Crain's Nest

This week in history......OUR class history that is!

The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl was this past Saturday at McEachern HS.  The team did their best, with Mr Smith and I there to support them, however we did not place in the top level of winners.  Being a new co-sponsor for the team, I feel like I learned almost as much as the students did about how the process goes and how I can best support next years' participants! Everyone put forth their best effort and we are proud of them all!

In on-level reading we will begin the novel  City of Ember  tomorrow.  Initially we will be involved in a choosing of "jobs" and research said careers on the web (in the 7th grade lab) on Thurs.  In addition we will predict what the novel is about using the movie poster and WORDLE.  Most of our reading will occur online, from a loaded KINDLE book through the media center, however I do have a FEW copies of the book  available for in class use.

For Ac reading today we completed an anticipation guide that questions the ideas of patriotism and personal truths as pre-reading for the novel, Nothing But the Truth by AVI. We will continue by using a guided reading format, with focus questions and mini-lessons (perspective, belief systems, national pride) along with shared inquiry type groupings. 

AC classes also have a long-term MENU assignment with 3 components that is due on different dates- which they have written in their agendas.  This work will be based on the reading of their anchor books, which are kept in class and are available whenever students finish their classwork.  Yesterday we spent all period doing nothing but reading anchor books. The first part of the MENU assignment is due Fri Feb 3, then every two weeks after that, although students may turn work in whenever they finish it.

 

Don't forget my ikeepbookmarks.com where you can sign in under "Crain's Nest" and the password is "larocks". I post a variety of websites and activity pages for extra practice in reading and writing at many different levels!

Jan 17-20

Hope you all had a great 3-day weekend.....I did, even without Boojee. A break during a break is good sometimes....

First bit of news, please keep the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl team in your thoughts this week. We will be traveling to McEachern High School early Saturday morning Jan 21 for the Bowl competition. Both Mr Smith and I are very excited about this opportunity, and we feel sure that all the team members will do their best and enjoy themselves!

This is what is coming up in both classes:AC- New seating charts seem to be working well- if there is an issue however, you cannot see or hear or concentrate where you are, please let me know by approaching me after class someday soon..I attempted to place everyone near where they were before, bu also around those who you may not know as well, or you may have similiar interests with.

ALL classes had HW with regards to their reading logs. I wil ask you to open them to the correct place and keep them on your desk for me to assess during classtime. I will be looking at your responses, as they need to be growing in length and/or depth.

1,4,5 periods had 2 additional short HW assignments due Tuesday Jan 17th. First off was your RAT, which I will continue to grade depending on the skill we are currently studying. I will probably do a HOT SEAT sometime during the week and record either one section or the entire RAT for a comprehension grade. In addition, there was the WORDLE (or word scramble) to predict what our newest novel is about. We will read Nothing But the Truth aloud in class, with oral and written guided questions each day. Our focus will be the differing points of view of the characters (in other words, perspective).

 

AC classes will also have a long term menu project that they will be responsible for using the anchor books that they choose this week. Both of us, the student and I, will have a copy of a contract that they will fill out giving them the responsibility of determining due dates. They will also have a written copy of the menu, along with criteria and guidelines.

For 2, 3 period we will divide the classes into two groups, the Rockin' Robins (thanks to Mrs Randolph!) and the Poppin Penguins (guess who??). Both groups will do the same 2 assignments, but at different times. The two tasks are the Informtional Booklet and an essay on worms in the Jamestown Series book, Weird Science.

After that we will begin on another novel, but I can't tell you the name yet. It's toooo secret!!!!

Let's have a great week! Mrs Crain

info for lab day

Download McDonalds Gets Around San Francisco Happy Meal Regulation Article

Download High Schooler Won’t Have to Apologize for Tweet about Governor Article

 

 

Bloggiest blog

In 2nd and 3rd period this week we will be going over a handout about metacognitive reading strategies- meaning of the word meta (whole or all) cognitive (learning or knowledge).  the purpose is to get students thinking about HOW they read, whether it is effective or not, and ways they can improve it. Our ultimate goal is to create a booklet that our 6th graders could share with elementary students showing how to use informational texts.

For the task they are to note when they use particular strategies and with what type of text ( school book, website, pleasure book, magazine are a few examples they brainstormed). It will be due on Dec 21, unless there is a change. We also used a kinesthetic way of practicing reading skills, with a handout showing a boy and different parts of the body linked to skills such as visualizing (eyes) and foundation/structure (feet) that we will practice in class at various times.

