Beginning our drafts

Today's Activities:

-Review essay expectations
-Begin writing your rough draft

Homework:

-Three paragraph draft due Tuesday, December 20th
-You may turn it in on the back table in the room.  Just put it in  your class' pile :)

Comparing and Contrasting Essay

I have been out sick so sorry for my lack of updates!

Wednesday's Activities:

-Finish movie
-HW:  It's a Wonderful Life WS (discussion questions and Venn diagram)

Thursday's Activities:

-Character Quiz
-Comparison/Contrast WS (the old and the new house)
-Blank Venn diagram

Friday's Activities:

-Review It's a Wonderful Life WS and Comparison/Contrast WS
-Hand out Comparison/Contrast Essay Requirements
-Check Venn diagrams and begin writing essay

Homework:

-Handwritten rough draft for essay due Tuesday, December 20

Have a great weekend!

Heehaw! How are you Sam?

Today's Activities:

-Review and turn in Story Elements WS
-Watch It's a Wonderful Life

Homework:

None
There will be a brief character quiz on Thursday.

Teacher says, every time a bell rings...

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Review front side of Story Elements WS
-Read scenes 8-9 of It's a Wonderful Life

Homework:

-Finish Story Elements WS in complete sentences
-There will be a character quiz on Thursday

Buffalo girl won't you come out tonight...

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Watch It's a Wonderful Life

Homework:

Have a great weekend!

Next week we will start brainstorming for our essay comparing It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol

...Still Wonderful

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Read scenes 4-7
-Work on Story Elements WS

Homework:

-Complete front side of Story Elements WS
-Add Zuzu to character list

It's still a Wonderful Life!

Today's Activities:
-Sentence Correction
-Review and update character charts while watching movie

Homework:

-Continue working on character chart, you should have 6 characters

It's a Wonderful Life

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Review HW
-Read scenes 1-3

Homework:

Update your character chart:

1.  George Bailey
2.  Harry Bailey
3.  Mary
4.  Mr. Potter
5.  Clarence
6.  Uncle Billy

The Dash

Today's Activities:
-Sentence Correction
-Movie Trailer
-Read "The Dash" and discuss

Homework:

Finish "The Dash" discussion questions in complete sentences
#3 is to be a 5-7 sentence paragraph

The end of parts of speech!

Today's Activities:

-Go over answers and turn in review packet
-Test
-Sustained silent reading

Homework:

-None

*Next week:  the play adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life

Parts of speech review

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review conjunctions and interjections study guide and
 parts of speech review packet
-Review game

Homework:

Finish review packet (the mastery test portion)
Study
Bring a book to read tomorrow after the test

Parts of Speech Book

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Work on review worksheet A-G
-Put together parts of speech book (There are 7 pages total)
 
1.  Nouns
2.  Pronouns
3.  Verbs (monster and 6 sentences)
4.  Adjectives (wanted poster)
5.  Adverbs (ad)
6.  Prepositions (closet)
7.  Conjunctions and Interjections (comic)

*Book will be collected Friday and a reward will be given to those whose books are complete*

Homework:

Review ws A-G
Study for the test Friday

Interjections!

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review ws 117
-Interjection notes

Homework:

Conjunction and interjection ws
Comic
Parts of speech test 12/2

Conjunctions

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Turn in messy closet paragraphs
-Conjunction notes and "Conjunction Junction"

Homework:

WS 117
Study for parts of speech test Friday
Take some practice quizzes to help you study!

Last day of prepositions

Today's Activities:
-Color closet and paste onto paragraph

Homework:

-If you did not finish in class, then you have to finish the prepositions paragraph

-Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

-Parts of Speech Test 12/2



Coming Attraction:  It's a Wonderful Life a play version

Preposition Page

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Preposition Review
-Notes over closing sentences
-Begin your Messy Closet Preposition Paragraph

Homework:

Finish paragraph (be sure to highlight the 6 prepositions you used)
Bring supply box tomorrow
Parts of Speech Test is 12/2

TGIF

Todays Activities:
-Preposition Quiz
-SSR (Sustained Silent Reading)

Homework:

Have a great weekend! 
Parts of Speech Test 12/2

Study your prepositions!

