Week of August 28 - September 1

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not discuss the Breakout. Block 6 will receive a few more minutes on Thursday to keep trying. Blocks 3 and 5, DO NOT share any clues or information about the locks. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

This week we will begin our unit on nouns in grammar, complete the character traits chart for the summer reading book, and have the first vocabulary test. The first roots test we will complete together as a class, as I want you to understand how to take this type of test. Be sure to create and study your roots cards for unit 1. You should have SEVERAL words that use the root written on the back of the card.

IN CLASS:
Day 1 - BRING bothWatsons and your summer reading choice book today. Annotation check! Character traits chart, grammar - nouns
Day 2 - Nouns continued, diagramming review
Day 3 - Membean test, roots test, strategies for proofreading written work
Day 4 - Literary elements: characterization including static/dynamic, protagonist/antagonist

HOMEWORK:
- Continue with Membean. 45 minutes over several sessions due Sunday night by 12. Next Monday (Labor Day) begins a new week.
- Continue reading Watsons and annotating for character traits.
- Journal Entry #2 due Friday at 5pm. Assignment is on Google Classroom.

Enjoy the long weekend. I will be grateful for my holiday from laboring.

Safe travels to those of you going out of town!

Diving in...

Thanks to each of you for a great first week! I can already tell we are going to have an excellent year together. Here's what we have coming up:
WEEK OF 8/21 - 8/25

TOPICS FOR THE WEEK:
* First novel: Watsons go to Birmingham
* Annotation, evidence
* How to learn root words
* Grammar - parts of speech vs. parts of a sentence
* Diagramming - interjections

HOMEWORK FOR THIS WEEK:

1) Begin reading Watsons go to Birmingham according to the pacing chart (you may read ahead, but do not spoil the plot for others).
2) Membean: 45 minutes, split into at least three sessions, by Sunday night
3) Journal Entry #1 on Google Classroom, due Friday by 5pm. Make sure you click TURN IN when finished.
4) Begin learning root words - 1 every other day

Click here for WATSONS PACING CHART

This is a video interview with the author. The username and password are available on Google Classroom.
TeachingBooks.net Meet-the-Author Program | Christopher Paul Curtis

LET'S ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad you are here! This week is all about getting adjusted to a new building, a new schedule, and new teachers. We will talk about the summer reading, Membean, grammar, and Google Classroom. Don't be afraid to ask even the most embarrassing of questions. (Yes, most teachers will let you go to the bathroom during class. Yes, you will dress out for P.E., but not on Monday!) Get used to checking this blog - as you can see, it contains LOADS of valuable information.

If you misplace your syllabus (which has a page you must bring back signed), click HERE to download another copy.

Here are a few photos from today's Bingo Scavenger Hunt! CLICK HERE