Monday, December 18, 2017

Week of December 18th

We are in the homestretch before winter break! All classes will continue working on their argumentative essays this week and will have access to the ChromeBooks to type, revise and edit. This essay is due Wednesday, January 3rd. The essay must be finished and printed by the start of class that day.

English 7
We will spend all classes Monday through Thursday working on our argumentative essays.
On Wednesday, you will receive notes on how to cite your source(s) appropriately. This will be factored into your final grade for the essay and it will help you avoid plagiarism, so it is important that we do it correctly.

On Thursday, we will review information for the hook/attention grabber of the paper as well as what is necessary for a strong conclusion.

Any work not completed on your paper by Thursday must be completed over winter break. If you would like a pass to continue working in the library on your Academic Prep, please see me before Thursday.

Friday is a half-day and students will spend it participating in activities. We will not be working on our papers on Friday.

Homework
Essay due (typed and printed) on Wednesday, January 3rd.


English 8
We will spend all classes Monday through Thursday working on our argumentative essays.
On Wednesday, you will receive notes on how to cite your source(s) appropriately. This will be factored into your final grade for the essay and it will help you avoid plagiarism, so it is important that we do it correctly.

On Thursday, we will review information for the hook/attention grabber of the paper as well as what is necessary for a strong conclusion.

Any work not completed on your paper by Thursday must be completed over winter break. If you would like a pass to continue working in the library on your Academic Prep, please see me before Thursday.

Friday is a half-day and students will spend it participating in activities. We will not be working on our papers on Friday.

Homework
Essay due (typed and printed) on Wednesday, January 3rd.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Essay Reminders

1. Your argumentative essay is due Wednesday, January 3rd.

2. Your essay must be typed and printed by the start of class on Wednesday, January 3rd.

3. You can access your essay through Google Docs on any computer or smartphone with internet access.

4. You might need to visit your local library to type your essay over winter break. They all have computers with internet access. Please make necessary arrangements.


Parents and Guardians: If you have any concerns about your child being able to type and/or print the essay please contact me before January 3rd. My email is mzangari@northschuylkill.net.

Monday, December 11, 2017

Week of December 11th

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have done a lot of preparing for our argumentative essay by reading argumentative articles written by other people. Some of those people have been journalists, your teachers, and even other students your age. Now, it is time for you to write your own argumentative essay! We will spend this week and next week preparing to write and then typing our essays on the Chrome Books. We will be using Google Docs to write this essay the same way we used it when you wrote your essays for Marking Period 1. This essay will need to be typed and ready to hand in by January 4th.

Grade 7
On Monday, you will receive notes on how to write a thesis statement. Our theses will have 3 parts: counter-claim, main argument and three reasons. It will follow this format:
 ___________(counter-claim)______________, _______(main argument)_________ because _____(reason 1)_______, ______(reason 2)______, and ______(reason 3)_______.

On Tuesday, your thesis will be due at the end of class. You will receive notes on the best way to choose evidence for your essay. I will then give you an article on your chosen topic and you will begin reading it to find evidence. You will need to finish reading and annotating the article for homework.

On Wednesday, you will receive notes on how to integrate evidence into your paper to support your main argument. We will have the Chrome Books and begin writing our papers.

On Thursday, we will finish notes on how to integrate evidence into your argument. You will continue writing your paper on the Chrome Books.

On Friday, you will receive notes on writing to a specific audience. You will continue writing, and probably revise, your paper on the Chrome Books.


Homework
Monday: begin thinking about your thesis
Tuesday: Finish reading and annotating assigned article(s)
Wednesday: Write introduction to essay using Google Docs
Thursday: Finish introduction to essay on Google Docs
Friday: Find 3 reasons to support your thesis, and begin outlining explanations


Grade 8
On Monday, your theses are due. They will be collected at the start of class. We will then take notes on how to choose evidence from your article(s).

On Tuesday, you will receive notes on how to integrate your evidence into your paper. We will evaluate the most effective ways to use evidence to make your argument as convincing as possible!

On Wednesday, we will begin writing our papers using Google Docs on the Chrome Books. Please remember that you can access Google Docs from any computer with internet access. It is a requirement that this paper be typed and printed by January 4th.

On Thursday, you will receive notes on writing to a specific audience. You will have time to continue writing your paper using Google Docs.

On Friday, you will receive notes on citing your sources. You will have time to continue writing your paper using Google Docs.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday: finish writing your introduction paragraph
Friday: write your first body paragraph for your argumentative essay


Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Week of December 4th

This week classes will be preparing for the argumentative essay they will be writing for the second marking period. These essays will be due January 3rd, after winter break. Students will have December 13th to December 21st to type the essays in class. It is a requirement that these essays be typed.

English 7
This week students will focus on the 5 necessary pieces of an argumentative essay. They are:
1. Attention grabber
2. Transitions
3. Evidence
4. Counterclaim
5. Author's position
We will be doing station work in groups to identify and discuss these components of the essay. We will then begin practicing defending our own opinions, first informally then formally. Students will need to have a topic chosen for the argumentative essay by Monday, December 11th.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Read articles for tomorrow's debate
Thursday:
Friday: Choose topic for argumentative essay (Due: Monday)


English 8
This week students will identify evidence and counterclaims in editorials from major newspapers. We will discuss what types of evidence are most convincing to the reader and look more closely at the purpose of counterclaims. On Tuesday we will have an informal debate where students begin practicing defending their opinions with explanation. On Wednesday students will have to use assigned articles to defend their opinions with evidence from sources. By Friday students will be writing their theses for the argumentative essay due after winter break.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Read and take notes on articles for tomorrow's debate
Wednesday:
Thursday: Choose topic for argumentative essay (Due: tomorrow)
Friday: Finish writing thesis for argumentative essay (Due: Monday)

Friday, November 17, 2017

Homework Update

Eighth grade students must finish identifying nouns, pronouns and verbs in Elie Wiesel's Acceptance Speech for the Nobel Peace Prize. This speech is due on Monday and is worth 25 points.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Adjectives Test

This is a reminder that all 7th grade classes will have a test on adjectives tomorrow, November 17th.
I am attaching to this post a key for the study guide for students who may have been absent throughout the week. All students are expected to take the test on Friday.

UPDATE: Study guide answers removed 11/17 (day of test)

Monday, November 13, 2017

Week of November 11th

This week students are going to continue practicing and reviewing parts of speech. Seventh grade classes will move on to adjectives while eighth grade will be reviewing nouns, pronouns and verbs. Remember, you need a noun and a verb to make a sentence!

English 7
On Monday we will review the homework adjective worksheet in class. This worksheet was a way for me to gauge how comfortable you are with adjectives. We will also discuss the two different kinds of adjectives on the worksheet: cumulative and coordinate.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we will prepare a study guide for your upcoming test on adjectives. The test on adjectives will be on Friday, November 11th.
On Thursday we will practice using and identifying adjectives and review for tomorrow's test.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Review coordinate and cumulative adjectives
Wednesday: Review the 3 adjective questions
Thursday: Study for adjective test
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes


English 8
On Monday we will review the Nellie Bly quiz from last week as well as spend time discussing our bellringer procedures. We will then move into some group work that will be very closely tied to your work in reading class.
On Tuesday and Wednesday you will work in groups to identify all parts of speech in your assigned page of Wiesel's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. This is a good review of nouns, verbs and pronouns in the context of a speech that was written and delivered by someone in real life.
On Thursday we will review your work with the Wiesel's speech to ensure you have identified all parts of speech correctly.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Finish work on assigned page of Wiesel's speech if you did not finish in class
Thursday:
Friday:


Monday, November 6, 2017

Week of November 6th

This is the first full week of Marking Period 2 and parents and students can look forward to grades on last week's test by mid-week. These tests will be the first major grade of the second marking period.

English 7
This week we are going to continue working with the memoir The Invisible Thread. You completed your first read of this excerpt on Friday after your test. Your goal on Friday was to identify the main characters, the primary conflict and the main idea from the excerpt.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we are going to complete a second read as a class. During the second read, your goal is to gain a better understanding of the characters through the details you may have missed on your first read.

On Tuesday, we will spend time talking about narrative point of view with this reading and students should expect a short quiz on Thursday. Students will be expected to know the different types of narrative point of view and be able to identify them in excerpts.

As we read this week we will also be talking about our next part of speech, adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe nouns and we have a lot of them in this week's reading!

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Review notes on reading and narrative point of view for quiz tomorrow
Thursday:
Friday:


English 8
This week we are going to continue working with the drama Nellie Bly. You should have completed your first read of this short play on Friday after your test. Your goal for the first read was to identify the main characters and the primary conflict.

