Weekly Updates

Weekly Updates Note on 3/30/2020:

For our distance learning adventure, we will work exclusively from the 7th Grade Distance Learning Website and our Language Arts Google Classroom sections to provide updates, assignments, due dates, and office hour check-ins.

This page will no longer be updated by your Language Arts teachers.

Week 29: March 30-April 3, 2020 Distance Learning Begins

• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Complete Research Essay (due in Google Classroom by 4/5/2020 - updated due date to accommodate for needs)
• Elements of Fiction Unit of Study
  • Complete Elements of Fiction Note-Taking (notes are in Google Classroom, note-taking shell is on paper, and a review will be posted soon)

March 23-27, 2020 Spring Break - NO SCHOOL

Week 28: March 16-20, 2020 DISTRICT CLOSURE - NO SCHOOL

• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Complete Research Essay (due in Google Classroom by 3/20/2020, Research Essay Rubric due in class 3/30/2020)
• Elements of Fiction Unit of Study
  • Complete Elements of Fiction Note-Taking (notes are in Google Classroom, note-taking shell is on paper)

Week 27: March 9-13, 2020

• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Research Essay Prompt and Outline (will be assigned 3/9/2020, due 3/12/2020)
  • Research Essay (will be assigned 3/12/2020, due 3/20/2020)
• Elements of Fiction Unit of Study
  • Elements of Fiction Note-Taking
• Second Semester Conference Forms (signatures due by 3/11/2020)

Week 26: March 2-5, 2020

• Word Roots Focus 6: duc, duct (Practice Packet Turn In and Quiz)
• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Research Bibliography (assigned 2/27/2020, due 3/5/2020)
  • Research Essay Prompt and Outline (will be assigned 3/9/2020, due 3/12/2020)
• Personal Essay Instruction
  • Personal Essay Revision Checklist and Personal Essay Rubric
  • Personal Essay Completion in Google Classroom
• Second Semester Conference Forms (signatures due by 3/11/2020)

Week 25: February 24-28, 2020

• Check-In Word Roots Word Roots Focus 6: duc, duct, Quizlet flashcards, and quiz scheduled on 3/3/2020
• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Research Collection Document #4 (assigned 2/20/2020, due 2/27/2020)
  • Research Bibliography (will be assigned 2/27/2020, due 3/5/2020, MLA Citation and Bibliography Notes)
• Personal Essay Instruction
  • Personal Essay Writing Guide and Personal Essay Outline Instruction (Steps #7-8)
  • Proficient and Advanced Teacher Examples
  • Personal Essay Revision Checklist and Personal Essay Rubric
  • Personal Essay Drafting in Google Classroom (Wednesday and Friday)

Week 24: February 18-21, 2020

• Word Roots Focus 5: dict (Practice Packet Turn In and Quiz)
• Preview and Practice Word Roots Focus 6: duc, duct (Check-In on 2/24/2020 and Quiz 3/3/2020)
• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Research Collection Document #3 (assigned 2/13/2020, due 2/20/2020)
  • Research Collection Document #4 (will be assigned 2/20/2020, due 2/27/2020)
• Personal Essay Instruction
  • Personal Essay Writing Guide and Personal Essay Outline Instruction (Steps #5-6)

Week 23: February 10-14, 2020

• Retake assessments available this week: Word Roots Focus 4 Quiz
• Check-In Word Roots Word Roots Focus 5: dict, Quizlet flashcards, and quiz scheduled on 2/18/2020
• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Research Collection Document #2 (assigned 2/6/2020, due 2/13/2020)
  • Research Collection Document #3 (will be assigned 2/13/2020, due 2/20/2020)
• New Unit of Study: Personal Essay Instruction
  • Paragraph and Essay Compare and Contrast Venn Diagram
  • Personal Essay Writing Guide and Personal Essay Outline Instruction (Steps # 1-5)

Week 22: February 3-7, 2020

• Word Roots Focus 4: chron/chrono (Practice Packet Turn In and Quiz)
• Preview and Practice Word Roots Focus 5: dict (Check-In on 2/10/2020 and Quiz 2/18/2020)
• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Research Collection Document #1 (due 2/6/2020)
  • Research Collection Document #2 (assigned 2/6/2020, due 2/13/2020)
• New Unit of Study: Personal Essay Instruction
  • Paragraph and Essay Compare and Contrast Venn Diagram

Week 21: January 27-31, 2020

• Retake assessments available this week: Figurative Language and Poetic Devices Assessment and Word Roots Focus 3 Quiz
• Check-In Word Roots Word Roots Focus 4: chrono, Quizlet flashcards, and Quiz Day 2/4/2020
• Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Developing Research Questions
  • Determining Keywords for Searching
  • Making a Research Resource Plan
  • Family Approval Form (signatures due by 1/28/2020)
  • Powell's Library Databases and Local Library Resources
  • Research Collection Document #1 (assigned 1/30/2020, due 2/6/2020)

