Final Spelling/Vocabulary Test for 2nd Quarter -- December 14, 2010
December 13, 2010
November 30, 2010
Tuesday
Are you finished with your ballad? Here are some online activities to explore while the rest of us finish word processing.
Homonym Practice
Roots and Cognates
Homonym Practice
Roots and Cognates
November 5, 2010
Friday
I was so proud of myself for getting my test posted online. Then Mr. Venekamp and I went to dinner, and I realized I never posted it here for you :c( My apologies.
Here it is, and it is all multiple choice. I changed the settings, allowing you to pause the test and return to it. I also changed the settings to allow you to change your answers in each section before you submit the test.
You have an hour once you sign in. As always, the secret word is ICMS.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
Click on the link below to access your test
Vocabulary Test from October 25 to November 4, 2010
Here it is, and it is all multiple choice. I changed the settings, allowing you to pause the test and return to it. I also changed the settings to allow you to change your answers in each section before you submit the test.
You have an hour once you sign in. As always, the secret word is ICMS.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
Click on the link below to access your test
Vocabulary Test from October 25 to November 4, 2010
November 2, 2010
Tuesday
We have concluded our film, October Sky, and we will have our test over the film on Thursday. The test will consist of questions we've already addressed through our prompts and our conversations. Students may use their drafts to help them write their final responses, and I hope to see revision and proofreading from them.
Thursday will also be the last day of our new vocabulary unit. I will post that test here online this Friday, the 5th. Students have until Wednesday, November 10 to take it.
Have a good evening, everyone.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
Thursday will also be the last day of our new vocabulary unit. I will post that test here online this Friday, the 5th. Students have until Wednesday, November 10 to take it.
Have a good evening, everyone.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
October 27, 2010
Wednesday
Anytime you experiment with something new or try a different strategy, it takes time to adjust. I'd like to let everyone know that the online test is not going away anytime soon. In all classes today we had a conversation about how we, as individuals, prepared for this test (very little was the consensus) and how we readied ourselves when the test began with only one hour to take it.
I will be in the lab again on Thursday from 3:35 until 4:15 for test makeups. To those of you who asked to take the test twice, I will average your scores.
Don't forget to spend some time (at least 10 minutes) every evening with your new vocabulary words. It WILL help.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
I will be in the lab again on Thursday from 3:35 until 4:15 for test makeups. To those of you who asked to take the test twice, I will average your scores.
Don't forget to spend some time (at least 10 minutes) every evening with your new vocabulary words. It WILL help.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
October 26, 2010
Tuesday
I just left the computer lab where many of you were taking your online test. I was a little disappointed to see so many of you wasting your time trying to organize your notes during the test time. (Bad idea when it's a timed test.)
I need to remind you of this: Mr. Clark has it right! The best way to learn new material is to spend time with that material. He asks for 10 minutes per evening. I'm tagging onto that. YOU SHOULD SPEND A MINIMUM OF 10 MINUTES DAILY WITH THE VOCABULARY/GREEK & LATIN ROOTS THAT WE ARE LEARNING.
Research tells us that 8th grade students should spend no more than 80 minutes of time on homework. If you divvy up all of your classes and spend at least 10 minutes per evening, imagine the growth and confidence you will build!
Remember, the test closes tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4:15.
Fondly,
Mrs. V~
I need to remind you of this: Mr. Clark has it right! The best way to learn new material is to spend time with that material. He asks for 10 minutes per evening. I'm tagging onto that. YOU SHOULD SPEND A MINIMUM OF 10 MINUTES DAILY WITH THE VOCABULARY/GREEK & LATIN ROOTS THAT WE ARE LEARNING.
Research tells us that 8th grade students should spend no more than 80 minutes of time on homework. If you divvy up all of your classes and spend at least 10 minutes per evening, imagine the growth and confidence you will build!
Remember, the test closes tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4:15.
Fondly,
Mrs. V~
October 25, 2010
Monday
Online Vocabulary Test: Greek and Latin Roots and Cognates
http://www.quia.com/quiz/2748604.html SECRET WORD = ICMS (in all caps)
Don't forget you'll need your 4-Square sheets from this unit, your user name and password, and ONE HOUR of uninterrupted time.
Good luck! Let me know if you encounter any problems.
Mrs. Venekamp
http://www.quia.com/quiz/2748604.html SECRET WORD = ICMS (in all caps)
Don't forget you'll need your 4-Square sheets from this unit, your user name and password, and ONE HOUR of uninterrupted time.
Good luck! Let me know if you encounter any problems.
Mrs. Venekamp
October 22, 2010
Friday
We started viewing the film October Sky yesterday, Thursday, October 21. At key points in the film, we will pause and respond to a short prompt that I provide. Students will practice forming an opinion and then supporting that opinion with "text evidence." In the film, text evidence is something the characters say or do or some bit of information the filmmaker provides.
