Thursday

Activities:

Book fair and peer editing.

Homework:

Final copy of essay due tomorrow.

Wednesday

Activities:

Editing activity.

Homework:

Final copy due Friday.
Bring money for the book fair tomorrow.

Tuesday

Today's Activities:

Take essay portion of test.

Homework:

-Typed rough draft due tomorrow.
-Final copy due Friday.

Monday

Today's Activities:

-Take multiple choice portion of test.
-Work on essay due Friday.

Homework:

-Typed rough draft due Wed.
-Review compare/contrast essay tips.

Wednesday

Activities:

Work day:  Read pages 298-300 of Write Source books and begin writing the rough draft of the essay.

Homework:

-Study for test Monday (multiple choice portion) and Tuesday (essay portion).
-Typed draft due Wednesday.

Tuesday

Today's Activities:

-Check homework.
-Write your thesis/focus statement.  (Thesis is the last sentence of the intro. and it must include the title of the story or poem you're writing about and the theme.)
-Plan the order of the body (your two examples of the theme).
-Begin the introduction paragraph if you have time.

Homework:

-Study for test Monday Oct. 15.
-Typed rough draft due Wed. Oct. 17.
-Final copy due Fri. Oct. 19.

Friday

Activities:

-Bellwork: Complete pages 631 and 633 of the Write Source book.
-Grade bellwork and turn in for a grade (23 points total).
-Handout study guide for test and requirements for essay.
-Begin reading "Raymond's Run" page 288.

Homework:

-Study for test 10/15 and 10/16

*Honors Homework:

Read "Raymond's Run"

Thursday

Activities:

-Figurative language chart.

Homework:

-Fill out two rows of the chart.  Include page numbers.
-Coming of Age Unit Test 10/15 and 10/16.

*Honors-  page 70 and 71 odds (grammar workbook).  Study nouns.

Wednesday

Activities:

-Journal 6:  Your choice.  2 paragraphs.
-Discuss simile, personification and analogy.
-Read "Winter Moon."

Homework:

-p. 70 Ex. 2
-Study nouns.
-Finish journal.

Tuesday

Activities:

-Turn in essay.
-Discuss idioms and metaphors (handout given).
-Read and discuss "Wild Bells."

Homework:

-p. 69 of grammar workbook. Ex. 1 only.
-Study for noun quiz Friday.

Monday

Activities:

-Put three handouts in writing folder.
-In class essay.

Notes from the board:

Intro:
     -Your hook is the first sentence of the intro.  It should be broad and should
       not mention the titles yet.
     -After the hook, mention the titles and authors of the works.
     -The last sentence of the intro. is your thesis.  A thesis statement is your
      topic sentence.  It sums up what the essay is about.  Ex.  "The Old
      Grandfather and His Little Grandson" and "Old Man" have many similarities
      and differences.
Body:
     -Discuss the similarities and differences of the stories.
Conclusion:
     -Sum up what you've said.
     -Refer back to your hook, but say it in a different way.
     -Leave the reader with something to think about.

Homework:

-Finish essay.
-Study for noun quiz on Friday.
-Put together writing folder.

Tuesday

Today's Activities:

-Research and cite information about the Sioux Native Americans, Crazy Horse or Little Big Horn.

Homework:

-pg. 64-64 of grammar workbook.  Girls do the evens, boys do the odds.

-Finish citation if you did not finish in class.

Monday

Today's Activities:

-Bellwork:  Journal 5.  If you have to leave your home and take only three possessions with you, what would you take and why?

-Discuss giving your personal best.

-Review common and proper nouns and complete #1-5 on page 61.  Review as a class.

Homework:

-Finish journal.

-pg. 61 #6-25 in grammar workbook.

8/28/12

Today's Activities:

-Review yesterday's hw.
-Introduce new unit: Coming of Age.
-Discuss coming of age. *Participation points.

Homework:

-Complete exercise 1 on pages 49-50.

*Honors:  In addition to ex. 1, read "Charles."

