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 This website was developed to share many of the lesson plans, projects and other materials that have worked well for me during my twenty-four tenure in education. English and social studies educators may discover a wealth of information to assist them in their classes, but others may also find that the data is adaptable for them as well. Thanks for taking the time to visit this site.  5125 FAIRFIELD ROAD COLUMBIA, SC 29203 August 14, 2000 Dear Parent: I would like to welcome you and your child to my Reading and Language Arts class for the 2000-2001 term. The theme for my class this year is "Welcome to Success". I am prepared to do the very best that I can to make sure that your child has a wonderful educational experience in my class. With that in mind, I have developed a course requirement format that eliminates homework as a part of the equation for deciding the nine-week grade. The Homework Redemption Plan will provide your child with valuable reading/writing practice at home or make allowances for the extended study of spelling words, or the completion of an assignment that was initiated in class.  HOMEWORK REDEMPTION RUBRIC 5 POINTS A 4 POINTS B 3 POINTS C 2 POINTS D 1 POINT F  This is a program I have designed to assist your child as a student in my class. Numerous studies have shown that students must practice reading and writing at home to improve their overall abilities in each area. As a direct result I have set up a schedule for weekly schedule for reading and writing homework assignments for my class. On each Tuesday and Thursday a writing assignment is due at the beginning of the class period. Your child may write an essay describing his point of view, a how -to-do something, a free choice or a poem. These weekly essays will receive from 5-1 points. Your child is also required to read any type of reading materials Monday-Thursday at night and explain them to you. Please sign your child’s home reading log each night. The logs are due each Friday and your child will receive five points per signature. Suggested reading materials include newspapers, magazines, accelerated reader library book, etc. The length/time, title, and date must be provided for each selection. Parent communication (in the form of an announcement) is another important component of the Homework Redemption Plan. Your child’s Announcement Section of the notebook will contain vital data concerning PTA meetings, notebook checks, tests, and other items of importance. Please sign your name to indicate that you have read and comprehended the information. You may call me at school if further clarification is needed. (735-3439) Your child will receive five points per signature. The announcements will be kept until the end of each nine-week period. You are also asked to sign notebook check grades recorded in the notebook, test grades, weekly essays, and all returned class work. A point system has also been set up within the confines of the classroom to allow your child to earn additional points at school. The points will be recorded throughout the duration of the nine-week period and an announced Homework Redemption Day will be scheduled. On this day your child will determine what failing grades he/she would like to purchase. Any points not used will automatically be rolled over until the end of the next grading period. Please look at the redemption point plan totals for the first nine-week period:  Project Grade 600 Points Major Test 300 Points Spelling Test 100 Points Notebook Check Grade 300 Points Textbook Check Grade 100 Points Daily Class Grade 100 Points I believe this is an excellent plan that can help your child experience success in my class during this school year. I would like to thank you in advance for working with me this year to make your child’s success a reality, and look forward to meeting you in the future. Sincerely, Valeria A. Prince GREAT NEWS!  Dear Parent: Your child is demonstrating great behavior in my Reading and Language Arts class. The purpose of this letter is to bring this situation to your attention so that you might encourage your child to keep up the great attitude. Name___________________________________________________________________ Efforts worthy of praise: ______ Prepares for test ______ Participates willingly in class discussions ______ Brings the textbook to class daily ______ Encourages his/her peers ______ Volunteers to complete classroom tasks ______ Attentive throughout the lesson ______ Reports to class on time with correct materials Sincerely, Valeria Prince Educator A SPECIAL PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE  Dear Parent: Your child assigned to my Reading and Language Arts is not demonstrating satisfactory behavior. The purpose of this letter is to bring this situation to your attention in order that we may seek to remedy the problem. Name_______________________________________________ Areas of concerns: _______ Cheats on tests _______ Participates in side conversations _______ Too playful in class _______ Calls his/her peers insulting names _______ Uses profane/obscene language in class _______ Places head on desk and attempts to sleep _______ Often comes to class late _______ Does not pay attention _______ Disturbs the class _______ Does not exhibit respect _______ Other__________________________________ Sincerely, Valeria A. Prince Educator |
