8/30/13 Have a great 3-day weekend. See you September!

English 8:    Students turned in all vocabulary work and took a vocab. TEST.  I checked for completion of the personal narrative "pre-write."  Students worked on their rough draft for the remainder of the class - due TUESDAY for peer editing (9/3/13).  Homework: check grade book - essay rough draft - due Tuesday  -  read AR

Geography 7:  Current events were collected.  We corrected the maps skills activity packet together in class.  Students completed the 5-minute map Quiz at the end of class.   Homework:  check grade book - complete any missing/incomplete assignments!  - read AR 



English 7: Students turned in all spelling work and took a spelling TEST. I collected the complete sentence vs fragment worksheets.   Homework:  check grade book -  read AR

8/29/13

English 8:    After DOL/Journal, students had a bit of time to work on their vocabulary "context" (sentences).  We discussed the personal narrative essay we will be writing next week.  Students were assigned a "pre-write" activity to complete by tomorrow.  Homework: vocabulary - context (sentences) All vocabulary due tomorrow - study for TEST! -  read AR

Geography 7:  We finished our discussion on the Geography Skills Handbook, and students turned in their Skills Practice questions.   They were given a map skills packet to finalize this activity.  It is due tomorrow.  Homework:  *if not completed in class - map skills packet (the dreaded packet...)- current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7: Students handed in their sentence/fragment worksheets.  After DOL/Journal, we discussed essay structure and students were assigned a "pre-write" activity to complete.  It will be due at the end of class tomorrow.  This is in preparation for a narrative essay.  Homework:  spelling - context (sentences) - pre-write activity (due end of class Friday) - ALL spelling work due tomorrow - study for TEST -  read AR

8/28/13

English 8:    Students worked on journal and vocabulary.   We completed the social contract for the classroom, and all classroom members signed the contract (including myself).  Ask your child about the contract, and what measures they will use to "self-manage" within the class.  :-)     Homework: vocabulary - meaning (definitions) -  read AR

Geography 7:  Students completed the Skills Practice questions working in pairs.  We started our discussion of these questions with short supplemental videos.  We will continue this discussion and I will collect the assignment tomorrow.Homework:  *if not completed in class - Skills Practice Questions (14 assigned today) pg. 22-33- current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7: Students worked on DOL/Journal, and had a bit of time to work on their day's spelling (meaning/definitions).  We continued working on complete sentences vs fragments, and students were assigned the remainder of the worksheet we have been working with.  Each fragment must be re-written to include what the sentence was missing (due tomorrow).   Homework:  spelling - definitions - sentence/fragment w/s if not completed in class -  read AR

8/27/13

English 8:     Students worked on DOL/Journal, and then we corrected the vocabulary packet.  We discussed word meaning and misunderstandings.  The students started formulating/writing the official classroom social contract.  It will be finalized tomorrow.   Homework: vocabulary - categories -  read AR

Geography 7:  We corrected pg. 17 together and discussed the answers.  Students started on the Geography Skills Handbook (pg. 22-27), answering the "Skills Practice" questions in complete sentences.  There are 14 questions total, and they were assigned half of them today (7 questions).     Homework:  Skills Practice Questions (7 assigned today) - current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7: Students worked on DOL/Journal while I completed WPM assessments.  If there was extra time, students worked on spelling 5X each.  We started a lesson on identifying complete versus fragment sentences.  We will continue it tomorrow.   Homework:  spelling - 5X each - read AR

8/26/13

English 8:     Students were given this week's vocabulary packet with word list (due tomorrow for correcting).  We started working on the class social contract in groups and will continue tomorrow.   Homework:  vocabulary packet - read AR

Geography 7:  Students corrected Guided Reading 1-1, and were assigned pg. 17 #1-6 (due tomorrow).  Complete sentences in answering questions are required.      Homework:  pg. 17 #1-6 - current event due Friday -  read AR 



English 7: Students were given this week's spelling worksheet with word list. We worked on DOL/Journal and shared some written work in class.  Homework:  spelling worksheet - read AR

8/23/13

English 8:     Students handed in all vocabulary homework, then took a vocabulary test.  After taking the first test, students can make a better judgment on the amount of studying needed for the next week's vocabulary work.  They worked within their journal for the remainder of class.   Homework:  read AR