This week in class we will assign parts and read the drama aloud. Our goal for the second read will be to gather details and supporting information from the characters words and actions. We will learn about elements of a drama and identify them in the selection. Students should expect a short quiz on the reading on Friday.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday: review notes on Nellie Bly for quiz
Friday:

Monday, October 30, 2017

Week of October 30th

This week marks the end of Marking Period 1. Our bell schedule will be adjusted on Wednesday to allow for students to receive their new Marking Period 2 schedules in homeroom. Elective classes that rotate on a 9-week cycle will begin fresh on Wednesday. All English students will remain in the same class throughout the year. Marking Period 1 report cards will be sent home next week.

English 7
This week we are going to finish our work with verbs and adverbs. Overall, I was very pleased with our nouns test last week and I want to make sure we don't forget that information. To that end, we will have a test on verbs, adverbs, and nouns this Friday, November 3. This test will count toward your Marking Period 2 average.

Homework
Monday- Review action verbs (things you do with your body)
Tuesday- Review action verbs (things you do with your mind)
Wednesday- Review adverbs (words that describe verbs and answer the questions How? When? and How much?)
Thursday- Study nouns, verbs, and adverbs for test tomorrow (use guided notes and practice packets)
Friday- Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes



English 8
This week we are going to review verbs and adverbs. You will have a test on nouns, pronouns (from last week), verbs and adverbs at the end of this week and you should begin preparing early. It is very important that you can identify and know how to correctly use nouns and verbs because they are the 2 most important parts of a sentence. Without a noun or a verb, a sentence is not complete. My hope is that we can eliminate all fragments (incomplete sentences) from our writing before we do our next writing assignment!

Homework
Monday- review all nouns and pronouns
Tuesday- review verbs (mind and body)
Wednesday- Review adverbs (words that describe verbs and answer the questions How? When? and How much?)
Thursday- Student nouns, pronouns, verbs and adverbs (use guided notes and practice packets)
Friday- Read something you enjoy for at least 30 minutes

Monday, October 23, 2017

Week of October 23rd

This week is Red Ribbon Week. The theme for the week is "Your future is key, so stay drug free!" This campaign is a movement to stand against drug use and emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

English 7
On Monday we will review common, proper, abstract and concrete nouns. You will have a test on nouns on Friday, but I will not be reviewing every day this week. Please make sure you are studying the types of nouns on your own to prepare for your test. You use use your guided notes from last week as well as the practice exercises to prepare.

On Tuesday, we will begin learning about verbs and adverbs. You must have a noun (subject) and a verb to make a complete sentence. After our lessons on verbs and adverbs, you should be able to identify and correct fragment sentences. We will continue reviewing verbs and adverbs through Thursday.

Homework
Monday: Review common nouns
Tuesday: Review proper nouns
Wednesday: Review abstract nouns
Thursday: Review concrete nouns and study for test
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes


English 8
On Monday we will review our parts of speech test from last week. I noticed that our biggest area of weaknesses are pronouns and adverbs. Because of this, we will do a quick review of nouns and then move to pronouns this week.

On Tuesday you will get notes on the 4 different categories of nouns. Your homework will be to complete sentences using specific types of nouns.

On Wednesday and Thursday we will move into pronouns and when to use them. Your homework will be to complete sentences using appropriate pronouns.

On Friday, you will write a paragraph using nouns and pronouns. You will have to identify each and use them correctly. Anything not finished will be homework.

Homework
Monday: Review noun notes
Tuesday: Finish sentences for nouns
Wednesday: Complete pronoun sentences
Thursday: Complete sentences for I/me pronouns
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes

Monday, October 16, 2017

Week of October 16th

It's paper and grammar review week in English this week! All classes will learn how to format their papers according to Modern Language Association (MLA) standards on Monday. If a student is absent on Monday they should see me before Wednesday to ensure their paper is formatted correctly. All classes  have papers due on Wednesday, the 18th!

English 7
On Monday we will learn how to format our nonfiction narratives correctly and will format and revise them together. Monday will be the last day we work on the papers in class, so be sure to get a pass from me for Academic Prep if you have anything additional you need to do to complete or print your paper. Remember, papers must be printed and ready to hand in by the start of class on Wednesday.

On Tuesday and Wednesday we will move into a review of the 4 types of nouns. The 4 types we will be practicing are common, proper, abstract and concrete. I expect this to be a review for all students and should help us more easily identify subjects in sentences. Subjects in sentences are always nouns or pronouns. We will learn about pronouns in a few weeks.

On Thursday and Friday we will review action verbs and adverbs. Verbs are things you can do with your mind or body and adverbs tell us how, when, and how much we do a verb.
It is important to note that all complete sentences must have a subject and a verb. It is important to be able to identify these parts of speech so that we can ensure we are always writing in complete sentences.

Homework
Monday: Finish nonfiction narrative
Tuesday: Finish and print nonfiction narrative
Wednesday: NONFICTION NARRATIVES DUE TODAY
Thursday: Complete After School paragraph in the verb packet
Friday: Read something you enjoy for 20 minutes!


English 8
On Monday we will earn how to format our explanatory essays correctly and will format and revise them together. Monday will be the last day we work on the papers in class, so be sure to get a pass from me for Academic Prep if you have anything additional you need to do to complete or print your paper. Remember, papers must be printed and ready to hand in by the start of class on Wednesday.

On Tuesday we will take a practice test to review all parts of speech. This test will be graded, but only for diagnostic purposes. The grade in the gradebook will reflect completion, not correctness.

Based on the results of the practice test, we will review necessary parts of speech Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. My priority is nouns, verbs and pronouns because all sentences must contain a subject (noun or pronoun) and a verb. It is important to be able to identify subjects and verbs to ensure we are always writing in complete sentences.

Homework
Monday: Finish explanatory essay
Tuesday: Finish and print explanatory essay
Wednesday: EXPLANATORY ESSAYS DUE TODAY
Thursday:
Friday: Read something you enjoy for 20 minutes!

Monday, October 9, 2017

Week of October 9th

Class, this week is a big week for us! I have reviewed everything we have done so far, collaborated with your teachers, and decided it is necessary to review the basics of writing. This is good news for you, because the due date of your essays has been pushed back. It also means that your writing will be held to a higher standard. See your class's schedule below for details!

English 7
This week is essay week! You will be expected to learn how to write an effective nonfiction narrative. You will need to take what you observed in our example essays last week and apply it to your own writing this week. Think about things such as characters, conflict and focus. You will have access to Chromebooks in class Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Your essay will now be due on Wednesday, October 18th. Remember, this essay must be typed!

On Tuesday our focus will be on the introductory paragraph. Your introduction should be the exposition of your essay and include characters, setting and primary conflict. Your introduction should begin with an interesting sentence that makes the reader want to continue reading your work. You will have time in class on Tuesday to write your introduction, however, it may not be enough time for you to complete the paragraph. If you do not finish your introductory paragraph in class on Tuesday, you must either see me for a pass to the library during your Academic Prep period, or complete it after school. You will be able to access the work you do in school from any computer with internet access. The libraries in Ringtown, Frackville and Ashland all have computers with internet access, if you do not have one at home. Please see the previous post to find hours for you local library.

On Wednesday, we will review the requirements for a body paragraph. Every body paragraph must have one main idea. This main idea should be the subject of your topic sentence, the first sentence in the paragraph. The remaining 4 to 6 sentences of the paragraph should add detail and explanation to your topic sentence. All of the sentences should be related to the topic sentence as well as the topic of the essay. It is not the responsibility of the reader to figure out why a detail is important to your essay. It is the responsibility of the writing to make that clear to the reader. Your first and second body paragraphs should be part of the rising action. Your third body paragraph should be your climax. You will have time to write your first body paragraph in class on Wednesday. Your second and third body paragraphs should be completed outside of class by Friday.

On Thursday, we will review the requirements for a conclusion paragraph. Your conclusion should be the resolution of your plot. You will have time in class on Thursday to write your conclusion paragraph. Your resolution should be part of your conclusion paragraph.

On Friday, we will have a pep rally and because of this periods will be shortened. You will have the entire class to finish writing and revise your essay. I encourage you to use your time wisely and to edit and revise of the weekend. Your essay will be due on Wednesday, October 18th. You should not count on class-time on Monday, October 16th or Tuesday, October 17th to work on your essay.

If you require more time in school to work on your essay, you must come see me. I can write you a pass to the library during your Academic Prep period and allow you to continue working on your essay during that time. If you need time outside of school to work on your essay, but do not have a computer with internet access, you must go to your local public library and utilize the computers there. If neither of these options work for you, you must come see me as soon as possible! No excuses will be accepted on October 18th. Remember, your grade is lowered by one letter each day it is late. And no papers will be accepted more than 3 days late.

