Take That, Tuesday!

Block B: Nice work on the questioning lesson today - tomorrow is our LAST day of reading strategy review before we start the novel. No homework tonight!

Block C: You are all well on your way to becoming THIEVES of reading! Nice work on the practice today. No homework tonight!

Block D: We didn't quite get through all of the notes on reading strategies today - so we will finish up tomorrow with the notes and a little bit of practice as well. No homework tonight!

Welcome Back Monday!

Block B: Awesome to see you all today! Thank you for your excellent work on making inferences - we can see you developing into better and stronger readers in front of our eyes! There will be a few minutes at the beginning of class tomorrow to finish up your conclusions about the 7 Generations graphic novel excerpt from class today.

Block C: There is no homework tonight - as we finished off the movie from before we left. We start work on THIEVES tomorrow!

Block D: Thank you all for your novel study submissions - I can't make any promises - but I will do my best to accommodate people and their first choices! We then did some work around our themes for the novel study unit. We will move on to strategy instruction tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Fun-Times Friday!

I hope you all have a safe and fun Spring Break!!! See you all on March 30th!!!

Block B: No homework :)

Block C: No homework :)

Block D: The good copy of your short story is due on Monday - double-spaced 3 pages please!!!!

Thoroughly Thursday!

Block B: Great work on the making connections today! I hope you enjoyed the first couple of chapters of Cracked - something to put on your must read list?! If you are missing your paragraph or story book - make sure those are in tomorrow!!!

Block C: Rough drafts and peer editing were completed in class on your opinion paragraphs. For tomorrow make sure you have a double-spaced good copy, your rough draft, peer editing sheet and graphic organizer to hand in. You can pick up the small blue criteria sheet in class tomorrow to staple to the front.

Block D: If you did not finish your rough draft in class today (and most of you did not...) please make sure that you have it completed for class tomorrow as we will be self and peer editing for most of the class!

Work on this Wednesday:

Block B: I know that finding main idea is a BIG challenge - but Ms. McBurney and are so proud of the way you stuck with the lesson today! We only just started our work on the making connections strategy today and so we will finish it in class tomorrow.

Block C: If you did not finish the graphic organizer for your opinion paragraph please do so tonight!

Block D: Great work on your drafts today. You should all be at least started on the double-spaced rough draft. I will give you one more block to continue your drafts and to start the editing process in class tomorrow or on Friday if need be.

Talk about Tuesday:

Block B: We didn't quite get through the work today on main idea - but don't worry - we'll finish it tomorrow!

Block C: If you didn't finish your practice paragraph on one of the two topics provided on the worksheet - please do so tonight for homework! Don't forget we have our first Spinebreakers reading check tomorrow!!!

Block D: I will continue the short story consultations in class tomorrow - so if you need to complete your plot planning package tonight - please do so!!!

Mostly Monday:

Block B: Today we started preparing for our novel study unit with some review of reading strategies and understanding the big idea. We'll finish up the documentary in class tomorrow.

Block C: Thank you for the mind maps today! They look great. We shifted from a visual representation of learning to written and discussing the parts of a good paragraph. From the looks of your vast list on the board - we have an awesome starting place! Keep the notes we took in class today in your binder to refer to when we write paragraphs in the future.

Block D: After handing in your theme paragraphs we go started on the short story project. You were all about the planning today - and need to get approval from me before moving on to the draft. Tonight you need to complete the setting, character, plot and theme - but if you didn't finish the plot diagram - that's ok there will be some time in class tomorrow to start conferencing.

Fantastic Friday:

Block B: What a wonderful work block today! You were all working so hard on your character paragraphs - great job! If you did not complete the double-spaced good copy in class today please make sure that you have it finished for Monday.

Block C: Today was your last class to complete the Mrs. Jones Mind Map. If you were not able to complete it in class today - please have it done for Monday. Make sure you have the yellow criteria sheet attached to the mind map.

Block D: Today we spent the first part of class completing the peer editing pink sheet for the theme analysis paragraph. The double-spaced good copy of the paragraph will be due on Monday. After the editing we got started thinking about what we might like to write for our short story. The planning package is NOT for homework - we will continue on Monday.

Think about Thursday:

Block B: Your paragraphs are really starting to come together! We will continue the graphic organizers and rough drafts tomorrow!

Block C: Your mind maps are looking so fantastic!!! Based on the feedback from class today - you need more time in class to complete this mind map. Therefore, I will give you another class tomorrow. If you finish in class please bring your book talk assignment to work on or a Spinebreakers book to read. The first reading check is on Wednesday - so get reading!!!

Block D: Great work on the analyzing theme paragraphs today. If you did not finish your double-spaced rough draft in class today - please do so tonight as we will be peer editing tomorrow.

Wonderful Wednesday:

Block B: Today in class today we finished watching the movie Stand By Me and worked together to complete the character charts. After reviewing the parts of a good paragraph we got started on the graphic organizer for the character analysis paragraph. Ms. McBurney and I collected them at the end of class to check your progress. We'll continue writing the structure tomorrow.

Block C: What an awesome class today! I am so pleased with the level of focus and concentration. You were all working so hard on your mind maps! Great job!!! I will be giving you the entire class tomorrow to continue the good work you're doing. Please bring fine liners, pencil crayons and rulers to class tomorrow!

Block D: After discussing the good and not so good aspects of paragraph writing, we broke down the components of a theme analysis paragraph. We then got started on the graphic organizer for the theme paragraph. If you did not finish your graphic organizer in class - please complete it for homework.

Take Away Tuesday:

Block B: Today we introduced one of the note-taking methods for ELO 1. We worked together to create a mind map on the board for Don Anselmo - then you started thinking about your mind map for Mrs. Jones. The homework tonight is to complete the planning chart on yellow paper - I'll be checking tomorrow!

Block C: Keep filling in the characteristics for Stand By Me - we'll finish the movie tomorrow and start our character task.

Block D: If you did not complete your 4 thematic statements in class today - please do so for homework tonight!

Mega Monday!

Block B: There will be a little bit of bonus time tomorrow to complete your "Thank You M'am" plot diagrams at the beginning of class. We will be doing a closer examination of character tomorrow.

Block C: So we only got the first little bit of the movie started in class today - but don't worry - we'll continue talking character tomorrow!

Block D: Today in class we moved from our setting charts to writing setting haiku poems - 3 of them! I'll post the instructions below. We also started talking about theme - and writing theme statements. Here are the instructions for the homework.