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NB #1 - What If? - 8/18

Part 1: Brainstorm a list of at least five "what if" statements about things that you imagine could happen on the first day of school. They can be funny or serious. Be creative. Number them from 1 - 5. Part 2: Select your favorite "what if" statement from NB #1; be sure it's one you can easily draw. Put a star next to it. On the bottom of NB #1, make a quick sketch to go along with your sentence.

NB #2 - Self-Portrait Prewriting - 8/24

Divide your paper in half horizontally.

A) On the top half, brainstorm a list of your physical characteristics. What do you look like? What kind of clothes do you you usually wear? What special features do you have- glasses, braces, freckles, a pierced nose?

B) On the bottom half, brainstorm a list of your personality characteristics. Describe what kind of a person you are on the inside. What is your personality like? What are your likes and dislikes, etc.? What things are important to you?

NB #3 - Self-Portrait Paragraphs - 8/24

Divid your paper in half horizontally.

A) On the top half, use your notes to write a well-organized paragraph about the "outside you." Describe your physical appearance. Be sure to indent the first line and include a topic sentence.

B) On the bottom half, use your notes to write a well-organized paragraph about the "inside you." Be sure to indent the first line and include a topic sentence.

NB #4 - Partner Interviews - 8/25

Write the first name and last initial of each person being introduced to the class (except you and your partner.) Write down two interesting things you learn about each of your classmates. Note: If you were absent, you will have to copy this information from a classmate.

NB #5 - Introduction to Cognitive Reading Strategies - 8/29

Directions: Make a three column chart. Label column 1 - KNOW. Write down at least five things you know that good readers do while they're reading. Label column 2 - WANT TO KNOW. Write down at least three things you want to learn about how to be an effective reader. Label column 5 - LEARNED. Take notes on powerpoint presentation on strategies good readers use before, during, and after reading.

You can view the powerpoint presentation we watched in class below or by clicking on this link.

NB #6 - Amelia's Road - 8/30

Choose one topic to write about. Topic 1 - Describe something that's really special to you. OR Topic 2 - If you were to make a box like Amelia's, that held all your special things, what would your box hold? Minimum 1/2 page.

NB #7 - Seventh Grade - 8/31

What are your hopes and fears for 7th grade? What are you looking forward to? What are you worried about? What goals do you have? What do you hope to accomplish this year academically and/or socially? Minimum 1/2 page.

NB #8 - "Always Moving" - 9/1

Answer the following questions using complete sentences.

• 1) Which of the three stories we read this week-- Amelia's Road, "Seventh Grade," or "Always Moving," did you like the best? What made you like that particular story the better than the others?
• 2) Which story did you find easier to make connections to? Why?
• 3) Write a paragraph describing the connections you were able to make in the story you chose for answer #2.

NB #9 - Making Predictions with Lio - 9/6

Making Predictions with Lio. (If you were absent, do the following: Make a two column chart on your paper. Label the left column "What's Happening." Label the right column "Prediction/Support."

In the left column right down five things that are happening in your Independent Reading Book right now.

Then, in the right column, made a prediction for each event. What do you think will happen next? Give a reason (Support) for each of your predictions.

For example: What's Happening - Susie is nervous about going to school. Prediction/Support - I think that Arnold is going to ask Susie to the dance because he mentioned the idea to one of his friends.

NB #10 - A Surprise - 9/7

Write about a time when something surprised you. It could be a time when an experience didn't turn out the way you expected. Or you could write about a time when a person didn't turn out to be the way you first thought he or she was going to be. Or maybe you learned how to do something that you didn't think you could learn how to do. Minimum1/2 page.

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Notebook Entry #11 - Textbook Features - 9/12.

1) Make a mental image of your history textbook. Brainstorm a list of all the textbook features that the publisher uses to help you learn and understand the information in the book. 2) View the powerpoint presentation online by clicking this link. Circle all the textbook features that you included on your list. Add features that you didn't have on your list. You should have 12 textbook features all together.

