Middle School Literacy-Fofana- Week of February 3

Important Updates:

• All scholars must log on to Compass Learning daily to work on folders. They must compete at least a quiz a week. Compass learning grades will be recorded every Monday for the previous week's activities.
• All Study Island assignments must be completed by due dates in order to receive credit. All grades for Study Island assignments will be recorded on Mondays.

Objectives: SWBAT

6A

Monday: Use the reading strategy if inference to gain a deeper understanding of a text.

Tuesday: Use the reading strategy of drawing conclusion to gain a deeper understanding of a text.

Wednesday: Interpret and follow a set of given instructions.

Thursday: Identify when a text is written in a chronological sequence and explain the purpose of the structure.

Friday: Complete assessment with at least a 70% mastery. 
6A Packet-1
6A Packet-2

Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots
Chronos(G), Demos(G), Ex(L), Judex(L), Pan(G), Sequor(L), Annus(L), Ge(G), Mikos(G), Omnis(L)

6A Homework:

  Monday                Tuesday              Wednesday                Thursday                   Friday

Handout: Pages 62-65 in CC coach book.

Complete ISAT coach pages 75 to77

Handout Study island printout

Handout Answer questions relating to “An Island is Born”

Study Island and Compass Learning

6B 

Monday: Identify the genre of a given passage. 

Tuesday: Identify the series of events within the plot of a given a text.

Wednesday: Determine a character’s trait by looking for specific clues within a text.

Thursday: Identify the author’s message or a given passage.

Friday: Complete assessment with at least a 70% mastery.



Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots

Ad(L), Bene(L), Fragilis(L), Re(L), Sub(L), Voco(L), Aqua(L), Decem(L), Magnum(L), Phone(L)

6B-Homework

          Monday              Tuesday                Wednesday        Thursday              Friday

Handout Complete lesson practice ISAT coach- pages 124-125

Handout Complete lesson practice ISAT coach- pages 135-137

Handout Complete lesson practice ISAT coach- pages 139-141

Handout Complete lesson practice ISAT coach- pages 146-149

Complete study island assignments

7A

Monday: Determine the main idea and supporting details of a given text.

Tuesday: Determine the main idea of a complex text.
                          Use the main and idea and supporting details of a text to formulate a summary.

Wednesday: Define theme as author’s message
                                   Identify the theme of a given text

Thursday:  Determine an author’s purpose for writing a text.

Friday: Complete assessment with 70% or higher mastery.

Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots

Audio(L), Cresco(L), Erro(L), Jacio(L), Neos(G), Tendo(L), Centum(L), Hydor(G), Primus(L), Quartus(L)

7A- Homework

                  Monday                Tuesday        Wednesday         Thursday          Friday

Handout Complete pages 87-89 of ISAT coach book

Complete CC ISAT coach pages 95-97

Complete pages 151-153 of ISAT coach books

Complete pages 82-85 of ISAT coach books

Complete study island assignments

Middle School Literacy-Fofana- Week of January 28

Important Updates:

• All scholars must log on to Compass Learning daily to work on folders. They must compete at least a quiz a week. Compass learning grades will be recorded every Monday for the previous week's activities.
• All Study Island assignments must be completed by due dates in order to receive credit. All grades for Study Island assignments will be recorded on Mondays.
• Scholars will be given the opportunity to re-take a tests if they qualify. This does not apply to quizzes. The first re-take is scheduled for 1/31/2013 from 8:00 to 8:30 in room 306.

Objectives: SWBAT

6A

Monday: Analyze how an author evokes mood by interpreting sensory details.

Tuesday: Read, interpret and answer questions about poetry.

Wednesday: Determine the central idea of a poem by interpreting the title and generating an alternate title.

Thursday: Determine how an author creates a visual in the mind of the reader by interpreting imagery.

Friday: Complete a unit assessment with 70% mastery.
Lesson Packet for 6A 

Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots

Auto-

circum-

hyper-

malus-

polis-

trans-

bi-

duo-

tri-

unus-

6B 

Monday:  Use prior knowledge to help make predictions

Tuesday: Determine author’s purpose for writing a text.

Wednesday: Define main idea

                          Identify the main idea of a given passage.

Thursday: Make inferences, draw conclusions and make generalizations

Friday: Use main idea and supporting details to create a summary.
Weekly Lesson Packet for 6B

Word Study:Homographs

7th Grade

Monday: To use clues in a fiction text along with real-life experiences to make an inference about a given text.