Homework
Monday: Columbus Day!
Tuesday: Complete introduction paragraph
Wednesday: Complete body paragraph 1
Thursday: Complete body paragraphs 2 and 3
Friday: Complete conclusion paragraph
Monday: Revise paper
Tuesday: Edit and print paper


English 8
This week is essay week! You will be expected to learn how to write an effective explanatory essay. You will need to take what you observed in our example essays last week and apply it to your own writing this week. You will have access to Chromebooks in class Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Your essay will now be due on Wednesday, October 18th. Remember, this essay must be typed!

On Tuesday our focus will be on the introductory paragraph. Your introduction should have all of the main ideas you will write about in the rest of your essay, but none of the details. Your introduction should begin with an interesting sentence that makes the reader want to continue reading your work and end with a one-sentence summary of what your essay is about. You will have time in class on Tuesday to write your introduction, however, it may not be enough time for you to complete the paragraph. If you do not finish your introductory paragraph in class on Tuesday, you must either see me for a pass to the library during your Academic Prep period, or complete it after school. You will be able to access the work you do in school from any computer with internet access. The libraries in Ringtown, Frackville and Ashland all have computers with internet access, if you do not have one at home. Please see the previous post to find hours for you local library.

On Wednesday, we will review the requirements for a body paragraph. Every body paragraph must have one main idea. This main idea should be the subject of your topic sentence, the first sentence in the paragraph. The remaining 4 to 6 sentences of the paragraph should add detail and explanation to your topic sentence. All of the sentences should be related to the topic sentence as well as the topic of the essay. It is not the responsibility of the reader to figure out why a detail is important to your essay. It is the responsibility of the writing to make that clear to the reader. You will have time to write your first body paragraph in class on Wednesday. Your second and third body paragraphs should be completed outside of class by Friday.

On Thursday, we will review the requirements for a conclusion paragraph. Your conclusion should summarize the main ideas of your essay and leave the reader with something to think about. You will have time in class on Thursday to write your conclusion paragraph.

On Friday, we will have a pep rally and because of this periods will be shortened. You will have the entire class to finish writing and revise your essay. I encourage you to use your time wisely and to edit and revise of the weekend. Your essay will be due on Wednesday, October 18th. You should not count on class-time on Monday, October 16th or Tuesday, October 17th to work on your essay.

If you require more time in school to work on your essay, you must come see me. I can write you a pass to the library during your Academic Prep period and allow you to continue working on your essay during that time. If you need time outside of school to work on your essay, but do not have a computer with internet access, you must go to your local public library and utilize the computers there. If neither of these options work for you, you must come see me as soon as possible! No excuses will be accepted on October 18th. Remember, your grade is lowered by one letter each day it is late. And no papers will be accepted more than 3 days late.

Homework
Monday: Columbus Day!
Tuesday: Complete introduction paragraph
Wednesday: Complete body paragraph 1
Thursday: Complete body paragraphs 2 and 3
Friday: Complete conclusion paragraph
Monday: Revise paper
Tuesday: Edit and print paper

Public Library Hours

Students,

Your first formal essay is due soon and it is a requirement that this essay be typed. You will have time in class this week to type your essay, however, I know some of you might need time outside of school to finish. Because of this, I want to provide you will the hours to the public libraries in the larger towns of our district. If you do not have a computer with internet access at home, and cannot get a pass from me during your Academic Prep period, you may need to go to the library to finish typing your essay. I have called each library to ensure computers with internet access are available for your use.

Hours
Ringtown
Monday and Thursday 11-5
Tuesday and Wednesday 12-7
Friday closed
Saturday 9-1
Sunday closed

Frackville
Monday through Thursday 11-7
Friday 11-5
Saturday 9-4
Sunday closed

Ashland
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10-6
Wednesday closed
Friday 9-4
Saturday 8-12
Sunday closed


We will be typing the essays in Google Docs, which means you can access your work from any computer with internet access. All you need to do is log in to your North Schuylkill Gapps account using your email (ex. 1234@gapps.northschuylkill.net) and your password.

If you will be unable to get to a library and do not think you will have enough time in school to type your essay, you must come speak to me as soon as possible. If you come to me before the due date, I will work with you to make sure you have the resources you need to fulfill the requirements of the assignment. If you do not speak to me before the due date and your essay is not typed, you will have not fulfilled the requirements of the assignment.

Friday, October 6, 2017

Columbus Day Weekend!

This post has been updated concerning due dates and class schedule.

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy your long weekend this weekend!

I want to send out a reminder that we will have our first major writing assignment due at the end of class on Wednesday, October 18th. This assignment will be part of the most heavily weighted category of your grade so it will have a large impact on your marking period average! Use your rubric to revise and edit to make sure you do as well as you possibly can.

Students will have access to Chromebooks during class Tuesday (10/10)  through Friday (10/13) to type their essays. We will be using Google Docs for this assignment. One major benefit of Google Docs is that students can access and edit their essays from any computer with Internet access. All you need is your gapps email and password to log in to your account. Progress is automatically saved when working in Google Docs.

It is a requirement that this assignment is typed and I recognize not everyone can type at the same rate. I encourage students to get a pass from me to go to the library during their Academic Prep periods. Students can continue working on their essays from the library.

Monday, October 2, 2017

Week of October 2nd

Can you believe it is October already? We are one full month into school this year and I think we are all getting into the groove. As you know, progress reports went out last week, which means we are half way through the marking period. We have a lot yet to do, so we're going full steam ahead this week!

English 7
This week we are going to take a closer look at nonfiction narratives. Our Launchtext "Grounded" was a good example of a nonfiction narrative. You will write and submit a nonfiction narrative by Friday, October 13th. This paper must be typed.
On Tuesday you will receive your rubric for the nonfiction narrative and we will discuss all elements of the plot. Wednesday, you will see an example of a nonfiction narrative that needs improvement. We will discuss ways it can be improved. Thursday, we will see 2 examples of narratives that are satisfactory, but can still be made better. Finally on Friday, we will look at a narrative that fulfills all the requirements of the rubric. This should give you a clear idea of what your nonfiction narrative should look like by the time it is due.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Come up with a topic for your nonfiction narrative
Thursday: Topic for nonfiction narrative due tomorrow
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes!


English 8
This week we are going to look closely at explanatory (or informational) writing. We read an example of explanatory writing with "The Grand Mosque of Paris" and now you will be creating your own. You will have an explanatory/informational essay due to me on Friday, October 13th. This paper must be typed.
On Tuesday you will receive your rubric for the nonfiction narrative and we will discuss elements of the rubric. This should clearly define for you the expectations and required elements of an explanatory essay. On Wednesday, we will see an example of an explanatory essay that needs improvement and we will come up with strategies to improve it. On Thursday, we will look at 2 explanatory essays that are satisfactory, but can still be made better. And finally on Friday, we will dissect an essay that fulfills all requirements of the rubric. You will want to model your writing after this essay.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Come up with topic for explanatory essay
Thursday: Topic for explanatory essay due tomorrow
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes!

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Week of September 25th

This week classes will be working out of their textbooks. We will be reading selections and focusing on how to annotate and take notes as we read. Both classes will be reading exemplary texts for the type of writing assignment they will be completing at the end of the marking period. Students will also be practicing their vocabulary list each list contains 5 words and students should study not only the definitions of the words but also the root word of each. Students should be able to use their knowledge of root words to determine the meaning of related words.

English 7
Monday and Tuesday we will be reading "Grounded," the Unit 1 Launchtext. This text is an example of non-fiction narrative writing. Students should take note of the sensory details used in the selection as well as the use of dialogue.

The vocabulary list for this Unit is located on page 5 of the textbook. There will be a short quiz on the vocabulary words and their roots on Friday, September 29th. This quiz will be worth 20 points.
The words are:
  • Dialogue, root: -log- "word"
    • Conversation
  • Consequence, root: -sequ- "follow"
    • Positive or negative effect/result
  • Perspective, root: -spec- "look"
    • Particular way of looking at something; point of view
  • Notable, root: -not- "mark"
    • Outstanding; remarkable
  • Contradict, root: -dict- "speak" or "assert"
    • To state the opposite; to deny
Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Study for vocabulary quiz
Wednesday: Study for vocabulary quiz
Thursday:Study for vocabulary quiz
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes


English 8
On Monday and Tuesday we will be reading "The Grand Mosque of Paris," the Unit 2 Launchtext. This text is an example of explanatory writing. Students should take note of the use of facts and information in the selection and notice the absence of opinions. At the end of the marking period students will write their own explanatory essays.

