This page gives a basic summary of what we did during class time. The most recent day will be at the top, in the yellow box. For details for long-term assignments, go to FAQs. Summary will usually not be posted until after school. Absent students who have the desire and ability to work during the school day should e-mail Ms. Niksch if the summary has not yet been posted.
MAR 31: NWEA reading diagnostic #3 day 2. Independent work time for those who are finished with the diagnostic.
MAR 30: NWEA reading diagnostic #3 day 1.
MAR 27: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 7. Independent work time for brochure work.
MAR 26: Followed along to reading of chapter 7. Discussed examples of brochures. Independent work time for brochure work and chapter 7 discussion prep.
MAR 25: WM quiz 3-2. Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 6.
MAR 24: Mid-book check-in. Followed along to reading of chapter 6. Independent work time for WM 3-2 prep, propaganda brochure work, or Quill.
MAR 23: WM tutorial groups. Went over poetry terms quiz. Whole class discussion of chapter 5. Independent work time for propaganda brochure work.
MAR 16-20: Yosemite week.
MAR 13: Went over brochure topic choices. Small group discussion of chapter 5.
MAR 12: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 4. Time to fill out topic choice Form. Followed along to reading of chapter 5.
MAR 11: Followed along to reading of chapter 4. WM Quiz 3-1. Independent work time for chapter 4 notes and WM 3-2 prep.
MAR 10: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 3. Small group exploration of brochure / leaflet content and organization. Class discussion.
MAR 9: Independent work time to finish chapter 2 prep. Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 2. Introduced propaganda project. Followed along to reading of chapter 3.
MAR 6: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 1. Followed along to reading of chapter 2. Independent work time for notes and to add to propaganda worksheet.
MAR 5: Followed along to reading of Animal Farm chapter 1. Independent work time for notes and to add to propaganda worksheet. Group work on WM groupings chart.
MAR 4: Finished recitations and peer reviews. Distributed copies of Animal Farm.
MAR 3: Continued poetry recitations and peer reviews. Began work on Animal Farm propaganda worksheet.
MAR 2: Propaganda types mini-lesson. Began poetry recitations and peer reviews.
FEB 27: Went over Animal Farm literary terms. Independent work time to finish "Who Am I?" peer review and work on recitation prep or WM flash cards.
FEB 26: "Who Am I?" gallery walk and peer review.
FEB 25: Poetry terms quiz. Independent work time for "Who Am I?" work, recitation prep, and WM flash cards.
FEB 24: Review of The Call of the Wild responses. Distributed WM list 3. Poetry rhythm review. Independent work time for "Who Am I?" work and quiz / recitation prep.
FEB 23: Independent work time for mandatory poetry terms practice.
FEB 13: Watched winning poetry recitation from Poetry Out Loud competition and discussed tips for reciting poetry. Independent work time for "Who Am I?" work.
FEB 12: "To Quote, or Not to Quote" mini-lesson. Recitation choice consultations. Independent work time for "Who Am I?" work.
FEB 11: WM analogies quiz 2. Independent work time for "Who Am I?" work and recitation choice Form.
FEB 10: Finished poetry collection consultations. Independent wofk time for "Who Am I?" project and WM prep. WM Kahoot.
FEB 9: Poetry collection consultations. Independent work time for "Who Am I?" project and WM prep.
FEB 6: Finished writing prompt. Independent work time for "Who Am I?" collection.
FEB 5: Reviewed "Who Am I?" formatting / submission instructions. Writing prompt for "Saying Yes" and "Rice and Rose Bowl Blues," including practice of quoting from poetry.
FEB 4: WM quiz 2-4. Independent work time for poem collection. Small group discussion of comp book reflection prompt.
FEB 3: WM quiz 2-3 review. Worked on "Saying Yes." Read "Rice and Rose Bowl Blues." Comp book reflection on the two poems and what they're saying about stereotypes and identity.
FEB 2: Finished group work of "O Captain! My Captain!" Worked on poem "The Other Pioneers."
JAN 30: Small group work on poetry terms practice (with poem "Sea Lullaby" by Elinor Wylie). Whole class discussion. Began small group work on second poem ("O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman).
JAN 29: Class discussion of three poems and common topic. Introduced "Who Am I?" project. Group practice of poetry terms.
JAN 28: WM quiz 2-3. Independent work time for three poems compare / contrast.
JAN 27: Read poems "We Alone" (Alice Walker), "Hard Questions" (Margaret Tsuda), and "oil crisis" (Naoshi Koriyama). Independent lit responses in comp book. Small group discussions.
JAN 26: Finished group work on The Call of the Wild prompts. Small group work on WM groupings chart.
JAN 23: Brief review of poetry terms. Group work on The Call of the Wild prompts.
