Week 37 Update and Schedule

It's been a great week full of literature in Language Arts! 1st period is doing Literature Circles and the rest of my classes are reading "Esperanza Rising".  We will be doing Close Reading this week and talking more about specific literary elements.

Even though school will soon be at an end, it's important students attend school and fully participate.  My focus now is on getting them ready for middle school and really enjoying the time we have left.

The last Book Order of the year will be placed this Friday.  I had it for last Friday but forgot to hand out book orders.  This is an inexpensive way to build your home library and keep students reading over the summer.

I appreciate the continual support I receive from parents/guardians.  I so enjoy teaching this class! As always, please contact me at 435-652-4742 or rachel.robins@washk12.org with any questions.

Week 37 Schedule
April 28-May 2

Utah-in-the-News
Presenting on May 2nd 

1st: *Kailee H., Mckade, Brett, Kinley, Trinity
2nd: *Bri, Dylan, Kaden
4th: *Mo, Braden (absent), *Tyler, Brittany, Jackson
5th:  Lacey, Chelsi, Brock, Kayla, *Bryson, *Kaden
6th:  *Brinkley, *Jenny, Holden, Vanessa, Aubri, Alyssa


Book Reports Due May 7th

Monday, April 28
Short PLC Day
Schedule Week/Reading Check
Scope Magazine: Justin Bieber Part II

Learning Objective:  I can will be organized by showing their reading minutes.  I will practice writing argumentation and using facts to support a claim.

Tuesday, April 29

Poetry Bellwork: Concrete Poem
1st Period: Literature Circles Day #3
"Esperanza Rising" Novel (Listening Comprehension)
Learning Objective:  I can learn about poetry and write a poem to demonstrate my knowledge.  I will comprehend literature and demonstrate my knowledge through class discussion and writing.

Wednesday, April 30

Poetry Bellwork: Bio Poem
1st Period: Literature Circles Day #4
"Esperanza Rising" Close Reading & Novel Listening
Learning Objective: I can learn about poetry and write a poem to demonstrate my knowledge.  I will comprehend literature and demonstrate my knowledge through class discussion and writing.

Thursday, May 1

Scope Magazine: "Sydney Survived the Boston Bombing"
Library Day

Learning Objective:  Students will comprehend information text and explore valuable informational text skills in the library.

Friday, May 2
Book Orders Due Today (I forgot to send them home last week, so this will be the new date)
Poetry Bellwork: Cinquin
1st Period: Literature Circles Day #5
"Esperanza Rising" Novel (Listening Comprehension) & Quiz
Learning Objective:  I can learn about poetry and write a poem to demonstrate my knowledge.  I will comprehend literature and demonstrate my knowledge through class discussion and writing.

Week 36: Update and Schedule

SAGE testing is behind us and I'm excited to launch another Novel Unit.  Students will master critical thinking through text analysis and Close Reading. We will also be writing different types of poetry.  This is really an accumulation of all the knowledge students have gained all year.

In 1st period, we will be doing Literature Circles, so look for books to come home every day.  Students will be reading a specific amount of pages every day and will have a daily task at school to perform to demonstrate understanding.  This is a fun and rigorous way to teach novel and I know students are up to the task.

I want to finish the year strong, so you'll still be hearing from me weekly and I'll be focusing hard here on preparing students for the 8th grade.  I'm equal parts excited and sad for the school year to end, I really enjoy teaching this group of students so much!  I appreciate the continual support.  Please contact me at 435-652-4742 or rachel.robins@washk12.org with any questions.

Week 36 Schedule
April 21-25

Utah-in-the-News
Presenting on April 25th

1st: Carson H., Kailee H., Trayson, Lauren
2nd: Alex, Bri, Jayli
4th: Mo, Braden, Tyler
5th: Brady, Bryson, Kaden, Quincy
6th: *Kasey, *Cristina, Sammi, Brinkley, Jake, Jenny

Monday, April 21
Easter Break

Tuesday, April 22

Bellwork: Schedule Week & Mustache Student Spotlight Form
1st Period: Literature Circles Novel, Assignments, Setting Search
Introduce "Esperanza Rising" & Jigsaw Setting Activity
Learning Objective:  Students will understand and research the time and place of their novel. Students will understand how Novel units will work.

Wednesday, April 23

Bellwork: Poetry (Acrostic)
1st Period: Literature Circles Day #1
"Esperanza Rising"
Learning Objective: Students will write poetry.  Student will understand literature and demonstrate their knowledge through discussion.

Thursday, April 24

Scope Magazine: Should Justin Bieber be deported?
Library Day

Learning Objective:  Students will comprehend information text and explore valuable informational text skills in the library.

Friday, April 25
Book Orders Due Today
Utah in the News
Bellwork: Poetry (Concrete/Shape)
1st Period: Literature Circles Day #2
"Esperanza Rising"

Learning Objective: Students will write poetry.  Student will understand literature and demonstrate their knowledge through discussion.

 

Week 35 Update and Schedule

We've had such a fun week in Language Arts practicing Reading and Listening Comprehension. I am confident that students will do well on next week's testing.  Please make sure your student is in school on April 15th and April 16th (Tuesday and Wednesday), are well-fed and rested so they can be successful on their testing.  I'll do my part to make it fun and relaxing.  The new SAGE test is long and rigorous but I am so proud of the effort and attitude of my students so on Thursday, we'll be having a waffle party to celebrate the end of Language Arts testing.  It's going to be an amazing week!

