What is due for June 15?

In class on Friday, June 10, and Tuesday, June 14, most students the thirty minutes allotted to complete multiple-choice cumulative vocabulary assessment; on Wednesday, most students who were absent on Friday or Tuesday will have the opportunity to complete and check their Scantron sheet. On Thursday, scores should be posted via PowerSchool.

The third quotation, which focuses on Chapters 8 -11 (and its subsequent elaboration), of the in-class That Was Then, This Is Now project was begun on Friday, so Tuesday was the third and final day for that one; Wednesday is the day for finalizing and submitting both hard copy and word-processed Google documents (unless a student was absent Monday or Tuesday and then an additional day will be added) of all THREE quotations with elaboration.

Any student present in class on Monday, June 13, was encouraged to jot notes on the answers to last Wednesday's graded class work, which were projected via the SmartBoard and chart paper for a boosted/averaged grade.  Any student who was absent on Monday will have an opportunity to submit for an averaged grade.

*Don't forget to return the field trip permission form and payment by Thursday, June 17, to your first period teacher.

What is due for June 14 (AKA Flag Day)?

In class on Friday, June 10, most students completed thirty minutes of the multiple-choice cumulative vocabulary assessment; another thirty minutes' worth of time is slated for Tuesday, June 14.

The third quotation, which focuses on Chapters 8 -11 (and its subsequent elaboration), of the in-class That Was Then, This Is Now project began on Friday.

Any student present in class on Monday, June 13, was encouraged to jot notes on the answers to last Wednesday's graded class work, which were projected via the SmartBoard and chart paper for a boosted/averaged grade.  

*Don't forget to return the field trip permission form and payment by Thursday, June 17, to your first period teacher.

What is due for June 13?

In class on Friday, June 10, most students completed thirty minutes of the multiple-choice cumulative vocabulary assessment; another thirty minutes' worth of time is slated for Tuesday, June 14.

The third quotation and its subsequent elaboration of the in-class That Was Then, This Is Now project began on Friday, and students will have time on both Monday and Tuesday to complete.

What is due for June 10 (and included below is CW due June 9)?

in class, students learned that the cumulative vocabulary final will be split evenly time-wise between Friday, June 10, and Tuesday, June 14: thirty minutes after Scantron sheet and test paper have been distributed along with privacy folders.

Students may employ various scenarios to achieve the best possible score, including but not limited to the following:

-Doing ANY and ALL items they confidently know on Friday and reviewing those they need to study over the weekend/Monday;
-Beginning with the twenty antonyms before beginning the sixty or so questions that ask test-takers to supply a synonym or basic meaning of a word;
-Previewing by flipping through the three double-sided pages and assessing whether to do the easiest pages first or began on the first page.

After viewing an inspirational three-minute clip of "Grace VanderWaal: 12-Year-Old Ukulele Player Gets Golden Buzzer - America's Got Talent: 2016 ," students were asked to write and sent an e-mail to the teacher with a paragraph of no fewer than seven sentences in response to what they saw and heard. Some students suggested the importance of the songwriter's lyrics, including "I don't know my name . . . " and later, "Now, I know my name," but others commented on one of the themes viewers could glean from the performance and interview before and after Grace's musical performance.

On page 203, students were asked to complete "Two-word Completions," for practice even if this is a small section of the vocabulary final and for students' convenience what was discussed in class and listed on the chalkboard is shared below for the 100 point breakdown:

Basic Meaning (40 questions)
Synonyms (20 questions)
Antonyms (20 questions)
Filling the Blank (11 questions)
Words in Context (5 questions)
Two-word completion (4 questions)

CW for 6/8 included "Word Associations," on pages 305-206.

Please remember to bring a choice book to read when you finish the work assigned for That Was Then, This Is Now.  As of Thursday, students should have selected and responded to (in a complete written paragraph with elaboration per class expectations) for the first two-thirds of the book. 

What is due for June 8?

In class there were two warm-up activities, which any student who hadn't completed should do for HW:

On page 202, students were asked to complete the EVEN numbers of #1-25; this is preparation for the cumulative vocabulary test.

On page 204, students were asked to identify the KIND (DEC., EXC., IMP., and INT.) and TYPE  (SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX, and COMPOUND-COMPLEX) of sentence for #44-49. 

Please remember to bring a choice book to read when you finish the work assigned for That Was Then, This Is Now.

What is due for June 7?

In class there were two warm-up activities, which any student who hadn't completed should do:

On page 202, students were asked to complete the odd numbers of #1-25; this is preparation for the cumulative vocabulary test.

On page 204, students were asked to identify the KIND (DEC., EXC., IMP., and INT.) and TYPE  (SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX, and COMPOUND-COMPLEX)  of sentence for #38-43. 

Please remember to bring a choice book to read when you finish the work assigned for That Was Then, This Is Now.

What is due for June 6?

Unless you were absent on Friday, June 3, or you have fallen behind with class work (CW), you probably do not have Literacy 7 work to do.

If you are one of the students from the second literacy block who accidentally swiped his or her desk copy of That Was Then, This Is Now, please return the book to 211 on Monday morning.

Unless I'm mistaken, I suspect some of my Literacy 7 students will be watching sports this weekend, including Copa América
 Centenario:

 

 

What is due for June 3?

On June 2, I allowed students ten minutes to be sure that they had finished up "Completing the Sentence" and "Synonyms" and "Antonyms" before doing "Choosing the Right Word," which was reviewed in class.  NOTE: The vocabulary assessment is on Friday (6/3). 

Any students who were in class on Wednesday and Thursday and hadn't finished their blurbs or paragraphs on the following two topics should do so: 
Why aren't the jurors given names in Twelve Angry Men?
Which is your favorite juror and why?

What is due for June 2?

Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW. 

Today in class, students were expected to review identify the part of speech for the blanks in "Completing the Sentence" (Unit 15) on pages 191-192 prior to inputting the vocabulary words.

Since some students were able to complete that task, I advised students to preview "Synonyms," focusing on which words would need suffixes added, and "Antonyms."

On June 2, I will allow students ten minutes to be sure that they have completed the aforementioned vocabulary activities since the vocabulary assessment is on Friday (6/3).

For those who missed May 27, be sure to complete a word bank numbered from #1-#20 for Unit 15 words. En route to lunch, I hope that you can view the short clip of another "court" movie so that you can compare and contrast with  Twelve Angry Men  in a paragraph.

What is due for May 27?
Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW. 

Today in class, students were expected to review #16-#20 of Unit 15. After doing so, students were encouraged to access the Sadlier-Oxford "quiz" via Google Classroom and complete three "turns," developing a fluency with the synonyms and definitions.

Looking back at their first on-demand narrative piece from September 2015, students were asked to review their lock-down drill after noting the errors listed along with the PARCC-like grade. In most literacy blocks, students were annoyed with their run-ons (ROs) or fragments (FRAGs), but it was proof that parsing and the studying of types of sentences is paying off.  

What is due for May 26?

Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW. 

Today in class, students were expected to review #11-#15 of Unit 15.  In your vocabulary book, you were expected to identify the type of sentence for each of the exemplar sentences for #11-#15:  simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.

In honor of Brain Week, students watched a twenty-minute Brain Games video and were responsible for writing a two- to four-sentence blurb identifying a favorite part of the video and support for selecting that section.

What is due for May 25?

Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW. 

Today in class, students were expected to write five sentences with sixteen or more words for #6-10 of Unit 15; students were allowed to tweak the exemplar sentences to produce the following types of sentences for these five words:

6. simple
7. compound
8. complex
9. complex
10. compound-complex

Here's a note from Ms. MacGorman, who returned to BMS at the start of fourth marking period:
Students, gear up for summer reading by bringing in your gently used books to swap for great new‐to‐you books! There will be areas for adults, birth ‐ grade 4 (for adults/students to swap books for their children/younger siblings!), 5‐6, and 7‐8! Students will receive one swap ticket for every usable book they bring in!

Important Dates: Collection Dates ‐ Wednesday, May 18 ‐ Friday, May 27
Students may drop off books with Ms. Mac in the library during their lunch times or with permission from their literacy teacher. On Friday, June 3rd, participating grade 5 and 7 students will be invited to come to the Book Swap during their literacy classes! We will be rooting for 100% participation, and students may share their tickets with classmates to spread the reading wealth! Students may also earn tickets from Ms. Mac or their literacy teacher for additional swapping! Teachers will receive a list of students participating in the Book Swap. Only students who earn tickets/bring in books will be able to attend. Remaining books will be provided to local students in need or donated to the AAUW book sale this summer. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & READ!!!! :) Happy Swapping! 

What is due for May 24?
Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW. 

Today in class, students were expected to review the first five vocabulary words of Unit 15.  In class, I gave lined paper to each student and plan on collecting it on Tuesday.

1. Turn #1 on page 186 into an interrogative sentence; then parse it. UNLESS you're in the last literacy block, you should have alphabetized the antonyms for abyss.
2. If you weren't in class or you were in the last literacy block, do the following to the second exemplar sentence: replace it with a gerund (Hint: Transform the infinitive into a gerund by adding –ing after eliminating to) and be sure to add by chance in parentheses after come to pass on page 186 in the vocabulary  book.
3. Add key to the synonyms for crucial.
4. Alphabetize the synonyms for dregs.
5. Parse #5 after copying it double-spaced. Be sure to change the verb so that you are using standard English..

FOR THE AFTERNOON LITERACY BLOCK, you were expected to identify the order of the remaining six jurors who changed their votes from  guilty to  not guilty . Instead of reading silently on Wednesday (5/25) for twenty minutes, you may opt to complete this assignment.

The vocabulary assessment for Unit 15 is Friday, June 3.

What is due for May 19?
Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW. 

Today in class, students were expected to complete "Choosing the Right Word."

The vocabulary assessment for Unit 14 is Thursday, May 19.

What is due for May 18?

Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW UNLESS A STUDENT IS PERFORMING IN THE CONCERT ON TUESDAY EVENING; THEN AN EXTENSION IS "UNDERSTOOD."

Students accessed Google Classroom and used the Sadlier-Oxford "quiz" as practice prior to doing the remaining ten sentences of "Completing the Sentence."

Literacy blocks watched part of Twelve Angry Men.

What is due for May 17?
Whatever CW isn't done becomes HW:

Do-now for May 16, 2016

After writing a heading on a piece of lined paper—and ask if you don’t have one—fold so that you have three columns (Hint: Think vertical for columns). From left to right, label these columns ADJ., N. and V. to make a word bank for Unit 14 (and today’s review) since the assessment is on Thursday.

Once done, consider the following queries or fill-in-the blanks to connect Unit 14 words to what you already know:

Which one of these words reminds you of a science lab and why?

Which one of these words has a synonym for hut (that’s falling down) in it?

When you’re not feeling well or are nauseated, often this type of diet is suggested: ______. Think banana or bread and applesauce.

When there’s a total eclipse, it’s as if the moon has blotted out the sun, and that makes you think of which word?

What’s the name for the machine that drops soda or food after money has been inserted?

What’s a synonym for weapons? If that’s too difficult, fill in the blank:
“The suspect is considered _ _ _ ed and dangerous.”

What’s a morning routine at school (and it's often recited around 7:50)? If you were to stop saying it, would you be able to continue? Think of the preposition song, too.

What is often attached to an electric guitar when it’s used in a concert?

What does 
the symbol above mean?

TED Talks are not this word that begins the same way (or they wouldn’t be posted): ted_____

If someone in Twelve Angry Men said, “I’m going to strangle you, the foreman might move to ______ him,” and most likely this would be Juror #3.

Which one of these words is one of the first words we defined for Twelve Angry Men?

Which one of these words was associated with The Cricket in Times Square? I realize that if you weren't at BMS in fifth grade, you might not know the answer to this.

On the back of the Unit 14 word bank, students were told to identify the page number for the FIRST time each of the six jurors voted NOT GUILTY (through page 48). NOTE: The on-line PDF, which is available via Google Classroom, was used so that students could increase the font size since many have complained about the play's small size.

In each of the literacy blocks at least one student presented his or her persuasive essay about HW (and the teacher asked that this be put on the back of the last page or penultimate page of the packet, which was collected today unless a student had been absent on Friday or was willing to accept a late penalty of 10% per day).

NOTE: Twenty minutes of silent reading of choice book was given and will be repeated on Wednesdays and Fridays from this point on (if at all possible).

What is due for May 16?

On Friday as a do-now, students reviewed the fourth and final set of five Unit 14 vocabulary words prior to the following activities:

• In your packet, “flip” ALL sentences except #19.
• For #19, rewrite it as an imperative sentence, ensuring you have sixteen words.

