December 17, 2012 - December 21, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Nonfiction tests will be returned and discussed. Students will then begin reading a short story together in class (“The Gift of the Magi”). As students read, they will mark their talking to text notes on the story sheet. As a class, we will discuss their notes together.

·         English 8 – Students will take a comprehension quiz on the story, “The Lady or the Tiger.” Students will then be introduced to coordinating conjunctions. Students will discuss what they already know about conjunctions and then begin work on identifying these within sentences. Students will also combine sentences in their writing using coordinating conjunction and we will discuss examples on the board together. Students will take a quiz on coordinating conjunctions tomorrow.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Even - Nonfiction tests will be returned and discussed. Students will then begin reading a short story together in class (“The Gift of the Magi”). As students read, they will mark their talking to text notes on the story sheet. As a class, we will discuss their notes together.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on coordinating conjunctions. We will then discuss notes on subordinating conjunctions together and examine examples on the board. Students will work on identifying and using subordinating conjunctions by completing exercises in the packet. Students will take a quiz on these tomorrow.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will continue reading the short story, “The Gift of the Magi” together in class. Students will continue to write talking to text notes as they read. We will discuss these together when finished the story. Students will also work on completing discussion questions after reading the story. Reading Log Notebooks will be collected today.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on subordinating conjunctions. Students will then discuss notes and examples of correlative conjunctions together. Students will also work on exercises in the packet on correlative conjunctions and a revision activity in the packet.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Even – Students will continue reading the short story, “The Gift of the Magi” together in class. Students will continue to write talking to text notes as they read. We will discuss these together when finished the story. Students will also work on completing discussion questions after reading the story. Reading Log Notebooks will be collected today.

·         English 8 – Students will turn in their completed conjunctions packet today. Students will also begin working on the section on verbs. Students will discuss what they already know about verbs and the different types of verbs. Students will then work on identifying action verbs in sentences and using action verbs in writing by completing exercises in the verbs packet.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will discuss the questions from the short story together. We will discuss the theme of the story and the conflict and characters within it as well. Students will turn in their discussion question worksheet today at the end of class.

·         English 8 – Students will continue working on identifying and using action verbs in writing by completing action verb exercises in the verbs packet.

December 10, 2012 - December 14, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Even – Students will take a test on nonfiction. Students will also be introduced to the next unit of study in the textbook (short stories). Students will define vocabulary terms for the unit on page 231 in the textbook.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss “The Lady or the Tiger” packet (numbers 1-7). Students will review the vocabulary terms that were defined from the story together. Students will have a quiz on these words tomorrow.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will write a reading log response in their notebooks on the conflict in the novel they are currently reading. Students will then discuss the big question for the unit (“Can all conflicts be resolved?”) p. 230-231 in textbook. Students will discuss and take down notes from pages 234-235 on short stories.

·         English 8 – Students will complete numbers 8 – 13 in the story packet. Students will work with a partner to analyze the story and identify the resolution, interpret quotes from the story, and write extended journal responses related to the story.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Even – Students will write a reading log response in their notebooks on the conflict in the novel they are currently reading. Students will then discuss the big question for the unit (“Can all conflicts be resolved?”) p. 230-231 in textbook. Students will discuss and take down notes from pages 234-235 on short stories.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss numbers 8-13 from the story packet. We will examine examples from each section on the board.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will discuss the vocabulary terms that were defined in notebooks for the unit (p. 231 in textbook). Students will also begin reading the short story, “Who Can Replace a Man?” on pages 246-260. Students will talk to the text as they read together in class.

·         English 8 – Students will work with a partner to complete activities 14-16 in the story packet.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Even – Students will discuss the vocabulary terms that were defined in notebooks for the unit (p. 231 in textbook). Students will also begin reading the short story, “Who Can Replace a Man?” on pages 246-260. Students will talk to the text as they read together in class.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss numbers 14-16 together as a class by examining examples from each section on the board. Students will then review the events from the story in preparation for a comprehension quiz on Monday.

