Michael Vey Assembly on Friday, December 6

For more information, download this document;
Dec 6 Assembly.pdf

Skyward Outage

I am continuing to grade student work, but with the Skyward outage, do not know when I will be able to update grades.  Like you, I will be busy with family activities over Thanksgiving, so will try to find a time when my schedule and Skyward availability mesh!

The Hobbit

Check out this review of The Hobbit by CS Lewis from 1937: He says that The Hobbit belongs "to a very small class of books which have nothing in common save that each admits us to a world of its own—a world that seems to have been going on long before we stumbled into it but which, once found by the right reader, becomes indispensable to him." 

November 26, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: If you are behind, make up the work during cave time in lab 223, make an appointment with Ms. Dorsey for after school, or complete it at home.  You may take your packet home, or download the packet pages from this blog:  See the tab above for "Famous Person Project: Instructions and Downloads." Have a Beautiful Thanksgiving! If you miss a day, don't forget to make-up the reading time using the pink make-up chart, or using your own paper.

Pick up your folder.
Turn in your disclosure document if you haven't yet -- to the top wire basket for A4.

Activity 1. Individual Reading Time and Fill in your Reading Log for today.

If you are absent, read for 20 minutes at home, record it, obtain a parent signature, and bring it to attach it to your log here. 

Activity 2:  Fluency Parter Practice

Activity 3:  Using Reading Strategies to read directions.  

Fix-Up Strategies  

Use Reading Strategy Tools!

Read directions one step at a time. 

If you don't get it at first use these fix-up strategies:

1. Check your own inner voice.

      Are you paying attention to the text, thinking about it, or are you thinking about something else?  If you are focused on the text, FOCUS.

2. If you didn't get it the first time, focus on it, and read it again.

3. If you still don't get it, try reading it out loud.

4. If you still don't get it, try reading ahead a bit.

    The next sentence or so may help you understand what you just read. 

5. If you still don't understand, look for any words that may be getting in your way.

    Are there terms you don't understand?   
1. Is there something in the context that gives you a clue about what they mean?  
2. Can you look them up? 
3. Could you ask someone who would know what they mean?  

6. If you've really tried all of these strategies, and you still don't understand, ask someone who can help you.

 Leave your folder on your desk, but take the project packet with you to computer lab 223.  Also take your thumb drive. 

Today's Agenda:  In the Computer Lab - Lab 223 

https://www.edmodo.com/    

Most sign in as  

      lastnamefirstname

      student number

1. Complete the Practice Assignment if you have not. (page 2 in the packet)
2. Sign up for your hero if you have not. (page 5 in the packet)  "IMPORTANT: SIGN UP FOR YOUR HERO"   
1. Include the hero's name and the URL from BRC.
3. Complete Hero Research #1 -- evaluating and taking notes on your hero.  
1. Open the document:  If you already started and saved it on Edmodo, open the the file you saved!
2.  Finish filling it in, following directions on the document.
3. Then click on the Turn In button to turn it in on Edmodo under the assignment "Hero Research #1: Evaluating and Taking Notes on An Article from Biography Reference Center"
4. Complete  Hero Research #2: Using Pioneer Library and an online encyclopedia.  
1. Fill it in, following directions on the document. 
2. Turn it in whether you finish or not.  
5. If you have finished Hero Research #2, go on to #3: Using Pioneer Library and a database called SIRS Discoverer.  

Save your work often. 

This is a sample of the PowerPoint you will do after you have completed your research: 

Larry Bird by Fielding C.ppt

Parent-Teacher Conference

If you were not able to come to our Parent-Teacher Conference, you may want to look at this document with helps for using our online resources including class blogs, Edmodo, and My Access (for English classes).

PT Conference Computer Directions.doc  

Other Hints for Parents:

• Check Skyward together -- parent and student -- at least once a week.
• If needed, set a day once a week to work together on organizing the backpack and/or binder. 
• Encourage your student to read.  Reading is the best thing a student can do to improve both reading and writing skills. 

How was Parent-Teacher Conference for you last night? 

Friday, November 22, 2013

In the Classroom

Hand in your disclosure signatures.

Pick up your folder! 

You have assigned seating today.  Look for the charts on desks at the front and back of the classroom. 

Activity 1. Individual Reading Time and Begin a New Reading Log

If you are absent, read for 20 minutes at home, record it, obtain a parent signature, and bring it to attach it to your log here. 

Activity 2: Fluency Practice  -- Poems

Fill out your graph.  

