Week 2/26-3/2

Last week, students wrote their first literary analysis essay on the novel Fahrenheit 451 in the form of a test. Writing is getting easier and easier for these kiddos and I am so proud of their hard work. Please check out some of their essays here!

This week, we will continue to read Fahrenheit 451. Within "The Sieve and the Sand" is the poem "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold. This will be challenging to dissect, but they will work in collaborative groups and I will be there to guide them. This poem will enlighten both the main character, Montag, and the students to Bradbury's message that is hidden within the novel. 

Monday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Tuesday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Wednesday
Fahrenheit 451: HyperDoc Due to GC by 11:59 p.m.
Fahrenheit 451: Movie
Thursday
"Dover Beach": Poem Analysis HyperDoc
Friday

"Dover Beach": Poem Analysis HyperDoc
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 earn 35 points at every checkpoint (03/14 and 05/30). Please see the AR Log for more information. GOOD NEWS: Students only need to complete the front side to take an AR quiz!

Week 2/19-2/23

Last week, students finished reading Fahrenheit 451's "The Hearth and the Salamander" or the first part of the hero's journey. In addition, students also took the district MAP assessment (a computer adaptive test) that provides students with a RIT score (this corresponds to their instructional level--where they score about 50% correct). In Parent Portal, I have included the RIT score for your child. This assessment will be used for 9th-grade placement. In order to qualify for Honors English, students need to have a score of 227+. 

In fall, the mean or average score for GATE/Honors Grade 8 was 233.5 (with a range from 214-259--meaning the instructional range for my classes is from Grade 5 to college level) in and, this winter, it is 237.0 (with a range from 219-256--meaning the instructional range for my classes is from Grade 6 to college level)--that is a massive growth of 3.5 points (average RIT growth when at grade level is only 1 point). Please refer to the following documents for more information about MAP: RIT Ranges, Normative Data, Comparative Data, RIT to Lexile, Target Scores, and Reference Brochure (pp. 3-8).

This week, students will write a literary response essay addressing one of the two prompts from Fahrenheit 451 "The Hearth and the Salamander" as a test in order to assess their understanding of the novel and writing level in accordance with grade level standards. We will then start reading the second part of Fahrenheit 451 on both literal and symbolic levels. While the novel is getting easier for the students, the depth of this novel continues to grow. I will continue to scaffold their learning and help them to make these insightful connections and analyze parts of the novel that might be a little tricky. 

Monday
OFF
Tuesday
Fahrenheit 451: Essay Test Part 1 Due Thursday at 8:00 a.m. to Google Classroom
Wednesday
Fahrenheit 451: Essay Test Part 1 Due Thursday at 8:00 a.m. to Google Classroom
Thursday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Friday

Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
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 earn 35 points at every checkpoint (03/14 and 05/30). Please see the AR Log for more information. GOOD NEWS: Students only need to complete the front side to take an AR quiz!

Week 2/12-2/16

Last week, students did some close reads of Fahrenheit 451 and they are quickly picking up on the allusions and symbolism. After they read a section, they feel a little lost; however, after they discuss it with their partner or as a class, they completely have it. I am so proud of all the connections they are making and many of them are enjoying dissecting this novel. 

For the first part of the week, we will continue to read and analyze the novel. We will pay particular attention to the development of the themes ignorance and knowledge and how they are developed in this part. For the second part of the week, students will take the MAP reading assessment. These scores will be used for high school placement. In order to qualify for honors English, students will need to earn 227+ on this assessment. Please have them try their best and demonstrate their skills (and all of their growth this past semester).

Monday
OFF
Tuesday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Wednesday
Fahrenheit 451: HyperDoc Due (Google Classroom by 11:59 p.m.)
Thursday
MAP ELA Reading Assessment
Friday

MAP ELA Reading Assessment
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 earn 35 points at every checkpoint (03/14 and 05/30). Please see the AR Log for more information. GOOD NEWS: Students only need to complete the front side to take an AR quiz!

Week 2/5-2/9

Last week, students learned about 1950s life in order to better understand Ray Bradbury's mindset while writing Fahrenheit 451. They were able to make a lot of connections from the 1950s to life today and some interesting conversations developed. I always play "devil's advocate" and it was interesting to hear students argue their positions and then reevaluate their positions. This novel brings about a lot of deep discussions and their analytical skills soar--I am so excited for this! 

This week, students will read (and struggle a little bit) to make a connection to and understand Fahrenheit 451 on both literal and symbolic levels. I will be right there with them scaffolding their learning and helping them to make these insightful connections and analyze parts of the novel. As their understanding develops and they become more comfortable with the novel, they will be able to make many of these connections on their own and they will start to analyze everything on a deeper level.

Monday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Tuesday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Wednesday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Thursday
Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
Friday

Fahrenheit 451: Reading, HyperDoc, and Character Map
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 earn 35 points at every checkpoint (03/14 and 05/30). Please see the AR Log for more information. GOOD NEWS: Students only need to complete the front side to take an AR quiz!