You had to really be quiet in English class today to hear Mrs. Scales.  Something has happened to her voice and you could hardly hear the words she spoke.  At some parts of class she even had a student repeat or explain what she had said. We made it through all right though.

 

We had some excellent book talks by some brave students who volunteered to do the first Tuesday Book Talks. Interesting books that were talked about included Aly P.’s talk on The Fire Within,and  Catching Fire and Mocking Jay both by Suzanne Collins.  They are the second and third book in the very popular Hunger Games Trilogy.  We learned that a series many have any number of books, but a trilogy is specifically a story told in three books. There go those root words again, tri means three.

 

Speaking (or Mrs. Scales case today – NOT) of root words, today’s root word was scope.  Scope means to watch, view or examine. It is a Greek root word and some example words used today were:

 

Periscope : peri SCOPE (per’ i skope) n. An instrument for viewing on all sides or around.

 

Telescope : tele SCOPE (tel’ e skope) n. Instrument for viewing far away objects.

 

Stethoscope : stetho SCOPE (steth’ o skope) n. Instrument for hearing sounds produced within the body; as, heartbeats and murmurs.

 

Thermoscope : thermo SCOPE (ther’ mo skope) n. Instrument used to measure changes of temperature.

 

Mrs. Scales pointed out that most of the example words today were made up of two root words and that makes them easy to figure out the meaning.  For example, periscope is made up of the root word peri, which means around and the root word scope, which means to view, so a periscope is an instrument used to view around objects. Telescope is another great example because tele means far away and scope means to view, so it is easy to figure out that a telescope is an instrument for viewing things that are far away.  See how those root words come together to make it easy to figure out the meaning of new words!

 

We also got into our Cooperative Learning Groups to begin reviewing craft today.  Mrs. Scales gave each group a packet.  The top page of the packet was the rubric (Observation Sheet) she uses to grade us as we are working in our cooperative learning groups.  It reminds us to do all of the following during group work time:

Work together and share information.

Disagree in a constructive way.

Listen to each other and explain what we are learning.

Use quiet voices.

Stay on task.

Complement each other on good behavior and work.

 

The other pages of the packet are review sheets. Each day we will be working on different sheets. We have to write the definition of each form of craft listed on that day’s sheet in the first column. Then we have to go back and look for examples of those forms of craft in the book we are reading. Finally, we have to go back to what we have written in our W-R’s N and try to add those forms of craft to our own writing. Today our forms of craft included:

 

• Simile
• Metaphor
• Personification

 

Mrs. Scales also complemented everyone who already has 10 or more AR points:

Karli C.

Chase C.

Alyssa H.

Cameron H.

Cory H.

Audrey H.

Noel K.

April K.

Olivia L.

Jaide L.

Levi M.

Koltan N.

Jordan O.

Corbin P.

Emily R.

Regan R.

Katie S.

Haley S.

Brian S.

Alec S.

Corissa S.

Zach W.

Maya W.

Isabelle W.

 

Wow, for not being able to talk very well, Mrs. Scales still covered a lot of information today. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

 

And let the adventure begin…
Today in English class we began learning about the genre of adventure. We discussed that characteristics of an adventure include excitement, anticipation, and lots of action. The main characters in a good adventure story are consistently placed in dangerous situations.
The first novel we are reading as a class is Jack London’s The Call of the Wild. We learned that published in 1903, The Call of the Wild is London’s most-read book, and it is generally considered his best. Jack London was one of the first writers to use personification to look at the feelings of an animal in its natural animal environment. That means he didn’t use the craft of personification to dress the dogs up to look like or speak as humans. We follow Buck, but he acts and thinks like a dog, not a human.
We also dove into the adventure of Expository Writing. This log is an example of expository writing. Each of us are going to get the chance to join in the adventure because we are all going to have to write daily classroom logs. This will help us learn to use expository writing and provide information to be posted on the class blog for anyone who is absent a day of school. They won’t have to ask Mrs. Scales, “What did we do in class yesterday.”
Instead anyone who misses class needs to open Mrs. Scales’ Room blog and read for themselves what was done during the class they missed.
So, what exactly is expository writing?
Expository writing is nonfiction writing in which the purpose is to inform, explain, clarify, define, or instruct. There is a very helpful poster in the classroom that gives some good ideas about expository writing that we can refer to anytime.
We also had a student in each class present the root word. Today’s word was peri, which is a Greek root word that means around or near. Some of the example words given were:
Perihelion : PERI hellion (per i hele’ yon) n. That point in the orbit of a comet or a planet nearest to the sun
Perimeter : PERI meter (pe rim’ et er) n. The distance around a closed plane figure.
Periphery : PERI phery (pe rif’ e ree) n. A line around a surface; as, the circumference of a circle.

Lesson Plan for: August 29-September 2, 2011

English 7 / Mrs. Scales

 

Monday—

• Turn in revised copy of first writing assignment.

