8th Grade--1/31

Today we worked on more WM words (reserved, oration, wheedle & callow). We also learned a new grammar concept--infinitives. The homework from this grammar concept will be due on Thursday.

Due tomorrow...

-January IR Log due
-Book Talk #1 due

Long term due dates...

-Act 1, Scene 2 in Taming of the Shrew due on Thursday
-Grammar HW due on Thursday

7th Grade--1/31

Today we learned more WM words (specter, corrode, productive), and we listened to student presentations on idioms. We will finish listening to these tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Section #4 of reading for book groups

-January IR calendar due

Long term due dates...

-Final grammar test on 1/2

8th Grade--1/30

Students were given a quiz on Act 1, scene 1 of Taming of the Shrew. After this, we learned new WM words (colloquial, domestication, and hew). We finished class by going over Act 1, Scene 1.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-January IR Log due on 2/1
-Book Talk #1 due on 2/1
-Act 1, Scene 2 in Taming of the Shrew due on Thursday

7th Grade--1/30

Today we did WM words (proceed, acrid, presentiment, understate & foolhardy). Students then had the rest of the class period to work on their idioms projects. These projects are due and will be presented tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Idioms project

Long term due dates...

-January IR logs due on 1/1
-Final grammar test on 1/2

8th Grade--1/27

Today we learned new WM words (expunge, feral, manifesto & abet). We spent the rest of the class acting out Induction, scene 2 of Taming of the Shrew.

Due Monday...

-Act 1, scene 1 of Taming of the Shrew

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #1 due on 2/1

7th Grade--1/27

Today we began class with WM (subtle & dilapidation). After WordMasters, students met in their book groups. We ended the period by working on our idiom project.

Due Monday...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Idioms project due 1/31

-Final grammar test on 1/2

8th Grade--1/26

Today we began by learning new WM words (defraud, vivacious & ruse), and then we moved on to grammar. Today's grammar topic was gerunds. We took notes and practiced together. After this, students took a quick assessment to see where their understanding was of the concept. Based on this assessment, they were assigned grammar homework.

Also, don't forget that tomorrow is "dress like a Washburne teacher day" for Nelson and Etter advisories!

Due tomorrow...

-Read the Induction from Taming of the Shrew & annotate

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #1 due on 2/1

7th Grade--1/26

Today students learned new WM words (tempestuous, dirge & goad). After WordMasters, we began to work on the idioms project. Students were assigned their idioms and began to work on researching the etymology and definition of their assigned idiom.

Due tomorrow...

-Book Groups #3 reading and discussion question

-Grammar Corrections

Long term due dates...

-Idioms project due 1/31

-Final grammar test on 1/2

8th Grade--1/25

Today students took the district-wide writing assessment. We also learned new WM words (Surmise, Malleable and Collusion).

Due tomorrow...

-None 

Long term due dates...

-Read the Induction from Taming of the Shrew for 1/27
-Book Talk #1 due on 2/1

7th Grade--1/25

Today we took the district-wide writing assessment. We also learned new WM words (lethargic, augury & blandish)

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Book Groups #3 due on 1/27

-Grammar Corrections due on 1/27

-Idioms project due 1/31

-Final grammar test on 1/2

8th Grade--1/24

Today we began by watching the last few Shakespeare's World presentations. Next, students received their second WordMasters packet and learned the following words: sycophant, dragoon, acerbic & fawn. We ended class by participating in reading and recall for the gender fiction stories.

Due tomorrow...

-None 

Long term due dates...

-Read the Induction from Taming of the Shrew for 1/27
-Book Talk #1 due on 2/1

7th Grade--1/24

Today students received the second WordMasters packet and learned two new words "catalyst" and "refrain". Next, I passed back yesterday's grammar quizzes. Corrections for these will be due on Friday. We then did reading and recall on their hero stories.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Book Groups #3 due on 1/27

-Grammar Corrections due on 1/27

-Idioms project due 1/31

-Final grammar test on 1/2

8th Grade--1/23

Today we had a prereading discussion for Taming of the Shrew. I handed out novels, and we discussed different strategies for reading and annotating Shakespearean texts.

Due tomorrow...

-None 

Long term due dates...