8/23/12

Welcome to eighth grade Language Arts!  It's great to see familiar friendly faces!  I'm excited to meet those of you I do not know and I'm sure we're going to have a fun year!  On this site I post most of the same information I put in the absent binder in the classroom.  I post the activities we did that day and any homework I assigned.  Please use this site and ask me if you need anything clarified.


Today's Activities:

Present vision boards (20 points).

Homework:

None :) 

6/01/12

Last blog post of the year!  We will be continuing with speeches until Wednesday of next week.  Students can turn in any make up work until then.  In eighth grade the students will use the same version of the Write Source book they did this year.  Each student needs to turn in his or her Write Source to me by Wednesday of next week.

I have had a great school year with all of you and look forward to seeing some of you again in eighth grade next year!

Mrs. Smith

5/30/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Write a letter to yourself.  It will be given back to you in a year!
2.  Finish your Olympic WS from Friday.

Homework:

Get ready for your speech!  Speeches start tomorrow!

5/29/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Meet in the computer lab to fill out speech worksheet.
2.  Work on speech.

Homework:

Speeches start Thursday.

Use this Tuesday to plan your speech!

Click here to access the planning sheet for your speech.

5/25/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Turn in your persuasive paragraphs (time capsule).
2. Olympic Day writing activity :)

Homework:

Have a great weekend!  Presentations start Thursday.

5/24/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Review presentation requirements.
2.  Put together writing folders.
3.  Peer edit.

Homework:

1.  Bring two final copies of your Time Capsule essay tomorrow.

5/22/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Check brainstorming for persuasive paragraph.
2.  Write rough draft.

Homework:

1.  Finish your rough draft.

5/21/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Review essay prompt:  Choose an item you feel should be in a time capsule of the early 2000s.
3.  Brainstorming ws.

Homework:

1.  Finish brainstorming.

5/18/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Persuasive writing journal.
2.  Review Supporting Your Opinion WS.
3.  Brainstorm time capsule ideas.

Homework:

Have a great weekend!

5/17/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Answer journal prompt on the board: Would you rather...?
2.  Discuss persuasive writing.
3.  Supporting Your Opinion WS.

Homework:

1.  Finish Supporting Your Opinion WS.
2.  Brainstorm an item you think should be placed in a time capsule of the
     2000s.

5/16/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Check homework (metaphor ws).
3.  Work on rough draft of concrete poem.

Homework:

Final copy of concrete poem.

5/15/12

Today's Activities:

1. Daily sentence correction.
2.  Review and turn in song worksheet.
3.  Read examples of concrete poems from Blue Lipstick and brainstorm a metaphor or simile to create a concrete poem about.

Homework:

1.  Metaphor worksheet.

5/14/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Turn in final copy of letter.
3.  Review metaphors.

Homework:

1.  Finish worksheet (only one out of the three songs).

5/11/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Use your brainstorming to write a rough draft of your letter to next year's 7th   graders.
3.  Write a final copy of your letter in ink.

Homework:

1.  Finish final copy of letter.

5/10/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Share and turn in poems.
3.  Brainstorm ideas for you letter to next year's 7th graders.

Homework:

1.  Finish brainstorming.

5/09/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Pass back letters of advice.
3.  Write rough draft of poem.

Homework:

1.  Final copy of poem.  Use your letter of advice as inspiration for a poem.  Your poem must:

     -Be 8 lines minimum.
   -Have a labeled rhyme scheme and include at least two lines that rhyme.
   -Include one simile that is underlined.

5/08/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Turn in My Interpretation WS.
3.  Present poems.

Homework:

None :)  Tomorrow we will use our success letters to write a poem.

5/07/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Read poems.
2.  Work in groups to discuss poems.

Homework:

1.  My Interpretation WS.

5/04/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Turn in descriptive essays.
3.  Begin poetry.

Homework:

Have a great weekend!

5/03/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Review essay rubric.
3.  Peer edit.

