SBAC Review and Newsela Article

Today's Goal:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2
Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. SBAC TOOLS
3. Debrief about Group Novels
4. Newsela Article and writing: "Cape Town running out of water"

SBAC Tools: Some features to be aware of

1. Press the zoom in/zoom out button to change the size of the words
2. Use the notes and highlighter to jot down ideas that you don't want to forget and make note of quotes that you could use to write paragraphs that need evidence
3. Read the texts and/or listen to the texts more than once.
4. You can use the arrow buttons to make only the text fill the screen or 
5. If you pause for more than 20 minutes, you will not be able to go back to questions that you flagged or wanted to check

Group Novel and Poster Activity Debrief

You will find a question on Google Classroom to answer.

• How does cultural identity shape the character's personal experiences within their community?
• What important lesson does a character in your novel learn about themselves, their community, or the society they live in?
• What does the reader learn about a character's identity or culture and how it affects them?
• What connections can you make between books?
• What connections do you see to society and our community?

Newsela

1. Log in using your Google Account
2. Use the "Say Something" protocol to read each section and talk about it
3. Answer the questions at the end and complete the writing.

Reminders/Homework:

• Give your parents the notice I gave you.
• Get a good night's sleep before our next class
• Eat breakfast before school
• Bring earbuds/earphones that PLUG. IN.
• Bring a physical book to read.
• Show up with a positive attitude. It makes a difference, I promise.
• Try out the practice SBAC test on the CAASPP website to get a feel for it: http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html

Book Club Poster Activity

Today's Goal:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.C
Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.D
Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Poster Activity
3. Debrief
4. SBAC Tools

Poster Activity
At each of your tables is a passage that was chosen by your groups last class (it could be one of the passages that another period chose, but you all read it; it will be okay.).

Today you will get a chance to read and discuss that particular passage, the themes present, and how it relates to cultural identity.

1. One person reads the passage out loud to the group
2. Identify any words that need to be defined: define them
   This can include the setting, as well.
3. Silently take 5 minutes to write down any notes or ideas or thoughts or questions you have about the ideas here. What connections can you make? What theme is present?
4. You will have a chance to debrief with your group before going to a new table and repeating the process.

Here are some really really important questions that can guide your thinking:

• How does cultural identity shape the character's personal experiences within their community?
• What important lesson does a character in your novel learn about themselves, their community, or the society they live in?
• What does the reader learn about a character's identity or culture and how it affects them?

Here are some sentence frames for you to use:

• I noticed that...
• This connects to...
• I wonder if...
• Why might... 
• This reminds me of...
• This means that...

Debrief

Using examples from the passages you read, answer the unit question on Google Classroom in a paragraph at least. Elaborate, please. You don't have to have direct quotes, but you do have to have examples.

• How does cultural identity shape a person's personal experiences within their community?

Reminders/Homework:

• Work on your book club one-pager. It's due Friday, or sooner if you finish it.
• Complete revision requests for books that are complete.
• Try out the practice SBAC test on the CAASPP website to get a feel for it: http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html

THEME! Connect to your novels

Today's Goal:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.5
Analyze how a particular scene fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme

The Plan:

1. Book Fair! (Period 1, 3, 5)
   (Period 4, 6: Visit THIS website - we go to the book fair on Thursday)
2. Theme: Let's revisit
   Please complete THIS form.
3. Powerful Passages: Exploring your book club novel
4. One-Pager Work Time

Theme and Powerful Passages:
Let me be honest: We're trying something that I've never done this week, so it may go well, or it may be really hard for all of us. In any case, we'll all learn something, and in every case, you'll still end up with a closer, more in-depth reading and understanding of some of the ideas in your book club novels.

Today, your job with your book club group is to:

1. List any theme that you and your group believe are the most significant themes present in your novel.
2. Divide into smaller groups or individuals and see if you can find a 1-2 page excerpt/passage that is meaningful and pertinent to each of the themes. 
3. Elect one representative to give Ms. Black their book today.
4. Put a sticky note on each section that your group felt addressed a theme. Write what theme the page addresses on the sticky note.
   Please note: Your peers will be reading these passages, so you want something that your peers can read and understand without having read the whole story. That's hard! I believe in you.

Here are some really really important questions that you can use to guide your thinking:

• How does cultural identity shape your character's personal experiences within their community?
• What important lesson does a character in your novel learn about themselves, their community, or the society they live in?
• What passage teaches readers about a character's identity or culture and how it affects them?

Reminders/Homework:

• Work on your book club one-pager. It's due Friday, or sooner if you finish it.
• Complete revision requests for books that are complete.
• Try out the practice SBAC test on the CAASPP website to get a feel for it: http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html

THEME: What is it? (and also One-Pager Work Time)

Remember: A theme is universal.
It can apply to anyone in the universe.
Okay maybe just Earth. Depends on how you feel about aliens

Today's Goal: 
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details

The Plan:

1. Read
2. THEME (what is it?!)
3. One-Pager Work Time (See Resources Tab for directions)

Be prepared to talk about the theme of your book club book next class.