December 3, 2012 - December 7, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will discuss the notes from last week on types of nonfiction. As a class, we will also review the vocabulary terms and definitions that were defined for today on nonfiction. We will have a test on this information on Friday. Students will also respond to the big question in their reading log notebook relating to the magazine article they read for today. We will discuss responses together and students will turn in the packet with the article and questions.

·         English 8 – Students will take a test on vocabulary lessons 9 and 10. When finished, students will read the story, “The Lady or the Tiger” together as a class while highlighting and chunking sections of the story.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Even - Students will discuss the notes from last week on types of nonfiction. As a class, we will also review the vocabulary terms and definitions that were defined for today on nonfiction. We will have a test on this information on Monday. Students will also respond to the big question in their reading log notebook relating to the magazine article they read for today. We will discuss responses together and students will turn in the packet with the article and questions.

·         English 8 – Students will finish reading “The Lady or the Tiger” together out loud and complete the double-entry journal in the packet. We will discuss the double-entry journal by examining student examples on the board.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will play a review game to review the information on nonfiction that they will need to know for the test on Friday. If time permits at the end of class, students will read their AR books silently or study for the remainder of class time.

·         English 8 – Students will work on contextual clues from the story and prefixes and suffixes. As a class, we will discuss these two sections of the packet together.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Even - Students will play a review game to review the information on nonfiction that they will need to know for the test on Friday. If time permits at the end of class, students will read their AR books silently or study for the remainder of class time.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on the vocabulary terms from yesterday’s context clues activity. Students will then work on numbers 5, 6, 7 in the packet for “The Lady or the Tiger” on setting and plot.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will take a test on nonfiction. When finished, students will read AR books independently and write a response in their notebooks focusing on the conflict in the book. Students will also be introduced to the next unit of study in the textbook (short stories). Students will discuss the big question for this unit (“Can all conflicts be resolved?”) p. 230-231 in textbook. Students will begin to define vocabulary terms for the unit in notebooks.

·         English 8 – Students will complete numbers 8 – 13 in the story packet. Students will work with a partner to analyze the story and identify the resolution, interpret quotes from the story, and write extended journal responses related to the story.

November 26, 2012 - November 30, 2012

Monday - No School

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – As a class, we will discuss the PSSA lesson on “Using Self-Monitoring Strategies.” Students will reflect on the strategies they used to navigate the passages in the packet. Students will turn in the PSSA lesson packets today. Students will then write down notes in their notebooks on the elements of nonfiction writing and the different types of nonfiction writing. We will discuss these together as a class.

·         English 8 – Students will be in the library on computers to type the final copy of their persuasive essay today.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Even - As a class, we will discuss the PSSA lesson on “Using Self-Monitoring Strategies.” Students will reflect on the strategies they used to navigate the passages in the packet. Students will turn in the PSSA lesson packets today. Students will then write down notes in their notebooks on the elements of nonfiction writing and the different types of nonfiction writing. We will discuss these together as a class.

·         English 8 – Students will be in the library on computers to type the final copy of their persuasive essay today.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will read and analyze a magazine article in the textbook titled, “Sun Suckers and Moon Cursers.” Students will be identifying the main idea and supporting details from the article in their T2T notes. Students will discuss the elements of magazine articles and how they are different from other types of texts. They will then respond to critical thinking questions and the big question for the unit.

·         English 8 – Students will define vocabulary terms for lessons 9 and 10. Students will also work on writing sentences for these words in class today. This vocabulary work is due tomorrow.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Even - Students will read and analyze a magazine article in the textbook titled, “Sun Suckers and Moon Cursers.” Students will be identifying the main idea and supporting details from the article in their T2T notes. Students will discuss the elements of magazine articles and how they are different from other types of texts. They will then respond to critical thinking questions and the big question for the unit.

·         English 8 – Students will review the vocabulary definitions and sentences for terms in lessons 9 and 10 Students will have a test on these terms on Monday.

November 19, 2012 - November 23, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Even – Students will turn in their final copy and rough draft of the memoir. Students will complete a lesson from the PSSA book on “Self Monitoring Strategies.”

