Utah-In-The-News For Friday, September 7th

A big thank you to the students who presented Utah-In-The-News this week.  They did an excellent job and thank you to parents/guardians for your continued support.  The following students will present their Utah-In-The-News on Friday, September 7th.  If they choose to present early, they can earn a Robins Rewards Ticket.  If students are unprepared or miss a day, they will lose 10 points off their 50 point total so please be prepared.

Utah-In-The-News

Present On 9/7

1st Period: Nate Awercamp, Chase Morgan, Chole Pemberton

2nd Period: Vaughn Anderson, Kylee Hafen, Alex Tholen

3rd Period: Nate Chatelain, Jared Martinez, Jessica Watkins

5th Period: Braden Baker, Tori Fisher, Allie Parr

6th Period: Shayler Braken, Clayton Martinez, Brook Stoneman

Weekly Update

Hello Parents/Guardians,

We are off to a great start in 7th grade Language Arts.  I just have a few items to remind you about.

First of all, Book to Film Permission Forms are due on Friday, August 31st.  If students turn them in early, they will receive an additional entry into our monthly drawing.

Second, I know several students have been out of school due to illness.  Please remind them to check either the blog or their planner to see what they have missed and come talk to me before or after school to pick up their missing work.  While I don't want your student to fall behind, they do need to be responsible enough to check with me and make up missing work.

Third, if your student has a library fine, they will be texting/emailing or calling you on Wednesday during our library time to remind you to remind them to pay the fine and/or turn in their book.  All students are working towards a reward for bringing a book to read at the library each week and remaining fine-free.

Finally, this Friday is our in-class Gecko Day!!  Gecko time takes place the last half hour of each class period. Because the trimester has just started, everyone will participate in our activity.  From here on out, if your student has fallen behind or has a "U" or "I" in the class, they will attend a remediation class with one of the 7th grade Language Arts teachers where they will receive extra help.  Students who are doing well academically and in their citizenship grade will participate in a fun activity related to each class subject.  This week each class voted to have a Read-A-Thon.  Please know they are allowed to bring snacks, their favorite book, a small pillow or blanket and even music to listen too as they read.  Their half hour of reading in class will count towards their daily reading.

Please remind your student if they have Utah-in-the-News this week (a list has been posted), I will make assignments for next Friday this week.

I am enjoying working with your student!!  They are fantastic kids with a lot of potential.  Thank you for your continued support; please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns.  I also invite you to check the class blog: www.theb7robinsnest.blogspot.com for up-to-date information.

Best,

Rachel Robins

7th Grade Language Arts

rrobins@lavaridge.net

435-652-4742

Week 3 Outline

The following is the schedule for the upcoming week.  Parents, please remind your student to do their daily reading (30 mins. a day, 5 days a week) and be sure to sign their planner. As you can see, we will begin our Book to Film unit this week by teaching Story Elements, Plot Sequence, Allusion, etc. moving into  Compare/Contrast in short stories and then book excerpts and movie clips.  It is going to be a very fun and learning-filled week! 

**Please remember to send back the yellow Book to Film permission slip this week.  It is vitally important students & parents decide which book/film they are choosing and starting reading this week.  There is a variety of books and movies in class your child can choose or you may obtain your own. Remember, it is acceptable if they have already seen the movie, but haven't read the book; however, they will need to re-watch the movie.  They must not have read the book before. As a department, we want to encourage our students to broaden their horizons and read books which are new to them.**

STAR Test results are on your child's PowerSchool account.   It is very helpful to see how students test on their reading levels as we begin the school year.  With home-practice reading, vocabulary and reading strategy instruction in class, I am confident reading scores will climb!  Thank you for your continued support and enjoy your week!

Week: 3 Dates: Aug. 27-Aug. 31	Monday, August 27	Tuesday, August 28	Wednesday, August 29	Thursday, August 30	Friday, August 31
	*Student Planner Lesson *Calendar Week *Planner Check *Unit Pre Test *Intro. To Story Elements PORTFOLIOS MUST BE IN!	*Student Planner Lesson  *Story Element Practice *Introduce and Practice Plot Sequence *Introduction to Allusion using Song Lyrics.	*Student Planner Lesson *Characterization with Character-Body-Box *Library Day	*Student Planner Lesson *Introduce/Practice Movie Compare/Contrast *Movie/Book Activity *Brainstorming Graphic Organizer and Class Activity.	*Compare/Contrast Book & Movie Activity *Random Student of the Week *UT IN THE NEWS PRESENTATIONS DUE   *GECKO TIME!! *School Spirit Day: Wear Your Colors!

