8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

All students read for 10 minutes and we listened to a student's BookShare. Students spent time working on their FFA project.

Homework: None

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

Students read for 10 minutes and we listened to a student BookShare. Students spent class time working on creating their utopia with their literature circles.

Homework: None

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

Students submitted their Reading Folders today. I reviewed expectations for work time in class and students spent the hour working on their FFA projects, part one. I passed back completed evaluation forms from Humanities Night and students filed these in their writing portfolios.

Homework: Enjoy your weekend!

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Reader's Workshop

All students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade. We read Chapter 16 of The Giver together. I explained to students what literature circles were and told them my expectations of literature circles. (Classes who do well with literature circles will participate in literature circles in Term 3 with books of their own choosing). Students then broke into groups of 4 and formed a literature circle. They read Chapter 17 together and then brainstormed a list of things they would like to change in our society (this is the prep work for Monday's activity.)

Homework: Enjoy your weekend!

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Listening, Speaking and Viewing

All students read in their books for 10 minutes. Then all eighth graders headed downstairs into the media center. Students who did not present last night at the Humanities Presentation presented today in front of their peers.

Homework: One weekly reading question. Reading Folders due tomorrow!

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Reader's Workshop

All students read in their books for 10 minutes and then we listened to a student BookShare. Students then responded to the following question in their Reader's Notebooks: What is your favorite memory? Describe it in a lot of detail. Students shared their favorite memories with the class. Then we read part of Chapter 16 in The Giver, where the Giver shares his favorite memory with Jonas.

Homework: Reading Folders due tomorrow! Please have your weekly reading question complete.

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Reader's Workshop

All students read in their books for 10 minutes in the media center and we listened to a student BookShare. I reviewed the first part of the Flowers for Algernon project with students and answered questions. I also went over the guidelines for tonight's presentation and some of the questions students should expect from their audience.
The first part of the FFA project will be due on Wednesday, December 17th. Students will be given three days in class to work on their projects with the laptops, although projects do not have to be typed.

Homework: Weekly Reading Question. Due on Friday, December 12th.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Reader's Workshop

Students read in their books for 10 minutes and we listened to a student BookShare. I reviewed presentation guidelines and logistics with students about Humanities Night tonight and answered questions about the presentations. We read Chapter 15 and part of Chapter 16 of The Giver. Students answered the following question in their Reader's Notebooks: In your opinion, do you think that wisdom is gained through pain?

Homework: Weekly Reading Question. *Please note: Due to our presentation night tonight, I understand that some students may not be able to finish their weekly reading question by tomorrow so I'm extending the deadline until Friday.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Reader's Workshop

All students read for 10 minutes and then we listened to a student BookShare. Today we read chapter 14 in The Giver and discussed the new information we've learned about Jonas.

Homework: Finish your Mao Zedong essay, final draft. These are due at the beginning of class tomorrow.

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

Students read for 10 minutes and then a student gave a BookShare. Students spent the remaining class time finishing up the final touches on their primary sources and refining their talking points onto notecards for tomorrow night's presentation. I met with several students to help them figure out what people may ask them about their source and they researched the answers to questions which they didn't already have the answers to.

Homework: Completed primary sources are due at THE BEGINNING OF CLASS tomorrow. All late projects will be subject to the late work penalty.

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

All students read for 10 minutes. A student completed a BookShare. Students spent the remainder of class time working on completing their primary sources. Primary sources are due tomorrow.

Homework: If you have not already, complete your primary source.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

Students read for 10 minutes. A student gave our first student BookShare today. Students spent the rest of the hour meeting with me in writing conferences and revising their first drafts into final drafts.

Homework: If you have not already, please finish your final draft of your Mao Zedong essay. Due tomorrow!

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

All students submitted their reading folders today for a grade. Students spent all of class time working on creating their primary source.

Homework: Continue working on your primary source.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

Students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade. Students spent class time working on their 5 paragraph essay on Mao Zedong. Students who completed their first draft met with for a writing conference and then began typing their final drafts. I would like all final drafts to be typed so that they may be presented in a professional manner for next week's presentation.

Homework: Work on your five paragraph essay!

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

All students read for 10 minutes in the media center. A student gave a BookShare. I met with each student individually to discuss their plan for their presentation. Students spent the remainder of class working on their primary source for next Wednesday's presentation.

Homework: One weekly reading question. Reading Folders due tomorrow.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

All students read for 10 minutes and I modeled my last BookShare for students. I explained the ELA section of the Mao Zedong presentation. All students will be required to write a 5 paragraph essay. Students spent the rest of the hour working on the first draft of their essays.

Homework: One weekly reading question. Reading Folders due tomorrow!

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

Students read in their books for 10 minutes. A student gave a BookShare. Students spent the rest of the hour working on their primary source for Humanities night and conferencing with me about their ideas and materials needed for this project.

Homework: Work on your primary source. Make sure you have a rough draft to show me tomorrow.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Reader's Workshop

Students read for 10 minutes and then I modeled another BookShare for students. We read Chapter 13 in The Giver together and students answered questions as we were reading. Some of our discussion questions included: How has Jonas changed both internally and externally now that he has become the new Receiver? Why do you think Jonas's community wants Sameness?

Homework: Bring in all of your research and information on Mao Zedong for a class project tomorrow

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

All students read in their books for 10 minutes. One of the students gave a BookShare today. BookShares are counted as public speaking grades and all eighth graders will now be giving BookShares. I explained the primary resource project and how to request materials for the primary resources. Students who completed the first draft of their research papers were able to spend the rest of the hour working on their primary resource to present next Wednesday. Students who did not complete this draft worked on completing the first draft of their paper.

Homework: Continue to work on your primary source first draft. This is due on Wednesday, December 3rd.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

Students read in their independent books for 10 minutes. I explained BookShares and went over several public speaking do's and don'ts for BookShares. I then modeled for students how to give a BookShare by giving one. 7th graders will start giving BookShares this Friday.
Students spent the remainder of the hour working on their 5 paragraph mobiles. Any mobiles turned in after today will be subject to the late work penalty.

Homework: Read! Reading Folders will be collected on Thursday, December 4th.