-Read the Induction from Taming of the Shrew for 1/27
-Book Talk #1 due on 2/1

7th Grade--1/23

Today students began class by taking a quiz on commas. This quiz also reviewed the sentence types we've been going over this month. If you're concerned about these topics, please meet with me for clarification and review. We will have a final test on these concepts on February 2nd.

Next, students met in their book groups for discussion. They also began to discuss how their novels aligned with the steps and elements of the hero's journey.

Due tomorrow...

-Hero journey story start

Long term due dates...

-Book Groups #3 due on 1/27

-Idioms project due 1/31

-Final grammar test on 1/2

8th Grade--1/20

Today we continued the Shakespeare Faire. If you were absent and unable to present, please see me upon your return and we'll have you present to the whole class. If you were absent and were able to present but unable to take notes, please find a peer and photocopy their notes and handouts.

Due Monday...

-None 

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--1/20

Today we began class by discussing the different aspects of descriptions and the different ways in which one can elect to describe setting, characters and objects. Students were then encouraged to use this list when rereading their hero's journey pieces and add in description where necessary.

Once students began writing and editing, I went table to table and checked in and reviewed the grammar homework on commas. If you're still struggling with commas, see me Monday morning. You have a quiz on comma placement on Monday. This quiz will also briefly review the concept of sentence types from the last quiz.

Due Monday...

-Grammar Quiz

-Section #2 of reading and discussion question

Long term due dates...

-Hero journey story start due on 1/24

8th Grade--1/19

Today we had our first day of the Shakespeare faire. If you did not present today, you will be presenting tomorrow. Be sure to keep all handouts and notes. There will be a Shakespeare quiz after we read the play.

Due tomorrow...

-None 

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--1/19

Today students learned new grammar concepts concerning commas and looked at practice questions on this topic. Next, students were given a chance to begin their homework and ask questions about commas. This information will be on a quiz on Monday.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar HW

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on 1/23

-Section #2 of reading and discussion question due on 1/23

-Hero journey story start due on 1/24

8th Grade--1/13

Today I was out for a meeting, but students went to the lab for the last day of in-class research for their Shakespeare project. You will not have any more class time to work on this, and all elements of the project must be completed by Thursday of next week. If you have any questions, see me on Tuesday.

Due Tuesday...

-None 

Long term due dates...

-Shakespeare project due on 1/19

7th Grade--1/13

Today we began to work on applying our knowledge of the hero's journey to our own writing. The focus today was on creating a character and writing a back story for that character, as well as determining what the call to adventure and overall goal of the hero's journey might be. Students will continue to work on these next week.

Due Tuesday...

-Reading section #1 of book group

-Grammar quiz corrections

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--1/12

Today we did reading and recall for students' gender story starts. We will continue this next week.

Due tomorrow...

-None (TKAM essays that are given to me before 8:30am will not be considered late!!)

Long term due dates...

-Shakespeare project due on 1/19

7th Grade--1/12

Today students continued their work on sentence identification as well as compound, complex, simple, and compound-complex sentences. Based off of their performance on the recent quiz, students were grouped into review groups and worked on review sheets together. I rotated around the room to provide guidance to each small group. When students were finished, they began to work on their quiz corrections. Quiz corrections are due on Tuesday.

Don't forget that your essay is due tomorrow, and it must contain the assigned grammar sentences. Forgot what they are? Check this out...

Due tomorrow...

-Giver final draft due (with grammar sentences)

Long term due dates...

-Reading section #1 of book group for 1/17

-Grammar quiz corrections due on 1/17

8th Grade--1/11

Today students continued their research for the Shakespeare project. Ms. Nelson gave a tutorial on research.

Don't forget that your TKAM essays are due tomorrow unless you've approached me for an extension.

Due tomorrow...

-TKAM essay final draft due

Long term due dates...

