7th Grade--12/3

Today students worked in groups on the introductory lesson for the utopia unit. These lessons can be found on Schoology and were leveled based on the results of the utopia preassessment. After that, students had the last 10-15 minutes of class to read the mentor text for this unit and respond to the discussion question on Schoology.

Due tomorrow...

-WM note cards

-WM handout

Long term due dates...

-WM test on 12/5

-Utopia mentor text question due on 12/5

8th Grade--12/3

Today we discussed the different elements of persuasive and argumentative writing, looking at a powerpoint that highlights these elements. Next, students began to read the mentor texts and respond to the discussion questions on Schoology.

Due tomorrow...

-None

 

Long term due dates...

-WM Test on 12/5

-Persuasive & Argumentative Mentor Text Questions on 12/6

7th Grade--12/2

Today we discussed the WordMasters tests and I responded to student questions and concerns. Next, we went over an instructional lesson on solving analogies.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-WM note cards due on 12/4

-WM handout due on 12/4

-WM test on 12/5

8th Grade--12/2

Today we continued reading and recall for our gender reversed stories and our person-action-person stories.

Due tomorrow...

-WM note cards

-WM handout

 

Long term due dates...

-WM Test on 12/5

7th Grade--11/26

Students had the period to work on their WM notecards and handouts. The handouts are available below in the three levels.

IDENTIFYING (If you got a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 out of 11 on the WM preassessment)
DISCOVERING (If you got a 7, 8, or 9 out of 11 on the WM preassessment)
GENERATING (If you got a 10 or 11 out of 11 on the WM preassessment)

Due Monday...

-None

Long term due dates...

-WM note cards due on 12/4

-WM handout due on 12/4

-WM test on 12/5

8th Grade--11/26

Today students had the period to work on WM work. The handouts can be found be clicking on the appropriate level below. They're also available on Schoology.

IDENTIFYING
DISCOVERING
GENERATING

Due Monday...

-None

 

Long term due dates...

-WM note cards due on 12/3

-WM handout due on 12/3

-WM Test on 12/5

7th Grade--11/25

Today students took the grammar test for trimester #1. They also took a preassessment for WordMasters to assess their understanding of the vocabulary and analogies. This will determine their preparatory worksheet for the test, and it will also guide my instruction of analogies next week.

Due tomorrow...

-Bring notecards to class

Long term due dates...

-WM note cards due on 12/4

-WM handout due on 12/4

-WM test on 12/5

8th Grade--11/25

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

Due tomorrow...

-bring note cards to class

Long term due dates...

-WM note cards due on 12/3

-WM handout due on 12/3

-WM Test on 12/5

7th Grade--11/22

Today we learned about the Pride of Lions list for this school year.

Due Monday...

-Grammar Test

Long term due dates...

-WM note cards due on 12/4

-WM handout due on 12/4

-WM test on 12/5

8th Grade--11/22

Today students learned about the Pride of Lions book for this school year.

Due Monday...

-None

 

Long term due dates...

-WM note cards due on 12/3

-WM handout due on 12/3

-WM Test on 12/5

7th Grade--11/21

Today we practiced parts of speech with a few sample sentences. After we reviewed this, I answered some student questions and addressed some areas of student concern surrounding grammar. We ended class with a game of grammar jeopardy.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Test on 11/25

8th Grade--11/21

Today we paired up with an opposite gendered partner to consult with questions about whether we were using gender successfully in our written voice. We also did a practice on apostrophes. Students had time to type their stories. At the end of class, students met in their pairs to exchange stories, read each others' work, and conference about what worked and didn't work in the voice. Students then shared sentences from their partners' work.

Due tomorrow...

-Gender reversed story start submitted to Schoology

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--11/20

Today students took grammar quiz #2, the utopia book group preassessment, and the utopia unit preassessment on Schoology. After that, students had the remainder of the period to free read.

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the WM discussion in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Test on 11/25

8th Grade--11/20

Today we began class by turning in our essay rough draft packets. Students then met in pairs or groups of three to look at sample pieces of student writing (worksheet can be found here) and discuss gender clues in the written voice. After the groups had looked at all the samples, we discussed them as a full class. After that, students had about 20-25 minutes to write in their journals. At the end of class, we shared sentences and students completed an exit slip about their character.