Notebook Entry #12 - Making Textbook Predictions - 9/12

Skim over the history textbook article. Write ten Predict/Support statements about the article. What do you think you would learn about in this chapter? (Predict) What are you basing your predictions on? (Support) Examples: I predict I will learn about Umayyad people because they are mentioned in the Thinking/Focus question and in a sub-title. I predict we're going to learn about the years 635 - 750 because those are the years shown on the timeline.

Notebook Entry #13 - That Book Woman - 9/13

Answer the following questions in a short paragraph: What surprised Cal? How did his thinking change during the course of the story?

Notebook Entry #14 - Writing Narrative Leads - 9/26

Write ten questions about the pictures and the examples of leads in the powerpoint presentation. You can view it by clicking here.

Notebook Entry #15 - "Fish Cheeks" Responses - 9/27

Read aloud "Fish Cheeks," page 353 in Lit Book. Answer the Interpretation Questions #2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 on page 355. Write your answers using complete sentences.

Notebook Entry #16 - Adding descriptive details to the setting of a story - 10/5

If you were absent, find three pictures of places either in a book, magazine, or online. Or you can write about a place that you visit, such as a park, library, grocery store, etc. Write a detailed description of each place, using specific nouns and adjectives in your writing. Time yourself- write for five minutes about each place.

Notebook Entry #17 - Character Traits Sort Activity - 10/6

Make a two column chart. Label the left side Positive Character Traits. Label the right side Negative Character Traits. Sort your character trait words into two piles and write them on your paper. (For absent students, make a list of ten words that describe postive character traits and ten words that describe negative character traits. Use a thesaurus to help you.)

Notebook Entry #18 - Brainstorming. 1) Make a list of 10 - 15 musical instruments. 2) Make a list of 10 - 15 ice cream flavors. 3) Make a list of 10 - 15 types of cereal.

Notebook Entry #19: - Invent-a-Character Assignment - 10/12

PART I: Do this if you were absent: Find the picture of some anonymous person in a magazine (don't pick someone you recognize.) Use your imagination to make up information about your character. Answer the questions below. If a question has ** behind it, answer using complete sentences.

• 1. What is your character's first and last name?
• 2. Describe what you character looks like.**
• 3. Desribe where you character lives.**
• 4. Describe an action you might see him/her doing.**
• 5. Write two direct quotations of what you character might actually say.**
• 6. Write two sentences that tell us what the character is thinking or feeling.**
• 7. Write two direct quotation that other characters might say about your character. **
• 8. Write two additional sentences that tell us something about this character.**
• 9 List three character trait words that describe your character.

PART II: Character Description - Imagine that your invented character from PART I is being introduced in a story for the first time. What would be important for the reader to know about the character? Write a descriptive introduction of your character. Minimum 1/2 page.

Notebook Entry #20 - Partner Dialogue - 10/13

You are going to write a dialogue between the character you created on 10/12 and another character in class. Write the basic situation at the top of your paper: setting (time and place) and conflict (problem the characters are having) and character (character names.) If you were absent, you need to write a dialogue/script between two characters. One of the characters will be the one you created from the picture in NB #19. The other character can be anyone you want. Decide on a basic situation for your scene. At the top of your paper write: the characters' first and last names, a setting where the conversation will take place, and a problem the two characters will discuss. Then create a script of the two characters talking back and forth. Write a minimum of five lines for each character.

Notebook Entry #21 - First Quarter Refections - 10/17

Reflect on the first quarter of school. What are you doing well? What do you need to work on? What are three goals you could set for yourself that would help you improve next quarter?

Notebook Entry #22 - Describing Characters - 10/24

If you're absent, find three pictures of people from a book, magazine, or the internet and write a physical description of each character. You should write for four minutes on each one. Use concrete descriptive details, specific nouns, and adjectives in your description. Try to work in some figurative language, too, but don't overdo it.