·         English 8 – Students will discuss the review sheet on adjectives and adverbs in small groups and together as a class in preparation for a test tomorrow. Students will also complete practice sentences to choose the correct adjective or adverb as a review for the test.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Odd – Students will turn in their final copy and rough draft of the memoir. Students will read passages about the Thanksgiving holiday and respond to discussion questions in their reading log notebook. As a class, we will discuss these together after groups have discussed them.

·         English 8 – Students will take a test on adjectives and adverbs. When finished, students will begin to work on the rough draft of a persuasive essay. Students will have the opportunity to choose from several writing prompts.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Even - Students will read passages about the Thanksgiving holiday and respond to discussion questions in their reading log notebook. As a class, we will discuss these together after groups have discussed them.

·         English 8 – Students will work on writing the persuasive essay in class today. The rough draft must be done by Tuesday after Thanksgiving break. We will be working in the library on computers when we return from Thanksgiving break to type the final copy of the essay.

Thursday - No School - Thanksgiving holiday

Friday - No School - Thanksgiving holiday       

November 12, 2012 - November 16, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss the talking to text notes from “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi” together as a class. Students will turn in their notes today. Students will then work on the rough draft of their memoir for the remainder of class. Rough draft is due in class on Wednesday and the final copy is due on Tuesday, November 20^th.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss adverbs and what they already know about them. Students will also complete a section in the adverbs packet identifying adverbs in sentences. As a class, we will examine some examples together on the board when students are finished.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss the talking to text notes from “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi” together as a class. Students will turn in their notes today. Students will then work on the rough draft of their memoir for the remainder of class. Rough draft is due in class on Thursday and the final copy is due on Monday, November 19^th.

·         English 8 – Students will work with a partner on the adverbs packet (manipulation and comparison sections). Students will complete several activities to manipulate adverbs within sentences and to correctly use comparisons with different types of adverbs.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will peer edit their essay with a partner and make necessary revisions. Students will participate in a gallery walk in order to make comments and suggestions for essays. Final copy of the essay is due on Tuesday. Students will also complete a lesson from the PSSA book on reading consumer documents, such as schedules.

·         English 8 – Students will complete the last section in the adj./adverbs packet on “differentiating between adjectives and adverbs. They must complete several writing assignments in the packet in order to write sentences using adjectives and adverbs correctly. Students will then complete supplemental exercises in the textbook on pages 214-215, 220, and 234 on adjectives versus adverbs.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Students will peer edit their essay with a partner and make necessary revisions. Students will participate in a gallery walk in order to make comments and suggestions for essays. Final copy of the essay is due on Tuesday. Students will also complete a lesson from the PSSA book on reading consumer documents, such as schedules.

·         English 8 – Students will finish the adj. and adverbs assignments in the packet and textbook. As a class, we will discuss some examples on the board together and students will begin a review sheet on adjectives and adverbs.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Students will complete a lesson from the PSSA book on “Self Monitoring Strategies.”

·         English 8 – Students will work individually on the review sheet on adjectives and adverbs. As a class, we will discuss these examples together as a review for the test on adjectives and adverbs. The test will be on Monday.

November 5, 2012 - November 9, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Students will review for a quiz on plot and conflict together as a class. The quiz will be on Wednesday. Students will also discuss the critical analysis questions on the worksheet that was completed for today on the story, “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi.” Students will discuss author’s purpose and the type of nonfiction it is as well as role play the conflict within the story. When finished, students will be given a writing assignment to complete based on the story we read. They will be required to write a memoir about a meaningful personal experience/event in their life. We will discuss the requirements for the assignment together.

·         English 8 – Students will begin working with adjectives. They will identify adjectives within sentences and write synonyms and antonyms for adjectives in their adjectives packet. Students will also begin working on Lesson 2 in the PSSA Coach book.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will review for a quiz on plot and conflict together as a class. The quiz will be on Thursday. Students will also discuss the critical analysis questions on the worksheet that was completed for today on the story, “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi.” Students will discuss author’s purpose and the type of nonfiction it is as well as role play the conflict within the story. When finished, students will be given a writing assignment to complete based on the story we read. They will be required to write a memoir about a meaningful personal experience/event in their life. We will discuss the requirements for the assignment together.

