2/27/15

All English 8:  After journal writing, students worked in groups to identify QAR questions for a reading passage.  We discussed the answers as a class. Students started on a sorting activity that will be continued Monday with QAR as well.  *homework:  read AR
All English 7:  Students CLOSE read The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, and wrote an objective summary of the short story.  We will use QAR to identify types of questions for this passage next week.  *homework: read AR

2/26/15

English 8A:  After DOL/Journal, students completed a CLOSE Read on a short passage.  We discussed QAR (Question Answer Relationship) and identified questions as types of QAR regarding the passage.  We will continue this tomorrow.  *homework:  finish identifying QAR on the back of the passage - read AR
English 8B: After DOL/Journal, students completed a CLOSE Read on a short passage.  We discussed QAR (Question Answer Relationship) and identified questions as types of QAR regarding the passage.  We will continue this tomorrow. *homework: read AR - check grade book

All English 7:  After DOL/Journal, students were introduced to QAR (Question Answer Relationship) and practiced identifying questions as types of QAR.  *homework: read AR & check grade book for missing/absent/redo work

2/25/15

All Classes:  Students finished Galileo ELA in class today.  After Galileo, we completed DOL/Journal.  *homework:  read AR - check grade book for missing/absent/redo work

2/24/15

All classes took the Galileo ELA test (Benchmark #3).  Some students did not finish today and need to carry over into tomorrow. I'm seeing some excellent results and am very proud of their progress!!   *homework:  read AR

2/23/15 GALILEO TESTING TOMORROW!

All English 8:   After writing in journals, a few more final poems were read for fluency.  Students worked with partners on the Galileo prep packet that is due tomorrow, fully annotated.  THERE WILL BE NO VOCABULARY PROGRAM THIS WEEK DUE TO GALILEO TESTING.  *Homework:  Finish Galileo prep packet - read AR
All English 7:  After writing in journals, students read their final poems for a fluency grade.  Students worked on the Galileo prep packet that is due tomorrow, fully annotated.  THERE WILL BE NO SPELLING PROGRAM THIS WEEK DUE TO GALILEO TESTING. *Homework:  Finish Galileo prep packet - read AR

2/20/15 - AR enters the grade book today!

All English 8:  The vocabulary review packet was collected, and students took the review test (lessons 1-5).  We continued presenting poems as well as working on the Galileo prep work.   *homework:  check grade book for missing/absent work - read AR
All English 7:  All spelling homework was collected, and students took spelling TEST 6.  Students worked to finalize the free-verse poem, which was collected at the end of class.  These will be presented for a fluency grade next week.  *homework:  check grade book for missing/absent work - read AR

2/19/15 - AR enters the grade book tomorrow!

All English 8:  After journal writing, students were given a bit of time to work on the vocabulary review packet (due tomorrow).  Each student presented his or her final free verse poem to the class today for a fluency grade.  *homework:  vocabulary review packet - study for the vocab. TEST tomorrow - read AR
All English 7:  After journal writing, students completed editing & revising on their free verse poems.  The final version is due tomorrow with illustration.  *homework: spelling is all due tomorrow - study for spelling TEST - read AR

2/18/15 - Sub

All English 8:  Students will work on DOL/Journal, and then on a Galileo prep packet in class (not homework).  The final poem with visual image is due Thursday.  *homework:  vocabulary packet - final poem - read AR
All English 7:  Students will work on DOL/Journal, and then on a Galileo prep packet in class (not homework).  The poem rough draft is due Thursday.  *homework:  spelling 5X each - poem rough draft - read AR

2/17/15

All English 8:  Students completed DOL/Journal and received the Vocabulary Review Packet that will be due Friday.  Instead of the regular vocabulary program, students will be completed the packet and studying for the review test for Friday.  Assigned was the revision and finalizing of the "Perfect Moment" poem with visual image (illustration, photograph, etc..).  This will be due Thursday.  *homework:  vocabulary review packet - poem final with visual - read AR (it will be entered in the grade book Friday)
All English 7:  Students completed DOL/Journal and received Lesson 6 spelling worksheet.  Because this is a short week, they will get to choose to do either definitions or sentences, but not be required to do both.  Assigned was working on the rough draft of a free verse poem.  They will get some time in class to work on it tomorrow.  The rough draft is due Thursday.  *homework:  spelling worksheet - rough draft of poem - read AR (it will be entered into the grade book Friday)

2/11/15

All English 8:  Students created a summarizing paragraph from the circle map created yesterday.    Time was given to work with partners to discuss and revise pg. 357 #1-3 & 5-7.  Assigned was a circle map defining a "perfect moment."  This is in preparation for a poem.   *homework:  Vocabulary definitions - circle map - read AR
All English 7:  Students created a summarizing paragraph from the circle map created yesterday.    Time was given to work with partners to answer questions #5-7 on pg. 321.  They were not able to finish completely, so some needs to be completed at home (due tomorrow).    *homework:  spelling definitions- pg. 321 #5-7- read AR

2/10/15

All English 8:  Students worked on the circle map in place of journal, adding an opposing point of view on the other side.  We corrected the vocabulary packet and discussed unfamiliar words.  Assigned was the second half of pg. 357 - #5-7.  The entire assignment, #1-3 & 5-7 are due tomorrow.   *homework:  Vocabulary categories - pg. 357 #5-7 - read AR
All English 7:  Students worked on the circle map in place of journal, adding an opposing point of view on the other side.  After collecting the objective summary for the poem on page 320, students were assigned pg. 321 #1-3 (due tomorrow). *homework:  spelling 5Xeach - pg. 321 #1-3- read AR

2/9/15

All English 8:  Students received the Lesson 5 vocabulary packet today (due tomorrow for grading).  After working on a circle thinking map and DOL, students listened to the audio version of the two poems they summarized last week.  Assigned was pg. 357 #1-3 (complete sentences and text evidence).  *homework:  Vocabulary Packet - pg. 357 #1-3 - read AR
All English 7:  Students received the Lesson 5 Spelling list, and we discussed the word list & meaning.  After working on a circle thinking map and DOL, students listened to the audio version of the poem on pg. 320 in the textbook.  Assigned was to read the poem at least 3 more times and create an objective summary (due tomorrow).  *homework:  spelling worksheet - pg. 320 read & summarize poem - read AR

2/6/15 - I'm Backl! :-)

*I was gone for 3 days due to Thinking Maps training in Phoenix.  I missed my students immensely, and I'm glad to be back!*  Have a great weekend!

All English 8:  Students turned in all vocabulary homework today and took the vocabulary TEST for Lesson 4.  After the test, students completed a "Circle Map" about their week (their first Thinking Map introduction).  *homework:  Read AR
All English 7: Students turned in all spelling homework today and took the spelling TEST for Lesson 4.  After the test, students completed a "Circle Map" about their week (their first Thinking Map introduction).  *homework:  Read AR