Mrs. Gray

Week of 1/30-2/3

We are getting close to the middle of the marking period.  I just want to remind all students that you need to have taken at least 1 non-fiction AR test by 2/13.  You should also have at least 600 pages read to stay on track for the end of the marking period.  When I give READJ for homework,it is not a suggestion, but a reminder that you should be reading every night.

Monday, 1/30 - Did sentences 5 & 6 in "Giggles in the Middle" and discussed independent and dependent clauses, pronoun agreement, homophones,etc.  We have sentences a few times a week. We watched a movie clip from two movies, Glory and Independence Dayto show how the way a speech is given is almost as important as what is said.  We then began listening to President Obama's Inauguration speech.  Students are to find the ethos, pathos, logos, and transfer in the speech and answer questions on their worksheet.  Download PresidentObamainaugurationaddress and worksheet Download Obamainaugurationchart.  To listen to the speech, students can go to www.americanrhetoric.com and look under Obama speeches.  Attached is a link that will hopefully work: http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobama/barackobamainauguraladdress.htm

Homework: Complete worksheet and READJ

Week of 1/23-1/27

Wow! A full week of school.  The school play will present Get Up and Go Thursday evening, 1/26 at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $5.  If you are interested in attending, buy your tickets early.  It often sells out.  Great performance Thursday night!

 It was announced today that Hightower Trail Middle School has received platinum recognition for CRCT scores from last year!

All students are required to write an "Honoring Our Heroes" essay.  They have their choice if they want to turn it in to the PTSA for their essay contest.  They will receive a grade in my class for this essay.  Students are to write no more than a typed or handwritten double-sided 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper about a real hero (grandparents, parents, siblings, doctors, policemen, soliders, teachers, etc.) who has made a real and positive impact on the student's life.  If the student wants to enter it into the contest, they must complete an entry form (I have them) and they would like a picture if possible. The entries will be judged on the student's ability to articulate the qualities of the hero and to describe the manner in which the hero has impacted the student's life.  It is due by February 10th (two weeks from today).  If a student would like me to look it over before he/she turns it in for the contest, they must turn it in to me by February 3rd.  I will grade it and give it back to them with comments so they can fix any grammar/spelling mistakes.  I will not comment on what he/she wrote.

Friday, 1/27 -  Began use of persuasion in speeches.  Read "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. Download IHaveaDream , listed and discussed ethos, pathos and logos in the speech and then listened to it.  We began a discussion to compare and contrast the differences the students felt when reading or listening to the speech.  HW:  Finish the two paragraphs assigned yesterday.  All information on the paragraphs is attached to Thursday.  READ J

Thursday, 1/26-Turn in reflection on advertisements."Grammar in the Middle" two sentences  Finished power point "Birth of Persuasion"  Download TheBirthofPersuasion. HW:  Students assigned paragraphs to their mother and father about a special gift for their birthday. Due Monday 1/30.  See attached assignment:  Download AC Language Arts_ Persuasive letter assignment .

Wednesday, 1/25-"Grammar in the Middle".  EQ:  How does one make an effective argument to influence another's choice?"  Anticipation guide Download AnticipationGuideBirthofPersuasion and then power point and note taking for "The Birth of Persuasion/Argument.  Reevaluation of anticipation guide. Since we did not finish the power point, we will continue tomorrow.  HW: Reflect in a well-written response including grammar and spelling on the following: "If you were the sunglasses manufacturer, which advertisement would you select based on the following criteria: effective use of required selling points, visual appeal, use of slogan, creativity, and overall effectiveness?  Provide support for your answer." Due tomorrow.  Attached are the  different group selling points Download Group Selling Points

Tuesday, 1/24-Today we continued to work on our advertisements for the Gray Advertising Agency.  Students finished their presentation and then looked at all of the other ads and completed a sheet answering the following questions:  Who is the audience? What selling points was the group given? What emotion does the ad evoke?  Would the ad make you want to purchase the sunglasses?  There are 6 different ads to observe.  Students will then explain their reasoning for their advertisement. Homework:  Write a quick write for the following questions:  How did your group organize the information to meet the requirements given to the ad agency team by the customer?  How did your group appeal to the specified audience?  Be specific about your specifics.   After your quick write, reflect in a well-written response including grammar and spelling on the following: "If you were the sunglasses manufacturer, which advertisement would you select based on the following criteria: effective use of required selling points, visual appeal, use of slogan, creativity, and overal effectiveness?  Provide support for your answer." This will be due Thursday because we will have a short presentation tomorrow on each advertisement.