Tomorrow, we will be analyzing different types of text in a carousel manner - going around the room in small groups to stations, then jotting notes about what we see in each type of writing (text). In the end we will summarize observations.

In 1, 4th, and 5th period- today we took the SRA placement assessment, which gives starting levels for all students for when we begin the SRA reading kit.  This is a program that has been used in schools for many years to improve student reading. It is self propelled program that allows the students to progress at their own speed by allowing them to be a total part of their learning - in that they grade their own work and chart their progress. We will use the kit 1-2 days a week beginning in January (after students are trained in its' use). In addition, they will be assessing their own metacognition using the same handout the other classes received, plus we will begin another novel in January as well.

BTW- I was THOROUGHLY impressed with 95% of the lyric projects-  whether they were made up songs or published ones.The kids seemed to really get into the idea of using one of their favorite types of media to illustrate their knowledge of the book! 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

As I was out today for collaborative planning, I wanted to make sure that everybody hears the 'forecast' for the upcoming 2 weeks in 6th Reading.

First off- for the AC classes, I plan to continue to use Pigman after we return from T'giving.  For that reason I have put a halt to the frenzied checking out of books at the end of 5th period.  I will allow specific students who need to take a book with them for the week to do so tomorrow. I would like to use the story to practice skills (such as story mapping, characterization in depth) on Nov 28-30ish.....

For the musical task- even though you may be going out of town, unless you are camping out in a tree in Wisconsin (just kidding!!) I'm fairly certain you will have internet access of some kind.  I gave this assignment out early so questions could be formulated as well as progress made on it BEFORE the holiday.  If you cannot come up with anything, even after asking your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents for song selections, then so be it. I will devise an alternate task. The purpose of this assignment is twofold--1. to allow you to use MUSIC, something you love to 2. illustrate major components of a book. 

I think the characters of John, Lorraine, and Mr Pignati are FULL of symbolism and personality, and I'd like to see your reactions.  If you are having problems, TELL somebody about the book and see if they can help you out, maybe using a genre of music that you don't know very well........

Remember, you don't have to record anything if you don't want to- all I need are they lyrics to associate with the category (characters, theme, time period, etc)  How about "Don't Worry, Be Happy" for Mr. PIG?? 

In 2nd and 3rd period- Be sure to bring your props and your costumes in on Monday if possible. I think we are going to put off the monologue until Tuesday,just to give everybody time to settle down after being out for a week. Remember to practice your monologue, begin it with a QUOTE, and keep it around 1 minute long.  You'll be FINE!!!!

Friday we will continue to work on posters (and can do so Monday Nov 28 if needed) and I will take questions and practice with anyone who wishes me to.

Quick note about the ABC charts for Rifka--- I was VERY IMPRESSED  with most of them.  Many students went out of their way to make specific, valid connections with the book. Some even used figurative language examples only, after I gave you permission to use other examples. Others recounted parts of the story that meant alot to them for a specific reason, although nobody else even mentioned them once.   Hooray for you!

Take care in your travels and enjoy your time with your family and friends........Try to remember those who may not have family around to be with, or many friends.  Also know that your letters which we wrote to the members of the US Armed Forces will be delivered Thanksgiving Day to men and women around the world. I am soooo proud of all of you!!!! 

Updated information about upcoming classes

For my 2nd and 3rd periods where we are finishing the Letters to RIFKA chapter book, students will be having a test over the last half of the book next Monday November 14. In class this week we will continue to focus on characterization using tiered assignments in class and add some work on theme, since Rifka is such a good book for that.  On Friday we will roll the dice and make up student based questions to review for the test Monday.

After the test on Rifka, we will bound wholeheartedly into our biographies, leading into our monologues.

It will be important for students tokeep up with the assignments for this project, so I will list the order of what we are doing here as well. 

Buy poster board (full sized or tri-corner) and bring to school to decorate with setting from biography by Friday Nov 11.

Fri Nov 11- Sun Nov 13- create costume and find prop for monologue- start getting together

Mon 11-14 bring poster, book, and notes taken on pink sheet to be checked

Tues 11-15 finish pink GO if not done yet

Wed 11-16 Will receive rubric -have notes on new GO (if one has been chosen) and have all props/costume issues at hand (needs assessment)

Thurs 11-17 poster needs to be done

Fri- practice and time monologue

Monologues will begin on Monday November 28- be ready by that date with all your props, posters,  costumes and index cards.

