Monday, October 31, 2016

October 31, 2016 - November 4, 2016

10/31/16 – 11/04/16
Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)
Monday (10/31): Students will discuss/review analysis questions for “A Quilt of a Country.” Students will work in groups to analyze the structure and craft of the essay. Students will respond to analysis questions in the textbook. The selection test on the essay, “A Quilt of a Country” will be on Friday.
Tuesday (11/01): As a class, we will discuss the analysis questions that groups responded to yesterday. Students will take a self-assessment quiz on “craft and structure” to check for understanding. Students will then complete the concept vocabulary and word study section in the textbook on page 20.  
Wednesday (11/02): Students will complete the sections on word study and vocabulary. Students will discuss these together and take a self-assessment quiz on vocabulary and word study for “A Quilt of a Country.”
Thursday (11/03): We will discuss the self-assessments from yesterday and discuss concepts from the essay that will be assessed on the selection test. Students will take the test tomorrow.
Friday (11/04): Selection test on “Quilt of a Country” – open book.
Essential Questions: Unit One in Textbook – What does it mean to be an American?

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)
Monday (10/31): Students will discuss/review responses for the practice worksheets on adjective and adverb usage. Students will then review the rubric information for the comparison essay and complete a peer review using the rubric information.
Tuesday (11/01): Finish the peer review and revisions. Revised essays must be turned in by Thursday.
Wednesday (11/02): Students will begin the Unit One Performance Task outlined in the textbook (Narrative Nonfiction).
Thursday (11/03): Students will continue to work on the Performance Task for Unit One. They must turn in the revised copy of the comparison essay today also.
Friday (11/04): Students will begin the Unit One Performance Task outlined in the textbook (Narrative Nonfiction). This task is due next week.
Essential Question: Unit One - What can one generation learn from another?



English 11 (Period 3)
Monday (10/31): Continue watching the movie version of “The Crucible.”
Tuesday (11/01): As a class, we will continue reading Act 1 of the play. Students will respond to the study guide questions for Act 1 as we read and we will discuss key events together.
Wednesday (11/02): Continue reading Act 1 of the play. Students will also take a quiz on the literary analysis concepts: character and characterization. We will discuss responses in class.
Thursday (11/03): Students will continue reading Act 1 together with assigned parts. Complete study guide questions for Act 1.
Friday (11/04): Students will finish reading Act 1 together with assigned parts. Complete study guide questions for Act 1. Students will complete a worksheet addressing personal pronoun use within the play, “The Crucible.”
Literature Unit 5 Essential Question – How do we respond when challenged by fear?


PSSA Lang. Arts/SSR 7/8 (Period 5B: A and B Days)
Monday (B) 10/31: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.
Tuesday (A) 11/01: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.
Wednesday (B) 11/02: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Thursday (A) 11/03: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Friday (B) 11/04: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Essential Questions: Why is it important to read novels?

How can reading help us improve grades, communication skills, test taking abilities, etc.?

Monday, October 24, 2016

October 24, 2016 - October 28, 2016

10/24/16 – 10/28/16
Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)
Monday (10/24): Final submissions for the Drug Prevention video script must be turned in today. Students will do corrections on the verbs and adverbs test and turn in corrections before they leave class today. Continue Unit 1 introduction (launch text) and activities.
Tuesday (10/25): Students will read “Quilt of a Country” in the Pearson textbook today and complete a first read and close read of the text following the directions provided. Students will then complete the activities that follow.
Wednesday (10/26): “Quilt of a Country” – students will complete the practice worksheets on “Purpose and Rhetoric” and Vocabulary and word study. Selection test on this text will be Friday. Students may use the book on the test.
Thursday (10/27): “Quilt of a Country” – students will complete the practice worksheets on “Purpose and Rhetoric” and Vocabulary and word study.
Friday (10/28): Selection test on “Quilt of a Country” – open book.
Essential Questions: Unit One in Textbook – What does it mean to be an American?