Due tomorrow...

-None

 

Long term due dates...

-Gender reversed story start due on Friday to Schoology

7th Grade--11/19

Today students reviewed their homework in groups. Next we did practice sentences for subject/predicate/object and reviewed the answers as a class. After that, we learned about subjective and objective case (view that presentation here). Students then completed the exit slip and selected the appropriate level of homework (GENERATING, DISCOVERING, or IDENTIFYING).

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the WM discussion in Schoology 

-Grammar HW 

-Grammar Quiz

-Essay final draft due to Schoology and bring essay rough draft packet to class

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Test on 11/25

8th Grade--11/19

Today we discussed the mentor text and the elements of feminine voice that made the male narrator not as believable as he should've been. Next, we made a list of common elements found in both female and male written voice. We talked about how this list is not to be used as a checklist while writing and how it doesn't apply to all female and male writers.

Next, students began writing their stories from the perspective of the opposite gender. We ended class by sharing a couple sentences from our work. Students also wrote short descriptive passages of a picture. Some of these will be used for tomorrow's lesson.

Due tomorrow...

-Post WM word response on Schoology

-Final essay draft due to Schoology and bring the rough draft packet to class

 

Long term due dates...

-Gender reversed story start due on Friday to Schoology

7th Grade--11/18

Today we learned about subject, predicate, and object (see that presentation here) as well as how to tell fragments from full sentences (see that presentation here). After we took notes and practiced these concepts, students took the subject-predicate-object exit slip on Schoology and used their score on that to select one of the homework assignments for the concept (IDENTIFYING, DISCOVERING, or GENERATING)

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the WM discussion in Schoology 

-Grammar HW

Long term due dates...

-Essay final draft due on Wednesday to Schoology and essay rough draft packet due on Wednesday

-Grammar Quiz on Wednesday

8th Grade--11/18

Today we did reading and recall for our person-action-person stories

Due tomorrow...

-Post WM word response on Schoology

-Read mentor text and respond to discussion question on Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Final essay draft due to Schoology for Wednesday and bring the rough draft packet to class on Wednesday

7th Grade--11/15

Today students took a grammar quiz. After the quiz, students received their essay edits and they had the period to make changes and conference with me.

Due Monday...

-Respond to the WM discussion in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Essay final draft due on Wednesday to Schoology and essay rough draft packet due on Wednesday

8th Grade--11/15

Today students were given back their essays, and they had the period to conference with me and make edits.

Due Monday...

-Post WM word response on Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Final essay draft due to Schoology for Wednesday and bring the rough draft packet to class on Wednesday

7th Grade--11/14

Today we did a quick review of parts of speech with some practice sentences. Next, we learned about different types of sentences with a presentation. After the presentation and practice, students completed the exit slip on Schoology to see where they were with their understanding of the concepts. They used the results of this exit slip to select homework in one of the three levels below.

IDENTIFYING
DISCOVERING
GENERATING

With any remaining time, students worked on this homework and asked questions.

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the WM discussion in Schoology 

-Grammar HW on sentence types

-Grammar quiz on parts of speech and sentence types. 

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--11/14

Today we listened to students share their book talks.

Due tomorrow...

-Post WM word response on Schoology

-Person-Action-Person story start

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--11/13

Today students reviewed parts of speech. First they checked their homework in groups, then they took a check-in to see how much students were understanding. Next, we looked at some practice sentences together and then students got into groups for a parts of speech scavenger hunt.

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the WM discussion in Schoology 

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on 11/15

8th Grade--11/13

Sorry for the late post guys. On Wednesday, November 13th, we talked about slowing down and fully describing action. After that, students had the rest of the period to type their story start.

Due tomorrow...

-Post WM word response on Schoology

-Book Talk #2

Long term due dates...

-Person-Action-Person story start due on 11/15

7th Grade--11/12

Today we started our grammar unit with parts of speech. You can find the presentation we used here, and it's also available on Schoology. Next, students ended class by completing an exit slip that gave me a better idea of where they are with the concepts. This also decided their homework level. The two homework assignments can be found by clicking on the links below.

