Assignments Until Christmas Break

Hello Parents and Young Scholars,
Below is a list of assignments due before we break for Christmas:
Monday, Dec. 6, 2010--questions from the novel are due;
Friday, Dec. 10, 2010--rough draft for book project is due;
Monday, Dec. 13, 2010--theme boards are due;
Wed., Dec 15, 2010--final draft of book projects are due;
Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010--third six weeks' Literary Lexicon Test (this test counts twice); and
Friday, Dec. 17, 2010--the dodgeball tournament and early release.

I hope you have a blessed Christmas, and I will blog again in 2011.

Blessings,
Mrs. W

Nov. 1-5

Hello Young Scholars and Parents,
I can't believe it is already November! This year seems to be passing so quickly; June will be here before we realize it.
This week is going to be filled with writing. We will be taking our first MOCK writing test next Tuesday, so we will be writing an essay this week during class and finishing it outside of class. We will also have our vocabulary test on Wednesday, and our normal DOL quiz and spelling test on Friday.
November is traditionally the month of being thankful, so I wanted to tell you how much I am thankful for you and your student.
Blessings,
Tamara Williams

Week of Oct. 25-29

Hello,
I am so sorry this post is a few days late. Updating this blog every week is my goal; I am just a little slow with that goal this week.
This week's assignments are:
Monday-vocabulary project and literary lexicon are due;
Wednesday-vocabulary test; and
Friday-literary lexicon test and dialectical journal #3 is due.

I hope your Halloween is not too scary.
Blessings,
Mrs. W

October 18-22, 2010

Hello Young Scholars and Parents,

The next couple weeks are going to be very busy, so it is going to be very important for everyone to be attentive and stay on top of their assignments.

Listed below are the next two weeks worth of assignments:
Wed. Oct. 20—vocabulary test;
Friday, Oct. 22—remaining two parts of the book project is due;
Friday, Oct. 22--“Times of Your Life” is due;
Friday, Oct. 22—dialectical journal due;
Monday, Oct. 25—literary lexicon due;
Wed., Oct 27—vocabulary test; and
Friday, Oct. 29—Literary Lexicon test.

As you can see, this next week is very busy. Please encourage your student to stay the course, and keep up with their work.
Blessings,
Mrs. W

October 11-15, 2010

Hello Young Scholars and Parents,

This week will be another busy week. Below you will find the up and coming assignments:

• Wednesday, Oct. 13-vocabulary test. This test will cover all of the words in the vocabulary folder. It is a cumulative test;


• Wednesday, Oct. 13--final draft for character analysis essay is due;


• Friday, Oct. 15--DOL quiz and spelling test (list two on the spelling list);


• Friday, Oct. 22--final two parts of the book projects are due;


• Friday, Oct 29--Literary Lexicon Test.

I hope this blog is helping you keep up with your seventh grader's assignments.

Have a great week, Mrs. W

Week of October 4th, 2010

Hello Young Scholars and Parents,
I apologize for my laziness in not keeping the blog current; hopefully I will redeem myself from here on out.
Current assignments:

• Wednesday, weekly vocabulary test;
• Friday DOL quiz, and starting this week spelling tests. Your student has the list of spelling words;
• Friday, October 8th, is also the due date for the first part of October's book project. Your student has the rubric for this assignment;
• Friday, October 22nd, the other two parts of the book project are due. Again, your student has the rubric for this assignment. If they have lost this assignment, they will need to come to tutoring for a replacement rubric;
• Friday, October 29th, the second Literary Lexicon test. These tests will take place every six weeks; and
• I will have tutoring Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday before and after school. Please encourage your student to attend if they need help with any assignments.

I find it difficult to believe that the first six weeks is over. Your student should bring home their report card on Thursday. Email me if you have any questions about their grade in ELA.

Blessings, and happy reading,

Mrs. W

twilliams@newcaneyisd.org

Week of September 13-17, 2010

Hello Young Scholars,

• This week starts our weekly vocabulary tests. These tests will be on Wednesday every week. Students will have all vocabulary words and definitions by Monday so they can study.
• Monday there is homework due over our short story. Your student may have finished this assignment in class.
• We will be working in our Passports on Friday. Remember all Passports and writing journals need to be decorated by September 24, 2010. Each of these decorated journals will count as a daily grade. (Decoration Rubric--the cover must be 50% cover with decorations.)
• I am hoping to have the summer reading essays graded this week. If I do not have your student's essay, I will be calling your house Monday afternoon.