These are Unit Questions to think about. We'll use them next week:

How does cultural identity shape your character's personal experiences within their community?

What important lesson does a character in your novel learn about themselves, their community, or the society they live in?

What passage teaches readers about a character's identity or culture and how it affects them?


Reminders/Homework:

• Read
• Be prepared to talk about the theme of your book club book next class.
• Revise your work
• Fill out Revision Requests
• Work on your One-Pager

Book Clubs Day 8 - Minimum Day

Today's Goal:
Book Club:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.C

Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4
Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Book Club Day 8 and Discussion Tracking
3. Book Club Reflection
4. Refugees and Migrants Google Classroom Question

Book Club Meeting Day 7

You'll have the first large chunk of class to discuss your book with your group.

Each member of your group will share their roles in the following order:

1. Discussion Director - Spend the most time on this one! Answer/discuss the questions! 
2. Signpost Spotter
3. Captivating Connector
4. Vocab Master

One volunteer will be getting a sheet that looks like this:

Refugees and Migrants (We did this last class, but the information is repeated here for your benefit.)

We hear these words a lot nowadays. Whether it's on the news, or in movies, or even in our conversations out at lunch, these two words are buzz words that are thrown around a lot. I am not here to engage you in a political debate. I encourage you to discover your own viewpoints, but we do  need to make sure that we fully understand the words we use so that our viewpoints come from an educated place. Since all of your novels involve people who have perspectives related to refugees, immigrants, and/or migrants, that's what we're going to investigate today.

Follow along as we watch the video and take notes on your worksheet. Add to your notes as we discuss the video as a class.

These are the questions we will work on while watching:

1. What is the main difference between refugees and migrants?
2. What are some reasons why someone might become a refugee?
3. What are some of the obligations that host countries have toward refugees?
4. What are some issues or problems that refugees may encounter?
5. In what ways are these issues and ideas related to the character(s) in your book club novel? Be specific. Elaborate.

After our discussion, there is a question on Google Classroom for you to respond to in a full, detailed paragraph in which you elaborate on everything by being specific.

Reminders/Homework:

• Google Classroom question regarding refugees
• Complete your book club roles packet. I will collect it next class.

Book Club Day 7 - Refugees and Migrants

Today's Goal:
Book Club:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.C

Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4
Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

Refugees and Migrants:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3
Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Book Club Day 7 and Discussion Tracking
3. Refugees and Migrants - Define these words.

Book Club Meeting Day 7

You'll have the first large chunk of class to discuss your book with your group.

Each member of your group will share their roles in the following order:

1. Discussion Director - Spend the most time on this one! Answer/discuss the questions! 
2. Signpost Spotter
3. Captivating Connector
4. Vocab Master

One volunteer will be getting a sheet that looks like this:

Refugees and Migrants

We hear these words a lot nowadays. Whether it's on the news, or in movies, or even in our conversations out at lunch, these two words are buzz words that are thrown around a lot. I am not here to engage you in a political debate. I encourage you to discover your own viewpoints, but we do  need to make sure that we fully understand the words we use so that our viewpoints come from an educated place. Since all of your novels involve people who have perspectives related to refugees, immigrants, and/or migrants, that's what we're going to investigate today.

Follow along as we watch the video and take notes on your worksheet. Add to your notes as we discuss the video as a class.

These are the questions we will work on while watching:

1. What is the main difference between refugees and migrants?
2. What are some reasons why someone might become a refugee?
3. What are some of the obligations that host countries have toward refugees?
4. What are some issues or problems that refugees may encounter?
5. In what ways are these issues and ideas related to the character(s) in your book club novel? Be specific. Elaborate.

After our discussion, there is a question on Google Classroom for you to respond to in a full, detailed paragraph in which you elaborate on everything by being specific.

Reminders/Homework:

• Book Club Day 8 Next Class! You will finish your novel! Yay!
• If incomplete, finish the written assignment on Google Classroom. **If you don't know what this is yet, that's okay. We'll address it next class. It's not due next class.**
  • Log into Google Classroom and answer the question regarding Refugees and Migrants. I cannot stress this enough: This is not a forum for a political debate. Your assignment is to present reasons why any country, not specifically the United States, might be in favor of and opposed to opening their borders to Refugees and Migrants. 
  • Any student who chooses to attempt to engage in a political debate or say harmful things will have their comments removed and will receive a zero for the assignment. We are No Place For Hate.
• The End of the Quarter is March 29. 
• I need Revision Requests for all make-up work. I feel like there are people in the room who have revised things but have not filled out revision requests. 

Book Clubs - Day 5 and 6

Today's Goals

Book Club:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.A
Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.C

Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under discussion.

The Plan:

1. Read!
2. Book Clubs Day FIVE AND SIX
3. Rubric Assessment

Book Club Meeting Day 5 and 6
You'll have the first large chunk of class to discuss your book with your group.

