Core English 8 @ RWMS: Room 207

here is a
Look for our Unit 4 Springboard in the menu.


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June 16
DoNow: p268 Begin reading "Tom Sawyer"

Here is a link to the version of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" that we started watching in class today.
Here is an audio recording of the book.

As you read, listen, or watch the story, be aware of the dialect that Mark Twain uses in the dialogue between characters.

June 15
DoNow: Copy p 265 chart "character" and "interpretation" columns

p 268 "Before Reading"
copy "Lit Terms" (dialect) into notebook

Began review of Key Ideas and Details

June 14 ELL Field Day

June 13
DoNow: Review p262-264, "The Open Window"

Read through story as a class

HW: Complete Key Ideas Questions (first 3)

Here is a video version of "The Open Window."

and a second version

June 05-09

Friday-
DoNow: Review "characterization" and "caricature" p261
**Be sure they are in your notebook!!

characterization

we viewed the Abbott and Costello skit "Who's on first?""
and $28

Thursday-
DoNow: Review pp258-259

complete chart on p259


HW:
Academic Vocab p257
Reread p258-259 **Mark the humorous spots"
Tuesday-
DoNow: p257 Before Reading

HW: Finish definitions and paraphrasing p257

Monday-
DoNow: p253 + 254 begin Key Ideas and Details

Classwork: work in groups to complete Key Ideas and Details. Begin work on questions 4, 5, and 6.

HW: Finish questions 4, 5, and 6

May 30 - June 02

Thursday-
Students who did not present their anecdotes yesterday, had the opportunity to present today.

p252. We reviewed the GB Shaw quote. students shared their interpretations of the quote. Then students filled in the "Personal Commentary" column of the chart.

When they had completed the chart, students were to answer question 2.

We read About The Author, Dave Barry, and began reading his essay, "I've got a few pet peeves about sea creatures". (Through paragraph 7). We will continue reading tomorrow.

Wednesday-
DoNow: Prepare for Anecdote Presentations!!

Students presented their anecdotes that they have been working on for the last week.

p252: We reviewed the Learning Targets for activity 4.5, as well as read the George Benard Shaw quote in question 1. We discussed what Shaw might have been trying to say to us. Students were to complete the "Interpretation" column of the chart.

Tuesday-
Do Now: Read about Verbals on p 251

** Revise your anecdote!!
- Use your "revision" sheet and or the embedded assessment rubric on p
-Does it tell your story?

HW - Finalize your anecdote. We will have presentations tomorrow!!

Monday-Memorial Day-No School
May 22-26

Friday- Begin drafting you anecdote. Use your brainstorming ideas from the chart you completed yesterday (on p 250).

Thursday- Read over p 250
Are you using your Before Reading ideas?

HW p250 finish chart

Wednesday-
DoNow: Read about "TWIST" p249

Begin analysis of "Brothers" using TWIST chart

HW: Finish TWIST chart if it is not completed.
If chart is completed, read something for enjoyment!!

Tuesday-Review p247 "Before Reading" You will share this!
Review p247: "During Reading"----->Did you mark the text?

Students read the article "Brothers" (p248) and marked it up.

HW p 248 Key Ideas & Details. Answer in your notebooks.

Monday-Read over the "Humorous Monologue" analysis chart on p 246

Review of Jerry Seinfeld monologue on Halloween and candy.

May 15-19
Monday-
Tuesday-
Wednesday-review "comic strips" and "political cartoons" p243

Look at the chart p 244
handouts of comics (1 political and 1 comic) and graphic organizer
group work - choose 2 of each and complete organizer

Thursday-
turn and share your "classifying comedy" graphic organizer from yesterday
p245 #1-3

Watch Jerry Seinfield-"I'm Telling You For The Last Time" video and fill in Viewing a Humorous on p245

Friday- Mr. D'Atri out today, substitute here
P247 Before Reading
During Reading
Read about the author
p248 Mark the text "Brothers" (didn't do)

May 05
p236-237 Key Ideas and Details completed
After Reading

May 01-05-237
Class on Monday-continue work on beginning of unit 4
HW-Key Ideas and Details p234-235

NECAP Testing on Tuesday and Wednesday

Thursday-Review Key Ideas and Details answers on p 234=235
Continue p236-be sure to make predictions on the sections before you read
Friday-Finish reading 236-237 Make sure that you have predictions written down for each section!!! We will be checking for completion next week!!!

April 24-28-PARCC Testing on Monday-Wednesday Our class met on Wed., Thurs., and Fri. of the test week.

Friday Complete p 233, #1 & 2. Can work with partner or small group.

