8th Grade--12/16

8th graders went to the skating party today, and they therefore did not have English class. Be sure to check out the note at the top of this page about an upcoming writing contest, and have a good break!

Due Tuesday after vacation...

-Rough draft of TKAM summative writing

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--12/16

Today students took a poetry preassessment. The results of this preassessment will help me to better construct and instruct the upcoming poetry unit in February and March.

After the preassessment, students made a list of ten things (some goofy, some not) that they learned in English this year. We each picked one thing and wrote it on a snowflake. We hung these in the hallway to add a little winter cheer and reflect on 2011.

Due Tuesday after break...

-None

Long term due dates...

-None

Have a great vacation!

8th Grade--12/15

Today students continued to work on their summative writing for To Kill a Mockingbird. I answered student questions about the assignment as they arose. We will not have English class tomorrow, as we will be at the skating rink in the afternoon. Be sure to bring the rough draft of this paper to school on the first day after break.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Rough draft of TKAM summative writing is due on 1/3/2012

7th Grade--12/15

Today students finished their self and peer editing. They then moved to the laptops to make their first round of edits and corrections. Second drafts of The Giver essays are due tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Giver second draft due tomorrow

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--12/14

Today we watched any remaining speeches (8B), and then students were given the rest of the class period to begin working on their TKAM summative writing pieces. I pulled students out in small groups to work on different elements of these papers, and I answered student questions.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Rough draft of TKAM summative writing is due on 1/3/2012

7th Grade--10/14

Today students spent the period self and peer editing their essays on The Giver. You will have tomorrow's class period to work on making revisions, and your second draft will be due to me on Friday.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Giver second draft due on Friday, December 16th

8th Grade--12/13

Today we continued to share persuasive essay speeches. I collected all active listening sheets at the end of class, so if you were absent today be sure to bring your active listening sheet to class upon your return. This helps to determine the listener portion of your speech grade.

I also passed out the summative writing prompts for To Kill a Mockingbird. We will be working on the rough draft of this piece in class over the next two days, and the rough draft is due on the Tuesday after break. I suggest that you use your time well this week to avoid having homework over break.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Rough draft of TKAM summative writing is due on 1/3/2012

7th Grade--12/13

Today we began the class by discussing the function of the concluding paragraph of an essay. We constructed a list of reasons why having this paragraph was necessary, and I shared a generating and organizational strategy for paragraph creation. For the rest of the period, students worked to complete the rough drafts of their Giver essays. These essays should be completed and brought to class tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Giver essay rough draft

Long term due dates...

-Giver second draft due on Friday, December 16th

8th Grade--12/12

Today we began listening to speeches from the persuasive unit. We will complete this process tomorrow. While listening, the audience was to be completing an active listening sheet on ethos, pathos and logos. This sheet will be collected at the end of class tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-None...for now...

7th Grade--12/12

Today we began class by listing the elements that should be found in essay intro paragraphs. Next, students used their outlines to begin working on their rough drafts. You will have tomorrow during class to work on this as well.

Due tomorrow...

-Nothing

Long term due dates...

-Giver essay rough draft due on Wednesday, December 14th

-Giver second draft due on Friday, December 16th

8th Grade--12/9

Today I began by reading my persuasive essay. We talked about tools that I used in my speech and how I used them. Specifically, we talked about how I was able to incorporate pathos, how I kept my audience in mind, and how I hooked the reader into the essay. Hopefully this gave you a better idea of my expectations from the final product.

Next, I returned student essay corrections and answered any clarifying student questions while you began to make the necessary changes. I also pulled groups of people out to work on specific areas of development such as ethos and pathos. Don't forget to include all of the following elements in your final draft!

• Ethos
• Pathos
• Logos
• Rhetorical questions
• The other side of the argument
• Research
• An understanding of the audience/written with the audience in mind
• A strong hook

Your final draft is due on Monday, and be sure to take the time to rehearse it as a speech. If you come in and simply read the paper without feeling you will not do very well on the speech portion of your grade.

Due Monday...

-Final draft of your persuasive essay (with all previous drafts attached)

-Persuasive speeches

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--12/9

Today we began to work on our essay for The Giver. We began by discussing the steps of the writing process, and then we looked at a list of essay prompts. Many students were able to select an essay prompt and begin to move through the first three steps below. If you were not in class, please add the following notes to your journal.

Due Monday...

-Finish the outline for Giver essay

Long term due dates...

-Giver essay rough draft due on Wednesday, December 14th

-Giver second draft due on Friday, December 16th

8th Grade--12/8

Students took the first WM challenge of the year. After the test was over, we went to the RC and students were given the chance to purchase books from the book fair. Don't forget that you all come straight to English tomorrow afternoon.

