Notice and Note Contrasts and Contradictions

Today's Session

Notice and Note

H/W - C/D & E/F CLASSES
Finish collecting 'contrasts and contradictions'  about The Giver - Ch.1. You should have approx. 6 correctly written sticky notes. 

G/H Class
Write one correctly written 'sticky' about an 'a ha' moment from Crash.  Who will win the 'sticky' challenge off?

The Crossover

No H/W tonight. Make sure you READ for at least 30minutes.

G/H class - Make sure you read Ms. Beltinck's blog for your work.

Optional
Leave a comment for a +point. What is an 'important' take away from today's  session with Kwame?

See Think Wonder

Digital Notebook

We learned how to transitive from avid readers (plot junkies) to interpretative readers. Great readers recongize that there has only ever been one plot ever written, "nothing is what it seems."

H/W

Make sure you bring your independent reading book to every class from now on.

Optional - Spend some time refining your question for our visiting author (Mon - C.D and E/F. Thur G/H block)

Optional - Win +1 if you copy/paste you question for our author into a comment. Remember - you will need to refine the question and make it succinct (find out what that word means!)

Lesson Recap

Student Sample

The Friday Message

Will you give up when it gets tough, or will you show patience and perseverance? Win +1 for leaving a comment!

Have a great w/end!

The Power of Words

Welcome to RLA

Digital Notebook

Today, you were introduced to the 'power of words'

Some major take-aways:

• 'Fail - BIG' - Push yourself 
• Smash out of that comfort zone!
• Practice what you are BAD at!

H/W  (Due Fri)
Bring a book that you have read that you would recommend to other 7th graders. You might need to go to the library

Write a comment under today's blog post that states something that you learned in RLA class.

Stick your 'Comfort Zone' in a special place near your desk. Take a photo of it and place the image on your blog. We will compare images in 3 months to see how you have stepped out. (Due: Next Monday)

Secret Question: The answer to the secret question is SAUSAGES. You will need this tomorrow.

Truly - An Unforgettable Year

Summer Reading - Tiger Tales Access

Reminders for the rest of the Week

1. Your permission slip for the waterslide trip (Thursday). It's attached if you need another copy. 

2. Your one-piece bathing suit, homebase shirt, running shoes. CHANGE OF CLOTHES FOR AFTER THE RACE. It's free dress, please follow school rules about appropriate dress.

3. Yummy BREAKFAST food for homebase. Plan Tuesday evening, so you bring something good.
4) Free dress Wed and Thur 

Summer Reading
Goodreads 10 “books I REALLY want to read” this summer  Best book sites

1 Learning Day Left

GRAMMAR End of Year Videos - Drop link here

Drop your Feature Article HERE E/F class
Drop your feature article HERE - C/D turn in file
 (make sure you are signed into you sas.edu.sg account.)


Mentor TEXTS here

If you are listed below, you still need to return your library books.

Laila Abou-oaf (Paloma)

Claire Aronson (Selley)

Sajid Farook (Selley)

Brian Kitamura (Paloma)

Victoria Netessine (Fan)

Hamza Sheikh (Buxton)

Aiden Sherry (Buxton)

Hayden Welsh (Derksen)

Membean Test tomorrow

Due Date for FA  FRIDAY

• C/D and E/F - Beginning of class
• G/H End of Class. (G-H Done is better than perfect. I will factor into your grades the fact you have not had as much time working on this unit as my other classes.)

Tonight is your last chance to do any RLA H/W. Thank you for your time and for all your efforts. I am very proud of you all and the progress you have shown. 

Remember  - It's what you do with you learning in the future that matters.

"Learning is what remains after you have forgotten everything that you were taught"

2 Learning Days Left

What will you do to your feature article to add the 'wow' factor?

Three Learning Days Left -Leads and Kickers

How is your feature article coming alone? - Look at this  first page work in progress. Can you spot the varied text features used?

Leads and Kickers



Due Dates
Feature Article - Friday
Last Membean test Friday

4 Learning Days Left - Graphic Design

Link to SAS design
Mentor Texts

Tips to Get Started

colorlovers.com - Create your color palette

H/W - Spend 20minutes finishing your design layout for your magazine. Remember,  you need to use a wider variety of design features.

