Want Books? Order by Tuesday, January 22nd

If you are interested in ordering from Scholastic--please click on the link and order away.  The nice thing is that for every online order you place, our class gets a free book and so do you!  If your student has earned a free book voucher in, you can use it now without any charge to you.  Orders are due Tuesday, January 22nd.

https://clubs2.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LogonForm?classActivationCode=L626Y

Class Code =  L626Y

Gecko Time! Friday, January 18th

A big congrats if you are here for Gecko Time on Friday, January 18th!  This means that you have all your assignments in and your research & Rough Draft is complete.  You are awesome and deserve a reward for YOUR hard work!  

I have a fun website for you to try:  http://www.vocabulary.co.il/word-play/

You may play any games on the left side that are Language Arts related (let's pass on the typing game).

IF you to participate in a competition with all classes, you can try the "8 Letters in Search of a Word Game".  Write your highest score on the whiteboard with your name and the highest score student will get a treat on Tuesday and bragging rights!

Thank you for your hard work and enjoy some Language Arts computer game fun!

Opportunities for Bonus Effort Points

If you currently have a "U" in my class, I have sent an email to your parents/guardians.  Most "U"s in my class are earned from students not doing the weekly planner checks & home reading and/or turning assignments in on time. Language Arts in a great place to practice being on-time and responsible.  However, I am willing to let you make up some of those lost points if you agree to show me some increased effort.  Even if you are not at a "U", you may do any of the following to gain bonus effort points.

1.  Writing Contests:  I have writing contests available in the classroom--choose one to do, bring me the form back correctly filled out & signed by a parent/guardian.  I will award 20 effort points per writing contest AND you could win a book or money (depending on the contest).

2.  Scholastic Writing Site:  Go to http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/ and choose one writing "class" to go through online.  At the end, you will be able to submit to Scholastic for possible publication on their website!  To get 25 effort points, email or print me a copy of the writing piece you submitted and a couple sentences about what you learned from the writer who taught you some tips.

3.  Language Arts Computer Games:  Go to http://www.vocabulary.co.il/word-play/ and play any grade-level word/vocabulary games you would like.  To get points, you will need to email me the names of the games you played, what your score was for each game and how many total minutes you were on the site.  For every 5 different games played (at least 2 rounds), I will award 10 points.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2nd Trimester and all of 3rd Trimester, decided today that you will do your planner checks every week, record your home reading with a parent/guardian signature AND hand in your work on time.  Please DO YOUR BEST!!  

CLASS ASSIGNMENT: JANUARY 18TH

Hello Class!  
I am home sick today (I do have bronchitis) :(,  but I know that everyone is going to work hard and I'll look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!  I've asked the sub to have each of you log on to the blog first and read this before you start working.  Please check with your neighbor and make sure they are reading this too and understand what I expect each of you to do today.   

*Be sure to read the post right below this one about doing a Bibliography!!!

If you were absent yesterday: ask someone in the class if you can borrow their notes and copy them.  Then, ask them to explain exactly what you need to do to begin your Rough Drat and start writing it.

If you have not finished your research, you are behind the class.  Your job is to finish your research and begin working on your Rough Draft

If you need to begin your Rough Draft-remember, if you are doing a PowerPoint or Display Board, you need to have Storyboard papers where you will write down what will be on each slide or section.  You should carefully read the white assignment sheet.  You should NOT put together an PowerPoint or be printing anything yet--only finish your paper, handwritten copy.

     If you are doing an essay:  only use the computer to type if you have a flash drive or if you can email it to yourself.  If you have Mrs. Robinson for Study Skills--please hand-write your draft.

Remember, we are having a class competition to see how many of you can finish your Rough Draft today.  You will need to show the sub your completed Rough Draft and he/she will keep track on the white board.  The winning class gets doughnuts--aw yeah!!

If you finish your Rough Draft-- Awesome!!!!!!  Take it to the sub and have them check you off.  Pat yourself on the back!  You may read or do work from another class or help others in our class. Let the sub know for sure what you will do.  Playing games or surfing the internet is NOT an option. :)  



On Tuesday, we will be editing our Rough Drafts.  I am awarding points for each step of the process.  Tuesday is the ONLY day we will do Peer Edit, so if you are not prepared, you will miss out on points and not get the feedback and corrections to help you get a good grade.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR RESEARCH OR ROUGH DRAFT COMPLETE TODAY, YOU WILL NEED TO FINISH THIS WEEKEND AT HOME.

If you want to work hard over the long weekend and get a Final Draft complete by Tuesday.  That is ok.  We will edit that draft on Tuesday.

I'll check off work tomorrow when class starts.  Those of you who are finished will have a very fun Gecko time as a reward. 

Please do your best today and work hard!  See you tomorrow:)

Email me with any questions or talk to me tomorrow morning before class.

*Surprise!!  If you read to the end of this post, I am going to give you a FREE TIP!  

