Projects: Students are working in their groups to figure out their museum exhibit plan for World War 2. Also, my students will learn about several major battles this week. Ask them about Pearl Harbor, Battle of Midway, Battle of Stalingrad, and DDay!
7th Grade Reading: This week we will focus on our book club novels and how students use Habits of Discussion and Format Matters to move their discussions along. Reading responses are due every Tuesday and Thursday for these, and I'm expecting them to be lengthy and detailed. Students must show effort of going deep on these and using evidence, evidence, evidence!!
8th Grade Reading: Students will read Night in their book clubs and use Habits of Discussion and Format Matters to make their points. I will take grades for this every day they meet, so students need to make sure they come prepared!
Writing: We will continue with grammar skills review, small responses to articles (backed up with evidence), and also do some SBAC practice. It's almost testing time!!
Auction this Thursday----Please send goodies in if possible. :) We will at least one more after this.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: Book Club responses due Tuesday and Thursday; read for 20/write responses
8th Grade: Book Club reading every night; come prepared for a possible quiz on Thursday!
Monday, April 17, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Projects: We went over our final project for this year today--a World War 2 museum exhibit! This is going to be so much fun. Students can choose partners from other middle school classes. We will choose topics and partners tomorrow. This week we will spend our time learning about the Jewish Holocaust and the Chinesse Holocaust. Next week we will focus on battles and other important events.
7th Grade Reading: Today was Flocabulary! We read and discussed important happenings. The students always have such intelligent input! We will delve into book clubs, reading responses, and poetry for the rest of the week.
8th Grade Reading: Students finished Paideia Seminar today (3 days....they had a lot to say!). Tomorrow we will focus on Flocabulary, and Wednesday will be poetry. Thursday students will get into reading groups for our final book of the year: Night, by Elie Weisel. This book is extremely powerful. It is a memoir of Elie Weisel and the time he spent at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. I'm hoping the students appreciate if for what it is and are as moved by it as I was when I read it. We will read, discuss, write responses, look at supporting videos, etc. as we move through this book. Students will be in reading groups, but we will all be reading the same book.
Writing: This week we will focus on writing World War 2 poetry, IXL skills (simple/compound sentences), Flocabulary instructional videos, and lots and lots of journal writing. I am grading journals a few times a week now, and making sure that students are really delving into the daily prompts!
Homework:
7th--IXL N.1 (subject/predicate), read for 20, fill out logs
8th--Read for 20, fill out logs
7th Grade Reading: Today was Flocabulary! We read and discussed important happenings. The students always have such intelligent input! We will delve into book clubs, reading responses, and poetry for the rest of the week.
8th Grade Reading: Students finished Paideia Seminar today (3 days....they had a lot to say!). Tomorrow we will focus on Flocabulary, and Wednesday will be poetry. Thursday students will get into reading groups for our final book of the year: Night, by Elie Weisel. This book is extremely powerful. It is a memoir of Elie Weisel and the time he spent at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. I'm hoping the students appreciate if for what it is and are as moved by it as I was when I read it. We will read, discuss, write responses, look at supporting videos, etc. as we move through this book. Students will be in reading groups, but we will all be reading the same book.
Writing: This week we will focus on writing World War 2 poetry, IXL skills (simple/compound sentences), Flocabulary instructional videos, and lots and lots of journal writing. I am grading journals a few times a week now, and making sure that students are really delving into the daily prompts!
Homework:
7th--IXL N.1 (subject/predicate), read for 20, fill out logs
8th--Read for 20, fill out logs
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Projects: Yesterday we had a fabulous guest speaker! Mr. Slonecker joined us and gave a fascinating presentation on his visit to Germany and what he knows about that country during World War 2 under the Hitler Regime. We will continue to learn about Hitler and his life this week, and apply what we learn to events that occurred under his regime.
7th Grade Reading: Students were put into book clubs today. They will read a book that is set in WW2, complete weekly responses, take quizzes, have group discussions, and complete a final project on their book. I'm so excited for this, as students take independent responsibility for their reading during this time.
8th Grade Reading: Students prepared for Paideia Seminar yesterday and today. Tomorrow and Thursday they will have their Paideia discussion and give responses to 10 open ended questions that they have spent time collecting evidence for. Please help remind students to get their reading logs signed each week. We are starting to have an issue with kids simply not doing it, which is resulting in lower grades each week.
Writing: This week students will review IXL skills, write in journals, and complete written responses that compare 2 different texts. We are practicing specific skills in order to review and prepare for our writing assessment later this month.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: IXL SS.1, SS.2, read for 20 minutes/fill out log
8th Grade: Paideia preparation, read for 20 minutes (when finished with Paideia)/fill out log.
