Date: Monday, February 6 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Creative writing picture books are due on Wednesday. We'll have Monday and Tuesday to work on them in class. Students are welcome to stay 10th periods today, Tuesday and Wednesday to work on the books. Books may be taken home on Tuesday to add any finishing touches before being collected on Wednesday. Remember to also gather up all the papers completed during the writing process for you classwork grade: planning & drafting worksheet, story map, draft(s), conference sheets, editor's checklist. There is no 10th period on Thursday.</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, February 2 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:If your storyboard wasn't finished, be sure to get it done tonight. We started making the final book today in class. Friday and Monday will be used to work on the books. After that, students may take the books home to finish if necessary. They are due on Wednesday. Remember to keep all of the work you've done for this project to hand in on Wednesday with the final product.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, January 30 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Revise your completed creative writing draft. Use your colored scoring guides and the Think Abouts on the back. Make sure you've included dialogue. Find places where you can SHOW not TELL. Describe your main character well enough that your reader will be able to visualize him or her. Describe your setting. Think about using as many of your senses as you can. Your draft should look "beautiful" with all of your revisions! Don't be VAGUE!</p>
</body>Date: Friday, January 27 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:The second quarter cumulative task (revising and editing the character sketch) was completed today in class. Any student who missed a day (Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday) and needs to complete the task should make a plan with me to finish it during a study hall or 10th period. The creative writing story map (front side) and the draft (skip lines in your notebook) should be completed for Monday's class so we can continue with the writing process: confer, revise, and edit.</p>
</body>Date: Friday, January 27 2012<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:The cumulative task for quarter 2 was completed on Thursday. Anyone absent that day should make plans with me to make up the test during a study hall or 10th period.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, January 24 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:We'll be working on revising and editing the character sketch on Wednesday and Thursday in class for the end of quarter task. The draft of the creative writing piece should be completed by the end of class period on Friday.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, January 24 2012<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Complete "Golden Apple" reading comprehension worksheet using your reading strategies.</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, January 19 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Students have begun planning their creative writing piece; the final product will be a picture book, but we have many steps to follow before getting there. Tonight, the story map (front side) should be finished. Looking ahead -- Next week students will be taking the cumulative task for listening and writing.</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, January 19 2012<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Complete the reading comprehension article about backwards running. Use the strategies of marking up the questions before reading and marking up the text as you read. Second quarter's cumulative task (reading comprehension) will be given next week, so this is good practice.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, January 18 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Complete the features paragraph on the Reading Like a Writer worksheet, number 2, for creative writing. Remember to use supporting examples from the books we read and explain those examples.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, January 17 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:No homework today. We're starting our unit on creative writing this week. Start thinking about those story elements and how you'd like to incorporate them into your own creative writing piece.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, January 11 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Character sketches were due today! For tomorrow, bring in your favorite picture book. Our next unit is a creative writing piece. </p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, January 10 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:The neat copy of the character sketch is due tomorrow. Handwritten or typed is fine. If typed, please use a clear font (Ariel, Times New Roman)and size 12 font. Include a heading (name, date, neat copy) and an interesting title. Tomorrow, we'll fill in the bottom of the planning and drafting worksheet and score the sketch using student friendly scoring guides. All paperwork--from planning to neat copy--must be handed in for a classwork grade.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, January 9 2012<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Complete the vocabulary window worksheet for two words from the Oliver Hyde story: bitterness, fretful, wretched, scrubby, or dreary.Remember to bring in your Medieval Times permission slip and the first installment of $20 by Friday. You may pay in full if you prefer--$60. If you have any concerns about payment, please feel free to contact the teachers and we can work something out. </p>
</body>Date: Monday, January 9 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Make sure your character sketch has been revised. We'll be editing in class on Tuesday and starting the neat copy. The neat copy and all paperwork is due on Wednesday. There is no 10th on Wednesday or Thursday, so be sure to have the work completed on time!</p>