·         English 8 – As a class, we will discuss the sections in the adjectives packet and PSSA Coach book from yesterday. Students will also discuss possessive and proper adjectives and complete practice sections in the packet on each.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will take a quiz on plot and conflict. When finished, students will brainstorm and work on the rough draft of their essays. Together, we will discuss the writing process and each step that needs to be taken in order to write effectively.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss degrees of adjectives together as a class (adjective comparisons). Students will then work with a partner to complete a practice section on degrees of adjectives in the packet. Students will take a quiz on adjectives tomorrow.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Students will take a quiz on plot and conflict. When finished, students will brainstorm and work on the rough draft of their essays. Together, we will discuss the writing process and each step that needs to be taken in order to write effectively.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on the different types of adjectives. When finished, students will discuss adverbs and what they already know about them. Students will also complete a section in the adverbs packet identifying adverbs in sentences.

Friday - Act 80 Day

October 31, 2012 - November 2, 2012

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will begin reading “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi,” by Mark Twain. In this nonfictional piece, students will examine conflict and resolution as well as make predictions. Students will use the think aloud and talking to text strategies while reading together and on their own.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on possessive nouns. When finished, students will complete the section on appositives in the nouns packet and discuss notes on appositives.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Students will begin reading “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi,” by Mark Twain. In this nonfictional piece, students will examine conflict and resolution as well as make predictions. Students will use the think aloud and talking to text strategies while reading together and on their own.

·         English 8 – Students will review appositives by discussing the section in the nouns packet together. Students will have a quiz on appositives tomorrow. Students will also begin working with adjectives. They will identify adjectives within sentences and write synonyms and antonyms for adjectives in their adjectives packet.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Students will work with a partner to complete a worksheet in order to analyze and write about “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi.” Students will determine what type of nonfiction this piece is and discuss the author’s purpose in writing it. Students will have a quiz on conflict and parts of plot next week.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on appositives. When finished, students will complete lesson 2 in the PSSA Coach book on adjectives. As a class, we will discuss this together. Students will then work with a partner on the next section in the packet on possessive and proper adjectives.

October 22, 2012 - October 26, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Collect Reading Log notebooks to be graded. As a class, we will discuss the critical thinking questions from the textbook on the story, “Raymond’s Run.” Students will then review conflict within the story and review the types of conflict as well as the elements of plot.  

·         English 8 – Students will read and respond to practice Study Island reading passages (focusing on summarization). As a class, we will discuss these together to analyze our responses. Students will then work on finishing the section in the nouns packet on singular and plural nouns.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – As a class, we will discuss the critical thinking questions from the textbook on the story, “Raymond’s Run.” Students will then review conflict within the story and review the types of conflict as well as the elements of plot.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss gerunds and gerund phrases and singular and plural nouns together by examining the work within the packet. As a class, we will discuss responses together on the board. Students will have a quiz on gerunds tomorrow in class.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss the big question relating to the next story they will read: “Cub Pilot on the Mississippi” by Mark Twain. Students will preview the story and discuss the type of text it is as compared to “Raymond’s Run.” Students will then begin to read the story while using the think aloud and talking to text reading strategies. Students will finish reading the story on their own for homework.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on gerunds. When finished, students will finish reviewing singular and plural nouns. Students will have a quiz on singular and plural nouns tomorrow in class. Students will also begin working on the next section in the nouns packet (possessive nouns).

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Students will be in a computer lab or in the library on computers to take a Reading Benchmark test on Study Island.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on singular and plural nouns. When finished the quiz, students will examine their work on the possessive nouns section of the packet by discussing examples on the board. Students will have a quiz on possessive nouns tomorrow.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Students will be in a computer lab or in the library on computers to take a Reading Benchmark test on Study Island.

·         English 8 – Students will take a quiz on possessive nouns. When finished, students will complete the section on appositives in the nouns packet. Students will discuss this section together and have a quiz next week on appositives.

