Week 12: Book-to-Film & Wednesday Wars Novel (Honors) & Halloween Fun!

It's been such a great week as we have explored literature, reading closely through Notice and Note. I know the students have enjoyed these novels and it's so fun to watch them interact and discuss. 

I did something a little unplanned next week and took time every day to talk specifically about the harmful effects of drugs, smoking and alcohol for teens. We did activities each day as well. Students are coming home with a yellow paper with facts as well as their personal pledge as to why they are choosing to remain drug free. I encourage you to carry this conversation on at home. As I've been talking to my own children, I've found a wealth of resources for parents: check it out!

Because my regular classes and Honors are reading different novels, our plans will differ a bit this week. Please see schedule for the differences. Regular classes will be watching "A Good Lie", which is about lost boys of Sudan that relates nicely to the novel we read. It is PG-13. Here is a family review: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-good-lie If you prefer your child not watch the movie, let me know and I'll provide an alternate activity. Thanks so much!

Remember the Trimester is over on November 3rd...this Friday. All work/books need to be in to me by Wednesday, November 1st. Note that Books 9 & 10 are bonus books because we started the iRead program a bit later in the trimester. For Honors, there are 10 required and 2 bonus books. Encourage your child to get all their work in as soon as possible.

Thanks for the ongoing support!

Week 12

Monday, October 30-November 3

Monday, October 30
Genre-of-the-Week: Dystopia!
New Class Jobs
Prefix of the Week: Ex-,E-
Week 12 Skills Quiz
Book Tracker/Non Fiction N & N Dice Game
Honors: Finish Newspaper, Writing Work Day

Tuesday, October 31
Halloween! Dress in appropriate costumes
The Raven and/or Reader's Theater

Wednesday, November 1
Library Day 
Begin The Good Lie
Honors: Continue Wednesday Wars
LAST DAY TO HAND IN WORK FOR THE TRIMESTER

Thursday, November 2
The Good Lie (compare/contrast to A Long Walk to Water)
Honors: Wednesday Wars

Friday, October 27
The Good Lie (compare/contrast to A Long Walk to Water)
Honors: Wednesday Wars & N & N Dice Game
Book #8 DUE
END OF TRIMESTER

Week #11: More Fun with Novels

I must say, this week was a blast! From the "long walk to water"/water filter event to eating cream puffs and practicing Shakespeare insults--it's been a great week! Please see PHOTOS HERE for photos of it all. I am delighted by these students. They work hard, play hard and have great attitudes. It's a lot of fun to be their teacher!

Great week ahead as we continue to dive into literature practicing close reading (Notice and Note), informational text and story analysis. This is the stuff of an English teacher's dreams and it's so fun with these kids. Thanks again for the continued support. Please contact me with any questions.

Week 11

Monday, October 23-October 27

Monday, October 23
Genre-of-the-Week: Fanciful Tales
New Class Jobs
Prefix of the Week: Equi--
A Long Walk to Water Novel
Wednesday Wars Novel (+December Quiz)
Notice & Note Challenge

Tuesday, October 24
Weekly Skills Test
CFA #2: Listening Comprehension 
NoRedInk.com
Free Reading/Book Check-off

Wednesday, October 25
*Reteach for Listening Comprehension during Advisory
Paired Text with Novel--Activity & Reading
Book #7 DUE

Thursday, October 26
Free Reading/Book Check-off
Quick Write
A Long Walk to Water
Honors: Newspaper Day

Friday, October 27
Quick Write
Honors: Chapter-in-a-Day
Long Walk to Water: Finish novel

Just a sneak peek from this week--all photos are on "photo" section of blog. Enjoy!

Week #10: Fun with Novels!

My favorite thing about our curriculum, hands-down, is reading novels! I'm so excited to dive into A Long Walk to Water and The Wednesday Wars (2nd period) with students. We will be doing supplementary activities along with the novel, so prepare to have fun!

This week we did a QR Scavenger Hunt to build background knowledge (A Long Walk to Water) and Honors students participated in a web quest for The Wednesday Wars & created a slide show. Students then did a gallery walk to view other's work and build knowledge. See below for pictures. 

Reading: Ok, just to clarify, students are to read 20-30 minutes at home each night. If they fall 2 books or more behind, they'll have lunch detention until they get to catch up. This isn't to punish, but if they are that far behind, they aren't reading and being in lunch detention will give them extra time to catch up. Remind students to fill out book tracker and write book title on the bingo card where they want me to sign so the check out process can move smoothly.

Book Orders: Ordering through Scholastic is a wonderful way to build your home library and supply books for the classroom as Scholastic sends free books for our room with each students order. You may order online here: http://theb7robinsnest.blogspot.com/p/scholastic-book-orders.html 
or send your student with cash or check. Orders will be due this month on October 20th.

Thanks for the continued support. Remember to send an empty 1 or 2 liter plastic bottle to school with your child for Tuesday's activity. This does not apply to 2nd period, we are studying a different activity. Thanks so much! 

Week 10

Monday, October 16-Friday, October 20

Monday, October 16th
Genre-of-the-Week: Realistic Fiction
New Class Jobs
Prefix of the Week: Epi--
A Long Walk to Water Novel & Activity
Wednesday Wars Novel, Activity & Quiz (Honors)

Tuesday, October 17th
1,3,4,5 periods: A Long Walk to Water
Learning Activity: Bring an empty 1 or 2 liter bottle!!
2nd period: Newspaper Day!
Book #6 DUE

Wednesday, October 18th
Library Day!
Meet Upstairs

Thursday, October 19th
Free Reading
Quick Write
A Long Walk to Water Novel & Activity
Wednesday Wars Novel & Activity

Friday, October 20th
Counseling Lessons Today!
*Meet in class, I'll take roll then walk you down
Book Orders Due

Week #9: October 9-October 11 and Fall Break!

We've had a great week filled with exploring Nonfiction Notice and Note in the context of nonfiction writing and film. I'm pleased with how students are understanding how to really synthesize their reading. They are such wonderful students and I really enjoy teaching them.

Just a reminder to keep up the home reading...at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. We have 5 book equivalencies that have been due so far. Encourage your child to keep on reading.

To note, our counseling department has a new website: http://www.counseling.lavaridge.net/ that will be a great resource for you and your student. I just wanted to pass along the information.

Students brought home book orders today. Ordering through Scholastic is a wonderful way to build your home library and supply books for the classroom as Scholastic sends free books for our room with each students order. You may order online here: http://theb7robinsnest.blogspot.com/p/scholastic-book-orders.html 
or send your student with cash or check. Orders will be due this month on October 20th.

A big congrats to our Honors class for publishing their very first edition of our school newspaper they named The Golden Gecko Life. Click here to read the newspaper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1kL1LTmbCwYb1Q2anJHTF92eW8/view  Way to go Honors!!

Week #9

October 9th-October 13th

Monday, October 9th

Free Reading

IQR Code Introduction to class novels

A Long Walk to Water (1, 3, 4, 5)

Wednesday Wars (2)

Tuesday, October 10th

Free Reading

Quick Write

Novel Study

Wednesday, October 11th

No Red Ink

Quick Write

Novel Study

Thursday, October 12th

FALL BREAK: NO SCHOOL

Friday, October 13th

FALL BREAK: NO SCHOOL

Upcoming Due Dates

• Book #6 due on October 17th
• Book Orders due October 20th
• Honors Contest & Blog Post due October 30th