Week 32: April 4-8

I am so PROUD of students on the writing SAGE! So many students had great attitudes, a proactive approach to testing (meaning they were using foldables, requesting more testing time, etc.) and performed very well. I'm quite excited to see scores. To reward them, I'll be doing a reading party on Monday and after SAGE reading test at the end of April, we'll have the annual End-of-Testing-Waffle-Party...it's as epic as it sounds:)

This week will be about reading comprehension, prefixes and suffixes to prepare for reading SAGE. Remind your student to continue reading at home at least 30 mins. a night, 5 nights a week. I am looking forward to welcoming many more students into the iRead 40 Club.

These students are delightful and I so enjoy every day with them and I'll be missing them next year as they begin middle school. Rest be assured they will be prepare for SCMS and I'm looking forward to finishing strong this year.

Thank you for all the support! Please email me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call at 435-652-4742 after school hours.

Week 32...8 weeks left? Yikes!

April 4-April 8

 Monday. April 4th

Short PLC day (school out at 11:45am)

Reading Party! 

Book #4 Due

Students may bring treats/blanket to enjoy with a good novel

Tuesday, April 5th

Free Reading

Teens Against Hilter  

Partner Mixed-Pair-Share Summarizing Fun

Wednesday, April 6th

Library

Prefix/Suffix Notes

FLEX: CFA #6 reteach/test

Thursday, April 7th

Free Reading

Author's Purpose Posters

Friday, April 8th

Free Reading

Author's Purpose Presentations
Finish Prefix/Suffix Notes

Honors Book #5 Due

Week 31: Writing SAGE Test!

It's that time of year: SAGE time! I've done all I can to prepare students and I'm confident that we will see scores improve across the board. Students have set a goal for their score (and will earn candy bars/Robins's Rewards) for meeting the goal, they have things to study to help them, I'll do all I can to create a relaxing testing environment. Thanks in advance for your support:)

Because we have short weeks, I need students to do some things at home and I really need your help. Please have your student:

1. Read SAGE HELPS-FOLDABLES on the blog. I have details about the actual test, the foldables and example essays for them to review. It's essential they spend some time here this weekend.
2. Review their past essays and rubrics to remember what they need to make sure they do. They should have 4 if they've handed essays in on time.
3. Practice foldables
4. Eat breakfast and sleep well the night before testing. This goes a long way to help students focus.
5. Be at school each day: arrive on-time and come with a good attitude.

Week 31

March 29th-April 1st

Monday, March 28th

Last Day of Spring Recess

Tuesday, March 29th

B Lab: SAGE Testing

Wednesday, March 30th

B Lab: SAGE Testing

Thursday, March 31st

B Lab: SAGE Testing

Friday, April 1st

B Lab: SAGE Testing

For students needing to finish

Congrats to Andrea: the newest member of the iRead 40 Club! Woot!!!

Week 30: Twas The Week Before SAGE

'Twas the week before SAGE and in Mrs. Robins's class,

Students were preparing because the test is coming fast!

For real, there is a lot to do and I really need students to be in school to prepare for the test. My goal is to help them improve their score from last year. I do all I can to make the testing environment friendly and prepare them well so they can be successful.

Please see the link on my blog: SAGE Helps/Foldables to see what students need to do to prepare and useful information. 

Please make sure your students attends school all this week and is present on Tuesday, March 29th to begin testing. Your support and positive attitude makes all the difference. Thank you so much! As always, I can be reached via email at rachel.robins@washk12.org or after school hours at 435-652-4742. Have a great week!

Week 30

March 21-March 25

Monday, March 21st

PREP Gestures

Meet in B Lab

ACES (Explanatory) Essay
If you are absent, you still need to do an ACES essay. You can go on Utah Compose and find 2 choices: one is labeled Explanatory Essay: Penguins, the other is Explanatory Essay: Plastic Bags. Contact me if you need help.

Congrats to 5th period who had the 

highest amount of on-time essays from last week,

you have earned a Breakfast Party today!

Tuesday, March 22nd

Meet in B Lab

ACES (Explanatory) Essay

Book #3 Due

Wednesday, March 23rd

SAGE Predictions (students will set a goal for 

their score, if they meet it, they will 

receive a candy bar)

Foldable Races

CFA #6: Prompt Analysis

Thursday, March 24th

Final Review for SAGE

Please be in class!

Honors Book #4 Due

Friday, March 25th

Spring Recess from March 25th-March 28th

School will resume with SAGE Testing on March 29th

Week 29: March 14-March 18

I've been very happy with student writing, the Superhero essays were...SUPER! The SAGE writing test is upon us and will begin March 29th. School attendance at this point is critical as we will be doing a couple more essays and exercises to prepare. I really need students to be present so I can prepare them for the test. I'm excited for the students to showcase their mad writing skills!

3rd trimester is my favorite as students starting bringing it with iRead. Big congrats to Arianna Hafen and Emily Robins for entering the iRead 40 Club this last week! The girls both earned their shirts, a candy bar and entrance into our end-of-the-year party. I'm looking forward to many more students joining the club. Remember to read at least 30 minutes, 5 times a week. 

As always, email or call with any questions or comments. I'm so proud of these students and look forward to finishing strong this year! 

Week 29

March 14-March 18

Monday, March 14th

Meet in B Lab

Argumentative Essay: 

SmartCars or Chocolate Milk 

Book #2 Due 

Tuesday, March 15th

Meet in B Lab

Argumentative Essay: 

SmartCars or Chocolate Milk  

Wednesday, March 16th

Meet in B Lab

Argumentative Essay: 

SmartCars or Chocolate Milk 

Honors Book #3 Due 

Thursday, March 17th 

Speed Essays (printed copies) Analysis

Free Reading

Friday, March 18th

Foldable Races

OREO Essay Revisions

Free Reading

Emily 

Arianna

Friday, March 4th Assignment

Hello! Here is your assignment for today:

3rd and 6th periods:  You will do the "Speed Essay" activity FIRST, then this one.

1st, 4th and 5th period: You will do this assignment FIRST, then read quietly at your computer.

Elaboration Practice

due Friday, March 4th

1. Elaboration is a fancy word for explaining. When you have a quote or paraphrase (evidence) in your essays, you MUST explain how that evidence answers the question in the prompt. 

2. Practice: We are going to practice this today by going to Utah Compose.

a. Click here to go to Utah Compose

b. Log in. Your USERNAME is your SS ID# 000_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

Your PASSWORD is your LUNCH NUMBER (without initials)

c. Select Language Arts 7

d. Click on the tab that says LESSONS

e.  Select "Category" on the left-hand side and choose "Development of Ideas"

f.  On the right-hand side choose "Elaboration in Essays" and "Elaboration Techniques". Get a pair of headphones and watch each tutorial.

3. Apply: After you have gone through both tutorials, go back into your Google Drive and pull up your Super Hero essay. 

a. Choose 1 OREO paragraph and revise it, adding more elaboration (explaining) about how your quote answers the question "Why is your Superhero the best"? Don't summarize your quote, explain it.

b. Next, email the paragraph to me at: rachel.robins@washk12.org

Thanks for working so hard and being respectful to the substitute. Have a great Spring Break!