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

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

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!

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.

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.

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!