Note to Notice… Read Theory ends December 14, 2018; we will venture into more CommonLit and ReadingPlus in the New Year!!! 🙂
Our class and school-wide spelling bee at GMS is almost here – December! Exciting! Helpful Tidbits:
Spelling Bee 2018….2019 Great Words,
Great Works ListSpelling Bee. 8th.GMS…..NSB_Grade_8_ Word and Def_List
Typing Help?…practice so that you are ready for the Milestones and high school MLA papers, etc. #Love
http://edtech.canyonsdistrict.org/keyboarding-activities-and-resources.html
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12/17 Monday – finish reading the last pages of Fahrenheit 451 and complete the followup activity/ Homework: Complete all late and makeup work.
12/18 Tuesday – Fahrenheit 451 final activities completed – selected response-construct a response (writing)
12/19 Wednesday – Fahrenheit 451 – complete novel activities, makeup work, etc.
12/20 Thursday – Fahrenheit 451 vs. The Giver Video Analysis
12/21 Friday – Fahrenheit 451 vs. The Giver Video Analysis/ Enjoy your Holiday Break and Merry Christmas!! #Love
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12/10 Monday – TouchStones Summative 30% Reading Comp. & Analysis Assessment/ CommonLit Text #11 The Value of Being Confused – Lexile 970 / continue reading Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
12/11 Tuesday – CommonLit Text #11 / continue reading Fahrenheit 451 / Homework: Read Theory
12/12 Wednesday – CommonLit Text #11 / continue reading Fahrenheit 451 – QUIZ Thursday over a part of the novel 🙂 / Homework: Read Theory
12/13 Thursday – CommonLit Text #11 / ‘You Are Guy Montag” Assignment: What is Montag’s Internal Conflict? Write a one-page diary entry as if you are Guy Montag writing down your thoughts. Reflect on the book so far, and use the prompts below to help your thinking and writing. Your response must be three paragraphs. Continue on the back.-First paragraph: You should reflect on your conversations with Clarisse, what kind of person she is, and the things she forces you to think about.-Second paragraph: Reflect on your life with Mildred, describe your wife and what bothers you about her.-Third paragraph: Try to decide why you are so bothered by the woman’s death. Reflect on the sickness that forced your arm to steal the book and seems to be spreading to the rest of your being. Why would the woman die for her books? Your internal conflict should be clearly defined./ …continue reading Fahrenheit 451 / Homework: Read Theory
12/14 Friday – Fahrenheit 451 novel study continues… Character and Quote Analysis: Beatty and Faber/ Enjoy your weekend!
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12/03 Monday – (makeup) ReadingPlus Pre-Assessment (school-wide reading initiative) / continue reading Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
12/04 Tuesday – CommonLit Text #10 / continue reading Fahrenheit 451 / Homework: Read Theory
12/05 Wednesday – CommonLit Text #10 / continue reading Fahrenheit 451 – QUIZ Thursday over a part of the novel 🙂 / Homework: Read Theory
12/06 Thursday – CommonLit Text #10 / continue reading Fahrenheit 451 / Homework: Read Theory
12/07 Friday – Due Today! – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #10 “/ Fahrenheit 451 novel study continues… / Enjoy your weekend!
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11/26 Monday – **Schedule Modified**School-wide ELA classes will complete a Mock Writing Assessment for Growth Measurement Homework: Read Theory
11/27 Tuesday – **Schedule Modified**School-wide ELA classes will complete a Mock Writing Assessment for Growth Measurement Homework: Read Theory
11/28 Wednesday – **Schedule Modified**School-wide ELA classes will complete a Mock Writing Assessment for Growth Measurement for 6th & 7th grades….
Success Starter: CommonLit Text #9 “I am the People…” Carl Sandberg/ Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/29 Thursday – **Schedule Modified**School-wide ELA classes will complete a Mock Writing Assessment for Growth Measurement for 6th & 7th grades….- Success Starter: CommonLit Text #9 “I am the People…” Carl Sandberg/ Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/30 Friday – Due Today! – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #9 “I am the People…” Carl Sandberg/ Fahrenheit 451 novel study continues… / Enjoy your weekend!
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Unit Two
11/12 Monday – Final draft of the Expository/Informative Essay due today! Homework: Read Theory
11/13 Tuesday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #8 “Thank You M’am” by Langston Hughes/ Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/14 Wednesday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #8/ Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/15 Thursday -Success Starter: CommonLit Text #8 DUE for all students! /Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/16 Friday – Fahrenheit 451 novel study continues… / enjoy your Thanksgiving/Fall Break! #Love
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11/5 Monday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #7/ Expository-Informative Essay / Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory *********MakeUP TouchStones Comprehension Assessment Formative Q2 M2********
11/6 Tuesday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #7/ Expository-Informative Essay / Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/7 Wednesday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #7/ Expository-Informative Essay / Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/8 Thursday -Success Starter: CommonLit Text #7/ Expository-Informative Essay / Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451/ Homework: Read Theory
11/9 Friday – Essay Writing – drafting Expository/Informative Essay
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10/29 Monday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #5/ Springboard text required: Utopia vs. Dystopia / Homework: Read Theory
10/30 Tuesday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #5/ Explanatory-Informational-Expository Essay Writing / Homework: Read Theory
10/31 Wednesday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #6/ Explanatory-Informational-Expository Essay Writing / Homework: Read Theory
11/01 Thursday – Success Starter: CommonLit Text #6 / Fahrenheit 451 Novel Study begins!/ Success Starter: CommonLit Text #5/ Explanatory-Informational-Expository Essay Writing / Homework: Read Theory
11/02 Friday – TouchStones Q2 M2 Formative Reading Comprehension/ Fahrenheit 451 Novel Study begins!/ Explanatory-Informational-Expository Essay Writing / Homework: Enjoy the Sunshine! 🙂
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10/22 Monday – TouchStones Mini #1 Q2 Formative Assessment/ Success Starter via CommonLit. finalizing Text 1 & 2 / Unit 2- Analysis of the Explanatory/Informative Essay / Homework: Read Theory
10/23 Tuesday – Success Starter via CommonLit. Text3 / What is the importance of Informative/Explanatory Writing? / Homework: Read Theory
Success Starter Text 3: commonlit_how-native-students-can-succeed-in-college-be-as-tough-as-the-land-that-made-you_student
10/24 Wednesday – Success Starter via Common Lit. Completing Text 3/ Explanatory/Informative Essay -writing process / Homework: Read Theory
10/25 Thursday – Success Starter via CommonLit. Text #4/ Explanatory-Informative Essay Writing Process continues/ What is Active and Passive Voice? / Homework: Read Theory / Text #4:
10/26 Friday – Success Starter via CommonLit. Text 4 Completion/ Essay writing continues – What is Active and Passive Voice? / Homework: Read Theory
Success Starter Text 4: commonlit_IDENTITY POEM_student_(1)
********We will begin our novel study towards the end of October. It is a really great idea to purchase the novel so that your student will be able to annotate as they read to prep for assessments. Farenheit 451 – I will have some books in class to share as well.
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Griffin MS – Conference Week 2018
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Unit Two: The Challenge of Utopia begins Monday – 15 October 2018
10/15 Monday – Success Starter via CommonLit. / Unpacking Unit 2- QHT vocabulary – literary and academic – Standards addressed – Skills and Knowledge needed for Unit 2 / Homework: Read Theory
Success Starter Article: SuccessStarter 10-15-18 ELA Itellects.Howell2018 _why-teens-find-the-end-of-the-world-so-appealing_student
10/16 Tuesday – Success Starter via CommonLit. / Unpacking Unit 2- Standards addressed – Skills and Knowledge needed for Unit 2 / What is Active and Passive Voice?/ Explanatory-Informative Essay Writing Genre: Format? / Homework: Read Theory
10/17 Wednesday – PSAT for all 8th grade students – modified schedule and early release for conferences…../ Success Starter via Common Lit. / Homework: Read Theory
10/18 Thursday – PSAT for all 8th grade students – Half Day – Success Starter via CommonLit. / Explanatory-Informative Essay Writing Genre: Format? How to’s…/ What is Active and Passive Voice? / Homework: Read Theory
10/19 Friday – Success Starter via CommonLit. / TouchStones Mini #1 Q2 Formative Assessment/ Essay writing continues – What is Active and Passive Voice? / Homework: Read Theory
********We will begin our novel study towards the end of October. It is a really great idea to purchase the novel so that your student will be able to annotate as they read to prep for assessments. Farenheit 451 – I will have some books in class to share as well.
