Thankfully Thursday!

Block B: For the most part - people are starting to get caught up with their novel study work. We will try to get everyone on the same page for Monday.

Block C: For tomorrow - please go to CBC.ca and find a news article (not sports or entertainment) that interest you. Print off the article (hit the printer friendly view) and brig it to class tomorrow. You will not be able to participate in the activity if you don't have an article.

Block D: We will add to your poetry terms tomorrow - make sure to keep your notes separate. Homework tonight is to complete your chart of examples of the poetry terms in the 4 poems presented in class today. Here are the poems for your reference:

In addition you will need to write your own poem - a minimum of 12 lines - the whole poem must show imagery this means you must try to capture the 5 senses. In addition you need to utilize one metaphor, one simile and one personification somewhere in your poem. Please label your use of each in your poem. Hand this in with your chart tomorrow!

Whirl-wind Wednesday!

Block B: Tomorrow will be a kind of catch up day for the chapter questions - I know we're moving along quickly - but we're almost done!!!

Block C: We will continue with the notes for types of poetry tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block D: Thank you for your responses to what is great poetry - results of the treasure hunt to be revealed soon! No homework tonight!

Talk about Tuesday!

Block B: We're almost done the novel! Just a few more chapters to go. We will finish up our work on chapters 13 and 14 tomorrow - then on to 15&16!

Block C: The things you learn about verbs, right?! Great work on the poetry group work today - on to the next tomorrow!

Block D: Thank you to all groups for your hard work today! No homework tonight!

Masterful Monday!

Block B: If you didn't finish your technical or scientific journal entry in class today - please complete it for homework and hand it in tomorrow. If you think you might be missing any assignments or questions - please make sure that you get them in as soon as possible.

Block C: Our group poetry activity continues tomorrow - so there is no homework tonight!

Block D: Presentations will continue tomorrow with our last 4 groups!

Fabulous Friday!

Block B: Thank you for the comparison journals! We will finish up 11 and 12 work on Monday - then on to chapters 13 and 14.

Block C: The only homework that you will have this weekend is to study your nouns for the quiz on Monday!

Block D: All right everybody - presentations start on Monday! Can't wait to see how you've brought the world of your novel to life!

Thoughts on Thursday:

Block B: Today in class you were given time to finish your responses for chapters 9 and 10 on the novel. We then reviewed the steps needed to write a comparison journal. After choosing your topic you created a comparison chart and then wrote your journal response. If you did not finish the journal in class - please complete it for homework tonight.

Block C: Make sure you study for the noun quiz on Monday! If you didn't finish your journal - please do so tonight for homework!

Block D: We will have ONE more work block tomorrow - then we'll start our presentations on Monday!!!

Wonderful Wednesday:

Block B: There will be some extra time tomorrow to complete your chapter 9 and 10 responses if you didn't finish in class today.

Block C: Great work on noun basics today! No homework tonight :)

Block D: Work continues on your presentations - looking forward to seeing the results on Monday!

Take-Away Tuesday!

Block B: Great work on the hierarchy triangles today! At this point everyone should be finished their questions for chapters 7 and 8. We'll start reading chapters 9 and 10 tomorrow.

Block C: Not everyone got the chance to finish their work on ELO 3: Making Connections - please complete it tonight and hand it in tomorrow.

Block D: All groups were able to finish their group discussions today for their novel, and so it is on to the novel experience! Make sure you are present and ready to work tomorrow - your presentations will start on Monday!

Merrily on Monday!

Block B: We finished watching The Pursuit of Happyness in class today. We will debrief the chart and the movie tomorrow. Be ready to discuss the hierarchy of needs!

Block C: We will continue with the making connections ELO 3 tomorrow - make sure you have finished your text-codes and text-code summaries for "The Pedestrian."

Block D: Groups will have a little bit of time tomorrow to finish their final group discussions then it is on to the final project!!! Please make sure that you complete the reflection and your 2 journal entries for tomorrow.

Walk Away Wednesday:

Block B: Thank you for your thoughtful and engaging discussion of wants and needs today! We will finish off our discussion of Maslow tomorrow - and start the movie!

Block C: If you did not finish the text-coding and linear notes in class today - please complete them tonight and hand them in tomorrow!

Block D: Great work today talking about conflict - if your group needs extra time you can have some tomorrow! Don't forget you need to finish your book for Monday!

