Tuesday 9/30

Today after readign for 10 minutes, we continued reading and practicing post its with partners. Chpater 4 was completed and a writing activity will follow in class tomorrow. If you were absent, be sure to read all of chapter 4 and keep post its.
HW: Read/log and post it

Monday 9/29

I collected logs today. New logs were started for week of 9/29-10/5.  Post its muct be kept for the 150 minutes you are required to read this week.

We paired up and began ch 5 together in class. We kept post its as we read this very graphic chapter.

HW: READ/LOG/POST IT

If you were absent be sure to:

• Hand in reading log
• begin reading chapter 5 (approx. 5 pages..)

Thursday 9/25

Today we revisited the different types of post its--
reaction
vocabulary
connection to self
connection to another text
connection to another character
predictions
observations
connection to background knowledge
questions
places of confusion
epiphanies

We then created a t-chart where we used as many adjectives as we could to describe Waller and supported each with evidence from the text.

HW: Read. log and don't forget post its in you IR book. You will turn logs in on Monday AND post its

Wednesday 9/24

Today we read for 10 minutes then discussed characterization.  We split into groups and examined the first scene of chapter 3 where Nighjohn is brought onto the plantation. We discussed in pairs what this showed about Waller.
HW: read/log and post it Logs and post its collected on Monday

If you were absent today, be sure to show me your post-its on chapter 3 and if you are in period 2-you willneed to make up a quiz on chapter 3

Tuesday 9/23

We started class at the computer, students went to the link above to get to the class blog to complete the post regarding random acts of kindness. The way I see it, is this allows all of you to be able to share out what you did over the course of a week and what you learned from that experience. Secretly I am hopeful that you guys will read one another's posts and strive to do some of the same kind things for a lifetime.  Changing our culture happens one step at a time and you are the agents of change. Together our steps make a difference!

Once finished with reflections on RAK, I will return logs from yesterday and you will reflect on your grade in all about me section of notebook--namely you will set goals. Then you will read chapter 3 of NJ for 10 minutes. You will then partner up and discuss the chapter so far.  You will use your post its to prompt discussion. (We will start class tomorrow with this!)

HW: Read to end of chapter 3 in Nightjohn keep post its so we can have discussion tomorrow. You may log this time! Then read your IR books! Read/log/post it  Logs due Monday with 150 minutes.

Monday 9/22

Today I collected reading logs. If you were out be sure to turn yours in.  Students then read for 10 minutes and logged that time.
We reviewed reasons to keep stickies and then finished up chapter 1 and 2 of Nightjohn while keeping sticky notes.  We compared them and you were sent off to read your IR books and keep sticky notes!

Monday--Learning Lab

Hey Guys and Gals,
Sorry I had to be out this morning.  Please log into our blog and reply to my post.  Don't forget to fill out your reading logs for the 15 minutes you read in class today.

Friday 9/19

Today we read for 10 minutes.  We calculated how many minutes left to reach the 150 goal for Monday--some of you are well over it! Hurrah!  Don't forget to do all the math before class on Monday.

We then began reading Nightjohn and discussing post its and how we keep them as we go.
Post -its are a way to make your reading visible, to show what you are thinking as you are reading. It is a place to react and interact with your reading.

We read most of chapter one in all classes. If you were absent, it would be a great idea to read ch 1 and complete your log by Monday.  Have a great weekend!

Logs due Monday--ALL Math completed on the form by Monday you will turn it in right at the beginning of class.

Thursday 9/18

Today we read for 10 minutes--remember logs are due on Monday. They should be tallied and all columns completed BEFORE class.

We then talked about the what good readers do:
1.  They tap into background knowledge and that is helpful because it helps them relate to the text
2. They ask questions as they read--this keeps them engaged and holds them accountable for reading for understanding
3. They predict as they read
4. They make movies in thier minds

Please bring Nightjohn books to class tomorrow and do not forget to read your own IR book tonight.

Wednesday 9/17

·    10 minute read started class today and I checked in on logs. we then moved into a partner brain-dump what do you know about slavery? Share outs showed you know quite a bit.

