Friday, November 04, 2011

Weekly Homework: Read a half hour each night.  Complete three annotations as a minimum.
Focus one annotation on theme, and one on foreshadowing.  Annotations will be graded on Thursday. Set a goal of 100 pages a week and see how close you can come to it.
As you finish a text, you need to write a paragraph of thematic analysis which explicates the most significant theme in your novel.


Monday 9
Independent Reading
Week Two Homework Reminder
Book Fair
Parent Teacher Conferences

Tuesday 10
Small Group Shared Read:
Lamb to Slaughter by Roald Dahl
How does Foreshadowing create suspense?

Wednesday 11
Independent Reading of Shared Text:
A Dip in the Pool or The Way Up to Heaven
Assign Think In Threes Essay: Essay of Literary Comparison
Essay due November 16th.
Parent Teacher Conferences

Thursday 12
Independent Reading:
Share Annotations with small group.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Welcome to Quarter Two
Students independent reading journals will be evaluated on a weekly basis.  The minimum weekly expectation is three quality annotations and four nights of reading for at least a half an hour at home.

Due to a significant number of students who struggle to turn work in, I will immediately enter a zero for a student that is present in school but does not submit an assignment.  This does not mean, I will not accept late work but it will hopefully encourage students to be more timely with their work.

We will be attending the BookFair on Monday, November 7th and 9th.

Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday, November 7th and Wednesday, November 9th from 3:00-7:00 pm.

There is no school Friday, November 4th and Friday, November 11th.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Monday 24
Independent Reading
Complete objective Summary #2
Browse library for group novel on deck.

Tuesday 25
Essay Test on Theme

Wednesday 26
Self-Reflection due at end of class

Thursday 27
Independent Reading
Pick new group Novel.

Friday 28
Quarterly Rec
Pre-writing for Fictional Narrative in class.


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

White Between the Lines


between the lines
Publish your writing!
Calling all Middle School Students in Teton County! pARTners is looking for some great writing and artwork to publish in White Between the Lines, the literary and art magazine of Jackson Hole Middle School.
Submission Deadline for the Winter Edition Friday, January 13th, 2012 You can submit your writing at any time prior to the January 13th deadline.
Submit your WRITING by following these easy steps!
o Paste Up to 5 poems and/or 5 pages of prose (per student) in the body of an email. o Put your title in bold. o Include your full name and grade. o Include the name of a teacher who knows you are submitting your writing.
o Include an email address for a parent or guardian. o Send the email to: partners@tcsd.org
As you prepare to submit your work remember:
Each submission should include finished, polished work. Have you made sure to share your writing and/or artwork with others? Have you made revisions to incorporate their feedback? Unedited writing is extremely unlikely to be accepted for publication.
Each submission must be your original work. We want to celebrate your creativity. Are the words and ideas in your writing uniquely your own?
Any submission that does not meet all of the above requirements will be returned to the student author unread for reformatting and resubmission.
Be sure to visit the White Between the Lines page on the pARTners website for all the important details! www.edu-partners.org

Monday, October 17, 2011

Monday 17
Independent Reading

Tuesday 18
Shared Read: "Too Far"

Wednesday 19
Begin Fictional Narrative

Thursday 20
Independent Reading

Friday 21
Begin Drafting FN

Homework: Read for thirty minutes per night.  Record your thinking in Reading Journal.  Second Objective Summary is due by Monday, October 24th.  IR and SR journals will be re-evaluated before the quarter ends.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

October 3rd-October 7th

Reminders:
No school for students on Monday, October 10th.
Homework:
Read daily for thirty minutes and complete journal work.
Typed and revised poem due on Friday.

Monday 3rd
Independent Reading and Individual Conferences
IR Journal Entry: "What will I do differently with my next book?"

Tuesday 4th
Shared Read: "Miracle Boy"
Close Reading of a text.
Answer these questions in your Shared Reading Journal.
What does the writer accomplish in this scene.
What tools does the author use?
What mode of fiction does the author use?
What is the "so what" or theme of this scene?
What questions do you have of the text?

Wednesday 5th
Finish "Miracle Boy"
Present Journal notes to class.
What remaining questions do we have of this text?

