Mrs. Cline’s Blog Just another Wonecks.net Blogs weblog 

PLEASE READ THIS LETTER FROM MRS. CLINE

Dear Parents,

I want to take this time to thank all of you for your prayers, patience, and support over the past five months. On October 23, 2015, I suffered two bleeding brain aneurysms and was hospitalized thirty days (in Neuro ICU). This event could have easily been life-ending, but God and the expert neuro-surgeons had other plans. My recovery period, lasting another four months, involved physical, psychological, and occupational rehab. However, I was committed to doing everything required to get back into the classroom and teach your children. I missed them so much.

Although five months is a long time for students to be without a full-time teacher, be assured they were in capable hands. Mr. Hinkle took care of the situation promptly and professionally, asking two former middle school Language Arts teachers, Cindy Coones and Susan Terry, to substitute for me most of the days. I am forever grateful to these friends and excellent teachers for continuing my high expectations for student learning. Also, the Best Co-teacher in the World Award goes to Stacy Shellhorse. She, without hesitation, took on the overwhelming task of teaching writing and composition skills to all the students. Wow! What a dedicated teacher and friend!

Last Thursday, I was blessed to return to the classroom and begin planning with Mrs. Shellhorse for this most important time before STAAR Writing. We’re ready for a full week of grammar review and writing practice. Then on March 29, I am confident your child will do an exemplary job.

Again, I sincerely thank you for all the kindness you extended during this difficult time, and I look forward to a strong, successful end to the school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

May God bless you!

Debra Cline

LESSON PLANS FOR MARCH 21 – 24**

***THIS LESSON PLAN IS NORMALLY FOR READING; HOWEVER, THIS WEEK THE  LESSONS ARE FOR STAAR WRITING/REVISING AND EDITING

LESSON PLANS MARCH 21 – 24

TEKS/STATE EXPECTATIONS: 7.14, 7.17, 7.19, 7.20, 7.21

MONDAY, MARCH 21

PRONOUN USAGE

Distinguish between subject and object pronouns and practice using them

correctly

REVISING AND EDITING

Review SCPPVSW acronym

S – sentence structure; C – capitalization; P – punctuation; P – pronouns

V – verb usage; S – spelling; W – wow (word choice, voc.)

TUESDAY, MARCH 22

Continue working on pronoun usage

CAPITALIZATION

Review most frequent capitalization errors

Review SCPPVSW

HOMEWORK – STAAR GRAMMAR REVIEW (DUE THURSDAY)

PUNCTUATION – APOSTROPHES FOR POSSESSIVES

Review the rules for forming singular and plural possessives

and distinguish plurals and possessives

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23

LIBRARY

Begin assessing/correcting Benchmark Revising and Editing

Review SCPPVSW

HOMEWORK – FINISH STAAR GRAMMAR REVIEW

THURSDAY, MARCH 24

In-depth review of comma patterns/rules (especially compound sentences

and compound sentence parts)

Practice using commas correctly

FRIDAY, MARCH 25 – SCHOOL HOLIDAY – GOOD FRIDAY

LESSON PLANS OCT. 12 – 16 2015

***NOTE: REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR CHILD’S GRADES ON SKYWARD. THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF THE FIRST GRADING PERIOD.

TEKS/STATE EXPECTATIONS: 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.06, 7.08, 7.09, 7.14, 7.16, 7.19,

7.20, 7.21

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK:

Monday – write 2 introductions for personal narrative

Tuesday – grammar packet (subjects and verbs)

Wednesday – transitions

MONDAY, OCT. 12

Writing:

Bell work – writing web (personal narrative)

Read examples of personal narrative introductions

Discuss various strategies

Write 2 different introductions for own personal narrative;

Finish for homework

Reading:

Bell work – sustained silent reading

STAAR Reading Practice

TUESDAY, OCT. 13

Writing:

Homework – grammar practice sheets

Bell work – Share introductions

Mini-lesson – transitions in personal narratives

Begin drafting body paragraphs of personal narrative

Reading:

Homework – read in library book

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Finish STAAR Reading Practice

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14

Writing:

Homework – practice – transitions

Finish drafting personal narrative

Reading:

Homework – read in library book

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Examples/conclusions for personal narratives

Draft the conclusion for personal narrative

THURSDAY, OCT. 15

Writing:

Bell work – active/passive voice

Revising personal narratives – paragraphing, sentence beginnings and lengths, verbs (action/linking; tense), specific details, sensory images

Reading:

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Type personal narratives into Peg Writing Program

FRIDAY, OCT. 16

Writing and Reading

Continue to revise/edit personal narratives in Peg Writing

LESSON PLANS OCT. 5 – 9, 2015

***NOTE: REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR CHILD’S GRADES ON SKYWARD. THIS IS THE 7TH WEEK OF THE FIRST NINE-WEEKS

GRADING PERIOD.

