Week of Dec. 16-19

Hello!  We will finish up testing this week and then we will watch some clips of the 1935 version of "A Christmas Carol" on Wednesday to compare it to the original text.

I hope your family has a merry holiday season, and I'll look forward to seeing everyone in 2014.

Homework:

Mon--none
Tues--2nd and 4th periods will have their Dickens folder due on Wednesday
Wed--none
Thurs--read at home over the break

READING EXPLORATORY
     There will be no homework this week.

Week of Dec. 11-13th

Hello!  Well, that was a surprise!  We have a very short week as a result.  We are scheduled to begin our middle-of-the-year online computer testing today for 2nd and 4th periods and tomorrow for 5th and 6th periods, so that will affect homework.  Please read the homework listings carefully.

HOMEWORK:

Wed--Dickens folders will be due tomorrow for 5th and 6th period classes only.
Thur--no HW
Fri--no HW
next MON 12/16--Dickens folders will be due on Tuesday for 2nd and 4th periods only.

READING CLASSES
There will be no HW for the rest of this week.

Week of Dec. 2-6th

Hello!  This week we will begin our unit on Charles Dickens and his classic A Christmas Carol.  All students will need some kind of a folder with brads by Friday.  (It does not have to be new.)  Also, please remember that Book Talk is on Wednesday, Dec. 11th, and every student must have finished his/her book by that date.

Homework:

Mon--write a short essay reflecting on your interview; be getting a folder with brads
Tues--Vocab WS; be reading on your Book Talk book
Wed--Vocab WS part 2
Thurs--WS 35 on vocab words; have a folder in class tomorrow
Fri--study for test on Monday; put folder together; be finishing up your Book Talk book

READING EXPLORATORY
We will be working with Roald Dahl's memoir Boy this week.  The only homework would be that some students may need to finish up an illustration of Mrs. Pratchett on Monday.

Week of Nov. 25-26

Hello!   All students will be conducting their "childhood" interview over the Thanksgiving break.  This is always a favorite experience for both the student and the interviewee.  I will look forward to hearing what the students have to say about it when they return.

Students will be receiving an English grade print-out on Monday in class. It should be signed and returned on Tuesday.  (They will also have graded papers returned to them on Monday.  Any graded papers should be removed from the English folder and kept at home.)  Students will also receive a progress report on Tuesday.  It should be signed and returned to the 7th period teacher following the break.

Homework:

Monday--have the English grade print-out signed; reading log due tomorrow; finish 1st draft of interview questions
Tuesday--conduct your interview over the break; read your Book Talk book

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Week of Nov. 18-22

Hello!  This week we will be working on run-on sentences and sentence fragments, as well as using precise, vivid verbs.  Mr. Petree, the counselor, will be in our classroom on Wednesday, and then we will begin working on our upcoming interview project on Thursday.

Reminder:  We are collecting food for the STUCO-sponsored food drive for Ozarks Food Harvest this week.  Thank you for sending in those non-perishable food items.

HOMEWORK:

Book Talk will be on Wednesday, Dec. 11th--all students must have finished reading every word of their books by that time.

Mon--reading log due tomorrow; WS VV1/RO1
Tues--finish WS 25
Wed--read at home
Thur--read at home
Fri--read at home over the weekend

READING EXPLORATORY
We will work on making predictions while reading using support from the text, making inferences, and using context clues this week.  There will not be any homework.

Week of Nov. 11-15

Hello!  This week we will be focusing on using consistent verb tenses.  Students will also be checking out their new Book Talk books on Thursday.  Book Talk will be on Wed., Dec. 11th, and students will need to have their books entirely finished by that day.

HOMEWORK:

Reminder--all students should be reading at LEAST 90 minutes every week outside of English class time and keeping track of their pages on the reading log.

Mon--WS 2/3 on verb tenses; salmon reading logs due tomorrow
Tues--WS VT 5
Wed--finish corrections on "Memorable School Moment"
Thur--Start reading Book Talk book
Fri--read at home

READING EXPLORATORY

This week we will focus on the reading strategy of activating prior knowledge before reading new information.  The only homework would be finishing a Word Hunt worksheet on Monday.

Week of Nov. 4-8

Hello!  This week we will focus on interpreting and creating figurative language.  The students will be writing a narrative piece about a memorable school moment.

HOMEWORK: 

Remember that all students should be reading at least 90 minutes a week outside of English time and keeping track of their pages on the reading log.  Reading logs are collected and distributed on Tuesdays.

Mon--WS 2 on similes and metaphors; reading log due tomorrow
Tues--WS 2/49; have grade check signed
Wed--be ready to start writing about your memorable school moment tomorrow
Thur--finish 1st draft of memorable school moment writing
Fri--final copy of memorable moment writing due on Monday; read at home over the weekend

READING EXPLORATORY

We will finish The Outsiders this week and there will be a quiz on Friday.  Students will need to finish reading Ch. 8 on their own on Monday, and finish Ch. 11 on their own on Wednesday.