8/31/12

English 8th: All vocabulary work was due.  Students took a vocab. test.  We went over the QAR/Unraavel passage in class and that was turned in as well.  *homework: read AR - have an awesome weekend!
Geography 7th: Students completed an online study review quiz from their textbook website, then browsed other study sources on their online textbook as well as on the website - quizzes, notes, flashcards, games, crossword puzzles, etc..  I highly encourage them to use these over the weekend, as they have a Chapter 1 test coming up Tuesday.  *homework: study for your Ch. 1 test (section 1 & 2) - have an awesome weekend! 

 English 7th:  All spelling work was due.  Students took a spelling test.  They had some class time to complete their QAR/Unraavel and compare answers with a partner.  We will grade and discuss them Tuesday.  *homework: read AR - have an awesome weekend!

Do you know what this is?

Identify this creature and write its name on a homework/classwork assignment to receive extra credit.  Hint:  It is not a spider.  (This was on the front door of Mrs. Nash's house - on the inside.  With legs it is about 2-3 inches in diameter)

8/30/12

English 8th: We discussed the use of two reading stragetgies we will be using in English all semester (QAR/Unraavel).  Students received a reading comprehension passage with questions, read the passage with a partner, and answered questions (while also identifying each question as a QAR).  *homework:  all vocabulary work due tomorrow -study for TEST - QAR/Unraavel due tomorrow

Geography 7th: pg.38 corrected together in class - Quiz Ch. 1, Section 2 completed in class - vocabulary worksheet review given after quiz.  *homework: vocab. worksheet & current event due tomorrow
English 7th: We corrected and discussed the QAR introduction worksheet completed yesterday.  Students were read a reading passage, then answered the questions and identified QAR with a partner.  *homework: all spelling homework due tomorrow - study for TEST - QAR/Unraavel passage due tomorrow

8/29/12

English 8th: Students completed the final copy of their personal narratives.  *homework: vocabulary (definitions) - all due Friday

 
Geography 7th: 5-minute map quiz - We corrected Guided Reading Activity 2 & chart.  Students were assigned pg. 38 #1-6 and given class time to work on it.  *homework: pg. 38 if not completed in class - current event due Friday


English 7th: Students worked on DOL & Journal.  A new reading comprehension strategy was introduced and practiced.  We will continue using this strategy tomorrow with a more extensive reading passage.  The strategy is called QAR (Question-Answer Relationship).  More about this strategy can be found in the "documents" folder on my blog.  We will use this througout the semester.  *homework: spelling (meaning) - all due Friday

8/28/12

English 8th: Students finished peer editing and started word choice changes in class.  We graded the vocabulary packet and discussed unfamiliar words.  The final personal narrative is due at the end of class tomorrow.  *homework:  vocabulary - categories (due Friday), word choice changes (10) and work on final essay - students will get "some" time to finish it up or ask questions tomorrow, but not enough time to do the entire essay -they should work on the final at home

Geography 7th: Ch. 1, Section 2.  Students read Section 2 within cooperative reading groups.  They worked on a graphic organizer together in class, then completed the Guided Reading Activity 2 independently.  *homework: GR Activity 2 if not completed in class - current event due Friday

English 7th: Students completed peer editing, then worked on word choice changes/additions to their paragraphs.  When finished, they completed the final draft of their paragraphs and handed it in.  *homework: spelling - due Friday

8/27/12

English 8th:  Students received their Lesson 3 vocabulary packet.  They did peer editing to fine-tune their narrative essays.  The final copy will be due Wednesday.  *homework: vocab. packet (due for grading tomorrow), word choice changes on rough draft - 10 changes or additions (due Wed.)

Geography 7th:
Students received their current event forms for the week.  They spent most of the class working on a Balloon Globe Quiz.  *homework: current event - due Friday

 
English 7th: Students received their Lesson 3 spelling worksheet.  They did peer editing to fine-tune their student interview paragraphs.  They will work on word choice changes and their final draft in class tomorrow.  *homework:  spelling - all due Friday

8/24/12 Happy Friday!