Week 20: January 21-24, 2020

• Word Roots Focus 3: bene (Practice Packet Turn In and Quiz)
• Preview and Practice Word Roots Focus 4: chrono (Check-In on 1/27/2020 and Quiz 2/4/2020)
• Introduction to our Independent Reading and Research Project
  • Choosing a Research Topic
  • Developing Research Questions
  • Making a Research Resource Plan
  • Family Approval Form (signatures due by 1/28/2020)

Week 19: January 13-17, 2020

• Check-In Word Roots Focus 3: bene, Quizlet flashcards, and Quiz Day 1/21/2020
• Unit of Study: Figurative Language and Poetic Devices
  • Gradual Release of Responsibility Poetry Analysis and Short Response: "Tree Heartbeat" and "The Road Not Taken"
  • Figurative Language and Poetic Devices Study Guide (1/13/2020)
  • Figurative Language and Poetic Devices Assessment of Learning (1/16/2020 and 1/17/2020)

Week 18: January 7-10, 2020

• Preview and Practice Word Roots Focus 3: bene (Check-In on 1/13/2020 and Quiz 1/21/2020)
• Unit of Study: Figurative Language and Poetic Devices
  • Composition Notebook Mentor Text Poetry Analysis and Writing Practice: "Cotton Candy" and "My Room"
  • Gradual Release of Responsibility Poetry Analysis and Short Response: "Afternoon Beach" and "Tree Heartbeat"

Week 17: December 16-20, 2019

• Word Roots Focus 2: auto (Practice Packet Turn In and Quiz)
• Introduce New Unit of Study: Jolly Grammar Notes - Figurative Language and Poetic Devices
  • Composition Notebook Mentor Text Poetry Analysis and Writing Practice: "The Swingset"
  • Gradual Release of Responsibility Poetry Analysis and Short Response: "Afternoon Beach"

Week 16: December 9-13, 2019

• Check-In Word Roots Focus 2: auto, Quizlet flashcards, and Quiz Day 12/17/19
• Assessment of Learning: Apply learning and practice from Annotation Guide for Literary Text and Writing Guide for An Informational Paragraph to a new, complex text
• Reading Log #8 DUE (Book Mark and Annotation Collection); Report Form, Calculation Tables, Attachments, and Self-Assessment

Week 15: December 2-6, 2019

• Word Roots Focus 1: aud/audi Quiz Results Analysis and Quiz Retake Options
• Preview and Practice Word Roots Focus 2: auto, Quizlet flashcards, and Quiz Day 12/17/19
• Independent Reading Rate Re-Assessment, Goal Setting, and Reading Log #8 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and Annotation Collection, 12/5/19-12/12/19)
• Review of Annotation Guide for Literary Text and upcoming assessment of learning
• Gradual Release Guided Practice: Additional application of the Annotation Guide for Literary Text with "The Boy With Yellow Eyes" by Gloria Gonzalez

Week 14: November 18-22, 2019 (Dinosaur Ridge Field Trip Monday/Tuesday)

• Word Roots Focus 1: aud/audi (Practice Packet Turn In, Quiz, and Sentence Application Assessment)
• Gradual Release Guided Practice: Application of the Annotation Guide for Literary Text with "Shadows" by Richard Peck and an Active Reader's Thinking Note-Catcher

Week 13: November 11-15, 2019

• Word Roots Focus 1: aud/audi (Complete sentence practice and Introduce Quizlet classes/study tools)
• Introduce The Annotation Guide for Literary and Nonfiction Text and Guided Practice with "Shadows" by Richard Peck
• Reading Log #7 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and Objective Summary, 11/7/19-11/14/19); Reader's Response - attack the prompt, review student samples, plan summary response, and compose summary response in Google Classroom; Report Form, Calculation Tables, Attachments, and Self-Assessment

Week 12: November 4-8, 2019 (International Towne Field Trip Week)

• Continue Greek and Latin Word Roots Student Introduction Part 2
• Introduce Word Roots Focus 1: aud/audi
• Reading Log #6 DUE (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes); Report Form, Calculation Tables, Attachments, and Self-Assessment
• Reading Log #7 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and Objective Summary, 11/7/19-11/14/19)

Week 11: October 28-November 1, 2019

• Greek and Latin Word Roots Student Introduction Part 2
• Reading Log #5 DUE (Book Mark and Reader's Response); Reader's Response - attack the prompt, review student samples, plan on the outline provided, and compose response in Google Classroom; Report Form, Calculation Tables, Attachments, and Self-Assessment
• Reading Log #6 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes, 10/31/19-11/7/19)

