9/30/13

English 8:   Students received a vocabulary REVIEW packet that will be due Friday.  This reviews the 100 words students have worked with since the beginning of the semester. There will be a review test Friday (Lessons 1-5).  We discussed Anne Frank and the situation in Germany that set the stage for WWII.  We will start reading tomorrow.   Homework:  vocabulary packet -  read AR

Geography 7:  Students were given a Glogster assignment.  Glogster is an online multi-media postering website, so it can be accessed at school or at home.  Each student has a login for this site on their Username/Password sheet.  The glog will be due Friday.  NO CURRENT EVENT THIS WEEK.  Assigned was pg. 89 # 1-5 & 7  - this is due tomorrow.  We will have a quiz tomorrow over Ch. 3 Section 2.    Homework:  pg. 89 #1-5 & 7 - Glogster (due Friday) - read AR 



English 7:  NO SPELLING PROGRAM THIS WEEK.  Students have been assigned the A+ program (English 7). They must complete 4 lessons with notes - due Friday.  Students worked on a QAR/Unraavel passage with a partner today.   It was mostly completed in class.  Students may need to complete a few questions at home - it is due for grading tomorrow.   Homework:  A+ program (4 lessons by Friday - English 7) - QAR/Unraavel if not completed in class -  read AR

9/27/13 HOME Volleyball - Games Friday: 2:00PM & 4:30PM - Saturday: 11:00AM & 1:00PM - - Aquatic Center

English 8:   All vocab. work was due.  Students took a vocabulary test along with a DOL quiz.   Homework:  check online grade book - pg. 269-275 in Anne Frank (by Monday) -  read AR

Geography 7:  Guided Reading 3-2 and current event was due.    Homework:  check online grade book - read AR 



English 7:  All spelling work was due, and then students took a spelling test (Lesson 5).    Homework:  check online grade book -  read AR

9/26/13

English 8:   Students worked on Journal and sentence stretching.  We corrected QAR (write your own) and then discussed the novel Anne Frank.  Students received their novel today, and were assigned pg. 269-275 (part of the afterward) to have read by Monday.    Homework: all vocab. due tomorrow - study for vocab. TEST - pg. 269-275 in Anne Frank (by Monday) -  read AR

Geography 7:  Students finished reading Ch. 3 Section 2, completed their Guided Reading 3-2 and chart.  Some students had time to work on their current event as well.    Homework:  GR 3-2 if not completed in class - current event due tomorrow - read AR 



English 7:  Students completed a DOL Quiz, and worked on Journal.  After working with other students to discuss and check the Tell-Tale Heart QAR, we corrected it together. We shared journals today - students read written work in front of the class.   Homework:  all spelling due tomorrow - study for spelling TEST-  read AR

9/25/13

English 8:    Students worked on DOL/Journal, and then worked on completing their "write your own" QAR activity.  We will start discussion of Anne Frank tomorrow in preparation for our class novel.   Homework: vocabulary (all work due Friday) - QAR, write your own sheet (if not done in class) -  read AR

Geography 7:  Students started reading Ch. 3 Section 2 within reading groups.  We are working on this section for two days, doing half at a time.  The assignment today was reading pg. 82-86 and complete the chart from pg. 82.  Tomorrow we will continue and read pg. 86-89 and complete Guided Reading 3-2.   Homework:  Read pg. 82-86 & chart if not completed in class - current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7:  Students worked on DOL/Journal, and then continued practicing QAR.  I read the students a passage (their job was to read along and visualize the story).  After the reading, students practiced summarizing and started working on the questions.  These need to be completed as homework if not done in class (10 questions- multiple choice & QAR).  Homework:  Tell-Tale Heart questions & QAR - Spelling (all work due Friday) -  read AR

9/24/13

English 8:     Students worked on DOL/Journal, and then we corrected & reviewed vocabulary words/packet.   Homework: vocabulary (all work due Friday) -  read AR

Geography 7:     We corrected pg. 76 and reviewed information from Ch. 3 Section 1.  Students took a quiz for this section today. We will start section 2 tomorrow.  Homework:   current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7:  Students worked on DOL/Journal.  A new reading strategy was introduced today.  The reading strategy is called QAR.  You can read about it further in the "documents" folder of my blog.  Students practiced identifying types of questions (QAR) from a short reading passage.  We will practice more tomorrow.  Homework:  Spelling (all work due Friday) -  read AR

9/23/13

English 8:     Students are back to their regular vocabulary program.  They are working on Lesson 5 vocab. packet, which is due tomorrow for grading.  We discussed writing QAR questions, and were given a QAR/Unraavel passage where they will also have to write their own QAR questions.  This will be due for review tomorrow in class.   Homework: Vocab. packet Lesson 5 - QAR/Unraavel (write your own QAR) -  read AR

Geography 7:     Assignment: pg. 76 #1-7  - this is due tomorrow for review.  We will go over this in class right before a quiz.  Homework: pg.76 #1-7 if not completed in class - study for QUIZ 3-1  - current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7:  Students are back to their regular spelling program.  We discussed and practiced writing alliteration and assonance within tongue twisters.  We went over spelling words together in class.  A new reading strategy will be introduced tomorrow in preparation for our class novel.  The reading strategy is called QAR.  You can read about it further in the "documents" folder of my blog.  Homework:  Spelling (all work due Friday) -  read AR

9/19/13 OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT 5:00-8:00 P.M.

