7th Grade ELA

Homework tonight is to finish the 3rd body paragraph on your graphic organizer. This is due tomorrow for summative points. Below is what we have come up with for Introduction and Body #1 (I will make copies of this for you to attach to your graphic organizer but it is here for you to use as your guide). You should have completed body #2 with your table group. Make sure you are ready to turn in and share tomorrow.

Prompt Question:__ How does Mrs. Jones’s kindness to Roger change him? Explain how he changes and provide evidence from the text. 

Introduction of novel/idea/topic (starts with a “hook”; define idea, quote, and interesting fact):

It is well understood that human beings can change as a result of an experience or encounter with another person.  This change can happen immediately depending on one’s willingness to evolve. 

Background/lead to thesis (introduce story, author, some but not all events):

In the story, Thank you, M’am,  by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones helps Roger go through an immediate change as a result of her kindness, forgiveness, and empathy.

Thesis statement/Claim/Argument –  (answer to prompt questions):

Roger changes for the better as he becomes hopeful, honest, and holds himself accountable.

First Body Paragraph

1. Offers one reason that supports thesis (topic sentence 1):  

Roger gains a sense of hope in humanity as a result of his encounter with Mrs. Jones.  When Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse, instead of taking him to jail, she takes him home and shows him kindness.  It is obvious that Roger has never been shown true kindness from anybody.

2. Gives textual evidence (support 1 from reading):

Before she sends him off, Mrs. Jones says,

“ ‘Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time, don’t make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s’ ”  (Hughes 72). 

3.  Explain quote/Reasoning:

Roger is left stunned by this act of kindness.  Mrs. Jones took him into her home, fed him, showed him a great deal of concern, and gave him the ten dollars to buy his blue suede shoes.  Roger realizes that people can be kind and giving.  In the case of Mrs. Jones, she responds with true kindness to a young boy who just needed to be treated well.  Roger thanks Mrs. Jones but cannot truly express how overwhelmed he feels by her generosity so he just says, “Thank You” but is left with a different mindset about humanity.

Went over the SAT terms with examples provided. Continued working on the essay and focus today was on the 1st body paragraph with planning in mind. How do we move forward when brainstorming ideas for an essay and where do we go next?

We will continue through the body paragraphs and conclusion this week.

SSR REFLECTIONS

1st, 3rd, and 4th hours should have 4 SSR Reflections in the notebook.

5th and 6th hour, due to school activities, we missed 1 SSR so you should have 3 SSR Reflections.

Note: You should be reading 30+ minutes at home every evening. This is your responsibility and should be reflected in the insight you provide in your reflections.

SSR 1: Tell me the following information in 3 minutes:The title and author of the book, the lexile level, why you chose this book, and something you already know about the events and the characters.

SSR 2 (5th and 6th hour you didn’t have this one): What do you know so far about your main character?  Think of the characterization and the 5 ways in which we create an understanding of a character:  thoughts, physical appearance, what others say about them, what they say, and their actions. Hit on each one of those elements. 

SSR 3: Reflect on the style in which the author writes.  How does s/he appeal (get your attention) to you as a reader?  

SSR 4: List all the characters you have encountered thus far and give a brief summary of what you know about each. 

H.W. Read for 30+ minutes and study your SAT words

Today, student took the SAT 2 quiz. Binder check took place so please make sure you take the suggestions (if any were made) and apply before the next binder check. Time was given in class for students to work on SAT 3 wk.sheet, transfer the terms to their dictionary, and SSR/SSR reflection. Whatever was not completed in class is to be done for homework.

H.W. SAT 3 terms , transfer 30 terms to dictionary, and SSR reflection (How does the author or your novel appeal to you, the reader (as in how does s/he pull you in).

I was very disappointed by the small number of students ( 7 total) who came in for the retake of SAT quiz 1… there should have been a larger group in here retesting. Remember that this is a rare opportunity!!

Have a great weekend!

Some classes were able to get through looking at sample introductions and identifying the various parts which were developed as a result of our brainstorming session. We will continue to work through the writing process.

5th and 6th hour played Kickball.