Notebook Entry #23 - "Duffy's Jacket" Story Responses - Part I - 10/25

Respond to the story using complete sentences.

• Predictions:
  • 1 & 2 - Look over the story and make two predictions about the story before you start reading. Be sure to support your predictions with evidence from the text.
  • 3, 4 & 5 - As you read the story, stop at the three in-text prediction questions and write a response. Write your responses using complete sentences.

Notebook Entry #24 - "Duffy's Jacket" Story Responses - Part II - 10/25

Respond to the story using complete sentences (except for #10.).

• Inferences:
  • 6 & 7 - After finishing the story, answer Interpretations questions 2 & 3 on page 13.
  • 8 - Evaluate your predictions. How accurate were they?
  • 9 - Make a connection - text to text, text to world, or text to self.
  • 10 - List three character trait words that describe Duffy and three character traits that describe Andrew, the narrator.

Notebook Entry #25 - Pictures and Questions - 11/3

If you were absent, find two interesting pictures from a magazine, newspaper, book, or internet. Write three surface questions and three deep questions about each one of the pictures. Use pages 31 and 32 in your Yellow Folder to get ideas for your questions.

Notebook Entry #26 - Lighthouse Keeper Questions - 11/4

Imagine that someone has just offered you a job as a lighthouse keeper on a little island called Three Skeleton Key. Write ten questions you would ask your potential employer to determine whether to accept the job or not.

Notebook Entry #27 - "Three Skeleton Key" Story Responses - 11/7

• 1 & 2 - Based on what you've learned so far about the story, make two prediction/support statements.
• 3 - How do you think the story about the three convicts who died on the island might foreshadow future events in the story?
• 4 - What are two questions you have about the story so far?
• 5 - Make a predict/support statement about what you think will happen next.
• 6 - In what way may the story of the two dogs foreshadow the conflict of the story?
• 7 - Write two questions you have about the story right now.
• 8 - The word "manaical" comes from the word "maniac." What might this word foreshadow about Le Gleo's future?
• 9 - Make a predict / support statement for each of the three characters: Le Gleo, Itchoua, and the narrator.
• 10 - Evaluate how well you did with your predictions throughout the story.

Notebook Entry #28 - Three Wishes - 11/15

If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for? Make a three column chart. Label the columns with the following headings: The Wish, Possible Positive Consequences, Possible Negative Consequences. Write down your wish and the possible good and bad things that could happen as a result of making the wish. There are two wish-making rules you must follow. #1 - You can't wish for anything that would give you more wishes. #2 - You can't wish for unlimited anything.

Notebook Entry #29 - Responses to "The Monkey's Paw" - 11/16

Unless indicated, all responses must be written as complete sentences.

• 1) & 2) Before you start reading, write two prediction sentences about the story based on what you learned from the vocabulary worksheet.
• 3 - 6) If you were in the old man's place, what are four questions you would ask the Sergeant-Major about the paw before accepting it?
• 7) What point of view is being used in the story? How do you know?
• 8) What was the third wish?
• 9) What do you think the theme of the story is?
• 10) Setting and Mood - Scan over the text on the last page of "The Monkey's Paw." Write at least ten words and phrases that the author uses to describe the setting and create a suspenseful mood at the end of the story.

Notebook Entry #30 - Wishes & Consequences - 11/18

1) Make a four column chart. Label the first column "Character" for the person who makes the wish. Label the second column "Wish" for the wish the character makes. Label column 3 "Positive Consequence" for the good things that happen as a result of the wish. Label column 4 "Negative Consequence" for the bad things that happen because of the wish. Complete the chart while watching the video. 2) In a short paragraph, explain what elements from the story were used by the creators of the video. If you were absent, write a half page about something fun you did over Thanksgiving Break, and turn in your notebook entries when we get back.

