The Rest of December! Weeks 17 and 18...

It's been a wonderful experience reading A Christmas Carol with my students. I'm impressed on how they picked up the language, pieced the story together and have demonstrated deep understanding. I'm really excited for how we will finish out the year with some higher level, analytical learning activities. Please don't think watching the movie adaptation is just a waste of time:) We will be diving into interpretation, understanding this medium and analyzing why the novel was adapted the way it was. This is a fun thing to do in Language Arts, meets our state standards and gets those minds thinking!

Please keep your eyes on your grades and let me know if there are any questions. It's really important you turn in missing work, so get on that one!

Yes, A Christmas Carol counts as an iRead book...ONLY IF YOU WERE THERE EVERY DAY OR DID THE MAKE-UP WORK FOR BEING ABSENT. I have given points for each of the 6 days of reading. Check Powerschool and see what you've missed. About 2 weeks ago, I emailed students and parents the online copy of the novel and the audio (available links on the last two blog posts as well). It is your responsibility to read the missing section, report to me so I can ask you a couple of questions, then do the additional assignment if there was one. If you choose to not do that, you may not count this as a book read.

My best wishes to each of you this Christmas season. How I love each student and value them in my classroom and my life. Have a wonderful long break and I'll look forward to seeing everyone in 2019!! Thank you for your hard work, great attitudes and my deepest thanks to all the wonderfully supportive parents and guardian! To quote Tiny Tim: "Merry Christmas and God bless us, every one!"

Schedule for the rest of 2018!!

December 10-December 19

Monday, December 10
A Christmas Carol Learning Centers
(this will be the "test" on the novel)

Tuesday, December 11
A Christmas Carol Socratic Seminar!
Topic: Scrooge's Transformation

Wednesday, December 12
A Christmas Carol  Book to Movie I

Thursday, December 13
A Christmas Carol Book to Movie II

Friday, December 14
A Christmas Carol Book to Movie: Finish
Finish Analysis sheet
Honors: Newspaper Time
Free Reading
Reading Accountability DUE 
(available on Google Classroom, it's a Google Form this week)

Monday, December 17th 
15 minute library visit
Honors: Newspaper Day
The Man Who Invented Christmas Film

Tuesday, December 18th
iRead Celebration (Gecko Day)
*Must have 2 books for 2nd Trimester signed off by me

Wednesday, December 19th
The Annual Robins Christmas Coco Party (details coming)
End-of-the-Year Robins Rewards Drawing
The Man Who Invented Christmas Film
Christmas Reading Challenge (I'll email the document, hand one out in class and link here later)

Week 16: A Christmas Carol Continues

It has been such a fun week diving into "A Christmas Carol". We are reading by "candlelight", have explored the time period and are tackling unknown words. Hopefully some students are trying out some new vocabulary on you! It's just been a great experience and I appreciate the great attitudes the students have.

The Pajama Drive!  We are supporting Scholastic's Drive for new pajamas for America's kids in need. I am so grateful to those who have donated so far. Please send any new pajamas by Friday, December 7th. I'm extending it a week and am excited to participate in this great movement. Click here for details: http://www.scholastic.com/pajamadrive/

If your child has to miss a class period, it is there responsibility to make-up missed assignments. This will include vocabulary, an analysis assignment (depending on the day) and then to read/listen to the part of the book they missed.

Audio Link: https://librivox.org/a-christmas-carol-dramatic-reading-by-charles-dickens/
Online Novel: http://www.read.gov/books/christmas-carol.html

They will need to tell me they caught-up on the reading and answer a couple questions as well as show me the missing vocab/assignment. If they do not, they will not receive daily points and will not be able to count the novel as an iRead book. Please email with any questions. Thanks!

Week #16

December 3rd-December 7th

Monday, December 3rd
Ghost of Christmas Past Analysis
Stave #3 Vocab
Begin Stave #3

Tuesday, December 4th
Finish Stave #3
Ghost of Christmas Present Analysis
Stave #4 Vocab

Wednesday, December 5th 
Library Day
Work on Flipgrid
You may pass off books early

Thursday, December 6th
Read Stave #4
Stave #5 Vocabulary

Friday, December 7th
Finish "A Christmas Carol"
"Christmas Carol" Analysis
Flipgrid #2-1 DUE
Book #8 DUE (2nd book for 2nd trimester)

There are SO many film/stage interpretations of this book--which ones have you seen? This would be a fun discussion at the dinner table. If you haven't seen one of them--great family activity!

