Daily Assignments

 

September 13, 2007

Teacher work day/student holiday

September 14, 2007

Students will skim/scan the local newspaper and read an article of their choosing as a bellwork activity. Random students will be selected to explain their reading process. The objective is for students to understand the pre-reading strategy used in selecting the article. This exercise is followed by a mini-lesson on pre-reading strategies used to aid in the comprehension of text. Students will take notes on their unit learning maps and will be introduced to vocabulary and techniques used for pre-reading. Students will also alphabetize word wall vocabulary taken from "The Bet," by Anton Chekhov using the two column note method. Students will form small groups and concept map key ideas that appear in the short story to include, capital punishment, gambling, greed and violence. Students will participate in DEAR for 20 minutes, record their reading in their reading logs. Daily learning log entry will be completed as a homework assignment.

September 17, 2007

Binders check to monitor student assignments and organizational skills. Learning Log HW due from Friday will be checked during this time. Mini Lesson on Reading a Short Story. Readers Handbook pgs 267-278. For independent practice students will read pages 728-729 in the Reader's Handbook for review then take notes on the topic of skimming on their learning maps. Students will identify the purposes for using skimming as a pre-reading strategy and list at least two ways to use the technique. Upon distrubution of the short story "The Bet" students will skim the short story and underline or highlight the sentences that contain the word wall vocabulary. Then, students will define the word within the context of the sentence and record their ideas about the word on their two-column notes. Note: DEAR and/or Channel One news will be implemented in individual classes at teacher discretion.

September 18, 2007

Students will actively listen and view local or global news from Channel One or Naughty News for bellwork. Teacher-read aloud of relevant current events issue. Teacher will model think-aloud strategy and demonstrate the reading process and fluent reading with student questions/responses before, during and after. Review of the topic of skimming with emphasis on how examining text structure helps to anticipate content. Students will closely read first page of "The Bet" and use learned vocabulary strategies to comprehend words within the text by highlighting or circling words that have suffixes, prefixes or multiple meanings.

September 19, 2007

  • Vocabulary Development Unit Exam-45 minute
  • D.E.A.R.-Upon completion of the exam students will read silently and record their reading in their reading logs.
  • Teacher Read-Aloud- on "The Bet" to model fluency components of automaticity, prosody and speed. Followed by a student question and answer period.
  • Small group instruction-3-5 students will complete synthesizing graphic organizer and identify the title, setting, characters and point of view for part one of the story read.
  • Summarization and dismissal

September 20, 2007

Students will be able to self-monitor their reading by using fix-up strategies to comprehend texts. Mini-lesson on different types of fix-up strategies with teacher modeling and whole class participation. Review of synthesizing graphic organizer used in previous day's lesson with whole class summarization of part one of "The Bet". Students will take notes on detonative definitions for vocabulary as a word wall activity and teacher will model word attack strategies for random words that contain affixes. Students will be given vocabulary assignment for homework. Teacher will also model mathematical strategy "What is my Grade" to encourage students to take control of their own learning.

September 21, 2007

Students will complete fix-up strategies self assessment as bellwork. Whole class discussion on strategies students use to assist them in better understanding text. Review mini-lesson on fix-up strategies using Powerpoint presentation. Audio read-aloud of “The Bet” with different translation than the text used for the class as a demonstration of fluency. As students follow along with audio reading they will be able to use skills learned regarding skimming to find the passages referenced in the reading. Students will also be able to identify the differences between the two translations of “The Bet” and explain how each version helps or hinders comprehension. Learning logs will be collected and graded and returned on Monday.

 

September 24, 2007

Upon picking up their learning logs for the new week, students class agenda will be as follows:

  • Vocabulary Exam- exam will test student comprehension of the short story "The Bet" as well as their knowlege of key vocabulary from the word wall as it appears in the text.
  • Mini-Lesson on how an author's organizational structure can affect the meaning of text.and the reader's comprehension with emphasis on elements of fiction and plot structure in short stories.
  • Students will read independently from the Reader's Handbook pgs 368-373, 378-382 and page 384 and be able to identify elements of fiction as seen in short stories and complete fiction organizer on "The Bet."
  • Paired Reading- Students will pair with a partner and read excerpts from the short story to one another and demonstrate fluency.
  • PowerPoint lesson summarization on plot structure. Homework assignment given to Period 2 only.

September 25, 2007

Students will understand how an author's use of the organizational pattern of flashback affects or impacts the meaning of selected text by plot diagramming the short story "The Bet." Students will be able to correctly identify the five components of a plot structure using a graphic organizer. Upon completion students will do an extended thinking/writing exercise expressing their views on capital punishment vs life imprisonment using examples from the short story or real-life experiences. These writing samples will be placed in student class folders. Random selection and choral reading of new vocabulary words with the theme "Order in the Court." D.E.A.R. independent reading for 20 minutes with teacher checking reading logs. Projects for students who have completed their first independent book will be due October 8th.

September 26, 2007

  • Teacher read-aloud to model fluency and think-aloud strategy of relevant currrent events article with whole class participation in which students will be able to distinguish fact from opinion. After the reading students will understand how an author's organizational pattern of cause and effect affects/impacts the meaning of the text. Teacher will also read a letter to the editor in response to the article to demonstrate author's purpose and point of view.
  • Students will participate in a word wall activity in which they match the correct rhyming word with a vocabulary word from the word wall. Students will take two column notes on the vocabulary and list the parts of speech.
  • Think-Pair-Share exercise. Within small groups students will participate in an activity in which they will read, research and record information based upon an article "Family Table Has Place in Drug Fight" in the USA Today.

