Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Journal Entry #9: Write a friendly letter to Victor letting him know how our 7th grade year is going and giving him advice for having a successful 7th grade year. Include all five parts of a friendly letter from our class notes.
Classwork: Share journal entries; Review homework; Listen to a reading of our story, “Seventh Grade;” Vocabulary words: conviction, portly, sheepishly, elective.
Homework: Finish making a plot diagram on 8 ½ x 11 paper. Label and decorate it. Be creative! The best looking ones will be on display for Open House on September 16th.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Journal Entry #8: Write a one-page story (advanced) or ½ page story (standard) using all of the following words: hot dog, clouds, eagle, pizza, puppies, boat, sour, flu, flag, trees. (Underline or highlight them in your story.)
Classwork: Share journal entries in groups; Class notes: Parts of a friendly letter; Discuss vocabulary from “The Seventh Grade.”
Homework: (Due on Wednesday). Make a plot diagram on 8 ½ x 11 paper. Label and decorate it. Be creative! The best looking ones will be on display for Open House on September 16th.

Here are our class notes from today:

1. The Heading. This includes the address, line by line, with the last line being the date. Skip a line after the heading. The heading is indented to the middle of the page. If using preaddressed stationery, add just the date.

2. The Greeting. The greeting always ends with a comma. The greeting may be formal, beginning with the word "dear" and using the person's given name or relationship, or it may be informal if appropriate.

Formal: Dear Uncle Jim, Dear Mr. Wilkins,
Informal: Hi Joe, Greetings,

3. The body. Also known as the main text. This includes the message you want to write. Normally in a friendly letter, the beginning of paragraphs is indented. Skip a line after the greeting and before the close.

4. The closing. This short expression is always a few words on a single line. It ends in a comma. It should be indented to the same column as the heading. Skip one to three spaces (two is usual) for the signature line.

5. The signature line. Type or print your name. The handwritten signature goes above this line and below the close. The signature line and the handwritten signature are indented to the same column as the close. If the letter is quite informal, you may omit the signature line as long as you sign the letter.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Journal Entry: None.
Classwork: Finish Marzano words from yesterday: exposition (29), climax (18), rising action (70), falling action (31), and resolution (67); Read the play, “Flipped” in advanced classes and read the play, “Avatar” in standard classes.
Homework: None. Don’t forget to visit www.mrgarner.us to download, print or copy a new reading log for next week.

August 26, 2010

Journal Entry #7: Using picture panels, write clear and complete directions on how to tie your shoes. Set up your paper like the example on the board by folding it into quadrants.
Classwork: Marzano Words: exposition (29), climax (18), rising action (70), falling action (31), and resolution (67).
Homework: None tonight. Prepare your first reading log which is due tomorrow.

August 25, 2010

Journal Entry #6: Write clear and complete directions explaining how to tie your shoes for someone who has never tied their shoes before. Number each step in the process. This should be at least a half page.
Classwork: Share journal entries; Review homework.
Homework: Reading Logs are due on Friday. You must have at least three (3) entries. You will have 33% removed from your grade for missing entries.

August 24, 2010

Journal Entry #5: Use at least five (5) of the verbs from yesterday’s list to describe what you did in several of your classes yesterday or today. Underline or highlight the verbs that you use. This must be half a page in length.
Classwork: Share journal entries; Review homework; Listen to a reading of our story, “Seventh Grade;” Marzano word: tone.
Homework: LWB (Purple Literature Workbook), complete all questions in the blue shaded areas on pp. 44-45. DO NOT SEPARATE these pages from the story.

August 23, 2010

Journal Entry #4: List 20 verbs (action words) that describe things that you will do today during and after school.
Classwork: Share verbs; Clarify homework; Discuss idioms; Review Zero Tolerance.
Homework: LWB (Purple Literature Workbook), Read, remove and staple pp. 41-45, “Seventh Grade.” Do the work in the blue shaded areas on pp. 41-43 only.

August 20, 2010

Journal Entry #3: Half of the adult population are suddenly unable to do their jobs. Kids your age are needed to report to work in one hour to take their place. What job would you pick? Why? (No professional sports!) It must be at least a half page in length.
Classwork: Review Journal Entry #3; Review Reading Logs, Review English Notebook Setup; Review Zero Tolerance Policy; Literary Terms Pre-Test. (This test does not go in the gradebook.)
Homework: None

August 19, 2010

Journal Entry #2: Using the 5 words that you circled on Journal Entry #1, explain how your first week of school is going so far. Underline or highlight the five words within your writing.
Classwork: Each student will get a copy of the reading log form; Each student will get a Prentice Hall Literature Workbook (LWB); Go to the library to check out a novel.
Homework: None

August 18, 2010

Journal Entry: None. Take out Journal Entry #1 and underline or highlight the 5 words that best describe school in your opinion.
Classwork: Share homework essays; Finish classroom rules and procedures.
Homework: None.

August 17, 2010

Journal Entry #1: List 20 adjectives that describe school. (Not an example. Actually do this!)
Classwork: Briefly discuss adjectives; Review classroom rules and procedures.
Homework: Ask your parent or guardian to show you an item that he/she owned when he/she was your age. On a sheet of paper, describe the item and explain why did he/she kept it? This assignment should fill one side of a sheet of paper.

August 16, 2010

Journal Entry #1: List 20 adjectives that describe school.
Classwork: First day procedures as directed by administration; Copy supply list into planner; Review journal entry.
Homework: Return your green emergency card, green security card (sheet of paper), Free and Reduced Lunch Program form, and SCPS Residency Questionnaire to your first period teacher.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Journal Entry: We do a journal entry almost every day.  If you are absent, be sure to check here to see what it was.
Classwork: Sign in and give us your email address and phone number.
Homework: Visit my website at http://www.mrgarner.us.