Extension Ideas: I noticed our local Brigham's Playhouse is producing the play: http://brighamsplayhouse.com/a-christmas-carol.html 

Also, the traditional Dickens Festival (performers and vendors) is this weekend. Cool opportunity to see Dickens London be translated into modern day. https://dickenschristmasfestival.com/

Extra Credit Opportunity: I know many of you attend the Dickens Festival (https://dickenschristmasfestival.com/ for times, prices, location, etc.) for the performances/food/vendors. So...I'm offering an extra credit opportunity for students. This is NOT a requirement, simply an opportunity if you are planning on going there anyway. If you attend, write me a paragraph describing what you saw at the Festival that reminded you of what you've read in the book.

Week 15: Starting "A Christmas Carol" & other fun things!

Welcome back! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I'm so excited for the next unit: A Christmas Carol! I love this novel so much and I've found a way to teach it so 7th graders can understand it, as the language is Victorian 18th Century British and uses a lot of unknown words. Here are the advantages of tackling this holiday text:

• Learning how to determine unfamiliar vocabulary words
• Practice finding and identifying figurative language
• Improve listening and reading comprehension
• Explore informational texts in context of the novel
• Conduct a book-to-movie comparison
• We'll watch Disney's "Christmas Carol" and...if the Christmas ghosts smile upon us... "The Man Who Invented Christmas" (about the actual writing of the novel).
• Explore a classic Dickens piece in context of the time period
• Draw parallels from Dickens Christmas to modern day holiday celebrations and allusions in pop culture (there are many!)
• Explore bigger themes such as kindness to others, helping the poor, how the individual makes a difference, the ability we have as humans to drastically change

Plus, we'll be reading by "candlelight" (a.k.a. battery candles) to replicate the time period and doing some other fun activities in context of the novel. Can you tell I'm pumped? Only an English teacher would get this excited about a novel!

If you miss a day, don't get behind on the reading!!!
Audio Link: https://librivox.org/a-christmas-carol-dramatic-reading-by-charles-dickens/
Online Novel: http://www.read.gov/books/christmas-carol.html

Remember, our class is participating in Scholastic's Pajama Drive. You can send new pajamas to class by the end of the month and then Scholastic will arrange a place for me to drop them off. This is a great way to give back and make a difference. Information is here: http://www.scholastic.com/pajamadrive/

Week 15

November 26-November 30th

Monday, November 26
Monroe Grade Level Benchmark
Introduction to "A Christmas Carol"
K-W-L-Q chart/Dickens Intro.
Article: The Real Reason...
(Non Fiction N & N Practice)
*Honors: Modified Intro and Newspaper Day

Tuesday, November 27
"A Christmas Carol" Webquest
Jigsaw Style

Wednesday, November 28
CC Vocabulary (pair-share)
CC: Chapter 1

Thursday, November 29
CC: Chapter 1 Bellringer
CC: Finish Chapter 1

Friday, November 30
CC Chapter 2 Vocabulary
CC: Chapter 2


CODE PHRASE FOR A ROBINS REWARD: I'm excited to read "A Christmas Carol!"

Week 14: Schedule, Benchmarks Explained and Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello! Yes, it is just a 2 day school week so we all can enjoy a long Thanksgiving vacation!
I always reflect on what I'm grateful for this time of year, and I'm so thankful to teach such great students and love my time with them in the classroom. I also appreciate the good communication and continued support from parents.

Our classes are participating in Scholastic's Pajama Drive. This is totally optional, but a cool way to serve. Students can bring in new pajamas to donate if they'd like. These pj's are distributed to needy kids across the nation along with a book from Scholastic. Here is the information: PAJAMA DRIVE

Every Thanksgiving break, I do an optional reading challenge. Those who complete it are invited for a pumpkin pie part with me. I'll hand out copies, or you can print here: Thanksgiving Reading Challenge follow directions carefully.

Yes, I did offer students extra credit if they completed the Kindness Bingo Card. It's due on Tuesday, November 20th. Accessible here if a student lost theirs: Kindness Bingo Card Just scroll down to print. Reading the book "Wonder" is not required since they only had a week to complete:)

Yes, we did have reading benchmarks and they are on Powerschool. Here is what you need to know, but please, please email me with any additional concerns or clarification.