Week 10: October 21-25, 2019

• Language Study Assessment Retakes (at lunch) This Week ONLY
• Student-Led Conference Form Signatures (Due by 10/23/19)
• Writer's Notebook Quickwrite - "Just remember..." Creative Narrative Writing
• Informational Paragraph Writing Guide and Reading Log #4 Character Analysis Revisions
• Advanced Sentence Types Lesson - Compound/Complex Sentences and Semi-Colon/Conjunctive Adverbs
• Reading Log #5 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and Reader's Response); Reader's Response - attack the prompt, review student samples, plan on the outline provided, and compose response in Google Classroom by next week's due date

Week 9: October 14-16, 2019

• Language Study Assessment (Scheduled for 10/14/19)
• Language Study Assessment Reflection and Results Review
• First Quarter Conference Forms (classroom procedures and family signatures)
• Binder Organization
• Set Up Writer's Notebook Quickwrite - "Just remember..." Creative Narrative Writing

Week 8: October 7-11, 2019

• Writer's Notebook Quickwrite - Perseverance (Optional Extension: Continue this piece of writing and submit it to the Yearbook staff for a potential yearbook profile page!)
• Jolly Grammar - Nouns Review (General, Specific, Proper, Concrete, and Abstract Nouns); Nouns Practice Page Due 10/8/19
• Jolly Grammar - Sentence Types Lesson (Subject, Predicate, Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences); Sentence Manipulatives
• Reading Log #4 DUE (Book Mark and Character Analysis Reader's Response); Reader's Response - attack the prompt, review student samples, plan on the outline provided, and compose response in Google Classroom
• Language Study Assessment Review and Study Guide (Language Study Assessment scheduled for 10/14/19)

Week 7: September 30-October 4, 2019

• Complete Introduction to Word Roots Study (Activate Background Knowledge with Pear Deck Activity and Student Introduction Notes)
• Jolly Grammar - Nouns Lesson (General, Specific, Proper, Concrete, and Abstract Nouns); Nouns Practice Page
• Reading Log #3 DUE (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes, 9/26/19-10/3/19): Report Form, Calculation Tables, and Attachments
• Reading Log #4 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and Character Analysis Reader's Response); Reader's Response - attack the prompt, review student samples, plan on the outline provided, and compose response in Google Classroom by next week's due date

Week 6: September 23-27, 2019

• Introduction to Word Roots Study (Activate Background Knowledge with Pear Deck Activity and Student Introduction Notes)
• Proper Email Etiquette Assignment: Due by 9:30 AM on 9/25/19, Self-Assessment and Reflection in class on 9/25/19
• Reading Log #2 DUE (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes, 9/19/19-9/26/19): Report Form, Calculation Tables, Attachments, and Extended Thinking Quickwrite
• Reading Log #3 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes, 9/26/19-10/3/19)

Week 5: September 16-20, 2019

• Student to Teacher Email Basics AND Student to Teacher Email Etiquette
• Proper Email Etiquette Assignment: Prompt, Outline, Support Pages [traits and transitions], and Teacher Modeling
• Reading Log #1 DUE (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes, 9/12/19-9/19/19): Report Form, Calculation Tables, Attachments, and Extended Thinking Quickwrite
• Reading Log #2 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes, 9/19/19-9/26/19)

Week 4: September 9-13, 2019

• Writer's Notebooks - All About Me and Descriptive Word Quickwrite
• Suggestions for Independent Reading and Searching for "Just Right" Books Notes
• Book Activities: School Library Tour/Self-Service Checkout System and Book Pass Exploration
• Independent Reading Rate Assessment
• Differentiated Reading Rate Options, Tracking Goals, and Calculating Credit
• Reading Log #1 ASSIGNED (Book Mark and TWO Reader's Notes, 9/12/19-9/19/19)

Week 3: September 3-6, 2019

• i - Ready Reading Diagnostic Assessment
• Classroom Policies and Procedures Notes - note-taking practice in class
• Writer's Notebooks - Cover Page Set Up, Tables of Contents, and All About Me

Week 2: August 26-30, 2019

• Read, Annotate, and Discuss Class Letter: Signature Page due by 9/3/19
• Complete Introduction to Language Arts Survey
• i - Ready Reading Diagnostic Assessment
• Summer Reading Project "Show and Tell" and Turn In

Week 1: August 19-23, 2019

• Introduction to Language Arts Survey
• Getting to Know You Question Cards: Peers and Back-to-School Night
• Supply Reminders and Examples
• Recap Summer Reading Project Requirements and "Show and Tell" Due Date
• Assemble and Organize Supplies (binders, dividers, composition notebooks, supply bags, etc.)

Week 0: August 16, 2019

• Welcome to Language Arts!
• School Supply Reminders
• Worry Worms