The vocabulary list for Unit 2 is located on page 91 of the textbook. There will be a short quiz on the vocabulary words and their roots on Friday, September 29th. This quiz will be worth 20 points.
The words are:
  • Theorize, root: -theo-/-thea- "view" or "consider"
    • To form an explanation based on observation and reasoning
  • Sustain, root: -tain- "hold"
    • To maintain or keep up
  • Declaration, root: -clar- "clear"
    • Announcement or formal statement
  • Pronounce, root: -nounc-/ -nunc- "declare" or "report"
    • To say a word correctly and clearly, to officially anounce
  • Enumerate, root: -numer- "number"
    • To specify as in a list; to count

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Study for vocabulary quiz
Wednesday: Study for vocabulary quiz
Thursday:Study for vocabulary quiz
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes

Monday, September 18, 2017

Week of September 18th

This post has been modified. Please check for changes. 9/20/17

This week all classes will be testing in the computer lab on Monday and Tuesday. Eighth grade students will be completing their English CDT tests and 7th grade students will be completing the Beginning of the Year tests through Pearson Online. The purpose of both of these tests is to see what we know and what we don't know so that we can proceed most effectively for the rest of the year. Both grades will take their respective tests again in the winter and for a final time in the spring. The goal is to see progress and growth with each testing session.

English 7
On Monday and Tuesday we will be in the computer lab completing the Beginning of the Year test through Pearson Online. This test is a requirement and it must be finished by 11:59 Wednesday night. You will not have time on the computers on Wednesday to complete the test. However, you may access this test from any computer with internet access using pearsonrealize.com and the username and password provided to you at the beginning of the year.

For the remainder of the week we are going to start working with the textbook. We will begin with the Unit 1 vocabulary. We will spend Wednesday and Thursday's class defining our vocabulary terms. On Friday we will read the Launchtext, "Grounded." You can access this text and all of the questions associated with you textbook through pearsonrealize.com.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Finish Beginning of the Year test if you have not completed it in class
Wednesday: Finish bellringers for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Thursday:
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes!


English 8
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday these classes will be testing in the computer lab. We will be taking CDT tests which most of you are familiar with from last year. As you know, you will take these tests 3 times throughout the year. The first testing session this week will serve as our starting point and we will be able to see and measure how much we grow throughout the year by taking them in the middle of the year, and then again at the end.

For the remainder of the week we will work out of the textbook. We will be working with Unit 2, the same as your reading classes and we will begin with the Unit 2 vocabulary. We will spend Wednesday and Thursday defining the unit vocabulary. On Friday, we will begin reading the Launch text, "The Grand Mosque of Paris." You can access this text and all of the questions and homework associated with your textbook through pearsonrealize.com.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Finish bellringers for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Thursday:
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes!

Monday, September 11, 2017

Week of September 11th

This week both classes will be finishing their writing assignments as well as sharing what they wrote with the class. This is our first writing assignment and I expect to have them graded by the middle of next week. My expectations for each class will be outlined below. Since this is our first writing assignment and students were not given time in school to type it, typing is not a requirement for this assignment. It is, however, encouraged.


English 7
This week we will become familiar with our new kind of bellringer. This bellringer will give you a paragraph and ask you to correct all spelling and grammar mistakes. You will be given a handout to teach you about the different editing marks. This handout is very important and should be put in your binder. You will need it for the rest of the year.
We will also be finishing our writing assignments this week. Writing assignments will be due on Thursday, September 14 and my primary goal will be checking to make sure they contain an introduction/ exposition, a climax and a conclusion. These writing assignments do not need to be typed. You will receive a rubric that I will use to grade the assignment on Wednesday. Please be prepared to share your writing on Friday.

Homework
Monday: Be sure writing assignment is 1 page long
               Correct all spelling errors in writing assignment
               Final draft of writing assignment due Thursday, 9/14

Tuesday: Be sure writing assignment is 1 page long
               Identify an introduction, a climax and a conclusion in your paper
               Final draft of writing assignment due Thursday, 9/14

Wednesday: Check writing assignment for transition words. Make any final changes
                     Final draft of writing assignment due tomorrow, 9/14!

Thursday: Prepare to share writing assignment with class

Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 10 minutes!



English 8
This week we will become familiar with our new kind of bellringer. This bellringer will give you a paragraph and ask you to correct all spelling and grammar mistakes. You will be given a handout to teach you about the different editing marks. This handout is very important and should be put in your binder. You will need it for the rest of the year. I also plan to begin our first unit from the textbook. We will be starting with Unit 2.
Your creative writing assignments will be due on Thursday, September 14 and my primary goal will be checking to make sure they contain an introduction/ exposition, a climax and a conclusion. These writing assignments do not need to be typed. You will receive a rubric that I will use to grade the assignment on Wednesday. Please be prepared to share your story with the class on Friday.

Homework
Monday: Be sure all spelling and grammar errors are fixed in writing assignment
               Be sure writing assignment has one clear conflict or problem that needs solving
               Final draft of writing assignment due Thursday, 9/14

Tuesday: Be sure writing assignment has a clear exposition, climax and resolution
                Final draft of writing assignment due Thursday, 9/14

Wednesday: Check writing assignment for transitions and make any final changes
                     Final draft of writing assignment due tomorrow, 9/14!

Thursday: Prepare to share writing assignment with class

Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 10 minutes!


Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Week of September 5th

I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend and is ready to get back to work writing and reading! This week all classes will be reviewing the steps of the writing process and completing their first writing assignment. The final draft of this assignment is not required to be typed, though it is encouraged. Assignments for 7th and 8th grade classes will differ.

English 7
This week we are going to finish our textbook scavenger hunt and expand on the freewrites we completed last week as brainstorms. The next step of the writing process we are going to focus on is drafting. We will draft a one-page creative story on Thursday and revise it on Friday. When we return to school on Monday, we will edit and then have a final draft submitted by mid-week next week. This writing assignment is intended to be creative and fun. I am asking students to focus on plot for this assignment. Their writing should have an introduction or beginning, a climax or big conflict, and a resolution or ending.

*All students must have a binder by class on Thursday!

Homework;
Tuesday: Get binder by Thursday and finish bellringer Day 2
Wednesday: Finish textbook scavenger hunt and get binder by tomorrow
Thursday: Finish writing your first draft
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 10 minutes!



English 8
This week we are going to move forward with our first writing assignment and begin the next steps of the writing process. Last week we did brainstorming and drafting. This week we will move on to revising and editing. Students will have their first experience with peer-review this week and the final draft of the first writing assignment will be due mid-week next week. It is not required for this writing assignment to by typed, though it is encouraged. The focus for this writing assignment will be plot and character development.

*All students must have a binder by class on Thursday!

Homework:
Tuesday: Get binder by Thursday and finish bellringer Day 2
Wednesday: Get binder by tomorrow
Thursday: Finish writing your first draft
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 10 minutes!

Monday, August 28, 2017

Week of August 29th

Welcome back to a new school year! There are a lot of changes in place at North Schuylkill such as the Spartan Academy and a new Positive Behavior reward system that will help make our school even better than it already is. I am so excited to start this journey with you! Let's make it a great year.

English 7
This week we will spend 2 days reviewing rules and procedures for the year. It is my belief that setting a solid foundation at the start of the school year will help us move more efficiently and effectively through our studies for the next 9 months. During the second half of the week we will complete our first writing assignment and we will have the opportunity to get to know one another better.

Parents and Guardians: Please be advised that there will be several forms coming home that need to be returned either to your students' homeroom teacher or their classroom teachers. For English 7, I will be sending home a behavior contract that lays out my expectations for the year as well as consequences for not rising to meet those expectations. Please sign this contract and, if possible, to provide me with an email address I can use to contact you throughout the school year. This contract is due back to me by Friday, September 1st.

Homework
Monday: Get behavior contract signed
Tuesday: Get behavior contract signed
Wednesday: Get behavior contract signed
Thursday: Get behavior contract signed (DUE TOMORROW!)
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 10 minutes!



English 8
This week we will spend 2 days reviewing rules and procedures for the year. It is my belief that setting a solid foundation at the start of the school year will help us move more efficiently and effectively through our studies for the next 9 months. During the second half of the week we will complete our first writing assignment and we will have the opportunity to get to know one another better.

Parents and Guardians: Please be advised that there will be several forms coming home that need to be returned either to your students' homeroom teacher or their classroom teachers. For English 7, I will be sending home a behavior contract that lays out my expectations for the year as well as consequences for not rising to meet those expectations. Please sign this contract and, if possible, to provide me with an email address I can use to contact you throughout the school year. This contract is due back to me by Friday, September 1st.

Homework
Monday: Get behavior contract signed
Tuesday: Get behavior contract signed
Wednesday: Get behavior contract signed
Thursday: Get behavior contract signed (DUE TOMORROW!)
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 10 minutes!

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Important Beginning of the Year Information

Teacher: Ms. Zangari
Email: mzangari@northschuylkill.net


Classes: English 7 and English 8
Class material requirements: Binder, 2 Pencils, 2 Pens, 2 Highlighters


I believe education is most effective when school and home work together. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or comments that might arise throughout the year. I will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.

