Week 5/29-6/2

Last week, students worked on how themes developed over the course of the novel. Please check out Andrew's example where he not only accurately explains the themes of isolation and abandonment, he makes you laugh too!

We will finish reading the novel Speak this week and working on writing concise summaries, pulling out quotes that convey the universal themes, and using symbolic images to represent the quotes and themes. Please continue to check out their Student Blogs and Twitter accounts  (these are embedded in their blogs) to see their published work--you are their audience! 

We will end the week with the district MAP Reading Assessment to compare where students were at the beginning of the year and where they are now. I have seen SO much growth in them and I am beyond proud of all of their hard work and dedication.

Monday
Holiday
Tuesday 
Blog: Fourth Marking Period 10-Word Summaries and Symbolic Quotes/Pictures
Wednesday
Blog: Fourth Marking Period 10-Word Summaries and Symbolic Quotes/Pictures Due
Blog: Past, Present, and Future Poem 
Thursday
MAP Reading Assessment (District Test)
Friday
MAP Reading Assessment (District Test)
Blog: Past, Present, and Future Poem Due
AR DUE TODAY
ALL LATE WORK DUE

Week 5/22-5/26

There are only a couple of weeks left of middle school before summer and then you will have a high schooler--it is crazy how time flies when you are having fun! We are reading the last part of the novel Speak this week and working on writing concise summaries, pulling out quotes that convey the universal themes, and using symbolic images to represent the quotes and themes. Please continue to check out their Student Blogs and Twitter accounts  (these are embedded in their blogs) to see their published work--you are their audience! 

Monday
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Theme Development Flipgrid Video
Tuesday 
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Fourth Marking Period 10-Word Summaries and Symbolic Quotes/Pictures
Wednesday
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Fourth Marking Period 10-Word Summaries and Symbolic Quotes/Pictures
LAST AR Log Check (Log-5 entries/Signature)
*Students need to be reading an AR book that has a reading level of 3.5+ for 30 minutes 5 nights per week (students need to have the front side of the AR log completed prior to taking an AR quiz). Students need to earn 35 points at every quarter checkpoint (Quarter 4 is due 6/2). Please see the AR Log for more information. 
Thursday
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back Due
Blog: Fourth Marking Period 10-Word Summaries and Symbolic Quotes/Pictures
Friday
Non-Student Day

Week 5/15-5/19

Last week, students wrote a narrative and turned it into an e-book, dissected symbolic art, and analyzed different aspects of the novel Speak by creating dialectical journal entries (extended responses-one paragraph or more) and Tweeting (concise responses-140 characters or less) in order to demonstrate understanding of the novel in relation to characters, plot, themes, literary elements, and the ability to connect the novel to the real world.  Please continue to check out their Student Blogs and Twitter accounts  (these are embedded in their blogs) to see their published work--you are their audience! Check out Clarece's theatrical performance of her e-book:

This week, it continues! We are about halfway through the novel and we will continue to expand our critical thinking and analytical skills through reading and writing. We will have an AR check this week and next week (the last two checks of the year--tear!). AR is due June 2 and students must earn 35 points to receive full credit.

Monday
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Third Marking Period #BookSnaps Vocabulary
Tuesday 
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Third Marking Period Themes
Wednesday
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Third Marking Period Themes
AR Log Check (Log-5 entries/Signature)
*Students need to be reading an AR book that has a reading level of 3.5+ for 30 minutes 5 nights per week (students need to have the front side of the AR log completed prior to taking an AR quiz). Students need to earn 35 points at every quarter checkpoint (Quarter 4 is due 6/2). Please see the AR Log for more information. 
Thursday
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Third Marking Period Themes
Blog: Theme Development Flipgrid Video
Friday
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Third Marking Period Themes
Blog: Theme Development Flipgrid Video

Week 5/8-5/12

Last week, students worked very hard finishing up their SBAC Performance Task (writing a narrative, explanatory, or argumentative essay). They are completely finished with SBAC testing in English (unless they need to do make-ups)!

It is back to learning! I have missed interacting with the students and teaching so this week will be awesome. Students will analyze different aspects of the novel Speak by creating dialectical journal entries (extended responses-one paragraph or more) and Tweeting (concise responses-140 characters or less) in order to demonstrate understanding of the novel in relation to characters, plot, themes, literary elements, and the ability to connect the novel to the real world. Please check out their Student Blogs and Twitter accounts  (these are embedded in their blogs) to see their published work. Also, they have been Tweeting a lot, check out the depth of what they can say in 140 characters (or less) at the class hashtag #toll1617.

Monday: Periods 135
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Vocabulary Group Story Marking Period 2
Tuesday: Period 246 
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Vocabulary Marking Period 2
Wednesday: Periods 135
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: "Wishbone" Symbolic Art Project
Thursday: Periods 246
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: "Wishbone" Symbolic Art Project
Friday: Gold Ribbon Celebration
Speak: Character Sketch Front/Back
Blog: Dialectical Journal #4

School Newspaper Volume 1, SBAC Edition