Blog Archives

Monday, September 30

9/30/2019

Objectives: Today I will demonstrate my knowledge of the Elements of Literature

Homework: Bring your Readers' Workshop book to class!

Agenda:

Elements of Literature test

Friday, September 27

9/27/2019

Objectives: Today I will start reading my book for the Readers' Workshop

Homework: Study for the Elements of Literature test on Monday 9/30

Agenda:

Daily Journal! Choose one (or more) of the following prompts to journal about for 10 minutes.
- Imagine that you've been elected President of the United States. What's the first thing you would do?
- What's the best piece of advice someone has given you?
- What's your favorite month? Why? Write a story that takes place during that month.
- Write about anything that's on your mind.
Start reading your book for the Readers' Workshop. More details to come soon!

Daily Agenda slideshow

Thursday, September 26

9/26/2019

Objectives: Today I will review the Elements of Literature for the test on Monday.

Homework: Study for the Element of Literature test on Monday 9/30.

Agenda:

Daily Journal! Choose one (or more) of the following prompts and write for 10 minutes
- If you could live anywhere around the world, where would it be? Why?
- If you could live in any time period, would you choose the past, the present, or the future? Why?
- If you had a superpower, what would it be?
- Journal about anything that's on your mind.
Elements of Literature Trivia

Daily Agenda Slideshow

Wednesday, September 25

9/25/2019

Objectives: Today I will explore book choices for our first readers' workshop.

Homework: Study for the Elements of Literature test moved to Monday, 9/30!

Agenda:

Explore the books around the room by reading the blurb (summary) on the back of each book and a few pages from the first chapter.
Book Choices:
- Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- Courage Has No Color by Tanya Lee Stone
- Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
- I Am Number Four by
- I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- Lost Boy, Lost Girl by John Bul Dau
- Of Sound Mind by Jean Ferris
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
- Payback Time by Carl Deuker
- Rules by Cynthia Lord
- Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
- Finest Hours by Michael J. Tougias & Casey Sherman
- This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl with Lori & Wayne Earl
- Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick
- Babe Conquers the World by Rich Wallace & Sandra Neil Wallace
If a book interests you, write it down on the "Book Dating" worksheet along with a reason of why you like it so far.
In the last few minutes of class, rank your top three book choices.

Tuesday, September 24

9/24/2019

Objectives: Today I will play a memory game to demonstrate my understanding of the literary elements

Homework: Study for the Elements of Literature test on Friday, 9/27

Agenda:

Daily Journal. Choose from the following prompts and write for 10 minutes:
- Who is your favorite relative? Tell me a story that shows me why.
- If you could meet a famous person, who would it be? What would you do?
- Describe a time when you were brave.
- Write about anything that's on your mind.
Literary Elements Matching
- Work with your table group to match the words to the definitions
- Fill in the definitions on the worksheet as you go to get credit for playing the game.
- When you're done, mix the cards up and play again!
- Literary Elements Key

Daily Agenda Slideshow
Complete Literary Elements Slideshow
Notes Worksheets (Page 1, Page 2, Pages 3 & 4)

Monday, September 23

9/23/2019

Objectives: Today I will understand how characters, setting, theme, and point of view contribute to a story.

Homework: Study for Elements of Literature test on Friday, 9/27

Agenda:

Finish Elements of Literature notes
- Fill in the blanks in your notes as we go through the slideshow
- These notes will go in your journal
Elements of Literature: Matching
- Identify each example as a component of plot, character, setting, theme, or point of view
- Create your own example for number 14!

Charger Time:

Second Step lesson today!
- Please have a writing utensil out
Objectives:
- Recognize that personalities can change
- Explore what this means for how you think about people you don't get along with
Please turn in the worksheet for this lesson as you walk out the door!

Daily Agenda Slideshow

Friday, September 20

9/20/2019

Objectives: Today I will...

Explore my thoughts and feelings through journal writing
Go over the reading pre-test

Homework: Read "The Dinner Party" and fill out the plot diagram.
If you missed a day of notes or want a refresher, check 9/16-9/17!
DUE MONDAY

Agenda:

Daily Journals: In your notebook, answer one of the following...
- 1. Create your own holiday. What would you celebrate? How could you get others to join in on the fun?
- 2. If you could end any one problem in the world, what would it be? Why?
- 3. Write about the best vacation you ever took.
- 4. Write about anything that is currently on your mind.
- The one rule is that you don't stop writing for an entire 15 minutes.
Reading Pre-test
- Don't be discouraged if you missed a lot of questions! This is a pre-test--you're not expected to know everything now.
- Strengths:
  - Making inferences
  - Identifying central ideas / themes
  - Using context clues to determine the meaning of words
  - Choosing the best evidence to support a claim (nonfiction works)
- Areas of Opportunity:
  - Choosing the best evidence to support a claim (fiction works)
  - Identifying figurative language & determining its purpose
  - Identifying nonfiction text features & their purpose
  - Writing summaries
  - Structure & its purpose
Daily Activities Slideshow

Thursday, September 19

9/19/2019

Objectives: Today I will...

Practice paying attention to detail while reading
Discuss the parts of plot in a short story

Agenda:

Continue working on the activities from yesterday (crossword, scavenger hunt, plot diagram)
TWO of the three activities need to be completed by the end of class for full credit!
10 minutes before class gets out, we'll watch an adaptation of "Thank You, Ma'am"

Wednesday, September 18

9/18/2019

Objectives: Today I will...

practice close-reading for details
discuss the parts of plot in a short story

Agenda:

Find a partner/group of three
Read the short story "Thank You, Ma'am" on page 64 in your textbooks
- Remember, the online textbook can be found at www.classzone.com (which we logged onto on Friday)
- Username: Tolonen Password: seventh
Then, choose one of the three activities to complete with your group
If your group finishes early, start a second activity. We'll keep working on these tomorrow!
Daily Activities Slideshow

Tuesday, September 17

9/17/2019

Objectives: Today I will

complete the notes on plot
and practice filling in plot diagrams

Agenda:

Elements of Literature notes
- Note sheet (+ Presto plot diagram)
- Slideshow
Pixar Short Film "Presto"

"Presto"
- After watching, fill in the plot diagram on your note sheet with your group
- Then we'll go over it as a class
Short Film "The Present"

The Present from Jacob Frey on Vimeo.

"The Present"
- After watching, we will discuss the plot of the video
Daily Activities slideshow

<<Previous