[LIT] Ariticle from Voices in the Middle--and a new subject:)

[kimberlee hannan]

Last year I had two GATE 8th graders I selected to help me.  Two periods a
day.  Nothing fancy, and literally worked for peanuts!  We call them TA"S
Sorry, should have clarified that.
Kim

On 7/10/07, Janet Smith <jtsmith1 at suite224.net> wrote:
>
> Kim, can you clarify? Do you have teaching assistants?
> Janet
>
> -------Original Message-------
>
> From: kimberlee hannan
> Date: 7/10/2007 7:04:28 PM
> To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades.
> Subject: Re: [LIT] Ariticle from Voices in the Middle--and a new subject:)
>
> Hello,
> Last year was my first year in middle school.  My notebooks, had notes,
> activities, and responses all in one.  I had between 25-30 notebooks in 5
> classes last year.  After coming from 15 years in elementary I thought I
> was
> going to die.  However, before long I had come up with a system.  I
> collected notebooks every three weeks or so.  One class every day, the
> biggest class on Fridays so I could have the weekend, if I needed.  My
> TA"S
> would go through the Table of Contents and just check off that the notes,
> activities, and responses were there.  Purely counting.  Then I went
> through
> and responded or commented on anything.    The kids got two grades, one
> for
> having everything and one for me for quality of work.  While I didn't
> "grade" individual responses.  Not having to actually count or check off
> or
> grade saved me hours.
>
> However next year, I am having the kids bring a notebook for notes and
> activities (I'm teaching history to them also) that's separate for Reading
> Responses.  I'll tell the kids they need to come in at least once every
> two
> weeks to me. In In the Middle, Atwell says something to the effect, she
> gives herself an hour a day to work on notebooks.  If they turn it in
> early,
> they get a good response back.  If the kids choose to wait until the very
> last minute to turn theirs in, they get a short comment.    Iam beginning
> a
> pair share idea at the end of Workshop every day, so I will not expect
> them
> to respond to each other, unless they choose to later in the year.
>
>
> --
> Kim
> -------
> Kimberlee Hannan
> Department Chair
> Sequoia Middle School
> Fresno, California 93702
>
>
> Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't
> change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give
> everything, have no regrets.. Life's too short to be anything but happy.
>
> kxhanna at fresno.k12.ca.us
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-- 
Kim
-------
Kimberlee Hannan
Department Chair
Sequoia Middle School
Fresno, California 93702


Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't
change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give
everything, have no regrets.. Life's too short to be anything but happy.

kxhanna at fresno.k12.ca.us