The start of a new semester is always so hopeful and so heavy at the same time! There is so much to do, so much to do.

I apologize for the long absence. When I began to get ill, I found that this was one thing that I just had to let slide. But I think it’s important, so I’m back in the technological saddle, yet again.

The biggest, newest things for this year are twofold. First, we are creating an after-school program for students who misbehave or don’t do their work. We’d like to use this as a time for extra effort and work. Second, I decided that Reading Logs in planners are not working, so I have created a sheet that students will turn in on Mondays, not Fridays. It is SO important that students read every day; I am making that my top priority.

7th / 8th Grade English Language Development
G1 (Nouns)
Assembly!

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign Reading Log sheet

8th Grade Literacy 4/5
G1
Poetry
Free Write: Holiday or RSR Thoughts
Review of the Rules, RSR, and Overview of Semester
The New & Improved Reading Log
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign Reading Log Sheet

8th Grade Literacy 8/9
G1
Poetry
Free Write: Holiday or RSR Thoughts
Review of the Rules, RSR, and Overview of Semester
The New & Improved Reading Log
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign Reading Log Sheet

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

We really started our Heritage unit today, delving into our new shared reading book, American Mosaic. The book is a collection of transcribed monologues from people who have immigrated to America from all over the world. Most of the pieces are very short and life-like, but their experiences are fascinating. We read about a little girl who grew up in Germany during World War II today, Hilda Gerhart. Her experience in the USA was not as fulfilling as she would have liked. We are hoping to transcribe our own monologues by the end of next week, if possible.

7th / 8th Grade English Language Development
DOL 29
Poetry
Lit. Circles
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 4/5
DOL 29
Poetry
American Mosaic: “Hilda Gerhart,” p. 148
The American Immigrant Experience Chart
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 8/9
DOL 29
Poetry
American Mosaic: “Hilda Gerhart,” p. 148
The American Immigrant Experience Chart
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

Monday, October 8, 2007

It has been a crazy but fun Monday. My ELD class is getting much more used to the routine of switching groups and reading, which is great. My 8th grade classes were rewarded for doing their work with an art project: making little pinwheels, the easiest whirligigs I could find online. They were fun, but a number of people who hadn’t finished their homework were disappointed ….

7th / 8th Grade English Language Development
DOL 28
Poetry
Shining Star Green, TB pp. 12-13; WB pp. 2-3
Shining Star Red, WB pp. 1-11
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 4/5
DOL 28
Poetry
Put The Book Back on the Shelf
Pinwheel Whirligigs
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 8/9
DOL 28
Poetry
Whirligig
Put The Book Back on the Shelf
Pinwheel Whirligigs
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

Friday, October 5, 2007

Today was Fun Friday, though it was also a mad push to finish Whirligig in my 8th grade classes. I think that Whirligig is one of the most difficult books most of the 8th graders have ever read; it is very adult in theme and vocabulary, not to mention the fact that it references all sorts of cultural norms that many of us have never experienced. Nevertheless, we finished the book and have completed our challenge!

7th / 8th Grade English Language Development
DOL 27
Poetry
Independent Reading
Check Reading Logs
Make-Up Work / Games

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 4/5
DOL 27
Poetry
Independent Reading
Check Reading Logs
Whirligig

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree and My Life Story due Monday

8th Grade Literacy 8/9
DOL 27
Poetry
Independent Reading
Check Reading Logs
Whirligig

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree and My Life Story due Monday

Thursday, October 4, 2007

We worked on pro/con lists for graphic organizers in class today. I think that students were really interested in the fact that they didn’t have to use the same graphic organizer all the time, and that different ones might be better for different uses. I like that thought; I find graphic organizers to be cumbersome, but I know that other people need them, especially those who need to organize their writing.

7th / 8th Grade English Language Development
DOL 26
Poetry
Lit. Circle Review
Lit. Circle Sheets
Lit. Circles

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 4/5
DOL 26
Poetry
Graphic Organizers: Telling My Life Story
Whirligig
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree and My Life Story due Monday

8th Grade Literacy 8/9
DOL 26
Poetry
Graphic Organizers: Telling My Life Story
Whirligig
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree and My Life Story due Monday

Thursday, October 4, 2007

We worked on pro/con lists for graphic organizers in class today. I think that students were really interested in the fact that they didn’t have to use the same graphic organizer all the time, and that different ones might be better for different uses. I like that thought; I find graphic organizers to be cumbersome, but I know that other people need them, especially those who need to organize their writing.

7th / 8th Grade English Language Development
DOL 26
Poetry
Lit. Circle Review
Lit. Circle Sheets
Lit. Circles

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 4/5
DOL 26
Poetry
Graphic Organizers: Telling My Life Story
Whirligig
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree and My Life Story due Monday

8th Grade Literacy 8/9
DOL 26
Poetry
Graphic Organizers: Telling My Life Story
Whirligig
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree and My Life Story due Monday

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Today was a pretty good day. We are working on some new curriculum in my ELD class and it might be really useful. In my other 8th grade classes we are working on our Heritage unit. Students should be working on their family tree this weekend. I love this stuff.

7th / 8th Grade English Language Development
DOL 25
Poetry
“The First Americans”
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner

8th Grade Literacy 4/5
DOL 25
Poetry
Family Trees: Our Own
Whirligig
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree due Monday

8th Grade Literacy 8/9
DOL 25
Poetry
Family Trees: Our Own
Whirligig
Independent Reading

HW: Read for 30 minutes; parents sign in planner; Family Tree due Monday