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- Unit One: The Hero’s Journey Archetype
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA
- Unit One: Student Edition of the Springboard WorkText
ELA_Grade 8_Unit 1_National Student Edition
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10/8 Monday- Review of the Stages of the Hero’s Journey / Illustrated Personified Narrative Artifact/Product Presentations / Homework: Read Theory – Did your Lexile change? Increase?
10/9 Tuesday – Review of the Stages of the Hero’s Journey / Illustrated Personified Narrative Artifact/Product Presentations / Homework: Read Theory – Did your Lexile change? Increase?
10/10 Wednesday – LAST DAY OF THE 1ST NINE WEEKS 🙂 / Review of the Stages of the Hero’s Journey / Illustrated Personified Narrative Artifact/Product Presentations / Homework: Read Theory – Did your Lexile change? Increase?
10/11 Thursday – Unpacking Unit 2: The Challenge of Utopia / Early Release Day for all students / Homework: Read Theory
10/12 Friday – Unpacking Unit 2: The Challenge of Utopia / Homework: Enjoy the Sunshine! Report cards are going home soon & Conference Week 2018 too!!!! #Love
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10/1 Monday- Review of the Stages of the Hero’s Journey / Illustrated Personified Narrative Artifact/Product presentation prep work in class! Bring the materials that you need to get the task done!
Flashdrive…know your 365 User and password, have your drafts available to help you illustrate the plot. Final Drafts will be uploaded and shared with me after a quick checkup in your class period. /
Homework: Read Theory – we will print Thursday/Friday this week for your September reading comprehension growth measure – Did your Lexile change? Increase?
10/2 Tuesday – Reading Log #3 is due 4 October – Thursday / Homework: READ Theory and review Sentence Structures
10/3 Wednesday – LEAP day Tuesday will be completed today!
10/4 Thursday – Presentations begin! Homework: Read Theory and prepare for presentation Day 2
10/5 Friday – Presentation Day 2 Homework: Enjoy the Sunshine! Report cards are going home soon & Conference Week 2018 too!!!! #Love
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9/17 Monday- Success Starter: SSR/Read Theory/Independent Reading with Reading Log detail / Opening: Review Stage 3 of the Hero’s Journey: The Return / Work Session: Task #1: Writing Process continues via use of the Stages of the Hero’s Journey Archetype – all completed ROUGH DRAFTS are due tomorrow – Wenesday 9/19 / Closing: What are your misconceptions? Did your hero die before STAGE 3 – that means that you are NOT following the directions or archetype detail. Reading Log #3 is due 4 October – Thursday / Homework: READ Theory and review Sentence Structures
9/18 Tuesday – Success Starter: Submit late work! Review sentence structures. / Opening: Sentence Structure Review for Quiz #3 tomorrow using the Frayer model (4 quadrants) / Work Session: Task #1: Unit One QHT vocabulary…Has your vocabulary acquisition expanded /changed? RECATEGORIZE your Unit One QHT vocabulary words / Task #2: Review Stage 3: The RETURN of the Hero’s Journey through an excerpt from Chapter 12 of the novel “A Wrinkle in Time” page 43 / Task #3: SMART Goals updates…where are you? (front of your binder) Use laptops to check the portal. UPDATE WEEK 5….X out the others / Task #4: Extra day to complete your Narrative ESSAY using the Writing Process– all completed ROUGH DRAFTS are due tomorrow – Wednesday 9/19 / Closing: What are your misconceptions? Did your hero die before STAGE 3 – that means that you are NOT following the directions or archetype detail. Reading Log #3 is due 4 October – Thursday / Homework: READ Theory and review Sentence Structures
9/20 Wednesday –Success Starter: Submit late work! Review sentence structures. / Opening: Review the Hero’s Journey and identify the Stages and each part of them / Work Session: Task #1: Sentence Structure Review for Quiz #3 / Task #2: EDIT AND REVISION DAY! Narrative ESSAY using the Writing Process– Use a RED OR GREEN to complete these steps. / Closing: What are your misconceptions? Did your hero die before STAGE 3 – that means that you are NOT following the directions or archetype detail. Reading Log #3 is due 4 October – Thursday / Homework: READ Theory
9/21 Thursday – Success Starter: Submit late work! / Absent yesterday-Sentence Structure Quiz#3 / Index card – Construct a Response – Explain the importance (significance) of Stage 3: The Return. How/Why is it a part of the plot? / Opening: How do we EDIT with purpose? True assessing…Work Session: Task #1: Read your Narrative Essay while editing (red/green pen) – USE the rubric/editing checklist combo given to you yesterday / Task #2: Assessing model student papers – Stages of the Hero’s Journey, dialogue, organization…rubric J What do you notice? What did they do well? What do they need to work on? / Closing: What are your misconceptions? Log #3 is due 4 October / Homework: READ Theory
9/22 Friday – Success Starter: Submit late work! /Stage 3: The Return. How/Why is it a part of the plot? / Work Session: Task #1: Read your Narrative Essay while editing (red/green pen) – USE the rubric/editing checklist combo given to you yesterday / Task #2: Assessing model student papers – Stages of the Hero’s Journey, dialogue, organization…rubric / Closing: What are your misconceptions? Log #3 is due 4 October / Homework: READ Theory
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9/10 Monday – Reading Log #2 DUE / Unit 1: Activity 1.5 The Departure – Stage 3 of the Hero’s Journey “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” Short Story…/ Homework: Review Sentence Structures / Read Theory
9/11 Tuesday – LEAP Day (acceleration/enrichment) / Unit 1: Activity 1.5 The Departure – Stage 3 of the Hero’s Journey “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” Short Story…/ TouchStones M2 Formative Reading Assessment Homework: Review Sentence Structures / Read Theory
9/12 Wednesday – Sentence Structure Quiz #2 / Drafting your personified HERO NARRATIVE ESSAY for your EA#1 project / Discuss 1. 5 Questions 1-10 from “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh”/ Homework: Read Theory
9/13 Thursday – Writing: Drafting your personified HERO NARRATIVE ESSAY for your EA#1 project /Homework: Read Theory
9/14 Friday – Unit One: The Challenge of Heroism – Stages of the Hero’s Journey in an effort to prep for EA#1 / Homework: No Read Theory homework on Friday’s! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend and the sunshine!!
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9/4 Monday – Labor Day!
9/5 Tuesday – LEAP Day – let’s accelerate and enrich…Reading Strategy: What does it Say?Mean?Matter? / “Big Hero Six” – The Stages of the Hero’s Journey” Homework: Review Sentence Structures / Read Theory
9/6 Wednesday – Pre-Planning your EA#1 project / Unit One Hero’s Journey Archetype Activity 1.2 Homework: Read Theory / Review Sentence Structures
9/7 Thursday – Print out of Read Theory 1/ Formative Assessment –Quiz: Sentence Structures Unit One Hero’s Journey Archetype Activity “Big Hero 6” continues… Homework: Read Theory
9/8 Friday – Unit One: The Challenge of Heroism – Stages of the Hero’s Journey in an effort to prep for EA#1 / Homework: No Read Theory homework on Friday’s! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend and the sunshine!!
***READING LOG #2 DUE Monday 9/10
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8/27 Monday – Unit One The Challenge of Heroism: Activity 1.2 Springboard WorkText Homework: Read Theory/ Review Sentence Structures
8/28 Tuesday – LEAP Day – let’s accelerate and enrich…Reading Strategy: What does it Say?Mean?Matter? / Input TouchStones Mini 1 Formative in IrESPOND (tech difficulties earlier) 🙂 / “Big Hero Six” – The Stages of the Hero’s Journey” Homework: Review Sentence Structures / Read Theory
8/29 Wednesday – Pre-Planning your EA#1 project / Unit One Hero’s Journey Archetype Activity 1.2 Homework: Read Theory / Review Sentence Structures
8/30 Thursday – Formative Assessment-Quiz: Sentence Structures Unit One Hero’s Journey Archetype Activity “Big Hero 6” continues… Homework: Read Theory
8/31 Friday – Read Theory #1 due today! Unit One: The Challenge of Heroism – Stages of the Hero’s Journey in an effort to prep for EA#1 / Homework: No Read Theory homework on Friday’s! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend and the sunshine! Happy Labor Day Weekend!
