Mrs. Clabault ~ ELA

Wed. 3/11

• Keep reading and be prepared for the second Signpost check-in on Thursday (Per. 3 on Fri.)
• Work on your POV story draft. Concentrate on crafting you story with descriptive Show-not-Tell writing.
• Study for Vocabulary quiz tomorrow.

Tues. 3/10

• Keep reading and be prepared for the second Signpost check-in on Thursday (Per. 3 on Fri.)
• Work on your POV story draft. Concentrate on crafting you story with descriptive Show-not-Tell writing.

Mon. 3/9

• Reading - Everyone should be approaching (or surpassing!) the halfway point of their books. My second Signpost Check-in will be Thursday 3/12 (Period 3 Friday 3/13).
• Writing -
  • Period 7: In your RNB, finish the character sketch and complete a one page quickwrite on how the story will be affected and be different from this new narrator's point of view.
  • Periods 3, 4, 5: Finish plotting out and your story and work on your draft.
• Vocabulary: Quiz on the root rupt will be Thursday 3/12 (Period 3 Friday 3/13).

Fri. 3/6

• In your RNB, continue to work on your character sketch for the person you chose from the book I Never Knew Your Name. Before rewriting the story from that new point of view, it's important to fully flesh out who that character is, including his/her background, relationship to the other characters in the story, personality traits, and physical traits.
• Keep reading your book club book and marking important spots you notice.

Thurs. 3/5

• Keep reading your book club book and mark important signposts you notice along the way. Class status today revealed very SLOW progress in reading. There will be another signpost check next week, so be prepared!

Mon. 3/2

• Read you book club book and record important parts, including signposts, that you are noticing. Everyone should be about 1/4 of the way through the book by Wednesday.
• **I will be giving you a grade for the first signpost check-in.

Fri. 2/28 Everyone should read a substantial chunk of their book club books and record signposts you've noticed.

• Dear Evan Hansen song lyrics - Complete your thoughtful annotations of the three songs and turn it in on Google Classroom. Remember to make connects to the themes in The Outsiders.

Wed. 2/26 Continue annotating the song lyrics from the Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen.

Tues. 2/25 Begin reading your new book club book. Don't forget to record signposts!

Thurs. 2/13 The Outsiders Storyboard due the Monday after vacation. Double check on the assignment that you have all the requirements.

Mon. 2/10 The Outsiders Storyboard due the Monday after vacation. Plan wisely!!

• All students should be working on the storyboard due 2/24/20.
• You will have a good amount of class time to work on this, but we will also watch the movie on Thursday and Friday, so you MUST work on the storyboard project at home.

Fri. 2/7 The Outsiders Storyboard due the Monday after vacation. Plan wisely!!

• Everyone should be working on choosing passages for the storyboard and putting them in the table created in Google Classroom.
• You will get the large white paper for your illustrations on Monday.
• Period 4 , 7, and make-up tests are Monday, 2/10.

Wed. 2/5 The Outsiders Illustrated Storyboard is due Monday, 2/24/20

• The test on the book will include matching characters to their descriptions, multiple choice questions about the story, written open responses, identifying signposts.
• Test dates:
  • Periods 3, 5, 6 - Friday, 2/7.
  • Periods 4, 7 - Monday, 2/10.

Tues. 2/4 The Outsiders Students in all classes should begin their storyboard. Due: 2/24/20

• Period 4 - Read Chapter 9. **Many of you have to finish the discussion questions from Ch. 7 & 8 in Google Classroom.
• Period 5,6,7 - Finish the book by Thursday for our final discussion session. Test on Friday 2/7.

Mon. 2/3 EXTRA CREDIT: Come recite the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Wed. for 50 points!

• Periods 3, 5, 6, 7 - Finish reading Chapter 9. We will discuss it in class tomorrow.
• Everyone should be keeping up with their page numbers and events on the plot diagram, and be beginning to add passages to the storyboard table.