September 27, 2007

During Mrs. Drax's absence today the following assignments will be completed for daily credit.

  • Word Wall Activity-students will alphabetize the words in their two-column notes
  • Reader’s Handbook pages 181-192. Students will create a cause and effect graphic organizer as outlined on page 191 for the newspaper article that the teacher read-aloud on 9/26/07. The article can be found on the things to know bulletin in E247 “Racial Tensions Rip Apart…..” Substitute teacher may re-read the first page of the article for students if they need to be reminded. After completing the graphic organizer students will write a personal response to the article.
  • Students will complete prefix/suffix handout and use pages 762-764 to decode the words. Students will list the origin of the root word (Greek or Latin, define the suffix and prefix as done in previous assignments. For example:

in/cred/ible

in-not

cred-believe (Latin)

ible-adjective

 

After students turn in and complete each assignment that may begin reading their independent book for at least 20 minutes or longer. Students must record their reading in their reading log.

September 28, 2007

  • Word Wall Activity- Choral read of vocabulary words then students will practice dividing the words into its syllables (syllabication) to aid in correct pronounciation of the word.
  • Mini-Lesson how organizational structure affects/impacts the meaning of text and how the author's use of signal words helps us identify the patterns.
  • Whole Class Read Aloud of "Midas and the Golden Touch"-Students will popcorn read the short story from the Bridges Literature Book, modeling fluency and the think aloud strategy.

October 1, 2007

  • Word Wall Activity/Complete the Sentences/Exploring Definitions of Vocabulary
  • Mini-Lesson on kinds of paragraphs and ways author's organizing paragraphs Reader's Handbook 59-69
  • Drill and Independent Practice-Decoding words prefix/suffix/root (Reader's Handbook 758-765)
  • D.E.A.R.

October 2, 2007

  • D.E.A.R.
  • Review of paragraph types and organizational structures
  • Introductory mini-lesson on author's purpose and point of view with emphasis on persuasive writing by use of propaganda techniques
  • Small Group Instruction-Students will read "Print Ads fighting for your attention" and respond to discussion questions.
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

October 3, 2007

  • Word Wall Activity- Choral Reading of Vocabulary
  • PowerPoint Presentation on Author's Purpose and Point of View
  • Independent Practice-Students will make their own innovative advertisements choosing from the following: perfume or cologne, new high school, fast food item, or video game or gaming system. Students will need to identify the propaganda technique used in their advertisement.
  • D.E.A.R.

October 4, 2007

  • D.E.A.R.
  • Word Wall Activity-Students will use vocabulary words in context following a writing prompt
  • Mini-Lesson-Identifying subject and main idea (Reader's Handbook pgs 53-57)
  • Wrap-up/Dismissal

October 5, 2007

  • Interactive Review Lesson-Summarization and Main Idea
  • D.E.A.R.
  • Vocabulary Exam

October 8, 2007

  • D.E.A.R.
  • Figurative Language Mini Lesson (introduction to similes and metaphors)
  • Pre-teaching of vocabulary/Activating Background Knowledge
  • Independent Practice-Students will read current events article and identify main idea and supporting details on graphic organizer
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

October 9. 2007

Students will form small groups to analyze editorial "On myspace, know who your friends are." Students will use selective highlighting to:

  1. Identify sentences containing word wall vocabulary,
  2. Hyphenated, closed and open compound words
  3. Examples of figurative language (metaphors)
  4. Exchange myspace information with group members to know who your friends are!

Mini lesson on how author's use figurative to express common ideas in a fresh, descriptive way using various figures of speech such as similes and metaphors. Students will then complete simile/metaphor worksheet independently.

October 10, 2007

  • D.E.A.R.
  • Individual student conferences (Review of Maze scores)
  • Mini lesson and introduction of the literary analysis unit (learning maps distrubuted)
  • Reflection and discussion on poem "Dreams" (Bridges Literature Book pg 37)
  • Wrap-up and Dismissal

October 11, 2007

Students will have an opportunity to read at length during this class period. For some students, reading during class is the only exposure to independent reading that they have. In addition, a lot of students are reading books from the class library. As a result, there may be students sharing a book and your time to read it will be limited. Please take advantage of this precious time to Drop Everything and Read!

We will end the class period with a concept review for the comprehension unit exam on Friday. Students will be able to ask questions during this time.

October 12, 2007

  • Comprehension Unit Exam-This exam should take 45 minutes to complete. However, students may take as long as they need to ensure their sucess.
  • DEAR- Students will read after completing the exam and allow others who are still testing to complete their testing.
  • Active viewing and listening of local, national and international commercials to demonstrate propaganda techniques used by advertisers

Monday October 15, 2007

Complete the assessment “What Kind of Student Are You” survey and grade it honestly. Make sure that you place your name on the paper and turn it in to the substitute teacher once you have completed it. Record your score in your agenda on the date of October 15, 2007. By the end of the semester you can reassess how well you have progressed.

Read pages 134-151 in your Reader’s Handbook “Elements of Textbooks”. After reading the pages, in your handbook, take an English textbook from the cart. On a piece of loose-leaf paper write the page number and a specific example (if it applies) that you found for each of the following:

 

Chapter previews

Charts and graphs

Footnotes

Glossaries

Indexes

Maps

Photos and illustrations

Special features

Study questions and reviews

Table of contents

Timelines

Typography

Unit, Chapter, and Section Headings

 

After you turn in this portion of the assignment go back to your Reader’s Handbook. Read about a subject area that you are interested in (history, science, math). You only need to choose one subject and it may be found from pages 73-111.

