Sunday, August 30, 2015

Wednesday/Thursday, September 2/3, 2015


Announcements and Reminders:

Get your grades up BEFORE we begin the Cave Time schedule (September 8?). You will want to have a colored slip so you can choose your activities during Cave Time!

Remember to be reading your book for the September Book-of-the-Month assignment:  Book of the Month Assignment.docx


Also, remember to learn how to ALWAYS recognize when these words are spelled correctly: your/you're, there/their/they're. (Test September 4 and 8)
                                                     

School pictures will be taken this Thursday and Friday during your math class.


Emergency Procedures: 
Report to your A1 teacher any time we evacuate the building. 


Targets for Today:

I will participate appropriately in class
      activities. 
        (Utah State Core Language Arts: Speaking and Listening, Standard 1)


I can write to express my agreement or disagreement with someone else's opinion.
(Utah State Core Language Arts: Writing, Standards 1 and 10)


B-Day: I will show what I know about reading and comprehending literature and informational text by taking the Scholastic Reading Inventory test to determine my own lexile level.  (Utah State Core Language Arts: Reading: Literature and Reading: Informational  , Standard 10)

 A1: I can select and read books at my own reading level.

All: Next time I can demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English spelling for two sets of commonly confused words. (Utah State Core Language Arts: Language, Standard 2)




Today’s  Agenda:

   Pick up your composition book, and have a book out, just waiting to be read.

A1 First Activity: Media Center to find books for the book project due September 23.

B6 -- Sign up to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

 









1.  Journal write --  Read the quote below. Then respond to it on page 33 of your composition book.
       Label this: "Too Easy?"  and add today's date to the page.
             This is Mr. Heinlein's advice to parents.  What do you think?


     Begin your entry with
                 Robert Heinlein was (right or wrong pick one
when he said, "Do not handicap your children 
by making their lives easy." 


  •         Then explain why you agree or disagree with Heinlein.
  •       Write at least a half page with at least one paragaph.
  •       Write in complete sentences.



2. Star Students

3.   Play Slap to practice our spelling words!

Slap for Commonly Confused Words




4. About  conflict 



Draw these symbols for the types of conflict in your composition book -- under Notes and QuickWrites.


   Types of conflict:
  • person vs. self
  • person vs. person
  • person vs. society
  • person vs. technology
  • person vs. nature
  • person vs. the unknown/supernatural


Thursday: B5, B6, B7
 5.   Take the SRI.  Do your best.  


Take along your book to read.






  




If You Were Absent:

  • Find a time to write your response to the quotation in your composition book -- or write it on a separate sheet of paper, and tape it into your composition book.
  • Make sure you are prepared for the spelling test on you're/your and there/their/they're.
  • Select, if you haven't already, a book for the book of the month assignment, and begin reading it.  Book of the Month Assignment.docx
  • Draw the symbols for the types of conflict in your composition book.
  • If you are absent for taking the SRI, arrange a time with the teacher to take it.




Saturday, August 29, 2015

Monday/Tuesday, August 31/September 1, 2015



Announcements and Reminders:
           
Get your grades up BEFORE we begin the Cave Time schedule (September 8?). You will want to have a colored slip so you can choose your activities during Cave Time!  

Remember to be reading your book for the September Book-of-the-Month assignment:  Book of the Month Assignment.docx

Also, remember to learn how to ALWAYS recognize when these words are spelled correctly: your/you're, there/their/they're.
                                                     
School pictures will be taken this Thursday and Friday during your math class.

If you have not finished or taken the Literary Terms Pretest, see me, please.



Targets for Today:

I will participate appropriately in class
      activities. 
        (Utah State Core Language Arts: Speaking and Listening, Standard 1)

I will practice thinking about how correct sentences are put together.
 (Utah State Core Language Arts: Language, Standard 1-2)

I will show what I know about reading and comprehending literature and informational text by taking the Scholastic Reading Inventory test to determine my own lexile level.  
(Utah State Core Language Arts: Reading: Literature and Reading: Informational  , Standard 10)
or 

 I will understand what a plot is, and be able to explain the parts of a plot.
        (Utah State Core Language Arts:  Reading Literature, Standard 3)

 I can select and read books at my own reading level.




Today’s  Agenda:

1. Complete this activity:



    CSI: American Fork

    Copy this sentence into your composition book on the next page in your Notes and QuickWrites, and list everything that you notice about the sentence, and/or you may label the parts of the sentence:



3. Priscilla has Monk in a hammerlock ("Priscilla and 
the Wimps").






Sample Things to Notice in Sentence #3

Learn More:

Prepositions




2.   Student Stars





 3.  Spelling Words for this week: (test on September 4 and 8) 
        your/you’re 
        there/their/they’re
Click here: 

Your/You're and There/They're/Their




4.  A1: Take the SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory).

Taking the SRI Test

Take along your book to read.
The rest of the classes will do this on Thursday?


4. B5, B6, B7 -- Fill in the plot map for "Priscilla and the Wimps."


6. Add these words on the page:  
protagonist   
antagonist

  conflict 





   Types of conflict:
  • person vs. self
  • person vs. person
  • person vs. society
  • person vs. technology
  • person vs. nature
  • person vs. the unknown/supernatural


   5. Media Center to find books for the Book of the Month, or to read your own Book of the Month book.








If You Were Absent:






Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Thursday/Friday, August 27/28, 2015


Announcements and Reminders:
Remember to bring back your signed disclosure signature sheet -- with the VIP form filled out on the back or on a separate sheet.

Remember to bring a composition book to leave in the classroom.

School Pictures:  September 3-4

Get your grades up BEFORE we begin the Cave Time schedule. You will want to have a colored slip so you can choose your activities during Cave Time!