Thur. 1/30 The Outsiders Keep up with the reading! The test will be next week.

• All classes should be finished reading Chapter 8 by next Monday. Look for signposts and keep adding page numbers to important plot events on your plot diagram.
• Answer the discussion question from Chapters 7 & 8 in Google Classroom.
• If you feel ready, begin working on your Illustrated Storyboard. (Period 4 will have the explanation of the project when I see you again next Tuesday.)

Mon. 1/27 The Outsiders

• Period 3, 4, 7 - Finish reading Chapter 5 to see what news Dally brings when he shows up at the end of the week. We will dive deeper into the poem tomorrow in class.
• Period 5, 6 - Begin reading Chapter 5. (Finish if you want to see if Dally arrives.)

Fri. 1/24 The Outsiders - In your RNB, write a strong 1-3 page response about your thoughts on the book so far. You can focus on the relationship between characters, the conflict that is escalating, make predictions, etc.

• All classes will have a quiz on Monday on Chapters 1-4.
• Periods 3, 5, 7 - Begin reading Chapter 5.
• Periods 4, 6 - Finish reading Chapter 4.

Thur. 1/23 The Outsiders - Keep up with your reading and collecting important story details on your plot diagram. There will be a quiz on Monday, 1/27 to check in on your understanding of the story and characters so far.

• Period 5, 7 - Finish reading Chapter 4.
• Period 6 - Finish reading Chapter 3 and complete the close reading assignment on Google Classroom.
• Period 3 - Finish reading Chapter 5. In your RNB, write a strong 1-3 page response about your thoughts on the book so far.

Wed. 1/22 The Outsiders

• Period 3 - Keep reading Chapter 4.
• Period 4 - Finish Chapter 3 close reading responses in Google Classroom.
• Period 6 - Begin reading Chapter 3. Will will finish and do the close reading responses in class.
• Period 7 - Begin reading Chapter 4.

Tues. 1/21 The Outsiders

• Everyone should be collecting plot events on their plot diagrams as you read. This is quick - jot down the page number and the scene briefly in your own words. This will save you tons of time later when you have to find passages for you illustrated storyboard.
• You should also be using sticky notes to mark signposts you've noticed and confusing parts you want to discuss with your group.
  • Period 7 - Read Chapter 3
  • Periods 3, 4, 5 - Finish the Chapter 3 close reading activity in Google Classroom. Everyone should catch up and finish read Chapter 3. We will read Chapter 4 together tomorrow.

Fri. 1/17

• Periods 3, 4, 5, 6 - The Outsiders read Chapter 3. Add Cherry and Marcia to your character chart.
• Period 7 - Finish reading Chapter 2 and add Cherry and Marcia to your character chart.

Mon. 1/13

• Everyone should be reading nightly.
• Periods 6 and 7 should prepare for the Mood & Tone test tomorrow.

Wed. 1/8

1. Mood & Tone Test - due to Career Exploration Day, the test schedule will be staggered:

• Periods 3, 4 - Friday, Jan. 10
• Period 5 - Monday, Jan. 13
• Periods 6, 7 - Tuesday, Jan. 14

2. Everyone should have a thoughtful, 1 - 3 page reading response to their independent book in their RNB.

3. Make sure you have completed the two Close Reading assignments in Google Classroom. There is one for "The Monkey's Paw" and "The Tell-Tale Heart".

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020!!!

The Tell-Tale Heart Mock Trial and Vocabulary Quiz

1. Vocabulary Quiz: Periods 3, 5, 6, 7 on Thursday, 12/19 ~ Period 4 on Friday, 12/20
2. Mock Trial Presentation: All Periods on Friday, 12/20

Tues. 12/17

• Periods 3, 4, 5, 7: Close Reading activity in Google Classroom: Identifying imagery and mood in four passages from "The Tell-Tale Heart"
• Period 6: "The Tell-Tale Heart" worksheet: Words to Know Skillbuilder & Selection Quiz.
• Props
• Mon. 12/16
• "The Tell-Tale Heart" worksheet: Words to Know Skillbuilder & Selection Quiz.
• Think about possible props you may have at home, or simple things you could make, for the Mock Trial.