Thursday 6th
Independent Reading and Individual Conferences

Friday 7th
Share Independent Poem Project.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

September 26-30

Daily Homework

HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Monday 26
Destiny training with Ms. Swiggum
Goals:
Make a shelf of Books on Deck
Learn how to Post a Book Review

Tuesday 27
How to write an Objective Summary Lesson
Create draft of Objective Summary in Independent Journal

Wednesday 28
MAP Testing

Thursday 29
Independent Reading
Post Your Objective Summary to Destiny
Print copy for Independent Reading Journal

Friday 30
Independent Writing Project
due October 7th

Monday, September 19, 2011

September 19-23



19

20

21

22

23

22

Mini-Lesson:

Nye Essay on 9/11

Independent Reading

Aces: Supported Conference

HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

School Pics

Naomi

Shihab

Nye visits!

Mini Lesson:

Noticing!

HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Poem of the Week: First Love


Grammar Lesson: Active Verbs


HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Independent Reading:

Introduce Objective Summary

Aces:Getting started again?

Why didn’t I finish?

Write Objective Summary as a group.

HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Colter

Bay Indian Arts Museum









Monday, September 12, 2011

Independent Reading Groups

Journal Response:

Aces: What frustrates me?

Wilds: What is worth talking about?

Faces: What do I hope to take from this book?

Continue drafting essay.

HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Mini-Lesson: Editing vs. Revision, what is the difference?

Writing

Name Essay Due at end of class today!

Print

Color

Share

Close: Volunteer to share essay.

HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Shared Read: Poem #2:

First Love

Shared Read: Essay from Noami Shihab Nye


Close: Volunteer to share essay.


HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Independent Reading:

Wilds: Successes and Failures?

Aces: What will I read next?

Faces: Annotation check.

Close: Volunteer to share essay.

HW: Read for thirty minutes from your independent novel. Record thinking or reading minutes.

Poem #3:

Guilt

Assign Independent Writing Project #1

Friday, September 02, 2011

Week Two

Labor Day 5


Weekly HW:

Read at least 30 minutes per night at home starting Thursday. Record thinking in Journal.

6

Mini-Lesson: Figurative Language

Shared Read: My Name Essay using Sticky Note Guide

Close: Share good examples of figurative language.

7

Mini-Lesson: Connotation

Drafting Name Essay

HW: Add 7 facts about yourself from your parents.

Close: Share my name essay.

8

Library Day

Select Just right books

Read a page in Spanish example.

Book talks


Close: How to properly leave the library.

9

Finish drafting essay.

Mini-Lesson: Adding Figurative Language that fits to your essay.

Name Revision

Close: Dark and Stormy Night entries.


Friday, April 22, 2011

Quarter Four

Poetry Assignment: DUE Friday, April, 29th

Three Haiku Remember, with haiku, try to create strong, specific images that you have actually seen. SHOW the reader what you saw; don’t tell them. No similes, no metaphors, no rhyming, three lines each.

Family Poem Write about strong memory that you have with one of your parents. Maybe it’s about the best memory that you have, or it’s a funny adventure, or a special activity that you and your parent do together regularly. This is the kind of poem that, when read by your parent should make them cry.

Ode The purpose here is to write about something that you truly love. It can be a special object that you have, like a fancy pair of socks; or, it can be about something that you do which brings you a great deal of pleasure, like soccer, or piano, or kayaking.

This key here is hyperbole, metaphors, and similes.

Poem for Change Write about something you wish you could change or make better about the world. You can write about one of the historical photos, or choose a present day issue that concerns you. Use the form of direct address where you speak directly to a silent reader about your strong feelings.

Grading

1. Poetic Elements: Concrete sensory details, figurative language, and precise word choice create vivid images that contribute significantly to the meaning of the poem.

2. Organization and Overall Impact: The form of the poem is appropriate for the subject and enables the reader to engage with your subject in a real and meaningful way. This includes fitting stanza breaks, meaningful line breaks, and the overall power of your poem.

3. Clarity: This includes a clean copy of your poems that clearly shows pride in your workmanship. Spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and the elimination of unnecessary words apply here.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Last Two Grades of Quarter III:

1. Reading PowerPoint, Bookmark or Minutes.

2. Writing Contest Entry (see list on next post).

Current Homework:

1. Read Chapters 1-4 of The Outsiders for
Thursday, March 10th.

2. Do your best work on PAWS!

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Contest Submissions

Possibilities for Extending Your Audience Beyond the Classroom

You must submit to one of the following writing contests or see me for an alternate assignment. You need to show me the evidence of your submission in class or make me a copy of your work. You are fully encouraged to revise work you have previously written but there should be clear evidence of improvement since your last draft.

1. Young Authors
Options: A collection of five poems, a non-fiction essay or a fictional story.
Due March 11th.

2. White Between the Lines--JHMS literary magazine
Submit your work at: whitebetweenthelines@gmail.com
and be prepared to work one-on-one with Matt Daly, editor of the magazine.
Due by March 18th.

