Classroom News

December 8, 2023
1) Blooket to review Unit 4 words
2) NoRedInk
2) Finish any assignments: Unit 4 "Choosing the Right Word", IReady - 45 minutes and two lessons; Critical Thinking Questions; Essay

December 7, 2023


1) Do Now: Unit 4 "Choosing the Right Word"
2) Present Interviews



December 6, 2023


1) Finish gathering information
2) Set up document in MLA style
3) Type document
4) Finish IReady



December 5, 2023
1) Do Now: What does theme mean?
2) Review Unit "Complete the Sentence"
3) Discuss essay
4) Students will start to research.

December 1, 2023
1) Do Now: Unit 4 Synonyms and Antonyms
2) Work on slideshow
3) Finish IReady

November 30, 2023
1) Do Now: a) Take out Unit 4 words B) What is one thing you would like to know about your classmate?
2) Review Unit 4 words
3) Start to gather information about partner
4) IReady is due tomorrow.

November 29, 2023

1) Do Now: Worksheet on verbs
2) Identify theme in "The All-American Slurp"
3) Select activity choice: hashtag, draw a picture, select a song, give a new title
4) Finish: Unit 4 words, NoRedInk, IReady

November 28, 2023

1) Do Now: Complete questions
2) Notes on verb tenses
3) Practice A and Practice B p. 298
4) NoRedInk verbs
5) IReady 45 minutes and two lessons.


November 27, 2023

1) Do Now: Vocabulary Warm-up "The All-American Slurp"
2) Meet the Author
3) Read and discuss "The All-American Slurp"
4) Critical Thinking Questions on "The All-American Slurp"
5) Finish copying Unit 4 vocabulary words
6) This week's iReady: 45 minutes and two lessons.

November 22, 2023
1) Finish NoRedInk wriing assignment.
2) Copy Unit 4 vocabulary words.

November 21, 2023
1) Do Now: Review Unit 3 vocabulary words with blooket.
2) Unit 3 Vocabulary Test
3) NoRedInk writing response to: If you could create a soundtrack of your life, what songs would you include and why?
4) Copy Unit 4 vocabulary words

November 20, 2023
1) Do Now; How would you decide which answer choice is best from multiple choice questions?
2) CommonLit Pre-Assessment - log into commonlit.org
3) Finish Unit 3 Choosing the Right Word
4) Make sure the questions for "Becky and the Wheels-and-Brake Boys" and "The Southpaw" are finished.
5) Study for Unit 3 Vocabulary Test -test is tomorrow
November 17, 2023
1) Do Now: What was more important for Becky, internal or external factors for wanting a bike? Explain.
2) Read and discuss "The Southpaw"
3) Answer questions
4) Unit 3 "Choosing the Right Word"

November 16, 2023
1) Do Now:  What is a long-term goal you have for yourself?  What motivates you to work so hard for your goal?
2) Video Clip "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"
3) Internal and External Conflict worksheets
4) Group Activity
5) Finish questions on "Becky and the Wheels-and -Brake Boys"

November 15, 2023
1) Do Now: Explain the terms internal conflict and external conflict. 
2) Using page 250 students will fill in character motive graphic organizer.
3) Introduce "Becky and the Wheels-and-Brake Boys".
4) Meet the Authors
5) Read "Becky and the Wheels-and-Brake-Boys"
6) Answer the questions.

November 14, 2023


1) Do Now: What does symbolism mean? Give two examples. ( Answer in binder/notebook.)
2) Review data from LinkIt
3) CommonLit assignment - "A Flag That Honors War Veterans"
4) No Red Ink assignment

November 13, 2023


1) Do Now: What are constellations? ( Write your response in notebook/binder)
2) Unit 3 Complete the Sentence
3) LinkIt Progress Monitor
4) IReady 45 minutes and 2 lessons



November 3, 2023

1) Do Now: What are two differences between our stories?
2) CommonLit Assessment
3) Finish this week's assignments: a) CommonLit, b) NoRedInk, c) IReady, d) two critical thinkint assignments.



