Tuesday 11/30/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4--Today students should have had their outlines finished with all their supports and direct quotations. Students who had the work completed had time to begin typing in the computer lab. Those who did not have the work done used class time to complete their homework--I reminded them that in order to get the essay done on time, it is important that they keep up with deadlines. Students have now had a full week to complete these outlines. It's time to move on to the writing stage.

Hour 8--Today students worked on collecting direct quotations for their essays. We also went over formatting expectations for the essay.

Hours 3, 5--Today students took some notes on Non-Fiction terms. They also got an article to read for homework tomorrow--Will Edible Dirt Make You Clean Your Plate? from Time Magazine.

ASSGINMENTS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--

• Vocab Lesson 22 due tomorrow
• Continue working on 5-paragraph essays. Final Draft due Tuesday, December 7th

Hours 3, 5--

• Vocab Lesson 22 due tomorrow
• Read article (link provided above). Identify the main/central idea and list three supporting details. This can be done on the back of the article.

Monday 11/29/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today classes had time to work on their outlines. The main focus in class today was selecting DQ's for the body paragraphs in the essay. Students had the opportunity to check out a copy of The Outsiders to take home to help them complete the outline. Tomorrow we will start typing in hours 2 and 4.

Hours, 3, 5--Today we started on our non-fiction unit of study. Students began by collecting information, recording details, and summarizing notes taken in class.

ASSIGNMENT:

• All hours--Vocab 22 due Wednesday
  
• Hours 2, 4--finished outlines due tomorrow
• Hour 8--finished outline due Wednesday

Wednesday 11/24/10

In case you miss my weird story telling over the weekend, here's a good Thanksgiving one for you. I especially like the turkey sounds in the background. Happy Thanksgiving!

Raising Truly Fresh Turkey

by Adam Burke

Tuesday 11/23/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today students continued working on organizing their essays. By this point, students should have selected their topic, written a thesis statement, constructed topic sentences for each body paragraph, and have the first sentence of their conclusion written.

Hour 8 only--students should have a complete thesis statement written.

Hours 3, 5--Today we finished watching The Outsiders. Hour 5 also had some time for discussion on the differences between the book and the movie.

ASSIGNMENT:

• Hours 2, 4--Fill out outline with everyting except DQ's (those will be collected in class on Monday)
• Hour 8--Fill out back of Essay Structure Worksheet (Thesis Statement, Topic Sentences, and reworded thesis for Conclusion)
• Hours 3, 5--Finish worksheet comparing the book to the movie (due Monday)

Monday 11/22/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today we focused more closely on thesis statements and looked at how to turn a THEME statement into a THESIS. Remember, a thesis statement does the following things:

1. Includes the author and title of the story
2. Says WHAT will be proved in the essay
3. Lists HOW it will be proved (what are the three main points you will make in your body paragraphs to prove your point?)

Hours 3, 5--Today students watched more of the movie for The Outsiders.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4--Finish the back of the Essay Structure worksheet
Hour 8--none
Hours 3, 5--Finish the front of the movie reflection sheet

Friday 11/19/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today students started by turning in their theme statements from the homework (hour 8 turned in topics they see present in the story). Then students had time for independent reading before taking the vocab quiz for lesson 21.

Hours 3, 5--Today students started watching the movie for The Outsiders.

ASSIGNMENT:
none

Thursday 11/18/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today classes took notes on the parts of an essay--introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. We began talking a bit about thesis statements and possible topics for their upcoming essays.

In hour 8, we finished reading the last chapter of The Outsiders.

Hours 3, 5--Today students turned in their essays on The Outsiders. Then they took the vocab quiz for lesson 21 a day early because tomorrow is Breakfast of Champions during 3rd hour.

ASSIGNMENT:

• Hours 2, 4--Write a Theme Statement for three of the topics/issues discussed in class.
• Hours, 3, 5, 8--none

Wednesday 11/17/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4--Today we checked vocab 21, turned in reflection paragraphs on the last chapter in The Outsiders, and began taking notes on the writing process for essay writing.

Hours 3, 5--Today we checked the vocab from lesson 21. Then we played a review game to let off some steam from essay writing. Hour 5 even had time to ask some ridiculous questions.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2--Bring in three ideas on topics addressed in The Outsiders.

Hours 4, 8--none

Hours 3, 5--

• Bring Independent Reading Book tomorrow
• Vocab Quiz 21 tomorrow
• Essay Final Draft due tomorrow

Tuesday 11/16/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today we went over root words for this week:

• ARBOR=tree (as in Arbor Day, arborist, arboretum)
• DENDRON=tree (as in rhododendron, dendrology, dendrophile)
• STELLA=star (as in constellation, stellar)

After that we finished reading the end of The Outsiders. The assignment for tonight is to write a substantial paragraph responding to the book (this can be done on the back of yesterday's worksheet).

