Mrs. Skelton's 7th Grade English Language Arts Class

This Week: May 10-14

2010-05-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 10:
2nd Half of Team Four Social Studies Field Trip!
Pre-AP: Imagery Activity and Word Wall Squares for Tom Sawyer Vocabulary
Punctuation Practice: Page 600 Ex. 8 (1-10) Ex. 9 (1-12)

Tuesday, May 11:
Pre-AP: Read Chapter 33; Hand out Poetry Research Project
English 7: Subject Verb Agreement

Wednesday, May 12:
Pre-AP: Finish Tom Sawyer! Homework: Last Journal Assignment
English 7: Subject Verb Agreement

Thursday, May 13:
Pre-AP: Last Reading Quiz (Ch. 23-35) Word Art; Homework: Study Vocabulary!
English 7: Subject Verb Agreement; Homework: Study for Subject Verb Agreement Test!

Friday: May 14:
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer 2nd half Vocabulary Test (Chapters 16-35)
English 7: Subject Verb Agreement Test

This Week: May 3-7

2010-05-10T18:40:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 3:
English 7: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Pre-AP: Reading Quiz; Read in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tuesday, May 4:
English 7: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Pre-AP: Add to Literature Vocabulary. Read in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Wednesday, May 5:
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs

Thursday, May 6:
English 7: Review for Grammar Test
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer

Friday, May 7:
English 7: Comparative and Superlative Grammar Test!
Pre-AP: Complete Chapter 31 in Tom Sawyer

Social Studies Field Trip on Monday!

This Week: April 26-30

2010-04-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 26:
English 7: Poem in Your Pocket Project Research—students have chosen a poem for this project. Students will research their poets in class. Anyone who is absent for research will need to make this up at home or in the library during Directed Studies!
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer—hand out test grades and Tom Sawyer Notebooks. Begin new vocabulary.

Tuesday, April 27:
English 7: Work on Poem in your Pocket Paper
Pre-AP: Read Tom Sawyer, Chapters 17-19 in class (No Homework)

Wednesday, April 28:
English 7: Complete Poem in Your Pocket Project
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer—add vocabulary; read Chapters 20-21

Thursday, April 29:
English 7: Poem in Your Pocket Day! Projects DUE!
(Pre-AP will celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day when we are finished with Tom Sawyer.)
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer Reading Quiz

Friday, April 30:
Social Studies Field Trip for part of Team 4.
Poetry Vocabulary Game
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer Art Activity

This Week: April 19-22

2010-04-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 19:
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer- add to vocabulary and literary terms, read Chapters 12-13; Homework- Read Chapter 14
English 7: TP-CASTT Poetry Analysis of “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

Tuesday, April 20:
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer Reading Quiz (Chapters 7-13); Vocabulary Word ART
English 7: TP-CASTT Poetry Analysis of “Ozymandias” in Groups

Wednesday, April 21:
Pre-AP: Share word ART; Add to Lit Terms and Vocabulary—Read Chapter 15 in Class; Homework—Review Vocabulary and Literary Terms
English 7: Finish Group TPCASTT; read poems and find examples of poetry vocabulary in poems (alliteration; assonance, consonance)

Thursday, April 22:
Pre-AP: Review for Tom Sawyer Literary Terms and Vocabulary Test
English 7: Examples of Poetry types and Poetry vocabulary

Friday, April 22:
Pre-AP: Tom Sawyer Literary Terms and Vocabulary Test; Notebooks will be taken up
English 7: Begin Poem in your Pocket Project; choose poems

This Week: March 29-April 1

2010-04-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 29:
Open Notes Test on Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences
Get plenty of rest and eat a healthy breakfast!

Tuesday and Wednesday, March 30-31:
SAT Testing

Thursday, April 1:
Descriptive Writing
No Homework

Friday, April 2:
Descriptive Writing Practice
Pre-AP will begin reading Tom Sawyer next week! I will provide the books.

This Week: March 22-March 26

2010-03-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 22:
Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences
Sentence strips Activity
Workbook pages 153-156

Tuesday and Wednesday, March 23-24:
ARMT Reading and ARMT Math

Thursday, March 25:
Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences
Notes/Class activity

Friday, March 26:
Simple, Compund, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences
Check workbook pages and practice
Create visual representations of types of sentences

This Week: March 8-12

2010-03-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 8:
Greek Mythology- read greek myths and take notes on major figures

Tuesday, March 9:
Greek Mythology Continued

Wednesday, March 10:
Add "Genres of Poetry" Notes
Read from selected poems
Hand out Exam Study Guides

Thursday, March 11:
Review Activity: Learning Stations
Students will move from station to station, completing activities such as the following:
write an index card-haiku, read a greek myth, create a wanted poster for a character from greek mythology, transform a fable into a modern-day version of the fable, create a comic strip for a fable, complete a Greek gods crossword...etc. These activities will help students review for the final exam.

Students also have notes and a study-guide for tomorrow's exam.

Friday, March 12:
3rd Nine-Weeks Exam

Have a Great Spring Break!!!

This Week: March 1-5

2010-03-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 1:
Grammar Kick-Off: Infinitives
Literature- Genres: Folktale
Read “The Lion, The Hair, and the Hyena”

Tuesday, March 2:
Kick-Off: Infinitives
Persuasive Writing Presentations

Wednesday, March 3:
Kick-Off: Infinitives
Persuasive Writing Presentations

Thursday, March 4:
Kick-Off: Infinitives
Literature—Genre Study
Read from Aesop’s Fables and Watch fable video stories online

Friday, March 5:
Kick-Off: Infinitives
Literature- Genre Study
Read Greek Myths (continued next week)

This Week: February 22-26

2010-02-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 22:
Work on Persuasive Writing Presentation in the library

Tuesday, February 23:
Work on Persuasive Writing Presentation in the library

(Parents, we will present these presentation on next Tuesday and Wednesday. The students have done a wonderful job of putting together some unique, interesting, and well-organized presentations. If the students would like to bring a flash drive and save the powerpoint presentation, they could practice their speeches at home. I'm sure they would love for their parents to see their work!)