Monday, 1/23 - We began the day with a quick-write about advertising.  The questions are:  What makes you remember an ad? What is the most memorable ad you can think of?  What makes it memorable?  What are recognizable ads?  We then formed groups in the Gray Advertising Agency to produce a picture ready advertisement for sunglasses given the specific requirements for each group.  HW:  Bring in anything you will need to finish your advertisement by the middle of class. READ

Week of 1/16-1/20

Monday was a day off in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.  There was no school.  This is another short week with many events occurring.  The biggest one is the "mock" writing test for 7th grade and the real one for 8th grade.  We have been lucky enough to have the test graded by the state so students will see how well they might do next year.  It is an excellent formative assessment of the writing test. Normally, 7th grade LA teacher's grade the papers.  Although we follow the rubric, we tend to grade the papers harder than the state.  The test is scheduled for Wednesday, 1/18.

Friday, 1/20-Began "Grammar in the Middle" story that will be done at least 3 times per week to help review and teach grammar concepts.  It also reviews concepts that they have already learned.  We began taking notes on persuasive techniques utilizing this power point Download Propaganda Techniques.  Students were given cloze notes to complete.  I will go over the rest of the power point quickly on Monday.  Homework:  Bring in magazines so you will be able to find advertisements.  READJ

Thursday, 1/19-Begin Grammar in the Middle story with sentences and grammar review.  Pre-test for our next unit (on i-Respond) - Choices.  This will look at all aspects of writing and reading, but it will emphasize Persuasive reading and writing. Discussed what the word "choice" meant and how it would fit into our unit.  Students put together their own Essential Question for the unit which we discussed.  Homework:  READJ

Wednesday, 1/18-Writing test.  Journal 3-2.  Think about the writing test.  How do you think you did?  What did you do best? Were you prepared?  What would have made the test easier?  What do you think your grades will be from the E? I, O, S, C?  Then we had D.E.A.R. (Drop everything and READ) Homework: Finish journal and READJ

Tuesday, 1/17 - Went over power point to discuss the test and what to look for during it.  Suggested time frames, and examples are given.  Download The Writing Test. Revised.  Students should come prepared with a #2 wood pencil, a black or dark blue ballpoint pen, and a book to read.  The final copy must be in pen (no sharpie, flair or gel pen).  Students will take the "mock" writing test in their homeroom.  They will then go to Connections and lunch and return for shortened classes in the afternoon.  All students will attend each class.  BRING a book to LA also.

Week of 1/9-1/13

Welcome back and Happy New Year!  I am very excited to be back and working with you or your students (depending on who is reading this). We have some events coming up in the next few weeks.  The school wide spelling bee is on Friday, 1/13.  Two of my students will be competing, Michael P and Sam W.  I wish them the best of luck.  Monday 1/16 is the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday; therefore, there is no school. 

The "mock writing assessment" is on Wednesday, 1/18.  Students will be given an prompt and will follow the time line that 8th grade follows to see how well they do.  We have been luck enough to get a grant that will allow us to send the assessment out to be graded like 8th grade.  This will be used as a formative assessment which will give us information on areas that each student needs to work on to improve.

Friday, 1/13-Orange class did not have class today because they watched the school-wide spelling bee.  When it came down to the last 5 spellers, all 4 7th grade students were in there.  Great job by all of them.  In the other classes we worked in groups to grade the papers, and then discussed each one and compared their grading to the states.  The kids were harder graders.  Hopefully, this will alleviate any fear about the test.  Orange class HW- complete the grading of the two essays on the given rubric.  We will discuss them in class on Monday. Other classes - READJ

Thursday, 1/12 - Today we took the formative checkpoint assessment.  This will help me see where students need help and what should be taught in upcoming lessons.  We then began looking at the grading rubric that the state uses for the writing assessment. I handed out an essay that waswritten and graded by the GaDOE.  Students had a chance to be the grader.  We did not get very far with the grading.  We will do this in class tomorrow.

