Week of March 31, 2008
Last week, we started our Literary Essay unit. Writers, you have been doing a wonderful job of not just reading but studying literature like writers. Keep reading, stepping into the character's shoes, noticing important details, and responding to literature by thinking, speaking, and writing.

Monday, March 31st
Bellwork~ What are two of the expected behaviors when there is a guest teacher? Explain.
1. Read Aloud: “Our Good Day” by Sandra Cisneros
2. Choose either Strategy 1 or Strategy 2 that we used last week.
3. Quiet writing ~ Write an entry about “Our Good Day” using that strategy.
4. If time permits, write another entry for one of the other stories, using the other strategy.
5. Partner Sharing~ Read one of the entries you wrote today to your partner.
6. Wrap up~ Turn in writer’s notebook.

Tuesday, April 1st
Ms. Marcella, a WMU pre-intern will be teaching the class today.
Bellwork~ What is one strategy that you have learned recently, that helps create writing about reading? Explain how you use the strategy.
1. Meeting Area Mini-lesson~ “Gathering Writing by Studying Characters”
2. Quiet writing/Conferencing time~ Answer at least three of the “Character” questions based on “Charles,” “Eleven,” or “Spaghetti”.
3. Sharing~ Students will share with the class their entries.
4. Wrap up~ Turn in writer’s notebook.
Homework~Consider and Describe the Protagonist's Actions and Idiosyncrasies

Wednesday, April 2nd
Bellwork~ How did you feel about the lesson that Ms. Marcella taught yesterday? How well did you understand the writing assignment?
1. Meeting Area Mini-lesson~ Review “Gathering Writing by Studying Characters”
2. Quiet writing/Conferencing time~ Write an entry on a different character possibly from a different story.
3. Partner Sharing~ Share you entry with your partner.
4. Wrap up~ Turn in your writer’s notebook
Homework~ Studying How a Mentor Author Portrays a Character

Thursday, April 3rd
Bellwork~ What are your plans for Spring Break? If you are not traveling, what are you going to do here in the city? Explain.
1. Meeting Area Mini-lesson~ “Creating Story Boards”
2. Quiet work time
3. Sharing~ Students will present their story board to the class.
4. Wrap up~ Clean up and turn in assignment.
Homework Hub has been cancelled for today. Start enjoying your break.

Friday, April 4th NO SCHOOL TODAY!!!
Enjoy your Spring Break! Have fun but be safe. Keep reading and living like writers. I will see you when school resumes on Monday, April 14, 2008.

Week of March 24, 2008
This week we will finish the EdPerformance Reading testing and begin the Literary Essay writing unit. Last marking period, we ran out of time and were unable to take our Personal Essays through the revising and editing phases of the writing process. The will be extra credit given to every writer who does complete (revise/edit) and polish a final draft of their Essay this marking period. Please see me for further details.

Monday, March 24th
1. Bell Work~1) What did you do this weekend? 2) Describe your best or worst birthday memory?
2. Mini-Lesson~Reader Response
3. Read “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros
4. Quiet Writing~Complete writing prompts
5. Share Time
6. Wrap Up

Tuesday, March 25th
1. Bell Work~1) How do you feel about being alone? 2) Have you ever wanted to change where you live? If so, why?
2. We will go to the library for the book exchange. Everyone should check out a book to read by the end of class.
3. Mini-Lesson~Responding to Text
4. Silent Reading~ Read the short story “Spaghetti” by Cynthia Rylant
5. Complete “Picture This” handout
6. Wrap Up

Wednesday, March 26th
1. Bell Work~
2. Mini-Lesson~Think Aloud/Writing Inside the Story
3. Quiet Writing~Infer, envision, and fill in the details of the story. Tell how you see the story in your own mind based on what the author has written.
4. Share Time~Read your entry to your partner. Volunteers will share out to the class.
5. Wrap Up
Homework

Thursday, March 27th
1. Bell Work~Which of the short stories we have read do you like the best (Charles, Eleven, or Spaghetti)? Explain why.
2. Mini-Lesson~Gathering Writing About the Story by Reading Closely
3. Quiet Writing~Note details in the text, then write your thoughts about those details using one of the prompts like…“I think…or My idea is…”
4. Share Time~Read and discuss your entry with your partner.
5. Wrap Up
Homework

Friday, March 28th 1/2 Day today
Writers will read silently today and try to pick out other details and/or ideas from the short stories that we have been studying this marking period.

