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SPI's
& Reporting Categories (based on Tennessee Curriculum
Standards)
Internet
Resources
Formulate
appropriate questions during the reading of the text. 8.1.1 MG
Asking
Questions - the types of questions depend on the answer to that first important
question: Why am I reading this? Once you establish a purpose for yourself,
you can then ask which questions will help you achieve that goal. This page asks
students to rank a set of questions on a scale of one to five.
Questioning
Toolkit - seventeen types of questions from the educational journal, FNO
Choose the correct
meaning/usage of a multi-meaning word by replacing the word in context with an
appropriate synonym or antonym. 8.1.2 V
News
Quiz Archive - over 50 news stories from the BBC - Choose carefully, not all
of these would be appropriate for 8th grade students. Also, take a look at a section
of stories which include math in the news and the quiz
Using
Graph and Charts
Interpreting
a Data Chart - students practice by answering questions about what can be
found in a grid chart
Main
Idea - The main idea of a paragraph is what all the sentences are about. Read
the paragraph and ask, “What’s your point?”
Massachusetts
Tests for Educator Licensure - Challenge your students by letting them practice
using a reading comprehension test designed for prospective teachers. (This
site recommends that you use a printed copy of the page)
Reading
Comprehension - free reading comprehension worksheets for teachers and parents
- includes original stories, poems, essays, and articles
Summarize
as You Read - When you summarize, eliminate unnecessary details. Focus on
the main idea of the whole passage.
What's
the Big Idea? Exercise 1 - Write the common subject for each group of words,
or "write a good title for each list." - a worksheet to print, not interactive
What's
the Big Idea? Exercise 2 - Write the common subject for each group of words,
or "write a good title for each list." - a worksheet to print, not interactive
What's
the Big Idea? Exercise 3 - a bit harder than 1 & 2 - Write the common
subject for each group of words, or "write a good title for each list."
Then add another example that could be included in that group. Be as specific
as you can. - a worksheet to print, not interactive
Determine cause
and effect relationships in context. 8.1.6 MG
Cause-and-Effect
Writing Challenges Students - The cause-and-effect relationship is both a
way of thinking and a format for writing. Teachers who emphasize cause-and-effect
writing say that they are helping students learn to think critically as well as
write cogently. Read what three experienced teachers have to say about this teaching
approach, which can be used with students of all ages. This is an article from
Education World magazine .
Determine
inferences from selected passages. 8.1.7 MG
Writing
to Persuade - Persuasion means making someone with a different point of view
from your own change their mind to your way of thinking.
Sample
assignment - Invent an X-ray satellite, name it, draw a picture of it. Write
a one- to two-page persuasion letter addressed to your Congressperson or
essay for your local newspaper in order to obtain funding for your X-ray astronomy
mission.
Writing
to Persuade Rubric - Perhaps your students can understand writing to persuade
better by seeing this rubric.
Identify
an implied theme from a selection or related selections. 8.1.12 C
Walk
Two Moons: An Integrated Unit - integrated study combining setting, theme,
point of view, character, and plot with geography and geometry
Use text features
(e.g., sidebars, footnotes, and endnotes) to determine meaning. 8.1.13
T
Distinguish
among different genres (e.g., poetry, drama, letters, ads, historical fiction,
biographies, autobiographies, and essays) and their distinguishing characteristics. 8.1.14 C
Chasing
Metaphors - students explore the figurative language of metaphors by turning
a series of objects, concepts, events, or characters into metaphors, first in
written form and then by creating a video with images, text, and sound [Quick
Time required]
Recognize
and identify the techniques of propaganda (i.e., bandwagon, loaded words, and
testimonials). 8.1.17 T
Text
Types- Online game helping learn about the different text types such as persuasion,
informative, descriptive, or instructive.
Analyzing
Political Ads - Students will view current political ads and learn how they
make use of various commercial ad appeals. Students will also develop familiarity
with basic videography terms.
Affluenza:
A PBS Program - Lessons such as "Be an Adbuster!" and "What
are Advertisers Selling?" are based on Affluenza, a one-hour television special
that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and over
consumption. The lessons can be used without the video.
Recognize the author’s
point of view (i.e., first person, third person, limited, or omniscient). 8.1.18 C
Recognize and
identify words within context that reveal particular time periods and cultures. 8.1.22 C
Determine the
influence of culture and ethnicity on the themes and issues of literary texts. 8.1.23 MG
Proverbs
Around the World- Analyze information and assess meaning from prior
knowledge - Print this sheet and have group discussions on meanings.
Identify how
the author reveals character (e.g., physical characteristics, dialog, what others
say about him, and what he does). 8.1.24 C
Writing
Dialogue - "Personally, I think dialogue can make or break a story. Here
are some tips I’ve discovered that may help you with yours," said Elizabeth
Rose.
