Update for 4th and 5th periods: Come with an independent reading book or Bird, a sharpened pencil or two, and lots of paper!

4th and 5th period: We're studying bias and persuasive techniques. It's amazing how many students don't know how to read a newspaper.  This is not only a "paperless" generation, it seems the parents are, too. Please purchase a newspaper from time to time, perhaps on Sundays. Students need to read the editorials and notice techniques of persuation and author's bias.

4th period is reading Bird and has a test on chapters 7-10 on Wednesday. (Please be sure to read chapters 1-6 if you have not already! Sadly, many students did not come prepared.)

5th period: We are slightly ahead of 4th and no homework is due unless you were given permission to turn in your paper late.

The Basket of Eternal Forgiveness is only available with permisssion. Parents, feel free to call me in the evenings at 886-7271 with your concerns.

5th Period

Remember to rewrite your essay for the district timed writing. Also, finish reading Bird for the final test. The test will be essay.

5th Period - Test tomorrow on "Bird" Chapters 1-10

No excuses! Also, remember to have your 3 column notes on Bird, Jay and Ethan ready for me to pick up!

4th Period- you will begin this book on May 5th.

Books, books, books...

Students! Please find and return my library books. You know who you are and you know the books, most have my name stamped on them. I think I know who you are, too! It's time to retrieve them from brothers and sisters and lockers and from under the bed. Please start bringing them back.

Remember, each and every day you need an independent reading book in my class. For many students this is no problem. If it is for you, let me know. Let's find a book you'll love to read.

Just because FCAT is nearing the end does not mean school is over. We still have much to cover, as well as study for the end of course exams. The Basket of Eternal Forgiveness is on break this nine weeks. You will have to have permission to use it. No more free rides!

FCAT Explorer

This spring break is a great time to practice your FCAT reading skills.  Go to fcatexplorer.com. If you have any problems look below on previous blogs to find out how to figure out your username and password.

Assignment catch-up day was today.

We're ALL passing! Many students did work over and over, but we made it! Now, don't forget to complete the Biography/Autobiography assignment and read Matthew Henson: At the Top of the World, for Tuesday. Have a great weekend.

Homework for Monday, March 14th; also, Compass check is Saturday night.

We are working on reliability of information. Students must support all of their work with details from the text.
Complete all assignments on pages 74-81.  Also, as a bonus assignment, which most students need, do all assignments from pages 832-837.
This is a lot of work and students worked almost the entire period. (A few students worked with me on grade recovery and must do this on their weekend.)
If you forgot to take your literature book home today, don't forget to take it home tomorrow.  The end of the nine weeks is near and these are hefty assignments.  Don't put them off.

Come to the firecircle prepared on Monday morning!

FCAT Explorer - Are you moving forward? Check below for HW for 3/8

I recommend all of my students work on FCAT Explorer. I see your grades on the "first pass."  Some of you are really struggling; remember this IS a tough test. If you can get an adult to work with you, you can discuss some of the questions you are having. It's OK to get help! But.......learn from the process.  The biggest mistake students make is not going back to the passage to check on EACH AND EVERY QUESTION! That's right, each and every question. Login- beiberj    Password-16beib0301
(Login-use your last name and first initial, password 16 (our district code), the first 4 letters of your last name, and your birth month and day.)  And yes, I did go look up Justin's actual birthdate. It's March 1st.

Re-test of The Walrus and the Carpenter and HW due Tues., March 8th

Please check OnCourse to see if you passed the test. I graded it as pass/fail. The retest is on March 10th. You will recite it orally. If you passed you will be assisting me with the retesting.

Homework- Bird Brains -questions 1-6. Remember our discussion of the Depth of Knowledge. Remember what we talked about when doing this written work. Also, you are to read pages 183-194 in your workbook and complete page 193. Please use your own notebook paper for this assignment. It's just too hard to grade workbooks. Expect a comprehension quiz, not only on the reading, but on the skills you are learning. (So, read all of the "other" print besides the articles.)
 Don't come to the firecircle empty-handed.

Memorize every word, punctuation and spelling to write down by memory on March 2nd for test.

The time has come,” the Walrus said,

“To talk of many things:

Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—

Of cabbages—and kings—

 And why the sea is boiling hot—

And whether pigs have wings.”

“But wait a bit,” the Oysters cried,

“Before we have our chat;

For some of us are out of breath,

 And all of us are fat!"

“No hurry!" said the Carpenter.

They thanked him much for that.

        —Lewis Carroll, from “The    Walrus and the Carpenter”

You have homework.....always!

Bring your independent reading book to class.
READ your independent reading book for 30 min. each day and FILL OUT YOUR LOG!
Work on Compass or FCAT EXPLORER 60 min. each week.

