Week 6: September 15-19

We finished up our Basic Skills unit with sentence types (simple, compound, complex) and paragraphs.  As a LA 7 team, we will be looking at students who scored low and doing a reteaching session.  I was pleased with how hard students worked and how they mastered the Whole Brain teaching gestures. The next unit is Argumentation 101 where students will be introduced to argumentative writing and gain a foundation so we can take it to the next level later in the year.

Please make sure your student is reading at home, 30 mins. at least 5 days a week.  I'm excited to see the great progress students are making with reading and trying different genres of books.  I've been evaluating test score and will begin some reading intensives during FLEX time.  I'll be emailing you if your student will be invited to join for some extra help.  Here's an interesting survey of middle school students worth looking at.  Start a dialogue about reading in your family!

As always, please email or call with any questions or concerns.  Remember to keep an eye on PowerSchool as midterm is rapidly approaching.  Students are required to have 5 books read by midterm.  If you miss a day of school, remember to check the whiteboard, blog, your student buddy and missing work crate, to see what you missed--then come talk to me!  I'm also totally willing for students to re-do any assignment for more points.

I'm looking forward to a fun week of learning with my amazing students!  

Nation-in-the-News

to present Friday, September 20th

2nd Period:  Baylee*, Ellie Stark, Ellie Sandstrom, Alaina, Katie

3rd Period:  Kyla, Kaden, Jose

4th Period:  Luis, Mady S., Ty

5th: Tony, Kenneth, Abby   

6th:  Treson, Angela, Camden

Monday, September 15

Short PLC Day, school out at 11:45am

10 mins. independent reading
Career Connection: Why LA Matters

Tuesday, September 16

*10 minutes independent reading
Genre-of-the-Week: Science Fiction
Argumentation Pre-Test
Introduction to Argumentation 101
Read Scope Magazine Soda Debate

Wednesday, September 17

 *10 minutes independent reading
Argumentation Vocabulary & Structure
Begin Scope Magazine Soda Debate Activity

Thursday, September 18
 *10 minutes independent reading
Finish Soda Debate Activity

2nd period Honors: Article Identification Activity
Newspaper Work Day

Friday, September 19

Random Student
Nation-in-the-News
Argumentation Essay Identification Activity
Midterm

Week 5: September 8-September 12

We've had a great week tackling sentence types.  I've been incorporating Whole Brain teaching with gestures to help students have more of a fun, hands-on learning experience.  I'm delighted with the good reading I'm seeing happening.  The benefits of reading are so powerful and positively influence all areas of a student's life.  Remember to encourage home reading (at least 30 mins, 5 days a week) and I'll monitor progress and provide encouragement and incentives here at school.

I know I sound like a broken record, but this group of students is fantastic!  I love how they rally to help each other, are game to try anything in class and just really bring sunshine to the classroom every day.  Thanks for raising such amazing kids!

Here is the schedule for this week.  As always, please email me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call 435-652-4742 if you have any questions or concerns.

Nation-in-the-News

to present Friday, September 12th

2nd Period: Luke, Sophia, Braden, Baylee

3rd Period:  Sage, Dylan, Monte

4th Period:  Joshua, Bailey, Kaden

5th:   Alexis, Christine, McKena

6th:  Chris, Seth, Mike

Monday, September 8

*10 minutes independent reading

Paragraph Instruction: Topic Sentence, Details

2nd Period Honors:

All About Paragraphs

Tuesday, September 9

*10 minutes independent reading
Paragraph Instruction: Sequence, Transitions, Conclusions

2nd Period Honors: 
Journalism Mini-Lesson
Newspaper Day 

Wednesday, September 10

 *10 minutes independent reading
Random-Student-of-the-Week
Flyswatter Sentence/Paragraph Review Game

Thursday, September 11

Scope Magazine: "Dear Future"
Library Day

Friday, September 12

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences

Genre-of-the-Week: Science Fiction
Nation-in-the-News

Sentences/Paragraph Final Assessment 

Why Access to Books Really Matters!!