Writing
Dialogue - This is a dialogue sheet which can be used to teach students to
include the basic characteristics of good dialogue in their own writing. The form
may be modified to include whatever characteristics the instructor desires.
Word
emphasis - change meaning of sentence by the stress put on words.
Read a passage and answer questions
to show comprehension.
Brainchild
Test - (This quiz opens in a new page. Close the page when finished
to return to this list.) 12 questions - Students should use the summary page
after finishing this test to practice their areas of weakness.
Eighth
Grade Reading - Read the introduction and the passage that follows. Then read
each question and mark the circle next to the correct answer.
How
are They Selling It - students read three advertisements and evaluate the
type of persuasive writing being employed
News
Quiz Archive - over 50 news stories from the BBC - Choose carefully, not all
of these would be appropriate for 8th grade students. Also, take a look at a section
of stories which include math in the news and the quiz
Identify
within context a variety of appropriate sentence-combining techniques (e.g., comma
+ coordinating conjunction, use of semi-colon, and introductory phrases or clauses). WP
The
Colon - an explanation from The
Guide to Grammar and Writing
Complete a graphic
organizer (clustering, listing, mapping, and webbing) with information from notes
for writing a writing selection. 8.2.1 WP
Bibliographic
Blunders (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] use note cards to collect information. (Author
- Carolyn Garner)
Take
Notes - students evaluate what items should be included in the opening paragraph
of a news story
Select appropriate
transitional devices or time order words to enhance the flow of the writing. 8.2.2 WO
Transitions indicate
relations, whether from sentence to sentence, or from paragraph
to paragraph. This is a list of "relationships" that supporting
ideas may have, followed by a list of "transitional" words
and phrases that can connect those ideas:
Using
Transitions - Transitional words and phrases can create powerful
links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand
the logic of your paper
Transitional
Devices - transitional guides are connectives (symbols,words, phrases;
sometimes whole sentences and paragraphs) that make possible a smooth
"passing over" from one idea to the next.
Identify
the purpose for writing (e.g., to inform, describe, explain, and persuade). 8.2.3 WP
A Handbook of Rhetorical
Devices - definitions and examples of more than sixty traditional rhetorical
devices, all of which can still be useful today to improve the effectiveness,
clarity, and enjoyment of your writing
Creating
an Argument - This exercise will guide you through the prewriting, organizing
and writing stages of producing a philosophy.
Critical
Reasoning Warm-ups - (Scroll down, it's there!) These are warm-ups
for people who are somewhat familiar with critical reasoning questions. These
questions are a good way to start your brain thinking before you answer the real
questions.
Take
Notes - students evaluate what items should be included in the opening paragraph
of a news story
Identify the
targeted audience for a selected passage. 8.2.4 WP
Rearrange multi-paragraphed
work in a logical and coherent order. 8.2.5 WO
Paragraph Coherence Exercise
- identify a potential topic sentence for the paragraph, identify what information
presented in the paragraph is irrelevant, and then arrange what relevant information
is left into a more coherent, well-structured paragraph
Paragraph
Coherence - Coherence in a paragraph is the technique of making words, phrases,
and sentences move smoothly and logically from one to the other
Identify
sentences irrelevant to a paragraph’s theme or flow. 8.2.6
WP
Information
Elimination (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] model, instruct, and practice narrowing a topic
for expository writing. (Author - Julie Thompson)
Identify levels
of reliability among resources (e.g., eyewitness account, newspaper account, supermarket
tabloid account, and internet source). 8.2.11 T
Select
an appropriate thesis statement for a writing selection. 8.2.13 WO
Compose
a Thesis Statement - Now that you have decided, at least tentatively, what
information you plan to present in your essay, you are ready to write your thesis
statement.
Revise
and edit writing for elements of language. 8.2.19 WA
Power
Proofreading - Choose your level of skill and your areas of concepts to practice
with an interactive activity (choose grade 8) There are over two dozen different
passages to choose from.
Use precise
language including active verbs, vivid words, colorful modifiers, figurative language,
imagery, and experiment with incorporating allusion. 8.2.20 WA
Quotation
Marks - Place commas and periods inside, not outside, quotation marks. Place
all other punctuation outside quotation marks unless it was contained in the original
source.
Quotation
Marks - In the United States, periods and commas go inside quotation marks
regardless of logic.
Single
Quotation Marks - Use single quotation marks for a quotation or title using
quotation marks inside another quotation or title which uses quotation marks.
Worksheet
- fifteen sentences to edit [quotation marks]
Thesis
Paper help - ideas on giving the specifics, the precise details that will
help your reader feel the full weight of your thought
Write engaging introductory paragraphs
and strong and clinching concluding paragraphs. WA
Take
Notes - students evaluate what items should be included in the opening paragraph
of a news story
Trailblazing
Introductions (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] Students develop a sense of beginning by using strong
leads. (Author - Laurie Ayers)
Trailblazing
Conclusions (6-8) [this link opens on a new page] Students develop a sense of ending by using closure and
thought-provoking statements. (Author - Laurie Ayers)
Identify
the correct use of the following: 8.3.3
| 8.3.5
Identify
the correct placement of prepositions and prepositional phrases within context. 8.3.3 G
Power
Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Teen Time, or
any one of the mixed practice exercises.