Monday, May 22, 2017

Week of May 22nd

The schedule for classes is different each day this week. Please be sure to pay attention to morning announcements daily to ensure you know your class schedule for the day. This week is the end of senior finals, Algebra I Keystone Exams and the first 2 days of underclassmen finals. Please be sure you have received a review sheet from me to help you prepare for your finals and also come to collect your quiz folders if you would like to use them to study.

English 9
This week we will play a review game to help you prepare for your final. First period will take the final on Thursday, May 25th. Fourth period will take the final on Friday, May 26th. Your only homework this week is to study. Please do not wait until the night before your final to begin preparing.


Honors English 7
This week we will complete a review guide and play a review game to help you prepare for your final. You will take your final on Friday, May 26th. Your only homework this week is to study. Please do not wait until the night before your final to begin preparing.


English 11
This week we will complete study guides to help you prepare for your final. You will take your final on Thursday, May 25th. Your only homework this week is to study. Please do not wait until the night before your final to begin preparing.



Monday, May 15, 2017

Week of May 15th

Keystone testing for Biology and Literature will be occurring this week. Our classes will remain largely unaffected by these tests, but some students will miss class. Next week, Algebra Keystones will be administered. Some classes will be missed for these tests. Please be advised that during Keystone testing, the schedule might be adjusted and periods might be out of order.

English 9
On Monday you will be taking a quiz on Act IV of Romeo and Juliet. Don't forget that in addition to reading the original text from our textbook, you can also use No Fear Shakespeare as a resource. It is available to you at sparknotes.com.

The rest of the week will be spent reading Act V of Romeo and Juliet. We will finish the play this week and will hold several discussions about the play. Discussion topics will include the cultural importance of this play, possible criticisms of it, as well as your personal reactions to the characters and the plot.

You should be prepared to take a quiz on this Act by the end of the week.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday: Study for Act V quiz
Friday:


English 7
It's debate week for our 7th graders and to say I'm excited is an understatement! I know a lot of hard work and research has gone into preparing for this debate and I cannot wait for you to see the fruits of your labor. I am also excited to see your put your critical thinking and analyzing skills to the test!

On Monday and Tuesday of this week you will read a short news article from your textbook, "A Young Tinkerer Builds a Windmill, Electrifying a Nation." You will then complete vocabulary and structure worksheets about this article during class on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we will hold our debates. Most debates will take place in the LGI room. Please continue to prepare with your team for Wednesday.

Homework
Monday: Finish reading news article
Tuesday: Finish worksheet packet on news article
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Write a reflection on this week's debates. What went well and what can be improved?


English 11
This week we are going to finish all of our readings for the year. You will read the short story "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" from your textbook on Monday and Tuesday and should be prepared to discuss it on Wednesday. We will be comparing this short story to the one read last week, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Finish reading short story
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Monday, May 8, 2017

Week of May 8th

Spring is in full swing and this week marks the half-way point for the 4th Marking Period. Progress Reports will be printed for students who are failing on Tuesday. Don't forget Monday is an extended school day!

English 9
On Monday we will review your Act II quiz corrections as well as take your Act III quiz. 
Tuesday through Thursday we will read Act IV and Friday you will have a review packet to prepare for your quiz. Your quiz on Act IV will be on Monday, May 15th.

Homework
Monday: 
Tuesday: 
Wednesday: 
Thursday: Complete comprehension check questions for Act IV
Friday: Finish review packet and study for quiz 


English 7
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week will be spent perfecting your cases for Thursday and Friday's debates! On Monday you will be outlining your case. On Tuesday you will be assigned a group and you will begin writing your case. On Wednesday you will finish writing your case and you will email it to me so I can print it out for you. On Thursday and Friday we will debate. 

Debates will be 3/4 vs. 3/4 and each person will have the opportunity to speak. You will deliver your case and your opponent will do the same. You will then question your opponent on their case. The winner of the debate will be determined by a vote based on the side with the better questions/ answers and facts. The students in the class who are not debating and the teacher will vote for the winner.

Homework
Monday: 
Tuesday: Finish case outline
Wednesday: Finish writing case
Thursday:
Friday:


English 11
This week we will finish our work with your fictional narratives. You will have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to type and print your narratives. They will be due by the end of class on Wednesday. 

These narratives will be typed on the online application, Google Docs. You can access these documents from any computer with internet access. For this reason, barring extenuating circumstances, there will be no extensions to the Wednesday due date.

On Thursday and Friday we will read the short story "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and discuss its structure, its conflicts and the way the conflict is resoved. We will look at the way the character is developed and determine how the ending contributes to the story's motif. You will be using this story to compare and contrast a second short story that we will read next week.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: If assigned, find news article
Wednesday: Annotate news article
Thursday:
Friday:

Monday, May 1, 2017

Week of May 1st

It's May! We are in the home stretch and progress reports will be coming out early next week. Please be sure you have all assignments handed in before Friday.

English 9
We will read Act III this week of Romeo and Juliet. As you know, this is the climax of the play and there will be many things happening. Please be sure you are not only reading these scenes, but also understanding them. In addition to reading the text from your book, you can also read a modern translation of the play. One example of this can be found on the No Fear Shakespeare section of Sparknotes's website. Please utilize this resource, especially when you are preparing for a quiz on the Act.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Review scenes i and ii
Wednesday: Review scenes iii and iv
Thursday: Review scene v
Friday: Study for Act III quiz


English 7
This week we will finish our work with "Hey Come On Out" and move into our next writing assignment. Instead of writing another argumentative essay, you will be having a debate. This debate will require you to do research, identify important information and write an argument to prepare for the debate. You will have two classes in the library to do your research. You must have three sources- one newspaper article and one journal article are required. You will then have one day in class to re-read all of your sources and annotate them.

Next week, I will give you two days in class to work with your group and write your argument. Near the end of next week, we will have our debate!

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Find newspaper article for debate and print it out
Thursday: Find journal article for debate and print it out
Friday: Find third source for debate and print it out


English 11
This week we will be focusing on a different kind of writing assignment, creative writing! You will have the opportunity to write a fictional narrative about a single conflict. You will incorporate elements of the short stories we have been reading in Unit 6 in your writing. For example, you will include dialogue in your story and you will have to determine your narrator's point of view. In addition, I want you to give consideration to the kind of structure your story will have. For example, will it be a frame story like "Everything Stuck to Him" or will it be a flashback like "The Leap"? The choice is yours!

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday: Finish rough draft of short story
Friday:

Monday, April 24, 2017

Week of April 24th

Grades 7 and 8 will take the Science PSSAs this week, which means schedule changes are eminent! Freshman and Juniors will not be taking the Science PSSAs. Periods 1, 3 and 4, should report to Mr. Wagner's room, 805, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

PSSA English 7 and 8
This week you will be working on your novel projects. This will be a major assignment with all of the components totaling approximately 60 points. You will be given two class periods to work on the project and you will then have the weekend to complete any remaining work at home. Please have your project completed by the specified due date, either May 1st (Day A) or May 2nd (Day B).

Homework
Complete novel project by next week.


English 9
This week you will read Act 2 of Romeo and Juliet. You will keep the parts assigned to you for Act 1. We will review Act 2 in class on Friday and you should prepare for a quiz on this act on Monday.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Finish Comprehension Check Questions for Act 2
Thursday: Finish vocabulary worksheet for Act 2
Friday: Study for Act 2 quiz 


English 7
This week you will be taking your Science PSSAs and the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. We will be working with the short story "He-y, Come on Ou-t!" this week. Focusing on comprehension, irony, special punctuation and theme.

Homework
Monday: 
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


English 11
This week we will finish our work with the short story "The Leap". We will look closely at the structure of the story as well as its themes. You should expect to take a quiz on "The Leap" on Thursday. 

NOTE: I will be administering PSSAs and will not be teaching this class on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. To help you best prepare for you quiz, please make time to see me in school or e-mail me any questions you might have. Don't wait until Thursday morning to ask me questions about the short story. Please prepare early!

Due to my absence from class, the quiz will not be administered on Friday. Please be prepared to take a quiz on "The Leap" on Friday.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: 
Wednesday: Study for "Leap" quiz
Thursday:
Friday:

Monday, April 17, 2017

Week of April 17th

I hope everyone enjoyed their beautiful Easter weekend! We're back now and ready to keep pushing toward the end of the year.

English 9
We will officially begin reading Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet this week. Characters will be read according to the parts assigned last week. Adjustments will be made as necessary. Throughout the week, we will be summarizing the plot of the play and prepare for a quiz on Act 1. You should expect to take this quiz on Friday, April 21st.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Study Act 1 to prepare for quiz.
Thursday: Study Act 1 to prepare for quiz tomorrow.
Friday: Read something you enjoy for 20 minutes!