Tasks for a Tuesday:

Block B: We will finish the last couple of pages for chapter 8 in class tomorrow - and then get started on the response questions. There is no homework tonight!

Block C: Please complete the THIEVES portion of your assignment - if not done in class today. There will be time tomorrow to complete the text-coding and linear notes.

Block D: Make sure that your reading and sticky notes are finished and ready to discuss in the meeting tomorrow!

Most of all Monday:

Block B: There will be extra time tomorrow to finish up your responses to chapters 4-6. Great work on your process journals!

Block C: We will continue our work with text-coding in class tomorrow - no homework tonight!

Block D: Thank you for your hard work in your groups today! If you need extra time tomorrow to finish up your work on symbolism - that is not a problem. Make sure you are keeping up with the reading and sticky notes for the next meeting on Wednesday.

For You on Friday!

Block B: Thank you for your hilarious and awesome responses to our grade 8 "guess who" descriptive writing task! We'll let you know how it goes next week. In class today we read chapters 4-6 but we didn't get a chance to complete the responses. Not to fear - we'll pick up our work on Monday.

Block C: Hopefully the opportunity to see how you could organize your notes in a different way has given you the opportunity to see reading and taking notes as a valuable skill. I will give you some extra time on Monday to translate your notes into proper linear notes formula. There is no homework this weekend!

Block D: All groups finished off their theme work from yesterday and handed in their journals. Please make sure that your reading and sticky notes are done for the meeting on Monday!

Thoughts on Thursday

Block B: Most of class today was catching up and finishing the responses for chapters 1-3. We will finish reading chapters 4-6 in class tomorrow. No homework tonight!

Block C: Thank you for handing in all of your descriptive paragraphs today! I look forward to reading them. Today we got started on ELO 1 - note-taking and ELO 7 - group discussions. We used THIEVES to prepare for notes and TALK to remind ourselves of what good group behaviour looks like. We didn't quite have enough time today to complete our notes - so I will give you some extra time tomorrow after silent reading and the book talk. No homework tonight!

Block D: Make sure that you have 2 journal entries to hand in tomorrow. Review the criteria on the blue handout. Each journal should answer one question and be about 250 words each. That is about half a page single spaced. As long as the work is in good copy - it can be written in pen or typed.

Wondering about Wednesday?

Block B: Great job on the descriptive paragraphs today! If you need some extra time tomorrow to complete your responses to chapters 1-3 you will have about 15 minutes to finish up - you can stay in at lunch if you need extra time.

Block C: The double-spaced good copy (in pen or typed) is due tomorrow. Make sure that you have the rough draft, outline and peer editing sheet to hand in as well.

Block D: All group work is finished for today - make sure that you have completed the reading and your sticky notes for the group meeting tomorrow. Your 2 journal responses are due on Friday.

Terrific Tuesday:

Block B: Today we got started on our class novel. I know that most of you didn't finish your chapter questions - but not to worry. There will be time in class tomorrow to finish up!

Block C: If you didn't finish in class today - please complete the double-spaced rough draft of your descriptive paragraph. We will peer edit tomorrow.

Block D: Good start to the meetings today. If your group needs some extra time tomorrow - that is fine! Make sure you are on track with your reading and journals. Please complete the self/group evaluation tonight as well.

Thoughts on Thursday

Block B: Today you had the opportunity to set the stage for the novel study - we talked and watched a few different accounts of youth homelessness and reinforced our use of strategies. We will start the novel on Tuesday.

Block C: It took a little bit longer than I thought it would to complete the point form outline of your descriptive paragraphs - but that's ok. You need to get a stamp of approval before starting the rough draft - therefore - homework this weekend if to complete the outline for Tuesday.

Block D: I hope that you are all enjoying the first part of your novel! Please make sure that your reading and sticky notes are done for the meeting on Tuesday.

Wonderful Wednesday!

Block B: Phew! We're all done the strategy instruction!! Today was our last class - and it was visualizing. A great way to finish off. Tomorrow we start to use the strategies with our novel study! No homework tonight!

Block C: Today we talked about the aspects of good descriptive writing. For homework tonight please narrow down your topic and complete either the web or the chart of your sensory details. Be as specific as you can and use adjectives, alliteration, similes and personification as well!

Block D: Great work on the strategy practice today with "The Sniper" I look forward to reading your reflections. I will reveal your novel and group members tomorrow. No homework tonight!