Week of Dec. 12

Friday
Students wrote letters to their Ukrainian pen pals and were to e-mail them to me.
Homework:
Send any letters you haven't forwarded to me.

Thursday
Students developed Thinking Maps using information from the handout Learning About Poetry.
Directions:
1. Read Learning About Poetry.
2. Complete tasks 1-8.
3. You will complete two thinking maps using the information on the sheet.

• a. No circle map, no bubble maps
• b. Brace maps or tree maps work best
• c. Use the back of the handout as a rough draft
• i. One thinking map is on the first paragraph, titled Types of Poetry 
• ii. The other thinking map is on the final three paragraphs and should be titled Figurative Language.
• d. Use the two blank sheets for the thinking maps: one thinking map per sheet, not back to back.

4. The thinking maps were due at the end of the period and were turned in.
5. The handout is to be put into your Poetic Devices notebook.
Homework:
Read and study figurative language

Tuesday
Tales #38
Vocab: regale, sultry, simmering
hey dudes and lades hows it going. i cant wait to regale you with all i learned at the tubular computer camp i attended this sultry simmering summer. now i can really hack. hey william he said as he thumped his buddy on the back got any new poems
Students turned in the final Wired! packets and the Paul Revere packet w/ questions from the textbook.
After taking the Parts of Speech mid-point quiz, we graded and turned it in.
We reviewed the answers to Daughtry's Life After You (poetic devices).
Homework:
Simile and Metaphors w/s 22-23




Monday
Students turned in the Wired! homework from Friday.
They worked on the Paul Revere's Ride packet and answered questions on p. 542 of the textbook, #1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and the Reading Check in complete sentences.
Homework:
Finished packet and questions.

Week of Nov. 28

Thursday & Friday
Students presented their Prezis to their classmates.
Homework:
Read



Wednesday
Students took the Stems List #2 Quiz.
Students worked in pairs to decipher literary elements in song lyrics. Then they viewed a short movie depicting examples of lit. elements in songs.
Homework:
Prezi link needs to be e-mailed to me by end of school today. We will present tomorrow and Friday, if necessary.



Tuesday
Students worked in pairs to decipher literary elements clues. The result will be their study guide.
Homework:
Prezi link needs to be e-mailed to me by end of school Wednesday.
Stems List #2 quiz tomorrow.


Monday
BTales #20
me and my freinds is trembling william said with false bravado. isabelle hushed him before he could infuriate orson any further. i see that petra pulchritudinous has already changed her clothes in the girls bathroom commented isabelle ingenuous
Vocab: bravado, infuriate, pulchritudinous, ingenuous
Homework:
Work on the Prezi if you have not finished it. It is due the Thursday after Thanksgiving. Be sure to check the rubric.
Study the Week 1-4 vocab words and Stems List #2. There will be quizzes next week.

Week of Nov. 21

Thursday and Friday
No School - Happy Thanksgiving!



Tuesday and Wednesday
BTales #18
suddenly orsons sycophants danny dapper and petra pulchritudinous came up behind him ready to back up there friend just as orson spies a teacher approaching
Vocab:sycophants, dapper, pulchritudinous
BTales #19
when orson and his cohorts strutted by isabelle and friends they muttered a few nasty choice epithets and threats under their breathe as they past by. as he raised a fisted hand in the air orson threatened ominously me and my freinds will make toast of you later
Vocab: cohorts, epithets, ominously
Students continued working on their Poetry in Music assignment.
Homework:
Work on the Prezi if you have not finished it. It is due the Thursday after Thanksgiving. Be sure to check the rubric.
Study the Week 1-4 vocab words and Stems List #2. There will be quizzes next week.


Monday
I collected the Book Playlist and the crossword puzzle paragraph.
Students received a handout with the directions and rubric for the Literary Devices assignment.
Homework:
Work on the Prezi if you have time. It is due the week after Thanksgiving.
Study the Week 1-4 vocab words and Stems List #2. There will be quizzes next week.

Week of Nov. 14

Friday
Early release - special schedule.
Students worked on Medical Mayhem to complete the crossword and find the culprit and the weapon.
Homework:
Work some more with Prezi if you need to. Book Playlist due Monday.



Thursday
Students took a reading comprehension quiz, which we graded right away. Students then logged in to Prezi.com or made an account and then experimented with the program. We will be using it next week for a project.
Homework:
Work some more with Prezi if you need to.
Book Playlist w/s due Monday - do it on Johnny Tremain.



Wednesday
BTales #17
set off any putrescent stink bombs lately inquired william with a trace of sarcasm in his voice as he referred to the incident in the 7th grade when orson had been caught for his misdeed by dean dread. his culpability was revealed when a misfired spell of felicias put mauve streaks in his hare that matched the smoke
Vocab: putrescent, misdeed, culpability, inquired
I collected the Bloom's Questions Assignment
Students tooks the BTales Spelling Test and the Week 4 Vocab in context quiz.
We chose the top three "Courage" posters. These will be displayed in the library.
Homework:
Read


Tuesday
I read Courage to the class. Their assignment was to write about what courage meant to them and add a visual. We also developed a rubric for judging the top three, which we will vote on tomorrow.
Homework:
Read





Monday
BTales #16
well if it isnt the super strange cast of weirdo incorporated and their famous witch derided orson odious the nemesis of the group. seen dean dread today orson asked Sam Sagacious wrinkling his nose against the reek of stale cigarette smoke that wafted from orsons clothes and breathe
Vocab: derided, odious, nemesis, reek, wafted
Students worked on determining the parts of speech.
Homework:
Week 4 test in context on Wed.

Week of Nov. 7

Friday
No school - Veterans Day


Thursday
I collected the Literary Devices assignment.
Students practiced creative writing.
Homework:
Study stems list #2, vocab (incl. BTales, Harbinger, and Week 1-4).


Wednesday
Students took the Week 4 Vocab Test.
Students continued reading the novel and completing the Literary Devices assignment as well as the Bloom's assignment.
Homework:
Study vocab (incl. BTales, Harbinger, and Week 1-4)
Bloom's assignment due 11/16.


