Friday, September 29, 2017

September 29

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: "There must be something in books, something we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing." - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Why do you think so many banned/challenged books have gone on to become curriculum-required reading (Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Bluest Eye, Fahrenheit 451, etc)?


Students worked with their groups to finish the TPCASTT of their chosen poem.

We reviewed the grammar skills covered in the practice PSAT writing passage from yesterday.

We began discussing evaluating sources (notes on Classroom). We will continue this work on Monday.

Today's Board

Thursday, September 28, 2017

September 28

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - Two articles about the NFL player protests: CNN and Fox News

Students had about 15 minutes to finish the TPCASTT analysis of their chosen poem. We will have just a little more time tomorrow to complete this work.

We did a 12 minute drill with a PSAT writing passage. We'll discuss the answers and the different skills tomorrow. The PSAT test is Wednesday, October 11!

Students handed in a scored article of the week for an opportunity to add up to 5 bonus points to either the summer reading timed writing or the American teenager assignment. I'll add those points to the lower of those 2 grades.

Today's Board

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

September 27

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry

Second period students had time to set up their district ePortfolios today.

We read the last poem in the packet, Daniel Beaty's "Knock Knock," and reviewed all of the poems once more. Students then chose one of the poems to analyze with their table, with a partner, or independently. We will finish this work tomorrow.

I passed back the summer reading timed writing assignment. Students who have questions about their grade should plan to attend tutorials B block on Thursday, 9/28.

Today's Board


Tuesday, September 26, 2017

September 26

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: A bucket list is full of things you want to do before you die. Some people want to travel the world; others want to go skydiving. But today's entry isn't about your bucket list. For your entry today, create your REVERSE bucket list: a list of things you hope you never have to do before you die, like being alone in nature for an extended period of time.

We finished our discussion of "The Fall of the House of Usher" with a written response.

We read 3 of the 4 poems in our packet, one of which was Sarah Kay's "Point B." We will continue this work tomorrow.

Second period--be sure to bring your iPad tomorrow!!!

Today's Board
Tomorrow's Schedule

Monday, September 25, 2017

September 25

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: It's Banned Books Week! The message this year is "Words have power." How can words be powerful? What words do you consider powerful?

In honor of Banned Books Week, we watched videos about Germany's Parthenon of Banned Books and Book Riot's Banned Book Recommendations.

We finished up a TWISTT analysis of "The Fall of the House of Usher" and completed a practice PSAT passage over the same excerpt.

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance

Friday, September 22, 2017

September 22

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Students used various sentence starters to respond to their current book. (See me in tutorials A block Tuesday or B block Thursday if you need this info.)

We resumed our work of analyzing short pieces using the TWISTT strategy. Students worked in groups to craft answers to questions about diction, imagery, style, and tone for the excerpt from The Hobbit. We read the excerpt from "Fall of the House of Usher" and discussed mood. We will work more with this piece on Monday.

Today's Board

September 21

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: "I am a part of everything that I have read." - Theodore Roosevelt. After responding to the quote, students took 2 minutes to revise their writing to improve 3 words and make any other changes they needed.

Yesterday, we made a prediction about the title "Life in Caves" for the first step of the TWISTT analysis. We read the short piece today, focusing on word choice and how it reveals tone. We read one other piece using the TWISTT analysis. We will continue this work tomorrow.


(Apologies for the late post and missing board picture. I forgot to publish this on 9/21, and I've already changed the board for today.)

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

September 20

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "Sitting too long can kill you, even if you exercise"

We discussed the upcoming PSAT test and completed a practice passage. We'll do more of this work in the days leading up to the test (which is Wednesday, October 11).

I introduced the TWISTT strategy for analyzing literature. We will be working with this for the next few days.

Today's Board

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

September 19

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside entry (to allow for more class time to work on the American Teenager assignment)

I shared The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot with students today. This nonfiction book tells the fascinating story of a woman who was virtually unknown and unrecognized for her contributions to the medical community until recently. I shared this book in case any students are still looking for a nonfiction book to read this 9 weeks.

We visited the library during independent reading time today.

Students used the remaining time to work on the American Teenager assignment which is due by 11pm tonight! All information is on Classroom.

Today's Board

Monday, September 18, 2017

September 18

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: "Never underestimate the power of a kind word." Write about the last time someone said something kind to you. How did it make you feel?

I reminded students to keep their currently reading page up to date in their writer's notebooks. We recapped classroom policies and procedures--specifically how tutoring is assigned and how bathroom passes work.

With the remaining class time, students continued working on the American Teenager project. This should be turned in on Classroom before 11pm on Tuesday.

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance

Friday, September 15, 2017

September 15

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Outside Entry -- ideas posted on Classroom

Fourth period finished up book talks today!