Reminder: Retake is tomorrow during lunch

Read yesterday’s blog for details. If you forget any of the requirements, you lose the opportunity to retake.

H.W. SAT 2 and reading (30-40 minutes)

SAT quiz 1 was returned. We went over the quiz to make sure to reiterate a few points.

As a class, we went over SAT 2 terms with special explanation of analogy, connotation, and denotation. Hope you all heard my explanation about restitution and atone so as not to confuse them on the quiz!

Continued with brainstorming activity for the essay we are doing as a class. Continued modeling ways to go through the process and planning. We will continue to work on this for the next week or so.

Retake for SAT quiz 1 is on Thursday during lunch if you got a 5 or below. You must do all of the following or you will not have the opportunity to retest:

1. write a letter explaining why you earned that score
2. make a quiz, a review guide, note cards, practice quiz and bring it along with you to prove you took the extra step
3. tell me your plan for the next quiz and all future quizzes so this doesn’t become a weekly habit
4. Have your parents sign the letter
5. Bring a bagged lunch and report to my classroom at the beginning of lunch on Thursday

H.W. study for SAT 2 quiz on Friday and continue reading 30-40 minutes every evening

Students took their first SAT/academic vocabulary quiz today. Those that were unprepared struggled through it.

SAT 2 was passed out. Again there are 5 SAT words and 5 Academic terms. With the Academic terms students are to define and give an example of each on the back.

H.W. Complete SAT 2 worksheet and enter SAT 1 words and Academic terms in binder dictionary: Red for SAT words, Blue for Academic. You may also enter SAT 2 words and get ahead. Make sure you are keeping your binder organized!

Summer scores were entered for all but 3rd Hour. I should have those in no later than Tuesday.

Reminder to read 30-40 minutes a night.

Focus has been on the process of writing and responding to a prompt. Steps have been discussed and we are gradually going through the process to brainstorm and develop ideas before we complete the graphic organizer. This will continue for the next week as I model the process.

Except for 3rd hour, all students went to the library and checked out two novels. One of the books should be brought to class on a daily basis for SSR.

Reminder that your SAT quiz is tomorrow. Make sure your binder is in order and ready for a check in the next few days.

Time was spent looking through and talking about the elements of an essay, paying attention to knowing the format/structure that is required. Students were required to label the 15 parts and then, we went over them as a class, discussing the dos and don’ts of essay writing.

Students received another copy of the graphic organizer as a resource to be used in the future. We will complete one for “Thank you, M’am” as I model the planning and then, the writing of an essay. This is intended to take students through the steps of developing and planning out their ideas.

H.W. Study for Friday’s SAT/Vocabulary quiz. I will show you a sample quiz tomorrow so you know what to expect.

15 minutes was allocated for students to finish up NWEA. For anyone not done, please make sure you come into my classroom as soon as you get dropped off in the morning and stay through Advisory. You will have to touch base with your Advisory teacher to let them know you are in my classroom.

Time was spent organizing Binder and Notebook. Make sure that if you were missing either one in class today, you organize them at home as there may be a binder check this week.

The SAT worksheet was checked in today for a grade. Make sure you are studying the words every night. The quiz is this Friday. I will show you a sample quiz the next few days.

H.W. organize your binder if you didn’t have your supplies on hand in class and study your SAT/Academic terminology

We continued through NWEA today. There are still a few students who have yet to finish. I will give them some time on Monday and then ask those students to come in during Advisory to complete it.

I introduced the vocabulary homework sheet (SAT and Content Specific Terms) to students. This worksheet is due on Monday. I modeled how I expect it to be done. I also went over what the quiz format. However, I will still show a sample quiz and give a practice quiz next week to ensure there is clarity. Every Friday there will be a quiz and then, students will get a new list for the following week. Students will not get a word bank for the SAT words; rather, they must know the words to be written down on the quiz paper and placed into already created sentences. For the content specific terms, I will provide those words and students will have to match them to given examples. Again, they will get to see a sample quiz.

Homework: for Monday have the vocabulary worksheet done & make sure you have your binder, tabs, notebooks (either spiral or composition), and loose leaf paper on Monday. We will be organizing our binders and notebooks.