Our focus was on character traits today. After our grammar warm-up exercise, we voted (using Turning Point) on certain phrases from Freak the Mighty - to say if we thought they showed Max's positive traits or negative traits, then students were given the chance to defend their votes. Each student then chose one trait from their favorite five that they chose last night, and grouped themselves into similar groups, based on that one trait (the tactile/kinesthetic version of "List/Group/Label"). This helped students become more familiar with the words and use them to help make choices.

We then dove into Freak the Mighty a little more. Looking at the last chapter, we looked for ways in which the writer showed us that Max has changed and developed over the course of the novel. We completed a think-pair-share for this activity and our results will be on the wall.

Homework:
* Look up the definitions of the words you do not know on the Character Trait chart (the negative traits only). Using 30 of these words, create a List/Group/Label of your own.
* Find an independent reading book & read 20 minutes from it.

With a focus on theme today, our review of Freak the Mighty continued. We first wrote - reflecting on a poem about differences. Then we created a Wordle (www.wordle.net) for each class to represent the theme of the book. To continue with the theme, we did an activity where we were "disabled" in some fashion - to simulate (albeit weakly) how students with disabilities sometimes felt. We then "posted tweets" via old-fashioned sticky notes on the paper to reflect on how the activity made us feel. These stars and "tweets" will be displayed in the hallway for all to see.

To celebrate our differences (one of the themes from Freak the Mighty), we looked over character traits and started looking up some of the words. Students will eventually help to make the September bulletin board by choosing positive traits that describe them.

Homework:
* Look up the definitions of the words you do not know on the Character Trait chart (on Edline under "assignments" - the positive traits only), and then choose at least FIVE positive tratis that describe you.
* Bring your Freak the Mighty book to class tomorrow. (If you used the library for your book, I will have three to loan.)
* Find an independent reading book & read 20 minutes from it.

Our review of Freak the Mighty began today. We reviewed the characters using a Venn Diagram individually, in partners, then as a group.
We then took our homework from Friday, the interest survey, and went outside (if the weather cooperated) to share them with the class. We learned a little about everybody in a circular fashion. (If we had time today, we began to decorate our composition notebooks.)
Grammar checklists for independent work were also dispersed into student folders - students are expected to go to these folders when they have "nothing to do."

Homework:
* Find an independent reading book & read 20 minutes from it.
* Any late work already? Let's start the year off right and turn in those Freak journal pages and parent questionnaires.

For the first period today, we learned more about each other and what we feel comfortable with regarding technology, reading, and writing. Students were then showed many websites that will be helpful to them throughout the year - all found on this blog. For the second period, we focused on reading motivation - first we read Chapter 1 of Ender's Game, and then completed a story trivia challenge in partners or solo.

Homework:
* Freak the Mighty journal page due Monday
* Interest survey due Monday
* Read 30 min each day this weekend

We reviewed general rules today, and connected them to two ideas: respect & communication. We will keep coming back to these two ideas the entire year. We then did some house-keeping: going over the syllabus, handing out books, and searching Edline. Finally, we learned more about each other from the index cards we filled out about ourselves yesterday.

Homework:
* Parent questionnaire due ASAP or Monday
* Freak the Mighty journal page due ASAP or Monday
* Read 20 minutes

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year!

At this site, you will find what we've done each day, along with homework that is assigned. You'll also find great book lists - open a book!

For the start of the school year, please have with you two one-subject spiral bound notebooks, one composition notebook, a folder for class, and multiple writing utensils. Don't forget to bring your good attitude and disposition! See you soon!