Tuesday
Students continued reading the novel and completing the Literary Devices assignment.
Handout: Novel Study Assignment (based on Bloom's Taxonomy) - due 11/16
Homework:
Both the novel (finishing it) and the Lit. Devices assigment are due at start of class Thursday.
Study stems list #2, vocab (incl. BTales, Harbinger, and Week 1-4)



Monday
Students continued reading the novel and completing the Literary Devices assignment.
Homework:
Both the novel (finishing it) and the Lit. Devices assigment are due at start of class Thursday.
Study stems list #2, vocab (incl. BTales, Harbinger, and Week 1-4)

Week of Oct. 31

Monday
Handout: Week 4 Day 1 & 2 w/s
TTH Activity #2: Literary Elements: A Writer's Sense of Style
We read The Tell-Tale Heart and then watched a short movie based on the story.
In a good paragraph (min. 8 sentences) students were to compare the print version with the movie version.
Students then worked on Activity #2.
Homework:
Week 4 Day 1 & 2 w/s
Study vocab (incl. BTales and Harbinger)
Stems List 1 test on Thursday

Week of Oct. 24

Friday
Students engaged in critical thinking exercises.
Homework:
Read as far as p. 196 (the end of Chapter 7) by Monday.



Thursday
Students took the Harbinger test and then continued reading their novel and working on the Literary Devices assignment.
Homework:
Read as far as p. 196 (the end of Chapter 7) by Monday. Students who needed to, took the book home.



Wednesday
Students had time to read the class novel and work on their Lit. Devices assignment.
Homework:
Harbinger test tomorrow.



Tuesday
BTales #15
isabelle ingenuous of course smilted at williams powm and felicias freindly jibe but her smile immediatly turned to a frown at the sight of a recogizable hulking figure that loped towards them with a malevolent grin on its face. it was orson odious followed by his 2 pals danny dappper and petra pulchritudinous
Vocab: jibe, loped, malevolent, odious, dapper, pulchritudinous
We held the spelling bee run-off. Congrats to Caitlyn, Keegan, and Corinne (alternate: Claire)
Homework:
Study vocab (Weeks 1-3, BTales, and Harbinger) and Stems List #1.
Harbinger test on Thursday.



Monday
BTales #14
for the benefit of youre freinds william cant you and your freind jesse write nothing except those insipid limericks and cinquains felicia teased. hey how about giving us a brake and trying another form of poetry this year
Vocab: insipid
Students read Johnny Tremain and worked on their Lit. Devices assignment.
We then played a game to practice Stems List #1.
Homework:
Study vocab (Weeks 1-3, BTales, and Harbinger) and Stems List #1.
Harbinger test on Thursday.

Week of Oct. 17

Monday
Handout: Apostrophes study guide (orange)
Handout: Johnny Tremain Literary Devices assignment (due when we finish the book)
We reviewed the rules for apostrophes, and then worked on a reading comprehension/grammar packet based on "The Moustache" short story.
I collected the packet.
Homework:
Study vocab (incl. BTales and Harbinger)

Week of Oct. 10

Friday
We stretched our brains by engaging in deductive reasoning and critical thinking exercises.
Homework:
Read!


Thursday
BTales #11
its working. you haven't lost youre touch william. you you can still affect and discombobulate some of the teachers and last year in fact you recited cinquains which had an even grater effect on the teachers than the limericks. are you going to go back to limericks this year.
Vocab: discombobulate
Students read the novel and completed six of eight responses to what they read.
Homework:
Study vocab



Wednesday
BTales #10
first her tongue protruded slightly and next she froze in place for less then 3 seconds. this wasnt nothing new. sam sagacious glanced at the teacher puthis book in his backpack and laughed
Vocab: protruded, sagacious
Students then had time to read in class.
Homework:
Study vocab


Tuesday
Ms. Ronemous had a sub.
Students read the short story "The Moustache" and responded to questions about it.
Homework:
Finish packet


Monday
No School - Fall Break Day

Week of Oct. 3

Friday
Students competed to find the culprit and weapon in the Kitchan Calamity crossword. Congrats to Matt for being the first to solve the puzzle!
They then engaged in deductive thinking exercises and creative writing prompts to stretch their mental capabilities.
Homework:
Read and review vocab


Thursday
Students took the Week 2 vocab Words in Context quiz.
Afterwards, they read and made notes on the novel.
Homework:
Read




Wednesday
BTales #8
since his joke had fallen flat and noone had laughed william waggish regaled his friends with a knew limerick aboiut girls that wear green. brown faced with expressive dark pupils williams composition of mischievous poems to hide his real aspiration to be as eloquent a poet as his secret hero langston hughes
Vocab: regaled, eloquent, mischievous
We checked the Harbinger vocab words and definitions (orange sheet) and practiced the song.
Students used adjectives to describe a picture, then read an article on the person in the picture. Based on the reading, they had to decide which adjectives to keep (with justification from the text) and which adjectives to add (with justification from the text).
They then, individually, had to write a paragraph using the Ways to Elaborate we have been working on (today we added Cause and Effect, Compare/Contrast, and narrative from others' experiences).
Homework:
Finish the paragraph. The paragraph and one picture per group (remember to add members' names) with adjectives added and justified due Friday at the start of class.
Review Week 2 vocab - words in context quiz tomorrow.



Tuesday
BTales #7
the last member of the troup sam sagacious simply stood wisely and mutely as he waited for the clamor to die down. he held a huge heavy book nortons anthology of poetry in his hand and pretended to read it but he really was watching alessandra amorous who he liked
Vocab: sagacious, mutely, clamor
We continued with ways to elaborate, and in groups wrote a paragraph using the techniques.
Homework:
WordSmart 2x and graph the results



Monday
New vocab handout: Harbinger
We learned five ways to elaborate, ways of improving our writing, and took notes in our Lit. Elements notebooks.
Homework:
Complete vocab match-up.
Review vocab from Week 2 - quiz this week.

Week of Sept. 26

Friday
We graded the test students took yesterday.
Today we focused on creative writing and stretching the brain to think differently. These writings went in the students' journals that are kept in the classroom.
Homework:
Review vocab from Week 2


Thursday
Students took Week 3 Vocab Test.
They read the novel individually while finding evidence in the text to back up the character traits they saw in Johnny.
Homework:
Review vocab from Week 2



Wednesday
BTales #6
Vocab: vapid, barbs
We discussed characterization and practiced writing a short literary response.
We read the novel to the end of section 4 (Ch. 1).
Homework:
Journal Entry/Literary Response #2
Week 3 vocab test tomorrow.