To start the process, I asked students to respond to the following prompt by email: Why is Homer's dad so rough on his men? My school email is lvenekamp@ics-charter.org
On Monday, October 25, students will find a link here on my blog to their Greek and Latin roots test. Students will log in with a password I provide and take their test before Wednesday, October 27. On that day, the test will disappear, and students will no longer be able to log in to it. The scores to that test will come to me electronically by email.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
To start the process, I asked students to respond to the following prompt by email: Why is Homer's dad so rough on his men? My school email is lvenekamp@ics-charter.org
On Monday, October 25, students will find a link here on my blog to their Greek and Latin roots test. Students will log in with a password I provide and take their test before Wednesday, October 27. On that day, the test will disappear, and students will no longer be able to log in to it. The scores to that test will come to me electronically by email.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
October 11, 2010
Monday
Today we kicked off 2nd quarter by reflecting on some of our work from 1st quarter. I also handed back writing portfolios and students pulled the works they will highlight at their conferences.
We started a new series of word work with more Greek and Latin roots and cognates. We will learn 3 new roots and their cognates each time we meet. At the end of 15 sets, students will have a take-home test, which is currently scheduled for Thursday, October 21.
We also had a class discussion about revising the memoir drafts students wrote last quarter. Students will write a second memoir or heavily revise the first draft they wrote. The final draft of this memoir is due Tuesday, October 19.
Agenda: Review roots and cognates from class today; spend at least 15 minutes on your memoir graphic organizer. On Wednesday, we will share some of our lead paragraphs.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
We started a new series of word work with more Greek and Latin roots and cognates. We will learn 3 new roots and their cognates each time we meet. At the end of 15 sets, students will have a take-home test, which is currently scheduled for Thursday, October 21.
We also had a class discussion about revising the memoir drafts students wrote last quarter. Students will write a second memoir or heavily revise the first draft they wrote. The final draft of this memoir is due Tuesday, October 19.
Agenda: Review roots and cognates from class today; spend at least 15 minutes on your memoir graphic organizer. On Wednesday, we will share some of our lead paragraphs.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
September 29, 2010
Wednesday
IF you finish your portfolio and your historical non-fiction report, explore these sites and play some grammar games:
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/6_8/grammar/
http://www.schooltimegames.com/language_arts.html
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/6_8/grammar/
http://www.schooltimegames.com/language_arts.html
September 27, 2010
Monday
Students have one more class period to word process/edit/revise their body of works for quarter 1. All works are due by the end of class Wednesday, September 29. Students have written memoir pieces and have created a booklet of narrative paragraphs and expository paragraphs. All students have a rubric with detailed explanations of how they will be assessed, and they must complete the self-assessment portion of the rubric in order to receive credit.
The final portfolio of written works counts as a final exam for LA; students who do not submit a portfolio will not earn a passing grade in LA. All students have been reminded of this fact multiple times.
Families, feel free to ask your student to read the works he or she has been drafting. I've enjoyed reading many of the drafts from this quarter.
Just a friendly reminder for Mr. Clark's historical non-fiction assignment, too. Those are due Wednesday for 8th grade students, and all students have received a rubric for this writing assignment, too.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
The final portfolio of written works counts as a final exam for LA; students who do not submit a portfolio will not earn a passing grade in LA. All students have been reminded of this fact multiple times.
Families, feel free to ask your student to read the works he or she has been drafting. I've enjoyed reading many of the drafts from this quarter.
Just a friendly reminder for Mr. Clark's historical non-fiction assignment, too. Those are due Wednesday for 8th grade students, and all students have received a rubric for this writing assignment, too.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
September 24, 2010
Friday
Again, the Daily Puppy has outdone itself! Check out the spaniel to the right.
Students, you worked hard in the computer lab yesterday. They set up their printers and learned some Microsoft Word basics as we formatted our documents.
The end-of-quarter portfolios are due next Wednesday, September 29. The portfolio represents a body of written work from the quarter and is worth 170 points, equivalent to a final exam. It is required to pass LA this quarter. Students are writing narrative paragraphs and expository paragraphs, including descriptive, compare/contrast, sequencing, and cause/effect. They are also drafting a memoir piece, which should include multiple paragraphs, a distinctive lead paragraph and conclusion with several body paragraphs that tell the story.
Anyone with questions should feel free to email me or send me drafts for editing/revision suggestions. The green folder is going on vacation on Monday, so get your work in while you can.
Happy Friday!
Fondly,
Mrs. V~
Students, you worked hard in the computer lab yesterday. They set up their printers and learned some Microsoft Word basics as we formatted our documents.