Homework:

1.  Two final copies of your descriptive essay due Friday (1 copy for your folder and 1 for me to grade).

5/02/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Review essay requirements.
3.  Peer edit.

Homework:

Final copy of essay due Friday.

4/30/12

Today's Activities:

1.  Daily sentence correction.
2.  Conclusions.
3.  Begin writing conclusions.

Homework:

1.  Finish conclusions.
2.  Bring flash drive tomorrow.
3.  Typed rough draft due Wed.

4/26/12

Today's Activities:

Continue writing rough draft of descriptive essay about a person that is a positive influence on you.

Homework:

Catch up on rough draft.  You should have intro. and one body paragraph completed by tomorrow.

4/23/12

Today's Activities:

-Turn in success letters.
-Read Write Source p. 76-79.
-Work on Gathering Details WS.

Homework:

Get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast- the reading OAAs are tomorrow :)

4/20/12

Today's Activities:

-Review examples of descriptive writing using the Write Source (p. 71-78).
-Brainstorming

Homework:

-Success letter due Monday.
-Bring Write Source to class all next week.
-Brainstorm 10 adjectives to describe the person you are writing about.

4/19/12

Today's Activities:

-Review quotes and underlining ws.
-Put items in collage folders.

Homework:

Success letter due Monday.

4/18/12

Today's Activities:

-Review last night's homework.  Turn it in.

-Review uses of quotes or underlining/italicizing for titles.

-Quote and Underlining WS.

Homework:

-Success letter due Monday 4/23.
-Two typed copies and rough draft of song essay due tomorrow.
-Finish WS if you did not do so in class.

4/17/12

Today's Activities:

-Review the rules of capitalization.
-Work on capitalization worksheet and go over the answers.

Homework:

-Success letter due Monday 4/23
-2 typed final copies of song essay due Thursday 4/19
-Capitalization WS #16-30 due tomorrow

4/16/12

Today's Activities:

Discuss The Outsiders movie.  Wasn't the book better?  :)
Begin peer editing song essays (What song best describes your life and why- Must be edited by 3 people.)

Homework:

Letter of advice due by Monday, April 23 (I will take them anytime between now and then.)

2 typed copies of your song essay due Wed.

4/4/12

Today's Activities:

-Put together and present newspapers.

Homework:

None :)

4/03/12

Today's Activities:

-Put together newspapers.
-Pass back collages and paragraph about your collage.

Homework:

None!

We are presenting our newspapers tomorrow.

3/30/12

Today's Activities:

Finishing our newspapers in the library :)

Homework:

Bring your printed copies on Monday to glue onto your final pages!

3/29/12

Today's Activities:

Turn in portrait poems.
Write a paragraph about someone else's collage.

Homework:

None :)

3/28/12

Today's Activities:

Turn in eye collages from yesterday.
Work on portrait poem.

Homework:

Complete a final copy of your portrait poem.  It must be done in ink or maker, no pencil.

3/27/12

Today's Activities:

Discuss the saying "The eyes are the window to the soul" in relation to The Outsiders and in relation to ourselves.

Begin eye collage.  The collage should be pictures that represent you and what a person should see when they look into your eyes if the eyes represent the soul.

Homework:

Finish collage.

3/26/12

Today's Activities:

Today we were in the media center continuing our work on the 1960s newspapers.  Friday is our last day in the lab to work on them.

Homework:

3 pronged folder and pictures for a collage about yourself due tomorrow.

3/23/12

Today's Activities:

Take The Outsiders test. 

Homework:

None :)

All make up work is due by the end of the quarter, Wed. March 28.

3/22/12

Today's Activities:

Group work:  Discuss one of the themes of The Outsiders.  Find two examples from the book and two quotes that demonstrate your theme.

Themes:

Stay Gold
Sense of Belonging
Be Yourself
Brotherhood
The Grass Isn't Always Greener on the Other Side
Heroic Acts
Sacrifice
There is Still Good in the World
Friends are like Family

Homework:

Study for tomorrow's test.
Stay gold...