</body>Date: Friday, January 6 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:By this time, all students should have a revised draft of a character sketch after conferring with classmates in class today and receiving their input(if you were absent, you'll need to make up this step) -- make your draft look "beautiful!" Next week's work will be to edit and complete a neat copy.</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, January 5 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Today we shared revisions. Tonight's homework is to make each of the four changes to your draft one more time! Be challenged! Smile! (See yesterday's post for the exact changes that need to be made.)</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, January 4 2012<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:No homework. We are reading and discussing a short story, "Oliver Hyde's Dishcloth Concert," and will be completing assignments in class based on this story.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, January 4 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Revise your character sketch for at least these four things: Find two places where you can add an example (For example,...). Find two places where you can add figurative language (simile or metaphor). Find two places where you can add dialogue. Find two inactive verbs that you can replace with active verbs. Then make sure you have indented for new paragraphs. Your draft should be three to four pages long skipping lines. </p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, January 3 2012<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:We continued drafting our character sketches in class today. Use your planning worksheets to complete the body paragraphs of your sketch; remember to include lots of specific details!</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, December 21 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Students should have the lead of their character sketches completed. The full draft will be continued after vacation. Happy Holidays to all!The winners of the homework bucks drawing were Lauryn W., Evelyn M., Hallie S., and Alexis H. Congratulations on keeping up with your homework!</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, December 20 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:We've begun planning for a character sketch writing piece. The top part of your Planning and Drafting worksheet should be filled in with two or three techniques you plan to use in your character sketch. Keep this worksheet so you can finish the bottom part after your draft has been completed. Choose a person you know well and plan your sketch using the character sketch prewriting page we started in class today. Tonight's homework is to complete the planning page (all five parts) in preparation for beginning the draft in class tomorrow.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, December 19 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Finish the paragraph on character sketch started in class: Describe several features of a character sketch. Use examples from "The Nurse" and the piece about Robert Mann (below) to support your response. It will be graded using the short response scoring guide.Student sample piece about Robert Mann:         He was here when I came into this world.  He was there when I was struggling with cancer.  This man is not an ordinary man.  He is an outstanding man. This is my courageous brother-in-law. I met Robert through my sister of course, since he is my bother-in-law. When I am upset or when he is upset, he can tell. As Robert always says to me, “Elizabeth, you okay?” I know you’re not ok, I can read you like a book!	There were bad days for me when I  had to go to the hospital to get blood tests. Guess who was right beside me? Robert Mann. He was right there going through the pain with me. 	Robert has such nice dressing skills. He is a very tall man. Not as tall as the Eiffel Tower, but as tall as me put together twice.  Robert has olive skin just a litte darker than me.  Robert has no hair on his head, he is a bald man. You know the reason for having no hair on his head? When I lost my hair he shaved his off. How sweet was that? He shaved every piece off his head. It was like a shiny spoon that just got washed. He has liquid center brown eyes with long eye lashes. He mostly tucks in his shirt with long khaki pants. Robert is a very fit man.	Robert’s personality is amazing. He is always here for me. For example, if I need help with homework. He will be right there to help me. Robert always wants me to be safe.  For example, he says to me “Do you want me to drive to your friend’s house tonight?” This shows that he cares. Robert always makes sure that my hands are nice and clean. He wants me to be healthy. 	 You know what I love so much that Robert does to me?  Whe he calls me kiddo. Like when he says, “ Are you ok kiddo?” When or if I get hurt.  This guy I call the BEST brother-in-las in the world! He says to me, “If you need anything you come to me first.” For example, when I need advice if something terrible happens like when my grandfather passed away, he clamly explained it to me. When I had cancer, I was young. So I did not know what it was. He was the one who explained it very well. 	 Robert and I are like peanut butter and jelly, or like the seed to an apple.  He can tell when I am upset. It’s amazing because only my close family and friends call tell when I am upset. For example, when I just don’t smile. Robert and I laugh so hard at our inside jokes. Fox example, when he said a joke and I was the only one laughing and everyone else was like, “ What are you laughing about?” Unlike other guys, Robert is an honest person. For example, if I try something on and looks hideous on me, he will tell me. I love that about him. You know what they say, “ Honesty is key.”	Robert J. Mann is an outstanding magnificent, courageous, I could go on forever man. He and I are there for each other through thick and thin. He is like my guardian angel. Can you see why I love him?</p>