7th Grade Reading: Students were put into book clubs today. They will read a book that is set in WW2, complete weekly responses, take quizzes, have group discussions, and complete a final project on their book. I'm so excited for this, as students take independent responsibility for their reading during this time.
8th Grade Reading: Students prepared for Paideia Seminar yesterday and today. Tomorrow and Thursday they will have their Paideia discussion and give responses to 10 open ended questions that they have spent time collecting evidence for. Please help remind students to get their reading logs signed each week. We are starting to have an issue with kids simply not doing it, which is resulting in lower grades each week.
Writing: This week students will review IXL skills, write in journals, and complete written responses that compare 2 different texts. We are practicing specific skills in order to review and prepare for our writing assessment later this month.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: IXL SS.1, SS.2, read for 20 minutes/fill out log
8th Grade: Paideia preparation, read for 20 minutes (when finished with Paideia)/fill out log.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Monday, March 27, 2017
Student-led conferences are this Friday. Please stop by with your child at any time between 8 am and 4 pm.
Projects: We started studying World War 2 today. Students will frontload vocabulary terms and learn the causes of WW2 this week.
7th Grade Reading: This week we will review figurative language terms with Flocabulary and IXL, read our independent reading books, write lengthy reading responses, annotate poetry, and read and summarize nonfiction text with "The Week in Rap."
8th Grade Reading: Students watched To Kill a Mockingbird today, and will spend the next 5-6 reading blocks preparing their responses for our Paideia Seminar.
Writing: This week students will learn to evaluate and judge by reading reviews of some of their favorite movies, books, games, etc. Using the book Write Like This as a mentor text, we will rate products, then write formal reviews for them.
Projects: We started studying World War 2 today. Students will frontload vocabulary terms and learn the causes of WW2 this week.
7th Grade Reading: This week we will review figurative language terms with Flocabulary and IXL, read our independent reading books, write lengthy reading responses, annotate poetry, and read and summarize nonfiction text with "The Week in Rap."
8th Grade Reading: Students watched To Kill a Mockingbird today, and will spend the next 5-6 reading blocks preparing their responses for our Paideia Seminar.
Writing: This week students will learn to evaluate and judge by reading reviews of some of their favorite movies, books, games, etc. Using the book Write Like This as a mentor text, we will rate products, then write formal reviews for them.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
This is the final week that students can improve IXL scores for this quarter. Students need to let me know if they go in and improve their scores on graded IXL work.
Projects: Websites on the Great Depression are due at the end of the projects block on Tuesday. We will present them Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The kids have work so hard on these and I'm seeing great work.
7th Grade Reading: This week we will focus on CAFE strategies and Daily 3 (read to self, work on writing through reading response, and word work). Students are begging for more time to read their books of choice, so I will be allowing a little more time for that this week. They did a great job on their Paideia Semina, which took a lot of preparation. I will enjoy giving them time to relax a bit with their books. I will use the time to conference with individual students and do fluency checks.
8th Grade Reading: We will finish To Kill a Mockingbird this week and move into Paideia Seminar preparation. Students will have more questions than last year to collect evidence on and will participate in the seminar the second week we return from spring break. We will watch the movie version on Monday, April 27th. If you don't want your child to see this film, please let me know asap and I will plan an alternative but equitable assignment for him or her.
Writing: Phew!!!! We have been working on collaborative argumentative essays. Students are getting in groups, writing introductions, coming together as a class to discuss/provide feedback, and then doing the same thing with their body paragraphs and conclusions. Tuesday and Wednesday students will write one on their own (unassisted). This piece of writing will be counted as a 4th quarter grade. I am so impressed with all of the progress these kids have made in writing this year.
Homework:
7th: Read for 20 minutes each night and complete reading log
8th: Read for 20 minutes (Mockingbird reading both Tuesday and Wednesday nights); complete reading log
Projects: Websites on the Great Depression are due at the end of the projects block on Tuesday. We will present them Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The kids have work so hard on these and I'm seeing great work.
7th Grade Reading: This week we will focus on CAFE strategies and Daily 3 (read to self, work on writing through reading response, and word work). Students are begging for more time to read their books of choice, so I will be allowing a little more time for that this week. They did a great job on their Paideia Semina, which took a lot of preparation. I will enjoy giving them time to relax a bit with their books. I will use the time to conference with individual students and do fluency checks.
8th Grade Reading: We will finish To Kill a Mockingbird this week and move into Paideia Seminar preparation. Students will have more questions than last year to collect evidence on and will participate in the seminar the second week we return from spring break. We will watch the movie version on Monday, April 27th. If you don't want your child to see this film, please let me know asap and I will plan an alternative but equitable assignment for him or her.