3/21/12

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Finish the book :)
-Discuss

Homework:

Study for the test on Friday.  It will be multiple choice, matching and includes 1 essay for a total of 60 points.

3 pronged folder due Tuesday.

Bring in old magazines if you have them.

3/20/12

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction.
-Review study guide answers.
-Read ch. 11 and begin ch. 12.

Homework:

-Review your study guides in preparation for the test on Friday.
-3 pronged folder due Tuesday, March 27 (for a writing project we will be working on).
-Bring in any old magazines you would like to donate for our project.  We will be using magazine pictures to create collages.

3/19/12

Today's Activities:

Meet in the media center to work on 1960s newspapers.

Homework:

Test over The Outsiders is Friday.  Use your study guides to study (sorta self-explanatory, but I thought I'd help :)

3/16/12

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Turn in study guide 9-10
-Group discussion over The Outsiders

Homework:

Bring your flash drive with your article and filler on it to class Monday.  We will be in the media center working on our newspapers.

The Outsiders test will be Friday, March 23.

3/15/12

Today's Activities:

Meet in the media center and begin using Microsoft Publisher to create our 1960s newspapers.

Homework:

The Outsiders Journal
Finish study guide ch. 9-10

3/14/12

Today's Activities:

-Work in groups to discuss layout of your newspaper.
-Begin study guide ch. 9-10.

Homework:

-Bring your flash drive tomorrow with your filler and article on it.  We will be in the media center.

-Study guide due Friday.

3/13/12

Today's Activities:

-Finish reading ch. 9 and 10.
-Begin study guide.

Homework:

-Bring a copy of your filler and a copy of your article to class tomorrow.  We are working in groups to complete our newspaper layouts.

3/12/12

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review answers to study guide 7-8 and turn in.
-Begin ch. 9.

Homework:

None
*The Outsiders test will be Friday, March 23.

3/09/12

Today's Activities:

Vocabulary quiz ch. 7-10.
Finish and turn in study guide ch. 7-8.
Turn in final copy of article.
Work in groups and begin planning newspaper layout.

Homework:

Have a great weekend!

3/08/12

Today's Activities:

-Finish ch. 8
-Begin study guide for ch. 7 and 8

Homework:

-Study vocab. for quiz tomorrow
-2 final copies of article due tomorrow

3/07/12

Today's Activities:

-Review study guide ch. 5&6
-Begin ch. 8

Homework:

Filler due tomorrow (*Remember, the filler is a part of the newspaper you are creating that is not something you have to research.  It should be something fun for you, like a crossword puzzle, a comic, or a weather report.)

2 copies of your 1960s article due Friday.

Study for vocabulary quiz Friday.

3/06/12

Today's Activities:

-Check vocabulary homework.
-Read ch. 7 of The Outsiders.

Homework:

-Filler due Thursday
-2 final copies of article due Friday

3/05/12

Today's Activities:

Go over Newspaper Article Rubric
Define vocabulary words for ch. 7-10
Finish study guide for ch. 5-6

Homework:

-Finish vocabulary worksheet
-Finish study guide ch. 5-6
-Filler (crossword puzzle, weather report, horoscopes etc.) for your newspaper due Thursday
-Final copy of newspaper article due Friday

3.2.12

Today's Activities:

Vocabulary quiz
Begin ch. 5 & 6 study guide
Peer edit articles *Your article should be signed and edited by at least 3 people*

Homework:

Newspaper "filler" (weather report, comic, word search etc.) due Thursday
Final copy of article due Friday, March 9

2/29/12

Today's Activities:

-Listen to the audio for ch. 5 and 6 of The Outsiders


Homework:

-Typed draft due Friday
-Study vocab. for Friday's quiz

Chapter 5

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review vocabulary sentences
-Check vocabulary and article drafts
-Read some of chapter 5

Homework:

-Study vocabulary words
-Typed draft of newspaper article due Friday
*Vocabulary quiz Friday

Monday

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review answers to ch. 5 & 6 study guide
-Go over this week's vocab. words

Homework:

-Finish newspaper article rough draft
-Finish vocabulary worksheet
*Vocabulary quiz Friday

Goals and Elements of News Articles

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Work on study guide due tomorrow
-News articles handouts:  Goals of a News Article and Elements of a News Article

Homework:

15-20 facts about your 1960s topic due Friday
Study guide 3-4 due Friday
*Tomorrow:  Writing our articles

Ch. 4 cont.

