8th Grade--2/29

Today we discussed the idea of antagonist as protagonist and vice versa. Students were then challenged to write their stories from the antagonist's point of view. Your antagonist fiction story start is due on Monday.

Due tomorrow...

-Shakespeare test

-February IR log

Long term due dates...

-Antagonist story start due on 3/5

7th Grade--2/29

Today we explored more deeply into the literary elements. We presented our annotations on "Paul Revere's Ride", practiced using the literary elements to describe, and took an ungraded assessment to check our understanding. This assessment will determine tomorrow's activity.

Due tomorrow...

-February IR log

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/28

Today we listened to student book talks in the RC.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Shakespeare test on 3/1

-February IR log due on 3/1

7th Grade--2/28

Today we began our poetry unit. We started the class period by looking at poems in small groups and then coming up with a definition of poetry as a class. Next, we took notes and provided examples of the literary elements: metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, assonance and consonance. After that, I read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride" aloud to the class.

At the end of class, you were given copies of this poem and assigned a literary element. Annotate these pieces for your assigned literary element for tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Annotate "Paul Revere's Ride"

Long term due dates...

-February IR log due on 3/1

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/27

Today we began class by taking our final reading comprehension quiz on Taming of the Shrew. After the quiz, we briefly discussed the play with a focus on Katherina's transition and the idea of gender in the novel. After this, we performed the "obedience bet" scene from Act 5, Scene 2. Don't forget to turn in your permission slips for Friday's field trip! I also collected your books to grade annotations, so please turn in your books if you have not done so already. I will return them to you within 24 hours.

Due tomorrow...

-Book Talk #2

-Book with annotations (if you have not already turned this in)

Long term due dates...

-Shakespeare test on 3/1

-February IR log due on 3/1

7th Grade--2/27

Today we did reading and recall for the dialogue fiction story starts.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-February IR log due on 3/1

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/24

Today students began class by taking the grammar test for trimester 2. After the test, students had the rest of the period to work on writing their antagonist fiction stories in their journals. We will continue to work on these next Wednesday.

Due Monday...

-Finish reading Taming of the Shrew

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 2/28

-Shakespeare test on 3/1

7th Grade--2/24

Today we began class by discussing proper punctuation and capitalization surrounding dialogue. I gave some examples, and then students shared lines of dialogue from their work for further practice. Students were given a list of synonyms for said, and they continued to work on their dialogue story starts in their journals.

Due Monday...

-Dialogue story start

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/23

Today we did a review activity on gerunds, participles, infinitives, and commas. Don't forget to study for your test tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar Test

-Grammar Quiz corrections

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 2/28

-Shakespeare test on 3/1

7th Grade--2/23

Today we continued with our dialogue story starts. We began class by sharing lines from our overheard conversations, and then students wrote for fifteen minutes. After that, students practiced writing dialogue in different voices.

Due tomorrow...

-Submit Hero's Journey essay with all previous drafts

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/22

Today we began class by using Eudora Welty's "A Worn Path" and Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" to discuss the idea of antagonists and conflict. We discussed the antagonist in these pieces, and then applied that understanding as we discussed the six different conflict structures. We gave examples of each conflict structure, and then we brainstormed possible antagonists for each conflict type. After this brainstorming session, students began writing their antagonist story starts.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Test on 2/24

-Grammar Quiz corrections due on 2/24

-Book Talk #2 on 2/28

-Shakespeare test on 3/1

7th Grade--2/22

Today we talked about the functions of dialogue from a literary perspective. We looked specifically at how dialogue was used in "The Most Dangerous Game", and we used this conversation to move us towards using dialogue as hooks in our own writing. Students spent the second half of the period beginning their own dialogue story starts in their journals.

Due tomorrow...

-Overheard conversations page in your journal

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/21

Today students took a grammar quiz on participles & commas. They also took a comprehension quiz on Taming of the Shrew. Given the load of tests and homework this week, I gave the students the option of using the remaining twenty minutes of class to study, which both classes elected to do rather than act out the play. We will conclude our study of Shakespeare on Monday of next week.

Due tomorrow...

-Read antagonist packet and answer questions

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Test on 2/24

-Book Talk #2 on 2/28

-Shakespeare test on 3/1

7th Grade--2/21

Today we began with a brief lesson and discussion on introductory paragraphs. Students were given back my edits on their most recent papers, and they had the period to work on revisions. After I distributed the essays, I pulled some students aside for small group work in quote selection and quote analysis.

Due tomorrow...

-Finish reading and answering questions for "The Most Dangerous Game" 

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/16

Today students took the WM test. After they finished the test, they had the rest of the period to begin reading their antagonist fiction packets. They will need to complete four reflection questions for each of these stories.

Due Tuesday...

-Act 4, scene 4-5 & Act 5, scene 1

-Quiz on participles & commas

Long term due dates...

-Read antagonist packet and answer questions for 2/22

-Grammar Test on 2/24

-Book Talk #2 on 2/28

-Shakespeare test on 3/1

7th Grade--2/16

Today students took the WM test. After the test, students spent the rest of the period reading and answering questions for "The Most Dangerous Game".

Due Tuesday...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Finish reading and answering questions for "The Most Dangerous Game" on 2/22

-Book Talk #2 on 3/5

8th Grade--2/14

Today we took a quiz on Act 4, scenes 1-3. After the quiz, we reviewed the content of the act and briefly addressed the idea of sexism in the play. Next, we resumed acting out the play with Act 4, scene 3.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar Quiz Corrections (gerunds & infinitives)

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters test on 2/16

-Act 4, scene 4-5 & Act 5, scene 1 on 2/21

7th Grade--2/14

Today students had the opportunity to either work on their second draft revisions of their Hero's Journey essays (second draft due on Thursday), or they could work on studying for the WM test. Some students elected to play the games they had made for their WordMasters project. I also talked about review sesssions tomorrow before school, during lunch, and after school. Lastly, a student showed me this review site, and it might help you to check it out!

