8th Grade--5/30

The last day of Etter English!!!! Ahhh!!!

Today students submitted their final assignments. If you DID NOT turn anything in today, please do so before advisory tomorrow. I want to have finalized grades for you by Friday.

During class students wrote reflections about their writing progress. They also took a survey about their experience in my classroom. After that, we finished class with a competition that covered material from both years of Washburne English.

Due tomorrow...

-Anything you are missing

Long term due dates...

-NOTHING!!!!

7th Grade--5/30

Today we watched the play during English class time. We will finish watching A Raisin in the Sun next week.

Due Friday...

-Book Talk

-May IR log 

Long term due dates...

-Final fiction writing due on 6/7

8th Grade--5/29

Students went to hear Chuck Myers speak about his experience during the Vietnam War. After the speaker, students returned to English for a brief period of time to discuss the final expectations for tomorrow and to take the MAZE assessment.

Due tomorrow...

-Final Fiction Writing

-May IR log

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--5/29

Students continued to watch A Raisin in the Sun.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk on 6/1

-May IR log due on 6/1

7th Grade--5/25

Today we began watching the film version of A Raisin in the Sun. We will finish watching this during class on Tuesday and Wednesday. After we finish watching the film, we will discuss the differences between the play and movie format.

Due Tuesday...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk on 6/1

-May IR log due on 6/1

8th Grade--5/24

Today students had their final day in the computer lab to work on their final fiction writing. These stories will be due next Wednesday.

Due Tuesday...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Final Fiction Writing due on 5/30

-May IR log due on 5/30

7th Grade--5/24

Today students completed their in-class essay on A Raisin in the Sun.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk on 6/1

8th Grade--5/23

Today students continued to work on their final fiction writing and took the MAZE reading assessment.

Due tomorrow...

-Bring your story start that you're finishing for the end of the year in digital form

Long term due dates...

-Final Fiction Writing due on 5/30

7th Grade--5/23

Today students presented their cases for the argumentation project. After the presentations, students voted for the best argument and the winning group received e-bucks. I also explained my theory on the crime, and we discussed the "why" behind the project. Next, we took the MAZE assessment and spent the last ten minutes working on prewriting for tomorrow's essay test.

Due tomorrow...

-Raisin in the Sun in-class essay

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk on 6/1

8th Grade--5/22

Today students began to work on their final fiction writing. You will time in class to continue to work on this tomorrow and Thursday.

Due tomorrow...

-Bring your story start that you're finishing for the end of the year in digital form

Long term due dates...

-Final Fiction Writing due on 5/30

7th Grade--5/22

Today students cleaned out their mailboxes and added work to their portfolios. After completing this, students continued to organize their arguments and plan out their presentations for tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Raisin in the Sun in-class essay on 5/24

8th Grade--5/21

Today students did their in class essay on science fiction.

Due tomorrow...

-Bring your story start that you're finishing for the end of the year in digital form

Long term due dates...

-Final Fiction Writing due on 5/30

7th Grade--5/21

Today students took a quiz on the end of A Raisin in the Sun. After the quiz, we discussed the ending of the play and the elements that make up the American dream. I passed out the writing prompts for Thursday's essay test, and answered questions. Students used the remainder of the time to work on their group projects.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Raisin in the Sun in-class essay on 5/24

8th Grade--5/18

Today we did reading and recall for our scifi stories, and we discussed Monday's in-class essay test.

Below are the prompts for Monday's essay test. You may prepare on a single sheet of paper and on post its in your book. If you have questions, email me.

Due Monday...

-SciFi Expository In-Class Essay Test

Long term due dates...

-Final Fiction Writing due on 5/30

7th Grade--5/18

Today we began a new project, looking at the evidence to solve a crime. You will have two days next week to continue working on this and to present your argument to the class.

Due Monday...

-Read Act 3 in A Raisin in the Sun

Long term due dates...

-Raisin in the Sun in-class essay on 5/24

8th Grade--5/17

Today the class was less than half full due to the Spanish field trip, but those students who were present were given time to work on researching and writing their science fiction story starts. These starts will be due tomorrow for reading and recall!

Due tomorrow...

-SciFi story start

Long term due dates...