Fri. 12/13

• Everyone should be putting in good reading effort and finishing the books you've been with for awhile. Be prepared to have a new book to read over the two-week break. You will be expected to read and write a response in your RNB.
• Complete the Courtroom Roles paper so you are prepared to begin planning legal strategy. We will be putting on a Tell-Tale Heart mock trial next week!

Wed. 12/11

• Periods 4, 5, 6, 7: Finish the classwork on "The Monkey's Paw" we did today - Words to Know Skillbuilder & Selection Quiz. You can access the story online if you need to refer back to it.
• Periods 4, 5, 7 - Close Reading activity in Google Classroom: Identifying imagery and mood in four passages from "The Monkey's Paw"
• Read

Tues. 12/10

• Read your independent book!

Mon. 12/9

• Read!! Now that we are done with daily writing workshop, you should be reading regularly and finishing a book before the holiday break. I will be taking class status, and you will be writing in your RNB.
• Vocab Quiz on roots jug, junct, join: Tuesday, 12/10 periods 3, 6, 7; Wednesday 12/11 periods 4, 5.

Fri. 12/6

• Investigative News Articles
  • Periods 3, 4, 5, and 7: You need to submit you article in Google Classroom by Monday morning.
  • Period 6: You will submit your articles at the end of the class on Monday.
• Class Google Sites
  • Periods 3, 4, and 5: Everyone should add a thumbnail of their article, along with the title and byline.
• Vocabulary Quiz - roots jug, junct, join
  • Periods 3, 6, 7 on Tuesday, 12/10
  • Periods 4, 5 on Wednesday, 12/11

Thurs. 12/5 We publish tomorrow!!

• As you finish your news story, begin working on design details. Consider all the elements we discussed from the Junior Scholastic magazine today.
  • engaging title and possibly a subtitle
  • byline
  • at least one image - picture, symbol or graph. Wrap around the text.
  • consider highlighting a particularly strong line or quote from your story
  • color choice - match the topic and/or pull from the image
  • two-column, justified type

Wed. 12/4 Journalists, your deadline for your investigative news story is Friday, 12/6!!

• Your focus for tonight should be on structuring the parts of your news story and ending with the "next steps" needed. Make use of all the resources posted in Google Classroom.
• Use the checklist to make sure you have incorporated the class lessons into your piece. The grading rubric will reflect these lessons.
• Complete final editing SLOWLY and CAREFULLY. A published news article can have NO mistakes!! Try reading your writing out loud so you can hear parts that might sound unclear or awkward.

Tues. 12/3 Use this extra time, thanks to the snow day, to work on your investigative journalism story!!

• I have attached today's lesson - Session 14 - in Google Classroom. We'll go over this tomorrow in class, but you can use this as a guide for structuring your story.
• I have also attached tomorrow's lesson - Session 15 - which is about crafting endings. It is short, and some of you might like to be working on your ending that should be a call to action.
• Make sure you have a Works Cited page for your online research. Follow MLA guidelines.
• Comb through your writing very carefully so you can correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors.
• Collect ideas for a picture or two, and begin to think about an attention-getting title and maybe a more straightforward sub-title. (Think about the stories we've read in Junior Scholastic.)

Mon. 12/2

• Finish research for your investigative journalism piece, and cite your sources.

Wed. 11/27 Happy Thanksgiving!!

• Take some time over the break to curl up with your book and read! I know that's something I'm really looking forward to!
• Working on your investigative journalism story is optional, however, each of you should use your own judgement and continue revising and editing your piece if a complete draft is not done. Next week we will work on endings that make an impact, peer review, and publishing. Therefore, no one should be coming to class with an unfinished draft or you are unlikely to miss the deadline.