If you've forgotten how to "flip" a sentence, here's an example from the double-sided grammar sheet handed out in the first two literacy blocks on Friday and on Wednesday in the last literacy block: Because it's stormy, the flight is delayed. ---> The flight is delayed because it's stormy.

What is due for May 13?

On Thursday as a do-now, students reviewed the third set of five Unit 14 vocabulary words prior to the following five activities:

In your packet, copy both sentences for #11. Using wavy brackets, identify the dependent clauses and independent clauses of both 11A and 11B.

Parse #12-15, alphabetizing the synonyms and antonyms below each sentence for that word.

What is due for May 12?

On Wednesday as a do-now, students reviewed the second set of five Unit 14 vocabulary words prior to a whole-class activity, which practiced reading comprehension skills, grammar and more.  If you were absent and wish to catch up, carefully read and complete the following five activities:

• In packet, parse #6.
• Parse #7 after turning it into an INTERROGATIVE. Alphabetize the synonyms and antonyms.
• For #8, use quotation marks to show an expert’s advice, which will follow a direct address and become an imperative (with the addition of one word), adding a coordinating conjunction, or, and you will rue that decision.
• Copy both exemplars from #9 and identify each one’s type of sentence: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
• Rewrite #10 as an interrogative, adding the three synonyms to irascible (with a coordinating conjunction) in alphabetical order.

Also, students spent seven minutes generating a paragraph relating one theme Twelve Angry Men to their prior, current, or future life.  (NOTE: This paragraph was put on the back of  the #1-5 do-now).

In the final seven or so minutes of class, students were asked to brainstorm and begin to design a parody of Twelve Angry Men, using a species of living or formerly living creature; so far examples have ranged from dinosaurs to birds. With limited time, students were encouraged to focus on Jurors #3, #8, and #11.  (NOTE: This paragraph was put on the back of the #6-10 do-now).

Please bring a recreational reading book to class from Thursday on.

 What is due for May 11?

On Tuesday as a do-now, students reviewed the first five Unit 14 vocabulary words prior to a whole-class activity, which practiced reading comprehension skills, grammar and more.  If you were absent and wish to catch up, carefully read and complete the following five activities:

Copy and parse exemplar sentence for #1. (Hint: Skipping lines makes parsing easier for most students.) Then from left to right (and by how this is written, the student should realize a linear listing is expected), alphabetize the four synonyms; repeating this activity with amplify’s antonyms.

Tweak the second exemplar sentence; make it an INTERROGATIVE using the future tense (will), eliminate hope to and add armistice’s synonym after the conjunction or to create a compound DO with Israel and Palestine as compound OPs added after nations plus of.

Tweak the third exemplar sentence; make it an INTERROGATIVE and addhaughty, a Unit 13 synonym after or.

Tweak the fourth exemplar sentence; eliminate in, change the infinitive into a present participle, and put it (the present participle) in front of place and change all year round from the adverbial phrase to two prepositional phrases : from January to December.

Copy and parse exemplar sentence for #5.

NOTE: On Monday and Tuesday, students in chorus are given an extra day to complete any incomplete class work.

On Monday, students who had attended Dorney Park were advised to concentrate on eight dates for the Steve Jobs obituary, whereas the students in class were responsible for a lengthier chronology. Even though most students participated in the construction of an on-line chronology, ALL students need to use grid paper to plot the dates to scale. (Hint: To minimize cluttering, students were told to use letters of the alphabet to "link" to the chronology.

What is due for May 9?

After reading and rereading the Unit 13 nonfiction text/obituary on pages 164-165 of the vocabulary book, students discussed dates implied in the text, which would require technology to verify. All students present who wished to collaborate were allowed to create one document to which they would input information. The end goal is producing a timeline (to scale) for Steve Jobs (after reading and re-reading the Unit 13 nonfiction text/obituary on pages 164-165 of the vocabulary book). This document could serve as a chronology to which letters (A through . . .) would appear on the grid paper. 

The first literacy block had only ten people present and all opted to collaborate.

The second literacy block had sixteen people present; some wished to produce a timeline without collaboration. 

For the most part, students in school should not have HW based on May 6 CW unless they opted to produce their timeline individually.

NOTE: The next vocabulary test for Unit 14 is scheduled for Thursday, May 19.

What was posted on cinco de mayo?

Sharp School was down during the school day on cinco de mayo and wouldn't let me update CW/HW, so I used Google Classroom and posted what follows at 7:33 P.M.:

Most students took both their vocabulary and parsing quizzes today. After copying and parsing #16 and #25 on page 170 of vocabulary, we discussed APPOSITIVE, a term that is in the red book and has been mentioned from time to time, but this is a new item. Here's the definition from Purdue's OWL website, which we will view in class: "An appositive is a noun or pronoun — often with modifiers — set beside another noun or pronoun to explain or identify it (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/596/1/).

On Wednesday and Thursday, we reviewed relative pronouns and subordinating conjunctions with the morning literacy blocks, but the afternoon literacy block will have an opportunity to finish its parsing quiz on Monday since the review of the aforementioned sentences was truncated.

The morning literacy blocks spent twenty-five or so minutes writing their narrative and that time differential allowed the afternoon literacy block to catch up with TWELVE ANGRY MEN.

All students present who will be attending the music field trip at Dorney Park received grid paper in case they wish to complete some of Friday's CW, which will include producing a timeline (to scale) for Steve Jobs (after reading and re-reading the Unit 13 nonfiction text/obituary on pages 164-165 of the vocabulary book).

NOTE: The next vocabulary test for Unit 14 is scheduled for Thursday, May 19.

Late posting (Posted at 4:06 but a computer glitch required a re-posting at 5:20 P.M.)
What HW is due for cinco de mayo or May 5? (No HW is assigned daily,  but students are expected to complete CW for HW if absent or unable to do so during the literacy block for whatever reason.)

In class, students completed pages 170-171, "Choosing the Right Word," while teacher conducted a three-point spot check of yesterday's CW/HW: "CS."  NOTE: Students may correct or edit their Unit 13 sentences, activities, etc., for partial credit (if they had not already done so).

Morning literacy blocks identified the Star Wars date pun ("May the 4th -- sounds like 'force' -- be with you" in their R/W notebook. In addition, they read through page 38 of Act II of Twelve Angry Men, and the second literacy block responded in a paragraph of seven sentences or more, identifying two points in the pages from pages 34-38 when additional jurors realized that NOT GUILTY isn't so far-fetched.

In addition to completing "Choosing the Right Word," all students copied and parsed (double-spacing is encouraged when parsing is involved) #3 and #14 (through wetlands ) of "CRW."

The afternoon literacy block did not read any additional sections of Twelve Angry Men since they completed an unannounced writing activity, which will be tweaked and assigned to the morning literacy blocks in the near future.

Please note that the assessment for Unit 13 is Thursday.

What HW is due for May 4? (No HW is assigned daily,  but students are expected to complete CW for HW if absent or unable to do so during the literacy block for whatever reason.)

In class, students completed pages 171-172, "Completing the Sentence," after making a part-of-speech chart with ADJECTIVES (ADJ.), NOUNS (N.), and VERBS (V.) in R/W notebook. Please note that in the morning literacy blocks, we reviewed the part of speech for each of the blanks in "Completing the Sentence."

Morning literacy blocks read through page 34 of Act II of Twelve Angry Men and responded in a paragraph of seven sentences or more underscoring the importance of the math (algebraic) rate problem (ten seconds for el train with five cars to pass by) and the insight of Juror 9.

Please note that the assessment for Unit 13 is Thursday.

What HW is due for May 3? (No HW is assigned daily,  but students are expected to complete CW for HW if absent or unable to do so during the literacy block for whatever reason.)

Presentations of the homework essay began today in the morning literacy blocks. (NOTE: While listening, students were expected to identify the classmate's thesis and one reason per body paragraphs.) Also in the two morning Literacy 7 blocks, students listened to the first ten minutes of a podcast entitled Confronting Hatred: 70 Years after the Holocaust, which really could be written with quotation marks since podcasts tend to be shorter (but this one is fifty minutes) and similar to episodes; the following link explains how grammar is still playing catch-up to technology (albeit this article is from a few years ago):
 http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/how-to-use-italics

After listening to the podcast, students were asked to write a paragraph (approximately seven sentences), revealing similarities between the topics or examples shared and Twelve Angry Men (Act I). NOTE: The afternoon literacy block hadn't seen the first clip of Twelve Angry Men nor had they finished Act I, so the do-now for Tuesday will be a paragraph about the differences noted between the play and the movie version.

In class, two student volunteers parsed #18 and #19 if they finished the exercises on pages 170-171; otherwise, the teacher called on selected students. 

Prior to completing "Synonyms" and "Antonyms" for Unit 13 (on pages 170-17), teacher asked students to review via the Sadlier-Oxford quiz: 

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/games/vocabulary/AH%20Level%20C/Unit%2013/default.html

NOTE: Mrs. Craver and Mrs. Drew are hosting a book club meeting with parents next Monday.

Attached to the Literacy 7 page is the flyer, but I have copied the information:

Attention Parents and Guardians: 

Are you interested in helping your children navigate

the online world and social media?

 Marcy Craver, School Counselor and Lisa Drew, Student Assistance Counselor will be hosting a parent book club for parents and guardians of kindergarten through twelfth graders on May 13^th in the Olcott Conference room at 25 Olcott Avenue from 1:30 to 2:30pm.

Participants will be asked to read the book Talking Back to Facebook: A Common Sense Guide to Raising Kids in the Digital Age by James P. Steyer.

 Goals: 

• Get the RAP (Relationships, Attention/Addiction and

  Privacy) on digital media.

• Learn how to protect children from vulnerabilities in today's

  online and social media outlets.

• Acquire strategies for discussing privacy and safety issues.
• Learn age-specific tips for appropriate online and social

  media use          

   

  How to sign up:

  • Email your name and your child’s grade to Mrs. Lisa Drew at ldrew@shsd.org by Monday, May 9th.

 Please bring three topics or quotes for discussion.

 Book summary from Amazon.com

Now, more than ever, parents need help in navigating their kids’ online, media-saturated lives. Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, the nation’s leading kids and- media organization, and the father of four children, knows that many parents and teachers—unlike their technology-savvy kids—may be tourists in the online world.

 In this essential book, Steyer—a frequent commentator on national TV and radio— offers an engaging blend of straightforward advice and anecdotes that address what he calls RAP, the major pitfalls relating to kids’ use of media and technology: relationship issues, attention/addiction problems, and the lack of privacy. Instead of shielding children completely from online images and messages, Steyer’s practical approach gives parents essential tools to help filter content, preserve good relationships with their children, and make common sense, value-driven judgments for kids of all ages.

 Not just about Facebook, this comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to the online world, media, and mobile devices belongs in the hands of all parents and educators raising kids in today’s digital age.

What HW is due for May 2? (No HW is assigned, but students are expected to complete CW for HW if absent or unable to do so during the literacy block for whatever reason.)

In your Reader’s/Writer’s Notebook, you should have composed an imperative sentence of sixteen or more words for #16 of Unit 13. For #17 and #20, did you write an interrogative sentence of of sixteen or more words? For #18-19, had you copied the exemplar sentences, making sure that you skipped lines so that parsing was easier to do.  For #16, #17, and #20, students were told they had permission to use the gist of the exemplar sentences (but sixteen words were still required per sentence).

If you were absent, students finished reading Act I of Twelve Angry Men before watching thirteen minutes or so of the original movie version.  One period was spent in the library where students finalized their homework essays and ensured their highlighting, which was reviewed yesterday in class and is explained via Sharp School notes from yesterday, was complete (to the best of their ability). 

One color copy should be printed and stapled for the teacher and one black and white copy should be printed for the student. For the last literacy block, Mr. Gdula will not collect your work, but Mrs. Sorge will. Once students are done the essay work in the library, they should work on their vocabulary class work, which becomes HW if not complete.

What HW is due for April 29? 

In your Reader’s/Writer’s Notebook, compose an imperative sentence of sixteen or more words for the next four vocabulary words that are verbs (#11-#12 and #14-#15 of pages 167-168). Feel free to use the gist of the exemplar sentence(s) to help you.  

For #13, pithy, write an exclamatory sentence of sixteen or more words.  

Keep in mind that if you hadn't corrected or completed classwork from the prior two days, you should do so for HW.  
________________________________________________

If you were at work with your parent(s) and would like to review how much of Twelve Angry Men your classmates read today, please read through 12/32 of the PDF file on Google Classroom or pages 22-23 of the actual text. (HINT: The jurors wanted to examine the switch knife and the atmosphere is becoming a tad "heated.")
________________________________________________

Tomorrow most students will print out two copies of their persuasive essays when we're in the library (for one period). In class on Thursday, students were instructed to highlight* sections of their essay to ensure they had completed what was necessary. 

