Week of April 8 - 12
Mon: COTW ch 5/6
Tue: COTW ch 6
Wed: Grammar Worksheet
Thu: Vocab Cum rev 4
COTW ch 6/7
Fri: Sophie's World (Aristotle)
week of March 11 - 15
Mon: COTW Chapter 2 themes and motifs (small group, then whole class
discussion)
Tue: COTW Chapter 3 themes and motifs (small group, then whole class
discussion)
Wed: Grammar Quiz: Clauses (dependent and independent)
Thu: Period 2 only: 8th grade information in the MPR
Vocab Unit 14 due
Nietszche and Will to Power
("Will to Power" proof due next Friday)
Fri: Work on Will to Power proofs
week of Mar 4 - 8
Mon: COTW Introduction: the philosophy of Jack London (continued)
Homework each night this week: read the novel (complete reading it by
Friday)
Tue: State Writing Sample
Wed: Grammar: Clauses
Thu: COTW: Themes and motifs
discuss chapter 1 to identify some basic themes and motifs
Vocab Unit 13 is due
Planner check
Fri: COTW: Themes and motifs
discuss chapter 2 to identify themes and motifs
week of Feb 25 - Mar 1
Mon: Draft responses
Tue: Draft responses
Wed: Clauses (Independent / dependent - adverb clauses
Thu: Vocab Cum Rev 3
Planner Check
Call of the Wild Intro: Philosophy of Jack London
Fri: Responses are due
Call of the Wild (COTW) intro continued
Roots Quiz
Week of Feb 18 - 22
Mon: response to Literature (lecture - handout)
Tue: Response to Lit Assignment; read Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling.
Write a response (in class, typed at home).
Prompt: Identify a theme in the story. Analyze characters in the story,
then show how those characters support that theme
Wed: Draft Responses
Thu: Draft Responses
Vocab rev 10-12
Fri: Drat responses
Week of Feb 12 - 15
Tue: Poetry Response (select from various poems): Write a response to poetry,
which includes analysis and identification of various contrsuctive
aspects of the poem as well as and the poem's purpose(s). Due Tuesday
next week.
Wed: Grammar: Pronouns quiz
Thu: Vocab Unit 12
Work on response to poetry
Fri: Work on response to poetry
Week of Feb 4 - 8
Mon: Poetry: Emily Dickinson (I'm Nobody) - Dickinson's bio (from the letters
of Thomas Higgenson).
Tue: Poetry: Response to Poetry (examples from Dickinson): The 4 purposes of
poetry (to paint a picture, to reflect on life, to express an emotion, to
tell a story). Analyze Dickinson's poems in small groups.Each student
writes an outline explaining how the one of the poems reflect these
purposes.
Wed; Grammar: Pronouns (Singular, Plural, Possessive): Quiz next week
Library: Battle of the Books
Thu: Vocab Units 10 & 11: correct in class.
Poetry: meet with discussion groups to formulate a response.
Fri: Poetry: outlines are due
Roots quiz
Week of Jan 7 - 11
Mon: Meet with Hero's Journey Project Groups
Review: Hero's Journey and Mulan
Tue: In class writing: Persuasive Writing Sample. Write persuasive argument.
(Writing prompt from 2008 writing sample). Write in class on Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday. Due Friday at end of class. here is the prompt:
"Your school district is thinking about lengthening the school year by
starting two weeks earlier. Do you think adding extra days to the school
year will improve education? Write a letter to the editor of your school
newspaper that will persuade others to accept your viewpoint. Be sure to
address opposing viewpoints in your letter."
Wed: Grammar: Noun Functions Review. Exam next week (Semester cumulative)
Thu; Vocab Unit 9 is due. Reminder: Next week review Units 1-9 is due.
Continue writing in class.
Fri: Writing in class. Persuasive composition is due at end of period.
Week of Dec 10 - 14
Mon: Drafting Beowulf style brag story or Illustration and description of
Grendel's arm.
Tue: Lecture on the Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell)
Wed; Hero's Journey and Mythic Hero (lecture continued)
Hero's Journey Assignment: in a group of up to five students, present a
novel that reflects the Hero's Journey, using a PowerPoint or other form
of presentation. Also, design a visual aid which brings the novel to life
in someway and preferable further relates the novel to the Hero's
Journey. This assignment can be for a novel that you have read in the
past (to save time). people may work alone, but groups are preferable.
The groups are self-selected. Assignment is due Jan 23 - 25.
Thu: Vocab Unit 7
Grammar; Worksheet/practice on Noun Functions. Due Monday.
Fri: Select groups and plan for Hero's Journey Project.
Week of Dec 3 - 7
Mon: Beowulf; read and discuss the poem (Seamus Heaney transl.)
Tue: Read Beowulf
Assignment: write a narrative: a brag story in the style of Beowulf.
relate the story to three elements of chivalry.
Due December 18
Argument Composition is due
Wed: Grammar: Noun Functions: Appositive and Predicate Nominative
Thu; Cumulative Review 1 is due (bring to class!)
