In Language Arts, we are transitioning into our OneNote Classroom Notebook. We will be focusing on the following areas this quarter: Grammar, Non-Fiction and Research focusing what we learn to create a Passion-based magazine article. 

For Grammar, we will start with looking at types of sentences and identifying the subject and the predicate. Students will use what they learn to edit their Wonder Epilogue rough draft. 

For Non-Fiction, students will learn different types of non-fiction and different text features found in Informational Text.

After rolling out the laptops and completing MAPS testing, we are ready to begin Language Arts for Q2! With the access to laptops, we will start Classroom OneNote notebooks as the central place where students will get and do their warm-ups, find their assignments, write their stories, get feedback, find work they missed if absent, etc. 

 

 

onenote:https://westgate-my.sharepoint.com/personal/david_rowan_westgateschool_org/Documents/Class Notebooks/Rowan Language Arts 2017

 

 

Our Language Arts class notebook is something that students and parents can login to using the student's Microsoft 365 school account on any computer as there is an online version. Please use the following link from our school Website to find the link and login information.

 

 

 

Welcome back to the beginning of quarter number two! We hope you all had an enjoyable and restful break, and are now ready to get back at it. I wanted to let everyone know that we will have a special schedule the firs week back.

Monday: Hand out laptops during Language Arts, Social Studies and Science; Electives and Math at regular times.

Tuesday: Science MAPS testing during Language Arts and Reading MAPS testing during Social Studies and Science; Electives and Math at regular times.

 

 

As we begin quarter two, we are excited to let you know that we have laptops, and because we have laptops, we will be spending the day Monday distributing them and going over some important information. 

1. Quiz​
2. Tech agreement reminder​
3. Demonstration of getting computer and putting it away. 
4. Checkout form​
5. What happens when I don’t follow the tech agreement​
6. Non-negotiable​s

For our final week of the quarter, students will finish writing their rough drafts for their Epilogue Assignment. Students have chosen a character's point of view and are writing about what they think happens after the book Wonder ends. This can be the next day, the beginning of the next school year or 5 years down the road. 

 

Students completed an outline on their characters and settings and we learned about five different hooks to use to capture the attention of the reader and students wrote their beginning. They continue to add, share, write, discuss and think about their characters and how to make the story in their minds come alive.

 

As we begin the second quarter, we will begin our grammar unit and use those lessons to edit and revise these rough drafts. 

On Friday, students started the discussion of Wonder with the section pp. 205 -224. Of the five questions created, I had students pick the one they thought would generate the most discussion and then we took turn answering these questions. I was pleased with both the questions and discussions that followed. 

 

We will continue to hold discussions for the next four 20-page sections. I am grading the questions submitted as well as the student's participation in the discussions.

 

We will continue our writings and discussions around what happens after the book ends to each of the characters: the next day, the next 3 months, the next 5 years, etc. This will lead to an Epilogue.

Students should have read to the end of Wonder and have their Discussion Director questions finished by the time they come into class on Monday. Each student was assigned a 20 page section for which to focus on in creating these questions. Students will use these questions to lead a class discussion on the final 100 pages of Wonder. 

 

Students will also use the table work they did on Character traits of the different characters from Wonder to create Character Poster groups. Students will then create large character posters for the main characters of the book.

 

Discussion Director: Your job is to develop a list of questions that your group might want to discuss about this part of the book. Don’t worry about the small details; your task is to help people talk over the big ideas in the reading and share their reactions. Usually the best discussion questions come from your own thoughts, feelings, and concerns as you read. You can list them below during or after your reading. You may also use some of the general questions below to develop topics for your group.

 

Possible discussion questions or topics for today

4. _________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________ 
6. _________________________________________________________ 
7. _________________________________________________________
8. _________________________________________________________

Sample Questions

• What was going through your mind while you read this?
• How did you feel while reading this part of the book?
• What was discussed in this section of the book?
• Can someone summarize briefly?
• Did today’s reading remind you of any real-life experiences?
• What questions did you have when you finished this section?
• Did anything in this section of the book surprise you?
• What are the one or two most important ideas?
• What are some things you think will be talked about next?

 

 

There are some things in our control, and other things that are not. We cannot control the electrical lines underground and how they work. Missing Friday was critical in the bigger picture of the the quarter as we are roughly two weeks away from completing the grading cycle for Quarter 1. In all classes, we will have to adjust accordingly to make up some of the work and time missed while deciding what can be left out. Please be mindful of checking planners and blue communication folders for the next two weeks for work completed and work that needs completing. 

This week in Language Arts, students will finish reading Wonder. Each student has a 20 page section that they are the discussion director. They are responsible for coming up with 5 questions for that section. We will have a socratic discussion around this final section of the book that students will lead using the questions they come up with. In addition, we will continue working on our Character Posters. Finally, I will start to introduce Figurative Language and Grammar as I prepare our class to write their Epilogues.

Good Morning,

As we head into the long weekend, I thought it would be a good time to let you know all grades are updated in Infinite Campus. Please take time to look at grades and respond accordingly. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am including the link to our Westgate School Website for information on accessing Infinite Campus.

Thanks,

Mr. Rowan

 This week in Language Arts, students will continue reading pp. 119-204 in Wonder. For this section of reading, students will be giving me three sticky notes a day:

At the beginning of each class, we will go over what they put up the previous day and have a short discussion around these sticky notes.

 

I will also be introducing a Characterization Poster project. As we read, each table will be assigned one character. They will then complete different section on the poster for their character as they read the book.

 

Finally, we will be learning about Point of View and discussion how the changing of the Point of View in this book effects the story and our understanding of the characters. 

 

I will also be introducing and going over my rubric for the daily notebook writing prompts.

 

As we move into our second week of Language Arts, things are starting to pick up with reading Wonder, writing prompts and writing samples and the Article of the Week is due on Friday. As things get hectic, it is crucial that students, parents and teachers have good communication. Each day in class, it is expected that students write down the daily agenda into their planners. These planners, along with a blue communication/school work at home folder should be coming home each night. In the folder you will find work that has been graded and returned in addition to any work that needs to be finished at home. 

 

Last week, pp. 1-18 of Wonder and Discussion questions were due. Students now have discussion questions for pp. 19-44. After making sure students are comprehending the story, we will move into other activities around Characterization and Point of View.

 

By Friday, students should have read up to page 117 in their book. This is roughly 14 pages per day if you include the weekend. Reading should be taking place in class and at home, or any other free time students have during the day. 

 

The first Article of the Week is due Friday.

 

Students will be taking Pre-Assessment that include Plot elements, reading to identify Plot elements, Point of View, Theme and Mood as well as Grammar questions. In addition, students will be taking the Fall District Writing Sample. These two assessments, in addition to the work we are seeing in class help identify what we as a class of individuals need to focus on this year.