Opinion statement/thesis = yellow

Topic sentences = orange

Clinchers = cyan (hyperlink blue) with any segues=green

Cited sources = pink

Anecdotes/expert opinions/statistics, etc.=purple

ELABORATION = gray

NOTE: In class, teacher is available for assistance for any students whose ability to distinguish shades of color is compromised (and if warranted, student will be exempt from this activity).

What HW is due for April 28? 

In your Reader’s/Writer’s Notebook, parse the first sentence (or only sentence) of #6-8 and #10 on pages 166-167. Do your best to copy neatly and skip lines (to make parsing easier). If you left your vocabulary book behind, here are the aforementioned four sentences:

6A. As the hurricane neared, residents of towns along the coast were filled with foreboding.

7. When my best friend moved to another state halfway across the country, I felt extremely forlorn.

8. The haughty tone of voice in which you refused my invitation offended me deeply.

10. If you step on a rusty nail, it is imperative that you see a doctor as soon as possible.

 

EDIT #9 (You must not let impediments in your path keep you from pursuing your dreams.) so that it is an IMPERATIVE. Write all your changes in CAPITAL LETTERS before parsing. Make sure you have sixteen words.

What HW is due for April 27? 

From this point forward, students are expected to complete any class work that hasn't been completed.  

For Unit 13 words, write the following sentences for the first five words on page 166:

With fourteen or more words and using any kind or type of sentence, write one sentence each for #1 and #2. 

For #3 (dovetail) -- either N. or V. -- write a complex sentence of sixteen or more words.

For #4, write an exclamatory sentence of sixteen or more words.

For #5, write an imperative sentence of sixteen or more words.

NOTE: On  Google Classroom , we reviewed the jurors of the U Massachusetts Law PDF file and compared it with the screenplay.

In groups of four, students used dictionaries to define one word, relaying their definitions to the other members of their quartet.

What HW is due during PARCC testing?
NONE, but recall what we have reviewed in class:
Remember to eat and hydrate adequately prior to each testing session (and this advice is the same for regular school days, except your body is accustomed to your typical, non-PARCC, schedule):

• Neither you nor your classmates wants to hear a growling stomach, so do your best to have a nutritious breakfast. 
• Monday's forecast includes a temperature high of 78°F, so hydration is really important for the rest of the day, especially if you will have PE outside.

Bring the following items to your testing classroom:

• Headphones, earbuds, etc., for use with the Chromebooks during PARCC testing;
• Recreational reading, which may NOT be in the form of an electronic device (AKA Kindle or Nook, etc.);
• Layers so that you can add or remove a layer to maximize comfort.)
  

What HW is due for April 15?

Write about the experience of writing for forty-three minutes with an outline. (Spend no fewer than seven minutes but no more than twenty-one; in math lingo, that would be 7 minutes < t  < 21 minutes).

What HW is due for April 14?

Except for a few students who owe work due to absence or having been remiss, McLiteracy 7 students do not have any HW assigned.

Tomorrow in class -- and we are in the library during first, fourth, or seventh period -- you will be able to share how you used your "free" time without Literacy 7 HW. 

NOTE: If you were absent and need a copy of the outline reviewed in class, go to the Literacy 7 page and click on the file.

What HW is due for 13?

Feel free to write in note form or complete sentences to the following questions:

• What was the first HW you remember having?
• In which grade did you first get homework?
• How much did you have per week on average before middle school?
• Did you have more HW in fifth grade than sixth grade?
• Which current classes have the most HW?

 

Be as specific as possible. CATCH UP IF YOU NEED TO!

What HW is due for April 12?

 

1. Read “The Trouble with Homework,” highlighting any section that might support your thesis.  (If you forgot your copy, you can access the article via the following link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/opinion/sunday/quality-homework-a-smart-idea.html?_r=0.)

2. Draft a thesis statement and a few supporting reasons. (NOTE: Think about your position on homework and identify three or more reasons you feel as you do. On Wednesday, you will print out—we will be in the library for one period—an outline with a “Works Cited” page.)

CATCH UP IF YOU NEED TO!

No HW is due for April 11 UNLESS . . . !

If you were NOT in class today or had been absent numerous days (and did not take the assessment), study your Unit 12 words for the assessment.  

Keep in mind that some students were encouraged to invest more effort in honing their seventh-grade writing skills via REVISED (or scheduled) APPs. To ensure you're doing what's required, remember Jackie Robinson's #42, which was my mnemonic device for three fourteen-word sentences per AcmePitPlan for the thirteen school days, beginning on February 26, and ending on the Ides of March (with submission the next day - 3/16).

NOTE: Catch up on any work missed due to absence or being remiss.

What HW is due for April 8?

Study all Unit 12 words in preparation for the assessment (4/8/16).

NOTE: Catch up on any work missed due to absence or being remiss.

What HW is due for April 7?

1. Study all Unit 12 words, completing any items from the #1-12 do-now of “CS.” (NOTE: In error I had written “CRW” for the morning literacy blocks.)

2. Read pages 75-81 of Echoes from Mt. Olympus.

 

Please pass along to your guardian the letter distributed in class.

What HW is due for April 6?

1. Study all Unit 12 words, completing any items from the do-now of “Synonyms” or “Antonyms.”

2. Read “Cupid and Psyche,” pages 85-91.

NOTE: What follows is NOT HW but written to help keep absent students as current as possible:
Review the first and last paragraphs of the vocabulary book’s “To the Bat Cave.” To the best of your ability, parse these six sentences (three per paragraph); after you’ve done as much as you can, count the number of words in each of these introductory and concluding sentences. What TYPES of sentences are used? Why do you think the author chooses to begin and end with so many of this TYPE?

What HW is due for April 5?

1. Study all Unit 12 words, completing any items from the do-now of “CRW.”

2. Read “Perseus and Medusa,” pages 93-98.

NOTE: What follows is NOT HW but written to help keep absent students as current as possible:

If you were absent from class, students watched two videos as part of the information-gathering for their persuasive essays/presentations about HW --Is it necessary and if so, how much is not too much? one was from the Brookings Institution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArKr1exR2rg; unfortunately, the other one from Time: For Kids was having technical difficulties with the volume of interviewed students from P.S. 86 in the Bronx. Prior to watching, students answer the following two questions on a Google document set up for note-taking via the following naming process: surname.first name initial - HW essay.

• How many kids are truly overburdened with homework?
• What do parents think about the HW load?

 

What HW is due for April 4, 2016?

None UNLESS you have fallen behind with prior HW (or CW) from recent absence(s), etc., including but not limited to Wednesday's two-part HW on the vocabulary book's informational article ("To the Bat Cave!"), APPs (thirteen days' worth of one fourteen-word sentence per ACME, PIT, and PLAN due on 3/16), and timelines (Cabeza de Vaca or umbrella).

*Please note that in class on Friday, April 1, we completed a pre-test to help students assess their vocabulary preparation. Based on each student's results -- refer to the full-page blue sheet with spelling, parts of speech and numbers (referring to synonyms or antonyms) -- students should know which words need attention in the days prior to the April 8 Unit 12 assessment.

What HW is due for April 1, 2016?

1. Study #16-20 of Unit 12 UNLESS you’re still making up a prior vocabulary unit’s assessment.
2. Read "Echo and Narcissus."
3. Catch up on any work you've missed.

What HW is due for March 31, 2016?

1. Study #11-15 of Unit 12 UNLESS you’re still making up a prior vocabulary unit’s assessment.
2. Read the informational essay on pages 146-147 of your vocabulary book. Then identify each sentence of each paragraph as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. After completing each paragraph, write and circle the number of sentences (in that paragraph). Based on the article, supply two reasons (AKA arguments) the bats of Carlsbad Caverns are important. Cite the text within quotation marks.

What HW is due for March 30?

1. Study #6-#10 of Unit 12.

2. Read “Artemis, Orion, and the Seven Sisters.”

NOTE: If you haven't completed the assessment for Unit 11, please try to do so by Thursday afternoon, accessing your make-up assessments either at lunch or after school in the library.

What HW is due for March 29, 2016? 

1.  Study #1-5 of Unit 12 vocabulary words. The assessment is set for next Friday (4/8). NOTE: If you are one of the individuals who hadn't completed your Unit 11 quiz on 3/17, please STUDY your Unit 11 words and try to complete before Friday, April 1. Assessments with your name will be left in the library for after-school or lunchtime completion.

2. Read "Arachne," which is the first myth in the second cluster of Echoes from Mt. Olympus, which was reissued to any student in school on Monday. For students in the last literacy block, here's an link that I found on-line: http://www.skitsap.wednet.edu/cms/lib/WA01000495/Centricity/Domain/1139/Arachne%20SB%20pg.%2064-67.pdf.

3. If you can't recall the literary "faults" or "sins" for which your teacher uses PEG'S LAW as a mnemonic or memory device, you should have written them in your planner below Monday (if you were in class):

Pride=Excessive satisfaction in one's achievements
Envy=JEALOUSY
Gluttony=PIGGISHNESS
Sloth=LAZINESS
L____ (skipped)
Avarice=GREED
Wrath=ANGER

What HW is due for March 18, 2016? 

Do your best to catch up if you've fallen behind (with your APP project, which encompassed thirteen school days from 2/26 to 3/15).

What HW is due for March 17, 2016? 

Study for Thursday's Unit 11 assessment by rereading the exemplar sentences and/or "CRW" or "CS."

Do your best to catch up if you've fallen behind (with your APP project, which encompassed thirteen school days from 2/26 to 3/15).

What HW is due for March 16, 2016? 

1. Complete your final APP after reading/rereading all twelve prior ones.
2. Complete "Synonyms" and "Antonyms."
3. Identify #16-#20  of "CRW" as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.

What HW is due for the Ides of March (3-15-16)? 

1. Complete your penultimate APP.
2. Complete "CRW" after reading/rereading ALL 23 exemplar sentences on pages 138-140.
3. Identify #16-#20 as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.

What HW is due for March 14? 

1. Read the dog interview, which is the nonfiction text at the beginning of Unit 11.
2. Complete your eleventh APP..
3. Do "CS" for Unit 11.

What HW is due for March 11? 

1. Read the double-sided article distributed in class, which relates to the penultimate assembly.
2. Complete your tenth APP..
3. Study either Unit 10 words if you hadn't completed Friday's assessment or #16-20 words of Unit 11.

What HW is due for March 10? 

1. Catch up! Many students have missed a day or two of their nonfiction reading and with today's Latin test and several students missing some of class, use today as a catch-up day.
2. Complete your ninth APP for Wednesday, March 9.  After today's entry, you only have four remaining dates: 3/10; 3/11; 3/14; 3/15, The prior entries are associated with the following nine dates: 2/26, 2/29, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3, 3/4, 3/7, 3/8, and 3/9.
3. Study either Unit 10 words if you hadn't completed Friday's assessment or #11-15 words of Unit 11.

What HW is due for March 9? 

1. Read the three narrative nonfiction pages that were distributed in class on Monday. NOTE: Due to a copying snafu, page 1 and page 3 are on the double-sided sheet, and the second page is separate.  By using the title and URL for the beginning and end, I hope you can navigate this text.
2. Please review how much you have completed for the APP project that began two Fridays ago (2/26) and for which you are required to write three fourteen-letter or more sentences thrice (one for ACME, one for PIT, and one for PLAN) per school day (whether or not you're present in class). The final date is the Ides of March (3/15), so by March 16, you should have thirteen entries of no fewer than fourteen words (forty-two in total) with thirteen legible school dates.
3. Study either Unit 10 words if you hadn't completed Friday's assessment or #6-10 words of Unit 11.

What HW is due for March 8? 

1. Read the two pages related to Jackie Robinson that were distributed in class on Monday.
2. Please review how much you have completed for the APP project that began two Fridays (2/26) ago and for which you are required to write three fourteen-letter or more sentences thrice (one for ACME, one for PIT, and one for PLAN) per school day (whether or not you're present in class). The final date is the Ides of March (3/15), so by March 16, you should have thirteen entries of no fewer than fourteen words (forty-two in total) with thirteen legible school dates.
3. Study either Unit 10 words if you hadn't taken Friday's assessment of the first five words of Unit 11.

What HW is due for March 7 (belated post of 3/5 at 8 A.M).? 