Tuesday: Analyze details and draw conclusions to help gain a deeper understanding of a given text.

Wednesday: Define generalization.
                          Differentiate between “good” and “bad” generalizations.

Thursday:  Define main idea

                       Identify the main idea of a given passage.

Friday: Analyze a passage for main idea
               Determine of the main idea of a given passage is stated or implied.

Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots

1. Solvo-
2. morphe-
3. valeo-
4. scribo-
5. astron-
6. hemos-
7. photo-
8. dico-
9. dictum-
10. celer
11. finis-
12. pan-
13. judex-

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of January 21

Important Updates:

• All scholars must log on to Compass Learning daily to work on folders. They must compete at least a quiz a week. Compass learning grades will be recorded every Monday for the previous week's activities.
• All Study Island assignments must be completed by due dates in order to receive credit. All grades for Study Island assignments will be recorded on Mondays.
• Scholars will be given the opportunity to re-take a tests if they qualify. This does not apply to quizzes. The first re-take is scheduled for 1/28/2013 from 8:00 to 8:30 in room 306.

Objectives: SWBAT

6A

Monday: Holiday-MLK Day

Tuesday: Identify how diction is used to create imagery and mood.
                      Interpret tone by analyzing word choice.

Wednesday: Identify and use personification and hyperbole in poetry

Thursday: Identify and analyze different forms of poetry.

Friday: Define and analyze a haiku
                  Identify and analyze a concrete poem.

Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots

1. ad- to, forward
2. bene- good, well
3. fragilis- breakable 
4. re- back, again
5. sub- under 
6. voco- call
7. aqua- water 
8. decem- ten
9. magnus- great 
10. phone- sound, voice 

6B 

Monday: Holiday-MLK Day

Tuesday: Identify and note the differences between a fact statement and an opinion statement.

Wednesday: Identify cause and effect relationships in informational text.

Thursday: Identify the order of events in a given text.

Friday: Review genres and subgenres
                       Identify the genre of a given piece of writing.

Word Study:Re-teach Greek/Latin Roots from the previous

7th Grade

Monday: Holiday-MLK Day

Tuesday: Define and identify the different types of meter within a poem.
                           Create and write a rap about a topic of their choice using the iambic, trochee, dactylic, and        anapest meters 

Wednesday: Edit peer poetry portfolios
                                   Provide constructive feedback about reviewed portfolio

Thursday:  Read a selection of poems written by other teens and identify figurative language, sound devices and                      meter as well as the themes expressed in the poem.

Friday: 

Word Study: Greek/Latin Roots

1. chronos- time
2. demos- people
3. ex -from, out of  
4. judex- judge 
5. pan- all 
6. sequor- follow 
7. annus- year 
8. ge- earth 
9. mikros- small 
10. omnis- all 

 
Vocabulary Test # 1 Re-Take Documents
KIM-Vocabulary Worksheet
Test # 1 Re-Take Words
Vocabulary Map
Re-Take Parent Letter

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of December 10th

Important Updates:

• All scholars must log on to Compass Learning daily to work on folders. Compass learning grades will be recorded every Monday for the previous week's activities.
• All Study Island assignments must be completed by due dates in order to receive credit. All grades for Study Island assignments will be recorded on Mondays.
• BAS testing has began. Any scholar who is not yet at a level "Z" will be tested during the BAS testing window.
• December 21, 2012: End of 2nd Quarter
• January 11, 2013: Report Card Pick-Up

Objectives: SWBAT

6th Grade

Monday: Define and analyze character motivation within a story

Tuesday: Analyze plot development (e.g., conflict, rising action, falling action, resolution) to determine    whether and how conflicts are resolved.

Wednesday: Identify and explain different types of conflict in a text

Thursday: Identify the climax of a story and defend their choice by analyzing the overall structure of the plot.

Friday: Complete reading and vocabulary assessment

Word Study: Connotations

7th Grade

Monday: 

Tuesday: 

Wednesday: 

Thursday: 

Friday: 

Word Study: Connotations

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of November 12th

Important Updates:

• Scholars in 6A now have gym on Mondays. Please ensure that scholars are coming to school on Monday's in gym uniforms.
• All scholars must log on to Compass Learning daily to work on folders. Compass learning grades will be recorded every Monday for the previous week's activities.
• November 20, 2012: Progress Reports go home with scholars.
• November 21-23: Thanksgiving Break

Objectives: SWBAT

6th Grade

Monday: Identify details about setting and about the main character

Tuesday: Evaluate how the setting contributes to the conflict.