Homework for Wednesday, 2/9

Students will add 8 sentences showing personification to their class paper. Your score will be 0-8. If I don't like the sentence I will not give you the credit for it. You must work at this, so take the time to make excellent personification examples. Use your sample sentences as a guide and get help if you need it.

Also, you have a worksheet about figurative language. This must also be done, ON TIME, with care!

Have you done your 60 minutes of Compass or FCAT EXPLORER (for those of you who finished your Compass learning path) this week?  You should have in a minimum of 2 hours by Friday, covering Jan. and Feb. (so far)

Yes, the work has ramped up.  You have no science project or history fair project.  This is what JLCP is like. Just Do It. If you get behind, get help immediately. If you miss a day, call a buddy  and check the blogs. Don't turn in late work.....you need the grade..... speaking of...........read below.........

The Basket of Eternal Forgiveness will always be available, but............

.....you will lose a large percentage of your possible score. Late papers lose almost 20% off some assingments. If you did perfect work, you might get by with an 80%. But most papers in the BOEF are not excellent papers, so your score may be less, much less.

ALSO, many papers are coming in without names on them. I am not psychic. Put your name on the top right-hand corner of each page.

Poe-tree! Roots, Trunk and Leaves

Yes, you have a poem to turn in following the instructions on the worksheet. Don't be late! Work on this diligently. You may type up and decorate your poem, but save it to your computer in case it needs some fixing up. Feel free to use computer graphics (sparingly) to decorate your poem. Due Monday.

Homework for Tuesday, February 1st

Students made a character sketch using the 4 methods of characterization. Each method has 10 descriptors of the character. 4 out of each set of 10 descriptions use a simile (like or as) or a metaphor. For homework, students will write a narrative (story) about the character using the information from the stories we've read and The Problem with Bullies. The narrative must be in 3rd person point of view. 3rd person means a narrator is telling the story. (You will not use the words "I" or "me.")


This assignment shoud be carefully written, typed if possible and carefully edited by an adult. Watch out for errors in capitalization.

Students made a character sketch using the 4 methods of characterization. Each method has 10 descriptors of the character. 4 out of each set of 10 descriptions use a simile (like or as) or a metaphor. For homework, students will write a narrative (story) about the character using the information from the stories we've read and The Problem with Bullies. The narrative must be in 3rd person point of view. 3rd person means a narrator is telling the story. (You will not use the words "I" or "me.")










This assignment shoud be carefully written, typed if possible and carefully edited by an adult. Watch out for errors in capitalization.

5th period: Elaboration-Check your grade on OnCourse....many of you did not pass this objective!

(This is also a warning to 4th period, since this is due tomorrow!)
You may redo the elaboration assignment on notebook paper.  Add more FRIES. Perhaps discuss a commercial you know of with a special celebrity. Remember, an elaboration should be longer than the original. Insert several sentences and consider elongating those that are there.  Here is the original paragraph:

Have you ever noticed the number of celebrities who endorse products? Often, the celebrities have little or no connection with the products they are endorsing. Seldom is the celebrity in any way an expert on the product. Apparently, advertisers believe that we will buy a product simply because someone famous suggests it.
*elaboration- write MORE about the topic

Don't forget to turn in your answers to questions 1-7 from Aaron's Gift (5th period only)

Homework for 1/28 Yes, you do have homework.

4th: Complete the worksheet on Elaborating Details and Identifying Types of Paragraphs.

5th: Complete questions 1-7 on Aaron's Gift, turn in on entry into classroom.

4th and 5th: We have finished Maniac Magee and have returned the books.  No title sheets will be accepted after Friday.  Your tests and essays have convinced me that you've enjoyed the book.  Let's take a moment to reflect on the struggles of segregation and integration. Speak to your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents about integration and chronicle some of their memories to share with the class.


Compass is always due-60 minutes per week!  You will shortly see your Compass grade on OnCourse. Look for a posting Monday or Tuesday! Get your time in. This is FCAT prep and you need it.  If you are in FCAT Explorer, I am keeping an eye on you, also. FCAT is challenging for many students. One reason is because you have to test on-screen.  Your FCAT test this year will soon be on computer!

Homework for 1/26

Period 4 Be prepared for the final test on Maniac Magee. You should have read chapters 33-46 and completed you "original" titles for each chapter. Bring in Maniac Magee to turn in. Don't forget to bring your text to class and also bring your independent reading book.  60 minutes of Compass due this week.

Period 5 Complete the worksheet on Elaborating Details and Identifying Types of Paragraphs. Bring in Maniac Magee to turn in.  Don't forget to bring your text to class and also bring your independent reading book.  60 minutes of Compass due this week.

Are You Being Bullied? (We begin our new unit on January 4th. Check out this site from Scholastic.)

Click here.