Writing Assignment: Personal Narrative - Really You

Writing Assignment: Personal Narrative – Really You

EQ: Who is the REAL you?

Fill out the list below with words that describe you.  Think about who you are, what you do, what you care about and what you like throughout the year.  What is important to you? What words best describe you?

WRITE: Write an essay introducing yourself to the class using the words to explain and entertain us. 

MAKE: Create a visual display/mini-poster using pictures of items and the words in a graphic manner to represent you. This can be a poster done by hand or on the computer, a website or Wordle. Be creative and make the poster no larger than at 8.5 x11 inches. 

PRESENT: Present this in class. Minimum 2 minutes. Can read essay

Due ( see class blog or board)

Words that describe you

Nouns	Adjectives	Verbs

Grades : each worth 100 points – total 300 points

Poster  ____________   Essay ____________  Presentation  ________________

Reading Inventory

8^th Grade Language Arts, Mariner Middle School, Ms. Albanese, NBCT       READING INVENTORY

Name: _____________________________________                                Date ________________________

1.     What are your best three school subjects?

2.     What do you do for recreation or entertainment?

3.     List the names of the three books and author or articles that you read over the summer. Be prepared to write reports on these. 

4.     What are your favorite TV programs?

5.     If someone handed you a newspaper, what sections would you be most interested in reading? (Circle)

front page news	comics	Youth Plus Section
product advertisements	employment ads	Weekend Section--movie, music reviews
sports	editorials

6.     Does your family get a daily newspaper?   If so, which one?

7.     Does your family subscribe to any magazines?  If so, which ones?

8.     What magazines do you enjoy reading?

9.     What is the best book you have ever read? Why did it interest you?

10.  On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your interest in reading? (circle)

Don’t like to read    1-------2---------3--------4-------5-------6--------7---------8--------9--------10   Love to read

11.  What type of books would you select to read? Circle as many as you like.

mystery	Historical fiction	animals
anime	supernatural	teen problems
biography	science fiction	adventure
music related--rock stars	romance	movie-based books

Classroom Procedures

Class rule – have a positive and productive learning environment. Students must respect Themselves, each other and property

1. Entering the Classroom – Smile!  Enter quietly, find your seat and put your books on the rack under your desk.  Nothing in the aisle please! Look at the front board and get started on today’s class work. 

2. Leaving the Classroom – You are dismissed by the teacher, not the bell.  At the end of a class, you will copy down your homework in your agenda.  I will give you final reminders to you and then say, “Class dismissed.”  This is your cue to stand, gather your things, and push your chair under your desk before leaving.  All students must check under their desk and on the floor to clean up the area before they leave.  Pick up any paper on the floor and make sure you have everything.  You will not be allowed to go back to a classroom if you forgot something until the end of the day.

3. Getting Quiet – When you see me raise my hand, that is the signal for quiet.  Immediately stop all activity and conversation and look at me.

4. Homeroom/Roll Call – After you enter the 8^th grade hallway, go directly to your homeroom for attendance and then release to lockers. All coats, book bags, cell phones and extra items go in your locker.  Book bags are not allowed in class. All students are to remain seated through attendance and give me any notes that you have at that time. Do not hand me notes in the hallway.  Homeroom is brief but the time can be used wisely, organizing your materials, checking homework and reading.  You will be counted tardy for homeroom if you are not in your seat when I begin to call roll.

5.  Turning in papers - NEVER PUT ANYTHING ON MY DESK PLEASE!  Assignments and papers will be turned into trays marked with your class name. Listen for spoken directions. 

6. Student Materials - Never take anything off my desk, the conference table or the projetor cart  -This room does not have a pencil sharpener so please bring a handheld sharpener or use pens.  Students are expected to have 5 pencils or pens at the beginning of each class as well as at least 25 clean sheets of loose-leaf paper and a composition book.  I NEVER provide pencils to students so be prepared every day.

7. Returning to Class after an Absence – Students must keep up with homework by calling their homework buddy and getting the assignments or by going on-line to check for missing work. Students have one day for each day absent to submit work that was missed or to take make-up tests.  It is the student’s responsibility to remind me that make-up work is needed.  Work handed in late will not be penalized if it is within the time frame. See me immediately with your agenda when you return from being absent.

8. Asking for Help – First, LISTEN carefully to directions. I will know if you are paying attention if you are SOLERing me.  (SOLER= Square, Open, Lean, Eye contact, Relax)  If you still do not understand, just raise your hand to ask for help.  Also, you will have teammates to help answer routine questions.  You may always ask for help.  Asking for help is important if you do not know what to do.

9.     Getting out of Seat – You are not allowed to get out of your seat during class unless I announce that certain lessons permit this such as peer editing or team time.   If you have the sniffles then get tissues before class begins.  If you have trash to throw away then save it at your desk until class is over.

10. Listening to Others – Listening is important because it shows respect for others.  Our classroom is built on RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.   We need to take turns talking and listening.  To be a good listener SOLER the speaker. 

11. Two People Talking – When two adults or students are talking, wait until they are finished to interrupt.  When the teacher is talking wait until I am finished to raise your hand.   Demonstrate extraordinary patience and respect for each other.  Use polite language always. 

