Friday: Syllabus was handed out and reviewed in class. Students were instructed to give the syllabus to their parent/guardian to review. It does not need to be returned to me.
Monday: Students practiced the fire drill procedure for class. We then filled out the Reading Interest Survey and About Me questionnaire (copies can be found in the semester 1 worksheet section of this page).
Tuesday: Students received their textbooks today! They spent much of class completing a classroom scavenger hunt regarding elements in the classroom and in the textbook (copies of this can be found in the worksheet section of this website). They also completed a Figurative Language assignment in class. This assignment will be added to the grade book, but will not count in their overall grade for the quarter.
Wednesday: Students will take a Growth Check Measurement through their online textbooks today. It is solely to get a baseline understanding of their reading level. It is not for a grade; and will be compared with NWEA results for accuracy.
Thursday: Students graded the Figurative Language assignment they took on Tuesday. This will be entered into Power School for documentation, BUT will not count in their overall grade for the quarter. Students glued their scavenger hunt into their notebooks today and filled in a warm-up activity to help me further get to know them. This will be taken for a grade. We began the "Spark Your Learning" Activities found on pages 349-350. Students analyzed the image on 349, connected the Unit's theme to the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, and began filling out the questions on page 350.
Friday: We will continue with our unpacking of Unit 5 today. Students glued their Figurative Language assignment into their notebooks today. We then worked on pages 350-351 in the textbook. They wrote responses in the "Make the Connection" and "Think About the Essential Question" activities. We also worked on the Unit 5 Vocabulary in their notebooks.
Monday: Students went to the library today to pick out a novel for class. Students will read the first 15 minutes every day in class, they are expected to have a novel with them. We finished the Unit 5 Spark Your Learning lessons today and began reading "Bronx Masquerade." They will use pages 352-365 to read the selection and complete the activities throughout the week. Period 2 did not finish their vocabulary, it was assigned as homework and is due tomorrow.
Tuesday- Students read for the first 15 minutes of class. We then took notes on Perspective, point of view, and characterization. Independently or with a partner they also completed the vocabulary found on page 354 of their textbook. If they didn't finish in class they will be able to work on it during the first 15 minutes of class tomorrow.
Wednesday- Students had 15 minutes to work on the vocabulary words found on page 354 of their textbooks. This work was completed in their notebooks using the same format as the vocabulary from the 12th. We went over the words, parts of speech, definitions, synonyms, and sentences after the time was up. Students then began reading, highlighting, and annotating "Bronx Masquerade" in their textbooks. We were able to read from pages 355-358 today in most classes.
Thursday- Students finished reading "Bronx Masquerade" today. We began working on notes regarding an "Aha Moment."
Friday: Students are continuing notes regarding "Bronx Masquerade." We worked on the assignments following the text "Bronx Masquerade." We finished the assessment practice on page 361 and the "Expand your Vocabulary" and "Use Context Clues" on page 364. However, students were instructed to complete the Analyze the Text questions 1-5 on page 362 as homework (we completed number 6 of this assignment together). They have a test on Monday for this selection and will be able to use their textbooks and notebooks to help them during the test.
Monday: Today students took an open note test regarding the selection "Bronx Masquerade." As a class, we took notes and discussed the selection last week. Students were able to use their notebooks and textbooks to help them on the exam. IF you were absent today you need to complete the quiz at home. Go to clever>click on Ed>click on assignments>take the "Bronx Masquerade" test.
Tuesday: Students began reading the selection "The Debt We Owe the Teenage Brain" in their textbooks on page 366. Students filled out page 366 as a class and answered a RACED paragraph response in their notebooks. The RACED paragraph will be a grade and is due completed tomorrow. They will work on pages 366-376 through Next Monday. What we don't finish by then will be homework.
Wednesday: Students continued working on the selection and activities from yesterday.
Thursday and Friday: We will be taking NWEA today in class. By the end of the year, students are encouraged to score around 221 on this test to reflect their preparedness for high school.
