Weeks of April 1st-8th

Our focus is sharpening regards to our up-coming TN READY tests. Students will continue to work on improving their reading, analyzing, writing, and testing over various text articles. Reminder that Edmodo practice assignments are posted daily Monday through Thursday.

Weeks of March 18th & March 25th

Students will be reviewing our last MNPS Benchmark opinion writing assessment from before Spring break. Students will be self-assessing and peer assessing their writing sample. This strategy has contributed to our improved test scores last year from the year before. I will provide modeling and guidance on how to assess the quality of their writing to the latest prompt.

Students will also be completing their March On Selma unit as we remember the upcoming anniversary of that historic peaceful protest march which began on March 21st, 1965.  I proudly shared that my now nearly 92 year old father in law, Reverend John Wigle, had marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and roughly 25,000 other protestors from across the USA, from Selma to Montgomery.

Please ask your student to show you that they have completed their daily Edmodo homework assignment. Thank you!

Week of March 4th

Students will be reviewing this week for our official MNPS 3rd Practice Benchmark Writing test this Wednesday, March 6th. This Practice Benchmark Writing test is an Opinion Essay. TNREADY Writing Part One will test students on one of three types of essays which we have been learning: Narrative, Information/Explanatory, and Opinion. In order for students to experience as close to the real TNREADY Writing Part One rest conditions, the test will be administered in a two hour block in each of their homerooms from 8:00AM to 10:00AM.

Steps to Success:

8:00AM-8:30AM(estimate)

1. Read the provided text(s) carefully, highlighting/underlining important points.
2. Briefly complete 5 Magic Words.
3. Read the prompt carefully. Read the prompt again. THINK!
4. Complete self-made graphic organizer.

• Draw a center large circle. 
• Briefly write your one and only opinion. (A quick statement)
• Draw 3 more circles attached to the center circle. 
• Briefly write one reason for your opinon in each circle.(A quick statement)

8:30AM-10:00AM

1. First paragraph:

• Announce the purpose of the essay from the prompt directions.
• Briefly explain the topic(synopsis)
• Declare your opinion. (No explanation.)

2. 2nd Paragraph:

• State your first reason.
• Explain your reason and use sentence starters...I read in the text...the author states...

3. 3rd Paragraph & 4th Paragraph

• Repeat

4. 5th Paragraph:

• Repeat your opinion and conclude your essay.