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)
Monday (10/24): Students will take the selection test on “An Invisible Thread” today in class. Students may use the book to refer back to the text during the test.
Tuesday (10/25): Students will use information/rubrics to evaluate their comparison essay that they wrote. They will evaluate their own essay today and make corrections/revisions. They will keep it in their folder.
Wednesday (10/26): Students will work with a partner to evaluate and revise the comparison essay again. The partner will evaluate the essay with the revisions to mark improvements. Students will turn in their work when finished.
Thursday (10/27): Students will begin the Performance Based Task for Unit 1 of the textbook. Students will work to gather and organize thoughts/ideas following the activities in the book.
Friday (10/28): Students will work on the Performance Based Task for Unit 1 (writing a nonfiction narrative). This is due next week.
Essential Question: Unit One - What can one generation learn from another?


English 11 (Period 3)
Monday (10/24): Read Act 1 of “The Crucible” and complete the study guide questions as we read. We will discuss questions together.
Tuesday (10/25): Students will complete the concept vocabulary and word study worksheet for Act 1 of the play. They will also complete the “Structural Elements of Drama” worksheet in class using the text as a reference. Students will then complete the Literary Analysis practice worksheets (2) during class using the text as a reference.
Wednesday (10/26): Students will review the answers to the worksheets from yesterday and discuss questions/confusions regarding these concepts. Students will continue reading Act 1 together with assigned parts. Complete study guide questions for Act 1.
Thursday (10/27): Students will continue reading Act 1 together with assigned parts. Complete study guide questions for Act 1.
Friday (10/28): Students will continue reading Act 1 together with assigned parts. Complete study guide questions for Act 1. Students will complete a worksheet addressing personal pronoun use within the play, “The Crucible.”
Literature Unit 5 Essential Question – How do we respond when challenged by fear?


PSSA Lang. Arts/SSR 7/8 (Period 5B: A and B Days)
Monday (A) 10/24: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.
Tuesday (B) 10/25: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.
Wednesday (A) 10/26: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Thursday (B) 10/27: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Friday (A) 10/28: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Essential Questions: Why is it important to read novels?

How can reading help us improve grades, communication skills, test taking abilities, etc.?

Monday, October 17, 2016

October 17, 2016 - October 21, 2016

10/17/16 – 10/21/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)
Monday (10/17): Test on prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections; after the test, students will work in their teams on the National Drug Prevention script and video project. The script and video are due on Friday, Oct. 21.
Tuesday (10/18): Students will work in teams on their project today. They may film the video in school or outside of the school day.
Wednesday (10/19): Students will work in teams on their project. It is due on Friday. Teams must turn in a written script and submit their video to the teacher via email.
Thursday (10/20): Begin the Literature Unit 1 in the grade 9 Pearson textbook. Students will explore the unit introduction, including academic vocabulary for the unit as well as the launch text.
Friday (10/21): Students must submit their project by the end of class today for a grade. One chosen entry will re-film the video with Mr. Smith’s guidance and equipment next week, and this “winner” will be submitted to the Attorney General’s office for a chance to win at the state level.
Essential Questions: Unit One - How can improving our vocabulary and grammar usage skills help to improve our reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities?
How can we use media outlets to convey important messages and promote awareness of a particular topic?

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)
Monday (10/17): Students will complete an activity on word choice and its effect on tone and meaning. We will discuss results of this activity together to clarify tone and meaning of a text. Students will then complete practice activities on concept vocabulary and conventions (adverbs). These two worksheets are due tomorrow, if students are not finished before they leave class today.
Tuesday (10/18): Students will watch “Maurice’s toast” on the board as a class. We will discuss this video together as it relates to the unit essential question, “What can one generation learn from another?” We will then read the excerpt from “An Invisible Thread” together and discuss students’ annotations and what they discovered in terms of the point of view for this text (page 47).
Wednesday (10/19): Students will discuss the analysis items for “An Invisible Thread” and then explore the concept vocabulary and conventions (adjectives) from this selection. Students will complete practice activities (worksheet) for adjectives, concept vocabulary, and narrative point of view.
Thursday (10/20): Review results from practice worksheets for concepts/skills based on the text, “An Invisible Thread.” Students will chart their progress with specific skills. Students will take the selection test tomorrow for “An Invisible Thread.” Students will also complete an analysis worksheet to compare the two selections, “A Simple Act” and “An Invisible Thread.” We will discuss this analysis worksheet together.
Friday (10/21): Selection test on “An Invisible Thread.” Students will then use the specific rubric details and examples to analyze the explanatory essay that they previously wrote comparing the two selections from this unit.
Essential Questions: Unit One - What can one generation learn from another?


