8th Grade -- 1/31

The beginning of the class period was spent finishing up the last few presentations of the Shakespeare Faire.  Next the students took a quiz on the first three scenes of Macbeth and we discussed what they have read, as well as strategies for better understanding of the text.  Lastly, grammar quizes were passed back for students to make corrections that will be due on Monday.

Homework... 

- Macbeth reading:  Act 1, Scenes 4-7 for tomorrow (QUIZ IN CLASS!)

- January IR log due in class tomorrow

- Grammar Quiz corrections due Monday, February 4th

- Shakespeare Project Group #1 will present on Wednesday, February 6th

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

7th Grade -- 1/31

Today we began class by going over one new Word Masters word:  engender.  The remaining time was spent working on their Utopian essay rough draft which is due tomorrow.

Homework...

-Utopian essay assignment rough draft due tomorrow

-January IR log due tomorrow

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

8th Grade -- 1/30

The entire class time today was dedicated to the Shakespeare Faire!  Many of the students presented their individual projects today and the rest of the class will present theirs tomorrow.

Homework...

-Shakespeare World Presentations for remaining students 

-Macbeth reading:  Act 1, Scenes 1-3 for Thursday, January 31st (QUIZ TOMORROW!!!)

-Macbeth reading:  Act 1, Scenes 4-7 for Friday, February 1st

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

7th Grade -- 1/30

Today we began class by going over two Word Masters words:  abrasive & fugitive.  The remaining time was spent working on their Utopian essay rough draft which is due on Friday.

Homework...

-Utopian essay assignment rough draft due Friday 2/1
-January IR log due Friday 2/1

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

8th Grade -- 1/29

Today our class time was shortened as all the students took the district writing assessment at the start of the day.  The entire class time was dedicated to the Shakespeare Faire!  Many of the students presented their individual projects today and the rest of the class will present theirs tomorrow.

Homework...

-Shakespeare World Presentations on Tuesday 1/29 and Wednesday 1/30

-Macbeth reading:  Act 1, Scenes 1-3 for Thursday, January 31st

-Macbeth reading:  Act 1, Scenes 4-7 for Friday, February 1stw

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

7th Grade -- 1/29

Today our class time was shortened as all the students took the district writing assessment at the start of the day.  We began class by going over three Word Masters words:  imperative, facade, and provoke.  Then we discussed the upcoming Utopian essay they will be writing mostly in class.  The rough draft for this will be due on Friday at the start of class.

Homework...

-Utopian essay assignment rough draft due Friday 2/1

-choose and brainstorm your prompt tonight for class tomorrow

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

8th Grade -- 1/28

Today we began by going over the expectations of the new teacher, Mr. Malstrom, as well as familiarizing ourselves with each other.  The students then took a grammar quiz on participles, gerunds, and infinitives.  Each student was given their Macbeth book and assigned reading for Thursday.  Lastly, we discussed the Shakespeare group projects that will be upcoming during the unit.

Homework...

-Shakespeare World Presentations on Tuesday 1/29 and Wednesday 1/30

-Macbeth reading:  Act 1, Scenes 1-3 for Thursday, January 31st

-Macbeth reading:  Act 1, Scenes 4-7 for Friday, February 1st

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

7th Grade -- 1/28

Today we began by going over the expectations of the new teacher, Mr. Malstrom, as well as familiarizing ourselves with each other. The students then took a comprehension quiz on their utopian book group novel.  This was followed by a group discussion on their reading.  Finally, the students continued to work on their Utopian story starters, which are due tomorrow.

Homework...

-Utopian story starter due in class on Tuesday, January 29th

Submitted by Mr. Malstrom

8th Grade--1/25

Today the students learned the WordMasters words mountebank and acquiesce. Then they continued to research their Shakespeare World Presentations, which are due on Tuesday January 28th.

Homework...

-Grammar Quiz on Monday January 28th

-Shakespeare World Presentation on Tuesday January 29th

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/25

Today the students learned the WordMasters words promontory and glower. Then they looked at how dialogue can add to the creation of a realistic setting. Students were encouraged to use appropriate language in their utopia story start. They spent the remainder of class writing.

Homework...

-Finish utopia book group novel and answer questions for Monday January 28th.

-Utopia story start for Monday January 28th.

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 is February 7th.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/24

Today the students learned the WordMasters words venerate and montebank. Then they went to the Resource Center to research their Shakespeare World Presentations, which are due on Tuesday January 28th.

Homework...

-Grammar Quiz on Monday January 28th

-Shakespeare World Presentation on Tuesday January 29th

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/24

Today the students learned the WordMasters words ogle and impervious. Then they looked at mentor hooks that focused on setting and discussed how setting could establish the mood of a story. Students were encouraged to use an intriguing setting to begin their utopia story start.

Homework...

-Finish utopia book group novel and answer questions for Monday January 28th.

-Utopia story start for Monday January 28th.

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 is February 7th.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/23

Today the students learned the WordMasters words hotbed and spurn. Then they met with Katie Nelson of the Resource Center, who discussed research. The students used the remainder of the period to begin researching their Shakespeare World Presentations, which are due on Tuesday January 28th.

Homework...

