Monday, October 26, 2015

October 26, 2015 - October 30, 2015


10/26/15 – 10/30/15

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: CDT Testing in computer lab (make ups); all other students will work on the comic strip assignment for Act 3, scene 1 of the play (due on Friday)

Tuesday: Discuss themes and symbolism in Romeo and Juliet so far; introduce a mock “Facebook” project and students will work on the project in class with their partners today; assign due date for the project

Wednesday: Students will work on their “Facebook” profiles based on the characters in the play. They will use laptops to create them.

Thursday: Work on “Facebook” profile project using laptops

Friday: As a class, we will continue to read the play together with assigned parts. Students will read Act 3, scene 2 of the play and discuss study guide questions together.

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What themes from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” are still relevant in today’s society and how do we relate to them?

Which dramatic elements help make Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet” so popular with its audience?

 

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: CDT Testing in computer lab (make ups); other students will research possible topics related to environmental issues for their argumentative essays

Tuesday: Students will be given the due date for the argumentative essay assignment today. They will work on researching their topics online using the laptops, and they will also work on their thesis statements. We will examine examples together and discuss how to write an effective thesis statement as well as other information that should be included in the introduction paragraph of the essay.

Wednesday: Students will work on the argumentative essay assignment today in class. They will use information from their research to fill in their outlines.

Thursday: Students will work on the outline for the argumentative essay.

Friday: Students will work on writing the argumentative essay today in class. We will discuss how to give credit to the sources that they use within their essay.

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What are the various types of sentences that we use In speaking and writing and how do we differentiate between these different types?

How do we differentiate between the complete subject/predicate and simple subject/predicate of a sentence, and how do we make sure we are using these parts correctly in our own writing?

How do we find the subject in different types of sentences and why is it important to know its location?

What are the different kinds of conjunctions and how do we use them correctly in our own writing?

What specific elements make up argumentative writing and how do we incorporate these elements into our own argumentative writing?

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Discuss Lit. circle work for chapters 2 and 3. Students will then read chapter 4 together as a class and complete discussion questions for chapter 4.

Tuesday: Students will read chapter 5 in class today and complete discussion questions for this chapter. Students will turn in discussion question sheets for chapters 4 and 5 today. Students will also work in lit. circle groups to complete work for chapters 4 and 5. They will keep the same job that they had for the first two chapters of the book.

Wednesday: Students must read chapters 6 and 7 of the book and complete the discussion questions for these chapters today.

Thursday: Discuss chapters 6 and 7 together. Students will finish lit. circle work for chapters 4 and 5 and share with their group members.

Friday: Review of terms from the notes – Students will identify information presented in the exposition of the book as well as any information that contributes to the rising action of the story. Students will also identify any dramatic irony within the story up to this point as well as describe the point of view.

Essential Questions: How can we effectively comprehend and analyze informational text and use the text details to support claims?

What essential elements make up informational texts and how do we differentiate between these elements in our analyses?

 

PSSA Language Arts 7/8 (Period 5B: Odd and Even Days)

Monday (Even): Finish examining sensory details and precise language. Students will complete quiz questions on this section. Packet is due next class.

Tuesday (Odd): Finish examining sensory details and precise language. Students will complete quiz questions on this section. Packet is due next class.

Wednesday (Even): Students will read and use talking to text to analyze a news article. They must then answer specific questions on the article and write a written response explaining their thoughts about how the article was written.

Thursday (Odd): Students will read and use talking to text to analyze a news article. They must then answer specific questions on the article and write a written response explaining their thoughts about how the article was written.

Friday (Even): Finish reading and analyzing the article presented during the previous class.

Essential Questions:

What kinds of reading strategies help us navigate and comprehend informational texts?

How can reading strategies, like talking to text, help us understand questions on the PSSA tests?

What makes up an effective introduction and conclusion and how do we incorporate these elements into our own writing?

How do we effectively support and develop our topics throughout our writing?

How do we organize our ideas well and use transitions to successfully guide our readers through our writing pieces?

How do sensory details and precise language help to better communicate our messages in our writing?