Have a great week, and happy reading
Blessings,
Mrs. W

September 7-10, 2010

Hello Young Scholars and Parents,
I am so sorry this blog is late; my intent is to have it updated by Monday each week. I have graded the Literary Lexicon tests and returned them to the students. Many of the students will need to redo the test. I explained the redo procedures for this test in class on Tuesday.
Assignments for this week:
Summer reading book project is due Friday, September 10, 2010. The students have been working on this for several weeks, so their essays should only need a few minor changes. If the students do not turn in the essay on Friday, I will accept in on Monday before or after school for a 70.
We will start vocabulary this week. Our first vocabulary test will be next Wednesday, September 15, 2010. We will have vocabulary tests every Wednesday until further notice.
Monday, September 13, 2010 at 6:30 there will be an Advanced Academic meeting at the Annex. If you attend you can earn a free homework pass for your child. There will also be some information about helping your student with study skills.

I hope this blog is helping you keep up with 7th grade advanced ELA. If you have any suggestions for the blog, please email me.

Happy reading and writing,
Mrs. W

Week One

Hello Young Scholars and Parents,
It has been a great first week. I have been very pleased with the work of all of the advanced students. If your student manages to accumulate three zeros within a three week time span, I will be contacting you. Hopefully I will not have to make any of these contacts.
Below is a list of projects and tests your student will be responsible for over the next few weeks:
1. Friday, September 3, 2010—Literary Lexicon Test. This test will contain 48 literary terms and their definitions. Your student has study sheets and index cards to help prepare them for this test.
2. Tuesday, September 7th—Graphic Organizer for Book Project. A graphic organizer for the Summer Reading Book Project will be assigned on Monday, August 30th and it will be due back on September 7th.
3. Friday, September 10, 2007—Summer Reading Book Project. This project is a character analysis essay and it must be typed. Your student has an instruction sheet that outlines the specifics for this assignment. I would like for all students to submit their assignment via my school email if possible. My email is twilliams@newcaneyisd.org.

Thanks for a great week.
Blessings,
Mrs. W

Action Research Plan with Tweaks

Action Research Plan
Goal: To examine the current technology uses in daily classroom instruction and to make recommendations concerning how to tweak those activities to get maximum usage out of our available recourses. Also to research new technology that would help elevate our technology capabilities in the classroom.

Action Persons Timeline Needed
Steps Responsible Start/End Resources Evaluation
1. Assess the current available technology (including hardware and software) to classroom teachers.
Tamara Williams and the school technology aide
First week of school (August 23, 2010)
The school’s technology inventory
The total number of technology resources available to classroom teachers.

2. Survey the classroom teachers concerning their use of technology during classroom instruction
Tamara Williams and school librarian
September 13, 2010 through September 17, 2010
Computer survey on Survey Monkey and all 55 classroom teachers to complete survey
Tabulate the results from Survey Monkey
to determine teachers strengths and weaknesses concerning technology

3. Survey the student body concerning technology usage by their current classroom teachers
Tamara Williams and school librarian
September 27, 2010 through October 1, 2010
Computer survey on Survey Monkey
and all 660 students complete the survey during their ELAR classes in the library
To determine student’s perception concerning teacher computer use in the classroom. Compare these results with the teacher results to look for similarities and discrepancies

4. Analyze last year’s technology lab logs. looking for patterns in use, lack of use, and types of use.
Tamara Williams, school technology aide, and school librarian
October 11, 2010 through October 15, 2010
Technology lab logs from previous year
I will be using these logs to look for patterns in usage, lack or use, and types of use

5. Analysis successful technology academies and they handle technology within their classrooms.
Tamara Williams, technology director
August 16, 2010-October 29, 2010
Interviews with personnel from technology academies
Evaluate the best practices from the technology academies looking for ways that these practices could be implemented at our school.

6. Analyze current technology trends looking for available hardware and software that is applicable to our school
Tamara Williams and technology director
August 16, 2010 through October 29, 2010
Current technology articles that addresses trends in middle schools
Evaluate these trends to see if they are a viable fit for our school.