 

Once you have completed reading your chosen subject area, write a four paragraph essay explaining why you chose that subject area to read about, is it your best or worse subject and why, are you presently in the class this term and who is your teacher or will be your teacher, what did you learn from the information that you read and use specific examples from the reading to explain how can you apply it to your class.

 

 

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

 

Students will independently read “The Gift of the Magi” pgs 261-266 in the Bridges to Literature book. They will then complete the worksheet package. Some students may have dark shaded copies due to a copier problem however, it still can be read. If you have any questions ask the substitute in charge for assistance. “I cannot see” is not an excuse to have an incomploete worksheet.

 

After completion of the worksheets, watch the 15-minute video “The Gift of the Magi” Use two column notes to compare and contrast the video from the short story. What do they have in common, what is different.

 

Read your independent reading book upon completion of all class assignments.

 

Wednesday October 17, 2007

 

You will need index cards for this assignment. If you do not have your own, you may get one from the substitute. Use your independent reading book or any from the class library and create a book catalog entry on an index card. Read pages 698-704 in the Reader’s Handbook.

 

Follow the format on page 699 for a computer catalog entry and complete the index card with the information on an index card.  Make sure that your name is on the back of the index card and turn it in.

 

Read the article, “Communities hire private firms to manage public libraries” Complete the graphic organizer listing main ideas. Read the directions carefully that are listed on the handout.

 

Choose at least three words from the article that are unfamiliar to you and try to define the word using context clues. Then use a classroom dictionary to find the part of speech and correct definition then write your own sentence for each word.

 

 

Thursday October 18, 2007

Students are to actively watch the movie Holes. The movie is based on a book written by Louis Sachar. Students may have may have read the book in middle school or seen the movie previously.  Students will read the transparency on the overhead. Copy the definition of flashback in your notebooks. Respond to the following writing prompt: summarize the definition of flashback in your own words and explain how it used in telling the story Holes and how it affects or impacts your comprehension of the overall story.

October 22, 2007

Students will understand how to identify themes within literary works and recognize how how identifying, analyzing and applying knowledge of structural elements of texts helps in the reader's comprehension. Students will listen to a teacher-read aloud of "The Outsiders" by S.E . Hinton in which fix-up strategies and think aloud strategies are modeled. Author's point of view and characterization are examined. Discussion of possible themes of the text followed by a reflective dialogue comparing and contrasting movies vs books. Students will then watch the film adaptation of the book taking notes on setting and characterization.

October 23, 2007

  • Review of "What is a theme and how can it be identified in what we read?" Reader's Handbook pgs 345-350
  • Word Wall Activity
  • Vocabulary Acquisition- Thematic Crossword Puzzle
  • "The Outsiders" movie
  • Exit Slips- Students will identify a "big idea" from the movie and write a theme statement

October 24, 2007

  • Review "Outsider" vocab words
  • Complete viewing of "The Outsiders"

October 25, 2007

Students will be able to identify correct theme statements from exit slips written by their peers. Review of theme vs genre with a powerpoint presentation. Reflective discussion to activate background knowledge for folktale
"Debate in Sign Language." Students will be able to compare and contrast verbal and non-verbal communcation and provide examples of each. Students will read-along with audio reading of the folktale by the actual author Syd Lieberman while completing the Venn diagram. Students will then identify theme within the folktale.

October 26th-November 2nd

During the days listed above, students will be provided with a number of emergency lessons to reinforce strategies and skills learned throughout the semester. Students are to complete all assignments as given by the substitute and utilize class time to read their independent books and/or complete reading or other subject area class assignments.

November 5, 2007

Students will activate prior knowledge by writing diary entries for each day of the past week, recounting the classroom experience during the teacher's absence. Students will then read "Diary of a Young Woman" from the Reading to Graduate workbook and complete a series of questions that examine cause and effect relationships, primary source and inferencing. Students will also choose 5 words from the text which they are unfamiliar with and look the words up in the dictionary.

November 6, 2007

  • Word Wall Activity
  • Pre-teaching Vocabulary
  • Unit Concept Format Variety Introduced
  • Student/Teacher Read Aloud of article debating text messaging
  • QAR-Independent Exercise
  • Summarization/Cell Phone text messaging

November 7, 2007

Over the next few days, students will actively listen and view "Hotel Rwanda" to examine the genocide that occurred during the early 1990's. Students will be able to answer the question, "Counting on the media, but who is accountable." As students view the movie they will consider a number of questions that explore the media's role in their daily lives.

Learning objectives will be to:

  • develop an understanding of the power media has to promote hateful actions and incite violence
  • analyze the role the media has to inform and inspire action as it relates to human rights and humanitarian causes
  • explore how media is utilized today to inform people about domestic and international events

November 8, 2007

Students will examine concept map for the movie Hotel Rwanda to explore the role of the key characters within the film. with the characters. Followed by reflection, discussion and questions and answers regarding the movie.