JAN 22: Watched TED Talk "Who Am I? Think Again." Poetry unit introduced. Reviewed WriteSource 2000 text poetry chapter.
JAN 21: WM quiz 2-2. Independent work time for comp book work exploring following words: "stereotype," "prejudice," and "discrimination." Small group discussion of focus words.
JAN 20: Followed along to reading of excerpt from Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored. Comp book lit response to #s 2 & 5. Small group and whole class discussion. Small group analysis of WM quiz 2-1.
JAN 16: Finished author readings and peer reviews.
JAN 15: Continued author readings and peer reviews.
JAN 14: WM quiz 2-1. Continued author readings and peer reviews.
JAN 13: Continued author readings and peer reviews.
JAN 12: Began author readings and peer reviews.
JAN 9: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 7. Short literary responses. Comp books collected.
JAN 8: Finished chapter 7. Author questions Form and process explained. Independent work time to complete Form.
JAN 7: Reviewed RRC slides. Began chapter 7. Independent work time (most classes) for excerpt selection, WM prep, or Quill.
JAN 6: Small group and whole class discussion chapter 6. Introduced fictional narrative author reading assignment.
JAN 5: Followed along to reading of chapter 6. Independent work time for resolutions Form and chapter 6 prep work.
DEC 19: Independent work time to finish peer reviews and for WM flash cards set 2. Small group London writing style activity.
DEC 18: Peer review of fictional narrative revision draft.
DEC 17: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 5. Independent work time for revision.
DEC 16: Followed along to reading of chapter 5. Independent work time for revision.
DEC 15: Independent work time for fictional narrative revision and completion of progress check 2 Form.
DEC 12: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 4. Independent work time for revision of fictional narrative.
DEC 11: Discussed WM Analogies 1. Followed along to reading of chapter 4. Independent work time for peer review.
DEC 10: NWEA round 2 day #2. Independent work time for peer reviews.
DEC 9: NWEA round 2 day #2. Independent work time for narrative.
DEC 8: NWEA round 2 day #1.
DEC 5: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 3. Independent work time for fictional narrative.
DEC 4: Followed along to reading of chapter 3. Independent work time for fictional narrative.
DEC 3: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 2. "Giving Your Story a Title" mini-lesson. Independent work time for fictional narrative.
DEC 2: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 1. Followed along to reading of chapter 2.
DEC 1: Followed along to reading of The Call of the Wild chapter 1. Discussed including all 5 senses in writing. Independent work time for chapter notes and / or fictional narrative.
NOV 21: Completed progress check Form. Genre group consultations / reviews. Independent work time for fictional narrative.
NOV 20: "Effective Dialogue" mini-lesson. Independent work time for fictional narrative.
NOV 19: WM Analogies 1. Independent work time for fictional narrative.
NOV 18: WM 1-4 tutorial work. Small group and whole class share of WM analogies groupings work. WM Kahoot.
NOV 17: "Analogy Types" and "What's In a Name?" mini-lessons. Independent work time for fictional narrative.
NOV 14: "Time Management" SEL lesson. "POV" mini-lesson. Independent work time for character and plot work.
NOV 13: "Plot Structures" mini-lesson. Independent work time for character and plot work.
NOV 12: WM quiz 1-3 tutorial work. WM quiz 1-4. Independent work time for narrative work and Quill.
NOV 10: In-class writing prompt based on last week's readings and work.
week of NOV 3 - NOV 7: Week with substitute Mr. Fong. Comparison work on "Harrison Bergeron" and "Flowers for Algernon," and continued work on narrative fiction with character development.
OCT 31: Listened to reading of Jacob's "The Monkey's Paw." Small group and whole class discussion on how Jacob's added tension and suspense in his writing.
OCT 30: Sharing of character description activity. "What's Going On?" situation writing activity introduced. Independent work time for writing and WM study or Quill work.
OCT 29: "Guess Who?" character writing activity introduced. WM quiz 1-2. Independent work time for description activity.
OCT 28: WM 1-1 tutorial work. Small group WM 1-2 work and class discussion. Fictional narrative idea lists activity.
OCT 27: Discussion of good books and bad books. Independent class time to work on "Fiction Plans" Form and to complete personal narrative packets.
OCT 23: Peer review and self-assessment of final draft.
OCT 22: WM quiz 1-1. Discussed The Outsiders quiz answers.
OCT 21: Small group WM work. Class discussion. Review of pirate dictionary and metaphor / idioms discussion and activity.
OCT 20: Finished oral assessments. Independent work time for final draft, WordMasters prep, and Quill.
OCT 17: Continued oral assessments. Independent work time for final draft, WordMasters prep, and Quill.
OCT 16: Began The Outsiders oral assessments. Independent work time for final draft and WordMasters prep.
