Week #37: Literature Circle FUN!

I can't believe we are weeks away from the end of school! It's been such a wonderful year and we get to celebrate as the year winds down. 

As is my tradition, I spotlight, take pictures of and write on the back of said pictures for each student. They take the picture home the last day of school. They are located here: PHOTOS. It's fun for kids to see their pictures and pictures of friends/siblings from years past! 

We are doing Literature Circles this week. Each day, your child has an amount of pages to read. They need to have them read before class so when they arrive at class, they are ready to do some fun activities. It's crucial to their grades, so remind them to read during advisory or at home. Their completed novel will count as an iRead book. Students do have a daily reading schedule...it's yellow...hopefully in their backpacks.

Check out the photos below (under the iRead Club pics). Students conducted a 2-day Novel Investigation project and made posters as they discovered what their novel would be about.

Speaking of iRead books...our iRead party is scheduled for May 15th. Watch for permission slips to come home this week. Even if your child thinks they'll qualify, return the permission slip so we can be prepared. Deadline for qualification is Monday, May 14th. We'll be a Gubler park from 2nd lunch-the end of 6th period. We'll have pizza, popcorn, big surprise games & water activities to celebrate these awesome readers. Keep on reading and join the coolest club around!

SAGE scores have arrived for most students. I have sent them home with their SAGE Score Sheet and explained each of their individual successes. Check your email for information on how to read SAGE scores & please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so very proud of these students.

Thanks for the ongoing support! Please contact me if you have any questions.

Week 37: Literature Circles of Fun!

Monday, April 30th

Honors: Work Day (finish newspaper, contests, etc.)

Bellwork: Character Screen Saver

Literature Circles: Corners Game 

Random Student

Book #7 DUE TODAY

Tuesday, May 1st

Literary Yoga 

Brainstorm Questions

Literature Talking Circles

Random Student

Wednesday, May 2nd

Literary Yoga

Novel Ice Breaker Mix & Mingle

Free Read/Book Check-Offs

Role Sheets Handed Out

Random Student

Thursday, May 3rd

Finish Role Sheets

Literature Talking Circles

Random Student

Friday, May 4th

Group Bellwork: Dig Deeper into Dialogue

Backchannel Chat/Class Discussion

Random Student

Instructions for Friday's Backchannel

I'll have you go here on Friday to log in:)

1. Go to: https://backchannelchat.com/

2. Find the "Join A Chat" on the left side

3. Type in your first & last name and this code: 942xz 

4. Hit "Join As A Student" and listen for instructions

Welcome to the iRead 40 Club you amazing readers!!!

Taysha L.

Jake H.

Lilli L.

Bryce C. 

Book Posters from our Novel Investigation Activity!

See if there are any books you'd consider reading:)

Week #36: Celebrations and Literature Circles!

Wow! What a week! SAGE has wrapped up and scores are slowly rolling in. Now, SAGE is one snapshot of a year of progress, but it's still cool when students can really showcase their skills. All that matters to me is growth, and there's been a lot so far! I'm so proud of these remarkable students who tried so hard to do their best. There's just been a lot of good moments throughout the week! Thank you to all my students for putting so much effort into doing their best. It meant a lot to me to see them try. What great kids!

This is my favorite time of the year, when I get my last chance to prepare these kids for 8th grade, to teach them skills and to enjoy being their teacher.

Remember to keep reading at home! We'll be doing Literature Circles as well where teams will choose novels to read at home (or advisory) and do fun, interactive, engaging activities during the class. Lots of great stuff  coming down the wire before the year is out!

As always, my gratitude for all the support and please contact me if you have any questions.

Week #36

April 23-April 27

Monday, April 23rd
LA Department Celebration
9 Square/Outside Games
or Reading Inside
2nd period: Newspaper Day!

Tuesday, April 24th
Reading Party Post-SAGE Celebration!
bring pillows, blankets, treats, drinks, etc.
SAGE Scores/Goal Treats/Bingo Cards Signed

Wednesday, April 25th
Library Day

Thursday, April 26th
Introduce Literature Circles
Organize Groups/Choose Novel
Start on Novel Investigation/PosterMyWall project

Friday, April 27th
Come with your 1st reading assignment complete!
Lit Circle: Finish Novel Investigation/PosterMyWall project

iRead Book #7 is due Monday, April 30th!!

Way to go Ella B.--the newest member of our iRead 40 Club!!!

Week #35: Bring on the SAGE!

It's that time of year when students will SAGE test and showcase what they have learned! SAGE is just one snapshot of knowledge and performance. I've emphasized this to students and feel it's so important that they give it their best shot, but to not stress out.

We've worked hard this week on strategies, tools and mental relaxation. I try my best to make testing fun: I wear goofy t-shirts everyday to get smiles, we have daily motivational "themes", they get a snack before testing, I walk them through some relaxation techniques and off they go! They have also set a goal for themselves. If they meet the goal, they get to choose a candy bar. It's just a fun way I can reward them for a job well done. All that matters to me is that they show growth:)

Some students are participating in Friday's Spanish Language Fair, I will be pulling them from a couple of elective classes to give them extra time. Likewise, any student who requires extra testing/thinking time will have the opportunity. I've worked with these kids the entire year now and I'm aware of who might need that time and I will absolutely make it happen.