1. Read the three-page handout distributed in class on Friday. Unfortunately, a few students left behind this section of the New York Times blog entitled "Continuing King's Mission," which I photocopied along with "'Oh, My Gosh, That's Me,'" which features two Princeton second-graders at the blackboard. Using the search button we reviewed in class -- Ctrl + F -- interested students should be able to find the aforementioned articles via the following link:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/national/unpublished-black-history/poor-mans-march-newark-1968
2. Please review how much you have completed for the APP project that began last Friday (2/26) and for which you are required to write three fourteen-letter or more sentences thrice (one for ACME, one for PIT, and one for PLAN) per school day (whether or not you're present in class). The final date is the Ides of March (3/15), so by March 16, you should have thirteen entries of no fewer than fourteen words (forty-two in total) with thirteen legible school dates.
3. Catch up on any missed work.

What HW is due for March 4? 

1. Reread page 80 (in your vocabulary book) and make a timeline by Friday. (NOTE: If you're in the 1:13-2:46 literacy block, you were given time at the end of class to complete yours, BUT your timeline had to reflect the passage of time accurately. For example, every 400 years from 2400 B.C. to 2000 A.D. is noted and events are placed within a reasonable range.) Students whose timeline does NOT reflect the passage of time -- one inch = the same time period throughout the timeline -- be sure to note this discrepancy (or lose credit).
2. If you were in school today (or yesterday), you should have received an additional piece of blue lined paper for your APP. Scroll down to 2/26 for more details.
3. Study Unit 10 vocabulary words for Friday's assessment.

What HW is due for March 3? 

1. Reread page 80 (in your vocabulary book) and make a timeline by Friday. Also read page 118 in your vocabulary book.
2. If you were in school on Friday, February 26, or Monday, Leap Day, you should have received a blue piece of lined paper. On Wednesday, I meant to hand out one additional page to everyone, so if you run out of room, just use another piece of paper and we will staple it to the new blue paper on Thursday. 
3. Study Unit 10 vocabulary words for Friday's assessment.

What HW is due for March 2 "READ ACROSS AMERICA?

1. Read "Solving a Jackie Robinson Mystery." If you missed class on Tuesday, students responded in blurbs of three sentences in their Readers' Notebooks to two questions related to "Jane of the Apes": Why did the author of the nonfiction text include the three sentences right after the title. Repeat for the hen house anecdote. (Why did the author include this story.)
2. If you were in school on Friday, February 26, or Monday, Leap Day, you received a blue piece of lined paper. For the next thirteen school days, you are being asked to reflect daily about the entire school day.  Rewind these 421 minutes (BMS's school day is seven hours and one minute), replaying them in your head. Do your best to select an ACME (a high point of the day) and a "pit" (a homograph that the teacher is using to represent nadir -- look back at acme if nadir is unfamiliar to you) along with a PLAN you devise to either replicate your success and/or avoid similar pitfalls in the future. 
3. Study Unit 10 vocabulary words for Friday's assessment.

What HW is due for March 1?

1. Read "Jane of the Apes." If you missed class on Monday, students were given twenty-nine minutes (in honor of Leap Day) to write a narrative -- historical fiction -- from the perspective of one of three individuals listed on the first page of "Schools: Black and White."  The objective was to tell the story before, during, and after the conversation between Mr. Oliver Brown (Linda's father) and the principal of Sumner School.
2. If you were in school on Friday, February 26, you received a blue piece of lined paper. For the next thirteen school days, you are being asked to reflect daily about the entire school day.  Rewind these 421 minutes (BMS's school day is seven hours and one minute), replaying them in your head. Do your best to select an ACME (a high point of the day) and a "pit" (a homograph that the teacher is using to represent nadir -- look back at acme if nadir is unfamiliar to you) along with a PLAN you devise to either replicate your success and/or avoid similar pitfalls in the future. 
3. Study Unit 10 vocabulary words for Friday's assessment.

What HW is due for (Leap Day) February 29?

1. Do "Completing the Sentence" for Unit 10.
2. If you were in school on Friday, February 26, you received a blue piece of lined paper. For the next thirteen school days, you are being asked to reflect daily about the entire school day.  Rewind these 421 minutes (BMS's school day is seven hours and one minute), replaying them in your head. Do your best to select an ACME (a high point of the day) and a "pit" (a homograph that the teacher is using to represent nadir -- look back at acme if nadir is unfamiliar to you) along with a PLAN you devise to either replicate your success and/or avoid similar pitfalls in the future. 

• Spending seven minutes in total for the blue sheet activity, complete the following:

Compose one sentence of fourteen or more words about the ACME.

Compose one sentence of fourteen or more words about the low point.

Devise a plan "of attack" for promoting success (more acmes and fewer nadirs in a concluding sentence.

Dates (of school) to be listed for thirteen entries: 2/26; 2/29, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3, and 3/4; 3/7, 3/8, 3/9, 3/10, and 3/11; 3/14 (Pi Day) and 3/15 (Ides of March). NOTE: Since this is more like a diary, only your full name is required on the first line (or top) of the blue sheet, but a full heading is acceptable.  Please do NOT write anything but a name or date on the top line (and by top, I mean there's no line above it).

If student is absent, he or she may complete (using regular lined paper), focusing on activity or activities completed during the 7:45 A.M.-2:46 P.M. time period.

What HW is due for February 26?

1. Read “Schools: Black and White.”
2. Review final five Unit 10 targeted vocabulary words: upbraid, veritable, vex, vitality, and whimsical.

What HW is due for February 25?

1. Read excerpt of “Still Me” by Christopher Reeve along with Greek myth, mentioning Sisyphus and Tantalus.
2. Review Unit 10 targeted vocabulary words: personable, rue, scoff, transition, and trepidation.

What HW is due for February 24?

1. By 2/24, read the vocabulary text on pages 126-127 and complete a timeline, using symbols and numbers whenever possible to keep words to a minimum. NOTE: In class you were given a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" piece of ecru construction paper for the timeline's completion. If you were absent both Monday and Tuesday and wish to try to complete, do a sloppy copy or rough draft on computer paper or construction paper.

2. Review #6-10 of Unit 10 targeted vocabulary words.

3. READ for a minimum of twenty-seven minutes, but rereading the historical text counts.

 

What HW is due for February 23?

1. By 2/24, read vocabulary text on pages 126-127 and complete a timeline, using symbols and numbers whenever possible to keep words to a minimum. NOTE: In class you were given a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" piece of ecru construction paper for the timeline's completion.

2. Review Unit 10 targeted vocabulary words: accord, barter, curt, devise, and dexterous.  

3. READ for a minimum of twenty-seven minutes.

4.  If and only if you haven't recited your Robert Frost poem, do so.

What HW is due for February 22

• Just scroll down and see that each and every day via this on-line link, I have reminded you to be reading and logging that reading, ensuring you have five dates (and for each of those dates, students should have capitalized and underlined title or titles, pages read per day, and signature per day) for each  of the two weeks: 2/8-2/14 and 2/15-2/21.  In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours per week.

• If you haven't recited your Robert Frost poem, you have two more days to do so.

What HW is due for February 19

• Read for five days, ensuring you have five dates (and for each of those dates, students should have capitalized and underlined title or titles, pages read per day, and signature per day) for each  of the two weeks: 2/8-2/14 and 2/15-2/21.  In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours.
• Study all vocabulary units from 1-9 for an assessment on 2/19.
• If you haven't recited your Robert Frost poem, you have three more days to do so.

What HW is due for February 18

• Read for five days, ensuring you have five dates (and for each of those dates, students should have capitalized and underlined title or titles, pages read per day, and signature per day) for each  of the two weeks: 2/8-2/14 and 2/15-2/21.  In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours.
• Study all vocabulary units from 4-6 for an assessment on 2/19: Check your school e-mail since I have sent three  links.  If you can't access them, here they are: 

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/games/vocabulary/AH%20Level%20C/Unit%204/default.html

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/games/vocabulary/AH%20Level%20C/Unit%205/default.html

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/games/vocabulary/AH%20Level%20C/Unit%206/default.html

• By 2/18, complete page 120 and 123-124. Mea culpa for having put the wrong page numbers on the board in class on Monday!  (Thanks to a vigilant student from my last period class for correcting me.)
• Work on memorizing one of the four Robert Frost poems.
• If you are interested in enrichment, click on the nonfiction article by Huffington Post, which explains lunar new year and is on my Literacy 7 page (along with instructions for how to find grade level via Word). You can find it in FILES on the Literacy 7 page.

What HW is due for February 17

• Read for five days, ensuring you have five dates (and for each of those dates, students should have capitalized and underlined title or titles, pages read per day, and signature per day) for each  of the two weeks: 2/8-2/14 and 2/15-2/21.  In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours.
• Study all vocabulary units from 1-3 for an assessment on 2/19: Check your school e-mail since I have sent three  links.  If you can't access them, here they are: 
  ​

  http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/games/vocabulary/AH%20Level%20C/Unit%201/default.html
  
  
  http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/games/vocabulary/AH%20Level%20C/Unit%202/default.html
  
  
  
  http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/games/vocabulary/AH%20Level%20C/Unit%203/default.html
• By 2/18, complete page 120 and 123-124. Mea culpa for having put the wrong page numbers on the board in class!  (Thanks to a vigilant student from my last period class for correcting me.)
• Work on memorizing one of the four Robert Frost poems.
• If you are interested in enrichment, click on the nonfiction article by Huffington Post, which explains lunar new year and is on my Literacy 7 page (along with instructions for how to find grade level via Word). You can find it in FILES on the Literacy 7 page.

What HW is due for February 15

• Read for five days, ensuring you have five dates (and for each of those dates, students should have capitalized and underlined title or titles, pages read per day, and signature per day) for each  of the two weeks: 2/8-2/14 and 2/15-2/21.  In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours.
• Study all vocabulary units from 1-9 for an assessment on 2/19.
• Work on memorizing one of the four Robert Frost poems.
• If you are interested in enrichment, click on the nonfiction article by Huffington Post, which explains lunar new year and is on my Literacy 7 page (along with instructions for how to find grade level via Word).

What HW is due for February 11

• For five days this week and next (week), read for twenty-seven minutes or more each night. In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours.
• Complete "CRW" and study for the vocabulary test.
• Work on memorizing one of the four Robert Frost poems.
• If you are interested in enrichment, click on the nonfiction article by Huffington Post, which explains lunar new year and is on my Literacy 7 page (along with instructions for how to find grade level via Word).

What HW is due for February 10

• By Wednesday, complete  “Synonyms” and "Antonyms" for Unit 9. NOTE: The assessment is Thursday since there's no school on Friday or Monday.
• For five days this week and next (week), read for twenty-seven minutes or more each night. In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours.
• Work on memorizing one of the four Robert Frost poems.
• If you are interested in enrichment, click on the nonfiction article by Huffington Post, which explains lunar new year and is on my Literacy 7 page (along with instructions for how to find grade level via Word).

What HW is due for February 9

• By Wednesday, complete  “Synonyms” and "Antonyms" for Unit 9. NOTE: The assessment is Thursday since there's no school on Friday or Monday.
• For five days this week and next (week), read for twenty-seven minutes or more each night. In total, you should log 135 minutes or 2.25 hours.
• Work on memorizing one of the four Robert Frost poems.
• If you are interested in enrichment, click on the nonfiction article by Huffington Post, which explains lunar new year and is on my Literacy 7 page (along with instructions for how to find grade level via Word ).

What HW is due for February 8?

• Do “Completing the Sentence” (“CS”) for Unit 9.
• Read about Tecumseh and robots on pages 108-109 and 98-99 in your vocabulary book. 
• Work on memorizing one of the four Robert Frost poems.

What HW is due for February 5?

1. Study the final group of five words for Unit 9 (#16-20) for an assessment on Thursday, February 11.  Keep in mind that the cumulative assessment on the first nine units is Friday, February 19.
 
2. By Friday, read Part I of the NYT article entitled "The Mixed-up Brothers of Bogotá," which was distributed in class on Wednesday.

3.  By Friday, neatly write the following five Unit 9 exemplar sentences: 2b, 3a, 5a, 6c, and 15. Do not forget the four lines of a heading. 

FYI, by February 18-19 or February 22-23, you will recite by heart one of the four Robert Frost poems, which was distributed two weeks ago (and copied into your Reader's Notebook). Be sure to chunk your memorization.  

What HW is due for February 4?

1. Study the third group of five words for Unit 9 (#11-15) for an assessment on Thursday, February 11.  Keep in mind that the cumulative assessment on the first nine units is Friday, February 19, not Thursday, February 18, as incorrectly mentioned on Monday to my morning literacy blocks.
 
2. By Friday, read Part I of the NYT article entitled "The Mixed-up Brothers of Bogotá," which was distributed in class on Wednesday.

3.  By Friday, neatly write the following five Unit 9 exemplar sentences: 2b, 3a, 5a, 6c, and 15. Do not forget the four lines of a heading. 