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Finish ch. 4
-Begin study guide ch. 3 & 4
-My personal PASS (I handed out a grade sheet for each student with a chart on it with their current grades and a printout from PASS to help those without access to PASS or those unaware of their scores keep track of grades.)

Homework:

Study guide Ch. 3 & 4 due Friday
15-20 facts due Friday

Chapter 4

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review and collect ch. 1&2 study guide
-Begin reading ch. 4

Homework:

15-20 facts about your 1960s topic due Friday

Vocabulary Quiz

Today's Activities:

-Vocabulary quiz
-Progress sheet (to monitor your research progress)
-Work in groups

Homework:

-Finish the study guide for Ch. 1 and 2 if you did not do so yet
-Have a great weekend!

Ch. 3

Today's Activities:

-Review vocabulary words
-Read Ch. 3
-Begin study guide over Ch. 1 &2

Homework:

-Study vocabulary words
-Ch. 1&2 WS due Friday

Researching our Articles

Today's Activities:

-Create a Noodle Tools folder for this project and cite your source.
-Find additional articles and take notes, if needed.
-Type heartfelt letter (due next week).

Homework:

-Study vocabulary words.
-Vocabulary quiz Friday.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today's Activities:

-Finish reading Ch. 2

Homework:

Review vocabulary words
Vocabulary quiz Friday

Finally finishing those character charts...

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Turn in notes over your 1960s article
-Fill in character charts using overhead


Homework:

-Make note cards for vocabulary words (word on the front, part of speech and definition on the back)

-Vocabulary quiz Friday:  STUDY

Character Charts

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Finish character charts
-Begin taking notes from your article or book

Homework:

-Take notes from your article or book.  Due Monday.

The Outsiders

Today's Activities:

-Finish chapter 1
-Work on character charts

Homework:

Book or database article about your topic for the 1960s newspaper due tomorrow

Characterization

Today's Activities:

-Present hero paragraphs
-Review vocab.
-Define direct and indirect characterization

Homework:

Bring a book or an article about your newspaper topic to class Friday

Group work

Today's Activities:

-Address and collect envelopes
-Review topics for 1960s newspaper project
-Work in groups

Homework:

Book or database article on your topic due Friday, February 10
Have a great weekend!

Newspaper Scavenger Hunt

Today's Activities:

-Newspaper scavenger hunt
-Turn in 3 topic choices and group choices for newsaper project

Homework:

Stamp and envelope due tomorrow
Finish scavenger hunt if you did not do so in class

1960s Music and Entertainment

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Turn in business letters
-Review motorcycle article
-Videos for 1960s music and entertainment

Today's Videos:

Woodstock
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5245443n

The Beatles (Start at 1 min. Stop at 5 min.)
http://www.biography.com/people/john-lennon-9379045

Television of the 1960s
http://www.history.com/videos/ask-steve-television-in-the-1960s#ask-steve-television-in-the-1960s

Games
http://www.history.com/videos/growing-up-in-the-60s#growing-up-in-the-60s

Homework:

Brainstorm 3 topic ideas for your 1960s newspaper article
Stamp and envelope due Friday

1960s Politics

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review yesterday's newspaper activity
-Discuss topic ideas for 1960s newspaper project

Today's Videos:

  Kennedy (5 min. video)

 http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/jfk-a-new-generation#jfk-a-new-generation

    MLK
http://www.history.com/shows/king/videos#forest-whitaker-growing-up-with-dr-king

    Draft
http://www.history.com/videos/ask-steve-drafts-impact#ask-steve-drafts-impact

    Vietnam War

http://www.history.com/videos/the-road-to-war#the-road-to-war

    Cold War
http://www.history.com/videos/the-space-race#the-space-race

Click here to visit a website all about the 1960s!

