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

Students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade today. We spent about 20 minutes reading Flowers for Algernon together. Students discussed both the major and minor changes that are taking place in Charlie as his intelligence increases. I then went through the answers to the Gerund Study Tool with students and had them review gerunds with a friend for about 5 minutes. Students then took the gerund quiz.

Homework: Continue recording dreams in your dream journal for our activity tomorrow!

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

Students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade today. We then read Chapter 7 in The Giver together and annotated and discussed the parts of the text we found interesting or strange or that we had questions about. Then in their Writer's Notebooks, students answered the following question: Why do you think Jonas wasn't given an assignment during the Ceremony of Twelves? Students generated responses based on the clues present in the first 7 chapters of the novel.

Homework: None

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

Students read for 10 minutes. In their Reader's Notebooks, students wrote about Charlie's major relationships (Mr. Donner, coworkers at the bakery, Ms. Kinnian, Dr. Strauss, Dr. Nemur, his family) and his perceptions of these relationships before the operation begins to work on Charlie's intelligence level. We then read in Flowers for Algernon. I passed out a gerund study tool and had students work in groups to complete it. Students can use this to study for the quiz tomorrow. (I rescheduled the quiz for tomorrow b/c I forgot to pass out the study tool to the students yesterday).

Homework: Study for the gerund quiz. Complete one weekly reading questions; Reading Folders due tomorrow!

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

All students read for 10 minutes in their independent books. Then students took the prepositional phrase quiz. My student teacher, Ms. Black, led the seventh graders through an activity to connect them to The Giver. She had them talk about the lack of choices in our novel and then gave each student a number. The number corresponded to a "job" that was given to each student. Students then had to write about what it felt like to be given the job they were given. Ms. Black ended class having students discuss how it felt to be given a job and to share what they wrote about during this activity.

Homework: If you didn't finish your 2 paragraphs, please finish! One weekly reading question. Reading Folders due tomorrow.

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

Students read in their independent books for 10 minutes. We then read Chapter 6 in The Giver and had several mini-class discussions about new information we've learned about this community (Jobs given, Spouses Given, Children Given and The Ceremony of Twelve.) We also discussed the way this community deals with death in contrast to our own community.

Homework: Study for the prepositional phrase quiz!

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

Students read in their books for 15 minutes. We did a collaborative class today with social studies. All eighth graders went to the media center to watch The Three Little Pigs. We talked about the way this story was told from the vantage point of the three little pigs. Then students read the book The Real Story of the Three Little Pigs (told from the perspective of the wolf). We then had a brief discussion about the differences in both stories and talked a little bit about how history is often only told from one perspective. Mr. Fine and I passed out the new unit collaborative plan on expository writing and researching Native American culture. We discussed expectations and assignments for this unit and answered students' questions.

Homework: Keep writing down your dreams in your dream journal! Study for the gerund quiz tomorrow!

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

All students read for 10 minutes. Students finished the expository writing activity that we started last week. Then I taught students gerunds and they practiced identifying gerunds in sentences.

Homework: Start your dream journal. We will do an activity with this on Friday. Read the article and answer the following three questions: 1) What have scientists been able to do with some mice? 2) What does Dr. Tsien state about this experiment in regards to human memory? 3) After reading this article, what are your thoughts about this experiment?

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

Students read for 10 minutes. I introduced our new genre of writing-Expository writing-to students and introduced the plans for our next writing unit. We will be doing a collaborative unit with Social Studies with expository writing. We then spent the rest of the hour on prepositional phrases. Students learned how to identify both the preposition and the object of the preposition and practiced this with a group activity.

Homework: None

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

All students read for 10 minutes. Then students spent the rest of the hour working on an expository writing assignment with an advertisement (they started these earlier in the week). Once students completed the expository part of this assignment, they were then asked to explain, in writing, how the advertiser is trying to persuade its audience that purchasing the featured product will result in increased happiness. Most students still needed additional time to finish this activity so we will finish on Monday.

Homework: None

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

All students read in their independent books for 10 minutes. We read Chapter 5 in The Giver together and had a class discussion on the newest development in this novel-this community's need to control even their members' attractions to other members of the community. The discussion moved in different directions but some of the issues discussed were: Why would this community need to give pills to adolescents once they start experiencing the "Stirrings"? How and why does this community need to control their members so much? What psychological consequences would living in this community have on its members?