Root Card: peri – Darrius / Jeremy / Regan / Maya

• Introduction to Daily Classroom Logs
  • Mini Lesson – Expository Writing / Using Daily Logs/Blogs for Class Review.
  • Mrs. Scales will model – Reading log form Friday
• Turn in Writer’s – Reader’s notebooks for grading. All notebooks must remain in the room all week for Mrs. Scales to review. You may use your notebook in class each day but you must leave it on the table when you leave the classroom Any notebook not on the table when Mrs. Scales goes to review it, will lose homework and notes points from the first two weeks of school. This is very important.
• 1st, 2^nd & 7th, period – Sign out novel – The Call of the Wild  / Introduction to Jack London
• 4^th period – Sign out novel –Artemis Fowl / Introduction to Eoin Colfer
• Homework – 1, 2, 7^th period Read Chapter 1 of The Call of the Wild by Jack London

4^th period Read Prologue – Chapter 2 of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

 

 

Tuesday—

Quick Write – 1, 2, 7^th period – In response section of W-R’s notebook give me your responses to the first chapter of The Call of the Wild by Jack London. 4^th Period – Respond to Context Questions handout for Chapters 1 & 2 of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

• Book Talk Tuesday –
  • 1^st Period: Jaide – Mocking Jay , Darrius – Harry Potter
  • 2^nd Period:
  • 4^rd Period: Aly – The Fire Witnin
  • 7^th Period:

• Mrs. Scales will read her Daily Log/Blog from Monday.
• Root Card: scope – Zoey / Levi  E. / Levi M./ Kaleb
• Cooperative Learning Group Orientation / Roles & Procedures
• Craft Review:
• What is the author’s craft
• Simile and Metaphor
• Looking for simile and metaphor in literature
• Adding simile and metaphor to your own writing

• Homework: None

 

Wednesday— First Wednesday Writing Club of 2011/12 – 3 – 5 Room 207

• Quick Write— Free Write
• Read Daily Classroom Log/Blog
• Assign points for being prepared for class

• Root Card: graph/gram – April / Isiah / Aleah / Daxton
• Craft Review:
• Personification, Alliteration, and Onomatopoeia
• Looking for personification, alliteration, and onomatopoeia in literature
• Adding personification, alliteration, and onomatopoeia to your own writing
• Homework: Periods 1,2 & 7 Read Chapter 2 of The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Period 4 Read Chapters 3 & 4 of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

 

 

Thursday—

• 1, 2 & 7^th Periods -Begin Reading Chapter 3 of The Call of the Wild by Jack London

4th Period – Begin Reading Chapters 5 & 6 of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

• Read Daily Classroom Log/Blog
• Root Card: micro – Karli / Kylie / Audrey / Alyssa
• Craft Review:
• Sensory Detail, Connecting Ands, and Magic 3 (Parallelism)
• Looking for sensory detail, connecting ands, and Magic 3 in literature
• Adding sensory detail, connecting ands, and magic 3 to your own writing
• Homework: Periods 1,2 & 7 finish reading any of Chapter 3 of The Call of the Wild by Jack London that you did not finish today in class.

Period 4 finish reading any part of Chapters 5 & 6 of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer that   you did not finish today in class. Answer assigned Context Questions for chapters 3 – 6.

 

Friday—

• 1, 2 & 7^th periods – Begin Reading Chapter 4 of The Call of the Wild by Jack London

4th Period – Begin Reading Chapters 7 & 8 of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

• Read Daily Classroom Log
• Root Card: geo – Madison / Lance / Chase / Josie

• Craft Review:
• Striking Verbs and Proper Nouns
• Looking for striking verbs and proper nouns in literature
• Adding striking verbs and proper nouns to your own writing—show don’t tell

• Homework:  Finish any reading assignments not completed in class.

 

Announcements:

 

1. You will need your writer’s notebook, English Binder and a pen or pencil every day this week.
2. Bring any Box Tops that you have collected over the weekend in.

It is official; we have scheduled renown young adult author, Sharon Draper for a school visit on March 14, 2012.  More details will follow, but the big news is that Sharon Draper will be here at our school to spend the day with us!

 

Lesson Plan for:

August 22-26, 2011

English 7 / Mrs. Scales

Monday—

• Quick Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Questions 6, 7 & 8

6. What helps you the most to make your writing better?

7. Why is it important to be able to write well?

8. What happens with your finished pieces of writing?

• Put together English binders in class; give out all handouts to put in correct sections

• Teach root card procedures; pass out root glossary for binders; Root Card: tele – Mrs. Scales

o Assign Students for Daily Root Word Presentations

• Introduction to Moodle

• Read Chapter 7: Lists in Ralph Fletcher’s A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You together as a class

• Homework: Three notebook entries for this week. You may choose from the list given to you today or make up your own. Label each one with a large capital “H” and the date written at the top of the entry.

Tuesday—

• Root Card: phono – Mrs. Scales

• Quick Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Question 9

– What does someone have to do in order to be a good reader? How do you know that?