Homework:

Bring 2 copies of your business letter to class tomorrow
Envelope and stamp due Friday
Motorcycle Newspaper WS due tomorrow

1960s

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Watch The Outsiders book trailer (to watch again, go to the Just fo' Fun page)
-Learn the parts of a newspaper

Homework:

-2 copies of business letter due Wednesday February 1
-Rough draft with three editor's signatures due Wednesday February 1
-Envelope and stamp due Friday

Business Letter Quiz

Today's Activities:

-Business Letter Quiz

Homework:

Final copy of business letter due Wednesday

Typing Business Letters

Today's Activities:

-Type rough draft of business letter in the media center

Homework:

-Study for business letter quiz tomorrow
-Bring your rough draft so we can peer edit them
-Final copy of letter due Wednesday, February 1

Business Letter Rough Draft

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Begin rough draft
-Pass back essays
-Check brainstorming

Homework:

-Finish rough draft

Business Letters

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Business letter requirements handout
-Writing a letter of request activity
-Brainstorming ws

Homework:

Finish brainstorming ws

Ordering a Hat

Today's Activities:

-Sentence correction
-Review and turn in hw
-Writing to place an order ws

Homework:

Have a great weekend!
Quiz over letters next Friday

Business Letters

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Turn in final copy of letter
-Business letter notes
-Cut and paste business letter activity

Homework:

Finish cut and paste activity

Editing Friendly Letters

Today's Activities:

-Daily sentence correction
-Review requirements for friendly letter
-Peer edit

Homework:

-Typed letter due tomorrow
-Bring scissors and glue tomorrow

Friendly Letter Quiz

Today's Activities:

-Quiz
-Sustained Silent Reading

Homework:

-Typed letter due Thursday
-Envelope and stamp due Tuesday

Writing Letters

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Write rough draft of front of envelope
-Write rough draft of letter

Homework:

-Study for friendly letter quiz  *Take a practice quiz*
-Bring a book to read to class tomorrow
-Finish rough draft

Friendly Letter

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Turn in essay (final copy, rough draft with three signatures and rubric)
-Friendly letter correction ws
-Review requirements for the letter

Homework:

-Brainstorming ws
-Prepare for friendly letter quiz Friday
-Envelope and stamp due Tuesday, January 17

Addressing the Envelope

Today's Activities:

-Sentence Correction
-Review Friendly letters
-Turn in yesterday's cut and paste activity
-Notes/practice:  addressing the envelope

Homework:

-Essay due tomorrow
-Name and address of your favorite writer also due tomorrow
 *You must be familiar with their work (you have read it). 
 *It may be an author, magazine/newspaper writer/editor, or a screenwriter

Friendly Letters

Today's Activities:

Daily sentence correction
Friendly letter handout and notes
Cut and paste friendly letter activity

Homework:

-Finish friendly letter activity if you did not do so in class
-Decide on a favorite writer you would like to write to (Name and address due
 Wed.
-Final copy of essay due Wed.  I am also collecting rough drafts, which should
 have three signatures of editors.

Peer Edits

Today's Activities:

-Review answers to Fragment/Run-on WS
-Review essay rubric
-Peer edit

Homework:

-Final copy of essay due Wed. Jan. 11
-Brainstorm your favorite writer for friendly letter next week

Typing Continued

Today's Activities:

Finish typing rough draft
Work on fragment/run-on ws

Homework:

Finish ws
Final copy due Wed. Jan. 11

Typing

Today's Activities:

Type drafts in the computer lab

Homework:

None
We will be typing in the media center tomorrow
Final copy of essays are due January 11 (next Wed.)