Learning objectives will be to:

  • develop an understanding of the power media has to promote hateful actions and incite violence
  • analyze the role the media has to inform and inspire action as it relates to human rights and humanitarian causes
  • explore how media is utilized today to inform people about domestic and international events

November 9, 2007

  • Mini Lesson QAR (question answer relationships) with a review of the questions/answers/responses from the articles about text messaging.
  • Group Presentations on Genocide in the Media
  • Wrap Up and Dismissal

November 12, 2007

Cooperative learning groups to explore the learning concept of format variety in expository texts. Introduction of words to know. Groups will read an article entitled "Professionals declare email free Fridays." Learning applications include social studies/current events, technology, trends and 21st century skills. Within the small groups students will respond to discussion questions to summarize their understanding of the article. In whole class group, students will brainstorm a list of methods teenagers use to communicate with one another and then rank the methods in order from most to least common. Each group will be assigned a communication device and create a lsit of do's and don'ts to help users learn to communicate more effectively. Each group will present its communciations strategies to the whole class.

November 13, 2007

  • Vocabulary Quiz
  • Class read aloud of "You Dirty Rat" a true account of World War I
  • Independent Practice Worksheet text summarization/sequencing

November 14, 2007

  • DEAR/Individual conferences
  • Mini Lesson on Expository Writing/Signal Words and Phrases
  • Small group exercise: Students will create recipes on how to bake a cake etc. using sequential signal words and each group will present their recipe with class evaluations by their peers.
  • Wrap up and dismissal

November 15, 2007

Cooperative learning groups wherein students purpose for reading is to formulate a variety of questions about expository text and improve reading comprehension. Students will partner with another student within their group and form a series of questions based on knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Partners will swap questions to assess each other's understanfing of the material read.

November 16, 2007

  •   Review of  format variety and organization of ideas·      
  •   Independent practice-Timed Writing Expository Prompt
  • Active listening/view of true accounts surrounding the World Trade Center tragedy

November 26, 2007

  • Teacher Absence-Refer to Handouts Section 11/26

November 27, 2007

  • Scholastic Reading Inventory-Students will take an exam that will determine their lexile scores which assesses a students ability to comprehend text on varying grade levels and abilities.
  • Introduction of Technology Terms and Elements of the Internet
  • Mini Lesson on How to Read a Website and How to evaluate the integrity of sources on the Internet
  • Independent Reference and Research Activity-Students will be assigned a specific author and use a search engine to obtain 3 facts and an opinion on the author. Students will need to obtain the information from a reliable source and write the URL's from which they obtained the information.
  • Wrap up and Dismissal-Students will share their facts and opinions of the speciifc authors and explore the website www.exploratorium.edu

November 28, 2007

Students will identify whether a series of statements are facts or opinions. Teacher read aloud of blog published on-line in the Times on the Web to understand the use of fact, opinion and tone of voice. Students will further understand how the blog is not a valid source for research and reference due to author's bias. Teacher modeling of how to navigate the website and locate specific links and information. In small groups students will write short response answers to assigned questions within their small groups after reading a blog titled "A Ginormous Victory for Neologists." Brief lecture on neologism and how blended or portamanteau words appear in the English language. Students will then create their own word.

November 29, 2007

Students will work within their small groups and develop their skill to take notes. Students will participate in an on-line tutorial to achieve the following objectives:  

  • Basic understanding of the Internet
  • Distinguish scholarly from popular communication
  • Distinguish primary from secondary information source
  • Determine the nature of a source from a citation
  • Use citations to find physical sources
  • Locate sources using classification systems
  • Understand library collections and services

Each group wll have an opportunity to respond to a quiz for group points after each topic presented.

November 30, 2007

  • Unit exam on Literary Analysis
  • Vocabulary Acquisition-Technology Crossword Puzzle (participation points)
  • D.E.A.R.

December 3, 2007

  • Introduction to thematic vocabulary
  • Mini Conferences
  • D.E.A.R.
  • Fluency Exercise- Students will read along with a recording of Around the World in 80 days and evaluate the reader on prosody, automaticity and speed.

December 4, 2007

  • Vocabulary Exercise-Teacher modeling of use of on-line dictionary. Definitions and pronunciations of vocabualry words will be provided for select words. Students will also be able to vote for the word of the year.
  • Students will write a personal response to the audio reading of chapter 1 of "Around the World in 80 days" and explain how the reader's fluency affected their comprehension. Using the notes that they made from their reading, students will provide examples of the reader's speed, automaticity, and prosody in their response.
  • Students will close read chapter one and paraphrase the setting using examples from the text to support their description. They will then list 10 characteristics of the main character as it appears in sequence. Finally they will create a character map.
  • DEAR

December 5, 2007

  • Vocabulary Exercise-Students will complete the sentence with the correct vocabulary word
  • Mini-Lesson (powerpoint presentation) on the traditional 5 paragraph essay.
  • Independent Practice- Students will outline their essays on the distrubuted handout including all elements as discussed in the presentation
  • Group Assignment-Students will provide peer feedback about their essays and continue to work on their essay outlines. Groups will also choose a country to research Christmas around the world.

December 6, 2007

  • DEAR
  • Vocabulary Exercise-Mini Lesson review on analagoy-Reader's Handbook pg 622-623
  • Review on the 5 paragraph essay-Introduction paragraph only
  • Independent Study-Students will read an article on money matters and complete a graphic organizer that develops skills in cause/effect and problem solution.