Monday: Today students were handed passes for NWEA makeup if they didn't finish the test on Friday. They will need to show this pass to their homeroom teacher in order to come to my class to make up the exam. We then finished reading "The Debt We Owe to the Adolescent Brain" in the textbook. Students were then given the last 15 minutes of class to work on their vocabulary from Friday. This gave them in total 30 minutes to complete a vocabulary template for four words. This will be graded this week and is due tomorrow.
Tuesday-Wednesday: Today students begin group work. They were put into groups selected by me and they were instructed to read and annotate the text, "It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens". The assignments and text can be found in the textbook on pages 393-402. They will work on these pages through the end of class Wednesday. Anything not completed by then will be homework.
Thursday: Now that we've practiced working as a group with the text "It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens" students will replicate their learned skills with the selection "Outsmart Your Phone." These activities and the text can be found on pages 404-416. Period 2 and 4 were told to complete whatever activities they didn't finish in class at home on Friday.
Friday: Today is our first early release day, students are released at 11:20 today and will only see their 1st, 3rd, and 5th period classes in person. PLEASE NOTE 2nd, 4th, and 6th will have assignments to do regardless of not being in class today. The assignment for all class periods is as follows: Whatever assignments were not completed with your group must be completed independently at home. These assignments need to be completed prior to coming into class on Tuesday as they will serve as the notes you can use on the test that day.
NO SCHOOL MONDAY
Remember: Look in the Semester 1 Worksheet section of this website to find images of notes and pages that were used this week for instruction.
Monday: No school
Tuesday: Period 2 will take their test at home this evening: Access Clever>Ed :) app>assignments>compare and contrast test You may use your textbooks and notebooks as we discussed in class today. All other class periods took their test in class. It is due prior to entering class tomorrow
Wednesday: Students worked on a compare/contrast activity regarding "It's Complicated..." and "Outsmart Your Smartphone in class.
Thursday/Friday: Students independently worked on reading specific selections from Unit 5. Each selection has an assignment and quiz to match. Students continued to work on the Reader's Choice selection tests assigned to them in the HMH app found on Clever. They will finish these assignments by the end of class on Monday.
Remember: Look in the Semester 1 Worksheet section of this website to find images of notes and pages that were used this week for instruction.
Monday: When we were in class today students finished the worksheet for the Reader's choice activities, the selection tests for "My Summer of Scooping Ice Cream" and the poem they chose ("Teenagers," "Identity," or "Hard on the Gas"). They were then able to use the remaining time to redo low-scoring assignments for credit. If they wanted to redo an assessment they were instructed ON FRIDAY to bring me a completed Assessment Redo form. If students did not follow these instructions they were not provided with a test redo for a low-scoring assessment. This is the only redo opportunity they will have for Unit 5.
Tuesday: Students began taking notes on key terms and formatting for their upcoming Argumentative Essay. We also went to the library today to pay fines, renew books, and check out new novels.
Wednesday: Students began working on their outlines (green packets) for their argumentative essays.
Thursday: Students continued to work on their green packets, whatever wasn't finished by the end of class was homework.
Friday: Students filled out the purple paper packet for the rough draft of their essay. This could only be accomplished if they finished their green packet outline from yesterday. If not they need to finish the green paper and then work on the purple packet. Whatever isn't finished in class is homework. It is imperative that students have both the green and purple packets finished by the time they come to class on Monday.
Remember: Look in the Semester 1 Worksheet section of this website to find images of notes and pages that were used this week for instruction.
Monday: Students used the green and purple packets they filled out over the weekend to type up their final drafts for their Argumentative essays. To complete and submit their essays students went to Clever>Ed :) > Writable> Unit 5 Argumentative Writing. Please make sure your essay is double-spaced, Times New Roman, Size 12, and that the work cited information goes at the END of the argumentative essay.
Tuesday: Today students were instructed on how to transform their argumentative essays into presentations. They began working on creating slide show representations of their arguments. Please check the Reader's Choice slideshow on the worksheet section of this website for specific information.