Today's Activities:
-Rachel's Challenge Reflection
-Preposition review ws

Homework:
-Finish ws
-Study prepositions
-Try some practice quizzes

For more information about Rachel, visit http://www.rachelschallenge.org/

Prepositions Continued

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Turn in WS 25
-Group activity:  Write a story using a stuffed animal and your assigned four
 prepositions.

Homework:

-Study for preposition quiz Friday
-Try some practice quizzes

Busy Prepositions

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Turn in your adverb ad
-Review answers to ws 61
-Highlight the prepositions in "Thriller"

Homework:

-WS 25
-Preposition quiz Friday

Prepositions!

Today's Activities:
-Daily sentence correction
-Review rubric for adverb ad page
-Preposition notes
-Preposition song :)

Homework:
Final copy of ad due tomorrow
Preposition WS 61

It's Friday!

Today's Activities:

Quiz
Silent reading

Homework:

Final copy of adverb advertisement due Tuesday

Adverb Review!

Today's Activities:

Sentence Correction
Review answers to adverb ws
Adverb review stations (group activity)

Homework:

Adverb WS 37 (both sides)
Study adverbs for tomorrow's quiz!
Bring a book to read after the quiz
Take a few practice quizzes!

Adverbs!

Today's activities:

-Daily Sentence Correction
-Reviewed answers to adverb ws 171
-Began adverb ws and adverb ad

Homework:

Rough draft (on a separate piece of paper) of adverb ad
Try a few practice quizzes to get ready for Friday's adverb quiz

Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here!

Today we completed an adverb activity in class and watched the Schoolhouse Rock adverb song (again!)

Homework:

Adverb WS 171 (complete both sides)

Adverb Quiz Friday

Get your report card envelope signed

Adverbs

Today we finished our notes on adverbs and played an adverb game.  Students did very well and completed the game humorously.
Adverb notes can be found on the Class Notes page.

Homework:

Have a great weekend!

Peer Edits

Today students had their papers edited by three of their peers. We also started our next part of speech: Adverbs!

Homework:

Final copy of creature paragraph due tomorrow.  Be sure to put it on the Wanted poster.

More rough drafts

Today we spent the entire period in the media center typing our paragraphs.

Homework:

Bring typed paragraph to class tomorrow for peer edits
Final copy due Friday

Creature Paragraphs

Today we added to our notes on paragraphs (copies of notes are in the notes section of this website) and then wrote our rough drafts for our wanted posters.

Homework:

Finish your rough draft
Bring a flash drive (if you have one) to class tomorrow

Halloween!

Today we started brainstorming for our creature paragraphs.  Students were given the requirements and the brainstorming chart. 

Homework:

Finish the brainstorming chart.  Come up with AT LEAST 5 adjectives for each column (not including the "Crimes Committed" column).

Have a happy Halloween!

    

October 28, 2011

Today we took the adjective quiz and then read silently.

Homework:

Have a great weekend! 

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone on being a COOL SCHOOL! 

Remember to wear your costumes on Monday!

October 27, 2011

Thursday:

Today we reviewed adjectives in preparation for tomorrow's quiz.

Homework:

Adjective Review WS
STUDY
Take the practice quizzes
Bring a book to read after the quiz is finished

October 26, 2011

Wednesday:

Today we reviewed the answers to two adjective worksheets we had for homework this week. 

Homework:

Study for adjective quiz on Friday (Try some practice quizzes)
*You also need to bring something to read after the quiz

**6th period only:  Proper adjective WS

October 25, 2011

Tuesday:

Today we completed a character sketch (using adjectives) to describe a character from Shrek 2.

Homework:

Proper adjective WS

October 24,2011

Monday:

Today we reviewed the answers to last week's adjective worksheet.  We also took notes over comparative and superlative adjectives.

Homework:

Comparative/Superlative WS
Get ready for adjective quiz on Friday

October 20, 2011

Thursday:

Today we started adjectives.  Students took notes on adjectives.

Homework:

Adjective WS, finish Write Source "Try It" activity on page 486 if you did not finish in class.

October 19, 2011

Wednesday:

Great job to those of you that took the practice quizzes!  Hopefully you felt prepared for today's subject/predicate quiz.

Homework:

Bring your Write Source book tomorrow.  We will begin adectives!