7. Compile data and submit to our principal with recommended steps to make technology more prominent in individual teacher’s classroom lessons
Tamara Williams
August 16, 2010- January 14, 2011
All of the results from the previous steps of this action plan
To survey teachers and students in January to see if the results have changed concerning use of technology in classroom lessons

8. Sustain improvement-I will share my results with my principal as well as the staff. In that sharing I will share ways to improve our daily technology usage. I will then have the teachers and students take the survey again in January, as well as compile data from the current computer lab logs to see if there have been any improvements since September.

Technology Up to My Eyeballs

This week I attended three and half days of voluntary in-service, two of those days were technology classes. I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed with all the new techno gadgets I have learned.
First… I designed my own webpage with a hyperlink to my weekly student blog. I have been blogging since last year after the technology graduate class I took at Lamar. My students and parents really enjoyed the fact that they had assignment clarification at their finger tips. My personal website will make this blog address available so no one can lose it.
Second…I attended a Print, Fold, and Cut workshop. This in-service was instructions on how to make foldables on the computer. The ideas from this workshop are endless, I have already contacted my administrator concerning loading these applications on the computers in of our labs.
Third…I went to an in-service on Google docs. Our district has been very slow to download Microsoft office onto every computer; they use Star Office because of cost. Star Office is horrible. Using Google docs instead of Star office will make documents so much more usable. I am so excited about this technology as well; again the classroom usages are endless.

Next week I am looking at another two and a half days of technology workshops, besides my content area specific workshops…well so much for the end of the summer.
I am thrilled though with all I am learning and excited about having a new set of guinea pigs (also known as students) to inflict with my new techno knowledge.

Action Research Plan

My table did not transfer with my cut and paste. I am not sure how to fix the problem. This may be why I need to do an action research plan concerning technology.



Goal: To examine the current technology uses in daily classroom instruction and to make recommendations concerning how to tweak those activities to get maximum usage out of our available recourses. Also to research new technology that would help elevate our technology capabilities in the classroom.

Action Persons Timeline Needed
Steps Responsible Start/End Resources Evaluation
1. Assess the current available technology (including hardware and software) to classroom teachers.
Tamara Williams and the school technology aide
First week of school (August 23, 2010)
The school’s technology inventory
The total number of technology resources available to classroom teachers.
2. Survey the classroom teachers concerning their use of technology during classroom instruction
Tamara Williams and school librarian
September 13, 2010 through September 17, 2010
Computer survey on Survey Monkey and all 55 classroom teachers to complete survey
Tabulate the results from Survey Monkey
to determine teachers strengths and weaknesses concerning technology
3. Survey the student body concerning technology usage by their current classroom teachers
Tamara Williams and school librarian
September 27, 2010 through October 1, 2010
Computer survey on Survey Monkey
and all 660 students complete the survey during their ELAR classes in the library
To determine student’s perception concerning teacher computer use in the classroom. Compare these results with the teacher results to look for similarities and discrepancies
4. Analyze last year’s technology lab logs. looking for patterns in use, lack of use, and types of use.
Tamara Williams, school technology aide, and school librarian
October 11, 2010 through October 15, 2010
Technology lab logs from previous year
I will be using these logs to look for patterns in usage, lack or use, and types of use
5. Analysis successful technology academies and they handle technology within their classrooms.
Tamara Williams, technology director
August 16, 2010-October 29, 2010
Interviews with personnel from technology academies
Evaluate the best practices from the technology academies looking for ways that these practices could be implemented at our school.
Analyze current technology trends looking for available hardware and software that is applicable to our school
Tamara Williams and technology director
August 16, 2010 through October 29, 2010
Current technology articles that addresses trends in middle schools
Evaluate these trends to see if they are a viable fit for our school.
Compile data and submit to our principal with recommended steps to make technology more prominent in individual teacher’s classroom lessons
Tamara Williams
August 16, 2010- January 14, 2011
All of the results from the previous steps of this action plan
To survey teachers and students in January to see if the results have changed concerning use of technology in classroom lessons

Technology Classes Here I Come!

After meeting with my campus administrator, I realized her ideas and my ideas about an inquiry research project were not the same. I really very felt passionate about my project concerning raising our commended scores in ELA, however she felt our school would be better served with an inquiry project concerning school wide discipline or how to increase technology use within our building. I was some what downcast about the idea of my project not coming to fruition, but after sleeping on the new ideas, one of them became vey appealing. Not being technology literate at all, I thought doing an inquiry research project concerning the use of technology at our school and how to improve usage might be the ticket. I begin to brainstorm ideas about student and staff surveys, and looked through our beginning of the year technology in-services and signed up for as many as possible.
Who knows because of this project I might become the new “technology queen” at White Oak, or at least become technology literate? I would just settle for being able to hook up my projector and Elmo at the beginning of the year by myself with out begging for help.

