Week 13: November 2nd-6th: Last Week of 1st Trimester

It's been a very fun holiday week. I'm happy to see how students have done well with A.C.E.S. Explanatory paragraphs. We are working hard to build good Readers/Writer's Notebooks that will be a resource for students throughout the year and beyond. Our department has been working with SCMS to prepare students by giving them foundational skills, I'm pretty happy with how it is working out!

The trimester ends on Friday. All late/make-up work needs to be in to me on Wednesday. I'll still update books till Friday. Please, please check PowerSchool and let me know if you have questions. The reading (10 books per trimester or 12 books for honors) matters--hopefully students who are behind this trimester can work harder to improve for next trimester and plan better. Overall, I'm pleased at the amount of work they are doing and how hard they are working and how much they care about their grades--such great kids!

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns. I am your partner in helping your student succeed! My email is rachel.robins@washk12.org or call the school after-hours at 652-4742. Thanks so much, enjoy your week!

Week 13 Schedule

November 2nd-6th

Monday, November 2nd

Free Reading

Citation Centers
Honors: Newspaper Day

Tuesday, November 3rd 

Free Reading

Plagiarism and Paraphrasing Mini-Lesson/Practice

A.C.E.S. paragraph 

November "Gecko Gazette" Newspaper launches!

Wednesday, November 4th

Introduction to OREO Argumentative Paragraphs

...yes, there will be Oreos :0)

FLEX: Rootbeer Float Party (for Fall Break Reading Challenge)

All work DUE!!! (I'll accept books till end of the trimester)

Thursday, November 5th

Free Reading

OREO Partner Practice: "Is technology killing our friendships?"

Modeling and Table Practice

Friday, November 6th
End-of-Trimester (also a PLC Short Day)

Last day to turn-in books

Independent Practice: OREO Paragraph "Is boredom really that bad?"
*due Monday (if students need time at home).

Halloween Fun!!

I certainly love what I do, but I've gotta say, holidays at Lava Ridge is so fun! Check out the smiling faces and cool costumes this year:).

1st period

All of 1st period

I was a giant can of Coke this year--here I am embracing my love of Coke products:)

Cool lanterns in the classroom

The amazing Mrs. Hulse, who co-teaches with me 3rd period, and some fellow Wonder Women!

Korbin is photobombing in this one!

3rd period 

4th period

5th period

Addy's amazing Christmas tree costume!

5th period

6th period with our wonderful librarians: Mrs. Schulthies & Ms. Heath

Goofy 6th period

Props to Boden: he was fully committed to being an old man: check out the hair!

This is real people--so fun!

Student Council! 

Two of my favorite ladies & student council advisers: Mrs. Sculthies, "Rosie the Riveter" and Mrs. Foster, "Arwen" from LOTR!

Week 12: Schedule and Update

It's been another fantastic week in Language Arts as we finished Wednesday Wars and novel projects. Seeing the students express their understanding of the novel in such creative ways has been very fun to watch! I'm looking forward to presentations on Monday when student can showcase their creations. I was also impressed to see how well they worked together as groups. Well done guys!

This next week will lead into a short unit on writing explanatory paragraphs, we call it A.C.E.S. It's the same method used at the middle-school. The goal is for students to develop foundational skills that will carry them into 8th grade and beyond. This is an excellent formula they can use to write informational pieces. The text (both video and articles) are highly engaging and interesting. It should be a great week. Halloween is always a fun day at school too. This year, we'll go to the library then do a Reader's Theater or "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe clip (I'll let the kids choose). The school will be sending a message about appropriate costumes.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns. I am your partner in helping your student succeed! My email is rachel.robins@washk12.org or call the school after-hours at 652-4742. Thanks so much, enjoy your week!

Week 12 Schedule

October 26th-30th

Monday, October 26th

Wednesday War Novel Project Presentations

Free Reading
Honors: Newspaper Day

Tuesday, October 27th

Free Reading

Introduce A.C.E.S. paragraph (explanatory)

Model A.C.E.S. (do paragraph as a class)

Wednesday, October 28th

Book Orders Due Today

A.C.E.S. Paragraph Practice: Group

Why do some people enjoy thrill rides?
FLEX: CFA #2 Reteaching

Thursday, October 29th
A.C.E.S. Paragraph Practice: Individual

Why is sugar harmful to teens?

Free Reading (if finished with paragraph)

Friday, October 30th
Spirit Day: Wear your Halloween Costume
Book #9 Due Today

Library Day

Legend of Sleep Hollow Reader's Theater OR

The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe (student choice)

We have a lot to celebrate this week! Congrats to both Shaylee Johnson and Carston Herman who were published in the newspaper over the last 2 weeks!

Congrats to students who are winning writing contests!!!  Gavin Gough placed 3rd in the St. George Book Festival Poetry Contest. Reflection Literacy Contest winners: Emily Ord (2nd place) and Katelynn Lima (1st place-S) and Skye Oliver (2nd place-S). Keep up the good work writers!!

Well done Shaylee!

Great writing Carston!

Emily and Gavin: the award-winning writers! (pictures of Katelynn and Skye coming soon). Props to Jonah too who won for photography in the Reflections contest!

6th period enjoyed listening to the 6th and 7th grade Honors Choirs. Do we have a fantastic music program or what?

Writing thank-you's for our amazing principals!

4th period enjoyed supporting the band at their concert

Way to go Intermediate Band: they were seriously good!!