Mon. 11/25

• Everyone should have their first draft complete this week (or it will become homework over the holiday break!). You can still continue to add quotes from interviews and/or supporting facts from research, but the bulk of your article should be complete. We will discuss strong endings when we return after Thanksgiving.

Fri. 11/22

• Read.
• Keep working on your news stories. You should all have a complete draft with a good lead. (We still will be working on transitions and endings.) Many of you are ready to support your news story with research. Consider the following:
  • Learn more about your issue by checking out other news stories online, TED Talks, etc. You can make connections with other journalists' stories.
  • Gather facts and statistics
  • Get quotes from experts. Remember, experts can be people in our community.

Thurs. 11/21

• Read. Class status tomorrow!
• Keep revising your draft. Focus on trying out a variety of engaging leads. Our chart from class today is posted in Google Classroom with this assignment.
• Read the three mentor texts and mark up the paper with your notes on what these published writers did that was effective. Then try some of their techniques in your own writing. We will share thoughts on this tomorrow.

mon. Wed. 11/20

• Read
• Continue to use narrative techniques to revise your drafts.

Tues. 11/19

• Draft a news story about an issue you care about and that you think others in your community will care about. Remember the circles I drew on the chart - your community can be school, Sandwich, Cape Cod, MA, the U.S, or global. Consider stories that lend themselves to further digging, because you will be working on this piece for awhile.

Mon. 11/18

• Periods 4, 5, 6, 7 Read
• Period 3: Draft a news story about an issue you care about and that you think others in your community will care about. Remember the circles I drew on the chart - your community can be school, Sandwich, Cape Cod, MA, the U.S, or global. Consider stories that lend themselves to further digging, because you will be working on this piece for awhile.

Fri. 11/15

• Keep reading so I can return the Children's Rights books to the book room. Many students have moved on to an independent book of their choice. There are still MANY great titles available in the classroom library!
• Periods 5, 6, and 7:
  • Study for vocab. quiz on roots frail, fract, fract
  • Use both your editing and revision checklists to finalize your two news stories. Make sure you have a title and byline.
  • When you are absolutely sure there are no errors (journalists cannot publish a story with mistakes!), submit your work in Google Classroom. Print them at home if you can. We will print and publish your class newspaper on Monday.

Wed. 11/13

• Read!
• Study for vocab. quiz Friday (Period 5 will be Monday) on roots frail, fract, frag
• Finish revising two final news stories.
• Add a title and byline for each (by Your Name) at the top.
• Copy and paste your two choices onto one Google doc, and submit that to Google Classroom. Print them from home if you can, making sure you are not splitting a story with a page break.

Tues. 11/12

• Read. You should be finishing your current book and beginning a new one by Thanksgiving break.
• Using the techniques from class today, focus on one or two pieces to revise. You will publish two pieces on Thursday. There's still time to draft a new story tonight if you observed an idea you would rather write.

Fri. 11/8 All Classes

• Read for large chunks of time so you can wrap up the second book in this unit. Write a 1-3 page response in your front reading section of your RNB. Remember, don't just retell the story (I've read them all!). Tell me your reactions to the book, maybe as it connects to everything we have discussed in this advocacy unit.
• Collect 3 more news story ideas in the journalism section (back) of your RNB. Make note of the 5 W's and any other important details.
• EXTRA CREDIT!! Come in and recite the poem "In Flanders Field" to me for 50 extra points!

Thurs. 11/7

• Everyone should be reading nightly. I will be taking class status next week. You should be close to completing your second book in the Children's Rights Unit.
• Journalism Writing Workshop: By now, everyone should have at least 6 news stories in your writing folders, and numerous story ideas in your notebook. Write one more story tonight, and keep observing and collecting ideas.