In 1st, 4th, and 5th per-We broke into groups yesterday and set up our literature circles. In class students will determine how many pages need to be read before each meeting and when their roles will change.  They have already picked out 2 major roles and 1 backup role, which I just made copies of to hand out in class tomorrow. Therefore this will be a more on-going in class book rather than homework. 

The final assessment will be a written test and a music playlist- 6 songs that represent different parts of the novel. For example, one song about each main character (3), one about theme, one about time period or setting and then one freebie. Students will need to have copies of lyrics to illustrate their choices, and they can put on their ipods or whatever it is to share with the class later on

 No inappropriate language or storylines will be accepted!!

 

Information for 2nd-3rd period monologue performance task

Download Biography Project

Either tomorrow or on Monday I will give students copies of this assignment- it will not be due for at least a week or so- I will send a specific date later on.  I am attaching copies of everything that will be important for the assignment.  In the end, students will become a part of a Wax Museum of Biographies , meaning they will have to stand in a position until someone comes up to hear their monologue about their chosen famous person.  Most students checked out books today in the media center, but about 2-3 did not.  They will need to get a biographical book no later than Monday (which must be ok'ed by me).

 Thanks for your assistance in pulling this off! Download Research organizer for bio project 

Halloween Week

Hope everybody has a safe and Happy Halloween today in class was fun looking at the funny Halloweenie Dogs and reading the scary stories. Also the story of Elmo, Ms Crain's pet spider. 

I gave him back to the great outdoors today after 5th period (for all you nature lovers!!)

 

In 2nd and 3rd per- I gave students 2 important handouts today.

1. Summary of all types of figurative language to use with

2. ABC Summary sheet for novel Letters to Rifka. 

By the time we finish the book all 26 letters should be filled in with either an example of figurative language OR something pertinent to the story (and why it is important).  We went over the format extensively today in class and did 2 examples. Students were also allowed to take the book home with them; eventually they will have nightly reading to accomplish with short quizzes the next day on those pages.

In 1, 4th, and 5th period we began by reading our scary short stories in class. I told the classes that even though I had not required them to read theirs out loud initally, I needed them to do so now to use them as a pre-test for the lessons on short stories. Most agreed easily, however if they really have a big problem with it I will listen to theirs one on one. Not sure when we will be able to get to that though.........:)  While students are reading, the audience will rate their story giving positive feedback and a needs assessment. This gives them good experience in evaulation and examples of different styles of writing. 

On Tues or Wed we will take some time to reflect on our quiz on theme (the O. Henry story) and then move on into a chapter book called The Pigman by Paul Zindel.

Note on reading logs- I will be taking up each classes' log alternately about every 2 weeks.  Tomorrow I plan to finish 2nd and 3rd from last week, and we reiterated that each log must be ready to turn in on FRIDAYS.

Halloweenie Week

We will have a HRRB meeting this week- probably on Friday morning- we need to get cracking on the questions and answers to practice with.

In our 2nd and 3rd period classes- we will be working to finish the book Letters to Rifka.  Right now we are writing summaries each day after our reading using 2 column notes and next week students will be receiving their ABC summary pages to write examples of figurative language an important facts from the story on.  We will also be using a new warm up rather than a RAT. 

I WILL BE LOOKING AT THE READING LOGS FOR THE FOLLOWING CLASSES - 2ND 5TH AND 3RD.

Periods 1,4,5 will be reading their scary stories on Monday.  We will resume using the RAT next week for a grade.  After that we will begin a novel in class called Pigman by Paul Zinman.

Oct 19, 2011

HELEN RUFFIN READING BOWL--THERE WILL BE A MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN MR SMITH'S ROOM IN THE 7TH GRADE AT 8:15 A.M.  PLEASE BRING ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE CREATED!@

 

Update on class work.  All grades were due yesterday, so they have been submitted.  All conferences have also been scheduled.....just as an FYI, I thought the times were for 20 mins but it is actually 25, therefore we will have time to close our discussion before the next conference arrives. All starting times are CORRECT, so not to worry!  Thanks for your cooperation!

In 2nd and 3rd period we will read the Rosa Parks interview tomorrow and students will answer comprehension questions 1-5 independently.  After that we will start on our novel Letters to Rifka, about a Russian refugee from 1919.  After that we will move into biographies and towards the WAX MUSEUM performance task- which will be a monologue about a person the student read about (biography).

In 1, 4, 5 period we will continue on with our reading of the We Were There Too book from the media center, which is based on young peoples' actually historical experiences.

I will take up reading logs this Friday for your first log grade for the 2nd nine weeks......peace @