short week

We spent a lot of time this week working on the personality posters. Most of you used the time in class very well and I am so excited to see the finished products. Remember - for the challenge classes they are due tomorrow, for the regular class they are due Wednesday.

We also focused on setting and mood this week. We read stories and talked about how the setting affected the mood. Thursday we spent time at stations identifying what sort of story would take place in different situations and figuring out why a story makes you feel a certain way. I feel like you guys have a good handle on setting and mood. Next week we will move on to another literary element.

Friday was a lot of fun. In the challenge classes, we got set up on think.com and played with the site a little bit. In the future, we will be using it a lot to publish our work and to discuss the things we read. In the regular class, we read a story by Gary Soto called Being Mean about his childhood and the crazy things he and his brother and sister did. After that we spent time working on the personality posters.

autobiographical reading

Sorry about the gap, guys. I was sick this weekend and just couldn't get the strength to post.

Today I collected the reading autobiographies. I cannot wait to read them and find out what you've enjoyed reading in the past.

We also studied the effect of the setting on the mood in a story, A Secret for Two. What a sad ending!

Then I introduced the personality poster, which is due Friday for challenge and Monday for regular classes. I think it will be a lot of fun creating them and seeing them. I may not have mentioned that you will have to present them. We will have some time in class tomorrow and Thursday for you to work on them. So, don't fret. :)

newspaper shelter

Today we spent some time getting to know our fellow classmates. We talked about the reading autobiography a little bit and looked at ways to spice it up. Then we played the newspaper game. This was so much fun! The goal was to create a shelter using newspaper, copy paper, and tape. You had five minutes to plan, but couldn't touch the materials. Then you had ten minutes to build, but couldn't talk. You learned about non-verbal communication and teamwork.

We also went up to the book fair and I spent too much money on books for the classroom! There were so many good ones! Some of you got these titles: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, Pretties, Specials, Rules (which was so popular they have to order more), and Code Orange. Remember that the book fair will be up there all week, so if you forgot money today you can bring it later and I'll send you up there.

Tomorrow we will work on those reading autobiographies for most of the time, so bring in brainstorming lists. :)

expectationing?

Today was so much fun! I got the mobile lab and we looked at the websites. You guys figured out how to find information on the team website and on mine. I also showed you how to post comments on here. I loved reading all your silly comments from today!

I also had my challenge classes get on think.com and request accounts. I have a sheet for you to take home and get signed before we can really get started with it, but I think it will be fantastic.

The last thing we did was start talking about the reading autobiography. This will be due next Tuesday and will be a paper in which you tell me about all the books you have loved while you were growing up. I can't wait to read them and find out what you liked to read as a tot. :)

one week down...

So, one week has passed and I think this year is going to be great! You're getting used to how I do things in class and learning about the resources.

This week we mainly did beginning of the year stuff - handed out agenda books, got those civility contracts signed, handed out my syllabus and talked about my expectations. I read Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant and had you write about your summer. I also read What's the Worst that Could Happen? by Bruce Coville and had you write about your most embarrassing moment. Friday, I had you make postcards that we sent home and I did not read them!

Next week we will start doing some English stuff. I will give you your first big-ish written assignment and we will start on some short stories. We will also be getting on think.com in challenge classes and will be checking out the websites when I get the mobile lab.

I hope you guys feel as good as I do about this year! :)

On that note, here is a question for you. What are some of your expectations for this year? What do you hope will happen? What do you hope will not happen?

school daze...

Well, I have been trying really hard not to be aware of the exact date that school begins, but I am starting to think that I must accept it. Don't get me wrong...I am very excited to meet all the new 7th graders and to start my year on the French team. I am just sad that the summer is almost over. I am sure you all understand. :)

I truly cannot wait to meet you and I think it will be so much fun on 7B. I spent the past two years on 7A with the Spanish speakers, but I actually speak some French. It was neat seeing how alike the two languages are, but it will be really nice to be around the Frenchies. Je suis heureuse vous rencontrer (maybe Mlle. Anthony will tell me if that is correct). :)

coming to terms with literary terms

Today we spent much of the class period going over literary terms that may come up on the MAP test. I know it isn't the most exciting thing to do, but it will help you on the test and I want you to do well, so...