***NOTE: EARLY RELEASE FOR STUDENTS WEDNESDAY

TEKS/STATE EXPECTATIONS: 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.06, 7.08, 7.09, 7.14, 7.16, 7.19,

7.20, 7.21

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK:

MON., TUES., WED., EVENINGS – STUDY FOR TEST – STORY ELEMENTS

***SEE PACKET AND STUDY SHEET; VOC. PRACTICE ALSO ONLINE

www.quizlet.com Search: Cline – Fiction Literary Terms

Tuesday – Practice on Commas (worksheet)

Wednesday – Practice on Commas (worksheet)

MONDAY, OCT. 5

Writing:

Bell work – Sentence Combining Using Series of Phrases

Analyze model of a personal narrative

Pre-Writing – personal narrative prompt

Reading:

Homework – Study for Test Thursday – Story Elements (fiction)

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Analyze short passages for short story elements

Quizlet – fiction literary terms

TUESDAY, OCT. 6

Writing:

Homework – comma practice

Bell work – Comma Patterns 1, 2, 3

Continue pre-writing for personal narrative – snapshot moment, graphic

organizer

Reading:

Homework – Study story elements (fiction terms) – test Thurs.

Bell work – quizlet

Independent practice – analyzing story elements in short literary texts

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7

Writing:

Homework – comma practice (worksheet)

Bell work – graphic organizer

Introduction strategies for personal narratives

Reading:

Homework – Study for Test Thurs. – story elements; fiction terms

Bell work – quizlet

Independent practice – fiction literary terms

THURSDAY, OCT. 1

Writing:

Bell work – quizlet – fiction literary terms

Write introduction for personal narrative

Begin drafting body paragraphs

Reading:

Bell work – study story elements

Test – Story Elements

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Writing:

Bell work – revisit personal narrative

Finish drafting personal narrative

Reading:

Bell work – examples of concluding paragraphs for personal narratives

Add conclusion to personal narrative

Revisit personal narrative using a checklist for exemplary essays

LESSON PLANS SEPT. 28 – OCT. 2, 2015

***NOTE: PROGRESS REPORTS WERE GIVEN TO STUDENTS AND
AVAILABLE ON SKYWARD LAST WEEK.

***NOTE: STUDENTS MUST HAVE AT LEAST 1 FICTION LIBRARY BOOK READ BY WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30.

TEKS/STATE EXPECTATIONS: 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.06, 7.08, 7.09, 7.14, 7.16, 7.19,
7.20, 7.21

THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK:
EVERY EVENING – READ LIBRARY BOOK (book test Thursday)
Monday – Study for “The Sentence” retest (doesn’t apply to every student)
Tuesday – Compound Sentences
Wednesday – Combining Sentences

MONDAY, SEPT. 28
Writing:
Bell work – compound subjects and predicates
Correct “The Sentence” test
Organize folders and interactive notebooks

Reading:
Homework – Read library book (book test Thursday)
Bell work – sustained silent reading
Read and analyze short story “Fish Cheeks” (autobiographical incident)

TUESDAY, SEPT. 29
Writing:
Homework – Compound sentences
Bell work – FANBOY conjunctions
“The Sentence” retest
Guided practice – creating compound sentences

Reading:
Homework – Read library book (book test Thursday)
Bell work – sustained silent reading
Annotate “Fish Cheeks” as model for personal narrative

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30
Writing:
Homework – Combining Sentences
Bell work – ideas for writing
Pre-writing – personal narrative
(brainstorming, timeline, snapshot moment)

Reading:
Homework – Read library book (book test Thursday)
Bell work – sustained silent reading
Academic vocabulary – recall story elements