Lesson learned through this process…just because I feel passionate about a topic does not mean that is what is best for our entire school. Finding a way to increase technology at White Oak will benefit all students and subject areas, not just the ELA department.

Action Research Projects and Blogging Can Be Fun!

Traditional Research Projects vs. Action Research Projects

When I was completing my undergraduate degree eighteen years ago every type of project or report was based on research done by experts. I felt as if the only original part of my papers were the introduction and conclusion. (Side note…I did not plagiarize, I always gave credit to my sources.) This idea of action research is so intriguing; so much more interesting and hands on rather than the traditional reports or projects. It is exciting that I will be deciding on a problem that needs to be solved at my school, and then doing the hands on research rather than reading volumes of research that may not totally apply to my school’s situation. This research can be completed using observations, interviews, problem solving skills, and research with experts as needed. I also like the aspect that a committee of educators can put their heads together and their arms around a problem at their school or district and work on a solution that is explicitly derived for their situation. I also like the idea of reflecting on the problem and spending time each day, or week journaling about the progress being made on the solution. I am not drawn to journaling by nature, but I do like the aspect of following the progress of the inquiry through a journal. This is also a hands on way to measure the growth, or success of the project by reviewing the journal.

Needless to say, I am excited about this project. I must also confess I am somewhat apprehensive about the unknown that is also included in this inquiry.


Blogs are Great

If you perused through my blog you can tell that I try to blog with my classroom students every week during the school year. I enjoy the idea of communicating my weekly expectations with them and having them respond to my trivia questions. I also encouraged the parents of my students to check the blog weekly so they were aware of any up coming assignments or tests. This is the first year that I have attempted this type of communication, and honestly I was not able to update it every week, but I did try to keep major projects and tests posted. The parents were always very grateful for the posts and felt as if the blog was extremely helpful. I believe that is technology is definitely the wave of the future for education. It is a quick and easy way to communicate with a large group of colleagues, students, or parents, and then it allows all of the involved parties respond to everyone. My next year’s project is to require my G/T students to establish their own blog sites and blog their assignments. I think it sounds exciting.

Novella Schedule

Hello young Scholars,
Yeah TAKS is over! Now on to the real work, the novella. Below is the schedule for the novella:
Chapter 1 rough draft done
Chapter 2 rough draft due Friday, April 30th
Chapter 3 rough draft due Tuesday, May 4th
Chapter 4 rough draft due Friday, May 7th
Chapter 5 rough draft due Tuesday, May 11th.
We will also have a cummulative test on prefixes and root words Friday, April 30th.
Next week I will include information concerning the Pre-AP final, the college poster project.
Blessings,
Mrs. W

April 12-16, 2010

Hello Young Scholars,

Here is the "blow by blow" for the week:

Monday-Book talks in the library. Final draft for your nonfiction essay is due today. Week 4 prefixes and root words assigned. The drawing for these will be due on Friday.

Tuesday-Literary Lexicon for "The Sniper" are both due today. You will start writing your novella today.

Wednesday-Vocabulary test and continued work on the novella.

Friday-Rootword/prefix test and DOL quiz.



Dates to remember:

Book Projects due April 21, 2010.

College posters and persuasive essays about colleges will be the final for this class. More details to come.
Blessings, Mrs. W
PS I hope to have my half marathon medal on Monday. :0)
Who is the main character in Twlight?

April 5-9th, 2010

Hello Young Scholars,


Sorry I have not posted in several weeks. No excuses, just didn't get it done.


This week is busy. Here is the break down:


Monday-rough draft for nonfiction essay is due.


Tuesday-Mock Reading Test


Wednesday-Mock Math Test


Thursday-final copy of nonfiction essay is due along with editing sheets. Vocabulary Projects will be assigned; they will be due on Monday. You will need your vocabulary folder today.


Friday-prefix/root word pictures are due. There will be a prefix and rootword test over Week 3 prefixes and roots.





The final draft of your nonfiction essay is due Tuesday, April 13th.


We will start writing historical novels on Wednesday, April 14th. You must have an old binder that is only used for your novel.





Buckle up Young Scholars! It is busy for now until the end of school.


Have you heard from you college yet?