December 7, 2007

  • Vocabulary Quiz
  • Christmas Around the World-Reference and Research in Media Center
  • Website Evaluation-Assessing Integrity of Source

December 10, 2007

  • Review of Vocabulary Test
  • DEAR
  • Reference/Research and Essay Writing Centers
  • Introduction to FCAT Unit

December 11, 2007

  • DEAR
  • Reference/Research Groups to Media Center
  • Small Group Assignments "Christmas Around the World"
  • Pre-teach Vocabulary
  • Activate Prior Knowledge-Venn Diagram
  • Teacher/Whole Class Read and think Aloud Article
  • Wrap up and Dismissal-Summarization Exit Slips

December 12, 2007

  • Review of Summarization/Exit Slips
  • Independent Practice/Reading Reader's Handbook pg 632-837 "Focus on Standardized Tests"
  • Mini Lesson Powerpoint Presentation-Ten rules of Test Taking
  • Guided Practice-Students will have an opportunity to gain additional points on a previous test taken
  • Teacher modeling of Christmas around the World Group Presentation
  • Small Group Work/Wrap up and Dismissal

December 13, 2007

  • DEAR
  • Mini-Lesson Becoming a Proficient Reader-Reading to Graduate Textbook
  • Guided Practice-Prove Your Progress
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

December 14, 2007

  • Review/Summarization of Test taking Strategies-
  • Guided Practice Selective Highlighting
  • Mini Lesson "How do I   make the best choice for multiple choice questions"
  • Whole Class Read Aloud-Standard Benchmarks "Reading to Graduate"
  • Group Exercise/Teacher Modeling Aesops Fable
  • Reader's Theater "These Shoes of Mine" Bridges to Literature

December 17, 2007

Direct instruction: Students will be orientated to the Reading to Graduate textbook "Becoming a Proficient Learner" (chapter one) and learn how the textbook prepares and equips them to perform well on reading tests. Whole class participation.

  • DEAR

December 18, 2007

Direct Instruction: Students will understand the different standard benchmarks and how it affects their understanding of test questions.

  • Students will have independent practice completing reading tests on customized levels from "Reading to Graduate"
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

December 19, 2007

  • Independent Practice-Prove your Progress Tests "Reading to Graduate"
  • Active, Viewing and Listening of "Around the World in 80 Days"

January 3, 2008

Students will continue with Prove your Progress exam based on their reading levels. Those who have already completed the exam will participate in DEAR. Mini-lesson on short and extended responses with teacher modeling and whole class read aloud from pamphlet Peer Pressure and Smoking. Extended response question will be completed for homework on the provided handout.

January 7, 2008

  • Independent practice-FCAT released exam
  • Review Lesson on short vs extended responses- Students will create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two types of questions from a rubric guideline handout.
  • Whole Class read aloud and discussion of "Miles" a novel excerpt from Bridges to Literature.
  • Summarization of novel excerpt-Teacher provides a prompt and students fill in the blank.
  • Wrap up and dismissal

January 8, 2008

  • Maze Testing
  • Teacher read aloud of Freak the Mighty. Students provide a short response to prompt.
  • Mini Review Lesson on S.O.A.P.S. and primary/secondary sources
  • Small Group Instruction

January 9, 2008

  • FCAT released practice test/Prove Your Progress tests
  • Teacher Read Aloud "Freak the Mighty"
  • Viewing of "The Mighty" Students will compare and contrast chapters read from the book to parts of the movie

January 10, 2008

  • Mini Lesson Making Text Connections
  • Whole Class Read Aloud "Herbie"-Bridges To Literature
  • Independent Practice- Evaluating Science Fiction
  • Teacher Read Aloud/Class Discussion "Freak the Mighty

January 11, 2008

  • Teacher Read Aloud/Class Discussion "Freak the Mighty"
  • Guided Practice-Expository Essay Typing Exercise in Computer Lab
  • Independent Interactive Web-Based Tutorial(vocabulary and comphrension activities)-Freak the Mighty

January 14, 2008

  • Teacher Read Aloud/Class Discussion "Freak the Mighty"
  • Guided Practice-Expository Essay Typing Exercise in Computer Lab
  • Independent Practice-Interactive Web-based tutorial (vocabulary and comphrension activities) Freak the Mighty

January 15, 2008

  • Powerpoint Presentation-Freak the Mighty
  • Photo Slide Presentation of the funeral procession of Coretta Scott King
  • Whole Class Read Aloud of "Let No Man Pull You Down" a play about Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

January 22, 2008

Introduction to course and review of syllabi and class expectations.

  • Bellwork-NY Times CrossWord Puzzle "Back to School" theme

January 23, 2008

  • Bellwork-NY Times Crossword Puzzle "Back to School" theme
  • Word Wall Activity-Echo Reading
  • Brainstorming Activity-Students respond Name 3 factors that you think may contribute to a person's poor handwriting skills?
  • Mini Lesson on Learning Logs
  • Mini Lesson on think aloud stategy
  • Teacher read aloud of "Penmanship a lost pursuit for students" with modeling of think aloud strategy
  • Wrap up dismissal

January 24, 2008

  • Bellwork
  • Word Wall Activity-Parts of Speech/Definitions
  • Mini Lesson-Reading as a Process
  • Independent Reading Reader's Handbook pgs 30-32
  • Guided Practice- Storyboard activity
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

January 25, 2008

  • Bellwork-Crossword Puzzle
  • Guided Practice-Learning Log Entries
  • Mini Lesson- Notetaking
  • Small Group Instruction- Students will read specified newspaper article and respond to questions on notetaking graphic organizer