Week 4: September 2-5

I am so enjoying this group of students.  Each student is full of enthusiasm and so willing to work hard.  It just makes every day really great!  Benchmark testing results are posted in PowerSchool.  They do not effect your student's grade, but they are there to see.  Now that I have data, I can begin to formulate a plan for your student to help improve their reading.  I'll look forward to discussing it with you at next month's SEP conferences. I am happy to discuss your student ahead of time if you would like. I will be starting up my Weekly Reading Club soon, look for more information to come home soon.  We will be doing a writing benchmark test as well when Utah Write is up and running.

Please make sure your student is reading at home.  The requirement is 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.  Talk to your students about "Edge Reading"--a way to squeeze in 5-10 mins. throughout the day. For many students, this makes home reading less intimidating and leads to success.  I'll begin Reader's Conferences this week as well as Status Reports (tracking their daily page progress).  If I don't see progression in a week, I'll be calling home with your student to talk about home reading and solutions.

Looking ahead: Book Orders Due on September 2nd.  Purchasing books through Scholastic is a easy and inexpensive way to build your home library.  You can either send in a check to Scholastic or order online.  If you order online, our class receives a free book: which is awesome!  Please click on the link on the left of the blog to order.

Here is the schedule for this week.  As always, please email me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call 435-652-4742 if you have any questions or concerns.

Nation-in-the-News

to present Friday, September 5th

2nd Period: Taylor Hatch, Ethan Hunt, Shade Joines, Locklin Hammett

3rd Period:  Jackie Loera, Avery Macfarlane, Leslie Ochoa

4th Period:  Matt McDonald, Conner McInnes, Jose Molina

5th:  April Jones, Kyli Jones, Keean Kirkland

6th:  Chyanne LaFountaine, Taylor Holt, James Holt 

Monday, September 1

Labor Day: No School

Tuesday, September 2

*10 minutes independent reading
Conjunctions: FANBOYS
Compound Sentence Instruction and Practice

Wednesday, September 3

 *10 minutes independent reading
Simple & Compound Sentence Instruction & Practice

Thursday, September 4

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences
Coordinating Conjunctions 
Complex Sentence Instruction & Practice 

2nd Period Honors:
Mini-Lesson: News Article Writing
Section Breakouts

Friday, September 5

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences
Random Student
Nation-in-the-News
Sentence Stations

Week 3: August 25-29

It's been another fantastic week in Language Arts!  Thank you to all of those who were able to make it to Back-to-School Night. I so enjoyed meeting everyone and appreciate your attendance.  If you were unable to attend, your student should have brought two papers home: one about text blast subscription and one about the iRead program/class expectations & responsibilities.  If you need one, please let me know.

100% of students were prepared for this week's Nation-in-the-News assignment, which is spectacular!  I so appreciate their dedication and enthusiasm.  We held a Reading Party today to celebrate 2 weeks of hard work from students--these kids are fantastic and I am so proud of them!

Please make sure your student is reading at home.  The requirement is 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.  Talk to your students about "Edge Reading"--a way to squeeze in 5-10 mins. throughout the day. For many students, this makes home reading less intimidating and leads to success.

Looking ahead: Book Orders Due on September 2nd.  Purchasing books through Scholastic is a easy and inexpensive way to build your home library.  I'll send Book Orders home with students on Monday.  You can either send in a check to Scholastic or order online.  If you order online, our class receives a free book: which is awesome!  Please click on the link on the left of the blog to order.

Here is the schedule for this week.  As always, please email me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call 435-652-4742 if you have any questions or concerns.

Nation-in-the-News

to present Friday, August 29th

2nd Period: Halli VanLehn, Matt Van Gils, Brinley Sullivan, Gia Stinson

3rd Period: Mackenzie Wright, Clint Wright, Melody Tomer

4th Period: Atreyu West, Dakoda Warren, Andy Vazquez

5th: Destinee Arvizo, Kayla Berumen, Brennon Brown

6th:  Sirenidy Arvizo, Kohl Bowler, Hunter Burchinal

Monday, August 25

*Motivational Monday: Word Crimes
Writing Mini-Lesson: Parts of Speech Crash Course
Book Orders Coming Home Today
Library Day! 