   I then distributed Nightjohn books and we looked through the book and answered the question:

 Who is Sally Hemings?

·     HW: Read and log your time. Be sure to bring your NJ book and IR book to class tomorrow.

   If you were absent be sure to:

   Show me your reading log, get a book from me and review waht you know about slavery.

Tuesday 9/16

We will start class with 10 minutes of logged reading time, then move onto a reminder of random acts of kindness.
This video is an interesting one that may just inspire you to do more with your random acts of kindness. We will reflect for 5 minutes in our reader's notebooks about any standout experiences we have had so far.  Share out.

We will end with this book trailer for Nightjohn and the predictions we have based on our background knowledge of slavery.

HW: Read and log your time. 150 minutes due on Monday.

Monday 9/15

Today we glued "Genres at a Glance" into our reader's notebooks.  We also looked in depth at the reading log we will have to fillout weekly. Logs will go Monday to Monday and 150 minutes need to be recorded.  We then set up our folders where we will keep our completed books list and completed reading logs.  Then it was a 10 minute read.

HW: Read and log your time-150 minutes due on Monday 9/22

Friday 9/12

Today we read in IR books and discussed reader's workshop.
HW:
1. Record your RAK over the weekend
2. Read 20 minutes and notice your surroundings as you read.

Thursday 9/11/14

Today we started class watching this video of work by an 8th grade student.  I collected homework and looked through everyone's top 5 ways they would strive to make Lake Placid a more welcoming place.  Nice job.  We then moved into reflecting on the bonding day activities in Reader's notebooks in the All about Me section.  Students then committed to performing one simple kindness for the next week and recorded this in readers notebooks. I collected reader's notebooks at the end of class.

HW:
1. Be sure to choose and bring your IR book to class tomorrow
2. Be mindful of performing your random act of kindness and chart it in your agenda daily for a week.

If you were absent be sure to:

• Show me your five Random Acts of kindness 
• Answer reflection questions in your reader's notebook and show me those reflections
• have an IR book by tomorrow

Wednesday 9/10

Today in class we crowdsourced ideas for simple things we could do to make LP school a brighter, more welcoming place.
We then set up our reader's notebooks and will reflect in them tomorrow.  See here for notebook set up.

HW:
1. Look over our class ideas or this list from the internet and write down 5 simple kindnesses you think you could do for a week.
2. Be sure you have chosen a book to read by Friday and that you have it with you on Friday.

In class link for periods 8 and 9

Period 8 Simple kindnesses link

Period 9 Simple Kindnesses link

Monday 9/8

Today I will collect permission slips and check your notebooks for titles while you all fill out this survey.

Then let's watch a fairly inspiring video and discuss it.

Now let's see how many we can come up with on our own.

Homework:  Be sure to wear comfy clothes tomorrow, sturdy sneakers and bringa long a great atttiude! We are going to have fun!

September 5th

Today we will go over a few procedures, I will hand out permission slips and you will fill out the "getting to know you survey".  Next you will complete a short paragraph answering the question that follows:
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?  Tell me about this power and why you would want it. Would there be any drawbacks?

HW: Fill out permission slip and return Monday (I will scan this and connect it here 3rd period)
Begin to think about what book you will read first. You will need a book next week!

September 4, 2014

Welcome to day 1 in English. I had originally planned for you guys to complete the survey on the previous post today BUT I have created another one today for you to fill out first.  As I have most likely just talked about in class, we are going to go to the horseshow grounds and to Mt. Van Hoevenburg next Tuesday and we need a bunch of information from you so please fill out the survey here.  Make sure to follow my instructions for question #2.

You will receive permission slips tomorrow.

There is no homework this evening. Enjoy.

Welcome to My Classroom!

Welcome to English 8.  I am super excited to meet all of you and learn from you this year.  I have been working hard all summer attending conferences, reading books, blogs, and educational links, picking all the brains of my twitter peeps and colleaugues at LPHS to help me become the best teacher I can be.  You can be assured I am going to mess up sometimes but I know that is because we are going to take some risks in our learning and will learn something from each and every mess up.  I can't wait to jump in!


Please complete this survey in order to provide me with a little info about you.