Mr. W's Blog

Each student will contribute to our classroom community by performing a classroom job throughout the term. Please select your top three choices for a job from the list below. Appply for these positions using the Classroom Job Application. (Applications are due Friday, August 26.) Make sure to use blue or black ink and fill out the application neatly and completely. As the term progresses, you will use the Classroom Job Log.  Filling out this log will raise your citizenship grade. Remember, Read the rest of this entry »

Hello parents and students! I can’t believe it is already fourth quarter. I’ve had a great first year at Snowcrest Jr. High so far, and I’m looking forward to a great end of the year. I didn’t post much on my blog for 3rd quarter because I didn’t think that many people were relying on it. I was wrong! I’ve gotten a lot of comments about things not being posted on the blog–to which I respond, “I didn’t know anyone actually read my blog.” So my goal for fourth quarter is to post much more regularly.

8th and 9th graders are starting the quarter with a little reflection. Please upload a one page letter on WSD Online. This letter should be addressed to me, Mr. Wenzel, and describe your experience in English class so far this year. What have you learned? What have you enjoyed? What have you not enjoyed? I’d also like you to include what you would like to learn in this last quarter. Please use a normal personal letter format for your letter as well as the normal TNR 12pt font, double spaced, at least 5 paragraphs, at least one page requirements.

You can use the letter generator at http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/letter_generator/. You will need to save your work as a PDF file if you use this generator. Upload the PDF on WSD Online.

8th graders will be doing Literature Circles one more time. Please have a book recommendation ready for Friday. We will pick our class books then. I will also be telling you about some books that I have read and that there are multiple copies of for those students/parents who choose not to check one out from the library or purchase one.

We have finished reading Seedfolks and are now wrapping it up. 8th graders final project for the book is a three part project. Each student will complete a character chart, design a map of the community garden in Cincinnati, and create a writing piece in a genre of their choice.

1. Seedfolk Character Chart – this is a fairly straightfoward assignment. Complete the chart using your book and reading strategy guides. Make sure you fill in each cell for full credit. Some columns contain Level II and Level III questions, so you will need to make inferences and use your own thoughts and opinions.

2. Garden Map – your map must include the 11 different gardens within the garden. It must have a key which tells who developed each garden and what they grew. These will be entered into our map competition and a prize will go to the top cartographer in each class. If you need grid paper you can download it here: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/grid%20paper%20small.pdf

3. Writing Piece – choose your own genre in which to write a piece about Seedfolks. You could write another chapter to the book, write from the point of view of a character that does not have his/her own chapter, write about your own experiences with community projects–it’s up to you. If you need help selecting a genre you can browse the Short Genre List. Remember the list is only a small sample of the expanse of genres that exist.

Welcome to your English class. I’m convinced that each one of you has something to contribute to our learning community. I look forward to seeing what you will bring to our class. Please download the Disclosure 2010-11 for more details (course objectives, elements, required materials, grade policies, rules, procedures, etc.) about the class. Please return the disclosure signed by yourself and your parents. We will be having a quiz over the disclosure as well.