ENGLISH 7

Final draft: Personal Narrative Essay due in basket.

Spelling exercises and test, Unit 10.
 

Halloween special: Wallace and Gromit,A Matter of Loaf and Death

ENGLISH 8

Rough draft IOA essay in basket.
Grammar packets in there, too! We'll review on Monday.

Discussed "The Raven," a poem, by Edgar Allan Poe. Background.

And heard a little bit of the famous poem. After all, it's Halloween.

• Vincent Price, The Raven.
• The Simpson's, The Raven
• Tim Burton, a little Vincent Price, James Earl Jones, Edgar Allan Poe and cool animation

And a few scary stories.

ENGLISH 7

Reviewed Mug week 8, grammar packet #7

Finished reading "The Barrio Boy," p. 523. Answer questions on 527, 1-5. Can work with ONE partner. Not for homework. Classwork only.

HW: 

Fri: Final draft, personal narrative essay. Peer PQP edit, assignment sheet and rough draft attached. 

      Spelling exercises p. 53, 1-20 and test, Unit 10

 

ENGLISH 8

QW: The lie is the truth, but the truth is the lie.

Incredible quick write prompt, from Nancy Contreras. Fabulous, thoughtful, interesting responses. Keep those ideas coming in !

Completed Spelling exercises and post-test, Unit 10
 

Transitions.  Check out the list in The Write Source, p. 106 and handout

HW: Fri: Rough draft, IOA essay; Grammar packet on clauses, simple, compound and complex sentences. ,
Tues. 11/02: Biography 2nd response. Two-thirds through book.
Weds: Final draft, IOA essay.

ENGLISH 7

Planners checked. 

Absent last Friday, made up mugshot tests.
In literature textbooks, read and discuss personal narratives: Bicycle Braking Blues: p. 96 and The Boxer's Heart, p. 311. Begin reading, The Barrio Boy, p.523.
HW:
Thurs: Mugshot week 8 and Grammar Packet #7
Fri: Spelling exercises p. 53, 1-20 and test, Unit 10
Final draft, personal narrative essay. Peer PQP edit, assignment sheet and rough draft attached.

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ENGLISH 8

Graded grammar tests. (2nd period only)Topic and brainstorm for IOA essay on desks for check-in. Discuss.

Returned significant impact paragraphs.

Look over comments. You might likely use part of this for your IOA essay. Remember, you are still following essay paragraph structure, especially two commentaries (Cms) for every one concrete detail. (Cd). Details make the story yours. 

In your writing, avoid vagueness and generalities that can apply to anyone. 

Not: "She was my best friend because she was always there for me." 

But, a specific example instead. 

For  instance: "When I broke up with my boyfriend, my best friend Emily chose not to go out with our other friends for an ice cream birthday party. Instead, she came over my house and consoled me. Emily is always there for me."

Thurs: Spelling, Unit 10, exercises, 1-20, p. 53 and post-test
        Fri: Rough draft, IOA essay; Grammar packet
Tues. 11/02: Biography 2nd response. Two-thirds through book.
Weds: Final draft, IOA essay.

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ENGLISH 7

Rough drafts of personal narrative essay shared with peers for PQP evaluation. Praise. Question. Polish. 
.
Handed out list of transition words. To help with final draft. 
 HW: Weds: Planner Check
Thurs: Mugshot week 8 and Grammar Packet #7
Fri: Spelling exercises p. 53, 1-20 and test, Unit 10
Final draft, personal narrative essay

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ENGLISH 8

Biography 1st response handed in.
 
Quick grammar lesson, on run-on sentences and comma splices.
 
QW: If your parents told you that your best friend was a bad influence and that you were no longer allowed to hang out together, how would you feel? Would you do what they said? Write for at least 5 minutes. Use proper grammar. Watch for run-on sentences and comma splices. And all the other parts of speech you know about!
 
New grammar packet #5. Due Friday. On clauses, simple, compound and complex sentences. Can work with a partner. 
 
Discussed IOA Essay Assignment. Influences Obstacles and Accomplishments, in your life. A personal narrative essay. 
Brainstorm or outline on topic due Wednesday.
HW: Weds: Topic and brainstorm for IOA essay
        Thurs: Spelling, Unit 10, exercises, 1-20, p. 53 and post-test
        Fri: Rough draft, IOA essay; Grammar packet
Tues. 11/02: Biography 2nd response. Two-thirds through book.
Weds: 11/03: Final draft, IOA essay.

ENGLISH 7Completed spelling pretest Unit 10
Handed out new grammar packet #7
Worked on Rough draft of Personal Narrative. Use self checklist for help.
Due BOP Tuesday

HW: Tues: RD Personal Narrative Essay
Weds: Planner Check
Thurs: Mugshot week 8 and Grammar Packet #7
Fri: Spelling exercises p. 53, 1-20 and test, Unit 10
Final draft, Personal Narrative Essay

ENGLISH 8Finished peer review of grammar decks

Grammar Test.

HW: Tues: Biography response #1. Be a third through your book.
Thurs: Spelling exercises, p. 53, 1-20 and test Unit 10

ENGLISH 7

                                                            

Completed review of Spelling exercises and quiz, Unit 9.