In 7B we talked a little bit about arranged marriages as well in eastern societies and in 7A we also talked about what it would be like to live in a community where so little choice was given.

Homework: None

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

All students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade today. We read Chapter 4 in The Giver and had a brief class discussion on the similarities between Jonas's community and our own communities. Students spend 10 minutes finishing up the activity we worked on yesterday. Students who did not finish will not receive full credit. Students then took the vocabulary and spelling quiz.

Homework: None

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

Students spent 15 minutes reading in their independent books. (8B's class was spent getting our school picture and the eighth grade picture taken, so the rest pertains only to 8A). We spent the rest of the hour reading in Flowers for Algernon.

Homework: One weekly reading question. Also, study the vocabulary words for the quiz tomorrow!

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

All students read in their books for 15 minutes. Students spent the remainder of the hour working on their rule analysis for The Giver.

Homework: One weekly reading question. Also, study for vocabulary quiz tomorrow!

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

Students read in their independent books for 10 minutes. We then had a short class discussion reviewing the rules that we've discovered thus far in The Giver and students gave their opinions about this community and their rules. We then spent the rest of the class working on an activity. Students were to pick three of the rules discussed, describe each rule and the consequence that one in Jonas's community received if he/she broke the rule. Once students completed this, they were to draw a picture and put a quote from the book underneath it on a piece of posterboard to display on the classroom bulletin board. Most students did not finish this activity so students will be given time in class tomorrow to finish.

Homework: Finish your vocabulary study tool. Due Wednesday!

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

All students read in their books for 10 minutes. Today we began our expository writing unit. Students took notes on expository writing. I then gave students several examples of how expository writing is used in everyday life. We had a brief review of our reflection entry yesterday on Charlie's Key to Happiness and I explained to students how advertisers continuously try to create "needs" within us to buy their products. We discussed how people consistently look for their own personal key to happiness outside of themselves, never realizing the futility in this search. We then did an expository exercise with magazine advertisements. Students worked in pairs, writing down the descriptions of the advertisements. We will do more with this activity on Thursday.
I gave students the definitions for the eight vocabulary words. Students then had a pop-quiz on the reading assigned to them yesterday.

Homework: Finish your vocabulary study tool (due Thursday before we take the quiz).

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

All students read in their books for 10 minutes. We spent the remainder of the hour reading Flowers for Algernon and students shared the changes they noticed taking place in Charlie. Students spent the last five minutes of class answering the following question in their Reader's Notebooks: How does Charlie envision his life if he becomes smart? What does he think will happen if he becomes smart?


Homework: Read the one page article about Daniel Keyes, the author of FFA. Be prepared for a pop-quiz tomorrow on this reading!

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

All students read in their books for 10 minutes. All seventh graders received a vocabulary study tool for this week. I went over the 10 vocabulary words and their definitions, gave students the parts of speech for each word and an example. Students are to complete the pictures and their own personal examples for each word by Wednesday. We spent the rest of the hour reading Chapter 3 in The Giver.

Homework: Complete the vocabulary study tool by Wednesday.

Vocabulary 1 For FFA

FFA Vocabulary-1

1) Rorschach Test
2) overwhelming
3) superstituous
4) psychology
5) subconscious
6) conscious
7) plateau
8) Thematic Apperception Test

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

All students read in their independent books for 10 minutes. We reviewed the eight vocabulary words we'll be studying for this part of our novel study (see other post). We spent the rest of the hour reading Flowers for Algernon.

Homework: (8B) only: Read the article on human cloning and answer the five questions.

7th grade: Vocabulary 1 for The Giver

*The quiz will be next Thursday. A study tool will be given to students on Monday. Students will also be quizzed on spelling.


1) Distraught
2) Adhere
3) Aptitude
4) Chastise
5) Nurture
6) Hoard
7) Disquieting
8) Disposition
9) Chortle
10) Empathy

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

All students read for 10 minutes in their independent books. I reviewed the 10 vocabulary words in class for our first Vocabulary Unit on The GIver. We then spent the rest of class reading Chapter 2 in The Giver, annotating the text and discussing our annotations.

Homework: None

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

All students turned in their Reading Folders. In preparation for our novel study, students pretended they were Charlie (the protagonist in Flowers for Algernon) and went to different tables around the room to take the Rorschach Test. Students shared their interpretations of the inkblots with the class. We spent the remainder of the class reading the first part of Flowers for Algernon.

