Mid-Week

This week has been crazy with Homecoming Festivities, but it has been fun watching students come up with crazy attire for each day.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods are busy reading the second half of We Beat the Street.  All students in these classes should be bringing the books home nightly for reading, and are completing a nightly assignment sheet.  Tomorrow – Chapter 15 & 16!  Reading quizzes daily!

Honors classes are working on portfolio assignments and will be starting a unit on Short Stories and Figurative Language.

Check in for updates –

Another Week

It’s another week, and we are getting closer to the end of the 1st nine weeks.  I was out of the classroom for a few days last week, but Mr. Green implemented my plans in my absence.  While I was out, all classes worked on the Freedom Writers Diary introductory assignment, portfolio responses, and at  least, started watching the movie Freedom Writers.  We will finish this activity today if not completed.

Last week, all classes were tested on the book We Beat the Street (WBTS) through chapter 12, as well as vocabulary words, and literary terms.  These will be graded today or tomorrow and returned to you shortly.   Honors classes (5th and 6th periods) have an assignment due today:  summaries of chapters 19-22, and a critique of the book!  We Beat the Street books should also be returned today!

English classes (1st-3rd periods) will be assigned copies of WBTS, and students will be reading in class and independently.  Reading homework all this week!  Also I will be giving daily reading check quizzes.

Honors Classes will be starting a short story unit this week; other classes will begin the unit after you have finished WBTS.

Portfolio assignments are due on Friday!  This is an easy way to boost your grade if you complete all work.

Yesterday & Today

Thanks to all parents who attended Open House last night.  I enjoyed meeting you. 

On Tuesday, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods took notes on literary terms.  Each class will then divide into groups and put the terms into a song using at least 5 of the words and meanings.

Honors classes worked on their songs Tuesday – presentations will be completed today & filmed!  These groups have to include 7 of the terms discussed.

Wednesday – Work on literary terms continue.  Creative presentations will be graded as follows:  Use of 7 words and meaning 20 points; Creativity 15 points; and Group participation 15 points.  All classes will also be writing today.  1st-3rd will be journal writing about We Beat the Street, and honors classes will be writing “Dear Abby” letters about Freedom Writer’s Diary.

 

Monday

English classes are continuing to read We Beat the Street. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods read chapters 9 and 10 on Monday. Questions from these two chapters are due on Tuesday. See below:

Put these events in the correct sequence. Rameck and his buddies get on a bus. Rameck is in a school play with the lead role of “Scrooge.” Rameck reflects on his life. Rameck and his buddies taunted a group of boys from another neighborhood. Rameck is hanging out with his old friends near Plainfield Elementary. The Arlington Street boys shoot at Rameck and his friends. Rameck and his buddies drive to Arlington Avenue looking for trouble.

• 1.  When did Rameck, Sampson, and George really become friends?
• 2.What did the boys have in common? 
• 3.What does Sampson mean when he says, “…I can’t let the streets swallow me.  I have to get mine?”
• 4.What happens to Sampson after he and his friend Frank passed the Skating Rink?
• 5.What was Sampson offered on his birthday?
• 6.What do Sampson and Spud agree to do?
• 7.What happens at the end of the chapter

Honors classes:  Complete notes on literary terms.  Tuesday, you will work in groups on your creative song presentations with literary terms vocabulary.

Friday

For a short week, it sure has seemed long.  This week in English:

1st, 2nd and 3rd periods worked on reading We Beat the Street.  Each student was given a guided-reading assignment for chapters 5, 6, and 7.  In addition, personal narratives were due on Tuesday, Sept. 6.  These are still in the process of being graded.  We read chapter 8 in class today. 

All classes worked on portfolios.  The 1st nine week portfolios are due Sept. 30.  All classes continue working on sentence corrections for bell ringer activities.  We are concentrating on capitalization, punctuation, and grammatical errors.  We have also been working on noun practice. 

Honors Classes watched a video clip about a teacher using the Freedom Writers Diary in class.  We read the introductory entry by Erin Gruwell, and will be working on the journal assignments over the next few weeks, for the freshman year portion of the book.   Honors classes conducted book club discussions on Chapter 9-13 of We Beat the Street today, and are assigned chapters 14-18 for next Friday.

Next week, we will be focusing on literary elements, and continuing to read and journal write.

Weekend

Hope you are all having a great weekend.  Looks like both Alabam and Auburn won – sorry Georgia fans.

Friday in class, we worked on typing personal narratives.  Many of you did not complete yours in class, and are supposed to either email them to me over the weekend:  pglandreau@gmail.com, or bring a hard copy in on Tuesday.  For those who have already completed narratives – congratulations and enjoy your holiday!

Honors classes: It appears many of you did not remember to read and prepare your book club work sheets.  Next week, you are responsible for Chapters 9-13.  Please be prepared and have your role sheet completed and return with you on Friday.

Happy Labor Day – see you on Tuesday.  Next week, more nouns, more reading, and more Gotchas!