Tuesday, December 22nd

There is NO SCHOOL on Tuesday.  This means that we will not meet again until January 4th, 2010!  

Enjoy your winter break and come back rested and ready for the last three weeks of the second marking period

-Mr. Swain

Monday, December 21st

School is closed on Monday due to the weekend's weather.  Keep your fingers crossed for Tuesday!

Thursday, December 17th

Parents & Guardians: Interim reports for the second marking period are being mailed out today.  Please encourage your child to make up any missing assignments for partial credit before the holiday break!

Lesson Objectives - Students will take their test on "A Retrieved Reformation" today.  Those students who have completed their test essay rough draft will recieve three homework credits.

Homework -

• Students should prepare for their Unit 2 Vocabulary Quiz that they will take tomorrow.  I will collect their books to check their practice exercises during their quiz.
• Class work pages 7-13 are due on Monday.

Wednesday, December 16th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to reinforce their understanding of the four kinds of sentences with a competitive activity.  They will use their vocabulary words for the first 2 units in completing this exercise.

Homework - Students are to continue writing their test essay rough draft. Essay question: Compare and contrast the characters and plots from O. Henry's two stories, "After Twenty Years" and "A Retrieved Reformation." 

Tuesday, December 15th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Enhance their writing with the use of transitional phrases. (13a-13b)
• Reinforce their understanding of the four kinds of sentences with a competitive activity.

Homework - Students are to continue writing their test essay rough draft. Essay question: Compare and contrast the characters and plots from O. Henry's two stories, "After Twenty Years" and "A Retrieved Reformation."

Monday, December 14th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to identify and compose examples of the different kinds of sentences. (Pages 12a-12d)  They will also be able to use an outline in order to organize their test essay.  We will also go over the vocabulary sentences so that they can prepare for Friday's quiz.

Homework - Students are to start writing their test essay rough draft.  Essay question: Compare and contrast the characters and plots from O. Henry's two stories, "After Twenty Years" and "A Retrieved Reformation."

Friday, December 11th

Parents and Guardians: Please check Home Access Center for the updated assignment grades.  The overall grade counts toward the interim for the second marking period.  Interim reports will be mailed home toward the end of next week.  I also sent home a Student Detail Report with each student today.  Please talk to your child about his or her grades so that he or she can improve before the winter break.

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to prepare for their test essay for next week.  They will compare and contrast the plots and characters from O. Henry's "After Twenty Years" and "A Retrieved Reformation."  (page 11b)  Students will also complete page 31 in Unit 2 of the vocabulary books.

Homework: Students will get their Student Detail Report signed by a parent or guardian.

Wednesday, December 9th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Familiarize themselves with the words from vocabulary unit 2 and evaluate their own understanding of the terms.
• Apply the story elements to the currect story "A Retrieveved Reformation." (page 10b)
• Determine the factors in O. Henry's life that influenced the two stories we have read. (page 11a)

Homework - In a paragraph, answer the following: If you were in the same situation as Ben Price, would you have done the same thing?  Explain why or why not.

Tuesday, December 8th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to analyze the motives that cause dynamic characters to change.  They will also compare and contrast writing samples from the same author.

Homework - Students can complete corrections for their recent vocabulary unit 1 quiz.

Monday, December 7th

Parents and Guardians: I have updated the grades on Home Access Center to include the recent vocabulary class work and quiz as well as the test on "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."  Please make sure that your child is up to date on his or her class work since the interim for the second marking period is rapidly approaching.  Let's make sure we dismiss for the holiday break with everything completed! 

Lesson Objective - Students will take test on the O. Henry story, "After Twenty Years."  This is their third test of the marking period.  When they finish they will will introduce themselves to the next vocabulary unit and read the next story, "A Retrieved Reformation," also by O. Henry.

Homework - Students will complete the Synonym & Antonym sections of Vocabulary Unit #2, page 32.

Friday, December 4th

Lesson Objectives - Students will take their first unit quiz in their new vocabulary series.  After that, we will review for Monday's test in "After Twenty Years."

Homework - Prepare for Monday's test.

