January 31

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 with?

Students self-scored and reflected on their one pager assignment before handing it in with the rubric.

I introduced It's Complicated: The American Teenager, a book by Robin Bowman. Students used this as a mentor text and began the American Teenager assignment in which they will interview a classmate and develop a profile in the same style as Bowman's. They'll work on this in class for the next 2 days before turning it in on Classroom by 8:15am Tuesday.

Don't forget--book talks begin Monday, 2/5!

Today's Board

January 30

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.

With the remaining class time, students worked on the one pager assignment that is due tomorrow.

We did not have independent reading time or a notebook entry today due to time constraints.

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January 29

IRT: ~20 minutes
WNB: We used passages from Matt de la Pena's Ball Don't Lie as mentor texts to inspire our notebook entry today.

I demonstrated another book talk with Ball Don't Lie and reminded students to be prepared to share their own books beginning next Monday. Book talk info is posted on Classroom.

With the remaining class time, we reviewed the requirements for the one pager assignment, and students had time to work. This assignment is due at the beginning of class Wednesday, January 31.

Students should bring their iPads all week!

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Week-at-a-Glance

January 26

IRT: ~20 minutes

Students set up their currently reading pages in their writer's notebooks to reflect the first book they're reading for independent reading time.

We completed a brown bag activity--students made connections between random objects and their required summer reading novel. This work led to a one-pager assignment that students will hand in at the beginning of class Wednesday. Students will have time in class on Monday and Tuesday to work on the assignment. See Classroom for examples and other details.

Today's writer's notebook entry is posted on Classroom. Respond in your notebook, not on Classroom!

Today's Board

January 25

We started our day in the library where students completed a scavenger hunt and had time to find a book for independent reading time.

Today's writer's notebook entry: "I am a part of everything that I have read." Theodore Roosevelt. Here are a few guidelines when responding to quotes. The quote is not a riddle, or a puzzle for you to "solve." You don't have to try to "figure it out." There's no "right answer," nothing specific that I'm looking for. It's not a test. All you need to do is write what you think; not necessarily what you think it means, or what the person was trying to say, but whatever it means to you, whatever it makes you think of. The quote is just there to get you thinking, to give you ideas, a place to start.

With the remaining class time, students completed the theme work from yesterday and began working  with a partner on a characterization activity. We'll resume this work on Tuesday.

Coming up on Monday, January 29, the counselors will be presenting information about course selection for the 2018-2019 school year in the auditorium; the session for rising sophomores (class of 2020) begins at 7:30pm.

Today's Board

January 24

I demonstrated how to do a book talk today by introducing students to Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Students will share their own titles beginning February 5! The process and rubric are available on Classroom.

Each week, we will read, annotate, and respond to a news article in our writer's notebooks. Students learned about this today and practiced with the first article, "Former NFLers Call for End to Tackle Football for Kids."

With the remaining class time, students analyzed their required summer reading book for theme and connected it to yesterday's short film. We will continue this work tomorrow.

connection question

paragraph planning

Tomorrow: Meet in the library!

Today's Board

January 23

We spent some time setting up our writer's notebooks. Students who did not have their notebooks today should bring one tomorrow!

We completed our first notebook entry: Write a letter to yourself when you're 30 (it will be the year 2031/2032). Tell yourself what you want to be remembered for from these teen years and what you think should be important in your life when you're grown up.

We watched the short film "Oktapodi" and analyzed it for elements of a short story (characters, plot, symbols, mood, tone, and theme). We will continue this work tomorrow!

Tomorrow
Bring summer reading work!

Today's Board