IDENTIFYING/DISCOVERING
GENERATING

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the discussion for "influx" in Schoology 

-Grammar HW on parts of speech

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on 11/15

8th Grade--11/12

Today students looked at sample student hooks from past assignments in pairs, discussing why their assigned hook was strong and what they could to make their hooks strong in the same way. We then shared with each other our findings and discussed the importance of a strong opening when presenting our work to readers and publishers.

Students wrote for about thirty minutes, and we ended class by sharing sentences from our writing.

Due tomorrow...

-Post WM word response on Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--11/11

Today we listened to student book talks.

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the discussion for "peripheral" in Schoology 

-Hero essay second draft due PRINTED

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--11/11

Today we did an idea generating exercise for our next fiction writing unit. Students had 20 minutes to write and then we ended the period by sharing sentences.

Due tomorrow...

-TKAM annotations (if you didn't already turn it in)

-TKAM second draft due PRINTED

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--11/8

Today students did peer and self editing of their essays.

Due Monday...

-Respond to the discussion for "conform" in Schoology 

-Book Talk #2

Long term due dates...

-Hero essay second draft due 11/12

8th Grade--11/8

Today we did peer and self editing and students began their reading for Monday.

Due Monday...

-TKAM annotations

-Person-action-person mentor text reading and discussion questions on Schoology

Long term due dates...

-TKAM essay second draft due on 11/12

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--11/7

Today we did a mini lesson on hooks as a group. After the mini lesson, students checked in with me to conference about writing and continued to work on their essays.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "stalemate" in Schoology 

-Hero essay rough draft due

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/11

-Hero essay second draft due 11/12

8th Grade--11/7

Today we continued working on our essays and Mr. Boyer showed us how to transfer our files to our new google accounts. The mini lessons we did in small groups are below. Click on each one to see the handout.

Transitions
Intro paragraphs
Quote introductions (and I passed out a template for quote intro writing)

Due tomorrow..

-TKAM essay rough draft

Long term due dates...

-TKAM annotations due on 11/11

-TKAM essay second draft due on 11/12

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--11/6

Today we began class by looking over the comments on Monday's exit slip. Students then were able to continue their rough draft writing. While they were drafting, students were pulled out to conference with Mrs. Marut about independent reading goals, and they conferenced with Mrs. Etter about their essays as needed.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "eccentric" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Hero essay rough draft due 11/8

-Book Talk #2 on 11/11

-Hero essay second draft due 11/12

8th Grade--11/6

Today we began class by discussing the assignments for the last two weeks of the trimester. Next, we worked together to generate a list of possible themes or topics for our TKAM essays. Students had to take one of these topics and respond to it with a thesis. They then had to approve the thesis statement with me before continuing on. They used the rest of class to conference and outline their essay, and did an exit slip on Schoology before leaving.

Due tomorrow..

-Outline for TKAM essay

Long term due dates...

-TKAM essay rough draft due on 11/8

-TKAM annotations due on 11/8

-TKAM essay second draft due on 11/12

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--11/4

Today we began class by discussing the hero's journey prompt sheet and students reviewed their preassessment data in Schoology and made determinations about which prompt to chose based on my feedback. Next, students began outlining and meeting with me for guidance. They ended class by taking the finding quotes exit slip in Schoology.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "scourge" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/11

7th Grade--11/1

Today we finished our book group discussions for our novels and took comprehension quizzes. After that, students continued to add quotes to their quote sharing discussion threads on Schoology. Students spent the last 15 minutes of class taking the heroic journey essay preassessment. This will determine which essay prompt you begin on Monday.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "scourge" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/11

8th Grade--11/1

Today we completed our discussion of TKAM, focusing on the end of childhood journeys in the novel, clarifying what happens at the end surrounding the murder of Bob Ewell, discussing the metaphors and symbolism surrounding animals in the book, and talking about authorial intent in the scene where Cecil Jacob's discusses Hitler. Students took a comprehension quiz as well.

Due Wednesday..