Recognizing
Prepositions - The following paragraph is taken from Ernest Hemingway's short
story "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." Click on the prepositions
in the order in which they appear and they will appear in the text-area below
the paragraph.
Prepositions
at the Crossword I - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key
to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
Prepositions
at the Crossword II - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key
to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
Prepositions
at the Crossword III - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key
to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
Plural
and Possessive Nouns - By clicking on a bubble, identify whether the highlighted
word is a plural or possessive noun and then click on the "Submit Answer"
button.
Power
Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Memo to Employees, Dimes
for Rhymes, Views from our Viewers, or any one of the mixed practice
exercises.
... verbs (e.g., subject-verb agreement,
transitive/intransitive, linking/action, tense consistency, perfect tenses, regular/irregular,
voice, and verb phrases) 8.3.5 G
Controlling
Shifts in Verb Tense - General guideline: Do not shift from one tense to another
if the time frame for each action or state is the same.
Power
Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; E-mail to HME-TV Staff,
Sour Sid on Sports, You Solve it, Weather or Not, Animal Alarm, or any
one of the mixed practice exercises.
Parts
of Speech - Noun, Verb, Preposition, etc. Interactive quizzes
Subject/verb
agreement - Basic Principle: Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural
subjects need plural verbs. Other SV agreement quizzes Quiz
2 | Quiz
3
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement - This tutorial will help you accomplish the following learning
objectives: define and understand pronoun agreement, choose pronouns that agree
with their antecedents in number, person, and gender and check and apply your
skills.
Pronoun
Case - The case of some pronouns depends on their function in sentences or
clauses. This lesson is followed by an interactive quiz.
Pronoun
Case - Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Power
Proofreading - Choose 8th grade then select; Eye It - Buy It, Kids'
Quiz, The Young and the Clueless, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
The
Need to Combine Sentences - Sentences have to be combined to avoid the monotony
that would surely result if all sentences were brief and of equal length. This
lesson is followed by three quizzes.
Identify
the correct use of commas (e.g., compound sentences, coordinating conjunctions,
introductory words, appositives and interrupters) within context. 8.3.1
G
Conjunctions
Quiz II - Combine the sentences using the conjunction given in parentheses.
Conjunction-itis
Popup - Find the correct conjunction form to combine two short sentences together
into one! (a Quia quiz)
... subject/verb
agreement 8.3.2 G
Quiz
on Subject-Verb Agreement - Select one answer from the choices provided after
each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence.
A Second Quiz on Subject-Verb Agreement - After each sentence select the verb
form that will best fit in the blank. The explanation will describe the process
of arriving at the correct choice for that sentence.
Third
Quiz on Subject-Verb Agreement - Select the appropriate verbs from the drop-down
menus to complete each sentence correctly. There are thirty-three "opportunities
for error" in these paragraphs.
Select the most
appropriate method to correct a run-on sentence (e.g., conjunctions, semi-colons,
and periods to join or separate elements) within context. 8.3.4 G
The
sentence, please! - A sentence containing a comma splice will appear in a
text-area. Repair the sentence.
Avoiding
Comma Splices II - A sentence containing a comma splice will appear in a text-area.
Repair the sentence.
A
test of the Emergency Grammar System - It is only a test. Actually, it isn't
even a test ... and it contains more than grammar. Oh, never mind.... give it
a try
Identify and
use appositives and appositive phrases and infinitives and infinitive phrases. 8.3.7 G
Brainchild
Test - (This quiz opens in a new page. Close the page when finished
to return to this list.) 12 questions - Students should use the summary page
after finishing this test to practice their areas of weakness.
Eight
Grade Reading Test - Online quiz that covers most areas of Standardized testing.
Click on Return to Program to begin test.
Reading
Comprehension stories - Interactive quizzes online for 5 stories - Each text
is followed by a grammar exercise and summary writing exercise.
Online Reading Skills Practice
Online
Lessons - Cloze exercises, speed reading and more
Online
Practice for Reading - Many choices of text selections - Choose specific activity
from the frame on the left to practice skills.
Cloze
Tests Exercises - Scroll to find Cloze tests in the list of Tests and Exercises.
Cloze
Test: (Reading test - Proficiency level) - Students are to complete the text
with one word in each gap.
Cloze
Test: (Exploration - Why in the World?) - Students are to complete the text
with one word in each gap.
Cloze
Test: (Juliet) - longing for Romeo to arrive - Act III, Scene 2.
Cloze
Test: (The Chink) - A long (and fairly difficult) cloze exercise about the
experiences of a young man of Japanese extraction during World War Two.