Tuesday
Handouts: Character Traits (pink sheet - 2-sided); Understanding "Character" Analysis
We began our class novel, Johnny Tremain.
We did not review Day 1 & 2 words, nor hand out the Day 3 & 4 w/s.
Homework:
Complete a one-paragraph response to the section of the novel we read today (to the top of page 17).
Study the Character Analysis sheet (green)


Monday
Students took a short Parts of Speech / Sentence Structure Pretest, which was turned in (not yet graded)
Posted on the SmartBoard:
Fill out your agenda for the week.
Then, in your writing journal (this period's bin at the back of the room):
- put the date on a fresh page
- write for 5 min. about this past weekend
- when finished, pick up the w/s from the front desk
A few students shared their writing with the class (not mandatory).
We then read w/s 65-66, Ethos, Pathos, & Logos, as a class, and in pairs completed the assignment at the top of p. 66 before sharing out. We did not do the bulleted assignment at the bottom of the page. Students are to keep the worksheet in their Literary Elements notebooks and refer to it when writing persuasively (e.g., as in their upcoming Social Studies assignment).
Homework:
Week 3 Day 1 & 2 w/s - Test on Thursday
w/s 63 (Connecting Paragraphs) - due Friday

Week of Sept. 19

Thursday
I collected both w/s from Tues. and Wed.
Students presented their PowerPoints.
I distributed the Phx Library cards.
Homework:
Review Week 2 words - test in context next week.




Wednesday
We spent time in the computer lab signing up for Book Adventure, a free reading motivation program sponsored by Sylvan Learning and Read Across America.
Students also had time to type up their pen pal letters and send them to me as an attachment.
I did not collect HW, as time was so short.
Homework:
Persuasion w/s 62 (Think Elbows!)
Review Week 2 (Day 1-4) Vocab - test of words in context next week.




Monday & Tuesday
I returned the rough drafts with comments on Monday.
Students continued working on friendly letters and slideshows to their penpals.
On Tuesday students took the Silence, Reticence Quiz.
Homework:
Remember to do WordSmart Challenge twice this week and chart results
Review Week 2 vocab for in-context quiz HW for Tuesday included Persuasion w/s 13-14

Week of Sept. 12

Thursday & Friday
Students watched the presentations from our pen pals in the Ukraine and began writing friendly letters to their partner(s).
Handout: Friendly letter rubric
Homework:
Friendly letter due end of period Friday
I will review rough draft over the weekend and provide feedback on Monday
Silence, Reticence test next week.
Review Week 2 vocab for in-context quiz


Wednesday
We went over the Silence, Reticence vocab definitions to make sure we had them matched correctly. Test on these words next week.
We then watched the presentations from our Ukranian pen pals and took notes on the students' hobbies and favorite things to do.
Homework:
Week 2 vocab test tomorrow.



Tuesday
Handout: Silence, Reticence (vocab)
We listened to and sang along with the song several times, and then students worked on matching up the definitions.
Students had time in class to read.
Homework:
Always bring a book to school.
Study Week 2 vocab (test on Thurs.)


Monday
Students continued Homework:
Respond to survey (on my website) by Monday if you haven't already.
Study vocab!

Week of Sept. 5

Friday
Students took Reggie the Con Man vocab test with Week 1 words.
I collected the graphic organizers from "The Bet."
We discussed planning and organizing the persuasive essay using a flee map, and then practiced with a prompt.
Homework:
Respond to survey (on my website) by Monday if you haven't already.
Study vocab!



Wednesday & Thursday
I collected the homework (pink sheets on Persuasive Techniques) Wed.
We continued discussing and taking notes on persuasive techniques.
We reviewed Week 2 vocab w/s. Test on these will be next week.
Homework:
Remember to do WordSmart Challenge and chart the results 2x each week.



Tuesday
This week we are studying Persuasive Techniques in anticipation of students having to write a persuasive essay in their Social Studies classes. Students completed a worksheet and then began taking notes as we discussed a PowerPoint on persuasion.
Homework:
Week 2 Day 1&2 w/s
Review Week 1 Vocab - test in context this week (plus dictation).



Monday
No School - Labor Day

Week of Aug. 29

Friday
Students finalized the Open Mind activity and presented their work. Homework:
Take the Technology Survey on my "portal" (upper right on the page).


Thursday
BTales #4
The Open Mind Activity:
Students were broken into six groups. Each group focused on one of the stages (beginning, middle, end) for either the banker or the lawyer.
Using "The Bet" story and their completed worksheet from last night, inside a "blank mind" students were to draw symbols or select phrases from the text to represent either the banker's or lawyer's thoughts at that point in the text. Outside the diagram, they explained why they chose those particular symbols and phrases.
Homework:
Take the Technology Survey on my "portal" (upper right).



Wednesday
BTales#3
Vocab: retorted, indignant
Students previewed new vocab from "The Bet" by Chekhov (using dictionary to place the words in context).
We then read the story as a class and began work on how the lawyer and the banker changed during the story.
Homework:
Finish w/s
Review Week 1 words & BTales vocab



Tuesday
BTales #2
Vocab: obliterate
I collected Windows of Wonder questions.
Using their literature textbook, students defined eleven literary terms.
Homework:
Review Week 1 words (quiz Friday)
Remember to do WordSmart Challenge and chart the results 2x by Friday



Monday
BTales#1
Vocab: puerile, ingenuous, uttering
We read the short story "Windows of Wonder" and completed a graphic organizer on the substitute teacher's character. (This was turned in.)
Handout: Reading Log and 40 Book Challenge Sheet
Homework:
Review Week 1 words (quiz Friday)
"Windows of Wonder" questions: On the back of the story, answer any two of:
P. 148, #3, 6; p. 149, #2

Week of Aug. 22

Friday
Early release - special schedule.
Students took the Week 1 Vocab test (no dictation this time.
We then graded one of the pre-tests from last week.
Students then had time to read.
Homework:
Study Week 1 vocab - quiz of vocab in context next week.


