January
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: During Prohibition (a time when alcohol was illegal), moonshiners would wear "cow shoes." The fancy footwear left hoofprints instead of footprints, helping distillers and smugglers evade police. Read more here.
Tuesday, January 9 - Day 79
Welcome back! I hope that you had an amazing break that was fun and restful! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will get back into the swing of things and introduce Unit 4: Analyzing Author's Craft.
Learning Intention: Understand the basics of “The Hero’s Journey”
Success Criteria: I can describe key attributes of “The Hero’s Journey”
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Some cats are allergic to humans. Read more here.
Wednesday, January 10 - Day 80
Can you believe it's already Wednesday?! Please read independently while I take attendance.
Today is Writer's Wednesday! We will also be sending people to the library.
Learning Intention: Develop skills as a writer and recognize the value of engaging in a community of authors.
Success Criteria: I can participate in Writer's Wednesday to improve my writing skills.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Oxford University was founded before Aztec civilization began. Read more about it here.
Thursday, January 11 - Day 81
Happy Thursday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be selecting our Managed Choice Novels and creating groups!
Learning Intention: Understand key attributes and purpose of a book group.
Success Criteria: I can describe key attributes and purpose of a book group.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Sunsets on Mars are blue. Read about it here.
Friday, January 12 - Day 82
Happy Friday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be starting our Managed Choice Novels!
Learning Intention: Understand key attributes and purpose of a book group.
Success Criteria: I can describe key attributes and purpose of a book group.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The first alarm clock could only go off at 4 am. Read its history here.
Wednesday, January 17 - Day 83
Happy Wednesday that feels like Monday! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will continue our work in Managed Choice Novels!
Learning Intention: Understand key attributes of literary texts.
Success Criteria: I can discuss key attributes of my novel.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Though the Age of Dinosaurs ended long ago, there was a greater amount of time between the Stegosaurus and the T-Rex than there is between the T-Rex and us. Read more here.
Thursday, January 18 - Day 84
Happy Thursday! Please read or write independently while the Counselor takes attendance.
Tomorrow's theme day is dress like the 90s day. Wear your best 90s gear!
Today you will have a special lesson presented by the Counseling Department.
Learning Intention: I can develop attitudes and behaviors that contribute to my sense of belonging in the school community and support my well-being.
Success Criteria: I will know that I am successful when I
Examine the impact of my relationships with peers and adults on school culture and academic performance.
Reflect on my own friendships, their health, and my role within them and communicate with maturity.
Reflect on what it means to belong and express my reactions and thoughts with maturity.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Sophie Lohmann! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish her a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: Lucy and Linus (who were brother and sister) had another little brother named Rerun. (He sometimes played left-field on Charlie Brown's baseball team, [when he could find it!]). Read other facts about Peanuts here.
Friday, January 19 - Day 85
Hooray! It's Friday! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be discussing how to best keep a conversation going in a group setting.
Learning Intention: Develop skills to maintain an academic discussion that goes beyond surface details.
Success Criteria: I can maintain an academic discussion by using various conversation techniques.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The number one tire manufacturer in the world? LEGO. Read about this unusual fact here.
Monday, January 22 - Day 85
Happy Monday! Only 5 days 'til the weekend! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be discussing how to best keep a conversation going in a group setting.
Learning Intention: Understand how a character is affected by the situation he or she is in and how that contributes to the plot.
Success Criteria: I can describe how the character in my novel is affected by the situation he or she is in.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to James Milton and Ngan Huynh! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish them a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: In Utah, it is against the law to fish from the back of a horse. Read more bizarre laws here.
Tuesday, January 23 - Day 86
Happy Tuesday! Only 5 days 'til the weekend! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be discussing how to best keep a conversation going in a group setting.
Learning Intention: Reflect on how certain events shape the way a story unfolds.
Success Criteria: I can describe how events in my novel shape the way a story unfolds.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The letter "J" was the last letter added to the English Alphabet. Read more about its history here.
Wednesday, January 24 - Day 87
Happy Wednesday! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Today should be Writer's Wednesday, however, we are switching to Thursday this week due to some observations that are going on in the building today. We will also be sending people to the library.
Learning Intention: Infer to analyze and explain how details in a picture contribute to what is happening in the picture.
Success Criteria: I can infer to help me better understand text and make predictions.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Today, January 25, is National Opposite Day! Read about it here.
Thursday, January 25 - Day 88
Happy Thursday! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Tomorrow's theme day is Band T-Shirt Day. Wear your favorite band's T-shirt!
Today is Writer's Wednesday Thursday!
Learning Intention: Develop skills as a writer and recognize the value of engaging in a community of authors.
Success Criteria: I can participate in Writer's Wednesday to improve my writing skills.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Emma Lantz! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish her a happy birthday!
Also, Carly Huang has a birthday over the weekend, so be sure to wish her a happy birthday too! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳
Random Fact of the Day: A polar bear can smell a seal that's 20 miles away. Read more interesting facts about polar bears here.
Friday, January 26 - Day 89
Happy Friday! Our 5-day week is almost over! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will wrap up our work on RL.6.5!
Learning Intention: Understand how elaboration leads to a deeper understanding of what is being studied.
Success Criteria: I can elaborate on my thoughts by providing evidence and explanation of my ideas.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Unless food is mixed with saliva you can’t taste it. Read about an interesting experiment that proves it here.
Monday, January 29 - Day 90
Happy Monday! Please finish and submit your RL.6.5 assessment from Friday. If you are finished, write independently while I take attendance. If you are unsure of what to write, try this prompt:
You are on your way to school and find an unusual coin on the sidewalk. When you hold it, you can see the future of everyone but yourself. Write about what happens.
Today we will return to our study of the Hero's Journey!
Learning Intention: Utilize the skills brought forth in the past lessons and apply to your reading.
Success Criteria: I can use inferring and point of view to help me better understand my novel.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: After reading this post you will not recognize that the the brain doesn’t recognize the second ‘the’. Read about why our brains typically overlook these things here.
Tuesday, January 30 - Day 91
Happy Tuesday! Please read or write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be discussing point of view and perspective in your novels.
Learning Intention: Understand how point of view affects how a story is told.
Success Criteria: I can describe how the point of view in my novel affects the story .
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Tears caused by sadness, happiness, and onions look different under the microscope. Read why here.
Wednesday, January 31 - Day 92
Happy Wednesday! Please read independently while I take attendance.
Tomorrow's theme day is: Wear Red for American Heart Month!
Today is Writer's Wednesday!
Learning Intention: Develop skills as a writer and recognize the value of engaging in a community of authors.
Success Criteria: I can participate in Writer's Wednesday to improve my writing skills.