Tuesday, February 26, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TEST: "Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship" (Chp. 8.5)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain what makes a person a citizen of the U.S.A.
• You will be able to discuss how Americans can develop democratic values.
• You will be able to describe the responsibilities of citizenship.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer 1: You will come in and work with one partner to study for today's test. (10 minutes)
2. You will take a test on the three objectives listed above.
3. After you finish the test, you will research "Marbury vs. Madison" in your textbook using the index to locate it and write a one paragraph description of the case and what impact it had on American life.

READING CLASS

"Stepping on the Cracks"

Objectives for Today

• Learners will adequately display their understanding of each core skill we have worked on this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will read chapter 1 of Stepping on the Cracks and you will write down each word you do not understand.
2. We will read through the first chapter together as a class after you have had time to read it by yourself.
3. We will discuss the chapter as we read through it together.

Monday, February 25, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship" (Chp. 8.5)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain what makes a person a citizen of the U.S.A.
• You will be able to discuss how Americans can develop democratic values.
• You will be able to describe the responsibilities of citizenship.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer 1: You will come in and work with one partner to create an acrostic of the word "PATRIOTIC" where each word that intersect with each letter has something to do with patriotism. (10 minutes)
2. Bellringer 2: While you're working on the acrostic, MR. D will check your homework from the weekend.
3. We will discuss your acrostics.
4. Mr. D will lecture on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and you will take notes.
5. You will have a test tomorrow on the three objectives listed above!

READING CLASS

New Books Distributed Today!

Objectives for Today

• Learners will receive and preview their new novels on which they will report next nine weeks.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will write 2 paragraphs on what Black History month means to you.
2. Mr. Duncan will hand out your graded Readers Workshops from last week and we will go over them briefly.
3. You will be assigned a new book--a novel--that you will read and report on during the next nine weeks. The book is entitled Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn.
4. We will preview the book and discuss our impressions of the book.

Friday, February 22, 2008

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to our schedule being messed up on Thursday (due to High School registration) and on Friday (due to the field trip and the pep rally), we will be talking about Chapter 8.5 on Monday. Please make sure to have all your homework ready to be checked on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Schoolhouse Rock: "How a Bill Becomes a Law"

As we study the way our government is organized, you will remember that the Legislative branch of our government makes laws. This is how the bills introduced in Congress become laws. Enjoy!

Schoolhouse Rock: "The Preamble"

Memorize the Preamble for EXTRA CREDIT. Here's a cool video and song to help you memorize it.

Friday, February 22, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship" (Chp. 8.5)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain what makes a person a citizen of the U.S.A.
• You will be able to discuss how Americans can develop democratic values.
• You will be able to describe the responsibilities of citizenship.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer 1: You will come in and work with one partner to study for today's test. (10 minutes)
2. You will take a test on the three objectives listed above.
3. After you finish the test, you will research "Marbury vs. Madison" in your textbook using the index to locate it and write a one paragraph description of the case and what impact it had on American life.

READING CLASS

Readers Workshop

Objectives for Today

• Learners will adequately display their understanding of each core skill we have worked on this year.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and finish working on your Readers Workshop.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship" (Chp. 8.5)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain what makes a person a citizen of the U.S.A.
• You will be able to discuss how Americans can develop democratic values.
• You will be able to describe the responsibilities of citizenship.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer 1: You will come in and work with one partner to create an acrostic of the word "PATRIOTIC" where each word that intersect with each letter has something to do with patriotism. (10 minutes)
2. Bellringer 2: While you're working on the acrostic, MR. D will check your homework from last night.
3. We will discuss your acrostics.
4. Mr. D will lecture on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and you will take notes.
5. You will have a test tomorrow on the three objectives listed above!

READING CLASS

Readers Workshop

Objectives for Today

• Learners will adequately display their understanding of each core skill we have worked on this year.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and begin working on your Readers Workshop.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Goals & Principles of the Constitution" (Chp. 8.1)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain how the Preamble defines the basic goals of the Constitution.
• You will be able to identify the framework of government established by the Constitution.
• You will memorize and be able to list the seven basic principles of American government.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will come in and work with one partner for 10 minutes memorizing the seven basic principles of government established in the Constitution and studying for the test.
2. You will take a test alone on the three objectives listed above.
3. After the test, you will define the key terms for Chapter 8, Section 5. (Homework for tomorrow!)

READING CLASS

Reader's Workshop Review

Objective for Today

• Learners will review their work from last week over the skill "Recognizing Theme" and will make corrections to their work.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will read something from the classroom library for 10 minutes. A one paragraph summary is due at the end of the time.
2. Mr. D will continue to review the work from last week's Readers Workshop.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Goals & Principles of the Constitution" (Chp. 8.1)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain how the Preamble defines the basic goals of the Constitution.
• You will be able to identify the framework of government established by the Constitution.
• You will memorize and be able to list the seven basic principles of American government.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer 1: You will come in and retrieve your Timeline poster from the table.
2. Bellringer 2: You will write down--word-for-word--the Preamble for the Constitution.
3. We will talk about the goals and principles of the Constitution.
4. Tomorrow you will have a test over the three objectives listed above!
5. If you have memorized the Preamble, tomorrow would be a good day to recite it in front of Mr. D for extra credit.

READING CLASS

Reader's Workshop Review

Objective for Today

• Learners will review their work from last week over the skill "Recognizing Theme" and will make corrections to their work.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will read something from the classroom library for 15 minutes. A two paragraph summary is due at the end of the time.
2. Mr. D will return your papers from last week's Readers Workshop and we will review the work.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Monday is President's Day. Today Mr. Duncan will be out of the building. Please behave while the substitute teacher cares for you and instructs you today.

