8th Grade--9/28

Today we began class by discussing the elements that go into a strong conclusion and dissecting some example concluding paragraphs. After that, students continued to draft and type their comparative essays. Rough drafts of these essays should be typed for class on Monday.

Due Monday...

-Rough draft of comparative essay
-September IR log

Long term due dates...

-Grammar quiz corrections #1 due on Tuesday

7th Grade--9/28

Today we began class by going over the grammar homework from last night. Next, students took the second grammar quiz of the trimester. With the remaining time, students worked on their reading in The Outsiders for Monday.

Due Monday...

-Read and annotate chapters 5-7

-September IR log due

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--9/27

Today we continued to work on our comparative essay drafting, and I continued to conference with students. I also pulled aside groups to work on specific skills that students identified as areas of need.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Typed rough draft of comparative essay due on Monday

7th Grade--9/27

Today we began class by playing a game to review subject, predicate, direct object, and indirect object. After the game, students took brief notes on the elements of sentences to help them to identify sentences vs. fragments. We practiced this concept by looking at sample sentences/fragments and discussing them. After that, students took a formative assessment on sentence vs. fragments and were assigned homework based on their mastery.

You have a grammar quiz tomorrow on subject/predicate/object and sentences vs. fragments. Don't forget to study!

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar Quiz

-Grammar Homework

Long term due dates...

-Read and annotate chapters 5-7 for Monday, 10/1

8th Grade--9/25

Today students began the period by taking the first grammar quiz of the year. I will pass these back this week so that you can make corrections. Once students finished the quiz, they had the rest of the period to work on drafting their comparative essay and to conference with me about their writing.

Due Thursday...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Typed rough draft of comparative essay due on Monday

7th Grade--9/25

Today Ms. Nelson joined our class to give a lesson on how to deliver a strong book talk. You will be doing two book talks per trimester on your independent reading novels, so keep the handout she gave you as a guide for these assignments. Students had the last ten minutes of class to get started on their assigned reading in The Outsiders.

Due Thursday...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on Friday, 9/28

-Read and annotate chapters 5-7 for Monday, 10/1

8th Grade--9/24

Today we began to draft our OMAM comparative essays. We began class with a mini lesson on introductory paragraphs, and students spent the remainder of the period conferencing with me and writing.

The introductory paragraph handout can be accessed here.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar Quiz on parts of speech, subject/predicate/object, and simple/compound/complex/compound-complex sentences

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--9/24

Today we discussed the questions below as they relate to the assigned reading in The Outsiders. Students also took a comprehension quiz on the assigned reading. Students also met and reviewed their grammar homework on subject/predicate/object.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on Friday, 9/28

-Read and annotate chapters 5-7 for Monday, 10/1

8th Grade--9/21

Today we worked on topic sentence development for our compare/contrast essays. We also discussed how to format body paragraphs that contain multiple quotes using TIQAIQA or TIQIQA. Students began to work on developing their outlines.

Due tomorrow...

-Essay Outlines

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--9/21

Today we had a grammar day on subject, predicate, and object. Students took notes and responded to practice questions.

If you were absent, you can access the powerpoint here.

Due Monday..

-Grammar HW

-Read and annotate chapters 3 & 4

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--9/20

Today students continued the sentence wars competition. After that, we began brainstorming and idea generating for our Of Mice and Men comparative essays. Some students had time to develop a thesis statement today, but if you were not able to get that far, please come to class tomorrow with a revised and polished thesis statement.

Due tomorrow...

-Thesis statement

-Bring secondary (comparative) piece of literature to class tomorrow

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--9/20

Today students took the STAR math assessment during class, and then they had the remainder of the period (if they finished the assessment early) to read and annotate in The Outsiders.

Due tomorrow..

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read and annotate chapters 3 & 4 for Monday

8th Grade--9/19

Today we reviewed the concepts of compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences. We also began the sentence wars group activity that we will do all school year.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar HW 

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--9/19

Today we did our first reading and recall session on your story starts.

Due tomorrow..

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read and annotate chapters 3 & 4 for Monday

8th Grade--9/18

Today we had our Of Mice and Men formal debate. You guys did great work! I also collected OMAM books to grade for annotations.

Due tomorrow...

-Debate reflection (1-2 pages TYPED)

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--9/18

Today we took a comprehension quiz on The Outsiders. We also worked on recruitment posters for the socs and the greasers in small groups.

Due tomorrow..

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read and annotate chapters 3 & 4 for Monday

8th Grade--9/13

Today was your last day to prepare your arguments for Tuesday's Of Mice and Men debate. If you did not finish preparing, please work on this over the weekend.

I also went over some strategies for strengthening your argument and your presentation.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-OMAM Debate on Tuesday
-OMAM Annotations due on Tuesday

7th Grade--9/13

Today we spent part of the block on picture day and taking the STAR reading assessment. After that, students came back to my room. I gave a brief lesson on how to find titles for your stories within your writing, and students had 15-20 minutes to continue writing.

For Tuesday, you need to type your story start. It does NOT need to be finished, but make sure that you have at least 1.5 pages of typed writing to hand in to me. Also make sure to reread this writing and edit it before submitting it. Mechanics will be part of your grade. Again, remember that this must be TYPED and handed in for Tuesday.