There will be a school dance for 7th and 8th graders
right after school this Friday
.
2:45 - 4:00pm --  $2.00 entrance fee



Targets for Today:
 I will participate appropriately in class
      activities. 
        (Utah State Core Speaking and Listening, Standard 1)

I will practice thinking about how correct sentences are put together.

I will show that I can correctly spell two sets of our commonly confused spelling words.
 I will understand what a plot is, and be able to explain at
       least two parts of a plot.
        (Utah State Core Reading Literature, Standard 3)






Today’s  Agenda:

Turn in your disclosure document signatures and VIP sheet if you haven't yet.

1. Complete this activity:



    CSI: American Fork

    Copy this sentence into your composition book on the next page in your Notes and QuickWrites, and list everything that you notice about the sentence, and/or you may label the parts of the sentence:

2. The bell rang for first period, 
and the students herded noisily through the door.


Possible Noticings for Sentence #2




2.   Student Stars

 3.  Spelling Test

 4.  Next week's spelling for the test on September 4 and 8.
      Add these words  and sample sentences to page 3 in your
      composition book.
 3. your/you’re
Is that your jacket?

You’re the best!




4. there/their/they’re

You stay here, and I’ll go there.

Their grades are superb!

They’re here.



5. Book Project Assignment: receive the handout: Book of the Month Assignment.docx


6. Short Story and Plot -- "Priscilla and the Wimps" (comedy)

Richard Peck and Ms. Dorsey! 


    You will draw a plot map in your composition book, labeled   "Priscilla and the Wimps," and fill it in for this story.



6. Add these words on the page:  
protagonist   
antagonist

  A1 read the story.




If You Were Absent:

Copy the CSI sentence into your composition book (page 93) and make a list of what you notice or label the sentence.

Talk with the teacher to arrange a time to take the spelling test.
Study the words for our next test. (Copy them into your composition book on page 3.)

Pick up the handout for your Book-of-the-Month Assignment, or open this document: Book of the Month Assignment.docx
Click on the link, then click on the Download Tab to open it. 

You could read the story by opening this document:
Priscilla and the Wimps.docx 




Monday, August 24, 2015

Tuesday/Wednesday, August 25/26, 2015



Announcements and Reminders:
Remember to bring back your signed disclosure signature sheet -- with the VIP form filled out on the back. 

Remember to bring a composition book to leave in the classroom.


School Pictures:  September 3-4

Remember to prepare for your spelling test about its/it's and to/too/two. 
The tests will be on August 27/28 -- next time! 

 
There will be a school dance for 7th and 8th graders
right after school this Friday
.
2:45 - 4:00pm --  $2.00 entrance fee
                                                                


Targets for Today:
 I will participate appropriately in class
      activities. 
        (Utah State Core Speaking and Listening, Standard 1)



 I will understand what a plot is, and be able to explain at
       least two parts of a plot.
        (Utah State Core Reading Literature, Standard 3)

I will be prepared to take my spelling test next time on these commonly confused words:  to/too/two and it's/its.




Today’s  Agenda:
    
 Getting ready: 
     Pick up your composition book.
     Hand in your disclosure signatures and VIP form if you have them ready.
         Turn them in by placing them in the top wire basket for your class.
     Pick up the yellow quarter-sheet handout from the desk at the front of the classroom.

  Now:
     1.    C.S.I. -- Correct Sentence Investigations



    CSI: American Fork

    On the handout, list everything that you notice about this sentence:


                         1. The room grew silent.




     We will discuss what you observed in the sentence, and tickets for our Friday drawings will be awarded to students who contribute to the discussion.

     Suggested observations:
         The first letter of the sentence is capitalized.
         The sentence ends with a period.
         "Room" is a noun  and the subject of the sentence.
         "Grew" is a verb.
          "The" is an article, a particular type of adjective.
          "Silent" is an adjective describing the room.
          It is a simple sentence.
 




2. Focus for today: PLOT

Plot Map

Copy the definition, and 

 draw this map (to take up a whole page) if you haven't already done it.

Definition:
            
Plot:  A series of related events that make up a story


ALSO: SETTING
                CONFLICT 

       The exposition introduces us to the character(s), setting (place and time), 
             and may give us other  background that will help us understand the story.
      
        The conflict is the problem faced by the main character or characters in the story.

        The inciting incident is something that happens that triggers the problem/conflict -- gets things               going in the story.

     Discuss how the story "Seventh Grade" fits into this basic plot map.
        (B5 needs to finish the story?)  

      What do we find out in the exposition?
      
             setting = place and time  (micro and macro)
             characters
             other background information

      What is the climax?

      What are the main things that happen (complications) that lead to the climax?

      What happens in the falling action?

      What is the resolution?



     3.  Record spelling words in your composition book on page 3.
Don't be confused by these
Common Confusing Words
                1. its/it’s
                The dog buried its bone.
                It’s alive!

                2. to/too/two
                Let’s go to the library.
               There are too many good books to choose from.
               I always carry two pencils.

            Play Sparkle to practice for the spelling test!
            You will take the test NEXT TIME!






If You Were Absent:
Continue to study the spelling words its/it's and to/too/two. Your job is to know which is which, and to get into the habit of checking your own work for possible errors.  (Test next time.)

To/Two/Too -- Spelling


Its/It's -- Spelling

See the box above for the words and sample sentences to record in your composition book on page 3.


Plot:
A1 finished the story
talked about how realistic it is,
exposition,
where is the climax?
B5
B6
B7


If you haven't yet set up your composition book,  
see this post or the handout in the classroom : 

Composition Book Set-Up







Don't forget your spelling words!