Tuesday, 5 January 2016 Welcome back! I hope your break was wonderful! Find your NEW Seat on the seating chart Welcome back! I hope your break was wonderful! Find your NEW Seat on the seating chart We will have our first library visit of the new year today, where EVERYONE will check out 2 or more books to start them off on the RIGHT foot for this quarter of AR reading. Look for books in the TOP half of your reading range--tomorrow we will take the STAR test and your range could change. This is your chance to show how much of a reading champ you’ve been by showing all of the growth you’ve made as a reader this year. Pick up a NEW reading log by the door, find your NEW seat, and immediately fill in your LEXILE/ZPD from last quarter using Renaissance for reference. Fill in all other blanks that you can.

Today’s Work 1.Review AR Expectations for Quarter 3. 2.Find 3 or more titles at the TOP of your range that you might be interested in reading this quarter. Be sure to list all possible choices on the back of your reading log for future reference. Be sure to check that the books you are interested in are AR books and are in the TOP of your range. 3.Library Visit and AR Reading Time Reminder: Bring your NEW AR book and reading log to class tomorrow, and be prepared to take the STAR reading test!

Tuesday, 5 January 2016 Welcome back! I hope your break was wonderful! Welcome to English Topics class! Today we will review details about the course and what our goals will be this quarter. We will get our materials organized, and we will begin English Topics work. Grab a folder by the door and choose a seat for today. Label the tab of your folder with your first and last name and this class period. Use the materials provided to decorate your folder to represent YOU!

Today’s Work 1.Review expectations of the course Be here with your supplies and ready to work when the bell rings. Participate fully every day. Blend of independent, customized work and whole-class activities. Strive to GROW! 2.Distribute and discuss Weekly Progress Tracking and routine. Monday: Reading Instruction using Renaissance Learning and Read Theory Tuesday: English class standards activities Wednesday: Individualized Acuity Practice Thursday: Review Vocabulary, Grammar, or AOW Friday: AR reading and quizzing with individual grade conferences. 3.Introduction Journal

Introduction Journal This is your chance to introduce yourself to me or help me get to know you a little better. Answer the following questions in an informal journal. Be honest, detailed, and show off your best writing skills! Describe your past as a student. What have you done really well in school? What have you struggled with? Why? What are your goals for this course and this year? What is your plan for accomplishing these goals, and how can I support you? This is a great time to describe how you learn best (and how you DON’T learn)! What obstacles do you think you may face in this course as you work to improve and accomplish your goals? What will YOU do when you encounter a challenge? If you have anything else you would like me to know about you, now is your chance! On the bottom of your journal, write two truths and a lie about yourself in preparation for an in-class activity

Wednesday, 6 January 2016 Today we will take the STAR test and your reading range and point goal from yesterday should change. Remember, as growing 8 th graders, ALMOST freshman, we want to continuously show growth and improvement, especially in our reading! This is your chance to show how much of a reading champ you’ve been ALL YEAR by showing the strength you’ve gained through reading practice. Be sure to give it everything you got! Be sure to have your AR book with you. Authenticate your device. And login to the Renaissance App. or website Click on Reading test on the left hand side – this will be a blue tab. Wait for the password – DO NOT begin without instruction.

Wednesday, 6 January 2016 Welcome to English Topics! Today we will be focusing on using technology to develop our ELA skills, but first… Pick up the language practice handout by the door, retrieve your folder, choose to sit with a partner of your choice, and edit the paragraphs together. Be sure to use proper proofreaders’ marks to clearly mark your suggested changes. Be prepared to share your answers!

Today’s Work 1.Staple your username and password for Read Theory to the inside of your folder for safekeeping. 2.Log in to read theory and take the pretest quiz. Notice as you submit each question from your pretest, it will give you immediate feedback—correct, incorrect, and why. Learn from this! 3.With your remaining class time, continue to work through Read Theory quizzes to establish your beginning levels. We will begin tracking next week.