January 28, 2008

  • Bellwork-Crossword Puzzle "Black History Month Theme
  • Word Wall Activity
  • Guided Practice on Notetaking
  • Independent Practice-Students read TSA-Fliers get savvy on what to bring and complete graphic organizer
  • Mini Lesson on Test taking Strategies (powerpoint presentation)
  • Wrap up and dismissal

January 29, 2008

  • Bellwork-Crossword Puzzle/Learning Log
  • Word Wall Activity
  • Review of Before Test Taking Strategies (Reader's Handbook 599-605)
  • Independent Practice-Open Book Exam pages 26-43 in the Reader's Handbook

January 30, 2008

  • Bellwork-Crossword Puzzle/Learning Log
  • Mini-Lesson on Analogies
  • Word Wall Activity-Completing Analogies
  • Review of Test taking Strategies and the Reading Strategy of Skimming
  • Mini-Lesson Topics and Main Ideas
  • Teacher Read Aloud with student's writing a personal response

 January 31, 2008

  • Bellwork-Learning Log/Crossword Puzzle with Musical Connection
  • Independent Practice-Summarization of Test taking Strategies (Students will read pages 606-616 from the Reader's Handbook and complete worksheet)
  • Mini Lesson (powerpoint presentation) Multiple Choice
  • Small Group Practice-Selective Underlining of "Using Test Taking Strategies" and identification of an AHA moment

February 4, 2008

  • Bellwork/Learning Log
  • Word Wall Activity-Introduction of New Words "Im/In Prefix
  • Mini Lesson-Recognizing Question Stems
  • Guided Practice- FCAT  Practice
  • Wrap Up and Dismissal

February 5, 2008

  • Bellwork
  • Class to Library-Students choose independent book based on lexile score

February 6, 2008

  • Bellwork-Crossword Puzzle U.S. Presidents Theme
  • Vocabulary Activity-Completing the Sentence
  • Review of Recognizing Question Stems Mini Lesson-Distrubute Question Stems worksheet
  • FCAT Independent Practice (Sample Workbook)
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

February 7, 2008

  • Bellwork-Vocab Building US  Presidents
  • Word Wall Activity-Analogies
  • Read Aloud of FCAT   Practice Exercise with Question/Answer
  • FCAT   Independent Practice cont. Sample Workbook
  • Analogy Review
  • Wrapup/Dismissal

February 8, 2008

  • Vocabulary Exam
  • Review of Question Stems (Handout Distubuted)
  • Independent Reading and whole class discussion of current events article (Racial Tensions in Jena, LA)
  • Guided Practice (Students create question stems and answer key for article)

February 11, 2008

  • Review of Vocabulary Test
  • Follow up and discussion of question stems based on current events article dealing with racism and unfairness
  • Active, viewing and listening of "West Side Story" to explore themes of racism and unfair treatment and establish a text to world connection

February 12, 2008

  • Bellwork (Crossword Puzzle-US Presidents)
  • Mini Lesson on Short/Extended Responses
  • DEAR

February 13, 2008

February 14, 2008

  • Bellwork
  • Vocabulary Exercise-Dissecting words-Prefix-Suffix-Root
  • Review of Short/Extended Response
  • Guided Practice-Students will read pamphlet containing article regarding Teens and Smoking and respond correctly to a short response question

February 15, 2008

  • Vocabulary Exam
  • Review Short/Extended Responses
  • Independent Practice
  • DEAR

February 19, 2008

  • DEAR
  • Independent Reading Assignment Handout Distributed-Q/A
  • Review of Vocabulary Test
  • Intro to Literary Analysis Unit-JEOPARDY Game-Literary Terms Pre-Test

February 20,2008

  • DEAR
  • Mini Lesson on Figurative Language-Similes and Metaphors
  • Whole Class Read Aloud of "Dreams" by Langston Hughes
  • Guided Practice-Literary Analysis of poem

February 21, 2008

  • Summarization of Similes and Metaphors
  • Teacher Read Aloud of Sadie and Maud by Gwendolyn Brooks

February 25, 2008

  • Preview of new vocabulary words-Students will make connections by writing their own definitions, examples or sentences
  • Mini-Lesson (Powerpoint Presentation) New figurative language terms
  • Guided Practice-Write your own-alliteration, personification, onomatopeia
  • Fluency-Listen to recitation of the Highwayman by Alfred Noyes and be able to identify figures of speech
  • Independent Practice-DEAR

February 26, 2008

  • Review of Vocabulary Words
  • Mini-Lesson "The Highwayman" (history, vocab and special notes)
  • Paired Reading
  • Guided Practice-Students will complete figurative language worksheet

March 3, 2007

  • Teacher read aloud of current events article "Sorry your to fat to eat here" 2 small groups will be formed and assigned opposing sides for vs against. Each group member will need to write a statement that supports their position. The remaining whole class group will need to vote for the group that convinced them to choose their side and not based on personal bias.
  • DEAR-Independent Reading
  • Mini-Lesson on plot elements/diagramming
  • Whole Class Read Aloud of "Miles" by Jerry Spinelli with identification of idioms
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

March 4, 2008

  • Bellwork-Women's History Crossword Puzzle
  • Mini-Lesson Direct Instruction-Idioms
  • Independent Practice-Plot Diagramming/Identifying Idioms
  • DEAR
  • Wrap-up Dismissal

March 5, 2008

  • Bellwork-Women's History Crossword Puzzle
  • DEAR
  • Teacher Modeling-Previewing Short Story
  • Small Group Instruction-Brainstorm issues addressed in The Bet (capital punishment, greed, violence, gambling)

 March 6, 2008

  • Bellwork-Women's History Crossword Puzzle
  • Teacher Modeling thonk aloud strategy for "Refugio's Hair" by Alberto Rios
  • Echo Reading-Vocabulary Words
  • Guided Practice-Selective Underlining of "The Bet" vocabulary words
  • Independent Reading "The Bet"
  • Small Group Instruction-Circle prefixed words within 1st section of the short story and summarize section one on exit slip.