Wednesday, February 24:
Grammar- Kick-Off Review (Adjectives and Adverbs)
Homework- unfinished workbook pages: pp. 127-128; pg. 137 (1-18)

Thursday, February 25:
Grammar – Kick-Off Review (Participles and Gerunds)

Friday, February 26:
Grammar Test- adjectives, adverbs, participles, and gerunds
ARMT Reading Practice

This Week: February 15-19

2010-02-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 15:
No School!

Tuesday, February 16:
Work on Hamburger Outlines for Persuasive Essays

Wednesday, February 17:
Persuasive Essays: work on outlines and begin essay

Thursday, February 18:
Go to the library to begin Persuasive Speech Powerpoint Presentation

Friday, February 19:
Finish Written Essays in Class; work on Writing Portfolios

This Week: January 25-29

2010-01-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 25:
Kick-Off: Using Quotation Marks for Dialogue
Practicing Adjectives/Adverbs
Complete Writing Notes on Narrative, Expository, Persuasive, and Descriptive Writing
Prompt Practice: Determining Mode, Topic, and Audience
Notes on Organizing an Essay: Hamburger Diagram
Homework: Vocabulary Ex 1

Tuesday, January 26:
Kick-Off: Using Quotation Marks for Dialogue
Practicing Adjectives/Adverbs
Review Vocabulary Ex 1. Answers
Unfinished Notes
Transition Words
Essay Organizing Practice as a class

Wednesday, January 27:
Review Essay Organizational Plan
Give In-Class Essay Topic
Review Essay Rubric
Plan Hamburger for In-Class Expository essay (finish at home to use during in-class timed writing)

Thursday, January 28:
Timed In-Class Expository Essay
Homework: study writing notes-- Be able to name four modes and two aspects of each (Narrative, expository, persuasive and descriptive). Be able to name two things that apply to all four modes of writing.

Friday, January 29:
Quiz on Writing Notes:
Using Quotation Marks for Dialogue
Using Commas to set off introductory phrases and appositives
Simple and Compound Sentences

This Week: January 11-15

2010-01-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 11:
Kick-Off: Adverbs
Life Map Project and Personal Narrative
Homework: None

Tuesday, January 12:
Kick-Off: Adverbs
Life Map Project and Personal Narrative
Homework: None

Wednesday, January 13:
Kick-Off: Adverbs
Life Map Project and Personal Narrative
Homework: None

Thursday, January 14:
Kick-Off: adverbs Notes: 4 modes of writing
Writing an organized essay
Essay outline visuals
Homework: Adverb Worksheet

Friday, January 15:
Adverb Quiz
Notes: 4 modes of writing
Writing an organized essay

Welcome Back!

2010-01-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Skelton
3rd Nine Weeks Skills Agenda

Parents and Students,

Welcome back to school! My plan is for us to survive the cold by working hard to become better writers! We will begin the third nine-week grading period with a writing unit. During this unit, students will complete smaller writing assignments meant to hone their writing skills in specific areas and allow opportunities for creativity. Students will also complete more involved essay assignments. We will focus on organization, grammar, and sentence structure, as well as on sentence variety and creativity. Students will read examples of excellent writing and then have the opportunity to create their own examples of excellent writing. The unit will culminate in a Writer’s Portfolio that will display student progress and talent.

After our writing unit, we will complete a study of the genres of literature and their defining characteristics.

Throughout the nine weeks, we will work to expand vocabulary and improve grammar, writing, and reading comprehension.

We will work to master the following Alabama Course of Study Standards:

3. Distinguish among the major genres, including poetry, short stories, novels, plays, biographies, and
autobiographies, and subgenres, such as folktales, myths, parables, fables, and science fiction, based
on their characteristics.
4. Apply strategies that include setting purposes for reading, distinguishing fact from opinion, making generalizations, and reviewing to comprehend informational and functional reading materials.
• Determining sequence of events to enhance text
understanding
• Using specific context clues to determine
meaning of unfamiliar words
• Applying self-monitoring strategies for text
understanding
• Drawing conclusions to determine unstated intent

5. Recognize the use of textual elements, including main idea and supporting details, to gain information from various text formats, including graphs.

9. Compose in descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive modes with a thesis sentence and
introductory, supporting, and concluding paragraphs when appropriate.
• Using transitional words and phrases for coherence
• Using figurative language when writing in various genres

10. Apply mechanics in writing, including commas to set off nouns of address and following introductory
phrases and clauses.

• Using semicolons, conjunctive adverbs, and commas to join two independent clauses or to correct run-on sentences
• Demonstrating correct sentence structure by avoiding comma splices
• Using commas to set off nonessential clauses and appositives

11. Apply grammar conventions in writing to pronoun-antecedent agreement and to subject-verb
agreement with inverted word order and with indefinite pronouns as subjects.
• Identifying gerunds, infinitives, and participles in writing
• Identifying sentence patterns in writing
• Using compound and complex sentences in writing

15. Demonstrate listening skills, including identifying the main idea, detail, purpose, and bias in group discussions, public speeches, and media messages.

This Week: December 7-11

2009-12-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 7:
Review Plot Diagram
Make A Christmas Carol Folders
Pre-reading for A Christmas Carol

Tuesday, December 8:
Read Stave One in A Christmas Carol
Work on Folders

Wednesday, December 9:
Read Stave Two in A Christmas Carol
Work on Folders

Thursday, December 10:
Plot Diagram Quiz! (study plot notes)
Read Stave Three in A Christmas Carol
Work on Folders

Friday, December 11:
Choir Christmas Concert (free)
Band Christmas Concert (Bring $1)
Student/Faculty Basketball Game (Bring $1)
In order to have only one irregularly scheduled day, we will have all of the Christmas festivities on this Friday. Please bring money for the events that cost money!
We will read A Christmas Carol while in class.