Wednesday, 1/11 - In class we did a chart on the differences between persuasive and expository to ready the students for the writing test, and to begin our unit on Choices (this unit has a strong tie to persuasion).  Students worked in pairs to complete the chart with 15 descriptive boxes that had to be divided into Expository, Both, or Persuasive.  Attached, please find the chart.  I will attach a coded answer key in the next few days.  I want to give those students who were absent a chance to complete it on their own before I give the answers.  Download Difference exp. persuasion.  We continued to work in pairs to look over different writing situations and writing directions to decide if the prompt was expository or persuasive.  We had group discussion after that.  Did a brainstorming activity on one of the prompts to demonstrate what needs to be done during pre-writing and also what types of support will be needed and can be manufactured in their heads.  Homework:  READ J

Tuesday, 1/10 - Colored by number to discuss the difference between formulaic writing and good writing.  Students were given a picture to color for a while and then we discussed what makes a good artist and a good writer.  Some students requested the color guide so they can finish the picture at home.  This is not a grade.  Download Color Guide.  After class discussion, students were given their first journal of the marking period on their New Year's Resolutions for language arts. Attached is the journal assignment:  Download Language Arts New Years Resolutions. Homework:  READJ

Week of 12/19-12/22

Wishing everyone a very happy holiday!  Enjoy your break and come back renewed and ready to learn! 

Tuesday, 12/20 - Today we almost finished listening to the play version of "A Christmas Carol."  Tomorrow, we will have the chance to look at how it looks in film and compare it to the play.  We are not watching all of it, just some scenes.  For my Purple, Blue and Orange class, if you would like to bring something to share with the class, this is the day (Wednesday) to do it.  We will be in the Media Center on Thursday.  If you owe me anything, make sure I have it tomorrow.  I  WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING ON THURSDAY.

Monday, 12/19 - Students took their midterm for both language arts and reading.  It consisted of 25 reading and 25 language arts questions.  They will receive separate grades for each.  They have already been posted to Pinnacle.  Homework:  Reading logs with reflections are due tomorrow as well as all AR tests.  I will pull a report after school on Tuesday. Number of pages read is 112 plus your research.

Week of 12/12-12/16

The last full week before our break.  I don't know about you, but I am tired, but you need to stay focused and then we can relax.  Wednesday is our Cobb County Checkpoint for the first semester.  We will be taking it on the i-Responds.  It is only 20 questions. 

Please bring in cans for the canned food drive to help Must Ministries.  Please help others have a good holiday season.  I will give positives to my homeroom students if they bring in cans.  If the homeroom has the highest number of cans/boxes, we can win a holiday donut party.

Mid-term on Monday, 12/19 - It will consist of 25 language arts and 25 reading questions.  There should be no problem with completing this in the class period if students do not waste time.  If you would like to do additional practice, here is a list of workbook pages that will help you review.  I will have answer sheets available to self-correct.  These are not a grade:  Pages 16, 34-35, 37-38, 46-47, 52-53, 55-56, 68-69,130-131, and 140.  Study sessions on Wednesday, 12/14 and Monday, 12/19.  I will also be available for individual help on Thursday, 12/15.

Friday, 12/16 -Reviewed homework and discussed dramatization.  Began reading/listening to the drama version of "A Christmas Carol."  We will continue with this next week.  Reminded students about AR/Reading logs due 12/20.  Attached is the form if it is lost Download READING LOGAC.97.2003 doc  Download Reading Log XTRA page.  If the reflection is not good (summary instead of connection, or does not answer connection), I will not count the pages.  Midterm Monday, 12/19 - Students received the study guide yesterday.  Also on my blog.  Homework:  Study for midterm and READ.

