To seek, to strive, to find, and not to yield. - Ulysses

Monday, February 29, 2016

Mull-it-over Monday!

Block A: Only ONE more class to work on your Top 10 project!!! Goal for tomorrow is to make sure you've met all the criteria for the project - images, subtitles, voice over and music!

Block B: There is no specific homework for tonight - just make sure that parts A, B and C of your "What is it?" inference activity are done for Wednesday. You may or may not get time in class tomorrow to work on it!

Block D: If you did not complete your setting Haiku for "The Veldt" please do so for homework tonight. You need to write your best 2 on the index card provided (in pen) and put your name on the back. I'll collect tomorrow. If you missed the instructions here they are:

Friday, February 26, 2016

Fun-times Friday!

Block A: Keep up the good work! We're making the big push to the March 2nd due date!!!

Block B: Your "What is it" sentences are due on Monday. Don't forget to study for the noun quiz as well!!!

Block D: Great work on the questions for further analysis today. Such thoughtful responses. Homework this weekend is to complete the first analyzing setting chart - the front side only.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Thoughtfully Thursday!

Block A: I know that music is causing some issues right now - we'll stick with it and see what we can learn!!!

Block B: The noun quiz will be on Monday. Make sure you are prepared by studying your notes and completing the review worksheet from class today. Homework tonight was to complete 3 of the 4 text-message inference tasks. There will be a homework check on this tomorrow.

Block D: A lot of interesting thoughts on the story today! Please finish questions 1-8 on "The Veldt" for tomorrow's class. We'll finish the rest in class.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Think Pink! Anti-bulling Wednesday!

Block A: Our work continues on the Top 10s project. Most people are at the script writing stage and starting to do their voice recordings. We'll continue this tomorrow.

Block B: Great job on becoming THIEVES of information! No homework tonight!

Block D: If you did not finish the story map for "The Veldt" please do so tonight!

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Talk about our Tuesday:

Block A: Work continues on the Top 10s. You should have all of your images chosen today - and be working on subtitles and imputing your criteria. Tomorrow everyone should be working on script writing. The project is going to be due Wed. March 2nd - one week from tomorrow!

Block B: Good work on the inferences chart today! If you did not finish both sides of the chart - it is homework for tonight!

Block D: We have barely gotten started on our story - but not to worry - we'll finish it in class tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Mega Monday!

Block A: Top 10s are still ongoing! People are working on script writing and movie making. Keep up the good work!

Block B: Great work on making inferences today! Homework for tonight is to complete the nouns worksheet - we'll take up the answers together tomorrow.

Block D: Very interesting and engaging cinquain characters! Homework tonight is to finish your 2 cinquain poems and choose your best one to put on the index card provided. The front of your card will feature your best cinquain (in pen) decorations are optional. The back of the card will have your name. I'll collect tomorrow! If you missed the instructions - here they are:

Thursday, February 18, 2016

That's it for Thursday!

Block A: We're making progress on our Top 10s project!!! Keep up the good work! Enjoy your three day weekend!!!

Block B: Great work with making inferences today! We will continue on Monday - no homework this weekend!!!

Block D: By now you should have finished reading "The Necklace" and completed the story map. We debriefed the story map together in class today. We then started to look closer at how the author creates characters through direct and indirect presentation. Check out your yellow handout if you need a refresher. The homework for the weekend is to finish the front side of the characterization chart for Mme. Loisel. We will finish the backside of the handout for M. Loisel on Monday. Here is a copy of the Characterization Chart if you need one!


Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Wonderful Wednesday:

Block A: We will keep working on our Top 10 projects tomorrow - the goal is to have everyone on the iPads and starting to find their images.

Block B: Homework tonight is the double-spaced good copy (typed or in pen) of your zoo paragraph. Tomorrow you will hand in the good copy, rough draft, green peer editing sheet and the graphic organizer.

Block D: There is no homework tonight - we will finish the story map for "The Necklace" in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Talking About Tuesday:

Block A: We will keep working on our Top 10s tomorrow. Hopefully, everybody will be ready to get started on the iPads!

Block B: The double-spaced rough draft of your zoo paragraph is due tomorrow for peer editing. The nouns worksheet is NOT homework!

Block D: Please complete the good copy of your advice letter to John Sr. I will also be collecting the rough draft.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Make the Most of your Monday!

Block A: Wow. You guys are making awesome progress on your Top 10s projects! We'll continue working tomorrow - finding images is the next priority.

Block B: Please finish the graphic organizer of your Zoo expository paragraph - I'll be checking it over tomorrow.

Block D: Finish the rough draft of your advice letter to John Purcell from "The Father" for tomorrow. Here are the slides from class:




Friday, February 12, 2016

Fun-times Friday!

Block A: Awesome start to your own Top 10 Project today!!! In class you had the opportunity to work on a proposal and start planning criteria and start choosing the items on your list. We will start putting together our images with the iPad cart on Monday!

Block B: If you did not finish the practice section #3 of the paragraph worksheet, please do so for Monday. Choose one of the topic sentences and three of the supporting details to write your paragraph, adding transition words and a concluding sentence.

