February 15, 2016 - February 19, 2016

2/15/16 – 2/19/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: No School – President’s Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday: Discuss Night study guide questions and figurative language examples for section one of the novel. Examine plot diagram to begin completing sections of the diagram based on evidence from the reading.

Thursday: Quick write and quiz questions for section one of the novel. Students will also turn in their study guide for section one. Begin reading section two of the book (pages 23 – 28).

Friday: Finish reading section two and discuss study guide for this section. Quick write for section two and quiz questions.

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

What are the parts of plot within a novel and how do we identify them and use them to understand the sequence of events?

How are elements, such as conflict, characterization, etc., presented in the novel, Night, and why is it important to examine such elements?

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: No School – President’s Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday: Complete vocabulary squares for words from chapter 5 of TLT novel. Students must complete vocab. Squares for Friday. Quiz on chapter 5 words will be on Monday.

Thursday: Review/discuss responses to exercises from simple verb tenses section in book and on worksheet. Students will then discuss notes on the next section (be, have, do) and perfect tenses. Students will complete practice exercises on these sections individually.

Friday: Review vocabulary terms on squares together. Quiz is on Monday. Students will then discuss the next section on verbs in textbook (irregular verbs) and complete practice exercises for homework.

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: No School – President’s Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday: Turn in discussion questions for chapters 5 and 6. Continue reading silently (ch. 9/10).

Thursday: Discuss questions for chapters 7/8 and 9/10 together. Discuss suspense as it is seen throughout these chapters in the book. Continue reading chapter 10/11.

Friday: Continue reading TLT together as a class. Students will focus on key elements in the novel while reading by completing the discussion questions as we read.

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: No School – President’s Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday (Odd): Study Island lesson (author’s point of view) – Students will take notes and examine sample passages together. They will then complete a practice exercise on providing evidence of author’s attitude and tone using a sample passage from Study Island.

Thursday (Even): Study Island lesson (author’s point of view) – Students will take notes and examine sample passages together. They will then complete a practice exercise on providing evidence of author’s attitude and tone using a sample passage from Study Island.

Friday (Odd): Review author’s point of view by discussing the evidence in students’ charts from last class (word choice, phrases used, etc.). Students will then complete quiz questions on author’s point of view and we will check responses and make corrections as needed.

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?

February 8, 2016 - February 12, 2016

2/8/16 – 2/12/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Finish Holocaust notes and background info. Introduce author and preface to the book, Night. Students will preview vocabulary terms and make note of where these terms are introduced in section one of the reading. They will also identify examples of literary devices in section one. We will begin reading section one together and students will also answer discussion questions as we read.

Tuesday: Continue to read section one of the novel, Night. Students will work on completing the study guide for section one as we read and in small groups.

Wednesday: Continue reading the novel, Night together as a class. Students will work in small groups to complete questions in the study guide. We will discuss major events and examples of literary devices that they found so far.

Thursday: Plot chart – students will work in small groups to fill in parts of the plot chart that we have read so far in the book. We will discuss progress together. We will then continue reading together.

Friday: Act 80 Full Day

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

What are the parts of plot within a novel and how do we identify them and use them to understand the sequence of events?

How are elements, such as conflict, characterization, etc., presented in the novel, Night, and why is it important to examine such elements?

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: Vocabulary quiz on terms from chapters 3 and 4 of TLT. Students will then finish the worksheet on verb phrases from last week and make any necessary revisions.

Tuesday: Grammar – verb phrases – As a class, we will discuss notes on verb phrases and students will check practice exercises for understanding. Students will also complete another practice exercise on verb phrases in class and we will discuss responses together.

Wednesday: Students will discuss the next section on verbs (simple verb tenses) and complete practice exercises with a partner. They will also complete practice exercises individually to check for understanding.

Thursday: Review/discuss responses to exercises from yesterday (verb tenses). Students will then discuss notes on the next section (be, have, do).

Friday: Act 80 Full Day

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: The Lightning Thief – Continue reading chapter 5. Students will read to the end of chapter 5 and complete discussion questions on this chapter.

Tuesday: Quiz on chapters 1-4. Students will then complete a RACERS prompt on direct characterization in TLT.

Wednesday: Discuss RACERS prompt together (examine sample on board). Read chapter 6 of TLT and complete study guide questions for ch. 6.

