August 31, 2015 - September 4, 2015

Welcome Back!

 



8/31/15 – 9/4/15

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Introduction to course, classroom rules and expectations

Tuesday: Student information cards; goals; assign textbooks

Wednesday: Vocabulary unit 1 - define terms and discuss (sentence homework instructions sheet)

Thursday: Vocabulary unit 1 – worksheet and sentences (discuss) and review

Friday: Quiz – Vocab. unit 1; introduction to Shakespeare (why do we still study Shakespeare?)

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

Why is it important to set expectations and goals, and what goals do you plan to accomplish this year?

Why do we still study Shakespeare today?

 

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Introduction to course, classroom rules and expectations

Tuesday: Student information cards; goals; assign textbooks

Wednesday: Introduction to vocabulary unit 1 (discuss and define terms)

Thursday: Vocabulary unit 1 – complete exercises 1 – 6; Unit 1 quiz on Wednesday next week

Friday: Period 2 – Review/discuss Vocab. unit 1 exercises; District pep rally (period 8 class will not meet today)

Essential Questions: Why is it important to set expectations and goals, and what goals do you plan to accomplish this year?

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

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Introduction to course, classroom rules and expectations (HW: bring one item that is important to you to class on Wednesday)

Tuesday: Student information cards; goals; assign textbooks

Wednesday: Introduction to Unit 1 (Informational Texts); Group work – KWL (types of texts); introduction to RACERS format (Text-Dependent Analysis response format); use important item to complete RACERS format

Thursday: Complete RACERS and share/discuss; informational text – read and complete RACERS question

Friday: District pep rally (class will not meet today)

Essential Questions: Why is it important to set expectations and goals, and what goals do you plan to accomplish this year?

Unit 1 EQ: How can we effectively comprehend and analyze informational text and use the text details to support claims?

 

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

Monday (Odd):  Introduction to course, classroom rules and expectations

Tuesday (Even): Introduction to course, classroom rules and expectations

Wednesday (Odd): Student information cards; goals; KWL: PSSA (What we know about the PSSA test and what we want to know (brainstorm session and discussion)

Thursday (Even): Student information cards; goals; KWL: PSSA (What we know about the PSSA test and what we want to know (brainstorm session and discussion)

Friday (Odd): PDE SAS website – student fact sheet and guide to PA Standards; group work – PA Standards (What are they? Why do we use them? How can they help students prepare for the test?)

Essential Questions: Why is it important to set expectations and goals, and what goals do you plan to accomplish this year?

How can understanding the PSSA test and PA standards help us achieve success on the PSSA tests?



May 18, 2015 - May 22, 2015

5/18/15 – 5/22/15

Monday

• Academic English 8 – Students will work on completing a review for the final exam. They will complete this in class for Wednesday. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Academic English 7 – Review vocabulary unit 18 terms. Quiz on unit 18 is tomorrow. Students will also work on completing a review for the final exam. This is due tomorrow. We will discuss students’ work in class tomorrow. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors English 7 – Students will work on completing a review for the final exam. This is due on Wednesday. We will discuss students’ work on Wednesday. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will review for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors Reading 7 – Turn in book project for Holes today. Students will work on completing a review for the final exam. This is due on Thursday. We will discuss students’ work in class on Thursday. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

Tuesday

• Academic English 8 – Students will work on completing a review for the final exam. They will complete this in class for Wednesday. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Academic English 7 – Vocab. Quiz – unit 18. Students will also work on completing the review packet for the final exam. We will discuss any questions with the review. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors English 7 – Vocab. Quiz – unit 18. Students will also work on completing the review packet for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Review for final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors Reading 7 –Students will work on completing a review for the final exam. This is due on Thursday. We will discuss students’ work in class on Thursday. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

Wednesday

• Academic English 8 – Students will work on completing a review for the final exam. We will begin to discuss questions/confusions today in class. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Academic English 7 – Students will discuss the review packet for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

•  Honors English 7 – Students will discuss the review packet for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Review for final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors Reading 7 – Students will work on completing a review for the final exam. This is due on Thursday. We will discuss students’ work in class on Thursday. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

Thursday

• Academic English 8 – Students will discuss the final exam review packet today in class. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Academic English 7 – Students will discuss the review packet for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors English 7 – Students will discuss the review packet for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will work on a review activity for the final exam. (Essential Question: What concepts have we studied this year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam?)
• Honors Reading 7 – Students will discuss the review for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

Friday

• Academic English 8 – Prepare for final exam. Complete any make-up work necessary.
• Academic English 7 – Prepare for final exam. Complete any make-up work necessary.