Tuesday, August 26

BENCHMARK TESTING IN D-LAB

Wednesday, August 27

BENCHMARK TESTING IN D-LAB

Thursday, August 28

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences
*Introduce Basic Skills Unit
*Sentence Activity: 2 truths, 1 lie
2nd Period Honors: Newspaper Section Breakouts
*Brainstorm ideas/organize individual sections

Friday, August 29

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences

*Nation-in-the-News Presentations

*Simple Sentences Instruction & Activities
*Sentence Foldable

Week 2: August 18-22

This is my third year teaching, and despite the LONG week, it's been my favorite first week yet!  The students have been amazing--so hard working, fun and come every day with great attitudes. I've left every day with a smile on my face and I am confident that it will be a fantastic school year.

Students learned about Multiple Intelligence today.  It's a theory that everyone is smart, just in different ways. Please ask your students to talk about their individual intelligence.

A few important things to remember:

1. Students need to read at home 30 mins. a day, 5 days a week.  I am tracking their reading at school, rather than home reading logs, but please help remind them to read.  They have a white tracking sheet where they will record every book they began reading.  The tracking sheet is in their binder.
2. Back-to-School Night is August 20th at 6:30pm. I sent home a paper that said 6pm earlier, but 6:30pm is the correct time. I'd love to meet you!  Please come if you are able to.
3. Students should have brought home a paper to subscribe to text blasts.  This is a great way for me to get information to you, please subscribe if you can.  There is a link on my blog as well.
4. Benchmark Testing will be August 26-27th.  Please make sure your student is in school these days.
5. Friday, August 22nd will be the first week that Nation-in-the-News is assigned.  Students will present once a trimester.  They will bring home a peach paper with directions on it.  I am asking students to read (and print-out/cut-out) a news story, summarize it (on the peach paper) and present to the class.  This will help their reading, research and speaking skills.  See below for who will present.

Here is the schedule for this week.  As always, please email me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call 435-652-4742 if you have any questions or concerns.

Nation-in-the-News

to present Friday, August 22nd

2nd Period: Aspen Allred, Annie Baker, Ryan Bethers, Emily Blair

3rd Period: Keegan Atkinson, Araceli Cazares, Sofia Cuara

4th Period: Josey Adams, Nancy Aguilar, Keegan Avery

5th: Dax Wood, Elizabeth Veltcamp, Franklin Urias

6th: Sam Zohner, Max Tholen, Torrance Wall

Monday, August 18

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences

*Fill out Random Student Spotlight Form

*Genre-of-the-Week: Fantasy

*Nation-in-the-News: modeling/how to do it
*Music Mix-Pair-Share

Tuesday, August 19

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences
*Organize Writer's Notebooks

Wednesday, August 20

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences
*Fun with Language: Emoji Sentence Fun
*Music Mix-Pair-Share

Thursday, August 21

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences
*Scope Magazine Activity
*Sentence Activity
*Class-building games

2nd Period Honors
* Newspaper Organization (sections/groups)

Friday, August 22

*10 minutes independent reading/reading conferences
*Nation-in-the-News Presentations
*Introduce "Great to be 13"/Basic Skills Unit
*Student Survey

Welcome to School: Week 1, August 11-August 15

I've got a fun week planned as we begin the 2014-2015 school year.  I am so excited to meet my students and look forward to great things from them all year.

Every Friday I will update my blog with important information about the upcoming week. I encourage students and parents/guardians to get in the habit of checking each week to keep updated.  Always feel free to email me (anytime) with questions/concerns at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call during school hours at 435-652-4742.  I'm really good about returning emails/phone calls and want to keep in touch with you.