THURSDAY, OCT. 1
Writing:
Bell work – combining sentences
Create a web (organizer) for writing a personal narrative
Strategies for writing an introduction

Reading:
Bell work – sustained silent reading
Library book quiz
Comprehensive review of story elements

FRIDAY, OCT. 2
Writing:
Bell work – combining sentences
STAAR Revising – sentence structure
Draft 2 introductions for personal narrative; share

Reading:
Bell work – read/evaluate a model personal narrative
Continue draft of personal narrative

LESSON PLANS SEPT. 21 – 25, 2015

TEKS/STATE EXPECTATIONS:

7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.08, 7.10, 7.14, 7.16, 7.19, 7.20, 7.21

*****HOMEWORK:*****

***Fiction library book must be finished by Friday, Sept. 25

Monday – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Tuesday – Read at least 10 pages in library book

finish English – The Sentence Review

Wednesday – Read at least 10 pages in library book

English – Sentence Combining Worksheet

Thursday – Read

Friday – Read

MONDAY, SEPT. 21

Writing

Bell work – sentence fragments

Continue to review subjects/predicates and

action/linking/helping verbs

Locate subjects/predicates in varied sentence patterns

Reading

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Distinguish the characteristics of myths and epics

Read the myth “Icarus”

Analyze characterization, conflict, theme

TUESDAY, SEPT. 22

Writing

Bell work – identifying run-on sentences

Final copy of descriptive writing/self-assessment

The Sentence Review (test – Wednesday)

Reading

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Read the epic

Analyze characterization, conflict, theme

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23

Writing

Bell work – sentence combining – compound parts, compound sentence

Grade The Sentence – Review

Test – The Sentence

Reading

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Library Day

Interactive Notebooks – elements of fiction – characterization and

academic vocabulary

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24

Writing

Bell work – ideas for writing a personal narrative

Reading a personal narrative prompt

Sentence combining

Reading

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Analyze literary elements of fiction within text

FRIDAY, Sept. 25

Writing

Bell work – personal narrative prompt

Pre-writing – personal narrative

Reading

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Choice sheet – library book assignments

LESSON PLANS SEPT. 14 – 18, 2015

TEKS/STATE EXPECTATIONS: 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.08, 7.10, 7.14, 7.16, 7.19

7.20, 7.21, Fig. 19  

MONDAY, SEPT. 14

WRITING  

Bell work – subjects and predicates

Apply mnemonic device (song) to helping verbs (quiz – Thursday)

Sensory Grammar – sentence parts  

Construct simple sentences using compound parts

READING

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Apply mnemonic device (TPCAST) to non-fiction passage

Construct literary responses to article “Worldwide Loss of Bees…”

TUESDAY,  SEPT. 15

WRITING

Homework – sentence combining

Bell work – short write – Show, Don’t Tell

Annotate a piece of descriptive writing (guided practice)

Notice – organizational strategy – spatial (guided practice)

READING

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Review – history of storytelling and characteristics of a folktale

Pre-reading for folktale – “We Are All One”

Interactive notebook – theme and foreshadowing

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16

WRITING

Bell work – turn in sentence combining; practice listing the 23 helping verbs

Mini-lesson: action verbs vs. linking verbs; active vs. passive voice

Plan a descriptive essay using spatial organization; brainstorm relevant

details and sensory images

READING  

Homework – Reading passage and response questions – “Running A Real…”

Bell work – understanding new vocabulary/using a dictionary

Read/answer response questions – “We Are All One”

Independent practice – analyze theme in different cultural, historical, and

contemporary contexts

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17

WRITING

Bell work – precise word choice

Quiz – helping verbs

Appreciate a model descriptive essay

Begin drafting a descriptive essay

READING

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell work – turn in reading passage; precise word choice (continued from writing)

Continue drafting a descriptive essay

Collaborate with others: Revisit writing for examples of descriptive elements       (figurative language, vivid verbs and adjectives, etc.)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18

WRITING

Bell work – precise word choice – finish and turn in

Revising and editing descriptive essay

Final copy of descriptive essay (test grade)

READING

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book.

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Library book check – Are You Really Reading?