The end-of-quarter portfolios are due next Wednesday, September 29. The portfolio represents a body of written work from the quarter and is worth 170 points, equivalent to a final exam. It is required to pass LA this quarter. Students are writing narrative paragraphs and expository paragraphs, including descriptive, compare/contrast, sequencing, and cause/effect. They are also drafting a memoir piece, which should include multiple paragraphs, a distinctive lead paragraph and conclusion with several body paragraphs that tell the story.
Anyone with questions should feel free to email me or send me drafts for editing/revision suggestions. The green folder is going on vacation on Monday, so get your work in while you can.
Happy Friday!
Fondly,
Mrs. V~
September 20, 2010
Monday
This is an important week for 8th graders in LA. We will wrap up our drafts of the ABC booklets (paragraph models) and our memoir works. On Thursday we will work in computer lab for most of the class period, word processing, revising, and editing our final drafts.
These works represent the final exam for students this quarter. Their self-assessment (rubric) is a required feature of this portfolio, and students should use it as a checklist to help them make their revisions.
I'm looking forward to all of your portfolio works.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
These works represent the final exam for students this quarter. Their self-assessment (rubric) is a required feature of this portfolio, and students should use it as a checklist to help them make their revisions.
I'm looking forward to all of your portfolio works.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
September 13, 2010
Monday
Today we started a new vocabulary unit (1A--page 1 of 3.) Students learned the definitions and synonyms of six new terms, and we created graphics and sample sentences to match them.
After this, we read an interesting short work entitled, "High Brow." The article used both cause and effect patterns of expository writing, which was our focus for today. (FYI--eyebrows are important!) That means we've examined sttrategies for descriptive writing, narrative writing, sequencing, compare/contrast, and cause/effect. Students received their intro to the end-of-quarter portfolio last week, so they should be well on their way to producing their 10 paragraph booklets.
At the end of class, I asked each student to submit at least one cause or effect paragraph so we might share some model strategies on Wednesday.
Agenda--please spend at least 20 minutes on your drafts between now and Wednesday.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
After this, we read an interesting short work entitled, "High Brow." The article used both cause and effect patterns of expository writing, which was our focus for today. (FYI--eyebrows are important!) That means we've examined sttrategies for descriptive writing, narrative writing, sequencing, compare/contrast, and cause/effect. Students received their intro to the end-of-quarter portfolio last week, so they should be well on their way to producing their 10 paragraph booklets.
At the end of class, I asked each student to submit at least one cause or effect paragraph so we might share some model strategies on Wednesday.
Agenda--please spend at least 20 minutes on your drafts between now and Wednesday.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
September 9, 2010
Thursday
Hey, check out the Daily Puppy to the right. What a cutie!
Today students turned in their Prepositional Phrase Take-Home Quiz and took their Survival Word List Quiz during class. After this we had a class discussion about the recent history test in Mr. Clark's class. Mr. Clark gave me the tests to read because we've been spending so much time on paragraphing skills, and this test included a paragraph response. I shared three student responses and highlighted their highlights. Thanks to John L., Julianne C., and Steven H. for their thoughtful, concise paragraphs.
After this we moved to our mini-lesson: expository/compare and contrast paragraphs. We viewed a short Power Point that reminded us about some of the most important elements of compare and contrast. We also talked about the difference between a 3rd or 4th grade compare/contrast work and an 8th grade work.
Finally, students received a pink page today that listed their end of quarter portfolio due date, September 29, and the works that will be due.
Agenda: Please spend at least 30 minutes drafting/revising/editing your portfolio paragraphs. (That's only 10 minutes per day before we meet again on Monday. You can do it! :c)
Have a great weekend.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
Today students turned in their Prepositional Phrase Take-Home Quiz and took their Survival Word List Quiz during class. After this we had a class discussion about the recent history test in Mr. Clark's class. Mr. Clark gave me the tests to read because we've been spending so much time on paragraphing skills, and this test included a paragraph response. I shared three student responses and highlighted their highlights. Thanks to John L., Julianne C., and Steven H. for their thoughtful, concise paragraphs.
After this we moved to our mini-lesson: expository/compare and contrast paragraphs. We viewed a short Power Point that reminded us about some of the most important elements of compare and contrast. We also talked about the difference between a 3rd or 4th grade compare/contrast work and an 8th grade work.
Finally, students received a pink page today that listed their end of quarter portfolio due date, September 29, and the works that will be due.
Agenda: Please spend at least 30 minutes drafting/revising/editing your portfolio paragraphs. (That's only 10 minutes per day before we meet again on Monday. You can do it! :c)
Have a great weekend.
Fondly,
Mrs. Venekamp
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