Academic Vocabulary

This is a sample of what we're working on.

Academic Vocabulary is defined as words that are traditionally used in academic dialogue and text. Specifically, it refers to words that are not necessarily common or frequently encountered in informal conversation.

Academic Vocabulary

https://www.spellingcity.com/academic-vocabulary.html

The Top 60 Most Common Academic Words

https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/23710

Reviewing Literary Genres-with an eye for creative writing

Prefixes and Roots 7 &8

Prefixes, Suffixes, and Word Roots - Video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ffjfpMl9-4

Wazzup in MzT's Classroom October 15-19 2018

This week we are summarizing the background on Edgar Allan Poe (and a few of his works) into a brief informational page, using MLA for the first time.

MLA Formatting/ Works Cited Page

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caiQypjTA54

Grades 12, 11, 10 and 9 will also complete reading and then complete packets on "The Tell-Tale Heart" and"The Cask of Amontillado." Grade 8 will read "The Tell-Tale Heart." Grade 7 will polish informational writing.

On Tuesday, the Seniors and Juniors will attend an exciting college/career seminar, with other local private school students at Apple Valley Christian School. 

Let the PUN-OFF Continue!

Let the PUN-OFF Continue!

This Week in MzT's Classroom: Creative Writing, Grammar, and Poe 10/8-10/12/18

All grades

Monday--Professional Development, no school for students

Tuesday Review essays

Discuss outside reading groups

Discuss vocabulary.com, spelling, grammar upcoming

Documentaries on Poe, notation, summaries

HW review nouns

Wednesday The Raven packet; video

Varieties of poems, students write poems for Poet-tree

Diagramming sentences--nouns and subject of a sentence
Review Outside Reading Lists

Thursday The Tell-Tale Heart packet; video
Creative writing--poems for Poet-Tree
Diagramming sentences--verbs and predicates of a sentence
Discuss Outside Reading
HW Poe packets

Friday The Cask of Amontillado packet; video
Creative writing--poems for the Poet-Tree

The Victorians--Starting with Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe - Full Episode

https://www.biography.com/video/edgar-allan-poe-full-episode-2104513528

The Raven and Other Poe Info
https://mztsclass.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-raven.html

The Cask of Amontillado

https://mztsclass.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-cask-of-amontillado.html

The Tell-Tale Heart

https://mztsclass.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-tell-tale-heart.html

The Beautiful Yet Dark Mind Of Edgar Allan Poe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6IiusT-Seo 

Edgar Allan Poe Biography

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLZ76Lnw8Lg

WHO WAS EDGAR ALLAN POE?

https://www.poemuseum.org/who-was-edgar-allan-poe

Authors from Our Reading List: Marguerite Henry

Wesley Dennis (illustrator) and Marguerite Henry, author of Kind of the Wind--Newberry Award Winner.

Sentence Combining

 

I have long been a fan of sentence combining activities as a meaningful and effective way of improving students’ writing skills. Since the 1960’s, research studies have shown that sentence combining is an effective way to teach grammar to students in elementary through college levels and improves student writing. This is especially so for students who struggle with writing. The Writing Next report (2007)  based on Graham and Perin’s meta-analysis of writing instruction research, identified sentence combining as one of the eleven most effective instructional practices for improving the writing of students in grades 4-12   Sentence Combining https://keystoliteracy.com/blog/sentence-combining/ 

How to Combine Sentences Effectively 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFAfeE8mGDU

Rules for Combining Sentences (includes grade levels)

http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/sentences/rules-for-combining-sentences.html 

 Evaluating Sentence Combinations

After combining a set of sentences in a variety of ways, you should take the time to evaluate your work and decide which combinations you like and which ones you don't. You may do this evaluation on your own or in a group in which you will have a chance to compare your new sentences with those of others. In either case, read your sentences out loud as you evaluate them: how they sound to you can be just as revealing as for how they look.
Here are six basic qualities to consider when you evaluate your new sentences:

1. Meaning. As far as you can determine, have you conveyed the idea intended by the original author?
2. Clarity. Is the sentence clear? Can it be understood on the first reading?
3. Coherence. Do the various parts of the sentence fit together logically and smoothly?
4. Emphasis. Are keywords and phrases put in emphatic positions (usually at the very end or at the very beginning of the sentence)?
5. Conciseness. Does the sentence clearly express an idea without wasting words?
6. Rhythm. Does the sentence flow, or is it marked by awkward interruptions? Do the interruptions help to emphasize key points (an effective technique), or do they merely distract (an ineffective technique)?Introduction to Sentence Combining  https://www.thoughtco.com/an-introduction-to-sentence-combining-169242

