Week 25: Explanatory Essays

It's been another busy, but fun, week with my favorite 7th graders! We learned about sentence types with whole brain teaching (gestures) to help the student commit it all to memory. Check out 2nd period demonstrating what it looks like!

The focus this week is writing an explanatory essay on distracted walking. Students will use articles we have studied and discussed over the past couple weeks as texts to explain the problem. I'm looking forward to some solid learning happening and I'll be there to assist those who are struggling.

Please note I moved the book order date to this Wednesday to accommodate more students who wanted to order. Ordering books from Scholastic gives you great titles at an affordable price, free shipping and free books for the classroom, which I either keep in my library (or most often) give away in our monthly drawings. You may order online here: https://theb7robinsnest.blogspot.com/p/scholastic-book-orders.html or bring in check or cash to me. 

Remind students to read each night for 20-30 minutes and let me know if you have any questions or concerns about grades.

All the best!

Mrs. R

**STUDENTS, IF YOU HAVE READ THIS BLOG POST, PLEASE TELL ME AND YOU'LL RECEIVE A REWARD. 

Week 25 Schedule

Monday, January 29th
Genre-of-Week/Prefix-of-the-Week/Class Jobs
Article-of-the-Week DUE *Please come to class prepared!
Explanatory Essay Identification
Honors Newspaper Day
Short PLC Day 

Tuesday, January 30th
Free Reading
Quick Write
Organize Explanatory Essay on Distracted Walking

Wednesday, January 31st
Book Orders Due
Type Explanatory Essay on Distracted Walking
in Utah Compose
Read when finished

Thursday, February 1st

Revise and resubmit essay on Utah Compose
Read when finished

Friday, February 2nd

Print out essays
Use rubric to self-assess essays
Free Reading

Big congrats to Damion Hare, the newest member of the iRead 40 Club!! He has read the equivalent of 40 books, received a full-size candy bar and will be admitted into our end-of-year spectacular! Way to go Damion!!

Week 24: Grammar Boot Camp Wrap Up

Even though grammar is hardly my favorite thing, this ended up being a rigorous and fun week! Students demonstrated what they knew (or weren't sure of), which will help guide my instruction as we move into more rigorous writing. We will be hitting sentences next week and continue to read about distracted walking which will lead to an essay next week. I love teaching these kids and seeing the lights come on!

I sent an email home today, if you didn't get it--here are the highlights:

1-Missing Work Reports are coming home today. IF a student brings it back signed by a parent/guardian they'll received table points and Robins Rewards from me.

2-Students have a short article and organizer to fill out to be prepared for Article-of-the-Week's discussion on Monday. It's critical that they are prepared and read to do their best on Monday.

3-There is more work missing that I've seen in a long time. Please encourage them to keep up on their reading and request to come in for advisory if they need help with missing work.

I appreciate your support and I'm here if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks again and have a wonderful weekend! 

Week 24 Schedule

Monday, January 22nd
Genre-of-Week/Prefix-of-the-Week/Class Jobs
Article-of-the-Week DUE *Please come to class prepared!
Socratic Seminar
(If you're in Outer Circle, you'll have an accountability sheet due)
New Article-of-the-Week to be handed out

Tuesday, January 23rd
Free Reading
Simple & Compound Sentences
Instruction & Practice

Wednesday, January 24th
Library Day: Meet in library 

Thursday, January 25th

Free Reading 

Complex Sentences & Practice 

Book #8 DUE 

Friday, January 26th

Grammar Wrap-Up
Sentences Quiz
Free Reading 
Honors: Newspaper Day

Book Orders Due

Socratic Seminar!

This was SO much fun and engaging. A Socratic Seminar is when students read a common text, generate questions and participate in a student-led discussion. I was so proud of my students! It's been one of my favorite teaching days ever! Here's 2nd period demonstrating the magic.

Week 23: Grammar Boot Camp II

It's been a fun week of reviewing grammar, then giving students a chance to shine on assessments. I so appreciate the students who work hard and are committed to doing their best.

Please remind students to keep reading at home! Reading practice is so critical to helping them grow and improve. They need to read 20-30 mins a day and complete a book tracker when they finish.

