8th Grade--9/30

Today we began our first fiction writing story start, focusing on horror writing in honor of the month of October. To prepare for this, students read one of Poe's works, either "Tell-Tale Heart" or "Pit and the Pendulum". We began class by discussing the idea of fear and sharing our own fears. We compiled a list of these, and then used that list to create a truly frightening horror story, as opposed to a story that was "campfire scary". You will have two more days to work on these stories in class before submitting them for reading and recall.

Due Monday...

-Bring your signed IR log

 
Long term deadlines...
-Finish OMAM for Wednesday, October 5th

7th Grade--9/30

Today we did our first day of reading and recall, sharing our stories with the class. Students practiced strong listening skills and posture, and learned how to properly recall each other's stories. We will be doing this procedure many more times over the course of the next two years, so if your work wasn't read today, it absolutely will be read very soon!

Due Monday...
-Finish The Outsiders
-Bring your signed IR log to class
 
Long term deadlines...
-None

8th Grade--9/28

Today we attended a banned books presentation and discussion in the RC. Enjoy your day off tomorrow, and remember to get those podcasts into group share before class on Friday. You can always stop by the lab or RC before school.

Due Friday...
-Ten spelling words for trimester #1
-This I Believe podcast

Long term deadlines...
-Finish OMAM for Wednesday, October 5th

-Bring your signed IR log on Monday, October 3rd

7th Grade--9/28

Today students attended a banned books week presentation and activity in the RC. Enjoy your day off tomorrow, and I'll see you on Friday for reading and recall of your fiction stories!

Due Friday...
-Ten spelling words
-Outsiders TIQA final draft (with editing sheets and rough draft)

Long term deadlines...
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3
-Bring your signed IR log to class on 10/3

8th Grade--9/27

Today students took their first graded grammar quiz as well as a reading quiz. If you were absent, you will need to make this up tomorrow.
We then discussed the following questions in Of Mice and Men...

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long term deadlines...
-Ten spelling words for trimester #1 due on 9/30
-This I Believe podcast due on 9/30

7th Grade--9/27

Today we learned about subject, predicate and object. We took notes on this, and we also practiced identifying the sentence parts as a class.

Then, you broke into groups to practice this on your own. The activity you did involved constructing sentences that used subject, predicate and object. Groups received one point for each sentence constructed with a subject and predicate, two points for a sentence with a subject, predicate and direct object, and three points for a sentence with a subject, predicate, direct object and indirect object. The winners received e-bucks.

Due tomorrow...
-Grammar HW

Long term deadlines...
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3
-Ten spelling words due by 9/30
-Outsiders TIQA final draft due on 9/30

8th Grade--9/26

Today you worked on your This I Believe podcasts in Lab #1. If you did not finish and export your podcast today, you will need to do this on your own time. If your podcast is not in the proper group share folder before class on Friday, it will be considered late.

Also, you have a grammar test tomorrow on the following concepts. Please take a considerable amount of time tonight to study:

• Parts of Speech
• Subject/Predicate/Object
• Subject/Verb Agreement
• Subjective and Objective Case
• Capitalization
• Simple/Compound/Complex/Compound Complex

Due tomorrow...
-Grammar Quiz

-Read pgs. 38-83 of OMAM

Long term deadlines...
-Ten spelling words for trimester #1 due on 9/30
-This I Believe podcast due on 9/30

7th Grade--9/26

Today you guys were so focused while you worked on peer and self editing your TIQA paragraphs. Many of you did not finish your peer editing. If you did not finish your peer editing, it is your responsibility to complete that before working on your final draft for Friday. You may find a friend during flex tomorrow or ask a sibling or a parent. For Friday, you must submit the rough draft, self edit, peer edit and final draft.

Due tomorrow...
-None

Long term deadlines...
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3
-Ten spelling words due by 9/30
-Outsiders TIQA final draft due on 9/30

8th Grade--9/23

Today I passed back my corrections on your This I Believe second drafts. I then called people up in groups depending areas of need and concern, and I helped answer questions about my comments. Lastly, I told students that for the final draft (due on Monday) I expect you to include the following elements:

Please remember to bring two copies of the final draft since you are doing a podcast on Monday, and you will need something from which you can read.