Due Date: Friday - No extensions after this day as grades close on that day. No resubmissions after Friday.

Membean EOY summative FRIDAY

5 Learning Days Left

H/W - All classes

Try if possible to email photographs to your interviewer  that they might find useful in their feature article. In Monday's class, you will begin to design your article. It will be easier if you have photographs/images already to insert.

Recap

6 Learning Days Left - Bring them Home

IMPORTANT - You should only have ONE SAS classroom library book left at home. RETURN THE OTHER BOOKS NOW PLEASE! (In the last week of school, you will create your summer reading list.)

Recap - TEXT Structures

H/W - Due Friday
Write one or two  paragraphs  of your piece using the text structure techniques above.

Passion Project Update: Making a Difference

Passion Project Check in.

I wanted to share with you the work Niko and Jay have done since the passion project finished. They have continued working towards supporting their charity and set up this gofundme.com site. Pursuing a passion into the real world and acting upon that passion is exactly what we hope these projects will accomplish. Congratulations to Niko and Jay for the work they have done. If you can, support their fund raising efforts.  Consider supporting the boys also through sharing their links on your own social media sites.

Check out their website here:  

Click Here to Find Out More

H/W

You need to have  decided on your final slant for your article by FRIDAY. You will be given an 'ideas' grade on what you create. You will be expected to talk about how you plan to develop your slant in your article.

e.g. The Bad Apple - What the World Doesn't Know about Steve Jobs

8 Learning Days Left

Friday will be the last day to turn in any resubmitted work

Feature Article Note Taking Sheet

H/W

Contact between 2-3 people that might have information about your person via email. Ask 2 or 3 questions. Be very clear who you are and your purpose. Example below

Preparing for an Interview - 9 Learning Days Left!

Friday will be the last day to turn in any resubmitted work

Root of the Week - PRIM

Note Taking  Sheet

H/W

• You will need to do 45mins of Membean this week. 
• End of year Membean test is next Thur 
• C/D & E/F classes - Prepare your questions for your interview
• Groups for Documentary  Grammar activity should have an idea for their theme 

Feature Article - Introduction

Make a copy of this file.

Feature Article Unit

Make a copy of this file.
End of Year Grammar Review

The Feature Article

H/W - For all classes
Bring a hard copy of an article from a magazine. If you do not want to tear out the article, then bring the entire magazine. You will need this for Friday's class. See example below. -On ANY topic. One or two pages long.

Driving Questions Tips

You'll driving question should fall into one of the categories below. You should be able to identify both your audience the 'who' part of the question and the 'purpose' the for part of your driving question

📐 Solve a Problem: There’s a real-world predicament with multiple solutions.

• How can we stop phantom traffic jams?
• How can we beautify the vacant lot across the street for $200?
• What’s the best way to stop the flu at our school?
• Design a better lunch menu for our school.
• Design a safe and sturdy bridge to replace one in our city.

🎓 Educational: The purpose of the project is to teach others.

• How can we teach second graders about helpful insects.
• Create a campaign to teach senior citizens how to use an iPad.
• What do the students at our school need to know about being respectful?

👍 Convince Others: Students persuade a specified audience to do something or change their opinions.

• Create a public service announcement (PSA) that persuades teens to drink more water.
• Drive yourself to define a question and then Prove It to your classmates.
• Convince grocery shoppers to return their shopping carts.
• How can we convince our principal that we should have a party in December?

🌏 Broad Theme: The project tackles big ideas.

• What does it mean to read?
• How does conflict lead to change?
• How does math influence art?
• How do writers persuade others?
• How are good and evil depicted in different cultures?

💬 Opinion: Students need to consider all sides of an issue in order to form and justify their opinions.

• Should pets be allowed to attend class?
• Why has a woman never been a U.S. president?
• What makes a good astronaut?

🚥 Divergent: Students make predictions about alternative timelines and scenarios.

• What if Rosa Parks gave up her seat?
• What if the world ran out of oil tomorrow?
• How might your city change if the climate became an average of 10°F warmer?
• What if the USA switched to the metric system?