FYI, by February 18-19 or February 22-23, you will recite by heart one of the four Robert Frost poems, which was distributed two weeks ago (and copied into your Reader's Notebook). Be sure to chunk your memorization.  

What HW is due for February 3?

1. Study the second group of five words for Unit 9 (#6-10) for an assessment on Thursday, February 11.  Keep in mind that the cumulative assessment on the first nine units is Friday, February 19, not Thursday, February 18, as incorrectly mentioned on Monday to my morning literacy blocks.
 
2. Reread any parts of The Outsiders related to "Whose fault [is Bob's death]?" beginning with page 116.

3.  By Friday, neatly write the following five Unit 9 exemplar sentences: 2b, 3a, 5a, 6c, and 15. Do not forget the four lines of a heading. 

FYI, by February 18-19 or February 22-23, you will recite by heart one of the four Robert Frost poems. Be sure to chunk your memorization.  

What HW is due for February 2?

1. Study the first five words of Unit 9 words for an assessment on Thursday, February 11.  Keep in mind that the cumulative assessment on the first nine units is Friday, February 19, not Thursday, February 18, 
 
2. Reread the first chapter of The Outsiders. 

3.  By Friday, neatly write the following five Unit 9 exemplar sentences: 2b, 3a, 5a, 6c, and 15. Do not forget the four lines of a heading. 

FYI, by February 18-19 or February 22-23, you will recite by heart one of the four Robert Frost poems. Be sure to chunk your memorization.  

What HW is due for February 1?

1. Study Unit 8 words for assessment on Monday during class or after school on Tuesday or Wednesday.

2. Reread parts of The Outsiders  to help clarify differences between the book and movie.

What HW is due for January 29?

1. Study Unit 8 words for assessment on Monday during class or after school on Tuesday or Wednesday.

2. Finish reading The Outsiders.

Please feel free to dress up as a Soc or greaser.  

*Over the weekend, be sure to study all of the Unit 8 words and reread parts of The Outsiders.  

What HW is due for January 28?

CATCH UP!

If you haven't been checking the HW page, you have fallen behind. Along with Mr. Greder's classes, McLiteracy 7 students had been reading one chapter of The Outsiders per night.  In addition, I had assigned "CS" and "CRW" for Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

I AM FULLY AWARE THAT WE WERE NOT IN SCHOOL on January 25 and 26.  Although the Unit 8 test was originally scheduled for Thursday, I cautioned students to begin third marking period without giving themselves the best opportunity to succeed, so the assessment will be offered tomorrow, BUT NO PENALTY will be assessed if students wish to take after school on Friday (in the library) or in class on Monday or Tuesday (and that CW would need to be made up for HW) or after school on Tuesday or Wednesday.

NO SCHOOL - TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

What HW is due for January 27?

1. Finish reading Ch. 11 of The Outsiders.

2. Do "Choosing the Right Word" for Unit 8. Keep in mind that the assessment is Thursday since students will be watching The Outsiders in class on Friday, January 29.

If you were absent or hadn't submitted the following exemplar sentences, do so ASAP: 2b, 7-10.

NO SCHOOL - MONDAY, JANUARY 25
What HW is due for January 26?

1. Finish reading Ch. 10 of The Outsiders.

2. Do "Completing the Sentence" for Unit 8. Keep in mind that the assessment is Thursday since students will be watching The Outsiders in class on Friday, January 29.

If you were absent or hadn't submitted the following exemplar sentences, do so ASAP: 2b, 7-10.

What HW is due for January 25?

1. Finish reading Ch. 9 of The Outsiders.

2. Complete "Synonyms" and "Antonyms" for Unit 8. Keep in mind that the assessment is Thursday since students will be watching The Outsiders in class next Friday.

If you were absent or hadn't submitted the following exemplar sentences, do so ASAP: 2b, 7-10.

What HW is due for January 22?

Study #1-#20 of Unit 8 (but especially #16-#20).

2. Finish reading Ch. 8 of The Outsiders.

3. On lined paper be sure to copy the following five sentences: 1/22: 2b, 7-10.

What HW is due for January 21?

Study #11-#15 of Unit 8.

2. Finish reading Ch. 7 of The Outsiders.

3. On lined paper be sure to copy the following five sentences by Friday, 1/22: 2b, 7-10.

What HW is due for January 20?

1. Study #6-#10 of Unit 8.

2. Finish reading Ch. 6 of The Outsiders.

3. On lined paper be sure to copy the following five exemplar sentences from pages 100-101 by Friday, 1/22: 2b, 7-10.

What HW is due for Tuesday, January 19?

1. Review and study #1-5 of Unit 8 vocabulary words.  NOTE: Since Mr. Greder and I would like to show the movie version of The Outsiders on Friday, January 29, the assessment for Unit 8 will be moved to Thursday, January 28.
2. Finish reading Ch. 5 of The Outsiders.  

3. Spend fifteen additional minutes so that you have pretty much finished your writing task, which was to write about a physical fight you have witnessed or been involved in.  

There is quite a lot of violence in The Outsiders. 

For those who were not in class, students had seven minutes to begin this assignment. (Don't forget the four lines of a heading and leaving a line blank to insert a title.) If you have been fortunate enough to have never been involved in a physical altercation, the teacher suggested that you write your timed narrative about a fight scene in any book you've read or movie you've viewed, except for The Outsiders.  Keep in mind that sparring in martial arts or viewing boxing or MMA matches are defined as sports and are not acceptable for this writing task.  Also, teacher suggested changing a character's name or relationship to protect the privacy of a sibling, cousin, etc. 

What HW is due for Friday, January 15?

1. Study ALL Unit 7 words for the assessment.  Consider using Quizlet or other websites to help you prepare. Remember that you should know, based on "CS," which pairs of words are troublesome for you.

2. Finish reading Ch. 4 of The Outsiders.  

What HW is due for Thursday, January 14?

1. Complete “Vocabulary in Context,” page 97, and study ALL words.

2. Finish reading Ch. 3 of The Outsiders.  NOTE: If you hadn't finished reading all of Chapter 2, be sure to do so.

What HW is due for January 13?

1. Complete “CRW,” pages 93-94 and study ALL words.

2. Finish reading Ch. 2 of The Outsiders.

HW: What's Due for Tuesday, January 12?

1. Finish reading the first chapter of The Outsiders.  Keep in mind that you are expected to jot any questions about slang, etc., on the Post-it distributed in class in addition to using it as a bookmark. 
2. Do "Synonyms," and "Antonyms," on pages 94-95. If you hadn't done your vocabulary HW that was assigned over the weekend, do so, submitting for an averaged grade (of the minimal three points). If you did your HW but did not score well on the three items the teacher chose to spot-check.

HW: What's Due for Monday, January 11?

1. Read double-sided biography of S.E. Hinton. *Be sure to read for no fewer than twenty-seven minutes, but you may include the vocabulary work when computing your total reading time.
2. Do "Completing the Sentence," on pages 95-96, using your chart with parts of speech and other study skills to identify the words you know and those that are troublesome.

HW: What's Due for Friday, January 8?

1. Read pages 88-89 AFTER reading pages 9-10 in your vocabulary book.
2. Study #16-20 of Unit 7 words. NOTE: The assessment for Unit 7 is set for Friday, January 15.

HW: What's Due for Thursday, January 7?

• NO NEW HW has been assigned.
• If you were NOT in class yesterday or today, make sure -- if your family does not observe the holiday celebrated by several McMillan students and you have the time -- to study #6-15 of Unit 7 words. If you hadn't completed your HW assigned on Monday, which Mr. Gdula was asked to collect, please do so and submit it 

HW: What's Due for Wednesday, January 6?

1. Read "Some of Hinton's Stories." If you haven't spent twenty-seven minutes reading, find additional reading material.
2. Study #6-10 of Unit 7 words. If you hadn't completed your HW assigned on Monday, which Mr. Gdula was asked to collect, please do so and submit it to me on Wednesday.

If you arrived at home and have forgotten or misplaced your article about the author of The Outsiders and have issues locating my on-line files, here's the on-line link: http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/05/hintonqanda200705.

HW: What's Due for Tuesday, January 5?

1. Read "The Stolen Party." If you haven't spent twenty-seven minutes reading, find additional reading material.
2. Study #1-5 of Unit 7 and write the remaining exemplar sentences for the first five words. Don't forget to skip lines.

HW: What's Due for Wednesday, December 23?

1. Read Catherine, Called Birdy  so that you will have finished the final chapter, "September," by Wednesday, 12/23.
2. Proofread your historical narrative, using the rubric you received in class on Friday. The rubric you were given at the very beginning of the project is not worth an extra point as the one with quotation mark rules on the second side.  ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT THE LAST LITERACY BLOCK, WERE GIVEN TIME IN CLASS TO PRINT OUT THEIR NARRATIVE. On Wednesday, any students, who have not printed out their document, attaching the rubric distributed on Friday, should do so.  If you are not in class on Wednesday but have finished your narrative by Wednesday, please share it with Mrs. McMillan, sending her an e-mail that this document is final. When we return in 2016, you can hand in the rubric for an extra point of credit.  

HW: What's Due for Tuesday, December 22?

1. Read Catherine, Called Birdy  so that you will have finished the final chapter, "September," by Wednesday, 12/23.
2. Proofread your historical narrative, using the rubric you received in class on Friday. The rubric you were given at the very beginning of the project is not worth an extra point as the one with quotation mark rules on the second side.

NOTE: You are welcome to hand in your extra reading packet whenever you finish, but unless there was an agreement with your parent, the due date is 12/23.  

One student from Literacy 7:1-2 asked if there were any additional opportunities to earn credit, and I sent her to the Literacy 7 page, which has the LAL letter-writing contest information; the deadline for that submission is January 11.

HW: What's Due for Monday, December 21?

1. Study all of Unit 6 and the second half of Unit 5 vocabulary words.
2. Read Catherine, Called Birdy through the end of August.

HW: What's Due for Friday, December 18?

1. Study all of Unit 4 and the first half of Unit 5 vocabulary words.
2. Read Catherine, Called Birdy through the end of "July."

HW: What's Due for Thursday, December 17?

1. Study the second half of Unit 2 and all of Unit 3 vocabulary words.
2. Read Catherine, Called Birdy through July 7, which falls on page 173.

HW: What's Due for Wednesday, December 16?

1. Review the first ten words of Unit 2 and all the Unit 1 words; the cumulative test (Units 1-6) is Monday, December 21.
2. Finish reading "May" of Catherine, Called Birdy.  In class, we read through May 22.

HW: What's Due for Tuesday, December 15?

1. In your vocabulary book complete pages 82 and 85, making sure that pages 44 and 47 are done, too. Cumulative Units 1-6 assessment is next Monday.
2. Reread “Author’s Note” and any parts of the book relevant to your project.

What HW is due for December 14, 2015?

1. Study for the Unit 6 vocabulary assessment, which is Monday, December 14. (NOTE: The assessment will have sentences based on C, CB with a total of twenty synonyms and antonyms.
2. Make sure that you have read through "April" of C, CB.

On Friday, Mrs. McMillan reviewed with students the first page of "Diary of a young Migrant Worker," which was assigned in its entirety as a warm-up activity along with double-checking the part of speech(s) on the half page list of twenty words. 

What HW is due for December 11, 2015?

None - 7th/8th Play 

On Wednesday, Mrs. McMillan advised any student who was present on Tuesday, December 8, and felt that he or she had not done his or her best job with "Synonyms" or "Antonyms" to correct these exercises and submit to the teacher. NOTE: Teacher had assessed via a lined sheet, which had parts of speech abbreviations for four Unit 6 vocabulary words on the flip side.

What HW is due for December 10, 2015?

1. Continue reading "April."  NOTE: In class, students began reading "April."

2. Do "Completing the Sentence" for Unit 6. NOTE: In class, students made a word bank for themselves, writing all twenty words. Then without using the book, the teacher asked the students to write the part(s) of speech for each word. Ideally, this word bank, which the teacher suggested should be tucked inside on page 77 or 78 should be used so that students can identify troublesome or confusing words with the same part(s) of speech (as they complete this exercise).

Teacher advised any student who was present on December 8 and felt that he or she had not done his or her best job with "Synonyms" or "Antonyms" to correct these exercises.

What HW is due for December 9, 2015?

None - BAND/ORCHESTRA CONCERT 

In class, students read "March," so if you were absent, invest fifteen minutes of silent sustained reading.

What HW is due for December 8, 2015?

1. Finish reading "February," and read the "Author's Note, which can be found at the end of the book (for Karen Cushman's discussion of what life was like back then).
2. Study Unit 6 words, especially those with multiple parts of speech, review "CRW" and "Synonyms" and "Antonyms."

