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!