Each member of your group will share their roles in the following order:

1. Discussion Director - Spend the most time on this one! Answer/discuss the questions! 
2. Signpost Spotter
3. Captivating Connector
4. Vocab Master

Speaking and Listening Rubric Change
Today's rubric will be different.

One volunteer will be getting a sheet that looks like this:

Discussion Directors will be getting a sheet that looks like this:

We will discuss this as a class.


Reminders/Homework:

• Book Club Meeting Day 7 will be next class. Come prepared.
• You should have at least one independent reading book read by March 1. Turn in a one-pager for that book. (I am flexible with this due date.)
• You should have SIX RACE paragraphs about Signposts on Google Classroom.
• A-Ha Moment
• Tough Questions
• Words of the Wiser
• Memory Moment
• Again and Again
• Contrasts and Contradictions

Even Day Periods 4 and 6 - March 12, 2019

Please see the previous two posts for your updates.

We will complete book club discussions for DAY FOUR ONLY today. (Friday, March 1, blog post)

Congratulations if you did day five - you're ahead for next class, when we will participate in discussions for days 5 AND 6. 

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Book Clubs Day Four
3. Signpost "A-Ha Moment" RACE paragraph on Google Classroom (see Friday, March 1, blog post for details)
4. Ketchup (see previous blog post for list - March 11)

Important: I won't see your changes to your work unless you fill out a revision request. I cannot say this enough.

In addition: I will drop the lowest score of the first three Signpost RACE paragraphs from your overall grade, but only if you completed them in the first place. (These three are: Again and Again, Memory Moment, Contrasts and Contradictions. The scores are posted on Google Classroom if the assignment is completed.)

Monday, March 11 - Ketchup Day

Today's Goal: Work Day. Use it wisely.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Watch the video below
3. Catch-Up Time

Here is a list of things you should be doing today, in this order

1. Make sure that you have read up to your DAY 6 assignments for your book clubs and completed the role sheet for that day.
2. Check that all Signpost RACE paragraphs are completed and turned in. Ms. Black has scored the first three of them already, so you should feel free to revise if necessary and submit a revision request on the blog.
   Note: I will drop the lowest score of the first three from your overall grade, but only if you completed them in the first place. (These three are: Again and Again, Memory Moment, Contrasts and Contradictions. The scores are posted on Google Classroom the assignment is completed.)
3. Complete your one-pager(s) for independent reading books or book club books, but only if you have finished them. You can find directions on the resources tab.
4. Revise your Hatchet Essay. If you have scored below a 35/50, you do not have this choice, and I will begin keeping students at RAM and part of lunch if you do not begin to take those steps on your own.
5. Go check that you completed the past No Red Ink Assignments. There is no new one, but many of you still have incomplete ones.
6. Read your novel (book club OR independent reading)

If you revise anything, make sure you fill out the Revision Request.

Reminders/Homework:

• Period 1/3/5: Book Groups Day 5/6 will be this Wednesday, March 13
• Period 4/6: Book Groups Day 4/5 will be this Tuesday, March 12

Book Discussion Day 4

Today's Goals
Book Club:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.A
Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.

Signpost - Tough Questions:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.5
Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.


The Plan:

1. Read
2. Book Clubs Day Four
3. Signpost "A-Ha Moment" RACE paragraph on Google Classroom
4. Hatchet Essay Revisions

Book Club Meeting Day 4
You'll have the first large chunk of class to discuss your book with your group.

Each member of your group will share their roles in the following order:

1. Discussion Director - Spend the most time on this one! Answer/discuss the questions! 
2. Signpost Spotter
3. Captivating Connector
4. Vocab Master

Remember, your Discussion Director will be grading each member of the group on participation, so stay engaged!

Signpost - A-Ha Moment
What is it?! - When you are reading and, suddenly, a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out that he had not already known. (Hence, "A-Ha!")

Everything you need for this will be at the Signpost website (lots of great examples!!) and on Google Classroom.
We will watch the video as a class and then discuss before writing your RACE paragraph.

Essay Revision:
PLEASE FILL OUT THE REVISION REQUEST if you make edits to your essay. 
I do not know that you made edits if you do not fill this out, and I have until Thursday night to update everything before submitting progress report grades. 

Reminders/Homework:

• After today you should have SIX RACE paragraphs about Signposts on Google Classroom.
• A-Ha Moment
• Tough Questions
• Words of the Wiser
• Memory Moment
• Again and Again
• Contrasts and Contradictions
• No Red Ink "Formatting/Capitalizing Titles and Quotes" Due Friday (Today)
• You should have at least one independent reading book read by March 1. Turn in a one-pager for that book. (I am flexible with this due date.
• Book Club Meeting Day 5/6 will be next class. Come prepared.

IMPORTANT NOTE: PERIOD 1 AND 3 AND 5

• There are some date changes on our reading schedule. Days 5 and 6 will now take place on Wednesday, March 13. You got an extra day! Yay!