October 18, 2011

Tuesday:

Today we reviewed the answers to WS 11 and did a review activity in class. 

Homework:

STUDY for the subject/predicate quiz tomorrow.
*Take a few practice quizzes!  I have only added one more since yesterday.  Happy quizzing! :)

October 17, 2011

Monday:

Today we reviewed the answers to page 10 of the subject/predicate ws students worked on over the weekend.  We also completed an activity in class using subjects and predicates.

Homework:

Correct page 11 of your WS
Study for subject/predicate quiz on Wed.
*Take a few practice quizzes in the "Practice Quiz" page of this website

October 12, 2011

Wednesday:

Today we reviewed last night's homework and worked on a subject predicate worksheet in class.  This worksheet is much more challenging than last night's and students should use their notes to complete.

Homework:

Finish worksheet
Have a great long weekend!

*There will be a subject/predicate quiz on Wednesday.  Use your worksheets to review!*

October 11, 2011

Tuesday:

Today we took notes over subjects and predicates (copies of student handout may be found under Class Notes tab at the top of the web page). 

Homework:

Verb page due Wed.
Subject/Predicate WS

October 10, 2011

Monday:

Today I gave students the requirements for the verb page of the parts of speech book. 

Homework:

Verb page due Wed. Oct. 12

October 7, 2011

Friday

Today we took the verb quiz.  Next week we will work on the verb page of the parts of speech book and begin studying subjects and predicates.

Homework:

Have a great weekend!

October 6, 2011

Thursday:

Today we completed a study guide in class and went over the answers.  Students are to use the study guide as a guide to study for the quiz.  Tomorrow's verb quiz will cover linking, helping, action and irregular verbs.  Students are to be able to identify all of these.  There will also be a small review over pronouns.

Homework:

Study Verbs

New Beginnings

Hello to my students from last year and to my new students this year!  I will not be in school until the beginning of October because I had a baby over the summer.  My daughter was born July 28 and my husband and I named her Vivian Lane.  I know many of you were excited for me last year and I promised I would post a picture of her so here it is!  Thanks so much for all of your enthusiasm about the baby.  I had a great summer and look forward to seeing everyone this fall!

June 3, 2011

We will be continuing speeches through the end of the school year.  I forgot to add that there will also be a 50 point grade for the poetry project added to PASS.  Mrs. Weatherlow and I are in the midst of grading those and students will get them back next week.  All essay grades are now on PASS.  Have a great weekend!

June 1, 2011

Today we began speeches!  We will continue with speeches for the remainder of the year. 

The grades we have left to be put on PASS include:  the positive influence essay (100 pts), the speech and paragraph (25 pts), the last sentence corrections I collected (20 points), and the kindness pargraphs (20 pts).  I am working on finishing the 100 pt. essays first.  They will be returned to everyone and put on PASS by the end of the week.  Once the grades are up, your 4th quarter grade is final.

May 31, 2011

Today we went over a handout about delivering a speech and discussed the expectations for the demonstrations that begin tomorrow.  Students have signed up in advance and should have their date written down.

Homework:

Work on your speech. 

Final copy of paragraph due the day of your speech.

May 27, 2011

Today I gave students a copy of the rubric for their demonstration speeches and paragraphs.  Students also signed up for speech dates.  Speeches start Wednesday, June 1 and continue through June 8.

Homework:

Rough draft of demonstration paragraph due Tuesday.  Final copy is due the day of your speech.

Have a great weekend!

May 26, 2011

Today we reviewed how to write instructions be completing a worksheet about making soap and creating oragami.

Homework:

-Kindness paragraph (typed or written NEATLY in blue or black ink) due tomorrow

-How to speeches begin Wed.  They will be our last assignment of the year :)  Begin planning your speech and visual aid/props.

May 25, 2011

Today we went over the Kite WS and then students used a graphic organizer to organize their ideas for their how to paragraphs and speeches (which will start at the end of next week).

Homework:

How To WS due Thurs.

Poetry Project due to Mrs. Weatherlow Thurs. (include Bibliography)

Kindness paragraph due Friday

May 24, 2011

Today we went over excercises in demonstrating how to do something.  Students wrote instructions for tying a shoe and then had their peers follow their instructions.