HISTORY CLASS

"Presidents Day Activity"

Objectives for Today

• Learners will seek learn trivia facts on each of our 43 Presidents.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will come in and write down a list of all the names of Presidents of the USA you can think of.
2. You will be handed a crossword puzzle on Presidential Trivia. You must complete the entire crossword by the end of class. You may use your book. Informaiton on each President is listed in your history books.

READING CLASS

"Recognizing Theme"

Objectives for Today

• Identify ideas and insights about life and human nature expressed in literature.
• Form interpretations of narrative text by making inferences, generalizing, drawing conclusions, and analyzing.

Agenda for Today

1. You will work on the menu for the Readers Workshop today.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"George Washington & the Federal Government"

Objectives for Today

• Learners will write a test on the information we've covered for the past two days.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will have all five things out on your desk.
2. You will work in partner groups to write a test for the class that covers all the information from the past two days of class. The test must cover all four reading focus questions from Chp. 8.2, the three questions about the presedency, information about Article 2 of the constitution, and the key terms from Chp. 8.2

READING CLASS

"Recognizing Theme"

Objectives for Today

• Identify ideas and insights about life and human nature expressed in literature.
• Form interpretations of narrative text by making inferences, generalizing, drawing conclusions, and analyzing.

Agenda for Today

1. You will work on the menu for the Readers Workshop today.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"How the Federal Government Works" (Chp. 8.2)

Objectives for Today

• List the powers of the legislative branch.
• Identify the roles the President fills as head of the executive branch.
• Describe how the judicial branch is organized.
• Explain how each branch of the government can check the powers of the other branches.

Agenda for Today

1. You will write out the four reading focus questions for Chp. 8.2 (p. 252).
2. Mr. D will go over the three questions from yesterday.
3. You will be given 15 minutes to read the section silently.
4. You will break into groups and answer the four reading focus questions.

READING CLASS

"Recognizing Theme" (Core Reading Skill #8)

Objectives for Today

• Identify ideas and insights about life and human nature expressed in literature.
• Form interpretations of narrative text by making inferences, generalizing, drawing conclusions, and analyzing.

Agenda for Today

1. You will write a two paragraph response to the fact that we didn't get a snow day.
2. Mr. Duncan will review the tip-sheet on this new core reading skill.
3. We will finish our shared reading exercise of a mini-read to help us practice this new skill.
4. You will work in pairs on a selection from your book to practice recognizing theme.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"George Washington: The Father of Our Country"

Objectives for Today

• Students will examine the presidency of George Washington and be able to answer questions about the effects of his time in office.

Agenda for Today

1. You will write a list of at least 10 things you know (or think you know) about George Washington.
2. You will watch some short video clips on George Washington and we will have an interactive discussion about the things we see in the videos.
3. You will work in partner groups to discuss questions about the presidency.
4. If time allows, we will take a 7-minute video tour of the Oval Office with President Bush.

READING CLASS

"Recognizing Theme" (Core Reading Skill #8)

Objectives for Today

• Identify ideas and insights about life and human nature expressed in literature.
• Form interpretations of narrative text by making inferences, generalizing, drawing conclusions, and analyzing.

Agenda for Today

1. You will write a two paragraph description of Mr. Duncan's classroom.
2. Mr. Duncan will distribute tip-sheets on this new core reading skill.
3. We will do a shared reading exercise of a mini-read to help us practice this new skill.

Monday, February 11, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

Progress Reports & Makeup Work

Objectives for Today

• Students will get an opportunity to see how they are progressing in History class and will spend the class time making up missing work and/or working on extra credit.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will come in and get your folder updated. A list of what should be in your folder will be on the screen.
2. Mr. Duncan will return tests and other graded papers.
3. You will spend the rest of the period working on makeup work.
4. If you have no makeup work to do--or you finish your makeup work early--you will spend the rest of the class period working on extra credit.
5. Extra Credit Opportunities: (1) Memorize the first lines of the Declaration of Independence. (2) Memorize the preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America. (3) Memorize the Bill of Rights. (4) Write a three page report on the impact of the Bill of Rights on American society.

READING CLASS

Progress Reports & Makeup Work

Objectives for Today

• Students will get an opportunity to see how they are progressing in Reading class and will spend the class time making up missing work and/or working on extra credit.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will come in and get your folder updated. A list of what should be in your folder will be on the screen.
2. Mr. Duncan will return graded papers.
3. You will spend the rest of the period working on makeup work.
4. If you have no makeup work to do--or you finish your makeup work early--you will spend the rest of the class period working on extra credit.
5. Extra Credit Opportunities: (1) Memorize the seven core reading skills in order along with the definition of each skill. (2) Write a three page report on the importance of reading skills and how it can improve your life.

Friday, February 8, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"A Loose Confederation" (Chp. 7.1)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to define "constitution."


• You will be able to explain why state governments wrote constitutions.


• You will be able to list the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.


• You will be able to discuss why many americans called for changes in the Articles


• You will be able to identify fundamental liberties the Bill of Rights protects in American society.

Agenda for Today

1. You will be given 8 minutes to study for the test today.


2. Mr. Duncan will take questions for 3 minutes.


3. We will do a simple mind exercise to prepare for the test.


4. You will take a test on Chp. 7.1 and the Bill of Rights.

READING CLASS

"Readers Workshop"

Objectives for Today

• Learners will work independently on their core reading skills.

Agenda for Today

• You will finish working on your readers workshop menu items.
• Mr. D will work with a group at the table.