Week 28: Skills Review

Much to everyone's delight, SAGE has disappeared and the state of Utah has created a new end-of-level assessment: RISE. It will only be testing on reading comprehension (literature/informational), editing and listening. No writing:)
Based on benchmarks I gave last week, we have A LOT of work to do.
Never fear, I've got a lot planned to help students ramp up their knowledge, while having fun and getting some movement in.
Please, please be in school. If you miss, you need to make up the work ASAP. I'm already shocked at how many students are at an NP because they didn't do an assignment...and we only have 3 things on gradebook: YIKES!

If You Miss A Day

• Get your name on the board immediately to be requested for advisory
• Check PowerSchool and see what you've missed
• Ask a friend
• Check the blog
• Check the Missed Work Box
• Ask Mrs. Robins

I'm so overwhelmed by grading work daily for 150 students, then checking the computer endlessly for late work. 

I will now cap assignments to a week unless you make special arrangements with me. After that week, you may not make up the work. Likewise, if you do missing work that is electronic (anything on Flipgrid, Google Classroom, NoRedInk, etc.) you need to EMAIL me that you've done the work. Otherwise, I don't know and I do not have enough time in my life to continually check multiple platforms to see who turned in what.

Please, I'm begging here. Get your work in on time:)

About Reading

• Please read at home 30 minutes a night at least 5 day a week as was laid out from the first day of school.
• We'll have less time for in-class reading.
• Books read from February 18th need to be written on the bingo card and labeled "3" (for the first half of 3rd trimester)
• You are required to read 6 books per trimester. To help you, deadlines are already in PowerSchool.
• Those of you wishing to qualify for the iRead Club must have a completed Bingo Card by May 10, 2019.
• I'm capping late work at a week late, but books can be completed at any time for credit.

3rd Trimester is my favorite as we get to do a lot of fun, engaging things and prep for RISE where you can showcase what you know.

All my thanks for the continued support.

Code Phrase (for a Robins Reward): I will complete my work on time!

Week 28 Schedule

Monday, February 25th
Mrs. Robins Out
 (I'll be in SLC with students petitioning the government to make our Gila Monster the state reptile! Wish us luck!!)
Finish Superhero Essay
Do the NoRedInk Diagnostic Assignment

Tuesday, February 26th
Gecko Day!

Wednesday, February 27th
Library Day!
Meet in Library

Thursday, February 28th
Poetry Analysis Practice

Friday, March 1st 
Literary Escape Room
Book #1 for 3rd Trimester DUE (13th required book overall)

...a little humor from our "Snow Day"

Week 27: Welcome 3rd Trimester!

Welcome To Trimester 3!! I can scarcely believe it's our last trimester together. I'm enjoying this group of students so much: let's make it count! We'll be finishing up our essay and focusing on prepping for RISE. I like to do this with as much physical movement and peer interaction as possible, so great ready for a lot of learning fun!

Check out the schedule for this week. Remember you need to keep reading--30 minutes a night at home is the goal. 

I'm really looking forward to ushering in many of you to our iRead Club when you complete your bingo card. T-shirts are ordered and will arrive soon. Congrats to these students for their outstanding reading: Gabe D., Josh J., Abby H., Emily D., MaKaye H., Hollie B.and Cooper C. They have completed their bingo sheets and have read 36 books! Students in the club earn a candy bar, t-shirt and a ticket into our epic iRead party in May. Keep reading everyone:)

Valentine's Day was my favorite teaching day all year. I do Book Speed Dating where students are able to sit across from other students and talk about their favorite book, listen to other's favorite book and make note on what they want to read. It's a blast and students had a good time talking books. It's also yields 100% engagement, which makes me very happy! Check out the photos here:  PHOTOS

Week 27

February 18-February 22

Monday, February 18th
President's Day

Tuesday, February 19th
iRead Celebration
*if you've read 6 books during the 2nd half of 2nd trimester...
so 6 books labeled 2.5. I realize I announced it wrong in class--sorry! 
We'll get it sorted out.

Wednesday, February 20th
Superhero Essay: Peer Edit

Thursday, February 21st
Utah Compose: Final Revision

Friday, February 22nd
Flipgrid: Trimester Goals DUE (**link is on Google Classroom)
Completed Superhero Essay DUE
Writing Contest/Free Reading

Week 26: Be A Superhero...write an essay:)

Another awesome week in the books! 2nd trimester is rapidly approaching. All late or missing work is due on Wednesday. Carefully check this post for due date.

Yes, we'll be doing book "speed dating" on Valentine's Day--it's my favorite activity of the year, so prepare yourselves! 

Attendance is critical right now. I'm teaching high level argumentative essay...one piece at a time. Each day is modeling then I'll assist students as they write their own. Please come to school, please.

Extra Credit: The only extra credit available is doing a writing contest from the contest options at the back of the room or from the school newspaper. You can also redo any assignment you scored low on. Please talk to me.

As always, email with questions. Thanks for your support! Let's finish strong!!

Mrs. Robins's Sample Essay

**View this essay if you've missed a day of class from 2/8-2/15

It will show you exactly what we've done in class and give you the format for writing your own.

Week 25

February 11th-15th

Monday, February 11th
Introduction Paragraph/Claim Statement
Guided Essay Write 

Tuesday, February 12th
Counterclaim/Rebuttal
Guided Essay Write

Wednesday, February 13th
Library Day
Any late/missing work due

Thursday, February 14th
Book Speed Dating

Friday, February 15th 
Conclusion
Superhero Essay DUE (it will be on 3rd trimester grade)
Book #6 DUE
END OF TRIMESTER

So proud of the Lukes!!! Lucas P. and Luke T. have entered the iRead Club!! The boys receive a candy bar, shirt and ticket into our iRead party at the end of the year. GOOOOO readers!!!

Week 25: Get Ready to Argue...In an Essay:)

It's going to be another fun and busy week! We'll start writing our Superhero Argumentative Essay and squeeze in an Engineering Day. Whew! Hold on for the ride:)

2 weeks until 2nd trimester ends. Please keep up on your reading and assignments. If you miss a day or are behind for any reason please be proactive and check the box first, request to come in for advisory or talk to me. I am really happy to help you...just ask!

I've been SO impressed by the work my Honors LA and Science LA classes are doing as they research the Gila Monster in preparation to lobby the state of Utah to make the Gila Monster our official State Reptile! 

We've had some press...check out these articles!! Yes, my somewhat dorky comment made it in to the Salt Lake City Tribune. Enjoy and please share!!

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/01/19/utahs-state-reptile-gila/

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2019/01/31/lgl19-jmr-lava-ridge-students-hope-to-persuade-legislators-to-make-the-gila-monster-utahs-official-state-reptile/#.XFULOKpKjIU

Have a wonderful week and get ready to see your writing skills soar!

Week 25

February 4-February 8

Monday, February 4th
Argumentative Essay Notes
Essay Analysis

Tuesday, February 5th
Engineering Day Prep
Choose Superhero Articles
Start Organizing Articles

Wednesday, February 6th
Engineering Day: Feed the Birds:)

Thursday, February 7th
Finish Superhero Organizer
Honors: Newspaper Day
*Please come with Superhero Organizer Prepared

Friday, February 8th 
Write Body Paragraphs
End-of-Month Drawing
Book #5 DUE

Get ready to learn about these bad boys: the Galapagos Island Finches! Our Engineering Day will be about beak adaptation to eat certain food. Get ready to have science fun with myself, Mrs. Lund and Mrs. Warby!!