Excellent behavior from 4th period at the concert.

5th period did a great job completing projects

More fun in 5th period today!

Week 11: October 19-23

Welcome back from Fall Break; hope everyone had a great time, including enjoying sleeping-in! Class has been great as we've studied Wednesday Wars and learned the basic skills of using transition words and context clues. We have also started Close Reading with Notice and Note methods. It's been a busy few weeks!

We'll wrap up the novel this week by doing an in-class novel project to demonstrate understanding. I have a lot of choices on this one that I'll present students on Wednesday. We do have several special events this week, check out the schedule. Also, I'll be placing another book order on Friday. Scholastic book orders are a great way to buy cheap books! You may order online (see link on the right) or send cash or checks made out to Scholastic. Let me know if you have issue on the site.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns. I am your partner in helping your student succeed! My email is rachel.robins@washk12.org or call the school after-hours at 652-4742. Thanks so much, enjoy your week!

Week 11 Schedule

October 19th-23rd

Monday, October 19th

Genre-of-the-Week: Mystery
Mini Lesson: Words of the Wiser
Wednesday Wars

Tuesday, October 20th

Wednesday Wars Reading
Exit Ticket Assignment
6th period: Newspaper Day (D Lab)

Wednesday, October 21st

Finish Wednesday Wars
Introduce Novel Project
FLEX party for Fall Reading Challenge
6th period: Gecko Gold Party
(for students not missing ANY assignments 
and passing grades for both effort and academic)

Thursday, October 22nd
Wednesday Wars Novel Project (D Lab)

Friday, October 23rd
Novel Projects Due Today(meet in D Lab)
Book Orders Due Today
Book #8 Due Today
4th period: Intermediate Band Concert
6th period: Honors Choir Concert

Just for a smile...

Week 10: October 12-14 and Fall break

Another great week in Language Arts! I really appreciate the nominations made to Planet 94.1. I was selected for their weekly "Best Teacher on the Planet Contest". I really, really love what I do because of all of you. Students who work so hard and are so much fun making teaching wonderful and rewarding every day, so thank you! It was fun for 3rd period as 94.1 gave Fiesta Fun passes to all the students in class; it was just really cool all the way around.

We've had a great week continuing Wednesday Wars, practicing transitions and learning how to use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words. Using this skills in context of novel study makes for solid practice. Students will have a chance to showcase their skills in our Unit #2 Test on Wednesdays. It's a Common Formative Assessment (CFA) which means students are required to pass. If they do not, we will do reteaching then retest. It's essential they understand the skills and I'll do all I can to help them learn.

As always, I welcome comments and questions--I am your partner in helping your child become a better reader and writer and be successful in school. Please email me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call the school after hours: 652-4742. Thanks again for the ongoing support!

Week 10 Schedule

October 12th-16th

Monday, October 12th

PLC Short Day, school dismissed at 11:45am
Novel Study: Wednesday Wars

Tuesday, October 13th

Mini-Lesson Context Clues
Novel Study: Wednesday Wars

Wednesday, October 14th

Unit #2 Test (Transitions/Context Clues) Common Formative Assessment
*if students do not pass, they will attend reteaching
Free Reading & Novel Study (if time)

Enjoy Fall Break: see you on Monday, October 19th!

Congrats to Emily for her publication in the Spectrum newspaper! Way to go!

Week 9: October 5-10

A big thank you for all of those who were able to attend parent teacher conference. I had so much fun meeting you and talking about the plans I have for your students. Your support and kind words mean so much! I really feel I have the most fantastic students (with excellent parents) and it's a delight to be their teacher. If you couldn't make it, I am sending home your students reading scores (green paper) today and an excellent resource (blue paper) for you with tips on how to help your child become a better reader and writer.

This week we will focus on reading "Wednesday Wars" and practicing smiley-face writing tricks, transitions and how to use context clues. A heightened awareness and practice of good writing during reading will help a student master those techniques in their own writing. We will finish our Personal Narrative this month. The students are off to a great start and I am excited to see where they will take their writing.

A big congrats to the Honors class who has published their first edition of The Gecko Gazette. Copies are available in the office or online at www.lavaridge.net or on my blog. Take a moment and read it: they did a fantastic job!

As always, I welcome comments and questions--I am your partner in helping your child become a better reader and writer and be successful in school. Please email me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call the school after hours: 652-4742. Thanks again for the ongoing support!

Week 9 Schedule

October 5th-10th

Monday, October 5th

Free Reading

1st/3rd periods: Close Read, Aha Moment

Mini Lesson: Hyphenated Modifier

"Wednesday Wars" Novel Study

Tuesday, October 6th

Transitions Bell Work

Mini Lesson: Context Clues

"Wednesday Wars" Novel Study

Wednesday, October 7th

 Context Clues Bellwork

Free Reading

"Wednesday Wars" Novel Study

Thursday, October 8th

Finish Personal Narrative 

Free Reading when finished 

Friday, October 9th

Random Student
Honors: Newspaper Day
Finish Narrative as needed:
students who have completed narrative participate in a Reading Party (yes, you can bring treats)
 Book #7 Due
Final Draft of Personal Narrative Due

A BIG congrats to Honors on the launch of our first newspaper this year!

Students are to read at least 30 minutes, at least 5 days a week. Why does daily reading matter?? Reading makes ALL the difference!