Week 32: Literature Skills

I'm excited for another fun week! We will be practicing grammar and editing through NoRedInk (please stay on top of these, it's easy to fall behind). I have an interesting article on Listenwise for you as well as a great poem "If" to engage your literature comprehension muscles. I'm really excited for Thursday and Friday when we'll dive into informational text, pay attention to text features, ask questions and do some research and present.

Yes, we are preparing for our RISE testing that will take place in a month. YES, we are learning/practicing new skills continuously, and YES, it's important you are in school every day.

Most of what we are doing is interactive (except NoRedInk and Listenwise that you can do on your own) and it's difficult to make up. Make-up is usually available after the activity. I put so much time into creating these activities, that finding worksheets to give you the skills you are missing is difficult.

I'm baffled as to the amount of missing work. I really want you guys to do well, but you've got to complete your work. With 150 students, it's impossible for me to check multiple platforms each day. So...if you are late on Listenwise or NoRedInk, you must EMAIL me and tell me which assignment you completed. Otherwise, turn work in the box and I'll have it entered soon. Please be respectful of my time as well. If you turn in work days late, don't expect me to drop everything and enter your score. I work very hard to stay current on grading and will get to it within the week.
Thanks for the ongoing support! I love teaching this bunch of students and look forward to a wonderful rest of the school year:)

Week 32: Literature Skills!

Monday, March 25th
Short PLC Day, school dismissed at 11:45am
Begin new NoRedInk
Missing Assignments/Read

Tuesday, March 26th
Listenwise: Brain Injuries and Sports
Free Reading

Wednesday, March 27th
"If" by Rudyard Kipling
Literature Comprehension
Free Reading/NoRedInk (if finished early)

Thursday, March 28th
Poetry Bellwork
Informational Text Activity: Challenger

Friday, March 29th
NoRedInk DUE
Finish Poetry Bellwork
Informational Text Activity Presentations: Challenger

Code Word for a Robins Reward: Literature!

Since 2013-2014 school year, I've had students write a letter to themselves that I'll mail right before high school graduation. Very excited to mail my first batch!! Congratulations class of 2019!!!

 Way to go Kenzie and Caden: the newest members of the iRead Club. They received a t-shirt, candy bar and ticket into our GIGANTIC end-of-year party. Way to go guys, I'm so proud of you!!

On Friday we did a fun hands-on application where students were looking for vocab cards all around the school to practice their context clues skills. Well done students!

Week 31: Reading, Listening and Grammar Skills!

It's that time of year when we sharpen our skills! Please, I'm begging here, finish your work on time! The only nightly "homework" you have is reading at home 20-30 minutes a day. However, if you're behind in class, it's on you to get caught up. Remember you'll need an entire bingo card filled with books to get our cool iRead t-shirts, a candy bar and ticket into our gigantic end-of-year party. Keep reading: I want as many students to qualify as possible:)

I'm excited to do our weekly activities in a fun, engaging way where students can continue to expand their knowledge.

The focus is to do one day of reading literature (comprehension), one day of informational reading (comprehension), listening comprehension, NoRedInk will cover grammar and editing, and then an interactive review or discovery activity.

As always, please let me know how I can assist. I appreciate the continued support.

Many thanks,
Mrs. Robins

Week 31

March 18-March 22

Monday, March 18
NoRedInk
Poetry Bellwork
Informational Reading: How Are Emojis Made?

Tuesday, March 19
Free Reading
Poetry Bellwork
Listenwise: Toys for Elephants
Assignment Link on Google Classroom

Wednesday, March 20
Library Day!
Free Reading and/or NoRedInk

Thursday, March 21
No Red Ink
Poetry Bellwork
Reading Literature: The Flight of Icarus 

Friday, March 22
Book #2 for 3rd Trimester DUE
No Red Ink DUE 
Commonly Confused Words, Capitalization & Pronouns
Context Clues Game

Way to go Jazmine, Harrison and Itzel!!!!

Welcome to the iRead Club!!!

Week 29: Sharpening our Skills

It was a long, but wonderful week. I kicked it off with travelling to SLC with a dozen students as they petitioned the Natural Resources Sub Committee of the House of Representatives to make Southern Utah's Gila Monster the State Reptile. What a cool experience! I'm so happy to report we were approved by the Committee and moved to the floor of the House where HB 144 passed by a wide margin! Way to go students! Now onto the Senate's Sub Committee:) Thank you to many students who emailed our State Reps and spoke up for So. Utah!

We'll be continuing with Language Arts skills practice, reviewing and applying said skills. We'll also have a visitor from DSU and enjoy our time together. Please come to class, keep reading each day and prepare for challenging activities to build your skills!

Week 29

March 4-March 8

Monday, March 4

Editing Bellwork

Poetry Analysis Practice

Tuesday, March 5

Editing Bellwork

Review Author's Purpose

Scope Bingo

Wednesday, March 6

Free Reading

Text Structure Game

Thursday, March 7

Editing Practice

Hunting a Monster Dyad Reading

Comprehension Quiz

Friday, March 8

Free Reading 

Socratic Seminar: Hunting a Monster 

No Red Ink DUE: Commas and Sentence Parts Practice 

NoRedInk Information

There was weirdness on Monday with NoRedInk. I have it fixed and here is what I need you to do...

Log-in and go to the top right of the screen where there is a drop-down menu

Select "classes"

Withdraw from 1st period...unless you're in 1st period!

Here are the codes to join your correct class period. You do NOT have to repeat the Diagnosis Assignment you have already done.

1st period - nice card 91

2nd period- different whistle 35

3rd period- narrow bus 4

4th period- young knot 37

5th period- alive balloon 27

 

Big congrats to these awesome students!! Emily B. and Kallin J. are the newest members of the iRead Club!! Emily H. and Gage S. came in 2nd and 3rd in the Red Rock Writer's Chapparel Poetry Contest! I'm also posting a few of my favorite shots of our visit to the State Capitol:) 

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!!