Class and school disclosures are coming home this week and need to be returned by Wednesday, August 13.  The class that has the highest percentage of returned disclosures by Wednesday will earn doughnuts on Thursday!  The schedule this week is basic, we will also be playing class building games and learning several specific procedures each day.  This week, both Honors and regular classes are combined.  I'll have seperate schedules in the future.

Expect a year of fun and learning.  I love what I do and I'm really looking forward to working with students this year.

Enjoy your weekend,
Mrs. Robins

Monday, August 11

*Seating/Roll

*Faction Activity

*Meet Mrs. Robins

*Expectations

*Procedures

*Disclosures to be sent home

Tuesday, August 12

 *Hand-out Reading/Writing

*Procedures

*iRead program

*Book Frenzy

*Student Survey

Wednesday, August 13

 *Disclosures Due (the first class to get them all in earns a doughnut party!)

*Procedures

*Blog

*Label Notebooks

Thursday, August 14

*Multiple Intelligence Quiz & Activity

*Procedures

*Honors Newspaper Introduction

Friday, August 15

 *Random Student

*Nation in the News

*Penny Group Activity

Assembly Schedule

Welcome New 7th Graders!

Yes, it's still summer and I'm posting because I am seriously excited to meet you and begin the school year!

I really love teaching and I'm passionate about helping every student improve, no matter what your level is. I'm also all about making Language Arts fun and useful.  Please make sure you pick up a half-sheet from my classroom during the Open House and watch for disclosures & instructions on subscribing to my text blasts to be posted on my blog and be sent home.  As a Language Arts department, we are introducing a reading program called iRead that will help you grow leaps and bounds as a reader.  We'll do a lot of fun writing throughout the year as well.  Enjoy the last couple weeks of summer and I'll look forward to meeting you in person on August 11th!
P.S. Watch for the cool novel-themed seating I'll have in my classroom.  I'll give you a hint...it involves factions.

The Top 10 Things Last Year's 7th Graders Want You to Know...

1. Mrs. Robins is the best and class is fun (seriously, that was the biggest response)
2. Always be on-time with your work
3. Don't slack
4. Don't talk when Mrs. Robins is talking (true)
5. You will have lots of fun
6. Don't miss school!
7. Be prepared
8. Be honest
9. Pay attention
10. Enjoy the candy

 Some great quotes from last year's 7th graders' advice to YOU:

"That 7th grade isn't as hard as it looks. There are many great rewards and in the end it is all worth it. Stay strong because before you know it the year is gone and you are on your way to middle school. Remember the fun memories!!" 

"Turning your work in on time and staying focused is best! it really sucks to get behind and then have to go back and turn in missing work when you have a lot."

"Walk in with a good attitude."

"To never give up, be ready for what's coming your and to fulfill their dreams."

 "I would tell them to be good Mrs. Robins isn't mean, she will explain everything through and if you ever have any questions just raise your hand, don't be scared at all she will explain everything through, like always."

"Get a book and start reading it so when the book report comes you will already have your book read."

"Do your work and you wont have any problems and enjoy your class or it will be harder to learn."

"YOU are in good hands of learning!"

"To study hard and get good grades because in the future you will regret that you didn't."

"Be on time don't miss school. Put a smile on your face be happy."

"Pay attention A LOT!!! It will help I don't want them to always be lost in other classes like me."

"Just believe in yourself and remember you can do anything you put your mind to even if it requires a little help. No matter what anyone says just be true to yourself and do not change for anybody. And stand up for what you believe in even if it means standing alone because you can make a difference and you can have a voice. Every single one of you are amazing and you all can make a mark on the world. It doesn't matter if it takes a day, a week, or five years. You can do it. And please do not feel like a waste of space or that you are not good enough. The world is a puzzle and we are the puzzle pieces. Without each of you we are incomplete. We are all different and the world needs that variation even if some do not except it. I promise you, you are worth it in every way possible, and if you have a problem or something is going on and you are afraid just speak out. We will hear you and we will be there for you. And we will hear you. Always remember that you are not alone, someone will understand."