Fresh

Goals: 1. Start/finish "I Am" poem 2. Take a formative assessment for our next unit Agenda:  Read Formative Assessment "I Am" Poems Catch Up Time! 1. Formative Assessment:  Before we begin our next unit, we'd like to know more about your non-fiction reading skills. You did a great job with a very challenging text this week! Click  HERE  to take the assessment. 2. "I Am" Poems Remember the poem template you saw yesterday in Google Classroom ? Open that template and begin your poem. We are wrapping up our discussion about identity, and this is your chance to think about who you are and what you want from the world. (If you want to get creative, feel free to add an image. This is a chance you have to express yourself!) Click to view larger image.  Catch Up Time!  Let's Check Ourselves:  Are you done with Book #4?  Are you missing anything in Power School?  Did you finish the two questions in the gray boxes from the article we read this week?

Goal: Finish reading "The Complexity of Identity" and create our own "I Am..." poems Agenda:   Read Finish "The Complexity of Identity"  Start our "I Am" Poems 1. Finish reading "The Complexity of Identity" Open your copy of the text we've been reading over the past two days. It is the document with boxes for note-taking, and you should be able to find it in your Google Drive.  2. I Am Poem: You have a new assignment in Google Classroom called "I Am Poem."  Go to Google Classroom and find the new assignment in the classwork section. We will show you an example "I Am" poem so you will have an idea, but you can be creative with yours.  You get to begin working on this today in class, but we will also have some time to finish tomorrow. This project is due by the end of the period tomorrow (Friday, 11/30).  Reminders: You should be done with Book #4 and starting Book #5. We will write about Book #4 next week. If you...

Goal: F inish reading "The Complexity of Identity" and begin to ask questions Agenda:  Read Reading Progress Update Continue reading our text 1. Complete your  READING PROGRESS UPDATE. 2. Open your copy of Beverly Daniel Tatum's "The Complexity of Identity."  This should be in your Google Drive. It is the document we began reading yesterday, with the boxes available for note-taking and asking questions.  Reminders: You should be finishing Book #4 and beginning Book #5.  The grading period is almost over. Be sure you have requested a regrade on any assignments you might have improved.

Goal:  Introduce a new text based on the work we did with identity Agenda:  Read Self scoring your English Journal Revisiting our Gallery Continuing the conversation on identity Introducing a new text English Journal Self Score Open your English Journal Review the  English Journal Scoring Guide .  Determine how you would score your English Journal.  PASTE this sentence below into the TOP of your English Journal and be sure it is complete.  November 27, 2018 Self Score:         I believe I have earned a ______ <<(Your score 1-5) on my English Journal because_______________________ _______________ <<(Your reasons you think you earned that score.)  Revisiting Our Gallery We are going to tour the photo gallery from yesterday, this time looking through the images together. Before we get started, remember some of the images might be sensitive. It's important to consider this before you speak: Is what I'm going to say kind? Is...

Goal: Begin to construct an understanding of identity Agenda:  Read Gallery Walk Identity Map Map Yourself:  There is one sheet of paper at each of your desks.  In the center of the paper, write your name.  In the outer circles, you will write or illustrate different pieces of yourself. You can use this template to help, but feel free to be creative. Gallery Walk You may have noticed some photos hanging on the walls around the room. It's up to YOU to make meaning out of these photos. There are no right or wrong answers, but you might find the sentence starters below helpful. Expectations:  Reflect on each image and write your response on a post-it note. Use the sentence starters (right) to help.  This is a quiet activity. Act as though you would in a museum - silence, with the exception of low whispers if you must ask questions. Please put your initials on each sticky note you write.  Let's Check Ourselves:  Is your English Journal complete?...

By popular request, I'm posting a list of things you can catch up on or check on during break. This six week grading period ends 11/30, so now is a good time to get caught up. 1. READ - Reading is the best thing you can do for yourself. You should be aiming to finish book #4 by 11/28 and break is a great time to read. 2. BOOK REVIEW - Finish your review of book #3 (your group novel) if you didn't already finish it in class. Hint, this should be on the "book review" doc that I shared with you on Thursday. 3. Check your ENGLISH JOURNAL - Your English journal has most of the small classwork we did for this grading period. Make sure you have all the assignments complete. Sometimes you start things in class and forget to finish. Sometimes you are absent. We will grade English Journals after break. NOTE: If you need more explanation for something listed on the chart, you should find the blog post for that date on this blog. It will probably tell you what you need to do. (...

