Thursday September 24th, 2015

Our class continued working our vocabulary, reading, and writing. Homework was assigned and due next class period. 

Vocabulary

1. incubator
2. auditorium
3. baritone
4. exaggerating
5. homeroom
6. pumpkin
7. occurred
8. introduced
9. tour
10. depended

Reading

Continue reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio; chapters "Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte" and "The Grand Tour".

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "If My Dad Was a Clown" Comic Book

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

"Wonder" Writing

• Write a 8 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 4 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. What did Mr. Tushman arrange for August at the school, and why did it make August nervous? 
2. What did Auggie say the difference is when meeting older kids verse younger kids?
3. Why wasn't music Auggie's favorite subject?
4. Describe what August saw during the grand tour, including his interactions with Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte. 

Homework

Homework assigned last week not completed by students; students reassigned last weeks homework again. Students need to bring completed homework next week for class. 

• "Humming Birds" Reading comprehension worksheet
• "Responding to Literature" worksheet 

Thursday September 17th, 2015

Our class continued working our vocabulary, reading, and writing. Homework was assigned and due next class period. 

Vocabulary

1. nervous
2. dueling
3. performance
4. literally 
5. sarcastically 
6. depended
7. attendance
8. obnoxious
9. auditorium 
10. exaggerating

Reading

Continue reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio; chapters "Mr. Tushman", "Nice Mrs. Garcia" through "Home"

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "Pool Rats"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

"Wonder" Writing

• Write a 8 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 4 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. Describe Mr. Tushman and Auggie's first interaction with him.
2. How did Auggie feel when Mr. Tushman told him about the tour?
3. What did August think of Mrs. Garcia's smile and why?
4. What did Auggie tell his mom about school when he got home? How did his mom react?

Homework

• "Humming Birds" Reading comprehension worksheet
• "Responding to Literature" worksheet (page 8)

Thursday September 10th, 2015

First week flew by fast! I hope all the students are acclimating to their new school schedules with little to no stress. 

In class, we worked on our vocabulary, reading, and writing. 

Vocabulary

1. fractions
2. dueling
3. pretend
4. shrugging
5. protect
6. unnecessary
7. lied
8. slaughter
9. lightsabers
10. telling

Reading

Continue reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio; chapters "How I Came to Life", "Christopher's House", and "Driving". 

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "Fly Dog" 

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are thrown out the window for this challenge so students can dig deep into their creative minds!  

Story Map Worksheet
Students completed Story Map over chapters "How I Came to Life", "Christopher's House", and "Driving", which outlined the characters, events, problems, and resolutions of our reading. 

"Wonder" Writing

• Write a 8 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 4 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. How did Auggie feel about what his mom did?
2. How would you feel if your mom enrolled you in a new school without you knowing?

Wednesday July 8th, 2015

Wednesday July 8th, 2015

Review

• Discuss and review reading from Monday.
• Discuss and review writing from Monday.

Vocabulary

1. impatient
2. monument
3. beast
4. coincidence 
5. touched 
6. costume
7. disappeared
8. contagious
9. unsuspecting
10. aversion

Reading

Continue reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio; chapters "One to Ten" through "Costumes".

Writing

• Write a 12 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 5 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers(in complete sentences)in your essay:
• How did August explain he and Summer's relationship to him mom?
• Why do you think Auggie cut off his braid, and why do you think he began to cry while his mom read to him?
• What was Mr. Browne's October precept and what does it mean to you?
• What did Auggie's mom mean by "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" in the chapter "Apples"?
• What is the "Cheese Touch", and how does it apply to Auggie?
• Explain why Auggie enjoyed Halloween so much.
• What did the mummy say to Darth Sidious? Explain how Auggie reacted.

Thursday September 3rd, 2015

First Day of Class!

Our first day in class covered introduction, expectations, structure, what books we will read, and how we will write. 

Introduce Class Structure 

Discuss how class is conducted and how we will learn. Handout of class outline distributed in class breaking down the class structure and objectives. 

Class Expectations 

Class discussed what students should expect from instructor, and what instructor inspects from students. 

Students to expect:

• Timely arrival of instructor
• A prepared, enthusiastic, and encouraging instructor
• To read out loud in each class
• A writing assignment in each class
• Additional assignments to work on at home
• A creative atmosphere that strengthens reading and writing skills

Instructor expects:

• Timely arrival of students
• A prepared, enthusiastic, and encouraging student
• Each student to read out loud in class
• A completed writing assignment with all requirements from each student in each class
• Students to complete any additional assignments given before next class begins
• Creative and engaged students looking strengthen their reading and writing skills

Class survey handout and Discussion 

Reading and Writing survey handed out for students to provide their thoughts on reading and writing. Class discussed results out loud. 

Vocabulary

1. petrified
2. ordinary
3. hysterical
4. surgery
5. elective
6. homeschool
7. nervous
8. protect
9. anomalies
10. annoyed

Reading

Began reading "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio, "Ordinary" and "How I Came to Life".

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "Pirate Bunny" 

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are thrown out the window for this challenge so students can dig deep into their creative minds!  

"Wonder" Writing Assignment

• Write a 10 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 4 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers(in complete sentences)in your essay:

1. Describe where the the story takes place.
2. Who is the main character, and who are his friends?
3. Why is Via so protective?
4. Why does Auggie say he hasn't gone to school? 
5. How does Auggie's mom help him and why does Auggie think his mom stopped drawing? 

Fall Classes Begin! First Day and Semester Break Down

Reading and Writing Outline

Welcome to Ms. Adrienne's Reading and Writing Class at IQuest!

I look forward to enriching, encouraging, and learning with, each student this semester. Students meet for reading and writing class each Thursdays (except on holidays and scheduled closures), at 4:30pm. Class runs for 60 minutes and students cover a variety of objectives during short the hour.

Class Objective

Students will learn skills and tools to strengthen their writing and reading abilities. Class focus is on reading phonics, strategies, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development writing process, text, conventions, handwriting, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and research.  

Vocabulary

Students work with 10 new vocabulary words each class. Vocabulary words are incorporated into the student’s reading and writing lessons to help strengthen context, identification, spelling, meaning, and pronunciation skills.

Reading

A variety of short stories and books are selected to read aloud during class. Focus is on reading comprehension, pronunciation, and frequency. Student will answer questions and discuss material from the reading to strengthen comprehension skills.

Writing

Students write short essay, utilizing beginning, middle, and end formation, summarizing the story they've read in class. Questions selected from the reading material and the student's own thoughts and opinions are included in each writing assignment. Writing focus is on spelling, punctuation, spacing, and form. Student must use vocabulary words learned in class in their writing.   

Timeline

Class Schedule (60 minute Class)

• Icebreaker and review (10 minutes)  
• Class Reading (30 minutes)
• Individual Writing (20 minutes)
• Additional Assignments (Homework)

Materials Needed for Class

• Thin binder to keep assignments and handouts
• Sheet protectors for important class handouts (about 5 should do)
• Dividers with pockets to separate reading and writing materials
• Pencils with erasers (encouraged, limited supply on hand)
• Favorite Books and Writing Prompts (optional)

Optimize Learning

Our class covers a large amount in a short time; to keep up with what we're doing and what goals we've set, check out our class blog!

http://msadriennereadingwriting45.blogspot.com

The class blog is usually updated after each class, or the following day. You may also contact me with any questions through the blog.

Here's to a fantastic semester full of great reads, creative writing, and strengthening our skills!