Thursday
Students set up their vocab notebooks to track their progress on WordSmart Challenge, then joined the FreeRice class group for P2 and practiced vocabulary.
Homework:
Study for tomorrow's test (Week 1 vocab)


Wednesday
We reviewed the vocab w/s; students keep it to study for Friday's test.
We worked on components of a plot diagram and students took notes in their lit. elements notebook.
Homework:
Study vocab - test Friday
Study plot diagram for future tests/quizzes.




Tuesday
We reviewed the Week 1 Day 1 & 2 w/s.
Handout: Week 1 Day 3 & 4 w/s
We took the DVRA (Deer Valley Reading Assessment) online.
Students then had time to work on their homework.
Homework:
Week 1 Day 3 & 4 w/s


Monday
I collected the "I am" poem and any remaining library card applications.
Students took the last pre-test (yay!).
They then had time to work on their homework.
Handout: Week 1 Day 1 & 2 w/s
Homework:
Week 1 Day 1 & 2 w/s (test on Friday on the meanings and idioms)
Learner Survey Reflection
On a lined sheet of paper and using the Learner Survey we did last week, answer the following questions in complete sentences. Incorporate the question into the answer.
1. What did you learn from the survey?
2. What two to three things (from the Strategies section) can you do to make sure you'll have a successful academic year (use what you learned from the Descriptions and Strategies info).
3. Did you discover anything new about yourself? Elaborate.
Important: Know your e-mail address and password tomorrow!

Week of August 15

Friday
I collected the Library Card applications.
Students finished work on their "Big Heads" and turned them in.
We read two examples of an "I am" Poem and did one as a class.
Handout: "I am" Poem template/model.
Homework:
"I am" Poems due Monday.
Bring your Library Card applications if you didn't turn them in already.


Thursday
I collected the ABC sheet.
Students received an application for a card from the Phoenix Public Library, which is required for Language Arts class this year.
Students finished the Writing pre-test and turned it in.
They then began work on their "Big Heads."
Homework:
Library Card applications due tomorrow. Big Heads also due, although we will have a little time in class to finish them up.


Wednesday
Students took Reading and Writing pre-tests so I can gauge their language skills.
Homework:
ABC Sheet - it's all about you. Adjectives, adverbs, phrases



Tuesday
We covered a section of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, then took a pre-test that will help me find out where your child stands. We also began a Learning Styles survey, which we will continue tomorrow.
Homework:
Read! Tomorrow we go to the school library to look for books.


Monday
First Day of School!
Welcome!
We covered the Language Arts syllabus, expectations, supplies needed.
Homework:
Get paperwork signed.
List your top five books and give reasons for your choices.

Week of May 16

Wednesday-Thursday
End-of-year activities, Adv. Lang. Arts DVRA, STAR testing.
I collected the Reading Logs and the Six Word Memoirs on Monday.
End-of-year activities.
Homework:
None


Tuesday
Students finished typing up their summaries, focusing on the key terms on the handout (setting, characters, etc.).
Handout: Original Modern Day Cinder Tale
In pairs, students began work on their own Cinder Tale.
Homework:
Study for tomorrow's Week 1 and Week 4 Vocab Quiz.
We'll have time in class tommorrow to work on the original tale (on paper - we won't have the netbooks). They are due Thursday.


Monday
We continued our research on the Cinder Tales and began typing up our summaries, focusing on the key terms on the handout (setting, characters, etc.).
Homework:
Review Week 1 and 4 words and definitions - quiz on Wednesday.
Thursday / Friday: Advanced Lang. Arts Online Assessment, STAR, share Tales.
Subject to modification.

Week of May 9

Tuesday - Friday
Blogger has been Read-Only all week due to technical issues, so I have not been able to update.
Tuesday and Wednesday students worked on research for their Mythological Barbie project.
Wed. - I collected the Cartoons and students took the Week 4 and 5 "Reggie" style quiz.
Thurs. - Students presented and I collected the Mythological Barbie projects. We then graded quizzes we had taken recently.
Fri. - Intro to Cinder Tales project. In pairs, students read and took notes on two Cinderella stories. They then created a double-bubble thinking map on what they had read.
Handout: Directions on the Cinder Tales project.
Homework:
Review Week 1 and 4 words and meanings.
We will continue reading the tales on Monday. Tuesday we will type up the summaries and begin the Original Cinder Tale (due Friday - we will share).
Wednesday we take the Week 1 and 4 sentence quiz.
Thursday / Friday: Advanced Lang. Arts Online Assessment, STAR, share Tales.
Subject to modification.


Monday
I collected the Bad Hair Day Assignment; some students shared.
Students then worked on research for the Barbie assignment.
Homework:
Cartoon due Wed., Mythological Barbie Thursday
Review words from Weeks 4 and 5 - "Reggie" style quiz on Wednesday

Week of May 2

Friday
Early Release - Special Schedule
No Class


Thursday
Students took the Week 5 Vocab Quiz and then began researching their god/goddess for the Bad Hair Day assignment.
Handout: Mythological Barbie assignment (due Thurs., May 12)
Homework:
Research for projects


Wednesday
Handouts: Even Gods Have Bad Hair Days assignment (due Mon., 5/9) and blank Zits Cartoon (due Wed., 5/11).
We discussed requirements and expectations for both assiggnments.
Students presented their Original Creation Myth Posters.
Homework:
Week 5 Review Quiz tomorrow (plus Week 4 for those who were absent when we took that one).
Tomorrow we're in the lab and will be able to do some research for the Bad Hair Day assignment after the quizzes.


Tuesday
7th grade field trip


Monday
We reviewed answers to all the Week 5 w/s.
Students finalized their presentations.
Homework:
Review Weeks 4 and 5 vocab and idioms.
Week 5 Review Quiz on Thursday.

FreeRice Status

To date, our class has donated 22,770 grains of rice via our FreeRice project. Great job, everyone! Let's see what we can do in the next three and a half weeks.

Week of April 25

Friday
More time to develop the Original Myth Poster. Rubric
Homework:
Remember to read - some have not taken any AR tests this quarter!!
We will finalize the poster in class on Monday and present on Wednesday (field trip on Tuesday).


