Today in ELA, we started off our day by playing Parts of speech Charades.  Then, we discussed subjects and predicates, and students did a very impressive job identifying simple subjects and simple predicates.

Tonight's Homework:
Simple Subject / Simple Predicate Worksheet
Read to bottom of page 8 in Patient Zero

 I stressed to students today that if they are having trouble remembering or differentiating between the parts of speech, that they should put some time in at home working on it.  I will put links to a few games on here, but there are a million different apps and online games that they could use to practice these.

I am also putting a link below to the permission slip for our field trip to A Christmas Carol.  Many students have not yet handed them in.

 A Christmas Carol Permission Slip

Grammar Gorillas - Parts of Speech Game

Panda Pop - Click on the correct part of speech and a Panda gets a treat.

A site with a whole giant list of games to practice Parts of Speech

Today in ELA, we read a very short story about "Messy Missy", and created a list of topics and a moral for this story.  We then used these two tools to generate meaningful and well-written themes.
We spent the remainder of class going over our quizzes on Theme and Point of View, and I explained to students that they are able to do corrections on this quiz in order to gain back some points.  These will be due on Friday.  I will be after school on Wednesday and Thursday for students who need extra help with these quiz corrections.

Tonight's homework:
-Get quizzes signed and answer questions on sheet attached to quizzes.
-Begin working on quiz corrections - due Friday!

Today in ELA we continued reading Patient Zero.  We went over students' comprehension questions and point of view worksheets.

Tonight's Homework:  Complete Subjects & Complete Predicates Worksheet - Page 1

Thursday, September 24

Today we continued reading our story, "Patient Zero". Students seem to be enjoying it, and are coming up with some very creative and insightful inferences and predictions as we read.

Tonight's Homework: Reading Comprehension Questions Sheet.

I have also put this assignment on google classroom, so students may complete the questions on there if they prefer.

Looking forward to meeting parents at Back to School tonight!

Wednesday, September 23

Today was an exciting day in ELA.  We talked about inferences and how we make them.  Then, we began reading our first short story in the unit, "Patient Zero".  To emphasize just how much inference goes on when we read, I had students dig to find as many inferences as possible in just the first paragraph, and we found so many that we didn't make it to the second!

We will continue reading tomorrow in class.  This story has been my students' favorite in past years, and I am sure that 7A students will enjoy it this year as well.  Can't wait!

HW: Find a book for book report by Monday

Patient Zero Inference Chart

Patient Zero Text

Inference Cartoons

Tuesday, September 22

Today we went up to the library so that students could choose a book for their first book report.

No homework tonight.

Monday, September 21

Good afternoon, sorry this is a little late today!

Today in class, students took their quiz on theme and point of view.  Many were not able to finish by the end of class, so I will give them some time tomorrow to finish it up.

Tonight's homework: Sentences and Fragments Worksheet.  Rewrite all fragments to make them complete sentences.

See you tomorrow!

Friday, September 18

Today in class, we went over the study guide for Monday's quiz.  Then, we had students perform dramatic readings of journals written from a dog's and a cat's point of view.  We discussed how and why their experiences of the same house were so different, and then students began writing journal entries of their own to describe a childhood memory first from their point of view, and then from the point of view of another person involved.

Students will take their quiz on Monday.  The answer key to the study guide is posted below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Theme and Point of View Study Guide Answer Key

Thursday, September 17

Today in class, we finished our notes on Point of View.  Some classes were able to start the Point of View activity, but others were not, so I have decided to push the quiz until Monday so that students will have a bit more time to prepare.

Homework Tonight: Complete study guide sections A and B.  This may either be done on a separate sheet of paper, or on Google Classroom.  Please do NOT try to cram your answers onto the study guide itself - it will be a mess, and will not help you study.

Have a good night!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Today was a very busy day in ELA!  Students received their Grammar textbooks, which will be left at home and therefore do not need to be covered.  We have a class set that we can use in school.  We began chapter 8, which is all about Subjects, Predicates and types of sentences.  Then, we moved on to begin our notes on Point of View and types of narrators.

Students will have a quiz on Friday on Theme and Point of View.  I have posted the study guide below, and students will receive a paper copy tomorrow in class.  Students should also read over their notes, and take another look at the Powerpoints that we went over in class, which are also posted below.  

Tonight's Homework:  

Grammar Textbook P. 358 Exercise 1 #6-10 and Exercise 2 # 1-10

Theme Powerpoint

Point of View Powerpoint

Theme and Point of View Quiz Study Guide

Tuesday, September 15

Today in class, students used the new methods of finding theme that were introduced on Friday to find topics and themes from The Red Kayak together as a class.  Then, we watched the video "Paperman", and students worked in groups to find topics and themes for this video.

Homework: Finish The Red Kayak and Paperman Theme steps worksheet.
Red Kayak Theme Worksheet

Thursday September 10

Today we began our introduction to theme. If you were absent today, please look over the notes in your absent packet and come see me if you have any questions.

Completed Red Kayak worksheet packets due tomorrow. 

Friday, September 11

Happy Friday!  Today we finished our introductory notes on theme.  A link to the slideshow is below, as well as the notes sheet that goes along with it.

There is no homework.  Enjoy your weekend!

Theme Slideshow

Theme Slideshow Notes Sheet

Wednesday September 9

Today, students took their last pre-tests for the beginning of the year.  We learned how to summarize a novel and how to decide what to include and what to leave out.  Students then worked in groups to complete a summary of the novel The Red Kayak.

This summary, along with the time line and the character chart that students were given yesterday, will be collected on Friday and graded as three separate classwork grades.

Today we discussed the use of flashback in literature, and talked about how flashback is used in The Red Kayak.  We also reviewed the novel and went over the important characters and events.  Students then worked in groups to complete a timeline and begin their character charts.

Tonight's HW: Complete Red Kayak timeline and character chart.  Link to this assignment is below.


Red Kayak Review Packet

Today, students took their reading and writing pretest.  As I told students, they will not see their grades on this test until the end of the year, because they will be taking the same exact test again in June.  Once the post tests are graded, students will be able to look at both tests and see their growth.

There is no homework.  Enjoy the long weekend!

Today, students took a quiz on the novel that they chose to read over the summer.  After that, students worked in pairs on a review crossword puzzle for The Red Kayak.  Finally, we talked about what tomorrow's reading and writing pretest is going to look like, and how to approach the open response.

Tonight's Homework:  Letter to Miss A due tomorrow

Today we spoke in detail about our class expectations and procedures.  We talked about what it means to be on a team, and how procedures can help students be independent.

Tonight's Homework:
-Summer Reading Book Quiz tomorrow
-Write a letter to Miss Arrington - Due Thursday