November 2, 2023
1) Do Now: Unit 3 Synonyms and Antonyms
2) Read and discuss "The Case of the Monkeys that Fell from the Trees"
3) Critical Thinking Questions

November 1, 2023
1) Do Now: Vocabulary Warm-up worksheet for "Why Monkeys Live in Trees" and "The Case of the Monkeys That Fell from the Trees"
2) Meet the Authors: Jules Lester and Susan E. Quinlan
3) Read and discuss "Why Monkeys Live in Trees"
4) Critical Thinking Questions for "Why Monkeys Live in Trees"

October 31, 2023
I was absent yesterday.  The students had commonlit, IReady, and NoRedInk assignments.

Today, students presented the Tangerine project.  Then they had time to complete yesterday's assignments.

October 27, 2023 - PTO Fall Festival tonight
1) Do Now: a) Take out Unit 3 vocabulary words b) work on any assignment
2) Review Unit 3 words
3) Finish Tangerine project
4) Finish IReady and NoRedInk
October 26, 2023
Periods 2/3 were in an assembly.
1) Do Now: Take out Tangerine project.
2) Finish IReady, NoRedInk or copying Unit 3 vocabulary words.

October 25, 2023
1) Do Now:  What does the word perception mean?
2) Discuss collage project
3) Work on any assignment that is due on Friday: IReady, NoRedInk, or Unit 3 vocabulary words.

October 24, 2023
1) Do Now: Review key concepts for Tangerine
2) Test on Tangerine
3) IReady - 45 minutes and two lessons due on Friday.
4) NoRedInk due on Friday.
October 23, 2023
1) Do Now: Which character do you think has changed the most? Explain.
2) Discuss Tangerine
3) Setting
4) Answer questions on Tangerine
5) IReady for this week: 45 minutes and two lessons

October 20, 2023
1) Do Now: What do you think will happen in today's reading?
2) Finish reading and discussing Tangerine.
3) Finish IReady and/or No Red Ink
4) Start to copy Unit 3 vocabulary words.

October 19, 2023
1) Do Now: Review Unit 2 words
2) Test on Unit 2 vocabulary words
3) Read and discuss Tangerine
4) Setting worksheet

October 18, 2023
1) Do Now: No Red Ink assignment
2) Read and discuss Tangerine
3) Review Unit 2 vocabulary words

October 17, 2023
1) Do Now- Use the time to complete a) Choosing the Right Word, b) written response to Paul's statement, c) this week's IReady.
2) Read and discuss Tangerine.

October 16, 2023
1) Do Now: Unit 2 Choosing the Right Word - graded assignment
2) Read and discuss Tangerine.
3) Written response to: "I guess people see what they want to see." Explain with details from the story Paul's statement.
4) IReady - 45 minutes and two lessons this week.

October 13, 2023
1) Do Now: Answer Unit 2 Complete the Sentence (not graded)
2) Read and discuss Tangerine.

October 12, 2023
1) Do Now: Answer Unit 2 Synonyms and Antonyms (not graded)
2) Read and discuss Tangerine.

October 11, 2023
1) Do Now:  Do you think Mr. and Mrs. Fisher treat their children differently? Explain why you think the way you do.
2) Read and discuss Tangerine
3) Work on CommonLit, No Red Ink, or IReady - teacher assignment from yesterday.

October 10, 2023


1) IReady - Teacher Assigned Lesson on Supporting Inferences: Literary Text2) CommonLit Assignment - “Mother and Daughter”
3) No Red Ink - Commonly Confused Words Part II

October 6, 2023
1) Do Now: a) Take out Unit 2 Vocabulary words. B) Answer: What do you think would be a good solution for the students to attend school after the sinkhole situation?
2) Read and discuss Tangerine.
3) Work on this week's IReady, No Red Ink - Commonly Confused Words, and copying Unit 2 vocabulary word due tomorrow.

October 5, 2023
1) Do Now: Would you rather be friends with Erik or Paul?
2) Read and discuss Tangerine
3) Work on this week's IReady, No Red Ink - Commonly Confused Words, and copying Unit 2 vocabulary word due tomorrow.

October 4, 2023
1) Do Now: No Red Ink - Commonly Confused Words
2) Read and discuss Tangerine
3) Work on this week's IReady and copying Unit 2 vocabulary words.

October 3, 2023
1) Do Now: What do you think may happen in the reading today?
2) Read and discuss Tangerine
3) Work on this week's IReady and copying Unit 2 vocabulary words.