Due tomorrow..

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar corrections due on Tuesday

-Read and annotate chapters 1 & 2 in The Outsiders for Tuesday

-Story start due on Tuesday

8th Grade--9/12

Today I clarified directions for the debate, and then students had the rest of the period to work on their notecards and debate prep.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-OMAM Debate on Tuesday the 18th

7th Grade--9/12

Today we worked on how to communicate character and setting by showing rather than telling. Students worked on their fiction writing for the rest of class, and then we ended class by sharing 1-3 strong sentences from our writing.

Due tomorrow..

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar corrections due on Tuesday the 18th

-Read chapters 1 & 2 in The Outsiders for Tuesday the 18th

8th Grade--9/11

Today students read through the debate expectations and rules sheet as a class. After that, you were assigned to your debate groups and you began working with your group to develop talking points for your debate.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-OMAM Debate on Tuesday the 18th

7th Grade--9/11

Today we started writing our first story start. I introduced students to the classroom's inspiration library, and we discussed how it can be used to inspire and enhance our writing. At the end of the period, we shared sentences from our writing with the entire class.

I also passed back graded grammar quizzes, and we discussed how to format your grammar corrections.

Due tomorrow..

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar corrections due on Tuesday the 18th

-Read chapters 1 & 2 in The Outsiders for Tuesday the 18th

8th Grade--9/10

Today we took our final comprehension quiz for Of Mice and Men. After the quiz, we briefly discussed student questions and observations. After that, we spent the majority of the class having a discussion about a number of foreshadowed events that took place throughout the novel. Students has to support their assertions with quotes from the text.

At the end of class, students took a moment to privately express their beliefs about George's final decision in the novel.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--9/10

Today we began class by reviewing our homework on types of sentences. Most of you seemed to really grasp this topic well. Next, students took their first grammar quiz of the trimester. I will return these to you tomorrow so that you can make corrections for Tuesday of next week.

After the quiz was finished, we discussed annotation strategies and looked at some sample texts from former students. I distributed The Outsiders texts to you, and you began reading and annotating.

Due tomorrow..

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read chapters 1 & 2 in The Outsiders for Tuesday the 18th

8th Grade--9/7

Today we reviewed last night's grammar homework in groups, and we then took a comprehension quiz on chapters 3 & 4 of Of Mice and Men. We spent the remainder of the period discussing this section of the text, focusing on the following questions.

Due Monday...

-Finish Of Mice and Men

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--9/7

Today we went over last night's grammar homework. After that, we briefly discussed Monday's grammar quiz and how to receive extra help in preparation for that quiz.

The lesson for the day addressed types of sentences. We learned about interrogative, exclamatory, declarative, and imperative sentences. The homework will be on this topic.

We ended class by playing a short game to review parts of speech.

Due Monday..

-Grammar HW on Types of Sentences

-Grammar Quiz

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--9/6

Today we reviewed parts of speech and played a parts of speech review game. After that, we discussed subject, predicate, and object. You took a brief assessment to see where your understanding is on these concepts, and I assigned homework accordingly. This homework is due tomorrow.

Due tomorrow...

-Read Chapters #3 & #4 in OMAM

-OMAM TIQA paragraph

-Grammar Homework on Parts of Speech

-Grammar Homework on Subject/Predicate/Object

Long term due dates...

-Finish Of Mice and Men for Monday

7th Grade--9/6

Today we began class by checking in and reviewing the grammar homework from Tuesday. After that, we learned about subjective and objective case pronouns as well as proper usage of adjectives and adverbs. You took a short assessment on this and received homework based on how well you are grasping the concepts.

Due tomorrow..

-Grammar HW on Subjective and Objective Case

-Grammar HW on Adjectives and Adverbs

Long term due dates...

-Grammar quiz on Monday, 9/10

8th Grade--9/5

Today we began class by reviewing TIQA body paragraph formatting for literary essays. We worked through creating a paragraph as a class, and then students had the rest of the period to write their own paragraphs. These paragraphs are to be based off of one of the following prompts:

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Chapters #3 & #4 in OMAM for Friday

-OMAM TIQA paragraph due Friday

7th Grade--9/5

Today we went to the computer lab and resource center for orientations. You are now ready to use the computers in the buildings for your homework.

Due tomorrow..

-Grammar HW on Parts of Speech due tomorrow

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--9/4

Today we took our second comprehension quiz for Of Mice and Men. After the quiz, students responded to one of the following discussion questions in their notes, and we discussed these questions as well as other student questions or observations from the reading.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Chapters #3 & #4 in OMAM for Friday

7th Grade--9/4

Today we learned about the parts of speech. We spent the first half of class taking notes and asking questions, and we spent the second half of class practicing our parts of speech identification. Students took a brief formative assessment on this topic to see how much they had retained from the lesson, and homework was assigned based on these results.

E-Buck opportunity!
The first person who can correctly identify all of the parts of speech in the following sentence and turn in their answer to me tomorrow will win an e-buck...
"She was flying to the moon in her extremely fast rocket."

Due tomorrow..

-Nothing

Long term due dates...

-Grammar HW on Parts of Speech due on Thursday