Mr. Fowler - Language Arts

Careers

2009-08-09T20:50:00.002-04:00

August 9, 2009

During our first week of Careers Management we will focus on interviewing and employment terms. Our vocabulary quiz will be on Thursday.

Our guest speaker this week is Dr. John Neiland.

Welcome Back!!!!

2009-08-09T20:28:00.003-04:00

LANGUAGE ARTS
We will start the 2009-10 year by reviewing the 8 parts of speech, and then reading the short stories "User Friendly" and "After 20 Years". Next week we start a 2-week long unit on fables, culminating with a visual project and our first paper, an original fable.
This year we are replacing weekly spelling quizzes with weekly vocabulary quizzes. Spelling still "counts", but we will focus more on vocabulary building. Quizzes in my class will be every Thursday, and vocabulary homework will be due every Wednesday.
Parents- More details will be available Curriculum Night. In the meantime, please check your child's agenda nightly, and contact me with any questions: Fowlersa@fultonschools.org

Here is this week's vocabulary list:

1. Predicate
NOUN the part of the sentence containing the verb, or a synonym for verb
VERB to state, proclaim, or affirm
2. Subject
the part of a sentence that is doing the action
theme, topic, motif, or person
3. Adjective
a word used to describe or modify nouns
4. Preposition
a word or phrase placed typically before a noun, indicating the relationship of that noun to
a verb, an adjective, or another noun, as at, by, with, from, and in between
5. Conjunction
a word that connects, nouns, verbs, or clauses
a combination of events or circumstances
6. Declaration
NOUN A formal statement; proclamation
7. Inquisitive
ADJ inclined to investigate; eager for knowledge;
curious
8. Exclamatory
NOUN a sentence expressing excitement, anger, or fear
ADJ strong, sudden, emphatic
9. Interrogate
VERB to question or seek answers
10. suspenseful
ADJ full of uncertainty or excitement, with a degree of anticipation or anxiety

April 28

2009-04-28T07:51:00.002-04:00

On Monday we began reading The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Our vocabulary words for the next four week will be taken from this classic novel.

In the remaining 18 days we will have 3 vocabulary quizzes (plus homework), one in-class writing assignment, a test on the novel, and 4 classwork grades. With so few grades left, it is imperative that everything is turned in on time.

Here are this week's words:
1) Surmise- verb
To guess, deduce, infer, conclude

2) Monotonous- adj
Lacking in variety. Dull, repetitive, boring

3) Misapprehension- noun
Misunderstanding, the wrong idea

4) Loiter- verb
To waste time or dawdle. To linger aimlessly. Hang around

5) Tumult- noun
disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar, riot, commotion

6) lethargic- noun
drowsy and dull, unenergetic

7) disdain-verb
despise, to think unworthy of notice, consider beneath oneself.

8) quagmire- noun
sticky situation, dilemma, predicament

9) balderdash- noun
nonsense, rubbish

10) proclamation-
a public and official announcement. Something that is proclaimed or declared

CRCT Help

2009-04-02T10:14:00.002-04:00

Mrs. Saren and I are again offering a CRCT help class for Reading and Language Arts. The two classes will be after school on Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 15, from 3:45-4:45. Students will take the Reading CRCT on Thursday and LA on Friday.

If you are interested in have your child attend these classes, please contact Mr. Fowler or Mrs. Saren via email. Depending on the number of students, we will add more teachers and classes, so it is very important that you let as know if your child will attend.

In the past two years, 99% of General Ed. students have passed the LA portion of the CRCT, so we believe these classes to be very beneficial.

Thanks!