This Week: November 30 - December 4

2009-12-01T22:12:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 30:
Kick-Off: Sentence Unscrambling
Begin Lesson 14 Vocabulary
Homework: Lesson 14 Vocab. Homework: Mini Wordwall or Wordscroll

Tuesday, December 1:
Kick-Off: Sentence Unscrambling
Elements of a short story: plot—exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution

Wednesday, Dec. 2:
Kick-off: Sentence Unscrambling
Vocabulary Lesson 14
Ex. 1 and Ex. 2 (1-7)
No Homework

Thursday, Dec. 3:
Vocabulary Ex. 2 (8-15)
Sentence Unscrambling Activity
Homework: Complete Sentence Unscrambling activity

Friday, Dec. 4:
Career Cruising with Mrs. Ellis

This Week: November 16-20

2009-11-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

This is a tentative schedule for the week.
We are continuing our literature unit in Science Fiction.
In grammar, we are working on sentence composing. This is an interesting, research-based skill that helps students improve grammar skills through a better understanding of sentences.
We will have one of many Writing Workshops on Wednesday. Students will focus on improving as writers. The Writing Workshop may take more than one day. If so, our schedule may change.

Monday:
Kick-Off: Sentence Composing: Chunking

Lit (Science Fiction): Finish “There Will Come Soft Rains”
Turn in During-Reading Worksheet

Tuesday:
Kick-Off: Sentence Composing: Chunking
War of the Worlds
Read about
Listen to a portion of the radio play
Read reactions of those involved

Homework: Write a poem about the fall
Bring in Leaves (real leaves…preferably crunchy dead ”fall” leaves (This is for a creative writing workshop on Wednesday)

Wednesday:
Kick-Off: Sentence Composing: Chunking
Writing Workshop
Being a Better Writer: Writing a poem
Students will turn in two poems—a first draft, and an improved poem

Thursday:
Kick-Off: Sentence Chunking
Explain Science Fiction Project Choices:
“My Utopia Brochure” or “Original Science Fiction Story”

Overview of narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive writing

Brainstorm Writing Ideas as a Class

Friday:
Kick-Off: Sentence Chunking
Work on Project in Class

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Week: November 2-6

2009-11-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 2:
Kick-Off: Sentence Pattern Practice
Lit: (Science Fiction) Read Act II of “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”
Homework: Vocabulary Exercise I for Lesson Thirteen

Tuesday, November 3:
Kick-Off: Sentence Pattern Practice
Take Open Book Test on “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”

Wednesday, November 4:
Kick-Off: Sentence Pattern Practice
Grammar: Practice identifying sentence patterns:

Thursday, November 5:
Grammar: Sentence Pattern Practice
Vocabulary: Lesson 13 words

Friday, November 6:
Quiz on Sentence Patterns!

This Week: October 12-16

2009-10-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 12:
Turn in AR Projects!
Hand Out Final Exam Study Guides

Tuesday, October 13:
Share AR Book with the Class
Work on study guide

Wednesday, October 14:
Review Study Guide
Study!!!

Thursday, October 15:
1st Nine Weeks Final Exam!

Friday, October 16: (Homecoming Week: Pajama Day!)
Watch The Outsiders
Parents, students must have a signed permission slip in order to watch the movie! If you would rather your child not watch the movie, that is completely fine!

This Week: September 28 - October 2

2009-09-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 28:Kick-Off: Crazy Sentences (Nouns, verbs, and adjectives)
In Class: Vocabulary Bingo: Lesson 11 and 12 Vocabulary words
Homework: Study for Vocabulary Test (Test is on Lesson 12. There may be a few lesson 11 words on the test as the tests build on each other so students review words and don’t forget them after the test on that lesson!)

Tuesday, September 29:
Kick-Off: Identifying nouns, verbs, and adjectives
Vocabulary Test
Reading Assignment: Begin in class after test. Finish for homework. Read Ch. 9 in The Outsiders. Complete reading check as you read (five questions)

Wednesday, September 30:
Kick-Off: Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives
Class work: discuss Ch. 9 and take up reading checks
Read Chapter 10 while completing the “Picture” comprehension sheet. (only questions on Ch. 10).
Homework: finish class work

Thursday, October 1:
Kick-Off: Nouns, verbs, and adjectives
Class: discuss Ch. 10. Share answers to “Picture” comprehension sheet
Read Ch. 11 together and complete the answer to the third picture
Homework: Make sure all kick-offs are done and review them for Kick-Off Quiz

Friday, October 2:
Kick-Off Quiz
Read Ch. 12 in The Outsiders

This Week: September 14-18

2009-09-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Monday, Sept 14:
Kick-Off: using commas, capitalization, and quotations marks
Vocabulary: Lesson 12; Exercise I-pp.119-120 (1-15)
Review Kick-Off Quiz and Weekly Notes
Homework: Finish Vocabulary Ex. 1

Tuesday: September 15:
Kick-Off: using commas, capitalization, and punctuation marks
Read in The Outsiders: Chapter 4
Pre-AP: 3 Levels of Reading Theme Project
Index card reading check
Homework: None

Wednesday: Sept 16:
Kick-Off: using commas, capitalization, and punctuation marks
Discuss Chapter 4
Read in The Outsiders: Chapter 5
Pre-AP: 3 Levels of Reading Circle Theme Project

Thursday, September 17:
Kick-Off: using commas, capitalization, and punctuation
Grammar in Context Activity
Read The Outsiders Ch. 6

Friday, September 18:
Kick-Off Quiz
Pre-AP: Among the Hidden should be finished!
Read in The Outsiders

This Week: September 7-11

2009-09-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 7:No School: Labor Day

Tuesday, September 8:
Begin Lesson 12 Vocabulary
Kick-Off: Weekly Notes Review: “Myth” and “mood”
Homework: Complete Mini-Wordwall for Lesson 12 Vocabulary Words
(Students should have words and definitions in Vocabulary Section of Binder)

Wednesday, September 9:
Kick-off: Weekly Notes Review: “theme,” “concrete detail,” and “commentary”
Add “Protagonist, antagonist, and point-of view” to weekly notes
Read in The Outsiders
Create Character journals
Discuss use of flashback in the story and major events thus far.
Homework: Finish reading Ch. 3 in The Outsiders.