DATE	11/22/13
PASSAGE #	TOF
WPM	[Your WPD]

If you did not fill out the top of the graph for previous days, it should look like this:

DATE	[the date]
PASSAGE #	SCSS
WPM	[Your WPD]

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/candle-timer/full-screen/

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/dynamite-timer/full-screen/

Activity 3: Reliability and ways to check for it!
Complete the explorers activity and filling out the evaluation form for that site.

Fill out the white worksheet, titled "Lewis and Clark – Important Information for Your U.S. History Class Next Year" using this link:

http://allaboutexplorers.com/explorers/lewis-clark/ 

If you'd like more information about these explorers, see
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-is-shot-in-the-leg 

 Leave your folder on your desk, but take the project packet with you to computer lab 223.  Also take your thumb drive. 

Today's Agenda:  In the Computer Lab - Lab 223 

https://www.edmodo.com/    

Most sign in as  

      lastnamefirstname

      student number

1. Complete the Practice Assignment if you have not. (page 2 in the packet)
2. Sign up for your hero if you have not. (page 5 in the packet)  "IMPORTANT: SIGN UP FOR YOUR HERO"   
1. Include the hero's name and the URL from BRC.
3. Complete Hero Research #1 -- evaluating and taking notes on your hero.  
1. Open the document:  If you already started and saved it on Edmodo, open the the file you saved!
2.  Finish filling it in. 
3. Then click on the Turn In button to turn it in on Edmodo under the assignment "Hero Research #1: Evaluating and Taking Notes on An Article from Biography Reference Center"
4. Begin work on Hero Research #2: Using Pioneer Library and an online encyclopedia. Turn it in whether you finish or not.  

Save your work often. 

This is a sample of the PowerPoint you will do after you have completed your research: 

Larry Bird by Fielding C.ppt

Lab 223

These instructions might help in computer lab:

Lab 223 Plug your thumb drive into the back of the keyboard or into the back of the monitor -- to your right. An icon for your thumb drive should appear on the desktop -- perhaps to the right. To save to your thumb drive With the document you wish to save open, click on File, Save As. If the thumb drive is already open, check the name of your document, and click on Save. If not, scroll down to DEVICES and click on DISK_IMG You will want to add your name to the beginning of the name of your document.  Don't erase what is already there. Before ejecting your thumb drive, close documents that are saved on it. To eject your thumb drive, drag it to the garbage can which will turn into an eject icon. Goodbye! To log off the computer, find the apple icon at the top left, click on log out student. Don't forget to take your thumb drive!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Find a seat -- no seating chart today. 

Pick up your folder!  Leave it on your desk, but take the project packet with you to computer lab 223.

Today's Agenda:  In the Computer Lab - Lab 223 

https://www.edmodo.com/
Most sign in as  
      lastnamefirstname
      student number

1. Complete the Practice Assignment if you have not.
2. Find your hero (the one you most want) on Biography Reference Center.   (page 5 in your packet) Leave open the best article. 
3. Sign Up for your hero as a reply to "IMPORTANT: SIGN UP FOR YOUR HERO"   (page 5 in your packet)
1. Include the hero's name and the URL from BRC.
4. Complete Hero Research #1 -- evaluating and taking notes on your hero.  Open the document, fill it in, then click on the Turn In button to turn it in on Edmodo under the assignment 

   "Hero Research #1: Evaluating and Taking Notes on An Article from Biography Reference Center"

Save your work often. 

In the Classroom

Activity 1. Individual Reading Time and Begin a New Reading Log

Activity 2: Fluency Practice  -- Poems

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/candle-timer/full-screen/

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/dynamite-timer/full-screen/

A3 will do Activity 3 later, thank you.
Activity 3: Reliability and ways to check for it!
Complete the explorers activity and filling out the evaluation form for that site.

Fill out the white worksheet, titled "Lewis and Clark – Important Information for Your U.S. History Class Next Year" using this link:

http://allaboutexplorers.com/explorers/lewis-clark/ 

If you'd like more information about these explorers, see
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-is-shot-in-the-leg 

________________________

Sample PowerPoint for the Project:
Larry Bird by Fielding C.ppt

Monday, November 18, 2013

Today begins the new rotation for Reading 7.

• Those who have been in Ms. Dorsey's class should go to Mrs. Fugal's class in Room 200.
• Those who have been in Mrs. Tall's class should come to Ms. Dorsey's class in Room 219.