12. Working Cooperatively – Much of the work done in class will require the use of cooperative support groups or teams of two.  Within the class period there will be time to work together.  Respect each other by staying with the task, offering your expertise and being helpful when appropriate. 

13. Keeping a Notebook (3 ring binder) – The binders that you have will be divided into the major topics, Science, Social Studies, Math, Reading and Writing.  I expect you to keep the handouts that I give you in the Language Arts or Social Studies section of your notebook.  Put your homework for me in these sections.  Bring this to class everyday.

14. Agenda/Daily Planner – A very important tool for success!  You will use this all year to help you with organization, assignments and notes home.  You must bring this everyday to class.  If you lose it, you must purchase another one from the office immediately. You may not remove or tear out pages. Do not fold pages! All 8^th grade teachers will use the agenda for notes home to parents.  At the end of every class period, get out your agenda and copy the homework. Parents are encouraged to write notes to teachers in the agenda.

15. Keeping a Writing Notebook – Your Writing Notebook is your black and white composition book.  It is very important that you bring this to class every day. You will use it for drafts, writing ideas, edits and notes.  It will be checked regularly. Do not tear paper out of your writing notebook. 

16. Collecting Student Work – Some work will be checked as I walk around class; other work will be collected.  When you turn in work, a student will collect it and place it in the correct tray.  All work gets turned into the tray.  Make-up work can go in that tray.  No papers are to be placed on my desk ever. 

17. Use of Computers – The laptops are for student use. To keep them in top running order we will establish computer managers. Everyone in the class must respect the computers: carry them using two hands, computer should be closed, never touch the screen, place it in the correct shelf and make sure it is plugged in and charging.  Report any problems to the computer managers. You will be assigned a computer and held responsible if there are any issues. You may print documents with teacher permission only.  You are not allowed to touch or use my laptop computer or read the files that are on it.  The laptop contains classified and confidential information that is not appropriate for students to access.   You may sometimes want to save your work on a flashdrive or thumbdrive. 

18. Getting Materials/Books – Students are encouraged to use books while in class.  You may use the dictionaries and thesauri when needed. Look for them on the counter. 

19. Books – Students are required to have their current library book with them in all classes.  You may always read your book during a down time in the class.

20. Handing Out Materials – Material will be handed out according to teams.  The dot on your desk is your color.  I will call a color for the day to come to get material handouts. There are scissors, staplers, and rulers in the Student Resource Center.  There are no pencils.  Students must supply their own paper and pencils.  Do not ask me for a pencil. 

21. Moving about the Room – You may move about the room when needed if the activity permits (such as peer editing during writing workshop).  You are not allowed to go behind my desk or take anything off my desk unless asked to do so.  You are not allowed in the closets.

22. Heading of Papers – All papers should have a heading. Notebook writings do not need a heading.  The heading should be on the white section of the paper above the lines in the top right hand corner.  It shall include your full name, core number, and date. 

23. Courtesy – Use please and thank you in the classroom.  Be polite, take turns and do your best work.

24. Notes – Do not write notes or pass notes.

25. Homework – Homework will be posted on the white board and on the class blog weekly.  Copy the homework down at the end of class or access it online at home.  It will be due on the day that is noted. 

26. Teacher Leaves the Room – When I need to leave the room for a moment students are expected to continue with their class work or activity.  If another teacher or person visits, the class should continue or just sit quietly for a moment while I take care of business.  Everyone should remain seated, no talking. 

27. Emergency – We will have drills for emergency situations such as fire, lock down or tornado.  Students need to remain calm and quiet.  Our emergency exit is to the back of the hall toward the baseball field. 

28. Teacher or Visitor in the Hall – If I am called to the hall to speak to another teacher or the principal, students are to remain seated, working and quiet. 

29. Hallway Behavior – Other classes are in session when the eight grade moves in the hallway.  As a courtesy to them walk quietly to and from classes and the office. 

30. Restroom – You may use the restroom when you enter the school in the morning, between classes, before lunch and at the end of the day.  Infrequent emergency use of restroom during class will require you to record the date and time in your agenda.

31. Feeling Sick – Let me know if you feel sick and need to go to the nurse. If you are suddenly very, very sick and have to vomit, just leave the room and head to the bathroom.

32. Teams – the dots on your desks have a color and a number.  Do not remove the dot.  The number is your team number.  The color indicates your color for tasks. 

33. Lockers – Go to lockers first thing in the day, at locker time, and at the end of the day.  You may not go to your locker at any other time without teacher permission.  Be sure to write your locker combination in your agenda so that you can remember it.  Do not tell anyone your locker number. 

34. Cafeteria/ID  Number – You will have a cafeteria number which is also a logon for the computer network. Write this in a special place in your agenda.

35. Conferences – Your parents can set up a conference with your teachers by calling the school and leaving a voice mail message.  They can get in touch with me at school by calling at any time and leaving a message on my voice mailbox.  I will return the call as soon as possible.  They can also write a note in your agenda.

36. Excuses – Honesty is the best policy! I don’t want to hear about your dog eating your papers! I have been known to forgive and forget if it doesn’t happen too often.

37. Character Traits I Admire – Honesty – always tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In the long run you will get into a lot less trouble.   Kindness – be prepared to accept help and to give help.  In writing there are drafts, revisions and much editing to be done! As we workshop your pieces you will be the author and the editor, the teacher and the learner: we all are!