After our grammar warm-up, we had a discussion based on the question posed by the Literature book (see this picture). We then watched the animated version of "Rikki-tikki-tavi" and compared it to the story by Rudyard Kipling. For reading, we read chapter 1 of The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander, and then students had time to read their independent novels silently.

Homework:
* Read for 60 minutes.
* Fishy opportunity - Write a review of "Rikki-tikki-tavi" the movie and the story. Make sure to state your opinion of which is better, and back it up with evidence as to why you think it is better. If you turn this in by attaching a document to an email to Mrs. Kirr, it will be used in the Gamma Gazette, and you'll receive three fishies. (If not emailed, you'll only receive one fishy.)

We reviewed pronoun-antecedent agreement once again, then went over the homework from last night. The "Rikki-tikki-tavi" quiz was next, and then students had an entire period to work from their grammar folders.

Homework:
* Take-home quiz on foreshadowing and conflict
* Read for 20 minutes
* Book project

After we practiced more pronoun-antecedent agreement, students read "Rikki-tikki-tavi." They had time in class to read and to fill in their homework. For writing, we looked at the prompts we'd already answered, and chose one to write again. This way, we'll have one more prompt from which to chose when we complete our final narrative.

Homework:
* Finish reading "Rikki-tikki-tavi"
* "Rikki-tikki-tavi" Literary Analysis & Comprehension Guide
* Read for 20 minutes

We prepared to read "Rikki-tikki-tavi" by Rudyard Kipling from the Literature book today. The vocabulary was introduced and we practiced the vocabulary strategy as well. We then began reading the story aloud in class. For writing, we completed Lesson 15 in our narrative unit - Paragraphing. Check Edline to see how logical structure is graded. Note: There will be open lab hours after school for students who want to work on their independent reading project this afternoon, Tuesday, Oct. 4th, and Tuesday, October 11th.

Homework:
* "Rikki-tikki-tavi" vocabulary/grammar sheet
* Read for 20 minutes
* Book project

Today, after our grammar warm-up, we reviewed the quizzes from last week. We then worked specifically on grammar - pronoun-antecedent agreement. This is stressed in our next story from the Literature book. For writing, we completed Lesson 14 - Cause and Effect. This week we'll be working on the logical structure of our writing.

Homework:
* Read for 20 minutes.
* Manage your time for your Q1 book project.

After our grammar warm-up, we researched the question posed by the Literature book (look at this picture). Students then could defend their answers in front of the class. For reading, we read chapter 1 of Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, and then students had time to read their independent novels silently.

Websites we used...

http://www.justpeace.org/village.htm

http://www.libertynet.org/edcivic/village.html

http://liveunitedyall.org/2009/05/21/it-takes-a-village-to-raise-a-child/

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1055299

http://www.afriprov.org/index.php/african-proverb-of-the-month/23-1998proverbs/137-november-1998-proverb.html

http://www.helium.com/items/803335-assessing-it-takes-a-village-to-raise-a-child

Homework:
* Read for 60 minutes.
* Fishy opportunity - Choose one of the characters in "Thank You Ma'am," and write a poem, song, or rap from his or her perspective. Refer to the events in the story, to the character's past, and to the character's imagined hopes for the future. If you turn this in by attaching a document to an email to Mrs. Kirr, it will be used in the Gamma Gazette, and you'll receive four fishies.

After our grammar warm-up exercise, we reviewed punctuating possessives. We then discussed the homework questions and took the open-book quiz for "Thank You Ma'am." For writing, we shared our stories we created with parents from last night. What a joy it was to see the parents come to our classes!!! We appreciate you so much for coming and for finishing up your child's story!

Homework:
*Bring your independent novel tomorrow!
*Read for 20 min.
*Book orders due today

Today we read "Thank You Ma'am," from the Literature book, while practicing the skill of infering. We also reviewed the vocabulary and grammar that is used in the story. For writing, we completed Lesson 13 - Focusing on the Context of Setting. These "showing" lessons are really showcasing students' writing!

Homework:
*"Thank You Ma'am" Questions 4, 6, 7, & 8 on page 69 (NOT #5!)
*Read for 20 min.
*Book orders due tomorrow
*Bring your independent novel Friday

After our grammar warm-up exercise, we studied grammar specifically - punctuating possessives. This was to introduce the grammar in "Thank You Ma'am," our next story from the Literature book. We also were introduced to the vocabulary strategy for the story. For writing, we completed Lesson 11 - Selecting Details that Show Atmosphere.

Homework:
*"Thank You Ma'am" vocabulary & grammar wkst
*Project Planning Sheet - due TOMORROW
*Read for 20 min.
*Book orders due Thursday
*Bring your independent novel Friday

Hopefully students are really getting into their independent novels - Some students are finished and on to another one! Keep it up!

Today we went over the "No Excuses Spelling" guide that has appeared on each table. This will be a great reference for students when they are writing... anything! We then went over "Seventh Grade" quizzes - students will see the quiz as two separate grades on Edline - a larger Literature grade and a smaller grammar grade. We then took the AIMSWEB maze 3-minute screening, which we will be doing 3-4 times this year. For writing, we revised a portion of Lesson 10, and then completed Lesson 11 - Using Descriptive Details to Create Atmosphere.