Spring Break Extra Credit

2009-04-02T10:11:00.001-04:00

Extra Credit

For 25 points added to your most recent test or project grade:
Read one of the following books. List 8 characters and a two –line description about each. Next, write a 200 word detailed summary of the story. Due 4/15

Tangerine
Hatchet
Westing Game
Whatever Happened to Janie?
The Tiger Rising
Year of Impossible Goodbyes
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad
Z for Zachariah
Lupita Manana
Let the Circle Be Unbroken

Fourth Quarter

2009-03-13T11:38:00.002-04:00

Here are this week's (Mar 16) VOCABULARY WORDS:

1) fragment
2) infrastructure
3) utilize
4) horizontal
5) vertical
6) equipment
7) accelerate
8) judicial
9) undoubtedly
10) compromise

The research paper we have been working on since February 9th is due this Wednesday, March 18
Our next test will be Friday, March 27, and will cover clauses and types of sentences.

Vocabulary This week (WE 3/6) and Next

2009-03-04T10:52:00.002-05:00

3/2- 3/6
research
sources
bibliography
investigate
illustrate
negate
thesis
partition
paraphrase
plagiarism

3/9-3/13

physical
hygiene
muscle
exercise
occur
process
convert
positive
prohibit
religious

Research project is due MARCH 17th !!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-24T11:56:00.002-05:00

Here are this week's vocabulary words:

1. finite ADJ limited, predetermined, fixed
2. abandon VERB dispose of, discard, desert
3. analogy NOUN parallel, comparison
4. analyze VERB examine, evaluate, investigate
5. nuclear ADJ pertaining to atomic weapons or energy
6. annual ADJ yearly, or something (eg trees) that occurs every year
7. prospect NOUN anticipation, expectation, outlook
8. drama NOUN the art of writing and directing plays
9. trend NOUN 1) prevailing tendency 2) style, vogue

We have a quiz on Thursday on irregular verbs

POST for 2/16

2009-02-17T12:34:00.002-05:00

Here are this week's VOCABULARY words:

1. intensity Noun-great energy, strength, concentration, as of activity, thought, or feeling.

2. Solution Noun- the act of solving a problem or question.

3. Inverse Adjective- reversed in position, order, direction, or tendency.

4. ethnic Adjective- characteristic of a group of people sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, or language.

5. climate Noun- generally prevailing weather conditions of a region.

6. Philosophy Noun the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.

7. Voluntary Adjective- working, or done without financial reward.

8. Lucrative Adjective-profitable, moneymaking

9. Hierarchy Noun- chain of command, ranks

10. fluctuate verb- vary, to change continually

REMINDER- The "HOW-TO" paper is due tomorrow, 2/18

Our next major project will be a research paper. WE will start on 2/26 and work on it in class for 2 weeks. The students will complete research on a famous writer, artist, poet or composer. Here is the list:
1) Pablo Picasso
2) Michelangelo
3) Vincent Van Gogh
4) Leonardo Da Vinci
5) Mary Cassatt
6) Romare Bearden
7) Diego Rivera
8) Rembrandt
9) Andy Warhol
10) Claude Monet
11) Auguste Rodin
12) Frida Kahlo
13) Jose Clemente’ Orozco
14) Charles Dickens
15) Emily Dickinson
16) Ernest Hemingway
17) John Steinbeck
18) Richard Wright
19) Maya Angelou
20) Langston Hughes
21) Carson McCullers
22) Gary Paulson
23) Edgar Allan Poe
24) Jack London
25) Jane Austen
26) Lewis Carroll
27) A.A. Milne
28) Sandra Cisneros
29) Ray Bradbury
30) William Shakespeare
31) Wolfgang Mozart
32) Antonio Vivaldi
33) Duke Ellington
34) George Gershwin
35) Ludwig Beethoven
36) JS Bach
37) Richard Wagner

January

2009-01-22T13:22:00.002-05:00

We are only three weeks into the semester, but we have already had 3 writing assignments and 3 quizzes. Please be sure you have turned in everything.

Our first test will be January 27th. It will cover punctuating quotations and run-ons.

Our first project of the year is due February 3rd. This project will be presented at our 2nd annual Literature Fair, which will be held February 10th and 11th.

