Happy Halloween!

Students read their Halloween stories aloud in class today, and we listened for focus and showing. We enjoyed being entertained by such creative student stories!

Homework:

* Be safe!

It was our last day to add to our Halloween stories, so we wrote the climax today. After break, chapter 1 of The Graveyard Book was shared aloud, and then students then had more time to work on their plans for teaching a story from the Literature book. For the first three stories in this unit, students will be teaching "Zebra," "Charles / Three-Century Woman," or "Retrieved Reformation."
Note: Today is the last day to turn in bathroom passes for extra credit points.

HW:
* Finish Halloween story.
* Lesson plans.
* Read something!

We continued with WEX writing - Developing the rising action in our Halloween story. Students then had a period to work on their plans for teaching a story from the Literature book. For the first three stories in this unit, students will be teaching "Zebra," "Charles / Three-Century Woman," or "Retrieved Reformation."
Note: Bathroom passes can be turned in any day this week for extra credit points.

HW:
* Lesson plans.
* Be on the lookout for a book for 2nd quarter.

Again, we started with WEX writing - Creating the conflict in our Halloween story. We then continued note-taking for Unit 2 - Reader's Workshop in the Literature book. For the first three stories in this unit, students will be teaching the class. (The best way to learn something is to teach it.) Students chose their story today: "Zebra," "Charles / Three-Century Woman," or "Retrieved Reformation." They then had some time to begin planning their lessons.
Note: Bathroom passes can be turned in any day this week for extra credit points.

HW:
* Read over the T.E. copy of your story.
* Be on the lookout for a book for 2nd quarter.

We started with WEX writing today - Adding a character to our Halloween story. We then began note-taking for Unit 2 - Reader's Workshop in the Literature book. For the first three stories in this unit, students will be teaching the class. (The best way to learn something is to teach it.) Therefore, for homework tonight, be sure to look over the three stories we discussed: "Zebra," "Charles / Three-Century Woman," and "Retrieved Reformation." You will choose your group tomorrow in class.
Note: Bathroom passes can be turned in any day this week for extra credit points.

HW:
* Look at the stories in Unit 2.
* Be on the lookout for a book for 2nd quarter.

Students who wanted to could share their narratives today (if we ran out of time Friday). We then went over our grammar and literature Unit 1 tests. The procedure for warm-up exercises were explained for this and next quarter, and then we were able to begin our Halloween story. Our focus was on atmosphere, or setting. We will be composing stories to share on Halloween day. Grades will be based on focus and showing, and will be presented orally to the class.
Note: Bathroom passes can be turned in any day this week for extra credit points.

HW:
* Be on the lookout for a book for 2nd quarter.

The literature portion of the Unit 1 test was today. If/when students finished, they had time to work read silently.

Homework:
* Read 60 minutes

Students completed the grammar portion of the Unit 1 test today. When they finished, they were able to work quietly from their "extra practice" grammar folders.

Homework:
* Bring something to read to class tomorrow.
* WEX Pilot permission slip due TOMORROW
* Read for 20 minutes.

We first went over the Unit 1 practice test. For the rest of the class, we completed editing and writing our narrative piece on laptops today. Mrs. Kirr was also available for questions about the Unit 1 test / study guide. NOTE: We will be having our Unit 1 test tomorrow (grammar) and Friday (literature).

Homework:
* Wednesday portion of study guide
* WEX Pilot permission slip due FRIDAY
* Read 20 minutes
* Narrative piece due Friday (if not finished today)
(* Book orders due tomorrow)

We first went over the "Settings and Its Roles" work, then jumped into WEX Lesson 25 - Editing and Writing the Final Draft. We had laptops to begin this task today. NOTE: We will be turning in our narrative piece this week, and having our Unit 1 test on Thursday (grammar) and Friday (literature).