🚀 Scenario-Based: Students take on a fictional role with a mission to accomplish.

• You’re a NASA engineer, and you are in charge of building a moon base. What are the ten most important things to include and why?
• Imagine that you are King George. What would you have done differently to keep American part of England?
• You are the CEO of a company that is designing a new social media app. Present a business plan to your investors that explains how your company will make money.
• You’ve been hired to revamp your local shopping mall. Come up with a plan to increase business.
• How would you spend $1,000,000 to help your community?

My Temporary Absence

As many have you may already know, I am going to be absent from school for the next few weeks. I apologize for not being able to tell you this in person, but I was surprised at how quickly my wrists deteriorated. (Membean word) I do not know exactly how long it will be out, but I'm hoping I will be back sooner than later. I have my first surgery on one of my wrists on Monday.

As I always argue the importance of having a plan B, I was preparing for this event and hope that I will still be able to grade your work using some oral new feedback systems that I have been piloting. Next week you will receive an email from me that asks you to copy and paste your final realistic fiction story into the document I share with you. I will also be sending you a document for you to use for your work in your next reading response. More to follow on this later in the week. Please make sure you have added your name and email address to these forms.

C/D Class
E/F Class
G/H Class

 On the surface, being away from school seems pretty cool, but after one day at this, it is very boring. Therefore, I am really looking forward to reading your wonderful final realistic fiction stories!!! We have selected an excellent substitute teacher for you guys, and you will still have a pretty rigorous and engaging program. Passion project are coming soon. I will be really excited to know what you guys come up with! You will start your dystopian fiction book clubs on April 17th after you finish your next reading response. Regularly, I will be provided with a detailed update on how you are all doing. Of course, I know that each of you will continue to strive for absolute excellence and use this opportunity to show how far you have come as independent workers and passionate learners.

And to my Homebase. I sincerely hope that we win some of those dodgeball games!! I know you can be champions!

Take care - and finish strong!

Ending Techniques

Sentence Clause: Retake TEST

• Endings scene - MUST be finished FRI ( i know this scene is out of order. Remember, if you know where you're going, it is easier to get there!)
• Membean test Thur
• Remember BIG due dates next week.

POV

IMPORTANT
Sentence Fluency RETAKE - You may retake this test tomorrow in RLA class time. However, you must bring proof that you have done some new studying/practice before I allow you to retake this test. This is the only day that you will be allowed to retake.

Root of the Week - GRAD

POV or Voice or Perspective - Note Taking Sheet

Go to Brainpop: https://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/pointofview/


H/W
Four scenes written by  end of class Wed.
This is a mentor example of a finished piece - Notice that it isn't too long, but the writer made a lot of purposeful moves. Mentor Text

Due date for finished RF paper = next THUR 16th. Three more writing classes left on this.

Next RR due Fri 17th - This reading response grade will replace your previous reading response grade.

Starting Scenes

Fill in the data for this form
C/D Class
E/F Class
G/H Class


LiveTyping.com

H/W

• You should have '4' of your RF scenes written by end of class WED
• 45mins of Membean

The Crossover

This is the first book that you will need to read for 8th Grade. This author will visit SAS in the second week of school next year. Who wants to read this book NOW... I have 30copies!!!

Membean - March Totals

Root of the Week - GRAD

See the data for March Membean minutes. The expectation to meet  expectations is 120 minutes. If your name is not on the list, you did not meet expectations. Some people are showing dubious minutes. That means you have the system open, but you will not actually clicking on anything as you are in other tabs.

Mentor Text - A RF Scene hinting at a social issue

What are all the different craft moves that this writer has made?
Did you spot my relative clause in the question above?

Short Scene:

The water drips from the faucet and makes it’s way down the drain. One drop, two drop, three. I watch them disappear along the journey, but I’m not really paying any attention. I like the sink in the upstairs bathroom. I can sit on the scale and wait for the water to cover up shame. I listen to the water drops. Count them until I forget about my weight and the reason I despise myself. 104. Three digits. But when I see them scrawled across the rolls of fat that cover my body, they become something else altogether.

