Personal Narrative Material

For those who were absent or lost your paper...your Personal Narrative Rough Draft Organizer must be finished by class on Monday!  You will be choosing which moment of your life you want to write about and organize the information so you can begin typing your Rough Draft on Monday. Candy will be given for those of you who complete the assignment. Please email me with any questions.

Only 2nd period Honors students and other advanced writers will use the "Advanced Organizer", everyone else will use the "Personal Narrative Rough Draft Organizer."

Personal Narrative Rough Draft Organizer

Advanced Organizer

Missed a day last week? You need to complete your Storybank to help you brainstorm ideas.

Personal Narrative Storybank

Storybank #1: "Girls" (Yellow Literature Book) Write a paragraph about one of the following: Love (of any kind), a time you were embarrassed/awkward, a time with friends.

Storybank #2:  Rice Sandwich  Write a paragraph about one of the following: School, How you got your name, a story from your heritage.

Storybank #3: Charles  Write a paragraph about one of the following: a "trickster" story (when you pranked someone or they pranked you), a funny story, anything about family.

Storybank #4: Priscella and the Wimps Write a paragraph about one of the following: When you were brave, a time you stuck up for someone (or they stuck up for you), anything with school, family or friends.

Week 14: Welcome Trimester 2

I'm excited to start a new trimester! Students really worked hard this last trimester and their grades really reflect their dedication. I just got back from an observation and the annual UCTE (Utah Council of Teachers of English) conference and I am brimming with fun ideas for teaching and valuable information about SAGE prep. Expect great things to happen for students.

This will week will begin our Personal Narrative Unit where students will master narrative writing by choosing one event to focus on, use sequence and transitions as well as smiley-face tricks and figurative language to spice-up their writing. This is one of my favorite units to teach because students get to write about themselves. We will finish our Personal Narratives right before Thanksgiving break so each day will be vital for students to be in attendance.

Reminders for 2nd Trimester

• Students are required to read 10 books (12 books for Honors) per trimester. The count starts over each trimester, but the marks on the Bingo Card continues and students will be rewarded as they continue to get "bingos".
• Students who reach the 40 Club (40 books read) will get a t-shirt and some other fun prizes. This is a cumulative count of books that is ongoing from August. I anticipate many members to join this trimester.
• Students are required to do 30 mins. of Home Reading, at least 5 days a week. This builds reading stamina and skills.
• If a student misses a day, it is imperative they talk to me before or after school and make up their work. I can request them during FLEX time as needed. I noticed last trimester that students would forget to ask me and soon would fall in behind in the course work. Our weekly schedule is on the blog and on the whiteboard in class. Missed work is in a file-box in my room. Students can check with both of these sources as they visit with me.
• I do try to communicate weekly with students and parents. Please keep an eye on the blog so you know what is happening in class.
• Part of the Nation-in-the-News assignment is to read a news article and print-it-out. If you don't have access to a computer at home, please come to my room and tell me and I will be happy to help you print it in our computer lab.
• Honors: Please stay on top of your blog post, comments and writing contest. You have an entire month to do these assignments, but please do not wait until the last minute.

Nation-in-the-News

to present Friday, November 14th

2nd period: Locklin H., Taylor H., Ethan H.

3rd period: Avery M., Leslie O., Leif P.

4th period: Connor M, Jose M., Sommer N.

5th period: Kyli J., Keenan K., Emilie L.

6th period: Taylor H., Chyanne L., Gracee L.

Week 14 Schedule

Monday, November 10th

Motivational Monday: Wolves/Quick-Response

Unit Pre-Test (Transitions)

Personal Narrative Unit Introduction

Mini-Lesson: Personification 

Fill-out Figurative Language Foldable

Tuesday, November 11th

Free Reading

Smiley-Face Tricks

Gary Paulsen's "Girls"

Fill-out Story Bank, Smiley-Face Trick Sheet

Wednesday, November 12th

Free Reading

Mini-Lesson: Alliteration

Story Bank: "Rice Sandwich" by Sandy Cisneros

Smiley-Face Trick Sheet, Figurative Language Foldable

Thursday, November 13th

Honors: Writing Mini-Lesson

Newspaper Day

Homework: Read "Charles" by Shirley Jackson/Watch Hyperbole video

3-6: Free Reading

Mini-Lesson: Hyperbole

Story Bank: "Charles" by Shirley Jackson 

Smiley-Face Trick Sheet, Figurative Language Foldable

Friday, November 14th

Nation-in-the-News

Random Student

Mini-Lesson: Simile & Metaphor

Story Bank: "Priscella and the Wimps"

Smiley-Face Trick Sheet, Figurative Language Foldable

By the end of this week, students will have selected one moment of their lives to write about. We will move into rough draft writing and peer editing next week.

