Ms. Sciacca's Week-at-a-Peek

Back in Gear!

2011-11-21T08:28:00.002-05:00

If this is your first visit, welcome to the homework blog! I haven't been using this site much so far this year, but am going to make it a renewed priority moving forward.

ALL SOPHOMORES
Your shopweek homework is to complete the graphic organizer for your five-paragraph essay on To Kill a Mockingbird.

Remember, you don't need to write complete sentences in those squares. We will tackle that when we transiition to the first draft. Just think about the best way to organize your paragraph topics and the evidence. Also, tackling that introduction is mandatory! Here is the structure for the POINT SENTENCE, in case you've forgotten:

(the essay topic) IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS/PROVES/EXPLAINS (the author's overall point).

Give it your best shot and we'll work on it together next week.

Gobble, gobble!!

Welcome Back Sophomores!

2011-09-19T09:42:00.002-05:00

It has been so nice to get to know you so far this year. As sophomores, you have a big year ahead and a lot to juggle. This website will help you keep track of your work for English class and will help keep communication open between your parents and me. Please share this site with them so we can all stay on the same page.

Here is what this week looks like...

MONDAY
All: We will take some quick notes on institutional racism in the U.S. Most importantly, we need to understand what a long history it is and the difference between slavery and segregation. I will be distributing copies of To Kill a Mockingbird and we will start reading together.
HW: Write a 2 to 3 paragraph description of "home" (whatever that means to you) when you were six years old. If you need inspiration, see pages 5 to 6 of TKAM for Scout's recollections.

TUESDAY
All: PICTURE DAY! Once we are finished having our photos taken, we will continue reading chapters one and two of TKAM.
HW: Reading Comprehension questions for chapters one and two. Answer questions with complete sentences in your notebook.

WEDNESDAY
All: Continue reading chapter 3 and 4.
HW: Reading Comp questions for chapters 3 and 4.

THURSDAY
Finish up reading and begin reviewing chapter questions. Complete character charts in class.

FRIDAY
Chapters 1 -4 Review Quiz
In-class writing exercise: Studying Narrative Voice

SHOPWEEK HOMEWORK
Read chapters 5 - 8 and answer questions.

April 25, 2011 Welcome Back!

2011-04-25T08:47:00.002-05:00

I hope you all had a great vacation and are feeling ready to face the end of the year with your full energy. You have science and math MCAS exams coming up and we are not even close to being done with our work in English.

MONDAY
Vocabulary concept work and review - 10 words in the 3 column format. These words are all crucial to your understanding of Of Mice and Men. Quiz FRIDAY.

TUESDAY
We will distribute your copies of Of Mice and Men. Begin in-class reading of chapters one and two. Finish any additional reading for homework.

WEDNESDAY
Study questions on chapters one and two - must be in your notebooks (!!), in full sentences, and include/explain at least one quote per question. Finish for homework.

THURSDAY
Review chapter questions/group work.
HW: study for the vocabulary quiz.

FRIDAY
Re-read chapter 1 to emphasize foreshadowing. Vocabulary Quiz.

No shop-week homework!!

Sophomores: Week of April 5, 2011

2011-04-05T05:43:00.005-05:00

This week is sort of a catch-all: tying up loose ends and getting ready for our last book of the year. We will also be talking about placement for next year, so if you are thinking about making a change, you need to come see me! MONDAY: Reading and responding to Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse" in class. No Homework TUESDAY: SDRT post-testing alllll day WEDNESDAY: Of Mice and Men background packet - due Friday Final drafts of Odyssey essay - due Friday THURSDAY: Of Mice and Men background packet - due Friday Final drafts of Odyssey essay - due Friday FRIDAY: Woody Guthrie - the dustbowl refugee Have a great April Vacation - no homework!

MCAS Week!

2011-03-21T14:13:00.002-05:00

It's finally here!
Your homework for the week is to sleep well, eat a high-protein breakfast, and practice patience. Your key to success will be to take your time and plan your writing before you begin your writing...

Monday: Lit terms quiz; quotations quiz
HW: Review your quotations and the parts of the long comp - early to bed!