**We will need food donations for the Literature Fair. Last year we had 400 guest and went through approximately 1000 cookies and baked goods!!
If you can make a donation, please email Mr. Fowler** THANK YOU!!

fowlersa@fultonschools.org

13 Days Left...

2008-12-02T15:47:00.002-05:00

We have 8 or 9 tasks left in the semester... still time to bring up a few grades!
We will have 3 spelling quizzes, a vocabulary quiz, a test on our novel, 3 class assignments, and 1 writing project. The writing project will be a sequel to the novel, and it's due 12/17.

November Tasks

2008-11-03T12:54:00.002-05:00

We have finished our grammar section on sentences and now will apply what we have learned to our writing. Our study of sentence types aligns with the 7th grade ELA standards, so we will definitely see this material on standardized tests. Moving forward, students will use complex and compound sentences to enhance their writing, which will be also be a benefit on the 8th grade writing exam.

Our next in-class writing assignment will be Friday, November 7th.
Our next assessment will be a quiz covering RUN-ON sentences on Tuesday, November 11.

On Monday the 10th we will start our second novel, No Promises in the Wind, by Irene Hunt. After we finish this novel, we will write a response to literature. (11/24)

October Update

2008-10-15T21:32:00.002-04:00

This month we are studying types of sentences: simple, compound, complex & compound-complex. When students demonstrate variety in their sentences,their papers and essays are more interesting and more enjoyable to read.
Our test on clauses and the types of sentences will be October 29th.

We just finished our 2nd letter to our pen pals in New York. Please remind your children that the letters need to be 7th grade appropriate.

Just a reminder, the annual book fair is next week. My class will go on Wednesday.

Finally, report cards go out on Monday. These were the grades as of 10/13. For the most up-to-date grades, please check Parent-Connect.

Upcoming Assignments

2008-09-25T11:28:00.002-04:00

We have completed our study of the Parts of Speech. Next week we begin writing paragraphs, both in the classroom and in the computer lab. We will also finish reading our novel, The Face on the Milk Carton.

Our upcoming tasks:

Perfect Paragraph Activity 9/30 in class
Face on the Milk Carton Trading Cards due 10/3
Face OTMC and Pararaph TEST 10/8

We will continue to use our journals for DOL's and in-class exercises.

Remember, parent conferences are 10/10/08; No schools for students!!!!!!!

TEST!!

2008-09-10T09:36:00.002-04:00

Our first test will be Friday, September 12. It will cover the parts of speech. Students can use chapters 1-2 of the Holt grammar book to study, as well as their journals. They should know the seven common coordinating cunjuctions:

For

And

Nor

But

Yet

As well as the 15 common helping verbs:

S should shall

W would will

M may might must

C could can

H have has had

D do does did

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-08-27T11:32:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to HBMS!!

We are already 3 weeks into the new year, so I want to take a minute a review some basics for Language Arts:

Spelling homework is due every Wednesday: each word 5X each, one sentence for each word.
Spelling quizzes are every Thursday.
Classwork is kept in journals
We will go to the Media Center every other Friday

Some key dates coming up: our first paper (original fable) is due 9/2, and our first test (on parts of speech) is 9/11. We will begin reading the novel The Face on the Milk Carton on 9/2.

As always, email me if you have any questions.

2008-03-26T09:34:00.000-04:00

PAPER DUE!!!

Just a reminder that the persuasive essay is due on Friday, 3/28!

This will be our last major grade before Spring Break.

Upcoming Projects

2008-03-14T10:08:00.000-04:00

My gradebook is updated, with all assignments for the next 4 weeks listed. We have a test on Friday March 21, and a paper (persuasive essay) due the following week. Please remember that spelling homework is due every Wednesday.
Our focus for the next few weeks is grammar review. After the break we will begin the novel The Phantom Tollbooth, and we will conclude the year with a s tudy of mythology.

I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who helped with the Literature Fair: parents, my fellow language arts teachers, and of course, Mrs. Karp, our Media Specialist.

Literature Fair

2008-02-15T07:53:00.000-05:00

Our next big project is due February 27. Students must choose one of the twelve projects listed on their assignment sheet. Their choices include posters, Power points, creative writing, mini-novels, and poetry. If you have not seen this project list yet, please ask your child about it.