In other news, the caterpillars arrived today! Over the next seven days they will be fattening up and building cocoons to become Painted Lady butterflies. They are teeny tiny and cute (in a weird insecty way). Remember to bring in sticks for them to climb on and to which they can attach their cocoons. :)

what is advertising?

Today we continued the advertising packet and learned about how much the industry spends targeting your home. We also talked a bit about target audience and I hope you think about that as you watch television together at home. Who are the ads trying to reach? You? Your parents?

Tomorrow we will do some review of terms for the MAP test and fill out those lovely cards that you should keep in your binder. I will also reveal what my special surprise is underneath the orange sheet. :)

bombarded by ads

Today we started advertising and I think you will all really enjoy it. It may outrage you a little bit, and that is good, but I think the amount of power you have with your dollars will (at least) surprise you.

We also did a little bit of housekeeping - I talked about what we will be doing for the rest of the year.

Challenge class: I apologize ahead of time for the amount of work you will have to do in finishing up The Hobbit and starting advertising right before the MAP test. I know you can handle it! :)

spring break is over...sigh

I hope you all have had a wonderful spring break and are ready for what is ahead of us! We will be quickly going over some advertising stuff before MAP testing (April 11-13). During testing, we will read Seedfolks, a wonderful story of friendship, hard work, and community pride. We will do some projects on it and I have a special surprise treat in store. After MAP testing, we will return to advertising and do a fun project in which you make your own ads.

Don't forget! Regular classes - Bronx Masquerade projects are due tomorrow at the beginning of class. Challenge class - You were to read chapters 10 & 11 in The Hobbit, which I discovered was only about 23 pages - not bad! You were also to write answers to those Iron Giant essay questions. We will discuss them tomorrow. :)

giants of iron

I love this movie so much! I had forgotten how good it was since it has been awhile since I have seen it. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. Remember, fill out those sheets on it. I need you to really know those literary elements for the MAP test. Also, 7/8 hour, the essay questions are due after spring break. Work on them during the week you are off school!

Tomorrow we will finish the movie and do some more review before we exit for the lovely week off.

iron man

The movie we are watching tomorrow and Friday was based on a long children's poem written by Ted Hughes, a former British poet laureate. He was also married to Sylvia Plath, a renowned American poet. It takes place in the past, but is still science fiction since there is a very definite message in there.

3/4 & 5/6: Today was a work day since we are watching the film tomorrow. Most of you got a lot done and several are completely finished with the projects. They are looking so fantastic! Remember that they are due the moment you return from spring break.

7/8: We talked about chapter 9. We also discussed Bilbo's luck, the importance of words, the use of magic, and I can't remember the last one (if anyone knows, comment me and tell me). I enjoyed talking about the different important events so far in the story. I am hoping to have many more discussions like this and like the Socratic seminar after the break. :)

work day, shirk day

Today was mainly a work day for Bronx Masquerade projects and vocabulary. Some of you were slacking off a bit and that disturbs me. I expect to see spectacular things from you on your projects.

I forgot to hand back the ch. 4-7 vocab (7/8 hour), so the quiz will be Friday instead of tomorrow. I'll give you an extra day to work on it.

Don't forget to turn in your movie permission slips tomorrow!

the poetry of simon and garfunkel

Today was fun! In the regular classes, we listened to "I Am a Rock" because of Amy Moscowitz's poem from Bronx Masquerade - "Ode to Stone". We also found a whole bunch of figures of speech in it (the title for one). We also read "Richard Cory" and listened to "Richard Cory" discussing what they were about and what they said about life. We talked about the fact that material possessions and money do not buy happiness, especially not for Richard Cory. In challenge class, we talked about our wonderful Socratic seminar on Friday, went over the questions from chapter 8 and started reading chapter 9. For homework, you were to finish the chapter.

Remember that we are watching The Iron Giant on Thursday and Friday, so bring in the permission slip by Wednesday!

socrates schmocrates

Friday was absolutely fantastic! We got a lot done in 3/4 hour and 5/6 hour. We read more of Bronx Masquerade and talked a bit about the third quarter grades. I am most excited about 7/8 hour, though.

