Week 33 Update and Schedule

After a year of hard work and fun, it is time for students to showcase their knowledge of Language Arts through the skills-based test called SAGE.  Yes, it's a new test, but I am confident, and quite excited to see my students really demonstrate that they know their stuff.  We've worked hard this last week memorizing organizational foldables to help them on the test.  On Monday, we'll hit test success tip (test-taking skills) and review the foldables.

It's essential that students have a good breakfast, preferably one high in protein, and get a good night's sleep.  I'll do all I can to create a fun, positive environment to help ensure student success!  Most of all, I'm just so proud of my students and I'm prepared to celebrate their success.  As always, please email me or call with any questions or concerns.  A big thank you for your support.

Our Testing Motto 

Testing Dates:

SAGE Writing  April 1-April 4

SAGE Reading  April 15 & April 16

No Utah-in-the-News this week

Week 33 Schedule
March 31-April 4

Monday, March 31

Test Taking Success Tips
Final Review
Learning Objective: I can learn how to test successfully.  I can review my foldables and feel confident in my ability to be successful on the SAGE.

Tuesday, April 1

Meet in D Lab for SAGE Testing
Learning Objective: I can demonstrate skills I've learned through the year as I take the SAGE test.

Wednesday, April 2

Meet in D Lab for SAGE Testing

Learning Objective:  I can demonstrate skills I've learned through the year as I take the SAGE test.

Thursday, April 3

Meet in D Lab for SAGE Testing

Learning Objective:I can demonstrate skills I've learned through the year as I take the SAGE test.

Friday, April 4

Meet in D Lab for SAGE Testing
Learning Objective: I can demonstrate skills I've learned through the year as I take the SAGE test.

Week 32 Update and Schedule

Boy, am I proud of my students!  They have worked hard to write an on-demand argumentative essay and learn how to use their note paper so they can be successful on the SAGE test.  Now, that was pretty awesome, but then students took the Gates Reading Comprehension Benchmark tests and I saw record high scores across the board!  Woot!

This next week will be vitally important as we move into the final SAGE prep sessions.  Students will need to commit the foldables to memory so they can be prepared for the writing portion of the test.  Attendance is a must, so please make sure your student is at school each day.  I'll work with students on testing strategies and preparation.  I feel confident that, despite the fact this is a new test, my students are going to do a great job and feel good about their test performance.

Our Testing Motto 

Testing Dates:

SAGE Writing  April 1-April 4

SAGE Reading  April 15 & April 16

Utah-in-the-News
Presenting Friday, March 28th

1st Period:  Melanie, Marci, Diego
2nd Period:  Sauni, Braden, Sadie
4th Period: Jeremy, Alexis, Daveena
5th Period: Tegun, Chole, Cade
6th Period:  Sandy, Alexis, Kasey

Week 32 Schedule

March 24-28

Monday, March 24

Meet in D Lab
Benchmark Testing: STAR & Gates Vocabulary
Learning Objective: I can show how I've improved in my reading skills through Benchmark testing.

Tuesday, March 25

Bellwork: Unpack that Prompt!
Foldable Games & Drills
Learning Objective: I can practice organizing and writing an essay in preparation for the SAGE Test.

Wednesday, March 26

Foldable Quiz
Opposition/Rebuttal Practice 

Learning Objective:  I will show I know how to use the foldables for the SAGE test and that I understand how to acknowledge the opposition in a claim and write a rebuttal.

Thursday, March 27

Testing Tips

Library Day

Learning Objective: I can understand how to relax and be successful on the SAGE test.

Friday, March 28

Random Student
Utah-in-the-News
Gecko Time: Enrichment, Homework Hall or Reteaching
Learning Objective:  I can practice speaking/listening skills during Utah-in-the-News.  I will attend school and participate in Gecko Time.  If I am caught-up on my work, I will enjoy an enriched learning activity.  If I am missing work, I will attend Homework Hall where I can receive extra time and support to help me.