| LESSON PLANS |
 BLACK BOY Dimensions of Curriculum: Content: "Black Boy" by Richard Wright Process: Synthesis and Analyzing Product: Comic Book Research Skill(s): Making inferences, Making predictions, Drawing conclusions, and Problem solving Learning Objective: In the study of "Black Boy" by Richard Wright, the students will rewrite an excerpt from the novel (featured in their Adventures for Reading textbook) from the absent father's point of view, and share their ideas through an illustrated comic book. Instructional Activities: The teacher will: Introduce "Black Boy" using a power point presentation highlighting the elements and focus on the lessons learned from the story. Review "Black Boy" by having the students participate in a class discussion on the details, compare and contrast of the major characters, and evaluate Richard Wright's use of personification to describe the boy's intense hunger. Extend the students' knowledge of Richard Wright by sharing notes (via the overhead) on his background, the myriad of factors that influenced his life as a young boy, and later as an adult. Extend the content of the excerpt from "Black Boy" by having the students rewrite the story from the absent father's point of view. Explain the procedures to be used in the completion of the illustrated comic book for test credit for "Black Boy". Close the lesson by having the students make oral presentations on their comic strips and recognize the best three products in each class with certificates. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA LIST The students must: Follow all of the steps of the writing process. Create a page by page comic strip version of the story. Color the final draft of the comic strip using colored pencils, markers, or crayons. Place a cover page with the title of the comic strip along with other important data. Make an oral presentation on the completed comic strip. Materials: Adventures for Readers textbooks, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, colored pencils, television, computer, overhead, and supplementary information on Richard Wright. Environment: The individual reading and work on the comic strips will be completed at the homes of the students as a homework assignment,and the shared reading presentations will be completed at school in the classroom.  THE TELL-TALE HEART Dimensions of Curriculum: Content: "Tell-Tale Heart" by Poe Process: Synthesis/Evaluation Product: Most Wanted Poster Audio/VideoTape Research Skill: Analyzing Main Ideas/Making Predictions/Sequence Development Learning Objectives: In their study of "The Tell-Tale Heart" the students will rewrite the story's ending to a modern version with the confessed killer on the run as a fugitive from justice, and share their ideas through a most wanted poster supplying accurate details featured on a taped special news bulletin or a special appearance on America's Most Wanted. Instructional Activities: The teacher will: 1. Extend the content of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by assigning the students the task of rewriting the conclusion of the story that involves a successful escape by the confessed killer who becomes a fugitive on the run. 2. Explain to the students that a most wanted poster must be prepared to notify the public of the potential danger to them from the criminal and the importance of providing precise details concerning his last known location and appearance. 3. Explain that it is also important to prepare a taped news special bulletin or make a guest appearance on America's Most Wanted to tighten the noose around the criminal's neck. 4. Close the activity by showing the taped videos or listening to the audio tapes and placing the most wanted posters on display. 5. List the assessment criteria on the overhead so the students can determine the requirements for the mini-project activity along with a scoring guide for the work. Materials: Overhead projector, Adventure for Reader's textbook, poster paper, markers, colored pencils, crayons, audio cassette tapes, audio/video tapes, television, pens, pencils, and sample most wanted posters. Environment: The students will complete the most wanted posters at school in the classroom and work on the rest of the mini-project at home. (Several days should be allowed for the students to have a portion of the class period to work on the activity in class.)  