Writing: Phew!!!! We have been working on collaborative argumentative essays. Students are getting in groups, writing introductions, coming together as a class to discuss/provide feedback, and then doing the same thing with their body paragraphs and conclusions. Tuesday and Wednesday students will write one on their own (unassisted). This piece of writing will be counted as a 4th quarter grade. I am so impressed with all of the progress these kids have made in writing this year.
Homework:
7th: Read for 20 minutes each night and complete reading log
8th: Read for 20 minutes (Mockingbird reading both Tuesday and Wednesday nights); complete reading log
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Monday, March 7, 2016
Projects: Students will continue building websites on the Great Depression using videos and reading passages that we watch and read together.
7th Grade Reading: Wednesday is our Paideia Seminar, so students are working ro prepare comments and evidence in response to questions. This is a great exercise and I'm so excited to hear what students have to say.
8th Grade Reading: We will spend most of our week reading and discussing To Kill a Mockingbird. The plan is to finish the book before spring break and participate in Paideia Seminar when we return. We will also watch the movie starring Gregory Peck----he does a great job as Atticus Finch!
Writing: We are working through another collaborative writing assignment. This time is argumentative and students are writing their essays in groups of 5. I am loving this because the kids are really getting into discussing the resources they have to use and having conversations about what evidence to use, transitions, etc. Next week they will write an unassisted argumentative piece.
Homework:
7th Grade: Read for 20 minutes, fill out logs (working on Paideia is fine)
8th Grade: Read for 20 minutes; to chapter 24 by Tuesday and to chapter 26 by Wednesday. Stay tuned for Wednesday night reading (depends on how far we get Wednesday during our block)
7th Grade Reading: Wednesday is our Paideia Seminar, so students are working ro prepare comments and evidence in response to questions. This is a great exercise and I'm so excited to hear what students have to say.
8th Grade Reading: We will spend most of our week reading and discussing To Kill a Mockingbird. The plan is to finish the book before spring break and participate in Paideia Seminar when we return. We will also watch the movie starring Gregory Peck----he does a great job as Atticus Finch!
Writing: We are working through another collaborative writing assignment. This time is argumentative and students are writing their essays in groups of 5. I am loving this because the kids are really getting into discussing the resources they have to use and having conversations about what evidence to use, transitions, etc. Next week they will write an unassisted argumentative piece.
Homework:
7th Grade: Read for 20 minutes, fill out logs (working on Paideia is fine)
8th Grade: Read for 20 minutes; to chapter 24 by Tuesday and to chapter 26 by Wednesday. Stay tuned for Wednesday night reading (depends on how far we get Wednesday during our block)
Monday, February 27, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
Projects: This week we will learn about FDR and the New Deal, and work on those websites. They are coming along!
7th Grade Reading: Students are preparing for our Paideia Seminar on The Outsiders. They will collect evidence during class to respond to 4 questions that I will pose to them next week. I love this assignment. The students always do well, and their academic discussions are so impressive!
8th Grade Reading: Students will continue to read and discuss To Kill a Mockingbird. They are doing a great job thinking critically about race relations, literacy, and justice with this novel. Today we discussed current events with "Week in Rap." As usual, we had some very interesting conversations. I always love conversations with this bunch.
Writing: This week we are taking a break from our state writing prompts and focusing on stamina through journal writing, IXL skills, and sentence diagramming to learn sentence parts. We will do our last unassisted prompt in 2 weeks, beginning with a collaborative prompt next week. It will be argumentative! Students, please check IXL grades on Infinite Campus. You can improve scores and fix zeroes!
Homework:
7th--Read and watch "Week in Rap" on Flocabulary and be ready for a quiz on Wednesday.
8th--20 minutes of reading. Flocabulary quiz Wednesday
7th Grade Reading: Students are preparing for our Paideia Seminar on The Outsiders. They will collect evidence during class to respond to 4 questions that I will pose to them next week. I love this assignment. The students always do well, and their academic discussions are so impressive!
8th Grade Reading: Students will continue to read and discuss To Kill a Mockingbird. They are doing a great job thinking critically about race relations, literacy, and justice with this novel. Today we discussed current events with "Week in Rap." As usual, we had some very interesting conversations. I always love conversations with this bunch.
Writing: This week we are taking a break from our state writing prompts and focusing on stamina through journal writing, IXL skills, and sentence diagramming to learn sentence parts. We will do our last unassisted prompt in 2 weeks, beginning with a collaborative prompt next week. It will be argumentative! Students, please check IXL grades on Infinite Campus. You can improve scores and fix zeroes!
Homework:
7th--Read and watch "Week in Rap" on Flocabulary and be ready for a quiz on Wednesday.
8th--20 minutes of reading. Flocabulary quiz Wednesday
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