Thursday: Discuss study guide questions for ch. 5 and 6 together and continue reading TLT.

Friday: Act 80 Full Day

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 (Odd): Lesson one in Study Island on central ideas and supporting details. Students will take notes on this concept and complete practice quiz questions.

Tuesday (Even): Lesson one in Study Island on central ideas and supporting details. Students will take notes on this concept and complete practice quiz questions.

Wednesday (Odd): Study Island lesson (author’s point of view) – Students will take notes and examine sample passages together. They will then complete practice quiz questions on author’s point of view.

Thursday (Even): Study Island lesson (author’s point of view) – Students will take notes and examine sample passages together. They will then complete practice quiz questions on author’s point of view.

Friday: Act 80 Full Day

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?

 

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?

 

January 25, 2016 - January 29, 2016

1/25/16 – 1/29/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Snow Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday: Finish reading the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado” together. Students will work in small groups to complete the study guide questions and diagram. Quiz on the short story will be on Wednesday next week (2/3).

Thursday: As a class, we will discuss the study guide for the short story. Students will work on a comic strip to illustrate the events in the story. Comic strip is due on Tuesday.  

Friday: Students will work in small groups on a critical thinking activity and we will discuss this together as a class when finished. Students will use the rest of the time today to work on the comic strip for the story.

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?

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

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Snow Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday: Students will work on their rough draft of the letter of complaint/concern. The rough draft is due on Monday, Feb. 1. The vocabulary quiz on the 8 words from last week will be on Friday (1/29). Students must turn in vocabulary squares on Friday also.

Thursday: Work on letter and continue with grammar. We will discuss the next grammar unit intro. together (verbs). Students will complete practice exercises on kinds of verbs.

Friday: Vocabulary quiz and turn in squares. Discuss verbs section together and exercises. As a class, we will continue to the next section on verbs. Students will complete practice exercises in class.

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Snow Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday: Notes on “The Lightning Thief.” We will discuss the notes together as they relate to the book.

Thursday: Assign novels and begin reading the first chapter of TLT together in class. Students will also complete study guide questions as we read.

Friday: Continue reading TLT – chapters 1 and 2. Students will complete the study guide questions for chapters 1 and 2 for Monday.

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?

 

 

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

Monday: Snow Day

Tuesday: Snow Day

Wednesday (Odd): Collect signed rules sheet. Students will finish the pre-test for the course in class today.

Thursday (Even): Collect signed rules sheet. Students will finish the pre-test for the course in class today.

Friday (Odd): Check Pre-test – students will self-assess the pre-test they took to determine areas of strength/weakness according to the questions and related skills. We will then begin lesson 1 – central ideas.

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

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

 

January 18, 2016 - January 22, 2016

1/18/16 – 1/22/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Teacher In-Service Day

Tuesday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Wednesday: Notes on the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado.” Background information presented related to the story and information about the author, Poe.

Thursday: Begin reading the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” by Edgar Allen Poe. Complete the study guide questions as we read.

Friday: Finish reading the short story today and discuss the study guide questions.

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?

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

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Teacher In-service day

Tuesday: Mid-term Exams – early dismissal

Wednesday: Complete vocabulary squares for “Lightning Thief” vocabulary terms (ch. 1-2). Students must complete the squares for tomorrow.

Thursday: Discuss the vocabulary terms completed for today. The quiz on these 8 terms will be on Tuesday (1/26).

Friday: Intro. to letter writing assignment – Students will begin brainstorming and pre-writing their letters.

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Teacher In-service day

Tuesday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Wednesday: Background information and notes on myth, literary elements, etc. – “The Lightning Thief”

Thursday: Library – Students will research information in the library on various Greek Gods and Goddesses. They will complete a chart with their findings.

Friday: Library – Students will research information in the library on various Greek Gods and Goddesses. They will complete a chart with their findings.

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?

 

 

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

Monday: Teacher In-service day

Tuesday (Odd): Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Wednesday (Even): Students will finish any make up work or missing assignments they may have for the marking period.

Thursday (Odd): Introduce class rules/expectations and discuss course overview. Begin pre-test if time permits.

Friday (Even): Introduce class rules/expectations and discuss course overview. Begin pre-test if time permits.