Honors English 7
Monday and Tuesday you will be typing your memoir. The memoirs are due to me by the end of the school day on Tuesday. If you do not finish typing your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, you will need to make alternate arrangements to type the essay. If I do not have the essay by 2:30 on Tuesday, it will be late.

Homework
Monday: Type your memoir.
Tuesday: Memoirs were due today! If you didn't finish typing it, do so for homework!
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Read something you enjoy for 20 minutes!


English 11
Monday and Tuesday of this week we will finish up our work on "Everything Stuck to Him." You can expect to have a quiz on this short story on Wednesday.
For the remainder of the week, we will begin working with the last short story from this unit, The Leap. You will complete a first read of that story for homework on Wednesday and the Comprehension Questions will be due Thursday. We will be studying the structure of this story and how it compares to the frame structure of "Everything Stuck to Him."


Homework
Monday: Finish writing dialogue
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Read "The Leap" and complete Comprehension Questions
Thursday: Finish structure worksheet for "The Leap"
Friday: Read something you enjoy for 20 minutes!

Monday, April 3, 2017

Week of April 3rd

This week is a big week at North Schuylkill. Not only are we starting our 4th Marking Period on Tuesday, but we are also taking our English PSSAs! As we come to the last 25% of the school year and the weather starts to get warmer, I know it can be hard to focus on schoolwork. You have come so far in the past 7 months and you don't want to waste all that effort now. Stay focused until the end of the year and then get as much as you possibly can out of a relaxing and rewarding summer!

English 9
We are going to begin our final unit of study this week and it will focus on one of the most famous pieces of literature ever written. Romeo and Juliet is a play that students have been reading and learning about in school for a long time and it is something that everyone has read. You're about to join those millions of readers and become familiar with one of Shakespeare's most famous plays.

Homework
Monday: Finish "I Have a Dream" and "Letter from Birmingham Jail" comparison chart
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


Honors English 7
It's PSSA week! This is the moment you've spent so many months working toward. It's finally here! Your teachers are so proud of the work you have done and we cannot wait to see you show others how much you have learned this year!

Our schedules this week will be different than normal because of testing so please be sure you know what your daily schedule is.

We will continue working with the excerpt from Annie Dillard's "An American Childhood." We will complete our final read of the text this week and will be able to have in-depth discussions about it as well as connect it to other pieces of art you have encountered.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


English 11
We are going to finish our work up on "Everyday Use" this week. We will complete one more read through and will then have a final discussion and a quiz on the story. I expect to be done with this short story on Wednesday, so you should begin to prepare for the quiz early this week. After the quiz, we will move on to reading another selection from this unit. We are looking specifically at how writers shed light on what it means to be human through their writing.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Study for "Everyday Use" quiz
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Monday, March 27, 2017

Week of March 27th

We're entering the last full week of the Marking Period. Remember to check your grades and turn in all missing assignments before April 4th!

English 9
This week we will continue working with our unit and read 2 more pieces of literature from the Civil Rights era. We will compare and contrast Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech with his "Letter from Birmingham Jail." I hope this leads to interesting discussions and will be a good opportunity to exercise our close reading skills. After we finish with those, we will read Robert Kennedy's remarks on the assassination of Dr. King Jr. We will continue to focus on how persuasive writing differs from informational writing and you will do some writing of your own!

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: "Letter from Birmingham Jail" Comprehension Check Questions
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes!


Honors English 7
This week we are going to finish up with the short story "Thank you Ma'am" on Monday and write a journal entry from the perspective of one of the characters. The remainder of the week will be spent considering the next two selections from this unit. We will read an excerpt from "An American Childhood" and compare this memoir to the short story "Thank you Ma'am." We will then view a collections of photographs and consider their relationship to the selections we read. We will also consider how all of these pieces contribute to the answer to our essential question: What can cause a sudden change in someone's life?.

Homework
Monday: Complete "Thank you Ma'am" journal entry
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes!


English 11
On Monday you will be given a presentation on your Graduation Project requirements. This presentation is vital to your success in your senior year of high school. If you are absent on Monday, you must make it a priority to see me, Mr. Lucas or Mrs. Anderson to receive all information you miss. The proposal for your project is due in two weeks, Monday, April 10th.

The remainder of our week will be spent on the short story "Everyday Use." We will be going through this short story with very close attention to detail to ensure we fully understand the plot and characters. You will be assigned Comprehension Check questions for homework on the day we finish our 1st read of the short story. I expect us to finish on Thursday. These questions can be found in your textbook. My priority as we read through this story is to get you into the habit of annotating while you read. That means you will need at least a pencil and a highlighter for every day of class this week.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday: Comprehension Check questions for "Everyday Use"
Friday: Read something you enjoy for at least 20 minutes!

Monday, March 20, 2017

Week of March 20th

After blizzard Stella, our class plans needs adjustment and this week will reflect that. Unfortunately, some of the projects we were working on last week will need to be streamlined. In addition, the end of the Marking Period is quickly approaching. Grades will be finalized on Tuesday, April 4th. Please make sure you check your grade before then and turn in all missing assignments. If I do not have an assignment by that date, it will be a 0. This score on an assignment can significantly lower your grade.


English 9
Monday and Tuesday of this week we will complete the Outsiders posters we began working on last week. The posters will be due Wednesday and must be colored and complete at that time.
Wednesday through Friday we will begin working on a unit of study from our textbooks.

Homework
Monday: Work on Outsiders poster
Tuesday: Finish Outsiders poster
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


English 7
It might be difficult to recall, but we completed our first read of the short story "Thank You Ma'am" last week. Monday will begin with a review of the plot of this story to make sure you understood the characters and the plot during your first read. We will complete a worksheet to reinforce this information. Tuesday we will complete our second read and pick specific parts of the short story to analyze deeply. This will require some deep critical thinking, so please come with your thinking caps ready! Wednesday you will receive a presentation on the impact Langston Hughes, the author of this short story, had on his literary time period, the Harlem Renaissance. We will connect this to contemporary movements and trends in art. This will prepare us for our 3rd read, which we will use to draw connections between this story and other pieces of art you are familiar with.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


English 11
Last week, we started watching the film Of Mice and Men. We will continue this film this week and have multiple discussions comparing and contrasting it to the novella we read in class. We are going to think critically about what is different between the two versions and, more importantly, why the director would choose to make those changes. We will also look closely at the way each character is portrayed in the film and contrast that to the novella. I look forward to some interesting analysis and discussion on this topic!

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Ensure film viewing packet is complete
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Monday, March 6, 2017

Week of March 6th

This week 11th grade will finish up with Of Mice and Men 9th grade will write a paper for The Outsiders, and 7th grade will finish our paper on space travel to Mars. This week will be writing intensive for all classes so please come to class prepared to think critically and analytically.


English 9
Monday we will finish watching the film The Outsiders. Following the conclusion of the film, we will begin brainstorming for an essay that compares and contrasts the film with the novel. We will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in class writing this paper and the final draft will be due to me on Thursday. The final draft must be typed. If you feel that you will have difficulty typing the essay, or printing it out, please see me. We will make alternate arrangements.


Homework
Monday- Finish outline for Outsiders essay
Tuesday- Finish Outsiders essay. Print.
Wednesday-
Thursday-
Friday-



English 7
On Monday we will finish our TDA practice from Friday. If you have already completed this worksheet, you will begin drafting your essay. Your essay will be 5 paragraphs long and you will have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in class to write it. Your essay may be typed and e-mailed to me by Thursday. You should submit the rubric with your essay.


Homework
Monday- Finish outline
Tuesday- Revise essay
Wednesday- Email essay to Ms. Zangari, if you did not do so in class.
Thursday-
Friday-



English 11
On Monday you will have time to complete a study guide for the final test on Of Mice and Men. Tuesday we will go over the study guide and I will give you important information about the test. On Wednesday you will take your final test on Of Mice and Men. This test will cover material from the entire novella so please use your introductory notes, your chapter reading guides and your final study guide to help you prepare.


Homework
Monday- Finish test study guide
Tuesday- Study for test
Wednesday-
Thursday-
Friday-

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

7th Grade Homework Announcement!

Please e-mail me a news article about space travel to Mars before class tomorrow. Your article should not be more than 5 years old!

Monday, February 27, 2017

Week of February 27th

Mid-year CDTs are now behind us and this week we will get back on track with the work we were doing before we began testing. This week will focus on responding to literature in all classes. Each class will finish reading the literature they have been working through, if they have not done so already. Some classes will work on writing as a response to literature and other classes will begin other projects related to the literature. Either way, this is a heads up that you will have assignments worth large amounts of points coming up. Being just over half-way through the marking period, these grades will have a significant impact on your marking period average!


