Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of October 1

Important Updates:

• Middle Discipline Plan Letter
• First Quarter Ends: October 5, 2012
• Fall Break: October 8-12
• Report Card Pick-Up: October 19, 2012
• Compass Learning is up and running. Please sign on to complete all your assignments.

Objectives: SWBAT

6th Grade

• Identify and define theme
• Identify the theme of a short story
• Analyze the theme of a short story
• Analyze cause and effect relationship in a fiction

7th Grade

• Identify character traits and motives
• Analyze character traits and motives
• Identify the setting of a short story
• Identify and analyze the theme a short story

Hand Outs:

6th Grade

• Exit Tickets
• Character Development
• Cause and Effect
• Discussion Questions

7th Grade

• Character Comparison
• Character Traits and Motives
• Exit Tickets

Small Groups:
Reading Strategies and Comprehension

• 6th Grade: Cause and Effect/Author’s Purpose
• 7th Grade: Cause and Effect/Summarizing

Blanchard's Literacy Class 9/24-28

7th Grade
Short Story: Names/Nombres
Focus: Characteristics and Purpose of the Personal Essay
Word Study: Aud, Son, Phon =Sound/Hear
Small Group Focus: Reading Comprehension
Weekly Assessments will be taken on Thursday, September 27,2012
No School Friday, September 28,2012

8th Grade Retreat  9/25-9/27
Have fun and be safe!!!!!!!

7th/8th Grade Science: Week of 9/24-9/27

Good morning, scholars and families!  This week in science, we will be continuing our investigations into living things and biology.  See below for this week's objectives (timing is subject to change, based on needs of the class).

Weekly Objectives
-SWBAT describe the properties of living things (and define metabolism and homeostasis).
-SWBAT define "abiotic" and "biotic", and provide examples of each.
-SWBAT describe the levels of organization in the human body, from cell to tissue to organ to organ system.

-SWBAT describe the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell.

As a reminder, there is no school for students on Friday.

Please note: Homework is assigned based on how much students complete of the independent practice in class.  It is incumbent on your scholar to ensure he or she has written down that day's homework in his or her agenda book, which is updated on the board at the end of each class period.  For the latest homework assignments, please refer to your scholar's agenda book.

7th/8th Grade Writing: Week of 9/24-9/27

Good morning, scholars and families!  This week in writing, students will begin their second draft of their personal narrative stories, which are to be revised for the strategies we reviewed in the last two weeks on "Showing, Not Telling."

Important Announcement

Students are responsible for turning in their second draft on a separate sheet of paper, double spaced (skipping every other line on the lined paper), and it must include 2 examples of each of the four strategies below.  These four strategies for "Showing, Not Telling" are:

- Diction

- Dialogue

- Descriptive language

- Sensory detail

This second draft is due by beginning of class on Tuesday, September 25.

Weekly Objectives

This week, we will review paragraphing, capitalization, punctuation, and how to make editing/revision marks on drafts.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at sgeng@learncharter.org.  Thank you! 

Reading September 17th thru 21st

The 7th graders will be reading  a short story: "Thank You M'am"
Focus: Central Conflict, Internal Conflict, External Conflict, Cause-and-Effect, Plot
Novel: "The Skin I'm In"
Greek and Latin:
Astr-/Astro- star or star shaped

1. astronomy
2. astronomer
3. astrophysics
4. asterisk
5. astrology
6. astrologer
7. astronomical
8. astronautics

The 8th Graders will be reading the short story " Raymond's Run"
Focus: Central Conflict, Internal Conflict, External Conflict, Cause-and-Effect, Plot
Novel: "Romiette and Julio
Greek and Latin: Ad- to move toward, in addition to
1. adapt
2. addition
3. addict
4. advise
5. addiction
6. additive
7. additional
8. adhere

September 17th, 2012

Happy Monday! Students received a parent letter today regarding the Middle School Behavior Plan. Please make sure to read this over.

Students also received their graded context clues and vocabulary tests back. These grades are posted on parent portal.