Geography 7:  Students completed Guided Reading Activity 1 in class, and finished their current events.    Homework:   read AR 



English 7: Students handed in all spelling work and took a spelling test. We also signed the classroom social contract.  Homework:  read AR

8/22/13

English 8:  Students worked on DOL/Journal while I finished the WPM assessments.  They were given time to work on their vocabulary sentences/paragraph in class.  If not completed in class, it is homework.  Study for Vocab TEST tomorrow.    Homework:  Vocabulary sentences (all vocab. homework due Friday) -  read AR

Geography 7:   Students started work on Ch.1 Section 1.  They listened to the audio version of the text through the online textbook.  We will do a guided reading activity tomorrow in groups.  Homework:   (Map Activity if not turned in - late) current event (due Friday) read AR 



English 7:   Students spent the first part of class working on DOL/Journal.  We worked on the social contract for the remainder of the class.  We will implement and sign it tomorrow.  Study for Spelling TEST tomorrow.  Homework:  Spelling sentences/paragraph (all 4 pieces of spelling work due Friday)  read AR

8/21/13

English 8:  Students worked on DOL/Journal in class while I completed WPM (words per minute) assessments individually.  They were given time to work on their Vocabulary definitions.  If  not completed in class, it becomes homework.    Homework:  Definitions -  read AR

Geography 7: We explored the online textbook in depth, and then students were given a World Map Activity - due tomorrow.  Homework:   world map activity if not completed in class - current event (due Friday) read AR 



English 7:  Students worked on DOL/Journal, and then we started group work on a "Social Contract" for the class.  The last part of class was spent visiting the JA/Academy library.  Homework:  Spelling definitions (all 4 pieces of spelling work due Friday)  read AR

8/20/13

English 8:  Students were given a handout explaining their STAR testing report with AR goal for the semester.  This needs to be viewed and signed by parents.  We discussed the weekly vocabulary program, and students were given their first day's work - reading passage with the word list.  This is due tomorrow for grading.  Students will have vocabulary work each day.  If it is not completed in class it is homework.    Homework:  STAR report/AR goal signature -  read AR

Geography 7: We discussed the AR reports students were given and students were given a tour of the online grade book in class.  Each student should know how to check their grades online, whether with their own email or a parent's.  They explored the online textbook, discovering its capabilities and how to navigate.  We will share these discoveries tomorrow, as well as start Ch. 1.  Homework:   current event (due Friday) read AR 



English 7:  Students worked on DOL/Journal for the beginning of class. Their spelling work today is "practice" which contains some sort of 5 times each.  They can choose how to present this assignment (detailed in their spelling program).  If it is not completed in class, it becomes homework.  We started a "social contract" toward the end of class.  Students worked in groups to identify acceptable social behaviors in the classroom for both teacher and students.  We will work further on this tomorrow.  Homework:  Spelling 5X ea (all 4 pieces of spelling work due Friday)  read AR

8/19/13

English 8:  Students completed a short reading comprehension assessment, finished the written portion of their pre-test, and scored their finished pre-test for documenting.  We spent the rest of the class discussing their journal rubrics and how/when journals are graded each semester.  We will start our Vocabulary Program tomorrow.  Homework:   read AR

Geography 7: Students received their current event for the week (due Friday).  The class worked in groups to complete an exploratory "Scavenger Hunt" of their textbook.  For the last part of class, students signed up for their geography online textbooks.  We'll explore those tomorrow.    Homework:   current event (due Friday) read AR 



English 7:  We discussed the Spelling program that students will be responsible for each week.  There will be spelling homework daily, and they received a handout with explanation that will stay in their English folder.  It is also available for printing from the "documents" folder of my blog.  Today's work is the worksheet (that contains the word list they will work from all week).  All spelling work is due on Friday.  We worked on DOL & Journal for the remainder of the class.  Homework:  Spelling worksheet (all 4 pieces of spelling work due Friday)  read AR

8/16/13

English 8:  Materials check:  Students received a participation grade on being prepared and having a folder, correcting/pen or pencil, pencils, and an AR book.  Students finished their English pre-tests, worked in their journals, and read AR.   Homework:   read AR

