Agenda, September 28

Do Every Day: Read 30 (15 in class and 15 or more at home). Be sure to mark your reading on your bookmark as you finish.

Due Now: Corrections on your Comma and Vocab Quizzes

Due Thursday: 9/27 - 10/3

Today's learning targets:

I can use freewriting to generate ideas for a short story.

I can practice what good readers do.

I can correct errors with the parenthetical comma.

1. Freewrite #5: Write about a daydream or a daydreamer.
2. Read "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" independently. Stop frequently to question, predict, connect, summarize, and evaluate.
3. Comma Rule #2: Is it correct?

Agenda, September 27

Do Every Day: Read 30 (15 in class and 15 or more at home). Be sure to mark your reading on your bookmark as you finish.

Due Now: Bookmark 1. Don't forget your Wondrous Words. 

Week 2: 9/27 - 10/3

Today's learning targets:

I can correct errors with the parenthetical comma.

I can compare and contrast videos made in different time periods.

I can make predictions based on videos. 

I can use the grammar decoder to correct my own errors.

I can read for pleasure.

1. Personal Reading
2. Comma Rule #2: The Parenthetical Comma 
3. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" Preview #1
4. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" Preview #2
5. Venn Diagram and Prediction Paragraph
6. Read "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" 
7. Grammar Decoder Practice

Agenda, September 26

Comma Quiz #1 make ups / re-takes will be Wednesday at 2 pm in B108. You will need to arrange your own transportation. You may also arrange to take the quiz with me during either lunch, but you need to do so before Wednesday.
Do Every Day: Read 30 (15 in class and 15 or more at home). Be sure to mark your reading on your bookmark as you finish.

Due Tomorrow: Bookmark 1. Don't forget your Wondrous Words. 

Today's learning targets:

I can analyze a short story for foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme. I can support my answers with evidence from the text.

I can correct errors with the parenthetical comma

I can read for pleasure.

1. Personal Reading. Look for wondrous words. 
2. Review Comma Rule #1
3. Comma Rule #2: The Parenthetical Comma
4. Foreshadowing, Symbolism, and Theme in "Initiation," by Sylvia Plath

Agenda, September 25

Quiz make ups / re-takes will be Wednesday at 2 pm in B107. You will need to arrange your own transportation. You may also arrange to take the quiz with me during either lunch, but you need to do so before Wednesday.
Do Every Day: Read 30 (15 in class and 15 or more at home). Be sure to mark your reading on your bookmark as you finish.

Due Now: Test on Vocab List 1

Due Thursday, September 27: Bookmark 1. Don't forget your Wondrous Words.

Today's learning targets:

I can show what I know on a quiz.

I can analyze a short story for foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme. I can support my answers with evidence from the text.

I can state the rule for the Parenthetical Comma.

I can identify examples of correctly used Parenthetical Commas.

I can read for pleasure.

1. Vocab Quiz 1
2. Personal Reading. Look for wondrous words. 
3. Freewrite #4: "Life is not a matter of  milestones but of moments." Write about a little moment that meant a lot.
4. Review Comma Rule #1
5. Comma Rule #2: The Parenthetical Comma
6. Foreshadowing, Symbolism, and Theme in "Initiation," by Sylvia Plath

Agenda, September 24

Quiz make ups / re-takes will be Wednesday at 2 pm in B107. You will need to arrange your own transportation. You may also arrange to take the quiz with me during either lunch, but you need to do so before Wednesday.
Due Now: Read 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to mark your reading on your bookmark as you finish.

Due Tomorrow: Test on Vocab List 1

Due Thursday, September 27: Bookmark 1

Today's learning targets:

I can connect real life examples to my vocabulary words.

I can analyze a short story for foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme. I can support my answers with evidence from the text.

I can state the rule for the Parenthetical Comma.

I can read for pleasure.

1. Personal Reading. Look for wondrous words. 
2. Freewrite #4: "Life is not a matter of milestones but of moments."
3. Vocab Task 3: Identify a real life example of a person or thing that fits each vocab word.
4. Comma Rule #2: The Parenthetical Comma
5. Foreshadowing, Symbolism, and Theme in "Initiation," by Sylvia Plath

Agenda, September 21

Due Now: Read 15 minutes or more. Be sure to mark it on your bookmark.
Due Monday: Read 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to mark your reading on your bookmark as you finish.

Due Tuesday: Test on Vocab List 1 and Elements of Literature

Due Thursday, September 27: Bookmark 1

Today's learning targets:

I can show my knowledge on a quiz.

I can analyze a short story for foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme. I can support my answers with evidence from the text.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to an unconventional short story. 

I can read for pleasure.

1. Serial Comma Quiz
2. Personal Reading
3. Foreshadowing, Symbolism, and Theme
4. What good readers do ...
5. "Initiation," by Sylvia Plath
6. Freewrite #4: "Life is not a matter of milestones but of moments."

Agenda, September 20

Do Tonight: Read 15 minutes or more. Be sure to mark it on your bookmark.
Due Thursday, September 27: Bookmark 1

Due Tuesday, September 25: Test on Vocab List 1 and Elements of Literature

Today's learning targets:

I can fix errors with the serial comma (C-8)

I can analyze a short story for foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme. I can support my answers with evidence from the text.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to an unconventional short story. 

I can read for pleasure.

1. To the Library!
2. Personal Reading
3. The Serial Comma: Fix it!
4. Foreshadowing, Symbolism, and Theme
5. What good readers do ...
6. "Initiation," by Sylvia Plath

Agenda, September 19

Coming Thursday: We're going to the library to check out personal reading books.

Due Tuesday, September 25: Test on Vocab List 1 and Elements of Literature

Today's learning targets:

I can use vocabulary words to predict the plot of a short story.