The Reading testing will be first, then the Writing test...just FYI.

Please make sure students sleep well, eat breakfast and review notes each day before testing.

As always, I remain very grateful for the continued support throughout the year. It's been a wonderful year and I'm so appreciative of the outstanding students (and families) I'm lucky enough to work with: thank you! Please contact me with any question or concerns.

Link to Mrs. Robins's Argumentative Essay

Click on this to remember how to do citations with explanations, claim, counterclaim and rebuttal.

Link to a Student Explanatory Essay

Click above to remember how to do a thesis, citations with explanations, conclusion, etc.

Foldable for EXPLANATORY essay (usually on pink paper). This is just to help students remember what goes where. I'll have paper available during testing.

Foldable for ARGUMENTATIVE essay (usually on brown paper). Same thing here--to remember all the components of writing this type of essay. Students should have these memorized and be ready to make and use them next week.

These are testing strategies we call SAGE HACKS! These tips will help students navigate the test, use the tools embedded in the test and help them along the way. Each student make their own notes sheet they should review each day. Click on the specific photo to see it up close.

To help students remember foldables, we had some fun foldable relay races. Props to the winner, who held on to their record times throughout 2 rounds: Dumbledore's Army (2nd period for Argumentative essay) and Skitta-Committa (3rd period for Explanatory essay)!!! This was so much fun and really got kids thinking, moving and working together as a team!

Congrats Makayln R. for making it into the iRead 40 Club: proud of you!!

Comma Escape Room

ESCAPE ROOM 

Test Review/Serious Fun

Here is the code you'll need to "break out" of the escape room...or you'll be in Language Arts all day! (cue evil laughter)

ESCAPE ROOM

Week #34 'Twas the Week Before SAGE...

Hi!

Quick reminder--We worked on an Argumentative Essay on Thursday and Friday. If students didn't finish in class, they need to finish at home, submit to Utah Compose and email me their score.

SAGE testing is upon us. SAGE is our state-mandated end-of-level assessment and provides a snapshot of your student's growth. We will do the reading and writing tests from April 16th to April 20th. My whole goal for them is to show growth and not stress out! Please make sure your student is in school each day and has a good attitude. I'll do all I can to de-mystify the test and help them relax.

I'll be giving students their LA scores from last year and asking them to set a goal (for growth). If they meet their goal, I'll have a prize for them.

Please, please look at your grades with your child. I know this time of year is stressful, but many students are missing work. Simply turning in the missing assignment will raise their grade.

Students need to continue to read at least 20-30 minutes at home each night and do book trackers when they finish a book.

NoRedInk is an excellent resources for students to practice at home. They know their log-in, home practice would go a long way in improving grammar skills!

Thanks for the ongoing support:)

Week 34

April 9th-April 13th

Monday, April 9th

NoRedInk.com

Test Review Escape Room

Book #5 DUE

Blue Reading Comprehension Packet DUE

Tuesday, April 10th

NoRedInk.com

Foldable Relays

SAGE question types

Wednesday, April 11th

NoRedInk.com

SAGE Strategies

SAGE Practice test

Thursday, April 12th

NoRedInk.com

SAGE Strategies
SAGE Practice test (review)

Friday, April 13th

NoRedInk.com

Foldable Relays

Name that Prompt

Week #33: Reading Skills & SAGE Prep

Welcome back! It's been another busy week as we reviewed reading skills & wrote an on-demand explanatory essay: SAGE is coming and we will be ready! More reading review and writing this week. I'm trying to make it more interactive with brain breaks to add some fun to the process. These kids are awesome!! I'm going to miss them! 

Please make sure your student is in attendance each day. Missing a day not only gets them behind with assignments but cuts into SAGE prep and I oftentimes can't duplicate the learning and activities that go on in class.

Many thanks for the ongoing support. Friendly reminder to keep reading and let's have a fantastic week!

 We practiced text structure with QR Code stations around the school. This was a fun way to get up and moving while practicing text structure!

Way to go SPENCER SMITH: our newest member of iRead 40 Club!!!

Week 33 

Tuesday, April 3rd-Friday, April 6th

Tuesday, April 3rd
Foldables
Poetry Analysis
Listening Comprehension: Mt. Everest

Listening quiz  + short answer

Wednesday, April 4th
Practice Making Foldables
NoRedInk practice
Reading Comprehension-easy CBM:

Evening Cleaning Dreaming

Thursday, April 5th
Practice Making Foldables
NoRedInk practice
YouTube Made Me Do It Text Set

Friday, April 6th
On-demand argumentative essay: Is social media responsible for encouraging dangerous behavior?
Write essay in Google Classroom, submit in Utah Compose

SAGE Testing

April 16-April 20