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8/20 Monday – Unit One The Challenge of Heroism: Review of Skills and Knowledge for EA#1 / Sentence Structures Activity & Discussion / Activity 1.2 Springboard WorkText Homework: Read Theory/ Review Sentence Structures
8/21 Tuesday – LEAP Day – let’s accelerate and enrich…Reading Strategy: What does it Say?Mean?Matter? – Nonfiction “The Hidden Cost of a Buried Treasure” / Grammar: Sentence Structures …review and discuss from yesterday Homework: Review Sentence Structures / Read Theory / TouchStones Mini Formative Assessment tomorrow!
8/22 Wednesday – TouchStones Mini Assessment #1 / Unit One Hero’s Journey Archetype Activity 1.2 / Sentence Structure Review Homework: Summer Reading is due FRIDAY! Read Theory
8/23 Thursday – Formative Assessment-Quiz: Sentence Structures RESCHEDULED for next week!!!! – Review or Pre-Tests/ Makeup day for TouchStones M1 / Unit One Hero’s Journey Archetype Activity 1.2 continues… Homework: Summer Reading is due TOMORROW! Read Theory
8/24 Friday – Summer Reading is due today! / Read Theory Unit One: The Challenge of Heroism Activity 1.3 Students visited the Learning Commons to checkout a book/novel to read to evaluate the Stages of the Hero’s Journey in an effort to prep for EA#1 / Homework: No Read Theory homework on Friday’s! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend and the sunshine!
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8/13 Monday – Unit One The Challenge of Heroism opening – QHT categorization of academic and literary terms/ research etymology…definition…synonym – Unpacking the Skills & Knowledge (standards) needed to complete Embedded Assessment #1 (EA#1) Homework: Review how to annotate a text (article, short story, nonfiction, fiction, etc); the resource is sheet protected in your binder.
8/14 Tuesday – LEAP Acceleration day! What does it Say? Mean? Matter? / Task #1 SSR/ Task #2: Students navigate to ReadTheory.org in their internet browser on any device (computer, tablet, mobile). Students sign up. YOU MUST MAKE A NEW USER AND PASS in order to take today’s pretest MANDATORY PRETEST! Students log in. Students go to the “My Teachers” page. Students enter YOUR email address ( daphney.howell@cobbk12.org ) in the space provided. Students click the “Send Invitation” button. Homework: Review Sentence Structures and Circle all Verbs and underline all NOUNS on your EA#1 Rubric!
8/15 Wednesday – SSR – Silent Sustained Reading / Sentence Structure / Formative Assessments “Navy Seals” article / Homework: Work on Summer Reading – packets are available! Read Theory formatives begin Monday!
8/16 Thursday – SSR – Silent Sustained Reading / Review Sentence Structure activities from yesterday. / Review Formative Assessment “Navy Seals” article from yesterday for a score – Annotations count, selected response and constructed responses… / Unit One: The Challenge of Heroism – Let’s unpack the standards! What Skills and Knowledge do you need in order to do well on your first Summative Embedded Assessment? / Homework: Annotate the exemplary column of the rubric for Unit One EA#1- circling all verbs and underlining the nouns and be prepared to discuss tomorrow.! Work on Summer Reading – packets are available!
8/17 Friday – Unit One: The Challenge of Heroism Activity 1.2 / Sentence Structures Quiz (formative assessment) Homework:
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8/6 Monday – Pre-Assessment Makeup for Absent or new students – Collect Time Capsule Student Brochures – Set Individual Student SMART Goals – Writing Portfolios set and binders organized (1st 10 pages) – Review of PBIS Traits (school-wide) – Be Here! Be Ready! Be Respectful! Be Great! Be Griffin! * Reading Log #W1 begins 🙂
Table of Contents – 8th AC ELA Binder
- 1 SMART Goals for the 1st Nine Weeks
- 2 Multiple Intelligences Inventory & YOUR Lexile RI Score
- 3 RACES Chunk Cheat Sheet / Constructed Response Rubric
- 4 Annotation 101 Thinking Notes / Verb Moods (back)
- 5 Parts of Speech Review
- 6 Book Genres
- 7 Characteristics of a Narrative & detailed graphic organizer
- 8 Transition Word List / Dead & Alternative Word List
- 9 Text Structures: Comparisons, Sequence, Cause & Effect, etc.
- 10 7 Key Sentences: Essay Writing MUST HAVES!
- 11 6 Traits of Writing: Ideas-Organization-Style-Conventions
- 12 Attention Grabbers & Hooks
- 13 Schaeffer ….How to write a one chunk paragraph!
- 14 Punctuation Rules!
**Tab 1 – Reading Logs Tab 2 – Writing Tab 3 – Graded Work Tab 4 – …
8/7 Tuesday– Happy Birthday Ms. D. Howell 🙂
– Set Individual Student SMART Goals – Writing Portfolios set and binders organized (1st 10 pages) – Reading Logs 🙂
8/8 Wednesday – RI – Reading Inventory Assessment Pre-Test for BASELINE (individual student growth measure via Lexiles)
8/9 Thursday – Introduction to Unit 1 (Springboard) Vocabulary (QHT) / Complete makeups for Reading Inventory Lexiles… / Construct a Response – review of 2 point rubric and formatting of a well-written paragraph.
8/10 Friday – Unit One QHT categorization of academic and literary terms/ research etymology…definition…synonym / Construct a Response from SSR Homework: Enjoy the Sunshine!
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Week of: 1– 3 August 2017
8/1 Wednesday – Welcome to the First Day of your 8th grade year!
- Icebreakers, Discuss/Review Griffin MS School Expectations, Policies, and PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) – Wildcats – Be Here! Be Ready! Be Respectful!
- Parents please sign and return all paperwork as soon as possible – Thanks
8/2 Thursday – Interest Inventory – Who are YOU? – How do YOU learn? -Course Syllabus review (late work, attendance, expectations, average requirements, etc. discussed) *Students should return the parent signature portion to class tomorrow 🙂
8/3 Friday – Pre-Test Vocab/Grammar/Writing Sample – Collection of Course Syllabus Signature slips – Review of our school-wide PBIS Traits and Classroom Expectations 🙂
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************ Milestones Testing continues – 16 – 20 April **************
Monday – Testing and a modified schedule
Tuesday – Testing and a modified schedule
Wednesday – Unit 4 begins: The Challenge of Comedy 4.1 Unpacking EA #1 and the vocabulary (QHT)
Thursday – Unit 4: The Challenge of Comedy 4.1 – 4.2
Friday – Unit 4: The Challenge of Comedy 4.1 – 4.2
Homework: Please go to sleep early, bring a water bottle (without a flavor packet – clear only please) and a small snack that is not loaded in sugar or carbs. We want to ensure that your test taker does not feel groggy and tired while applying their awesome reading and writing skills! The first few days – in my experience – are really tough for students, so please help me in reminding them to give their best effort and persevere!
26-27th April – 8th grade Savannah Trip
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************ 9 – 13 April – Milestones Testing – 16 – 20 April **************
Homework: Please go to sleep early, bring a water bottle (without a flavor packet – clear only please) and a small snack that is not loaded in sugar or carbs. We want to ensure that your test taker does not feel groggy and tired while applying their awesome reading and writing skills! The first few days – in my experience – are really tough for students, so please help me in reminding them to give their best effort and persevere!
Examples include: trail mix in a snack size bag/Ziploc, granola bar, Goldfish, dry whole grained cereal, string cheese, pretzels, a piece of fruit (banana, apple, orange), etc.
13 April – 8th grade dance 7- 10 pm!! $15 per student
26-27th April – 8th grade Savannah Trip
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2-6 April 2018
Spring Break – School closed! Enjoy your family, friends and the sunshine!
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26-30 March 2018
Monday – MugShot Sentences: Language-Grammar-Conventions/ Springboard Text-Workbook Activities 3.18-3.19/Work on group presentations-Multimedia Campaign / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – Milestones Online Tools Review Prep for Assessment purposes (students are getting familiar with the Milestones format)/ Springboard Text-Workbook Activities 3.18-3.19/Work on group presentations-Multimedia Campaign / Homework: Read Theory / Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – MugShot Sentences: Language-Grammar-Conventions/ Springboard Text-Workbook Activities 3.18-3.19/Work on group presentations-Multimedia Campaign / Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Group Multimedia Campaign Presentations! / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – MugShot Sentences: Language-Grammar-Conventions/ Reading Comprehension Formative / Read Theory growth measure due / Enjoy the sunshine and your weekend!
