• Summary of ending week: I really enjoyed our discussions this week, and am excited to see all the ideas from the Quick Writes on W/R. We have been focusing on the characters and writing the character analysis paper this week. It is going well, but time goes by fast–I guess nothing gold can stay. Students are starting to inquire more about grades. My go to answer on how to improve one’s grade is to focus on vocabulary and any quizzes/summative assessments. Other homework is still obviously important and will have a negative impact if not done well, but vocabulary and summatives have the biggest impacts. 

     

    Goals for This Upcoming Week: My number one goal for this upcoming week is to have every student come with a solid rough draft on W/R so we can make the most out of the peer review session.I know we have not touched on everything with regards to writing, mechanics, and usage, but I will be putting multiple resources and links on GC to help with topics that may be troublesome. We will also spend some time on Tuesday touching on the topics that need it most with regards to writing.  We have been doing a good job with vocabulary so far, and after this unit, we have a big break from it. Unit 4 vocabulary will not be until after we get back from Fall Break.   The ORP is still lurking. Be sure to finish reading ASAP if not done already. Check GC for information on the requirements for the project and an example.

     

    WEEK:  9/5-9/9

    Homestudy Due

    Standards and Key Learning Objective(s)

    Class Activities and Assignments [due date]

    Quotes, notes, and other links: 

    *Monday

    XXXXXXXXX

    XXXXXXXXX

    XXXXXXXXX

    		  

    Tuesday

    Vocab Unit 3 Flashcards; Pre-Writing B/C Character Traits and A-R.A.F.T

    7.L.3-5

    TaG Vocab 3 Flashcards; Work on Rough Draft [T]; Vocab 3 Story w/s given [F- 9/9]; Setup TurnItIn.com if needed

    Wed / Thu

    Character Analysis Rough Draft: Peer Review

    7.RL.1, 7.RL.6, 7.W.2, 7.W.4, 7.W.6, 7.W.9

    Peer Review Character Analysis Rough Draft; Grammar and sentence variation as needed; Discuss Outsiders chapters 7-9 

    Friday

    Vocab 3 Story w/s;  Rough Draft Self-Evaluation: Outsiders packet check ch. 7-9 

    7.L.3-5

    TaGVocab Story 3 w/s;  Vocab 3 Sentence w/s given [T-9/13]; Final Draft work time

    General reminders and other information:  BIG dates looking further ahead:  The Outsiders chapters 7-9 Quiz is on Monday, 9/ 12. The final draft for the Character Analysis writing is due on Tuesday, 9/13; ORP Project Slides are due on Friday, 9/16; Vocab Unit 3 Quiz is also on Friday, 9/16.

     

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Summary of ending week: We dove deep into The Outsiders, and I am enjoying all the insights and contributions the students are making to the discussions.  I keep the discussion informal, but have a few big questions that I make sure we explore.  The format seems to be working and I get quite a few new students contributing every day, but there are still some that continue to stay silent. My hope is that I get to hear from each student without having to cold call. 

     

    Goals for This Upcoming Week:  I want to keep a good thing going. We are still in the middle of The Outsiders  and our vocabulary units.  Chapter 7 is a big one, and I am looking forward to the discussion we will have when we dive deeper into it.  That said, the goals for the week are to determine what character students are going to pick for their formal character analysis paragraph and to master vocabulary so we all get awesome scores on the Friday Unit Vocab Quiz. 

     

    WEEK:  8/29-9/2

    Homestudy Due

    Standards and Key Learning Objective(s)

    Class Activities and Assignments [due date]

    Quotes, notes, and other links: 

    Monday

    Outsiders Profile (see GC): Outsiders Packet check ch. 4-6

    7.L.3-5

    ICE Scavenger Hunt using Outsiders Profile assignment (in-class): Introduce Character Analysis Assignment [W-9/7)

    		  

    Tuesday

    Unit 2 Vocab Sentence w/s 

    7.L.3-5

    Trade-n-Grade Unit 2 Vocab Sentence w/s: MLA Format: Discuss The Outsiders ch. 5-6 

    Wed / Thu

    Have Outsiders read through ch. 7 

    7.RL.1, 7.RL.6,

    Discuss The Outsiders ch. 7: Grammar (sentence variation) 

    Friday

    Unit 2 Vocab Quiz

    7.L.3-5

    Unit 2 Vocab Quiz; Work on Unit 3 Vocab Flashcards; Work on Character Analysis Assignment

    General reminders and other information: No school next Monday (9/5);  Outsiders Packet Check when you return on Tuesday, 9/6, and then the Character Analysis Assignment (summative) rough daft is due the next day, W/R, 9/7-8.  Those two dates will sneak up on you, especially with Monday (9/5) off. 

     

    -------------------------------------------------------------

    Summary of Week: We dove deep into vocab and The Outsiders. I think the students did a good job during the discussions, and I look forward to hearing more great ideas and insights as we continue. Students should have the packet out whenever they are reading the book so they can fill in it as they go.  Other annotations are encouraged as well as they will help spark ideas during our class discussions. 

     

    Goals for Week 0f 8/22-26:  Aside from a deep focus on  content, I am hoping that we can get a consistent system executed for absent and missing work.  Students should have a good idea of which character they want to choose for their Outsider Character Analysis essay by the end of the week. 

