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.

N
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Y
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