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Draft #2 of Hero's Journey essay due on 2/16

-WordMasters test on 2/16

8th Grade--2/13

Today we discussed commas as they are used in numerals, locations, and dialogue. After this, students had the rest of the period to complete their grammar homework, ask questions, and study for WordMasters.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar HW

-Shakespeare TIQA paragraphs

-Read Act 4, scenes 1-3

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz Corrections (gerunds & infinitives) on 2/15

-WordMasters test on 2/16

7th Grade--2/13

Today we worked on peer and self editing our Hero's Journey essays. While this was going on, I met with students individually to check in their WordMasters work.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Draft #2 of Hero's Journey essay due on 2/16

-WordMasters test on 2/16

8th Grade--2/10

Today we took quizzes on, acted out and discussed Act 3 of Taming of the Shrew.

Due Monday...

-WordMasters project (and other work)

Long term due dates...

-Shakespeare TIQA paragraphs due on 2/14

-Read Act 4, scenes 1-3 for 2/14
-WordMasters test on 2/16

7th Grade--2/10

Today students continued to work on the rough drafts of their Hero Essays. The rough draft of this essay is due on Monday. Please bring your printed copy to class.

Due Monday...

-Hero's journey rough drafts

-WordMasters project (and other work) 

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters test on 2/16

8th Grade--2/9

Today students worked on their Shakespeare TIQA paragraphs and WM stuff.

Due tomorrow...

-Read Act 3

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-Shakespeare TIQA paragraphs due on 2/14
-WordMasters test on 2/16

7th Grade--2/9

Today students worked on their hero's journey essays. We will continue this tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Book group questions packet (7B)

Long term due dates...

-Hero's journey rough drafts due on 2/13

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-WordMasters test on 2/16

8th Grade--2/8

Today we finished the WM packet. Along with the project, note cards & sentences, this handout should be completed for Monday. After WordMasters, students began work on their TIQA  paragraphs for Shakespeare.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 3 for Friday

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-Shakespeare TIQA paragraphs due on 2/14
-WordMasters test on 2/16

7th Grade--2/8

Today we finished the WordMasters list, and we received our WordMasters handouts. Along with the project, note cards & sentences, this handout should be completed for Monday. Next, we began work on our Hero's Journey essay. The outline for this essay is due tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Book group questions packet (7B)

-Outline for Hero's Journey essay

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-WordMasters test on 2/16

8th Grade--2/7

Today we took the gerunds and infinitives quiz at the beginning of class. After the quiz, we finished up the "verb wars" section of the grammar unit with a lesson on participles and participial phrases. Homework from this concept is due tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar homework

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 3 for Friday

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-WordMasters test on 2/16

7th Grade--2/7

Today we began class by taking the idioms quiz as the final step in the idioms mini-unit. Next, students had their last discussion day with their Hero's Journey book groups. Please continue to bring your books to class because you will begin writing your Hero's Journey essay tomorrow during class.

We finished class by learning WM words. We will finish the WM packet tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Book group questions packet

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-WordMasters test on 2/16

8th grade--2/6

Today we began by taking a short quiz on Act 2 of Taming of the Shrew. Next, we acted out a large portion of Act 2 in class, discussing the language as we went.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar Quiz on Gerunds & Infinitives

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 3 for Friday

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-WordMasters test on 2/16

7th Grade--2/6

Today students gave book talks to their peers in the RC.

Due tomorrow...

-Finish book group novels and write discussion questions

-Idioms Quiz

Long term due dates...

-WordMasters project (and other work) due on 2/13

-WordMasters test on 2/16

8th Grade--2/3

Today students worked on WM in preparation for their upcoming test.

Due Monday...

-Read Act 2

Long term due dates...

-WM work (note cards, project, handout & sentences) due on 2/10

7th Grade--2/3

Today students worked on WM work in preparation for the upcoming test.

Due Monday...

-Book Talk #1 

Long term due dates...

-Finish book group novels and write discussion questions for Tuesday, 2/7

-Idioms Quiz on 2/7

8th Grade--2/2

Today we took a quiz on Act 1, scene 2, and we then created a web to help better understand the characters and character relationships. After that, we acted out the beginning of Act 1, scene 2.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 2 for Monday
-WM work (note cards, project, handout & sentences) due on 2/10

7th Grade--2/2

Today we took the grammar test and compared our old scores with our new scores. Many students were very impressed with their progress! After the test, we worked on more WM words (shortcomings, rejuvenate, vain, and serenade).

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #1 for Monday, February 6th

-Finish book group novels and write discussion questions for Tuesday, 2/7

-Idioms Quiz on 2/7

8th Grade--2/1

Today we listened to student book talks in the RC.

Due tomorrow...

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

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 2 for Monday
-WM work (note cards, project, handout & sentences) due on 2/10

7th Grade--2/1

Today we began by listening to the remaining idiom presentations. Next, students met to discuss their book group novels while I checked in their discussion questions. To finish class, students were put into groups, and they participated in a grammar review for e-bucks. The grammar test is tomorrow, so I encourage you to see me tomorrow morning if you have any questions.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar test on commas, sentence construction & sentence types

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #1 for Monday, February 6th

-Finish book group novels and write discussion questions for Tuesday, 2/7

-Idioms Quiz on 2/7