Students began/continued their interviews for the "American Teenager" assignment. We will continue this work on Monday.

Today's Board



Thursday, September 14, 2017

September 14

IRT: ~15 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "5 reasons why people share fake photos during disasters"

This photo was shared across social media following Hurricane Harvey.
Second period finished up the first round of book talks today. A few more students still need to share in 4th period, so we should wrap that up tomorrow.

We continued our discussion of "American Teenager," and students began the interview process with a partner (4th period will start interviews tomorrow!).

Today's Board

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

September 13

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: What's the biggest misconception about teenagers today? When you hear people say "Kids today," what do they usually follow it up with?

Students completed a timed writing assignment to wrap up our summer reading work.

I briefly introduced the "American Teenager" work that we'll begin tomorrow. Students will need their iPads/devices the rest of this week!

Today's Board

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

September 12

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Select 1 abstract noun from the list (fear, love, joy, betrayal, anger, hope), and explain how it applies to your independent reading book. (If none apply, come up with your own.) Be sure to include the title and author of your book in your response along with a quote that supports your choice.

More students presented book talks today. Second period will finish this up on Thursday; 4th period will finish Thursday and Friday.

Students had about 10 minutes to review, complete, and hand in the response to the question for "The Interlopers." We played a Kahoot to check our understanding of the story. I shared a sample answer with evidence to show students what is expected on their timed writing that they'll complete in class tomorrow.

Today's Board

Monday, September 11, 2017

September 11

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Think about famous grudges that you're familiar with (like the Montagues & Capulets from Romeo and Juliet). How did the grudge start? How was it resolved? If it wasn't resolved, why does it persist? What advice would you give to the two parties involved?

We determined our reading rate to find out how long it will take us to finish reading our current book. We'll do this periodically.

More students presented book talks. I hope to wrap this up tomorrow!

Students read "The Interlopers" and answered a question using the thesis and embedding quotes techniques we've been working on. Students will have a little time in class tomorrow to finish this work if they didn't hand it in today.

Today's Board
Week-at-a-Glance



Friday, September 8, 2017

September 8

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Write a letter convincing someone to start reading more. Your letter can be addressed to a parent or older relative, a friend, or a younger sibling. Consider using the information from the "Huge Misconception about Reading" video and yesterday's article as support for your argument.

Three more students shared great books! We'll continue these talks on Monday. (Because of the pep rally schedule, no 4th period students presented today.)

We worked on embedding quotes properly in our writing. For the timed writing assignment (now Wednesday), students will need to include a strong thesis and embedded quotes, so our practice this week and next will come in handy then.

Today's Board

Thursday, September 7, 2017

September 7

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "Why reading is good for your health" (this updated version may be slightly different from the article we read in class)

More students delivered book talks today. My "to read next" list keeps growing!

We continued our discussion of the pieces from yesterday. Students began drafting an answer with evidence to respond to one of the pieces. This practice will prepare us for a timed writing assignment that we will complete next week. (The week-at-a-glance says Monday, but it will actually be Tuesday or Wednesday.)

Tomorrow
More book talks
Hand in annotated article if you didn't hand it in today

Today's Board

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

September 6

Independent Reading Time: ~20 minutes - Students were reminded that they need to read a nonfiction book before the end of this 9 weeks.
Writer's Notebook: Why is reading important? What benefits does it have? What downsides does it have? How would you describe yourself as a reader?

Students shared books from their summer reading today! Four students in each class shared a book that they enjoyed. We will hear about more titles tomorrow.

We continued our discussion of theme with two new pieces: an excerpt from Anderson Cooper's nonfiction book Dispatches from the Edge and the opening passage from Laurie Halse Anderson's YA novel Speak. We have one more selection to look at tomorrow before we begin writing about our findings.

Today's Board



Tuesday, September 5, 2017

September 5

(My apologies for posting Friday's update late. I guess I was ready to start my 3-day weekend!)

Students completed the Nelson-Denny reading test today. This test is not for a grade--it's a data collection tool that the district uses.

We visited the library to learn about all of the great resources available there. Students had a little time to choose a book--we'll start independent reading time in class tomorrow!

Book talks start tomorrow!

Today's Board (I added "Book Talks start TOMORROW" after I took the photo.)
Week at a Glance
2nd period donation drive reminder

September 1

I shared Ball Don't Lie by Matt de la Pena today. Students will begin sharing their own favorite books beginning Wednesday of next week. The book talk format is available under the About section on Classroom.

We used passages from the book I shared as mentor pieces to inspire our writer's notebook entry today.

We revisited our work from yesterday and talked about writing strong thesis statements with vivid verbs. Students revised their answers and added evidence to support their ideas.

Don't forget to turn in the reading reflection on Classroom today! The 3-2-1 assignment is now 1 day late.

Today's Board