Thurs. Review Unit 4 Overview
Review Scoring Guide - underline words, phrases, ideas that you need to learn about so that you can successfully complete the embedded
assessment for unit 4

p233, read Learning Targets, then complete #1 & 2



Wed. Review Unit Overview p229
check QHT for terms on p230

Unpacking EA 4

April 17-21 Spring Vacation

April 10-13: PARCC ELA testing this week Mon-Wed
presentations of Found poem from Springboard
create a found poem from paragraphs 5-6 on p201
preview Unit 4 in Springboard

April 03-07

Friday-
Review p 201, Lit Termjs on found poem
Read through the found poem on p201

Thursday-
Review p 201, "lit terms" on "found poem"
Reading the found poem on p 201

Wednesday-
p200: answer before reading in your notebook
p201 review, read, and document Lit Terms in your notebook

Tuesday--review "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." Share answers (p195-197) with a neighbor. Discuss the questions and answers as a class.

Monday--Review "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". Work in your small group to answer the Key Ideas and Details on 195-197.

March 27-March 31

30-pg 194. #2. Write a short answer about why an author would tell a Holocaust story from the point of view of a child.

29-Worked on Interim Assessment (writing portion). We will finish with it on Friday.

28-Presentations of "Light in the Darkness and the Holocaust writing. This is worth 3 scores: the written piece, your presentation, and your Anne Frank Diary.

Class discussion about the presentations.

Connotation is an area that we have been working on. Choosing specific words that give the reader the feeling that you want them to feel/understand. Horrific vs bad Hungry vs Starving Happy vs Euphoric

27-Interim Assessment Time. Students took the first section of this Reading assessment on Chromebooks today. They read two texts and answered 10 multiple choice questions about the two readings.

March 20-24
20-STAR Reading Testing

21-Review Key Ideas and Details Questions pp189-192 in Springboard
Viewed another section of the movie, added onto our Anne Frank Diaries (see March 07 if you need a refresher about what needs to be included in each journal entry)

22-Review Journals then continue with viewing and analysis of movie. We continue to add to our Anne Frank journal.

23-Review Journals then continue with viewing and analysis of movie. We continue to add to our Ann Frank journal.

24-Read page 194 (Quickwrite)
Use the Quickwrite to write a whole page of response to: How does the theme/idea of "finding light in the darkness" connect to the subject of the Holocaust?"

Use notes from your Anne Frank Dairy, quotes and ideas from "First They Came for the Communists", "Night", and "The Terrible Things" and any other information/knowledge you have about the Holocaust to write about this connection.

March 15-17
Recap/Review of what we have viewed and read so far.

Watched another section of the movie.

Finally found a link to the version of The Diary of Anne Frank that we are watching in class.

If the one above doesn't work for you, try this one: Anne Frank.
March 16
DoNow: read through the play version of The Diary of Anne Frank, mark up the text.

Read an excerpt from a play version of The Diary of Anne Frank in Springboard (pp 189-193) Discussion of reading.

Homework: complete the Key Ideas and Details for this reading

March 13-15
Continued viewing The diary of Anne Frank, writing in our journal.

Snow Day on Tuesday, March 14.

March 08-10
Continuing on the viewing of the The Diary of Anne Frank movie. At the end of each viewing, students are writing in their journal (see March 07 for criteria for journal entries).

March 07
We began the movie

***Each day we will add to our journal/diary using these criteria:
Describe what happened in this section of the movie
**Commentary on this!!

An example of "Light in the Darkness"

Questions-write a minimum of one question based on what you know and have learned.
March 06
Read the handout about Anne Frank. This page is an introduction to Anne and her diary, a well known document written by a young Jewish girl during World War II.

We watched a brief video about Anne Frank. This video is found on the annefrank.org website.

Each student will be keeping their own "diary" during our exploration of Anne and her experiences and writing. Today we wrote an Introduction to this Journal.
--Tell what you just learned about Anne Frank.
--Tell your thoughts about her
--Write down any questions you may have about her, her life and family, etc

March 03
Make up vocabulary quiz.
Begin writing your expository writing prompt from p 188. (see below)

March 01-02

Continuing with watching and analyzing clips from Life is Beautiful. filling in chart on p 187.

Begin thinking about the writing prompt on p 188.
How is the theme "finding light in the darkness" express in the film? Write a draft that explains how setting, character, and/or plot (topics from the chart on p 187) are used to develop this theme. Be sure to:

Begin with a topic sentence that responds to the prompt.
Provide textual evidence and commentary (look back at p187) for support.
Use precise diction to inform or explain..

Feb. 28
Began watching clips from Life is Beautiful. Filling in chart on p 187.
Completed clip 1. Watched clip 2 one time, will continue tomorrow.