Dates to Add to Your Calendar

As a parent myself, it's always nice to know what important dates are coming up, so here are a few to add to your calendar for the 1st trimester at Lava Ridge.  Back-to-School Night is tonight at 6:30pm.  I am really looking forward to meeting you all!  If you can't come tonight, please plan on attending Parent/Teacher Conference on September 26th and 27th to talk about your student.

August 24th: Benchmark Star Reading Test (your child's score will show up on PowerSchool)
September 3rd: No School
September 14th: Language Arts Super-Gecko Day (fun activity day for ALL students during Language Arts)
September 17th: Book Orders Due
September 26th: First Book Report Due for the Book-to-Film choice your child selected to read
September 26th-27th: Parent/Teacher Conference 3:00-6:30pm
October 17th: Book Orders Due
October 18th-19th: Fall Break (No School)
October 23-25th: CRT Prep Testing
October 24th: 2nd Book Report Due and Deadline for any Late Work
November 9th: End of the Trimester

Utah In The News

Tomorrow, I will introduce students to their "Utah-In-The-News" assignment.  This is an assignment which involves students reading informational text, connecting the text to themselves and presenting the text to their peers in class.  Students will need to do this assignment once a trimester.  Three students per class will be assigned each week.  They will know a week in advance so they have time to prepare.  This assignment is worth 50 points and will affect their grades.

Students need to use a newspaper, magazine or news website to find an article which happened in the State of Utah.  They will then fill out the Utah-In-The-News paper they will bring home, pinpoint the location on a Utah map (on the paper) and write a paragraph summarizing what they read.  In class, they will read their paragraph and show students where in Utah their event happened.

Students may complete this assignment at home or at school.  Here are some suggestions for news sites: ksl.com, kutv.com, www.fox13now.com, thespectrum.com, www.deseretnews.com or www.sltribune.com.  Additionally, students may read any magazine or newspaper with a Utah news story in it.

I'll post which students have Utah-in-the-News each week and please feel free to contact me with any questions.  Utah-in-the-News will always be on Friday before Gecko Time.  We will be doing benchmark testing this Friday, so the first presentations will be on August 31st.  Please double-check with your student about this assignment and encourage them to do their best.

Utah-In-The-News

Present to Class on Friday, August 31st

1st Period:  Cricket Gibb, Nate Reber, Vikki Riggs

2nd Period: Kaleb Nielson, Javiera Santander, Emily Stewart

 3rd Period: Matthew Kitchen, Tucker Lamoreaux, Emily Schumacher

 5th Period: Grace Appel, Zack Hunt, Brooks Sampson

6th Period: Meadow Alldredge, Lea Larkin, Kameron Webster

Scholastic Book Orders

In class today, I showed the students where I keep book orders which they can take home.  Scholastic has created a very easy system for online ordering as well or you can send your student with a check.  The awesome thing about online ordering is that every order earns our class a free book!

Book Orders are due September 17th.  Please see the page to the left titled "Scholastic Book Orders" for all the information.  You may also click on the Scholastic image on the far left to go directly to the page.  

Week 2: August 20-24th

I had a FANTASTIC first week at school!  The students are respectful, highly capable and very smart; it has been a delight getting to know them and starting our year out together.  A big congrats to 2nd period who had 100% of students turn in their disclosures before any of the other classes.  This means they will be rewarded with a doughnut party on Monday!  The bulk of our time has been spent learning in-class and school procedures to ensure that our year will run smoothly.  

Please review the schedule for this week.  Friday, August 24th, will be benchmark testing where the students will be given the STAR reading test to determine their reading level.  It is very important that they be in attendance.  As a reminder, any course disclosure permission slips and portfolios (details are on the schedule) need to be returned on Monday.  Please contact me by email or by phone at the school with any questions.  Also, I will be offering book orders if anyone is interested.  I'm hoping to have a link up on the blog this weekend that will allow parents to order online or you can send a check to school with your student.

