Grading Period 2: Week 3 Review & Expository Writing

As you know, this year we will be taking the STAAR Writing test.  The students will be responsible for at least one expository composition and at least one personal narrative.  We jumped into the expository essay this week, and the mess above actually proved quite helpful with the use of a kernel writing format and gave us a good outline for the paper that was written yesterday in class (and is being finished in class today) and produced the introductory paragraph you see above.  There is great stuff going on in room A29 this year, and I find it very exciting to see students that are so hesitant to write coming alive in their writing.  We have some terrific writers this year.
While on the subject of my wonderful writers, students have a great opportunity at Peterson Middle School to participate in UIL competition.  I will be coaching the events of Ready Writing and Spelling in UIL competition this year and invite any of my eager writers and spellers to participate. This is a new endeavor for me as a teacher, so my students and I will learn the ins and outs of UIL together.
Okay, okay... Now for the part that you're here for- the review!

This week in Horizons...
acquit                      to declare not guilty of a charge of crime or other offense              
allocate                   to set aside for a specific purpose
administration          the group of people who manage or direct an organization
associate                 a coworker; friend; companion
consequence           a result of an earlier happening or action; outcome

Spelling Lesson 8 Review...

Crime

Criminal

Combine

Combination

Academy

Academic

Inspire

Inspiration

Except

Exception

Imitate

Imitation

Operate

Operation

Depart

Departure

Participate

Participation

Regulate

Regulation

CORRECTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you (your student) has earned a grade below 70 on a quiz, it is EXTREMELY important that they make corrections as soon as possible to bring that grade up to 70.  Progress reports will be posted this weekend, they will be sent home next Thursday, and the grading period will be over on the following Friday!  This is the shortest grading period of the year, so make sure your student is on the ball now!

Study study study!

Grading Period 2: Week 2 Review

Hey folks,
I'll make this quick since the parade is creeping up very quickly.
Horizons Vocabulary Review:

oologist		a collector of bird eggs
coleopterist		a collector of beetles
bibliophile		a lover of books
graphophile		a lover of writing
logophile		a lover of words

Spelling Review:
mathematics
really
audience
usually
diamond
favorite
memory
restaurant
recognize
disgusted
secretary
miniature
tournament
vacuum
Delaware
gratitude
elementary
juvenile
victim
category

Good Luck!

A New Grading Period: Week One

The first six weeks is already gone! I find that very hard to believe.  The time is flying by in room A29 this year.  We took our first short checkpoint this week and I'm very happy, in general, with the results on the tests.  I saw lots of 100's and 92's!  We need to continue working hard to ensure the success of our students.  To help, below you will find a review list for the quiz that was missed due to the incentive for horizons and regular classes.  Study this evening, and good luck tomorrow!
Horizons' Lesson 5:
excessive- more than necessary, reasonable, or usual; too much
expulsion- the act of forcing or driving out or the state of being forced to leave or driven out
forethought- thought, care, or planning for the future
maneuver- a skillful, clever, or cunning move or procedure; scheme; 2. to plan or perform skillfully
retaliate- to return or repay like for like, especially evil for evil or injury for injury

Spelling Lesson 5:
arguing
researched
horrifying
qualified
panicked
mimicking
controlled
horrified
committed
committing
mimicked
traveling
panicking
argued
traveled
receiving
qualifying
received
controlling

Study study study,
Good luck,

Last Chance!

This is it- the eve of the end of the grading period!  For those of you that have been teetering this six weeks, it's time to step up and finish the grading period strong.  For those of you that have been fighting an uphill battle, this is your chance to stand victorious and proud that you have prevailed- evidence that you have the ability to be successful this school year.  Some of you, who I sent failure notices home with yesterday and did not receive them today, we will continue to work with you (kicking and screaming albeit) to make sure that you are successful.  Use this first grading period as wake-up call for the rest of the year.  There isn't a soul in any of my classes that can afford a sub-par grade on tomorrow's quizzes, so make sure you are studying your words this evening.  Below are the spelling words and Horizons vocabulary words that will be tested tomorrow.
Good luck!

Spelling List 4

herd: We saw a herd of cattle on the ranch.

heard: I heard birds singing at dawn.

capital: Austin is the capital of Texas.

capitol: The senate is in the capitol building.

principle: Honesty is an important principle.

principal: The school principal led the assembly.

there: It is easy to get there from here.

their: The boys carried their tennis rackets.

straight: The path is straight, not curved.

strait: A narrow strait connects the lakes.

compliment: I received a compliment on my poem.

complement: The red rug will complement the room.

stationery: I wrote a letter on my new stationery.

stationary: An exercise bicycle stays stationary.

idle: She remained idle instead of working.

idol: The artist was the young man's idol.

hostel: Young travelers can stay at a hostel.

hostile: The enemy soldiers were hostile.

sheer: Light comes through the sheer curtain.

shear: She will shear the poodle's long hair.

Horizons Vocabulary List 4

befall- to happen to; occur

bestow- to present, give, or grant as a gift or honor

confer- to give as a gift or honor; to award; to meet and discuss together

consolation- something that comforts

delegate- 1. a person chosen to act for or represent another; 2. to give or assign (responsibility, power, or authority) to another.

Study study study,