</body>Date: Monday, December 12 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Revise and edit both poems. Choose one poem to finalize in class tomorrow. </p>
</body>Date: Monday, December 12 2011<br>
Period(s):<br>
Assignment:</p>
</body>Date: Friday, December 9 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Complete the draft of your second poem (we worked on it in class today).</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, December 8 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Choose a topic for a second poem. Today in class we revised for word choice, active verbs, and showing not telling.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, December 7 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Refer to your planning and drafting worksheet (be sure to keep this in your folder to hand in later!) and draft a poem using several poetic devices. Your draft is due tomorrow.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, December 7 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Make sure  your reading article from Tuesday is finished for tomorrow -- use your strategies!</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, December 6 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Write a well-developed paragraph describing several features of poetry. Be sure to support your ideas with examples from the poems we've read and discussed. Your paragraph will be scored using the short response scoring guide.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, December 6 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Read article "It's Capoeira!" and show evidence that you're using your reading strategies to answer the questions. Due THURSDAY.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, December 5 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:No homework. We are learning about poetic devices such as simile and metaphor, reading poems and identifying these devices in the poems. Later this week, students will be writing their own poems.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, December 5 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:No homework. We are reading "Kaddo's Wall" in class. Tomorrow we will have a Shared Inquiry Discussion in small groups about why Kaddo built his wall of flour.</p>
</body>Date: Friday, December 2 2011<br>
Period(s):English and Reading<br>
Assignment:No homework. Enjoy playing outside!</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, December 1 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Period 3: Write a sentence about the theme of "It Seems I Test People."Period 9: Write a one or two sentence summary of the first stanza of "It Seems I Test People."</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, December 1 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Complete vocabulary worksheet if it wasn't finished in class.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, November 30 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Only students who did not finish writing the neat copies of the two paragraphs for "The Scribe" questions need to finish it for homework. The class period was used to check for a clear topic sentence and supporting details before writing a neat copy for each of the paragraphs.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, November 30 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:No homework. We're working in class on a short story called "Kaddo's Wall." Today we worked with vocabulary related to the story. </p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, November 29 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:No homework today!</p>
</body>Date: Monday, November 28 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Welcome back! Remember that the two paragraphs from last week about "The Scribe," revised and edited, are due TOMORROW! Please score them as one assignment using the blue Short Response Scoring Guide. Earn those "bucks"! Earn an extra buck if you come to class and put your work on your desk right away without being asked!</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, November 22 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:"The Scribe" paragraphs, revised and edited, are due on TUESDAY! Please score them as one assignment using the blue Short Response Scoring Guide.Have a happy Thanksgiving!</p>
</body>Date: Monday, November 21 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:No homework this week. Have a happy Thanksgiving.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, November 21 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Complete one short response paragragh for "The Scribe." Skip lines and include a heading on your paper. Refer to the short response scoring guide for expectations. We'll be writing the second response in class tomorrow, so you may choose to get a head start on that one if you wish. </p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, November 15 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:See yesterday's assignment that is due tomorrow.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, November 15 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:No homework.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, November 14 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:No homework.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, November 14 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Due Wednesday: Reading comprehension -- "Annie and the Natchez Belle." Be sure to use and demonstrate your reading strategies by marking up and writing the number of the question next to the text evidence that proves your answer.</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, November 3 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:No homework. Play outside!</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, November 2 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:No homework! Spend some time outside. </p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, November 1 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Complete handwritten neat copy (started in class today) for homework and complete, initial and sign Editor's Checklist. Bring all papers (from planning page to editor's checklist) to class on Wednesday.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, October 31 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Revise and edit the second memoir. We will be writing the neat copy in class on Tuesday. All paperwork must be handed in with the neat copy!</p>