Blessings,


Mrs. W





P.S. What was the sister's name in The Giver?

Happy tuesday Young Scholars

Hello Young Scholars,
Well, just a few more days until spring break, and all of us at White Oak aren't the least bit excited about a week off from school. Not at all!
For the week:
Vocabulary Test on Wednesday
Literary Lexicon Test on Friday
The final book project will be due April 21, 2010. I will be sharing information about the project in class this week.

Upcoming events:
College Poster Project
Novella
Informational Essay

Thanks for being great readers and writers.
Blessings,
Mrs. W

Week of March 1-5, 2010

Hello Young Scholars,
The week of the TAKS test has finally arrived. YEAH! The test will be Wednesday, so there will be no homework assigned until after the test. YEAH, again!

However, your February Book Project is due March 5, 2010. All of you know what is expected on your foldable for this project. We have been talking about this project in class for the entire month of February. I will have tutoring on Tuesday and Thursday if you need any additional help.

On Thursday we will return to our normal schedule, so there will be a Vocabulary Project assigned on Thursday, due the following Monday.

Hope your week is great,
Mrs. W

Update on Wrting TAKS test!

The state test will be administered on Wednesday, March 3rd, NOT Tuesday, March 2nd. Tuesday is election day, and some campuses are involved in that process. I hope this did not cause any problems. Again, sorry.

Week of February 22-23

Hello Young Scholars,
I have moved the February Book Project due date to March 5th. We will finish character analysis on Tuesday, and I will teach Found Poems on Wednesday. These are the last two components for the foldable.
Important Due Dates:

• Vocabulary Project due on Monday
• Character Analysis due Thursday
• Found Poem due Friday
• Vocabulary Test on Wednesday
• DOL and Spelling Quizzes on Friday.

As you can see, this week is very busy. We will also be preparing for the administration of the Writing Taks Test on Tuesday, March 2nd.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• State Writing Taks Test-March 2, 2010
• February Book Project due March 5, 2010. This project is over the book Until We Meet Again. The assignment is a foldable; we made the template in class several weeks ago.

I hope your weekend was great.

Blessings,

Mrs. W

Question of the week...Who is the famous British playwright that wrote the play Macbeth?

Taylor and Grace won an ice cream for Wednesday's question. Great job girls!

Revision to Feb. 15-19 Week

Hey Young Scholars,
Just a few revisions for the rest of the week:

• Wednesday's vocabulary test will Thursday, due to StCo's trip today.
• Character Analysis is due on Thursday.

Also, the six week's ends Tuesday, instead of Friday. Sorry. I will have tutoring Friday morning, Monday morning and afternoon, and Tuesday morning. After Tuesday first period, I will no long take redo work. See you in tutoring.

Blessings,

Mrs. W

Question....Who wrote the Little House on the Prairie series? It is worth an ice cream!

The Week of February 15-19

Hello Young Scholars,
This next week should prove to be an exciting week as we prepare for the March 2nd Writing TAKS Test. Remember, if you would like to change my hairdo, everyone must score a four.

February 15-19 Assignments:

• Vocabulary Projects due Monday
• Character Analysis due Wednesday
• Vocabulary Test on Wednesday
• Vocabulary Folder due on Wednesday
• Found Poem due Thursday
• DOL Quiz on Friday
• Spelling Quiz on Friday

Upcoming Dates:

• February Book Project is due February 26, 2010. This project is over the book Until We Meet Again. We did the instructions and template in class last week.
• The fourth six weeks ends Friday, February 26, 2010.
• The Writing TAKS Test will be administered March 2, 2010.

I hope your Valentine's Day was filled with chocolate and love from your parents.

Blessings,

Mrs. W

Bonus Question: Who was the author of the classic Tom Sawyer, and where was he born? Be the first Young Scholar to tell me the answer and win an ice cream or bag of chips.

Important Info for Feb. 8-12, 2010

Hello Young Scholars,

The following is important information for the week:

• Literary Lexicon Test on Friday, Feb. 12th. NO word bank. Sorry.


• February Book Project due Feb. 26th. It is over the book Until We Meet Again. You have the template and directions.


• Vocabulary Projects will be assigned Thursday, Feb. 11th, but this will not be due until Monday, Feb. 15th.

I will try to update this blog every weekend for the upcoming week.

Have a great weekend. Happy Valentine's Day!

Blessings, Mrs. Williams

;0)