Thursday, September 10:
Weekly Notes Review: protagonist, antagonist, point-of-view
Add “realistic fiction” to Weekly Notes
Grammar in Context Activity: Capitalization and Punctuation in The Outsiders
Read Ch. 4 in The Outsiders
Homework: Read Ch. 5 in The Outsiders

Friday, September 11:
Quiz on Weekly Notes/The Outsiders Ch. 1-5
On Quiz: myth, mood, theme, realistic fiction, protagonist, antagonist, point-of-view, flashback, concrete detail, commentary ; there will be a few questions on what we have read in The Outsiders (Ch. 1-5)

This Week: August 31- September 4

2009-08-31T16:21:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 31:
Finish Characterization Group Activity
Vocabulary Ex. II and IV
Homework: Vocabulary Exercises if not finished in class;
Pre-AP only: Character and Theme Journals Due tomorrow!
Study for Vocabulary Lesson Eleven Test Tomorrow
Parents: We will begin reading The Outsiders on Wednesday. Students should have a copy of the novel.

Tuesday, September 1:
Vocabulary Test
The Outsiders: Pre-reading Questions
Reading Strategy: Previewing, making predictions
Homework: Pre-reading Questions if not finished in class

Wednesday, September 2:
Begin reading The Outsiders
Reading Strategy: Making connections to a text

Thursday, September 3:
Read: The Outsiders
Reading Strategy: Making connections to a text

Friday, September 4:
Read: The Outsiders

This Week: August 24-28

2009-08-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 24:
Kick-Off- Subjects, predicates, action and linking verbs
Vocabulary: Using vocabulary words in context
Pre-AP Homework: Word Wall

Tuesday, August 25:
Kick-Off- Subjects, predicates, action and linking verbs
Review last week’s Kick-Off Quiz
Review yesterday’s vocabulary activity
Pre-AP: Begin literature and writing activity on close reading and characterization: Ender’s Game Selection
Pre-AP Homework: The Outsiders must be read by Friday!

Wednesday, August 26:
Kick-Off- Subjects, predicates, action and linking verbs
Ender’s Game selection: Close reading and characterization activity
Pre-AP: Laying the Foundations Activity (continuation of yesterday’s activity)-
“Postmortem of a Protagonist”

Thursday, August 27:
Kick-Off- Subjects, predicates, action and linking verbs
Grammar Practice
Homework: Grammar workbook pp. 79-80

Friday, August 28:
Kick-Off Quiz
“Post- Mortem of a Protagonist” Characterization activity
Pre-AP: Reading Check
By Friday all students should have a copy of The Outsiders
By Friday, Pre-AP students should have read The Outsiders

This Week: August 17-21

2009-08-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

Tentative schedule for next week:

Monday, August 17:
Vocabulary: Begin first vocabulary lesson. (Lesson Eleven)
Write vocabulary words and definitions in binder.
Begin Lesson 11 mini-wordwall.
Homework: Complete mini-wordwall

Tuesday, August 18:
Literature and Writing:
Analyzing a Visual Text: Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

Today and tomorrow, we will use a visual text (the painting—Landscape with the Fall of Icarus) to practice finding an author’s purpose through the use of details. We will also use the painting to practice writing an expository paragraph in which we make an assertion about the theme of the work and we back up our assertion with concrete evidence and commentary. We will read the Greek Myth of Icarus and a poem by William Carlos Williams (with the same title as the painting).
This exercise will include:
Analyzing a visual text
Recognizing “mood”
Identifying a myth
Expository writing and creative writing
Understanding “theme”
(We will add the vital info to our "Weekly Notes"

Wednesday, August 19:
See above

Thursday, August 20:
Grammar practice: Subjects, predicates, and sentences.
Homework in Grammar Workbook (pg TBA)

Friday, August 21:
Turn in Kick-Offs
Kick-Off Quiz
Complete About Me grammar review posters.

This Week: August 12-14

2009-08-05T19:43:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, August 12:
Introduction to the Class
Class Rules, Expectations
Homework: Bring magazines, stickers, and/or pictures for our "About Me" Grammar Review mini-posters.

Thursday, August 13:
Finish Class Introductions
Discuss Class Procedures, Kick-Offs, Vocabulary, Weekly Notes, Friday Quizzes, and Blog
Review nouns, verbs, adjectives
Homework: Bring magazines, stickers, and/or pictures for our "About Me" Grammar Review mini-posters.

Friday, August 14:
Create "About Me" Grammar Review Posters

Welcome Back

2009-08-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

First Day of School : August 12

This Week: May 26-29

2009-05-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 25: Memorial Day- No School

Tuesday, May 26: 4th Nine Weeks Final Exam!

This Week: May 4-8

2009-05-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 4:
Kick-off: Grammar Review- subject/predicate
Introduction to novel: The Pigman
Answer Pre-reading discussion questions and discuss as class
Read “The Oath” and Chapter 1
Pre-AP: "The Road Not Taken" TP-CASTT

Tuesday, May 5:
Kick-Off: Grammar Review- subject/predicate; nouns/verbs
The Pigman: Read about Paul Zindel and Ch. 2
Homework: Grammar practice: Worksheet

Pre-AP: The Pigman, three levels of reading activity.