News and Upcoming Events

• Please make sure that all scholars are coming to school in uniform. This includes tie, button down blue shirt, and dress shoes. Demerits will be given for Dress Code Violations.
• Revising (endings and leads) personal narratives quiz
• Word study quiz on Friday
• No School September 29th
• Fall Break is October 8th-12th
• Quarter one over October 5th
• Pageant form and money due October 10th

Reading

• We are beginning the next unit, which is on Characters. We will be analyzing characters internal and external traits and their relationships with other characters. Students may receive homework assignments regarding characters including character graphic organizers.  

Writing

• In writing, we are spending one more week revising our personal narratives. This week, we will be changing the endings and working on adding million dollar words into our drafts. Drafts must stay at school; however, students may have some revision activities throughout the week for homework if not completed in class.
• We will edit and publish next week.
• When we publish the draft, students will type their narrative in the computer lab. They may need their flash drive to save their work onto.
• There will be a quiz on revising leads and endings this week as well.

Homework

• The reading log is due Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Word study-definitions, ABC order, sentences, and study for quiz
• Revising narrative quiz
• Study for word study quiz on Friday

Please let me know if you have any questions! Have a wonderful week.

Ms.Zwolinski

5th Grade Word Study words 9/17

VOCABULARY WORDS WITH THE PREFIX “MIS”. This prefix means "Wrong”.

1.      mislead

2.      misinform

3.      misguided

4.      mismanage

5.      mispronounce

6.      misplace

7.      misunderstood

8.      misappropriate

9.      misbehave

10.  miscalculate

11.  misread

12.  misuse

13.  mistreat

14.  misinterpret

15.  mischievous

Below is the class assignments for the week.  These assignments are aligned to quiz on Friday

            MONDAY:   Copy definitions of each word and make flash cards of the vocabulary words.

TUESDAY:  Continue to write down definitions and finish flash cards.  Write a story using at least 5 of the vocabulary words. Come up with 3 bonus words that have the prefix mis-.

WEDNESDAY:  Write down a synonym for each word using the Thesaurus.

THURSDAY:  Practice learning the definitions with the Bingo board.  Study with flash cards.

FRIDAY:  Review your definitions and spelling/Vocabulary test Friday.

5th grade Math Homework wk of 9/17

Homework

PAGE 72 # 18-59

PAGE 75 # 9-28

PAGE 78  # 9-42

PAGE 80# 1-9

Page Set A- Set E      page 82 Page 83 #1-20 Page 88 #1-89

7th/8th Grade Writing: Week of 9/17-9/21

Good morning scholars and families!  This week in writing, scholars will be continuing to learn and apply different methods for "Showing, Not Telling" in writing personal narratives.

See below for the objectives we'll be covering this week.  Please note: timing of lessons may vary based on student/whole class needs.

• SWBAT identify and apply sensory details in narrative writing.
• SWBAT identify and apply figurative and descriptive language in narrative writing.
• SWBAT apply the 4 "D"'s of Showing, Not Telling to their own personal narratives.  Students are also responsible for a revision sheet that they will turn in with their revised drafts.

Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns at sgeng@learncharter.org.  Thank you!

7th/8th Grade Science: Week of 9/17-9/21

Exciting news!  Students have successfully completed their first lab practical as of last Thursday.  This week, students will be diving into Unit 2 on Living Things. 

This unit's first few lessons will focus on classifying living things.  Objectives for the week will include:

• SWBAT define classification.
• SWBAT explain why and how scientists classify organisms.
• SWBAT describe both the Five Kingdom System and 7-Level Classification System, and provide examples of how to classify organisms under each.

Important announcements:

• Questions about HW?  Independent practice will be included in each day's lesson.  Students will need to complete this independent practice for homework if it is done completed in class.
• On Friday, students will take the EXPLORE science diagnostic to determine their baseline for college readiness in science.  IMPORTANT: The score on this diagnostic will NOT count towards their grade.  However, it will help us to highlight what areas to focus on this year so that scholars can be as prepared for high school science as possible.

Please feel free to contact me via email (sgeng@learncharter.org) with any further questions. 