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19-23 March 2018
Monday – MugShot Sentences: Language-Grammar-Conventions/ Reading Comprehension Formative / Prep-Outline the Argumentative Prompt for tomorrow’s timed session / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP / Timed Argumentative Essay / Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – MugShot Sentences: Language-Grammar-Conventions/ Reading Comprehension Formative / Springboard activities in preparation for EA#2/ Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – MugShot Sentences: Language-Grammar-Conventions/ Reading Comprehension Formative / Springboard activities to prep for the multimedia presentation / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – MugShot Sentences: Language-Grammar-Conventions/ Reading Comprehension Formative / Multimedia presentation preparation / Read Theory growth measure due / Enjoy the sunshine and your weekend!
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12-16 March 2018
Monday – Springboard EA#2 RUBRIC unpacked (Skills & Knowledge)/ Makeup Assessments/ Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP / Review Q3 Assessment/ Springboard activities in preparation for Embedded Assessment #2/ Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – EARLY RELEASE DAY – Springboard activities in preparation for EA#2/ Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Springboard activities to prep for the multimedia presentation / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Multimedia presentation preparation / Read Theory growth measure due / Enjoy the sunshine and your weekend!
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5-9 March 2018
Monday – Formulate Panel Discussion EA 1 – using “The Devil’s Arithmetic” – Group and chapter assignments shared/ Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP / Groups practice for Panel Discussion EA 1/ Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – Q3 TouchStones Summative (70%) Reading Comprehension Assessment / Continue to practice EA#1 Panel Discussions using the assigned chapters from “The Devil’s Arithmetic” – Groups will submit an outline of their panel discussion with group members names, tasks, etc./ Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Panel Discussion Presentations for groups / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Panel Discussion Presentations for groups / Read Theory growth measure due / Enjoy the sunshine and your weekend!
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Week of 26 February – 2 March 2018 Welcome back from Winter Break!!
Monday – Independent Reading/ Review Explanatory Writing / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP / Unit 3 Timed Mock Explanatory Essay (Summative COMMON for all 8th grade students)/ Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – Finalize essays…/Springboard Work&Textbook Unit 3 EA#1 Panel Discussions…”The Devil’s Arithmetic”/ Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Reading Logs DUE for February’s Independent Readings/ Unit 3 “The Devil’s Arithmetic” Springboard Work&Textbook / Groups for panel discussions…/Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Read Theory growth measure due/Unit 3 “The Devil’s Arithmetic”…
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Week of 12-16 February 2018 – Unit 3
Monday – Independent Reading/ Unit 3 Activity 3.10 ‘The Diary of Anne Frank” Springboard Work&Textbook / Review Panel Discussion formative assessments with student reflection / Homework: Read Theory **Progress Reports go home
Tuesday – LEAP / Unit 3 Activity 3.10 and 3.11 excerpt “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” Springboard Work&Textbook/ Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – Touchstones Q3M3 Formative Reading Measure / Unit 3 Activity 3.9 ‘Life is Beautiful’ Springboard Work&Textbook / Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Independent Reading/ Unit 3 Activity 3.9 ‘Life is Beautiful’ Springboard Work&Textbook / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Read Theory growth measure due/Independent Reading/ Unit 3 Activity 3.9 ‘Life is Beautiful’ Springboard Work&Textbook / Homework: Enjoy the Sunshine!
Have a safe Winter Break and complete any and all LATE assignments!
Upcoming: Explanatory (timed) writing piece after Winter Break
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Week of 5 – 9 February 2018 – Unit 3 continues
– Curriculum Night 2/6 – Young GA Authors Contest pieces due 2/6
Monday – MugShot Sentences (Language/Grammar) /Independent Reading/ Unit 3 Activity 3.5 Allegory & 3.6 Diction/Euphemisms… / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP / Unit 3 Activity 3.7 – Research / Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – Independent Reading/ MugShot Sentences (Language) / Unit 3.7 – 3.8 activities continue / Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Independent Reading / Unit 3 activities continue (The Challenge to Make a Difference/Holocaust) / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Read Theory growth measure due / MugShot Sentences (Grammar) / Unit 3 activities continue – Oral Group Presentations (formative) / Homework: Enjoy the sunshine!
Homeroom Contest begins 12 February – Penny Wars Week at Griffin Middle! Let’s go Mrs. Evans’ Homeroom of Intellects! #LOVE #Winning
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Week of 29 Jan. – 2 February 2018
Unit 3: The Challenge to Make a Difference!
Monday – MugShot Sentences (Language/Grammar) /Independent Reading/ Unit 3 Activity 3.4 / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP – paired texts with comprehension analysis / Unit 3 Activity 3.4 /Homework: Read Theory – College and Career Expo during 3rd period (8th Connection classes)
Wednesday – Independent Reading/ MugShot Sentences (Language) / Unit 3 activities continue / Homework: Read Theory ***Honors Ceremony in the theater***Invites sent out last week 🙂
Thursday – Reading Log due / Reading Common Formative Q3M2 Assessment / Unit 3 activities continue (The Challenge to Make a Difference/Holocaust) / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Read Theory growth measure due / MugShot Sentences (Grammar) / Unit 3 activities continue / Homework: Enjoy the sunshine!
Homeroom Contest begins 12 February – Penny Wars Week at Griffin Middle! Let’s go Mrs. Evans’ Homeroom of Intellects! #LOVE #Winning
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Week of 22-26 January 2018 Welcome back from our 3 Snow Days!
Unit 3: The Challenge to Make a Difference!
Monday – MugShot Sentences (Langauge/Grammar) / Read Theory #1 due / Unit 3 EA#1 Q-H-T and Unpacking the standards for the Embedded Assessment (EA) / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP – paired texts with comprehension analysis / Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – Formative Reading Assessment Q3M1 / MugShot Sentences (Language) / Unit 3 activities continue / Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – MugShot Sentences (Language) / Unit 3 activities continue (The Challenge to Make a Difference/Holocaust) / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Read Theory growth measure due / MugShot Sentences (Grammar) / Unit 3 activities continue / Homework: Enjoy the sunshine!
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Week of 15-19 January 2018
Monday – MLK Holiday!
Tuesday – Review, Discuss Misconceptions – Argumentative Essay / Unit 3 EA#1 Q-H-T and Unpacking the standards for the Embedded Assessment (EA)
Wednesday – School Canx – Snow Day
Thursday – School Canx – Snow Day
Friday – School Canx – Snow Day
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Week of 1-5 January 2018
** We have a new schedule for Semester Two – Please review it under the ‘Daily Class Schedule’ tab
Monday – School Closed – Happy Happy New Year!!
Tuesday – School Closed for Students / Teacher Workday
Wednesday – School Closed for Students / Teacher Workday
Thursday – Students return from holiday break / Argumentative Writing continues – Counterclaim, Counterargument, Rebuttals….oh my! Your body paragraphs composed / Introduction and Conclusions scored
Friday – Argumentative writing continues – Revising & Submitting (printing) – SUMMATIVE SCORE 70%
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Week of 18-20 December 2017 – Thanks for an awesome semester!
Monday – Argumentative Writing – Introductions/Counterclaim, Counterargument, Rebuttals….oh my!
Tuesday– Half Day for all Students/Late work and Makeup Work / ‘The Giver’
Wednesday – Half Day / Late work / ‘The Giver’
Happy Holidays, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!
#LOVE
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Week of 11 – 15 December 2017
Monday – Snow Day – Brrrrrr!
Tuesday – Theatre production will be rescheduled for after Winter Break…
Makeups for Reading Assessment Q2M2 and Q2M3 for students absent Thursday and/or Friday last week / Reading Growth Measure update p. 15 agenda data sheet/ Springboard textbook Activities 2.16 and 2.17 Argumentatio: What is Logos-Ethos-Pathos? / Homework: Read theory and any/all late work
Wednesday – Argumentative Writing / Springboard textbook (online access with your user and pass) / Homework: Read theory and any/all late work.
Thursday – Argumentative Writing / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Argumentative Writing / Read Theory due!
