Week of December 10-14

Monday, December 10

English SOLs:  7.1, 7.3, 7.6

1.  Do Now-Dear Mom and Dad…Write a letter to your parents/guardians telling them what 7^th grade is like so far.  What is it like?  How is it different from 6^th grade?  What do you like/dislike so far this year?  What is it like being a 7^th grader at our school this year?

2.  Review types of text structures:

Chronological

Compare/contrast

Concept/definition

Cause/effect

3.  Introduce Enumeration text structure on PowerPoint (slides 31-35)

4.  Complete activity

5.  Read Glacier Municipal Skating Rink

6.  Answer 4 questions together.

7.  Two Big FAT questions

8.  Have students find the following text structures:

Green arrow-Heading

Yellow star-bold print

Pink box around pictures

Purple box around italicized writing

9.  Have students writing 5 SPECIFIC directions on how to clean a car (inside and out).

Tuesday, December 11

English SOLs:  7.1, 7.3, 7.6

1.  Do Now-Umbrellas article

2.  Answer questions

3.  Sequential/Enumeration on Powerpoint (slides 36-39)

4.  Read Why Does Popcorn Pop?

5.  Answer questions

6.  Have students write two big FAT Questions

7.  Have students create a flow-chart of the articles/directions

Wednesday, December 12

English-SOLs:  7.1, 7.4, 7.5

1.  Do Now-Read article on Harry Potter

Answer questions

2.  Go over new vocabulary roots/words

3.  Have students create their flashcards with glue/scissors

4.  Choose 2 words and begin 5 activities

Thursday, December 13

English-SOLs:  7.1, 7.3, 7.6

1.  Do Now-Journal entry- CHOICE- Write a page about anything you’d like to write about. Remember, it needs to be a complete piece of writing-no lists, please!

2.  Text structure PowerPoint (frames 41-45)

3.  Have students do sequence of events activity on Winter

4.  Have students work on the next 5 activities for one vocabulary word

  

Friday, December 14

English-SOLs:  7.1, 7.3, 7.6

1.  Do Now-Can Skateboarders really fly?

2.  Complete questions.

3.  Give students article on a hero.

4.  Skim and scan the article.

5.  Make predictions about the author’s purpose, main text structure, and  main idea.

6.  Individually read the article.

7.  Check your predictions as you read.

8.  Decide as a group the author’s purpose, main text structure, and main idea.

Week of December 3-7

Monday, December 3, 2012

1. Do Now-Journal Entry-If you could be your favorite cartoon character for a day, who would it be and what would you do?
2. Review text structures studied.
3. Go over Text Structures PowerPoint (slides 27-30)-concept definition.
4. Have students do the paragraph activity.
5. Have students read the story "Heartsong"
6. Complete questions
7. Have students create a concept bubble map to support the main idea
8. Explain that this article can also apply to cause/effect.  Have students also write 3 causes and effects to the story
9. Define the following words:
1. genetic
2. disease
3. digestion
4. tragedy
5. Jimmy Carter

 Tuesday, December 4, 2012

1. Do Now: Homophones (page 91 in Reading Advantage
2. Grammar Review PowerPoint
3. Introduce commas with Brainpop video
4. Teach students about commas
5. Do activities on PowerPoint on commas
6. Review
7. Do Vocabulary Jeopardy

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

(will be absent)

Writing Prompt   

If students finish early, they are to either read on their non-fiction book o r finish vocabulary word activities.

Thursday, December 6, 2012 1.  Do Now-When you turn the age of 16, you will have a huge achievement, your driver's license.    
      How will you afford a car? Insurance? And if possible, what car do you hope to own?
2.  Computer Lab 200 to research pictures or type information for non-fiction poster project.
 
Friday, December 7, 2012

Vocabulary Test!