  List of Subordinate conjunctions

Some Subordinating Conjunctions

after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because, before, by the time, even if, even though, if, in order that, in case, in the event that, lest , now that, once, only, only if, provided that, since, so, supposing, that, than, though, till, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, whether or not, while

Latin and Greek Roots and Affixes (et français inclus)

1. Sic vos volo Latine discere?

Latin Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

https://www.infoplease.com/arts-entertainment/writing-and-language/latin-roots-prefixes-and-suffixes

Latin was the language spoken by the ancient Romans. As the Romans conquered most of Europe, the Latin language spread throughout the region. Over time, the Latin spoken in different areas developed into separate languages, including Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. These languages are considered “sisters,” as they all descended from Latin, their “mother” language.

Root Words, Roots and Affixes

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/root-words-roots-and-affixes

Teaching Latin Roots with Word Trees

https://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/teaching-latin-roots-with-word-trees/

The 42 Most Common Greek Roots

https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.net/1Wfu6ZLa3Dx2jxFtkGxgyFP5iVqUQNJ2yWyEqNu6ljtNEkJ1.pdf

Prefix, Suffix list by grade

https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.net/1Wfu6ZLa3Dx2jxFtkGxgyFP5iVqUQNJ2yWyEqNu6ljtNEkJ1.pdf

Common French words, also common … in English!!

https://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/common-french-words-also-common-in-english/

Wazzup in MzT's Class This Week 8/27/18

This week includes the High School and Middle School Retreats on Thursday and Friday.

So, oh happy day, no assessment on Friday!

Monday 8/27/18 

Grades 7, 8, and 9

Takes notes from teacher's lecture on genres of literature.

Literary Genres

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A1aM-zzJls

Reading Team Day

The Myth of Icarus and Daedalus

https://westenglish7.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/8/3/28833613/icarus___daedalus_phaethon.pdf

First read through with partner on Chromebook, take notes on plot diagram with partners CW

List vocabulary words from story in HW section.

Book Chat about Outside Reading

HW Using notes from your INB, write a paragraph summary of the story.

The Story of Icarus 

https://westenglish7.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/8/3/28833613/icarus___daedalus_phaethon.pdf

Study vocabulary.

Grades 10, 11, 12

Reading Team Day

The Myth of Icarus and Daedalus And Phaeton

https://westenglish7.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/8/3/28833613/icarus___daedalus_phaethon.pdf

First read through both stories with partner on Chromebook, take notes on plot diagram with partners CW

List vocabulary words from both stories in HW section.

Book Chat about Outside Reading

HW Using notes from your INB, write a paragraph summary of the story.

The Story of Icarus  and the Story of Phaeton

https://westenglish7.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/8/3/28833613/icarus___daedalus_phaethon.pdf

Study vocabulary.

Tuesday 8/28/18

Grades 7, 8, 9

Elements of Plot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH5jlkK4aUI

Reading aloud as a class The Myth of Icarus and Daedalus

Answer questions together in writing  from story.

Writer's Workshop

Writing summaries about stories using a plot diagram.

HW Study notes on genres of literature.

Study notes on the elements of plots.

Study vocabulary from the Icarus story.

Grades 10, 11, 12

Elements of Plot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH5jlkK4aUI

Reading aloud as a class The Myth of Icarus and Daedalus

Answer questions together in writing  from story link;

Discuss with teams the story of Phaeton; answer questions together.

Writer's Workshop

Writing summaries about stories using a plot diagram.

HW Study notes on genres of literature.

Study notes on the elements of plots.

Study vocabulary from the Icarus story.

Wednesday 8/29/18 

Grades 7, 8, 9.

Teacher review of story vocabulary.

Class discussion of extra questions on story.

Ed Tech Cafe

Digital Citizenship topics

What You Students Really Need to Know About Digitial Citizenship

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-citizenship-need-to-know-vicki-davis

HW No new homework on Wednesdays.

Grades 10, 11, 12

Teacher review of both stories' vocabulary.

Class discussion of extra questions on stories.

Ed Tech Cafe

Digital Citizenship topics

What Your Students Really Need to Know About Digitial Citizenship

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-citizenship-need-to-know-vicki-davis

HW  No new homework on Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday 8/30/18 and 8/31/18

High School and Middle School Retreat

Psalm 9:1-2 The Message (MSG)

A David Psalm

9 

1-2 I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart,

    I’m writing the book on your wonders.

I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;

    I’m singing your song, High God.