The projects will be presented during the first ever HBMS Literature Fair, to be held March 6-7. All parents are encouraged to attend; you will receive invitations with specific times in the next two weeks.

We are looking for 10-12 parent volunteers to help with refreshments, picture-taking and other small jobs. Please let me know via email if you can help, or if you would like to donate a baked good or soft drinks.

Happy New Year

2008-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

We started this semester by making New Year's resolutions. Let's all continue to work on the items we listed: completing assignments, improving conduct, using our agendas, etc.

Our first major project for this semester is a research paper on a famous person born before 1960. We will work on research the week of Jan. 14-18, and then write and type our papers the following week. The completed project is due 1/26.

Everyone should have a research checklist and timeline to refer to while working on this project.

Extra Credit!!!

2007-12-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,

Extra Credit for first semester is still available!

I am attaching 2 assignments to this post. One can be completed for 20 points towards the project/paper grade, the other for 20 points towards the test grade.

Very important: extra credit must be completed by January 3. Grades need to be inputted by Jan. 4, so no late work will be accepted.

Please email work to: Fowlersa@fultonschools.org

Extra Credit- Grammar
20 points towards most recent test grade

Holt handbook- Complete ALL exercises:

1) Page 417 Exercise 2, 1-10
Change each of the run-on sentences into compound or complex sentences. For each sentence, show TWO ways to correct the sentence. Three sentences are already correct, so you will need a total of 14 sentences for this assignment (7 incorrect X 2)

2) Page 418 Rev A. Rewrite the paragraph

3) Page 441 Exercise A 1-10, B 11-20

4) Complete the worksheet:
Mark in the blank beside each sentence an R for a run-on sentence, an F for a fragment, and a C for a correct sentence. Correct any fragments or run-ons.

_____ 1. Carlos took the job and he was happy to get it.
_____ 2. Tono loves Chinese food, he eats it three times a week.
_____ 3. Lovie congratulated Jake and wished him success.
_____ 4. Ms. Nois wrote an article about Philadelphia. One of the local magazines buying it.
_____ 5. Pancho refuses to eat at the school cafeteria last year he found a roach in his tea.
_____ 6. Mr. Altman donated five chairs, four tables, and three barrels.
_____ 7. After the storm ended people came out of their houses.
_____ 8. My paper is due in three days, thus I cannot go to the movie.
_____ 9. The people have voiced their views, therefore they city council must act.
_____ 10. Since the money is in the budget, you might as well spend it.
_____ 11. The more I know about you, the better I like you.
_____ 12. Go to college it is worth the effort.
_____ 13. Tell me a good joke and I will tell you a better one.
_____ 14. The team had difficulty winning. Several players not caring about the team as a whole.
_____ 15. The players have had a bad season, as a result, a number of personality clashes have come to the surface.
_____ 16. When a good coach does television commercials he is near retirement.
_____ 17. Some coaches become so popular that they are more powerful than colleges presidents.
_____ 18. The American public loves football, television ratings indicate this preference.
_____ 19. We support you we appreciate you.

_____ 20. We are impressed with you however, we cannot offer you a job at this time.

Extra Credit 2
20 points toward Project/Paper grade

Essay – 250 words minimum; choose either topic

Topic 1: A play
At the end of the novel, Janie calls her biological mother. Her mother has agonized over the kidnapping for 12 years. Janie struggled to believe that she was really kidnapped, so she was hesitant to call her ‘real’ mother.
Write a script (as in a play or television show) showing the dialogue between Janie and her mother. Remember that they will talk about past memories, what each has been doing for 12 years, and what will happen in the future.

JANIE: Hi. It’s…your daughter. Me. Jennie.

MRS. SPRING:

Topic 2: New Jersey
Write about what happened in New Jersey to the Springs after Jennie was kidnapped 12 years ago. Be creative, but follow the story from Face on the Milk Carton.

2007-12-17T09:55:00.001-05:00

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