Week of November 26-30

Monday, November 26, 2012

SOLs: English 7.1, 7.5, 7.6

1. Do Now-What is a sequence? (page 31-32)
2. Continue text structure powerpoint, slides 18-26
3. Read Krysta Morlan, Teen Inventor
4. Answer Questions on back
5. Have student “map” out the cause and effect of 3 situations in the story
6. Have students find the number of occurrences for the following words:
1. Challenge
2. Krysta Morlan
3. CP or cerebral palsy
4. Science
5. Technology
6. Cast
7. Cool

 7.  Students will find the title and paragraphs using green and orange crayons

 8.   Write two BIG FAT questions.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.4, 7.5

1. Do Now-Journal Entry- The best memory I have with my family is…..
2. Vocabulary Quiz
3. Have students work on the next 3 vocabulary words with activities and finish big FAT answers.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

SOLs: English 7.1, 7.5, 7.6

1. Do Now-Reading Comprehension-page 61
1. Do together as a class
2. Review three different types of text structures covered in class. (chronological,  compare/contrast, cause and effect.
3. Read “A Cold Killer”
4. Have students find the following text structures
1. Bold print=yellow star
2. Purple box=italics
3. Green arrow=heading
4. Indenting=orange triangle
5. Pink box=photo
5. Find the following occurrences of words
1. Cold
2. Killer
3. Hypothermia
4. Sweat
5. Heat
6. Shivering
6. Have students map out 3 cause/effect scenarios
7. Write two big FAT questions.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

SOLs:  English 7.4, 7.8, 7.9

Writing Day-I could tell that it was going to be one of

those days. Nothing seemed to go right all

day. I was mindlessly sitting at my desk

when all of a sudden the classroom door

swung open and there appeared....

Students must use two vocabulary words and three tone/mood words (underline in text)

Friday, November 30, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.8, 7.9

      1.  Do Now-Journal Entry-How important is music in your life? Is music --whether instrumental or vocal, pop or     

       rock, hip-hop or jazz, important to you?

2. Grammar Review-Identify Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs, and Adverbs. (three sentences for each)
3. Go over PowerPoint on Commas.
4. Do review activities on PowerPoint.
5.  Vocabulary Jeopardy!

                                                    

November 13-16

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

SOLs: English 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, 7.8, 7.9

Book Chat!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6

1.Do Now-Comprehension Activity (page 12 in Advantage Reading)

2. Read the "History of Crayola Crayons" article.

3.  Reinforce chronological order

4.  Answer questions

5. Find number of occurrences for the following words

a.      Crayola (13)

b.      Crayons (20)

c.       Color (6)

d.      Coloring

e.      Children/child (3)

6. Find text structures with crayons.

7. Give out stickies and have them find two FAT questions to be answered.

8. Have students find one word they do NOT know the definition of, write on a sticky, and look up in a dictionary. 

9 Summarize the article with three DETAILS.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

SOLs: English 7.1, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6

1. Field Trip

2. Do Now-If you had the opportunity to give a random “act of kindness,”  what would it be and how would you give it?

3. Finish activities from Wednesday.

4. Have students do next three vocabulary words with 5 activities.

 Friday, November 16, 2012

SOLs: English-7.1, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6

1. Do Now-Reading Comprehension Activity in Advantage Reading-pages 15-16

2. Next slides on Organizational Patterns PowerPoint:  10-17

3. Read “The Central Park Zoo Escape”

4. Compare/Contrast article with the comprehension activity earlier

5. Four Big FAT questions that go along with the article (two for each article)

6. Go over on board

7. Answer questions to the “Central Park Zoo Escape”

Week of November 5-9

Monday, November 5
Benchmark Test

Tuesday, November 6

1.  Do Now-Comprehension Activity
2.  Begin PowerPoint presentation on text structures, take notes
3.  Read the "Galveston Hurricane" article.
4.  Answer questions
5.  Have students write down hint words of sequence of events.
6.  Find text structures with crayons
7.  Give out stickies and have them create two FAT questions to be answered
8.  Have students find one word they do NOT know the definition of, write on a sticky, and look up in a dictionary.
9.  Summarize the article with three DETAILS.
10.  If possible, return vocabulary tests and go over


Wednesday, November 7

1.  Do Now-Journal Entry-What constitutes a good friend?
2.  Pop Quiz on To, Two, and Too
3.  Finish activities from Tuesday.
4.  Have students do next two vocabulary words with 5 activities.