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Week of 4 – 8 December 2017
– I am totally scoring your Explanatory Essays…may take 2 weeks – please hold – Thanks for your patience 🙂
Monday – Read Theory Lexile growth checkup! / Scholastic RI / Springboard Unit 2 continues / Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes
Tuesday – Springboard textbook Activities / Homework: Read theory and any/all late work
Wednesday – Springboard textbook (online access with your user and pass) / Complete up to Activity 2.15 and remember that you can print out and staple, glue or tape your work you do at home to your textbook if you are absent! / Homework: Read theory and any/all late work.
Thursday – Reading Comp. Formative (30%) / Springboard – EA2 – How do we write a debatable topic for argumentation? What is Logos-Ethos-Pathos? / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Makeups for Reading Formative / Springboard Unit 2 / Read Theory due! / Career and College Expo during Connection classes! Ready?
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The Giver pdf The Giver (Full Book)
Fahrenheit 451 451-entire book
Week of 27 November – 1 December 2017
Monday – Welcome back from your break! Review 8th ELA Reading Common Formative with Constructed Response / Complete the questions and activities from your class novel/ Review SICO: Trait One & Two using the model papers – Exemplary /Proficient/Emerging/ Incomplete… / Edit and Revise Introductions
Homework: Read Theory – Read Theory will not reset until December 20th. That also means that I will need to see a MINIMUM of 4 quizzes EACH WEEK (yes you may take more) and I will only take one homework score from READ Theory.
Tuesday – Explanatory Essay via writing process / Homework: Read Theory – Read Theory will not reset until December 20th. That also means that I will need to see a MINIMUM of 4 quizzes EACH WEEK (yes you may take more) and I will only take one homework score from READ Theory.
Wednesday – Explanatory Essay via writing process / Homework: Read Theory – Read Theory will not reset until December 20th. That also means that I will need to see a MINIMUM of 4 quizzes EACH WEEK (yes you may take more) and I will only take one homework score from READ Theory.
Thursday – Explanatory Essay due today! Paper copy needed for scoring! / Homework: Read Theory – Read Theory will not reset until December 20th. That also means that I will need to see a MINIMUM of 4 quizzes EACH WEEK (yes you may take more) and I will only take one homework score from READ Theory.
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Each Body Paragraph (Indent, then use a Transition word) should include:
- TS – Topic Sentence – main point one of your Thesis St.
- CD#1 – Text Evidence – direct quote “…”
- CM – For example,…
- CM – This is important because…
- CD #2 – paraphrase…..text evidence – According to chapter X of the novel, the man fell in the ditch, through the sewer and rolled down a hill. This is important because…
- CM
- CM
- CS – restate the TS – topic sentence/main point 1
- To conclude, ….
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Conclusion (5-6 sentence maximum)
- Indent…- To sum things up,… In conclusion,…
- Transition word
- Restate your Thesis (RTh) – use a synonym from your thesis and reverse the order of it ☺
- Clincher Sentence (Simile, metaphor….)
- Transition words to use: Nevertheless, Furthermore, All in all, Finally, To sum things up,…, Last but not least,…,Consequently,…, In closing,…In conclusion,…
- Final, STRONG statement of your essay
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Friday – LEAP Day! Log your Read Theory Lexile Score-Grade Level – Top Quiz score and title on your Progress/Goal sheet
Week of 13-17 November 2017
Monday – Independent Reading: Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) up to page 123 / The Giver (5th & 6th) up to page 145 / Springboard 2.7 – 2.9 “Questioning Society” textbook pages 134 / Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) Chunks 1-4 correlate to Activities 2.7-2.9 in your textbooks. The Giver (5th & 6th) will work from the textbooks and the handouts / Video: Socratic Seminar How?? We will try our first one after Thanksgiving! / Learning Targets 1. Evaluate specific rules and laws in a fictional society and compare them to present society, referencing the text and notations from other materials/ 2. Contribute analysis and evidence relating to this topic in a Socratic Seminar/ Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes
Tuesday– Independent Reading: Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) The Giver (5th & 6th) / -Springboard 2.7 – 2.9 “Questioning Society” textbook pages 134 / Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) Chunks 1-4 correlate to Activities 2.7-2.9 in your textbooks. The Giver (5th & 6th) will work from the textbooks and the handouts given yesterday / Video: Socratic Seminar How?? We will try our first one after Thanksgiving! / Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes
Wednesday – Review the ‘Key Sentences’ Graphic Organizer / Read and annotate the writing prompt for EA#1 Explanatory Essay… Springboard book pages 140-141 / What is SICO? Trait One – Ideas and Organization / Trait Two – Style and Conventions / Model Papers – Exemplary/Proficient/Emerging/Incomplete…/ Make sure you have a User and Password (my roster) / Quiz tomorrow! Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes
Thursday – Quiz over the novel/ Introductions…Thesis/ Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes
Friday – Writing process…Introductions EA1 / LEAP – Brussel Sprouts – oh my! / Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes
*Read Theory will be reset Monday morning 11/6 **Make sure that Monday – Thursday your scores reflect that you have taken at least ONE quiz per DAY! Friday’s report/print out should reflect a minimum of 4 quizzes EACH week.
Week of 6-10 November 2017
Monday – Independent Reading / Springboard textbook p. 120 Review Active & Passive Voice Verbs (Which one is more impactful in your writing? Explain your answer in the margins of your textbook) / Activity 2.4 in completed using your novel- 1st & 2nd Fahrenheit 451 and 5th & 6th The Giver
Homework: Read Theory (Pre-Assessment) – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes Fahrenheit 451 up to page 38 / The Giver read up to page 49
Tuesday – Teacher Workday / Students out of school/ Local Voting
Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes Fahrenheit 451 up to page 38 / The Giver read up to page 49
Wednesday – Independent Reading: Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) up to page 38 and The Giver (5th & 6th) up to page 49 / Grammar – Using the ‘Right’ Word / Complete Springboard 2.4 “Understanding a Society’s Way of Life” textbook pages 123-125 / pp 126-128 “Contemplating Conflicting Perspectives”
Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes Fahrenheit 451 up to page 60 / The Giver read up to page 79
Thursday – Independent Reading: Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) and The Giver (5th & 6th) / Complete Springboard 2.5 pp 126-128 “Contemplating Conflicting Perspectives” / What is a Socratic Seminar?
Homework: Read Theory – 20 minutes / Read your novel for 20 minutes Fahrenheit 451 up to page 88 / The Giver read up to page 117
Friday – Common Reading Formative with Constructed Response (CR) / Read Theory –GROWTH measure – due today!
Homework: Read your novel and enjoy the sunshine!
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Week of 30 October – 3 November 2017
Monday – Springboard textbook pp. 112-117/ What is a Utopia & Dystopia? / Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) and The Giver (5th & 6th) / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP – Reading paired texts – Synthesizing – Learning Objective: to synthesize information from two nonfiction texts…Reading Informationals 8.1, RI 8.2, RI 8.4, Writing 8.2, Speaking & Listening 8.1, SL 8.2, Language 8.4/ L8.6
Wednesday – Springboard textbook pp. 112-119 with Text-Dependent questions/novel begins! Fahrenheit 451 (1st & 2nd) and The Giver (5th & 6th) / Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Construct a Response: How does ‘Harrison Bergeron’ challenge your definition of Utopia? Explain – 5 well written sentence structures! / Read and Annotate page 119 in your Springboard Textbook; be sure to review the model paragraph! Labeling the TS, CMs, CDs, etc. / Complete –on notebook paper – the practice section for paragraphs 41 & 42 on page 119. – place it in your class assignment basket. / Then complete the chart in your book ‘Working from the Text’/ Book Fair! / Homework: Read Theory Monday – Thursday @ 30 minutes *Read Theory will be reset Friday at 4.
Friday – Reading Comprehension Formative (30%) Assessment
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Week of 23 – 27 October 2017
Monday – Review your Quickwrite from last week (edit/revise). Then on a index card you will write a clear response for a formative score. / Questions: What would an ideal society be like? What would it include and not include? Who would live there? Why is an ideal society so difficult to bring about? / Work with your groups to complete the 21 words – Word Maps – QHT graphic organizer / Unpacking EA #1 – Skills and Knowledge / Homework: READ THEORY and all incomplete work!