English 8:     Students worked on DOL/Journal and A+ Vocabulary.  They will resume the regular vocabulary program next week.  Students received the vocab. list/packet for next week already, so they could get ahead on the work if they choose.    Homework:  check grade book - read AR

Geography 7:   Students were given some time to complete GR 3-1 and their current event.  The assignments was corrected and discussed in class.  Current events were due.   Homework: check grade book - read AR 



English 7:  Students worked on DOL/Journal and A+ English 7.  Three lessons with notes were due today within the A+ program.  Homework:  check grade book -  read AR

9/18/13

English 8:     Students are working in the "adaptive vocabulary 8" program within A+ this week.   No regular vocab. program.  Homework:  read AR

Geography 7:     Students read Ch. 3 Section 1 (World Population) pg. 73-76 in reading groups.  Together they completed the chart from pg. 73, and then worked independently on the Guided Reading 3-1 page.  This is due tomorrow.  Homework: Guided Reading 3-1 & chart if not completed in class, current event due Thursday - read AR 



English 7:  Students worked on creating complete, complex sentences from notes.  They worked within the A+ program in English 7 (3 lessons due tomorrow).  Homework:  A+ (Language Arts) 3 lessons by Thursday -  read AR

9/17/13

English 8:     Because A+ program is now working correctly, we have started working in "Adaptive Vocabulary 8" (vocabulary homework will be saved until next week - we are not doing our regular vocab. program this week).  Students were given a QAR/Unraavel passage to complete independently.  This is due tomorrow.  Homework: QAR/Unraavel packet if not completed in class -  read AR

Geography 7:     We discussed the invasive species quagga mussels, and looked at some actual mussels from our lake.  Students worked on a latitude/longitude activity for the remainder of class.  This is due tomorrow.     Homework: latitude/longitude activity (due tomorrow), current event due Thursday - read AR 



English 7:   Students completed sentence stretching & journal writing.  They worked in A+ program (English 7) - 3 completed lessons by Thursday. (no spelling this week).  We also worked on writing complete sentences from notes (this will be worked on tomorrow as well - not homework).  Homework:  A+ (Language Arts) 3 lessons by Thursday -  read AR

9/16/13 Short week - no school Friday (teacher inservice)

English 8:     Students received their Lesson 5 vocabulary packet & word list.  We reviewed the QAR/Unraavel passage done with partners.  Tomorrow they will work on one independently.  Homework: vocab. packet due tomorrow -  read AR

Geography 7:     Students reviewed pg. 66 and previous work before taking a quiz on Ch. 1-2 & Ch. 2-4.  Current events were handed out and will be due Thursday.   Homework: check grade book - read AR 



English 7:    Students completed DOL/Journal, and then worked on the A+ program for the remainder of the class. A+ (Language Arts) will be their assigned work for the week rather than spelling (no spelling this week).  Students will be expected to complete 4 lessons within A+ this week.    Homework:  A+ (Language Arts) 4 lessons by Thursday -  read AR

9/13/13 Friday the 13th!

English 8:     Due today: All vocabulary work,  vocab. TEST, QAR/Unraavel (partners).  Homework: check grade book -  read AR

Geography 7:    Due today:  pg. 66 #1-6 & current event  Homework: check grade book - read AR 



English 7:   Due today: All spelling work, spelling TEST, & final essay  Homework:  check grade book -  read AR

9/12/13

English 8:     Homework: vocabulary all due tomorrow - Study for vocab. TEST - QAR/Unraavel if not completed in class -   read AR

Geography 7:    Homework: current event due tomorrow - pg.66 #1-6 if not completed in class - read AR 



English 7:    Homework:  spelling all due tomorrow - study for spelling TEST & final draft of essay (typed or hand-written) -  read AR

9/11/13

English 8:   Students worked on DOL/Journal.  Their topic today was 9/11, so we took some time to discuss this before writing.  We reviewed QAR & Unraavel reading strategies for the remainder of class.    Homework: vocabulary -   read AR

Geography 7:  Students read Ch. 2 Section 4 within reading groups.  They worked on and discussed a chart organizing the information read, and then completed the Guided Reading 2-4 independently.  If not completed in class it is homework.  Homework: GR 2-4 - current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7:  Students worked on DOL/Journal.  Their topic today was 9/11, so we took some time to discuss this before writing. We discussed the two terms: denotation and connotation.  Then, students chose at least 5 words in their rough draft to "change & upgrade" using a thesaurus.  the new words must match their connotation (implied meaning of the original word).  If this was not completed in class it is homework.  Final draft due Friday.  Homework:  spelling & final draft (due Friday) -  read AR