Thursday, November 8

Writing Day-Imagine that you have just moved to a city under the sea.  The next morning you decide to explore.  Write a story about what happens next.

Friday, November 9, 2012

In conjunction with Mr. Conner's research paper....

Students will learn how to do a research paper with a PowerPoint presentation.
Discuss MLA referencing.
Give student pairs four books/articles and have them write biographies (MLA) style on each.

Book Chat

Book Chat due date has been changed to Monday, November 12th due to a pep rally interference :(  Happy Weekend!

October 22-26, 2012

Monday, October 22, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.5, 7.6, 7.9

1. Do Now-Comprehension Activity (context/assessment)

2. Go over answers on "The Miracle on Ice" hockey story.

3. Explain "big fat questions" to the students.

4. Give out stickies and have them find two questions to be answered.

5. Have students find one word they do NOT know the definition of, write on a sticky, and look up in a dictionary. 

6. Students are to then find the main idea in each paragraph, and record in notebooks.

7. Summarize the article with three DETAILS.

8. Go over on the board.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

SOLs: English-7.1, 7.4, 7.6, 7.9

1. Do Now-What would happen if you could fly anywhere you wanted? Where would you go, what would you see?

2. Go over Their, There, and They're with activities on PowerPoint.

5. Do next three vocabulary words and five activities.

6. Finish for homework.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

English-SOLs:  7.1, 7.4,7.5, 7.6, 7.9

1.  Do Now-Comprehension Activity (multiple meaning words-page 10)

2. Notebook check-next 3 vocabulary words

3.  Talk about "cockroaches" and brainstorm on the board what we know about them.

4. Give out sticky notes to write down two FAT questions to answer and one vocabulary word they do NOT know while reading the article.

5.  Vocabulary Jeopardy!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.9

Writing Day-While cleaning out a closet, you discover a treasure map.  Write a story (3 paragraphs or more) describing what happens the day you try to find where the map leads.

Friday, October 26, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.4

Vocabulary Test

BOOK CHAT DUE NOVEMBER 9

October 15-19, 2012

Monday, October 15, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.4, 7.6, 7.9

Take attendance.

Take students to computer lab to type menu papers

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

SOLs: English-7.1, 7.4, 7.6, 7.9

 Take attendance.

 Take students to computer lab to type  menu papers.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Field Trip

Thursday, October 18, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.9

Do Now-Comprehension Activity

Complete menus

Turn in menus

Have students complete the next three vocabulary words with 5 activities (should be 9)

Have students complete vocabulary crossword puzzle

Notebook check on words completed thus far in vocabulary and activities for a grade.

Friday, October 19, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.6, 7.9

Do Now-Comprehension Activity

 Introduce Non-Fiction and its parts/types with a PowerPoint presentation

Read non-fiction article and text code it.  Discuss what type of article.  Have students find the main sentence in every paragraph and write it down.

October 9-12

Tuesday, October 9, 2012 

 SOLs: English-7.1,7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 7.9

1. Give students list of writing prompt journal entries that are expected to be in notebook for check.

2. Talk about benchmark tests

3. Earthquake comprehension handout. Read and go over.

4. Allow students time to work on menu project.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1,7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 7.9

1. Do Now-Journal Entry-If you won a million dollars, how what would you do, what would you buy, and how would you spend it?

2. Students are to take three of their vocabulary words and do the five activities associated with those words.

3. Collect notebooks.

4. Students are to complete the “appetizer” section of their restaurant menu.

5. Students are to exchange with another group for peer editing.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.4, 7.6, 7.9.

1. Do Now- Daily Oral Language

2. Return scores for Benchmark Tests. 

3. Read aloud article (benchmark test). 

4. Students are to correct their answers and go over.

5. Students are to complete the “main entrée” portion of their menu.

6. Students are to find another group to peer edit (or teacher edit).

Friday, October 12, 2012

SOLs:  English-7.1, 7.4, 7.6, 7.9

1. Do Now-  What’s cooking comprehension activity.

2. Have students do the next three vocabulary words with the five activities.

3. Have students continue working on their menu project.

4. Continue with peer editing and teacher editing.

5. Inform students that they will be typing on Monday in the computer lab.

Instead of a Grammar Test....

