Hi everyone!

Today all classes worked on Confusing Words (if it was necessary) and continued their research for our "Teen Activist" unit. Every student should have a green sheet with resources from which to take notes. The assignment is:

• From the green sheet, find an article, a text, and a website - these should be from three different categories
• Using the organization chart, take notes - paying attention to dates and finding a meaningful quote
• You should only write what you feel is important to teach others.
• You should have several (5, 6) bullets for each category

Here are the categories from the organizational chart:

• What happened to ______  (victim)
• What______ (activist) is fighting for
• What makes ______ (activist) special

H/W:

• Please come to class with your three completed research organization charts. This is a graded assignment.
• Noredink Confusing Words assignment and quiz due Thurs. You will have a quiz in class on the confusing words Thursday.

Thank you!

Hello!

Tomorrow is our last collection day for Water for Sudan! Thank you for all your support.

Today all classes started a Teen Activist Unit. I was very inspired by the motivation of my Water for Sudan class- their desire to help for "the greater good" was intense, so now all students will learn to be activists for worthy causes!

Students started by looking at a poster of MLK, Jr. and listing what the characteristics of an activist are based on prior knowledge about him. Then, they watched two (in some classes three) short videos about teen activists Malala Yousafzai and Alex Lin. The three videos can be viewed under "Links."
Students practiced writing notes at a fast pace during the videos, just like a journalist.

H/W: All classes

Due Wed.: From the green sheet titled "Student Packet: Text Set, " choose three subjects of teen activism. Choose three different types of media, for example, an article, a text, a video. Look each one up online (it is easier to type in the heading) and write notes about activism from each one. So, you are doing a total of three.

Due Thurs.: You will have a quiz on the Confusing Words groups. You have practiced an assignment and quiz on noredink.com, and now you will take a quiz on Canvas in class on Thurs. Make sure you use your notes on noredink!

See you tomorrow! Thank you for a great learning day!

Yay! It's Friday!

P. 1,5: Students worked on Confusing Words (ISTEP prep for April) on NoRedInk in class. This lesson is difficult and I wanted students to have the support of being in class. We wrote notes about the word pairs first, and then students worked independently on the assignment and quiz. I know most didn't finish, and it's ok. We will finish Monday.

H/W: Period 1- hold off on doing NoRedInk this weekend. We will finish in class on Monday.

P. 2,3,6: We continued with Robert Frost poem analysis. The overarching question is how the structure of the text enhances its meaning. This is a level 4 DOK and a tough question to answer! Students responses were derived by completing a web analysis, and this helped guide students to answer the question.

Last day for Water for Sudan fundraiser will be next Tuesday! Any donation amount is very much appreciated. Thank you! My previous blog post has a link to the website.

Enjoy your weekend!

Hello!

Students will be collecting for Water for Sudan until next Tues. We very much appreciate all your support, and we are inching closer to our goal. Here is a link to the Water for Sudan/Iron Giraffe website if you would like more information: http://www.waterforsouthsudan.org/   You can also receive a tax receipt for you donation, if requested. This has been a tremendous experience for our students!

Today my classes met in the LGI for a change of scenery. :)  Because read time had been cancelled for ISTEP, students brought books and enjoyed silent reading. After that, P. 1 and 5 focused on "confusing words" activities, and P. 2,3, and 6 started the literature webs for The Road Not Taken.

Thanks to all students for doing the right thing during read time. It felt good!

No h/w tonight! See you tomorrow.

 Day #2 of testing is over! Yay!

Even though LA and math tests are over, students will still be taking ISTEP for science tomorrow. This will be taken in their science classroom. Students, you did an amazing job on ISTEP today! I saw everyone working hard, rereading text, and using every minute of their time. I am so proud of you and I know the results will reflect your time and effort!

For all classes, today was an extension of yesterday...

P. 1: We continued with Long Walk to Water read aloud with the short time that we had.

P. 2, 6: Students wrote about an important decision they have made based upon "The Road Not Taken." I shared information about the author that I learned from visiting his New Hampshire farm, and students also finished analysis of the poem.

P. 5: Students started NoRedInk with confusing words. We did the assignment as a class.

No homework because of ISTEP.

Thank you for a great day!

Testing Tuesday!

I was very impressed with the focus and attention students gave to today's ISTEP. Students used all the allotted time and worked hard. Everyone was well prepared with the necessary supplies and looked well rested. Do the same for tomorrow! Great job today!

P. 2,3,6: We plunged into the William and Mary  Persuasion unit today...finally! The overarching theme is "change," so we began with analysis of Robert Frost poetry related to the same topic. I shared with students that when I lived in New Hampshire, I lived in the town neighboring the Robert Frost Farm. I loved visiting (many times) and looking at the scenery and surroundings that inspired him. I have interesting information to share!

P. 1, 5: Period 1 was mostly testing. In P.5 students reviewed their compare/contrast essays and revised one paragraph - their most needy paragraph. After that, they started a new noredink assignment on confusing words.

No homework...rest up for ISTEP tomorrow!

Thank you!

Welcome Back!

IMPORTANT: ISTEP begins tomorrow!

• Tues. and Wed. will be math and language arts, and Thurs. will be science. 
• Students will test in their period 1 class for Tues. and Wed., but Thurs. they will test in their science class. 
• Please remember NO CELL PHONES! These have to be turned off and kept in student lockers. 
• The only items you need to bring to testing are two number 2 pencils and a calculator. Many of you have already done this. 
• Rest up, eat a healthy breakfast, and be ready to show what you know!

Today classes did a variety of ITEP practice and review lessons. There is a noredink assignment and quiz for Confusing Words ISTEP review. These are the words I feel could be easy spelling errors for you on ISTEP. Some students started this.

See you tomorrow!