We will be working on the novel Catching Fire again next week, and I want you all to remember that any work I assign next week will be marked in Q2, so do not fall behind on the work!
We have been working hard on reteaching the Open Response from the District Assessment. It served as a good benchmark to see where we are in the year and to find out where we need to be before MCAS comes along. We are working on Close Reading skills, questioning, and using a Write Around strategy to see how we can answer the question clearly, connecting our evidence and our ideas to the text, while making the writing follow a logical sequence from one idea to the next. We wanted one clear, connected answer that responds to the question.
You guys grades the classes efforts, made suggestions on how to improve and then you are going to try to tackle your own group's question - not as easy as it seems. I am hopeful that this helps you see that the skills you use in class transfer over to the MCAS and beyond!
You can do it!
We have also started blogging. I am hopeful that the idea that students are writing for an audience will encourage them to express their ideas clearly, and creatively. First, the students will be sharing their blog posts with me, then with students in our class, then with our grade. I am excited to see how our kids incorporate links, images, and video into their ideas without skimping on the writing!
You guys work hard, get some rest over the weekend and I will see you Tuesday!
