ACCELERATED SEVENTH GRADE LESSON PLAN LOG
For the Week of March 25, 2013
Class: ELA-5, 6 Accelerated Seventh Grade
PLAN
(Remember that the “Assignments” page on the Web Site, too.)
Monday
March 25,
2013
Tuesday
March 26,
2013
Wednesday
March 27
We reviewed the skeleton outline for the essay due on Thursday. Students could ask questions about the
format of the essay. Then we reviewed the checklist for a literary essay. We discussed the importance of
a concluding statement or clincher point at the end of each paragraph that causes the reader to think or
wonder about the thesis, or major point of the paper.
We read the short story “The Dinner Party” by Mona Gardner. Then we looked at an introduction and
conclusion example for an essay based on Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax.
Finally, students read a literary essay example written as a draft. We marked the quotes with a citation
reminder, because the draft didn’t show the citation. A few students added comments about points they
noticed from reading the essay example.
Students took the quiz for The Giver. Most students scored in the B and A range, but a few struggled. A
student who struggled may go over the quiz with me in order to help further reading comprehension
opportunities. One student has to finish this quiz. Going over the comprehension test for second
trimester and this quiz may have to wait until after the break.
We briefly started the movie The Pearl. Students have a note sheet to record information on for a two
paragraphs writing journal response.
We discussed the chapters 13 through 18 of The Giver. Students had an opportunity to ask questions and
make comments about this section of reading.
We continued watching the movie The Pearl. Students took notes on a prewrite. This prewrite will be due
on Thursday. We will not be writing about the differences; rather, we will discuss them on Monday when we
return from the break.
Students should be revising and editing their essay based on a theme from The Pearl.
We almost finished the movie The Pearl. Students will meet in the classroom tomorrow so we can finish the
movie. Then they will have their prewrite to add finishing points and turn in on Thursday.
I mentioned in class that if students want an extension on the essay for The Pearl, then they may email me
TONIGHT to make the request. This isn’t for procrastination; rather, it’s for those writers who feel they need
more time to perfect their essay.
Remember that this essay needs to be an original work, and not a paraphrase from Sparknotes or other help
notes for novels. Parents may help with the editing stage: grammar and spelling, but not with the drafting
and revising stages. Parents may comment that part of the writing is unclear, but students must invest the
efforts to make the changes.
If students ask for an extension, then I will note it on Pinnacle comments for the assignment. They must
bring their essay in the first day back from break, or it will be consider as a late assignment, which drops the
score to eighty percent before I read the paper.
Today, students had the option to use a MacBook Air to work on the essay while watching the movie.
We will start in the classroom and finish the movie.
Then we will move to the library.
Students need to turn in their #1 Reading Log, which is due today.
If they have not requested an extension, then they need to turn in: your interview notes, their essay with the
Bibliography or Works Cited to the back of the essay, their “Brushstrokes” sheet, and their first packet with the writing
directions that includes the prewriting outline. They do not turn in the second packet with the literary essay checklist, as
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that will be helpful for their essay for The Giver, which will be due on Monday, April 15 .
Thursday
March 28,
2013
Friday
March 29,
2013
Students will work on either their essay for The Pearl, which is due today, or their essay for The Giver, which
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is due on Monday, April 15 . The Lowry essay is a traditional literary analysis paper that is just based on
The Giver. Students will have a quiz over chapters thirteen through twenty-two of The Giver on the Thursday
after the break.
Reading Log #1 is due today!
Your prewrite for the movie versus the novella is due today!
We will start the Holocaust unit on Tuesday after the break.
We will discuss the last four chapters of The Giver on Monday after the break. In addition, students will have their
prewrites for The Pearl graded and returned on that Monday. We will discuss the differences between the two
mediums: novella versus movie, and why a director would make those changes.
No homework over spring break. However, if your son or daughter didn’t turn in the reading log that was due yesterday,
then he or she has homework.
If an extension for the essay was requested, then your son or daughter has until the first day they return from the break.
Enjoy the spring break in a healthy and safe way!
Homework
Due Dates
Reading Log #1 is due on Thursday, 3-28-13. This is the first reading log for this trimester.
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The essay for The Pearl is due on Thursday, March 28 , too.
When you turn in your essay for the theme from Steinbeck, then your interview, your brushstrokes packet and your
first packet with the outline for organizing it is due. Obviously, if you get an extension, then these items are due when
you turn in your essay the first day back from break.
Your prewrite for the movie versus the novella is due on Thursday, March 28, too.