Wednesday, May 6:
Kick-Off: Grammar Review- Action Verbs vs. Linking verbs
Read Chapter 3 and 4

Pre-AP
Finish The Pigman 3-levels.
The Pigman - essay

Thursday, May 7
Kick-Off: Grammar Review- Action verbs vs. linking verbs; pronouns
Grammar Day!
Review: Subjects, Predicates, nouns, pronouns, action verbs, linking verbs
Pronoun/antecedent agreement.
Homework: Grammar Worksheet

Pre-AP: Start novel: Tunes For Bears to Dance To
Pre-reading Discussion questions
Start Reading
Grammar Homework

Friday, May 8
Kick-Off: Pronoun/Antecedent agreement
Read The Pigman: Chapter 5

Pre-AP: Read Tunes For Bears to Dance To

This Week: April 27-30

2009-05-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Monday-Wednesday:
Laptops in class- working on Poem in Your Pocket Research Projects

Thursday, April 30: POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY!
Research Projects Due!!!
Present Projects to the class!

Friday, May 1:
Finish presenting projects

This Week: April 20-24

2009-04-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

Monday-Tuesday, April 20-21:

On these days we will have the portable laptops in the room and will be conducting research for our Poem In Your Pocket research projects.

Wednesday, April 22: EARTH DAY
Poetry Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt

Thursday, April 23:
Practice analyzing poetry using the TP-CASTT method
Homework: Use TP-CASTT to analyze "The Road Not Taken" (all classes except Pre-AP)
Pre-AP: Reading Quiz Tomorrow- The Pigman: Chapters 12-13

Friday, April 24:
Take Poetry Vocabulary and TP-CASTT Quiz
Complete Works Cited Page for Research Projects

This Week: April 13-17

2009-04-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER!

Monday, April 13:
Inclement Weather Day – no school!

Tuesday, April 14:
TPCASTT Poetry Analysis Notes in class
(Pre-AP: Quiz on The Pigman, Chapters 1-5)
Homework: Complete definitions for poetry vocabulary

Wednesday, April 15:
Team 4 Field Trip to Camp Sumatanga!

Thursday, April 16:
Today we begin working on our Poem-in-Your-Pocket Research Projects.
We will work on these projects during class over the next two weeks, and they will be due on April 30th.
We will have the laptops in class April 16, 17, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29.

Friday, April 17:
Continue research for projects.
(Pre-AP: Quiz on The Pigman, Chapters 6-9)

This Week: March 30-April 3

2009-03-31T10:33:00.000-07:00

Parents,
We are taking the ARMT and SAT's this week. Testing will be the focus of our week and will take up the majority of the day. We will meet for classes after testing, but the schedule will vary from day to day. Classes meeting for English will be reading. However, we will have no English tests or homework this week. Testing can be tiring for everyone, so please make sure the students get plenty of rest this week and eat a good breakfast each morning!

Thanks,
Mrs. Skelton

This Week: March 9-13

2009-03-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 9:
Genres of Literature: Review of Haiku and Limerick, discuss and read sonnets; discuss science fiction (big questions and how to identify)
Homework: None

Tuesday, March 10:
Genres of Literature: review sonnet, Discuss and read fables and a Greek Myth
Read fables and view online fables
Homework: Write your own sonnet. Choose either the Petrarchan sonnet rhyme scheme or the Shakespearean rhyme scheme. (remember, 14 lines on the subject of love!)

Wednesday, March 11:
Genres of Literature: Read Narrative Poetry and a Ballad; discuss Epics
Compare Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, and Historical Fiction
Give out study guide information
Homework: Begin studying for final exam. Parents, the genres of literature vocabulary needs to be studied heavily!

Thursday, March 12:
Review for Final Exam
Review Bingo Game

Friday, March 13:
3rd Nine Weeks Final Exam

This Week: February 22- 26

2009-02-25T06:45:00.001-08:00

Monday:
Review writing. Read peer samples.

Tuesday:
We will be taking the Alabama District Assessment of Writing (A.D.A.W.).

Wednesday: Begin
Begin Study of Genre's of Literature and Literary Devices
Define Vocabulary and begin Genre's of Literature Word Wall Posters.
(In- Class)
Homework: Finish vocabulary not finished in class

Thursday:
Genre's of Literature Poster

Friday:
ARMT practice
Genre's of Literature

This Week: February 16-20

2009-02-17T06:45:00.000-08:00

Monday:
No School! Happy President’s Day

Tuesday, February 17:
In-class Narrative Essay
Homework: None

Wednesday, February 18:
Group Essay Reviews
Students will split into groups of four.
Students will share narrative essays in groups. Each group member will rate all other essays in group. Students will have option to turn in for grade or re-write.

Thursday, February 19:
In-class Persuasive essay

Friday, February 20:
Group Essay Reviews

February 9-13:

Monday: Editing, Proofreading and Re-writing Descriptive Essays.
Tuesday: Editing, Proofreading, and Re-writing Descriptive Essays.
Wednesday: Group narrative writing activity- Writing a narrative based on art.
Thursday: Finish Group narrative writing activity
Friday: Present group stories and discuss in-class narrative essay

This Week: February 2-6

2009-02-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 2:
Kick-off: descriptive writing
Class work: Finish peer editing expository essays
Edit papers, add transitions, sentence variations, figurative language, etc.

Tuesday, February 3:
Kick-off: Using quotation marks, capitalization, contractions
Look over grading rubric for expository essays
Make final changes
Rewrite final draft

Wednesday, February 4:
Finish final draft of expository essay.
Homework: Finish essay at home if not completed in class.

Thursday, February 5:
Timed Writing: Descriptive Essay

Friday, February 6:
Editing and Proofreading Descriptive Essays

This Week: January 20-23

2009-01-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

Parents,
We are currently working on a Composition Unit. I have attended several workshops this year to help myself become a better writing teacher. Ability and experience in the area of writing is something that I feel will very strongly impact my students' lives as they move to eighth grade, high school, college, and/or work. I am working hard to help them become better writers, and they are working hard also. We will not have quite as much homework as we begin the writing unit, though there will be some. We are also preparing to take the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing test (which is at the end of February).