Thursday
Students continued their Creation Myth Movie Posters. Rubric
Homework:
Review vocab - Week 4 Quiz tomorrow


Wednesday
In groups of four and using their research notes, students began work on their own Creation Myth Movie Poster. Rubric
Homework:
Review vocab - Week 4 Quiz on Friday


Tuesday
In groups, students researched creation myths, noting characteristics of the myths and the characters.
Homework:
Week 5 Day 3 and 4 w/s



Monday
We broke into groups and read several myths. Each group created a plot diagram and flow map for their myth, and declared what natural phenomenon their myth explained.
Homework:
Week 5 Day 1 and 2 w/s

Parody of Sonnet 18

Sonnet #18

(a parody)

Shall I compare thee to a bale of hay?
Thou art more dusty and far less neat.
Rough winds do toss thy mop about, I'd say,
Which looks far worse than hay a horse would eat.

Sometime thy squinty eye looks into mine
Through stringy, greasy hair that needs be trimm'd,
And ne'er a horse had such a stench as thine,
As though in stagnant sewers thou hast swimm'd.

Thy disgusting image shall not fade;
This my tortured mind and soul doth know.
O, I should love to hit thee with a spade;
And with that blow I hope that thou wouldst go.

So long as I can breathe, my eyes can see,
And I can run, I'll stay away from thee...

(sorry, Will)

copyright 1991 anthonybaldwin
http://photodharma.tripod.com/sonnet18.htm

Week of April 18

Friday
No School - Spring Break Day


Thursday
Students finished up their sonnets and turned them in electronically.
Homework:
Quiz on Week 4 words next week.


Wednesday
Students took the Desert Storm Decision Quiz (Week 3 words), and then we graded and turned back in the Week 3 Review Quiz.
We reviewed answers to Week 4 Day 1-4 w/s.
Students continued working on their sonnets.
Homework:
Sonnets due electronically to me end of period tomorrow.
Quiz on Week 4 words next week.



Tuesday
Students typed up their final drafts of the pen pal letters and emailed them to me.
They then began work (in pairs) on their Shakespearean sonnet, using the packet from yesterday and the rubric.
Homework:
Week 4 Day 3 and 4 w/s
Change: No Week 4 Review Quiz this week. There will still be a Week 3 words review (words in context) tomorrow.
Week 4 Day 3 and 4 words.


Monday
I checked that the rough drafts of the pen pal letters were done.
Highwayman poems (with an extra stanza) were collected.
We read about and discussed the characteristics of sonnets (handout).
Students did a choral reading of one of Shakespeare's sonnets and explained what the sonnet was about.
We went over the pronunciation of the Week 4 words.
Homework:
Week 4 Day 1 and 2 w/s
Tomorrow we work on writing a Shakespearean sonnet of our own (in pairs). Due electonically by end of class Thursday. Come to class tomorrow with some ideas.
We also are writing up the final draft of the pen pal letters tomorrow (due electronically to me by end of period).
Review Week 3 words (quiz on Wed.).
Week 4 Review Quiz on Thursday.

Week of April 11

Friday
No class today due to special schedule.


Thursday
We began our replies to our Irish penpals.
Handout: Rubric for the letter
Letter is to be typed and sent to me as an attachment.
Rough draft is due Monday; I've scheduled us in the lab on Tuesday so we can type up the final.
Homework:
Letter is due to me as an attachment by end of class Tuesday.


Wednesday
No class due to AIMS.


Tuesday
Today's challenge was to add an additional verse at the end of The Highwayman poem describing a ghostly meeting between the highwayman and Bess. Start the verse with a line from the poem such as: “over the cobbles he clattered” or “the wind was a torrent of darkness.” Perhaps write from the point of view of a traveller witnessing the scene. Try to stick the same style, rhythm, and rhyme scheme of the poem as much as possible.
We worked on this for a little while in class.
Homework:
Extra verse is due Monday.


Monday
We went over the Reading Test packet and verified answers.
Students then read and critiqued two sets of AIMS sample writing packets. We discussed good and bad techniques.
Homework:
Get a good night's sleep and have a healthy breakfast.
AIMS Writing is tomorrow.

Week of April 4

Friday
Early Release - Special Schedule
We worked on test preparation.
Homework:
Review persuasive techniques.
Two packets - Reading Comprehension and Reading Test.



Thursday
Students took the Poetry Terms quiz.
We then listened to a reading of The Highwayman poem - just the audio, not the images, discussed the plot, and in a chart listed three words/phrases from the poem to describe the highwayman, Tim the ostler, and Bess (perhaps using a Tree Map).
We watched a video of the poem set to music and afterwards went through the text of the poem and underlined/highlighted figurative language, noting the name in the margin.
To check for accuracy, we used this interactive website
Homework:
Review for Literary Elements quiz tomorrow.


Wednesday
We took the Best Laid Plans quiz on Week 2 words.
We also completed a worksheet on the usage of it and it's and reviewed common elements of myth and folklore.
Students then were challenged to write a short paragraph describing one of three scenarios:
- walking in a forest
- going on a first date
- getting arrested and going to the police station
The challenge was to make it as dull and boring as possible (do not use ways to elaborate that we have been reviewing).
The second part of the activity will take place next week.
Homework:
Review for quizzes (Types of Poetry tomorrow; Literary Elements on Friday)


Tuesday
Students took the Week Three Review Quiz.
We reviewed methods of elaboration (students took notes) and discussed how writers made their writing enjoyable to readers.
Homework:
Create sentences using each of the following words:
phone, waves, lipstick, bus, refrigerator
Review Literary Elements in your Tales notebook, plot diagram parts, and today's handouts. Know how to spell them as well.
Lit. Elements quiz on Friday
Revise Week 2 words - quiz Wednesday


Monday
Handouts:
Lesson 9: Poetry Elements
Types of Poetry
Elements of Poetry (including Language of Poetry and Sound Devices or Patterns)
We worked through the Poetry Elements packet in class. It and the others are for review.
Homework:
Review Literary Elements in your Tales notebook, plot diagram parts, and today's handouts. Know how to spell them as well.
Lit. Elements quiz on Thursday.
Week 3 Review Quiz tomorrow.
Revise Week 2 words - quiz Wednesday (including dictation).

