Complete Subject/Complete Predicate Practice

Our new grammar concept is complete subject/complete predicate. The complete subject includes the simple subject and any modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, etc.) that describe it. The complete subject is what the sentence is about. The complete predicate includes the simple predicate (verb) and any modifiers that describe it. The complete predicate tells what the subject did or what the subject is.

Below are two links to sites that have interactive quizzes and other information. Please use them to help you study this challenging topic!

http://www.softschools.com/manage/themes/knowledgetest;jsessionid=auOXq-30Pikg

http://www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/quiz.html

If you still do not understand this concept, please see me for extra help after school!

Congratulations, Blue Team Spellers!

Felicitations to the following students for winning the Grade Seven Spelling Bee:

Emily L.
Emma M.
Emily C.
Liam H.
Nick L.

These super-spellers only missed ONE word during the entire competition and snagged the grand prize! Our triumphant team has scored TWO HUNDRED Stinger Points for the Blue Team! Way to go!

President Obama Must Have Aced ELA!

Here is an excerpt from President Obama's inauguration speech:

"Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms."

Who can tell me what the FOUR... count 'em... FOUR metaphors are in this passage?

This example demonstrates a practical use for the skills you learn about in ELA. Speech writers for politicians use all sorts of figurative language to enhance their pieces. It's also helpful for the general public to be educated in ELA so that they understand what the politicians are saying! I know my students would be able to understand the President. =)

Brush Up On Your Study Skills!

So many times students tell me that they don't know how to study. The amazing thing to me is that most students are computer literate, and there is something readily available to them to help them figure out how to study: it's called... drum roll please... the Internet.

When pondering the question, "How do I study?", how many of you have actually done a google search for "study tips" or "study skills"? I'd bet not many. So give it a shot... use your favorite search engine to look up study skills that apply to you.

I did just that, and here are some sites I found:

http://www.howtostudy.com/studtips.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/homework/studyskills4.html#before

http://www.howtodothings.com/education/a2964-how-to-improve-study-skills-in-middle-school.html

http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/CA/700/

Remember: you're in 7th grade now. You need to take responsibility for your own learning. That means asking questions and getting the answers you need. Please review these sites and feel free to post others that you find in your search! Happy studying!

See...Grammar IS Important!

Blue Team Spelling Bee Winners Announced!

Congratulations to the following Blue Team students for winning the spelling bee today:

Alex A.
Emily L.
Emily C.
Emma M.
Danielle C.

Alt 1. – Brittany C.
Alt. 2 – Liam H.
Alt. 3 - Nick Luth

These individuals will go on to compete in the 7th grade spelling bee on Friday, Jan. 23, 2009 from 7:35 - 8:15. Good luck and GO BLUE!

Don't forget to wear your team shirt that day! Show 'em we bleed Blue Team BLUE!

Settin' Up the Setting

The website ReadWriteThink.org has a list of novels with particularly strong settings. Check the QMS library or the Mansfield Public library to find them. If you decide to read one, I would love for you to post some details about the setting of the book! Also, if you know of a book that has a great setting, please post the title and author.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
The American Girl Series by various authors
Angel Spreads her Wings by Judy Delton
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Circus in the Woods by William Littlefield
Crispin by Avi
Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright
Holes by Louis Sachar
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
The Magic Tree House Mystery Series by Mary Pope Osborne
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Poppy by Avi
Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander
Time Warp Trio Series by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

Simple Subjects & Predicates Are Simple... Right?

In class we're working on finding the simple subject and the simple predicate in a sentence. Remember, the simple subject is a noun or pronoun. It will never be found within a prepositional phrase, and it can be compound. The simple predicate is the verb in the sentence. It can be a verb phrase or compound.

The following are some websites that contain quizzes and games on this concept! Give 'em a whirl!

http://www.quia.com/rr/36765.html

http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/English/blettiere/simple_subject_quiz_01.htm

http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/previewtest?MROG4881

http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/rvsubj.html

So...how did you do?

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! This blog is for my seventh grade students and will be a place to find out about assignments, extra credit opportunities, news from the literary world, and anything else of interest. Please enjoy!