Monday, October 19, 2015

October 19, 2015 - October 23, 2015


10/19/15 – 10/23/15

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: CDT Testing in computer lab

Tuesday: CDT Testing in computer lab

Wednesday: Make-up quizzes for Act 2 (anyone who still needs to take the quiz); Finish discussing notes on theme and symbolism; Introduce Facebook project; students will begin to work on Facebook project using information from the play; assign due date

Thursday: Work on Facebook profile using laptops

Friday: Work on Facebook profile using laptops

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What themes from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” are still relevant in today’s society and how do we relate to them?

Which dramatic elements help make Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet” so popular with its audience?

 

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: CDT Testing in computer lab

Tuesday: CDT Testing in computer lab

Wednesday: Unit One Exam

Thursday: Finish exam (if needed); students will also discuss argumentative writing and be introduced to a writing assignment; they will begin work on the first part of this assignment today in class

Friday: Work on argumentative writing assignment (part one – topic and thesis statement)

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What are the various types of sentences that we use In speaking and writing and how do we differentiate between these different types?

How do we differentiate between the complete subject/predicate and simple subject/predicate of a sentence, and how do we make sure we are using these parts correctly in our own writing?

How do we find the subject in different types of sentences and why is it important to know its location?

What are the different kinds of conjunctions and how do we use them correctly in our own writing?

What specific elements make up argumentative writing and how do we incorporate these elements into our own argumentative writing?

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Hoot novel – discuss chapter 2 discussion questions together in class. Students will also be placed into groups for their literature circles today. We will discuss the instructions and objectives for the lit. circles. Groups will complete their assigned tasks for the first two chapters of the book.

Tuesday: Literature circles – groups will discuss work for the first two chapters and turn this in when finished. Read chapter 3 together as a class. Students will work on discussion questions for tomorrow.

Wednesday: Discuss chapter 3 questions and read chapter 4 of the book. Students will complete chapter 4 discussion questions for tomorrow.

Thursday: Direct vs. indirect characterization activity – students will work with a partner to find examples of direct and indirect characterization in the chapters read so far. We will discuss these together as a class.

Friday: Literature circles – students will work in their groups to complete their assigned tasks for chapters 3 and 4. This work is due on Monday.

Essential Questions: How can we effectively comprehend and analyze informational text and use the text details to support claims?

What essential elements make up informational texts and how do we differentiate between these elements in our analyses?

 

PSSA Language Arts 7/8 (Period 5B: Odd and Even Days)

Monday (Even): Students will turn in their completed quiz questions on transitions and organizing ideas from last week (if they have not already done so). We will then discuss the last section of the writing unit: Precise language and sensory details. Students will highlight key ideas in the notes and complete an activity on sensory details.

Tuesday (Odd): Students will turn in their completed quiz questions on transitions and organizing ideas from last week (if they have not already done so). We will then discuss the last section of the writing unit: Precise language and sensory details. Students will highlight key ideas in the notes and complete an activity on sensory details.

Wednesday (Even): Discuss correct answers to the transitions/organizing ideas questions. Students will have the opportunity during class today to write explanations for the questions they got wrong. They must write down why the answer was wrong and explain the correct answer in their own words. If time permits, we will discuss the sensory details activity together.

Thursday (Odd): Discuss correct answers to the transitions/organizing ideas questions. Students will have the opportunity during class today to write explanations for the questions they got wrong. They must write down why the answer was wrong and explain the correct answer in their own words. If time permits, we will discuss the sensory details activity together.

Friday (Even): Finish examining sensory details and precise language. Students will complete quiz questions on this section. Packet is due next class.

Essential Questions:

What kinds of reading strategies help us navigate and comprehend informational texts?

How can reading strategies, like talking to text, help us understand questions on the PSSA tests?

What makes up an effective introduction and conclusion and how do we incorporate these elements into our own writing?

How do we effectively support and develop our topics throughout our writing?

How do we organize our ideas well and use transitions to successfully guide our readers through our writing pieces?

How do sensory details and precise language help to better communicate our messages in our writing?