Tuesday: MCAS LONG COMPOSITION - write a 5-paragraph essay based on the prompt you will receive when you sit down for the test. Prewrite, rough draft, final!

Wednesday: MCAS READING COMPREHENSION & OPEN RESPONSES - read the excerpt, answer the MC questions, and write an open response. Prewrite, rough draft, final!

Thursday: MCAS READING COMPREHENSION & OPEN RESPONSES - today will be the same as Wednesday only a bit shorter

Friday: Bagels & Bards - a bagel party and some poetry writing :)

NO shop week homework!

Pre-MCAS Assignment!

2011-03-18T09:35:00.002-05:00

Hi all,

You have 3 assignments before MCAS on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday:

1. Finish the open responses in your poetry packet. Go for a 4 out of 4! 3 quotations with great explanations....... you can do it!

2. You have two quizzes on Monday - literary terms and six quotations (3 from Mockingbird, 3 from Odyssey) with their significance.

3. Eat well; sleep well!

See you Monday :)

Sophomores: 2/14/11

2011-02-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

Work for the week of 2/14/11

All work is expected to be completed by the day it is due, despite interruptions due to weather or any other reason.
If we don’t have class, you are responsible for the classwork and homework at the next class meeting.

MONDAY
Due: Shop week homework – Books 17, 18, 19 with Reading Comprehension questions; OR from page 50; OR from page 78.
Classwork: Quiz on The Odyssey
Homework: Read “Penelope Poems” and answer questions

TUESDAY
Due: Penelope Poem questions
Classwork: Read Chapters 20 – 24
Homework: graphic organizers of essays

WEDENSDAY
DUE: graphic organizers
Classwork: work on first drafts and conference papers
Homework: complete first drafts

THURSDAY
Due: first drafts with graphic organizers
Classwork: Map Projects with Ms. Peterson
Homework: complete map projects

FRIDAY
Due: map projects
Classwork: final drafts of essays in the computer lab
Homework: MCAS Packet – complete every section and reading in your answer booklets.

Week of January 31, 2011

2011-01-31T10:13:00.000-05:00

Another week, another storm... here is your work for the week.
All work is expected to be completed by the day it is due, despite interruptions due to weather or any other reason.
If we don’t have class, you are responsible for the classwork and homework at the next class meeting.

Monday:
DUE: Collect vocabulary journals and open responses (from page 28). Check reading comprehension questions for chapters 6, 7, & 8.
READ: Books 9, 10, 11
HW: Reading comprehension questions for Books 9, 10, 11; Vocabulary journal (20 words) due Friday.

Tuesday:
DUE: Reading comprehension questions for Books 9, 10, 11
READ: Books 12 & 13
HW: Reading comprehension questions for Books 12 & 13

Wednesday
DUE: Reading comprehension questions for Books 12 & 13
WORK: Graphic organizer and final draft for Open Response on page 50
HW: Finish the open response assignment; Update the flashback circle on your Plot Diagram with the places Odysseus has been so far

Thursday
DUE: Graphic organizer and final draft for Open Response on page 50; Updated Plot Diagram
READ: Books 14, 15, 16
HW: Reading Comprehension questions for Books 14, 15, 16; Vocabulary Journals due

Friday
DUE: Reading Comprehension questions for Books 14, 15, 16; Vocabulary Journals
QUIZ: on Books 6 – 16

SHOP HW: READ Books 17, 18, 19; Complete the Reading Comprehension questions for Books 17, 18, 19; Complete a graphic organizer and final draft of the Open Response on page 78.

Week of 1/18: Sophomores

2011-01-18T09:58:00.002-05:00

Hi there,
Well, we're already off to a crazy week. With only 3 academic weeks left until MCAS, no school Monday and an early release on Tuesday, we have quite a bit of work to do! Please be dilligent.

TUESDAY NIGHT HOMEWORK (DUE WEDNESDAY)
All: Vocabulary journals are due Friday. Please find 20 words, provide your guess about their meaning, and define them.

Red and Blue: Read through Book IV and answer Reading Comprehension questions for Books 1-4. You do not need to do the Open Responses.

