Vocab Snaffu

Some SL classes were given a vocab packet today that has an error. Kids should not begin working on that packet until they see me on Thursday. All classes have vocab due on 10/12, and a quiz on 10/15.

Also, HL classes are flying ahead with TSB and they will be starting a focus paragraph next week. SL classes will be following up soon, they are just handing in the sparrow worksheet today.

Wellness Assessment

Classes will be applying their new knowledge of the Total Person Concept to further deepen our understanding of the book. Today some classes will take a brief clicker quiz to see where they are in terms of understanding this concept. Classes will take this after reading chapter 5, so not all will be ready for that today and some will take it tomorrow. Remember, studying the vocab words will improve vocab scores on FRIDAY'S QUIZ!!

Friday

Today we began a deeper analysis of the main character of TSB, Cole Mathews. Kids used the "Total Person Concept" from health to take a wellness assessment on behalf of Cole. It helped us learn a great deal about Cole as a person as well as about how to support our ideas with information from the text.

There is no homework over the weekend, except for to be sure that we are all done with our vocab and ready to hand it in on Tuesday.

Enjoy the days of freedom!!!

Total Person Concept

In 7th grade Health class students study the Total Person Concept. This looks at 5 areas that make up a person. We are going to apply that same concept to our study of Cole Mathews in "Touching Spirit Bear".

SL- Kids began by identifying some of the character traits of Cole. They began writing these traits on a venn diagram.

HL- Filled out the first assessment of Cole. To do this they used the Wellness Assessment from Health class and applied it to Cole. We will be looking to see how Cole changes as a person throughout the story.

The Joy and Pain of Technology

Today we attempted to complete our reading assessments. Classes had various degrees of success, depending on how the technology was cooperating. We did make some headway with "Touching Spirit Bear" however, completing at least the first chapter in each class and with a few classes moving on to chapter 2. Tomorrow we should be moving on in this direction, beginning our analysis of the book in earnest. Yay!!

Today kids wrote a brief response to the first chapter. These should have been handed in today. If they did not hand them in today, they can get the question again here: "TSB Reflective Question, Chapter 1"

Monday, a day late

The week started out with a whimper when my technology hit a blip and plans were re-written. Such is life! But, it also ate up some of my blog time, so I am sorry for the day-skip.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week will be spent on two tasks:

1. Taking two reading assessments. These will be used to find any struggling readers and to determine the nature of their needs. For my accelerated kids it will be used as baseline data or a different nature than the NWEA scores.

2. Reading and reflecting on the first chapter of "Touching Spirit Bear". Students will read and then complete a short written response.

Students have been given their next vocab assignment, Lesson 2, which is due 9/28. The quiz will be on 10/1. SL students can access their assignment by clicking on this word. HL students can find their work sheet by clicking here.

Kids To Do: Vocab Lesson 2, due Tuesday 9/28

Adults To Do: Come to Open House tonight!!! Hope to see you all there :)

TSB Word Splash

Word Splash is a pre-reading activity that activates prior knowledge, helps students make predictions and allows them to make inferences and connections within the book before even reading it. We worked on one today for TSB. Kids are working with an assigned partner and putting the words into their own groups. Once they have identified the groups they will create a mobile to display their groupings to others. Below you will find some of the words on the list. I encourage you to choose a few to discuss with your student at home.

Word Splash for TSB: Circle of Justice, Tlingit, skiff, banishment, punish, patience, probation, detention center, depositions, survival, anger, soul, convicted, innocent, healing contract, Spirit Bear, sincere.

Kids to do: Remember, vocab quiz Friday!!!

Touching Spirit Bear Pre-Reading

Hello!

I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather we had this weekend!

Today all classes did a pre-reading activity for the novel we are going to begin this week, "Touching Spirit Bear" (TSB). This is one of my favorite units to teach and it is a great way to start the year. In tandem with reading the novel we will also be looking at ourselves as individuals. We will work with some of the same curriculum used in health class this year to complete this unit.

Kids to do: VOCAB 1 IS DUE TOMORROW, TUESDAY 9/14!!!