Tuesday, December 3rd

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to examine and correct examples of sentences with subjects in an unusual order.  This will enable them to utilize sentence variety in their essay writing.  (Pages 9a-9d)

Homework - Students should prepare for tomorrow's quiz on the first vocabulary unit.  Also, they can complete test corrections for the the "War of the Wall" test that I gave back yesterday.

Wednesday, December 2nd

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to identify examples and analyze the effectiveness of the author's use of foreshadowing in the story, "After Twenty Years."  They will also examine the impact that a different point of view would have on the story. (Pages 8a, 8b)

Homework - Students can make corrections on "The War of the Wall" test in order to bring their grade up.  Also, they should prepare for the vocabulary test on the first unit for this Friday.  I will collect their books on that day to grade their progress with the assignments.

Tuesday, December 1st

Parents & Guardians:

There are still many students who have not purchased the vocabulary book.  Please be sure to send in payment with your child in the form of cash or check.  Please make checks payable to "Conrad Schools of Science."  The book is $9, but I can accept partial payments until it is paid off. 

Also, please visit the Home Access Center on a regular basis to check the grades of your son or daughter.  This is the time of year when many students lose their academic focus.  Encourage them to finish the 2009 calendar year on a high note!  After the holiday break, there are only 3 weeks left in the second marking period.

Lesson Objectives:  Students will be able to evaluate their progress in the learning the words for the 1st vocabulary unit.  They will also review ther practice exercises so that they can be prepared for Friday's quiz.

Homework: Students can complete test corrections for the "War of the Wall" test. CORRECTION:  We never got to the test today so students can work on completing their vocabulary unit work tonight.

Monday, November 30th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Monitor their reading in order to check for comprehension.
• Search for clues that the author left for the reader to figure out the ending. (pages 7a, 7b)

Homework - Answer the following in a paragraph: What would you do if you were in Jimmy's position?  Explain.

Monday, November 23rd

Lesson Objectives - Students will take their test based on the story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."  If they have not completed their rough and final drafts of their essay on the author's use of personification, they will do so today.

Homework - Class work pages 1-6 plus Friday's substitute packet are due at the beginning of class tomorrow.  Students can also work on November's RRS, which is due in exactly one week.

Thursday, November 19th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Develop their ideas into detailed sentences.
• Practice the effective use of their unit 1 vocabulary words.

Homework - Students will continue writing their rough draft for the "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" essay. Essay topic: Explain the author’s use of personification in three different animal characters. Rough drafts are due when students start their test on Monday.

Wednesday, November 18th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Examine and critique the author's use of the omniscient third-person point of view in the telling on his story, "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."
• Practice the effective use of their unit 1 vocabulary words.

Homework - Students will start writing their rough draft for the "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" essay.  Essay topic: Explain the author’s use of personification in three different animal characters.  Rough drafts are due when students start their test on Monday.

Monday, November 16th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Define personification and provide examples from the story.
• Make predictions about the story basde on events and character traits.

Homework - In the Vocabulary book, complete the "Choose the Right Word" section on page 26.

Friday, November 13th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to:

• Familiarize themselves with the new vocabulary textbook that they will recieve today.
• Determine meanings of vocabulary words through context clues such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

Homework - Students are asked to access the vocabulary unit through the website http://www.vocabularyworkshop.com/ in order to familiarize themselves with the material (if possible).  They may then complete the synonyms and antonyms section found on page 25.

Thursday, November 12

Parents & Guardians:  I am sending home a form today regarding the vocabulary series we will be starting tomorrow.  Please return the form with a payment of $9 by the end of next week.  (Both cash and checks are accepted.  Make checks payable to Conrad Schools of Science.)  I will accept partial payment plans on a case by case basis.  I strongly advise against the borrowing option since your child will have to copy every assignment as well as return the book in good condition.  Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Lesson Objective - Students will take their first test of the 2nd marking period.  They can use the remainder of their time completing make-up assignments or reading for the November RRS.

Homework - Students are to take home and fill out the form regarding the vocabulary series.