Due Monday...
-Final draft of your This I Believe essay

Long term deadlines...
-Read pgs. 38-83 in OMAM for Tuesday
-Ten spelling words for trimester #1 due on 9/30
-This I Believ podcast due on 9/30

7th Grade--9/23

Today we worked on writing our first TIQA essay paragraphs and thesis statements. We also shared our topic sentences with the class in order to gain a better understanding of what a strong topic sentence sounds like.

These paragraphs are due on Monday for revision.

Due Monday...
-Outsiders TIQA paragraph rough draft

Long term deadlines...
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3
-Ten spelling words due by 9/30
-Outsiders TIQA final draft due on 9/30

8th Grade--9/22

Today we worked on grammar once again, this time learning about independent and dependent clauses, and the different types of sentences that they work together to form (simple, compound, complex & compound-complex). All students should have taken notes on the powerpoint, and should be working on the homework for tomorrow.

Also, tomorrow we will be working on the final draft of our essays during class. If you typed your essay at home, please bring it in on a flash drive or on gaggle. There will be no excuses for why you are not prepared tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...
-Grammar HW
-Bring your essay in a digital format so that you can rewrite
-OMAM TIQA paragraph

Long term deadlines...
-Final draft of This I Believe essay is due on 9/26
-Read Pgs. 38-83 in OMAM for 9/27

7th Grade--9/22

Today the seventh graders began working on formal essay writing. I checked in grammar homework, and then we went over the thesis worksheet. Students shared their best thesis statements, and we discussed why they were strong. Next, I handed out a packet on TIQA body paragraph format. We discussed this, and then did a group activity to examine this idea in writing.

Each group looked at a different student sample paragraph, and determined where they thought the elements of TIQA were, and if they were used correctly and well. Tomorrow, we will be working on writing our own TIQA paragraphs about The Outsiders. You will finish these for Monday.

Due tomorrow...
-Fiction story start due on Friday

Long term deadlines...
-Rough draft of The Outsiders TIQA is due on Monday
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3

8th Grade--9/21

Today we discussed Of Mice and Men, focusing on the following questions...

1.     Locate at least one moment of foreshadowing, and explain what it could potentially be foreshadowing. Why might Steinbeck have included this?

2.     Compare and contrast the two dogs in this chapter. How are they different? Why might Steinbeck have chosen to include them?

3.     Defend Steinbeck’s decision to not give Curley’s wife a name. As an author, why do you think he made this decision? What does it add to the story?

We also took a reading quiz, turned in the second draft of our This I Believe essays, and checked in our grammar homework.

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long term deadlines...
-OMAM TIQA paragraph is due on Friday
-Final draft of This I Believe essay is due on 9/26
-Read Pgs. 38-83 in OMAM for 9/27

7th Grade--9/21

Today was the final day of fiction writing for this story start. We also discussed how you can derive titles from your story, and how you can edit for word choice. Be sure to do this before turning your story in, as you should do your best to avoid weak vocabulary.

A typed story start from your journal is due on Friday. It should be at least 1.5 pages long. Remember, this is a story START, and you should not rush or force an ending.

Due tomorrow...
-Finish thesis sheet

Long term deadlines...
-Fiction story start due on Friday
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3

8th Grade--9/20

Today we worked on two separate grammar units. We began by working on subjective and objective case pronouns, especially focusing on "who" and "whom", as well as compound subjects and objects. After that, we did a refresher on capitalization for those who struggled with it on the preassessment. Homework for both of these units is due tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...
-Second draft with revisions of This I Believe essay
-Grammar homework
-Read Pgs. 17-37 of OMAM

Long term deadlines...
-Final draft of This I Believe essay is due on 9/26

7th Grade--9/20

Today you took your first grammar test. I just finished grading them, and the average grade was an 85%. Many of you did very well, and your hard work is to be commended. We will talk briefly about study skills and test preparation tomorrow.

Also, we discussed the four different types of sentences today and took notes. You have homework on this that should be completed by tomorrow.

If you were absent, or did not take the quiz today, please schedule a time to make it up tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...
-Grammar homework

Long term deadlines...
-Finish thesis sheet for Thursday
-Fiction story start due on Friday
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3

8th Grade--9/19

Today you all did a truly wonderful job of self editing. Some of you reached the peer editing stage, but many of you did not. If you have not yet reached the peer editing stage, or did not complete this stage, remember that you need to do this on your own time before rewriting. You might want to ask a parent, sibling, friend or tutor for help, or you could use flex time to work on this tomorrow. Whomever you select to do your peer editing, make sure to have them fill out the peer editing section of the editing packet. If you did not finish your self editing, that's homework as well.