3. Wyoming Game and Fish Poetry Contest
Write a poem that celebrates Wyoming's National Wildlife Treasure and win a $200 savings bond.
Due by March 18th.

4. Laps for Literacy: "Why I ski or Why I ride"
Write a one-page essay explaining your passion for your sport. Win a ski pass To JHMR for next season.
Due on March 14th.

5. Submit an article or letter to the editor of the Colt Chronicle or Jackson Hole News and Guide.
Due by March 18th.

6. Tribute to Moral Courage Essay Contest offered by Anti-Defamation League.
Win $500!
Due by March 18th.

7. One-Act Play about Disability Contest offered by the International Organization of Arts and Disability.
Due April 10th.



Friday, February 25, 2011

Welcome to March!

Monday 28
Independent Reading
Sticky note topic: How does this book reflect my mood or what is going on in my life right now?
Book Fair

Tuesday 1
Independent Reading
Sticky note topic:
What in my book is funny or ironic?
Update Reading Projects

Parent Teacher Conferences

Wednesday 2
Fishbowl Discussion
using last two sticky notes.

Thursday 3
PAWS Writing Review Session
Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday 4
No School

March 7-17
PAWS Testing


Friday, February 18, 2011

Expository Essay

Don't forget your expository essay is due next week.

Hopefully, you selected a topic that is both newsworthy and personally interesting to you! Remember: the narrower topic, the better.

Sentence variety—good writing has good rhythm!

Short and friendly paragraphs.

Use quotes to establish authenticity.

Be informative: tell me something I don’t know.

Establish order: most important facts come first!

Use language specific to your topic.

Due on Friday, February 25th. E-mail me your draft if you need editing suggestions!



Monday, January 31, 2011

Reminder!

3rd Quarter Homework
Your homework is to read your independent novel at least one hundred minutes per week OUTSIDE of school and to complete your 3rd quarter reading project. Check your student e-mail for project details!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Monday 31
Independent Reading Time
Transference:
One Sticky due at the end of class focused on theme, setting, characterization or symbol.

Tuesday 1
Read chapter 6 of the Pearl in small groups looking for theme, setting, characterization or symbol. Highlight concrete detail in text and then transfer best evidence to outline.

Wednesday 3
Final discussion.
Start Essay.

Thursday 4
Work on Essay.

Friday 5
Submit draft of essay
at the end of class.

Monday 7
Independent Reading
Writing Conferences about essays.

Tuesday 8
View The Pearl
Continue writing conferences.

Wednesday 9
View The Pearl
Continue writing conferences.

Thursday 10
Revise Essay.

Friday 11
Submit and Present Final Pearl Essay.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

First Week of Quarter Three

In quarter three you will receive an e-mail from me regarding your independent reading. You will be required to do the assignment mailed to you by the date indicated.
Tuesday 18
Poem of the Week:
Chapter 4 of The Pearl

Wednesday 19
Finish chapter 4
Independent Reading

Thursday 20
Chapter 5 of The Pearl

Friday 21
Finish chapter 5.
Independent Reading.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Independent Reading Projects are due by Friday, January 14th.

Monday 10
Chapter II of The Pearl
Independent Reading
Exit Ticket: How do you see Theme, Setting, Characterization and Symbol in your novel?

Tuesday 11
Chapter 3 of The Pearl

Wednesday 12
Chapter 4 of The Pearl

Thursday 13
Assessment #1 The Pearl
Create your own literary hypothesis focusing on Theme, Setting, Characterization and Symbol.

Friday 14
Quarterly Recognition
Presentation of Reading Projects.
How has Independent reading changed?
How have you changed as a reader?
What could still be improved?

Monday, January 03, 2011


Welcome to 2011.
Quarter II ends on January, 14th. Get all your work in!

Monday 3
Independent Reading Check and time to read!
Anticipation Guide
Graphic Organizer: What Money Buys and What Money Can't Buy.

Reminder: Independent Reading Project #2 due by January, 14th!
This should be about your second novel and could be a character poem, a reading letter or an epilogue. This is worth twenty points and will impact your grade if you do not complete it.

Tuesday 4
Set goal for MAP.
Shared Reading: The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Close reading, looking for setting, theme, characterization and symbol.

Wednesday 5
MAP TESTING!

Thursday 6
Independent Reading
Shared Reading: The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Close reading, looking for setting, theme, characterization and symbol.

Friday 7
Grammar Lesson
Shared Reading: The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Close reading, looking for setting, theme, characterization and symbol.