T Henning

Welcome to Grammar and Composition

Miss T. Henning

Welcome to a brand new year! This will be my fourth year teaching and my second year teaching grammar and composition in the middle school. Last year was a great experience. I learned that middle school writing is exactly what I want to teach. It was my best year so far! I have gone through extensive training over the summer, and I am ready to come back and make my class better than ever.

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Each class will be on a seventy minute time schedule. During the class period we will explore several aspects of becoming a good writer. Such as: dictionary/thesaurus skills, writing drafts, revising, spelling, proper grammar, and publishing. Although we will write daily, we will also focus on a major form of writing that will be considered a long term writing project. Grammar is usually the only subject where the students will be expected to complete outside work. They will normally be given homework every class period.

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Students will focus on eight major forms of writing. We will spend an average of 2-4 weeks on each type of writing.

Poetry

Personal Experience/Narrative

Cause/Effect

Instructional

Persuasive

Workplace Communication

Research

Compare/Contrast

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The grammar book has between seven and eight units, depending on the grade level. We will spend an average of 3-5 weeks on each unit. Students will be given a test at the end of each unit. The main focus will be:

The Sentence

Nouns

Verbs

Modifiers

Capitalization and Punctuation

Pronouns

Prepositional Phrases

Clauses

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I am also responsible for teaching career explorations, coaching cheerleading, the poetry club, the drama club, and I am the head of the student council. I am aware that teachers and parents working together create the best atmosphere possible for our school. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments. I will be available during my planning period which is the final hour of the school day. I am looking forward to a wonderful year!

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Great Internet Resources

http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/

http://englishplus.com/grammar/

http://www.42explore.com/writing.htm

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September 3^rd --No School

October 17^th—End First Quarter

October 25^th & 26^th—Parent/Teacher Conference

November 21^st – 23^rd —No School

December 19^th—End 2^nd Quarter

December 20^th– 31^st —No School

January 1^st ,2^nd, & 21^st —No School

February 18^th—No School

March 7^th—End 3^rd Quarter

March 20^th– 24^th —No School

April 11^th—No School

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Wednesdays are late start at 9:10 a.m.

Students must have their planner at ALL times

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This year I would like to publish student writing in the form of a magazine. I am looking for local businesses with waiting areas where we could send our magazine for the public to see. If you know of such a place, please contact me. Thank you!

Also, seventh grade students will be working on creating a writing scrap book throughout the year. Anyone interested in donating scrap booking supplies (fancy scissors, paper, stickers, mounting squares, etc.) may send them to school. They will be greatly appreciated!