Welcome 2nd Trimester

Welcome to all of my 2nd trimester students!
Here is an update on what we are currently doing:

Health:  We are researching mental disorders and disabilities and the students will be creating presentations in groups on a mental disorder/disability of their choice.  We are also going to be watching the movie "Radio" starting on Wednesday.
      **Disclaimer--if I do not have your student's permission slip (course disclosure) signed, they will not be allowed to watch "Radio."

Language Arts:  Students are researching and forming debates for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week.
    **Students need to be in best dress the day their group is debating.
Debate Schedule:
5th Hour
Tuesday- Tribes 3 and 6--Should All Guns be Banned or Regulated?
Wednesday--Tribes 1 and 5--Year Round School
Thursday--Tribes 2 and 4--Legalizing Marijuana

6th Hour
Tuesday-Tribes 1 and 5--Should Professional Athlete's Pay Be More than Service Workers?
Wednesday-Tribes 3 and 4--Driver's Licenses Should Be Issued at 15
Thursday--Tribes 2 and 4--Improved Soldier/Military Pay and Compensation

LANGUAGE ARTS

PARTS OF SPEECH POEM

ATTENTION ALL 9TH GRADERS:  This Parts of Speech poem is to be memorized and passed off on WEDNESDAY the 14th of October!!  Be sure to study, study, study!!

Parts of Speech Poem

A noun is a name word

Like girl, street, or swing.

A noun names a person, place, or thing.

Pronouns are used in place of a noun

I, you, its, us, them are some to be found.

A verb shows an action

Like walk, run, eat, swim;

Verbs can be helpers

Like am, was, has been

Adverbs can modify

Adjectives, other adverbs, or verbs.

Most adverbs end in l-y,

Like one who loudly disturbs

Prepositions are not found alone,

But with nouns or pronouns

Like to town or with Joan

Adjectives describe nouns,

They’re words like big, strong, and tall.

If we didn’t use adjectives

We’d know nothing at all.

Conjunctions are connectors like

Neither so either, not only, and nor

But, also, whether, both, for, yet, or.

Interjections show strong feelings

Like Hoorah! And Hooray!

The eight parts of speech I know all the way!

Author unknown

HEALTH CLASSES:

We are with the counselors this week in health class.  We are working on career and college readiness and trying to help students figure out their four year plans.  It would be fabulous if a parent could come with them on Thursday and/or Friday to help decide on classes they should take in high school.  

Narrative Writing Assignment

Here is the rubric with the criteria for the narrative writing assignment due on Friday 9/12.  Remember to highlight each element of the plot line (exposition, inciting incident, rising action, etc.) on your rough draft before we peer edit. 

W 9.3 Rubric Narrative

Staple this rubric to your essay                    Name_____________________________

                                                                        Due Date_________  Period__________

           

Pick a topic from below or choose one of your own.                                            

·         an embarrassing experience

·         an encounter with someone or something you were afraid of

·         an occasion when you experienced rejection

·         the breakup of a friendship or your most embarrassing moment

·         Something really awesome that happened over the summer

Check each box as you complete the requirements.

Your essay must have:                                                                                  Points you earned

	Is the point of view consistent in your essay?   5 pts.
	Exposition:  Setting, character, tone, and leads to conflict 5 pts.
	Inciting Incident:  problem, conflict 5 pts.
	Climax:  Turning point of the story – problem solved 5 pts.
	Falling Action: Steps leading to resolution, minor conflicts 5 pts.
	Resolution:  End of story.  May have a moral at the end. 5 pts.
	200 words 5 pts.
	Title, name, period, date  Check to see if you used capitals and periods. 5 pts.
	Elements of Characterization—SHOW not tell 5 pts.

Possible points 45 points (Assessment Category-75% of your grade)                      Points earned     _________ 

Teacher comments:

Summertime Study Sheet

ATTENTION INCOMING 9TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS STUDENTS:

Here is a copy of the Summertime Study Sheet we will be testing on the first week of school.

Language Arts--Book Reports

Just a reminder for my 9th grade language arts students---READ your book over the weekend!!  We are starting "The Reading Game" (oral book reports) on MONDAY!