31 - 40

Notebook Entry #31 - Charles Dickens's Childhood - 12/1

Read Aloud/Take Notes: Charles Dickens' Life - Childhood

Notebook Entry #32 - Charles Dickens's Young Adulthood - 12/2

Read Aloud/Take Notes: Charles Dickens' Life - Young Adulthood

Notebook Entry #33 - Charles Dickens's Older Adulthood - 12/5

Read Aloud/Take Notes: Charles Dickens' Life - Older Adulthood

Notebook Entry #34 - Favorite Holiday Memory - 12/6

Write about a favorite holiday memory. Include descriptive details and some dialogue. Minimum 3/4 page.

Notebook Entry #35 - ACC Thinkables -12/8

Write a short paragraph (1/2 page) response to each of the following statements. Tell whether you agree or disagree and explain why.

• It is better to be rich rather than poor.
• Poor people are lazy.

Notebook Entry #36 - ACC - Book vs Movie - 12/13

Make a list of differences between the movie and book versions of ACC - Stave 1. If you're absent, copy someone's paper. Or, as an alternate assignment, write a one-half page summary of a scene from Stave One.

Notebook Entry #37 - Scrooge in the Beginning - 12/15

Write down a list of character trait words that describe Scrooge's character at the beginning of the story. Circle the trait that you think describes Scrooge the best. Make a list of evidence from Stave 1 to support your views. Use the book and the Scrooge Character Worksheet to help you gather evidence.

Notebook Entry #38 - ACC Thinkables - 12/16

Write a short paragraph (1/2 page) response to each of the following statements. Tell whether you agree or disagree and explain why.

• Our experiences when we're younger determine what kind of person we'll be as adults.
• There is no such thing as a ghost.

Notebook Entry #39 - Ghost of the Past - 12/19

In Stave Two of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. This spirit reminds Scrooge of the events and choices that have shaped Scrooge's life and affected Scrooge's attitude toward people and the holidays. If a spirit were to visit you, what would it show you? What choices or events from your past have shaped your attitude toward people, life, or the spirit of giving? 3/4 page minimum.

Notebook Entry #40 - The Greatest Gift - 12/20

Write about the best gift you ever gave to someone else. Describe what you gave and who you gave it to. What made this gift special to you and the recipient?

Notebook Entry #41 - Second Quarter Reflections - 1/4

• Part I - Review NB #21 (it should be in your writing folder in class). Reflect on how well you did at meeting your goals for second quarter.
• Part II - Reflect on how 2nd quarter went for you. Want went well? What did you struggle with?
• Part III - Set new goals for 3rd quarter. What do you hope to do differently in order to improve in something in the coming months? Try and be as specific with your goals as possible.

Notebook Entry #42 - What Scrooge Learns in Stave 2 - Cause/Effect Chart - 1/5 (Note: If you're absent, copy someone's chart when you return.)

• Turn your paper lengthwise and make a chart like the one shown below.
• Summarize what Scrooge sees in each scene of Stave 2 and what he learns, realizes, or understands as he watches each scene.
• Then, at the top of the paper write a sentence that summarizes the stave - The Ghost of Christmas Past helps Scrooge realize that . . . .

Notebook Entry #43 - ACC Thinkables -1/10

Write a short paragraph response (1/2 page for each) to each of the following statements:

• Family is more important than money.
• It is better to give than to receive.

Notebook Entry #44 - Lessons from the Spirit of the Past - 1/13

Make a two column chart. On the left side, make a list of the things Scrooge sees as he travels with the spirit in Stave 3. In the right column, explain what Scrooge learns or realizes as he watches these things.

Notebook Entry #45 - Predictions for Stave 4 - 1/17

• Part I: Write a prediction (short paragraph) of what you think Scrooge will see and learn as he travels with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in Stave 4 of ACC.
• Part II: If a spirit were to come to you and take you to see scenes from your future, what are three scenes that you think you would see together?

Notebook Entry #46 - Traveling with the Spirits - 1/18

If you could travel with one of the spirits -- past, present, or future -- which one would you choose? Write a paragraph explaining the reasons for your choice.