• We are using Moby Max Reading Literature and Reading Informational Benchmarks. It's our first year using them and it's a mixed bag. As a department we will be exploring other options, but we can track growth on them now.
• They do show on your student's grade, but they do not factor into the grade. They are only used to monitor progress. There are no re-takes as they are simply to track growth.
• You can look under Trimester 1 scores and see if there has been growth or not--or email me.
• 50% is around beginning-of-7th grade level. 65% is 1/3 into the school year. That's why the total is out of 65.
• I'll also be giving the Monroe Reading Benchmark again. This gives an actual grade level. You can check Trimester 1 scores and watch for a new one next week. 7.5 = 7th grade, 5th month.
• I'll be emailing some of you if your student is far below to see if we can figure out what about reading is causing difficulty.

Weekly Schedule

Monday, Nov. 19th & Tuesday, Nov. 20th

Monday, November 19th

In-class Figurative Language Presentations

Tuesday, November 20th

Figurative Language Quiz (short) 

Monroe Reading Benchmark (7 minutes)

Free Reading

**If you miss this, you can get the quiz in advance and do it at home OR do it during advisory. I'll do make-up for the Monroe Benchmark test after the break. This one has to be administered by me and cannot be done at home. 

**We will complete these and go watch the Gecka-thon if you are in 2nd or 3rd periods.

1. 

Week 13: November 12-November 16

First week of the new trimester, new seats, new teams: it's been awesome!! We wrapped up Notice and Note and will be tackling benchmarks. Ok, not a thrill-a-minute, but benchmarks are essential to tracking progress. Our next task is teaching each other about figurative language with a small group presentation. We'll present next week before Thanksgiving.

Just a happy reminder to KEEP READING!!! Book Check #7 is on Friday, if you're shooting for the iRead Club, you'll want to be on book #13 or so.

Thanks for everyone's hard work and winning attitudes. I LOVE being your teacher!

Week 13

November 12-November 15

Monday, November 12

Writing Benchmark: Cell Phone Zombies

Honors: Newspaper Day

Tuesday, November 13

Reading Informational Benchmark

Wednesday, November 14

Reading Literature Benchmark

Thursday, November 15

Benchmark Wrap-Up

Figurative Language Notes/Introduce Project

Friday, November 16

Figurative Language Project Prep

Book #7 DUE

Flipgrid #4 DUE

CONGRATS!!!

Every trimester we have a team competition in each class. The winning team, who accumulated the most points, wins a party of their choice. We had a breakfast feast during advisory:) Congrats to these awesome students! 

Code Word (for a Robins Reward): 

Reading is cool...and so is Mrs. Robins (ok, that last part is optional, lol). 

Fresh Start: Welcome Trimester 2!

It's a new trimester, new start and a new time to shine! Wow! What a busy week of learning about drugs, in correlation with Red Ribbon Week, and our interdisciplinary (click on link for pictures) Engineering Day where students had to find the best way to clean up oil spills. I have to admit, I'm pretty wiped out after this week:)
Really good things to come in Trimester 2. This is kind of a wrap-up-the-loose-ends week, then we'll do benchmark testing, figurative language and another class novel. Thanks for the ongoing support and thank you for your patience with all the grading at the end of the trimester!

Week 13

Trimester 2 Begins 

Monday, November 5th
LA Gecko Day!
For students who completed 6 books between midterm-2nd trimester

Tuesday, November 6th
Monthly Drawing
New Seats
Winning Teams
Writing Benchmark: Engineering Day findings

Wednesday, November 7th
Library Day

Thursday, November 8th
Nonfiction Notice & Note: C & C and Quoted Words
Marijuana Article

Friday, November 9th
Spirit Assembly
Nonfiction Notice & Note Quiz
Free Reading

We enjoyed having Sage Anderson, a senior at DHS and a member of the Washington County Youth Coalition, visit our classroom and present the truth behind vaping and how harmful it is for teens. She did a fantastic job and students were polite, attentive and learned a lot! I asked students to go home and share what they have learned!!

Code Phrase (for a Robins Reward): Trimester 2 is a fresh start & I'm going to be awesome!

Week 12: Last Week of Trimester 1!

Wow! Can you believe the 1st trimester is almost over? It's been a great start to the school year and I'm so proud of all the kids have learned and how hard they have tried. It is truly a delight to be their teacher and I enjoy every day.

Pay careful attention to deadlines. Really, at this point, if any student wants to work hard and turn in missing work, I am totally fine with it--just let me know. Thanks again and have a wonderful week!