English 9
Monday we are going to read chapter 11 of The Outsiders. We will read chapter 12 on Tuesday and that will bring the novel to a close. This means you will have a quiz on chapters 9 through 12 on Wednesday. Your study guides will be due on the same day. These packets will be worth 57 points.
Thursday and Friday we will watch the film The Outsiders  to prepare for your final project on the novel.

Homework
Monday: Finish chapter 11 study guide questions
Tuesday: Finish any Critical Thinking and Post Reading questions you did not finish in class. Study for quiz.
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Choose novel project


English 7
We are going to continue our practice with Text Dependent Analysis this week with the article "Warning! This Trip to Mars Might Bore You to Death!". We completed our first read of this article on Friday, will complete the second on Monday and the third on Tuesday. We will continue to discuss the different goals for each read and how we can prepare for writing as we read. You will then conduct your own research on the topic of space travel to Mars and write an editorial on whether or not we should travel to Mars.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


English 11
We finished our writing workshop on Friday and you will begin brainstorming for you Of Mice and Men paper on Monday. By the end of class Monday, I expect you to have a thesis on which your paper will be based. We will continue through the writing process for the remainder of the week and your paper will be due to me next Monday, 3/6. Your paper must be typed! If you expect to have difficulty typing your paper, see me before Friday.

Homework
Monday: Write thesis to be approved on Tuesday.
Tuesday: Finish outline for Wednesday.
Wednesday:
Thursday: Finish typing rough draft for peer review tomorrow.
Friday: Revise paper and type final copy. Paper is due on Monday.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

PSSA Announcement!

Attention English 7 Honors Students and Parents!

We have about 1 month to gear up for our English PSSAs. We need to be focused and determined throughout March. To give you a heads up on what is coming your way, I will be focused on 3 key concepts for the month of March. They are:
  1. Text-Dependent Analysis. This means we're going to use information from something we read to support our opinions and beliefs about the text!
  2. Craft and Structure. This means we're going to look at how authors write their texts. Do they use headings? Separate it into sections? Have it flow like one essay? Write it like a play? Use figurative language? And so many more!
  3. Author's Purpose and Main Ideas. This might be a review for some of you, but it is one of those things that is easy to forget! We're going to ask ourselves "Why" an author is writing and what they want readers to get out of it.

Week of February 21st

This week is another short week and some of it will be spent on CDTs. The rest of the week will shift our focus back to literature and most classes will be wrapping up the material we have been reading this Marking Period.

English 9
Tuesday we will finish taking the CDT tests. If you completed the test last week, please be sure to bring something to class with you to work on. If you do not have anything to do during this class period, I will assign you a book to read.

Wednesday you will take your quiz on chapters 5 through 8 of The Outsiders. Your study guide is due the same day.

Thursday and Friday we will continue reading The Outsiders. This last section of the novel will go the fastest and you will have a quiz on this section next week. After your final test, we will complete a project based on the novel, watch the film and write an essay.

Homework
Tuesday: Study for Outsiders quiz chapters 5-8. See study guide in previous post.
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Read something you enjoy!


English 7
Tuesday we will finish taking the CDT tests.  If you completed the test last week, please be sure to bring something to class with you to work on. If you do not have anything to do during this class period, I will assign you a book to read.

Wednesday we will review elements of an argumentative essay and use the essay "Leaving Main Street" as an example. We will discuss why this essay is a good example of an argumentative piece of writing and how you can mimic this in your own writing. This is in preparation for the argumentative essay you will be writing at the end of Unit 2. I expect to be working on this essay early next week.

Thursday and Friday we will read the article "Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death!." We will take the information and opinions presented in this article, combine them with Bradbury's view of Mars in "Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed," and write an editorial in which you answer the following question: Do the benefits of exploring Mars outweigh the risks? You will be asked to use evidence from both texts to support your response.

Homework
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Finish reading "Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death!," if you did not do so in class.


English 11
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we will spend time looking more closely at specific quotes and symbols from Of Mice and Men. All of our preparation this week will culminate in an essay you will write responding to the text. This essay will ask you to analyze the text using our discussions and details you noticed in the text. It will require that you support your analysis with quotes and details from the text. You will have Thursday and Friday in class to complete this essay. It will be due to me, typed, on Monday.

Homework
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday: Revise and finish Of Mice and Men essay.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Outsiders Ch. 5-8 Study Guide

This study guide should help you prepare for your quiz on The Outsiders, which you will take on Wednesday, 2/22.




Monday, February 13, 2017

Week of February 13th

This week is a short week- you have a 4 day weekend to look forward to to help keep you focused and motivated! All classes will spend Thursday this week CDT testing. We will finish testing on Tuesday.

Schedule adjusted. Changes indicated in red.

English 9
This week we are going to continue reading The Outsiders and I hope to finish chapters 7 and 8. After finishing chapter 8, you will be responsible for completing the study guide from chapters 5 through 8. Keep in mind, you will have a quiz coming up on chapters 5 through 8 next week. You can expect this quiz on Wednesday, 2/22. This quiz will focus mostly on plot and will be worth 60 points.

Homework:
Monday:
Tuesday: Finish chapter 7 study guide questions for The Outsiders.
Wednesday: Finish chapter 8 study guide questions for The Outsiders, including Critical Thinking questions on pages 16 and 17 of the study guide.
Thursday: Read something you enjoy!



English 7
This week we are going to finish up the radio play of "Dark They Were and Golden-Eyed." As I have been mentioning to you, once we finish this radio play we will have a discussion on the similarities and differences between the text and the play. We will consider why the producer of the play made these changes and what impact they have on the telling and meaning of the story. Following this discussion, there will be an 3-question quiz on these similarities and differences. Please be prepared to take this quiz on Wednesday. After the quiz, we will read an example of an argumentative essay to prepare for our own writing assignment later next week.

Homework:
Monday: Review changes from "Dark They Were..." story and radio play.
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Finish reading "Leaving Main Street" on pages 120 and 121 of your textbook.
Thursday: Read something you enjoy!



English 11
We will start this week with a quiz on chapters 3 and 4 of Of Mice and Men. This quiz will be mostly short answer and focus almost entirely on plot. However, I want you to continue thinking about the symbolism present in the novel and what comments Steinbeck is making on the nature of mankind and how the pressures of The Great Depression influence human behavior. I hope to finish reading chapters 5 and 6 this week. This means you will have your final quiz on the novella next week. You can expect this quiz on Wednesday.

Homework:
Monday: Brainstorm the symbols that emerged in these chapters. Make a graphic organizer.
Tuesday: Finish study guide questions for chapter 5.
Wednesday: Finish study guide questions for chapter 6.
Thursday: Read something you enjoy!

Friday, February 10, 2017

Snow Day Updates

Due to Thursday's snow day, there will be changes to our schedule. Please note the changes below.

English 9: Outsiders chapter 5 and 6 critical thinking questions due Friday
                 Outsiders chapters 5-8 quiz expected on Friday of next week


English 11: Of Mice and Men chapters 3 and 4 quiz Monday


English 7:"Dark They Were and Golden Eyed" radio play vs. text quiz Monday


CDT Testing for these classes will be held on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Please be prepared to test for the entire period on both of those days.

Any questions or concerns please feel free to email me!

Monday, February 6, 2017

Week of February 6th

It's February, the coldest month of the year. To me, that means it's an excellent opportunity to stay inside and read! Hopefully you use the low temperatures to your advantage and do the same at least once or twice this month.

All of our classes are going to continue working with the literature we have been working on. English 11, this week will potentially bring Of Mice and Men to a close and I'm looking forward to the discussions of morality we will have. English 9, we're going to push forward with The Outsiders. English 7, we are going to continue working through Unit 2. This means a new piece of literature as well as a new writing task for us to complete. 


Academic English 9
We will continue reading The Outsiders this week and you will likely have your second quiz on the novel on Friday. As you are aware, this also means I will be checking your study guides to be sure you are answering both the comprehension and critical thinking questions, as well as the figurative language charts. Please make sure you are keeping up with these as we read. It is much easier to complete it in small sections than to try and fill it all in before it is collected.

Homework
Monday-
Tuesday- Complete critical thinking questions for chapters 5 and 6 
Wednesday- Review for quiz on chapters 5 through 8. 
Thursday- Complete critical thinking questions for 7 and 8. Study for quiz.
Friday- Enjoy your weekend.


Honors English 7
This week will start with quiz corrections from the quiz we took on Friday. Tuesday we are going to listen to a radio adaptation of the short story we read last week. We will have a discussion of the differences and similariaites we notice between the 2 versions and what implications those changes have on the mood and theme of the story. Towards the end of the week we will be reading a news article "Danger! This Mission to Mars Could Bore You to Death!." All of these readings are leading up to an argumentative writing assignment we will begin next week.