If you listed "great reviews", "popular" or "well-liked" or anything like it as one of the reasons your M&M is the best then you (at home) should go to that M&M's facebook page and see how many "likes" the M&M has.  That is really good evidence that thousands of people prefer your M & M and you could find some great reviews.  Give it a try!

How to Make Your Bibliography

No matter which project you do, you MUST have a bibliography.  It's easy, you just list your sources in alphabetical order.

• Write "Bibliography" at the top of the page
• Look at your sources (by Page Title) and list them in alphabetical order, exactly the way that they are supposed to be documented.  Look at the bottom of your assignment sheet or look at Mrs. Robins Sample I-Chart (on the blog) to see what it should look like.  Here it is again if you forgot:
• "Page Title."  Home Page.  [online] Available.  <put the website URL here>  date (that you looked at the website).

• Here is an example of what it should look like. Remember, you need at LEAST 3 internet sources and 1 interview.

Bibliography

"M&M U.S.A."  Facebook.  [online] Available.  <https://www.facebook.com/mms>  13 January 2013.

Marely, Kymberley.  Personal Interview.  Phone.  12 January 2013.

"Most Helpful Customer Reviews."  M&M Pretzel-40 oz.  [online] Available.  <http://www.amazon.com/Ms-Pretzel-40-Resealable-Bag/>  15 January 2013.

"Nutrition"  About M&Ms.  [online] Available. <http://www.mms.com/us/about/products/pretzel/>.  14 January 2013.

"Pretzel."  About M&Ms.  [online] Available.  <http://www.mms.com/us/about/products/pretzel/>.  14 January 2013.

"Pretzel M&M Hugs."  Cooking Classy.  [online] Available.  <http://www.cookingclassy.com/2012/12/pretzel-mm-hugs-christmas-style/>  15 January 2013.

Survey Monkey-20 interviews.  Online Survey.  14 January 2013.

Site Ideas

Ok, I know some of you are struggling with finding some statics sites, please remember that statics are any fact with numbers except for nutritional information.

Here is some you can find.  These may not apply to your M & M and they may only give you one piece of information so read them CAREFULLY!

Remember that everything you research MUST back up your claim that your M & M is the best.  Also, if you quote directly from someone's writing, you must use "  " quotations marks and say who said it.

Best of luck and happy researching!

http://www.agday.org/tc/tc-funfacts.html  (scroll down to "Snack Time"--only one fact here.)

 http://www.amazon.com/MandMs-Pretzel-1-14-Ounce-Pack-24/dp/B003JNAOME  (great review for Pretzel M&M's--just scroll to the bottom where it says "Customer Reviews".)

 http://www.amazon.com/MandMs-Peanut-Butter-Candy-1-63-Ounce/dp/B0029JAVZ4/ref=pd_sim_gro_1/191-8696462-1752846  (review for Peanut Butter M & M)

http://www.amazon.com/MandMs-Peanut-Candy-42-Ounce-Packages/dp/B0029JLVPI/ref=sr_1_7?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1358281305&sr=1-7&keywords=peanut+m%26m  (reviews for Peanut M & M)

http://www.amazon.com/MandMs-Size-Chocolate-Candy-11-Ounce/dp/B004SK4JX2/ref=sr_1_7?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1358195289&sr=1-7&keywords=milk+chocolate+m%26m  (review for Milk Chocolate M & M)

http://www.amazon.com/Peanut-Butter-50oz-bag/dp/B003NHOZJY/ref=pd_sbs_gro_2  (Peanut Butter M & M reviews)

GREAT SOURCE FOR PEANUT M & M:  http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/06/0624_worlds_best_selling_candy/2.htm

M & M Wikipedia Website...ok, if you use Wikipedia, you may NOT use it as a source (remember talking about this in class?).  However, you can scroll to the bottom and check out the references and find where the REAL information came from.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%26M%27s

M &M History (remember, only use information here if it backs up your claim that your M & M is the best!)  http://toknowinfo.hubpages.com/hub/MMs--Chocolate-Candy

GREAT SITE FOR PRETZEL M & M   http://www.mars.com/global/press-center/press-list/news-releases.aspx?SiteId=94&Id=1965

Really good reviews for Peanut M & M:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/M-M-S-PEANUT-42OZ/15219646?page=seeAllReviews

LUPE  http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/mars.html

Sample I-Chart

Hello Students, 

Here is my I-Chart that I completed for my Argumentative Research Project.  Remember, I did Almond Roca rather than M & M's so no one would be tempted to use any ideas.  I had 4 sources and one interview.

 Mrs. Robins Sample I Chart

Remember, you are required to have at least 3 sources (from 3 different websites) and at least one interview or survey.  Pay careful attention to how I documented my sources.  You must do it the same way.

"Page Title in Quotes."  Underline the Home Page Title. [online] Available.  <write the website address here> day month year.

The Page Title is the title right above whatever you are reading on a site.  The Home Page title is at the very top of the website--like a section you might be looking under.  Do your best and please ask me for any help.