Vocabulary: The words for the 2nd-semester  are general words, different for each grade, and the definitions will be dictionary definitions.  Tests will be on Thursdays, with the new cards due on Mondays. 

Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use CCSS: L6.4, L6.5, L6.6, L7.4, and 7.5, L7.6 and L8.4, L8.5 L8.6

6^th grade:  The students are starting a new chapter this week. We will take a pretest over verbs, develop goals for the chapter based on the results, and decide on the definite material to cover.   We will discuss Action Verbs, and Linking Verbs, and practice using them in sentences.  Students will practice the song on Linking verbs, to help them as we move on with verbs.  The students will start a new Vocabulary List on Thursday and new cards will be due on Monday.

CCSS 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5

7^th grade: Starting 2^nd semester for 7^th graders, means they are halfway through middle school.   We are starting a goal-setting project, reflecting on the tremendous growth that has taken place, physically, emotionally and educationally. We will then look forward to their future, and spend time discussing both short and long-term goals.  Students will write a rough draft explaining their future goals, and what short-term goals they need to work on the rest of the school year. They will start to work on the revision of the paper. The students will start a new Vocabulary List on Thursday and new cards will be due on Monday.

CCSS W7.2, W7.4, W7.5, W7.6

8^th grade: The students will discuss the reading of the book A Christmas Carol, and the movie, Oliver Twist, both by Charles Dickens.  Students will analyze how watching a movie helps their understanding of the time, compared to reading the book. The students will write an informative essay, using the text structure, Compare and Contrast to organize their writing. During the prewriting stage, the students will complete graphic organizers, comparing the elements of literature between the two Charles Dickens works.  The students will determine the central idea of each text and analyze its development, and provide an objective summary of each text.  The students will write a rough draft, working on writing a good introduction, to introduce the topic, preview what is to follow; organize their ideas and information into broad categories based on the elements of Literature. The    Students will not have a vocab test this Thursday, they will start vocab back up next week.

Standards: CCSS L.8.1, L.8.4, L.8.6, SL.8.1, W.8.2, W8. W.8.7, W.8.8, W.8.9, RL8.1, RL8.2, RI8.2

 

 

Weekly Objectives 09/18/17

Mrs. Duffy: English

 All students 6, 7, and 8^th will start Vocabulary this week on Thursday.   The students will receive 10 words a week.  They will create vocabulary cards.  The Vocab cards need to have dictionary definitions on one side and a picture showing what the word means on the other side.  The students will receive new vocab cards on Thursdays.  They will have a class period to work on their cards, and the cards are due the following Monday.  The test will be on the next Thursday.   This will be ongoing all year. 

Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

 L6.4, L6.5, L6.6, L7.4, l7.5, L7.6 and L8.4, L8.5 L8.6

6^th grade: Students will start the week with a discussion of “Big Questions” and “Big Ideas” and the power of ideas.  Students will learn different text types, and start a text analysis workshop. Students will practice reading reference articles, and develop graphic organizers for research.  Vocabulary will start this Thursday with a list of common core words important for all students to know and understand. 

CCSS:  w6.6, w6.10, L6.1, L6.2, L6.3, L6.4, L6.5, L6.6

7^th grade:  Students will continue research activities on the Everyday Heroes and Heroines of 911.  They will research a hero, review informational writing, biographies, research strategies, take notes as they research and create citations for the information used. When finished with prewrite activities, students will begin their rough drafts. As students finish their rough draft, they will revise their biographies.   Vocabulary will start this Thursday with a list of common core words important for all students to know and understand. 

CCSS: w7.2, w7.6, W7.10, L7.1, L7.2, L7.3, L7.4, L7.5, L7.6

8^th grade:  Students will discuss what a blog is, what is the purpose of blogging, blogging rules, and commenting rules. Students will discover writing for a larger audience. Students will design and create their own blog.  The Blogs will be available for viewing online by family and friends, at a later date.    Once created the students will write on their blogs several times weekly.  Students will write their first blog post introducing themselves to their audience.   Vocabulary will start this Thursday with a list of common core words important for all students to know and understand. 

CCSS: w8.2, w8.6, w8.10, L8.1, L8.2, L8.3, L8.4, L8.5, L8.6, SL8.1, SL8.2, SL8.3

Weekly Objectives 09/12/16

Mrs. Duffy: English

 All students 6, 7, and 8^th will start Vocabulary this week on Thursday.   The students will receive 10 words a week.  They will create vocabulary cards.  The Vocab cards need to have dictionary definitions on one side and a picture showing what the word means on the other side.  The students will receive new vocab cards on Thursdays.  They will have a class period to work on their cards, and the cards are due the following Monday.  The test will be on the next Thursday.   This will be ongoing all year. 

Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

 L6.4, L6.5, L6.6, L7.4, l7.5, L7.6 and L8.4, L8.5 L8.6

6^th grade: Students will start journal writing every day. Students will complete a roundabout writing activity. They will collaborate within their group to write a narrative.  Students will begin discussing the 8 parts of speech, reviewing what they are and correct usage.  Vocabulary will start this Thursday with a list of common core words important for all students to know and understand. 

CCSS:  w6.6, w6.10, L6.1, L6.2, L6.3, L6.4, L6.5, L6.6

7^th grade:  Students will continue Prewrite activities on the everyday Heroes and Heroines of 911. They will discuss the qualities of a hero, watch a short video on the Boatlift of 911.  They will research a hero, review informational writing, biographies, research strategies, take notes as they research and create citations for the information used. When finished with prewrite activities, students will begin their rough drafts.  Vocabulary will start this Thursday with a list of common core words important for all students to know and understand. 

CCSS: w7.2, w7.6, W7.10, L7.1, L7.2, L7.3, L7.4, L7.5, L7.6

8^th grade:  The students will proofread their interview of an adult on their memory of 911. The students will post their interviews and share them with the class.  Students will discuss what a blog is, what is the purpose of blogging, blogging rules, and commenting rules. Students will discover writing for a larger audience. Students will design and create their own blog.  The Blogs will be available for viewing online by family and friends, at a later date.    Once created the students will write on their blogs several times weekly.  Students will write their first blog post introducing themselves to their audience. Students will post their interview assignment on their blog.  Vocabulary will start this Thursday with a list of common core words important for all students to know and understand. 

CCSS: w8.2, w8.6, w8.10, L8.1, L8.2, L8.3, L8.4, L8.5, L8.6, SL8.1, SL8.2, SL8.3

 

 

 

 

At the beginning of the school year, excitement fills the air in middle school. The students seemed pretty happy to be back and glad to see their friends. We have been hard at work; developing routines and building relationships in English this year.  The students completed the NWEA testing the first week and this week worked on writing to address prompts. 

9/5/16 

All students 6, 7, and 8^th will start Vocabulary NEXT week on Thursday.   The students will receive 10 words a week.  They will create vocabulary cards.  The Vocab cards need to have dictionary definitions on one side and a picture showing what the word means on the other side.  The students will receive new vocab cards on Thursdays. They will have a class period to work on their cards, and the cards are due the following Monday.  The test will be on the next Thursday.   This will be ongoing all year. I will update the list of words weekly, hopefully on a Vocabulary page as a link from this page. 

Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 

 L6.4, L6.5, L6.6, L7.4, l7.5, L7.6 and L8.4, L8.5 L8.6

Specific grade and class info will also be found on the class and section link.

6^th grade: Students will take several pretest this week.  The tests will be used to establish a baseline and help guide both the student and teacher in developing lessons that are matched to the student/class need.   Students will create daily writing journals on their computers.  The students will learn what a template is and what they are used for.  Students will design a template to use for their individual journals.  The journals will be used for a range of short daily writing assignments on their computers.   Students will share with a small group, the teacher and then share with the full class. Students will also print a copy to save in a writing folder, to be used in later assignments. 

W6.6, w6.10. L6.1, L6.2, L6.3, L6.4, L6.5, L6.6

7^th grade: Students will take several pretest this week.  The tests will be used to establish a baseline and help guide both the student and teacher in developing lessons that are matched to the student/class need.    Students will create a daily journal, on their computers.  They will write every day for a short period of time.  The students will write an essay on their goals for the school year.   Students will be able to look back on their goals periodically throughout the year.  Students will discuss heroes and read primary source, student memories of 911.  The students will start to Plan/prewrite a biography of a real life hero. 

W7.6, w7.10. L7.1, L7.2, L7.3, L7.4, L7.5, L7.6

8^th grade: Students will take several pretest this week.  The tests will be used to establish a baseline and help guide both the student and teacher in developing lessons that are matched to the student/class need.     Students will discuss what a blog is, what is the purpose of blogging, blogging rules and commenting rules. Students will discover writing for larger audience. Students will design and create their own blog.  The Blogs will be available for viewing online by family and friends, at a later date.    Once created the students will write on their blogs several times weekly.  Students will write their first blog post introducing themselves to their audience.  Students will read primary source, student memories of 911 and create a list of interview questions. Students will choose a person over 18 to interview. The interviews will be due 9/16.

W.8.6, W.8.10, L8.1, L8.2, L8.3, L8.4, L8.5, L8.6, SL8.1, SL8.2, SL8.3

 

Students helping other students creates great memories.  The 6th-grade students are creating guidebooks, to give to the 5th-grade students when they come for the "shadow day" later this week.  While students reflect back on the fears, worries, and confusion they experienced last fall, they realize how much they have grown this school year.  They design the guides, to include things that were important to them last fall. We decided as a class on several items to include, such as maps and teacher advice, the students individually choose what to include.  The students have a natural real life deadline for this project as they hand them out to their partner on "Shadow Day"  they are working hard and excited about sharing their guidebooks.