Week 13: November 3rd-7th & End-of-Trimester Information

I can't believe that almost 1/3 of the school year is over!  It was a busy week finishing and presenting Novel Projects as well as Book Finales. I'm very proud of all the hard work and great things students have accomplished and I am working hard at home to get everything graded and entered this weekend. There is a lot going to on this week as the trimester is finishing up, please see below for our schedule and important class information.

I will be in Salt Lake at a training on the 6th and 7th but I will be available via email if anyone has questions.

As always, contact me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call 435-652-4742 with any questions or concerns. Thank you for the ongoing support and sharing your amazing kids with me!

All Work Due on Wednesday, November 5th
Need Extra Academic or Effort Credit? Enter a writing contest (pick up the form in class) and give it to me before November 5th.

Congratulations Are In Order!

Way to go Shayne N.! Shayne was the 1st place winner in the St. George Book Festival Dixie Youth Poet's Contest. She received a cash prize, an award and presented her marvelous poem at an Open Mic event. Woot Shayne!!

                                                                                                                                                

A HUGE congrats to Marcus J. for becoming the newest member of our iRead 40 Club! 

Week 13

November 3-November 7

Monday, November 3rd
2nd period Honors: Newspaper Day (finalize November/begin December)

3rd-6th periods:
*New Seating Chart
*Free Reading/Book Business
*Book Orders Sent Home/Work Handed Back
*Genre-of-the-Week: Non-Fiction
*5th period (Novel Test)
*Final Reading Check
*Introduce Personal Narrative Unit

Tuesday, November 4th
2nd period Honors: Wednesday War Plot Chart
Novel Post Test, Introduce Personal Narrative Unit
Genre-of-the-Week

3rd-6th period:
*Free Reading/Book Business
*Mini Lesson: Alliteration
*Story Bank: Priscella and the Wimps

Wednesday, November 5th
Library Day: All Classes Meet in Library First
Listen to "The Beast of Loch Ness"
Final Day to Complete Utah Expedition Question
Final Day to hand-in ALL work

Thursday, November 6th
*Free Reading
*Drawing Conclusions Worksheet (essay organization)
*Begin working on "Loch Ness" Essay
Argumentation: Is the Search for the Loch Ness Monster Worthwhile?

Friday, November 7th
Finish "Loch Ness" Essay in class
Free Reading When Finished
Book Orders Due Today, Online or Send in a check and order form

Week 12: October 27-October 31

Whew-what a great week! From watching "Cinderella" to finishing (or almost finishing) novels, it's been a whirlwind week of learning. What a fun week of diving into literature, analyzing and understanding how thoughts, ideas and emotions are communicated through text. More than anything, I love hearing what students think and seeing their "a-ha" when they get a concept or express deep understanding. It has been a fantastic week!

A big congrats to Shayne Nielson for winning the St. George Book Festival Youth Poetry Contest. It is wonderful to see students achieve and be recognized. Way to go Shayne! (picture coming soon).

Another congrats to Shade Joines for becoming the newest member of our iRead "40 Club" for completing 40 books this trimester! Woot!

The end of the trimester is rapidly approaching, here are important dates for everyone to be aware of:

Monday, October 27th: Select Novel Project to complete & start working 

Tuesday, October 28th: Work day for Novel Project, Newspaper Day for Honors

Wednesday, October 29th: Book Finales Due and Novel Projects Presented, Work Day for Honors

Thursday, October 30th: Honors Novel Project Presentations

Friday, October 31st: Honors Writing Contest, Writing Blog and 3 Comments are due

Monday, November 3rd: Honors Newspaper Published, Scholastic Book Orders Due

Monday, November 3rd-5th: Book Finale Presentations(all classes)

Wednesday, November 5th: 2nd Utah Expedition Question Due, All Work Finished for Trimester, 10 iRead Books Finished (3rd-6th periods), 12 iRead Books Finished (2nd period)

Friday, November 7th: END OF TRIMESTER

*Missing work can be accessed through links on PowerSchool or pick up a hard copy in my room. I will offer extra effort assignments (see bin in my room) and students can do a writing contest for extra academic credit (also in my room). If students score low, they are welcome to redo assignments. Please remember, I am available before and after school or students can ask that I request them during FLEX for extra help. I cannot stop class and help students find missing work, so please talk to me as listed above.