Homework:
*Read for 20 min.
*If you did not turn in your open house story, get that done, ASAP!
*Project Planning Sheet - due Wednesday
*Book orders due Thursday
*Bring your independent novel Friday

After our grammar warm-up, we finished up what we could of our WEX writing lessons, then had fun with our open house story starters... (Don't let your parents know!) For reading, we read chapter 1 of Rules by Cynthia Lord, and then students had time to read their independent novels silently.

Homework:
* Read for 60 minutes.
* Project Planning Sheet - due Wednesday

We reviewed the "close read" questions from "Seventh Grade," and then took the open-book quiz. For writing, we completed lesson 10 - "Revising to Add Showing."

Homework:
* Read for 20 minutes.
* Bring novel tomorrow.
* Project Planning Sheet - due 9/21

After our grammar warm-up exercises, we read the story "Seventh Grade" from the Literature book. Students had time, while reading, to complete the "close read" questions and fill in their connections chart. For writing, we completed lessons 8 & 9 in the narrative unit - "Using Unique Observations to Show Setting and Context" and to show emotion...

Homework:
* "Seventh Grade" close read questions / connections chart / pg 39, question 7
* Read for 20 minutes.
* Bring novel on Friday.
* Project Planning Sheet - due 9/21

Today students had their first quiz - a review of elements of plot, reading strategies, and the nonfiction genre. We then introduced the story "Seventh Grade" from the Literature book. We'll be reading it in class tomorrow. For writing, we completed lessons 6 & 7 in the narrative unit - "Using Strong Verbs to Show Emotion" and "Developing Ideas in Writing."

Homework:
* "Seventh Grade" vocab/grammar worksheet
* Read for 20 minutes.
* Project Planning Sheet - due 9/21

Happy Monday! After our grammar warm-up exercises and collection of our novel approval forms, students studied for their review quiz tomorrow by working on an "elements of plot" worksheet in partners. For writing today, we completed our first revision assignment (RA) and also added a page in our composition notebooks for "frequently misspelled words." Students then had independent time to work on their grammar practice exercises.

Homework:
* Study the vocab. for the quiz tomorrow. (See Edline.)
* Read for 20 minutes.
* Project Planning Sheet - due 9/21

Happy Friday! We first reviewed our answers to the questions in "The Dinner Party" and then made sure students knew what vocabulary to review for the quiz next week. We finished our character traits bulletin board as well, and then read chapter one from Hero by Mike Lupica. Our last period for today was reserved for independent reading. Before class was released, we shared stories about which we were reading.

Homework:
* Read 20 min.
* Study vocabulary 5-10 min. (Quiz Tuesday)
* Novel Approval Form - due MONDAY

Now that we've reviewed literary genres and reading strategies, it was time to review parts of a story. Of course, we connected what we knew to Freak the Mighty first, and then homework is part of the rest of the review. Make sure you read "The Dinner Party" and answer the close read questions - either in your reading notebook or email it to me at jdvoratchek@sd25.org. For writing, we completed Lesson 5 - Focusing on an Emotion.

Homework:
* Finish close read questions #1-7 from "The Dinner Party" (pg. 28-29).
* Have an independent reading book in class TOMORROW.
* Read 20 min.
* Study vocabulary 5-10 min. (Quiz Tuesday)
* Novel Approval Form - due Monday

Today we reviewed reading strategies by reading through the Reading Strategies Workshop in the Literature book. We then combined two writing lessons - Introducing the Skill of Focus along with Focusing on a Moment and Identifying an Emotion or Idea. Sharing student writing is one way in which students receive feedback on their writing skills.

Homework:
* Read 20 min.
* Study vocabulary 5-10 min.
* Have an independent reading book by Friday.
* Novel Approval Form - due Monday, 9/12

Hopefully you read a lot this past weekend - after Mr. Goldstein's booktalks, how could you not?!

Today the Independent Reading Project for first quarter was explained. We then began the Literary Genres workshop in the Literature book. Students may have taken notes on vocabulary, or they can study them if they look on the class Edline page. We will have a quiz on this vocabulary and the rest from this week early next week. We then started our first writing lesson for the year - from the WEX narrative book - Introducing the Writers' Express (WEX). This should be a review for most of us, but a solid beginning for those who are new to TMS.

Homework:
* Read 20 min.
* Study vocabulary 5-10 min.
* Have an independent reading book by Friday.
* Novel Approval Form - due Monday, 9/12

Thursday & Friday - We've got a lot going on!

We will spend two periods (one block) in class, one period with Mr. Goldstein as he gives booktalks, and one period in the LMC for orientation and time to browse and check out books.

In class, we first completed a sequence of events sheet for Freak the Mighty. Then we took these events and others and played our own version of Pictionary. Our last structured summer reading activity (more come later, but in correlation with our Literature book) was a quick write - "Why do we have a summer reading program?" We shared and discussed. We then did a sketch-to-stretch with the first chapter of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. (Hopefully these quick one-chapter introductions will entice students to check out the books!) We also started our "Next" page in our notebooks. It is here we will start our list of books we'd like to read, or at least try.

Homework:
* Create a Wordle (for use in the LMC Friday). Follow Tasks 1, 2, 3, & 4 at this site: http://www.informationliteracy.org/builder/1845 for a chance for fishies tomorrow. (My Wordle picture is here on this post...)
* Bring your "Next" list to class.
* Read for one hour total over the weekend.