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

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

 

January 11, 2016 - January 15, 2016

1/11/16 – 1/15/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Grammar Study: Review notes on nouns and pronouns and complete practice exercises. Review for mid-term exam. The exam for period 1 is on Wednesday, Jan. 13^th. The period 4 exam is on Friday, Jan. 15^th.

Tuesday: Review for mid-term exam.

Wednesday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Thursday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Friday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

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?

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

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Review for mid-term exam. The exam for period 2 is on Wednesday, Jan. 13^th. The exam for period 8 is on Tuesday, Jan. 19^th.

Tuesday: Review for mid-term exam.

Wednesday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Thursday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Friday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Read nonfiction article about Greek mythology to gain background information for the novel, The Lightning Thief.

Tuesday: Review for mid-term exam. The exam in period 7 is on Tuesday, Jan. 19^th.

Wednesday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Thursday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

Friday: Mid-term exams – early dismissal

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?

 

 

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

Monday (Even): Students will finish the summary and character quiz questions and turn these in by the end of class today.

Tuesday (Odd): Students will continue the post-test today and turn in the test when finished.

Wednesday (Even): As a class, we will review the concepts examined in the literature unit. Students will take the course post-test on Friday.

Thursday (Odd): Students will study and prepare for exams.

Friday (Even): Students will take the post-test today. They must finish and turn in the completed test by the end of the period.

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

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

What do literary devices, such as imagery, theme, etc. add to works of literature and how do we identify them?

How is reading works of literature, such as fictional novels and short stories, different from reading nonfiction pieces?

January 4, 2016 - January 8, 2016

1/4/16 – 1/8/16

Academic English 9 (Periods 1, 4)

Monday: Finish discussing and responding to questions on the short story, “The Gift of the Magi.”

Tuesday: Read the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” and respond to discussion questions as we read.

Wednesday: Finish reading the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” and finish discussing the questions on the story together.

Thursday: Grammar Study – Practice with nouns and pronouns/antecedents.

Friday: Grammar Study – Practice with nouns and pronouns/antecedents.

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?

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

Honors English 7 (Periods 2, 8)

Monday: Discuss notes on interrogative pronouns and complete practice exercises. Discuss practice exercises together.

Tuesday: Discuss notes on demonstrative pronouns and indefinite pronouns and complete practice exercises. Discuss practice exercises together.

Wednesday: Discuss notes on reflexive and intensive pronouns as well as homophones. Complete practice exercises on these sections and discuss together.

Thursday: Complete review sections in textbook on nouns and pronouns units.

Friday: Complete review sections in textbook on nouns and pronouns units.

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

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

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

 

 

 

Honors Reading 7 (Period 7)

Monday: Finish watching the last few minutes of the movie, “A Christmas Carol.” Students will discuss the movie versus the play version and compare/contrast. We will then read a nonfiction article about Greek Gods and Goddesses in order to gain background knowledge in preparation for the novel, “The Lightning Thief.” Read and write a summary of the article. Discuss summaries together.

Tuesday: Students will read a second nonfiction article about mythology. We will read the article in class and students will then respond to several questions about the article. We will discuss responses together.

Wednesday: Students will read a third article about mythology and write a response about the article on their own. We will discuss findings together.

Thursday: Students will read a fourth and final nonfiction text based on mythology. They will respond to text analysis questions and we will discuss responses together.

Friday: Complete review packet for final exam in class.

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?

 

 

 

 

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

Monday (Odd): Students should turn in the practice questions on summarization if they have not already done so before the holiday break. Students will then complete the quiz section on summary from Study Island. When finished, we will discuss character development in a story and students will complete the practice quiz questions on this section.

Tuesday (Even): Students should turn in the practice questions on summarization if they have not already done so before the holiday break. Students will then complete the quiz section on summary from Study Island. When finished, we will discuss character development in a story and students will complete the practice quiz questions on this section.

Wednesday (Odd): Students will discuss setting within literature and complete the practice quiz questions on setting.

Thursday (Even): Students will discuss setting within literature and complete the practice quiz questions on setting.

Friday (Odd): Students will discuss plot within literature and complete the practice quiz questions on plot.

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

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

What do literary devices, such as imagery, theme, etc. add to works of literature and how do we identify them?

How is reading works of literature, such as fictional novels and short stories, different from reading nonfiction pieces?