Monday, November 18, 2013

• Find a seat.  Seats may not be assigned today, but will be soon. 
• Activity 1. Individual Reading Time and Begin a New Reading Log
• Pick up your folder from the black A3 or A4  crate at the back of the classroom. 
• Receive a disclosure document and put it away to be taken home. 

Please bring your thumb drive to class each time.   
Also bring a pencil or pen.

This is a link to the beginning of the year Welcome and Needed Supplies

Today's Agenda:  In the Classroom

Activity 1. Individual Reading Time and Begin a New Reading Log

•     On most class days we will have some quiet individual reading time at the beginning of class.  Bring a book to read or borrow something from the teacher's shelves.
• Don't forget to fill out your reading log every time.  It counts on your grade!   
• Your folder number is also 
• your computer number.
•     If you're absent, or don't fill out your log, pick up a pink make-up sheet and do the homework.

 Leave your reading log and fluency graph in your folder. 

Activity 2: Fluency Practice  -- Poems

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/candle-timer/full-screen/

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/dynamite-timer/full-screen/

Receive a project packet for this rotation.  Keep it in your folder unless you need to complete make-up work at home.  Move Quietly to Computer Lab 211 Take your project packet. 
Activity 3:  Join our Edmodo Class and Complete a Practice Assignment for Edmodo 

practice_assignment_for_edmodo.doc

Activity 4:  Prepare to decide next time on a "hero" to research.  The list of suggestions is on pages 3 and 4 in your packet.  Not all of the names there will be found on Biography Reference Center. 

Who’s Your Hero Suggestions.doc

or see the post on this blog: Suggestions for Heroes

You will sign up for your hero next time, after you find him or her on Biography Reference Center. 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

There is no school today for you.   
You should be out job-shadowing!
Learn and enjoy!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: 
The last day to hand in late PowerPoints is 

November 15.

Please email me when you have done this, if you are handing it in late.

Today!   Read-a-thon -- Bring something to read, a treat if you wish, and a pillow to sit on if you'd like to.  

On Thursday, November 14, you will be job shadowing.

On Monday, November 18, you will be going to Mrs. Fugal's classroom for your new rotation. 

Today:  
1. Individual reading.

2. Partner Fluency practice

Turn in Passages and Plastic Page Covers.

Read

When Your Teacher Says, "No talking!"

And, no sign language, either! 

(I was so happy to see this on Facebook.  I laughed, then thanked the people who posted it.  Now I'm sharing it with you because, yes, this is what I mean when I say, "No talking.")

That Book I Loaned You

Friday, November 8, 2013

Announcements and Reminders: 
The last day to hand in late PowerPoints is 

November 15.
Plan for the Read-a-Thon in class on Tuesday, November 12 

-the last day of this rotation.

November 12:   Read-a-thon -- Bring something to read, a treat if you wish, and a pillow to sit on if you'd like to.  

On Thursday, November 14, you will be job shadowing.

On Monday, November 18, you will be going to Mrs. Fugal's classroom for your new rotation. 

Today:  
1. Individual reading and fill out your reading log.

2. Partner Fluency practice

3. Reliability:
Fill out the white worksheet, titled "Lewis and Clark – Important Information for Your U.S. History Class Next Year" using this link:

http://allaboutexplorers.com/explorers/lewis-clark/ 

If you'd like more information about these explorers, see
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-is-shot-in-the-leg 


4.  Reading Strategies

         1)    Background Knowledge
         2)    Inference
             3)    Making Predictions: Story Impressions #1
         4)    Making Predictions: Story Impressions #2
             5)       If time:  Model for Most Important Word -- Finding Main Idea

Inference

What can you infer from this passage?  What is she doing? How is she feeling? What is going on?

            Lisa bit her nails.  She looked at the clock for the tenth time.  At last the phone rang.  She jumped.  Then she grabbed the phone.  “Who is it?” she cried.  Her voice shook.  Her heart pounded.

Background Knowledge

Background/Prior Knowledge/Schema is Important!

Listen carefully to the following poem:

With hocked gems financing him
Our hero bravely defied
All scornful laughter
That tried to prevent his scheme.
“Your eyes deceive,” he said,
“An egg, not a table correctly 
Typify this unexplored planet.”
Now three sturdy sisters sought proof,
Forging along, sometimes through calm vastness
And yet more often over peaks and valleys.
Days became weeks as many doubters spread fearful rumors     about the edge.
At last welcomed winged creatures appeared,
Signifying momentous success.

Background Knowledge Poem Background