We are doing this.....

Creating a Menu

(Instead of a Grammar Test)… 

Student Guidelines

                An interesting motif, tantalizing food described and pictured on an attractive menu, and delectable cooking—that is what makes a restaurant an excellent place to eat.  This is your chance to create your own restaurant and its menu of inviting dishes.

                Menus use a variety of intriguing adjectives (and adverbs) for the kinds of foods a restaurant serves, the service it provides, and the description of the dining establishment itself.

Directions

 1.  Choose a food theme (main idea) for your restaurant.  It could be Southern, French, Mexican,   

        sports, the 1950s, or any other theme you choose.  Carry out the theme in the restaurant's      

        name, the types of food offered, and the menu design.

2. Decide upon the types of food and the categories of dishes to be offered, such as appetizers, salads, entrees, a la carte (side dishes), desserts and beverages.  You should have at least three or four food items in each category of your choice.

3. Describe each dish using vivid, lively adjectives designed to entice a person to try the food item.  Use a wide variety of adjectives.  Do this in a phrase or sentence describing the food under the name of the food item.

4. The menu needs to be original.  I have samples for you to peruse, but make your own descriptions.  Design your own artwork (or use magazine cut-outs). Make your menu as colorful and interesting as possible.

      5.   The text inside the menu may be typed and printed with a computer.

6. Make the menu as professional as possible.  Some factors to consider are visual appeal, originality, readability, neatness, spelling, and punctuation.  I also expect to see adjectives and at least 20 adverbs in the menu.

 7.       Each page has specific requirements….

1. The front page shows the name, location, and theme design and may also include a slogan, descriptive phrases, and other related information.
2. For the interior pages, divide the food into appropriate courses for your particular kind of restaurant (appetizers, salads, entrees, side dishes, desserts, and beverages).
3. Name each dish, using mouth-watering adjectives, and briefly describe each dish in a sentence or two under the name.
4. Be selective!  The quality of the work is more important than the quantity.
5. The pages, listing menu items may have typed or computer printed descriptions neatly glued into them.
6. The back page may have a choice of related writings:  the history of the restaurant, a related child's game, endorsements from famous people who have eaten there, or something from your own creative imagination.

Reminders….

Your ideas should be original.  Do not copy an existing restaurant's menu.

When your rough draft is completed, you'll receive several sheets of art paper to use for your final product.

Be sure to include prices for the various food items.

First Nine Weeks Journal Entry Notebook Check

The following should be in your child's notebook this nine weeks.  The notebook/journal check will be this week.

