Thursday/Friday, September 1/2, 2016

Announcements and Reminders: Cavetime begins when we come back to school after Labor Day. Our first Cavetime will be a school-wide practice Emergency Evacuation, so be prepared to go find your A1 teacher! Picture Days -- September 8 - 9.                       During September and October, the school counselors will meet with each 7th grader and their parents to discuss a College and Career Readiness plan. Please sign up for a time here! Don't forget your second weekly take-home quiz!  It is due Sept. 6/7. If you haven't handed in your disclosure signatures and VIP sheet, hurry! Be reading your Book of the Month and sign up for it NEXT TIME if you haven't already. Your next spelling test words -- test September 8-9 your/you’re Is that your jacket? You’re the best! there/their/they’re You stay here, and I’ll go there. Their grades are superb! They’re here.

Targets for Today: I can identify a theme of a short story or movie clip.  I can distinguish between the main characters of The Outsiders using my character chart.

Today’s  Agenda:  It's time to organize our composition books! As you come in to class, grab your book from the crate if you left it in class, or pull it out from your backpack. Make sure your full name and period are on the front.        1. Open to the very middle of the composition book. On that page, add a sticky tab and write Class Notes.       2. Now divide the front half into half again. On that page, write Writing Prompts and add a sticky tab.        3. On the front page, write CSI (Criminal Sentence Investigation). Interview Story for A-Day only:   Sample Story for "Imagine if. . . " You will take your spelling test today on  to/too/two  and it's/its.  Ms. Dorsey just received this from a teacher at our school -- not an English teacher!  Can you find the errors?   "Is there anyone who has successfully imported scores into Skyward from a spreadsheet? If so would you be willing to show me. I spent way to long here last night trying to get it to work." Let's review a bit about theme. The Outsiders Organizer   You're also going to add character charts in the Classroom Notes section of your composition book. You'll add the character name on the top, then write "Looks like this..." on the first line. Give that 4 lines of space, draw a line to separate a new section, then write "Says this..." That section should have 9 lines. Draw another line for a new section, and write "Does this..." It should look something like this: You'll need character pages for Ponyboy, Darry, Sodapop, Johnny, Steve, Two-Bit, Dally, Bob, Randy, and Cherry.  And now... to take us back to the 1960s... Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! Imagine you're in a dark theater watching this movie all by yourself. We'll listen to The Outsiders and take it from there! Put away composition books in your crates, using your computer number as your folder number. Here is some information for parents and students about The Outsiders. Our First Class Novel: The Outsiders Why Do We Watch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? Interesting facts about where  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed.

If You Were Absent: Come talk to us and find a time to take the spelling test Pick up an Outsiders Theme Organizer Organize your composition book like described above (We have sticky tabs for you!) In the class notes section, make the 6 character pages like described above.

Tuesday/Wednesday, August 30/31

Announcements and Reminders:                               Cavetime begins on September 6.   School pictures will be taken on September 8.     Your disclosure document signature sheet with the VIP form on the back is past due.  So is your first weekly take-home quiz.  Turn those in as soon as possible.      Today, watch for your book-of-the-month assignment and your weekly Take-Home Quiz.  You will take your spelling test next time on its/it's and to/too/two.        See the spelling tab above for the sample sentences and other helpful information.

Targets for Today: I can complete a pretest on writing an argument essay.     I can work to complete any unfinished assignments from last time in the computer lab.     Reading Test   Writing an informative essay This picture is a  metaphor -- or a simile, depending on how you say it!  Why so many pretests?   We need to know more about what you know.  We can  do a better job teaching you if we know where you are in your learning.

Today’s  Agenda: 1.  Self-Starter:  Quietly read during the time before the teacher begins giving instructions.  Once she begins, put your book aside.   You will have the opportunity -- starting today -- to sign up for the book you have chosen to read for the first book of the month.  Be prepared to go to the computer lab.  2. Receive these important handouts: Receive the book-of-the-month assignment for September.    Book of the Month Sept. Assignment.docx Receive your  Take-Home Quiz of the Week.   QuizofWeek #2.docx  -- You would be wise to complete and hand this in early.  It will help you prepare for the spelling test on Monday. 3. Go to Computer Lab 224.  You will use the same computer number you used last time.           a.  Write a pretest argument essay on a new GoogleDoc.           b.  Finish the SRI (reading test)  as needed, and finish your informative essay (on your GoogleDoc).

If You Were Absent: Arrange with the teacher  a time to take the argument writing pretest.  If you did not finish the SRI (reading test), arrange for a time to do that.  If you did not finish the informative writing pretest, arrange for a time to do that. Pick up or print off the book-of-the-month assignment for September.    Book of the Month Sept. Assignment.docx Pick up or print offyour  Take-Home Quiz of the Week.   QuizofWeek #2.docx

Friday/Monday, August 26/29, 2016

Announcements and Reminders:                                   This Friday, Aug 26 is our first dance of the year. The 7th and 8th grade dance is from 3 to 4 after school and will cost $5 dollars.  Cavetime begins on September 6.   School pictures will be taken on September 8.  Your disclosure signature sheet and VIP form are due by  August 26. Your weekly quiz is also due on August 26 for A-Day classes and August 29 for B-Day classes.  On question #6  , go to the tab for "Seventh Grade Core," then to  State Core for Parents and Students. See this link for needed supplies for this class:   Welcome to English 7 2016-2017: Needed Supplies

Targets for Today: I can remember how to use to, two, too, its, and it's. I can use my student access code properly and take the SR reading test. I can demonstrate my background knowledge of informative writing.

