Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Sorry for not updating yesterday! Once in a blue moon I will forget, or get stuck in a meeting and then forget. Sorry!

Today in class the advanced students discussed their analysis over “The Necklace” from yesterday. We looked at all of the responses and why some of them were really good answers and why some people (anonymously) may have missed getting points for that question. We then practiced using context clues with dictionaries for multiple meaning words. This is something the students already know how to do, but we needed to review it because there will always be 1 or 2 questions on a quiz or test referring to the meaning of the word in the context of the story. They did great with this today! I did send home a homework paper that was very similar to what we did in class today for some extra independent practice. We will continue to review multiple meaning words in context  throughout the school year.

Core students took a short 4 multiple choice question quiz. They were given the whole class period for today’s quiz only because some students were taking the quiz using technology and we’ve had a few bumps so far with the wi-fi and the technology working. If they finished, they could work on their homework worksheet, complete a MobyMax lesson, or silently read their independent reading book.

 

Advanced students will have a similar 4 multiple choice quiz tomorrow in class! 

 

MAP Testing has started back for the school year! My classes are MAP testing on Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8. 

Homework for Advanced & Core:

• Multiple Meaning Word Worksheet (front and back) is due tomorrow.
• Read at least 20-30 minutes of your independent reading book.
• Core ONLY: Complete 30 minutes of MobyMax by 9/9.

 

7th Grade Homework Website Link

 

~Mrs. Finley

Monday, August 29, 2016

Today in class the core students started class by editing two sentences. They then took some notes on analyzing a setting. We discussed that setting is more than just the time and place and discussed how it can change a character or even create problems for our characters.

The advanced students edited a paragraph to start class. After going over the starter, we read the short story “The Necklace.” Tomorrow we will start analyzing the setting and the characters deeper.

MAP Testing has started back for the school year! My classes are MAP testing on Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8. 

 

Homework:

• Read at least 20 minutes of an independent reading book tonight.

 

~Mrs. Finley

Friday, August 26, 2016

Today in class we went to the library for book check-out. We had a little extra time because Mrs. Butler was not here today to teach a mini-lesson, so many of the students had some time to read their book.

Over the weekend I will finish grading the summer reading assignments for the remaining students who are left. All grade will be accurate in Infinite Campus on Monday. 🙂

 

Homework:

• Read at least 20 minutes each night of your independent reading book.

 

Have a great weekend!

7th Grade Homework Website

 

 

~Mrs. Finley

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Today the students analyzed the central idea of the poem Harlem 2. After determining the central idea and listing their evidence why they logged on to Google Classroom and submitted this as an assignment. The goal was to make sure they could all get logged on and upload an assignment by the end of class.

The advanced class discussed the importance of setting and how it shapes the conflict, changes characters, and even when the setting can also symbolize something. We watched a few clips to also analyze how the characters changed based on their setting.

Homework:

• 3rd, 6th, & 7th hour: MobyMax Reading Level Assessment is due tomorrow. All students received a paper with their username and password to get logged on.

 

• All classes: Find an independent reading book on your independent reading level (not too easy, not too hard). More information regarding a project will be coming home in the next week. 

 

7th Grade Homework Website

~Mrs. Finley

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Today in class the core students continued to analyze the poem Harlem 2 by Langston Hughes by looking at the symbolism in the poem. We looked back at the graphic organizer and started organizing our thoughts into paragraphs.

The advanced class looked at the short story Thank You Ma’am also by Langston Hughes. We discussed some of the symbolism and the allusions in the text. The kids did an awesome job analyzing the text! Tomorrow we will discuss the theme.

Homework:

Core ONLY:

• 3rd, 6th & 7th- Get logged in to MobyMax and take the reading assessment by Friday 8/26.

 

Core & Advanced:

• Please bring in the $15 workbook fee by the end of this week.

 

• Students need to find an independent reading book by next week that they would like to read for the month. The book should be on their independent reading level and not too easy or too difficult. Please have students see me if they need help finding a book. 

 

7th Grade Homework Website

 

~Mrs. Finley

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Today in class we took a close look at the poem Harlem 2 by Langston Hughes. We discussed and took notes analyzing the symbolism in the poem, citing evidence, and relating it back to the theme of the poem.

Core will finish up this activity in the next day or two. Advanced classes will move on to a short story by Langston Hughes as we dig into more analysis of the text.

Homework:

• 3rd, 6th, & 7th hour CORE: Log-in to MobyMax and take the Reading Assessment by Friday.

 

• All Classes: Find a book to read on your independent reading level (not too easy and not too hard) to bring to class. More information to follow regarding book activities.

 

7th Grade Homework Website

~Mrs. Finley

Monday, August 22, 2016

Today in class the students took a baseline reading test over a cold read.

The advanced class read a short story and reviewed symbolism and created a theme based on the short story.

Core students also got logged into MobyMax. This will help us practice skills over the school year, such as grammar, vocabulary, referencing, etc. The first assignment is due by Friday: Take the Reading Assessment.

Homework:

• Bring the $15 workbook fee in by Friday.

 

• Look for an independent reading book. If you need help finding one, please let me know and I’m more than happy to help. This can be a book from the school library, my classroom library, home, etc. 

 

• 3rd, 6th, & 7th hour CORE classes: Get logged into MobyMax and take the Reading Assessment by Friday.

 

7th Grade Homework Website

~Mrs. Finley

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Today in class the students wrote about the theme or central idea of their summer reading book. They were asked to provide examples and make sure they explained their examples and how they prove the theme/central idea of the  book they read. We practiced this yesterday with a short story and filled out a pre-write R.A.C.E. strategy together. This strategy was also used in 6th grade. If a student is new to Hayes, I asked them to use the R.A.C.E. strategy if they felt comfortable with it, otherwise they could just use something that they had previously used.

Students had the whole class period to work and ERQ’s were turned in at the end of class. If the students finished early, they could read a book or work on their reading survey. The surveys are probably the best way for me to help students with books throughout the school year. They will have to read one book a month, however they are allowed to choose a book on their independent level. These surveys help me match students with books when they don’t know what to read next.

I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend!

Core & Advanced: 

***Bring workbook fee as soon as possible.

***Bring back the reading survey completed (front & back) on Monday (if you did not turn it in during class today).

~Mrs. Finley

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Today in class we reviewed the RACE strategy and practiced applying it to a short story. We use this strategy for all writing assignments at Hayes in Language Arts and Social Studies. It can also be applied to many science ERQ questions too. We discussed the strategy and filled out an example one together. This will help them tomorrow with their summer reading essay in class. Students also had time to get logged in to our google classroom website. This will be really helpful for turning in assignments electronically throughout the school year.

 

Homework:

*Students may bring their summer reading book and any notes they took on their book to help them on the essay tomorrow.

*Please turn in your $15 workbook fee as soon as possible.

 

-Mrs. Finley