First Nine Weeks

Journal Entries

_____  1.  My favorite movie is ….. Explain your response.

_____  2.  Have you wondered about __________?

_____  3.  Pretend you’re a raindrop.  Where would you land and what would happen along the way?

_____  4.  What is a habit you want to break?

_____  5.  What do you recall about your 4^th grade year?

_____  6.  Which adult that you have known has meant the most to you and why?

_____  7.  Write about a narrow escape from trouble.

_____  8.  Write about something you lost or gave away that can never be replaced.

_____  9.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

_____  10.  What 5 websites do you visit often and why?

_____  11.  What was your favorite childhood toy and why?

Week of October 1-5

    Monday, October 1, 2012

    1.       Daily Oral Language

2.       Brainpop-Fact or Opinion

3.      Go over PowerPoint-fact or opinion

4.      Go over website on fact or opinion with activity

    5.  Fact or Opinions game

    6.  Fact or Opinions worksheet 

    Tuesday, October 2, 2012

    SOLs: English-7.1, 7.4, 7.5

1. Interactive Achievement test.

2. Tone and Mood-BrainPop

3. Talk about tone and mood .

4. Give a list of tone/mood key words to students and go over.

5. Go over list.

6. Have students write 5 keywords about their mood/tone for the day.

7. Put up picture of man in picture to explain tone/mood

8. Watch movie trailer for Avengers.  Have students write 5 mood/tone phrases for trailer.

9. Watch the movie trailer for Titanic.  Have students write 5 mood/tone phrases for trailer.

     Wednesday, October 2, 2012

     SOLs:  English 7.1, 7.9

1.       Do Now:  Journal Entry-What was your favorite childhood toy and why?

2.       Introduce Adjectives with PowerPoint presentation

3.      Activity on Adjectives

4.      New vocabulary roots/suffixes/prefixes

5.      Create flashcards

6.      New date for book chats:  November 2^nd.

Thursday, October 3, 2012

SOLs: English-7.1, 7.2, 7.9

1.       Do Now: Daily Oral Language

2.       Have students start on grammar project-creating a restaurant and menu in pairs (in replacement of a test)

Friday-NO SCHOOL

Week of September 24-28

Good morning friends.  Our plans have been sent askew by my being sick. It seems that I have a sinus infection and am spending Wednesday at the doctor's office and getting some much needed rest.  Thanks for all of your continued support :)

Mrs. Cindy Matejka

Monday, September 25, 2012

1. Do Now:  Write about something you lost or gave away that can never be replaced.

2. Read article on Spontaneous Combustion in pairs.

3. Students are to text code the article in pairs.

4. What is the tone of the article?

5. Students are to find occurrences of the following words:

1. Flame
2. Fire
3. Human
4. Phenomenon
5. Combustion
6. SHC

6. Students are to complete all assignments in the story (at the end) in their notebooks.

Tuesday, September 26, 2012

    1.  Do Now-Daily Oral Language

2. Review Subject / Predicate Worksheet

3. Introduce The Adverb-Brain Pop

4. Notes on The Adverb-PowerPoint presentation

5. Activities on the Adverb as a class.

6. If time, pictures with words for vocabulary to review for test.

Wednesday, September 24, 2012

1.       Do Now-If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

2.       Go over making inferences PowerPoint-fact or opinion

3.      Have students do inferences worksheets in pairs, go over.

 Thursday, September 27, 2012

     1.  Do Now-What 5 websites do you visit often and why?

 

2. Talk about tone and mood .

3. Give a list of tone/mood key words to students and go over.

4. Go over list.

5. Have students write 5 keywords about their mood/tone for the day.

6. Put up picture of man in picture to explain tone/mood

7. Watch movie trailer for Avengers.  Have students write 5 mood/tone phrases for trailer.

8. Watch the movie trailer for Titanic.  Have students write 5 mood/tone phrases for trailer.

Friday, September 28, 2012

1.       Do Now-Daily Oral Language

2.       Vocabulary Test

3.      Library?

4.      Reading time for reading workshop.

Week of September 17-21

I will try to post the week's activities in our Language Arts 7 classes every Wednesday to keep you up to date on what we are doing.  I will say for parents, when it comes to homework, it is usually classwork that has not been completed for the day.

Thanks for your continued support.


Monday, September 17
1. Homework: Collect Creative Writing Papers
2. Do Now:  Daily Oral Language Activity
3.  Finish going over Hindenburg Story.
4.  Watched a You Tube Video on Mythbusters and the Hindenburg.
5.  Vocabulary Jeopardy
Homework:  Study for Quiz

Tuesday, September 18
1.  Do Now: Write about a narrow escape from trouble.
2.  Vocabulary Review/study time.
3.  Vocabulary Quiz
4.  Students are to finish vocabulary short response questions.
Homework: Finish Vocabulary Short Responses

Wednesday, September 19
1.  Do Now:  Daily Oral Language Activity
2.  Begin learning how to diagram sentences: simple subjects and predicates
3.  Take notes on subjects and predicates
4.  Worksheet on pronoun review (post-test)
Homework: None

Thursday, September 20
Writing Day-Disappointment is an emotion that most people have experienced at one time or another.  Write a story that deals with disappointment.  The situation can be real or imaginary.  (3 paragraphs minimum)

Friday, September 21
1.  Do Now-Daily Oral Language Activity
2.  PowerPoint presentation on making inferences-fact or opinion.
3.  Worksheets as pairs on making inferences.
4. If time, story that correlates to Hindenburg disaster on spontaneous combustion.