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

October 12, 2015 - October 16, 2015


10/12/15 – 10/16/15

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Act 80 Full Day

Tuesday: Review Act 2 of play; students will work in groups to identify causes and effects from Act 2 based on events presented to them. Quiz on Act 2 will be on Thursday.

Wednesday: Finish group activity (cause and effect); finish reviewing Act 2 in preparation for the quiz, which will be tomorrow. Students will also continue watching the movie version of the play.

Thursday: Quiz on Act 2 of R. and J. Students will finish watching Act 2 scenes in the movie as well.

Friday: Theme/symbol group activity – discuss themes and symbols in R. and J.

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What themes from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” are still relevant in today’s society and how do we relate to them?

Which dramatic elements help make Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet” so popular with its audience?

 

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Act 80 Full Day

Tuesday: Finish Hoot vocabulary test from Friday. Discuss fragments/run-ons. Practice section in textbook on fragments/run-ons.

Wednesday: Fragments/run-ons – practice sections in textbook; independent practice on worksheet. Students will also be assigned a review section on unit one. The unit one test is on Friday.

Thursday: Finish discussing fragments/run-ons and compound/complex sentences. Work on review section in textbook (p. 58-59). Review work is due tomorrow.

Friday: Discuss/examine review sections from pages 58-59 (Unit 1 review). Test on unit 1 will be on Wednesday (10/21).

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What are the various types of sentences that we use In speaking and writing and how do we differentiate between these different types?

How do we differentiate between the complete subject/predicate and simple subject/predicate of a sentence, and how do we make sure we are using these parts correctly in our own writing?

How do we find the subject in different types of sentences and why is it important to know its location?

What are the different kinds of conjunctions and how do we use them correctly in our own writing?

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Act 80 Full Day

Tuesday: Finish nonfiction test today.

Wednesday: Discuss novel elements notes (plot, plot diagram, dramatic irony, conflict). Students will also complete an anticipation guide sheet for the novel Hoot and we will discuss this together in groups and as a class.

Thursday: Distribute Hoot novels and literature circle instructions. Discuss how the literature circles will operate throughout the novel. Students will also receive discussion questions for each chapter of the book. We will begin reading together as a class today. Students will work on completing the discussion questions for ch. 1 and 2 for homework.

Friday: Discuss questions for ch. 1 and 2 of Hoot. Students will meet with literature circles and begin work for the first two chapters. Each student will be assigned a role within their group for the first 5 chapters. After those chapters are read and completed, the roles will switch within groups so that all students have the opportunity to work in all five roles at some point throughout the book.

Essential Questions: How can we effectively comprehend and analyze informational text and use the text details to support claims?

What essential elements make up informational texts and how do we differentiate between these elements in our analyses?

 

PSSA Language Arts 7/8 (Period 5B: Odd and Even Days)

Monday: Act 80 Full Day

Tuesday (Even): Students will finish their work on identifying transitions within a piece of text. We will discuss their findings together and label the transitions according to the note sheet that was provided. Discuss notes on paragraph flow and logical order.

Wednesday (Odd): Work on identifying transitions within a piece of text. We will discuss their findings together and label the transitions according to the note sheet that was provided. Discuss notes on paragraph flow and logical order.

Thursday (Even): Finish discussing notes on paragraph flow and logical order. Students will complete quiz questions for this topic as well as for transitions.

Friday (Odd): Finish discussing notes on paragraph flow and logical order. Students will complete quiz questions for this topic as well as for transitions.

Essential Questions:

What kinds of reading strategies help us navigate and comprehend informational texts?

How can reading strategies, like talking to text, help us understand questions on the PSSA tests?

What makes up an effective introduction and conclusion and how do we incorporate these elements into our own writing?

How do we effectively support and develop our topics throughout our writing?

How do we organize our ideas well and use transitions to successfully guide our readers through our writing pieces?

Monday, October 5, 2015

October 5, 2015 - October 9, 2015


10/5/15 – 10/9/15

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Review character web and study guide questions from Act 1, scenes 1 and 2. Begin to read scene 3 together with assigned parts. Students will also complete study guide questions for scene 3 as we read.

Tuesday: Continue to read Act 2 together. Students will work in groups to complete study guide questions. We will discuss responses as a class.

