Week 32: March 27-March 31

I can't believe it's almost April! I've so enjoyed this group of students--they are a lot of fun and keep me on my toes with their unique personalities. We are approaching SAGE testing, so the focus is on practicing reading and writing skills. However, it's so not just about the test--it's about developing text awareness, analysis skills, writing capability and reading strategies that will benefit them their entire lives. For LA SAGE, it's not anything to memorize, it's skill-based and skill-based practice is the best thing I can do to prepare them. It's crucial at this point that students attend school, please do what you can (barring illness or emergencies) to help your child be in class each day.

Speaking of testing, Language Arts Reading will be April 19th-April 21st and Language Arts Writing will be May 1st-May 5th. 

As always, I am your partner in your student's education and happy to help! Please contact me at rachel.robins@washk12.org or call after school hours at 435-652-4742. Thank you and have a great week!

Week 32 

March 27-March 31

Monday, March 27th

Essay Identification

Listening Comprehension:

When Mosquitoes Were Killers in America

Tuesday, March 28th

Bellwork
Reader's Theater: The Poison Sky

Quick Write

Wednesday, March 29th
Bellwork
Paired Text:
The Amazing History of American Television
Close Reading Questions

Thursday, March 30th

Library Day/Reading
Book #4 DUE

Friday, March 31st
Bellwork
Text Structure Sort
Free Reading

Helps on Explanatory Essay: Dust Bowl

So, we do have our Explanatory Essay: Dust Bowl due today. It's ok to finish at home, here are the helps I've emailed you, in case you need them OR if you are an inquiring parent. Thanks!

Link to the online Scope Magazine: Scope Magazine

Student Password: mrsrobins2016

Week 31: Welcome Back!

...and just like that, Spring Break is over and here we are! I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break and is ready to get back to school. I'm excited to see you all and look forward to the rest of the school year together:)

The focus now is on SAGE prep--SAGE testing is tentatively the 2nd and 4th weeks of April (all dates subject to change, because it's school and that's how we have to roll). I'll let you know in advance. Testing is testing, but I'll do all I can to help your child succeed and make the testing environment less stressful.

It's really important that students attend this week. We've got to get use to writing essays in 2 class periods. It's not just about SAGE, but teaching students to critically think and write well. I've seen amazing progress in the last month and am exciting to see them flex their writing muscles this week! As always, if students require more time, they can request to come in for FLEX or work at home. I'm also available before and after school if needed. I will be assisting them a lot on these so they can master skills.

Here's what I have planned for the upcoming week. As always, please contact me with any questions/feedback/complaints/good jokes, etc.

*Students, if you read this post, please tell me for a reward!

Week 31 

March 20th-21st

Monday, March 20th

Writing Pair-Share

Monroe Reading Benchmark

Writing Benchmark

Free Reading when finished
Book #3 DUE

Tuesday, March 21st

Bell Work
Explanatory Essay: Black Sunday
about the Oklahoma Dust Bowl
Listen to and read article/poem
Organize essay
Free Reading when finished

Wednesday, March 22nd
Bell Work
Write Explanatory Essay
Free Reading when finished

Thursday, March 23rd
Bell Work
Reading Comprehension Practice
Free Reading when finished

Friday, March 24th
Bell Work
Finish Reading Comprehension Practice
Free Reading when finished
Honors: Newspaper Day

Week 30: 'Twas the Week Before Spring Break

Whew! It has been an intense week of teaching, but fun and successful. Students have composed an argumentative essay, one section at a time, where they see me model the concept and then are able to conference with me along the way. I'm so proud of their writing and how hard they try.

This week's focus will be on finishing the argumentative essays with peer edits and enrichment/reteaching for argumentative vocabulary and identification. We'll then move into some good informational reading for the rest of the week.

It's critical that students are in school right now as we prepare for SAGE testing. We do have a long Spring Break that is a great time for vacations and trips. Please ensure your student is in school unless they are ill. It becomes very difficult to make up missing work when so much of what we do in class is interactive. Also, students need to keep reading 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Our thanks to Beckstrom Orthodontics for sponsoring a reading contest throughout the month of February. We had amazing results! Our combined 7th grade read the equivalency of 1,274 books!! My 6th period class came in first place with 168 books read for an average of 4.8 per student; Mrs. Wallace's 2nd period class was next at 121 books read for an average of 4.3 per student; Mrs. Gubler's 4th period came in with 129 books read with an average of 4.1 books read per student. My 6th period class wins a pizza party and the 7th grade LA teachers will receive a $50 gift card to use on office supplies. This made for a very fun competition.