Homework 8A only: Read the article entitled The Pros and Cons of Human Cloning. Then answer the following five questions:

1. What are the 5 species that have been cloned?
2. List 3 problems with animal cloning.
3. What is the difference between reproductive cloning and therapuedic cloning?
4. What is the opinion of the National Academies on cloning?
5. After reading this article, what thoughts do you have about cloning?

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

All students submitted their reading folders. I read the first chapter of The Giver to students and they annotated the texts. As we proceeded through the chapter, students shared the parts of the chapter they underlined and explained why they underlined that part of the text (visualization, question or something they found interesting or strange). At the end of class, students answered the following question (in at least a paragraph): What do YOU think about the conversation-the sharing of feelings-Jonas's family has in Chapter One?

Homework: None

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

All students read in their independent books for 15 minutes. We then spent about 15 minutes answering 11 statements relating to the themes present in Flowers for Algernon. Students answered the questions by participating in an mobile opinion poll. (In a mobile opinion poll, students move to the side of the room with the "YES" sign if they agree with a statement and move to the side of the room with the "NO" sign if they disagree with a statement). The rest of the class was spent in a class discussion relating to the questions students reflected upon on in their Reader's Notebooks on Tuesday.

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

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

All students read for 15 minutes in their independent books. In preparation for our unit on The Giver, students answered a mobile opinion poll on some of the themes present in this novel. (In a mobile opinion poll, a statement is given and students move to the side of the room with the "YES" sign if they agree with the statement. If students do NOT agree with the statement, they move to the side of the room with the "NO" sign.) After the poll, we spent the remainder of class in a class discussion on the questions from Tuesday.

Homework: One Weekly Reading Question. Reading Folder Due Tomorrow!

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

7th graders spent 15 minutes at the Book Fair. When we came back to the classroom students wrote down our 3 big questions that we will exploring as we study the novel The Giver. These three questions align with the themes of this book and will be the topic of our class discussion tomorrow. They are:

1. Do you think that a society needs rules in order to function? Explain why or why not.
2. How much choice do you think children should be allowed? What do you think children should be allowed to choose? What do you think children should NOT be allowed to choose?
3. Do you think memories are important? Explain your answer.

Students wrote down these questions in their Reader's Notebooks and generated a least one paragraph response for each question. We spent the remainder of class taking the prepositional phrase quiz. Graded quizzes will be passed back sometime this week.

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

We went to visit the Book Fair in the media center for the first 15 minutes of class. In our Reader's Notebooks, students answered the following three questions in preparation for our novel study of Flowers For Algernon and to use as a springboard for the discussion/debate tomorrow:

1. Do you think it is ethical for scientists to experiment on improving humans and human life?
2. Do you think that science ever goes too far? Explain your answer.
3. When, in your opinion, is it okay for science to try and improve human life and when is it not?

We spent the last 10 minutes of class taking the Infinitive Quiz. Quizzes will be returned to students tomorrow.

Homework: Read in your independent book to get up to the 150 page requirement by Thursday!

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

All students read for 10 minutes. We reviewed infinitive phrases and did some practice sentences in our Writer's Notebooks in preparation for tomorrow's quiz. Students spent the remainder of the hour finishing up their first peer review feedback form. Students were given a second peer review feedback form that they will need to complete sometime this week (perhaps during Reading and Work Time).

Homework 8A only: Infinitive Phrase Worksheet

*Parents-please make sure your child has a copy of Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Only a few students had their copies when I checked today and we are starting the novel study THIS WEEK!

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

All students read for 10 minutes. We then reviewed prepositional phrases and did some practice sentences in our writer's notebooks in preparation for the quiz tomorrow. Students spend the remainder of class finishing their Peer Reviews of each other's short stories.

Homework: Prepositional Phrase Worksheet. Study for the quiz tomorrow!

*Parents-please make sure your child has a copy of The Giver by Lois Lowry. Only a few students had their copies when I checked today and we are starting the novel study THIS WEEK!

PROGRESS REPORTS

The progress reports for English Language Arts have been sent out, mostly via email. If I could not send your due to an incorrect or nonexistent email address, you can expect your child's progress report in the mail.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Please note however, that I will be out of the building tomorrow and will not be answering any emails until I return to school on Monday, October 13th.

