Characters Across Series, Mesopotamia and Pantomime

Language Arts

In Language Arts this week, we officially launched our Characters Across Series unit.  Students are expected to read at least two books within a series.  The first book should be completed by October 10th (B Block) or 11th (G and H Block).  The second book should be completed by October 28th (B Block) or 29th (G and H Block).  Students should be referring to the rubric in their notebook about the sorts of things to be jotting about while they read.

Students got to participate in an optional mini-lesson on breaking a large task into smaller chunks to help facilitate their reading of the series books.

We also took some time to analyze our reading log, and teacher feedback to create a reader profile.  We noticed what our data showed and asked if that was in line with the reader that we want to be.  We then developed a plan for next steps.

Social Studies

Social Studies this week was dominated by continuing to grab research about our Mesopotamian topic.  Students would copy/paste directly from a source, paraphrase the information into their own words and then create an MLA citation.  We will be writing a letter to Ms. O. Potamia next week about our topic and explaining its link to economy, government, technology, religion, social structure or the arts.  

Drama

Students had their first performance this week in the area of pantomime.  They were asked to create a pantomime with about 10 steps that had a beginning, middle and end as well as a problem to be solved.  We gave feedback to one another and also critiqued ourselves.  We then took this information and started creating a longer pantomime (around 2 minutes) to non-lyrical music.  Students will perform on Monday.

Research, Mesopotamia and Retelling

Language Arts

In Language Arts this week, students became introduced to a nonfiction reading app that we have a subscription to called Newsela.  Right now, students are taking a diagnostic so the app can find articles that are at a "just right" reading level for them.  We will then use this site to supplement our read aloud, find articles of interest, and link to our units.  We also read a short story called "How to Transform an Ordinary, Everyday Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning with You at the Podium" by Matt De La Pena.  We talked about strategies for recording our thinking about reading (annotating) and also participated in a class discussion about the story.  We then transitioned into the idea of retelling/summarizing using different lenses.  We are very good at summarizing using events only. However, I proposed you could also focus on a character, their changes, a theme or symbolic elements to raise the level of your work.  As a result, you have to filter what is important from what is not differently, depending on the lens you are working with.

Next week, we will officially be launching our Characters Across Series unit and students will start bringing a book home.

Social Studies

In Social Studies this week, students looked at a variety of resources and practiced inquiry but finding topics of interest about Mesopotamia.  Mr. Callaway, the librarian, stopped by to teach us the five steps of effective paraphrasing, which we will be using this year when we research.  Today in class will be the first time we get to gather research and then we will be turning our research into a letter to Ms. O. Potamia, a curator at a museum.

Drama

We are continuing our pantomime unit.  Students learned about the ideas of ground plans as a way to organize the small movements that make up a larger pantomime.  It also allows them to think about where on the stage these different elements take place.  They will be presenting these pantomimes on Sunday and then based on feedback, will create a longer, more complex pantomime.

First full week and BTSN!

Good morning!

It was so lovely to meet so many of you in person last night during MS Back to School Night!  Thank you for taking a portion of your evening and spending it with us!

Language Arts

This week in Language Arts, we had our first visit with Mr. Callaway to the library.  We took a library tour and learned about how to access different resources within the MSLC.  

Most of this week was used to prepare for and participate in a writing assessment.  During one class period, students were given a variety of resources dealing with the question "Should pets be allowed in classrooms?"  They were able to glean from these resources and prepare for their writing piece.  The following class period, the students had 40-minutes to compose their essay using the skills they knew argument writers had.  

This assessment will be used as a baseline for instruction during this first unit.  I will be able to to see what skills are already secure and what skills need additional attention.  This will also allow me to see students individual needs and strengths as we proceed.

Next week, we'll look at a mentor text that will be important to us during our first unit, organize our notebooks and consider the responsibilities of the teacher/student during our workshop time.

Social Studies

In Social Studies this week, students completed a geography challenge where they need to use their map skills to identify important places for our Mesopotamia unit.  We also answered the question "What does it mean to be civilized?"  We brainstormed a list of "must haves" or needs that a civilized society have and then prioritized them.  We then looked at an archaeologists list and worked in small groups to define those characteristics.

Drama

For students in my first trimester class, we answered the question "What is theater?" and looked at different jobs within the theater.  We also learned the parts of the stage and developed our agreements for being effective audience members.