Goal: Finish your book review for your group novel.  Agenda:  Read Interest Survey  Finish your book reviews Quick Survey Time!  We're super interested in what topics you might want to discuss in English, and we'd love to to know your opinions on a few short questions. Click HERE to access the survey.  Book Review Time:  Yesterday, you started your book review in the Google Doc we shared with you.  Finish your book review. (Yes, all four paragraphs.) Your review of Book #3 (your group novel) is due by the end of day TODAY. Reminders:  If you still have not finished your book review, finish it for homework ASAP. Be sure your English Journal is up to date - we are grading them when we get back to school. Have a safe and happy break! We'll see you back at school on Monday, November 26th. 

Goal:  Learn how to structure a book review. Agenda:  Read Reading Progress Update Book Review Structure Starting a book review 1. Complete your  READING PROGRESS UPDATE . 2. Learn about the structure of a book review.  This is a copy of a book review written by one of my former students.  Enrique uses a solid structure for his review. Read his review carefully and analyze what he is DOING in each paragraph.  Click  HERE  to get a copy and get started. 3. Start your own book review. I shared a new document with you in Google Drive called Book Reviews 18-19. You will use this doc to write your review today and to write another one when we get back from Thanksgiving break about your fourth book.  Reminders Have a great book to read during Thanksgiving break. You should be finishing Book #4 (or more!) Bring your group novel to finish your book review tomorrow. Remember, you need text evidence! 

Goal:  Taking a unit test about the things we learned while reading novels. Agenda:  Test time! Read while others finish New font option:  If you liked the font I showed you you can add it to your chrome browser by clicking HERE . Unit Test:  This  TEST  is designed to assess your ability to apply the concepts from this unit. It has an entry code. You will have to be in class to take the test.  Answer every question the best you can.  If you would like a paper copy of the story on the test ask me for one.  If you are absent you will have a 0 until you make up this test.  Read:  Make sure you have a very good book. Don't like your book? Ask for help finding a better one.  Be sure to CHECK OUT every book you take home. Yes, you can borrow more than one at a time.  Don't return your group novel yet. We'll need it tomorrow. Reminders: Catch up on your English Journal. Be sure you have a good book to read for Book #4 (or #...

Goal: Review and catch up. Read: You are reading book #4 (or more). You have a good book that you want to read ready for Thanksgiving break. You have checked out these books if you borrowed them from our classroom. Before we do anything else: Remember the group presentations from last Friday? We really enjoyed them. What we need is feedback from YOU about how you think you and your group mates worked together. Did everyone in the group pull their weight? Please give us HONEST FEEDBACK here. We will keep your comments about each other confidential and use them when determining individual grades. Concepts to Review: During our Reading the Novel unit we covered a lot of concepts. Today we will review those concepts and Wednesday you will show that you can apply them. The test Wednesday will ask you to read a short story and then answer questions about: Characterization Internal and external conflict Setting and imagery Sensory details Diction (word choice) Connotation and Denotation Plot...

Goal: Present your group's culminating project! Agenda: Read Presentation time! Confirm with your group that everything is ready to go. We will call each group to present at random by drawing table color names from a basket. Be ready to go please! If you want to refresh your memory, you can see the rubric HERE . After presentations, go to THIS FORM to give your table mates a grade. You are scoring them based on their contributions to the group project. Please be respectful of your classmates and remind yourselves of expectations. We should all be respectful, kind, and helpful. You're going to do GREAT! Reminders: This coming Monday is Veterans Day, observed by PLHS. We will see you back in class on Tuesday, November 13th.  Keep reading. Get a great book for Book #4 (or more) for this grading period!  Unit Test is NEXT WEEK! 