 

What HW is due for December 7, 2015? Late posting (4:50 P.M. on 12/4/15)

 
1. Finish reading through the 18th DAY OF FEBRUARY, which ends at the bottom of page 101. In class, students listened to the tape (or me in the last literacy block) from the start of the chapter through February 3rd or 4th, depending on your class.  If you were absent, I told students to enjoy their reading, jotting questions or unfamiliar words for class discussion. 

2. Complete "Synonyms" and "Antonyms" for Unit 6. In class, we completed page 75 of "CRW." 

**EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: If interested, ask one or more adults to help you earn extra credit.The adult's role would be to listen as you read aloud each excerpt from a photocopied packet, which will be handed out to any student who has a guardian's signature (or e-mail) confirming that an adult is willing to listen ten times from 12/7 until 12/23. The excerpts range from six to eleven pages, but the font is relatively small, so the time required for reading aloud could easily average fifteen minutes. (Using speakerphone to read to someone who resides elsewhere and/or employing more than one adult to accomplish this task are two suggestions students proposed.)

Here's an example of the brief note or e-mail message that a student might compose (to get a packet on Monday, December 7): 

On December _, 2015, I asked ____________ to listen to me read aloud on ten occasions from December 7 through December 22 (or the morning of December 23).  Each time I read, I will jot the start time and end time on the submission sheet. The following signature (or initials) expresses the willingness of ________________ to help me earn a 50/50 for an extra credit Literacy 7 assignment.

x_________________________________ (adult's signature)

What HW is due for December 4, 2015?

 
1. Finish reading "January." In class, students listened to the tape for the remaining ten or so minutes, and we stopped midway through page 82 before the paragraph beginning with the following sentence:"This afternoon . . . rushes."

2. Review the next five vocabulary words (#11-15); when you're an expert, draw a triangle around the number of those "CRW" sentences in which instill, ostracize, premonition, pseudonym, or purge would be the correct answer.

What HW is due for December 3, 2015?

 
1. Read or reread "December" of Catherine, Called Birdy jotting notes so that you can use them for a quiz.  (Here's a shout-out to my first literacy block: What a wonderful impression you had made on the Teachers College presenter, who hoped that she would have another chance to work with you (and that's why our plans for the second literacy block were changed near the end of first period)!

~If you missed class today, students who hadn't finished their "November" project did so, printing out the student-made quiz and answer key in the library during first, third, and seventh periods. During those periods, Ms. Dunay shared the date for the upcoming December book club, which is two Thursdays away on December 17. Since I suggested the book, Counting by 7s, I will be attending the book club and am offering a 10/10 to those who attend and a 20/20 (or higher) for those who participate fully.
~Skim and scan the myth about Athena before jotting notes on the third column (or row -- your choice) on the blank paper divided into six sections, representing the six myths of the first cluster of Echoes from Mt. Olympus.
~Make a minus sign to the left of any sentence from Unit 6 "CRW" that uses a vocabulary word from #6-10.
~Read "December," jotting notes about events included within, labeling them as personal or historical conflicts (or even both).

2. Study vocabulary words #6-10 (and if you're really solid with those, you may begin studying #11-15.)

 

No additional McLiteracy 7 HW has been assigned on 12/1 for 12/2 since there's a BMS choral concert.

What HW is due for December 1, 2015?

1. Work on the "November" make-you-own quiz and answer key class project that was assigned in class after students completed their open-note quiz on 

"October." The due date for the hard copies is Wednesday, December 2, 2015.

2. Study #1-#5 of Unit 6. Because there are numerous school-related performance activities in the next two weeks, the assessment for Unit 6 will be Monday, December 14.

NOTE: If you have missed an assessment, please complete your make-up as soon as possible. 

What HW is due for Wednesday, the twenty-fifth of November? 

Finish reading "November," which is the third chapter of Catherine, Called Birdy and work on the project that was assigned in class after students completed their open-note quiz on 

"October."

Based on the two Catherine, Called Birdy quizzes, students were told to design their own quiz and answer key. Students were given the option to use Chromebooks or to complete on paper. At a minimum, students would need to have a character matching/identification section and an open-ended question, requiring a paragraph response. The second quiz "recycled" some of the characters from the first chapter BUT added a few short-answer response questions. NOTE: Don't ask a question that you can't answer. Students will not be given additional class time; access to classroom desktop computers and printer, however, will be permitted so that students can submit the final project.  The due date is the Wednesday after the four-day weekend: December 2, 2015.

What HW is due for Tuesday, the twenty-fourth of November? 

1. Finish reading and jotting notes for the second chapter of Catherine, Called Birdy. On Tuesday, you will have an open-note quiz on "October."

2. Complete the following two pages in your vocabulary book: pages 44 and 47 (read the top of page 47 so that you can complete the bottom).

For those interested in Ms. Dunay's combined seventh- and eighth-grade book club, copies of Counting by 7s are in. Stop by the library for this book before all the copies are checked out.

What HW is due for Monday, the twenty-third of November? 

Read “Big Baby Hermes.”

If you owe work, catch up on it (and that includes writing a draft of a friendly letter of gratitude -- see Google Classroom -- and handwriting your letter, which should follow the suggestions of John Kralik who wrote "Up Your Gratitude" for the January 1, 2012, issue of Parade Magazine).  If you were absent on Thursday, I have uploaded the aforementioned article as a file that you can find on my Literacy 7 page.

What's Due for Friday, November 20, 2015?

1. Study for the Unit 5 vocabulary test, which is tomorrow.

2. Read the double-sided summaries for a former core novel: Where the Red Fern Grows. NOTE: To ensure that my vocabulary tests are challenging but not TOO hard -- and I don't want to make a habit of curving assessments as I did with Unit 4 -- and to encourage good study habits and test-taking strategies, you will be using a vocabulary test that I have used with prior seventh-graders.  The sentences refer to the aforementioned book (Where the Red Fern Grows), so I wanted to make sure that you would realize which words, such as characters' names, aren't words you would be expected to recognize, such as Tahlequah (the setting).

If you didn't bring yours home, I will attach one my Literacy 7 page.

What's Due for November 18?

1. Do “Completing the Sentence” for Unit 5.

2. Read “Apollo and Artemis: The Twins” from page 35 until penultimate paragraph of 37.

3. Use flashcards to study/review for Friday's test, which will have twenty fill-in-the-blank sentences (worth .75 each) and fifteen synonyms and five antonyms (worth .5 each) for a total of twenty-five points.

What HW is due for Tuesday, the seventeenth of November? 

1. Read "The Wise Goddess: Athena."

2. Complete "CRW" for Unit 5.

Practice with your flashcards for Friday's test, which will have twenty fill-in-the-blank sentences (worth .75 each) and fifteen synonyms and five antonyms (worth .5 each) for a total of twenty-five points.

What HW is due for Monday, the sixteenth of November? 

1. Study your Unit 5 flashcards. With the exception of one or two students, the final five flashcards were NOT checked in class on 11/13. PLEASE BRING ALL TWENTY FLASHCARDS WITH YOU TO CLASS ON MONDAY SO THAT I CAN EDIT ANY PARTIAL CREDIT OR ZERO GRADES FROM PRIOR IN THE WEEK.

2. Read "The Firebringer," which can be found in the mythology book.

3. If you did not submit your three-page vocabulary immersion (CW from 11/12) on Friday, be sure to complete it over the weekend. Each of the three pages with the geese watermark required students to follow directions (e.g., writing first and last name without vowels, writing last name before a comma before the first name, etc.) write three sentences of roughly fourteen words each, using any three or more Unit 5, #1-15, vocabulary words to describe "September" of Catherine, Called Birdy, the double-sided WWI remembrance sheet about "In Flanders Fields," and any of the first two HW selections from the mythology book: Echoes from Mt. Olympus.

NOTE: In each class on Friday, I orally reviewed the new warning policy I will be implementing to ensure that all three literacy blocks are able to pick up speed, with respect to pages read, objectives completed, and/or material mastered for the second week of second marking period (and beyond).

What HW is due for Friday, the thirteenth of November? 

1. Make flashcards for the final five words, #16-20.

2. Read "Pandora." 

NOTE: If you hadn't completed HW for 11/12, which meant that you were not able to complete ALL your CW, don't put off catching up (and complete for HW).

What HW is due for November 12, 2015? 

1. Make flashcards for the next five words, #11-15.

2. Read the double-sided article about WWI, a famous poem, and poppies, a symbol of veterans since today is Veterans' Day (AKA Armistice Day).  If you didn't bring yours home, I will put it in the FILES section of Literacy 7, so check there.

What HW is due for November 11, 2015? 

1. Make flashcards for next five words:

 

• Cower
• Disdain
• Epitaph
• Ethical
• Facetious

Reserve the top for synonyms, middle for definition(s), and bottom for antonyms.

2. Read “Zeus and Hera."

3. Please bring your printed stories to class. If you were absent, do your very best to print out your realistic fiction narrative.

 

What HW is due for November 10, 2015? 

1. Make flashcards for first five Unit 5 words:

 

• Addendum
• Aghast
• Ample
• Apparition
• Assert

Reserve the top for synonyms, middle for definition(s), and bottom for antonyms.

 NOTE: Teacher will check these flash cards and Tuesday's on Wednesday (as two separate grades).

2. Read pages 9-13, including “Gallery of Gods and Goddesses.” Think about information included on god or goddess card.

 

3. Review sentence vs. fragment with exemplar sentences, looking at which can be readily “flipped.”

What HW is due for November 9, 2015? 

NONE -- if you were absent, however, you should work on your "What Have I Learned . . . So Far This Year." 

What HW is due for November 4, 2015?

1. Read articles distributed in all the classes except the final literacy block, which is a little behind on the "What I've . . ." friendly letter.  It's your choice if you want to read one or both: "The Tire Iron and the Tamale" and "Sometimes the Smallest Things." Here are the URLs if you misplaced either.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/magazine/06lives-t.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/opinion/02tue4.html

2. Review parsing and idiomatic expressions from page 45 of your vocabulary book.

What HW is due for November 3, 2015?

1. Read Forbes article entitled "Habit Formation: The 21-Day Myth" by Jason Selk. 

2. Review kinds of sentences for tomorrow's assessment.

3. Review the parsing of lines 6-10 of page 42 (vocabulary book).

If you have revised your "Seventh Grade" paragraph, which you discussed with teammates on Friday, please submit ASAP. Be sure that you have a topic sentence, supporting details with all five elements of fiction, and a concluding sentence.

What HW is due for November 2, 2015?

1. Review kinds of sentences for a grammar assessment. If interested, you can follow the link listed and  review via one of my former exercises: http://www.quia.com/pop/456475.html?AP_rand=1119130793.

2.  In your vocabulary book, read page 42 and complete page 43.

3.  Read for about half the time you usually do; THEN REREAD the section you just completed, assessing whether you discover more information, relevant details, etc., the second time around.

Many thanks to all the students who participated in the Patriot's Pen contest.  If you didn't follow directions and had more than 400 or fewer than 300 words, I cannot in good conscience submit yours to the VFW post, BUT I will honor your effort with an extra credit grade IF AND ONLY IF you work on your essay until it complies with the aforementioned word count range (and that can be done on Monday or Tuesday of next week).

What HW is due for October 30?

1. STUDY, except for those students who opted to take the vocabulary assessment early.

2.  READ.

Please note that if you're participating, your teacher needs you to complete the Patriot's Pen contest entry form, so print out that item along with your essay for a submission deadline of 3:50 P.M. on Friday.

What HW is due for October 29?

1. Read pages 50-51 in your vocabulary book and complete page 59 in "Vocabulary in Context." For most classes, we reviewed most of "CRW" reviewing page 55-56.

2.  Since most of the middle literacy block swapped the assembly for class, those students do not have their C-P-P-S-T or summaries for revision work as Blocks 1 and 3 do, so they should focus more on vocabulary.

Friday is the deadline for the annual Patriot's Pen contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. This year's question is "What Does Freedom Mean to Me?" For further information, scroll down to Monday's HW.

What HW is due for October 28?

 

For most classes, reviewing all Unit 4 words and finishing "Completing the Sentence," #11-#20 on page 58, is homework.

In addition, the afternoon literacy block was asked to read through the packet distributed in class ("Basic Literary Terms [Review with Thanks to Dr. M. Perez]") and put asterisks or stars next to any term that the student hasn't committed to memory. The assessment on these terms won't be until MP2.

Friday is the deadline for the annual Patriot's Pen contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. This year's question is "What Does Freedom Mean to Me?" For further information, scroll down to yesterday's HW.

What HW is due for October 27? 

As the first marking period of 2015-2016 draws to a close, students should strive to complete any overdue work. Below are the assignments from Monday, October 26 (and MEA CULPA for the typographical error initially included on this HW page):

• "Completing the Sentence," #1-10 on page 57, which was class work on 10/26;
• Accessing Google Classroom for the IXL review of apostrophe usage with possessive nouns.