I can define foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to an unconventional short story.

1. Foreshadowing, Symbolism, and Theme
2. Vocab Prediction Stories
3. What good readers do ...
4. "Initiation," by Sylvia Plath

Agenda, September 18

Coming Thursday: We're going to the library to check out personal reading books.

Due Tuesday, September 25: Test on Vocab List 1 and Elements of Literature

Today's learning targets:

I can use brainstorming and freewriting to generate ideas for a story.

I can identify a sentence with a correctly punctuated serial comma (C-8 in your Grammar Decoder)

I can use vocabulary words to predict the plot of a short story.

I can define foreshadowing, symbolism, and theme.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to a narrative song.

1. Comma Rule #1: The Serial Comma - is it punctuated correctly?
2. Freewrite #3: Write about a time you wanted (to do) something very much.
3. What good readers do ...
4. Vocab Prediction Stories
5. Foreshadowing and Symbolism
6. "Initiation," by Sylvia Plath

Agenda, September 17

Due Tuesday, September 25: Test on Vocab List 1 and Elements of Literature

Today's learning targets:

I can write a sentence with a correctly punctuated serial comma (C-8 in your Grammar Decoder)

I can paraphrase a dictionary definition so that it makes sense.

I can define the elements of the plot pyramid, the basic conflicts, and theme.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to a narrative song.

1. Comma Rule #1: The Serial Comma
2. Vocab #1: pronunciation and definition check
3. We review the Plot Pyramid, the basic conflicts, and the theme 
4. A Narrative Song

Extra Credit Opportunity

In the comments, post one original sentence that uses one of our 20 vocabulary words correctly. Be sure to include your name in your comment, and be sure to use your best spelling, grammar, and punctuation. If your comment refuses to post, you can send me a sentence using e-mail.

Due by the beginning of class Monday. Have a great weekend!

Agenda, September 14

Today's learning targets:

I can paraphrase a dictionary definition so that it makes sense.

I can define the elements of the plot pyramid.

I can define the basic conflicts.

I can define theme.

I can support my opinion using evidence from the text.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to a short story.

1. The Elements of Literature (including theme)
2. "An American Childhood" by Annie Dillard Plot Pyramid
3.  Vocab Task 2: Define each of the vocabulary words using your own words.
4. A Narrative Song

Agenda, September 14

Due Now: Complete Task 1 on Vocab list

 

Today's learning targets:

I can paraphrase a dictionary definition so that it makes sense.

I can define the elements of the plot pyramid.

I can define the basic conflicts.

I can define theme.

I can support my opinion using evidence from the text.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to a short story.

1. Vocab Task 2: Define each of the vocabulary words using your own words.
2. The Elements of Literature
3. "An American Childhood" by Annie Dillard
4. Complete a Plot Pyramid

Agenda, September 13

Due Now: Use the Grammar Decoder to correct the errors in your name tag paragraph.
Due Now: Post a friendly comment to the blog. For example, you could ask a question, tell me your favorite word (and explain why it's your favorite word), or post an interesting link. Be sure to use your best spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Due Tomorrow: Complete Task 1 on Vocab list

 

Today's learning targets:

I can use brainstorming and freewriting to generate ideas for a story.

I can define the elements of the plot pyramid.

I can define the basic conflicts.

I can use a graphic organizer to apply the elements of literature to a short story.

1. Brainstorm #2: a time you got in trouble
2. Freewrite #2: a personal or imagined narrative
3. The Elements of Literature
4. "An American Childhood" by Annie Dillard
5. Complete a Plot Pyramid

Agenda, September 12

Due Now: Bring your planner to class.
Due Now: Parent Signature on Syllabus

Due Tomorrow: Use the Grammar Decoder to correct the errors in your name tag paragraph.
Due Tomorrow: Post a friendly comment to the blog. For example, you could ask a question, tell me your favorite word (and explain why it's your favorite word), or post an interesting link. Be sure to use your best spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

 

Today's learning targets:

I can use a brainstorm to generate ideas to write about.

I can use freewriting to draft ideas for a story.

I can interpret symbols.

I can write a well developed paragraph.

1. Planner Check
2. Grammar Decoder practice
3. Vocab Assignment 1: Copy the definitions of all 20 words directly from Dictionary.com
4. The Elements of Literature
5. "An American Childhood" by Annie Dillard

Agenda, September 11

Due Tomorrow: Bring your planner to class.
Due Tomorrow: Parent Signature on Syllabus
Due Thursday: Post a friendly comment to the blog. For example, you could ask a question, tell me your favorite word (and explain why it's your favorite word), or post an interesting link. Be sure to use your best spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Today's learning targets:

I can use a brainstorm to generate ideas to write about.

I can use freewriting to draft ideas for a story.

I can interpret symbols.

I can write a well developed paragraph.

1. Name tags: 5 minutes to finish
2. The Writing Process: Brainstorming
3. Freewrite #1: At the end of the day ... OR Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse ...
4. Share your name tag
5. What is a paragraph?
6. Write a topic sentence
7. Name tag paragraph

Agenda, September 10

Due Wednesday: Bring your planner to class.
Due Wednesday: Parent Signature on Syllabus
Due Thursday: Post a friendly comment to the blog. For example, you could ask a question, tell me your favorite word (and explain why it's your favorite word), or post an interesting link. Be sure to use your best spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

1. Three Things I Know are True
2. Read with a pencil: underline key ideas, circle unfamiliar words, write notes and questions in the margins.
3. Read with a partner: Partner A reads one section to Partner B, then partner B summarizes it. Switch roles with each section.
4. Make a Name Tag: Your name needs to be large and easy to read, use symbols to explain your personality, use color