March 7, 2008

  • Bellwork-Women's History Crossword Puzzle
  • Teacher Read Aloud/ Class Discussion-"Jack Sprat" (Bill Clinton and Food-Jack Sprat He's Not)
  • Guided Practice-Literary Analysis of "The Bet" section 1
  • Independent Practice-Persuasive Essay Capital Punishment vs Life Imprisonment
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

March 10, 2008

  • Bellwork-Completion of Women's History Puzzle
  • Mini-Lesson Theme vs Genre
  • Guided Practice-Reader's Handbook 369-384
  • Read Aloud (Audio-Recording of The Bet)
  • Independent Practice-Completion of Fiction Organizer on short story

March 11-12

FCAT TESTING-Regular Classes will Resume on Wednesday March 13th.

March 13, 2008

  • Teacher Read Aloud/Whole Class Discussion current events article
  • Review of Fiction Organizer "The Bet"
  • Paired Group Instruction-Plot Diagramming/Vocabulary Test Review
  • Active Viewing Listening-"Through Deaf Eyes"

March 14, 2008

Students will take the selective underlining vocabulary test on "The Bet." Students will then read article "Deaf Matlin dances in Mills' footsteps on next round of 'Dancing.' and create a theme statement for the life of Marlee Matlin based on the facts detailed in the article. Students will then complete movie "Through Deaf Eyes."

March 18, 2008

  • Summarization Deaf History-Read Aloud "You have to be deaf to understand"
  • Mini Lesson Persuasive Writing Techniques
  • Small Group Instruction Literary Analysis Study Session

March 19, 2008

Students will take 45 minute Literary Analysis Exam and participate in DEAR  upon completion of test. Whole class disussion on "What does integrity mean" and with emphasis on source credibility and integrity. Students will complete an self-evaluation on what kind of student they are and then break into small groups for their members to evaluate each other and determine the source credibility

March 21, 2008

Students will read and be able to identify elements of an effective persuasive essay after reading from the Reader's Handbook page 236-237. Teacher modeling of the GIST  strategy followed by a mini-lesson on propaganda techniques. Students will then read an newspaper article and complete a GIST  graphic organizer.

March 24, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1 News/Fox-Current Events
  • Pre-teach Vocabulary Words
  • Small Group Instruction-GIST Summary
  • Independent Practice-Question/Answer/Response
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

March 25, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Vocabulary Review
  • Mini Lesson on Primary vs Secondary Sources
  • Independent Reading of "A Debate in Sign Language" followed by an audio recorded reading by authorWrap up Dismissal

March 26, 2008

  • Bellwork
  • Whole Class Read Aloud of "On Myspace Know who your Friends Are" with guided practice of the GIST  strategy
  • Small Group Instruction-Identify propoganda techniques
  • Jeopardy Game-All Content Areas-Students synthesize and evaluate information using background knowledge
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

March 27, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1 /Naughty News
  • Vocabulary Exam "Text Messaging"
  • Reader's Theater "These Shoes of Mine" by Gary Soto
  • Guided Practice-"Reading Websites" Reader's Handbook 513-522
  • Active, Viewing, Listening of "You've Got Mail" movie that incorporates technology, books, reading, integrity of sources

April 7, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel One News/Naughty News
  • Teacher Read Aloud current events article regarding plagiarism followed by whole class discussion of authors Kaavya Viswannthan and James Frey "What is worse...using another writers words in your own published novel or fabricating the majority of your memoir?"
  • Mini-Lesson Powerpoint on Plagiarism
  • Intro to Thematic Vocabulary "Water, Water Everywhere"
  • Independent Practice- Students will practice writing the word as they pronouce it
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

April 8, 2008

  • Bellwork/Channel I News/Naughty News
  • Small Group Exercise-Defining Vocabulary Words using Dictionary
  • Independent Practice-Completing the Sentence
  • Mini Lesson-Elements of Fluency
  • Whole Class Read ALoud-Pronunciation Poem
  • Guided Practice-Poetry Readings "Teen Ink" Magazine
  • Wrap Up-Dismissal

April 9, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1 /Naughty News/Crossword Puzzle
  • Vocabulary Review-Completing the Sentence
  • Guided Practice-Vocabulary Analogies
  • Independent Reading-Around the World in 80 Days
  • Fluency Practice-Evaluate reader on elements of fluency
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

April 10, 2008

  • Bellwork-Crossword Puzzle National Poetry Month
  • Review of Fluency Terms/Character and Setting Mapping
  • Teacher Read Aloud with Modeling of Think Aloud Strategy for unfamilar words
  • Independent Practice-Creative Inference Writing
  • Wrap up Dismissal

April 11, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Mini-Lesson-Demonstrating Comprehension after Fluent Reading
  • Vocabulary Comprehension Test
  • Active Viewing Listening of Around The World in 80 Days-Compare/Contrast Organizer
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