-Respond to the discussion for "dour" in Schoology

-Respond to the poll on Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--10/31

Today we did a mini lesson on discovering aspects of a character through their actions and choices. After that, students had time to finish their book group novels for tomorrow or begin their next independent reading book.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "indispensable" in Schoology

-Read section #5 of your book group novel (finish it) and answer discussion question sheet #5

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/11

8th Grade--10/31

Today we finished our discussion from yesterday (8B class) and then students had a chance to begin their assigned reading for the rest of class.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "flout" in Schoology

-Finish TKAM

 

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--10/30

Today students took comprehension quizzes on their hero's journey novels. Next, they discussed them in groups and added evidence to their group discussions in Schoology. Students concluded class by reading for ten minutes.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "sequester" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read section #5 of your book group novel (finish it) and answer discussion question sheet #5 for Friday

-Book Talk #2 on 11/11

8th Grade--10/30

We discussed the section from TKAM, focusing on the discussion questions below. Students also took a comprehension quiz.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "penchant" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Finish TKAM for Friday

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--10/29

Today we did a mini lesson on discovering character through the dialogue said by other characters. Next, students continued their reading and annotating.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "escarpment" in Schoology

-Read section #4 of your book group novel and answer discussion question sheet #4

Long term due dates...

-Read section #5 of your book group novel (finish it) and answer discussion question sheet #5 for Friday

-Book Talk #2 on 11/11

8th Grade--10/29

Today we did a mini lesson to further practice our inference skills. See me for a copy of the graphic organizer we used to accomplish this. Next, students worked on their reading and annotating of TKAM.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "reprehensible" in Schoology

-Read chapters 19-24 in TKAM

Long term due dates...

-Finish TKAM for 11/1

-Book Talk #2 on 11/14

7th Grade--10/28

Today students took comprehension quizzes, discussed with their groups, and participated in discussions on Schoology. They had ten minutes to read at the end of class.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "opaque" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read section #4 of your book group novel and answer discussion question sheet #4 for Wednesday

8th Grade--10/28

Today we took a comprehension quiz for TKAM and had a full class discussion based on student questions and discussion questions.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "discriminate" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read chapters 19-24 in TKAM for Wednesday

7th Grade--10/25

Today we did reading and recall for our hero's journey story starts.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "deviate" in Schoology

-Read section #3 of your book group novel and answer discussion question sheet #3 for Monday

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--10/25

Today we talked about summarizing as an annotation tool. Students read for the rest of the day. 

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "panache" in Schoology

-Read Chapters 12-18 in TKAM

Long term due dates...

-none

7th Grade--10/24

Today we took comprehension quizzes on Schoology and students led small group discussions. I checked in with each group during this time. Next, students continued to work on finding quotes and support to post and share in Schoology.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "impasse" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read section #3 of your book group novel and answer discussion question sheet #3 for Monday

8th Grade--10/24

We took a comprehension quiz on Schoology and had a class discussion on the following discussion questions.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "inveterate" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read Chapters 12-18 for Monday

7th Grade--10/23

Today we began class with a mini lesson on using character description to inform our understanding about a specific character and a mini lesson on using the dialogue spoken by a character to inform our understanding of that character. This was parts one and two in a five part series of mini lessons about discovering the depth of characters while reading. Students read for the rest of the period and completed an exit slip with one comprehension question at the end of class.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "sporadic" in Schoology

-Read section #2 of your book group novel and answer discussion question sheet #2

Long term due dates...

-Read section #3 of your book group novel and answer discussion question sheet #3 for Monday

8th Grade--10/23

Today we did a mini lesson on making inferences while reading. After that, students had the period to read. At the end of class, students completed an exit slip with one comprehension question on it.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "abjure" in Schoology

-Read Chapters 6-11 in TKAM

Long term due dates...

-Read Chapters 12-18 for Monday

7th Grade--10/22

Today students took comprehension quizzes and also met with their reading groups to discuss their novels and spent some time finding quotes from the book to connect their novels to the hero's journey.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "annihilate" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read section #2 of your book group novel and answer discussion question sheet #2 for Thursday

8th Grade--10/22

Today we took quizzes on To Kill a Mockingbird. Afterwards, we had a discussion following the discussion questions below.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "reprisal" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read Chapters 6-11  for Thursday

7th Grade--10/21

Today we began class with a mini lesson on using graphic organizers and keys for comprehension and annotation. Next, students had the period to work on reading their book group novels for tomorrow.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "lackey" in Schoology

-Read section #1 of your book group novel and answer the discussion questions

Long term due dates...