*Since there is a school-sponsored dance on 10/29, students may opt to take the vocabulary assessment on Thursday (10/29) instead of 10/30.  

**NOTE: All classes were reminded about the Patriot's Pen contest, which is one of the writing contests listed on the Literacy 7 page.  Below are the requirements:

Essay length: 300-400 typewritten words.• You must write your own essay.• All essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics and cannot [have fewer] than 300 words or greater than 400 words in length.(Essays under or over these word amounts will be eliminated.) Every word is counted [as one] regardless of length.The essay title (theme) or added footnotes do not contribute to the word count.

[FYI, a]t any time during the contest additional participant personal information could be requested by the VFW(i.e., SSN, photo, etc.). In no way may contestants identify themselves within their essay. Do not put your name on your essay. The entry form is your essay’s cover sheet. Secure the Official Student Entry Form with a staple or other fastener on top of your essay.Contestants are allowed to enter only once (one Post competition). 

What's Due for October 26? 

Catch up on REM sleep and any incomplete or overdue work, such as the following:

• "Synonyms" and "Antonyms," which was class work on 10/23;
• Accessing Google Classroom for the IXL review of comma usage with introductory words and occasions of direct address;
• Three Post-its on "Amigo Brothers" inserted in Reader's Notebook, etc., which many but not all handed in on 10/23;
• Three paragraph responses, which should have been in the Reader's Notebook, for "Writing Long Off of a Post-it" for the following dates:
  • 10/16 figurative language instance (choice book) Post-it
  • 10/19 Rhymes with Oranges comic strip response
  • 10/20 another figurative language instance (choice book or "Amigo Brothers" if student did not have Post-its with him or her on 10/20).
• Don't forget to study all twenty Unit 4 vocabulary words, making sure that you have READ and completed the exemplar sentences AND reviewed synonyms and antonyms, in preparation for the Friday*, October 30, quiz. 

*Since there is a school-sponsored dance on 10/29, students may opt to take the assessment on Thursday (10/29).

Red Ribbon Week is October 19-23.

Red Ribbon Week: White-out Day & Sunglasses: “Shade Yourself from Violence!”

What's Due for October 23? 

1. Study #16-20 of Unit 4 vocabulary words, making sure that you have READ and completed the exemplar sentences.

2. Wear white (bring sunglasses, too, if you have them) and review sentence-flipping and parsing.

3. Reread “Amigo Brothers” and jot three Post-it notes showing earlier parts of the story that foreshadow who won the match.

Thursday is Flannel Day: “Check Off No to Drugs!"

HW:  What's Due for October 22?

1. Study #11-15 of Unit 4 vocabulary words.

2. Wear flannel and review the exemplar sentences we parsed in class

3. Read your choice book and catch up on any writing you didn’t finish in class, such as the “Writing Long Off of a Post-it” on 10/16, 10/19, and 10/20. All of these should be in your Reader’s Notebook (and 10/19 was the date for the one you wrote after the class discussion about the comic Rhymes with Orange). 

Wednesday is Red, White, and Blue (Jeans Day): "Pledge to be Drug-Free!”

Book Fair Visits are tomorrow, too: 8:39-9:00; 10:15-10:35; 2:01-2:22.

What's Due for October 21?

1. Study five Unit 4 vocabulary words: #6-10.  

2. Wear red, white, and blue (jeans) and review the exemplar sentences we parsed in class (#6B and #10).

3. Read your choice book and jot three Post-its: one for vocabulary, one for figurative language, and one for Non-DEC. kinds of sentence. 

Tuesday is Team Jersey Day for Students: "Slam Dunk Bullies!" 

What's Due for Tuesday, October 20?

1. Study five Unit 4 vocabulary words each night this week.  The assessment is set for Friday, October 30, and the teacher strongly suggests students' heed the schedule, which means students will have focused on mastering the five targeted words by the date indicated:

• Tuesday: #1-5 (and you're being asked to write one Post-it note that somehow connects something from your book with one of these first five words).
• Wednesday: #6-10
• Thursday: #11-15
• Friday: #16-20

NOTE: Consistent pacing helps with vocabulary acquisition and retention, BUT MANY are not yet on board.

2. Wear team jersey if you have one and review the exemplar sentences we parsed in class

3. Read your choice book and jot three Post-its: one for vocabulary, one for figurative language, and one for Non-DEC. kind of sentence. 

Monday is Pajama Day for Students: "Follow Your Dreams! Don't Do Drugs!" 

What's Due for October 19?

1. Parse the goat sentence, which was on the back of the photocopied page of commonly confused words (and please use this sheet with editing/improving your story): "In the middle of the garden was a goat tethered to a stake." (NOTE: Only parse this sentence once since it's the same sentence even after it has been shuffled.)

2. Revise and complete your sequel to "Priscilla and the Wimps." Do not forget the heading, the three targeted areas, and the essential elements of fiction: 

HEADING:
Name:
Teacher's name:
Class:
Date:

TARGETED AREAS (Narrative):

Use of quotation marks with correct capitalization and punctuation with dialogue

Figurative language (minimum of three examples)

Commonly confused words (refer to aforementioned sheet)

ELEMENTS OF FICTION, which must be present in the story:

Characters (animals and people)

Plot (the action of the story, including the narrative hook or lead, climax, and resolution)

Point of view (first-person, third person-limited, or third-person omniscient)

Setting (where and when)

Theme (the author's message)


3. Reread/review "Amigo Brothers," specifically looking for how Antonio and Felix differ in their behavior prior to their scheduled boxing match.

*Do any make-up work.

What's Due for October 16?

STUDY for the Unit 3 vocabulary assessment.

NOTE: No other homework is listed since there's a concert for all choral students: "SHSD Sings!” will be held on Thursday, October 15, at 7 p.m. at the BHS Performing Arts Center.

What's Due for October 15?

1. Complete page 41 of your vocabulary book AFTER reading pages 32-33, which are about the Columbian World Fair.  NOTE: If you want to prepare yourself for the next vocabulary assessment, which is Friday, be sure to review any mistakes you made with yesterday's HW (twenty sentences of "CS,").
2. Read. Be sure to make up/correct/edit your figurative language Post-its assigned on 10/13.  Do not forget to include your page number in parentheses.

What's Due for October 14?

1. Complete "CS" for Unit 3.  NOTE: If you want to prepare yourself for the next vocabulary assessment, which is Friday, use the chart AFTER identifying the part of speech for each of the twenty sentences.
2. Read. As you read, be sure to write three Post-its with one example of figurative language per Post-it.  Do not forget to include your page number in parentheses.
3. NOTE: For those of you in class, you will recall how Ms. Sorge's two-paragraph response (AKA "Writing Long Off of a Post-it") identified the specific figurative language (personification), included snippets of the quotation in her analysis ("vanilla goodness"), referenced the book's title (Counting by 7s), which should be italicized or underlined (and correctly capitalized), and more.  

What's Due for October 13?

1. Complete "Synonyms" and "Antonyms" for Unit 3.  NOTE: Depending on your literacy block, you may have begun jotting the parts of speech in front of these exercises; also, with a fire drill during the second literacy block, that class didn't have the chance to review parts of speech for "CRW."
2. Read nonfiction article about jumping rope. (If you were absent, you may access this article, "The Definitive Guide to Jumping Rope," via the following URL: http://overlookview.com/article_04.html.) Feel free to jot notes on the sheet, which was intentionally left without holes and teacher suggested folding it and putting it in your vocabulary book. 

*A two-paragraph letter to Eric LeGrand may be submitted for extra credit, AND SINCE 10/12 WAS ORIGINALLY a day off for students, I will accept letters through Tuesday, October 13. Don't include an address, but do write the date in the month-day-year format, the greeting, the closing and your signature (first name and or first and last names) for a possible 12/12  score.

What's Due for October 12?

1. Complete "CRW" for Unit 3.  NOTE: If you were in the second literacy block, I realize that you didn't get any time on Friday in the library to complete this.
2. Read "Amigo Brothers" by Piri Thomas. NOTE: If you're interested in earning points for your group, keep your eyes out for typographical errors. Your copy was pulled from the Internet, and although I am appreciative of the person who word processed it, I noted a few mistakes, so feel free to identify those along with any other "notes" you jot to show you're actively reading.

*A two-paragraph letter to Eric LeGrand may be submitted for extra credit, AND SINCE 10/12 WAS ORIGINALLY a day off for students, I will accept letters through Tuesday, October 13. Don't include an address, but do write the date in the month-day-year format, the greeting, the closing and your signature (first name and or first and last names) for a possible 12/12  score.

What's Due for October 9?

(Please don't forget that you're meeting your substitute, Ms. Banks, in the media center on Friday.)

1. Review all twenty vocabulary words.
2. Tonight, do your best to identify three areas in your book where you might use one of the Unit 3 vocabulary words to describe the setting, a character's feelings, the plot, etc.  Don't forget to include the page number.  Feel free to scroll down to see more examples from a week ago when we lost power (9/30), but here are two examples from Jack's New Power: Stories from a Caribbean Year: 

• On pages 4-5, Jack is sharing his father's tale about two German girls who were washed out to sea.  A Canadian father says, "Stick with me," and plunges into the surf, but never reaches the girls. Nor does the son reach the drowning girls, but he is pushed ashore by the same sea that drags out his father. The first-person narrator Jack  puts himself in the Canadian son's "shoes," or perspective, and says, "You can just imagine how that boy felt for not staying by his father's side" (5).
• I can tell that this anecdote perturbs Pete, Jack's younger brother since he "had covered his eyes with one hand." (5)

*To be fair to all my students, a two-paragraph letter to Eric LeGrand may be submitted for extra credit; don't include an address, but do write the date in the month-day-year format, the greeting, the closing and your signature (first name and or first and last names) for a possible 12/12  score.

What's Due for October 8?

1. Study #1-15 of Unit 3 vocabulary words. 

2. Read “What Makes Us Work.” Be sure to jot any of your questions or ideas (AKA notes) on the paper so that when you’re placed in your team, you can start helping right away. (In general, you should invest no fewer than twenty minutes of active reading each night).

3. Review parsing from class work this week: #1-3 exemplar Unit 3 sentences.

What's Due for October 7?

1. Wear red in honor of Eric LeGrand, the guest speaker whose injury as a Rutgers football player is chronicled in BELIEVE.

2. Study #1-10 of Unit 3 vocabulary words.
3. Whenever possible, try to read for a minimum of twenty minutes each night and complete related text work. Tonight, do your best to identify three Post-its that reflect COLD  (or temperature since HOT very similar) with one Post-it per part of speech: 

COLD:
adj.

1. of or at a low or relatively low temperature, especially when compared with the human body.

"a freezing cold day"

2. lacking affection or warmth of feeling; unemotional.

"how cold and calculating he was"

noun

1.  a low temperature, especially in the atmosphere; cold weather; a cold environment.

"my teeth chattered with the cold"

2. a common viral infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed, typically causing running at the nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and other similar symptoms.

adverb

NORTH AMERICAN informal

1. completely; entirely.

"she knew world capitals cold by age nine"

What's Due for October 6?

1. Study five Unit 3 vocabulary words each night this week.  The assessment is set for Friday, October 16, and the teacher strongly suggests that students heed the following schedule, which means students will have focused on mastering the five targeted words by the date indicated:

• Tuesday: #1-5
• Wednesday: #6-10
• Thursday: #11-15
• Friday: #16-20

NOTE:Consistent pacing helps with vocabulary acquisition and retention.

2. Review the exemplar sentence we parsed in class (1: The teacher allotted -- or allots -- books and supplies to each student on the first day of school.) NOTE: It was on the back of the chart with three columns(ADJ., ADV., N., and V.), and only five lines completed; this chart should help students recognize which Unit 3 words have multiple parts of speech.
3. Read your choice book, noting the use of non-declarative sentence (exclamatory,imperative, and interrogative sentences) in your choice novel (on the pages you’ve read in class or at home), and cite an example (of one of these sentences on one Post-it and its significance). Don't forget to list the page number. Write a minimum of three Post-its, including the one already mentioned.  Here are a few more from which you must choose two:

Ø Visualizing the scene: “Where does the story take place? What kind of place is it?

Ø Imagining one or more character’s feelings during an important scene (What are they feeling and why?)

Ø Including details about clothing if what the character’s wearing reflects or foreshadows important events or details.

Ø  Providing an allusion to the Bible or mythology or other works of literature was not offered as an option in school, but feel free to complete a Post-it for this challenging task.

