We are heading towards the end of Term One. Here are some important dates that have been added to the class calendar.

• Audacity Two Truths and a Lie project is due on Thursday November 5 at the end of our lab period. You will get to work on it during our Thursday lab period. If you need extra time, please arrange to use the computer lab during second recess.
• Reading duotangs will be checked on Monday November 9. Please make sure you have read for 20 minutes every night and that an adult has signed your tracking log. I am giving away $45 of scholastic coupons this day.
  • Each time you read for 20 minutes, you get a ballot.
  • Each Reading Response (correctly) shared with me on Google Docs earns you a ballot.
• Your second reading response to be marked is due on Monday November 9. Please choose your best reading response and add the words, MARK ME, in the title of your Google Doc.

The ABSOLUTE Deadline to hand in work for Mr. Fuchigami for the Term 1 reporting period is Thursday Nov 12, 2009. Mark sheets will go home on Friday Oct 30. 

Here is a copy of our shared writing (mind map) about narratives:

• Download the handout: E8B Narrative Mind Map

• Download the handout: R7C Narrative Mind Map

• Download the handout: R7F Narrative Mind Map

• Download the handout: Reading Ravens Parent Letter and Bulletin Board Expectations

As part of the literacy program, students will be participating in an online bulletin board to discuss literature. As a member of readingravens.ca, each student will login using their school user name and password which will allow them access to the literature currently being studied by the grade 7 and 8′s. Each student only has access to the reading program they are involved in and consequently are unable to view other groups, classes or grades.

The electronic bulletin board is designed to elicit meaningful talk about literature. Students are required to respond to questions being posed by their teachers while also commenting on their peer’s posts. Since each student is identified by their user name (a numeric code), they are able to share their opinions and thoughts openly and are more willing to actively participate in discussions. Although the writing is completed online, students are expected to follow a code of language ethics which include formal writing format (no text messaging), appropriate language and respectful dialog.

If having access to a computer at home is an issue, students will be given the opportunity to complete their posts during a lunch in one of the school computer labs.

STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO FINISH THEIR 3 POSTS BY THU OCT 21

Some students will respond more than the required 3 posts. Please pick the best 3 posts (Question 1, Question 2, and a response to a peer) and copy and paste them into a word document (or Google doc.) Please print out the responses you would like me to mark and hand it in on Friday.

Please make sure you include your name, your class, and your student number at the top of your assignment.

If you have any questions, please see me at second recess or afterschool.

• Download the handout: Reading Ravens Parent Letter and Bulletin Board Expectations

Have a great four-day weekend and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family if you celebrate it.

Don’t forget to read.

Research shows that “the more a reader reads, the more her reading rate will improve.” (Kylene Beers, When Kids Can’t Read, pg 208) Why is improving a reading rate important? Think of it this way: if it takes you twice as long to read as the average student, it will take you twice as long to finish your work.

If you have some spare time, why not learn how to type properly. 

The faster you can type, the easier it is to finish your reading responses and other homework. To motivate you to type faster, I will be offering a $20 gift certificate for the cafeteria if you can type faster than I can. (You must use proper typing technique. See me for contest details.)

To help you practice, I’ve added two free typing websites to the sidebar on the right. (If you find any other good typing websites, please let me know and I’ll add them to the list.)

•  Free Typing Game has typing lessons. 
• Typer shark is a fun game.

Today was the first day that the grade seven/eight split classes (E78 and R78) were unsplit. We said goodbye to our grade seven friends from E78 and we welcomed new faces in E8B, R7C and R7F.

Forty-five dollars in Scholastic book certificate coupons are being raffled off today and on Monday. Three students in each class will walk away with a $4.99 book certificate. The October scholastic book order will be sent home on Monday and the order will be placed on Friday October 9.

The next draw will happen before the November scholastic order. Congratulations to the six students who won today and good luck to everyone else. The more you read, the better your chances of winning.

Reading Response #2 is due on Monday Oct 5, 2009. Please include the following

1. Jot Notes

1. Basic Information
2. Somebody Wanted But So Graphic Organizer
3. It Says I say And so Graphic Organizer
4. List of events that you read today
5. Highlight the important things that you will write about.

2. Reading Response 

1. Paragraph 1: Summary of the book
2. Paragraph 2: Summary of the part you read today
3. Paragraph 3: Say Something – explain your thinking

Here is the rubric for the second reading response. Due to technical difficulties with Google Docs, I am unable to share it with you, so I have attached the link here: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dhfmgd52_24cwqxz4fz

Here are the reading response examples we did in class: