Week 12: October 27-October 31

Whew-what a great week! From watching "Cinderella" to finishing (or almost finishing) novels, it's been a whirlwind week of learning. What a fun week of diving into literature, analyzing and understanding how thoughts, ideas and emotions are communicated through text. More than anything, I love hearing what students think and seeing their "a-ha" when they get a concept or express deep understanding. It has been a fantastic week!

A big congrats to Shayne Nielson for winning the St. George Book Festival Youth Poetry Contest. It is wonderful to see students achieve and be recognized. Way to go Shayne! (picture coming soon).

Another congrats to Shade Joines for becoming the newest member of our iRead "40 Club" for completing 40 books this trimester! Woot!

The end of the trimester is rapidly approaching, here are important dates for everyone to be aware of:

Monday, October 27th: Select Novel Project to complete & start working 

Tuesday, October 28th: Work day for Novel Project, Newspaper Day for Honors

Wednesday, October 29th: Book Finales Due and Novel Projects Presented, Work Day for Honors

Thursday, October 30th: Honors Novel Project Presentations

Friday, October 31st: Honors Writing Contest, Writing Blog and 3 Comments are due

Monday, November 3rd: Honors Newspaper Published, Scholastic Book Orders Due

Monday, November 3rd-5th: Book Finale Presentations(all classes)

Wednesday, November 5th: 2nd Utah Expedition Question Due, All Work Finished for Trimester, 10 iRead Books Finished (3rd-6th periods), 12 iRead Books Finished (2nd period)

Friday, November 7th: END OF TRIMESTER

*Missing work can be accessed through links on PowerSchool or pick up a hard copy in my room. I will offer extra effort assignments (see bin in my room) and students can do a writing contest for extra academic credit (also in my room). If students score low, they are welcome to redo assignments. Please remember, I am available before and after school or students can ask that I request them during FLEX for extra help. I cannot stop class and help students find missing work, so please talk to me as listed above.

Nation-in-the-News

present on Friday, October 31st

2nd period: Shayne Nielson, Ethan Pack

3rd period: All Finished

4th period: Madison Pierson

5th period: Liddia Jaques, Colton Maycock, Emily Memmot, Ady Moak

6th period: David Barazza

Weekly Schedule

October 27-October 31

Monday, October 27th

2nd period Honors: Final "Wednesday Wars" Quiz, sign-up for projects, begin Novel Projects *See previous blog post for Novel Project menu and links

3rd-4th periods: Finish "Out of the Dust"

3rd-6th periods: Sign-up for projects, Begin working on projects 

Tuesday, October 28th

Finish Plot Chart and Notes

2nd period Honors: Newspaper Work Day (last one before publication)
3rd-6th periods: Novel Project Work Day

Wednesday, October 29th

Free Reading/Book Business

2nd period Honors: Novel Project Work Day
3rd-6th periods: Novel Project Presentations

Thursday, October 30th

Free Reading/Book Business
2nd period Honors: Novel Project Presentations
3rd-6th periods: Page-to-Film Unit

Page-to-Film Vocabulary
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street: story and film.

Friday, October 31st

Happy Halloween!! (Yes, costumes welcome--check out guidelines in last school newsletter)
Random Student Form
Nation-in-the-News
Page-to-Film:

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven audio poem version, The Simpson's "Raven"

Page-to-Film Vocabulary (2nd period Honors)

Honors Class: Wednesday War Projects

On Monday, you will sign up for the "Wednesday Wars" project you want to do and begin working on it. We will work on these projects Monday and Wednesday and present Thursday. Please, please read the fine print (the instructions and rubric) so you can get the fullest amount of points possible.

Also, "The Wednesday Wars" must be completed for Monday. You will have a short quiz then start working on your Novel Project. Thanks!

Wednesday War Menu

Novel Project Rubrics

Motivational Monday Write

If you missed this assignment, you need to watch two YouTube clips before writing.

Here are the links:

Tim's Place

Korea's Got Talent: Homeless Boy

Next, please get the pink writing form from my room to finish the assignment.

Thank you!

Week 11: October 20-24

I hope everyone enjoyed Fall Break (and got to sleep-in a little)!

I'm excited for this upcoming week as we have some very fun items on the schedule. My goal is to wrap-up novels & introduce in-class novel projects to be finished next week. We will be attending "Cinderella" at SCHS on Wednesday and will explore the migratory tale of Cinderella on Tuesday. It will be a busy, but very worthwhile week.

Just a reminder that Book Finales are due on October 29th. Book Finale options may be accessed on the link on the left side of my blog or picked up in class. Remember a student will do a project on their favorite book they have read this trimester. Late work will be penalized so please, please turn in your work on time. All Book Finales will be presented the first week of November.

As November 7th is the end of the trimester, just a friendly reminder to check PowerSchool and make-up any low or missing assignments. I am happy to work with you, just let me know how. Remember that 2 Utah Expedition Library questions and 10 books need to be read by the end of the trimester. Make sure home-reading (30 mins a day at least 5 days a week) is happening. Additionally, Honors students need to read 12 books this trimester, enter a writing contest and post/comment on our writing blog. Please pace yourselves and finish in a timely manner before the end of the month.