A new grading period has begun. I have helped each student start a grade sheet, so he/she can keep up with his/her own grades this nine-weeks. Your student should be able to give you an estimate of his or her average so far. You can also check STI and look for progress reports every three weeks! Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything from me!
-Mrs. Skelton

Below is this week's schedule:
Monday, January 20: (no school- Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

Tuesday, January 21:
Kick-off- review simile, personification, and hyperbole
Hand out ADAW chart
discuss modes of writing (narrative, expository, persuasive, descriptive)
Pass out Friday's Quiz
No homework

Wednesday, January 22:
Kick-off- practice using quotations and commas
Practice reading essay prompts and determining mode, audience, and topic
Practice using your opinion and the topic to create a thesis for essay prompts
No homework

Thursday, January 23:
Kick-offs: distinguishing between direct and indirect quotes
Work in groups to determine mode, audience, and topic
Creating a thesis for essay prompts
Creating an outline for a specific essay prompt

Friday, January 24:
Turning an outline into an essay.

January 12-16

2009-01-21T13:40:00.001-08:00

Monday:
Kick-off- personification
Introduction to Composition
Take Essay Outline Notes
No homework

Tuesday:
Kick-off- similes
Essay Structure discussion
Essay Structure Visual (in class)
Students will choose one of the visuals that we discussed for an essay, and create a diagram.
Options: Hamburger, Love Story, House

Wednesday:
Kick-Off- essay prompt practice
Complete Essay Structure Visual

Thursday:
Kick-off- grammar practice
Working Backward: student will work in groups to take apart a correct essay, searching for the thesis, topic sentences, main ideas, etc.
Homework: Study Essay Outline Notes for Quiz Tomorrow

Friday:
Kick-Off- hyperbole (turn in Kick-offs)
Essay Outline Quiz
Complete Working Backwards assignment
Thursday

Welcome Back! This Week: Jan. 6-9

2009-01-06T09:10:00.001-08:00

Welcome Back! I hope everyone had a great break! I know that getting back into the swing of things is hard for us all, and I think the weather is making it even harder! However, I am glad to see my students and get started with the our new year.

Parents, as you may know, the schedule is a little different in Jefferson County this year. Instead of taking our exams before Christmas, we are taking them this week. The 3rd 9-week grading period will begin next week. I am very excited about our plans for the third 9-weeks, but first things first--we must take exams and finish up where we left off.

The students were given a study-guide today. We will review more tomorrow, and the 2nd-nine weeks exam will be on Thursday, January 8.

Here is a general schedule for our week:
Tuesday, January 6:
Complete Exam study-guide in class
Homework: finish study-guide if not finished in class.

Wednesday, January 7:
Discuss study-guide and review for exam.
Homework: Study!!!

Thursday, January 8:
Take 2nd Nine-Weeks Final Exam

Friday, January 9:
Library Day- take AR tests, check out new books, etc.

This Week: December 1-5

2008-12-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 1:
“Determining Mood” Activity using “After Twenty Years”
Homework: Short Story Sheet for “After Twenty Years”

Tuesday, December 2:
Punctuation Lesson: Commas
We will do a graded in-class activity involving correct comma usage and creative writing.
Homework: none!

Wednesday, December 3:
Review for Short Story Test (on Friday)
Short Story Bingo!!!
Homework: No graded homework, but students should start studying for the Short Story Test that will be on Friday. This will include the four stories we have read in our Literature Book:
“Thank You M’am”
“Loser”
“War of the Wall”
“After Twenty Years”
The test will also include the elements of plot (plot diagram notes and short story sheets).
I handed out Short Story Packets to students today. They can use the work they have done to study!!!

This Week: November 17-21

2008-11-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 17:

Answer questions for “War of the Wall” and complete Short Story Sheet for “War of the Wall”
Put together study packets for the first three short stories we have read.

Homework: Study Plot Diagram notes for Plot Diagram Quiz on Wednesday

Tuesday, November 18:

Subject Verb Agreement Practice
Review and Correct Subj. Verb Agreement Classwork
Homework: pg. 550 Mixed Review
Plot Diagram Quiz tomorrow!!!

Wednesday, November 19:

Take Plot Diagram Quiz
Read “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry and answer questions
Homework: Short Story Sheet

Thursday, November 20:

Subject Verb Agreement- Review for Quiz
Homework: Subject Verb Agreement Quiz tomorrow- study!!!

Friday, November 21:

Subject Verb Agreement Quiz
“After Twenty Years” – Activity

Thanksgiving Break! No School Next Week!

This Week: November 10-14

2008-11-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 10, 2007:
In class: read “Loser” by Aimee Bender
pp. 324-329 (Lit. book)
Answer questions (in complete sentences) on pg. 330 (1-6)
Homework: None

Tuesday, November 11, 2007—No School! Veterans’ Day

Wednesday, November 12, 2007:
In class- review plot diagram notes and discuss the short stories read on Friday and Monday.
Begin working on Short Story worksheets for “Thank You M’am” and “Loser”
Homework: Short Story sheets due on Friday

Thursday, November 13, 2007:
Grammar- Subject Verb Agreement Continued
Indefinite Pronouns, Compound Subjects, and Delayed Subjects
Classwork:
1. pp. 541 (1-10) ex. 7
2. Choose one of the short stories we read in class. Write a one-paragraph summary (7 sent.minimum) of the short story. Underline the subject and circle the verb in each sentence. Check to make sure your subjects and verbs agree.
3. Subj./Verb Agreement worksheet
Homework: Finish worksheet if not finished in class. Short Story sheets due tomorrow!!

Friday, November 14, 2007:
Read “War of the Wall” by Toni Cade Bambara- pp. 188-195 (Lit. book)
Answer questions 2-7 pg. on 196

Homework: Short Story Sheet for “War of the Wall”

This Week: October 27 - Ocober 31

2008-10-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 27:
Discuss the end of The Outsiders
Laying the Foundations - sentence strategy writing assignment

Homework: Finish The Outsiders writing assignment

Parents, we will be watching The Outsiders, the movie, on Thursday and Friday. The students have done a wonderful job with reading the novel, and they have really enjoyed it! Please sign the permission slip which was sent home today if your child has your permission to watch the movie.