Sincerely,

Ms. Geng

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of September 17th

Important Updates

• September 28th: Professional Development Day ( No School)
• Please make sure that all scholars are coming to school in uniform. This includes tie, button down blue shirt, and dress shoes. Violation notices will be issued to those who are not in complete uniform.
• Middle School Discipline Letter

Objectives:

6th Grade

SWBAT:

• Understand and appreciate a short story
• Draw on context clues to help bring meaning to words
• Identify and analyze the plot of a story
• Identify and use sequence of events to help gain a deeper understanding of a story
• Identify character traits and the story evidence that supports that trait

7th Grade:

SWBAT:

6th Grade Packet:

• Habibi Novel Study Packet
• Vocabulary and Grammar in Context
• Weekly Vocabulary Worksheet
• Weekly Vocabulary Index Cards
• Plot Graphic Organizer
• Sequence of Events Graphic Organizer
• Weekly Exit Tickets

7th Grade Packet

• The Skin I'm In Novel Study Packet

Ms.Zwolinski 5th Grade Literacy Sept 10-15

September 10th, 2012

Happy Fall! Below are the word study words for this week. There are only 12 words.The pattern is the prefix is inter-, which means in between or among. This will be a prefix students will definitely see on the ISAT and MAP. Students were asked to find the definitions and make flashcards. They will start this in class and finish for homework if it is not complete. They will use these flashcards all week. There will be various activities throughout the week like finding the synonyms of the words, unscrambling words, finding the root words or writing a fictional story using the words. These will be the type of concepts that will be tested on the quiz Friday.


Word Study

The following Vocabulary words begin with the prefix “inter” which means with or together. Please look up and write down the definitions of the vocabulary words below.

Please look up the definition of the vocabulary words below.

 Interaction
Intercept
 Interfere
 International
 Internet
 Interview
 Intersect
 Interrogate
  Interchange
  Interject
 Intermission
  Interstate

Classwork Assignments

           MONDAY:   Copy definitions and make flash cards of the vocabulary words.  Please
            write down three bonus words below with the prefix “inter”. All of this will be on the
            quiz Friday

TUESDAY:  Continue to write down definitions and finish flash cards.  Practice spelling.

WEDNESDAY:  Write down a synonym for each word using the Thesaurus.

THURSDAY:  Practice learning the definitions with the Bingo board.  Study with flash cards.

FRIDAY:  Review your definitions and spelling/Vocabulary test Friday.

News and Upcoming Events

• Progress reports went home Monday
• Please make sure that all scholars are coming to school in uniform. This includes tie, button down blue shirt, and dress shoes
• Context clues quiz on Thursday
• Word study quiz on Friday

    Reading

• We are learning reading strategies to help us become better readers. Strategies such as not using our finger when we read, finding a quiet reading space at home, reading in our head with expression and so on. We will continue practicing these strategies throughout the week.
• We will be focusing on using context clues to help find unknown words in our texts. We will be discussing several strategies to help find the meaning of these words. There will be a quiz on Friday on Thursday on using context clues in texts.

   Writing

• In writing, we are spending all this week revising our personal narratives. This week, we will be changing the endings and working on adding more details into our drafts. Drafts must stay at school; however, students may have some revision activities throughout the week for homework if not completed in class.

   Homework

• The reading log is due Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Word study-sort words/definitions, ABC order, sentences, and study for quiz
• Various revising activities in writing
• Study for context clues quiz on Thursday 

Please let me know if you have any questions! Have a wonderful week.

Ms.Zwolinski

6th and 8th grade social studies for the week of 9.10.12

OVERVIEW: This week we are looking at two important events, one very current and another not as current but very important to American History.  The former event being the CPS teacher strike and the later being 9/11.  As we look at these two events we will also continue to review and analyze nonfiction non text resources (maps, graphs, charts, and diagrams).  Friday as usual will be dedicated to current events.

HOMEWORK: Students will have homework this week working with nonfiction non text resources.