Tuesday, November 10th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Identify examples of cause/effect relationships that are found in the story "The War of the Wall."
• Brainstorm and outline a personal story that explains a situation where they had to settle a conflict.

Homework - Prepare for Thursday's test; write "personal conflict" story rough draft for the test; complete test corrections for "Eleanor Roosevelt" test.

Monday, November 9th

Lesson Objectives:  Students will be able to...

• Identify pronouns and their antecedants.
• Use pronouns accurately with proper pronoun/antecedant agreement in writing samples.

Homework: Students are to start reading their books for the RRS which is due on Monday, November 30th.

Thursday, November 5th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Examine the role that the point of view has on the outcome of the story.  Students will examine how the story would have been diffferent from the perspective of another character.
• Present their original works from yesterday. (editorial article, rap/song, or dedication speech)

Homework - In a paragraph, answer the following: If an artist wanted to paint a mural in your neighborhood, what heroes do you think your neighbors would want represented?  Explain.

Wednesday, November 4th

Today is the last day of the first marking period.  Unless otherwise arranged, any make-up work must be submitted no later than today. 

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Use contect cluse to find meaning for the vocabulary words found in the story, "The War of the Wall."
• Create an original work that demonstrates their understanding of the story.  These include a newspaper article, a speech, or a rap.

Homework - Students will answer the question at the bottom of page 2B on loose leaf paper.

Tuesday, November 3rd

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to ...

• Complete a brief writing sample based on their own personal experiences regarding the idea of making a positive first impression.  They will be encouraged to avoid submitting a sample that contains fragments and run-on sentences.
• Listen to the story, "The War of the Wall" and take a quiz on it.

Homework - Tomorrow is the end of the first marking period!  All late assignments will not be accepted after tomorrow unless if I have directly spoken to your child about a particular assignment.

Monday, November 2nd

Lesson Objectives - Students will take their final test of the marking period.  When they finish, they can work on any make-up assignments (October RRS, Personal Essay, Class Work pages 15-22) that will be collected tomorrow.

Homework - Any make up assignments and Class Work packets are due tomorrow.

Friday, October 30th

Lesson Objectives - Students will continue working on their Autobiographical Timeline Powerpoint presentations in the computer lab.  They may present their work on Monday for extra credit after taking the test.

Homework - Students will prepare for Monday's test on the story, "Eleanor Roosevelt."  Class work pages 15-22 are due on Tuesday.

Thursday, October 29th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to create a powerpoint presentation that details the 10 most important events in their lives.

Homework - To prepare for the Biographical Timeline Project, students are encouraged to bring pictures of themselves on a USB drive. If they have an email account, they may use this as a means of sending themselves pictures.


Students were reminded that the RRS for October is due at the end of this week. Also, students may complete test corrections for "Zebra."

Wednesday, October 28th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Expand their ability to provide vivid details with the help of predicate adjectives.
• Present their advice column samples to their peers.

Homework -

• To prepare for the Biographical Timeline Project, students are encouraged to bring pictures of themselves on a USB drive.  If they have an email account, they may use this as a means of sending themselves pictures.
• Students were reminded that the RRS for October is due at the end of this week. Also, students may complete test corrections for "Zebra."

Tuesday, October 27th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Identify evidence that can be used to support the author's claims.
• Compose a response to a letter sent to an advice column.

Homework -  Students were reminded that the RRS for October is due at the end of this week. Also, students may complete test corrections for "Zebra."

Monday, October 26th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to ...

• Compare/contrast various resources to analyze their accuracy and objectivity.
• Improve their test scores with test corrections.

Homework - Students were reminded that the RRS for October is due at the end of this week.  Also, students may complete test corrections for "Zebra."

Wednesday, October 21st

Lesson Objectives - Students will take their test on the story "Zebra."

Homework - The October Reader Response sheet is due on Friday the 30th.

Tuesday, October 20th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Create a writing sample that shows proper sentence structure.  (They will avoid fragments and run on sentences.)
• Compose an original work (either a letter or a speech) that demonstrates understanding of the story.

Homework - Students will prepare for the test on the story "Zebra."