Benchmark Test for Friday, March 21st

If you missed Friday, March 21st--you need to take the Gates Comprehension (Benchmark test).  

Click on this link, Teacher=Mr. Rarick (leave it as Mr. Rarick), then
select Robins ___ (your class period) and find your name.  

When you finish, PLEASE EMAIL ME YOUR SCORE.  There is not a time limit, do your best!

Gates Comprehension Test

SAGE Prep: Argumentative Essay March 17-19th

We'll be in the D Lab Monday and Tuesday to practice on-demand Argumentative Writing in preparation for the SAGE. Here are the links you will need to access the articles for the writing prompt.  This will be good practice in organization, reading multiple articles and writing.  I think you all will enjoy these articles and I'm excited to see how you do!

Article #1:  Schools May Ban Chocolate Milk Over Added Sugar

Article #2:  Sugar in Chocolate Milk Compared to Other Treats

Article #3: National Dairy Council Poster

Article #4:  The Hard Facts about Flavored Milk

Prompt (remember to use your Unpacking the Prompt Foldable):
It’s no secret that more students prefer chocolate milk compared to regular milk.  But do the benefits of chocolate milk outweigh the health risks from consuming all that extra sugar?  Children need many of the nutrients that are found in chocolate milk.  Some people argue that schools should continue providing chocolate milk to students because the students love the taste and receive all the healthy nutrients contained in milk.  Others argue that when students consume the large quantities of sugar contained in chocolate milk more harm is done to the students than good.  Should schools continue to provide chocolate milk as an option for students to drink?

Write an essay in which you take a position on whether or not schools should continue to provide chocolate milk as an option for students to drink.  Use the information presented in the passages to support your points.  Make sure to include information from all the passages in your essay.

Manage your time carefully so that you can

·         Plan your essay

·         Write your essay

·         Revise and edit your essay

Be sure to

·         Include a claim

·         Address counterclaims

·         Use evidence from multiple sources

·         Do not over rely on one source

Here is what my Prompt Unpacking looked like today:

Handout on Foldables & The Argumentative Essay Process Remember, you will need to have the foldables memorized so you can use them in the SAGE Test.

Handout for Foldable/Essay Activity

Final Product:  On Wednesday, we will use the evidence you have gathered and write an Argumentative Essay (recommended length is 6 paragraphs). This will go on your academic grade and be worth 30 points.  I will be scoring your essay based on the same rubric that your SAGE essay will be graded by.  Here is a copy of the rubric, it's worth becoming familiar with:

Argumentative Essay Rubric

As some preparation, we will also view these YouTube videos to introduce the chocolate milk controversy.  You may watch these at home as well.

Jamie Oliver Chocolate Milk Controversy

Celebrities Endorse Chocolate Milk

As you know from the SAGE practice, you'll be presented with an Argumentative Essay prompt and 4 pieces of text.  I'll be teaching you strategies to unpack the prompt, read and organize each article and organize and write your essay.  If you practice and understand these steps, the SAGE is going to be a piece of cake!  Please come ready to work hard and be in school each day.

After examining the evidence, you make the choice!

Week 31 Update and Schedule

I've been so pleased at how hard students have worked this week in practicing summarizing, listening and reading comprehension.  This is helping me a great deal in planning curriculum for SAGE testing.  I was really excited Friday as students rallied, completed their work and brought up their grades,  It's fun to see them feel good about completing their work and feeling successful.

Happy Spring Break--school will resume on Monday, March 17th.  It's such beautiful weather here in St. George--enjoy the great outdoors!

A few things to be aware of:

• No reading is required during Spring Break, however, if students read (and I hope they will) they will receive extra credit from me.
• If your student has not completed the SAGE practice test, please have them do so during the break and bring back the signed blue paper on Monday.  Remember their test prep counts as at-home reading.
• The next couple weeks is SAGE test prep.  Our testing is April 1-4th (SAGE Writing) and April 15-16 (SAGE Reading).  Please make sure your student is attendance.  I'm prepared to give them the practice and tools to help them do well on this new test but I really need your support in making sure your student attends school each day.

