reading a book independently from what we have going on in the classroom. Extension time offers a great opportunity to get some of this accomplished, but I also require students to read at home in their free time. All students must to read a certain amount of books per term, and there will be assignments throughout the year associated with those books.  When you finish a book, you must record the title, author name, and the amount of pages for your own records.

Independent reading is due at the end of each term. If you would like to turn your book assignments in as you go along, I can give you feedback on the paper. If you turn everything in at the end of the term, you will get a grade but no constructive feedback

Written assignments for independent reading will change each term.

6 books in a term = 100%

5 books in a term = 90%

4 books in a term = 80%

For term one, I will ask you to write a paragraph for each of the books you complete. Each paragraph will have a different focus.

All paragraphs need to be typed according to Brown Middle School formatting standards. The book title, author and total page numbers need to be listed at the top of the page. You will also need a parent signature for each paragraph.

Book One – 7- 10 sentence summary

Book Two - Character

Identify and explain changes in attitudes, actions, and the relationships of one character from the book.  Do you agree with the characters' choices?

•              Choose one character in your novel.  Use either sticky notes or your journal to track your thinking in regard to the way your character changes throughout the story.  Pay close attention to their thoughts and beliefs, actions, and relationships.  Describe what have you discovered, and whether or not you agree or disagree with their choices.  Use evidence from the novel to support your thinking.

Book Three -  Theme

•              A theme is an idea or concept that an author weaves into a story.  Friendship, adversity, growing up, and survival are some examples of theme.  Each novel as at least one theme introduced, if not more.  As you read, use your stickies to flag the parts of the story where the theme is woven in.  Explain your thinking.

Book Four – Point of View

•              How does the author manage point of view in your story?  Does it change by chapter?  Is there only one point of view?  Choose a chapter or scene in your novel.  Whose point of view is represented? How would it change if it were told from the point of view of a different character? (you may re-write a scene from a different point of view, if you would like.)

Books Five and Six – 7-10 sentence summary

Journal Assignment #1 and #2 Due 9/10

Journals

All journals should be numbered at the top of the page (journal #_). They must be at least one page in length and done in pen or typed. I will be collecting these periodically throughout the year.

You will be asked to write in your journal frequently this year, and I want this to be a place where you can write “safely” and get into the habit of getting your ideas down on paper. I plan on assigning free-writes most often, but want to start the year off with some prompts that will help me get to know you better. Please choose two of these for Journal #1 and Journal #2.

A.   Describe a time when you felt invisible. What were the circumstances? How did you feel? Who do you blame? Remember to look at the role you played in your own      invisibility.

B.  Everyone plays different roles in their lives. Describe the roles that best define who you are right now in your life. Use specific examples to explain why they are so significant.

3. How people react in the face of a challenge can tell you a lot about them. Describe some challenges you have faced and how you dealt with them. Explain why this tells us something about you.

Welcome Letter 9/3/2013

Hello and welcome to the Blue Team! I hope that summer treated you all well, and that you are ready to begin the 7th grade. We are going to work hard this year, but we will have a lot of fun, too. The expectation is that this will be a year of growth and learning for us all. I promise to be fair, and to do my best to make English a place where everybody feels comfortable participating, and doing their best work.

To get us off on the right foot, I have made a list of suplied you will need for this class. You should also look for an independent reading book to bring with you to school, as we do 30 minutes of silent reading every day during Extension. I will be checking to see that you have your Independent Reading book with you at school on Monday, September 9th.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bernazzani

Supply Requirements:

-- Pens, pencils, highlighters

-- Three-ring binder (WITH LINED PAPER) and dividers

-- A writing journal - 8 1/2 x 11 - three whole punched - single subject notebook

Binder Section

You will be responsible for maintaining the following sections in your binders:

K.A.Y.: Keep All Year
C.U.: Current Unit
V.G.: Vocabulary and Grammar