QUIZ/TEST: 6th grade: quiz Wednesday over vocabulary (pushed back from last week), 6th and 8th grade quiz next week covering the usage of nonfiction non text resources.

6th and 8th grade writing (Scott) for the week of 9.10.12

OVERVIEW: This week we will begin editing and revising our personal narratives.  This includes creating attention-getters, fixing punctuation, spelling, and grammar as well as ensuring all of our writing traits are considered.  These traits are what we are calling the 6+1 Writing Traits and they include: idea development, organization, conventions, sentence fluency, word choice, voice and presentation.

HOMEWORK: Students will write for 30 minutes each night for homework, this week students should be working on editing and revising their personal narratives or free writing.

TEST/QUIZZES: none

7th/8th Grade Reading September 10-14

The 7th Graders will be reading " Seventh Grade", focusing on Setting, Connections, and Theme.
Key Story Vocabulary: elective,portly, ferocity, lingered, bluff

Word Study:  Anti- meaning opposing or against
1. Antibiotic
2. Antibody
3. Anticoagulant
4. Antagonistic
5.Anticorrosive
6. Antidote
7. Antarctic
8. Antiestablishment
9. Anticlimax
10. Antisocial
11. Antipodes
12. Antifreeze
13. Antipathy
14. Antiperspirant

The 8th Graders will be reading " Checkouts", focusing on Main Character,Minor Character, Character Motivation, and Character Reaction.
Key Story Vocabulary: impulse,intuition, lapse,reverie,meditation,brazen,fetish,deftly,tedious,perverse

Word Study:  Acid/Acr(i)-Sour/Bitter
1. Acrid
2. Acidic
3. Acridity
4. Acidify
5. Acrimony
6. Acidifier
7. Acridly
8. Acidification
9. Acridness
10. Acidity

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of September 10th

Important Updates

• September 28th: Professional Development Day ( No School)
• Please make sure that all scholars are coming to school in uniform. This includes tie, button down blue shirt, and dress shoes. Violation notices will be issued to those who are not in complete uniform.

Objectives:

6th Grade: SWBAT

• Understand and appreciate a short story. 
• Identify prefixes as word parts added to the beginning of words.
• Identify the qualities of characters
• Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between two stories.
• Read aloud a narrative
• Complete reading and vocabulary assessment with a 70% mastery.

7th Grade: SWBAT

• Understand and appreciate a short story.
• Use context clues help find meaning to given words.
• Analyze the role of setting, both place and time, in a short story.
• Use the active reading strategy of connecting to help gain a deeper understanding of the setting of a story and motivation of the main character.
• Identify and analyze theme.
• Complete reading and vocabulary assessment with a 70% mastery.

6th Grade Packet

• Weekly Vocabulary
• Character Trait Comparison Chart
• Story Comparison Chart
• Connecting Chart
• Pre-Reading Connections Web
• Grammar and Vocabulary in Context
• 6th Grade Daily Exit Tickets
• Greek/ Latin Root Vocabulary Worksheet

7th Grade Packet

• Greek/Latin Root Vocabulary Worksheet
• Weekly Vocabulary
• Connection Worksheet
• 7th Grade Daily Exit Tickets
• Grammar and Vocabulary in Context

Extension Assignments:

• 7th Grade: Write a Letter
• 6th Grade: Tell a Friend

September 4th-Ms.Zwolinski 5th Grade Literacy

Happy Labor Day!

Below are the word study words for this week. There are only 15 words.The pattern this week is the prefix com- and con-, which means together or with. Students were asked to find the definitions and make flashcards. They will start this in class and finish for homework if it is not complete. They will use these flashcards all week. There will be various activities throughout the week like finding the synomns of the words, unscrambling words, finding the root words or writing a fictional story using the words. These will be the type of concepts that will be tested on the quiz Friday.

Last Friday's word study quiz was also returned and graded to scholar's on Monday.


Word Study

The following Vocabulary words begin with the prefix “Con or Com” which means with or together. Please look up and write down the definitions of the vocabulary words below.

