October 5-9

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe we are in the month of October already.  

This week on Tuesday, we will be working on our in-class book reports.  Please make sure your student has completed their novel by then.

Beginning next quarter there are two things of note: students will be keeping a reading log that will be graded weekly. Students should be reading 15-20 minutes per night.  This will be a test grade.

In our writing endeavors in class, I have noticed our students are having difficulty with spelling.  I believe the heavy use of technology may be an influencer in the errors. Beginning next quarter, every Friday, students will have a spelling test.  Spelling words will be given on Monday of that same week.  Perfecting spelling will also help students in their comprehension skills. I would greatly appreciate your support in this matter. (ELA 7 only, no Honors)

Monday-ROOTS test (ELA 7 only), New Vocabulary, New Quill, A Monster Calls

HONORS- VOCABULARY TEST UNIT 1

Tuesday-Book Report-All Classes

Wednesday-All Classes- Book Report completion, continue study of in-class novel, Explicit and Implicit details in text

Thursday-ELA 7-Mugshot #9, A Monster Calls, 10 Sentence Writing Assignment

Honors-Grammar Relay, A Monster Calls, Finish Children's Novel (due Friday!)

Friday-Review Citing Evidence-all classes

September 28-October 2

Dear Families,

It was a pleasure to meet many of you Thursday night.  

This week, we will continue our study of A Monster Calls. 

MONDAY-Students will have a roots test.  They have the packet to study. In addition, all classes will be going to the library to renew their books.  Book Reports are in class only on October 6.

TUESDAY-All classes-Vocabulary notebooks will be checked. This is a TEST grade.

WEDNESDAY-Daily writing, Mugshot, Continue A Monster Calls

THURSDAY-Vocabulary TEST #1 for ELA Standard Students

     HONORS-Common Lit Assignment

FRIDAY-Honors-Work on Children's Novel

ELA 7-Citing Text Evidence and self-evaluation of a RACER paragraph.

QUILL DUE FRIDAY

SPIRIT WEEK-Don't forget your RED, WHITE, AND BLUE tomorrow.

September 21-25

 Dear Parents,

Happy Weekend!

Reminder: Parent/Teacher Conferences are Thursday, September 24 from 3 pm to 6 pm.  Please keep your visits to 5 minutes, and if additional time is needed, we can schedule outside of that time.

Monday- ELA 7-Mugshot #6, A Monster Calls, Vocabulary word, New Quill

Honors-Jury presentations for "The Seventh Grade", New Quill

Tuesday - ELA 7-Grammar relay, Daily Writing, A Monster Calls, Vocabulary

Honors-Mugshot #6, A Monster Calls, Several Vocabulary words (need to get caught up)

Wednesday - ELA 7- Grammar relay, A Monster Calls, writing assignment (The Mysterious Door), Vocabulary

Thursday - ELA 7 - Common Lit Assignment-Cellphones (RACER and multiple choice), Vocabulary

Honors - Grammar relay, A Monster Calls, Writing assignment on the novel, Vocabulary

Friday - Citing Text Evidence (all classes)

September 14-18

 Dear Parents,

We are at the midterm for the quarter. Please check PowerSchool for all updated grades.

Quill is now due on Friday. Any submissions past the due date will not be accepted.

Periods 1, 4, 5, 6 have a ROOTS TEST on Monday. See Schoology and the Greek/Latin Roots folder for study materials if they lost their paper.

All classes will visit the library on Monday as well to renew their books for their book report.

Important Dates:

Essay #1 - Due Friday, September 18th

Book Report - October 6th - in class ONLY

Monday - ELA 7-Library / Roots Test, Begin Quill assignment, New Roots

Honors-Library, Begin Quill Assignment, Read Chapter 3 in A Monster Calls

Tuesday - ELA 7 - Mugshot #4, Daily Writing, Chapter 3 in A Monster Calls

Honors-Mugshot #4, Daily Writing, Chapter 4 in A Monster Calls, writing assignment with novel

Wednesday - ELA 7- Mugshot #5, Chapter 4 in A Monster Calls, writing assignment

Honors-Grammar Relay, Short Story reading, Writing assignment with short story, Vocabulary

Thursday-ELA 7- Grammar lesson, Short Story partner reading; focus-conflict, Vocabulary

Honors-Work on Children's novel

Friday-Essay completion, Quill completion, short version of We Will Write

September 8-11

Dear Families,

I hope all of you have had a safe Labor Day weekend.  