Thursday, 12/15-Did BrainPop today to review some grammar, conjunctions, clauses, prepositions.  I also showed one on Charles Dickens since we will be reading "A Christmas Carol" shortly.  Went over drama vocabulary and discussed what is needed to take a short story and/or novel and do a dramatization.  Homework:  Reader's Journey, pages 424-425.  Also handed out study guide which lists what is on the midterm and where to find additional information in either their workbooks or Reader's Journey.  Attached is the study guide:  Download AC Study Guide for Mid

Wednesday, 12/14-Today we took the Checkpoint for ELA today.  It was 20 questions.  We then worked in class on homework for tonight that will reinforce the beginning of our work with drama.  We will continue to review for the midterm on Monday, but we will begin discussing drama and reading the play,  A Christmas Carol. Homework:  In the Reader's Journey, read and complete all work on pages 372-373, 382-385.  This will be for a Reading grade.  I expect the work to be complete and good. 

Tuesday, 12/13 - Today we reviewed and graded our homework on indefinite pronouns and tricky nouns (collective, numbers, etc.) as they work with subject/verb agreement.  We then saw a short power point on misplaced and dangling modifiers. Download Misplaced Modifiers Intro-cobb.  Homework:  READ - REMEMBER ALL AR TESTS AND READING REFLECTIONS ARE DUE NEXT TUESDAY 12/20.  NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED!  Complete worksheets on participial phrases and particples to review for Checkpoint and Mid-term.

Monday, 12/12 - Students took a sentence structure quiz.  It was taken on i-Respond to practice for the upcoming Checkpoint on Wednesday.  Students had the ability to see their score and go back in and increase their grade.  Homework:  Pages 172-176 in their Grammar Workbook.  We will check it tomorrow.  READ - REMEMBER ALL AR TESTS AND READING REFLECTIONS ARE DUE NEXT TUESDAY 12/20.  NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED!

Here are some games to play to practice sentence structure:  

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/sensort/index_pre.html

http://www.quia.com/rr/126726.html

Week of 12/5-12/9

National Jr. Beta Club is sponsoring a canned food drive this week to help fill the food bank at Must Ministries.  If you can send in/bring in some canned and boxed food, you will be helping those in need.  Some of the food that is in short supply is cereal, boxed dinners, tuna, oatmeal, jelly, canned beef, chicken, ham or salmon, fruit, dry milk, canned pastas, canned beans, chili and spaghetti sauce.

This is a very busy week with our commencement speeches.  Your students are graduating from some excellent universities around the world, and listening to speeches from "renowned" people.  I look forward to hearing them.  We are completing the unit on perseverance.  I am grading the articles as quickly as possible.  We will be doing drama beginning the week on 12/12.

Deficiency notices go out on Thursday, 12/8.  Any student in my classes that has lower than an 80 will receive one.  I just updated the AR tests and scores to help those students that didn't make the last deadline.  Unfortunately, many students still have not taken the required non-fiction AR tests, and their grades will not be great.  It is a fluid grade and can easily change by the end of the 9 weeks.  

We will be having a County-wide Checkpoint test on Wednesday 12/14.  It will cover what we have learned this marking period. This is sent to the county, but will not count for a grade in my class.  However, students will have a 50 questions mid-term on Monday, 12/19.  Half of the test will be reading and the other half language arts.  Each part will have a separate grade to correlate with the class. 

Wednesday, 12/7-Commencement speeches were given.  I also talked to my last three classes about the phenomenon of the divergent grades for the speeches as opposed to the articles that were due last Friday.  We discussed why this might happen and I heard some very insightful answers. After reviewing the assignment again and going over internal citations and work cited pages, I gave them back their paper to make corrections or rewrite their article.  Many of the articles have been biographies which is not the assigned task.  I recommend that students look closely at their article and choose only one time or situation that the person showed perseverance.  This article is only supposed to be 3 paragraphs, but many are longer because of the biographical writing.  Students will not lose any points for taking it back.  There will be no late grade associated with this.  However, I must grade them this weekend, so if they don't return one, it will have a penalty associated with it.  I also gave them their works cited page to fix.  One major mistake I found is that students are not putting the sources in alphabetical order.  I will be here early tomorrow morning to help anyone.  Homework:  last three classes- (red, blue, orange) Complete Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement worksheet.  Purple class will get it tomorrow.  Work on returned paper.  READ

Tuesday, 12/6-Commencement speeches were given.  A formative assessment on comparative and superlative adjectives was also given. Most students did well on this.  For those that had trouble, I will work with them.  I am available on Thursday morning for anyone that wants help in anything language arts/reading related. 