Visitor in my front yard

9/10/13

English 8:   Students worked on DOL/Journal.  We discussed and voted on the theme for this semester's class journal: Jurassic Park.  Together we corrected the vocabulary packet and discussed unfamiliar words.  Homework: vocabulary categories -   read AR

Geography 7:  After a 5-minute map quiz, we corrected pg. 17 together in class.  We discussed the next assignment, which will be Ch. 2 Section 4 (because we are skipping over a few areas of the book that discuss science standards).  There will be a quiz over Ch. 1 Section 2 & Ch. 2 Section 4 together when we are finished with that section.  Homework: current event due Friday - read AR 



English 7:   Students worked on DOL/Journal, and spent the remainder of class completing peer editing & word choice changes.  The final essay (typed or written) will be due Friday.   Homework:  spelling & word choice changes -  read AR

9/9/13

English 8:   Students worked on DOL/Journal and received their vocabulary packet with word list (due tomorrow).   We spent the remainder of class working on class portfolios.  Students chart assessment information throughout the semester and keep track of growth within the portfolio.  Homework: vocabulary packet-  read AR

Geography 7:  Students received their current event (due Friday) and were assigned pg. 38 #1-7.  If not completed in class this is homework.   Homework: pg.17 #1-7 (in complete sentences )- read AR 



English 7:   Students worked on DOL/Journal and received their spelling worksheet with word list.  We discussed the spelling words as well as the peer editing procedure.  Rough drafts of the expository essay are due today.  We will complete peer editing tomorrow.   Homework:  spelling worksheet -  read AR

9/6/13

English 8:   The final personal narrative essay was due today.  Students turned in all vocab. work for the week, and then took a vocab. TEST.  They also took a DOL quiz.   Homework: check the grade book -  read AR

Geography 7:  We corrected and collected GR Ch.1 Section 2.  Current events were due as well.   Homework: check the grade book - read AR 



English 7:   Students turned in all spelling work for the week, and then took a spelling TEST.  They also took a DOL quiz.  The rest of the class was spent working on the rough draft that is due Monday.   Homework:  rough draft due Monday for peer editing -  read AR

9/5/13

English 8:   Students worked on DOL/Journal, vocabulary, and the final copy of their essay (due tomorrow).  Homework: All vocabulary and final essay due tomorrow!  Study for vocab. TEST - read AR

Geography 7:  Students read Ch. 1 Section 2 within cooperative reading groups using the UNRAAVEL reading strategy.  They did very well with this!  Their assignment was to complete the graphic organizer together, and then the Guided Reading page independently.  It is due tomorrow.  Homework: GR 1-2 & current event due tomorrow - read AR 



English 7: Students worked on DOL/Journal, spelling and the rough draft of their 5-paragraph essay. After the spelling test tomorrow, they will be given some time to work on the essay as well.  The rough draft is due Monday (but it is very do-able to have completed by tomorrow).     Homework:  All spelling work due tomorrow - study for spelling TEST-   read AR

9/4/13

English 8:    Students worked on peer editing their personal narratives for the majority of the class.  After editing, they worked on identifying 10 areas or words that can be improved or upgraded.  Students may use a thesaurus to identify word "upgrades."   Homework: vocabulary  (due Friday)-  read AR

Geography 7:  Balloon Globe Quiz!  Students created a globe on a balloon.  They had to identify special grid lines, continents, oceans, etc..   If they finished before the end of class, they were able to work on the current event and/or read AR.   Homework: current event (due Friday) - read AR 



English 7: Students worked on DOL/Journal and spelling.  I checked and graded the complete essay pre-write (due today- in preparation for our essay).  We spent the remainder of class identifying and working with essay structure/organization.  Students color-coded sample essays to identify correct structure.  Most students finished in class- if not finished, complete the color-coding as homework.  Homework:  spelling & color-code sample essay -   read AR

9/3/13 - Welcome to September!

English 8:    Students received their vocabulary packet with word list.  Because this is a short week, students may choose to skip "one" of their vocab. assignments (categories, sentences, or definitions).  If they decide to do all 4 assignments, I will give some extra credit.  This is helpful especially if a student has missed vocab. work a previous week.  The rough draft of the narrative essay was due today - we discussed peer editing, but we will actually edit papers tomorrow.   Homework: vocabulary packet - due tomorrow-  read AR

Geography 7:  Students worked on a neighborhood map utilizing scale, title, legend/key, labels, symbols, compass rose, etc..  This is due tomorrow.  Students will have a quiz tomorrow on map/globe skills where they will recreate the globe on a balloon.  Current event was also given today.  Homework:  neighborhood map - study for quiz - current event (due Friday) - read AR 



English 7: Students received their spelling worksheet with word list.  Because this is a short week, students may choose to skip "one" of their spelling assignments (5Xeach, sentences, or definitions).  If they decide to do all 4 assignments, I will give some extra credit.  Assigned for today as a pre-write for an expository essay (graphic organizer - due tomorrow)  Homework:  spelling & pre-write for essay -   read AR