Due tomorrow...

-Bring a digital copy of your persuasive paper to class (you will be rewriting)

Long term due dates...

-Final draft of persuasive essay on 12/12

-Persuasive speeches on 12/12

7th Grade--12/8

Today students took the WordMasters test. After the test, students went to the book fair in the RC.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-None...for now...

8th Grade--12/7

Today we did WM jeopardy to prepare for tomorrow's test. Don't forget to bring money for the book fair tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-WM test!!!

Long term due dates...

-Final draft of persuasive essay on 12/12

-Persuasive speeches on 12/12

7th Grade--12/7

I was at an English meeting this morning, so you had a sub. You did a WM crossword to prepare for the test, and then you had time to meet in groups and review the words with one another.

Due tomorrow...

-WM test!!!

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--12/6

Today we took the grammar preassessment for trimester #2 and corrected it as a group. Students then recorded their results and reflected on their achievement. After that, students were given the WordMasters crossword to aid their studying, and they then played their WM games and helped to quiz one another.

 

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

7th Grade--12/6

Today students worked in teams on WM jeopardy. This was your review session for Thursday's test, but you will also have tomorrow to practice and review independently.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

8th Grade--12/5

Today we did reading and recalling and shared our person-action-person story starts. Hope you are studying your WM words!

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

7th Grade--12/5

Today we did reading and recalling and shared our Utopia story starts. Hope you are studying your WM words!

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

8th Grade--12/2

Today students had the period to work on either typing/writing their person-action-person story starts or editing their persuasive essays. I was really impressed with how diligent and focused you all were. While this was happening, I pulled students aside one by one to check in WM work.

Due Monday...

-2nd Draft of persuasive essay

-Person-action-person story start

Long term deadlines...

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

-Final draft of persuasive essay on 12/12

-Persuasive speeches on 12/12

7th Grade--12/2

Today students took the grammar preassessment for trimester #2. Once they were finished, they corrected their own tests and recorded their data on a chart. They will use this chart to compare their progress throughout the course of the trimester. For the remainder of the period, students studied for their upcoming WM challenge while I checked in their WM study work and WM projects.

Due Monday...

-Utopia/dystopia story start

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

8th Grade--12/1

Today students worked on peer and self editing their persuasive essays. From this revision session, students should rewrite their papers and bring a second draft to me on Monday. I will then make my edits, and I will return the piece to you next Friday.

Due tomorrow...

-WM Notecards

-WM Project

-WM handout

-WM sentences

Long term deadlines...

-2nd Draft of persuasive essay on 12/5

-Person-action-person story start due on 12/5

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

-Final draft of persuasive essay on 12/12

-Persuasive speeches on 12/12

7th Grade--12/1

Today students had their final day to work on Utopia story starts. We began class by discussing how language is used to establish both setting and mood. We talked about the way the characters in The Giver speak in comparison to how Washburne students speak. We looked at what language tells us about a civilization, and I encouraged students to use creative language and voices in their stories. Students then had the rest of the period to work on writing and typing their story starts. They are due on Monday.

Due tomorrow...

-WM Sentences
-WM Project

-WM Notecards

-WM Handout

Long term due dates...

-Utopia/dystopia story start due on 12/5
-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

8th Grade--11/30

Today we began class by discussing the concept of "addressing the other side of the argument" in persuasive writing. I provided a model of how to do this seamlessly in the body paragraphs of a persuasive essay, and then we practiced this together using multiple student persuasive topics. Students were then given their last day to work on the rough draft of their persuasive papers.

Due tomorrow...

-Rough draft of persuasive essay

-November IR log

Long term deadlines...

-WM Notecards on 12/2

-WM Project on 12/2

-WM handout on 12/2

-WM sentences on 12/2

-2nd Draft of persuasive essay on 12/5

-Person-action-person story start due on 12/5

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

-Final draft of persuasive essay on 12/12

-Persuasive speeches on 12/12

7th Grade--11/30

Today we began class by discussing the benefits of beginning a story with the setting. We then made a list about what elements make up setting (location, time, climate, mood, senses, etc), and students used this list to fully describe the setting of their utopia fiction. Students were then given time to write in their journals, stopping periodically to share their writing with the class.

Due tomorrow...
-November IR log

Long term due dates...

-WM Sentences due on 12/2
-WM Project due on 12/2

-WM Notecards due on 12/2

-WM Handout due on 12/2

-Utopia/dystopia story start due on 12/5

8th Grade--11/29

Today we moved on to the research portion of our persuasive essay writing. We talked about how to guide our research by developing specific research questions. It will help you cut your research time down if you know what to specifically look for. Next, students used the period to develop their own research questions and conduct research. I encouraged students to have this research completed before the beginning of class tomorrow.