</body>Date: Monday, October 31 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Complete the three or four sentence summary for the news article.</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, October 27 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:The second memoir draft should be completed! Now we're working on revisions, specifically including dialogue to help tell the story and revising to replace tired, dull verbs with active, exciting ones. All drafts should show obvious revisions (no erasing, just cross out and add in).</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, October 26 2011<br>
Period(s):English Periods 8 and 9<br>
Assignment:Complete the rest of your second memoir draft.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, October 26 2011<br>
Period(s):English Periods 3 and 4<br>
Assignment:Complete at least two sides of a page double spaced of your second memoir.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, October 25 2011<br>
Period(s):English periods 8 and 9<br>
Assignment:Finish at least half of your draft of a second memoir (two sides of a page, double spaced).</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, October 25 2011<br>
Period(s):English Periods 3 and 4<br>
Assignment:Complete the graphic organizer for a second memoir topic.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, October 25 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Complete reading comprehension passage "The Ants and the Grasshopper." Demonstrate use of strategies, state the question type, and write the question number in the margin of the text next to the evidence.</p>
</body>Date: Thursday, October 20 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Thursday:  The neat copy of the personal narrative/memoir is due tomorrow. It may be handwritten neatly or typed. If it is typed, it must be double spaced and in size 12, easy to read font such as Times New Roman or Ariel. All paperwork must be handed in with the neat copy for a classwork grade.</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, October 19 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Wednesday:  Revise and edit (using a different colored pencil or ink)your memoir draft. Your neat copy, handwritten or typed (double spaced, size 12, Ariel or Times New Roman font) will be due on Friday.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, October 18 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Tuesday: Make sure your personal narrative draft is finished! We've started working on revisions in class. We'll be conferring with partners tomorrow.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, October 17 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Monday:  Complete at least two sides of a page (skip every other line) of your personal narrative/memoir draft. We'll finish drafting in class tomorrow. </p>
</body>Date: Friday, October 14 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Friday: Complete the flower graphic organizer to plan your personal narrative. </p>
</body>Date: Thursday, October 13 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Thursday:Finish the short response writing assignment if you didn't complete it in class. Then, choose a memorable moment from your life that you'd like to write about (don't write it yet, just think about it). Refer to the handout for suggestions.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, October 11 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Tuesday: No homework.</p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, October 11 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading -- Lambert<br>
Assignment:Tuesday's homework: Complete "Betty at the Party." Be sure to mark it up and tell what type of question is asked (right there or between the lines). Due Wednesday!</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, October 5 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Wednesday:Choose one paragraph of your biography to revise for one trait of writing (ideas, organization, word choice, or sentence fluency). On your paper, you should rewrite the original paragraph, name the trait you've chosen to revise for, then rewrite the paragraph with revisions for that trait. Remember to refer to your scoring guides!</p>
</body>Date: Monday, October 3 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Monday: Play outside.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, October 3 2011<br>
Period(s):Reading<br>
Assignment:Assigned Monday, due Wednesday: Use the short passage reading strategies we practiced in class to answer the questions for "The Vasa." You MUST show that you've used the strategies by marking up the text and questions!</p>
</body>Date: Wednesday, September 28 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:See yesterday's assignment. </p>
</body>Date: Tuesday, September 27 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:TuesdayThe neat copy of your biography is due on Friday. You have the option to hand-write it LEGIBLY or to type it if you have access to a computer and printer at home. If you choose to type it, it must be in size 12 font, black ink, and double spaced. See me if you have any questions about typing. You also must hand in all the work you've done on this piece: interview questions and answers, planning and drafting page, revised and edited draft(s), conference sheets, neat copy, and the scoring guide which we will fill out in class on Friday.</p>
</body>Date: Monday, September 26 2011<br>
Period(s):English<br>
Assignment:Monday: Revise your biography using the ideas scoring guide and the team conference sheets (add ideas, move ideas around, etc.) Then edit using the conventions scoring guide. Use a different colored pen or pencil to edit!</p>
</body>