In front of me sits an empty gum wrapper covered with words that I had scribbled in bold letters, as if to make them seem more real. Big, fat, thick skin, pathetic, thunder thighs, unwanted. And in the middle of it all, a stick figure girl with a big stomach and round legs. A self portrait. I remembering drawing it in my room, my hand with no control over my pen, hopeless. When I looked down to see the layers of fat covering my stomach, I knew that every word I had written was accurate. 

104. Such a shameful weight. It wasn’t heavy, but it wasn’t anywhere near to thin either. And that’s all I wanted: thin. I wanted people to notice me when I walked down the hallways in school. I wanted to be the 5’8, size 0 runway model that I ever so admired, but would still fight to be as thin as a 5’3 girl can be. And, sure, the weight had started to shed off when I set myself on a strict no-more-than-500-calories-per-day diet, but there’s always that voice in the back of my mind telling me that I could do more.

It’s not a simple feeling that can describe what happens when you look in the mirror and realize that you’re fat. It kind of creeps up on you and doesn’t have much presence until you look down at the scale below your feet. I can still clearly remember the time I uncovered the ugly truth. I saw the layers of fat clinging onto my stomach. I saw the way the arm jiggles whenever I move. I saw the three digit number; 104. And I knew I had to change. I wanted to have the flat stomach and arms that don’t jiggle. I wanted to have Jennifer Lawrence's perfect figure. I wanted to be thin.

It’s easy to hide it. I’ve learnt that throughout the past few years. You act like you’ve eaten it, tuck it away in a napkin, and then toss in the trash when no one is looking. It’s so simple that I often find myself wondering why more people wouldn't do it. It didn’t seem like a problem. When was building self-esteem made a problem?

Breaking Grammar Rules

Once you know the rules, BREAK THEM!

No 'Official H/W'

Coming Next week - Symbolism and RF

Membean TEST
RR - Due in two weeks
READ


Watch our for Membean March Monthly Stats... where will you place?

Craft Moves

Do this exercise



You need to finish two scenes by tomorrow's class.

Root of the Week: VERT

Role of Supporting Characters

How are you using supporting characters in your story?

H/W - All classes You will receive a summative grade for your outline for STRUCTURE tomorrow. You must have your outline finished!!!!

35mins Membean this week.

Do you know your MAP vocabulary?

Relative Clauses

Make your copy of this file: Sentence Tools - Phrases

Relative pronouns recap  -WHO or WHOM?

H/W

Your RF plot outlines should be finished by Wednesday. Some of you need to work hard on this!

and the Poscar goes to....

Poetry Recitation Champion 2015

Have a great break...

Supporting Characters and Plot Outline

Roots Summative - TEST 1

Coming Soon - Voscars - M.A.P. Vocabulary knock out tournament.

Read over the break. Be thinking about the plot outline for your story.

Building Characters People Care About

Roots Test tomorrow - Do you know these 10 roots and a couple of words that go with each one?

RF Character - Make sure you could take extensively about the 'backstory' of your main character for your realistic fiction story.

Do you wish to retake the Sentence Clauses test?
Complete –IXL - 10th Grade M1 and M2  AND the practice exercise links on my blog from last week. You will take the test again on the next Blue Day 2 if you can provide evidence that you have done this additional practice.


No new H/W - READ!

Read how effectively Jack paints a picture with words of the setting for his story. Well done Jack.

The boys bathroom was all white with a square tile pattern.  Wet globs of toilet paper stuck to the ceiling as if it were super glued.  White walls paint was coming off showing the grey concrete.  Three of the sinks were clogged with paper towels and the fourth one was chipped.  The mirror above the sink had graffiti on it.  A picture of middle pointing up and words below that saying “DROP DEAD!” On a stall door someone wrote with a pencil “H+E” with a huge heart surrounding it. The toilets were clogged and unflushed letting the sick aroma filled the air.  I hated it here I mean couldn’t we just use another bathroom. The only actual color in the place was a puddle of blood on the floor and in the center a broken tooth.  I would have let him go if Jake weren't there.  Anthony kept on thrashing and elbowing me in the shoulder.  It was really uncomfortable and annoying.  Plus his blood kept on dripping on my shoe.  Like a waterfall.  

Red Dot Reading Challenge