-Read section #2 of  your book group novel for Thursday

8th Grade--10/21

Today we began class by discussing the week ahead and talking about what students should be annotating for in To Kill a Mockingbird. That list is below. Students pasted this list into their books for reference.

Students had the remainder of the period to begin assigned reading. They'll finish this for homework tonight.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "desultory" in Schoology

-Read chapters 1-5 in To Kill a Mockingbird

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--10/18

Today students had a mini lesson about internal dialogue writing and mechanics. After the lesson, students worked on their hero's journey story starts and conferenced with me as needed. At the end of the period, we shared sentences and I distributed hero's journey book group novels. Students should begin this reading over the weekend. The chapter assignments for each novel can be viewed here.

Due Monday..

-Respond to the discussion for "imperious" in Schoology

-Hero's journey story start due to Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read section #1 of  your book group novel for Tuesday

8th Grade--10/18

Students had an extended work period for their social studies debate, but we had about twenty minutes to begin to read To Kill a Mockingbird and discuss how reading will take place over the next two weeks.

Due Monday...

-Respond to the discussion for "cull" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Read chapters 1-5 in To Kill a Mockingbird for Tuesday

7th Grade--10/17

Today we worked on showing rather than telling with a practice activity. We shared our responses with the full class. Next, I gave students a graphic organizer for heroic character development. Students worked on this, conferenced with me as needed, and continued to work on writing their hero's journey story starts.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "lash" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Hero's journey story start due Monday to Schoology

8th Grade--10/17

Today we did reading and recall for our horror stories.

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the discussion for "wellspring" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--10/16

Today we spent the first half of class discussing WordMasters. The handout introducing WordMasters can be viewed here. Next, we discussed how the hero's journey can be applied to a story in an unconventional way, and we generated a list of unconventional/everyday heroes. We talked about how these people could go on a hero's journey and practiced creating plots/scenarios that would fit the hero's journey model. Students had the final 10 minutes of class to begin writing.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "steppe" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--10/16

Today we talked briefly about sensory description, and then students had the rest of the period to write and type their horror fiction.

Due tomorrow...

-Respond to the discussion for "vindictive" in Schoology

-Submit your story start through Schoology

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--10/15

Today I introduced the hero's journey structure with a handout that can be found by clicking here. We used this handout to evaluate some popular stories and stories we're familiar with such as The Hunger Games, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Outsiders. For the last 20-25 minutes of class, students received the reading packet for the evening and were able to begin their reading.

Due tomorrow...
-Read packet and answer discussion question in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--10/15

Today we discussed how a writer can incorporate foreshadowing into their fiction. To model this, we mapped out how foreshadowing unfolded in Of Mice and Men and then used one teacher and two student examples to brainstorm where you could foreshadow to the climax of the story. After that, I briefly introduced the idea of a red herring in a story, and we came up with examples of how you could do that in some of the student stories that we had been working on.

Due tomorrow..

-Respond to the discussion for "daub" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Story Start due Thursday, October 17th to Schoology

7th Grade--10/11

There was no class today because of the half day. Have a great weekend!

Due Tuesday...
-None

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--10/11

Today we began writing horror fiction with a discussion about legitimate fears and how students can use these fears to structure and inspire their fiction writing. Students began writing and ended class by sharing some sentences. We also went over the new WM program in Schoology.

Due Tuesday...

-Respond to the discussion for "misanthrope" in Schoology

Long term due dates...

-Story Start due Thursday, October 17th (We will have two days in class to work on this, so there's no need to push ahead yet)

7th Grade--10/10

Today we did reading and recall for student horror/suspense fiction.

Due tomorrow...
-None

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--10/10

Today students took a grammar test. Afterwards, students began the homework.

Due tomorrow...

-Read "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Tell-Tale Heart"  and answer the two discussion questions on Schoology, and then respond to at least one other point in each discussion.

Long term due dates...

-None