-Grammar Quiz on Monday January 28th

-Shakespeare World Presentation on Tuesday January 29th

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/23

Today the students learned the WordMasters words porous and harbinger. Then they learned about the five stages of utopia/dystopia. They used the rest of the period to begin drafting story starts that take place during one of the five stages.

Homework...

-Finish utopia book group novel and answer questions for Monday January 28th.

-Utopia story start for Monday January 28th.

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 is February 7th.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/22

Today the students learned the WordMasters words abhor and soporific. Then they reviewed participles and saw a power point on combining sentences. After that, they wrote sample sentences as a review.

Homework...

None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on Friday January 25th
-Shakespeare World Presentation on Monday January 28th

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/22

Today the students learned the WordMasters words plateau and covet. Then they took reading quizzes on their utopia books before meeting with their book groups.

Homework...

-TIQA paragraph due tomorrow.

-Finish utopia book group novel and answer questions for Monday January 28th.

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #2 is February 7th.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/18

Today the students learned the WordMasters words conditional and homage.Then they learned about their Shakespeare World assignment, which they will be working on for the next two weeks. The students had the opportunity to begin working on the assignment in class, and they will have two more class work days next week.

Homework...

None

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/18

Today the students learned the WordMasters word reluctant. Then they worked on the following TIQA paragraph assignment. Respond to one of the following prompts by developing a strong thesis and composing a single expository TIQA paragraph.

1. In your novel, maintaining control is very important for the stability of the community. What methods does the community use to control its citizens and why is it necessary to do so?

2. Your narrator presents a danger to the "utopian" community of the novel? How?

Some of the students were not able to complete their assignments in class, so the assignment is due on Wednesday

Homework...

-Read Section #4 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for Tuesday January 22nd.

Long term due dates...
-TIQA paragraph due on Wednesday January 23rd.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/17

Today the students learned the WordMasters words sham and invigorate.Then they learned about past participles, present participles, and participial phrases.

Homework...

--Participle homework due tomorrow.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/17

Today the students learned the WordMasters words flay and haven.Then they took a reading quiz and discussed their utopia books in their groups.

Homework...

--Read Section #4 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for Tuesday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/16

Today the students took their STAR tests and a quiz on gerunds and infinitives.

Homework...
--None

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/16

Today the students shared their idiom presentations.

Homework...
--Read Section #3 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for tomorrow.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/15

Today the students reviewed gerunds and infinitives to prepare for their quiz tomorrow. They also took pre-assessments for their upcoming Shakespeare unit.

Homework...
-Study for tomorrow's grammar quiz on gerunds and infinitives.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/15

Today the students took reading quizzes and then discussed their utopia novels in their book groups. After that they read their books to prepare for their next group meetings on Thursday.

Homework...
-Idiom presentation tomorrow

Long term due dates...
--Read Section #3 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for Thursday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/11

Today the students learned about infinitives and used infinitives as they wrote summaries of their independent reading books. 

Homework...

-Infinitive homework.

Long term due dates...

-Quiz on gerunds and infinitives on Wednesday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/11

Today the students received their idiom project assignments. They are researching an idiom, which they will present to the class on Wednesday. Students will have to define the idiom, explain the etymology of the idiom, and properly use the idiom in three sentences. Projects are also required to have pictures representing the literal and metaphorical meanings of the idiom, and all outside research must have citations. They will also have time to work on the idiom presentation during class on Monday, and they will present their work on Wednesday.

Homework...

-Read Section #2 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for Tuesday.

Long term due dates...

- Idiom presentation on Wednesday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/10

Today the students learned about gerund and gerund phrases.

Homework...

-Gender story start.
-Gerund homework.

Long term due dates...

None.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/10

Today the students took a reading quiz and then discussed their utopia novels in their book groups.

Homework...

-Utopia project due tomorrow.

Long term due dates...

-Read Section #2 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for Tuesday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/8

Today the students tried to determine if a writing sample was written by a boy or girl to try and uncover ways to characterize gender. Then they worked on their Gender Story Start Assignments - Write a story start in first person, but the narrator should NOT be you. Although the narrator does not have to be of the opposite gender, writing in this person’s voice should present a challenge. The goal of the assignment is to make sure the gender of the character is accurately portrayed.

Homework...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Gender story start due on Friday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/8

Today the students received their utopia novels and book group assignments. They worked on a utopia/dystopia project, which they will also be able to work on tomorrow in class.  It is due on Friday.

Homework...

-Read Section #1 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for Thursday.

Long term due dates...

- Utopia project due Friday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

8th Grade--1/7

Today the students discussed the gender mentor text and brainstormed ways to characterize gender. 

They were given the Gender Story Start Assignment - Write a story start in first person. The narrator is NOT yourself. The narrator does not have to be of the opposite gender, but writing in this person’s voice should present a challenge. Feel free to use the list as a guide to make sure the gender of the character is accurately portrayed.

Homework...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Gender story start due on Friday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed

7th Grade--1/7

Today the students viewed and took notes on a powerpoint about utopia. 

Homework...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Read Section #1 of utopia book group novel and answer questions for Thursday.

Submitted by Mrs. Malmed