October 15, 2012 - October 19, 2012

Monday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss the elements of plot and what their purposes are within a story. Students will also discuss making predictions within the next story they will read: “Raymond’s Run,” and how the big question relates to this story. Students will read the first part of the story with a partner while using the talking to text/think aloud strategy. They will finish reading the story on their own using talking to the text and responding to the guided questions that follow the story.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss gerunds by viewing samples on the board and writing their own samples. Students will practice identifying gerunds with a partner first in the gerund section of the nouns packet. They will then create their own gerund phrases on their own in the packet.

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss the elements of plot and what their purposes are within a story. Students will also discuss making predictions within the next story they will read: “Raymond’s Run,” and how the big question relates to this story. Students will read the first part of the story with a partner while using the talking to text/think aloud strategy. They will finish reading the story on their own using talking to the text and responding to the guided questions that follow the story.

·         English 8 – Students will go to the library to take a benchmark test on Study Island on computers.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss their talking to text notes by examining samples on the board. Students will then work with a partner to complete the critical thinking/analysis questions in the textbook on the story, “Raymond’s Run.”

·         English 8 – Students will go to the library to work on various lessons on Study Island based on their benchmark scores.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss their talking to text notes by examining samples on the board. Students will then work with a partner to complete the critical thinking/analysis questions in the textbook on the story, “Raymond’s Run.”

·         English 8 – Students will go to the library to work on various lessons on Study Island based on their benchmark scores.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – As a class, we will discuss the critical thinking questions from the textbook on the story, “Raymond’s Run.” Students will then review conflict within the story and review the types of conflict as well as the elements of plot. Students will have a quiz on plot and conflict next week.

·         English 8 – Students will complete the next section of the nouns packet on singular and plural nouns. Students will work with a partner to write the plural forms of nouns and to write the plural forms of irregular nouns.

October 8, 2012 - October 12, 2012

Monday - Teacher In-Service Day

Tuesday

·         Reading 8 – Students will work from the PSSA book on the lesson on nonfiction and author’s purpose. They will work individually to read through sample PSSA passages using talking to text in order to respond to comprehension and analysis questions.

·         English 8 – Students will discuss mood within the story using the journal responses from yesterday. Students will also write an extended journal response to predict the ending of the story and use evidence from the story to back up their prediction.

Wednesday

·         Reading 8 – As a class, we will review the fiction and nonfiction passages that students completed during the last class period. Students will discuss the elements of fiction/nonfiction as they were presented within the passages and the types of fiction/nonfiction presented. Students will discuss the comprehension and analysis questions for each passage and how talking to text helped when completing these questions.

·         English 8 – Students will work with the text of “Tell Tale Heart” to practice a reading strategy: highlighting and chunking. Students will work with a partner to read each paragraph of “The Tell Tale Heart” while talking to the text and highlighting important information. As a class, we will discuss examples of these on the board together.

Thursday

·         Reading 8 – As a class, we will review the fiction and nonfiction passages that students completed during the last class period. Students will discuss the elements of fiction/nonfiction as they were presented within the passages and the types of fiction/nonfiction presented. Students will discuss the comprehension and analysis questions for each passage and how talking to text helped when completing these questions.

·         English 8 – Students will complete a lesson from the PSSA Coach book on vocabulary and word recognition. Students will complete chapter 1 individually. When finished, students will continue on to chapter 2: using context clues.

Friday

·         Reading 8 – Students will discuss the elements of plot and what their purposes are within a story. Students will also discuss making predictions within the next story they will read: “Raymond’s Run,” and how the big question relates to this story. Students will read the first part of the story with a partner while using the talking to text/think aloud strategy. They will finish reading the story on their own using talking to the text and responding to the guided questions that follow the story.

·         English 8 – Students will begin working with nouns: common and proper. Students will discuss what they already know about these types of nouns. Students will then work with a partner on the first section of nouns and the rest of the common/proper nouns sections within the nouns packet individually. As a class, we will discuss responses to these sections.