Wednesday: Identify the effects of setting on a character’s actions

Thursday: Evaluate the effects of setting on conflict resolution

Friday: Read and analyze a magazine article and its features

Word Study: Syllables

7th Grade

Monday: Complete a chronological order assessment

Tuesday: Identify the central conflict of a given text

Wednesday: Evaluate how cause-and-effect affects events in the plot of a given text

Thursday: Identify the effects of point of view on the theme of a story

Friday: Identify the climax of a given text.

Word Study: Multiple meaning words

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of October 29

Important Updates:

• Scholars in 6A now have gym on Mondays. Please ensure that scholars are coming to school on Monday's in gym uniforms.
• November 2, 2012: Professional Development Day (non attendance day for scholars)
• November 20, 2012: Progress Reports go home with scholars.
• November 21-23: Thanksgiving Break

Objectives: SWBAT

6th Grade

Monday: Complete a main idea assessment

Tuesday:Review Text Features

Wednesday: Identify words that imply order

Thursday: Identify the chronological order of events within a given text.
Word Study: Synonyms

7th Grade

Tuesday: Evaluate claims and assertions using a different text

Wednesday: Identify and evaluate evidence that supports the claims using a different text

Thursday: Evaluate accuracy of evidence using a different text
Word Study: Synonyms

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

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! 

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

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

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)

Middle School Literacy-Fofana Week of August 27

Important Updates

• MAP Testing is still going on. Please, make sure scholars have a good night sleep and are on time for school. 6th  and 7th Grade Reading MAP test will be taken on Wednesday.
• 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.
• Electives started on Tuesday!
• 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.
• Literacy Projects/Assignments Expectations

Literacy Objectives

SWBAT:

• Monday:  Define and provide examples of genres of literature and fiction.
• Tuesday: Identify genres of fiction based on their characteristics.
• Wednesday: Compare narrative writing (short stories) to expository writing (news articles) and turn a news story article into a short story
• Thursday: Define genre and provide examples of different types of genre
• Friday: Complete a quiz on genre and work on genre project if time permits.

   
   Vocabulary Objectives

     SWBAT:

   Monday: 

• 6A and 6B: Develop awareness of information found in dictionary and root words in English vocabulary. 
• 7A: Understand that Greek and Latin ideas and words have contributed to English etymology.

     Tuesday:

• 6A and 6B: Develop awareness of information found in dictionary and root words in English vocabulary.
• 7A: Identify that English has been influence by Greek and Roman ideas and languages. Develop an awareness of how to identify Greek and Latin roots to comprehend text.

    Wednesday:

•     6A and 6B: Develop awareness of information found in dictionary and root words in English vocabulary. Gain an understanding of the impact Greek and Latin has on the English Language. 
•      7A: Identify that English has been influence by Greek and Roman ideas and languages. Develop an awareness of how to identify Greek and Latin roots to comprehend text.

    Thursday:

•      6A and 6B: Develop awareness of information found in dictionary and root words in English vocabulary. Gain an understanding of the impact Greek and Latin has on the English Language. 

•     7A: Identify that English has been influence by Greek and Roman ideas and languages. Develop an awareness of how to identify Greek and Latin roots to comprehend text.
• 
  

    PowerPoint and Handouts: 

•      Monday:  Sample Genre,  Genre PPT and Reading Log
•     Tuesday: Genre Chart and Types of Genre
•     Wednesday: Story Map and Genre-Sub-Genre PPT
•     Thursday: Characteristics of various Genres

     Projects:

•      6A and 6B: Genre Project Due: September 4, 2012  Refer to project/assignment requirements for questions regarding late projects.
•      7A: Option 1: Genre Movie   Option 2: Genre-Sub Genre Newspaper  and Option 3: Genre-Sub Genre Book Cover
•     Choose from one of the above 7th grade projects to complete. All projects are due on September 4, 2012.  Refer to project/assignment requirements for questions regarding late projects.
• 
  

      Second Step objectives:

•     SWBAT:
•     Identify behaviors involved in listening and respecting other's ideas.
•     Apply group communication skills
•     Apply empathy skills while identifying feelings.
• 
  

1.