Homework:

Kite WS (complete sentences)

How to idea due Wed.

Poetry project due to Mrs. Weatherlow Thurs.

Kindness paragraph due Friday

May 20, 2011

Today we wrote creative paragraphs about a critter students created.

Homework:

Finish Critter WS

Final copy of narrative poem due Tuesday

May 19, 2011

We worked again today in the computer lab and students worked on typing their poems or creating their Works Cited page.

Homework:

Complete your act of kindness this week

Final copy of narrative poem due Tuesday

May 18, 2011

Students spent today in the writing lab working on their poems.

Homework:

Rough draft of narrative poem due Thursday

Complete your act of kindness this week

May 17, 2011

Today we continued working on the poetry project.  I checked everyone's plot diagrams for the narrative poem.

Homework:

Rough Draft of Narrative Poem due Thursday

Complete your act of kindness sometime this week so we can begin writing about it next week

We are in the library tomorrow and Thursday to work on the poetry project.  Bring your materials with you.

May 13, 2011

Today we finally turned in our final copies (woohoo) of our three paragraph research papers.  We also reviewed the answers to the Sentence Combining Worksheet and then brainstormed acts of kindness.  Students will be writing two paragraphs about an act of kindness they perform.  Their act must be done next week and should not cost a lot of money (if any). 

Homework:

Act of Kindness Idea due Monday

Plot Diagram for Narrative Poem due Tuesday

Rough Draft of Narrative Poem due Thursday

May 11, 2011

Today we peer edited each other's papers and reviewed the adjective worksheet from yesterday.

Homework:

Sentence Combining WS

Bring Renaissance notes tomorrow- We will be working on the narrative poem.

Final copy of essay due Friday

May 10, 2011

Today I was out for meetings all day so each class had a sub.  In class students worked on plot diagrams to brainstorm for their narrative poem (for the poetry project).  Students then received a worksheet for homework over using stronger adjectives and writing complex sentences.

Homework:

-Typed rough draft (3 paragraphs about a person who has been a positive influence on the world) due Wed.

-Both sides of "Using Specific Adjectives" WS due tomorrow

-Final copy of essay due Friday

May 9, 2011

Today we took the subject/predicate quiz and then worked on a paragraph that needed better adjectives.

Homework:

Finish paragraph WS
Typed rough draft (your 3 paragraphs about someone who has been a positive influence on the world) due Wed.
Final copy due Friday
Bring your Renaissance notes to class tomorrow

May 4, 2011

Today I checked everyone's hooks (10 points) and then gave a handout on introduction paragraphs and body paragraphs.  Students used the remainder of the period to begin writing their rough drafts.  We will move onto conclusions tomorrow.

Homework:

Finish writing intro. and body.

Copy of today's handout

May 2, 2011

Today we reviewed subjects and predicates.  I also collected thesis statements and works cited pages.

Homework:

Subject/Predicate worksheet due tomorrow.

April 28, 2011

Today students wrote notes (in their own words) for their introduction paragraphs and body paragraphs of their essays. 

Homework:

Works Cited page due Monday.

*Math test tomorrow.  Modified schedule.

April 27, 2011

Today we created works cited pages using noodle tools. 

Homework:

Final works cited pages due Monday.

April 26, 2011

Today I checked everyone's research.  Most students have three articles and are on track.  Some still have work to do.  Students read their research articles and highlighted 3-5 background facts about their person and 5-7 facts that demonstrate how their person has been a positive influence on the world.  All week we will be working on our research in class.

Homework:

None.  Testing tomorrow:  Get 8 hours of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast!

April 21, 2011

Today we wrote a two paragraph journal about the kindness at Center and the importance of kindness. I also checked on everyone's progress in the research for the three paragraph paper we are writing.

Homework:

3 sources due Tuesday *2 must be from school databases

Have a great weekend!

April 20, 2011

We spent today in the media center researching our topics for the research paper.  Students must have three sources total.  Two MUST be from the school databases.  One internet source is allowed, but only if it is the person's official website or a foundation's official website.  Sources must be printed and saved. 

Homework:

Sources due Tuesday April 26

Copy of the handout given today

April 19, 2011

Today we read excerpts from Nineteen Minutes and discussed various issues such as: safety in schools, popularity, bullying and guy codes and girl codes.