Feb. 27
Review vocabulary and then take the quiz that was postponed on Friday.
Prepared for watching video clips from Life Is Beautiful.
Feb. 24
Change of Plans because of Fire Drill
quiz will be on Monday
began our writing in class

DoNow:
Review for Vocabulary Test

Writing:
Check Your Understanding
-on lined paper
-choose 6 vocabulary words to use in your writing

Homework:
Finish Check Your Understanding from Writing (see above)
Feb. 23
Check & Practice Vocabulary from p 179
Studied vocabulary w/partners

We used The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's website to further enhance our understanding of the Holocaust. Please talk with your adults before exploring this website any further. This website, and many others that deal with the Holocaust, have many graphic images and information that some people will find disturbing.

We viewed a short video showing people moving into the Krakow ghetto

We also explored the timeline on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's website.

Feb. 22
DoNow:
Check for vocabulary study cards
Practice Vocab from p 179

Watch Life is Good video of Francine Christophe

Read about "Euphemisms" p 178
write definition of euphemism in notebook

Homework: finish paragraph p 177

Feb. 20-21 Monday & Tuesday
No School-Presidents' Day Break

Feb.13-17
Monday: 2 hour start delay

DoNow: be sure that you have an answer for p 175 #2

Holocaust Timeline handed out-started reviewing events.

Tuesday: Some students are participating in NAEP assessments.
Students in class reviewed the Holocaust timeline (p2) and received a copy of the text of The Terrible Things.

Wednesday:
DoNow: Review pp 176-177. We will be using this table to analyze The Terrible Things.

We watched a movie of The Terrible Things and read the story along with the movie. After watching and reading the story, we worked to fill in the table on pp 176-177.

Homework: Finish pp176-177 if not completed.

Thursday:
Library time. Students used www.dictionary.com to look up vocabulary from p 179.
Homework is to finish if you didn't finish the vocabulary work.
***Make a set of study cards and bring them in for extra credit." (+20 points if you bring them in by next Wednesday!!)

Friday:
DoNow: p 177 Read through "Check Your Understanding"

Feb. 06
Students completed the multiple choice section of the interim assessment today.

Feb. 01-3

Students worked on the writing portion of the Interim Assessment this week.

Students are working on U3 Activity 3.4
Everyone should have completed pp 171-173:

Read About the Author (Elie Wiesel) p 171
Before Reading- p171
During Reading Directions- p171
Read excerpt from Night (several times) pp 171-172
Completed Key Ideas and Details Questions pp 171-172
Read About the Author (Martin Niemoller)
Read First They Came For The Communists

Feb. 01-Quarter 3 begins today!!!

Jan. 31
Job Fair Today!!
Students used their resumes from yesterday to "apply" for a job in one of the Literature Circle Roles.
Jan. 30
Bomster out
Class worked on "Resumes" for Literature Circle Roles Jan. 27
DoNow:
p 167-168
"Understanding Literature Circle Roles"
Read about all 5 roles with a pencil

Go to p 109 to see more information about Question Levels

Jan. 26
DoNow:
Read and copy Academic Vocabulary
Read p 163

Classwork:
Read through p 163 together and discuss

p 164: Read through quotes on this page before we started working.

Homework: finish the chart on p 163
Jan. 25
DoNow:
p 162
Read "Making Connections"
Answer Essential Question

Classwork:
Begin unpacking the embedded assessment by creating questions that will guide your learning throughout the unit.

Homework:
Finish unpacking the embedded assessment.

Jan. 24
DoNow: Colate your essay and your writing process work, staple together and hand in.
FIntroduce Unit 3, The Challenge to Make a Difference.
In your notebook, fill in a QHT chart for the vocabulary on p 160. Jan 23
DoNow: Review the "Evaluating and Revising" Section on p 157 then look at the Scoring Guide on p 158

Peer Revisions Today!!

Homework:
Final Draft

Jan 20
DoNow:
Review the "Evaluating and Revising" section p157
Be sure to read the **Scoring Guide**

In Class:
Work on draft, evaluate how you are progressing by using the information on p157-158

Homework:
Draft
Intro and 1st Body paragraph writing

Jan 19
DoNow:
Is your web complete?
**Did you consider the counter claim yet?

Begin Draft

Homework:
Work on draft tonight.

Jan 18
DoNow:
Review your research
Classwork:
Choice: If you did not complete your writing web, you can work on that.
Main class assignment:

Jan 17
DoNow
Review your research
Prewriting-Web of your claim, reasons, evidence

Homework
complete the prewriting web: claim, 3 reasons, 3 pieces of evidence for each reason

Jan 16-no school~Martin Luther King Jr Day!!