I will be pulling some students for FLEX time this week who need a little extra support on reading. I'll send emails out to parents later this week to let you know what we will be doing in the reading group.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement. I am absolutely loving this group of students and am excited about the great strides of progress I am seeing.  As always, I can be reached by email, rachel.robins@washk12.org or call the school at 435-652-4742.  Have a wonderful week!

A HUGE congrats to students from Robins and Leany's classes who have reached the iRead's 40 Club (for reading the equivalency of 40 books so far this year).  I am anticipating many more joining this club!  *Shade: you'll get your shirt and picture on Monday!

Cash, Caleb, Sierra, Shayne & Kayden!

Nation-in-the-News

to be presented on Thursday, October 23rd

2nd period: Shayi Habibian (present), Cheyann Long, Carrson McKenna, Seth Millward

3rd period: Destiny Low, Aubry McCombs, Greyson Shipp, Aaron West

4th period: Sommer Norton, Madison Pierson

5th period:  Emily Gunn, Harley Hall, Mason Hansen, Liddia Jaques

6th period:  Breanna Hernando, Gracee Larson, Spencer Nobis, Jared Nolazco, Tali Puriri

Monday, October 20

10 mins. Free Reading

Novel Close Reading

Novel Study

Honors: Quiz on Jan/Feb chapters

Tuesday, October 22

Migratory Fairy Tale Analysis

Wednesday, October 22

"Cinderella Musical"

5th and 6th periods: Novel Study

Thursday, October 23

10 mins. Free Reading

Honors: Newspaper Work Day

Nation-in-the-News Presentations
"Out of the Dust" Novel Study and Plot Chart Notes

Friday, October 24

Finish "Out of the Dust"

Plot Chart Notes on "Wednesday Wars"

Library Day

Why I Feel So Strongly About Reading & Some Excellent Resources

Week 10: October 13-October 17

It's been another great week in Language Arts. Students were introduced to using Paired Text and Close Reading. It was a fun week of literature analysis and I'm proud with how students are progressing and developing critical thinking skills. The iRead program is going well too--several students got their first "Bingo" and are making great strides of progress in their reading.

Looking ahead, we are taking all the 7th grade students to Snow Canyon High School's production of "Cinderella". Permission slips will be sent home on Monday, October 13th and must be returned by Wednesday, October 15th so your student is eligible to attend this fun event. Also, as stated in the syllabus, the first Book Finale is due on Wednesday, October 29th. A Book Finale is a fun novel project that students do on a book of their own choosing. They will present these projects to the class. My goal is to give a wide variety of choices for students. I'll try to give some class time, but this is one of the few assignments that will be need to be done at home.

As always, I welcome hearing from parents and students and I'm eager to resolve any concerns and answer questions. I can be reached at rachel.robins@washk12.org or at school (435) 652-4742.

 No Nation in the News this week.

Monday,October 13
1o mins. Free Reading
Introduce Book Finale Projects
Motivational Monday Write
Plot Chart: Characters, Rising Action Notes
2nd period: January "Wednesday Wars"
3rd-6th periods: Winter 1935 "Out of the Dust"
"Cinderella: The Musical" Permission Sent Slips Home (for 10/22 performance)

Tuesday, October 14

1o mins. Free Reading
2nd period: Newspaper Day!!
3rd-6th periods: Spring 1936 "Out of the Dust"

Wednesday, October 15

10 mins. Free Reading
2nd period: February "Wednesday Wars"
3rd-6th periods: Spring-Summer 1936
Close Reading Passage 
*Home Reading Assignments as needed

"Cinderella: The Musical" Permission Slips Returned to School 

October 16-17: Fall Break...enjoy!!

Week 9: October 6-October 10

Thank you for the high turn-out at SEP Parent Teacher Conference. I really appreciate your patience in waiting to see me and the great conversations we had as we discussed how to help your child take their reading and writing to the next level. I was so impressed at the parent involvement and the many emails from those who couldn't make the evening meetings. These students are fantastic and it's a privilege to be their teacher.

We will be continuing with novels this week and I'm looking forward to Close Reading and further discussion of our Plot Elements. Remember the first Book Finale project will be due on October 25th. I'll be introducing the project options soon. Just a reminder to students as well to finish up their Utah Expedition Questions at the library. There are two due per trimester.

As always, I welcome hearing from parents and students and I'm eager to resolve any concerns and answer questions. I can be reached at rachel.robins@washk12.org or at school (435) 652-4742.

Nation-in-the-News

to present Friday, October 10th

2nd Period:  Audrey G., Shayli H., Sadie G., Jaedan M.

3rd Period:  Stryder H., Jackie L. Marcus J.

4th Period:  Olivia O., Erik P., Maddi P.

5th:  Laura G., Paola G., Garret G.

6th:  Victor G., Dillon G., Arelli H.

Monday, October 6th

Short PLC Monday
Book Commercials

Tuesday, October 7th

10 minutes free reading

Paired Text
Novel Reading

Wednesday, October 1

Novel Reading
Library Time

Thursday, October 2

10 minutes free reading
*2nd period Honors: Newspaper Day!
Close Reading Activity 
Novel Reading

Friday, October 3

Random Student
Nation-in-the-News
Finish Plot Elements Glue-In
Read Novels