Your second draft is due on Wednesday, and I will hand back my corrections for Friday. Your final draft will then be due a week from today. If you have any specific concerns before then, please sign up to meet with me.

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long term due dates...
-Second draft of This I Believe essay is due on Wednesday
-Read pgs 17-37 of OMAM for Wednesday
-Final draft of This I Believe essay is due on 9/26

7th Grade--9/19

Today we took a reading quiz on The Outsiders. After the reading quiz, we addressed a few different ideas in discussion, focusing on the following questions...

After that, we began talking about formal essay writing. We worked on thesis writing today, and discussed the function of a thesis within an essay. Most people did not finish their thesis practice sheet. Please finish this for class on Thursday.

Also, if you're still struggling with parts of speech, please come in before school tomorrow for extra help before the quiz.

Due tomorrow...
-Study for the grammar quiz

Long term due dates...
-Finish thesis sheet for Thursday
-Fiction story start due on Friday
-Finish The Outsiders by 10/3

7th & 8th Grade--9/16

Today we went on our team building field trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo. We had a great lunch, and thankfully avoided the rain that seemed certain to fall. Don't forget your homework for the weekend!

7th Grade due on Monday...
-Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The Outsiders due

7th Grade Long term due dates...
-Fiction story start due on 9/23
-Grammar quiz on 9/20 (Parts of speech and adverbs vs. adjectives)

8th Grade due on Monday...
-Typed rough draft of This I Believe essay due

8th Grade Long term deadlines...
-Typed second draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/21
-Read pgs 17-37 of Of Mice and Men for 9/21
-OMAM TIQA paragraph due on 9/23 (I'll hand this assignment out on Monday)

8th Grade--9/15

Today you spent the period finishing up your rough drafts of your This I Believe essays. If you were not able to complete this task during class today, it is homework for Monday. If you need some guidance before completing it, please seek me out tomorrow when we return from the field trip. We will work on self and peer editing during class on Monday.

Due tomorrow...
-None

Long term deadlines...
-Typed rough draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/19
-Typed second draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/21
-Read pgs 17-37 of Of Mice and Men for 9/21
-OMAM TIQA paragraph due on 9/23 (I'll hand this assignment out on Monday)

7th Grade--9/15

Today the 7th graders took a writing assessment in the computer lab. I will hold on to these. The data collected from this assessment will inform my teaching, plus I'll hold onto these until the end of 8th grade. At that point, you will take this exact same assessment and compare your writing from the start of Washburne to your writing at the end of your career at Washburne.

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long term due dates...
-Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The Outsiders due on Monday, September 19th
-Fiction story start due on 9/23
-Grammar quiz on 9/20 (Parts of speech and adverbs vs. adjectives)

8th Grade--9/14

Today we continued to work on our This I Believe essays. Most students began drafting on the computer during class today. If you are still working on the application step, I encourage you to complete this step before coming to class tomorrow. A rough draft is due on Monday, and you will only have tomorrow's class period to work.

During class today, I met with students in small groups to move them forward in the process depending on where they were. I also checked in grammar homework, and provided clarification on grammar concepts as needed.

Due tomorrow...
-None (might want to work on This I Believe essay in your journal)

Long term deadlines...
-Typed rough draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/19
-Typed second draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/21
-Read pgs 17-37 of Of Mice and Men for 9/21

7th Grade--9/14

Today we began our fiction writing day by doing an exercise that pushed our descriptions of characters to a new level. We talked about making sure to stay specific in our description in an attempt to better control the reader's interpretation. Next, I checked in grammar homework and called up groups individually to review and ask questions. While I did this, the rest of the class continued to work on their first story start. We ended class by sharing strong sentences in our writing.