April 14, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1 News/Crossword Puzzle
  • Vocabulary Test Review (Intro to Context Clues/Proper Citation of Sources)
  • Independent Reading-Reader's Handbook pgs 668-672
  • Mini Lesson-Uses of Context Clues
  • Guided Practice
  • Active, Viewing, Listening of Modern Commercials(Propaganda Techniques)
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

April 15, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1 News/Crossword Puzzle
  • Guided Practice/Interactice Context Clue practice
  • Direct Instruction-Etymology
  • Small Group Practice
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

April 16, 2008

  • Bellwork-Channel 1 News/Naughty News
  • Small GroupExercises (cont.)
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

April 21, 2008

April 23, 2008

Students will take the Vocabulary unit exam. Upon completion of the test, students will read silently until the 40 minute tume is called. Students will be exposed to pre-reading strategies that will aid them in the whole class reading of Freak the Mighty. This goal will be developed by exposing students to the topic of autism through a group mini-research project. Students will view a video called "Autism:The Road Back" and respond to a series of questions.

April 24, 2008

The vocabulary unit exam will be reviewed. Upon completion, students will continue to view the video called "Autism:The Road Back" and respond to a series of questions. Whole class discussion of the video and the issues surrounding the topic and the overall research project.

April 25, 2008

April 28, 2008

April 29, 2008

  • Bellwork Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Guided Practice-Categorizing reading methods
  • Mini Lesson- author's purpose/point of view
  • Small Group Instruction-centers completing tasks for reading to persuade (propaganda techniques), reading to inform (autism research), reading to entertain (true or false card game).
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

April 30, 2008

Students will continue in small group centers completing tasks for reading to persuade (propaganda techniques), reading to inform (autistism research), reading to entertain (true or false card game).

May 1, 2008

  • Channel One /Naughty News
  • Mini Lesson- Fix up Strategies
  • Direct Instruction-Main Idea vs Supporting Details
  • Silent Reading Bridges to Literature page 324-329 "The Longest Cemetary in the World"
  • Independent Practice-Comprehension/Vocabulary Skillbuilder

May 2, 2008

Individual students will continue in small group centers completing tasks for reading to persuade (propaganda techniques), reading to inform (autistism research)..

May 5, 2008

Students will continue group research project in library media center computer lab and begin creating powerpoint presentations.

May 6, 2008

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Mini Lesson- Organizational Structure
  • Small Group Instruction-(Autism Research Project in Media Center)
  • Wrap up/Dismissal.

May 7, 2008

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Small Group Powerpoint Presentations
  • Whole Class Review Propaganda Techniques
  • Direct Instruction-Organizational Patterns
  • Guided Practice
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

May 8, 2008

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Review of Main Idea/Author's Bias-Syllabication
  • Think/Pair/Share Organizational Patterns
  • Direct Instruction "Freak the Mighty" Powerpoint Presentation
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

May 9, 2008

  • Channel 1 News/Naughty News
  • Maze Testing 1st and 2nd Period
  • Silent Sustained Reading"You Dirty Rat" pages 228-229 Bridges to Literature
  • Independent Practice-Problem/Solution-Sequence
  • Whole Class Read Aloud "Freak the Mighty" Chapter 1(On your study guide, identify the title of Chapter 1 and define the words using the dictionary and find the part of speech. Decode the word unvanquished by prefix, suffix, root
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

May 12, 2008

  • Channel 1 News
  • Maze Testing 3 and 4th period
  • Whole Class Review of Patterns of Organization
  • Whole Class Review "You Dirty Rat"
  • Guided Practice "Freak the Mighty" Chapters 2-3 (On your study guide, list the onomatopoeic words found in Chapters 2-3. What text features does the author use to emphasize comments made by Maxwell?l)
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

May 13, 2008

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Comprehension Unit Exam
  • Independent Writing Assignment patterns of organization "You Dirty Rat"
  • Guided Practice Chapters 4-5 "Freak the Mighty"
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

May 14, 2008

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Independent Practice- Extended Responses "Freak the Mighty"
  • Guided Practice-Chapters 6-8 "Freak the Mighty"
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

May 15, 2008 

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Independent Practice Character Analysis Graaphic Organizer
  • Guided Practice-Chapters 9-12
  • Independent Practice-Freak the Mighty Study Guide
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

May 16, 2008

  • Channel 1 News
  • Freak the Mighty Quiz
  • Guided Practice- Chapters 13-15
  • Independent Practice-Study Guide (Who are the characters? Complete the character list on handout)
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

May 19, 2008

  • Channel 1 News
  • Review Extended vs Short Responses
  • Guided Practice "Freak the Mighty" Chapters 16-18
  • Independent Practice-Study Packet-(identify quotes for each character on study guide and the page the quote is found on"
  • Wrap up and Dismissal

May 20, 2005

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Small Group Instruction-Extended Writing/Thinking Exercise Character Sketch
  • Guided Practice-Chapter 19 Read Aloud "Freak the Mighty"
  • Wrap up/Dismissal-Exit Slips

May 21, 2008

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Guided Practice-Chapter 20-21 Freak the Mighty Whole Class Read Aloud
  • Independent Practice-Study Packet
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

May 22, 2008

  • Channel 1/Naughty News
  • Guided Practice-Chapter 22-25
  • Independent Pracitce-Study Packet
  • Active Viewing Listening "The Mighty" (intro to theme song and main character Max)
  • Wrap up/Dismissal

May 23, 2008

  • Active Viewing Listening of "The Mighty" based on class novel