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

7th Grade--10/9

Today students worked on using sensory description to heighten the detail of their settings. I modeled this process, and then students worked in pairs to do this activity for their stories. Next, students had the rest of the period to continue writing in their journals.

The sensory description questions that we used for this were:

o What does the setting smell like?
o What sounds do you hear in the room?
o What sounds do you hear beyond the room?
o What does your narrator’s mouth taste like?
o Name three things that you see.
o What does the air feel like against your skin?
o Run your hand across a surface in the room. What does it feel like?

Due tomorrow...
-Horror/suspense story start due to Schoology

Long term due dates...

-None

8th Grade--10/9

Today we took the second grammar quiz. After that, we reviewed for tomorrow's test. That grammar review presentation can be found here. Message me on Schoology with any questions.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar Test

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--10/8

Today we discussed how to add foreshadowing and suspense to our writing. We talked about using plot charts to plan out how events will build to reach a climax. We modeled this with some student examples, and then students had time to write their stories. At the end of class, we shared 1-2 sentences from our work.


Due tomorrow...
-None

Long term due dates...

-Horror/Suspese fiction story start due on 10/10

8th Grade--10/8

Today we reviewed the concepts that will be on the quiz tomorrow. Students met and shared their homework. Next, we worked on a review sheet that addresses the concepts we reviewed this trimester. We went over some of the answers to this review sheet, and then we began an activity where students wrote stories together using specific phrases and clauses.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar Quiz #2

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Test on Thursday

7th Grade--10/7

Today we discussed "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson and brainstormed ideas for "normal" places and "normal" people to use as a basis for our suspense/horror fiction. Next, students spent about twenty minutes beginning to draft their horror fiction and we ended class by sharing out sentences from our writing.

Due tomorrow...
-Submit your final draft of your essay to Schoology
-Bring a packet of your rough drafts and editing sheets to class.

Long term due dates...

-Horror/Suspese fiction story start due on 10/10

8th Grade--10/7

Today students met and reviewed their grammar homework. Next, we refreshed our work on semicolons and colons and did some practice questions. You can find that handout here. Next, we did sentence wars for semicolons and colons and class concluded by distributing homework.

Due Monday...

-Grammar HW (IDENTIFYING, DISCOVERING, or GENERATING)

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz #2 on Wednesday (NEW DATE)

-Grammar Test on Thursday

7th Grade--10/4

I went over common mistakes/struggles that I saw on the second drafts of your essays at the beginning of class for about 15 minutes. After that, students had the remainder of the period to make corrections and ask me questions about my edits. These corrections are due on Tuesday.

Due Monday...
-Read "The Lottery" and answer discussion questions for Monday, 10/7

Long term due dates...

-Final draft of essay due on Tuesday, 10/8

8th Grade--10/4

Today we did sentence wars for prepositional phrases, adjective clauses, and adverb clauses. After that, students were assigned homework on this topic and began it in class.

Due Monday...

-Grammar HW (IDENTIFYING, DISCOVERING, or GENERATING)

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz #2 on Wednesday (NEW DATE)

7th Grade--10/3

Today students shared book talks.

Due tomorrow...
-Book Talk #1

Long term due dates...

-Read "The Lottery" and answer discussion questions for Monday, 10/7

-Final draft of essay due on Tuesday, 10/8

8th Grade--10/3

Today we reviewed our homework from last night in our homework groups. After that, students took the first grammar quiz of the year on Schoology. After the quiz, we began to review and refresh our knowledge surrounding prepositional phrases, adjective clauses, and adverb clauses. We looked at the a review sheet to practice this.

Due tomorrow...

-None

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz #2 on Tuesday 

7th Grade--10/2

Today students took the grammar preassessment and a reading preassessment for their first book groups. If you were not in class today, please sign up for a time to meet with me.

Due tomorrow...
-Book Talk #1

Long term due dates...

-Read "The Lottery" and answer discussion questions for Monday, 10/7

-Final draft of essay due on Tuesday, 10/8

8th Grade--10/2

Today we reviewed simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. We went over the elements of each sentence type and then looked at some practice sentences to help identify the types and discuss how and where to add punctuation.

Next we began our sentence wars activity. You can read the handout about this competition activity here.

At the end of class students were assigned their homework for the evening. In addition to this homework, don't forget that we have a grammar quiz tomorrow!

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar HW--Compound/Complex (IDENTIFYING, DISCOVERING, GENERATING)

-Grammar Quiz

Long term due dates...

-None

7th Grade--10/1

Today students finished their peer and self edits and began to make these revisions in their paper. If you did not finish this today during class, it is homework.

Due tomorrow...
-Second draft printed for class

Long term due dates...

-Book Talk #1 on October 3rd

8th Grade--10/1

Today students reviewed their grammar homework on parts of speech and did more practice sentences. Next, we broke into groups to review and practice subject, predicate, and direct object. After that, students practiced identifying these as a full group with some more practice sentences.

Due tomorrow...

-Grammar HW--Subject/Predicate/Object (IDENTIFYING, DISCOVERING, GENERATING)

Long term due dates...

-Grammar Quiz on 10/3