Appreciate storytelling – videos of professional storytellers

LESSON PLANS SEPT. 8 – 11, 2015

TEKS/STATE EXPECTATIONS: 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.08, 7.10, 7.14, 7.16, 7.19

7.20, 7.21, Fig. 19  

TUESDAY, SEPT. 8

Writing  

Bell work – Notice descriptive elements in model paragraph

Universal Screener (to assess students’ prior knowledge and skills)

Short write – Show, Don’t Tell

Reading

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Homework – Analyze non-fiction:  “Worldwide Loss of Bees a Growing Concern”

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Analyze plot of a short story (review – elements of plot)

WEDNESDAY,  SEPT. 9

Library Day – during Writing class

Writing  

Homework – Sentence parts: subjects and predicates

Bell work – Notice strategy: sentence parts: subjects and predicates

Short write:  Show, Don’t Tell

Analyze descriptive examples for vivid action verbs

Revise short write, eliminating linking verbs

Reading

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Quiz – story plot

Universal Screener (to assess students’ prior knowledge and skills)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10

Writing

Bell work – Notice strategy: combining sentences: compound subjects and   

       predicates

Analyze descriptive examples for word choice; using precise adjectives

Revise a short write: focus on word choice

Reading  

Bell work – sustained silent reading

Read folktale “We Are All One”; analyze foreshadowing and theme

Reading response questions

FRIDAY, SEPT. 11

Writing/Reading

Bell work – reflective questions

Remembering 9-11

Notice spatial organization in descriptive writing

Pre-writing – create a visual plan to write descriptively

LESSON PLANS AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 4

TEKS/STATE STANDARDS: 7.03, 7.06, 7.08, 7.14, 7.16, 7.19, 7.20, 7.21

MONDAY, AUGUST 31

WRITING:

Homework – Capitalization practice

Bell Work – Figuratively Speaking (simile, metaphor, personification)

Capitalization – Notice rules for family relationships (additional   

review)

Sensory Images – listening/visualization activity

Academic Vocabulary – Figurative Language – create foldable

READING:  

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell Work – Sustained silent reading – 5 minutes

Collaboration – Book Talk – type of fiction; setting; major character(s);

conflict

Short Story – “Seventh Grade”

Pre-reading:  author Gary Soto; Fresno CA; migrant workers;

             realistic fiction; vocabulary; predicting

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1

WRITING:  

Homework – Sentence Combining

Bell Work – Check homework

Capitalization review and quiz

Short Writes – “Show, Don’t Tell”

Sentence Fluency – Notice strategy – analyze sentence parts for

complete and simple subjects/predicates (multi-sensory

grammar)

READING:

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell Work –  Sustained silent reading – 5 minutes

Read and analyze – “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto (literature book)

Reading response questions and vocabulary in context

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2

WRITING:

Homework – Sentence Combining

Bell Work – Notice Strategy – Adding Details

Short Writes – “Show, Don’t Tell”

Collaboration – Sentence Variety (simple sentences with compound

parts)

Compare examples of descriptive writing

READING:  

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell Work – Sustained silent reading – 5 minutes

Quote Snapshots (figurative language/sensory images – “Seventh

Grade”

Academic Vocabulary foldable – Fiction:  theme, imagery, narrator,

point of view

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3

WRITING:

Homework – Sentence Combining

Bell Work – Notice Strategy – precise, vivid adjectives

Sparkling Sentences – publish examples from “Show, Don’t Tell”

Coordinating Conjunctions FANBOYS

Notice Strategy – compound sentences/subjects and predicates

Collaboration – Sentence Variety (sentences which should be

combined)

Reading:  

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell Work – Read “Storytelling”

Academic Vocabulary – create foldable – Fiction: Folktales

Pre-Reading – folktale – “The Wise Old Woman” – vocabulary; visuals;

narrator/point of view

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4

Writing:

Bell Work – Check homework for completion and correctness

Review and quiz – simple and compound sentences

Notice Strategy – organizational strategies for descriptive writing

Reading:

Homework – Read at least 10 pages in library book

Bell Work – Sustained silent reading

Evaluation of reading progress

Collaboration – analyzing narrator/point of view

LESSON PLANS AUG. 24 – 28, 2015

TEKS: 7.1, 7.2, 7.6, 7.8, 7.14, 7.16, 7.17, 7.19-21