Wed. 11/6

• Period 3: Write another news story tonight. Start connecting several scenes to expand your story, like the playground example we looked at today.
• Periods 5, 6, 7:
  • Observe today and tonight like a journalist: finding hidden dramas or issues. Jot down details, including the tiny ones that will let you write accurately and vividly like the sample news story on the stolen trophy. Do this for 3 different stories.
  • Write one news story from the details you collected. Have the trophy story next to you to remind you to write with a journalist's focus and tone.

Tues. 11/5 You have three things to do tonight:

• Read at least one news article from a recent magazine, newspaper, or online, or watch a newscast. Listen for how it sounds like reporting.
• Observe today and tonight like a journalist: finding hidden dramas or issues. Jot down details, including the tiny ones that will let you write accurately and vividly like the sample news story on the stolen trophy. Do this for 3 different stories.
• Write one news story from the details you collected. Have the trophy story next to you to remind you to write with a journalist's focus and tone.

Mon. 11/4

• Give it a go and write one newscast in your Journalism Draft folder tonight. Look for small dramas that no one notices. Make sure you include the 5 W's.

Fri. 11/1

• Everyone should be reading their next choice book in the Children's Rights Unit. You'll be responding to your book in your RNB next week.
• Respond in your RNB:

In Diane Sawyer’s interview, Malala Yousefzai states “We are starving for education. For us it’s like a precious gift; it’s like a diamond.”

Think about Malala’s words and why she is so passionate about education. Do you agree with her? Also, do you think American children share this passion, or do most students in the U.S. take their schooling for granted?

Thurs. 3/31

• Read
• Finish the editorial cartoon, "Weapons of Mass Instruction", including the written paragraph.
• Google Malala Yousefzai and find 5 facts about what she is doing now.

Tues. 3/29

• Finish the One-Pager's by the beginning of class tomorrow!! There will be a late penalty for those who don't have the project. Period 6 has until Thursday.

Thurs. 3/25

• Keep reading and working on your summary one-pager.

Tues. 3/22

• Books should be finished by Friday.
• Begin planning your One-Pager. Complete requirements and the rubric for this project is in Google Classroom. The One-Pager is due next Wednesday, October 30.

Fri. 3/18

• Read. Everyone is getting down to the exciting conclusions of your books!
• Begin gathering notes and ideas for your final project - a "One Pager" summary of your book.
  • a border design that represents the book - maybe using an important symbol
  • a main conflict statement
  • think about 2-3 main characters and their personality traits
  • a powerful quote with page # that represents a theme or big idea of the book
  • evidence of advocacy - speaking up or actions against one of the injustices in the book

Thur. 3/17

• Read
• Where are your clothes manufactured? Look in your closet and dresser drawers and make a list of 10 clothing items, the brand, and the country it was made in.

Tues. 10/15

• Read! Every group has assigned their reading deadlines for the next two weeks.
• RNB Reading Response: Write 1-3 pages about your Children's Rights book. Focus on a character or person in your book who is beginning to step up as an advocate. If that hasn't happened yet, write about how the setting is shaping the story. What is different and/or shocking about the part of the world you are learning about.

Thurs. 10/10

• Read your book club book to the designated stopping point that your group decided on.
• As you read, continue to find text evidence to add to your Character Trait Chart in your RNB. You need to have a five complete entries.
• Add definitions to the next group of words on the Children's Rights Vocabulary chart in Google Classroom: social justice, human trafficking, illiteracy, bonded labor, garment industry, sweatshops, picket line

Mon. 10/7

• Since there was some confusion over the vocabulary chart in Google Classroom, please finish the definitions tonight if you haven't already done it.
• Study flect and flex words for the quiz tomorrow.
• Read. Some of you got your new Children's Rights book today. You can go ahead and begin that book if you want - your group will assign reading due dates tomorrow. Or you should finish your independent reading book so you aren't in the middle of two books.

Fri. 10/4

• In Google Clasroom, look up the definitions for the first batch of Children's Rights vocabulary words, and write them in the chart. You will need to know these for a test eventually, so make sure you are writing a complete definition.
• Study your flect and flex root words for your quiz next Tueday.
• Read! You will choose new book club books on Monday.