THE APPRENTICE Dimensions of Curriculum: Content: "The Apprentice" Process: Synthesis/Interpretation Product: Review Test Research Skill: PACT Format Learning Objective: In their study of "The Apprentice" the students will create an original review test for their peers. It will be based on the format used by the state of South Carolina to develop PACT test items. The test will be taken by their peers. Instructional Activities: The teacher will: Review the content of "The Apprentice" by introducing the students to sample PACT test items focused on the essential points of the story. Extend the process by having the students to complete the sample PACT test items and justify their answers. Explain the class assignment of the creation a sample PACT format test for "The Apprentice" and the guidelines for its development to the students. Conclude the activity by copying the best PACT samples and have the students to complete the exercises for test credit review of "The Apprentice". Materials: Reading textbook, PACT sample test items, pens, pencils, overhead projector, copying machine, and paper for the copier. Environment: The students will begin the activity at school and complete the rest of the activity at home. (The teacher is expected to supply the PACT sample test items.)  It's My Birthday Dimensions of Curriculum: Content: Narrative Writing Unit Process: Using a Research Graphic Organizer Product: Booklet Research Skill: Analyzing/Evaluating data collected from a variety of sources Learning Objective: In their study of narrrative writing and a review of research skills acquired in the seventh grade, the students will complete research on the day of their birth to determine significant events that happened. They will select a career choice for their future, make predictions after their scheduled graduation from high school and ten years after this point in their lives. Instructional Activities: The teacher will: Introduce the lesson by modeling an It's Your Birthday book for her birthday so that the students will see the kinds of data featured in the book. Review several websites that may be used to secure much of the required information for the assignment. Provide the details for the essential components of the project by giving each student a sheet detailing the assignment. Supply the name of stores where the It's My Birthday book can be purchased ( A Dollar and .20 on Decker Blvd. in the strip mall across from Dent Middle School). Conclude the lesson by inviting members of the Alcorn family (administrators, teachers,parents, etc. to serve as judges for the various categories of the competition. Allow the students to decorate the classroom with items used to prepare for a typical birthday party. Solicit cupcakes, fruit punch, and paper products from parents to support the activity and to defray the overall cost. Purchase items to present to the two top students in each one of the classes. DIVISIONS FOR COMPETITION: BEST PRESENTATION BEST DRESSED / FUTURE CAREER Materials: Graphic research organizers, December 31st- It's Your Birthday book, website addresses, overhead projector, pens, pencils, computers,assorted construction paper, colored pencils, balloons, crepe paper, assorted prizes, paper products, fruit punch, cupcakes, and other related supplies used by students to embellish their final products. Enviroment: The work for the project was completed in the classroom, the media center, the public library, and at individual homes of the students. |
| PROJECTS |
  Final Product: It’s My Birthday Research Project Format: Booklet Requirements: Items that must be included: Background on the name of your birth month Ten important historical events that happened on your birthday Influential people who share your date of birth (U.S. Presidents, entertainers, people at AMS) Three generations of family members who share your birth month a) Similarities b) Differences Zodiac Sign data Projections a) Five years (Your scheduled graduation year.) b) Fifteen years (After your high school graduation.) Illustrations (Sketched, painted, magazine pictures, etc.) Poem about your birth month or birthday About the Author Page Table of Contents Bibliography (Include interview credits with family members.) Place of publication Copyright date Cover (Simple, but elegant!) Internet sites to include in your search a) http://www.famousbirthdays.com b) http://www.scopesys.com/cgi//today/2cgi c) http://www.ripps.edwa.netau/Bornhtml Original additions: Allow your creativity to shine!  This is a clever method of getting your students to learn the eight parts of speech and have fun at the same time. The students should be given a week to complete this mini-project on the parts of speech. Allow your students to research the term mobile and then direct them to complete one for the eight parts of speech based on the following requirements. A. The name, illustration, and definition of the part of speech must be placed on the front of the mobile in large writing. ( The picture should be cented between the name and the definition of the part of speech.) B. Five excellent examples of the part of speech must be placed on the back of the mobile in large writing. C. Have the mobile ready to be displayed from the ceiling when it is brought to class. Allow your students to draw the illustrations, use clip art, magazine/newspaper pictures, or devise other creative ways to illustrate the parts of speech. Offer to critique mobiles in progress without penalty so the students will produce their best work. Be prepared to transform the atmosphere of your class room. These mobiles will not only add a decorative touch to the room, but they will serve as teaching tools as you and the students review the eight parts of speech, for the rest of the school year.    <> Business Expo Project This project was originally an economics project used on the high school level, but I revised the basic format to address persuasive writing for an eighth grade Reading/Language Arts class. The students are provided the background of the three types of business organizations. The pros and cons of each type of business is discussed in detail with them. The students then compare and contrast them using a modified basic Venn diagram. Remember to establish a date for your expo, make arrangements to use the media center or another spacious area, and invite judges to declare your class winners. A. Allow your students to work individually (proprietorship), as a pair (partnership), or with two other persons (corporation) to create a new invention and/or product. As a new business they are told to design an advertising campaign to introduce their new invention and/or product to local consumers. B. Each business must make a radio commercial, televsion commercial, flier (flyer), brochure, business card, and an eye-catching billboard to promote the original creation. (The products and/or inventions must have their own distinctive names and labels. They must also respect the truth in advertising laws.) C. Write a one-page persuasive speech to convince the judges to vote for their item and be prepared to answer difficult questions on their products. D. Dress in business attire on the day of the business expo. E. Provide paper products and refreshments for the business expo. I allowed my judges to role-play an advertising executive (free $10,000 national ad campaign), a bank president (would lprovide $10,000 to get the business off the ground), and a CEO of a huge corporation to manage the product and invest in the marketing of the product). I invited business, journalists, and community people to serve as judges. They were provided a prescribed list of questions, generous refreshments, and certificates upon their departure. It is also a great idea to invite a local news reporter and have the exhibits viewed by the other students and teachers at the school. Create a compilation radio and television master tape of all the commercials for your portfolio. I had my first AMS Annual Business Expo on March 13, 2001. I was extremely pleased with the overall efforts of my students' exhibits. Don't forget to have your students write a persuasive letter to their parents requesting their attendance at the business expo.    My students are currently studying descriptive writing and the novel. They were permitted to select a novel from a list of 30 books that were previewed by me. All of the novels were placed on a table so the students could examine what reviewers had said about them. Only one child was allowed to read a novel per class. The students have permission to read their novels during self-selected reading time periods in the room. So far, I have not had any problems with books vanishing. Please remember to set a date,secure a location and judges for the festival. The students must be given at least six-weeks to complete this novel project activity. A. Write an original 15 page mini-novel with colorful illustrations in the proper format. B. Rewrite the last chapter of your novel and change the ending. Include an explanation as to why you feel your ending is better for the novel you read. C. Produce a dramatic radio or television production of your play or select three-five key scenes from your novel to dramatize. D. Produce a one-act play based on your novel. E. Produce a musicial production based on your novel with original songs, dances, and costumes. F. Revisit some of our project choices from the year and revise them for your novel-- It's my novel research project. An illustrated cartoon from another character's point of view (Give a title.). An advertising campaign for your new novel. A mobile based on your novel. G. Your own original concept with advice and consent from the teacher. It is important to contact your parents concerning the project and monitor your students on a weekly basis. This process will help to make sure the students comprehend exactly what they are doing and to offer assistance where it is needed. My students are also listening to Clover by Dori Sanders on audio tape, and reading Rosa Parks: My Story, as a class. All of the essential elements of a novel are discussed along with the various types of figurative and colorful language used in the writing of the story. These assorted lessons on the novel will improve the listening, reading, comprehension, and vocabulary skills of your students. The students are also exposed to a greater variety of novels in a shorter time period. |
| It's Your Turn |
| Now it's your turn to share some of your best plans with me. I would love to hear about some of the wonderful experiences you have shared with your students and parents at your school. I would also appreciate feedback concerning some of the ideas you may adapt from this site. I look forward to reading from you soon. http://www.addme.com |
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