March 27, 2017 - March 31, 2017

03/27/17 – 03/31/17

8^th Grade English (Periods 1, 2, 3, 5B, 6, 7, 8):

Monday (03/27): Students will complete the weekly word splat overview for the week as well as the bell ringer assignment (paragraph editing). We will discuss/check these together. Students will then finish writing their TDA response from Friday and turn it in when finished. If they do not finish in class today, they must finish it for homework for tomorrow.

Period 6 – Students will read the next selection on pages 286 – 289 in the textbook and answer the comprehension questions on page 289. Students will begin the TDA prompt based on the text.

Tuesday (03/28): Students will turn in the TDA from yesterday (if not already turned in). Students will then read/discuss page 291 in the textbook. They will examine the argumentative elements in the selection, responding to the questions on 291. Students will then complete a practice worksheet on argumentative elements.

Period 6 – Students will first complete the TDA from yesterday and turn in their work.

Wednesday (03/29): Students will complete page 293 in the textbook and discuss responses together. Students will then read pages 296-298 and begin to write their argumentative essay. They will address a problem they believe needs to be addressed. (Dress Code) Students will complete an argumentative bug graphic organizer to organize before writing.

Thursday (03/30): Students will write their argumentative essay focusing on the main elements, organization, etc. Students must turn in their essay tomorrow.

Friday (03/31): Students will turn in their argumentative essay. As a class, we will then read the informative text on page 344 (The Human Brain). Students will highlight key informative elements as we read and try to determine the type of organization the author uses (cause and effect, comparison and contrast, or problem and solution). We will then read/discuss page 392 in the textbook.

Essential Question: Unit 3 in Textbook – When is it right to take a stand?

Essential Question: Unit 4 in Textbook – In what different ways can people be intelligent?

March 20, 2017 - March 24, 2017

03/20/17 – 03/24/17

8^th Grade English (Periods 1, 2, 3, 5B, 6, 7, 8):

Monday (03/20): Students will view a grammar tutorial video on subject-verb agreement from the Pearson Realize website. Students will then complete a practice section and assessment section on this concept. Students should finish this for homework for tomorrow if they do not get it done by the end of class today.

Tuesday (03/21): Check answers to the subject-verb agreement worksheet and discuss questions/confusions. Students will then complete pages 284 and 285 in the textbook on conventions (clauses) and concept vocabulary from “Three Cheers for the Nanny State” text.

Wednesday (03/22): Check and discuss answers to pages 284-285 in the textbook. Students will take a quiz on clauses tomorrow in class. Students will then read and complete page 286 in the textbook. They will then complete a first read of the text, “Ban the Ban! Soda’s a Problem, but...” (p. 287 – 289). They will mark the text as they read with their first read notes and then answer the comprehension questions on page 289 (#1-3) and we will discuss responses together.

Thursday (03/23): Students will take a quiz on clauses. When finished with the quiz, students will complete pages 290 – 291 in the textbook (Close Read the text and analyze the text, #2, 3, 4 and Practice #1 – 5). We will go over responses and details from the selection together. Students will then begin pages 292 and 293. Whatever is not finished from pages 292 and 293 must be finished for homework for Monday (3/27).

Friday (03/24): Students will write a response to a TDA prompt based on the text, “Ban the Ban!....” Students will close read a portion of the text in order to answer the prompt. They must use evidence from the text to support their response. Students will write their responses on the color coded sheet provided to them. Students will turn in their work to be scored.

TDA prompt: Authors sometimes use idioms, or expressions, in their writing. Analyze the phrase “a very slippery slope,” which is found in paragraph 3 of “Ban the Ban!” Use evidence from the text to support your response.

Essential Question: Unit 3 in Textbook – When is it right to take a stand?

March 13, 2017 - March 17, 2017

03/13/17 – 03/17/17

8^th Grade English (Periods 1, 2, 3, 5B, 6, 7, 8):

Monday (03/13): Students will view a grammar tutorial video on misplaced and dangling modifiers and complete a practice section and assessment section of a worksheet on this concept. We will check and discuss answers to the worksheet sections together examining key components of this concept. Students will keep the packet for the next lesson on subject-verb agreement.

Tuesday (03/14): Students will view a grammar tutorial video on subject-verb agreement from the Pearson Realize website. Students will then complete a practice section and assessment section on this concept. We will check and discuss answers together before the end of class. Students will keep their work in their folders.

Wednesday (03/15): Students will complete pages 284 and 285 in the textbook on conventions (clauses) and concept vocabulary from “Three Cheers for the Nanny State” text. We will check and discuss answers together. Students will take a quiz on clauses tomorrow.

Thursday (03/16): Students will take a quiz on clauses. When finished with the quiz, students will read and complete page 286 in the textbook. They will then complete a first read of the text, “Ban the Ban! Soda’s a Problem, but...” (p. 287 – 289). They will mark the text as they read with their first read notes and then answer the comprehension questions on page 289 (#1-3).

Friday (03/17): Students will write a response to a TDA prompt based on the text, “Ban the Ban!....” Students will close read a portion of the text in order to answer the prompt. They must use evidence from the text to support their response. Students will write their responses on the color coded sheet provided to them. Students will turn in their work to be scored.

TDA prompt: Authors sometimes use idioms, or expressions, in their writing. Analyze the phrase “a very slippery slope,” which is found in paragraph 3 of “Ban the Ban!” Use evidence from the text to support your response.