English 11 (Period 3)
Monday (10/17): Read and discuss historical information/perspectives related to “The Crucible.” We will also begin reading the play today.
Tuesday (10/18): Students will be given a study guide for Act 1 to use as a guide to help follow the action of the play. As a class, we will read Act 1 together.
Wednesday (10/19): Students will be given vocabulary worksheet #3 to complete. The quiz on list #3 will be on Friday. We will continue reading Act 1 of the play together.
Thursday (10/20): Review definitions for list #3 and prepare for quiz. Students will read Act 1 of the play and discuss study guide questions for Act 1.
Friday (10/21): Vocabulary quiz on list #3. Continue reading Act 1 of the play.
Essential Questions: Unit One - How can improving our grammar usage and vocabulary skills help to improve our reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities?
Literature Unit 5 Essential Question – How do we respond when challenged by fear?


PSSA Lang. Arts/SSR 7/8 (Period 5B: A and B Days)
Monday (B) 10/17: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.
Tuesday (A) 10/18: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.
Wednesday (B) 10/19: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Thursday (A) 10/20: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Friday (B) 10/21: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)
Essential Questions: Why is it important to read novels?

How can reading help us improve grades, communication skills, test taking abilities, etc.?

Sunday, October 2, 2016

October 3, 2016 - October 7, 2016


10/03/16 – 10/07/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday (10/3): Vocabulary list 1B – Define new words and provide parts of speech; complete practice worksheet and sentences for tomorrow. Quiz on list 1B will be Wednesday.

Tuesday (10/4): Review practice worksheet and sentences for list 1B. Quiz on list 1B is tomorrow.

Wednesday (10/5): Vocabulary quiz 1B; When finished, quiz, students will complete the review packet for verbs and adverbs; test on verbs and adverbs will be Friday.

Thursday (10/6): Review verbs and adverbs (test tomorrow)

Friday (10/7): Test on verbs and adverbs today; when finished, students will work on the review packet for prepositions, conjunctions, interjections; packet is due on Monday.

Essential Questions: Unit One - How can improving our vocabulary and grammar usage skills help to improve our reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities?



Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday (10/3): Students will complete the selection test for the news blog, “A Simple Act” today in class. The test is open book (students may use the textbook and/or any notes they have for the text). Check responses in class.

Tuesday (10/4): Track student learning – Students will be given a progress chart to keep track of their learning in Unit 1. Students will chart the results of the test from yesterday. As a class, we will discuss the standards that were assessed on this test and include this on the progress chart in categories.

Wednesday (10/5): Students will complete the selection test on the memoir, “An Invisible Thread.” Check responses in class; students will then fill in the progress chart with the results of this test. We will look for and discuss strengths and areas of need using the chart. We will also discuss the goal of growth while analyzing the charts.

Thursday (10/6): Review results of essays and chart progress individually. Students will examine strengths, areas of need and opportunities for growth with writing explanatory essays. Discuss and begin the Unit 1 Performance Task: Write a Nonfiction Narrative (pages 52 – 57 in textbook).

Friday (10/7): Students will work in class on the Unit 1 performance task: write a nonfiction narrative; the narrative will be due next week; due date will be given in class today.

Essential Questions: Unit One - What can one generation learn from another?





English 11 (Period 3)

Monday (10/3): Students will choose an article from the newspaper and write a summary and reaction to the article. Test on parts of the sentence will be Thursday.

Tuesday (10/4): Begin unit four in the textbook; discuss essential question and academic standards

Wednesday (10/5):  Review parts of the sentence notes; Kahoot review game on the parts of the sentence; review progress charts individually

Thursday (10/6): Test on parts of the sentence

Friday (10/7): Textbook: Unit four – Students will read the launch text and discuss.

Essential Questions: Unit One - How can improving our grammar usage and vocabulary skills help to improve our reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities?





PSSA Lang. Arts/SSR 7/8 (Period 5B: A and B Days)

Monday (A) 10/3: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.

Tuesday (B) 10/4: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class) Book Recommendation – Students will fill out a book recommendation this week after they finish a book.

Wednesday (A) 10/5: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)

Thursday (B) 10/6: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)

Friday (A) 10/7: SSR session (students will follow the set procedures/expectations for the duration of class)

Essential Questions: Why is it important to read novels?

How can reading help us improve grades, communication skills, test taking abilities, etc.?