Tuesday – LEAP – Review unpacked SKills and Knowledge for Unit 2. Comparisons: Annotate & mark up the text as you read, noticing contrasts between the two men…16 focus notes, circled unknown words & phrases and underlined TRANSITION words
Wednesday – Read and Annotate pp. 105 – 111 Answering Q #5-7 and on notebook paper completing the Venn Diagram and Response paragraph(formative assessment) from the ‘Writing to Sources’ section of your Springboard textbook. Homework: Read Theory 🙂
Thursday – Independent Reading /Turn in any and all late/makeup work, etc. / Read and complete pages 121–122 in your Springboard book and the Mechanics Review handout (it will be page 30 in your binder) / Review of the standards for tomorrow’s reading assessment / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Reading Comprehension Formative Assessment – Growth Marker/Progress Check
Week of 16 – 20 October 2017 – Conference Week 2017
Monday – Independent Reading / Notebook paper response (Unit 2 Overview) What would an ideal society be like? What would it include and not include? Who would live there? Why is an ideal society so difficult to bring about? / Unit 2 p. 101 – Unpacking EA #1 / Q-H-T / Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP – Comparisons of paired texts (The purpose of LEAP is to improve your reading and vocabulary acquisition skills – that include listening, speaking, and writing skills – that are essential to your success! Each week your LEAP session will include lessons to guide, enhance, and enrich your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – Finish LEAP lesson (fire drill 1st academic) / Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Formative – Mini Common Assessment Reading Comprehension / Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Review Mini 3 Formative Reading Comprehension Assessment / Q-H-T Vocabulary Word Maps/Link to submit your WATER ESSAY for the Contest (deadline for the contest – today – ) Good Luck!!
http://northgeorgiawater.org/education-awareness/middle-school-essay-contest/
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Week of 9 – 13 October 2017
Monday – Student Portfolios updated – Reflections on Read Theory, Illustrated Narratives & Presentations, as well as their Grammar/Language Summative Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – LEAP – Comparisons of paired texts (The purpose of LEAP is to improve your reading and vocabulary acquisition skills – that include listening, speaking, and writing skills – that are essential to your success! Each week your LEAP session will include lessons to guide, enhance, and enrich your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Homework: Read Theory
Wednesday – PSAT (all 8th grade students) / Independent Reading/ Read Theory Homework: Read Theory
Thursday – Early Release Day of middle school students / Read Theory / Springboard logins Homework: Read Theory
Friday – Preview Unit 2 (EA’s) / Read Theory / Independent Reading
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*Read Theory will be reset on Saturday 30 September!
Each student will need to go back into Read Theory to complete another pre-test for the month of October to ensure/remedy false starts or slumps without invoking any points penalty to your class totals (competition). Some students have a skewed pretest and/or took a string of quizzes without putting in proper effort.
Need to log in with your name instead of mine? Please do so – remember to invite me to your new one and delete the old account. Need Help? See you Monday- 2 October!
Week of: 2-6 October 2017
Monday – All Presentations are due today! Students will present their 3-4 minute Visual Narratives per EA #1 Summative score 🙂 Homework: Read Theory
Tuesday – Presentations continue…Students will present their 3-4 minute Visual Narratives per EA #1 Summative score – Summative Assessment Thursday: Sentence Structures, Verb Moods, Verb Voices. / What do you still have questions about? Homework: READ THEORY
Wednesday – Per the Office! If any 8th grader/student has their phone out, ear buds in or are not following directions = minor behavior form & future infractions = an office referral. Classroom Expectations Reminders: Come in prepared, quiet, raise hand – wait to be acknowledged…. Respect others learning environment! Homework: Read Theory
Work Session: Presentations continue…TEST THURSDAY – tomorrow – Sentence Structures, Verb Moods, Verb Voices. / What do you still have questions about? Homework: READ THEORY
Thursday – Summative Assessment – Sentence Structures/Verb Voices/Verb Moods – Presentations resume… Homework: Read Theory
Friday –LEAP Session Two 🙂
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LEAP (Literacy Enrichment 4 Academic Progress) – Begins Tuesday officially on 9/19 for GMS and for all other Tuesdays this academic year! Purpose of LEAP? To improve your reading skills – that include listening, speaking, and writing skills – that are essential to your success this year! Each week you will have lessons to guide, enhance, and enrich your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
What we’ve noticed…
-Vocabulary needs work? -Reading critically needs practice? – Intervention for Scaffolding & Enrichment needed in lieu of our prescribed curriculum? Read Theory is your homework Monday -Thursday for 31 minutes – Exciting!
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TASK/Project (Summative Score): Hero’s Journey Creative Assignment for Unit One EA1 Summative Assessment: Create a HERO and take him/her on a hero’s journey. Your hero will be a PERSONIFIED, inanimate object or a non-human hero! The final product should reflect your learning style and interest (rubric issued).
Narrative Essays are due for ALL students at the end of the class – Thursday – 21 September
*Narratives will be accessed daily for progress/formative check daily. This means you will keep your planning sheets, expectation sheets and plot diagrams and leave your index cards with me daily.
* Presentations begin Monday 2 October after FALL Break!
Week of: 18-22 September 2017
Monday – Students worked on their Narrative Essays – Drafts finalized in class (Typing details…12 Font Size – Times New Roman Font Style – Double Spaced 🙂
A few students began typing via Office 365 today. The illustrated projects/products that represent each student’s narrative (stages of the hero’s journey) are due October 2 -the Monday after Fall Break. Therefore, students are encouraged to finalize narratives and share them with me in Office 365 early, so that they can use some of the class time to work on their presentations this week. Students should be working on the presentation/product portion of EA 1 at HOME as well.
Tuesday – Warm-Up/Opening: Review RUBRIC – READ and ANNOTATE together! Work Session: Writing Process continues… EDIT/REVISE Sesion…Then, completely type your rough DRAFT via Student Vue/ Office 365- remember to name your document! I have shared a folder for your class and you should place your essay there – late 10 points if it is not there at the end of the day Thursday!! Tomorrow: edit/revise/publish and work on product/project for presentations that are due on October 2 if time permits 🙂 Closing: – PULSE check-Turn to your shoulder buddy and EXPLAIN what your session was about today. What do you still have questions about? Homework: READ THEORY
**All Late work is due: Including Reading logs, summer reading, etc. Scores are being updated. Zeros will hurt averages. Please make sure that you have taken care of things – ParentVue/StudentVue – Thanks 🙂
Wednesday – Work Session: Writing Process continues…Editing, Revising and Publishing essays! If time permits, students will begin creating their product that illustrates their written narrative – presented October 2nd. Homework: Read Theory **Writing Dialogue? Write each person’s spoken words, however brief, as a separate paragraph. Use commas to set off dialogue tags such as “she said” or “he explained.” If one person’s speech goes on for more than one paragraph, use quotation marks to open the dialogue at the beginning of each paragraph. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/04/
**Download the file (your narrative) – go to your ‘Shared with Me’ option (your Microsoft Office 365 tab – up top 🙂 – Click on upload to place your narrative in your class folder 🙂
Thursday – Narrative Essays are due! Student will work on the second part of their Embedded Assessment 1- the illustrated portion of their narrative essay (product) Homework: Read Theory *ALL late essays will begin to receive late points off after 4:30 today.
Friday – This week LEAP will be on Friday 9/21 because of our Narrative Essay deadline!
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LEAP (Literacy Enrichment 4 Academic Progress) – Begins Tuesday officially on 9/19 for GMS and for all other Tuesdays this academic year! Purpose of LEAP? To improve your reading skills – that include listening, speaking, and writing skills – that are essential to your success this year! Each week you will have lessons to guide, enhance, and enrich your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
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What we’ve noticed…
-Vocabulary needs work? -Reading critically needs practice? – Intervention for Scaffolding & Enrichment needed in lieu of our prescribed curriculum?
Read Theory begins 12 September for all AC students – Exciting!
*Summer Reading was due September 8th – Late fees begin.
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TASK/Project (Summative Score): Hero’s Journey Creative Assignment for Unit One EA1 Summative Assessment: Create a HERO and take him/her on a hero’s journey. Your hero will be a PERSONIFIED, inanimate object or a non-human hero! The final product should reflect your learning style and interest (rubric issued).
Narrative Essays are due for ALL students at the end of the class with the rubric attached Thursday – 21 September
*Narratives will be written and left inside the classroom for a progress/formative check daily. This means you will keep your planning sheets, expectation sheets and plot diagrams and leave your index cards with me daily. Example: Day one…index card 1-2 = Exposition and Rising Action, Day two = index card 3-4 Climax and Falling Action, Day three = index card 5 Resolution
* Presentations begin Monday 2 October after FALL Break!