Monday, 12/5 - Commencement speeches were given.  We also watched a video about some of the books available at the book fair which begins 12/8-12/15.  In my last blog, there is more information about it.  We also reviewed some grammar including comparative/superlative adjectives, and pronouns and their antecedents.  We will continue to review grammar daily.  Homework:  READ and prepare for your commencement address.

Week of 11/28-12/2

Welcome Back!  I hope that you all had a great week off and relaxed.  We have a lot going on for the next few weeks finishing up our unit on perseverance.  The second project is due Tuesday, 11/29, and the article is due on Friday 12/2.  We will begin our commencement speeches on Monday, 12/5.  We will have approximately 5 per day.  Students will know by Wednesday the day that they will present.

I hope all of you have heard the news that Mrs. Gray's (that's me) Language Arts classes read the highest number of pages in the Jacket to Jacket reading competition with the Georgia Tech Women's Basketball Team.  We will be honored at the GT Women's basketball game vs. Nebraska on Wednesday, 11/30.  All student who participated will receive two tickets to the game.  I know that many students cannot attend, so if you need additional tickets, please let me know.  I did not get the entire allotment, so I have not handed them out.  If you want tickets, just ask and they are yours.  Hightower Trail also had the highest individual reader for the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.  I hope you can come and celebrate with us.  We had a great time last night at the basketball game.  Thank you everyone who came.

Thursday, 12/1-We spent the class period in the computer lab finishing up the work that is due tomorrow or working on their commencement speech which will be due sometime next week.  Students know the day they are presenting.  I am in the process of adding the presentation date to Pinnacle.  Homework:  Finish article and Works Cited page for tomorrow's due date (12/2).  If time:  READJ 

Wednesday, 11/30 - Spent class period in computer lab working on Works Cited page and article.  Both are due on Friday 12/2.  These were assigned on 10/31.  We have worked in class 7 times during this process.  We will also be in the computer lab tomorrow.  Homework:  Work on project or enjoy your time at the GT Women's Basketball game.  READ J

Tuesday, 11/29-Second project is due today. We worked on grammar today in our workbooks.  It seems that students were having trouble with prepositional phrases, and compound-complex and complex sentences.  Students were to review and complete the following pages in their workbook- pages 125-129, 155 and 161.  If they do not finish, it is homework. I have placed information on MLA format on the blog about the project.  You can also find how to source according to MLA format.  Homework:  Complete workbook pages. Be ready to work in the computer lab on your article.

Monday, 11/28- Gave the first step in the Spelling Bee process to decide who will compete in the 7th grade spell-off which will be held sometime in December.  The school-wide spelling bee should be in early January.  We also discussed internal citation, MLA format, and Works Cited pages.  All of these will be needed for their article that is due on Friday 12/2.  Homework:  Work on thesis statement for article.  We will be in the computer lab on Wednesday and Thursday to work on the article and Works Cited page. Second project is due tomorrow

Week of 11/14-11/18

One more week before we begin our Thanksgiving Break.  I wish all of you a very Happy Turkey Day and give thanks to you for your children.

Parents:  Please note:  Progress reports will be coming out on Thursday, 11/17 instead of 11/30.  Due to this change in dates, there will not be any large ticket grades (quizzes and tests/essays) on the progress report.  Therefore, the grades will be skewed and can change drastically when all of the projects are turned in and graded. If you have any questions, please contact me.

This is a busy week.  We have a few days in either the Media Center or Computer lab, but we will also be going over how to write an article with a good thesis statement and internal citations, how to complete a Works Cited Page, and how to improve our comprehension with sentence structure.  Most students turned in their first project today.  However, students need to make sure that they have looked over the rubric carefully and have completed their explanations according to the rubric. Their explanations are worth a large majority of their grade since it is language arts. 