Week of March 17, 2008
Students you all did a superb job of writing and presenting your “Charles” skit last week! What a wonderful way to begin a new marking period. Keep up the great work! :)
Note: The Reading EdPerformance test will be administered this Wednesday and Friday. So, get plenty of rest and come to school on time to prepare for this.

Monday, March 17th
Bell work~ List at least two of the expected behaviors when there is a guest teacher.

1. Students are to work with a partner to complete their own workbook pages 134-143 for the story “Charles”. (We read the story this passed week. So, students know it well).
2. Wrap up~ Students need to know that they are taking a quiz tomorrow over “Charles”. So, they need to use their workbook pages to help them study.
Homework~ Any unfinished “Charles” workbook pages, plus, study for the “Charles” quiz tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 18th
Bell work~ Summarize the story “Charles”.
1. Students will take a quiz over the story “Charles”.
2. Meeting Area Mini-Lesson~ “Elements of Humor”
3. Quiet writing~ Students will complete the “Elements of Humor” handout
4. Partner sharing~ Students will discuss their answers with a partner.
5. Wrap up~ Collect the handouts.

Wednesday, March 19th Conferences are 5:00-8:00 pm tonight at Milwood.
1. We will go to the computer lab.
2. Students will be taking the EdPerformance Reading test.

Thursday, March 20th 1/2 Day (am only) for Conferences
(12:00-3:00 pm @ Milwood Magnet & 5:00-8:00 pm @ Mt. Zion Church)
Bell work~ 1) What did you like/dislike about the story "Charles"? 2) Are (or did) your parents coming to conferences?
*We will play the vocabulary game “Hotseat” today.

Friday, March 21st
1. We will be going to the computer lab.
2. Students will be taking the EdPerformance Reading test.

Week of March 10, 2008

Monday, March 10th
Note: Literacy/Science Fair Night is from 5:30 -8:00 pm tonight. Extra Credit will be given to all my students who attend. You need to sign in with me (Mrs. Frazier) to get the 10 points. It is going to be a lot of fun! I hope to see you all there!!! :)

1. Bell Work~ Word puzzle & Are you planning on attending Literacy Night tonight?
2. Reading Workshop~ Read “Charles” by Shirley Jackson, pgs. 473-476 and complete the Graphic Organizer for Active Reading.
3. Quiet Writing~ Write a reflective journal entry exploring methods you use to get attention. (At least one paragraph in length)
4. Share Time~ Discuss the graphic organizer and journal entries.
5. Wrap Up~ Turn in work.
Homework: Complete/evaluate your essay. All missing work for this marking period must be done and turned in by the end of the day tomorrow (Tuesday, March 11).

Tuesday, March 11th
1. Bell Work~ Word puzzle & What did you do last night? If you came to Literacy Night, how did you like it? Explain you answers.
2. Reading Workshop~ “Handling a Charles”
3. Cooperative Learning~ Imagine that you are kindergarten teachers confronted with a child like Charles. Work with a group of two but no more than three people to brainstorm ways to handle the child’s behavior. Create and use a graphic organizer to generate your ideas, your list should include “problem-cause-solution”.
4. Share Time~ Groups will report out to the class their results.

Wednesday, March 12th
1. Bell Work~ Word puzzle & What would you do if you were Laurie’s mother?
2. Reading Workshop~ “Facing Mom”
3. Quiet Writing~ With a partner, write a brief dialogue (skit) that takes place between Laurie and his mother after she returns from the PTA meeting. This should be structured like the “Landlady” script.
4. Wrap Up
Homework~ Finish the script and decide on any props that you may want to bring in and use for the presentation tomorrow. (Extra credit for props)

Thursday, March 13th
1. Bell Work~ Word puzzle & How do you feel about reading and working with the “Charles” text? Explain your answer.
2. Students will be presenting their “Charles” dialogues/skits.
3. Wrap Up~ Evaluate your presentation.
Note: Be sure to bring you library/reading book tomorrow.

Friday, March 14th ½ Day (P.M.-no school for records)
1. Bell Work~ Word puzzle & What are you going to do this afternoon? Do you have plans for this weekend? If so, what are they?
2. Students will be reading silently and taking Accelerated Reader tests today.