Week of March 28

Friday
We shared the limericks and re-worked some that needed tweaking.
After reading the article Why is April called "April?" The answer is a mystery - no fooling!, students were challenged to create a short poem on the information.
Homework:
Type up the limerick and today's poem and send it to me by Monday. (I'd like to post some online).
Study Week 2 words (quiz next week) and Tales, Parts of Speech, vocab, etc.



Thursday
Students took the online Deer Valley Reading Assessment (not for a grade).
They then did AIMS review using links on my Lang. Arts Resources website.
Homework:
Original Limerick (your own creation) due tomorrow.


Wednesday
We reviewed Week 3 Day 2 & 3 w/s.
We practiced some more with stessed syllables, learned about iambic and dactylic feet, and wrote our first Limerick.
Homework:
Week 3 Review quiz tomorrow.
Original Limerick (your own creation) due Friday



Tuesday
We reviewed one of the AIMS test practice question packets from yesterday and discussed the answers.
As part of our poetry unit, we worked on finding the stressed syllables in various words.
Homework:
Week 3 Day 2 and 3
Bring a rough draft of your phone number poem to class tomorrow.


Monday
I collected the Idioms w/s, and we graded the Week 2 vocab quiz.
We did some more AIMS test practice questions and discussed the answers and test-taking skills.
Homework:
Week 3 Day 1 and 4

Week of March 21

Friday
Early Release - Special Schedule; No Class


Thursday
We took the Week 2 vocab quiz and then reviewed an AIMS writing sample according to the new holistic rubric that will be implemented this year.
We also did some test practice questions and discussed the answers and test-taking skills.
Homework:
Idiom w/s - due Monday.



Wednesday
We reviewed Week 2 Day 3 and 4 w/s.
Students finished presenting the Prezis.
Homework:
Quiz on Week 2 words and idioms tomorrow



Tuesday
We took and graded Reggie the Con Man Quiz (Week 1 words in context).
Reviewed Week 2 Day 1 and 2 w/s.
Students graded a 7th grade writing sample according to the new holistic rubric that will be used this year by the State when grading the AIMS writing. We discussed the findings and what to watch out for in their own writing.
Homework:
Week 2 Day 3 & 4 w/s
Test on words/idioms from all four days on Thursday



Monday
Students began presenting their Literary Elements Prezis.
Homework:
Week 2 Day 1 & 2 w/s

Sharpen your Vocab during Spring Break!

If you have an Android-powered phone, here is a free app I came across recently that you might want to try:



Words, Words, Words

Week of March 7

Friday
Final day in the lab working on our Prezis.
I collected the reading logs from 3rd quarter.
Homework:
Finish the Prezi - link of your finished work needs to be emailed to me before Monday morning (March 21).
Be ready to present the day we come back.
Also, be ready for the Week 1 quiz (Reggie the Con Man) when we return


Thursday
We spent time in the lab working on our Prezis.
Homework:
Prezi work




Wednesday
Handout: Directions and guidelines for the Poetry in Music assignment
Students created a Prezi for their Poetry in Music assignment.
We will have class time for it Thursday and Friday - it's due in time for the first class after Spring Break.
Homework:
Review Week 1 w/s



Tuesday
We graded two Roots Quizzes (cogni, sci/tain, ten) and the Week 1 Review.
Students then completed Sensible Sentences? w/s using words from Week 1 and an AIMS writing sample test packet with thought-outs and hints for test taking.
They then wrote a reflection paragraph about the sample test. If it wasn't turned in, it is due tomorrow.
Homework:
Be familiar with Prezi.com by tomorrow.
Week 1 vocab quiz on Thursday.



Monday
In the lab, students worked on finding the main idea in passages and then progressed to finding how paragraphs were organized.
Homework:
Review Week 1 w/s.
We will grade the quizzes tomorrow.

Week of Feb. 28

Friday
Early Release - Staff Development
No Class - Special Schedule


Thursday
Students took the Roots Quiz (cogni, sci) and the Week 1 Review.
We then shared the stories (#13) from the Hyperbole & More w/s.
Homework:
Review Lit. Terms


Wednesday
Handout: Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex
Students took the Persuasive Techniques post-test and turned it in.
Students worked in pairs on the Hyperbole & More w/s.
#13 was to be completed individually
Homework:
I collected the w/s that were done; turn in tomorrow if you need more time.
Tomorrow: Roots Quiz (cogni, sci) and Week 1 Day 5 Review (of Days 1-4 w/s).


Tuesday
Handout: Week 1 Day 3 and 4 w/s
In the lab, students finalized their creative stories. They were to add the heading, a title, and underline (or BOLD) the idiomatic phrases before printing.
I collected the stories.
Homework:
Week 1 Day 3 w/s


Monday
Handout: Week 1 Day 1 and 2 w/s
In the lab, students worked through Paint by Idioms. They then read through The Idiom Site and wrote down ten idioms with which they were unfamiliar.
In pairs, students had to correctly incorporate 8 of the idioms they had chosen (of the 20 between them) in a creative story.
Homework:
Week 1 Day 1 and 2 w/s
If you haven't created an account at prezi.com (use first name and last initial only), do so. See what you can do with it. You will be using it later for an assignment.
We will work on finalizing the stories on Tuesday and will print them out.

Note: Quiz on the Week 1 w/s on Thursday, along with the Roots Quiz (cogn, sci). Persuasive Techniques Quiz on Wednesday.

Missing Grades

Due to the recent PowerSchool outage, several of the scores from this class have disappeared. I appreciate your patience as I work to re-enter them.

Week of Feb. 21

Friday
Students re-worked the final drafts of their "Mall" letters and submitted them for grading on the Learning Express website. Students were encouraged to look at the rubric to increase their scores.
I collected the rough drafts with corrections, and any final drafts not finished by the end of class are due to me by email by Monday morning.
Homework:
Finish and email me the final drafts.
Create an account at prezi.com (use first name and last initial only) and see what you can do. You will be using it later for an assignment.




Thursday
Science Fair Expo Day
No class - special schedule


Wednesday
Students finished the summaries, had them reviewed by a peer, made necessary corrections and emailed them to me.
Students then began re-working their "Mall" letters. I had printed out the rough drafts so students could mark corrections on them.
Homework:
Have corrections ready by Friday, when we will type the letters up in MS Word and then submit for grading on the Learning Express website.