     

    8/22-8/26

    Homestudy Due

    Standards and Key Learning Objective(s)

    Class Activities and Assignments [due date]

    Quotes, notes, and other links: 

    Monday

    Outsiders Packet Check ch 1-3

    7.RL.3,7.RL.4, 7.RL.6, 7.W.4, 7.L.1, 7.L.2 , 7.W.9 

    Discussion and review for Outsiders chapters 1-3; Outsiders Character Analysis paper intro [9/7]

    		  

    Tuesday

    The Outsiders Quiz 1 (ch. 1-3); Vocab Flash Card 

    7.L.6

    Outsiders Quiz chapters 1-3; Vocab flashcard trade-n-grade; Vocab Unit 2 Story worksheet [F- 8/26]

    Wed / Thu

    		  

    7.L.1, 7.W.9 , 7.W.1

    Outsiders discussions–characterization; MLA; Sentence structure grammar

    Friday

    Vocab Unit 2 Story worksheet

    7.W.9 , 7.W.1

    Vocab Unit 2 Story worksheet trade-n-grade; Vocab Unit 2 Sentence worksheet {T- 8/30]

    General reminders and other information:  Students need to be consistently using their agenda. I have given them schedules for reading and vocab, but that does not cover everything.  Students also should be consistently checking Google Classroom for materials missed in class–or if extra copies are needed. I try to provide as many resources as possible on GC. Also, if you are absent, please come to me in the morning on the day you get back. Our class period is taught bell to bell, and there is little time in the beginning to fully explain all that was missed.  Checking GC and email will also help streamline the process of catching students up on what they missed. 

     

    Wk 3: 8/8-8/12

    Homestudy Due

    Standards and Key Learning Objective(s)

    Class Activities and Assignments [due date]

    Quotes, notes, and other links: 

    Monday

    TV Plot Maps due; 

    “R-t-t” plot map Quiz

    7.RL.3,7.RL.4, 7.RL.6, 7.W.4, 7.L.1, 7.L.2 , 7.W.9 

    Grammar & Plot Map quiz

    Picture on Tuesday


    Have The Outsiders book by Friday

    Tuesday

    Vocab Flashcards due

    7.L.6

    Grade vocab flashcards; Vocab Worksheet 1 [due Friday]

    Wed / Thu

    		  

    7.L.1, 7.W.9 , 7.W.1

    I.C.E notes and practice; background and intro to The Outsiders; sentence structure grammar

    Friday

    I.C.E. note check; The Outsiders background questions; have your copy of The Outsiders

    7.W.9 , 7.W.1

    Vocab worksheet 1 due; work on Vocab worksheet 2

    General reminders and other information: Picture are Tuesday (8/9) Be sure to get a copy of The Outsiders by this Friday (8/12): next Tuesday (8/16) is Early dismissal 

     

    Wk 2: 8/1-8/5

    Homestudy Due

    Standards and Key Learning Objective(s)

    Class Activities and Assignments [due date]

    Quotes, notes, and other links: 

    Monday

    		  

    7.RL.3, 7.RL.4

    Notes and review on elements of a story; intro to “Rikki-tikki-tavi”

    		  

    Tuesday

    ORP Permission Slip

    7.RL.3, 7.RL.4, 7.RL.6 

    begin “Rikki-tikki-tavi” [finish for Wed/Thu]

    Wed / Thu

    Have “R-t-t” read completely

    7.RL.3,7.RL.4, 7.RL.6, 7.W.4, 7.L.1, 7.L.2, 7.L.3, 7.W.9, 7.W.1   

    Discussion and analysis of R-T-T; Plot Map Slides assigned [due Mon, 8/8]; sentence structure grammar; 

    Friday

    		  

    7.L.6  (plus review above standards )

    Vocab; Plot Map review

    General reminders and other information: DUE on Monday (8/8)- “R-t-t” Plot Map Slides due; “R-t-t” Quiz

     

    Summary of Week 0: . It has been a great first week getting to know more about each student and his/her/their personality and interests. This week we went through the “True Colors” personality types and finished with a worksheet about interacting with the different personality types. I am thrilled to be guiding all of these wonderful students.

    Goals for Week 1: We are still rolling through some basic beginning of the year items next week. Here are some key items we will take care of next week: 

    • Portfolio design project (will handout and begin in Monday–due Friday, 7/29)
    • Writing pre-assessment (start and finish in class Tuesday, 7/26)
    • Computer distribution (Wed./Thu.)
    • Simple and Compound Sentence Grammar (in-class work Wed./Thu.)
    • Pearson pre-test (Friday)
    • ELA Survival Guide run-through (due Friday)

     

    Wk 1: 7/25-7/29

    Homestudy Due

    Standards and Key Learning Objective(s)

    Class Activities and Assignments [due date]

    Quotes, notes, and other links: 

    Monday

    True Colors Teamwork; Syllabus

    7.L.6

    Portfolio Project [Friday]; ELA Survival Guide Scavenger Hunt [Friday]

    		  

    Tuesday

    		  

    7.W.4

    Writing Diagnostic [start and finish in class]

    Wed / Thu

    		 Technology form must be completed online before computer can be distributed.

    7.L.1

    Computer distribution; Simple and Compound Sentence Grammar; 

    Friday

    Portfolio Project; ELA Survival Guide Scavenger Hunt

    7.L.1

    Pearson Pre-test [start and finish in class]

    General reminders and other information:  Check Google Classroom access to make sure you are in the correct ELA class. ORP permission and selection sheet is due next Tues., Aug 2.