Wednesday: Continue to read Act 2 together. Students will work in groups to complete study guide questions. We will discuss responses as a class.

Thursday: Finish reading R and J, Act 2 today. Students will complete study guide questions as we read and we will discuss these as a class. Quiz for Act 2 will be on Tuesday.

Friday: Cause and effect activity for Act 2: Students will work in small groups on this activity using the textbook and provided materials. We will discuss responses together.

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What themes from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” are still relevant in today’s society and how do we relate to them?

Which dramatic elements help make Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet” so popular with its audience?

 

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Complete Hoot vocabulary squares for the next eight terms on the list (found in ch. 6 and 7 of Hoot novel). Completed squares are due on Wednesday. The test on these terms will be Friday. Students must also check over their work on simple subject and predicate from the textbook (p. 46-47) and make corrections for tomorrow.

Tuesday: Discuss exercises on pages 46-47 together as a class. Identify simple subject and predicate in inverted and interrogative sentences. Students will complete a worksheet on finding the subject in these types of sentences also. They will turn in the worksheet today.

Wednesday: Review Hoot vocabulary squares together for the next 8 words. Test on these words is Friday.

Thursday: Discuss next section in textbook on conjunctions. We will discuss examples together and students will practice identifying conjunctions and using them in sentences by completing the exercises in the book out loud and with a partner. Independent practice with worksheet on conjunctions.

Friday: Hoot vocabulary test today. Students must use each vocabulary word from the list correctly in an original sentence.

Essential Questions: How does learning new vocabulary words help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

What are the various types of sentences that we use In speaking and writing and how do we differentiate between these different types?

How do we differentiate between the complete subject/predicate and simple subject/predicate of a sentence, and how do we make sure we are using these parts correctly in our own writing?

How do we find the subject in different types of sentences and why is it important to know its location?

What are the different kinds of conjunctions and how do we use them correctly in our own writing?

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Work on expository text assignment, which is due tomorrow. Students will also receive a nonfiction article to read and use the talking to text method with. They must also answer multiple choice questions for the article and respond to a RACERS prompt. They will work on this in class today and finish it in class tomorrow. Test on nonfiction will be on Thursday.

Tuesday: Turn in expository text assignment today. Finish article with questions and RACERS prompt. Students will then be grouped to discuss their article with others who had a different article. They will summarize and discuss the RACERS they completed. We will discuss this together as a class as well.

Wednesday: Review nonfiction notes, skills, etc. for test, which will be tomorrow.

Thursday: Nonfiction test today. After the test, students will take notes on plot elements, conflict, setting, point of view, and dramatic irony using a Cornell Note sheet.

Friday: Discuss notes on plot elements, conflict, setting, point of view, and dramatic irony. Students will label a plot diagram also and we will review this together.

Essential Questions: How can we effectively comprehend and analyze informational text and use the text details to support claims?

What essential elements make up informational texts and how do we differentiate between these elements in our analyses?

 

PSSA Language Arts 7/8 (Period 5B: Odd and Even Days)

Monday (Odd): Discuss the Gettysburg Address activity on central ideas and supporting details. Students will turn these in today also.

Tuesday (Even): Students will work on completing questions on developing and supporting topics. They will turn these in today also. Students will then take notes on and discuss the next writing topics, organizing ideas and transitions.

Wednesday (Odd): Students will work on completing questions on developing and supporting topics. They will turn these in today also. Students will then take notes on and discuss the next writing topics, organizing ideas and transitions.

Thursday (Even): Discuss notes on organizing ideas and transitions and begin practice questions for these topics today. Questions are due next class meeting.

Friday (Odd): Discuss notes on organizing ideas and transitions and begin practice questions for these topics today. Questions are due next class meeting.

Essential Questions:

What kinds of reading strategies help us navigate and comprehend informational texts?

How can reading strategies, like talking to text, help us understand questions on the PSSA tests?

What makes up an effective introduction and conclusion and how do we incorporate these elements into our own writing?

How do we effectively support and develop our topics throughout our writing?

How do we organize our ideas well and use transitions to successfully guide our readers through our writing pieces?