Jan. 09-13
Access Testing Throughout this week!!

Friday, Jan 13: worked on research for argumentative essay. Use any and/or all of the articles that we have read in our Springboard book. Cite your sources (name the article or website where you found your evidence/facts).
Jan. 06
DoNow
p153-155
Read through.

Reviewed p 152. #4
model of answers

HW
Read something that you want to and will enjoy!!

Review of Jan. 05
DoNow
p. 152 #4
You will use paragraphs 5 and 13 to paraphrase.

Activity 2.16

HW
Finish p 152 #4
also, p 152 Check Your Understanding

Jan. 04

We have been reading pages 150-151 and completing the Key Ideas and Details.
We have read it independently several times and also as a class (with discussion).

Jan. 03
DoNow:
-You Take the Good
-You Take the Bad
-You Write About Them In A Paragraph!!

Essay

*5 Paragraphs
-Introductory Paragraph
Tells what the essay is about
-Body Paragraphs (3)
Gives details
-Conclusion Paragraph

Paragraphs

*5 Sentences
-Topic Sentence
Tells what the paragraph is about
-Body Sentences (3+)
Gives details of Topic Sentence
-Conclusion sentence
Restates Topic Sentence
Wraps the paragraph up

Sentences

Example Paragraph that we created as a class:

My vacation was pretty good. To begin with, I went to my grandmother's house to celebrate Christmas. Even though I love being with my family, I was tired. Secondly, my cousins and I were watching movies. I really liked watching the Care Bear movie the best! Last, I absolutely lived and loved for the fact that I could sleep in until about 11:00 every day. I enjoyed doing this simply because I want to. In conclusion, my time away from school was relaxing and filled with fun and family.

Remember:
3 reasons/details that support your topic sentence
a commentary/supporting detail for each reason
Use transitions throughout the paragraph
Conclusion needs to restate, in different words, the topic sentence.

HW:
Read p 150 & 151

Dec. 21
DoNow:
Check Your Understanding p 148
Writing!!

Dec. 20
DoNow:
p 146 - 147 "Key Ideas"

Work in small groups/partners to work through Key Ideas and Details

HW:
Finish Key Ideas
After Reading p 147

Dec. 19
HW:
Read pg 146-147
mark the text
identify claim and evidence

Dec. 16
DoNow:
-p144 (Up On Screen)
-Read p145 "Researching and Reading Informational Texts"

Reviewed Criteria for Evaluating Websites
What do the ending of websites tell us?

.com is most common, anyone or any organization can have it
.net
.org (organization)
.edu (education)**
.gov (government)**

-p145
-p146 Article

Dec. 15
DoNow:
-Review pg142
-complete the sentence starter for step 5
-reading "Locating and Evaluating Sources" p143

A claim is the main argument.
A counterclaim is the opposite of the argument, or the opposing argument.
A reason tells why the claim is made and is supported by the evidence.

We are writing argument essays. We need to have several important pieces in our arguments. Logos or logic. Pathos or emotions. Ethos or ethics.

Dec. 14
DoNow:
pg 142 step 1

HW:
Read pg 142 Reading and Forming A Debatable Claim

Dec. 13
DoNow:
pg 141 Read and take notes
*Controversy
*Debatable and non-debatable claims

Students worked on #1 and 2 on pg 141 while Mr. D'Atri conferenced with students about STAR scores and growth since September.

If finished with 141, go on to 142 #3.

HW;
Pg 141 summary and #1 & 2

Dec.12
STAR Reading Testing Today!!

Dec. 08
DoNow about TLQC writing format, pg 76 **take notes

p 140 After Reading

HW
Dec. 07
DoNow: Read p 139-140
"What is sound reasoning?"
Underline important info!

Reviewed questions from last night.
Then read through "What Is Sound Reasoning?"

HW: Read p 139-140
Answer Key Ideas (2) Dec. 06
Do Now: pg 137 Key Ideas

In Springboard we read an real article from cbs news. The topic was the dangers of texting while driving.

Reread article on pg 137

HW: p138 #3,4,5

Dec.05
Do Now; Review "Preparing to debate" page 134
then read article on pg 135

discussed article and worked in groups to fill in chart on 135, (remember: evidence will be made up because we have not done any research on the topic)

HW finish chart on pg 135
read article on pg 137
Wed. Nov 30
Key Ideas and Details on pg 131
The Book Fair Time!!

Homework: Finish Ideas on pg 131
After Reading #5 & 6

Tues. Nov 29
We began unpacking our Embedded Assessment for Unit 2.
We began discussing the concept of Utopia.

Here are just 2 images that two different artists created to illustrate their ideas of what Utopia.