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long term due dates...
-Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The Outsiders due on Monday, September 19th
-Fiction story start due on 9/23
-Grammar quiz on 9/20 (Parts of speech and adverbs vs. adjectives)

8th Grade--9/13

Today we began class with a brief practice of parts of speech. If you are still struggling with some of these parts of speech, please schedule a time to work on this with me outside of class. After that, we worked on subject/predicate/object, and then on subject-verb agreement as needed. You were grouped based on the data I gleaned from this trimester's grammar preassessment. If you feel like you are still shaky on either of these concepts after today's refresher and tonight's homework, please schedule a time to meet with me. Also, write down any questions you have while completing the homework, and bring those questions up during discussion tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...
-Subject/Predicate/Object homework
-Subject-Verb Agreement homework
-This I Believe writing in your journal

Long term deadlines...
-Typed rough draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/19
-Typed second draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/21
-Read pgs 17-37 of Of Mice and Men for 9/21

7th Grade--9/13

Today we started class with a brief practice of the parts of speech. If you struggled with this practice today, please sign up for a time outside of class to ask questions and get clarification. We then broke into different groups to work on differentiating adjectives from adverbs. Some groups created adjective vs. adverb posters which I will be hanging up around the building this week. Hopefully this will help to improve grammar across the building. Other groups worked on creating correct sentences and discovering whether provided words were either adjectives or adverbs. Lastly, some of you took notes from the powerpoint, and worked on practice questions together.

As you work on your adjective and adverb homework this evening, star questions which confuse you. This will help me to help you better when we review the homework tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...
-Adjectives and Adverbs grammar homework

Long term...
-Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The Outsiders due on Monday, September 19th
-Fiction story start due on 9/23

8th Grade--9/12

Today we began class by taking the MAZE reading assessment, and then we took a quiz on the first chapter of Of Mice and Men. After the quiz, students wrote their thoughts on one of the questions below in their journals. We then discussed these concepts as a class.

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long term deadlines...
-Writing in your journal for This I Believe essays for Wednesday
-Typed rough draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/19
-Typed second draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/21
-Read pgs 17-37 of Of Mice and Men for 9/21

7th Grade--9/12

Today we took a brief reading quiz on chapters 3 & 4 of The Outsiders. After that, we discussed the relationship between Ponyboy and Darry as seen in these chapters, specifically focusing on the differences between Ponboy's assessment of their relationship and what they're relationship actually is. For the final twenty minutes of class, students were sent back into their poster groups to work on either their soc or greaser recruitment poster.

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long term deadlines...
-Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The Outsiders due on Monday, September 19th
-Fiction story start due on 9/23

8th Grade--9/9

Today we continued to work on our This I Believe essays. I pulled groups aside to work and address issues since students are at different places in the writing process. We will continue to write on Wednesday of next week with a focus on putting this all together into a well-constructed and naturally flowing piece of writing. On your own time before Wednesday, I would like you to work on the writing in your journal. Your goal for Wednesday of next week should be to finish writing the story of what created your belief. If you also finish the stories about how you apply that belief, that would be wonderful as well.

Due Monday...
-Read pgs 1-16 of Of Mice and Men (that's the first section of the book)

Long term deadlines...
-Writing in your journal for This I Believe essays for Wednesday
-Typed rough draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/19
-Typed second draft of This I Believe essay due on 9/21

7th Grade--9/9

Today we had our block broken up a little with picture day, but we still managed to get in some discussion about The Outsiders. We went over key characters and the setting, making sure that everyone specifically understood both the relationship between the brothers, and the differences between the Socs and the Greasers.

After this, we talked about annotation, and I distributed a handout that should give you a better idea of what to annotate in your reading. Be sure to begin annotating in your assigned reading this weekend.

At the end of the period, students broke into groups and elected to be either "Socs" or "Greasers". You spent today, and will spend some time on Monday, creating recruitment posters for your assigned group. Remember, each poster should include at least five quotes about your group and what they are like.

Due Monday...
-Read chapters 3 & 4 in The Outsiders

Long Term...
-Fiction story start due on 9/23 (You'll have two more days to work on this in class)

8th Grade--9/8

Today 8th graders continued to work on their This I Believe essays. Many of you moved on from idea generating, and you are now working on developing the narrative element. This involves really showing your reader the moment during which your belief was born. What happened in your life to make you believe what you believe? If you are still working on this step, don't worry. We will continue working on the essay tomorrow during class.

Due tomorrow...
-Nothing

Long Term...
-Read pgs 1-16 in Of Mice and Men for Monday

7th Grade--9/8

Today we began writing fiction. Students were introduced to the "Inspiration Library", where they can find books of art and photographs, character name generators, and many more items that should help plant the seeds of a story.