Utah-in-the-News
Presenting Friday, March 28th

1st Period:  Melanie, Marci, Diego
2nd Period:  Sauni, Braden, Sadie
4th Period: Jeremy, Alexis, Daveena
5th Period: Tegun, Chole, Cade
6th Period:  Sandy, Alexis, Kasey

Week 31 Schedule

March 17-21

Monday, March 17

Meet in D Lab
SAGE Test Prep: Argumentative Essay Writing (Paired Text on Chocolate Milk Controversy) Foldable #1
Learning Objective: I can practice organizing and writing an essay in preparation for the SAGE Test.

Tuesday, March 18

Meet in D Lab
SAGE Test Prep: Argumentative Essay Writing (Paired Text on Chocolate Milk Controversy) Foldable #2
Learning Objective: I can practice organizing and writing an essay in preparation for the SAGE Test.

Wednesday, March 19

Begin Essay
Essay Organization (Foldable #3)

Learning Objective:  I can practice an essay format using note paper that will assist me during the SAGE Test.

Thursday, March 20

Work on Essay

Library Day

Learning Objective: I can practice an essay format using note paper that will assist me during the SAGE Test.

Friday, March 21

Benchmark Testing: Meet in D LAB
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY DUE!

Learning Objective:  I can practice speaking/listening skills during Utah-in-the-News.  I will attend school and participate in Gecko Time.  If I am caught-up on my work, I will enjoy an enriched learning activity.  If I am missing work, I will attend Homework Hall where I can receive extra time and support to help me.

Week 29 Update and Schedule

It was fun to finish our novel and see the Novel Projects the students did.  I'm so enjoying this group of students and I'm always so proud of their hard work.

This next unit is Test Prep for the SAGE.  Remind your student to practice the SAGE at home and bring in their blue sheet with your signature so I can give them credit in class. Also, at home SAGE practice can count for daily reading. I just attended a 2-day training about helping students prepare for the SAGE test.  I am really excited to introduce the students to these strategies in fun ways to help them be successful on this test.  We'll also be reviewing skills we've learned this school year.

Testing Dates have changed--please make sure your student is in school on these days:
April 1-4: SAGE Writing Test  *  April 15-16: SAGE Reading Test

I'm seeing an unusual amount of fines, please encourage your student to turn in their library books and pay any fines.  Also, if your student misses a day, it's really important that they talk to me before or after school to get their missing work.  I'm looking forward to continuing to see students achieve.  Thank you for your support--please contact me by calling the school (652-4742) or emailing me at rachel.robins@washk12.org.

Utah-the-News 

Presenting Friday, March 7th

1st Period: Carson O., Alberto, Ashley

2nd Period: Ethan, Conner, Jessica

4th Period: Wyatt, Christian, Bryanna
5th Period: Tory, Dalton, Kirk
6th Period:  Cheyenne, Maxx, Nathan R.

Week 29 Schedule

March 3-7

Monday, March 3

Calendar Week 29/Reading Check Week 28
Motivational Monday Video
Mini Lesson: Summarizing
Summarizing Practice
Learning Objective:   I can be organized by scheduling and showing Mrs. Robins my reading minutes.  I can understand, practice and demonstrate my knowledge of summarizing.

Tuesday, March 4

Bellwork: DOL
Jeopardy Review Game
Learning Objective:   I can practice sentence correction during DOL.  I can show what I have learned so far this year.

Wednesday, March 5

Bellwork: DOL
Reading Comprehension: Podcast Listening 

Learning Objective:  I can practice sentence correction during DOL.  I can practice reading comprehension and listening skills.

Thursday, March 6

Scope Magazine Activity: Reading Comprehension

Library Day

Learning Objective:  I can read and comprehend literature.  I can gain valuable informational/research library skills.