Tuesday, October 28:
The Outsiders- 3 levels of reading theme project (in class)

Homework: study for VOCABULARY QUIZ TOMORROW! (words 20-35)

Wednseday, October 29:
Vocabulary Quiz
Finish Project

Thursday, October 30, and Friday, October 31:
Watch the film version of The Outsiders!

This Week: October 13 - October 17

2008-10-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 13: no school!

Tuesday, October 14:
Review for 9-weeks final exam in class
Homework: Study fore 9-weeks final exam tomorrow!

Wednesday, October 15: 9-weeks final exam!!!

Thursday, October 16:
receive exam grades
Read The Outsiders Ch. 7
Homework: finish Ch. 7

Friday, October 17:
Read Ch. 8
End of First 9-weeks

This Week: October 6-10

2008-10-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 6:
Read in The Outsiders
symbolism in the novel- group activity
Pre-AP –discuss poem interpretations
Homework: finish Ch. 5

Tuesday, October 7:
Vocabulary for The Outsiders
Make and illustrate flash cards for all 19 vocabulary words
Homework: Use words 1-10 in a sentence

Wednesday, October 8:
Circle Reading!
Homework: Read Ch. 6 by Tuesday

Thursday, October 9:
Vocabulary- write sentences for 11-19
Vocabulary Charades!
Hand out study guide for final exam

Friday, October 10:
Review for Exam - Activity in Class
Homework: Students have their study guides. They can begin studying for our final exam.
Final Exam is Wednesday, the 15th!!!

This Week: September 29 - October 3

2008-09-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 29:
Quiz/ reading check: The Outsiders Ch. 1 and 2
Read Ch. 3
Homework: Finish reading Ch. 3

Tuesday, September 30:
Review Verbs Lessons 10.1, 10.2, 10.3
Action Verbs, Direct Objects, and Indirect Objects
Lesson 10.4 Linking Verbs and Predicate Words
Homework: pg. 404 (11-20); pg 406 ex. 7 (1-20)

Wednesday, October 1:
Read The Outsiders: Ch. 4

Thursday, October 2:
Review for Grammar Quiz (Lessons 10.1-10.4)
Action Verbs, Direct Objects, Indirect Objects, Linking Verbs, and Predicate Words
Homework: Review for Quiz- pg. 420 ex. 2 (1-10) pg. 421 all

Friday, October 3:
Grammar Quiz! (Lessons 10.1,10.2, 10.3, 10.4)
The Outsiders Vocabulary

This Week: September 22-26

2008-09-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 22:
Read The Outsiders Ch. 2
Sticky notes- making connections to the text
Homework: None!

Tuesday, September 23:
Verbs (Ch. 10: Lessons 1, 2, 3)
Homework: pg. 400 ex.2 (1-10); pg 402 ex.3 (1-10) pg. 404 ex.5 (1-10)

Wednesday, September 24:
The Outsiders: Complete Circle Thinking Map
Finish Ch. 2
Homework: Complete worksheet with character charts on Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry; complete charts comparing Greasers and Socs

Thursday, September 25
Verbs: 10.4 and 10.5
Classwork: Pg. 406 (1-20); pg. 408 (1-20)
Homework: None…Happy Homecoming!

Friday, September 26:
Discuss comparison charts;
Read The Outsiders: Chapters 3 and 4
Homework: None

This Week: September 15-19

2008-09-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 15:
In-Class Persuasive Essay
Homework: None

Tuesday, September 16:
Re-read Martin Luther King speech as a class; turn in annotation for classwork grade
Nouns 9.5, 9.6
Homework: pg. 388 ex.10 (16-20); pg. 390 ex. 11 (1-10)

Wednesday, September 17:
Quiz on Persuasive writing notes
Begin reading The Outsiders!
Homework: None

Thursday, September 18:
Review for Quiz
Homework: pg. 396 (11-25) and study for quiz

Friday, September 19:
Nouns Grammar Quiz
Read The Outsiders
Homework: None

2008-09-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 8
Complete Group Poster project on literature from Unit One.
Check for understanding of genres of literature, fiction/nonfiction, author’s purpose, sequence of events, unstated intent- “Why Read?”

No Homework

Tuesday, September 9
Begin Grammar Ch. 9- Nouns
9.1 Identifying Nouns, common and proper, abstract and concrete
9.2 Compound Nouns, making nouns plural

Homework: pg. 380 (Ex. 1: 1-10) and (Ex. 2: 1-5); pg. 382 Ex 4 (11-20)—write sentences for 16-20

Wednesday, September 10
Persuasive Writing- activity and notes
Preparation for in-class essay

Homework: Brainstorm/ Pre-writing for in-class essay on Why Read? Create an outline to bring to class Monday when we write out in-class persuasive essay.

Thursday, September 11
Nouns: 9.3 Possessive Nouns
9.4- Distinguishing Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions

Homework: pg. 384 Ex. 6 (11-20); pg. 386 Ex. 8 (11-20)

CCMS vs. Hewitt... Go Cougars!

Friday, September 12
Complete Persuasive Writing activity:
Identifying rhetoric in Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech!
Review example persuasive essay outline.

Homework- no homework if you did Wednesday's homework already-- If not, prepare your outline to bring to class on Monday!

This Week: September 2-5

2008-09-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

Monday: Labor Day—No School!

Tuesday:
Introduction to Persuasive Writing
pp. 258-261
Read about Dr. Benjamin Carson and his persuasive writing and speaking techniques.
Brainstorm about why persuasive writing is used.

Homework: Getting started: “Persuasive Writing Worksheet” (front and back) —students follow steps provided on worksheet to plan and write a persuasive paragraph on an issue of their own choosing.