-SciFi Expository In-Class Essay on 5/21

7th Grade--5/17

Today students spent the morning block in the Resource Center meeting the author of their social studies books. Some students had him sign their copies of the text.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 3 in A Raisin in the Sun for 5/21

8th Grade--5/16

Today students journaled on how the age-old philosophical questions impact their work as science fiction writers. They shared their responses with a partner, and then continued to work on their research and science fiction story writing.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-SciFi Story start due on 5/18

-SciFi Expository In-Class Essay on 5/21

7th Grade--5/16

Today students spent the day taking part in Civil War Day.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 3 in A Raisin in the Sun for 5/21

8th Grade--5/15

Today we combined with social studies to work on our script writing for the documentary project. If you would like additional assistance with editing, please see me before or after school.

Due tomorrow...

-Book Stall permission slip (if you didn't submit it today)

Long term due dates...

-SciFi Story start due on 5/18

-SciFi Expository In-Class Essay on 5/21

7th Grade--5/15

Today we did reading and recall for our historical fiction story starts.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 3 in A Raisin in the Sun for 5/21

8th Grade--5/14

Today we discussed the end of our science fiction novels. After our book group discussions, we reflected on the reading as a full class, and then we met in small groups to discuss how our science fiction could answer age-old questions.

Due tomorrow...

-Book Stall permission slip

Long term due dates...

-SciFi Story start due on 5/18

-SciFi Expository In-Class Essay on 5/21

7th Grade--5/14

Today students took a comprehension quiz on Act 2 of A Raisin in the Sun. After the quiz, we discussed the following questions about the reading.

Due tomorrow...

-Historical fiction story start

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 3 in A Raisin in the Sun for 5/21

8th Grade--5/11

Today students shared their reflections in pairs to begin class. After this, we discussed areas of research, and I showed students a list of links that would help them to answer their questions in a more reliable and efficient manner. Students then had the remainder of the period to conduct research for their science fiction and to incorporate that research into their writing.

Due Monday...

-Book Thief summative writing final draft

-Reading and reflection question #4 (for all novel groups, this means you should finish your novel)

Long term due dates...

-SciFi Expository In-Class Essay on 5/21

7th Grade--5/11

Today we began class with the summative grammar assessment for trimester three. After the test, students worked on researching and writing their historical fiction story starts. These story starts will be due on Tuesday and should be at least 1.5 pages long.

Due Monday...

-Read Act 2 in A Raisin in the Sun

Long term due dates...

-Historical fiction story start is due on 5/14

8th Grade--5/10

Today we discussed our reading in our book groups. After that, we did a four corners discussion activity surrounding common themes of science fiction.

Due tomorrow...

-1/2 page reflection in your journal on the themes from today's discussion and how they impact your writing as a science fiction writer.

Long term due dates...

-Book Thief summative writing final draft due on 5/14

-Reading and reflection question #4 due on 5/14 (for all novel groups, this means you should finish your novel)

7th Grade--5/10

Today we spent the first half of class doing a girls vs. boys grammar review. This should give you a good idea of the material on tomorrow's test. During the second half of class, students continued to work on their reading for Monday and/or their historical fiction writing.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar final test

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 2 for 5/14

8th Grade--5/9

Today I handed back my corrections for students' Book Thief essays. We discussed some of the patterns and recurring problems present in these pieces, and then students had the remainder of the period to make corrections and ask questions about my comments. Please feel free to sign up for a second edit of your work on Thursday or Friday.

Due tomorrow...

-Reading and reflection question #3
Uglies: finish part two
Dead and the Gone: Chapters 9-13
Fahrenheit 451: Finish part 2
7A short story group: "There Will Come Soft Rains", "The King of the Beasts" and "The Forgotten Enemy"
7B short story group: "There Will Come Soft Rains", "The True Darkness" and "Random Sample"

Long term due dates...

-Book Thief summative writing final draft due on 5/14

7th Grade--5/9

Today we continued to work on our historical fiction writing. We began class by sharing some of our writing, and then had fifteen minutes to continue writing. At this point, I stopped the class and we discussed what questions we might have to guide our research. We made lists of research topics for two students as a full class, and then each student wrote their own research list. Once these lists were developed, students spent the remainder of the period researching.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar quiz corrections due

Long term due dates...