Beowulf: read and discuss
Fri: Quiz: Terms of Argument and Fallacies (match term to description)
Discuss Beowulf: describe Grendel's arm with a picture (secondary
assignment - due next Friday, Dec 14)
Week of Nov 26 - 30
Mon: Work on Burning Out..." review Logical fallacies
Argument Composition Assignment: Write an argument in which you judge
which action in a moral dilemma is the better one. The three dilemmas
will be discussed via a Socratic debate on Tuesday. The assignment will
be due next Tuesday. Friday will be the last day to submit for full
credit.
Tue: Discuss/debate moral dilemmas, identifying claims, reasons, and
counterclaims.
Wed: Grammar Quiz ; Noun Functions
Thu: Vocab Unit 4-6 review is due. Discuss organization/accountability.
Completing homework as a three step process, and developing routines to
insure success.
Fri: Compose arguments
Week of Nov 12-16
Mon: Work on "The Allegory of the Cave", close reading and answering
questions.
Tue: Socratic Discussion: The Allegory of the Cave. Turn in notes by Friday.
Wed; Grammar; Nouns Functions practice
Thu: Vocab Unit 6
"Burning out at Nine": Read and discuss the construction of an argument.
Distribute an outline for an Aristotelian Argument.
Define an argument and compare elements to the article "Burning Out ..."
Fri: "Burning Out..." continued: Discuss weakness and Logical fallacies within
the author's argument. Logical Fallacies include: Hasty Generalization,
Equivocation, Straw Man, Question Begging, Causation Fallacy.
Week of November 5 - 9
Mon: Finish reading "The Apology" by Plato. Note Socrates' arguments against
Meletus and discuss/ analyze arguments.
Meletus: Everyone improves the youth except Socrates
Socrates: The trainer of horses is more likely to improve the many,
and people are like this as well.
Therefore: it is more likely Socrates improves the youth rather
than is a singular corrupter of them.
Meletus: Socrates corrupts his neighbors intentionally
(X corrupts Y intentionally)
Socrates: If X corrupts Y, then Y will corrupt X. No reasonable
person would harm himself this way.
Therefore: X doesn't intentionally corrupt Y.
Side discussion: should intent be considered in crime and punishment?
Tue: Take Healthy Kids Survey.
Homework; Close reading for "The Allegory of the Cave" by Plato.
Highlight main ideas, define key terms (left margin),
paraphrase ideas (right margin), answer questions 3 & 4, and
question 5 is extra credit. This is due by Friday.
Wed: Grammar: Noun Functions: Subject, Direct, Object, Indirect Object, Object
of preposition, Possessive Modifiers
Thu: Vocab Unit 5 is due.
Socratic Discussion; the Allegory of the Cave
Homework: Evaluate Irony proofs (in-class writing, already submitted)
Fri: Discuss / review irony proofs
Socratic Discussion notes are due.
Week of October 29 - November 2
Mon; work on "The Apology"- highlight main ideas: identify the key points of
Socrates' argument.
Tue: Socratic Seminar: "The Apology". Students who actively participate turn
in notes on text on Friday. Students who actively listen/observe turn in
Cornell Notes on what is said along with text notes on Friday.
Wed: Scary Stories
Thu: Roots assignment due. Roots and prefixes exam.
Vocab Unit 4 is due
Fri: Grammar Quiz: Nouns (types and functions). types include: Abstract /
Concrete, Collective. Functions include; Subject, Object, Object of
Preposition, Possessive Modifier. Parts of speech to know: Prepositions,
Transitive Verbs, Intransitive Verbs, Articles.
Week of Oct 15 -19
Mon: Read "The Lie" by Kurt Vonnegut. Discuss the author's use of irony.
Three types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.
Tue: Finish reading "The Lie". Discuss irony in the story.
Assignment: In-class writing assignment: identify 3 examples of irony in
the story. Write in class. Due at end of period on Friday.
Wed: In-class writing
Thu: Vocab Unit 3 is due.
In-class writing.
Articulation day (minimum day)
Fri: In-class writing, due at end of period.
End of first quarter
Week of Oct 8 - 12
Mon: grade Two Kinds test: Students engage in a Socratic Debate to answer the
test. In this way, students learn that an answer isn't necessarily
correct because an authority says so, but rather because reason dictates
it as correct.
Sophie's World: read aloud and discuss
Tue: Sophie's World: read aloud and discuss
Wed: Grammar: Noun Function
Thu: Vocab unit 2 is due
Next roots and prefixes assigned
Plato: The Allegory of the Cave: close reading assignment: highlight
main ideas, paraphrase
ideas in one margin, and define key terms in the other margin. Due
date: Tuesday Oct 16
Fri: Sophie's World: read aloud and discuss
Week of Oct 1 - Oct 5
Mon: 7th grade election assembly 2nd period (classes meet on a shortened
schedule)
"Two Kinds" assignment: Convert Outlines into compositions (Compositions
are due Friday, Oct 5 - Tuesday Oct 9). Today: Transitions and Fluency.