We did our first Socratic seminar and it went to incredibly well! I was so impressed by the way you all discussed the two questions and some of the insights you had. It was so wonderful! I was especially happy with the fact that you took turns and were so darn polite with one another. That is something that has been missing in our classroom this year. It is good to know that it is possible. We may have to use that bear for the rest of the school year! :)

March madness?

Today seemed hectic, but that may just have been because grades were due and I was behind. Overall, I am pleased with the grades for third quarter. I expected them to drop, but most of you managed to keep it up. I will be giving you a breakdown of how many people had what grades in each class tomorrow. We'll see how each class stacked up. Even those of you struggling mostly managed to keep your heads above water. I want to see you do more than that during our last months together!

We did different things in each class today, which also contributed to the hectic feel of the day.
3/4 hour: We took the Tungsten and I cannot wait to see your scores! I think everyone did really well on our last Tungsten test of the year.
5/6 hour: We covered hyperbole and I think most of you got it down. Those examples you came up with were so good, they seemed like they came from the smartest people in the world (my lame attempt at one myself). We also read a little of Bronx Masquerade. My goal is to finish it tomorrow or Monday, but we will see.
7/8 hour: We did vocab charades, which is so much fun! We also prepared for a Socratic seminar tomorrow and I just know you will do fantastic. Jessica and Jordan have a chance to show they are really tops in the class by leading the discussion. It will be so much fun!

got those old tungsten blues again

Today two of the classes took our last Tungsten test of the year! From what I saw, the scores were fantastic! We also had some questions to do along with the Tungsten passages to practice some more for the MAP test. We will continue to do more practice in these last few weeks before the test.

Tomorrow, 3/4 hour will take the Tungsten and do constructed response questions. Whatever time is left will be devoted to project work. I know you guys will do well!

masquerading as a work day

Today was extremely productive! I was so impressed with all the work I witnessed - definitely not a masquerade. In the regular classes, you guys got so much done on your Bronx Masquerade projects. I can't wait to read what you guys are writing! In challenge class, I let you spend some time working on the vocabulary that is due tomorrow. It was difficult because the page numbers listed were based on a different edition of the book and I heard lots and lots of complaints about that. But you were able to figure it out since it was only a page or two off most of the time and many of you got close to finishing it. I was disappointed at the number of you who hadn't even started it. I gave it out on Friday, people!

Remember, no late work during fourth quarter! Get that stuff in to me on time!

so sue me...

Okay, okay, okay...I know I have been really bad about keeping this up-to-date during second semester. I also know that I have promised a couple of times to do better, but this time I mean it...really. Fourth quarter has begun and we are finishing poetry in the regular classes and working through The Hobbit in challenge class. I have been having a blast with these two subjects since I love poetry and science fiction/fantasy.

In regular classes: Today we looked at Nikki Grimes's website with the mobile lab and learned more about her. I had a good time with it. We were also going to take an online quiz to find out your learning styles, but the website wasn't working. Try it from home and let me know the results! Go here for the inventory quiz. I also introduced the projects you will be doing with Bronx Masquerade. Tomorrow will be a work day for it, so make sure you use that time wisely!

In challenge class: Today we spent some more time on riddles - they are so much fun and so difficult! You guys did a great job on them and I am impressed! We also read most of chapter 7, where they go to visit Beorn and ingeniously trick him into letting them all come in by telling the riveting story of their journey so far. You need to finish chapter 7 and read chapter 8 tonight. Also, your questions are due for chapters 6-7 tomorrow. Don't forget about the vocab due Wednesday. We will act out the words to see if you really know them.

I think this quarter will be the best! We are doing some of my favorite activities! I am excited for it all and I hope you are too.

is it art?

In class we looked at a bunch of examples of different types of "art", food art, anime, outsider art, etc. I asked you to examine it and tell me if you thought it was art according to some criteria I gave you. Now I want you to look at something else and tell me if it is art. I found this website last year and just thought it was one of the coolest things I have seen, but is it art? I also found this today. Could it be art? Take a look and comment to let me know.

Go here to look at the first one. Go here to look at the second one.