Wednesday:
Finish group discussion questions on “Teaching Nepalis to Read, Plant, and Vote.”
Read and discuss “Suzy and Leah” (finally!)
Discussion Questions
Persuasive writing group activity

Homework: None

Thursday:
Persuasive writing continued:
Optional- students read aloud persuasive paragraphs written for homework on Tuesday
Persuasion in advertising—group activity

Homework: none!

Friday:
Gather evidence for in-class Persuasive Essay on Monday… “Why Read?”
Groups will each be assigned one of the selections of literature we have read. Each group will create a poster displaying the title, genre of literature, author's purpose, and sequence of events for that selection. Groups will also include how the story answers our big question..."Why Read?"

Homework: (Optional to help prepare for in-class essay) Read one selection from Unit 1 of our literature books that we have not read in-class. Make notes on what this selection says to the question “Why Read?” (Unit 1 is pp. 5-120)

This Week: August 25-29

2008-08-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 25
Finish Reading “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto (pg 26)
Fill out “Making Connections” chart on the board as a class
Homework: Complete pre-reading worksheet on “Teaching Nepalis to Read, Plant, and Vote” (which is on pg. 58). Students do not have to read the entire story for homework-- only the first paragraph (the “lead”).

Tuesday, August 26
Subjects, Predicates, and Sentences
Correct Thursday’s homework as a class
8.5, 8.6
Compound Subjects and Predicates
Simple and Compound Sentences
Homework: pg. 366 (6-10); pg 368 (11-20); pg 372 (1-10) (Read the directions carefully.)

Wednesday, August 27
Read: "Teaching Nepalis to Read, Plant, and Vote" and “Suzy and Leah”
Complete QAR
Homework: None

Thursday, August 28
Review for Ch.8 Grammar Quiz: Subjects, Predicates, and Sentences
Complete Study Guide in class
Homework: Grammar Study Exercises (pg 374: 1-10 and 1-5) / Use study guide to study for Quiz

Friday, August 29
Grammar Quiz: Subjects, Predicates, and Sentences (Ch. 8 in Writer's Choice)
Read: “Summer Reading” and “First Book”
Homework: None

Announcements

2008-08-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

1. Meet the Teacher is the Monday night (the 25th) at 5:30 for parents of seventh graders. I would love to meet all of you if you can make it!
2. Our first Grammar Quiz is Friday, August 29th. This will include the information from Chapter 8 in our Writer's Choice books. Students should have their corrected homework to study with. We will review on Thursday.

Have a great weekend!

This Week: August 18-22

2008-08-18T06:01:00.000-07:00

As we begin our first full week of school, I would like to say that I have been greatly impressed and pleased with all of my new students. For me, the first three days have been a pleasure, and I am looking forward to the remainder of our year!
Parents, you may be interested to know that we began covering our Writer’s Notebooks on Friday. We used magazines, pictures, and anything students wanted to bring from home to cover our notebooks with a personalized collage. My students are very creative! Most of them went above and beyond, searching the magazines for words and pictures, even individual letters to spell out what they wanted on their notebooks. I think this activity got everyone thinking, and I was very impressed with the attention to detail that each student gave as the notebooks were so carefully crafted. This way, each student has a Writer’s Notebook that is uniquely his or her own. We will finish this activity on Friday so that we can begin using our notebooks next week. Also, I bought laminate paper to cover these with (which we will do on Friday) to keep them intact as they are used.
Tentative schedule for this week:

Monday, August 18
Literature:
Introduce and discuss “Why Read”
Read “The Day it Rained Cockroaches” by Paul Zindel
Write our own ten biographical points, using Zindel’s as a model
Look for themes in the story
Discuss purposes for reading
Discuss Author’s purposes
Homework: None

Tuesday, August 19
Grammar:
Subjects, Predicates, and Sentences (8.1-8.3)
Sentence Strips group activity
Notes and Discussion
Homework: pg. 358 (6-10); pg. 360 (11-20); pg 362 ex.5 (16-20); ex.6 (1-10)

Wednesday, August 20
Literature:
Read the short story “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto
RS1: set purposes for reading; determine author’s intent, context clues, draw conclusions RS7: sequence of events, interpret author’s intent
Homework: None

Thursday, August 21
Grammar:
Subjects, Predicates, and Sentences 8.4, 8.5
Sentence Strips group activity
Homework: pg. 364 (1-10); pg. 366 (11-20)

Friday, August 22
Finish and cover Writer’s Notebooks!

Welcome!

2008-08-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to welcome my new seventh graders back to CCMS and to Mrs. Skelton's English/Language Arts class! This is our class blog, which I hope that you will find helpful for keeping up with what we are doing in class throughout this year. I am very excited about the year ahead. I just know that my students are going to be brilliant, and we are going to learn, grow, and have an amazing year together. On this blog I will post weekly updates about class, as well as homework, test and project reminders, and other class highlights. Also, you will find some helpful links, such as a link to the Glencoe Website, where you will find our textbooks online, activities to help you study, etc.

Following is a general schedule for the first three days of school:

Wednesday, August 13
Introductions to the class:
1. Students complete index equality cards
2. Introduction of Mrs. Skelton and general overview of the class
3. Introduction to class rules and procedures
4. View our class blog
5. Activity in groups

Homework: Parents need to sign three things: 1. letter 2. Skills Agenda 3. Mrs. Skelton's Class Code of Conduct and Procedures

Also, beginning Thursday, and on Friday, we will be decorating our Writer's Notebooks. I am providing the notebooks. Students will cut out pictures and words from magazines to decorate their notebooks. Bring anything from home (pictures, stickers, quotes, magazines) to use on Thursday and Friday to decorate your notebook. You want to personalize your Writer's Notebook and make it something you want to to write in!

Thursday, August 14
Information sheets
Group Activity- Introduction of students
Assignment of Class Jobs
Review of Rules and Procedures/ Questions
Begin Writer's Notebooks

Homework: Bring anything you want to use to decorate your Writer's Notebook

Friday, August 15
Brainstorm for our Big Question, "Why Read?"
Work on Writer's Notebooks
Assign Textbooks

No Homework!