• Honors English 7 – Final exam (period 3)

• Practical Literature 11 – Final exam (period 5)
• Honors Reading 7 – Prepare for final exam. Complete any make-up work necessary.

May 11, 2015 - May 15, 2015

5/11/15 – 5/15/15

Monday

• Academic English 8 – Students will work on completing activities for sentence fragments. They will work with a partner on these activities. Vocabulary Packet for units 13 – 14 is due on Wednesday. Quiz will be on Thursday. (Essential Question: How do we avoid sentence fragments and run-ons?)

• Academic English 7 – Students will complete practice exercises on prepositional phrases from the textbook and on worksheets. Students will turn in their work when finished. (Essential Question: How do prepositional phrases function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively in writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Students will complete practice exercises on prepositional phrases from the textbook and on worksheets. Students will turn in their work when finished. (Essential Question: How do prepositional phrases function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively in writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will continue reading the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” They will also complete study guide questions as they read. Quiz on the story is tomorrow. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within short stories and how do they enhance these stories?)

• Honors Reading 7 – Presentation in Mrs. Markiewicz’s classroom.

Tuesday

• Academic English 8 – As a class, we will discuss the activities that were completed for today on sentence fragments and students will then continue working together to complete the next set of exercises on run-ons. (Essential Question: How do we avoid sentence fragments and run-ons?)

• Academic English 7 – Review vocabulary unit 17. Quiz is tomorrow. Students will also complete the next two activities on prepositional phrases for tomorrow. (Essential Question: How do prepositional phrases function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively in writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Review vocabulary unit 17. Quiz is tomorrow. Students will also complete the next two activities on prepositional phrases for tomorrow. (Essential Question: How do prepositional phrases function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively in writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will take a comprehension quiz on the short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” When finished, students will begin reading a third short story from the textbook. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within short stories and how do they enhance these stories?)

• Honors Reading 7 – Students will discuss chapters 36 – 43 of Holes today and turn in their study guides. They will then read and work on the study guide for the last set of chapters (Ch. 44 – 50). This study guide is due on Friday. The book project is due on May 18^th. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

Wednesday

• Academic English 8 – As a class, we will review the vocabulary terms for units 13 and 14 together. Students will turn the packet in tomorrow and take the vocab. Quiz tomorrow. (Essential Question: How do we use our new vocabulary terms correctly when speaking and writing?)

• Academic English 7 – Vocabulary quiz on unit 17. Students will then take the next vocab. unit (unit 18 packet). This is due on Friday. Quiz will be on Monday. We will also discuss the last two worksheets on prepositional phrases. (Essential Question: How do prepositional phrases function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively in writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Vocabulary quiz on unit 17. Students will then take the next vocab. unit (unit 18 packet). This is due on Friday. Quiz will be on Monday. We will also discuss the last two worksheets on prepositional phrases. (Essential Question: How do prepositional phrases function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively in writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will read a short story together in the textbook and work on discussion questions for this story together. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within short stories and how do they enhance these stories?)

• Honors Reading 7 – Students will work on the book project for Holes and continue reading and completing the study guide for chapters 44-50. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

Thursday

• Academic English 8 – Vocabulary quiz on units 13 and 14. Students may then work on completing the sentence fragments and run-ons packet. When finished, students will begin working on a persuasive essay. (Essential Question: How do we use our new vocabulary terms correctly when speaking and writing?)

• Academic English 7 – Students will receive a review packet for the final exam. They will work on practice exercises in preparation for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors English 7 – Students will receive a review packet for the final exam. They will work on practice exercises in preparation for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will work on a review for the final exam. (Essential Question: What concepts have we studied this year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam?)
• Honors Reading 7 – Students will work on the book project and completing the last chapters for Holes. They will also receive a review packet for the final exam. This is due on Tuesday of next week. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

Friday

• Academic English 8 – Students will discuss persuasive techniques used in writing a persuasive essay. They will then work on writing a persuasive essay involving the Civil War era. The essay is due on Tuesday. (Essential Question: What makes a good argument, and how do we write it effectively in essay format?)

• Academic English 7 – Review vocabulary packet for unit 18. Quiz is on Monday. Students will then continue to work on practice exercises in preparation for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Honors English 7 – Review vocabulary packet for unit 18. Quiz is on Monday. Students will then continue to work on practice exercises in preparation for the final exam. (Essential Question: What have we studied throughout the year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam on this information?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will work on a review for the final exam. (Essential Question: What concepts have we studied this year and how do we effectively prepare for the final exam?)
• Honors Reading 7 – Discuss the last set of chapters for Holes. We will begin watching the movie version of Holes as well. Students will compare and contrast the book to the movie version. Book project is due on Monday. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

April 27, 2015 - May 1, 2015

4/27/15 – 5/1/15

Monday

• Academic English 8 – As a class, we will discuss the activities completed thus far in the verb tenses packet. Students will then complete the next two activities in the packet. (Essential Question: What are the various verb tenses and how do we use them correctly in writing and speaking?)

