Assignments for 2007-08 School Year
1st Semester
1st Six Weeks
Week of August 27-31
Wednesday
Read:
Pablo Neruda story, "Childhood and Poetry" handout
Discuss in class why author wrote it
Thursday
Read:
"lesson of the moth" pp. 318,319 in textbook
Discuss in class visualization, theme
Workbook p. 50
Friday
Read:
Two poems, pp. 181, 182 in textbook
Discuss in class, visualization, theme and legacies
Week of September 4-7
Tuesday
Pop Quiz
Set up spirals to be kept daily and checked weekly on Fridays
Text Book Cover Check for grade on Thursday
Intro "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry pp. 337,338
Vocab worksheet for story due Wednesday
Wednesday
Vocab worksheet checked in class
Chart Characters in class
Begin reading with CD rom of story with frequent stops to check visualization
Thursday
Continue reading and discussing "The Ransom Of Red Chief
Friday
Workbook Pages 51, 52, word webs. Due Monday
Review monlogue and allusion
Trip to library to check out silent reading material if finished with work in class
Week of September 10- 14
Monday
Watch movie version of "Ransom of Red Chief"
Fill out comparison chart of story and movie version provided by teacher
Due Tuesday
Tuesday
Discuss "Bloom's Taxonomy"
Review theme and summary
Intro new story "Golden Glass" pp. 51-56 text
Wednesday
Finish silent reading and discuss Golden Glass
Vocab handout due Thursday
Quiz over "Golden Glass" Identify 5 specific pieces of setting information
Thursday
Grade Vocab in class
Do workbook pp. 9,10 on prefixes and suffixes
Oral review of key story elements and finding setting details
Friday
Write summary sentences and theme sentences for both Ransom and Golden stories
Then, review for unit test on Monday using the following list:
TEST REVIEW ITEMS
literary terms:
synonym
antonym
refix/suffix these can be found in the back of the textbook in
word web the literary terms (purple edged pages R1-R10
theme
summary
visualization
setting
suspense
also,
vocabulary:
cultural diversity
meticulous
prominent
impudent
doting
extinguish
dependent, independent and interdependent
Stories and Poems:
"Childhood and Poetry" by Pablo Neruda
"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry
"Golden Glass"
Godley Middle School Handbook late work policy
Week of September 17-21
Monday
Unit Test
Free Reading
Tuesday
Intro New Unit, "Coming From All Kinds of Places"
First Story, "The Kid Nobody Could Handle"
Idioms pp. 19,20
Vocab
Wednesday
Listen to story on CD, 23 minutes
Thursday
Class discussion on character development, making predictions as you read and using a graphic organizer on the board to chart character traits of Helmholtz, Jim and Quinn
Friday
Finish class discussions
Assign workbook pages 23, 24 on analogies and allow class time for it and the assignment next listed:
Use printout of graphic organizer developed yesterday in class to write about one of the characters using the character traits.
Week of September 24-28
Monday
Intro "Thank You, Mam" Read to discover what motivates characters P.161 text
Vocab handout due tomorrow
Tuesday
Work on workbook pages 25,26, 27, 28, Multiple Meanings
Class discussion of story
Wednesday
Comparison lesson between symbolism of boots in "The Kid" and shoes in "Thank You, Mam"
Work in class with a partner to produce a poster, chart, drawing or cartoon
Thursday
Finish, present and judge posters .
Read essay "Homeless", p 39, textbook
Friday
Discuss homelessness
Take Open Book Theme Assessment Test over "The Kid" and "Mam"
Week of October 1-5 (last of first 6 weeks)
Monday
Intro SSR program
Intro connotation and denotation
Intro "A Mother In Manville"
Vocab and silent read
Tuesday
Read along with CD of story
Class discussion
Wednesday
Workbook pages 29, 30
Theme Test over "A Mother In Manville", and summary and theme sentences
Thursday
Similes and Metaphors practice page
Find all figurative language definitions that we have studied thus far in textbook glossary beginning on p. R-8, back of book
Write all definitions found above in spiral notebook with a sample of each
Friday
TAKS reading Prep Workbook, Breaking the Silence p. 17-21
Handout on steps to take on TAKS Testing
Week of October 8-12
Monday
Columbus Day Holiday
Tuesday
Intro New Unit, "Hair-Raising Tales"
Vocab for "Woman In The Snow" p. 856
Silent Read "Woman"
Wednesday
Finish Reading
Workbook pages 121, 122, Drawing Conclusions and Asking Questions
Thursday
Class Discussion
Read two more ghost stories, one a handout from teacher and two in the text,
A Real Houston Ghost Story p. TX 26 and Snowman, Schmoeman, p. TX 29
Friday
Write "I DO or DON"T Believe In Ghosts"
Intro Stephen King and screen play terminology in preparation for reading,
"Sorry, Right Number" outloud on Monday
Week of October 15-19
Monday
Oral Read "Sorry, Right Number"
Tuesday
Continue Oral reading
Wednesday
Silent Reading, "The Dinner Party"
Discussionl
Thursday
Vocab, Discussion
Workbook Pages 113, 114
Review literary terms
Friday
Test over "Woman In The Snow" and "Sorry, Right Number"
Week of October 22-26
Drug And Alcohol Awareness Week Daily readings related for Bell Work
Monday
Intro Edgar Alan Poe
Vocab
Active Reading Strategies p. 832
Silent Read "The Telltale Heart" p. 835
Tuesday
Finish reading
Workbook pages 117,118 "Reading A Table On Poe"
Wednesday
"The Telltale Heart", listen to CD
Class Discussion
Thursday
Watch film version provided by textbook publisher
Be a movie critic and write a review for the newspaper .
