8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Extended Advisory

Today we had a shortened class because of extended advisory. We read for 15 minutes, listened to a bookshare, and finished the Literature Circle questions.

Homework: None, have a great weekend!

7th Grade: Today in Language Arts - Extended Advisory

Today we had a shortened class because of the afternoon extended advisory. We read for 15 minutes, listened to a bookshare and reviewed the persuasive writing activity homework.

Homework: None, have a great weekend!

Pen/Pencil Policy

Some students have been consistently coming to class without something to write with. Additionally, some students leave their backpacks, books, and necessities in other locations and expect to be excused during class time to retrieve them.

Students are expected to come to class with something to write with every day. If they do not have something to write with, I will remind them once that they can purchase a pencil for 25 cents* or borrow a pen or pencil from a classmate. After one reminder, if they interrupt a lesson, disturb their classmates or sit through a class writing activity without something to write with, they will receive a lunch detention.


*The money raised from pencil sales goes toward the 8th grade field trip.

8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Literature Circles

Today students turned in their weekly reading questions and continued working in their Flowers for Algernon Literature Circles.

Homework: Finish the Literature Circle Questions if they did not complete them in class.

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

Today students turned in their weekly reading questions and they continued to work on their persuasive writing activity.

Homework: Persuasive writing activity worksheet (if not already completed during class time).

8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Field Trip

Today the 8th graders went on a field trip and did not have Language Arts class.

Homework: Turn in Weekly Reading Question and the Expository Article.

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

Today we read for 15 minutes and listened to a bookshare. We reviewed the Lois Lowry interview homework together - many of the students had some insightful thoughts. We then did a persuasive writing activity where students had to use the skills taught in class to analyze specific scenarios.

Homework: Weekly Reading Question

8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Expository Writing

Today the students read for 15 minutes and listened to a bookshare. The students finished interviewing people and writing the drafts of their Expository articles.

Homework: Expository Articles Due. Bring your copy of Flowers for Algernon; we will continue working in our Literature Circles.

7th Grade: Today in Language Arts - The Giver

Today we read for 15 minutes and listened to a bookshare. The students did a quiet writing activity about the ending of The Giver and we had a short discussion afterwards.

Homework: The Giver author interview worksheet. Students should bring their copy of The Giver to class.

8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Expository Writing

At the beginning of class, we read for 15 minutes and listened to a Bookshare. Students received some of their graded work back and they continued working on their Expository Writing assignments.

Homework: Work on Expository Article.

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

During the beginning of class, we read for 15 minutes and listened to a Bookshare. We continued discussing persuasive arguments and the students took notes in their Writer's Notebooks. We concluded class by finishing reading The Giver.

Homework: None. Remember to bring your copy of The Giver to class.

8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Literature Circles

Today we read for 15 minutes and listened to a Bookshare. Students signed up to write an expository article on the school-related topic of their choice. Students spent the remainder of class on a literature circle question sheet in preparation for their Literature Circle projects next week.

Homework: None. Students must bring in their copy of Flowers For Algernon - points will be deducted for students who do not bring in their book.

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

Students submitted their weekly reading questions. We did a review of RAFTS and ethos, logos, and pathos together as a class. Then, the students wrote quietly for 10 minutes about a quote they had to analyze from The Giver. Afterwards, many of the students chose to share their thoughts - some of the comments were very insightful. We finished reading chapter 20 and ended class by making some predictions about the next chapter.

Homework: None. Remember to bring your copy of The Giver, we will read chapter 21 tomorrow in class.

8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Grammar

Students submitted their weekly reading questions. Afterwards, they finished teaching their classmates about gerunds and after the presentations, they took the gerund quiz.

Homework: None. Please remember to bring your copy of Flowers for Algernon for the Literature Circles on Friday.

8th Grade - Today in Language Arts - Writing Test

The 8th graders completed a 90-minute standardized writing test so they did not have Language Arts today.


Homework: Weekly writing question & study for the gerund quiz

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

Students read for 15 minutes and we listened to a BookShare. The students finished writing their R.A.F.T.S. notes in their Writer's Notebooks and then we went over the homework. The students did a very good job with the homework and they identified the RAFTS, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos elements in the speech. We finished by reading chapter 20 of The Giver.

Homework: Weekly Reading Question

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

Students read for 15 minutes and we listened to a BookShare. I introduced R.A.F.T.S. to the students as a way to organize a persuasive writing piece. R.A.F.T.S. stands for role, audience, format, topic, and strong verb. After the students took notes, I explained the homework and let them know we would continue talking about RAFTS tomorrow.

Homework: Examination of Obama's Inaugural Speech as a persuasive document

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

Students read for 15 minutes and we listened to a BookShare. I reviewed some guidelines for writing expository and persuasive essays to prepare students for the writing test tomorrow. We went through 3 helpful handouts on tips and guidelines for this writing test. I answered students' questions about the test for the remainder of our shortened class.

Homework: None. Please remember that I do not see you tomorrow so have your reading folders ready for Thursday's deadline.

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

We read for 15 minutes and a student gave a BookShare. Students spent the remainder of class presenting their infinitive lessons for their peers. We will finish on Tuesday, as not all groups had a chance to go today.

Homework: Study for the gerund quiz on Tuesday.

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

Students read in their books for 15 minutes and a student gave a BookShare. Students spent the hour analyzing different magazine advertisements for their use of ethos, pathos and logos.

