Week #17: Introduction to "A Christmas Carol"

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving break with family and friends! I'm excited to be back to enjoy the 3 week stretch until Christmas vacation.

I am including this on the weekly email as well, but we are participating in a very special book drive. I'm honored to support this cause. Please see the flyer for details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NpO1_ALd4T-4P2zIme43E517yzu7bWVcbpgsJUIy7D0/edit?usp=sharing

This is a great way to serve, is spearheaded by a local student, is promoting literacy and you can clean out your home libraries!

We will be diving into Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, which has long been one of my favorite novels. I taught it for the first time last year with great success and great reception from students. It's a fabulous read that will also count as a completed book on their iRead Bingo Card. Per usual, 3 days of in-class reading may be counted for daily reading but students must be responsible and fill out their reading log. Here are some highlights of how we will be reading this novel.

• Yes, the plan is to watch the movie before school is out to really focus on compare/contrast of the book and movie genres. This is part of our state-mandated core...and it's totally enjoyable!
• I'll be front-loading vocabulary. In small groups, students will be assigned a word to research and share with the rest of the class for each stave. They will learn about ten new words per stave (chapter).
• I will also introduce them to the time period and novel-specific situations to help them better understand what is happening. For example, Tiny Tim's illness, child labor and Victorian currency.
• Yes, the language is elevated and sometimes unfamiliar. However, it's amazing how our brains can start to fill in the gaps, so after a day or two of listening in class, the novel will start to come together and make sense.
• There will be some art elements in translating the depiction of the 4 ghosts to a visual format.
• Lots of focus and discussion on the theme of change and how Scrooge is capable of great change. 
• I'll be introducing the novel in a fun, engaging way this week, so be sure to ask for child for details!

Much to my frustration, students are already missing a lot of work. I know everyone misses school on occasion, but students have got to learn to take the initiative and take care of missing work ASAP. I sure appreciate those who do!

I've had big plans to do a special party for students with NO missing work last trimester and outstanding behavior for myself and my substitute when I was out with medical leave. Unfortunately, the high amount of students I'm having to request each week to finish work hasn't left me time. These students will get a special treat and reward from me on Monday, so be sure to be at school:) 

As always, I'm happy to discuss your individual student--I love what I do and I love seeing your child succeed! Do not hesitate to email me or call me before or after school hours (435-652-4742).

All the best, Mrs. Robins

Week #17 Schedule

Monday, December 2nd
Turkey Reading Challenge Due
Pick up a Week #17 Reading Log!
Figurative Language Quiz
Christmas Carol Introduction

Tuesday, December 3rd
Bellwork: Writing Prompt
Finish Christmas Carol Introduction
Stave I Vocabulary

Wednesday, December 4th
A Christmas Carol
Reading & Activity

Thursday, December 5th
A Christmas Carol
Reading & Activity

Friday, December 6th
A Christmas Carol
Reading & Activity

Week #15 and Week #16: Schedule for the rest of November

It's been a great week and I'm happy to be able to be back in the classroom full time! We've covered Nonfiction Notice and Note as well as our writing benchmark and an amazing Engineering Day! Be sure to follow my private class instagram at @therealmrsrobins for pictures.

I'm seeing HUGE progress on reading logs. Thank you for the support.
Remember to read 1/2 hr. at least 5 days a week. The time can be in multiple increments. Full points on Monday, -1 on Tuesday, -2 on Wednesday. After Wednesday, logs won't be accepted and students will have to do a make-up assignment...which is more work.

There will be NO Reading Log on Week #16. Of course, reading during the break would be great, but I'm offering an OPTIONAL reading challenge instead: click here for details. 

Reading Benchmarks on Monday. I'll analyze results and might need to shift students around in reading support and reading advisory. I'm excited to see progress!!!

Keep in touch and let me know if you have questions:)

Monday, November 18th
Short PLC Day, School out at 12:45pm 
*yes, this is different time due to busing issues
SRI Reading Benchmark

Tuesday, November 19th
Introduction to Figurative Language with our
DSU Practicum Student:)
*must return purple permission slip to attend

Wednesday, November 20th
Library Day
Finish Reading & Writing Benchmarks (as needed)

Thursday, November 21st
Begin Figurative Language Project Presentations

Friday, November 22nd
Figurative Language Project Presentations

Monday, November 25th
Present Figurative Language Presentations
Week #15 Reading Log DUE

Tuesday, November 26th
Gila-Thon
Free Reading/Catch-up Day

Code Phrase: Tell Me One Thing You Are Grateful For & I'll Give You A Robins Reward:)

Thanksgiving Break

School Resumes Monday, December 2nd

Week #14: Finish up Non Fiction Notice and Note:)

I'm glad to be back--slowly getting back into the swing of things. Thank you for your patience. Behavior has massively improved since my return and I appreciate it:)

There have been some big changes in class--please read last week's blog post if you haven't yet.

