Monday, September 30, 2013

English: Students started a review of nouns.  The unit will take two weeks.

Reading: Students continued to practice the identification of various story elements.  Listened to the short story, "Tenner Shoes", and filled in a chart.

       Book report is due October 24th!!!!!


MEAP testing begins next week.

Friday, September 27, 2013

English:  completed unit on sentence structures

Reading:  Assigned the book Summer of the Swans. Students have a comprehension worksheet and the rubric for the book report. All of the assignments are due at the beginning of the hour on October 24th.

     Have a happy weekend!!

Thursday. September 26, 2013

  Reading:  Students started reading the short story "Old Ben" yesterday.  They worked on creating a chart of the story elements we have discussed this week and need to fill in examples from the story to go with each element.  In addition, we started learning how to answer questions completely.  They are also working on answering questions # 2,3,4, and  on pg. 158. These are due tomorrow.
        HW: Selection test 39 including essay question #21.

  English:  Continued our review of sentences.
         HW: sentence worksheet #11-run ons and fragments
                  "Enrichment" section is extra credit.



Tomorrow during 8th hour, students may bring their electronics as well as a snack.
Student who have not yet returned their fund raiser materials need to do so as soon as possible.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Reading: Students added a variety of definitions to their vocabulary journals.
      No homework tonight.

Writing: Students continued to work on their "Embarrassing Moments" essay.  The final draft is due tomorrow.  Students will have to turn in their brainstorming sheet, illustration, rough draft, and final draft.
      HW: finish essay/illustration

Monday, September 23, 2013

Writing:  Students have been working on a four paragraph essay, "My Most Embarrassing Moment". We started it last week, in class, and it is due on Wednesday.

English: Students began to study complex sentences and using a variety of sentence structures when writing.

Reading: Large group activity to strengthen reading comprehension skills.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Reading: reviewed the story elements found in "The Pigman & Me."

English: Began working on identifying run-on sentences and sentence fragments.  

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Reading: Read an excerpt from The Pigman and Me by Paul Zindel.  Students could read with a partner or individually.
                 Homework: Vocabulary/Internal conflict worksheet- due Wed.

English: Reviewed and practiced conjunctions.
                 Homework: Simple subject/ sentence types worksheet- due Wed.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Because of the delayed start,  only third hour met for language arts.  On the delayed start days, we use the time to practice timed essay writing.  Students have thirty minutes to write and edit a three paragraph essay.  Students pick their own topic, do their brainstorming, and write the essay.  It must be turned in at the end of the time limit; it cannot be finished later.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

 Reading: Reviewed the multiple choice homework from Tuesday night.  Read "Becky and the Wheel and Brake Boys".
       HW: Reading worksheet #39, front and back

English: Since today was picture day and we missed part of the hour, we did not move ahead in the English text.
       HW: Simple predicate/simple subject worksheet #3.

Fund raiser is underway.  Orders and money are due September 23rd.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

English: students began work with simple subjects and simple predicates.  They did a practice activity in class.  There is no homework.

Reading: Reviewed the story, "Eleven".  Filled in vocabulary journal with the definitions for more story elements.  There is no homework.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

  Reading: Students read the short story, "Eleven", in class.
                 HW: Reading comprehension worksheet that is due tomorrow.

The short story 'Eleven' was written by Sandra Cisneros in 1991. The story appeared in a collection of stories called 'Women Hollering Creek, and Other Stories'. The moral of the story is that one should enjoy life, no matter one's current age.

English: In class, students began learning about the parts of sentences: subjects and predicates.
                 HW: Four types of sentences worksheet that is due tomorrow.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Well- the first week of school is completed and it appears that everyone survived.  This week we will be on our regular schedule in language arts.  There will be activities in class and homework on Tuesday and Thursday.

English: students began learning about the four different kinds of sentences.

     Declarative: a sentence that makes a statement

     Interrogative: a sentence that asks a question

     Imperative: a sentence that gives a command or makes a request

     Exclamatory: shows excitement or strong feeling

Reading: began looking at the elements of stories and how to identify them.

    Students will be keeping a vocabulary journal throughout the year.

Students should have brought home a syllabus last week so that you are able to follow along with our various units throughout each marking period.