 

Week 30

March 6th-March 10th

Monday, March 6th

PLC Short Day

Finish Essays (for those who aren't finish)

Team Flags/Reading

Tuesday, March 7th

Reteach/Homework Hall/Enrichment

CFA #4 Argumentative Identification & Vocabulary

Reteach: Your reteach packet is your ticket in

Homework Hall: For those who didn't do their packet or are missing work (including books)

Enrichment: For all who passed CFA #4

Wednesday, March 8th

Self Edit & Peer Edit of Superhero Argumentative Paper

Free Reading if finished

Thursday, March 9th

Book #2 DUE

Free Reading

Argumentation Scavenger Hunt

Honors: Newspaper Day

Friday, March 10th

Free Reading

Listening Comprehension or Reader's Theater

Class Choice

We have our iRead 40 Club shirts in and I'm so excited to welcome these spectacular readers into the iRead 40 Club!! These guys received a candy bar, t-shirt and will join us for a big party at the end of the school year. Way to be excellent readers!

Nick R. and Topher B., 6th period

Luke O. 2nd period

Week 29: February 27-March 3 Super Hero Argumentation!

It's that time of year...writing argumentative essays by channeling our super writing powers while making a case for which Marvel Superhero is best! This is a fun and engaging way to get students excited about writing as they still learn the critical skills of writing argumentation they need. This unit is designed to write one-step-at-a-time to lay the foundation, meaning I model the writing, then the students do theirs. It is crucial that they are in school this week, as make-up work will be difficult. Keep in mind that Spring Break is in 2 weeks, so if vacations and trips can wait, it would help your student a lot in the classroom.

Continue the great reading! I've been excited to see how students are reading and how many are achieving the status of joining the iRead 40 Club! That's a remarkable achievement to read the equivalency of 40 books in a school year. We are having shirts printed now and will announce the end-of-year party plans soon. Remember that students should be reading 30 mins. a day, at least 5 days a week.

Please contact me with any questions. I appreciate the ongoing support. Have a wonderful week!

Week 29

February 27-March 3

Monday, February 27

Book #1 is due

Choose Superhero text for essay

Foldable/Notes on Superheroes

*If you need to retake CFA #4 (14 and above is passing), you'll need to get a ticket from me which will require you to do an activity with Quizlet. This will be your ticket in to reteach.

Tuesday, February 28

Free Reading

Introduction/Claim Modeling

Write your Introduction/Claim

Wednesday, March 1

Free Reading
Body Paragraphs Modeling
Write your Body Paragraphs

Thursday, March 2

Free Reading
Counterclaim/Rebuttal Modeling
Write your Counterclaim/Rebuttal

Friday, March 3

Conclusion Modeling
Write your Conclusion
Finish Essay
Argumentative Essay Due

Goodbye Ms. Kim

The students had a great opportunity to enjoy spending time with Ms. Sharon Kim, a Korean intern who visited our class for the last 10 days. Ms. Kim was great to be involved and on her last day taught students how to make origami helicopters and the Honors class enjoyed making traditional Korean shoes while learning about culture. It was a unique opportunity to learn about another country and for Ms. Kim to see how the American education system works. She loved being around the students and we thank her for all her help & wish her all the best as she pursues her teaching degree.

Week 28: February 20-February 24

It was a FUN week in Language Arts, whether it was the Figurative Language posters or the Speed Dating: Book Style--it was enjoyable. See pictures below for part of the fun.

This week will focus on identifying and understanding parts of the Argumentative Essay. I feel like the students see good essays and can understand them, the better they will write. I've worked hard to structure these in a way that is engaging and will get students up and moving.

Beckstrom Orthodontics has generously donated a reading pizza party to the class with the highest amount of books read per student. This contest will run through February so encourage your child to keep on reading!

I'm excited for a new trimester, new seats, new goals: should be a great start to the rest of the school year. As always, I'm your partner, contact me at rachel.robins@washk12.org with any concerns or questions. Thanks!

Week 28

February 20-February 24

Monday, February 20th

No School: Happy President's Day

New Trimester!

Tuesday, February 21st

Essay Identification
Learning Centers
New Seats

Wednesday, February 22nd
Library
Origami with Ms. Kim
Goodbye Ms. Kim 

Thursday, February 22nd
Vocab Quiz
CFA #4 Banned Balloons Scavenger Hunt
Argumentative Essay Identification

Friday, February 23rd
Free Reading
Introduction to Superhero Argument Unit!

I wanted to do something creative for Valentine's Day that was still relevant, so we did Speed Dating: Book Style. Students were paired with rotating partners and given 1:15 to talk about their favorite book. It was out of the ordinary and super fun!