Week of: 11-15 September 2017
Monday – School Closed – Inclement Weather: Hurricane Irma
Tuesday – School Closed – Inclement Weather: Hurricane Irma
Wednesday – Warm-Up: Passive and Active Voices Opening: Review Constructed Response from Friday – What did you notice? Any Ah-HAs? Work Session: Task #1 – Textbook Activity 1.5 Read and Annotate “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” and complete the TEXT-BASED questions from pp. 20-21 Task #2 – Narrative Essays-Expectations…Homework: ReadyTheory 🙂
Thursday – Warm-Up: Review Active and Passive Voice p. 25a /Vague Pronouns?
Opening: – Review the Stages Clock and your “Big Hero 6” Plot diagram to review the stages you will need to incorporate in your Illustrated Narrative today!
Work Session: Task#1 –Work on your plan for the narrative essay (drafting) portion of the EA#1 – Each index card will represent a part of your essay. Card One = Introduction, Card Two – Body Parag. 1…Homework: READ THEORY and catchup on your narrative, late work, missing work etc./ Have a question? Write it down & bring it to class.
Friday – Test next week: Sentence Structures, Verb Moods /Passive & Active
Opening: – Review your Stages of a Hero’s Journey handout Rubric for Narrative EA1 – Planning Sheet/Directions/Plot Diagram/ Notebook paper/Index Cards/Stages Handout (guide) Work Session: Task#1 –Work on your plan for the narrative essay for EA#1 **All cards are due at the end of class Monday 18 September **Closing: – PULSE check-Turn to your shoulder buddy and EXPLAIN what your session was about today. What do you still have questions about? Homework: READ THEORY (make up if needed)
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LEAP (Literacy Enrichment 4 Academic Progress) – Begins Tuesday 9/19 and all other Tuesdays this academic year! Purpose of LEAP? To improve your reading skills – that include listening, speaking, and writing skills – that are essential to your success this year! Each week you will have lessons to guide, enhance, and enrich your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
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Week of: 4-8 September 2017
4Sept. Monday – Labor Day! Schools are closed.
Tuesday – Absent Friday? Touchstones Mini 1&2 Common Formative Assessment (30%)
Opening: Plot diagram via visual presentation (comparison to your stages on p. 8-9 of the hero’s journey (archetype)- Relate each image to a stage of the Hero’s Journey; provide justification/ explanation. Work Session: Task #1 – Define these: Nuance, Diction, Mood, Imagery /Task#2 – Read the poem “Ithaka” p. 13 of your textbook /Closing: Does imagery and diction affect mood? Homework: READ via ReadTheory.org Pre-Assessment to get YOUR baseline
Wednesday – 15 minutes of Independent Reading/ Opening– Sentence Structure Review / Work Session: Task #1 What is Read Theory? Expectations each week and rationale. Task #2 complete the Diction- Imagery – Mood video trailer activity…Guiding Question: How does an author use imagery and diction to create Mood? Homework: Get your progress report signed, share the Read Theory information with your parent and give them your Milestones scores from last year (issued).
Thursday – Warm-Up: Independent Reading – 15 minutes Opening: Sentence Structures Review Work Session: Task#1 – READ THEORY? Issues signing in? Let’s check everyone’s user/pass combo 🙂 Task #2 – Textbook pages 13-15 poem…complete page 21 of yesterday’s task….DICTION-IMAGERY…MOOD??? Task #3 – Guidelines to EA#1 Narrative & Presentation Closing: What are passive and active verb voices? Homework: READ Theory (pre-assessment)
8Sept./Friday – Warm-Up: Completed Reading Log #1(August) and Sentence Structures submitted / Opening: Active and Passive Voices…/ Work Session: Task#1 – Textbook page. 15. Activity 1.4 (pages 13 – 15) Let’s construct a response! / Task #2 – Guidelines to EA#1 Narrative and Presentation discussion (Q&A)/ Closing: What are passive and active verb voices? / Homework: READ Theory (pre-assessment)
*Summer Reading is due – ALL activities for AC students!! Late fees begin after September 8th!
Missed Friday? Here’s the poem (below); email me for the question that you will need to respond to on one index card please.
Poem: Ithaka by C. P. Cavafy (translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard)
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them;
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul.
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you’re old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn’t have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
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Week of: 28August – 1September 2017
28August/Monday – Warm-Up: Independent Reading Opening: What is Plot? Details please…Work Session: Task #1 – Students will watch scenes from Big Hero 6 to complete pages 8-9 of their textbook, while tracking the stages of a hero’s journey Task #2 – Independent Reading Activity 1.3 / Plot Diagram from video Parts 1-3? Closing: Define two forms of conflict? Homework: Activity 1.3 – Complete only stages 1 & 2 of the hero’s journey
Tuesday – Warm-Up: Verb Mood Quiz Opening: What are Sentence Structures? What are you sure of? Work Session: Task #1 – Students will resume and complete pages 8-9 of their textbook, while tracking the stages of a hero’s journey via Big Hero 6 Task #2 – Plot Diagram using the graphic organizer and details from Big Hero 6 Closing: Define two forms of conflict? Homework: Activity 1.3 – Complete the stages of the hero’s journey via your selected novel on any type of hero! Remember (no worries) you can use a book you’ve read already, since I assigned a hero themed novel WEEK 2 of school.
Wednesday – Early Release Day for Students/ Students’ verb moods quiz and summative assessment 1 (reading comp.) was returned/reviewed/discussed and reflected upon for misconceptions.
Thursday – Warm-Up: Independent Reading – 15 minutes Opening: What are Sentence Structures? What are you sure of? Review and discuss Tuesday’s homework – Frayer Model Work Session: Task #1 –Students will resume and complete pages 8-9 of their textbook, while tracking the stages of a hero’s journey via Big Hero 6 Task #2 – Complete Plot Diagram Big Hero 6 Homework: Finalize the stages of your novel via the hero’s journey
** Task #3 – If time permits! J Identify the stages of the hero’s journey through a visual presentation- place your answers for each of the visuals on notebook paper. Number them and then provide an explanation of why it is that stage of the hero’s journey. Closing: When reading literature, how does the author’s use of IMAGERY & DICTION help create MOOD? What do you know? Homework: Activity 1.3 – Complete all the stages of the hero’s journey via your selected novel on any type of hero! (Indep. Reading activity issued Monday)
1Sept./Friday – Warm-Up: Independent Reading – 15 minutes Homework: READ
TouchStones Common Formative Standards: ELAGSE8RL1: Cite textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
ELAGSE8RL2: Determine a theme and/or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters,
setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
ELAGSE8RL3: Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
ELAGSE8L4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on Grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
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Week of: 21 – 25 August 2017
21 August/Monday – What are Verb Moods? Opening: QHT – Where are you now with your academic and literary devices/terms Q, H, or T – sort them (round 2)? Work Session: Task #1: – What is a MONOMYTH? -Why did Joseph Campbell choose to title his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces? (Groups collaborate – read, annotate and answer the guiding questions above- citing text) Homework: Read 🙂
Tuesday – Warm-Up: What are Verb Moods? Complete the activity – pencils only! Opening: What is a MONOMYTH? Why did Joseph Campbell choose to title his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces? Work Session: Task #1: On notebook paper use your textbook or other resources to define the following: Mood, Plot, Negation, Pacing, Etymology, Nuance, Archetype, and Monomyth. Then, staple your notebook paper to p. 12 in your binder (your QHT) Task#2: Ted Talks video/activity via collaborative learning groups to identify the stages of the Hero’s Journey (graphic organizer issued) Closing: PULSE check…compare your notes with your group; What is a monomyth? Why is it important ….thinking…..EA#1….Where are we going? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA Absent Monday/Friday? Reminder: REVIEW the Class Blog! Homework: READ
Wednesday – Warm-Up: – Independent Reading – 15 minutes – End Punctuation activity – great writing comes from reading well punctuated sentences. Opening: What is a MONOMYTH? Index Card Response (maximum of 5 sentences): What did your eyes notice while watching and listening attentively to the Ted Talk video yesterday? Review your graphic organizer “Stages of a Hero’s Journey.” Work Session: Task #1: (CLASS SET- DO NOT WRITE ON THESE) Read the article “The Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell Task #2: Collaborative Groups: Jigsaw strategy- chunking the article t the ‘Stages of the Hero’s Journey’ per Campbell’s book to complete your graphic organizer. Then, add a simple visual/illustration that represents the stages on the clock. Review Common Formative Assessment – How did you did you measure up? -’Common Formative Assessment’ means all 8th grade students take the assessment (30% category) – then scores are compared for data/growth measures for all of our 8th grade GMS students! 🙂 Homework: READ
Thursday – Warm-Up: – Independent Reading – 15 minutesOpening: What are the stages of the Hero’s Journey Archetype? Work Session: Task #1: Stages of a Hero’s Journey Clock- visuals to represent each stage? Guiding questions complete (3 of them)? Task #2: Students will watch scenes from Big Hero 6 to complete pages 8-9 of their textbook, while tracking the stages of a hero’s journey Closing: Where are we going? Why are we doing these activities and mini-lessons? Homework: READ
25 August/Friday – Warm-Up: Review the Testing 101 guidelines on the back whiteboard Work Session: Task #1: Summative Reading Assessment Closing: Where are we going? Why did we do the activities on the stages this week? Homework: READ – Enjoy the Sunshine!!