Thursday, 7 January 2016 Today you will watch a Master Class about Maya Angelou’s beliefs, values, and outlooks on life. It is important to take time to reflect on YOUR life to see what is truly most important to YOU. This shows growth, strength, and acceptance for yourself, your choices, and your accomplishments.Task: What are values, and what does it mean to have values? Look over the values page you picked up at the door and provide a quick brainstormed definition for all of the values that you know—if you have time, look up any that you are unsure of. Put a star by YOUR top 5 values. You only have five minutes, so use your time wisely! Ex. Respect – treating others kindly

Read over the Maya Angelou’s quote page on your desk to become familiar with what she will be talking about during the powerful Master Class film we will be watching today. STAR the quotes While watching: STAR the quotes that speak the most to you. You will be writing about this video tomorrow, so choose wisely They aren’t in order, so you will need to look carefully! Strive for four or five. Maya Angelou Master Class Maya Angelou Master Class

Thursday, 7 January 2016 Welcome to English Topics! Today we will be focusing AGAIN on using technology to develop our ELA skills, but first… Pick up the language practice handout by the door, retrieve your folder, choose to sit with a partner of your choice, and edit the paragraphs together. Be sure to use proper proofreaders marks to clearly mark your suggested changes. Be prepared to share !

Today’s Work 1.Log in to Renaissance on your iPad and navigate to our class skill building articles Log in and select your English Teacher/Class when prompted Log in and select your English Teacher/Class when prompted Click the orange button “Read an Article” Click the orange button “Read an Article” Find “Groups” in the left margin of the page. Select “Manage” and “Join Group” Find “Groups” in the left margin of the page. Select “Manage” and “Join Group” Enter our class code: LTEYQWJH Enter our class code: LTEYQWJH Click on the class “English Topics Q3” in the list of courses on the left. Click on the class “English Topics Q3” in the list of courses on the left. 2.Review Renaissance purpose and expectations 3.With your remaining class time, work on reading, annotating, and quizzing on your first Renaissance article. Most students find it easiest to read and quiz online, but to do the annotation and answer questions on paper (Renaissance can be glitchy on iPads). If you finish your first article today, have me sign off on your tracking sheet!

Friday, 8 January 2016 Welcome We need to select a new Journal leader! Get ready to volunteer if you are interested We need to select a new Journal leader! Get ready to volunteer if you are interested Before the bell, add new pages to your journal folder and get out your quote sheet from yesterday’s film. We will begin today by seeing the last 10 minutes of the film. You are welcome to review your quotes on your Maya Angelou Quote Sheet as we watch. Remember, you should have 3-4 starred as your favorites!

Table Talk Now that we have finished the film, start to think about YOUR own beliefs, values, life lessons, and truths. Be sure you have 3-4 quotes from our Master Class Quote Sheet recorded as your favorites. Quickly discuss with your table group what you believe your favorite quote means in a deeper sense, and be ready to share your answers through writing. If you are feeling unsure, see what your table mates have to say to inspire your thinking.

In Your 1/8/16 Journal Choose at least THREE of Maya Angelou’s quotes, and answer the questions below with a solid PARAGRAPH (5-6 sentences) in your journal. BE SURE TO DATE THE TOP AND WRITE DOWN THE QUOTE in your journal before you answer the prompt. Be thoughtful and honest in your responses. Today is not a timed journal—simply write until you have completed the task with your personal best When you finish journaling, SILENTLY pull up Renaissance to check out your NEW reading goal. Revise your reading log to reflect your new ZPD and fill in your new point goal. Using the bookmark provided, create an AR bookmark for this term. Read with your remaining class time. If your book is now out of your range, see me!!!

Friday, 8 January 2016 Welcome to English Topics! Today we will be focusing on AR reading and finishing up your first Renaissance article! Before you do anything else, finish your first Renaissance article and quiz!!! Don’t forget to have me sign off of your progress! Next, focus on progressing with your AR Reading.