Homework
Monday- Finish quiz corrections
Tuesday-
Wednesday-
Thursday-
Friday-


English 11
We are going to continue reading Of Mice and Men this week. I expect to finish reading chapter 4 on Tuesday and we will complete the study guide at that time. You can expect a quiz on chapters 3 and 4 to come in the second half of the week. I am expecting the quiz will fall on Thursday.

Homework
Monday-
Tuesday- Finish chapter 4 study guide
Wednesday- Study for quiz
Thursday-
Friday- 

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Quiz Day Reminders

There will be minor adjustments to our schedule to accommodate for Tuesday's snow day.
However,

  • English 9 will still have a quiz on chapters 1-4 of The Outsiders on Friday
  • English 7 will still have a quiz on "Dark They Were and Golden-Eyed" on Friday and
  • English 11 will take the chapters 1 and 2 Of Mice and Men quiz on Wednesday,

Monday, January 30, 2017

Week of January 30th

Post was updated to accommodate Tuesday's snow day. All changes are in red.

In every class this week, we are going to be reading and analyzing literature. We're getting deeper into our respective works and I'm sure we will be doing more analyzing this week than we did last. With each class this week, I want to focus on the differences between a first read, and a close read.

CDT Testing will occur for my classes on Wednesday, February 15th and Thursday, February 16th. Make-up testing will be Friday, February 17th. 


Academic English 9
We're going to continue reading The Outsiders and take our first quiz on chapters 1 through 4 on Friday. We will review for the quiz briefly on Thursday. The rest of the week will be spent reading chapters 3, 4 and 5 as well as answering questions for the study guide for the respective chapters. 

The study guide for chapters 1 through 4 will need to be entirely complete by Friday. I will be checking the packets for points while you take your quiz.

Homework
Monday- Finish all questions for chapters 1 and 2
Tuesday- SNOW DAY
Wednesday- Finish comprehension questions for chapters 3 and 4
Thursday- Study for quiz on chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Friday- Read a piece of literature that makes you forget about time!


Honors English 7
We are going to spend a good portion of this week talking about the differences between a first-read and a close-read. We will complete our first read of the short story on Monday and you will complete comprehension questions based on what you remember. On Tuesday, you will individually complete a close read and answer questions regarding specific passages from the text. Wednesday and Thursday will be spend reviewing figurative language and comparatives in order to prepare for you quiz on the selection. This quiz will be given on Friday. 

Homework
Monday- none
Tuesday- SNOW DAY
Wednesday- Complete figurative language worksheet
Thursday- Study for quiz on "Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed"
Friday- Read something you enjoy!



English 11
We're going to take our first quiz on Of Mice and Men early this week. Monday we will review and finish work on chapter 2. Tuesday you will take the quiz. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent continuing reading and Friday we will be focused on writing about literature. We will use the individual paragraphs you are writing for each chapter to build to a larger writing assignment at the end of the novella.

Homework
Monday- Complete chapter 2 study guide. Study for quiz!
Tuesday- SNOW DAY
Wednesday- Complete chapter 3 study guide questions
Thursday- Review chapter 3
Friday-  Complete chapter 4 study guide

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Week of January 23rd

Welcome to Ms. Zangari's English class! I will be teaching these classes for the remainder of the school year. I'm very excited to get started and can't wait to learn and grow with you all. We are jumping right into several pieces of literature this week and already we've had some interesting discussions. I can't wait to hear your ideas and help you develop them more fully!

This week, English 7 will be beginning Unit 2 and practicing argumentative writing. English 11 will begin reading Of Mice and Men and English 9 will begin reading The Outsiders. We have a lot of great literature on deck and I'm excited for us to learn about them.

Parents and Guardians: If you have questions or comments for me at any time, please feel free to email me at mzangari@northschuylkill.net. I look forward to working with each of you towards a shared goal!


Honors English 7
Schedule Change: Unit 5 Unit 2
Unit 2 asks readers to consider the implications of humans living in space. This unit aims to expand students' critical thinking and reasoning abilities while also allowing them to exercise their comprehension and close reading skills. Our first selection will be a short story by Ray Bradbuy. We will begin reading this story on Wednesday and I expect to finish it by Friday or Monday. Students will be assigned a close read for homework next week. We will then complete formative exercises to prepare students for the summative assessment at the end of the unit: an argumentative essay.

Homework
Monday-
Tuesday-
Wednesday-
Thursday-
Friday-


Academic English 9
We will start reading The Outsiders this week. I expect to read chapters 1 and 2 this week and conduct our first class discussion of the book as we start to see the themes develop. We will complete our reading guides as we go. Remember, these packets will be worth almost 200 points by the time they are complete. Please keep up with them and don't lose them!


Homework
Monday-
Tuesday-
Wednesday-
Thursday-
Friday-


English 11
We will start reading the novella Of Mice and Men this week and I expect to get through chapters 1 and 2, possibly 3. We will spend a significant amount of time as we read this book having discussion regarding its themes. Most reading of this novel will be completed in class, but occasionally a chapter or two will be assigned for homework. For this week, we will focus on reading closely and gaining an understanding of the characters and plot. I do not expect you to have assigned reading for homework until Friday.


Homework
Monday-
Tuesday-
Wednesday-
Thursday-
Friday-

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Week of January 16th

This week brings the 2nd marking period to a close. Please be sure you have all missing and late assignments handed in and all quizzes and tests are made up.

This week is also mid-term week. These tests are worth 10% of your average for the year, so please take them seriously and study all of the items identified for you on the study guide.

*Mrs. Holman will be returning this week. This means I will be in your classes only Tuesday and Wednesday. Please refer to her homework blog for information for Thursday and Friday's classes.

Honors English 9
You will have all of class on Tuesday to read the short story you will be tested on on the mid-term. Please annotate this story as your read and use it to study for the mid-term. You will take the mid-term on Wednesday.

Homework
Tuesday: Study for your mid-term!


English 9
You will have all of class on Tuesday to read the short story you will be tested on on the mid-term. Please annotate this story as your read and use it to study for the mid-term. You will take the mid-term on Wednesday.

Homework
Tuesday: Study for your mid-term!


Mythology
We will spend Tuesday's class reviewing for the final. You will have the opportunity to use the board games you made earlier in the marking period to help you review.

Homework
Tuesday: Study for your mid-term!

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Week of January 3rd

Welcome back to school! Hopefully you're feeling rejuvenated by our holiday break and are ready to get back into your school schedule. You have mid-terms coming up soon so please start preparing for them soon!

This week we will try to finish all of the units we were working on before break. I will be transferred to different classes beginning on January 13th, so I want to be sure we have everything completed by then.

Honors English classes will work on vocabulary this week. Period 2 English will finish working with The Outsiders novel and film. Period 5 English will finish working with the short story "The Seventh Man" and will take a quiz on it. And Mythology classes will finish reading, and take a quiz on, "The Adventures of Odysseus."


Honors English 9
This week we will complete our 4th vocabulary unit. Because the list is shorter than usual, your sentences will still be due on Wednesday. Please keep in mind you will only have one night to complete your sentences instead of the usual two. We will review the vocabulary on Thursday and take a quiz on the list on Friday.

Homework
Tuesday: Write vocabulary sentences
Wednesday: Review vocabulary definitions
Thursday: Study for vocabulary quiz
Friday: Read something you enjoy


English 9
Period 2
Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent watching The Outsiders film. We will use the second half of class on Wednesday to discuss the similarities and differences between the novel and the film and why the author/ director would choose to make those decisions.
Thursday and Friday we will begin reading our next short story from Unit 2, "The Seventh Man." This is a story about survival and will help answer the unit's essential question. You will take a quiz on this short story early next week.

Homework
Monday:
Tuesday: Complete worksheet for The Outsiders film/ novel comparison
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:


Period 5
We will finish reading and summarizing "The Seventh Man" on Tuesday. Wednesday we will complete a close read of the story and prepare for you quiz. On Thursday, you will take a quiz on the short story. This is a quiz from the book, please be sure you are studying the vocabulary and the main events of the story. Take notes during our review.

Homework:
Tuesday: Review main ideas and vocabulary for "The Seventh Man" quiz
Wednesday: Study for "The Seventh Man" quiz
Thursday:
Friday: Complete quiz corrections for "The Seventh Man"


Mythology
This week we will finish reading "The Adventures of Odysseus" from our textbook. You will take a quiz on this reading on Friday.

Homework:
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Review for "Odysseus" quiz
Thursday: Study for "Odysseus" quiz
Friday:

Week of April 13th

Hey everyone, I'm feeling much more comfortable with technology and Google Classroom and I hope you are too. I received Week 1 assignmen...