ESSAYS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 18TH.

This week we will continue our short story unit, and all classes will begin our in-class novel, A Monster Calls. The novel addresses the illness of a parent and how Conor, the main character, finds different ways to cope with her sickness. It is a beautifully written book and I have enjoyed teaching it since it was first published. 

Honors class will read the same novel, but there will be many writing assignments in reference to the material.  

QUILL will be due this Friday, NO late work will be accepted and the grade will remain a zero/0.   Students should be aware of expectations for the week.  This is a weekly test grade.  Please ensure they are successful with this assignment. I will send an email Thursday night to remind them of completion.

If absent, please see the Daily Assignments folder in Schoology. Make-up work is the student's responsibility.

Have a great week.

-Mrs. Matejka

Tuesday-New Quill assignments due Friday, Short Story (all classes)-"The Treasure of Lemon Brown," Vocabulary Word; Honors-Writing assignment on short story

Wednesday-MUGshot #3, Grammar relay game, Activity on "The Treasure of Lemon Brown" (ELA7 only), Vocabulary Word

Thursday-Daily Writing Assignment, MUGshot #4, Introduction to A Monster Calls, Read first two chapters in novel, Vocabulary word

Friday-ELA 7-Reading Day; Honors-Review Citing Text Evidence Activity

September 18-Essay Due

October 6-in-class Book Report (NOT to be done at home)

August 31-September 4

 Dear families,

I will not be at school tomorrow for a doctor's appointment and bloodwork. Mr. Matejka will be substituting for me.  I have told students the repercussions for poor behavior choices.

I wanted to explain a candy machine I have in my room. I alternate filling it with Skittles and M & Ms (which were on my Amazon list).  Several years ago, I had a student who was homeless, lost a book, and wasn't able to pay library fines.  The machine takes pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.  The money in the machine goes toward helping students who are less fortunate.  I wanted to share this information so you know why it is there and what my intentions are. It is currently filled with Skittles.

This week students completed their first QUILL assignment. There are a few zeroes in the grade book, and I have emailed each parent and student concerning the matter. I have asked that students email me directly upon completion because Quill does not notify me when an assignment is completed.  This coming week, if assignments are not completed, I will not send reminders, and the grade of zero will remain. Students need to learn responsibility and consequences for their actions.

In addition, I have also created a folder in Schoology called "DAILY ASSIGNMENTS" where I screenshot what we are doing for the day. If a student is absent, they can look there for make-up work. The only exception being tests and quizzes. They MUST be taken in class.

I hope you all had a blessed weekend.

-Mrs. Matejka

MONDAY-ELA 7-Library, Quiz on "The Elevator" (You MUST have your copy of the short story), new Quill assignments (three of them), Vocabulary Word - foretaste

Honors-Library, Questions on "Lamb to the Slaughter," Quill, Vocabulary word-brigand

TUESDAY-MUGshot #2, Short Story-"Those Three Wishes," Plot Map (graded), Vocabulary word-germinate

Honors-Mugshot #2, Short Story, Focus (theme) writing assignment, Vocabulary word-circumspect

WEDNESDAY-Mugshot #3, Daily Writing, Work on Essay (all classes)

THURSDAY-Common Lit Assignment (ELA 7 only), Vocabulary word-humdrum, HONORS-Incentive Day-Begin writing children's novel

FRIDAY-We Will Write (ELA 7), Reading Day-Honors

August 24-28

 We survived our first full week of classes. Hooray!

This week we will be taking our GATES exam on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday's test is on Vocabulary and is rather short, so we will focus on other materials after. This test is a state exam and is mandatory. If a student is absent, they must make up the test which I am more than happy to coordinate. 

All students will receive QUILL assignments this week. They are due by Friday. Please make sure your student has completed by the assigned date for credit (the 28th) in order to not receive a test grade of zero.

HONORS-Field trip to the Warbird Museum has been moved to October 21st. We leave at 9:50 a.m. and will return by lunchtime. 

I hope all of you have a great week.

Monday (Homeroom Schedule)

All classes-Quill assigned, MUGshot #1 (mechanics, usage grammar), notes on Short Story Elements, Vocabulary Word #2

Tuesday-All classes-GATES Exam Reading

Wednesday-All classes-GATES Exam Vocabulary, read short story and map elements, Vocabulary Word #3

Thursday- (Assembly Schedule) All classes-work on Essay

Friday-Ensure Quill assignments are complete, Reading Day (test grade)