An end and a beginning....

Summer is here, and yes, you should relax and have fun! Fun could include reading...don't be shocked! A book doesn't need batteries or electricity, it can fit in almost any bag and take you on a trip for free! Plus, if you read, and write a great report, including characters, plot (in sequence), and your favorite part....then you can start in September with an "A".

Check in to my site periodically for other grammar exercises and vocabulary worksheets that you can complete and email to me or bring to school with you in September. Oh, and another easy "A"....keep a writer's journal. Sit in the park even and write about the people you see, the ice-cream truck, the basketball game. While you're at it, add some pictures, drawings or photos...even press a flower or tape in a movie ticket stub!

You all did so well on your State ELA test but research shows that 2 months of no writing or reading can cause scores to drop! Don't let it happen!! See you in September, smarter than ever!

**Para los que el ingles todavia es una gran lucha...aprovecha de los sitios conectados aqui...en septiembre estare hablando mucho mas ingles y van a necesitar un base...porque no practica aqui? Muchos de los sitios que escogi son bilingues...
les veo en septiembre!

Wait, wait....it's not over yet!

My special congratulations go out to my class for your hard work on the social studies projects. You will be given time this week to use my sticky notes I have placed on the projects and my suggestions during our conferences to make them even better. The school is going to have a hard time competing with the level of work you all achieved.

One last literacy project that we still need to finish (besides improving our speed/fluency with QReads) is the immigrant story. This has to be handed in this week (yes 8th graders even though graduation is Thursday). If you click on the poem you will read something that my father wrote about a visitor to New York.

You need to choose the following for your main character:

Name of the character.
Age at the time the character comes to the United States.
Country of origin and language of origin (real not invented).
Style of dress and other details (such as style of music they like, and other things they do on their free time).
A problem the character has to overcome and how they overcome it.
You must present the story in a sequence that is interesting, entertaining and easily understandable.

This needs to be at least two pages to receive a 4. Good luck. Drawings are encouraged!! For additional inspiration reflect on the true story about the Chinese kindergarten student we read in class.