Looking ahead, after Easter break we will be starting our next class novel.  I'll be posting more detail on this soon.  We will also be covering poetry and students will have opportunities to enter contests and write in a variety of forms as we finish the school year.

As always, I am grateful for the outpouring of support from parents.  Please contact me at 435-652-4742 or rachel.robins@washk12.org with any questions.

Week 35 Schedule
April 14-18

No Utah-in-the-News this week...

Monday, April 14
Minimum School PLC Day
New Random-Student Forms
Reading Vocabulary Bellwork
Commonly Confused Words Game

Learning Objective: I can practice reading vocabulary skills.  I can understand the differences between homonyms (commonly confused words) and demonstrate my knowledge during our class game.

Tuesday, April 15

SAGE Reading/Listening Comprehension Test
Learning Objective:  I can demonstrate my knowledge of reading and listening comprehension during the SAGE Test!

Wednesday, April 16

SAGE Reading/Listening Comprehension Test
*Book Orders Due Today (last one of the year)
Learning Objective:  I can demonstrate my knowledge of reading and listening comprehension during the SAGE Test!

Thursday, April 17

End of SAGE Testing Celebration
Waffle Party

Learning Objective: I can celebrate my amazing effort on the SAGE Test by celebrating with my class.

Friday, April 18-Monday, April 21st:  Easter Break

School will resume on Tuesday, April 22nd

Reading/Listening Comprehension Exercises

Monday, April 7th
Listening Comprehension: Dinosaurs

1.  Make a foldable to help organize while listening to the article.  This is also a great strategy to use on the SAGE Listening Comp. portion.

2.  Go to Scope Magazine April Issue: Dinosaurs

3.  A window should pop-up asking you to log in.  The user name is rachel.robins@washk12.org, password is metaphor.

4.  Go to "The Girl who Discovered Dinosaurs"/"Dinosaurs For Sale" and listen to the audio versions of both articles.  Fill out the foldable as you listen to help you on the quiz.  Each article uses all four squares, so do one article on one side and the other article on the other side.

5.  Select the non-interactive reading comprehension quiz, print, complete and return to me OR you may do the interactive quiz and email it to me. Be sure to follow instructions and verify that I received it.

Tuesday, April 8th
Reading Comprehension: Allergy/Robots

1.  Go to Scope Magazine April Issue Robot/Allergy Articles
2.  A window should pop-up asking you to log in.  The user name is rachel.robins@washk12.org, password is metaphor.
3.  Read "I Use a Robot to go to School" and "What Causes Allergies?" (click on the "download the text" link right below the article summaries.)
4.  Complete the Close Reading Questions and return the paper to me.

Wednesday, April 9th
Reading Comprehension: Freddie in the Shade (Narrative Fictions)

1. Go to Scope March Issue: Freddie in the Shade
2.  A window should pop-up asking you to log in.  The user name is rachel.robins@washk12.org, password is metaphor.
3. Read "Freddie in the Shade" (click on the "download the text" link right below the article summaries.)
4. Complete the Non-Interactive Quiz (you'll need to print it out and return to me)

Week 34 Update and Schedule

It has been an incredibly busy week with the SAGE writing test.  I really appreciate the support from home with encouraging your students, helping them attend school and making sure they are eating and sleeping well.  The test was difficult but I couldn't be prouder of how hard the students tried, focused and wrote to the best of their ability.  Because this is the first year of the new test, results will be given in the fall.  Keep in mind that our SAGE Reading Test is April 15-16.  If you could make sure your child attends school on those days, that would be much appreciated.

The next week will be spent in Reading and Listening Comprehension exercises to help prepare students for the test.  Attendance is a must--many of these assignments and discussions will be difficult to make up so please, please make sure your student is in school.  I always enjoy hearing from parents, I can be reached at rachel.robins@washk12.org or 435-652-4742. 

Students: Relax this weekend--get out in our beautiful spring weather and enjoy time with your family and friends!

Week 34 Schedule
April 7-11

Monday, April 7

SAGE Test Make-Up
Grammar Bellwork
Scope Dinosaur Listening Comprehension & Activity
Learning Objective: I can practice editing and grammar.  I can practice Listening Comprehension to help me better understand the world around me and prepare for the SAGE Reading Test.

Tuesday, April 8

Grammar Bellwork
Allergy/Robot Reading Comprehension
Learning Objective:  I can practice editing and grammar.  I can practice Reading Comprehension to help me better understand the world around me and prepare for the SAGE Reading Test.

Wednesday, April 9

Grammar Bellwork
"Freedie in the Shade" Reading Comprehension
AM/PM Reading Club
*Signed Progress Reports Due

Learning Objective:  I can practice editing and grammar.  I can practice Reading Comprehension to help me better understand the world around me and prepare for the SAGE Reading Test.

Thursday, April 10

Grammar Games
Library

Learning Objective: I can demonstrate my knowledge of grammar/editing.

Friday, April 11

Random Student
Utah-in-the-News
Gecko Time Enrichment, Reteaching, Homework Hall
Learning Objective:  I can practice listening and speaking skills during Utah-in-the-News.  If I am missing work, I can get caught-up during Homework Hall, re-learn concepts during Reteaching or celebrate my success by participating in an enriched learning activity.

Testing Dates:

SAGE Reading  April 15 & April 16

Utah-in-the-News
Presenting Friday, April 11th

1st Period:  Ben, Ethan, Demi
2nd Period:  Elley, Mikayla, Tiffani
4th Period: Jonah, Aleya, Kenneth
5th Period: Aston, Mia, Andrew
6th Period:  Cristina, Skylee, Adi, Cheyenne & Nate R.