Notebook Entry #47 - Lessons from the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come - 1/19

Make a two column chart. On the left side, summarize what Scrooge sees as he travels with the spirit in Stave 4. In the right column, summarize what Scrooge learns, understands, or realizes as he travels with the phantom.

Notebook Entry #48 - Scrooge at the End - 1/23

Make a list of the things that Scrooge does in Stave 5 that show us that he's a changed man. You can read A Christmas Carol online to help you.

Notebook Entry #49 - Theme of A Christmas Carol - 1/23

Write a paragraph discussing your interpretation of the theme of A Christmas Carol. Consider Scrooge's transformation. What do you think Dickens is saying about the way people should live their lives? What mght Dickens be saying about how we should treat others? Minimum 1/2 page. Notebook Entris #41 - 50 will be due at the end of the period tomorrow. Notebook Entry #49 -

Notebook Entry #50 - ACC Story Background Information - 1/24

Answer the following questions about A Christmas Carol.

• 1. What is the title of the story?
• 2. Who is the author?
• 3. Where and when does the story take place? (setting)
• 4. Who is the main character? (First and last name)
• 5. What problem is he facing? (conflict)
• 6. In two to three sentences tell me what the story is about. (story summary)
• 7. Write a thesis statement for the introductory paragraph. If you need help, rewrite the following sentence, filling in the blanks with character trait words:
  In the beginning of the story, Scrooge was _____ and _____, but after being visited by the three Spirits, he learns that ___________ and by the end of the story he has become more _____ and _____.

Notebook Entry #51 - Preview the story "The Smallest Dragonboy" - 1/30

Review the defined words at the bottom of the pages 123 - 132 and skim through the rest of the pages of the story. Then make a prediction-support chart. On the left side make five predictions about what you think might happen in the story. On the right side, write down what evidence you're using to support your predictions.

Notebook Entry #52 - Keevan at the Beginning - 1/30

What is Keevan like at the beginning of the story? Skim through what we've read of the story so far. At the top of the page, make a list of the things we learn and know about Keevan's character. Use specific evidence from the story. In the margin next to the list, write two or three character trait words that might describe Keevan at the beginning of the story.

Notebook Entry #53 - Make a Cause / Effect Chart - 1/31

Divide your paper into two columns. On the left side, describe the four most important events in the story "The Smallest Dragonboy," Lit Book, p.120. On the right side, explain why each event is significant to the development of Keevan's character. The chart below gives you the first event. Add three more causes / effects.

Notebook Entry #54 - Story Background Information - 2/2

Answer the following questions about "The Smallest Dragonboy" - Lit book, p. 119.

• What is the title of the story?
• Who is the author?
• What is the genre?
• Where and when does the story take place?
• Who is the main character?
• What problem is he facing?
• In two to three sentences tell me what the story is about.
• Write a thesis statement for the introductory paragraph. If you need help, rewrite the following sentence, filling in the blanks with character trait words: In the beginning of the story, Keevan was _____, but he learns ___________ and by the end of the story he has become more _____.

Notebook Entry #55 - Lit Book: Evidence Notes - 2/9

• (These will go in your yellow folder, so write them neatly on a separate page in your notebook.)
• Read page 604 -605. Write a definition for each type of evidence mentioned: anecdote, fact, statistic, example, expert opinion, and interview quotation.
• Read page 146. Write a definition for the following terms: fact, inference, and opinion.

Notebook Entry #56 - Cookie Convince Me - 2/10

PART 1: Make a two column chart. Label the left column FACTS and the right column OPINIONS. Then write a minimum of five facts and five opinions about the cookie you're given.

PART 2: Write a paragraph convincing me that your cookie is the best cookie in the entire world. Be sure to include a topic sentence, specific supporting details, and transitional words and phrases. (For absent students: Find a food item at home and do the same process as described above.)

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Updated 2/3/12