Advice for GR8 ELA SURVIVAL!

So my little 8th grade darlings - soon to be high school punks :)- this is where youo post any tips, hints, advice or warnings to next year's 8th graders for surviving the coming academic year with me. You can comment on anything specific (i.e. summer reading, Holocaust unit, Elizabethan fair, abstracts, reading logs, annotated book lists, etc.) or everything in general. What do you wish you had known BEFORE you came to my class?
REMEMBER to watch what you say - nothing inappropriate! :)

The New Guys of 2010-11

Yes, I FINALLY got this thing up.
Thanks for being patient, kiddos. Had to get through my wedding, recuperate, and NOW I can try to return to normal! Anyway...

This is where you guys post a comment/question based on the summer reading "chat" I gave you all in Mrs. Jackson's class. Make sure you tell me WHO YOU ARE! I don't know you yet, so be specific - 1st & last names. Also, feel free to check out some of the other comments from LAST year's 8th graders, especially the part about WHAT THEY WISH THEY HAD KNOWN. Their hints, tips, advice & warnings might be very useful to you! (The end of this year was so messy that we never got around to posting, but these comments will still be helpful.)

You might also want to take a peek @ favorite books of the year 2008-2009. You might have the same faves OR you might find some new ones that you would like to give a try this summer. I'm trying some new books this summer, too, so if you have any suggestions, post them here.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Advice for Future McNeeley Students

So my little 8th grade darlings - soon to be high school punks :)- this is where I would L-O-V-E for you to post any tips, hints, advice or warnings to next year's 8th graders for surviving the coming academic year with me.

You can comment on anything specific (i.e. summer reading, Holocaust unit, Elizabethan fair, abstracts, reading logs, etc.) or everything in general.

What do you wish you had known BEFORE you came to my class?

My Favorite Book(s) of 2008-09

I would like for you to comment on your favorite book (or books) of the year. The book can be from the summer reading list, the college bound reading list, or from some old book you just happened to pick up. Address the following questions in paragraph form:

1. Book Title. Author's First & Last Name.
2. How did you choose this book? (I recommended it; a friend recommended it; it looked cool; Mrs. Hinger recommended it; it came from one of the class lists; etc.)
3. What type of book is this according to genre? Choose as many as applicable.
4. A brief summary of the book.
5. Why did you choose this book?
6. Why would you recommend this book? Why is this your favorite? What made this book so special? Why would we want to read it?

Again, write your blog correctly, okay? Thanks! :)

"Writing Captured" for DEC. 4th

Post your "found" paragraphs here by midnight.
Be sure you quote it correctly, cite it using MLA or APA (you can find links on my website), and you write a brief response that explains WHY you chose it and how you might USE it.
PLEASE remember to write correctly, okay?

Yea! New Posting for New Class! :)

Here is your very first academic year posting... (I know you did one this summer. I didn't forget!) It's two-fold, so make sure you answer both bits, okay?
(1) What book are you doing your abstract on? How did you pick your book?
(2) What do you think your writing strength is or what would you like it to be? What are you working toward improving? What are your writing goals for this year?
These two questions need to be answered by midnight on Friday, September 19th. My only request is that you watch your spelling & grammar. This is on the web for the whole world to see, so put your best face forward! This can be casual/informal, but it should be correct, okay? Good! I look forward to hearing from you!

Welcome RISING 8th graders!

This is where you guys can post a comment/question based on the summer reading "chat" I gave you all in Mrs. Spradlin's class. Make sure you tell me WHO YOU ARE! I don't know you yet, so be specific - 1st & last names.

Also, feel free to check out some of the other comments from this year's 8th graders, especially the part about WHAT THEY WISH THEY HAD KNOWN. Their hints, tips, advice & warnings might be very useful to you! :)

I look forward to hearing from you!