Monday, October 19th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to....

• Examine and repair examples of paragraphs with sentence fragment/run-on issues.
• Apply these skills to a peer editing exercise where they will examine and suggest corrections for their partner's personal essay.

Homework - After the peer editing exercise today, students can complete their final drafts for submission tomorrow.  Students can also prepare for their test on "Zebra" this Wednesday.

Friday, October 16th

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to identify and remedy examples of run-on sentences and fragments.

Homework: Students will complete test corrections for the story, "Names/Nombres."  Parents/Guardians:  Please be sure to sign by the circled score.  This lets me know that you have seen it!

October 15th, 2009

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Examine events in the story in order to determine whether they either advance the plot or just provide character information.
• Define the motives of the main characters in a story in order to determine their personality traits.

Homework -

• Rough and final drafts of the personal essay are due tomorrow. 
• Students will also recieve their most recent test in order to do test corrections.
• Get the updated SDR signed.

Wednesday, October 14th

Parents and Guardians:
I have just updated the online gradebook to reflect a few additions.  There are many students who did not turn in their most recent classwork packet (Pages 7-14).  Please check HAC regularly so that you can keep an accurate record of your child's progress.

Lesson Objective - Students will be use context clues in order to figure out word meanings.  They will also be able to define them using analogies.

Homework - Students are to continue writing their personal essays. Rough and final drafts are due on Friday, October 16th.

Tuesday, October 13th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to:

• Make predictions on character actions based on personal previous experiences.
• Increase their test grades by completing test corrections.

Homework - Students are to continue writing their personal essays. Rough and final drafts are due on Friday, October 16th. Return test corrections promptly for a faster grade adjustment.

Monday, October 12th

Parents and guardians:
Please be advised that interim reports are being mailed out today, so you will be receiving them very soon. If you did not receive one from me regarding your child, then there may be no need for concern.

Please use the Home Access Center to stay informed about your child's progress. I will be adding another round of quiz grades, a class work packet, and last Thursday's test by the end of this week.

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to...

• Compose a brief statement based on a personal experience.
• Make predictions on character actions based on person previous experiences.

Homework: Students are to continue writing their personal essays. Rough and final drafts are due on Friday, October 16th

Thursday, October 8th

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to...

• Take a test based on the story, "Names/Nombres."
• Begin writing the rough draft of their personal essay.

Homework: Students will continue writing their rough and final drafts of their personal essays. Be advised that this assignment counts as both homework and report grades.

Wednesday, October 7th

Lesson Objectives - Students will write their own simple sentences and have other groups combine them using the compound and complex format. They will utilize these sentence styles when they start writing their personal essays after tomorrow's test.

Homework -

• Prepare for tomorrow's test.
• Get pages 7-14 ready to be turned in.
• Have your personal essay web/outline.

Tuesday, October 6th

Lesson Objectives - Students will practice various methods of combining simple sentences into compound and complex sentences.


Homework - Students will take home their Student Detail Reports to get signed by a parent/guardian. Also, students are encouraged to make sure that pages 7-14 will be ready for submission on Thursday.

Monday, October 5th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to:

• Brainstorm possible topics to discuss in their personal essay.
• Continue working on their presentations and begin presenting.

Homework - Students will create a graphic organizer (such as an outline or a web) that briefly explains the main message of their essay and the three experiences they will use to support it. Students will start composing their personal essay rough drafts after they take their test on Thursday.

Friday, October 2nd

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to...

• Determine the author's purpose in writing her essay, "Names/Nombres."
• Apply ideas/beliefs from the essay to compose an original graduation speech or a series of interview questions and answers.

Homework: Students are to brainstorm and devise a message that they would like to explain in the personal essay. The message relates to a piece of advice that they could explain that is based on three personal experiences.

Thursday, October 1st

Reader Response Sheets for the month of September were due yesterday. Any submissions after tomorrow will not count towards the interim grade for the first marking period! Students will receive partial credit for late assignments.

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to...

• Use context clues to determine word meanings.
• Examine the structure of the personal essay, "Names/Nombres" to determine the author's message.
• Begin brainstorming for their individual personal essay.