NOTE: If you were absent, the teacher collected the folders but not until students wrote a table of contents, listing four important items, which indicated what should be kept in the folder.

Dear Student,

On Saturday, 10/3, I am testing the e-mailing of students' scores for the diagnostic (which means it does NOT count on PowerSchool) quiz on kinds of sentences. Until I know that this feature of Flubaroo is working -- There had been an issue with Flubaroo's interfacing with our district's technology earlier this school year, but Mr. Griffith gave me the okay this Thursday, so I am keeping my fingers crossed! -- I won't send out the scores for the vocabulary assessment(s) to students' accounts.

Please accept my apology for the following e-mail typo:

I am verifying that e-mailing you your grades will work by testing it out with this diagnostic quiz on kinds of sentences works before sending your grades for the first vocabulary assessment.

Sincerely,

Mrs. McMillan

What's Due for October 5?

1. Read your choice book.

2.  If you did not take the Unit 2 assessment on Friday, study so that you are prepared to take it on Monday.*

3. Complete make-up work, including boosting your grade on the three-paragraph letter. For example, if you omitted all the parts of a letter, you didn't follow directions and lost SIX points. Send an e-mail to a guardian's e-mail, my e-mail and yourself with the corrections. (NOTE: That article about writing explained how putting ideas into words could help you to succeed. Perhaps you might add that you need to check the homework page in case you missed something in class.)

*Many thanks to an eagle-eyed student from Block 1/2 for spotting a couple of typographical errors in the Unit 2 vocabulary assessment!

What's Due for October 2?

1. Read pages 22-23 and do page 31 in your vocabulary book for Unit 2. NOTE: In class IF SCHOOL HADN'T BEEN CANCELLED, students would have jotted the part of speech in front of each of the twenty sentences, so this is one of the activities that we did in class on Thursday. This should help students to identify issues they have confusing pairs of words, such as #2, which mentions food; one word that might come to mind is both noun and verb, but the blank in #2 is for an adjective.

Here are the answers for the parts of speech from #1-20: #1-3: ADJ.; #4: V.; #5-6: ADV.; #7-8: N; #9-14 V. then ADJ. pattern; #15: V; #16: N.; #17: ADJ.; #18: N; #19-20: ADJ. 

2. Read. 

NOTE: The test has been planned for Friday, October 2, since last Friday.

What's Due for October 1?

1. Do "CS" for Unit 2. NOTE: In class IF SCHOOL HADN'T BEEN CANCELLED, students would have jotted the part of speech in front of each of the twenty sentences; using the chart made Monday, students should have an easier time with HW completion.

In addition, classes would have discussed specific context clues for the aforementioned twenty sentences of "CS." For example, "Instead of," which begins #1 indicates contrast, so the student is looking for the ANTONYM of the context clues, "walking straight." Recognizing key words, such as "food supplies," is imperative to student success.

2. Read.  Consider completing the extra credit assignment below:

*Read on to learn about an extra-credit assignment worth seven points.

If you completed Monday's vocabulary HW with antics, avowed, detriment, incognito, and maim and do this assignment, you're eligible for TWELVE points of extra credit, BUT be sure to use the paper Mrs. McMillan initialed in class on Tuesday. All others, with the exception of those who were absent on Tuesday, are ONLY eligible for SEVEN points of an extra credit EFFORT grade:

In your reading of your choice book, identify seven words that could be used to summarize what's happening within the pages of your book that you read on 9/30. Do not forget to reference the page numbers.

EXEMPLAR: In Mrs. McMillan's book, two boys are having a conversation about a Zidane soccer jersey, so I could jot down: The lighthearted conversation between A and G is an example of banter, but really G is the one who is bantering (262-263).

G has spent the past few days making bricks with his father. Bricks are a durable material that can withstand much more than straw or twigs (and my use of these building materials makes this an allusion to "The Three Little Pigs").

NOTE: These are only two of seven Unit 2 words, and I would need to complete six or seven to earn a B or an A+.

What's Due for Wednesday, September 30?

1. Complete "CRW" for Unit 2. In class, students completed "Synonyms" after jotting the part of speech in front of each of the ten words; using the chart made yesterday, students then selected from the column of Unit 2 words that matched the part of speech. After completing #1-10 of "Synonyms," students did "Antonyms," using the prior exercise as a word bank.

2. Read "Priscilla and the Wimps," the four-page story handed out in class. Jot notes (instead of Post-its) on the student copy. Use the literary term page distributed in class to help you label/categorize specific sound devices or figurative language.

3. Whenever possible, try to read for a minimum of twenty minutes each night.

NOTE: Consistent pacing helps with vocabulary acquisition and retention.

Teacher had hoped to conference with students about their graded friendly letter, which was handed in last Friday, but tempus fugit, so that is postponed until 9/30.

What's Due for Tuesday, September 29?

1. Study #1-20 of Unit 2 vocabulary words.  The assessment is set for Friday,  October 2, and the teacher strongly suggested students' heeding the following completion schedule for vocabulary book pages:

• Tuesday: "CRW"
• Wednesday: "CS"
• Thursday: Read pages 22-23 and complete page 31.
  

NOTE: Consistent pacing helps with vocabulary acquisition and retention.

2. Review the exemplar sentence we parsed in class (20A): The brave superhero soon put a stop to the evil villain's acts of wanton cruelty.

NOTE: It was on the back of the chart with four columns (ADJ., ADV., N., and V.), and twenty lines; this chart should help students recognize which Unit 2 words have multiple parts of speech.

3. If you were in class on Monday, on a piece of loose-leaf paper write either five sentences or paragraph to summarize/describe the excerpt read in class, using the following words: antics, avowed, detriment, maim, and incognito.

What's Due for Monday, September 28?

1. Study #1-15 of Unit 2 vocabulary words.  The assessment is set for Friday,  October 2.  

2. Using five to seven sentences (or a few more), write a paragraph in which you evaluate how successful you have been as a student in Literacy 7 and/or school in general (this year). Unless you were absent from school, please use the double-sided sheet about kinds of sentences for one supporting detail/evidence. (The front of the sheet required students to identify the kind of sentence before writing its abbreviation in front of and correct punctuation at end of  each sentence.) IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, COMPLETE THIS TASK IN YOUR WRITER'S NOTEBOOK, which is the second half of your READER'S NOTEBOOK. 
3. Read and don't forget to bring your choice fiction to class UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

*All students were told to make sure they have fiction books (and a few in each class were sent to the BMS media center in case they had nonfiction or were nearly finished their books). 
**Make up ANY overdue work as soon as possible.

What's Due for Friday, September 25?

1. Study #5*-10 of Unit 2 vocabulary words. *Just in case, you only review #1-4 on Tuesday, study the next six. The assessment is set for next Friday.
2. Write a summary paragraph with five to seven sentences. (Include title -- don't forget to underline it along with correct capitalization, author, and genre – if you know it -- in the topic sentence. Then, use the information you jotted in class (C-P-P-S-T) on the rereading of the first ten to fifteen pages of your book. Don’t forget a clincher or concluding sentence. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, COMPLETE THIS TASK IN YOUR READER'S NOTEBOOK.
3. Read.
**Make up ANY overdue work as soon as possible.

What's Due for Thursday, September 24, 2015?

1. Write a narrative -- set your timer for twenty or twenty-five minutes -- based on an excerpt from today's double-sided reading articles (Chester Nez  or Spanish class helps years later) or any article I've given you since the beginning of the year. (IF YOU WERE IN CLASS, I EXPECT YOU TO WRITE ON THE PIECE OF PAPER I GAVE YOU.  If you would like to use a computer, feel free to do so, BUT you should return the paper with your heading.)

For example, Chester Nez, who was the last living WWII code talker (code talkers used the Navajo language to foil decoding efforts during radio transmissions) shares how he had his mouth washed out with bitter soap for speaking his mother tongue. Students might choose to write a realistic fiction narrative about his school experience -- think Mathilda here, but don't forget the plot must be realistic.

2. Study the first FIVE words of the new unit (Unit 2). NOTE: I goofed when assigning HW for my first literacy block -- I only wrote #1-4.  SORRY!

 What's Due for Tuesday, September 22, 2015?

1. Write a letter to Mrs. McMillan on the double-sided geese sheet, which was handed out in class.  Don't forget your inside address, which should have two lines prior to the date as you'll see below. (NOTE: Do NOT follow the setup included on pages 12-13 of your vocabulary book):

141 Seney Drive
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
September 21, 2015
Dear Mrs. McMillan,
Paragraph 1: Tell me who is the best reader you know (and that can be a PARENT, CLASSMATE, SELF, etc.). In the remaining sentences of the paragraph SHOW why that person is the BEST reader. Don't forget to clinch.
Paragraph 2: Share the titles of your top three favorite books. Explain why each of these three is a particular favorite BEFORE or AFTER you state your #1 favorite. Also, include whether one of these three books influenced your summer reading. Don't forget to clinch.
Paragraph 3: On a scale of 1-10 with ten as the top score, representing OUTSTANDING, rate yourself as a reader. As you have probably guessed, you must support this rating with reasons. Don't forget to clinch. 
Sincerely,
Your first and last names in cursive

2. If you have any time after finishing all your other HW, please READ.  Daily reading is critical.

IF you owe any missed HW, do so ASAP>

What's Due for Monday, September 21, 2015?

1. Do kinds of sentence exercise and review. (NOTE: This was the handout you received in class on Friday. Although some students may have completed this exercise in class, review is imperative and should not be skipped.)
2. Identify C-P-P-S-T* for teacher story (handout) in reader's notebook.  Don't forget to write the due date on the top line.  Then, write a five- to seven-sentence summary paragraph.
3. Read.

*The five elements of fiction are C-P-P-S-T:

ocharacter(s)
oplot
opoint of view
osetting
otheme

Homework assigned on the seventeenth is due on Friday, September 18. 

1. In preparation for tomorrow's vocabulary assessment on Unit 1, read pages 12-13 and do page 21 in your vocabulary book. Study, especially focusing on any errors you noted when we checked "CRW," "Synonyms"/"Antonyms" and "CS," which were HW or CW exercises.

2.  Read.

*Make up any overdue work.

Homework assigned on the sixteenth is due on Thursday, September 17.

1. Read your choice book and write three Post-its (a complete sentence each) on something you noted, etc. (DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR BOOK TO CLASS EACH DAY.)

2.  Do "Completing the Sentence" ("CS") on pages 19-20. In class, your literacy block may or may not have finished "Synonyms" and "Antonyms" on pages 17-18. Be sure to do so. (NOTE: While students were using Chromebooks for their realistic fiction narrative, the teacher checked students' vocabulary books, assessing if students had completed the do-now exercises and HW in an EXCELLENT, ACCEPTABLE, or UNACCEPTABLE manner.  In the middle of a sentence, capitalization of a vocabulary word is unacceptable; addition of suffixes, too, are expected. Random circling of words in "Choosing the Right Word" does NOT help students prepare for their unit or cumulative assessments.")

3. READ.

* Complete any make-up work.

**If you haven’t returned all forms, try to do so ASAP.

Homework assigned on the fifteenth is due on Wednesday, September 16.

1. Read your choice book and write three Post-its (a complete sentence each) on something you noted, etc. (NOTE: We completed two Post-its in class for practice, and they should be in your planner.)

2. Review/study Unit 1 words #1-20, especially #16-20; do "CRW."

3. READ.

* Complete any make-up work.

**If you haven’t returned all forms, try to do so ASAP.

Homework assigned on the eleventh is due on Tuesday, September 15, since there's no school on Monday.

1. Read packet commemorating 9/11. (Note this article is from Parade magazine and students were told to update tenth to read fourteenth [anniversary]).After doing so, select one question to which you will respond in a paragraph or an essay (your choice)

2. Review/study Unit 1 words #1-15, especially #11-15

3. Be sure to get a choice book by 9/15, which is Tuesday.

*Read over the weekend, but NO NEW HW is assigned for Monday.

**If you haven’t returned all forms, try to do so ASAP.

Homework assigned on the tenth of September is due on the eleventh.1. Read the articles on Ashe, Coppin, and Kuroki.
2. Study the first ten Unit 1 vocabulary words on pages 14-15 in your vocabulary book.3.  READ a book of your choice.* Please assist your guardian(s) in completing any part of the pink card that you can since this needs to be returned ASAP.** By 9/15, bring in a choice reading book for your literacy class. Homework assigned on 9/9 is due 9/10.1. Read the article (on setting goals in writing) handed out in class.  2. Study the first five Unit 1 vocabulary words on page 14 in your vocabulary book. 3.  READ a book of your choice. * Please assist your guardian(s) in completing any part of the pink card that you can since this needs to be returned ASAP.

** By 9/15, bring in a choice reading book for your literacy class.