8th Graders: You have many major assignments coming up over the next three weeks. Please look at the long term deadlines below and budget your time accordingly.

Due tomorrow...

-Research for persuasive essay

Long term deadlines...

-RD of persuasive essay on 12/1

-WM Notecards on 12/2

-WM Project on 12/2

-WM handout on 12/2

-WM sentences on 12/2

-2nd Draft of persuasive essay on 12/5

-Person-action-person story start due on 12/5

-WordMasters Challenge on 12/8

-Persuasive speeches on 12/12

7th Grade--11/29

Today we began class by briefly discussing "Harrison Bergeron". We then used our understanding of Utopia as gained through both this story and The Giver to begin telling our own utopia/dystopia stories. We began this process by talking about how a utopia both begins and ends, and we also talked about different points of view that could be used to tell the story. Students had time to begin their stories in their journals, and they shared 2-3 sentences from their writing at the end of class.

Due tomorrow...
-None

Long term due dates...

-WM Sentences due on 12/2
-WM Project due on 12/2

-WM Notecards due on 12/2

-WM Handout due on 12/2

-Utopia/dystopia story start due on 12/5

8th Grade--11/28

Today students took the final grammar test for trimester 1, and then they had the rest of the class period to work on their WM assignments.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term deadlines...

-WM Notecards on 12/2

-WM Project on 12/2

-WM handout on 12/2

-WM sentences on 12/2

7th Grade--11/28

Today we discussed the end of The Giver. Our topics of discussion were...

• Whether Jonas dies or lives in the final chapter of the novel
• Whether people in the community understand the concept of death or not
• Flaws in the writing of the novel, crafting of the plot

Don't forget to work on your WM assignments for Friday!

Due tomorrow...
-Read "Harrison Bergeron"

Long term due dates...

-WM Sentences due on 12/2
-WM Project due on 12/2

-WM Notecards due on 12/2

-WM Handout due on 12/2

8th Grade--11/22

Today we reviewed for the grammar test by doing WM jeopardy. For Monday, be sure to familiarize yourself with the following concepts:

• Dangling modifiers
• Parts of Speech
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Subject, Predicate & Object
• Capitalization
• Subjective & Objective case
• Commas, colons & semicolons
• Simple, compound, complex & compound complex sentences
• Dependent & independent clauses
• Phrases & Clauses

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Due Monday...

-Grammar test

Long term deadlines...

-WM Notecards on 12/2

-WM Project on 12/2

-WM handout on 12/2

-WM sentences on 12/2

7th Grade--11/22

Today students had the period to work on WordMasters assignments. They also took a pretest on this WM list.

Due Monday...
-Finish The Giver

Long term due dates...

-WM Sentences due on 12/2
-WM Project due on 12/2

-WM Notecards due on 12/2

-WM Handout due on 12/2

8th Grade--11/21

Today we took our final reading quiz on TKAM, and we discussed the ending of the novel. Our focus for discussion was on the theme of end of childhood in the novel as well as the author's intent in the work.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term deadlines...

-Grammar test on 11/28

-WM Notecards on 12/2

-WM Project on 12/2

-WM handout on 12/2

-WM sentences on 12/2

7th Grade--11/21

Today we took a reading quiz on The Giver, and we discussed the novel. Tomorrow we will be working on WordMasters prep work during the class period. Be sure to bring your WM packet and your notecards.

Due tomorrow...
-None

Long term due dates...

-Finish The Giver for 11/28
-WM Sentences due on 12/2
-WM Project due on 12/2

-WM Notecards due on 12/2

-WM Handout due on 12/2

8th Grade--11/18

Today we worked on both WordMasters and grammar. Students began the class by taking a WM preassessment and submitting a grammar question to me. Next, students used keys to the grammar HW to assess their own accuracy and understanding. When students finished making their corrections, I defined and explained the final WM word (gape).

We spent the remainder of the period answering grammar questions and reviewing some grammar concepts. At the end of the period, students were given time to begin working on their WM handout.

Due Monday...

-TKAM Chapters 25-end

Long term deadlines...

-Grammar test on 11/28

-WM Notecards on 12/2

-WM Project on 12/2

-WM handout on 12/2

-WM sentences on 12/2

7th Grade--11/18

Today we did student book talks in the resource center. Great job, guys!

Due Monday...
-The Giver TIQA paragraph final draft
-The Giver Chapters 12-16 

Long term due dates...
-WM Sentences due on 12/2
-WM Project due on 12/2