Mugshot quiz. 30 points!

Returned graphic organizers. We will begin work on personal narrative rough drafts, due on Tuesday. Handed out self-edit form for personal essays.

HW: Tues 10/26: Rough draft personal narrative

ENGLISH 8

Grammar decks turned in. Peer evaluation worksheet. Take your time with this one. Answer all the questions carefully. Will finish on Monday.

Make sure you are reading your biographies.

HW: Tues 10/26: First response biography. A DEJ with five entries, marking influences or obstacles in person’s life. Must have direct passages and page numbers on one side, with two to three sentences on other side commenting on them.

ENGLISH 7

Planners checked. New check-in sheet.
 

Grammar: Reviewed and checked in mug shot week 7 and grammar packet #6.

Graphic organizer. How did it go? Discussed and handed in.

Dead words handout. Writing better. Rough draft is due on Tuesday.

HW: Thurs: Graphic outline for personal narrative; Mugshot week 7 and grammar packet #6
Fri: Spelling exercises, p. 49, 1-20, Unit 9 and post test

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ENGLISH 8

QW: The mood-changer exercise.

“ Meredith was in the parking lot much later than usual.”

Six sentences. Six moods. Short, sweet and to the point.

Reviewed Spelling exercises and completed test Unit 9.

Checked in and reviewed grammar packet #4. On adverbs

Discussed Biography first response assignment. Due Tuesday.

HW:  Fri: Grammar Card Deck. No late passes.
Tues 10/26 First response, biography. (See assignment handout for details)

ENGLISH 7

Planners checked on Thursday.
 

Check in topics for personal narrative. Did you make yours unique? Worked on sensory details handout.
 Discussed and worked on graphic outline for personal narrative, due Thursday.

HW: Thurs: Graphic outline for personal narrative; Mugshot week 7 and grammar packet #6
Fri: Spelling exercises, p. 49, 1-20, Unit 9 and post test.

ENGLISH 8

Handed in significant impact paragraphs.
Returned Speckled Band projects. File. It was so first quarter!

Got new late passes. Only two this quarter. Put your names on them. No replacements.

New grammar packet! (Are you kidding? No.) On adverbs. Due tomorrow, Thursday.

Worktime, grammar deck.

HW: Thurs. Spelling Unit 9; grammar #4
         Fri: Grammar Card Deck. No lates.
Tues 10/26 First response, biography. (See assignment handout for details)

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ENGLISH 7

QW: Describe a toy you loved. Think of all its good points. Use as much sensory description as possible. Sensory details call on your five senses: touch, smell, see, hear, taste.

Discussed and trade/graded"The  Man Who Could Fly," questions, p.801

Discussed Personal Narrative Assignment. Read example personal narratives. Your topic choice due Wednesday.
HW: Weds: Planner check; Topic choice for personal narrative
Thurs: Graphic outline for personal narrative; Mugshot week 7 and grammar packet #6
Fri: Spelling exercises, p. 49, 1-20, Unit 9 and post test

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ENGLISH 8

QW:  The mood of a story or passage is the general feeling it conveys. A story's mood might be tense in one passage and light in another. Use the sentence below as the first line of a story, and then create six different second sentences, each of which creates a different MOOD.
                                     Pierre sat quietly and stared out the window.

Reviewed Grammar Packet # 3, on pronouns, prepositions, adjectives.

Homework catch-up. Work-and-earn points day. 

Final draft significant impact paragraph, grammar deck, spelling. You choose.
HW: Weds: Final draft significant impact, typed, stapled, with RD, peer edit, and assignment sheet on top. Also, bring work with you for grammar deck class worktime
Thurs: Spelling exercises and test, Unit 9, p. 49, 1-20.

Fri: Grammar Deck, no late passes.

Tues 10/26: First response biography. Be a quarter through your book. 

New beginnings. The first day of second quarter. New seats.

ENGLISH 7

• Completed Spelling pretest Unit 9.
• Handed out Grammar packet # 6 (due Thursday), and mugshots, due on dates noted. Make sure to not lose these. New ones not handed out. Put in a safe place.
• Popcorn read next story in fables, legends and myths unit:  "The Man Who Could Fly." In literature textbooks, p.796-801. Finish reading for homework, and complete questions 1, 2 & 5, all parts, complete sentences.

HW: Tues: Finish reading "The Man Who Could Fly," in literature textbooks, p.796-801. Complete questions 1, 2 & 5, all parts, complete sentences.Weds: Planner check

Thurs: Mugshot week 7 and grammar packet #6

Fri: Spelling exercises, p. 49, 1-20, Unit 9 and post test

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ENGLISH 8

• Handed out grammar packet #3, due Tuesday.
• Finished rough draft of significant impact paragraph. Got a peer edit. Worked on final. Due Weds., BOP. Rough draft and peer edit must be attached, along with the assignment sheet. Stapled ahead of time.

HW: Tues: Grammar Packet # 3, on pronouns, prepositions, adjectives

Weds: Final draft significant impact, stapled, with RD, peer edit, and assignment sheet on top. Also, bring work with you for grammar deck class worktime

Thurs: Spelling exercises and test, Unit 9, p. 49, 1-20.
Fri: Grammar Deck. No late passes.