English 8th:  All vocabulary work for the week was due.  Students took a vocabulary test, and handed in the rough draft of their personal narrative essays.  We'll do peer editing Monday.  *no homework

 
Geography 7th: Neighborhood maps and current events were due.  Students worked on a world map activity locating countries in groups.  They will have a quiz Monday, needing to create their own globe using a balloon.  *no homework

 
English 7th: All spelling work for the week was due.  Students took a spelling test, and worked a bit on their paragraphs (word choice editing).   We'll do peer editing Monday.  *no homework

8/23/12

English 8th:  Students worked on the rough draft of their personal essay (due tomorrow).  They had some time to do vocabulary work after DOL/Journal.  *homework: rough draft of personal essay (due tomorrow) - all vocabulary work (due tomorrow) - study for vocab. test

Geography 7th: Students reviewed the Geography Handbook materials in small groups, then presented their question answers to the class.  They were assigned a neighborhood map, which means they must create a map of their neighborhood using a title, compass rose, key/legend, labels, and scale. *homework: neighborhood map and current event - both due tomorrow

English 7th: Students completed their DOL/Journal work, then worked the rough draft of their paragraph, using information from a student interview.  *homework: paragraph (rough draft) and all spelling work due tomorrow

8/22/12

English 8th: 
Students worked on the pre-write to their personal narrative.  We discussed essay structure, particularly that of a personal narrative.  The rough draft will be due Friday; we will work on it tomorrow in class.  *homework: vocabulary (due Friday)

Geography 7th: We discussed map and globe features, including hemispheres, latitude and longitude.  Students have a short map skills activity packet they need to complete.  *homework: map skills acivity packet (due tomorrow) - current event (due Friday) - several students did not complete pg. 17 (was due today) If you are one of those students, that is homework as well, and will get late points taken off final grade.
English 7th: We spent time discussing the structure of a paragraph and creating a prewrite. Student who needed time to continue their interviews had some time to finish. The prewrite needed to be complete by the end of the period. We will work on a rough draft in class tomorrow. *homework - spelling (due Friday)

Open House tonight 5-7 P.M. - hope to see you there!

8/21/12

We are STAR testing this week and should have AR reading levels and goals available by Friday.  Students may begin taking AR quizzes at any time. 

English 8th: 
A few students needed to STAR test today.  While doing that, the rest of the class worked on DOL/Journal.  We corrected the vocabulary packet and discussed unfamiliar words.  A narrative essay was introduced.  We will continue work on a pre-write tomorrow.  *homework: vocabulary (due Friday) - may begin working on narrative pre-write, but not due yet

Geography 7th:  I collected their World Map Activity and students completed their first 5-minute map quiz.  :-)  They did awesome!  Assigned was pg. 17 #1-6.  *homework: if not completed in class - pg. 17 #1-6 (due tomorrow) - current event (due Friday)
English 7th:
Students continued STAR testing today.  We worked on DOL/Journal, and started the pre-write process to a paragraph.  Students interviewed each other to attain information for their assignement.  We will discuss paragraph structure and work on the rough draft tomorrow in class.  *homework: spelling (due Friday)

8/20/12

English 8th: 
Students took the STAR reading test to get set up in the AR program.  They will receive their AR goal and reading levels by the end of the week.  They received lesson 2 vocabulary packet with word list, and worked on their Diamonte poem for the remainder of the class.  Students who did not finish their poem need to hand it in right away tomorrow morning.  *homework: vocabulary & Diamonte poem - both due tomorrow

Geography 7th:  Students took the STAR reading test to get set up in the AR program.  They will receive their AR goal and reading levels by the end of the week. Students received their current event for the week - due Friday.  We spent the remainder of the class working on the World Map Activity.  *homework: Map Activity due tomorrow - current event due Friday
 English 7th:
Students took the STAR reading test to get set up in the AR program.  They will receive their AR goal and reading levels by the end of the week. Students received their spelling worksheet for Lesson 2.  They will have a homework assignment for spelling each day this week.  *homework:  spelling worksheet

8/17/12

**Junior Academy should be able to STAR test and start taking AR Quizzes next week.**

English 8th:  All vocabulary homework for the week was due today.  Students took a vocabulary TEST over the words they worked with this week.  Students learned how to create a diamonte poem, and practiced by writing about themselves.  *homework:  if diamonte poem not completed in class, complete over the weekend - due Monday

Geography 7th: Current events were due today.  We graded Guided Reading Activity 1.  The remainder of the class was spent working on a world map activity.  This is not assigned homework over the weekend (although students are welcome to work on it).  We will finish it on Monday.  *no homework

 English 7th: All spelling homework for the week was due today.  Students took a spelling TEST.  *no homework

8/16/12

**Junior Academy should be able to STAR test and start taking AR Quizzes next week.**

English 8th:  Students took the MAZE comprehension and WPM (words per minute) assessments, which  we do several times a year to track student progress.  In addition to completing DOL & Journal work today, students had some time to work on their vocabulary (meaning/definitions).  *homework: Vocabulary work is due tomorrow - study for Vocab. TEST