-Shakespeare project due on 1/19

7th Grade--1/11

Today we worked in groups to identify the stages of the hero's journey within selected short stories. Students mapped the hero's journey and I'll be posting these maps in the hallway this week.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Giver final draft due on 1/13

-Reading section #1 of book group for 1/17

8th Grade--1/10

Today I introduced students to the Shakespeare's world project and gave them their assigned groups. Students looked at sample projects and began their research.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-TKAM essay final draft due on 1/12

-Shakespeare project due on 1/19

7th Grade--1/10

Today we began our unit on the hero's journey. Today we learned the steps and elements of the hero's journey format, and we discussed them as they applied to well-known stories such as Star Wars, The Giver and Harry Potter. Next, students were assigned their book group novels and had about five minutes to begin their assigned reading.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Giver final draft due on 1/13

-Reading section #1 of book group for 1/17

8th Grade--1/6

I was not in class due to jury duty, but students spent the period writing their gender voice story starts. Hopefully you found the work we did on Wednesday and Thursday helpful. These are due on Monday.

Also, please do not forget about the Promising Young Writer's contest. Pieces (maximum of six pages) are due to me by 2:30pm on Monday! Please participate!

Due Monday...

-Gender fiction due

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--1/6

I was out for jury duty, but students began reading their hero packets for the next unit. They also were given their book group sheets. These should be filled out and signed by a parent.

Here are some practice questions for the grammar quiz:

Due Monday...

-Signed book group form

-Grammar Quiz

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--1/5

Today students began class by looking at sample paragraphs from their fellow students and making guesses about whether the author was female or male based on the nuances of their written voice. Overall, I thought you guys were very successful with this exercise! After we discussed this, students had the rest of the period to write their gender fiction stories. You will have the entire period to work on this tomorrow as well. Since I will be at jury duty, I expect you to work diligently for the substitute.

If you didn't submit your TKAM essay yesterday, please place it in a neat pile on my desk tomorrow. I will come in early on Monday morning to correct them before class.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Gender fiction due on 1/9

7th Grade--1/5

Today we met in our HW groups to review last night's homework. After that, we rearranged our groups and competed in a game to create simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences. Winners of this competition earned e-bucks for their group.

At the end of class, students took a preassessment on idioms. The idioms unit will be in two weeks.

For tomorrow, there has been a change of plan. Since I will not be in the building (jury duty), I don't want to leave you to decipher my comments on your own. As such, we will be doing our essay corrections during class on Monday after the grammar quiz. The quiz should only take ten-fifteen minutes, so you will have the rest of the period to make your revisions. The final draft will be due on Friday of next week.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on 1/9

8th Grade--1/4

Today we began class by writing a brief description of a provided picture. These descriptions will be used during tomorrow's lesson. Next, we discussed the story "In the Jungle", and we talked about the elements of the writing that made the writer seem masculine and those elements that made the writer seem feminine. From this, we transitioned into a discussion about the elements of female and male written voice. We talked about the difference between generalizations and stereotypes, and then proceeded to put forth general observations about feminine and masculine written voice. We compiled a list of these traits, and this will hopefully help to guide us as we begin writing our gender fiction story starts tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-2nd draft of TKAM Summative piece due

Long term due dates...

-Gender fiction due on 1/9

7th Grade--1/4

Today we reviewed the homework from last night. Next, we learned a new grammar concept (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences), and we looked at sample sentences as a class. After we finished the powerpoint, students got into groups for a practice activity. I gave each group of students a set of Giver books, and students raced to see who could find samples of all three sentence types first. At the end of the period, students were given time to begin their HW and ask questions.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar HW

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on 1/9

Wanna earn an e-buck? Be the first person to tell me the sentence type of the underlined sentence above.

8th Grade--1/3

Today we continued to work on our TKAM summative writing assignments. Students spent the period working on their self and peer editing. Many did not finish this process and will need to do so for homework. Also, you need to incorporate ALL of this feedback into your writing by Thursday; this is when the second draft of your essay is due.

Due tomorrow...

-December IR logs

-Read "In The Jungle"

Long term due dates...

-2nd draft of TKAM Summative piece due on 1/5

7th Grade--1/3

Today we began our grammar unit for trimester #2. We began today by discussing the elements of a sentence vs. a fragment, and we also discussed independent and dependent clauses. We practiced combining these two clause types into sentences and using proper punctuation. Students had some time at the end of the period to ask questions and begin their homework.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar HW
-December IR logs

Long term due dates...

-None