Homework:

Brainstorm a topic for the research paper.  Your topic must be a person that has been a positive influence on the world.  Topic choices are due Wed.  Everyone must have a different person to research.  Your person does not have to be living.

April 15, 2011

Today we took the sentence quiz and then read silently for the remainder of the period.  I saw some great books being read!  Read on!

Homework:

Have a great weekend!

April 13, 2011

Today we completed practice exercises in the Write Source book on subject/verb agreement, fragments and run-ons in preparation for the quiz on Friday.

Homework:

Review packet

Try a practice Fragment Quiz

April 11, 2011

Today we went over the answers to in-class worksheets completed on Friday.  We reviewed complete sentences, similes, metaphors and hyperboles.  We also defined narrative poem and personification in class.

Homework:

There will be a quiz over complete sentences (run-ons, fragments and subject/verb agreement) on Friday.

Bring your Write Source to class all week :)

April 7, 2011

Today we reviewed the answers to the Sentence Fragment and Run-ons Worksheet.  Overall, everyone could use some more practice.  We also defined hyperbole and reviewed literary elements (simile, hyperbole and narrative poem) of "The Cremation of Sam McGee" (page 708 of the lit. book).

Homework:

Complete the Hyperbole/ Subject Predicate WS.

April 6, 2011

Today we listened to the song "Life's a Dance" and discussed metaphors.  We also created our own life metaphors.

Homework:

Metaphor/Simile WS (both sides)
Finish your life metaphor if you did not finish in class

April 5, 2011

Today we reviewed similes and read "The Cremation of Sam McGee" in the literature book on page 708.

Homework:

Complete Sam McGee WS in complete sentences

April 4, 2011

Today we defined sentences, fragments and run-ons.  We also began our poetry unit we will be working on in conjunction with POLA.

Homework:

Sentence WS, both sides

March 22, 2011

Today we took The Outsiders test.

The rest of the week we will be watching The Outsiders.  Please check PASS.  The quarter ends on Friday and I will be updating grades throughout the week and working with students to make up any absent work they have neglected.  Any missing work must be turned in by Friday, March 25.

March 21, 2011

Today we reviewed for tomorrow's test.

Homework:

Study for the test!  Use study guides, vocabulary worksheets, plot diagrams and theme notes to study.

March 18, 2011

Today we worked in groups to create a poster designed to look like a Facebook page for a character in The Outsiders.  I was really impressed with everyone's creativity and enjoyed seeing the final products!

Homework:

Study for the test on Tuesday, which will cover any notes, study guides and vocabulary for the book.

Take a practice quiz!

Interested in learning more about The Outsiders?  Visit S.E. Hinton's website or The Outsiders book and movie site!

March 17, 2011

Today we went over the answers to the Cause and Effect WS and then worked with a partner to complete the Sequencing side and put 15 events from The Outsiders in order to review for the upcoming test.  We also reviewed some answers to the study guide for chapters 11 and 12.

Homework:

Rough draft for a Facebook page (a poster of a Facebook page) for your character assigned in class.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

March 15, 2011

Today we finished The Outsiders!  First and second period did not have time to receive the study guide for chapters 11 and 12, but all other classes have received it.

Homework:

Study guide due Thurs.
Test 3.22

March 14, 2011

Today we took the quiz over chapters 7-10 and worked on the journal.

Homework:

Finish journal:  The poem on page 77 is about staying young and innocent.  Why do you think the author includes it?  1 paragraph

*Test Tuesday, March 22

March 11, 2011

Whew!  I am finally back from a nasty bout with the flu!  Sorry I have not posted in a few days.  Today I collected and graded the vocabulary worksheet for chapters 7-10.  We then played a short review game, as our quiz has been rescheduled for Monday.

Homework:

Study for quiz!

March 7, 2011

Today we finished reading chapter 7, reviewed the definitions for chapters 7-10 and discussed Randy's conversation with Pony in chapter 7.

Homework:

Vocabulary WS due Wed.  Write sentences and complete the matching.
Quiz on Friday over chapters 7-10. 