Essential Questions: Unit 3 in Textbook – When is it right to take a stand?

February 27, 2017 - March 3, 2017

02/27/17 – 03/03/17

8^th Grade English (Periods 1, 2, 3, 5B, 6, 7, 8):

Monday (02/27): Students will finish reviewing a sample PSSA TDA response that scored a 4. Students will highlight and mark key items in the response while examining its structure. Students will then view another TDA prompt (based on the selection in the textbook) that they will begin to work on. Some students will work with partners while others will work independently on this prompt. We will finish responses to this prompt in class tomorrow.

Tuesday (02/28): Students will finish writing their response to the TDA prompt and turn it in to be scored. Students will then complete the “analyze the text” questions on the bottom of page 282. We will discuss responses together.

Wednesday (03/01): Students will read page 283 in the textbook on Craft and Structure: “Author’s Argument.” Students will then complete the chart and questions on the bottom of page 283. We will discuss responses together. Students will begin to place items from the selection into a graphic organizer as a way to break down the text and see the argumentative structure of it.

Thursday (03/02): Students will finish filling in the argument “bug” (graphic organizer). They will turn in the bug organizer before they leave class today.

Friday (03/03): Students will complete a PSSA TDA prompt and turn it in for a grade before they leave class. Students will then complete page 284 in the textbook (Concept Vocabulary) and page 285 (Conventions: Clauses).

Essential Questions: Unit 3 in Textbook – When is it right to take a stand?

February 21, 2017 - February 24, 2017

02/20/17 – 02/24/17

8^th Grade English (Periods 1, 2, 3, 5B, 6, 7, 8):

Monday (02/20): No School – Presidents’ Day

Tuesday (02/21): Students will complete an independent first read of the next selection in Unit 3 (“Three Cheers for the Nanny State”). As they complete their first read, they must note vocabulary terms that are used throughout the text as well as annotate other thoughts, connections, etc. that they have as they read the text. They will then complete the comprehension questions on page 281 (#1-5).

Wednesday (02/22): Students will discuss their annotations and responses to the comprehension questions. Students will also get points for completing these two items in their textbook. We will examine together examples of first read notes and clarify any confusions with this task. We will then examine a TDA question together based on the text that they read. We will examine the parts of the question as well as look at how it should be answered. We will go through the steps of answering the TDA together. Students will write down the steps and the example response so that they have a sample.

Thursday (02/23): Finish the sample TDA that we started together yesterday (if needed). Students will then complete the close read section on page 282 (#1 – 3) and the analyze the text questions on the bottom of page 282. They must complete a 2^nd independent read of the text in order to complete these sections.

Friday (02/24): Students will examine a TDA scoring guideline sheet to see exactly how they are scored for these types of assessment questions. Students will then complete a TDA from the PSSA item sampler that relates to argumentative texts. Students will turn in their written response to be scored based on the TDA scoring rubric. If time permits, students will then complete page 283 in the textbook.

Essential Questions: Unit 3 in Textbook – When is it right to take a stand?

February 13, 2017 - February 17, 2017

02/13/17 – 02/17/17

8^th Grade English (Periods 1, 2, 3, 5B, 6, 7, 8):

Monday (02/13): Computer lab (934) to take the CDT English test.

Tuesday (02/14): Computer lab (934) to take the CDT English test. Return characterization quizzes/students will chart results on their progress charts.

Wednesday (02/15): Discuss/review concept vocabulary and conventions worksheets and textbook pages (272-273) from the magazine article, “Barrington Irving, Pilot and Educator.” Discuss study guide together. The test is tomorrow. Students may use their textbook for certain sections of the test. They will be able to go back to the article to help answer certain questions on the test. Chart levels of understanding for concept vocabulary terms and conventions.

Thursday (02/16): Selection test on the magazine article, “Barrington Irving, Pilot and Educator.” Students may use their textbook for certain sections of the test. They will be able to go back to the article to help answer certain questions on the test. Once finished with the test, students will complete/turn in any missing assignments they may have so far in the 3^rd marking period.

Friday (02/17): Act 80 Day – No school for students

Essential Questions: Unit 3 in Textbook – When is it right to take a stand?

February 6, 2017 - February 10, 2017

02/06/17 – 02/10/17

8^th Grade English (Periods 1, 2, 3, 5B, 6, 7, 8):

Monday (02/06): Students will take a quiz on characterization (direct and indirect). After the quiz, they will chart their progress on characterization in nonfiction on their progress charts. They will also, complete page 272 in the textbook on concept vocabulary and word study for “Barrington Irving…” as well as the practice worksheet for both of these skills. If students do not get done all items on page 272 and/or the worksheet, they must finish them for homework for tomorrow.

Tuesday (02/07): Students will complete page 273 in the textbook on conventions: nouns and pronouns. They will also complete a practice worksheet on these conventions and a worksheet on effective elements of an argument.

Wednesday (02/08): Data Delay – Computer lab (934) to take the CDT English test. Students will also be given a study guide for the “Barrington Irving…” article. They will use this to study for the test on this selection. We will discuss the study guide together on Friday and Monday. The test will be on Wednesday (2/15).

Thursday (02/09): Computer lab (934) to take the CDT English test.

Friday (02/10): Computer lab (934) to take the CDT English test (if more time is necessary). Otherwise, we will review the study guide for the selection test on “Barrington Irving….” The test is on Wednesday (2/15)

Essential Questions: Unit 3 in Textbook – When is it right to take a stand?