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.