• Academic English 7 – Students will complete a review section on modifiers in the textbook (pages 206 – 207, #1 – 47). The test on modifiers is Wednesday. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Students will complete a review section on modifiers in the textbook (pages 206 – 207, #1 – 47). The test on modifiers is Wednesday. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Students will read chapters 5 and 6 of “Of Mice and Men” and complete the study guide for these chapters. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Of Mice and Men”?)

• Honors Reading 7 – Students will work on the book project for “Holes” today. They must choose the project that they are completing and begin working on it in class. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

Tuesday

• Academic English 8 – PSSA testing: Period 1 will not meet today due to testing.

• Academic English 7 – Review the modifiers sections from the book that were completed for today. We will discuss responses and clarify any questions in preparation for the test, which is tomorrow. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Review the modifiers sections from the book that were completed for today. We will discuss responses and clarify any questions in preparation for the test, which is tomorrow. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Read chapters 5 and 6 of “Of Mice and Men” together and students will work on the study guide for these chapters as well. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Of Mice and Men”?)

• Honors Reading 7 – Students will continue reading chapters 18-27 today. The study guide packet for these chapters is due on Friday. Students will also complete the character diamante worksheet for a character within “Holes.” This is due tomorrow. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

Wednesday

• Academic English 8 – Students will continue working on verb tenses. They will work in small groups today to complete activities in the packet. (Essential Question: What are the various verb tenses and how do we use them correctly in writing and speaking?)

• Academic English 7 – Test on modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, negatives, degrees). Students will take the test, and then after they will work on the descriptive essay using adjectives and adverbs correctly in their writing. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Test on modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, negatives, degrees). Students will take the test, and then after they will work on the descriptive essay using adjectives and adverbs correctly in their writing. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Read chapters 5 and 6 of the novel and complete study guide questions for chapters 5 and 6. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Of Mice and Men”?)

• Honors Reading 7 – As a class, we will discuss examples of the character diamante worksheet that was completed for today. Students will turn these in today. Students will then meet in Literature Circles to discuss chapters 18-27 and they will work on completing the study guide for these chapters. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

Thursday

• Academic English 8 – As a class, we will discuss the activities that were completed for today in the verb tenses packet. Students will continue working on the next activities in the packet. (Essential Question: What are the various verb tenses and how do we use them correctly in writing and speaking?)

• Academic English 7 – Students will work on their descriptive essays. They must have a typed copy ready to turn in tomorrow. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Students will work on their descriptive essays. They must have a typed copy ready to turn in tomorrow. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Finish reading chapters 5 and 6 and finish filling in the study guide sheet. We will review these two chapters as well. Quiz on chapters 5 and 6 is tomorrow. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Of Mice and Men”?)
• Honors Reading 7 – Students will read on their own silently today for a portion of class. Students will then meet in Lit. circles again today to work together on completing the study guide for chapters 18-27 of “Holes.” If finished with this study guide, they may also work on the book project. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)

Friday

• Academic English 8 – Students will finish the rest of the activities in the verb tenses packet today. We will discuss these together and review information for a quiz on principal parts of verbs, simple tenses, and perfect tenses. The quiz will be Tuesday. (Essential Question: What are the various verb tenses and how do we use them correctly in writing and speaking?)

• Academic English 7 – Students will exchange essays with a partner and identify each adjective and adverb within the essay. They must also draw an arrow to the word or words they are modifying. Each partner must then draw and color a picture of the object that was described within the essay that they read. They should include as much detail as possible in their picture. When finished, essays will be turned in for a grade. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Honors English 7 – Students will exchange essays with a partner and identify each adjective and adverb within the essay. They must also draw an arrow to the word or words they are modifying. Each partner must then draw and color a picture of the object that was described within the essay that they read. They should include as much detail as possible in their picture. When finished, essays will be turned in for a grade. (Essential Question: How do adjectives and adverbs function within a sentence and how do we use them effectively to enhance our writing?)

• Practical Literature 11 – Quiz on chapters 5 and 6 of the novel. Students must turn in their study guide sheet today also. After the quiz, students will work on a review project for the book. Test on the book will be next week. (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Of Mice and Men”?)
• Honors Reading 7 – As a class, we will discuss sections of the study guide today for chapters 18-27 of the book. Students will turn in this study guide packet today. Students will then continue reading the novel (chapters 28-35). (Essential Question: What are the various elements within novels and how are these elements presented within “Holes”?)