Back to School night will be held on August 24th at 6:30pm.  Parents will be able to meet their children's teachers and find out a little more about us and about the classes we teach.  I am excited to meet anyone that can attend. :) 

Wednesday, August 23rd, is School Picture Day.  Students received a school picture form which they need to purchase photos.  Please have them check with their 6th period teacher if they did not receive one.

Week: 2 Dates: Aug. 20-24 *Please make sure your student has returned their Language Arts Disclosure Form.  We are still missing a few… Also, some students brought home a manila folder to decorate for their class portfolio.  Please remind them to return it on Monday	Monday, August 20th Safety Week	Tuesday, August 21st	Wednesday, August 22nd	Thursday, August 23rd	Friday, August 24th
	Record Weekly Schedule in Planner/Planner Check Monday-Write Study-Buds Lesson People Hunt: Class Building Activity *First Period Safety Lesson/ Class Captain COURSE DISCLOSURE/ PORTFOLIOS DUE TODAY!	Procedures: Ut-in-the-News, Writing Contests,  Book Reports #1 Table Activity: Bioglyph *First Period Safety Lesson	Guess-The-Fib Class Building Activity Library Visit and Lesson Procedure: How To Go To Library *First Period Safety Lesson School Pictures Today J	Class building Activity: Mix-Freeze-Group and Line-Ups Procedures: Book Reports, Book Genres, Desk Clean-Up Mystery Trash (6th) *First Period Safety Lesson Back-to-School Night @ 6:30pm	Benchmark Testing: STAR Reading Test *First Period Safety Lesson Spirit Assembly Today-Students are encouraged to wear school shirts/school colors.

Weekly Schedule: August 15th-Agust 17th

School starts tomorrow morning at 7:40am. I don't know about all of you, but as both a mother and a teacher, I am excited!  There has always been something exhilarating for me about the start of a new school year.  It makes me think of a line from the movie "You've Got Mail" where a character talks about sending "bouquets of newly-sharpened pencils."  Well, I've certainly got the newly sharpened pencils and an entire classroom and lesson plans just waiting for students!  I've spent a lot of time this summer cleaning out my classroom and preparing for the new school year.  Because I am a mother, I understand the important role a teacher plays in the lives of students and, rest assured, I am prepared to care for and educate your child as we embark on this new school year together.  I can't wait to meet everyone tomorrow morning!

Each week, I'll post the schedule of what I will be doing so both parents and students can be prepared and "in the loop."  These first three days are primarily focused on getting to know each other and understanding the procedures of both the classroom and school.  Parents, your child will be bringing home a class and a school disclosure form.  Please make sure these are signed and returned promptly.  The class that returns their disclosures forms first will earn a doughnut party!  

As a reminder, back to school night will be August 23rd from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.  Thank you for your support and I'll look forward to meeting my students in the morning!  We are going to have a fantastic school year:) 

Week: 1 Dates: Aug. 15-19 *Parents, your student should be bringing home a school and course disclosure.  Sign them and send them back ASAP.  The first class with course disclosures in gets a donut party! Also, there is a School District Acceptable Use Policy on page 23 of your student’s planner.  Please sign and I’ll check it off.	Monday, August 15	Tuesday, August 16	Wednesday, August 17	Thursday, August 18	Friday, August 19
			Welcome to L.A. 7th!! Seating Chart Introduction to Mrs. Robins and to each other. Introduce course, handout disclosures. Organizational Binder lesson #1. Class Expectations Student Folders Planner Work (if time)	Random-Student-of-the-week papers. Organizational Binder Lesson #2. Getting-to-know –you activity. Procedures: pencils, birthday, tool box, book check-out system More on Class Rewards	Organizational Binder Lesson #3 Map The Classroom Activity Procedures: Book Reports, Missing Work Folder and Portfolios

Welcome to 7th Grade!!

School will begin a week from today!  I can't believe the summer has passed by so quickly.  I am really looking forward to meeting all of you and beginning 7th grade Language Arts together.  You can plan on a year filled with learning about the English language and reading some fantastic novels, short stories, plays and poetry.  My curriculum is aligned with the new Common Core and I plan on teaching in fun, innovative ways.  Students and parents can use this blog to get our weekly schedule, preview novels we are reading, view pictures taken in class, receive additional information and learn a little about me.  I look forward to seeing you all soon!