Friday
Other Poe Poems and Short Stories... Free Reading
Oral read one of your choice for a grade
Week of October 29-November 2
Monday
Read, "The Raven" textbook, p.
Tuesday
Finish "The Raven" and discuss
Wednesday
Halloween and Autumn Stories and Poems- Teacher Handout
Oral Reading Extra Credit Opportunity or write a Halloween or Fall poem of your own for Extra Credit
Thursday
Review stanza by stanza analysis of "The Raven"
Fill out graphic organizer for "allusions" in "The Raven"
Write summary sentences for "Alone" and "The Raven"
Friday
Test over Poe
Free SSR
Week of November 5-9
Monday
Indian History...take notes
Read, "Real Indians Eat Jello" p.76
TAKS practice getting ready for benchmark Indian theme piece
Tuesday
Finish up yesterday activities
Class discussion
Wednesday
Show United Streaming video, "My Indian Summer"
Character chart to show how Tawnie changed as the movie progressed
Shared Language...Give yourself an Indian Name
Thursday
Read, "The Medicine Bag" p. 78
Create a character chart for Martin like you did for Tawnie
Friday
Summarize and class discuss "The Medicine Bag"
Workbook pages, 15, 16, Using A Glossary
Week of November 12-16
Monday
Review analogies...worksheet
Intro "Spotted Eagle and Black Crow" p. 409
Silent read
"Silent Discussion" on revenge
Tuesday
Discuss story
Create time line of major events in the story
Workbook pp. 67-68, sequence
Wednesday
Discuss "Spotted Eagle, using student-created time lines
Read "The Seige At Courthouse Rock" p. 44
Create a time line.
Discuss motivation of characters and revenge
Thursday
Workbook pages 67,68, sequence and 69, 70, paraphrasing
Read "Siege At Courthouse Rock" p. 414
Friday
Test Over Indian Unit Open Book, Open Note
SSR
Week of November 19-21
Monday
TAKS Practice...Indian Theme
Tuesday
Read Indian Poem collection
Practice summarizing, character trait identification, symbolic meaning, sequencing, paraphrasing, theme identity and dialogue with a partner or in groups
Wednesday 1/2 day
Read teacher handout "The Long Knives Come"
Week of November 26-30
Monday
Begin Novel Unit
Intro Lesson On American Revolution provided by Amy Simons
Historical Fiction definition. background knowledge and reading log introduction
Begin reading JOHNNIE TREMAINE
Tuesday
Read JOHNNIE TREMAINE
Wednesday
Read
Thursday
Read
Friday
Read
Weeks of December 3, 10 and 17
Students start silent reading and continue until December 18. Periodic classroom discussions and activities will focus on character traits, motivations, conflict and conflict resolution, point of view and foreshadowing
As readers, finish, they choose another American Revolution selection from the text book to read. Choices include the poem, "Barbara Frieche and
the poem, "Paul Revere's Ride" with related activities to be determined on an individual basis for each student.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before Christmas Break
A collection of Christmas poems and stories for pleasurable reading, including O Henry's "The Gift Of The Magi."
Week of January 7
Monday
Read and summarize newspaper article from Star-Telegram "Reading Skills Slipping"
Look up definitions of literary terms provided by teacher in the glossary of literary terms in the back of our textbook. Restate them in your own words and then provide a one or two sentence description or example from "Johnny Tremaine"
Tuesday
Finish Tuesday assignment and then read teacher handout from internet, "The Americans Who Risked Everything". Create a graphic organizer to show what happened to the 15 patriots documented in the article. (Writers and Signers of Declaration of Independence)
Wednesday
Share knowledge from previous two assignments in class discussion.
Review sheets handed out for Semester Final. Class time provided for questions or clarification of test elements.