Thursday, 11/17-We were in the computer lab today working on our projects.  Many of them worked diligently and finished almost all of their second project.  I also handed out a short note that I would like you to sign.  Since progress reports are earlier than scheduled, and students have been working on their projects, there are very few grades taken.  The grades are skewed because each category is not represented on the grade.  Please sign this note so your child can return it.  Also, if you look at Pinnacle, I have written notes by the grades.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Homework:  Work on your project and bring your Grammar for Writing to class tomorrow.  As always, READ J

Wednesday, 11/16-Today was an interesting day with a Tornado warning during the middle of class.  All of the students did a great job following the instructions.  Looked at the thesis statements in the articles brought from home.  Also, I had students begin to put together a thesis statement for their person.  We talked about them, and made suggestions.

Tuesday, 11/15-Showed students what a commencement speech should sound like by presenting an explary speech written by a 7th grade student from last year.  We discussed what was good about the speech and what they should do for their speech.  We also discussed how to write a thesis statement and what I am expecting for the article on their person due on 12/2.  This will allow them to work over the holiday week if they want, but it is not required.  We will have at least two days the week we return from break in the computer lab to write and finish their assignment.  Homework:  Bring in an article from a magazine or newspaper (nothing off of the computer) to work on finding thesis statements.  Remember that at least one AR test in non-fiction is due tomorrow.  READJ

Monday, 11/14 - Went to the Media Center and continued to work on our projects.  Students had the chance to finish up the one that is due today as well as continue with the others.  Students were also able to turn in any missing work that will be on the progress reports this week or take AR tests.  They should have at least one taken by Wednesday, 11/16.  Their reading reflection sheet was also due today for a preliminary look to check on progress.    Homework:  Continue to work on project.  READ J

Week of 11/7-11/11

We have a busy week because students will not be in school on Tuesday, November 8th due to Election Day.  The project due dates were changed on Friday and the calendar and assignment reflect these changes.  Students should be working on their project for a little each night to avoid any last minute cramming.

NOTE:  Progress Reports will be coming out on Thursday, 11/17 instead of 11/30 when planned.  The end of the 4 1/2 weeks is on Wednesday, 11/16.  I will try to get as many projects graded as possible for the progress reports.  Also, students will need to show me their reflections on the books they have read so far this marking period.  They should be approximately 1/3 of the  way to their reading goal due to the number of pages that are added at the end of the marking period for each class.  Also, they should have taken at least one of their AR tests by Tuesday of next week.

Friday, 11/11 - Finished the work in the literature book and self-graded, turned in for a grade.  Students were also to turn in the Research Study Guide they completed a week ago for a grade.  While students were working on their literature book or their project, I met with them individually to look over their source cards and note cards.  I also reviewed the rubric with them to emphasize that this project is for Languare Arts and that the written part of the projects count for 50% of the grade.  I would rather have something that is written well than one that took hours drawing, etc. and then had a poorly written explanation.  This has been pointed out throughout the project.  If students don't remember which project is due, they can check Pinnacle.  I wrote down their choice in the comments for each project due date.  Homework:  Finish project, reflections are also due on Monday.  They should be doing this as they read.  I will be looking at them for an interim grade.  They should also have approximatley 1/3 of their reading done for the marking period.

Thursday, 11/10 - In the Literature book, students read two informational pieces about the Black Plague and answered questions concerning organizational structure, comprehension and Analysis.  Articles: "Like Black Smoke" pages 896-900.  All lettered questions on each page, plus questions 1-7 on page 901.  Also read "A World Turned Upside Down" pages 902-904. All lettered questions A-D, and questions 1-7  on page 905.

Wednesday, 11/9 - Media Center day.  Students worked on gathering their research.  Homework from Reader's Journey was collected to be graded.  Students should have at least 2 source cards and 15 note cards by Friday.  I will not be in the classroom tomorrow.  Continue working on your research. First project is due on Monday, 11/14.

Tuesday, 11/8- NO SCHOOL

Monday,  11/7 - Looked at Expository and Persuasive writing.  Built T-chart on the elements and functions of both in groups and then whole class.  Homework:  Reader's Journey pages 470-473, and 480-483.  Complete except for the journals.  If you have not found a website source yet, leave the questions about if it is a good site until you have one.   First turn-in date for Perseverance assignment is Monday, 11/14. Continue working on research.  I will be checking on how well you are doing on Thursday, 11/10.  We will be in the Media Center on Wednesday.  Enjoy tomorrow!!!  READ J