Geography 7th:  Students read Chapter 1, Section 1 (pg. 14-17) and completed a graphic organizer within groups.  Individually, they completed Guided Reading Activity 1 (must re-read text to complete this independently - this is done purposely).  If they had extra time, they worked on a World Map Activity that will be continued tomorrow.  *homework: current event due tomorrow - GR Activity 1 if not completed in class
English 7th:  Students competed DOL (Daily Oral Language) and journal work.  While they worked in their journals, I completed WPM (words per minute) assessments individually with each student.  We spent some time reading journals orally in front of the class, and completing spelling work for today (context/sentences).  *homework: all spelling work is due tomorrow - study for spelling TEST

8/15/12

English 8th:  Students worked in their journals today with both DOL and a writing topic.  The rubric and grading system for their journals was explained.  The vocabulary packet was corrected and unfamiliar words discussed.  We completed the next vocabulary item, categories, together as a class.  Because we got started late on the vocabulary program this week, students may skip the "context" category.  *homework: vocabulary - definitions (all vocab. due Friday)

Geography 7th:  Students explored their online textbooks further, learning all the features available.  They worked in groups, then presented their findings to the class.  We also discussed the general reading procedure followed when reading textbooks in groups and will start this tomorrow.  *homework: current event due Friday

English 7th:  Students worked in their journals.  The rubric and grading system for their journals was explained.  They were given the MAZE comprehension assessment, which measures literal text understanding.  This is one of a series of assessments given througout the year to track progress and growth.  Today's spelling assignment is "meaning" (or definitions).  Students may choose how to complete their word meanings (flashcards, definitions, or crossword).  A demonstration of Eclipse Crossword creator was given (the link to download this program is on my blog).  *homework: spelling (meaning) - all spelling work due Friday

8/14/12

English 8th: 
Students received their vocabulary program and first vocab. assignment. They spent the majority of the class period completing the English pre-test.  *homework: vocab. packet due tomorrow for correcting.

Geography 7th:  Students worked in small groups to explore their new textbooks with a scavenger hunt. Toward the end of the class students registered their online textbooks and checked out some of its functions. This is such a great feature of our new textbook program!! Each student will have a special login that will allow them access to their own online textbook from any computer. They can save notes in the text, electronically hilight, search, and listen to audio. I look forward to using this  system with the kids this year. *homework: current event due Friday
English 7th:
Students took the English pre-test and worked on spelling. * homework: spelling - today's assignment is 5x each - if they are finished with Monday's worksheet and 5x each, they can move on to definitions

8/13/12

English 8th: 
Students received the school handbook and parent/signature page.  We reviewed and discussed certain sections within the handbook, especially those that have changed since last year.  Parents/guardians, please read through the handbook and sign the form stating you have done so.  Pay particular attention to the attendance policy, as that has changed.  *homework: handbook signature page - returned ASAP

Geography 7th: 
Students took the geography pre-test today, completed their "Where in the World" sheets from last week, and were given a current event form.  This will be given weekly to students on Monday and due Friday.  *homework: current event - due Friday

 
English 7th: 
Students were given their first writing assignment - the English Contract.  This contract must be signed and returned to Mrs. Nash this week.  Students also received their spelling program sheet (should stay in backpack all semester - if lost, can be printed from blog under 'documents').  They will have spelling homework daily, with a test on Friday.  All spelling homework will be due Friday as well.  *homework: spelling worksheet & signed English Contract - adjectives graphic organizer if not handed in today

8/10/12

Welcome to the first two days of school.  Yesterday (8/9/12) we discussed class procedure, school rules, and schedules.  Students did not receive homework, but they did receive brochures for my classroom.  Along with the brochure was a blue paper that needs to be signed (and add any emails that you want included in the online grade book registry).  Thank you for all the students/parents who returned these right away.  My 7th grade had 100% of the papers returned signed - yay!!! 

8/10/12

English 8th: 
We discussed the grading system and class makeup of 8th grade English (how it differs from 7th).  Students wrote in their journals, and several read them to the class.  No homework over the weekend. 

Geography 7th: 
We spent the majority of the class getting to know each other with a fun activity.  Students started a geography graphic organizer detailing places they would like to visit in the world.  This activity is not homework - we will continue it on Monday (they may certainly work on it over the weekend - complete sentences please).  No homework over the weekend. 

English 7th: 
We spent the majority of the class getting to know each other with a fun activity.  Students started a graphic organizer desribing themselves with interesting adjectives.  They used a thesaurus to "upgrade" their adjectives and be more descriptive.  This activity is not homework - we will continue it on Monday (they may certainly work on it over the weekend).  No homework over the weekend.