Homework:

* LIT pg. 166-171 Unit 1 practice test (all questions except pg. 169, #8, 9, & 10)
* Tuesday portion of study guide
* WEX Pilot permission slip due FRIDAY
* Read 20 minutes
(* Book orders due Thursday)

We began the week by going over the homework and quizzes from Friday. But then we were able to share our book projects with the class! We used the entire block to share our books and, as a result, add more books to our "Next" lists.

Homework:
* WEX Pilot permission slip due FRIDAY
* Begin thinking of your quarter two book

Students took the "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" open-book quiz, and then watched and compared the "Twilight Zone" episode that was based on the teleplay in our Literature book. Afterwards, we read chapter 1 of Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series by John Feinstein, and then read silently the rest of the period or worked on book projects.

Homework:
* Book project due MONDAY
* Friday portion of study guide (for Unit 1)
* Read for 60 min
(* Book orders due Oct. 20th)

Today we studied "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" by looking at conflict in drama and how the characters act and react with/to each other. For writing, we revised to strengthen an emotion or idea through WEX Lesson 24. We also found and corrected any run-on sentences in our narrative. We'll be typing them next week!

Homework:
* Finish Setting and Its Roles practice worksheet
* Read for 20 min
* Book project due MONDAY
(* Book orders due Oct. 20th)

We continued reading the teleplay "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." For writing, we are still editing our narratives, by using WEX Lesson 23 - Writing a Lead and Adding Revisions.

Homework:
* Finish reading "Monsters"
* Read for 20 min
* Book project due MONDAY
(* Book orders due Oct. 20th)

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful long weekend!

Today we continued in Unit 1 of our Literature book, beginning to read the teleplay "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." For writing, we continued with editing our narratives, by using WEX Lesson 22 - Creating Paragraph Transitions.

Homework:
* Vocab & Grammar for "Monsters"
* Read for 20 min
* Book project due MONDAY

We had a discussion based on the question posed by the Literature book today (see this picture). Participation grades were given for the outline of reasons and text support. For reading, we read chapter 1 of Powerless by Matthew Cody, and then students had time to read their independent novels silently or work on their book projects.

Websites we used for our discussion today:

Krakatoa interactive site = http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/krakatoa/interactive/interactive.html

Apollo 13 history = http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/history/apollo/apollo-13/apollo-13.html

Commander Jim Lovell on Apollo 13 mission = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8612007.stm

Remembering Pearl Harbor = http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/

Remembering 9/11 = http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/remembering-9-11/all/Overview

Homework:
* Read for 60 minutes.
* Work on your book project! (Due October 17th)

Before the quiz, we worked more with analogies and correct pronoun case. The "Exploring the Titanic" quiz was next, along with lessons 20 & 21 in WEX - Revising to Show Cause and Effect & Experimenting with Sequence.

Homework:
* Create 5 different analogies (scratch paper is fine)
* Read 20 min.
* Keep working on that book project...

Quick reminder... Today and next Tuesday, students are invited to an open lab session in the CLC if they'd like to work on their book projects (due October 17th).

Our warm-up today had to do with analogies and correct pronoun case. We then read "Exploring the Titanic" as a class, and filled in our timelines (half of the homework). Afterwards, we completed lesson 19 in WEX - Developing the Essay.

Homework:
* Worksheet for "Exploring the Titanic" (Literary Analysis / Timeline)
* LIT pg. 115 #2, 4, & 7
* Read 20 min.
* Work on your book project...

Quick reminder... This Tuesday and next Tuesday, students are invited to an open lab session in the CLC if they'd like to work on their book projects (due October 17th).

Today we went over our quizzes from last week - again, stressing that students need to read closely. We then took a look at correct pronoun case, and analogies, analyzing the relationships they may have (see pages 116 & 117 in the LIT book). Afterwards, we completed lesson 18 in WEX - Defining a Personal Essay.

Homework:
* Vocab/Grammar sheet for "Exploring the Titanic"
* Read 20 min.
* Continue to work on your book project - it's due October 17th!