Remember, students can always retake or do missing work up until 2 wks. late. They need to put their name on the advisory board or make arrangements to come in before or after school so I can assist them.

Thanks for the ongoing support. I really appreciate it! Have a wonderful long weekend. 
Best, Mrs. Robins

I'm so excited to start posting iRead 40 Club Members now that we have t-shirts!! Many congrats to these outstanding students who have read the equivalency of 40 books and completed a bingo card. They've earned a candy bar, awesome t-shirt and entry into our amazing iRead party at the end of the year. It's so fun to celebrate reading!! Keep up the good work!

Kaleb G.

Lolli W.

Daisy J.

Diego R.

Cole H.

Week 23 Schedule

Monday, January 15th
No School
Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Tuesday, January 16th
Genre-of-Week/Prefix-of-the-Week/Class Jobs
Article-of-the-Week DUE
A of W Discussion
Writing
Book #7 DUE

Wednesday, January 17th
Quick Write
Commonly Confused Words/Plurals
Instruction & Application

Thursday, January 18th

Honors: Newspaper Day!
CCC & Plurals NoRedInk practice
Assessment
Free Reading & Pass off books

Friday, January 19th

Quick Write 

Quotations Instruction and Practice

Free Reading

Book Orders Due

REVIEW MATERIAL FOR GRAMMAR QUIZZES!

Apostrophes & Numbers Quiz

Please do the Apostrophes on No Red Link
Please do Numbers Practice at Quizlet
Study Practice Worksheets you received in class


Commas Quiz

Please do the Commas on No Red Link
Study Practice Worksheets you received in class

Parts of Speech/Capitalization Quiz

Please do the Capitalization on No Red Link
Study Practice Worksheets you received in class
Study Parts of Speech Notes in Notebook

Plea

Week 22: Grammar Boot Camp Continues...

Despite the bleary faces and tired eyes (the early schedule is rough to come back to!), I was excited to see my students again and start of 2018. We are picking up article-of-the-week again and launching a refresher course on grammar before diving into novels and essay writing.
Just a reminder to check grades and give it your very best as the trimester moves on. Also, remember to read 20-30 minutes a day and keep up on your book trackers. These students are awesome and I'm so looking forward to seeing them grow throughout the year.
Thanks again and have a great week!



Week 22 Schedule

Monday, January 8th
Class Jobs/Prefix and Genre of  the Week 

Quick Write 

Handout Article of the Week "Aggressive Sea Lions Attack" 
Due next Monday

Interactive Lesson on Commas

Comma Study Guide
Honors: Finish January Newspaper

Tuesday, January 9th
Quick Write
No Red Ink
Comma Assessment
Free Reading/Pass off Books

Wednesday, January 10th
Library Day

Thursday, January 11th

Quick Write

Mini Lesson on Apostrophes and Numbers

Apostrophes and Numbers Activity & Study Guide

Friday, January 12th

Quick Write

No Red Ink

Apostrophes and Numbers Assessment

Free Reading

Big congratulations to Courtney Pack and Addie Platt for being selected as winners for Scope Magazine's Essay Contests!!! This is a huge recognition as these contests are for a national audience and their essays were selected for superior writing. Both girls received letters from Kristen Lewis, Scope Editor, with brand new books. Way to go girls!

Figurative Language Quiz Tomorrow: Quizlet Link

Quizlet Link-Practice for Quiz Tomorrow

Week 21: Welcome Back!

Welcome back students! I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow:) Thank you for the kind Christmas gifts and cards. It's nice to feel appreciated and I am so grateful to be your teacher! We are launching into Grammar Boot Camp--a 2 week unit focused on strengthening your grammar muscles, which are the key to becoming a better writer & reader. Remember to keep reading at home 20-30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The only way to become a better reader and writer is to keep practicing!

Week 21 Schedule

Thursday, January 4th

Quick Write: "Un"-resolutions

Grammar Practice: Capitalization

Figurative Language Partner Review

Free Reading

Friday, January 5th

Grammar Assessment: Capitalization

Figurative Language Quiz

Free Reading/Pass of books/Book Trackers
Book #5 DUE