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Week of: 14 – 18 August 2017
Standards: ELAGSE8RL1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. ELAGSESL8.1: Prepare for and participate effectively in collaborations with diverse peer groups
14 August– Monday – Opening: Where are we going in Unit One and Why? What are the Skills & Knowledge needed to do well? Work Session: Task #1: Students will use a graphic organizer to analyze and categorize quotes… Identify and define unfamiliar words. Give one example that supports the speaker’s definition of challenge: as an obstacle, a difficult task, or an opportunity. Be prepared to discuss and present tomorrow your group’s analysis and explanation of how the speaker’s definition of challenge connects to the concept of Heroism. Task #2: Presentation format – Collaborative groups share Categorization/Rationale Details (textbook rubric p. 6) Homework: READ
8/15 Tuesday – Opening: When you hear the word challenges, what comes to mind? Is the word positive or negative? How can challenges be helpful to an individual? How can they be harmful?Work Session: Task #1: Students will continue to use their graphic organizer to analyze and categorize quotes…On the back of your paper analyze the quotes for your group’s Category – Courage, Bravery, Negation, Conqueror. Identify and define unfamiliar words. Give one example for each quote or your group’s Category from your background knowledge and/or life event, and literature you’ve read that supports the speaker’s definition of challenge: an obstacle, a difficult task, or an opportunity. HOW does the speaker’s definition of challenge (quotes and/or category) connect to the concept of Heroism? Task #2: Presentation format – Collaborative groups share their Categorization and Rationale (justification) p. 6 RubricClosing: What did you learn today about Listening and Speaking (standard SL8.1)?Homework: READ
8/16 Wednesday– Opening: What is an archetype? Be ready to discuss with your table –one person shares out the information…use your reference resources Work Session: Task #1: Presentation Day! HOW does the speaker’s definition of challenge (quotes or category) connect to the concept of Heroism? – Review the rubric and prep with your group J TASK# 2: Independent Reading session (log your notes after reading…) Task #3: Return and Review Const. Responses Closing: How does the concept of challenge connect to the concept of heroism? Homework: Complete the handout on heroes (write legibly) Tomorrow – All 8th grade ELA students will take a Formative Reading Assessment (score)
8/17 Thursday– Opening: Review your homework handout on heroes – place it in the task basket assigned to your period. Work Session: Task #1: Close Read the article while annotating everything you read – Common Formative Assessment 1 Task#2: Independent Reading session (log your notes after reading…) Closing: 1st,3rd& 4th (only) How does the concept of challenge connect to the concept of heroism? Place on a piece of notebook paper in paragraph form or draw a Venn diagram to complete/respond Homework: READ
8/18 Friday– Opening: What is Close Reading? Why does it matter? Use your resources, textbook, etc. Work Session: 10 minutes to complete yesterday’s assessment. Construct a Response next week for your independent reading – keep reading and logging your notes! Task #1: Students will read and annotate pages 7-9 of their textbook, annotating the ‘Hero’s Journey Archetype’ – Steps & Explanation…Circle the verbs and underline important phrases to help you understand the stages p. 8-9 Task#2: Review page 13 of your binder (Unpacked EA#1) How does this activity connect to Embedded Assessment #1 – write the answer at the bottom of page 7 or in the notes section (blue) of page 6. Homework: READ and enjoy the sunshine! 🙂
Attachment Pages 7-9: Student Makeup Work p. 7-9 Activity1.2 UnitOneHeroism…Evans
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Week of: 7-11 August 2017
Standards: ELAGSE8RL1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. ELAGSE8W10: Write routinely over extended time frames ELAGSE8SL1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions a. Come to discussions prepared, having read or researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
7 August- Monday – Reading Inventory (Pre-Assessment – all classes) This assessment is critical to determine each student’s growth need/areas of weakness. All student’s will need to have a book to read upon completion. Unit One begins tomorrow – “The Challenge of Heroism”
8/8 Tuesday – Unit One- “The Challenge of Heroism” Students are encouraged to find a fiction or non-fiction text that follows a hero’s journey. Book lists are available in the back of the student textbooks on p. 355 (housed in the classroom). Recommendations/possibilities to read/select for the Independent Reading book requirement via reading logs for the weekly formative assessment discussed with students. Absent? Make up Reading Inventory (SRI) will be administered soon – office will announce
Task #1: Independent Reading 20 minutes (3 days/week) – Be prepared to write a Constructed Response (formative) this week. Genre list page 5 (AC ELA binder)
Task #2 – 3: Springboard 8th ELA Textbook Unit One Goals and Expectations of UNIT ONE…Q–H-T & -Where are we Going and WHY?
Homework: Read!
8/9 Wednesday -Task #1: Independent Reading – Be prepared to write a Constructed Response (Formative Assessment) Friday Task #2: Class discussion and review of last week’s constructed responses – What should it look like and how is it scored? Pre-Assessments? Let’s review Homework: Read!
8/10 Thursday – Task #1: Goals & Expectations of UNIT ONE…resumes…Grammar Pre-Assessment for Unit 1: Appostives, Prepositions, Verb Moods – oh my! What do you know? Task #2: Unit One – Review your notes what is a hero and how do you know? Explain. Together we will help you to unpack Embedded Assessment 1 Task #3: Exit Ticket – Use a post-it note…paraphrase the 2 of the 4 goals. Where are WE going and WHY?
8/11 Friday – Task #1: Constructed Response from your independent weekly reading: Do any of the characters remind you of friends, family members, or classmates? Explain. Task #2: Review the Grammar Pre-Assessment for Unit 1: Appostives, Prepositions, Verb Moods Task #3: Unit One – Review your notes what is a hero and how do you know? / Review your unpacked Embedded Assessment 1 from yesterday Task #4: Homework: READ
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Week of: 31 July – 4 August 2017
7/31 Monday – Welcome to the First Day of your 8th grade year!
- Icebreakers, Discuss/Review Griffin MS School Expectations, Policies, and PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) – Wildcats – Be Here! Be Ready! Be Respectful!
- Parents please sign and return all paperwork as soon as possible – Thanks
8/1 Tuesday – Interest Inventory – Who are YOU? – How do YOU learn? -Course Syllabus review (late work, attendance, expectations, average requirements, etc. discussed) *Students should return the parent signature portion to class tomorrow 🙂
8/2 Wednesday – Collection of Course Syllabus Signature slips – Learning Inventory “Multiple Intelligences” – Complete “Find Someone Who…” – Prep/Organize ELA Binders (first 10 pages) – Review of our school-wide PBIS Traits 🙂
8/3 Thursday – Pre-Assessment – Paperwork collection (syllabus, clinic cards, parent forms, etc.) – Pre-Assessment (writing) – Pre-Assessment Reading (Monday) -Writing Portfolios set and binders organized (1st 10 pages) – Review of PBIS Traits (school-wide) – Be Here! Be Ready! Be Respectful! Be Great! Be Griffin!
8/4 Friday -Reading Logs (Depth of Knowledge-DOK) – Independent Reading Formative Assessment via Constructed Response – Springboard Textbook Scavenger Hunt – Pre-Assessment (writing for absent students) – Week One Wrap up discussion 🙂