Friday, March 7

Random Student
Utah-in-the-News
Gecko Time!

Learning Objective:  I can practice speaking/listening skills during Utah-in-the-News.  I will attend school and participate in Gecko Time.  If I am caught-up on my work, I will enjoy an enriched learning activity.  If I am missing work, I will attend Homework Hall where I can receive extra time and support to help me.

Week 28 Update and Schedule

It's a new trimester and I'm excited to finish out the school year strong!  This week we will be working on "Out of the Dust" Novel Projects in class and presenting them.  I've decided that I want the at-home focus to be on reading and SAGE prep so this novel project will count as their first book report for this trimester.  The projects are fun and will really show me that students understood the book.  Please make sure your student is in attendance.  If they do miss a day, they will need to complete their project at home.

A blue sheet came home this week (and you received an email) letting you know that students must practice the both Language Arts SAGE tests at home at least once before February 28th.  They will need to bring the blue sheet back with your signature.  We will be doing SAGE prep during the first week in March, but we'll take the written test after Spring Break so we definitely have limited time.  Home Practice is essential.  If you do not have internet access at home, have your student talk to me and I'll arrange a time for them to practice at school.  All the information you need is on the paper or on the SAGE link on my blog.  For convenience, here is the link again:

SAGE PORTAL  

Since the students and I have enjoyed 2 trimesters together, there are a few reminders I have told them and need to pass along to parents:

• If students are not prepared in class (pencil, reading book and planner); I'll be subtracting effort points.  
• Students with library fines will have an email sent home as a reminder.
• I'll be increasing the amount of in-class rewards because I so appreciate hard-working students with great attitudes.  It makes life wonderful for everyone.
• Students are required to read at home 30 mins. a day, 5 days a week.  They need to fill out their reading form completely and have it ready to show me on Mondays.
• Practice the SAGE at home, at least once, I recommend more.  The portal also gives you access to math and science practice tests.
• When a student has Utah-in-the-News, the news article must be stapled to the back.
• Please keep checking the blog for weekly updates.

I love teaching this group of students so much and I'm so proud of all they have accomplished.  Thank you for your support--please contact me by calling the school (652-4742) or emailing me at rachel.robins@washk12.org.

Utah-the-News 

Presenting Friday, February 28th

1st Period: Abby, Derek, Brooke

2nd Period: Evelin, Tyler, Jon

4th Period: Jacob, Tim, Levi
5th Period:  Ivette, Ashlin, Alicia
6th Period:  Emily, Kate, Keith

Week 28 Schedule

February 24-28

Monday, February 24

Calendar Week 28/Reading Check Week 27
Motivational Monday Video
Work on Novel Projects
Learning Objective:   I can be organized by scheduling and showing Mrs. Robins my reading minutes.  I can demonstrate my knowledge of our class novel as I do my novel project that will show my analysis, synthesis, writing, reading and speaking skills.

Tuesday, February 25

Finish Novel Projects
Begin Novel Project Presentations
Learning Objective:   I can demonstrate my knowledge of our class novel as I do my novel project that will show my analysis, synthesis, writing, reading and speaking skills.

Wednesday, February 26

Novel Project Presentations
AM/PM Wednesday Reading Club  

Learning Objective:  I can demonstrate listening and speaking skills and I show my knowledge of the novel text and listen & critique other presenters.

Thursday, February 27

Scope Magazine Activity

Library Day

Learning Objective:  I can read and comprehend literature.  I can gain valuable informational/research library skills.

Friday, February 28

Utah-in-the-News
Gecko Time!

Learning Objective:  I can practice speaking/listening skills during Utah-in-the-News.  I will attend school and participate in Gecko Time.  If I am caught-up on my work, I will enjoy an enriched learning activity.  If I am missing work, I will attend Homework Hall where I can receive extra time and support to help me.