• Introduction to Book Talks – What are Book Talk Tuesdays

• Quiz over Chapters 4 – 7 of Ralph Fletcher’s A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You

• STAR Reading Test

• Set up individual email accounts for any students who do not have an email.

• In class independent reading of Ralph Fletcher’s A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You Chapter 8 Memories & 9 Writing that Scrapes the Heart

• Homework: Complete any reading not finished in class; continue Monday’s homework

Wednesday—

Root Card: peri – Student

• Quick Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Questions 10 & 11 –

10. What are all of the different kinds of reading you do (in school and out of school)? Not just books, anything.

11. What kind of reading is easiest for you to understand? What makes it easy?

• MiniLesson – What is revision. – 1st Writing Assignment Revision – Writing Workshop

• Read Chapter 10: Writing that Inspires in Ralph Fletcher’s A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You

• Homework: Finish reading Ralph Fletcher’s A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You; Continue Monday’s homework.

Thursday—

• Root Card: graph/gram – Student

• Quick Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Questions 12 & 13 –

12. What makes reading difficult for you? How do you overcome those difficulties?

13. How do you go about finding and choosing books or other writing to read?

• Chapters 7 – 12 Quiz on A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher

• Homework: Don’t forget to finish your homework from Monday!

Friday—

• Root Card: scope – Student

• AR Quiz over A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher

• Quick Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Questions 14 & 15

14. What’s the best book you have ever read? What made it so good?

15. Why is it important to know how to read well? • Goals as Writers and Readers – Whole class discussion / Small group discussion After reflecting on the class discussion and lesson for today answer the final three Writer’s Reader’s Survey Questions with well-written responses in the notes section of your notebook. Goals First Grading Period

16. What are your goals as a writer for the rest of this 9-week grading period?

17. What are your goals as a reader for the rest of this 9-week grading period? 18. How can I help you meet those goals?

• Introduction to Genre – Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure • Select first whole class novel. Call of the Wild – Artemis Fowl – Tuck Everlasting

• Homework: Review ALL Reponses to the Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Questions in your notebook and have notebook ready to turn in for grading on Monday.

Announcements:

1. You will need your writer’s notebook, English Binder and a pen or pencil every day this week.

2. Bring any collected Box Tops that you have collected over the weekend in.

3. Scholastic Book Orders are due on-line or turned into Mrs. Scales by August 31th.

Lesson Plan for: August 15-19, 2011

English 7 / Mrs. Scales

Monday—

• Turn in homework
• I-Quest Cards
• Introduction of the Writer’s Reader’s Notebook
• Pass out A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher
• Read aloud in class, What is a Writer’s Notebook, Anyway?
• Begin Books I Am Currently Reading log.
• Begin Notes section with Quick Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Question 1 – What does someone have to do to be a good writer and how do you know that?
• Homework: Read Chapter 1 of A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher – 1 Entry

 

Tuesday—

• Quick Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Question 2 & 3 –
• 2.What is the easiest part of writing for you?
• 3. What is the hardest part of writing for you?
• Assign points for being prepared for class
• Heart Maps – Digging For Ideas
• Read aloud Chapter 2 of A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher – 1 Entry
• Homework:
  Read Chapter 3 of A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher -1 Entry

 

 

Wednesday—

• Quick
  Write— Well Written Responses to Writer’s – Reader’s Survey Questions
• 4. How do you come up with ideas for writing?
• 5.     What is the best piece of writing?

Quiz over Chapters 1 –
3 of Ralph Fletcher’s A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You.

• Draft one of the 3 Writer’s Notebook Entries from this week to turn in.
• Draft
  Assignment
  Format

Thursday—

Quick
Write – Free Write in Writer’s Notebook

• Read aloud Chapter 4 of  A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher – 1 Entry
• Star  Reading Test

 

Friday—

• Quick Write – Seed Ideas – What are some of yours?
• Read aloud Chapter 5 & 6 of A Writer’s Notebook by Ralph Fletcher – 2  Entries
• Assign points for being prepared for class

 

Announcements:

1. You will need your writer’s notebook and a pen or pencil every day this week.
2. You should always use complete sentences when answering homework questions in your writer’s notebook.  Use the questions to help you write your
   responses so that I don’t have to see the prompt to understand what you are talking about. (Well-Written Responses)
3. You will need your English Binder starting Monday, August 22.
4. Wednesday Writing Club begins in two weeks. You must have a signed parent permission slip turned in to stay for Writing Club.

Materials Needed:

Paper (loose-leaf,
composition or spiral notebooks)

1 ½ inch 3-Ring Binder with an inside pocket (to use for
English class only)

1 set of 5-tab page dividers

Package of 100 to 300 count 3”x 5” index cards (for
Greek/Latin Roots)

Pencils/Pens (blue or black ink only)

Flash Drive (not required but very helpful if they plan to
transfer work from home to school and back)

 

***Please have all materials by Monday, August 15.  If there is a problem obtaining the needed
materials on time, please let Mrs. Scales know and she will make sure your
child gets what he or she needs to participate.