Wed. 9/25

• Keep reading and study for vocabulary quiz.

Tues. 9/24

• We have about two weeks before each of you will begin an assigned book club book, so keep reading your choice books. Everyone should be wrapping up your first book, if you haven't already. There's still plenty of time to begin a new book.
• Vocabulary Quiz: Periods 3, 4, 5, 7 on Thursday 9/26; Period 6 on Friday 9/27.
• Periods 3, 4, 5, 7: Finish U.S. Child Labor Laws inquiry chart in Google Classroom.

Mon. 9/23

• Read!
• Study Vocabulary words - root vit, viv

Fri. 9/20

• Keep reading and make sure your RNB is complete with all assignments. I will be grading notebooks all next week.
• Study your vocabulary list - words using the roots vit and viv.

Thurs. 9/19

• Today was an awesome celebration of all the books we read over the summer! So many teachers came up to me to say how thoughtful the book discussions were.
• Keep reading tonight - aim to finish your first independent book over this weekend.
• Notice & Note Signpost test is tomorrow. Review the signposts in your RNB if you are having trouble keeping them straight.

Wed. 9/18

• Continue reading your independent reading book. Write a 1-3 page response in your RNB. Use the guidelines from class on how to write a strong response - not just a summary. Show your thinking about the book!
• Bring your Summer Reading projects to school for our reading celebration.
• Notice & Note Signpost test on Friday, Sept. 20. Review the signposts in your RNB if you are having trouble keeping them straight.

Tues. 9/17

• Read!! Most students are making great headway with their books, but I spoke to those of you that are not reading nightly.
• Finish annotating the lyrics to "Blowin' in the Wind" so we can wrap up our discussion tomorrow.
• Summer Reading Projects: Bring them to school on Thursday labeled with your full name, ELA teacher's name, and class period. If you still have your book, bring that, too.

Mon. 9/16

• Period 5: Finish the signpost assignment for "Stop the Sun" in Google Classroom. Words to Know Skillbuilder worksheet.
• Periods 3, 4, 6, 7: the same as above.

Fri. 9/13

• Continue reading.
• All students: Make sure you have finished the signpost assignment on the story "Stop the Sun" that is in Google Classroom.
• Everyone except Period 6: Words to Know Skillbuilder worksheet, double-sided review of the vocabulary from both stories we read this week.
• Summer Reading Projects are due Thursday!

Thurs. 9/12

• Read for 30 minutes. Most of you are making tremendous progress with your books. Keep it up!
• Enrichment (not required HW): Research PTSD and the work being done with veterans today. You also may want to read a little bit more about the Vietnam War to add to our discussion on "Stop the Sun" tomorrow in class.

Wed. 9/11

• Continue the work on the poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes that we began in class.
• Finish annotating the poem, then write a response about what the poem means to you - what is the Big Idea. Include reflection on one of the signposts you noticed, and how this impacts the poem's meaning.

Tues. 9/10

• Continue reading your independent book.
• Continuing the work we began in class today, add two characters from the book you are reading to the character motivation chart in Google Classroom. Follow the examples we worked on together. Pick two actions along with the page #, and describe why that character acted the way he or she did.

Mon. 9/9

• Period 3 - Do the reading response assignment above in your RNB
• Everybody should read for 30 minutes.

Fri. 9/6

• Please return your signed Course Expectations handout.
• In your RNB, write 1-3 pages about your independent book. Be sure to include the book's title and author, and talk to me about your reaction to the book so far. (Periods 4, 5, 6, 7)

Reminder about Summer Reading: Don't forget that your summer reading group will meet next Thursday, Sept. 19. Your teachers look forward to this every year, and are excited for the book discussions. Please bring your project with you on Wednesday. We'll be posting the time and room locations for each book group. Here is the link to the list of projects.