February 1, 2016 - February 5, 2016

2/1/16 – 2/5/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Students will work in small groups to complete a critical thinking activity involving the setting of the short story. Also, students will illustrate the major events throughout the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado.” They will draw and color each scene and write a description below each scene. Comic Strip assignment is due tomorrow.

Tuesday: Students will turn in their comic strip from the short story. We will also review information from the short story in preparation of a quiz on Friday. Students must turn in the study guide on Friday as well. As a class, we will begin discussing the Holocaust and background information in preparation for the novel, Night. We will begin watching a Holocaust documentary in class.

Wednesday: Finish watching the documentary on the Holocaust. We will discuss topics from the film together as a class.

Thursday: Notes on the Holocaust and WWII era for background information. Students will also receive notes and information about the author, Elie Wiesel.

Friday: Quiz on short story, “Cask of Amontillado.” Turn in study guide for short story. We will also finish notes for Night and assign novels. If time permits, we will begin to read part one together as a class.

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

What are the elements of short stories and how do authors use these to help enhance their stories?

What literary devices does Elie Weisel use in his novel, Night, and what/how do these devices add to the story?

What themes from the novel, Night can we connect to the world we live in today?

How does understanding parts of speech help us become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners?

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Computer lab – students will work on their complaint/concern letter on computers. Rough draft is due by the end of class today. The final copy is due on Friday.

Tuesday: Grammar – Verbs unit: As a class, we will discuss notes on verbs from the textbook and students will differentiate between the different kinds of verbs. Students will complete practice exercises on their own.

Wednesday: Review vocabulary terms for chapters 3-4 of The Lightning Thief. Quiz on these words will be on Monday.

Thursday: Computer lab – finish final copy of letter and print. Final copy must be turned in by tomorrow.

Friday: Turn in final copy of letter (if not already turned in). Students will also receive an envelope to address correctly and to place their letters into. As a class, we will discuss how to correctly write a mailing address and return address on the envelope. We will also continue with the grammar unit on verbs. We will discuss the exercises completed in class earlier this week.

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

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

What are the parts of a letter and how do we effectively and professionally get our message across in a letter?

 

 

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Finish notes on allusion and read chapters 1 and 2 together in the novel, The Lightning Thief. Students will also work on study guide questions as we read.

Tuesday: Notes on literary devices within TLT. Students will finish study guide questions for ch. 1-2.

Wednesday: Discuss study guide questions for chapters 1-2 together (turn in). Students will then read chapter 3 on their own. They will be given the study guide questions for chapter 3-4 so they can complete questions as they read. Students must read to the end of chapter 3 for tomorrow.

Thursday: Discuss chapter 3 of the novel together (key details, events, etc.) and the study guide questions. We will then read chapter 4 together in class.

Friday: Finish reading chapter 4 together and students will work in small groups to complete the questions for ch. 4. Students will have a quiz on ch. 1-4 on Tuesday.

Essential Questions: How does learning background information on a topic help us prepare for reading a novel?

How is reading nonfiction texts different from reading a fictional novel?

What literary devices are used in the novel, The Lightning Thief, and how do these devices enhance the story?

How does the author build suspense throughout the novel, The Lightning Thief?

 

 

 

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

Monday (Even): Students will finish the pre-test that they began during the last class.

Tuesday (Odd): Students will finish the pre-test, and they will self-check their responses. They will then analyze the questions they got incorrect to determine the concepts and types of questions.

Wednesday (Even): Students will self-check their responses on the pre-test. They will then analyze the questions they got incorrect to determine the concepts and types of questions.

Thursday (Odd): Discuss the pre-test questions and determine areas of strength and weakness as a class. Students will reflect on their individual areas as well and record them. As a class, we will begin lesson one on Study Island – central ideas.

Friday (Even): Discuss the pre-test questions and determine areas of strength and weakness as a class. Students will reflect on their individual areas as well and record them. As a class, we will begin lesson one on Study Island – central ideas.

What kinds of reading/test-taking strategies help us navigate and comprehend texts and test questions?

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

What concepts and skills does the PSSA test assess, and how do we prepare for this assessment in order to succeed?