Thursday
Review Johnny Tremaine Movie
Friday
Review for Semester Final
Week of January 14
Monday
Review for Semester Final
Tuesday
Exams period 6 and 7 Free reading time
Wednesday
To be announced
Thursday
Exams period 2, 3 and 4 Free Reading
Friday
Exams period 1, 5 and 8 Free Reading
Week of January 21
Monday
Teacher In-Service
Tuesday
Robert Frost Poems Students memorize and recite "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening"
Read "The Road Not Taken"
Wednesday
Finish Oral Recitations
Review Analogies...Workpages
Thursday
Workbook Pages 45-48 Monitoring Reading Strategies and Visualizing\
Friday
TAKS practice "How To Go UP A Grade In Every Class"
Week of January 28-February 1
Monday
Intro New Unit, "The Long Road To Freedom" (Black History)
Read, "Why Frog and Snake Never Play Together" handout Class discussion, steroetype, integration, segregation
Tuesday
Correct and learn from TAKS practice correction
Quiz over "Why Frog and Snake..."
Wednesday
Read, "The People Could Fly" Discuss "folktale".
Answer questions 2,3,4,5,6,8,9 p. 393 by restating the question and writing complete sentence answers.
Thursday
Class discussion
Workbook pages 63,64 on Main Idea and Supporting Details
Friday
Read the "Box Brown" essay, "The Long Road To Freedom, textbook, pp. 478-80
Create a T-Chart to compare the two experiences
Read handout, "What It Was Like To Be A Slave." Compile a list of reasons you wouldn't want to be a slave.
Week of February 4-8
Monday
TAKS practice, "The World of Color" (red, yellow, blue, et.cetera)
Tuesday
Make a list of everything you would want to take on a winter camping trip. Then, intro and read "The Underground Railroad" textbook, pp. 479-89
What did Harriett and her followers have on their trip.
Wednesday
Discussion
Workbook pages 81,82 on Author's Purpose worked together in class
Thursday
TAKS practice "Black Mountain Man"
Friday
Review for test over UGRR, catch-up, SSR, read handout about scoliosis
Week of February 11-15
Monday
Open Book Test over UGRR
Tuesday
Intro and read, memoir, "My Grandmother's Sit-In" pp. TX22-24 in text
Discuss and demo restating questions to be answered in writing from handout
Wednesday
TAKS practice "Tuskegee Airmen" with picture and news article intro
Silent read handout of "Two's Enough of a Crowd" for earlier finishers (a Valentine dance story)
Thursday
Valentine poem and story reading from teacher-supplied handouts
Friday
Read reprints of two "Dear Abby" columns of what readers think are society's worst problems. Students pick one or make up their own and write a one page paper stating their position.
Week of February 18-22
Monday
Open Book Test over unit "Long Road To Freedom"
Tuesday
Grade Tests
Presidents' Day reading handout
John McCain Prisoner of War story of the Pledge of Allegiance
Wednesday
Intro New Unit, "Fighting For American Freedom"
Read "Stop the Sun" p. 607 Text.
Discussion
Thursday
Computer LAB Assignment "What Else Do You Want To Know About the War in Vietnam?"
Complete charts on pages 95, 96 of reading workbook with info found.
Friday
TAKS practice, Glencoe Workbook pp. 12-16, Searching For A Cure
Week of February 25-29
Monday
Correct and learn from TAKS practice
Read and orally do idioms, page 605 textbook
Review Vietnam facts
Tuesday
Read, "My Summer of Vietnam" p. 623, textbook
Discuss tone, mood, author's purpose
Wednesday
Time Line of American Wars discussion
Review terminology...historical fiction, simile, point of view
Read, listen to CD of "Drummer Boy Of Shiloh" pp. 439-445
Thursday
Discussion the rich figurative language of DBS
Write a letter to a 14 year old friend considering running away to join the Civil War fighting, expressing support or alarm.
Friday
Review page 6 of Glencoe TAKS wkbk for strategies
Practice rewording TAKS questions on pp 10, 11 to clarify for yourself
Begin working on TAKS practice, pp. 27-31 to be graded in class on Monday
Week of March 3-7
Monday
Grade TAKS practice and correct
Quiz over Drummer Boy and grade vocab done last week
Read, "The Farmer and His Sons" Determine the moral of the story and how it applies to you this 6 weeks!
Tuesday
Intro and read, "The Battleground" pp. 510, text. Discuss
Wednesday
the real TAKS test
Thursday
Review by listening to "The Battleground" on CD
Workbook pages, 71, 72, summarizing and 85, 86 on fact and opinion
Friday
Answer questions 2,3,4,6,8, last page of story in complete sentences, working with a partner.