Geography 7: Students worked on a current event for the duration of the class.  This was due at the end of class.     Homework:   read AR 



English 7:  Materials check:  Students received a participation grade on being prepared and having a folder, correcting/pen or pencil, pencils, and an AR book.Students worked on DOL & journal.   Homework:    read AR

AR goals will be set within the Renaissance program by Monday (8/19/13)

8/15/13

*I will be checking to see if students have classroom materials (folder, colored pen/pencil for grading, & pencils) and an AR book tomorrow for a participation grade*

English 8:   Students took their English pre-test today and worked in their journals.   Homework:   read AR

Geography 7: Students completed their first 5-minute map quiz (World Map) today.  We discussed the current event sheet.  Students will be completing a current event weekly as homework (given Monday & due Friday).  They will complete their first current event in class tomorrow.  Homework:   read AR 



English 7:  Students finished their English pre-test and we corrected them together in class.  In addition, we completed the first DOL (Daily Oral Language) practice today with the journal activities.     Homework:    read AR

Big horn sheep! They ran across the road on my way home yesterday. Awesome!

8/14/13

English 8:  Students received their class journals and turned in the Reading Interest Survey.  For the remainder of the class they worked on STAR testing.  This will help determine their reading level as well as establish a goal (points) they will need to meet by the end of the semester.  Homework:   read AR

Geography 7: Students received their geography textbook today.  When they do not have homework, they can leave it in the classroom.  For the remainder of the class students took their geography pre-test.  They will be given the same assessment as a post-test at semester's end to measure learning.  Homework:   read AR 



English 7: The Reading Interest Survey was turned in today.  Students took their English pre-test today. They will be given the same assessment as a post-test at semester's end to measure learning. They wrote within their class journals and shared some of their writing with the class.      Homework:    read AR

8/13/13

English 8:  We finished going over the handbook today.  Students were given a reading interest survey to complete.  If not finished in class it is homework.   Homework:  reading interest survey & read AR

Geography 7: Students completed the STAR reading assessment for AR.  This will help determine their reading level as well as establish a goal (points) they will need to meet by the end of the semester. Students worked on a "If I could go anywhere in the world" worksheet.  If not completed in class it is homework (due tomorrow)   Homework:  "If I could go anywhere in the world" worksheet - read AR 
English 7: Students completed a reading comprehension assessment (we do these three times throughout the semester to track growth).  They received their class journals and worked on the first entry - "English Class."  Students were given a reading interest survey to complete.  If not finished in class it is homework.    Homework:   Reading Interest Survey - read AR

8/12/13 - First Day of School!

English 8:  Students were given school handbooks, calendars, and a parental signature sheet (stating the parent has read the handbook).  We went over most of the handbook in class, but will continue this tomorrow.  In addition, students received a brochure for my classroom, as well as a signature sheet. Please add any emails that should be attached to the grade book on the signature sheet for my classroom. We specifically discussed differences between 7th and 8th grade English as well as changes to the AR program.   Homework:  handbook sheet signed - brochure sheet signed/emails added

Geography 7: Students received a brochure for my classroom, as well as a signature sheet. Please add any emails that should be attached to the grade book on the signature sheet for my classroom.  We discussed classroom rules, went into detail on how AR will work in 7th grade, and took at a look at my blog for reference.  Homework:   brochure sheet signed/emails added

English 7: We discussed English 7, classroom rules, and then wrote an "English Contract" that will need to be signed by a parent.  The signed contract will be worth a participation grade in the writing category of the grade book.  This also functions as an initial writing sample showing ability to correctly write dictated language in cursive.      Homework:   signed English Contract

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

Student Materials for Class (English and geography):

• Pocket folder for each class
• Colored correcting pen or pencil (not black)
• Highlighter
• Pencils (assignments may not be completed in pen)
• Hand-held pencil sharpener
• Lined paper

Materials Always Needed for the Classroom:

• copy paper
• Kleenex
• lined paper
• colored copy paper (any color)
• hand sanitizer
• anti-bacterial cleaning wipes
• colored pencils