It's Red Ribbon Week! Please participate. It's my goal, in teaching non-fiction notice and note, to help students understand how very dangerous drugs and alcohol are. Please ask them what they're learning in class--it's a great platform for discussion. 

Week 12 Schedule

October 29th-November 2nd

Monday, October 29th
Drugs + Your Body Presentations!
PLC Short Day, school out at 11:45am

Tuesday, October 30th
Prep for Engineering Day: Oil Spills Text
Oil Spills Video
KWLQ Chart
N & N Search in Context of Oil Spill Article
Free Reading

Wednesday, October 31st
*Any late work DUE TODAY
Engineering Day with Math & Science
Meet in B Hall Science Lab for math, science and LA classes
Happy Halloween!! Follow school guidelines for costumes

Thursday, November 1st
Oil Spill Recap Quick Write
Notice & Note: Quoted Words/Contrast & Contradiction
Anti-Drug Articles
Public Service Announcements

Friday, November 2nd
Special Guest Presenter: Sage Anderson, DHS Senior
The Real Truth Behind Vaping
*iRead Book #6 DUE

Code Phrase for Robins Reward: Drug Free Is the Way to be!

Week 11: October 22-October 26

This week I introduced students to one of my favorite things to do in Language Arts: Socratic Seminars! They are discussion circles where deep questions are generated and discussed. The purpose is to broaden understanding. I was SO impressed at how well the students did with this high level activity and I look forward to doing more throughout the school year. We had education students from DSC observe that day and one of them commented the first time she did a Socratic was as a senior in high school! Well done students.

Novels are finished and we are moving on to Non-Fiction Notice and Note, a way to close read non-fiction texts. Since Red Ribbon Week is coming up the last week in October. I wanted to introduce these skills within the context of articles and text on how drugs affect our bodies. Giving students real information will hopefully deter future drug use. I've designed a fun unit incorporating reading skills, writing, cooperative learning, research and technology-based presentation. It will extend to next week as well. I'm kind of ridiculously excited about this as I think students will not only learn a ton, but have a great time doing it. Monday is kind of a catch-up day so I can get all my classes aligned, then off we go!

End of the trimester is approaching, please get all your work in.

November 2nd is our next Gecko Day. Students need to have read the equivalent of 6 book since our last Gecko Day, September 21st, to qualify. All books are to be recorded on their bingo cards.
Remember to keep filling out your Book Accountability Sheet as you go along.

Week 11 Schedule

October 22nd-October 26th 

Monday, October 22nd
Honors: Listening Comprehension CFA
Newspaper Day!
Reader's Theater: Sherlock Holmes and the Midnight Killer

Tuesday, October 23rd
Free Reading
Introduce Non-Fiction Notice and Note
Word Gaps
Marijuana Article

Wednesday, October 24th
Library Day
No Red Ink: Set Up Account
CFA Reteach During Advisory

Thursday, October 25th
Numbers & Stats
Extreme & Absolute Language
Drugs + Your Body
Group Research Day

Friday, October 26th
Drugs + Your Body
Group Presentations
Free Reading

Ah, the magic of deep thinking! Code Phrase: Socratic Seminars are FUN!

This is just fun--so Jessica, Taylor and I are related...their grandpa is my mother-in-law's brother. We were surprised to find that our DSU observation student, Tylie, has a grandma who is another sibling--so we just had to get a cousin picture. It's a small Utah world folks!

Week 10: October 15-October 19

In my regular classes we finished A Long Walk to Water and enjoy hearing the book's unexpected ending. I love teaching this book and doing all the fun stuff in context of the novel. I love discussing the book with students too and hearing their thoughts and ideas. This is such a bright group of students and a total delight!
Honors is going well too as we are continuing Wednesday Wars this week. We also completed our first newspaper that you can access here: CLICK HERE FOR OCTOBER 2018 NEWSPAPER. I'm so proud of them! Coming together and creating a newspaper isn't easy, and we hit a few speed bumps, but they did it and it turned out great.
We are transitioning into the next unit and have a full week planned. I'm happy with how writing workshops are coming together, and we'll finish our essay this week. Just great work everyone and keep it up!
As always, please email or call with any concerns and let me know how I can help you and/or your student. Thanks so much for the ongoing support. A very special, heartfelt thanks to the kindness of my 3rd period Honors who came together to surprise me this week. It was a rough week on many levels and I was touched by their thoughtfulness and kindness. It is a gift to teach these amazing children and I truly enjoy every minute!

