Thursday September 24th, 2015

Vocabulary

1. unguarded
2. wondering
3. elected
4. lecture
5. astronomy
6. universe
7. infinite
8. elongated
9. estimate
10. accepted

Reading

Creative Reading Exercise
Students listened to a passage Miss Adrienne read out loud in class for specific details, so they could illustrate what they heard. Students encouraged to use creativity while strengthening their listening and comprehension skills. 

Read passage from "The Acorn King". 

Class Reading Assignment
"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. Students were not interested in finishing "May Bird and the Ever After", so we switched gears and decided to start "A Brief History of Time" to see if the students found more interest in our place in the universe! We read the first few paragraphs of the long first chapter. We'll continue reading the book together in class, but students were also encouraged to bring books they were interested to class next week.

Writing

"A Brief History of Time" writing assignment

• Write a 8 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format, including correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 4 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. What did the old lady at the lecture say about the earth/ universe?
2. Describe how Aristotle concluded the world was round and not flat?
3. Did Aristotle think the earth moved?
4. Tell me your thoughts about our place in the universe and how we motion through the cosmos.

Thursday September 17th, 2015

No class today! Students, please read the book at home (chapters 6 and 7), and complete the writing assignment below. Bring the writing assignment to class next Thursday. Class will discuss our reading and writing assignments out loud in class, then begin reading chapters 8 and 9.  

Vocabulary

1. haunting
2. occupied
3. lopsided
4. sinking
5. murmured
6. looming
7. impression
8. navigating
9. disbelieving
10. mesmerized

Reading

Continue reading "May Bird and the Ever After", Chapters 6 and 7

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge "Ovation" 

Take five minutes to creatively write. Use the image named "Ovation" on  https://storybird.com (clink "Ovation" link above). Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

Set a timer for five minutes. Take a moment to look at the image and go over all the details. Start the timer and write for a full five minutes about anything that comes to mind when you look at the image. 

"May Bird and the Ever After" writing assignment

• Write a 10 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format, including correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 5 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. Why would life at White Moss Manor never be "normal" again?
2. Explain May's interactions with the ghost and what May saw the ghost doing?
3. Which ghost showed more than once? 
4. What did May do to feel safe from the ghost at home?

 

Thursday September 10th, 2015

First week flew by fast! I hope all the students are acclimating to their new school schedules with little to no stress. 

In class, we worked on strengthening our vocabulary, reading, and writing skills. 

Vocabulary

1. pumpkin
2. obsidian
3. endure
4. suspicious
5. creature
6. disbelieving
7. agonizing
8. somer
9. guard
10. staggering

Reading

Continued reading "May Bird and the Ever After", Chapters 4 - 5.

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "Curious Ice Cream Shop" 

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

May Bird and the Ever After writing assignment:

• Write a 10 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format, that includes correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 5 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers(in complete sentences)in your essay:

1. Describe the creature on May’s bed. How terrifying was the creature to May?
2. How did the creature react when May screamed? What was May's mother's reaction?
3. What did May Bird realize while getting ready for bed?
4. According to the Guide to the Paranormal and Other Notes on Ghost say that creatures are scared of?

Thursday September 3rd, 2015

First Day of Class!

Our first day in class covered introduction, expectations, structure, what books we will read, and how we will write. 

Introduce Class Structure 

Discuss how class is conducted and how we will learn. Handout of class outline distributed in class breaking down the class structure and objectives. 

Class Expectations 

Class discussed what students should expect from instructor, and what instructor inspects from students. 

Students to expect:

• Timely arrival of instructor
• A prepared, enthusiastic, and encouraging instructor
• To read out loud in each class
• A writing assignment in each class
• Additional assignments to work on at home
• A creative atmosphere that strengthens reading and writing skills

Instructor expects:

• Timely arrival of students
• A prepared, enthusiastic, and encouraging student
• Each student to read out loud in class
• A completed writing assignment with all requirements from each student in each class
• Students to complete any additional assignments given before next class begins
• Creative and engaged students looking strengthen their reading and writing skills

Class survey handout and Discussion 

Reading and Writing survey handed out for students to provide their thoughts on reading and writing. Class discussed results out loud. 

Vocabulary

1. petrified
2. ordinary
3. hysterical
4. surgery
5. elective
6. homeschool
7. nervous
8. protect
9. anomalies
10. annoyed

Reading

Began reading "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio.

Writing

Dialectical Journal
Discussed Dialectical Journal, its purpose and how we use it in class. Students saw examples of dialectical journal to get inspiration for their own journal. Students will need to write 5 entries in their journal to go over in the next class. 

Writing

• • Write a 15 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
  • Use 5 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
  • Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers(in complete sentences)in your essay:
  • Describe where the does the story takes place.
  • Who is the main character, and who are his friends?
  • Why is Via so protective?
  • Why does Auggie say he hasn't gone to school? 
  • How does Auggie's mom help him and why does Auggie think his mom stopped drawing? 
  • Describe the day Auggie was born and what happened.
  • Describe Mr. Tushman and Auggie's first interaction with him.
  • Why did Auggie's mom want him to start school now, and why didn't she tell Auggie about the school, IQ test, Mr. Tushman, etc.?

Fall Classes Begin! First Day and Semester Break Down

Reading and Writing Outline

Welcome to Ms. Adrienne's Reading and Writing Class at IQuest!

I look forward to enriching, encouraging, and learning with, each student this semester. Students meet for reading and writing class each Thursdays (except on holidays and scheduled closures), at 5:30pm. Class runs for 60 minutes and students cover a variety of objectives during short the hour.

Class Objective

Students will learn skills and tools to strengthen their writing and reading abilities. Class focus is on reading phonics, strategies, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development  writing process, text, conventions, handwriting, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and research.  

Vocabulary

Students work with 10 new vocabulary words each class. Vocabulary words are incorporated into the student’s reading and writing lessons to help strengthen context, identification, spelling, meaning, and pronunciation skills.

Reading

A variety of short stories and books are selected to read aloud during class. Focus is on reading comprehension, pronunciation, and frequency. Student will answer questions and discuss material from the reading to strengthen comprehension skills. Our class will use the LISD book list for selected reading.

Writing

Students write short essay, utilizing beginning, middle, and end formation, summarizing the story they've read in class. Questions selected from the reading material and the student's own thoughts and opinions are included in each writing assignment. Writing focus is on spelling, punctuation, spacing, and form. Student must use vocabulary words learned in class in their writing.  Students will also work on a dialectical journal and are expected to complete journal entries for homework to present in the next class.

Timeline

Class Schedule (60 minute Class)

• Icebreaker and review (10 minutes)  
• Class Reading (30 minutes)
• Individual Writing (20 minutes)
• Additional Assignments (Homework)

Materials Needed for Class

• Thin binder to keep assignments and handouts
• Sheet protectors for important class handouts (about 5 should do)
• Dividers with pockets to separate reading and writing materials
• Pencils with erasers (encouraged, limited supply on hand)
• Favorite Books and Writing Prompts (optional)

Optimize Learning

Our class covers a large amount in a short time; to keep up with what we're doing and what goals we've set, check out our class blog!

http://msadriennereadingwriting68.blogspot.com

The class blog is usually updated after each class, or the following day. You may also contact me with any questions through the blog.

Here's to a fantastic semester full of great reads, creative writing, and strengthening our skills!