* Next week we finish the book :) *

March 1, 2011

Ah, we are finally a little closer to spring!  Today we read chapter 6 and then worked on the study guides for a few minutes. 

Homework:

Finish study guide (in complete sentences, exept the summary questions).

Quiz Friday

February 28, 2011

Today we presented our theme posters and analyzed "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost.

Homework:

Ch. 5-6 study guide due Wed.  Get started now!

Quiz over Ch. 5-6 Friday.

February 24, 2011

Today we reviewed the vocabulary words for ch. 5-6 and the themes of the novel.  We also worked in groups to find quotes that exemplify the themes of the novel.

Homework:

Finish vocabulary WS.

February 23, 2011

Today we took the quiz, began our journals and received the vocab. words for ch. 5-6.  We also finished reading chapter 5.

Homework:

Finish journal:  How is Johnny unlike the typical Greaser?  Why do you  think he chose to be a Greaser?  7 sentences min.

Vocabulary WS due Friday

February 22, 2011

Today we reviewed chapters 3 and 4.

Homework:

Study content and vocabulary of chapters 3 and 4 for quiz tomorrow.

February 18, 2011

Today we read the first half of chapter five and reviewed the answers to the study guide for chapters three and four.

Homework:
 Study for quiz on Wed.

February 17, 2011

Today we finished chapter four and continued working on the ch. 3-4 study guide.  We also discussed the inciting incident in the plot diagram.

Homework:
Study guide due tomorrow
Quiz over ch. 3-4 Wed.

February 16, 2011

Today we discovered why Ponyboy said he was wrong when he thought things couldn't get any worse as we read the first half of chapter 4.  We then discussed the plot diagram and outlined some important elements of the story.

Homework:

Continue working on study guide.  Due Friday in complete sentences.
Quiz Wed. over ch. 3-4.

*Tomorrow:  Continue with reading and discussion:  Do Pony and Johnny make it to Jay's Mountain? 

February 15, 2011

Today we defined 10 vocabulary words for chapters 3-4.

Homework:

Write your own sentences for each of the 10 words. Complete the matching section of the vocab. hw.

Study guide due Friday.

Quiz over ch.3-4 next Wed.

Tomorrow:  Reading ch. 4.

February 14, 2011

Today we read all of chapter three of The Outsiders.

Homework:

Correct journal from Friday.  How does Darry discipline Ponyboy?  Use examples from the story to support your answer.  If you were Ponyboy's parent, how would you discipline him?

Your response must be 2, 7 sentence paragraphs on your Daily Journal Log.

Happy Valentine's Day!

February 10, 2011

Today we reviewed the answers to the study guide and character charts in preparation for the quiz tomorrow.

Homework:

-STUDY for the quiz tomorrow:  Study vocabulary, study guide and character charts.

February 9, 2011

Today we finished chapter two and then created Venn diagrams comparing and contrasting the Socs and the Greasers.

Homework:

Character charts and study guide due Thursday.
Study for quiz on Friday over ch. 1 & 2 and vocabulary.

Take a short quiz over chapter 2.

February 8, 2011

Today we read the first half of chapter two and then completed the character charts that are due on Thursday.

Homework:

-Character charts due Thurs.
-Study vocabulary and notes for quiz Friday

*Take a practice quiz over chapter one.

February 7, 2011

Today we defined 12 vocabulary words from chapters 1-3 of The Outsiders.  As a class, we filled in the character chart for Ponyboy and I reviewed my expectations for the remaining charts, which are due on Thursday.

Homework:

-Write 12 vocabulary sentences using the vocab. words.
-Complete the matching section of the vocab. ws.
-Study for quiz on Friday (over chapters 1 & 2 and vocabulary)

Take a practice quiz over chapter one!

February 4, 2011

Today we finished reading chapter one of The Outsiders and discussed the rest of the gang that was introduced.

Homework:

Continue filling in character charts as we read.

*Quiz next Friday (Feb. 11) over chapters one and two.



This picture is from the movie.  Do you recognize any of the actors?

February 3, 2011

Welcome back!  Today we read the first half of chapter 1 of The Outsiders.  We discussed the characters and began filling out charts for the characters. 

Homework:

Fill in any additional info. you think of for the character charts.