Hours 3, 5--We went over root words (see above). Then students had time for some peer review on their essays. Revised essays are due in their final draft form on Thursday.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--

• Vocab 21 due tomorrow
• Reflection on The Outsiders tomorrow

Hours 3, 5--

• Vocab 21 due tomorrow
• Essay due Thursday, Nov. 18
• Vocab quiz on Thursday, Nov. 18

Monday 11/15/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today these classes read chapters 10 and 11 in The Outsiders. Students also answered some comprehension questions on chapter 10. Part of this assignment is getting the right answer, and part of it answering questions in complete sentences--this means all answers have a subject and predicate, begin with a capital letter and end with appropriate punctuation. The worksheet is due tomorrow.

Hours 3, 5--Today students talked about formatting before heading to the computer lab for one last day of essay writing. Completed first draft of essays (all 5 paragraphs typed and printed out) are due tomorrow.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Ch. 10 worksheet due tomorrow
Hours 3, 5--First draft due tomorrow

Friday 11/12/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--These classes had time for independent reading, then finished reading chapter 9 in The Outsiders. After some discussion questions, students answered a critical response question the the reading.

Hours 3, 5--These classes had time for independent reading, then went to the computer lab to work on essays.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Finish critical response if not completed during class.
Hours 3, 5--First draft of essay due Tuesday, November 16

Thursday 11/11/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--These classes read the first part of chapter 9. Then we went to the media center for book browsing, reading time, or work time.

Hours 3, 5--Students had time in the computer lab for working on essays. Outlines/organizers were checked for completion.

ASSIGNMENT:
Bring Independent Reading Book tomorrow

Wednesday 11/10/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today we finished up the partner questions (complete with bouncy dice) before reading chapter 8 together as a class. Then students took a comprehension quiz on clickers for their first grade of second quarter.

Hours 3, 5--Today students had time for working on their outlines and organizers while I checked thesis statements and progress. Outline/organizer/first draft is due tomorrow.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--none
Hours 3, 5--Outline/organizer/first draft is due tomorrow

Tuesday 11/9/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today students read chapter 7. Then we did a question/answer activity in partners.

Hours 3, 5--Today we took some notes on essay writing, revisited structure and reminders, and had some time to start/continue crafting clear thesis statements.

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--none
Hours 3, 5--Have thesis written by tomorrow. Begin working on outline/organizer (due Thursday)

Monday 11/8/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today classes wrote important dates for the quarter into their agendas at the beginning of class. Then they received back graded work from 1st quarter including their Elements of Fiction Exam. Finally, we had a brief discussion regarding chapter 6 in The Outsiders. Are Ponyboy and Johnny heroes? Or criminals? Students ended the hour with time for silent reading finishing chapter 6 and beginning chapter 7.

Hours 3, 5--Today classes wrote important dates for the quarter into their agendas at the beginning of class. Then they received back graded work from 1st quarter including their Elements of Fiction Exam. After that we went through the expectations of the upcoming essay writing project and began thinking of possible topics of interest for writing.

• Essay handout from class

ASSIGNMENT:
Hours 2, 4, 8--none
Hours 3, 5--Decide on essay topic (one or two options) by tomorrow using essay handout from class

Thursday 11/4/10

All classes took the vocab exam covering the words from lessons 17-20 today. It is the last day of first quarter. There is no homework for the weekend.

Wednesday 11/3/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today students finished their critical response that was started yesterday (see yesterday's blog post for details). Then we played a review game to help prepare for the vocab exam tomorrow.

Hours 3, 5--Today students did their end of quarter reflection writing, and then we played a lively vocab review game.

ASSIGNMENT:
ALL STUDENTS SHOULD STUDY FOR VOCAB EXAM (10% of your final grade!)

Tuesday 11/2/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today these classes read chapter 6 in class on their own. Then students began work on a critical response.

• Based on the events in the story and what happened in the park, do Ponyboy and Johnny deserve to be called heroes?
• Explain your answer in the form of a critical response. Use at least 2 direct quotations to support your answer. At least one DQ should come from chapter 6.

Hours 3, 5--Today we began reviewing the parts of an essay. We did this using a list, sort, label activity. Then we took a few notes and began talking about possible thesis statements.

ASSIGNMENT:
All classes--study for vocab exam (review activity tomorrow)

• Download review sheet for hours 2, 4, 8

Monday 11/1/10

IN CLASS:
Hours 2, 4, 8--Today we read chapter 5 in The Outsiders. Hour 4 also read chapter 4.

Hours 3, 5--Today we finished reading the last chapter of The Outsiders. Tomorrow we will begin working on topics for the upcoming essay assignment.

ASSIGNMENT:

• Get caught up on any missing or incomplete work for the quarter.
• Remember the final vocab exam is on Thursday over lessons 17-20