Manipulating the sequence of information to create variety and natural
transitions. Basic transitional words and phrases. Homework: Rewrite
outline in order to have transitions between all quotes (20 minutes each
night and then writing in class as well).
Tue: "Two Kinds" assignment: Convert Outlines into compositions. Independent
writing all class period. Homework: Continue writing compositions
Wed: Grammar: Nouns: Nouns: Singular / Plural / Collective
Homework; Vocab Unit 1 (due Thursday)and / or complete roots assignment
(also due tomorrow)
Thu: Planner Check
Vocabulary Workshop: Unit 1 is due. Correct in class.
Roots / Prefixes assignment: Quiz and assignment is due.
Homework: complete compositions.
Fri: 'Two Kinds /Erikson" paper is due.
Read Sophie's World and discuss.
Week of 9/24 - 9/28
Mon: "Two Kinds" assignment: Identify which stage of Erikson* that the
character Jing Mei is in. Write as a proof paragraph.
Due Date: Friday, 10/5 until Tuesday 10/9.
(Today, I will model the outline and introduction for the proof, from
which kids will later draft their own compositions)
*Erikson's theory of psychological development
Homework: Draft Introduction and topic sentence. Topic sentence needs to
be an "Occasion Position" statement
Tue: "Two Kinds / Erikson" assignment: today students will research evidence
for their proofs and develop an intro/topic sentence. They may work with
a partner to gather evidence. Homework: write explanatory comments for
each of the three evidentiary citations, explaining how the evidence
demonstrates the stage.
Wed: Grammar: Nouns: Singular / Plural / Collective
Homework: "Two Kinds / Erikson" assignment: Revise and refine the
introduction and topic sentence, making sure the topic sentence is in the
form of an "occasion / position" statement.
Thu: Vocabulary Workshop: Distribute vocab books. Unit 1 is due next Thursday.
Planner Check
"Two Kinds / Erikson" assignment: today students will work on assembling
their proofs into an outline draft, then adding an concluding statement
at the end. Homework: complete the outline draft and have it ready to be
checked tomorrow (Friday)
Fri: "Two Kinds / Erikson" assignment: Spot-Check Outlines (10 points for
completed outline. The completed outline includes: Intro and topic
sentence, evidence (with parenthetical citation), explanations and
conclusion, proper outline format)
Sophie's World: Read aloud and discuss
Week of 9/17 - 9/21
Mon: library orientation
Tue: Erikson's theory of psychological development ( cont. )
Wed: library orientation
Thu: library orientation
Grammar test retake (during lunch)
Fri: Sophie's World: The Mythological World View and the Natural Philosophers:
Thales (water) Anaximander (Boundless) Anaximenes (Air / Vapor)
Week of Sept 10 -14
Mon; Read "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan . Complete Plot Map
Tue: Discuss "Two Kinds". Review/discuss literary elements.
How to identify a theme by examining the central conflict.
Identifying symbols.
Wed: Grammar quiz on parts of speech.
Thu: Erikson's Stages of Psychological Development
Plot Maps are due.
Fri: Post Spelling Words for next week's spelling test (on Friday)
Discuss: Erikson's Stages of Psychological Development
Week of September 4 - 7
Tue: Proof Outlines are due.
Sophie's World: read aloud and discuss.
Wed: Grammar: Review Parts of Speech, Subjects and Predicates (Quiz next week)
Thu: Sophie's World: Read and discuss
Magazine Sale assembly 4th period
Fri: Sophie's World: Read and discuss
Roots Assignment, due October 4: Students will identify two words per
root that use that root. Students will define those words using the roots
definition (below) within their definition, This assignment is for every
month, and will typically be due the first week of every month. At that
time students will take a brief quiz on the definitions of that months
roots and prefixes.
Roots for September
EQUA - same
VID - to see
STRUCT - to build
VOID - empty
VAR - different
STEAD - base / place
Prefixes for September
AB - away from
BE - on all sides, overly
DE - reversal, undoing, downward
Week of August 27 - 31
Mon: Discuss "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto: plot and literary elements.
Students
complete plot map in class with a partner (5 points). Focus on tone. Identify
the tone of the story and evidence of tone.
Tue: "Seventh Grade": Writing assignment: Proof Paragraph Outline. Identify
three examples of the tone found in the story "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto.
Discuss structure of an outline, and creating a topic sentence using an
"Occasion Position" statement. This first writing assignment will be modeled
in
class through whole class discussion. Students then revise/refine on their
own.
Outline is due on Tuesday, Sept 4. This outline may be handwritten or typed
(25
points).LINK: http://teacherweb.com/CA/OliverWendellHolmes/MrBryant/apt34.aspx
Wed: Grammar: Review the parts of speech (Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adjective,
Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction) and parts of a sentence (Subject and
Predicate). Focus for grammar will first be on types nouns: Concrete and
abstract; singular, plural, collective; common and proper.
Thu: Construct / Refine / Revise the outline (in class writing/editing against
a checklist). Write the "works cited" and a proper heading (modeled in class
on
whiteboard).
Fri: Sophie's World: read aloud and discuss. Spelling Quiz next week: words
will be posted today for next week's quiz.