OCT 15: Small group and whole class discussion of book vs. movie work. Final draft requirements given.
OCT 14: Finished The Outsiders movie and started organizing notes on compare / contrast sheet.
OCT 13: The Outsiders movie and note-taking.
OCT 10: Second draft peer review and self-assessment.
OCT 9: SEL lesson and activity "Building an Inclusive School Environment."
OCT 8: Spelling quiz 4. "Vocabulary Tips" mini-lesson. Independent work time for personal narrative and WM flash cards.
OCT 7: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 11. "Identifying Theme" mini-lesson. Independent work time for personal narrative and WM flash cards.
OCT 6: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 11. Distributed WordMasters list one and introduced flash cards and bonus opportunity. Independent work time for chapter 12, revision of personal narrative, and flash cards work.
OCT 3: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 10. Independent work time for chapter 11 prep and revision of personal narrative.
OCT 2: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 9. Small group work on spelling week 4 focus.
OCT 1: Spelling quiz 3. Finished first draft consultations with Ms. Niksch.
SEP 30: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 8. First draft consultations with Ms. Niksch. Independent work time for chapter 9 prep and Form completion.
SEP 29: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 7. First draft consultations with Ms. Niksch. Independent work time for chapter 8 prep and Form completion.
SEP 26: "Revise vs. Edit" mini-lesson. Independent work time for chapter 7 prep.
SEP 25: Small group work on spelling week 3 focus. Mid-book quiz and comp book check. Began reading chapter 7.
SEP 24: Grade spelling quiz 2. Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 6.
SEP 23: Independent work time for chapter 5 prep. Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 5. Independent reading time for chapter 6.
SEP 19: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 4. Introduced pirate dictionary. Independent work time for pirate dictionary.
SEP 18: Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 3. Metaphor videos.
SEP 17: Spelling quiz 2. Independent work time for peer reviews of personal narrative
SEP 16: Library "field trip" to Scholastic Book Fair. Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 2. "Sentences and Paragraphs" mini-lesson.
SEP 15: "Show vs. Tell" mini-lesson. Independent writing and chapter prep time.
SEP 12: Independent prep time for chapter 1. Small group and whole class discussion of chapter 1. Independent work time for personal narrative draft or chapter 2.
SEP 11: Small group work on spelling week 2 rule. "Reading for Deeper Understanding" mini-lesson and introduced first novel.
SEP 10: NWEA Reading Diagnostic day 3. Independent work time for personal narrative first draft (or Quill or reading).
SEP 9: NWEA Reading Diagnostic day 2. Independent reading or work time (Quill or first draft).
SEP 8: NWEA Reading Diagnostic day 1.
SEP 5: Writing style exploration and discussion. "Bad personal narrative" mini-lesson.
SEP 4: Independent reading of Fletcher's "Last Kiss." Small group work adding to writing style chart. Independent work time for Quill activities.
SEP 3: Spelling quiz. "On Writing Style" mini-lesson.
SEP 2: Finished small group work on Spinelli / Herriot chart. Independent time for reading and notetaking of writing style articles (found here on website).
AUG 29: Read Spinelli's "War." Small group work with unknown vocabulary and references. Class discussion. Small group work on writing style comparison chart for Spinelli and Herriot.
AUG 28: Introduced spelling prep work. Small group work on week 1 rule.
AUG 27: Spelling preview quiz. Graded quizzes and discussed words.
AUG 26: Whole class discussion of p. 88 responses. Quill packet assignments and self-pacing explained. Independent work for Quill and / or p. 88 response revision.
AUG 25: New seating chart. Followed along to professional reading of excerpt from All Things Bright and Beautiful. Small group discussion of p. 88 #s 1, 2, and 3. Quill baseline pre-diagnostic and / or worked on written response to p. 88.
AUG 22: Descriptive writing activity. Went over answers to LL p.120.
AUG 21: Quiz grading practice. Small group discussion of lit responses (LL p.120). RACE (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain) mini-lesson.
AUG 20: Textbook navigation "quiz" and test procedure practice. Independent work time for LL p.120 #s 3, 6, 7.
AUG 19: Finished classroom rules activity. Finished "Collecting Team." Went over Room Out / Room In binder and handback baskets. Chose Homework Partners.
AUG 18: Classroom rules group activity. Began reading "Collecting Team" in Language of Literature textbook. Independent work time for friendly letter in most classes (2nd period fire drill).
AUG 15: Went over hand-in baskets differences and absence papers location. Reviewed planner pps. 2-4. Group Venn Diagram activity. Independent work time for friendly letter.
AUG 14: First day of school! Went over syllabus and RRC expectations. Reviewed friendly letter format and began work on letter to Ms. Niksch.