August 31-September 4

Monday, August 31
Due: look at your list and choose your story idea. Write about your thinking/thought process. What meaning does your story have for you? For your readers? 

Make sure you have turned in your Reading Goal sheet! 

• Turn in story choice
• Library
• "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
• "We can cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says and inferences drawn from the text." (RL.7.1)
• review Contrasts & Contradictions signpost
• read story
• identify C & C

Homework: finish reading, Contrasts & Contradictions page if needed

Tuesday, September 1

DUE: Contrasts & Contradictions page

• "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
• "We can cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says and inferences drawn from the text." (RL.7.1)
• work on writing text-based answers
• Writer's Workshop: Developing Believable Characters through Scene Boot Camp
• "We can use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop characters." (W.7.3b)

Homework: imagine and write your character into an everyday scene, jot down their thoughts, feelings, and actions. 

Wednesday, September 2

DUE: Character scene

• "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
• "We can analyze how elements of a story interact (i.e. how setting shapes characters or plot)." (RL.7.3)
• Identify story elements, determine theme

• Writer's Workshop: Giving Characters Struggles and Motivations that Mirror Real Life
• "We can use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop characters." (W.7.3b)

Homework: finish fleshing out your characters, have characters ready for action tomorrow! 

Thursday, September 3

• "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
• "We can determine a theme and analyze its development over the course of the text." (RL.7.2)
• identify theme, cite textual evidence for that theme 
• Writer's Workshop: Plotting with Tools
• "We can write narratives to develop real or imagined events using... a well-structured plot." (W.7.3)

Homework: finish story arcs, write a one-sentence summary of your story

Friday, September 4

• Inside-Outside Circle: share one-sentence summary
• Set up Google Classroom
• Study Island pre-test

August 24-28, 2015

Monday, August 24

• Library
• Argument Writing Pre-Assessment

Tuesday, August 25

• Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
• "Thirteen and a Half"
• finish reading, story arc

Wednesday, August 26

• MAZE Reading Assessment (3 minutes)
• "Thirteen and a Half" 
• character traits
• Introduction to Writer's Workshop

Homework: finish your list for "My Writing Life" 

Thursday, August 27

• "A Crush"
• read, story arc
• Writer's Workshop Day 1: Imagining Stories from Everyday Moments

Homework: create a list of ideas for possible fiction stories.

Friday, August 28

• "A Crush"
• discussion, finish story arc, talk about plot structure
• Writer's Workshop Day 2: Imagining Stories You Wish Existed in the World

Homework: look at your list and choose your story idea. Write about your thinking/thought process. What meaning does your story have for you? For your readers? 

August 18-21, 2015

Welcome to seventh grade! I'm so glad that you are in my class this year. We will be working hard on our reading and writing skills every day. This blog will be a place for you to check in about what to expect each day, what you may have missed if you were absent, or for class information that you need.

Daily Plans for August 18-21

Tuesday, August 18

• Riddles
• Take Off, Touch Down
• Motivation Writing due Wednesday! (This is homework if not finished in class.)

Homework: Parent Survey due Friday

Wednesday, August 19

Due today: Motivation Writing! 

• Library Check Out, Independent Reading Expectations
• Classroom Expectations, Syllabus
• Start reading "Thirteen and a half," review story elements

Homework: Parent Survey, Expectations paper due Friday

Thursday, August 20

• Review expectations
• Complete "Thirteen and a half"
• Writer's Workshop Introduction: organization, procedures, goals

Friday, August 21

Due today: Parent Survey, Expectations paper

• Teambuilder
• Start reading "A Crush," review story elements
• Writer's Workshop: Narrative pre assessment

Have a fantastic weekend!