Week 25: Figuring out Figurative Language

We've had a fantastic week! We started out strong with learning about elaborating in explanatory essays--this is a great skill to master that will transfer to many different areas in many ways for students. Most students completed the Elaboration exercise to increase their score. Friday was awesome! Students who still struggled with essays were able to attend a focused re-teach. Students who have demonstrated understanding attended a Korean culture event with our Korean interns. Students had the unique opportunity to learn about specifics of Korean culture (birth age, time, calendar dates), Korean New Year (which is today, Happy Seol Lal!!) and Korean food. Our interns did a fantastic job showing their culture and comparing/contrasting to ours.

Next week will be a fun hands-on activity all about Figurative Language. Students will work in groups to research a specific type of figurative language. They will make a Google Slide presentation to teach figurative language to the rest of the class. We will then do a SAGE based benchmark to see what students are understanding when it comes to comprehending literature. This is really important because it will guide my instruction for the rest of the year, in particular, to see what I can cover within the context of the next novel we cover.

Couple reminders...
Gecko Cards! These awesome $10 cards are for sale until February 2nd. Each student is encouraged to sell as many as they can (at least one!) because the proceeds directly benefit our school by providing everything from Scope magazines to calculators and beyond! Prizes are given for individual and class high sales. Get your Gecko card today!

Gold Gecko Day! Gold Gecko Day is coming up. This is an amazing activity to reward all students who have NO missing assignments, NO NP's and NO U's. Qualifying date is Feb. 8th. Please get your work in to join in this fun activity.

Reading: Remember that students need to reading 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. Reading at home is essential! Please promote it at home.

Weekly Schedule

January 30-February 3

Monday, January 30th

Bell Work

Free Reading

Begin Figuring Out Figurative Language Activity
Book #8 DUE

Tuesday, January 31st

Bell Work

Free Reading

Finish up Figuring Out Figurative Language Activity

Wednesday, February 1st

Bell Work

Free Reading

Figurative Language Presentations

Thursday, February 2nd

Literature Elements/Editing Benchmark

Friday, February 3rd

Literature Elements/Editing Benchmark

Week 24: Focused Re-Teaching and Practice

It's been a great week in 7th grade Language Arts. Students worked hard on an explanatory essays on SAGE portal this week. This exercise did A LOT to help me understand what students know and where they are struggling. Week 24 will be all about filling those gaps. Students will participate in focused reteaching and practice to hone their essay skills. This is really an essential skill that they should master before entering 8th grade. I'm excited to see the results.

Reading matters! Please make sure your student is reading at home for at least 5 days a week, 30 minutes per session. Good reading means success across the board, not just in my class, but in all subject areas. Your support is crucial and I am so grateful. I've had some parents ask me about reading and writing in the home. This is the best explanation I've seen, hope this helps!

I am very excited to introduce you all to our Korean intern, Ms. Juhi Kang. She is here with other Korean Education students to study education in America. She will be assisting me and will be having some teaching practice. I think the students will enjoy meeting someone from another country and have some cool culture-exchange opportunities.

Week 24

January 23-January 27

Monday, January 23rd

Short PLC Day (please still attend school)

Elaboration Lesson and Practice

Tuesday, January 24th

Free Reading 

Elaboration Practice Day

Wednesday, January 25th

Library Day (reading)

Context Clue Quiz

Thursday, January 26th

Free Reading

Explanatory Essay Repair Test

Friday, January 27th

GECKO DAY!

Reteaching Rooms or 

Korean Culture Enrichment

Week 23: January 16-January 20

It was a great first full week of the year last week as we focused heavily on writing and analyzing Explanatory Essays. I'm proud of the student's hard work and focus this week. It's really important students be in attendance. We are covering a lot of material and the more school they miss in the next few months, the further behind they will be. Much of what we are doing now is in class practice or direct instruction that I don't worksheets for, so it will be very difficult to make-up.

Please encourage your student to keep reading--30 minutes at home, at least 5 days a week. Building reading skills is instrumental in comprehending all subjects.

This week will be an assessment to see how students can compose an Explanatory Essay from the group-up. We'll then move in to Context Clues, which will be interactive and fun for students. Thank you for the ongoing support. Remember, no school Monday: have a great long weekend! I'll see everyone on Tuesday.

Week 23

January 16-January 20

Monday, January 16th

No School

Martin Luther King Day

Tuesday, January 17th

Explanatory Essay: Roller coasters

Wednesday, January 18th

Explanatory Essay: Roller coasters

Thursday, January 19th

Free Reading

Context Clues Notes

Context Clues Activities

Friday, January 20th

Free Reading
Context Clues Practice/Activities
Book #7 DUE

Week 22: January 9th-January 13th

It's been a fun week back at school. Everyone was a little tired (teacher included), waking up early after a long break was rough! We are moving into writing full-length essays. I work hard to break this all up into chunks. We will be working on constructing explanatory essays, one piece at a time. This week is crucial as students will be writing these essays on the SAGE test and throughout the rest of their time in school. Friday will be an assessment where students will demonstrate their proficiency in writing explanatory essays.

Students: please remember to be reading 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. I know life is busy but carve out the time--you can read in the car, before bed, while waiting for something, in the bathroom: be creative! This is a great article about creative ways to squeeze in reading that is applicable for adults and teens alike: Squeezing in Time to Read

As always, I'm here to help so please email me with questions or call after school hours at 652-4742. Have a fantastic weekend!

Week 22

January 9-January 13

Monday, January 9th

Introduction/Conclusion Notes (Explanatory Paragraphs)

Class Modeling: "Stuttering" article

Tuesday, January 10th

Free Reading 

Explanatory Essay (table practice) 

"Future" article

Book #6 Due

Wednesday, January 11th

Library Day

Thursday, January 12th

Free Reading
Explanatory Essay (partner)
"Hearing" article

Friday, January 13th
CFA #3: Explanatory Essay
Free Reading,  if finished early

Week 21: Welcome Back to School & Hello 2017

Wow! Can you believe that half the school year is finished!! Crazy how quickly time can move.

First of all, a very heartfelt thank you to all of you who gave gifts, cards, etc. to me for Christmas. I was touched by your thoughtfulness and so appreciative of the love and support I've had, especially over the last month. I hope everyone had a great vacation. I'm excited to be back in the classroom with my wonderful students and watch them gain new skills.

Please, please (I'm begging here) check PowerSchool. Due to many student's experiencing illness or being on vacations, there is a large amount of missing work. I like giving high grades and I really need students to complete work so I can do so. Additionally, book #5 is now due so keep reading at home. Remember, students are expected to read at home at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The only way to improve your reading and writing is focused practice, and we'll be doing a lot of that in class.

As always, please let me know if you have questions or concerns about your student. I'm available before and after school. Email is the best way to reach me or call the school at 652-4742, after school hours. Many thanks and let's have a great short week back at school!

Week #21 Schedule

Thursday, January 5th

2017 New Year Writing Assignment

Honors: Newspaper Day

Free Reading/Complete Missing Work

Book #5 Due

Friday, January 6th

Thesis Day!

Prezi, Notes, Practice

Free Reading (if time)