Today’s  Agenda: Review commonly misspelled words. Too- Look at the two little “o”s at the end of this one. They are buddies! This is used when we add a buddy to whatever is happening. (i.e. Clara wants a brownie, too.) To- When you’re going somewhere, (i.e. I’m going to the library) you want your travel time to be short. This is the shortest way to write “to”, so we use it for travel! Also, it goes with verbs, like “to bake” or “to cry”. Since the interesting part is the verb, we want our “to” word to be short, so that the focus can be on the action! Two- This one has the letter “w” in it. When we double (get it? Like double-u, like the letter “w”?) a number, we multiply it by 2. And this “two” means the number two! So “w” makes us think double, which is the number. Its- This talks about belonging. When you own something really valuable like a cell phone or wallet, you usually keep it close to you. These letters are all close together, (no apostrophe in the middle) just like with our belongings. It’s- This is actually two words, “it is”. When we feel lazy, we squish them together and use the apostrophe instead of the letter “I”. When you look at this word, pretend that the apostrophe is an “I”, and see if the sentence makes sense. (The apostrophe is a substitute, like a substitute in sports.  The "i" got tired, so he apostrophe took its place.) Take the SRI -- the Reading Inventory on the computer. Take the Informative Writing Pretest Using the computer lab: You have an assigned computer number.  Be quiet in the halls as you come and go to and from the computer lab.  Learn and remember your log-in for school computers and your district gmail account.  Learn and remember your student number. Treat the computers and computer labs with respect.  Work quietly.  When you leave, make sure you take your own possessions, clean up around you, log off of the computer, and push your chair in.  After you have finished the SRI (reading test), write the informative essay pretest on a Google doc through your school email. Do not work on it at home. We will finish them, and later copy and paste them into MyAccess. https://www.myaccess.com/myaccess/do/log  Students will be receiving their log-in information to MyAccess soon.  (At least we hope so!)

SRI Test in Lab 211 

Bring a book or magazine to read in case you have extra time after you finish. 

Follow the directions you receive in the Computer Lab.

SRI Instructions 

• Log onto the computer and wait. 
• Select three favorite types of books. 
• Take the practice test SERIOUSLY.
• Take the rest of the test.  Take it seriously.  It is one of the factors that will influence what classes you will be able to take in the future.
• If you absolutely DO NOT know an answer, use a "SKIP."
• When finished, you may print and take the list of suggested books. 

Select 3 

If You Were Absent: Arrange with us to take the Reading Inventory, and to write your informative writing pretest. Study your spelling! its/it's and to, too, two Your weekly quiz is also due on August 26 for A-Day classes and August 29 for B-Day classes.  On question #6  , go to the tab for "Seventh Grade Core," then to  State Core for Parents and Students.

Wednesday/Thursday, August 24/25, 2016

Announcements and Reminders:                                  August 25 is the last day to change classes without paying a fee.  This Friday, Aug 26 is our first dance of the year. The 7th and 8th grade dance is from 3 to 4 after school and will cost $5 dollars. Your disclosure signature sheet and VIP form are due by August 26. Do not forget to also complete and hand in your take-home quiz on our class blog, and to make sure you know our spelling words for the test on September 1 or 2.  On the take-home quiz, on question #6  , go to the tab for "Seventh Grade Core," then to  State Core for Parents and Students. Cavetime begins on September 6.  School pictures will be taken on September 8.  See this link for needed supplies for this class:   Welcome to English 7 2016-2017: Needed Supplies

Targets for Today: I can write a short story with correct English. I can navigate the media center.

Today’s  Agenda: Find your same assigned seat. If you brought it, hand in your disclosure signature sheet. Do not forget to complete and hand in your take-home quiz --  mostly about the class blog.  (Study those spelling words, too!) Do not write on the half sheet on your desk  until you are instructed to do so.  __________________________________ 1. Take Theme Pretest If you finish early, quietly read.   No talking among students during tests. 2. Students will write a story based on some of the information from their interviews.   Utah State Core:  Language Arts, Grade 7 Writing Standards 3, 4, 10 Language 2 Sample Story for "Imagine if. . . " 3 3. Last 30-35 minutes of class:  Media Center Presentation How do you check out books? How many books can you check out? For how long can you check out books? When is the media center open?  Etc.

If You Were Absent: Take the theme pretest when you come back.  Ask us about writing the interview story. Your weekly quiz is  due on August 26 for A-Day classes and August 29 for B-Day classes.  On question #6  , go to the tab for "Seventh Grade Core," then to  State Core for Parents and Students.

A2 did this:

   A2:  Nominate fellow students to become members of our Hope Squad.  
These would be students who would be --

• Concerned about others • Easy to talk to • Good listeners • Someone students could turn to if they needed a friend

2015 Steel Days Parade