Wednesday: Today was the students' last day to work on their slide shows, which they will present in class tomorrow. Students were encouraged to finish their slideshow at home tonight in preparation for tomorrow's presentations. This is the last assignment of Unit 5 and will not have a redo/make-up assignment. Students who do not present will be given a 0%
Thursday: Argumentative presentations today!
Friday: Today we'll finish presentations and begin Unit 2 by writing two-sentence horror stories!
Monday: Students discussed the following questions as a class: 1)What was the last horror movie/story you read, watched, or heard about? 2) Why do we sometimes like to feel frightened? 3) Why do we like to watch/read scary stories? We then worked on the vocabulary for "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, which we will finish tomorrow during class.
Tuesday: Today we finished the vocabulary for "The Tell-Tale Heart" and then watched a short film adaptation of "The Tell-Tale Heart".
Wednesday: We began reading "The Tell-Tale Heart" today in our textbooks
Thursday: Today we reviewed for the test and finished "The Tell-Tale Heart"
Friday: Test over "Tell-Tale Heart", open note: students can use their notebooks and textbooks to assist them on the test. The test had to be completed by the end of the period in order to be taken for full credit.
Monday: Students accessed Writable in their online HMH apps and wrote a retelling of a scene of their choosing from "The Tell-Tale Heart." Their goal was to recreate the scene through the eyes of a reliable narrator rather than the madman who told us the story originally. It is due by the end of class tomorrow.
Tuesday: Students finished their retelling of "The Tell-Tale Heart" in Writable today.
Wednesday: Today only periods 2, 4, and 6 will be seen in class, periods 1, 3, and 5 are still expected to complete the same assignments. We went over the task yesterday in class: Students need to access Google Classroom and find the half-day assignment under "Classwork." They are to read the selection and answer the attached questions. The assignment is due 10/10.
Thursday/Friday: No school! Enjoy your Fall break!
Monday: We are officially in quarter two today. The assignment from Wednesday is due today! Today's classes are virtual. Please reference this schedule for your class start time. Students will need to access Google Classroom and join the Google Meet. We will be reading "The Monkey's Paw" in their textbooks and using their notebooks for notes (they were instructed to take these home over break). We will meet based on the schedule provided by administration.
Tuesday: Today's class is also virtual. Students will join our Google Meet again and we will continue reviewing "The Monkey's Paw." We will be back in class tomorrow and will pick up where we left off.
Wednesday: Today we will continue reading "The Monkey's Paw" in class.
Thursday: Today we'll finish the text and work on the activities found on pages 125-128. Students also filled out a vocabulary template for the word "Credulity" today. This was meant to help bolster their grade as they simply needed to copy down the information we gathered as a class on Monday.
Friday: Students watched a film clip of "The Monkey's Paw" and then worked in groups to create a wish that couldn't be warped by the monkey's paw.
Monday/Tuesday: Students worked with chosen group members to complete a storyboard for "The Monkey's Paw." They needed to pick a specific scene from the story, provide frame-by-frame representation, descriptions of each frame, and even add music where they think it would fit best.
Wednesday: Today we reviewed theme by reading "The Dinner Party." Students then worked together to come up with a theme for "The Monkey's Paw"
Thursday: Today we have a test over "The Monkey's Paw" (text and film clip). Students can use their notebooks and textbook to assist them.
Friday: No School-Conferences.
Monday: Students participated in an in-class spelling bee today. The winner will participate in the school-wide bee coming up in November!
Tuesday: Students took brief notes on plot and dialogue in preparation for their horror story assignment. They then began writing their rough draft in their notebooks today.
Wednesday: Students continued working on their rough drafts today.
Thursday: Students were instructed on how to create their final drafts in Book Creator. Students can log in to bookcreator.com from home as well, the class code (which will close on 10/31) is: QP9DXVF
Friday: Students continued working on their final drafts today. They are due before the start of class on Halloween.
Monday: Movie day!