Green: Read through Book III and answer Reading Comprehension questions for Books 1-3. You do not need to do the Open Responses.

In case of school cancellation, the following work will be due on THURSDAY:

Red and Blue: Read Book V and answer the Reading Comprehension questions. No Open Response.

Green: Read Books IV and V and answer the Reading Comprehension questions for both books. No Open Responses.

I will update the blog as needed this week!
Stay safe and warm :)

Week Two: December 13, 2010

2010-12-14T08:45:00.003-05:00

Welcome to our last week two of the year! We have so much to do this week to try to avoid homework over the break, since it will be our last real rest before MCAS testing in March.

Monday
All: Review shopweek homework and read chapters 24 and 25.

Tuesday
All: Finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird & work on graphic organizer for the long comp prompt (write about one character who faces obstacles because of a belief or principle).
HW: All - finish graphic organizer

Wednesday
All: Work on lyrics analysis project with Ms. Peterson while Ms. Sciacca runs individual writing conferences. Red - work on first draft.
HW: Green & Blue - if you have conferenced, revise your draft; Red - finish first draft

Thursday
All: Continuation of lyrics analysis project and writing conferences
HW: revise your draft

Friday
All: Computer lab for writing final drafts

NO HOMEWORK! Enjoy your Christmas. Happy New Year!

Week of November 29, 2010

2010-11-30T08:27:00.003-05:00

Welcome back! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break. We have two full weeks before the Christmas break, and we have a lot to do!
**We will again complete a vocabulary journal for a quiz and a homework grade. Students should make a list of 20 words from the reading they don't know, make a context-based guess about the meaning of the word, then look up and define the word from the dictionary. Due Friday.

MONDAY
All: Read! Chapters 15 - 17 of TKAM
HW: Answer the reading comprehension questions for chapters 15 - 17 with complete sentences in your notebook. You are either answering only the odd or the even questions based on your last name.

TUESDAY
Blue & Green: Read! Chapters 18 & 19
Red: Read! Chapter 18
All: Complete reading comp questions for your assigned chapters in the same manner as Monday night.

WEDNESDAY
Red: Read chapter 19 & work on questions
Green: Read chapter 20, work on questions, and model notes
All: Open response: How does the description of the Maycomb County courthouse foreshadow the verdict of the trial? Graphic organizer in class.
HW: Final draft of open response.

THURSDAY
All: Read up through chapter 21.
HW: Notes on chapter 21

FRIDAY
All: Review all chapter questions. Vocabulary journals are due.
Read chapter 22 in class.
SHOP HOMEWORK: Read chapters 23-25 and take notes on the worksheets as modeled.

Week 2: November 16, 2010

2010-11-16T15:06:00.002-05:00

Well, this week is certainly filled with disruptions: a surprise 1/2 day on Monday, report card distribution Tuesday, and a planned 1/2 day on Friday! But we have quite a bit to do in class, so we need to work through the distractions.
*Note: non-perishable items for the Student Council's Annual Food Drive are due by Wednesday morning. Please dig deep!
**PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES are Thursday night from 6 to 9. I can't wait to meet the parents!

MONDAY
All: Read chapter 12 in TKAM
HW: List the 3 most important events in the chapter and explain why.
VOCABULARY JOURNAL: Make 3 columns on a page in your notebook. Jot down 20 words you are unfamiliar with as we read (in the 1st column). When you write down the words, make an educated guess about their meanings in the 2nd column. Later, at home, record the actual definitions of the words in the 3rd column.
DUE: FRIDAY.

TUESDAY
All: Read chapter 13 in class.
HW: Read chapter 14. Record the 5 most important events in chapters 13 & 14 and explain why each is significant.

WEDNESDAY
All: GROUPWORK - Select one event from chapters 12-14 as the most important event. Work together to decide why it is so important and write a written defense of your answer. Present it to the class.
HW: Vocabulary - due Friday.

THURSDAY
All: Continue reading chapters 15 and 16.
HW: Organize your notes. Vocabulary is due Friday.

FRIDAY (1/2 day)
All: Submit your vocabulary journals and complete a chapter 12-16 Quiz.