Tuesday
Handout: Writing an Analytic Summary
In the lab, we practised getting the main idea of articles. We read guidelines for writing the summary and the steps for doing so. After reading the "Bats" article, students created a tree map with main ideas and some supporting details.
In Microsoft Word, students wrote up a draft of their summary, which was then reviewed by another student using the Summary Checklist.
Homework:
Email me the persuasive mall letters from last week if you have not already done so. We will need them tomorrow.



Monday
No School - Presidents' Day

Week of Feb. 14

Friday
Handout: New Roots list (cogn, sci)
In the lab, students worked on a persuasive prompt (Middle School Writing Course through Learning Express)and utilized what they have learned about persuasive techniques. They submitted it for online grading and then sent the grade received, the analysis, and their writing to me by email.
Homework:
Study roots and persuasive techniques. Test week of Feb. 28.



Thursday
Tales #54
well look whose here sneered conan to his freinds its the obese creep and the four eyed wierdo
Vocab: sneered
Tales #55
justthen harold spied cassandra who was setting on the couch chattering to another classy girl
Vocab: spied, chattering
We reviewed and discussed the homework.
Students practised persuasive techniques and analogies online.
Homework:
Study parts of speech, roots, etc.



Wednesday
Tales #52
hey lets get out of here before we go any further harold rasped in gnarlys left ear
Vocab: rasped
Tales #53
no the whole group are here and were going too stick it out reiterated gnarly
Vocab: reiterated
Students took the Roots Review Quiz (tain, ten, fer).
Students presented their pro and con arguments for vacationing at the beach. We critiqued for persuasive techniques.
Homework:
w/s 53-54: Discriptive Essay



Tuesday
Tales #50
everyone was their in their best attire accept conan who wore his best holy jeans which had been cut with knifes for effect
Vocab: attire
Tales #51
conan lounged between all his cool freinds against a wall smoking a cigarette to look cool
Vocab: lounged
Students continued with their Beach prompt; when finished, they shared with a partner for constructive feedback.
Homework:
If you didn't complete the piece, finish it tonight. Tomorrow we will have two opposing viewpoints go up against each other and rate the effectiveness of each one's persuasive techniques.




Monday
Tales #49
when harold jaunty in his good slacks and chubby gnarly arrived at belindas parents house the party s already in full swing
Vocab: jaunty
Students read their persuasive paragraphs (Co-ed Teams) to a partner, who checked for persuasive techniques and gave constructive criticism. Changes were made as a result.
We began our next persuasive writing piece: The best vacation is a trip to the beach. Students began by writing Pro and Con points in tree-map format.
Homework:
Think about the position you'll be defending and try to come up with some pertinent and stupendous techniques for your argument.
Be ready for Persuasive Techniques and Roots Review quizzes sometime this week.

Week of Feb. 7

Friday
Tales #47
the next saturday however gnarly and harold are filled with apprehension as they get dressed for the party
Vocab: apprehension
Tales #48
attempting to pull up his only stylish pair of pants his hole body quivered and harold felt qualms about his descision to attend the party Vocab: stylish, qualms, quivered
Today we did some brain exercising assignments: Graceful Dead Crossword and ten Hink-Pinks.
Homework:
Be prepared for the quizzes any day next week.



Thursday
Using the same model we've been practicing all week, we used persuasive techniques to respond to whether or not sports teams should be co-ed. We started by making a tree map of the pros and cons of co-ed teams and then selected the three strongest points (either pro or con). First, we wrote the intro paragraph with an attention-getter and thesis statement. After this, we used a flee map to organize the paper, putting one argument in each box, from the least important to the most important. We added details under each box, and transition words/phrases on top of each one.

At this point, it was time to tackle the body paragraph using the flee map as a guide. We referred to the four ways to appeal (in the Tales notebook) to enhance our persuasive technique.

Next came the final paragraph, in which the arguments were reiterated, a counterargument was negated, and the ending was firm and persuasive. Those who did not complete the final paragraph took it home to finish.
Homework:
Our much-postponed Roots and Persuasive Techniques quizzes are tomorrow.



Wednesday
We finished our persuasive paragraphs on moving to a farm or to the suburbs. Students had time to read in class.
Homework:
Roots, etc.



Tuesday
We continued with persuasive techniques and began a letter to our parents persuading them to either move to a house in the suburbs or a farm in the country. We used a Flee map to organize our writing.
Homework:
Roots, etc.



Monday
Students worked through two packets covering vocabulary skills and test preparation tips.
They also had time for silent reading.
Homework:
Roots Review and Persuasive Techniques Quizzes on Friday.

Week of Jan. 31

Friday
We graded the last Roots Quiz.
We continued with a model persuasive essay and worked on how to organize it. We practiced the intro paragraph and outlined the three body paragraphs. More on Monday.
Homework:
Catch up



Thursday
Tales #45
aw come on harold beseeched gnarly i dont want to go alone into that pool of piranhas ut i do want to go
Vocab: beseeched, piranhas
Tales #46
ok ill go gnarly capitulated hapless corpulent harold
Vocab: capitulated, coruplent
We continued with the persuasive writing.
Homework:
Study roots and persuasive techniques.




Wednesday
No school for students - Staff Development Day


Tuesday
Tales #43
yes i think i will how about you harold asked gnarly in a supplicating voice
Vocab: supplicating
Tales #44
no im afraid theyll make fun of my stoutness and my glass's said harold. they allways do reiterated gnarly
In their writing journals, students reponded to this prompt:
Write a good, descriptive paragraph, entitled "The Meal," from the perspective of the corn snake(s).
I handed back copies of the persuasive techniques visuals so students can study for the quiz on Friday.
We reviewed persuasive techniques and took notes on the four types of persuasive appeals one can use. We will continue on Thursday.
Homework:
Study roots and persuasive techniques.



Monday
Students presented their projects.
Homework:
Review Quiz (fer, ten, tain, tent) on Friday.

Week of Jan. 24

Friday
We took the Roots (fer) Quiz and Vocab Quiz.
Students finalized their projects.
Presentations will be on Monday.
Homework:
Review Quiz (fer, ten, tain, tent) next week


Thursday
Students continued with their project. We will have time in class to finalize it tomorrow, and presentations will be on Monday.
Homework:
Study roots.