Homework: none

8th grade: Today in Language Arts-Grammar

Students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade. I reviewed the steps to finding gerunds with students and students took notes in their Writing Notebooks. Together, we completed several practice sentences. Then students broke off into groups and created 10 sentences to "teach" the class tomorrow. Ms. Black and I checked the students' sentences to monitor that they have correctly used gerunds and if so, students prepared materials for their presentation. Tomorrow groups will go through their sentences with the class as a last practice before the quiz.

Homework: None

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

All students turned in their Reading Folders for a grade. We discussed situations where we've been persuaded to do something we originally did not want to do. Students identified specific persuasive strategies in these situations. I went through the definitions of ethos, pathos and logos with students. Then students broke into groups of 4 and were given 2 magazine advertisements. In their groups, students discussed if the advertisement used ethos, pathos and/or logos.

Homework: None

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

Students read for 15 minutes and a student gave a BookShare. Then we had a class discussion about what we learned reading in FFA with our literature circles. We discussed Charlie's life and how it relates to our own lives and the people in his life who've affected him.

Homework: Reading Folders due tomorrow!

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Listening, Speaking and Viewing

Students read for 15 minutes and then a student gave a BookShare. We had a class discussion about the Release activity yesterday . Students were asked questions such as: How do you think Jonas's community feel about being released? Do you think Jonas's society is a utopia or a dystopia? How did you feel when you were given your role yesterday?

Students did VERY WELL with the class discussion!

Homework: Reading Folders due tomorrow!

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

Students read for 15 minutes and we listened to a student BookShare. Then, Ms. Black read Chapter 19 to the students. Today we realized what it means to "be released." Students spent the last part of the hour working on an assignment in which they are to take the vantage point of someone who is either releasing (killing) someone else or someone who is being released (receiving a lethal injection). We will have a discussion on this during class tomorrow.

Homework: If you haven't already, please finish your vantage point question sheet.

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

Students read in their books for 15 minutes and we listened to a student BookShare. Students spent the remainder of class time working in literature circles.

Homework: Literature Circle Question Sheet. Make sure ALL literature circle members have their assignment; this is a group grade!

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

Students read for 15 minutes and a student gave a BookShare. I reminded students of literature circle expectations and students spent the remainder of the hour working in their literature circles to complete the next part of FFA.

Homework: None. But please not that your first literature circle assignment is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, January 14th.

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

Students read for 15 minutes and a student gave a BookShare. We finished our activity on the Acorn community and students shared briefly the utopian concepts of the Acorn community and how they could morph into a dystopia. Then Ms. Black read Chapter 18 of The Giver to the students and they completed a question sheet.

Homework: Please finish question sheet for Chapter 18. Tomorrow, we find out what it means to be released!!

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

Students read for 15 minutes and a student conducted a BookShare. We discussed utopias and dystopias and how people often attempt to create a utopia with ending result being a dystopia. Students then read about a current utopian community called The Acorn Community. In their Reader's Notebooks, students listed five things they learned about this community and then created several examples of how each rule or ritual in this community could lead to a dystopian community.

Homework: none

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

All students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade. Then we went through each of the three persuasive essays and students provided their analysis of each one. We discussed the ethos, pathos and logos used in each one and also discussed the things each essay did well and what could be improved. I also reviewed with students the writing test grading guidelines.

Homework: Bring FFA book tomorrow. Also, written test on Persuasive Analysis is tomorrow so bring your writer's notebooks!

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Grammar

Students submitted their Reading Folders for a grade. Students then finished presenting their infinitive sentences. All students took the infinitive quizzes.

Homework: None

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

Students read for 15 minutes in the media center. 8th graders spent the rest of class working on their persuasive essay analysis. We will have our class discussion tomorrow. We will also have our written test on these on Friday.


Homework: Reading Folders due tomorrow.

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Grammar

Students read for 15 minutes in the media center. Then students spent the remainder of class completing their infinitive presentations. Some groups were able to go today. The rest will go tomorrow.


Homework: Study for the infinitive quiz tomorrow by using the study tool. Reading Folders due tomorrow too!

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Grammar

Students read in their books for 15 minutes and then we had a student BookShare. In groups, students created 10 sentences with both infinitive and prepositional phrases that begin with the word "to." Students put their sentences on chart paper. Tomorrow, each group will present their sentences in front of the class and the class will be asked to correctly identify the infinitive phrases. (Students were asked to include prepositional phrases with the word "to" b/c this is a common area of confusion when we study infinitives.)

Homework: None

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

Students read for 15 minutes and a student gave a BookShare. Students submitted their FFA project. I reviewed our plan for this semester and for this week at school and then students spent the remainder of class working on analyzing persuasive essays with their respective groups.

Homework: None

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

Happy New Year! Students read in their books for 15 minutes and a student gave a BookShare. I told students some basics about the 8th grade Writing Test which will be administered at the end of this month and answered student questions about this. Then students were given 3 sample student papers that were actually submitted from a past writing test. I asked students to read each paper with their group and to do the following: -Identify and give examples of how this author used ethos, pathos and logos. What do you think the author did well? How could the author improve this essay?

Students worked in groups to answer these questions about each paper in their Writer's Notebooks. This activity is quite time-consuming and we'll probably be spending most of the week analyzing these papers and discussing them.

Homework: FFA Project due tomorrow!

7th grade: Today in Language Arts-Grammar

Happy New Year! Today students read for 15 minutes and then a student gave a BookShare. I reviewed three types of verbals for students and then students took notes on the verbal we'll be studying for the next week-infinitives. Students practiced generating infinitives together and then worked in groups identifying infinitives.

Homework: Infinitive worksheet