October 2, 2023
1) Do Now: Continue to copy Unit 2 words.  Due on Friday.
2) Introduce Tangerine.
3) Start to read and discuss Tangerine.
4) IReady weekly assignment: 2 lessons and 45 minutes.  Must have both.

September 29, 2023
1) Do Now: Review Unit 1 vocabulary words.
2) Blooket
3) Unit 1 Vocabulary Test
4) IReady Teacher Assignment
5) Start to copy Unit 2 vocabulary words.

September 28, 2023
1) Do Now:  With your partner, brainstorm some names of famous women who have made a difference in the world.
2) Video clip introduction
3) Read and discuss "Malala Yousafzai:  A Normal Yet Powerful Girl"
4) Finish No Red Ink
5) Review Unit 1 vocabulary words.

September 27, 2023
1) Do Now: Name two things Gary Soto did for his mom.
2) Review Narrator Point of View
3) Finish reading "The Drive-In Movies"
4) Answer Critical Thinking Questions.
5) Complete No Red Ink assignment on capitalization.
6) Review Unit 1 Vocabulary words (Blooket Game) - test is on Friday.

September 26, 2023
1) Do Now: Name some places/things that were in the past and no longer exist today.
2) Reading Skill: make prediction and Literary Analysis Skill: Point of View
3) Discuss story words
4) Meet the Author: Gary Soto
5) Read and discuss "The Drive-In Movies"
6) Answer Unit 1 "Choosing the Right Word"

September 22, 2023
1) Answer Unit 1 “Complete the Sentence”
2) Finish Questions for the PBS Questions on PBS Videos on Latino Americans: Lin Miranda, Judy Reyes, and Jose Hernandez
3) Work on CommonLit Assignment: Taco Head.

September 21, 2023 - Short Session Day
1) Do Now: Answer Unit 1 Synonyms and Antonyms
2) PBS Video PBS Videos on Latino Americans: Lin Miranda, Judy Reyes, and Jose Hernandez 
3) Answer questions on the video

September 20, 2023
1) Do Now: A) Take out Unit 1 Vocabulary Words.  B) Who are Latino Americans?
2) Review Unit 1 words
3) Video to introduce Latino Americans.
4) Fill in worksheet about video.

September 19, 2023
1) Do Now: Join the noredink.com classroom.
2) Finish IReady Reading Diagnostic
3) Finish copying Unit 1 vocabulary words

September 18, 2023
1) Do Now:  Why is important to read well?
2) IReady Diagnostic
3) Continue to copy Unit 1 vocabulary words.

September 15, 2023
1) Do Now: Extend the story.  What do you think will happen next in "Stray"?
2) Create plot diagram for "Stray" in groups of three.
3) Copy Unit 1 vocabulary words p. 14-16.  The words are also in Google Classroom.

September 14, 2023

1) Do Now: Give two examples to identify the differences between fiction and nonfiction.
2) Build background for the story
3) Develop vocabulary for the story
4) Meet the Author
5) Literary Analysis: Plot
6) Read and discuss "Stray"
7) Fill in plot diagram
September 13, 2023
1) Do Now: What do the terms fiction and nonfiction mean?
2) Review the textbook.
3) Notes on fiction and nonfiction
4) Worksheet identifying fiction and nonfiction
5) Game identifying fiction and nonfiction
September 12, 2023
1) Do Now: What is a strategy to help relieve stress before a test?
2) Finish LinkIt Benchmark
3) Finish ReadWorks.org assignment
4) Review textbook or vocabulary work. Students may search vocabularyworkshop.com website. Select Level A.
September 11, 2023
1) Do Now: How do you feel when taking a test?
2) LinkIt Benchmark
3) Finish ReadWorks.org article: "Always Remember".

September 8, 2023
Meeting with Mr. Brown during Period 2.
1) Do Now: Look at the picture of The New Yorker magazine from October 29, 2001. Write down what you see, where you think the picture is, and the time of year.
2) Discussion about 9/11/2001
3) ReadWorks.org article- "Always Remember"

Summer Reading is due on 9/15.
September 7, 2023

1) Reviewed guidelines, class rules, grading policy, and course syllabus.

2) Students filled out a worksheet "Get to Know Classmates".

3) Students completed a "Let the Teacher Know Me" worksheet.

4) Closing: One thing the students found interesting today.