Test+Preparation

Hi Everybody, This is Mr. Leshai

Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Barnett, Mrs. Uanaka, Mr. Morley, Mr. Leshai discussed the upcoming unit - Test Preparation (I hope I did not forget anybody's name)
 * Here are some notes from November 4th meeting**


 * Essential question for the unit**: "Does the ELA Test reflect what I learned?"
 * Some guiding questions**
 * 1) How to answer essay type questions?
 * 2) What strategies do you use to answer multiple choice questions? (books/packages mentioned, "Time for Kids"
 * 3) How to use notes efficiently? (teach note-taking skills)
 * 4) How do you identify meaning of unknown words? (teach context clues)
 * 5) The structure and Features of fiction texts vs. nonfiction texts. (teach the differences between fiction and nonfiction texts)
 * 6) Making inferences

Vocabulary, Setting, Characterization, Main Idea, and Dialogue
 * We also agreed to teach lessons** on


 * TEST PREP - BOOK 1 - RESPONDING TO TEXTS IN WRITING**
 * 1) Characterization
 * 2) Setting
 * 3) Plot
 * 4) Theme
 * 5) Dialogue
 * and**
 * **Determine how the use and meaning of literary devices**, such as symbolism, metaphor, and simile, alliteration, personification, flashback and foreshadowing, convey author's message or intent
 * **How to condense, combine, or categorize** new information from one or more sources?
 * **How to Draw conclusions and Make inferences** on the basis of explicit and implicit information?
 * **How to understand the validity and accuracy of information, ideas, themes, facts and opinions** when used as examples, quotes, details or reasons to support our thesis and hypothesis in our essays?
 * **How to apply thinking skills such as define, classify, and infer** to interpret data, facts, and ideas from informational texts?
 * **How to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words and terms** by using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary and by analyzing the structure of the unknown word //(looking at roots, prefixes, suffixes and infixes of the words)?//
 * **How to identify author's point of few** -- first person narrator, omniscient narrator?
 * **Using modifiers** -- how the use of author's language creates images or feelings?
 * **How can literary devices** such as symbolism, metaphor, simile, alliteration, personification, flashback and foreshadowing convey author's message or intent?
 * **Identify poetic elements**, such as repetition, rhythm, rhyming patterns, in order to interpret poetry


 * Listening and Writing (Book 2)** - short and extended responses
 * Reading and** **Writing (Book 3)** - short and extended responses
 * Writing Mechanics** (**Book 2 and 3)** - extended responses

Mr. Leshai