Week of March 10-14
Monday
"The Gettysburg Address" p. 473, text
Read and then write the phrases that satisfy the reasons Lincoln went there: to comfort, to dedicate the cemetery and to encourage the survivors to keep fighting
Write a one-paragraph summary of the story, "The Battleground"
Tuesday
Read and discuss "Gettysburg Address"
Read and discuss "Oh Captain, My Captain" p. 475
Wednesday
Silent read one more Civil War story, JED handout
Summarize in one paragraph
Review for Civil War Story Test
Thursday
Open Book Open Note Test
Friday
Grade, retreach and discuss Test and Historical Fiction and mood
Week of March 17-21
Spring Break
Week of March 24-28
Monday
Intro new unit, Coming From All Kinds of Places"
Read and listen to CD, "Sound Shadows of the New World"
Discuss
Workbook pages, 33,34 Choosing Sources
Tuesday
Compile a list of characteristics necessary for being a successful immigrant
Talk to family members to get hints about your "roots" and get ready to research in the computer lab tomorrow
Teacher tips for successful lab
Wednesday
Computer lab assignment on geneaology
Thursday
Do Vocab for "Letters From Rifka",
Read along with CD Rom starting on page 526
Friday
Class Discussion (use questions page 536 and narrative column, question, 2.
Week of March 31-April 4
Monday
Workbook Pages 33, 34 and 87, 88
Tuesday
Listen to and Read, "My Korean Dad" p. 18 Textbook
No make-up required for Band Students out of class
Wednesday
Vocab for "Thank You In Arabic"
Read the story, p. 573-end
Thursday
Class discussion
Workbook Pages, 91,92
Friday
Listen to CD Rom of "Thank You In Arabic"
Week of April 7-11
Monday
Unit test over "Coming From All Kinds of Places"
(Last two weeks work)
Tuesday
TAKS Math test
Free Reading and Sharing with Afternoon Classes, inc. "The Potato Eaters" about Irish Immigration
Wednesday
Intro New Unit, "Lessons From Sports Stories"
Vocab and discussion of "Special Olympics" and Mentally, Physically Challenged
Read/listen to CD Rom of "Raymond's Run", p. 553
Thursday
Discussion
Character Mapping handout
Friday
Knute Rockne Story
Characterization of a star athlete
Week of April 14- 18
Monday
Disappointment exploration
Vocab handout for "In the Middle of A Pitch", pp. 239 Textbook
Silent Read "In the Middle.."
Identify one example each of internal and external conflict and tell how Sykorsky deals with them.
Vocabulary and Workbook pages 35,36
Tuesday
Listen to CD and Discuss mood, tone, foreshadowing
Wednesday
Read collection of "The Right Words At the Right Time" from athletes.
Pick one that "spoke most clearly to you" and write a page about why it has meaning in your life.
Thursday
Read, "Casey At the Bat", p. 252
Working with a partner, identify the climax and progression of "mood"
Distinguish between literal and figurative phrases, giving an example of each.
Define the type of poetry this piece represents and tell why
Friday
Read "Carry On, Carry On" poem about perseverance- teacher handout Relate to athletics.
Week of April 21- 25
Monday
Snow Day Holiday...No School
Tuesday
Knute Rockne handout Read and identify personality traits displayed
List and compare to Dusty Sikarsky and other athletes you know
Wednesday
Work Ethic Readings...5 short stories
Write a summary sentence for each and relate back to sports stories
Thursday
Unit Test over "Lessons From Sports Stories"
Read and analyze teacher-created lesson, "Causes of the Civil War"
Friday
View power-point presentation "Causes of the Holocaust"
Discuss timeline provided
Week of April 28-May 2
Monday
Vocab for "All But My Life"
Silent Read, p. 663
Tuesday
Discussion
Workbook Pages 105,06
Wednesday
Accelerated Class begins reading novel, "Anne Frank Remembered"
All other classes begin reading orally in parts, the stage play, "from Anne Frank, The Diary Of A Young Girl", p. 625, textbook
vocab and discussion about the setting
Thursday
8th Grade Science TAKS
Show DVD provided by Textbook of Anne Frank's annex, etc.
Friday
8th Grade Social Studies TAKS
Same as yesterday
Week of May 5-9
Monday
No School Bad Weather Holiday
Tuesday
Reading continues
Wedsnesday
Reading continues
Thursday
Misfeldt at Computer Workshop
Mrs. Dear presents Info About High School...all class periods
Friday
Reading continues
Week of May 12-16
Oral Reading and discussion continues
Week of May 19-23
Watch 1959 Academy-Award winning version of Anne Frank that exactly matches the dialogue of the play just read in the text
Test over Holocaust Unit on Friday
Week of May 26-30
Monday
No School Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday
Discuss Play
Review for 2nd Semester Final
Wednesday
Review
Thursday and Friday 1/2 days
Semester Finals