Wednesday
Students were placed in groups of about four, based on their ad's technique(s).
Handout: Advertising Analysis Project.
Students began strategizing.
Homework:
Study roots.





Tuesday
Tales #41
everyone even gnarly and that bespectacled wierdo freind of his are invited and me and all my freinds are going conan added
Vocab: bespectacled
Tales #42
hey gnarly are you going too go? queried harold when he herd the news
Vocab: queried
Students picked one favorite ad along with its analysis and set it aside.
They turned in the other two analysis sheets, accompanied by the advertisements.
Students then identified the strongest or most obvious advertising techniques used in their favorite ad. We will continue with the activity tomorrow.
Homework:
Study roots (quiz Friday).




Monday
Handout: Persuasive Techniques - definitions and examples.
Students continued with the Advertisement Analysis w/s.
Homework:
Advertisement Analysis w/s are due tomorrow. When stapling, put the actual ad on top, and the answers on the bottom.
Create a visual representation for each of the Persuasive Techniques in the box provided. The visuals are due Monday.
Note: Any remaining pen pal letters NEED to be emailed to me asap.

Week of Jan. 17

Friday
Pen pal letters were due and turned in - two rough drafts and a final. The final needed to be emailed to me.
We began our persuasive techniques project using magazine advertisements. Students had time in class to begin the assignment.
Homework:
There will be time in class to work on the Advertisement Analysis w/s on Monday. All three are due Tuesday. Remember to use a separate sheet of paper for each ad, as we'll be separating them later on.
Note: I only received about half the pen pal letters electronically. These NEED to be emailed to me asap.


Thursday
Students finalized the final drafts of the pop star formal letters and spent time in the lab typing them up before emailing them to me. I collected the rough drafts. Several students shared their letters.
Homework:
Pen Pal letters due tomorrow. Hard copy (printed) and by email to me. Have both rough drafts as well.



Wednesday
Tales #39
when class is finally over the popular students converged in the hallway
Vocab: converged
Tales #40
awesome said conan belinda is going to throw one of ther incredible partys he expounded
Vocab: incredible, expounded
We went over and I collected the homework.
We went over the criteria for a formal business letter and examined some letters for errors.
In pairs, worked on Task #1 or #2 (formal letter to pop star of band).
Homework:
Work some more on it tonight, if possible; I'll give you a little bit of time to finish the rough draft tomorrow in class, but it will need to be done as we're going to the lab to type up the final draft.



Tuesday
Handout: new roots (fer). Test on Friday.
We went over and I collected the homework.
I handed back RD#2 of the letters and we had some discussion about them. Final draft should be typed, printed out for your portfolio at school, and emailed to me. Keep both rough drafts and rubric.
We finished the Persuasive Techniques packet.
Finally graded the last Roots Quiz (cap, pel, puls).
Homework:
Study roots; final draft due Friday (email and hard copy).



Monday
No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Week of Jan. 10

Friday
Modified schedule due to the Honors Assembly.
I collected the homework.
Students worked on Adjectives as a Method of Elaboration: they wrote in their journals for 6-7 minutes, and then switched with a neighbor who drew the scene. The idea behind it was to be as descriptive as possible in your writing so the reader can picture it in their mind.
Homework:
Choose your Words w/s.


Thursday
I collected the Sentence w/s.
We listened to an audio recording of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, once without and then with the text, analyzing the speech and looking for persuasive techniques.
Homework:
Two questions on the speech. Answer each in a good paragraph. Due tomorrow.



Wednesday
I collected Rough Draft #2 of the pen pal letters.
We covered techniques of persuasion, logos, pathos, and ethos, and practiced using different techniques in writing.
Homework:
Sentence w/s.



Tuesday
Tales #38
one day a rumor circulated around mrs noisomes classroom and everyone couldnt wait for their class to be over
Vocab: circulated
We continued with ways to vary sentences, reviewing appositives, balanced sentences (repeated structures), and dependent clauses at the start of the sentence.
We reviewed w/s 27-28 from last week (Because I Said So).
Homework:
Study and know examples of the persuasive techniques from w/s 15.
Rough Draft #2 is due tomorrow.



Monday
Tales #37
conan and his hip crowd made occasional fun of harold and gnarly while classy cassandra and her freinds remained aloof
Vocab: aloof
Handout: New Roots sheet (tain, ten). Test next week due to Honors Assembly on Friday.
I checked for HW (both w/s) and we went over the A CARP PIE.
I returned the first rough drafts of the pen pal letter and we discussed ways to improve them.
We continued with sentence variety examples and practice (-ing at the beginning and appositives).
Homework:
Rework the pen pal letter by Wednesday (on a separate sheet). You may type it if you want.

Week of Jan. 3

Friday
Early Release - Special Schedule
No class today
Homework:
See Thursday for homework



Thursday
I collected the rough drafts of the pen pal letters.
We practiced ways to vary sentences. Students took notes in their "Tales" notebooks of examples and worked with a partner to create their own versions.
Homework:
A CARP PIE w/s - there is room on the sheet for your example
w/s 27-28 - write on the sheet
No class tomorrow, so they are due Monday.



Wednesday
Students took the Roots Review Test (cap, pel, puls). There was time for silent reading before we left for the library to check out a class set of Orphan Train Rider.
Homework:
In the excitement, forgot to hand out the w/s, so it will be homework tomorrow, due Monday, since we don't have class on Friday.



Tuesday
We continued with our persuasive writing lesson and defined what a persuasive paper does (makes a point - expresses an opinion - and supports that point with evidence - gives reasons why that opinion is correct).
We practiced making declarative statements (w/s 23-24). Then students had to give three reasons why a certain statements was true (w/s 25-26).
Homework:
For the same statement, come up with several reasons why it is false.
Review cap, pel, puls roots for quiz tomorrow.



Monday
Welcome back!
We discussed Point of View in reference to persuasive writing and broke into groups to tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood from the perspective of LRRH, the grandmother, the wolf, and the woodcutter.
We practiced determining the difference between fact and opinion and covered five types of persuasive techniques.
Homework:
Bring magazines from home if you can - ones with advertisements (e.g., Family Circle, Better Homes & Gardens, etc.)
Review cap, pel, puls roots for quiz on Wednesday.