Homework: Students will complete the bottom of page 13b on loose leaf paper.

Friday, September 25th

Lesson Objective: Students will take their second test of the marking period. Please be sure to encourage them to make corrections when I give back the tests sometime next week.

Homework: Test corrections for "Seventh Grade" are still being accepted. The September Reader Response Sheet is due this coming Wednesday.

Enjoy the extended weekend!

Thursday, September 24th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Compose detailed sentences by combining subjects or predicates.
• Create an original script based on the story that uses cause/effect relationships. Student will present their scripts to the rest of the class.

Homework -

• Students must have their essay rough draft completed before class tomorrow.
• Also, they may use class work materials to prepare for tomorrow's test.
• Many students have not submitted test corrections for the "Seventh Grade" test yet.

Wednesday, September 23rd

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to...

• Explain their examples of cause/effect relationships found in real life situations.
• Identify proper use of compound subject/predicates in writing samples. This skill will enable students to compose more complex sentences for their responses.

Homework: Students will finish writing their rough draft for the test essay. Tonight, they should focus on writing the second body paragraph and conclusion. I will be looking for their completed work tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 22nd

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to...

• Improve their test scores by making test corrections.
• Construct complex examples of cause/effect relationships and present them to the rest of the class.

Homework:

• Students can complete their test corrections.
• They are to continue writing their rough drafts for Friday's test essay.

Monday, September 21st

Lesson Objective - Students will be able to identify examples of cause & effect relationships from the current story.

Homework - Students are to start working on their rough drafts for the short essay assignment due on Thursday.

Essay Topic: Describe the author's use of internal and external conflict found in the story, "Thank You, M'am."

Monday night: Introduction paragraph
Tuesday night: First body paragraph
Wednesday night: Second body paragraph and conclusion.

Friday, September 18th

Lesson Objectives : Students will be able to examine stories and determine examples of both internal and external conflict.

Homework: In a paragraph, explain examples of internal and external conflict found in an episode of a TV show.

Thursday, September 17th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to:

• Use context clues to determine word meanings.
• Use non-verbal methods of communicating word meanings.
• Apply story elements to a book, movie, or TV show of their choice and present it to the class.

Homework: Using the vocabulary words, explain how Roger feels as he is walking home.

Wednesday, September 16th

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to...

• Compose and evaluate responses written in RARE format.
• Apply the concept of story elements to the Langston Hughes' short story "Thank you, M'am."

Homework - Students will compose a response based on the following interview question: Should professional athletes who are convicted of a crime be able to return to their sport?

Tuesday, September 15th

Lesson Objective: Students will complete their first test of the year. Please remind them to make test corrections when they receive their grades within the upcoming week.

Homework: Students should prepare their classwork packets for submission tomorrow. They should also continue working on the Reader Response Sheet that is due at the end of the month.

Monday, September 14th

I am back! Mr. G. sent me a positive report regarding the behavior of the students and the amount of work that they accomplished. We will maintain our momentum with the following lesson:

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to...

• Compare/contrast their personality traits, environments, attitudes, etc. to those found in the main character of the story "Seventh Grade."
• Find examples where the author used sensory details to make the setting more vivid.
• Explore the concept of theme and how it relates to the present story.

Homework: Prepare for tomorrow's test on the story "Seventh Grade." Also, make sure your class work pages 1-6 will be ready for collection on Wednesday.

Welcome Back!

Today marks the start of the 2009-2010 school year. It was a pleasure meeting all of my new students and I look forward to working with them.

For the time being, I will be at home with my son for the next 7 days. I will not be making any daily updates since I will not be in the classroom. My substitute teacher, Mr. G, has worked with the Conrad Schools of Science on many occasions and has taken over my classes. He has plenty of materials so that the students can get off to a strong start. I will be returning to my position full time on Monday, September 14th.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me using the address listed above.

-Mr. Swain

Christopher is here!

Christopher Riley Swain was born on July 6th, 2009. He was three weeks early! Both mother and child are doing fine.