January 31, 2011

Today we organized our folders, recycled old papers and created a folder for Outsiders material.  We also read a bit about S.E. Hinton.

Homework:

If you did not finish in class, organize your Outsiders folder.

January 28, 2011

Today we read an article about a high school football game played in Texas a few years ago.  The coach of Grapevine, Texas' team asked his fans to cheer for their opponents for just one game.  Grapevine was playing Gainesville, a team formed from teenagers in prison.  Two hundred fans cheered on Gainesville and sent them home with care packages.  We then discussed how this related to stereotypes and our journals about gangs.

Homework:

If you did not complete it in class, finish the WS about the article.  11th period did the worksheet as a class discussion and has no homework.

Next week:  We are reading chapters one and two of The Outsiders.

January 27, 2011

Today we discussed stereotypes, judgements and first impressions as an introduction to some of the themes we will be reading about in The Outsiders.

Homework:

-Write one paragraph answering the prompt:  What are positive and negative consequences to joining a gang?  (In other words, why would a person join a gang?)   Make sure you put your response on the Daily Journal sheet I gave you in class.

January 25, 2011

Today we peer edited our letters to Mrs. Pelko.

Homework:

-Have your letter edited and signed by at least three people.

*Reminder:  Tomorrow we will be in the media center making final corrections to the letter and printing them out.

Looking toward the future:  We will begin The Outsiders this week!

January 21, 2011

Homework:

-Finish rough draft of your persuasive letter.  We will be peer editing on Tuesday.

January 20, 2011

Homework:

-Complete Letter Prewriting Worksheet
-*Reminder:  tomorrow we will be in the media center lab typing our rough drafts :)

January 19, 2011

Today we read "The Eternal Frontier" in the literature book and then analyzed it using the six traits of writing.

Homework:

Answer questions 1-6 on page 321 in the literature book.  Use complete sentences.

January 18, 2011

Today we analyzed a sample persuasive essay entitled "Support Our Animal Shelter" using the 6 traits of writing.

Homework:

-Finish 6 Traits of Writing WS
-Bring your purple literature book to class tomorrow (you usually bring it to POLA)

January 14, 2011

Homework:

Finish your persuasive paragraph.  Complete Supporting your Opinion WS, page 68 only. 

January 13, 2011

Homework:

-Finish poem
-Circle your top 3 topic choices out of your list of 10 things you would like to change about Center

January 12, 2011

Today we worked with partners to write persuasive paragraphs and then presented them to the class!  Great job!

Homework:

Check your grade on PASS.  Grades were updated last Thurs. and will be updated again this Thurs.  The quarter ends Friday, January 21 so make sure your grades on PASS are correct and you have no missing assignments.

Continue brainstorming a topic for your persuasive letter to the principal (topic:  something you would like to change about Center).

January 11, 2011

Today we practiced creating and identifying supporting reasons for an opinion.

Homework:

Finish WS

January 10, 2011

Homework:

Brainstorm a list of 10 possible topics for a persuasive letter to the principal about Center Middle School (things you would like to see changed about the school)

January 7, 2011

Today students typed their final copies of their goal paragraphs in the writing lab. 

Homework:

Final copy of paragraph due Monday.

Have a great weekend!

January 6, 2011

Today students taped their 3rd and 4th quarter goals in their planners to remind them of their goals for the next four weeks.  Then they started a rough draft of a paragraph about their goal and their plan to achieve it.

Homework:

Finish rough draft

January 5, 2011

Today we discussed the challenges and advantages of middle school to help us come up with an academic goal for 3rd and 4th quarter.

Homework:
-Complete Goal Worksheet

January 4, 2011

Today we read an article from a blog about people who have succeeded despite many obstacles, such as Harrison Ford and Walt Disney.  We discussed success and failure and then continued with our acrostic poems.

Homework:
-Complete final copy of your NEW YEAR acrostic poem
-Bring scissors and tape to class Thursday

January 3, 2011

Wow!  We are almost half way through the school year (second quarter ends January 21) and have started a new calendar year!  I hope everyone had a relaxing break!

Today we finished up autobiography presentations and started a new unit on goals. 

Homework:
-Write an acrostic poem using the word new year.  The topic of your poem:  things you want for the new year.  The things you want may be tangible or intangible.

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