Block D: The double-spaced good copy (in pen or typed) of your "Wish You Were Here" creative task is due on Monday. There will be time in class on Monday to finish the story map for "The Father" it is not homework this weekend.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Think about Thursday:

Block A: Great job on the Top 10 Fast Food restaurants today! We'll try another list tomorrow.

Block B: We'll continue tomorrow working on the parts of a paragraph! No homework tonight :)

Block D: Please finish the creative response to "Wish You Were Here." The rough draft is due tomorrow for peer review/editing.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Wondering about Wednesday?

Block A: Great job on the Top 10s today! We will finish our list of the Top 10 fast food restaurants together in class tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block B: Excellent work on parts of a paragraph today! We'll continue our work tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block D: So that is what an ambiguous ending feels like hey? If you didn't finish your story map for "Wish You Were Here" please do so tonight. The 3 creative options for responding to the story are NOT for homework tonight. I'll give you time in class tomorrow to work on them.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Terrific Tuesday!

Block A: Great job on the non-fiction reading today! We'll get into the Top 10 Series tomorrow. No homework tonight.

Block B: Hopefully you are finding the documentary on zoos interesting! We'll take up part 4 together tomorrow - no homework tonight!

Block D: No time to read our first story in class today - we'll take it up together tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Friday, February 5, 2016

Follow us to Friday!

Block A: If you didn't hand in your Coat of Arms in class today - it is your homework for Tuesday.

Block B: The good copy of your Bio Poem is due on Tuesday. Please hand in: the good copy, rough draft, planning page and purple criteria.

Block D: The good copy of your Where I'm From poem is due on Tuesday. Please hand in: the good copy, rough draft and blue criteria sheet.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Think about your Thursday:

Block A: We will have one more class to work on the Coat of Arms - final copy is due at the end of block tomorrow.

Block B: Homework tonight is the rough draft of your Bio Poem. You will have time for peer editing and work on the good copy in class tomorrow! Good copy with planning sheet, rough draft and criteria are due on Tuesday.

Block D: Homework tonight is the rough draft of your Where I'm From Poem. You will have time for peer editing and work on the good copy in class tomorrow! Good copy, rough draft and criteria are due on Tuesday.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Wonderful Wednesday!

Block A: Food for thought today - some interesting insights into your learning profiles! It is not perfect - but it is something to consider. We then started to delve deeper into this whole idea of identity - and what identity means. We are going to keep working on your webs for the start of your Coat of Arms assignment in class tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block B: If you haven't handed in your pink letter - please hand that in ASAP!!! There is no homework tonight, there will be time in class tomorrow to work on your brainstorming boxes and planning sheet for your "Bio Poem" assignment. The rough draft of your poem is due on Friday for peer feedback and the good copy is due on Tuesday.

Block D: If you haven't handed in your green letter - please hand that in ASAP!!! There is no homework tonight, there will be time in class tomorrow to work on your template or ideas for the "Where I'm From" poem assignment. The rough draft of your poem is due on Friday for peer feedback and the good copy is due on Tuesday.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Talk about Tuesday:

Block A: Great work on the two community building challenges today! Your towers and cup stacking efforts were impressive!!! Please get your yellow letters in as soon as possible.

Blocks B & D: Today we went to the library and chose silent reading novels. Please make sure you are bringing your novel to class each day as we will start the class with silent reading. Your homework tonight is to complete the letter to me in which you introduce yourself and let me know a little bit about you as a learner. Here are the instructions from the overhead:

Part A: Explain to me a little bit about you. What kinds of things do you like doing outside of school? Do you belong to clubs or sports teams? Anything that will help to give me better picture of who you are.

Part B: What do you expect to get out of my class? What makes a good teacher? What expectations do you have of me as your teacher?

Part C: Tell me about the kind of student you are. Do you hate to be called on in front of class? Do you sometimes need extra help? Do you need help keeping your work organized? Extra reminders about homework and due dates?

Part D: Think seriously about who would be a good person for you to sit near in order to benefit your learning. I'll take your reasons into consideration when I make my seating plan tonight. You must provide a good reason - s'he's my bff is not a good reason! You may also tell me who you think you might need some space from - with a good reason. For example, I am easily distracted by ............. and I want to do better academically this semester. I'm not making any promises - but I'll do the best I can.

Finally, in your letter feel free to include anything else you think might be helpful for me to know about you.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Master Your Monday!

Block A: Thanks for playing along with our "Would You Rather" Game today! Please have your yellow parent/guardian letter signed and returned by Friday.

Block B: Thanks for the name tags - you will have a new seat tomorrow! Homework tonight - please have your pink parent/guardian letter signed and returned by Friday, and your 21 Questions Survey needs to be done for tomorrow.

Block D: Your names tags look great - find your name tomorrow to have your seating arrangement for the day! Homework tonight is to have your green parent/guardian letter signed and returned by Friday, and your 21 Questions Survey needs to be done for tomorrow.

Wallowing Wednesday!

Block B: Poetry Stations are done! There will be some time tomorrow to share more poetry if you feel so inclined. There is no homework tonig...