-Grammar final test on 5/11

-Read Act 2 for 5/14

8th Grade--5/8

Today we continued to work on our science fiction story starts. We began by discussing how the fears from yesterday might be worked into our stories. After students spent a period of time writing, they shared  sentences from their stories. After this, students were asked to list the science fiction elements already present in their stories. After sharing these, students were to come up with at least three research questions that would help to enhance their writing.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Reading and reflection question #3 for 5/10
Uglies: finish part two
Dead and the Gone: Chapters 9-13
Fahrenheit 451: Finish part 2
7A short story group: "There Will Come Soft Rains", "The King of the Beasts" and "The Forgotten Enemy"
7B short story group: "There Will Come Soft Rains", "The True Darkness" and "Random Sample"

7th Grade--5/8

Today we began work on our historical fiction story starts. We brainstormed potential settings and characters both as a group and on our own. After sharing some ideas, students began to draft their piece.

Due tomorrow...

-1/2 page of historical fiction writing in your journal (if you did not get that far during class)

Long term due dates...

-Grammar quiz corrections due on 5/10

-Grammar final test on 5/11

-Read Act 2 for 5/14

8th Grade--5/7

Today students discussed the second section of their science fiction reading. After discussing the reading, we discussed how our own fears and concerns associated with technology and the government might serve to inspire our science fiction writing.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Reading and reflection question #3 for 5/10
Uglies: finish part two
Dead and the Gone: Chapters 9-13
Fahrenheit 451: Finish part 2
7A short story group: "There Will Come Soft Rains", "The King of the Beasts" and "The Forgotten Enemy"
7B short story group: "There Will Come Soft Rains", "The True Darkness" and "Random Sample"

7th Grade--5/7

Today we discussed Act 1 of A Raisin in the Sun as a class and took a reading comprehension quiz on this material.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar quiz corrections due on 5/10

-Grammar final test on 5/11

-Read Act 2 for 5/14

8th Grade--5/4

Today we shared some of our ideas for science fiction stories. After sharing, students began writing their science fiction stories. We shared sentences at the end of class.

The discussion question for Monday's reading is...

Due Monday...

-Science fiction reading and reflection question #2
(Chapters 5-8 in Dead and the Gone, Finish part one in Fahrenheit 451, Finish part one and read up to "bug eyes" in Uglies)

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--5/4

Today students finished their narrative podcasts. Students who finished early were aloud to begin their weekend reading.

Due Monday...

-Read Act 1 of Raisin in the Sun

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--5/3

Today students discussed their reading in their reading groups. After this, students worked in different groups to identify the elements of different science fiction sub-genres.

Due tomorrow...

-BT summative writing draft #2

Long term due dates...

-Science fiction reading and reflection question #2 due on 5/7

7th Grade--5/3

Today 7th graders began the podcast assignment for their narratives.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Act 1 of Raisin in the Sun for 5/7

8th Grade--5/2

Today students peer and self edited their Book Thief summative writing. Students who finished this process early used the remainder of the period to begin making their corrections and/or complete their science fiction reading.

Due tomorrow...

-Science fiction reading and reflection question #1

Long term due dates...

-BT summative writing draft #2 due on 5/4

-Science fiction reading and reflection question #2 due on 5/7

7th Grade--5/2

Today we shared our first book talks for trimester three.

Due tomorrow...

-Final draft of narrative...TWO COPIES!

Long term due dates...

-Grammar quiz corrections due on 5/4

-Read Act 1 of Raisin in the Sun for 5/7

8th Grade--5/1

Today we began class with the final grammar test of the year. After the grammar test, we began the science fiction unit. Students worked in groups to develop definitions for science fiction. We looked at each group's definition and the class voted on a class-approved definition for the unit. These are below.

8A: Science fiction is a writing genre that is based on a character living in an alternate reality where the major difference is one or more advancements in science.


8B: Science fiction is a genre which includes technological innovations, concepts or beings alien to this current time period and in which life is scientifically different.

Due tomorrow...

-Book Thief Summative Writing rough draft

Long term due dates...

-Reading and reflection question #1 due on 5/3

7th Grade--5/1

Today we took a quiz on capitalization and dangling modifiers. After the quiz, students received their A Raisin in the Sun books. We discussed methods for reading and annotating dramatic literature, and we began to read the text together.

Due tomorrow...

-Book Talk #1 for trimester three

Long term due dates...

-Final draft of narrative due on 5/3 (two copies)