Goal: Finish putting together your group's culminating project and be ready to present tomorrow! Agenda: Read Work on your group presentations Today is ALL YOURS! This is the only remaining day to work on your project as a group. Presentations are tomorrow. Just to clarify: The questions in the notes section are GUIDING questions. The only element you need written in your notes sections are the TWO quotes. Recommendation slide only needs one quote. Choose a line you really like from the book. Write your quotes on a notecard so you're prepared for tomorrow. Resources: Ms. Daniel's sample presentation HERE if you need a reminder! Rubric is HERE if you need a reminder of expectations. You have all day today to work on your project. Use your time wisely! Reminders: You should still be reading a book even though your group novel is complete. You should be on Book #4 (or more) for this grading period.  Unit test is NEXT WEEK.  Tomorrow is presentation day! 

Goal: Use your understanding of helpful and unhelpful presentation strategies to begin working on your culminating group novel presentations! Agenda: Read Critique your teacher's presentation Assign presentation roles in your novel groups Begin working! Critiquing a Presentation Ms. Daniel (or Ms.Roberts) will give a presentation on "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" which we read as a class last week. Use THIS DOCUMENT (make a copy for yourself) to take notes on positive parts of the presentation and parts that need improvement. After the presentation, go HERE to post your helpful feedback. Your Turn! The culminating project for our "Reading the Novel" unit is a group presentation. You will work together to cover these categories in your group novel. Each person should become the "expert" on one (or more) of the categories below: Setting Characterization Plot Diction Theme Your recommendation There is a template HERE to get you started, but you ar...

Goal:  Visit the counseling office. Agenda: Visit the counselors Read while you wait Today we will be in the counseling office. They want to be sure they meet each of you. Bring your book so you can read while you wait your turn. Back in class? If  you make it back to class before the end of the period you should: Finish the district survey you started yesterday. You can find the link HERE . Enter your ID to pick up where you left off.  Check your English Journal. Is there work you need to finish?  Keep reading your book #4.  Reminders: Read daily at home in your book. You should finish book #4 by 11/28.

Goal:  Reading progress update and novel quiz. Agenda: Read Reading Progress Update End of Novel "Quiz" 1. Reading Progress Update:  Complete the  READING PROGRESS FORM . 2. Novel Quiz:  Complete the questions using everything you know about the book.  The test includes short answer questions. Remember your expectations for short answer questions.  The test has an "entry code." You have to be in class to take the test.  Click  HERE  to access your novel test.  (If you are absent see me asap to make up the test.) 3. Academic Survey from The District Our district wants to know what you think about several things.  Please complete THIS SURVEY .  4. Book #4:  Your group novel "counts" as book #3 for this semester.  You need to identify book #4. Do you already have it?  Tomorrow:  On Tuesday we are visiting the counseling office.  You need to bring a book with you so you can read while you wait to see your c...

Remember internal and external conflicts?  Goal:  Solidify our understanding of conflict. Agenda: Read Conflict in your group novels Writing about conflict Identifying conflict in your group novels:  Using  two  sticky notes write down one  internal  and one  external  conflict the protagonist of your group novel faces. (Add your initials to your sticky notes.) As a group share the conflicts you found.  Group them by internal and external conflicts.  TALK:  How did those conflicts change the character of your group novel?  Writing about conflict:  Open your English Journal Use the paragraph frame below to write about the conflicts the character faces in your group novel. In (book title) by (author) the main character, (protagonist), faces internal and external conflicts that cause him/her to...(describe the ways the protagonist changes.) An example of the internal conflict the character faces is (describe internal con...

Goal:  Mastering the vocabulary of Plot and Conflict Agenda:  Read (Finish group novel by tomorrow.) Plot Vocabulary Writing Revision Conflict Vocabulary Plot Vocabulary:  I think many of you already know these words, but lets make sure. Writing Revision: Yesterday you wrote a six sentence summary of the plot of your group novel.  Open your English Journal.  Revise your summary  from yesterday so that it includes the plot vocabulary we just reviewed.  Here is an example one of you wrote.  Conflict Vocabulary:  There are lots of different kinds of conflicts characters can have.  You don't have to memorize them all.  You do need to know the difference between INTERNAL and EXTERNAL conflicts.  Lets  PRACTICE .