Nation-in-the-News

present on Friday, October 31st

2nd period: Shayne Nielson, Ethan Pack

3rd period: All Finished

4th period: Madison Pierson

5th period: Liddia Jaques, Colton Maycock, Emily Memmot, Ady Moak

6th period: David Barazza

Weekly Schedule

October 27-October 31

Monday, October 27th

2nd period Honors: Final "Wednesday Wars" Quiz, sign-up for projects, begin Novel Projects *See previous blog post for Novel Project menu and links

3rd-4th periods: Finish "Out of the Dust"

3rd-6th periods: Sign-up for projects, Begin working on projects 

Tuesday, October 28th

Finish Plot Chart and Notes

2nd period Honors: Newspaper Work Day (last one before publication)
3rd-6th periods: Novel Project Work Day

Wednesday, October 29th

Free Reading/Book Business

2nd period Honors: Novel Project Work Day
3rd-6th periods: Novel Project Presentations

Thursday, October 30th

Free Reading/Book Business
2nd period Honors: Novel Project Presentations
3rd-6th periods: Page-to-Film Unit

Page-to-Film Vocabulary
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street: story and film.

Friday, October 31st

Happy Halloween!! (Yes, costumes welcome--check out guidelines in last school newsletter)
Random Student Form
Nation-in-the-News
Page-to-Film:

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven audio poem version, The Simpson's "Raven"

Page-to-Film Vocabulary (2nd period Honors)

Honors Class: Wednesday War Projects

On Monday, you will sign up for the "Wednesday Wars" project you want to do and begin working on it. We will work on these projects Monday and Wednesday and present Thursday. Please, please read the fine print (the instructions and rubric) so you can get the fullest amount of points possible.

Also, "The Wednesday Wars" must be completed for Monday. You will have a short quiz then start working on your Novel Project. Thanks!

Wednesday War Menu

Novel Project Rubrics

Motivational Monday Write

If you missed this assignment, you need to watch two YouTube clips before writing.

Here are the links:

Tim's Place

Korea's Got Talent: Homeless Boy

Next, please get the pink writing form from my room to finish the assignment.

Thank you!

Week 11: October 20-24

I hope everyone enjoyed Fall Break (and got to sleep-in a little)!

I'm excited for this upcoming week as we have some very fun items on the schedule. My goal is to wrap-up novels & introduce in-class novel projects to be finished next week. We will be attending "Cinderella" at SCHS on Wednesday and will explore the migratory tale of Cinderella on Tuesday. It will be a busy, but very worthwhile week.

Just a reminder that Book Finales are due on October 29th. Book Finale options may be accessed on the link on the left side of my blog or picked up in class. Remember a student will do a project on their favorite book they have read this trimester. Late work will be penalized so please, please turn in your work on time. All Book Finales will be presented the first week of November.

As November 7th is the end of the trimester, just a friendly reminder to check PowerSchool and make-up any low or missing assignments. I am happy to work with you, just let me know how. Remember that 2 Utah Expedition Library questions and 10 books need to be read by the end of the trimester. Make sure home-reading (30 mins a day at least 5 days a week) is happening. Additionally, Honors students need to read 12 books this trimester, enter a writing contest and post/comment on our writing blog. Please pace yourselves and finish in a timely manner before the end of the month.

I will be pulling some students for FLEX time this week who need a little extra support on reading. I'll send emails out to parents later this week to let you know what we will be doing in the reading group.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement. I am absolutely loving this group of students and am excited about the great strides of progress I am seeing.  As always, I can be reached by email, rachel.robins@washk12.org or call the school at 435-652-4742.  Have a wonderful week!

A HUGE congrats to students from Robins and Leany's classes who have reached the iRead's 40 Club (for reading the equivalency of 40 books so far this year).  I am anticipating many more joining this club!  *Shade: you'll get your shirt and picture on Monday!

Cash, Caleb, Sierra, Shayne & Kayden!

Nation-in-the-News

to be presented on Thursday, October 23rd

2nd period: Shayi Habibian (present), Cheyann Long, Carrson McKenna, Seth Millward

3rd period: Destiny Low, Aubry McCombs, Greyson Shipp, Aaron West

4th period: Sommer Norton, Madison Pierson

5th period:  Emily Gunn, Harley Hall, Mason Hansen, Liddia Jaques

6th period:  Breanna Hernando, Gracee Larson, Spencer Nobis, Jared Nolazco, Tali Puriri

Monday, October 20

10 mins. Free Reading

Novel Close Reading

Novel Study

Honors: Quiz on Jan/Feb chapters

Tuesday, October 22

Migratory Fairy Tale Analysis

Wednesday, October 22

"Cinderella Musical"

5th and 6th periods: Novel Study

Thursday, October 23

10 mins. Free Reading

Honors: Newspaper Work Day

Nation-in-the-News Presentations
"Out of the Dust" Novel Study and Plot Chart Notes

Friday, October 24

Finish "Out of the Dust"

Plot Chart Notes on "Wednesday Wars"

Library Day

Why I Feel So Strongly About Reading & Some Excellent Resources