1.Convene

2.Compress

3.Converge

4.Compact

5.Conjoin

6.Combine

7.Convert

8.Compatible

9.Contract

10.Congregation

11.Conversation

12.Convoy

13.Compose

14.Complex

15.Compile

 

News and Upcoming Events

• Progress reports will go home Friday.  
• Reminder-Gym is on Monday's for 5A
• Please make sure that all scholars are coming to school in uniform. This includes tie, button down blue shirt, and dress shoes

Reading

• We are learning reading strategies to help us become better readers. Strategies such as not using our finger when we read, finding a quiet reading space at home, reading in our head with expression and so on. We will continue practicing these strategies throughout the week.

Writing

•  In writing, we are spending all this week revising our personal narratives. We will be changing the leads, adding high level vocabulary and emotion. Students may recieve some homework assignments in writing to practice revising skills.

Homework

• The reading log is due Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Word study-sort words/definitions, ABC order, sentences, and study for quiz
• Various revising activities in writing

Please let me know if you have any questions! Have a wonderful week.

Ms.Zwolinski

writing (scott) the week of 9.4.12

OVERVIEW: This week we will continue building our seed idea into a personal narrative as we complete the roll out of writer's workshop. We have been writing in class each day as we build steps to our workshop expectations.  We will also be working on adding emotions to our writing.

HOMEWORK: Students will write for 30 minutes each night for homework, this week students should be working on adding emotions to their writing in combination with drafting their personal narrative.

TEST/QUIZZES: none

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of September 4th

Important Updates

•   6A no longer has Gym on Mondays and Fridays. They now have Spanish instead on Mondays only and Electives on Friday. Scholars are therefore ask to be in complete LEARN uniform when coming to class.
• September 4, 2012: Genre Projects Due
• September 7, 2012: Progress reports do home.
• Literacy Assignment Expectations
• Reading Log
•  Please make sure that all scholars are coming to school in uniform. This includes tie, button down blue shirt, and dress shoes. Violation notices will be issued to those who are not in complete uniform.
  
  
  Objectives:
  Tuesday: Scholars will become familiar with some of the strategies the can use to help them better understand what they are reading.
  Wednesday: Link or connect what they are reading to  their personal experiences.
  Thursday:Link or connect what they are reading to other text they've read.
  Friday: Link or connect what they are reading to their prior knowledge.
  
  
  
  Second Step objectives:
  ·                         SWBAT:
  ·                         Identify behaviors involved in listening and respecting other's ideas.
  ·                         Apply group communication skills
  ·                         Apply empathy skills while identifying feelings.
  
  
  
  

7th/8th Grade Writing: Week of 9/4-9/7

Overview: This week, we will continue practicing generating story ideas and leads.  We will also discuss tips for good active listening, the purpose and intent of writing conferences, and the 6+1 important traits of writing!

Upcoming:

• I will begin to collect scholars' writing notebooks starting this week and next.
• Scholars should have... 1) Seed stories vs. Watermelon stories; 2) Leads notes and at least 3 practice lead examples; 3) At least 2 seed stories that they've expanded into writing samples; 4) At least 1 free-write sample that covers 1 page. 
• Collection dates: 8A writer's notebooks are due on Friday.  7B writer's notebooks are due next Monday.  7A writer's notebooks are due next Wednesday. 

7th/8th Grade Science: Week of 9/4-9/7

Overview: This week, scholars will be finishing up our study on scatter plots.  We will have a quiz on scatter plots on Wednesday.  We will also be beginning Part 2 of our Scientific Method Unit, which focuses on lab safety, lab tools, and measurement.

Upcoming:

• Scatter Plot Quiz: on Wednesday (Sept. 5)

5th grade Math Resource - FLASH CARDS!

This link will provide much needed practice with basic math facts.  

http://www.math-drills.com/flashcards.shtml

5th Grade Math Homework Schedule 9/4 - 9/10

Homework                   Schedule 9/4 thru 9/10

Tuesday PAGE 39 # 13-34

Wednesday PAGE 41 # 11-46

Thursday PAGE 44 # 13-55

Friday PAGE 47# 7-29

Monday   PAGE 50 # 16-53