Thanks!

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Theatre

The eighth graders visited Oglethrope University to see an adaptation of the Greek play, Antigone. We had a lot of fun but students did not attend any of their core classes. So, tomorrow students will need to submit their Reading Folders. Also, students will need to have their own copy of Flowers for Algernon for class on Monday.

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

All students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade today.
We finished the story that we started on Tuesday entitled "The Banana Tree." Students made predictions based on textual clues and shared them. When we completed the story, we were able to see whose prediction were on target.
Students spent the remainder of class sharing their stories with a peer and began completing a peer review feedback form. Students will have almost the entire hour tomorrow to complete them.

Homework: Have your copy of The Giver for class on Monday.

7th and 8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

*Please note that I was out sick yesterday. We are also taking the 8th graders on a field trip tomorrow and I am taking a personal day this Friday. All quizzes have been rescheduled to next week due to these changes in plans. Please check the updated calendar on the blog.

All students went to the media center to read in their independent books for 15 minutes today. We then came back to the classroom and I went through the stages of revisions with students. Students read and reviewed the Peer Review Feedback Form for Friday's activity. Students then spent the remainder of class participating in a self-reflective activity for the short stories they submitted.

7th grade Homework: One weekly reading question. Reading Folders are due tomorrow!
8th grade Homework: Reading Folders due on Friday. Signed permission slips MUST be brought back in tomorrow morning if you want to attend the field trip.

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Grammar

All students read in their books for 10 minutes. Today begins Week 8 for the Reading Folders. All first drafts of short stories were collected.

I introduced the three types of verbals to students. The first verbal-infinitives-was the center of our focus today. Students took notes on the definition of an infinitive and then generated examples of infinitives. In groups, students worked on a worksheet to identify infinitives and infinitive phrases. We reconvened at the end of the hour to share our answers.

Homework: Continue to read in your independent book to meet the 150 page requirement.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Grammar

All students read in their books for 10 minutes. Today begins Week 8 in our Reading Folders.
All first drafts of short stories were collected today. They will ONLY be graded for completion, not on content (since this is the first draft).
Students took notes on the definition and examples of prepositions. Then we discussed how prepositions can be remembered as the spatial relationship between a rabbit and a hill. (For example, a rabbit can be ON a hill, can go AROUND a hill, can burrow BENEATH a hill, etc). Students generated even more prepositions that were not on our original list after the rabbit and hill exercise. Students then worked with their groups to see if they could take their knowledge of prepositions to identify prepositional phrases with their groups. We reconvened and as a class and I went over the answers to the prepositional phrase exercise with students to make sure their answers were correct.

Homework: Read in your independent book to meet your 100 page a week requirement.

7th and 8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Reader's Workshop

All students submitted their Reading Folders. Starting today, students who do not complete their Weekly Reading Question or who turn in a Weekly Reading Question that is not up to standard will need to use their recess period to complete this.

Ms. Black led the eighth graders through a visualization activity rest of the short story we began on Tuesday. I led the seventh graders though a similar activity that was slightly modified for seventh grade reading level and comprehension. Students completed an assignment at the end of the story which asked them to describe the visualizations they had for each of their five senses in re: the story. I reminded students about the short story deadline tomorrow.

*On a side note, I am EXTREMELY proud of the eighth graders. The past few days I've been fielding questions such as, "I'm afraid my plot line is too complex and will go over the 10 page limit. How can I shorten it and still have closure?" and "Do you think I've used too much dialogue at the beginning?" and "How can I create an effective transition into a flashback?" These are the kind of questions that REAL writers ask and I'm so excited to see students asking these kind of mature academic questions.

Homework: Finish the first draft of your short story.

7th and 8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Writer's Workshop

All students traveled to the media center for independent reading time today. Two classes have made it to level 3 (7B and 8A) and may now bring snacks to independent reading.

After the media center, we spent the rest of the hour in the land of short stories. PLEASE NOTE: The first draft of short stories are due on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3rd. I will only be checking for completion and students will be given full credit if their short story is complete. Since these are first drafts, students will not be formally graded on them until they are revised. Revision will entail first going through at least 2 peer reviews and a writing conference with the teacher.

Homework (both 7th and 8th): One weekly reading question. Reading Folders are due tomorrow!