Updates: November 1, 2010: Week Two

2010-11-01T11:14:00.003-05:00

This is the final week of first term. The compositions you write this week will play a major role in determining your first term grade. Please make an effort to be here and complete all assignments, as it will be hard for you to catch up in time for the end of the term.

MONDAY
All: Read chapters 10 and 11 of To Kill a Mockingbird. Identify the three main lessons of Book One.
HW: Make a list of examples of each lesson. You are not allowed to use the example that the lesson is pulled from. For example, Mrs. Dubose's death may not be used as evidence of bravery. Please develop at least two separate examples for each lesson.

TUESDAY
All: Complete graphic organizers for the writing prompt.
HW: Write the first draft of the composition.

WEDNESDAY
All: Writing conferences with Ms. Sciacca and Ms. Peterson/concept map projects
HW: Vocabulary journals - 20 words with your best guess and definitions

THURSDAY
All: Writing conferences with Ms. Sciacca/concept map projects
HW: Vocabulary journals

FRIDAY
All: final presentations of concept maps.

SHOP WEEK HOMEWORK:
The final copy of this essay is due this coming Monday – SHOP WEEK – for all of my sophomores. Feel free to type it, staple all of your previous work to the back, and drop it off in my room on Monday. If you do not turn it in, your grades will suffer significantly.

Updated: Week 2: October 18, 2010

2010-10-18T10:55:00.003-05:00

This week, we will be accellerating our reading pace in To Kill a Mockingbird. We have a lot of ground to cover, so we need to start moving faster.
We will also be trying out a new approach to learning vocabulary called a Vocabulary Journal. As we read this week, students should write down any word they don't know or understand in context. At the end of the week, students should select 25 of the words and define them in their notebooks (typed versions are acceptable, but must be saved in the notebook). On Friday, students will submit these defined words as a quiz grade AND a homework grade. Hopefully, this method will encourage students to read more carefully and help create a more authentic vocabulary list tailored to each student. Please let me know if you have any questions.

MONDAY
All: Read chapters 4 and 5 of To Kill a Mockingbird.
HW: Questions #1-6, in complete sentences in your notebook; begin vocabulary journal

TUESDAY
All: Continue reading in TKAM.
HW: Complete questions #7-10, and write the open response.

WEDNESDAY
Red & Green: Continue reading in TKAM and review chapter questions
All: Review open response methods
HW: Revise open responses

THURSDAY
All: Continue reading chapters 9 & 10 in TKAM
HW: Chapter questions

FRIDAY
All: Chapters 1-10 Quiz & Final draft of open response

SHOPWEEK HOMEWORK
*Update: No shopweek homework this week.

Sophomores: September 20-24

2010-09-23T18:24:00.003-05:00

Welcome back!
A few things to note as we look ahead to this week:
*This week we are preparing to read To Kill a Mockingbird and will be talking about the history of racism and segregation in this country. Some of what we are reading and watching will be challenging, but I look forward to discussing it with you.
*Tuesday is PICTURE DAY! Sophomores should look sharp :)

MONDAY
Red, Green, & Blue: Lecture & note-taking ~ Slavery v. Segregation
Red, Green, & Blue: Looking at Guernica ~ making meaning from the mess
No Homework

TUESDAY
Red & Green: Emmit Till: Eyes on the Prize documentary and discussion
Red, Green, & Blue: Picture Day! Scottsboro Boys timeline and graphic organizer
Homework: Finish the Scottsboro Boys graphic organizer

WEDNESDAY
Red, Green & Blue: Individual journal writing exercise based on the Scottsboro Boys timeline
Red & Green: Groupwork ~ taking your place in the case.
Homework: finish your journal entry

THURSDAY
Red, Green, & Blue: Groupwork presentation and discussion
Red: Emmit Till: Eyes on the Prize documentary and discussion
Homework: Write a 1st person poem about the Scottsboro case. Include 3/5 senses, 1 example of figurative language, and write it on its own sheet of paper.

FRIDAY
Red, Green, & Blue: Responding to "Strange Fruit"; QUIZ on the week's work
Homework: 1 page journal: when have you felt judged unfairly?