Week 10

October 15th-October 19th

Monday, October 15th

Honors: Newspaper Day
Frankenstein Reader's Theater

Tuesday, October 16th

Writer's Workshops
Transitions/Word Choice
Final Draft of Novel Essay Due

Wednesday, October 17th

Honors-March chapter/Shakespeare Insults
*finish March chapter at home & read the April chapter at home*
Short Story/N&N signposts/analysis
Free Reading

Thursday, October 18th

Honors-April Quiz, read May chapter
Short Story Socratic Seminar

Friday, October 19th
**NO Flipgird or Reading Response due, instead, please update your iRead Accountability Form (in Google Classroom) for at least HALF the books you've read this year.
Honors: Finish Wednesday Wars 
Zombie Smart Phone Text/Plan Essay
Book #5 DUE

Week 9: Novel Wrap-Up & Fall Break

Is it really almost Fall Break? This year is going by quickly. Thank you to those of you that were able to come to SEP's and meet with me. It was a pleasure. I love teaching your children and it's always great to meet with parents & guardians. I'll be sending home progress reports and a tip sheet on reading/writing ideas to improve your skills at home. I'm always available via email or can meet with you before or after school. Thanks for the ongoing support!

Last week I attended a workshop about teaching writing and I'm ridiculously excited! In case you hadn't heard the news, the SAGE test is no more and will be replaced by a reading-only test called RISE. However, this doesn't mean for a second that I won't be teaching writing!! However, it means that I do get to change how I teach writing, in a far more authentic and meaningful way. We'll be writing a piece every 3 weeks. Then, students will learn specific skills as they revise for 2 weeks, working on that same piece, refining it, doing real world writing practice. This will build skills, confidence and I'll even make it fun:) Grading will be based on effort with the final submission of the essay receiving a final grade. Attendance is critical, so please be at school...unless you are sick and then I'll work with you.

In our Honors class, we were able to speak with new author, Geoffrey Simpson. I was so proud of the great questions the Honors kids asked and how respectful they were during our Skype visit. Mr. Simpson was quite impressed at the quality of questions and great behavior of the class. His novel, The Three Hares: Bloodline, is the first in a series and is a fantastic novel. It was so fun to hear how much planning and thought he puts into his writing. I have a couple copies of the book and encourage students to check them out! This was the first time I've had an author visit our classroom and it was a blast! Expect more in the future!

Week 9

October 11th-October 15th

Monday, October 11th

Writer's Workshop for Novel Essays

No Library Visit because of the short week, 

you'll have an opportunity today to do library business.

Tuesday, October 12th

Free Reading

Novel Study

Wednesday, October 13th

Free Reading 

Novel Study

Honors: Newspaper Day

There will be a Fall Break OPTIONAL Reading Challenge. Click here to preview. I'll have copies available on Monday. Directions MUST be followed exactly to qualify for the party. Happy Reading and ENJOY some time off:)

Code Phrase: I FALL for reading!

Week 8: Fun with Novels & Meaningful Writing!

It's been such a great week. See pictures below from our water activity and ask your children for the details, it was a blast.

I attend a writing workshop this week and learned so much about how to help students become better writers. We will start this week. Please know that all writing will be completed at school--no homework!

Thanks for the continued support, please let me know if you have any questions for me and I look forward to meeting many of you at SEP's this week.


Monday, October 1
Free Reading
Monroe Reading Assessment (7 mins)
"Long Walk to Water" novel
"Wednesday Wars" novel
*Monthly Drawing!

Tuesday, October 2
Free Reading
Table Talk/Notes On Courage
"Long Walk to Water" novel
"Wednesday Wars" novel

Wednesday, October 3
"Long Walk to Water" Writing Activity
Prewrite & type in Utah Compose
Utah Compose Tracking Sheets
SEP 3:00-6:00pm

Thursday, October 4
Writing Revision Day
Honors Newspaper Day/Home Reading assignment
Novel Essay DUE
SEP 3:00-6:00pm

Friday, October 5
"Long Walk to Water" novel
Honors: Author Skype with Geoffrey Simpson
Book Check #4 DUE
Your essay is your Reading Response this week:)

Photos from our "Long Walk to Water" to understand the characters in the novel and get a taste of what their struggles would have been like. This activity was a blast! We hauled water, made biofilters and filtered the water...and did NOT drink it:)

Code Phrase (for a Robins Reward) Tell me why you like to read!