Week of February 16th, 2015

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH - NO SCHOOL- 

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY! 

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR GLOSSARY ASSIGNMENT WHICH IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH!!!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH 

MISS MUELLER IS OUT TODAY.

AFTER INDEPENDENT READING PLEASE:

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR GLOSSARY ASSIGNMENT WHICH IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH!!!


WRITE YOU ONE PARAGRAPH EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT WHICH IS LISTED ON YOUR ACTIVE LEARNER WORKSHEET! IF YOU WANT CREDIT FOR THIS, IT NEEDS TO BE HANDED IN TOMORROW!

Wednesday, February 18th, 2015


Minimum Day

DO NOW: Please take out your independent reading book and begin reading!

Independent Reading Log:

Title of Book:

Focus Level: 

low     medium      high 







Journal Writing:

1. What do you like about your neighborhood? What do you dislike?

2. Take us on a tour of your neighborhood. Describe sight, sounds, smells, noises, etc that you experience.


Share Out: Share your "My Life" Glossary Project with your mesa. Talk about what you enjoyed about the project and what you think should be changed.

Whole Class Share Out



Read Aloud: Page 47-57 


Homework: Read your independent reading book 

Thursday, February 19th, 2015



DO NOW: Please take out your independent reading book and begin reading!

Word of the day: procrastination

Procrastination: putting off things you know you need to get done; waiting until the last minute or not planning your time correctly










elbow task: read through the "procrastination" document. Highlight or star anything that sounds familiar to your or if it sounds like something you've done in the past.


Share Out with your elbow partner





KNOWING YOURSELF: Take the "Best and Worst Times" questionnaire and see if you can determine the time of day you learn best. How can this help you with your book project?






BOOK PROJECT OVERVIEW AND DISCUSSION






Read Aloud: "Our America" chapter 4-7





Homework: Have the book project assignment sheet signed at the bottom by your parents. Begin thinking about how you will outline your book project.

Friday, February 20th, 2015



DO NOW: Please take out your independent reading book and begin reading!

Independent Reading Log:

Title of Book:

Focus Level: 

low     medium      high


Answer the following in full sentences:

1. Is this the book you want to use for your first book project? Why or why not?

2. If it is the book you want to use, how are you preparing to finish it in time? When and where do you plan on reading your book?









Journal Writing Period:  Due to student request, we will have a period of 15 minutes free write. A FREE WRITE is when you put the pen to paper and see what comes out. In a free write, you should feel completely FREE to get your thoughts, feelings and emotions out without fear of judgment or criticism. This is just for you and you will only be asked to share a word or a sentence of it! The only requirement is that you write the entire time. Don't worry about spelling, grammar or conventions. Just write!

If you need inspiration to get you started, consider the following quote: 

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." 

-Francis of Assissi

Share Out: We will go around the room and share out "as little as a word, as much as a sentence."

Closing: Shout Outs and Call outs



Exit Ticket: Hand in your Active Learner Sheet for the week. Expect a new one tomorrow. 





Homework: Continue reading your independent reading book. Start writing a summary of your book in your journal for your book project. 

Week of February 9th, 2015

Monday, February 9th, 2015




Do Now: Take out your independent reading books and begin reading! 

II. Reading Logs

Date:              

Book title: (underlined)         

pages read:

Focus Level: Low   Medium   High  (circle one)

Try to write 2 or more sentences. 
1. What did your book leave you thinking about? 

2. Make a prediction about what you think will happen next in your book!

Journal Response: Read the following quote and respond to the question in full, academic sentences.

"Many times, many ways in America, young African-Americans do not get to speak their piece... We live in a second America where the laws of the land don't apply and the laws of the street do. You must learn our America as we must learn your America, so that maybe, someday, we can become one." -LeAlan Jones

1. What does this quote make you think about and how does it relate to your own life?

2. What does LeAlan mean by two separate Americas? How can the experience of America be different for different citizens? Explain. 

Book Interview Discussion: What do you think this book is about? What do you like/dislike about the book choice? 

Mesa Share Out

Ghetto Glossary Project

*Parents and students may use this link to access project directions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dKu-3KaD8LiLFCS1U5MvhUrwqYm2egsh2vCnRqHU-hA/edit

Due Date: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18th!

Instructions: We will be creating our own version of "Our America" Ghetto Glossary. 

Language and the way we access language shapes how we interact with the world. For this assignment, I'm asking you to choose the words and phrases that make you truly unique. Think about how you speak to your family, your friends, your peers and teachers. We will create a "My Life" glossary which will give insight into how we view the world.

Read Aloud: Pages 25-30 of "Our America"

Homework: Get the "My Life" Glossary assignment directions signed by a parent or guardian. Begin compiling a list of words you plan to use for your project. Keep reading your independent reading book.

Tuesday, February 10th, 2015




Do Now: Take out your independent reading books and begin reading! 

II. Reading Logs

Date:              

Book title: (underlined)         

pages read:

Focus Level: Low   Medium   High  (circle one)

Try to write 2 or more sentences. 
1. How are you similar to or different from the main character of your book? Explain!

Journal Response: Answer the following in full sentences:

1. Have you ever had a best friend? Do you believe in this concept? 

2. What qualities make a person a best friend?

Sensitivity Note: Sometimes, in literature, words that are not allowed in the classroom are permitted for the sake of respecting the literature and for discussion. (For example, John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" or "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee) Reading these words during the read-aloud does not mean they are allowable language on or around school property. Show your maturity by recognizing the difference. You are on your way to High School, after all!

Read Aloud/Discussion: Introduction from "Our America"

Discussion questions: How do LeAlan and Lloyd's neighborhood differ from your own? What makes the two of them best friends? What does Lloyd mean when he says, "I like the way we treat each other."

Homework: BEGIN COMPILING WORDS FOR YOUR GLOSSARY PROJECT!

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

MINIMUM DAY


Do Now: Take out your independent reading books and begin reading! 

I. Reading Logs

REFLECTION: ACTIVE LEARNER RESPONSE SHEET

Fill out the checklist of the most important behaviors of an active learner. Keep track of which aspects of active learning you use in the class by marking that day with an "X." You will give yourself a quiz grade at the end of the week by calculating how many categories you checked off!

WORK PERIOD: Class will begin working on our "My Life" Glossary projects during class today. Mark all progress on "The Active Learner" checklist!

Thursday, February 12th, 2015




Do Now: Take out your independent reading books and begin reading! 

WORK PERIOD: STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE PERIOD TO WORK IN GROUPS ON THEIR "MY LIFE" GLOSSARY ASSIGNMENT! PLEASE USE YOUR TIME WISELY!!

Closing: Active Learner Checklist

Friday, February 13th, 2015


IT'S FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH!!!!

Do Now: Take out your independent reading books and begin reading! 

Date:              

Book title: (underlined)         

pages read:

Focus Level: Low   Medium   High  (circle one)

Try to write 2 or more sentences. 
1. Do you read your book at home? Why or why not? 

2. Do you think you will choose a similar genre of book next? Why or why not? 

Journal Response: Answer the following in full sentences:

1. Today, LeAlan and Lloyd will describe their experience at school. Now that you are completing your time at CMS, what are your fondest memories here? 

2. Is there anything you hope will be different in High School? Why?

3. If you could change one thing about your time in school, what would it be and why?

Read Aloud and Discussion: "Our America" pages 29-45

Closing: Active Learner Checklist

SHOUT-OUTS!!!!