Tuesday: Today we prepared for the Unit test by reading the texts that will be presented on the exam.
Wednesday: Today we finished preparing for the Unit test in groups
Thursday: Unit Test begins today, bring your Chromebooks fully charged
Friday: Today is the last day to work on the Unit Test. Unit 3 begins Monday.
Monday: Today we will begin Unit 3 on page 172. We will answer the make the connection, essential question, and I wonder boxes. We will then begin the vocabulary for the words: contribute, immigrate, reaction, relocate, and shifting.
Tuesday: Today is a virtual half day. Students will not attend school in person, but will attend google meetings for our abbreviated schedule. Today we will finish the unit test from last week and continue the vocabulary from yesterday.
Wednesday: Today we finished the vocabulary from Monday
Thursday: Today we had a quick progress check grade regarding the vocabulary from yesterday. Students then worked in groups to read "My Favorite Chaperone" in their textbooks. They will have through the end of class on Monday to read, annotate, and complete the activities on pages 215-219
Friday: No School-Veterans Day
Monday: Today we will finish reading/annotating "My Favorite Chaperone." All work completed regarding this selection can be used as notes on the test tomorrow
Tuesday: Students will take an open-note test regarding "My Favorite Chaperone" today.
Wednesday: Today we watched a film clip on new immigrants and then began reading "A Common Bond"
Thursday: Today students continued reading "A Common Bond" in class.
Friday: Today we took our second Growth Measurement Check test. It shows students what grade level they are now reading at in comparison to the start of the year.
Monday: Refresh over text "A Common Bond" on page 233 of textbook
Tuesday: Test over " A Common Bond" (notes/textbook can be used during the test to assist) New Immigrants Share Their Stories Video
Wednesday: As a group we will discuss the poem "Legacies." Students will then answer questions regarding the poem for a grade. It will be due tomorrow.
Thursday: Today we will finish the questions for "Legacies" and move on to the text "All Summer in a Day"
Friday: Today we will finish "All Summer in a Day" and complete Restate and Answer formatted questions to check for understanding. They are due at the end of class today
Monday-Wednesday of next week is NWEA, please bring your Chromebooks charged each day.
Remember: Look in the Semester 1 Worksheet section of this website to find images of notes and pages that were used this week for instruction.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week will be used for NWEA. Students need to have their Chromebooks charged for all three days in class.
Thursday/Friday: Students are able to work with a partner to complete two independent readings and take the corresponding assessments. They are due by the end of class Friday.
Monday: Students took notes on key terms that will help them prepare for their finals. click here to see our slideshow of study material
Tuesday: Today we read the first text from the final aloud. Students then worked in partners/by themselves to analyze the text based on a bullet-pointed list of material that would be questioned on the exam.
Wednesday: Today students read the 2nd selection from the final aloud. They then continued working in partners/by themselves to analyze the text based on a bullet-pointed list of material that would be questioned on the exam.
Thursday: Today students read the 3rd selection from the final aloud. They will focus on key punctuation/grammar tasks to help them prepare for questions from the final.
Friday: Today students worked on any of the work from this week to help them review for the final.
Monday
Homeroom 8:20-8:40
Period 1 8:45-10:25 (Final Exam)
Period 3 10:30-12:10 (Final Exam)
Period 4 12:15-1:00 (Study Hall)
Lunch 1:00-1:30
Period 5 1:35-3:25 (Final Exam)
Tuesday
Homeroom 8:20-8:40
Period 2 8:45-10:25 (Final Exam)
Period 4 10:30-12:10 (Final Exam)
Period 4 12:15-1:00 (Study Hall)
Lunch 1:00-1:30
Period 6 1:35-3:25 (Final Exam)
Please note that final exams count as 20% of your semester 1 grade
Wednesday- Today is solely for students who need to take an exam that they missed Monday/Tuesday. There will NOT be transportation or cafeteria today and all students will need to be picked up immediately after completing finals.
Have a wonderful Winter Break!