While students were writing, I pulled groups out to review the grammar homework. We will keep working on parts of speech next week and throughout this trimester as needed.

Due tomorrow...
-Read chapters 1 & 2 in The Outsiders


Long term deadlines...
-Read chapters 3 & 4 in The Outsiders for Monday (disregard yesterday's blog post)

8th Grade--9/7

Today we worked on our prewriting for the This I Believe essay. We moved past the generating stage we worked on on Friday, and began to further develop five of our ideas. We will continue to work on this tomorrow. The goal should be to have two or three possible topics for the essay by the end of class tomorrow, and we will then hopefully each select a belief statement to begin drafting on Friday.

I also pulled groups aside to correct the grammar homework and answer any questions about parts of speech. If you still feel lost on parts of speech, please see me.

Homework due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read chapter one of Of Mice and Men for Monday (I will hopefully have my book order delivered by tomorrow)

7th Grade--9/7

Today we went to the computer lab and the resource center where we learned about research, logging into the computers, saving our work, and checking out books from the library.

Because our books for The Outsiders have not yet arrived, I am changing the reading homework. I will (hopefully) be able to distribute your books tomorrow. I will expect you to read chapters 1 & 2 for Friday, instead of chapters 1-3 since you will only have one evening to read. That should be about 35 pages of reading on Thursday night.

This will mean that instead of Chapters 4-6 being due on Monday of next week, chapters 3-5 will be due. Please make the appropriate changes to your weekly calendar.

Due tomorrow...
Nothing

Long term deadlines...
9/9--The Outsiders chapters 1 & 2
9/12--The Outsiders chapters 3-5

8th Grade--9/6

Today we jogged our memories about the parts of speech through a brief review and note taking session. This was followed by a group activity, a parts of speech "race". Winners of the "race" won e-bucks.

Bring your journal tomorrow, as we will be working on personal essays for the rest of the week.

Due tomorrow...
-Grammar HW on parts of speech

7th Grade--9/6

We reviewed the parts of speech today by taking notes and practicing identification of the parts of speech. Some students worked on creating posters that explained the parts of speech. We will review the homework on Thursday. If you were absent, please see me and I will print the notes for you.

Due tomorrow...
-Grammar HW for parts of speech

8th Grade--9/2

Today we began working on the prewriting for our This I Believe personal essay. We began by generating ideas about our own beliefs through stream of consciousness writing in our journals, and then we shared some of our beliefs with the class. Also, during class today we discussed the elements that make up this type of essay, and looked at the examples from last night's reading.

The elements of all This I Believe essays are...

1. A Belief Statement (What do you believe?)
2. Examples/Story (Why do you believe what you believe?)
3. Application (How does that belief dictate and effect how you live your life?)

We will continue working on personal essays over the next three weeks.

Homework due Tuesday...

-Review poem final draft (don't forget to use your editing forms when making revisions, and be sure that your poem includes a visual element)

Long term due dates...

-None right now!

7th Grade--9/2

Today we spent class working on three different things:

1. We worked on self editing our poems.
2. We teamed up with others in the class to peer edit our poems.
3. We corrected our trimester one grammar assessments, and identified the areas of grammar in which we feel we could use the most help this trimester.

Don't forget to use both your peer and self edit sheet when making your revisions to your BioPoem!

Homework due Tuesday...

-Final draft of BioPoem with a visual element

Long term due dates...

-None right now

9/1--8th Grade

Today we worked on peer and self editing our review poems. Remember that a final draft of this poem--including a visual element--is due on Tuesday. Please include your rough draft AND your editing sheets with your final draft.

Students were given time at the end of class to begin reading from their homework packet.

Due tomorrow...
 -Personal essay packet reading

Upcoming deadlines...
-Final draft of review poem due 9/6

9/1--7th Grade

Today 7th graders took the grammar preassessment and the MAZE reading assessment. Trust me, that will be it on assessments for a little while. Then we put together our "reading and writing" cards. Hopefully you were able to put up what book you are currently reading. Try to have something up in both the reading AND writing category by Friday of next week.

Also, remember that tonight is the first night during which you should be reading at least twenty minutes and recording it on your IR calendar.

Homework due tomorrow...
-Bio Poem rough draft due tomorrow TYPED

Upcoming deadlines...
-Bio Poem final draft due 9/6