Looking forward to finishing Notice and Note (Nonfiction), then moving into our trimester writing benchmark, then wrapping it up with a fun, Engineering Day when math, science and language arts combine for students to have an engaging experience.

I appreciate the ongoing support. Remember full points are ONLY on Monday for your Reading Logs, so be sure to hand it in on time:) Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Week 14 Schedule

November 11th-November 15th

Monday, November 11th

Week 13 Reading Logs Due

Monthly Drawing (since a lot of you will miss Friday)

Word Gaps notes and practice
Contrast and Contradiction notes and practice
Quiz Review

Tuesday, November 12th

iRead Celebration
MUST HAVE 4 BOOKS LABELED 1.5 (second half of 1st trimester)
PASSED OFF TO ME...before this day. No same-day passing off, there isn't time.

Wednesday, November 13th

Non Fiction Notice and Note Quiz
Free Reading

Thursday, November 14th

Writing Benchmark

Friday, November 15th

Engineering Day


Code Phrase for a Robins Reward: I'm Thankful for Books!

Week #13: Welcome Trimester 2...it's a new start!

I am looking forward to returning to the classroom on Monday! I'm coming off of a respiratory illness, but am on the tail-end and feeling much better. I've missed teaching and am excited to get back to what I love with students I really enjoy!

After looking at 1st trimester grades and the unusually high amount of missing work, I'm going to change a few things that I'd like everyone to be aware of (I'll review this on Monday too).

New Trimester: Clean Slate!!

• Reading Logs due Monday for full points. You can hand them in on Tuesday or Wednesday, but points will be reduced. No points after Wednesday, you'll need to do a make-up assignment. I'll be handing out those make-up assignments each Wednesday and it's up to the students to complete it. Please be honest and thorough in keeping track of what you read.
• In-class reading or at-school reading does count, you just have to write it down.
• I strongly encourage you to work with your child to make a system. The only way to improve your reading ability is reading. We have so many low readers, please, please help.
• Students in Study Skills classes or with IEP's may have individual accommodations--these are made on a one-to-one basis.
• There has been major behavior problems in my absence. I'm running the method our school recommends (4 R's). I'm really frustrated that some students are disruptive and ruining the learning experience for others. It's unacceptable and won't be happening anymore. If a student violates expectations or disrupts class...
• They are reminded of expectations 
• They are redirected (given a warning-time to refocus)
• Next step is relocation to another classroom, library or area in my room where they will fill out a "think sheet" that comes home. They will also lose behavior points from a bank I'm giving all students that will effect their grade.
• In Class-Teams are discontinued at this point due to student behavior in my absence. Instead, students with 0 missing assignments and 0 behavior issues during 1st trimester will be invited to a celebration during advisory--invitations are coming. This is in lieu of teams parties that were going to happen.
• New Seating Charts are coming. I need to make sure students with vision/attention issues get front-row seating. Some students will be experiencing schedule changes due to disruptive behavior. Once I get all that solidified, I'll make the change.
• Expect More Home Contact I've never had a group of students where so there are so many missing assignments and behavior problems. When I see a pattern, your student and I will call you from school to enlist your support and make a plan.
• Technology Violations-I'll be using our district monitoring system, Impereo. This means every time we use computers, students screens will be displayed for all to see. Students trying to sneak gaming or YouTube will be given a technology violation and home contact made. If these continue, your student will lose their Digital Driver's License and will no longer be able to use technology at school--which will make life very difficult. Please encourage your student to be honest. 
• Expect More Rewards: Touch Gold cards, Robins Rewards, Candy, Surprises, Drawings, etc. I want to reward those students who merit it due to outstanding effort, academic performance, good attitudes, on-time work, great behavior, etc. 

Just a reminder, student photos are  displayed on our private class Instagram account @therealmrsrobins. Please follow and see what fun things we are doing in class.

This week we will be diving into Nonfiction Notice and Note--a way to close read informational text. It's a fun, engaging way to quickly survey text for critical information to promote understanding. I'm teaching in the context of articles about refugees (Scope Magazine). If your student misses a day this week, they must sign up for advisory to glue in notes and get missed material. This stuff is hard to make-up, so please be in attendance.

Week 13 Schedule

Time to Start Fresh

Monday, November 4th

Week 12 Reading Logs Due

Procedure Review

Trimester Reflection/Goal Setting

Tuesday, November 5th

"War in America" Syrian Refugee article

Nonfiction Notice and Note: Numbers & Stats notes and practice

Wednesday, November 6th

Library Day!

Meet upstairs in the library:)

*pass off books to me

Thursday, November 7th

Quoted Words and Extreme & Absolute Language notes and practice 

N & N Game on concepts learned so far

Friday, November 8th

Monthly Drawing (based on behavior)

"I Live in a Refugee Camp" article 

Word Gaps notes and practice

STUDENTS: TELL ME YOU READ THE BLOG TO RECEIVE A ROBINS REWARD