"We are Family..." Traditions & the 3rd Annual Gift of Words

This week's blog highlights some of the family traditions students shared with their #ENGRoom121 classmates.  There was a sense of pride with each student as he/she spoke about his/her family. Many students reached out to grandparents to find out important information the family, immigrating to this country, and where some family traditions started.  The post for this week is one highlighting the students work.  It is simply a collection of pictures taken before, during, and after the presentations. Thank you for sharing your students with #ENGRoom121.  They are a pleasure to learn from and teach.  There are also pictures from the 3rd Annual Gift of Words gift exchange.  We all know the power words have to tear down, but this was a new twist to show students how words can also build up, encourage, and lend a much needed hand.  It has always been a positive learning experience in #ENGRoom121.

Trying the Oplatki - A Christmas Tradition

Straw for the Manger Family Tradition; Victorian Era England; Summer Family Photo 

Poutine; Pierogies; Candies from England; Nut Roll

Replica of Puerto Rican Christmas Village Festival and the dessert Tembleque 

Learned about Advent Calendars and Coins in the Cabbage

3rd Annual Gift of Words Gift Exchange

Here's a look at the return week (1/4 - 1/6):

1. Return on Wednesday, January 4, 2017

2. STAR Reader Assessment for 3rd Quarter Accelerated Reader Goals (Wednesday, 1/4)

3. Begin 3rd Quarter read aloud, Wonder, (Thursday, 1/5 & Friday, 1/6)

4. Set 3rd Quarter Accelerated Reader Goals (Thursday, 1/5 & Friday, 1/6)

Vocabulary to know for the upcoming week (1/4 - 1/6):

NONE

ENJOY the next two weeks celebrating traditions with family and friends.  See everyone in 2017!

Sleigh Bells Ring Assessments, Assessments, Assessments for ALL Learners

This week's blog found the students anxiously awaiting the FIRST official snowfall so we could officially start our new #ENGRoom121 Polar Bear Challenge tradition.  Students needed to understand a tradition is simply something passed on from one generation (or class :-) ) to another. Traditions don't have to be grand, or religious, or associated with a holiday; it just has to be something started by one person and then passed down, and done again the next year, and the next year, and the next year.  A simple and inexpensive one was introduced to the students when the "We are Family..." project was first announced, and it was, when the first snow falls during our class we will stop what we are doing, grab a popsicle, go outside to eat it and enjoy our FIRST class snowfall. It's as simple as that ... a NEW tradition has been started.  After this week's forecast, I stocked up on the popsicles, the students opened my blinds to make sure I didn't miss it, and we wait...

WE are waiting...#ENGRoom121 Polar Bear Challenge

Please share little traditions you have that are meaningful and important to you, so that I can then share with the students.  Traditions are an important part of who we are and where we came from. They can be traditions with family, friends, or just yourself.  On twitter use the hashtag #ENGRoom121Traditions or comment below in the comments section.  Thank you for your participation and for helping my students learn about traditions.

This rest of this week's blog post consists of reminders regarding our upcoming assessments.  To reach all types of learners, multiple assessments are planned for the end of the 2nd quarter.  It is the hope that with the first semester coming to an end, and a variety of assessments planned, each student will do well on at least one of them, if not ALL of them, and achieve success and confidence in English.

Please be sure to click on the links attached with each project to see what the expectations/requirements and due dates are.

Take a look:

- A Christmas Carol Character Bio Poem (2nd Quarter Red Bandana Assignment) - Person Requirements OR Spirit Requirements

- 3rd Annual Gift of Words Requirements

- "We are Family - A Celebration of our Ethnicity and Family Traditions" Expectations/Requirements

- "We are Family..." - Presentation Dates by MOD and DATE (students learned of their presentation date in class TODAY - 12/9/16)

Here's a look at the upcoming week (12/12 - 12/16):

1. A Christmas Carol Character Bio Poem (2nd Quarter Red Bandana Assignment) Assessment (Monday, 12/12) followed by work session for "We are Family..." speeches

2. "We are Family..." presentations work session for visual component ... BRING YOUR MATERIALS TO WORK WITH (PICTURES, CAPTIONS, POSTER BOARD/PRESENTATION BOARDS, ETC.) - (Tuesday, 12/13)

3. "We are Family..." presentations Day #1 (Wednesday, 12/14)

4.  3rd Annual Gift of Words project is DUE (Thursday, 12/15)

4.  "We are Family..." presentations Day #2 (Thursday, 12/15)

5.  Mid-Term DAY #1 (FRIDAY, 12/16 - MODS 1, 2, & 4-5)

SIDE NOTE - please continue to prepare for your #ENGRoom121 midterm exam by studying the A Christmas Carol comprehension questions, your Summer Vocabulary list, and your types of sentences resources ALL CAN BE FOUND IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM.

Vocabulary to know for the upcoming week (12/12 - 12/16):

NONE

ENJOY THIS WINTER FILLED WEEKEND!

Dashing to the End of the 2nd Quarter and 1st Semester

This week's blog post consists of information regarding our upcoming projects.  Please be sure to click on the links attached with each project to see what the expectations/requirements, and due dates are.

Take a moment to read over the requirements for:

- A Christmas Carol Character Bio Poem (2nd Quarter Red Bandana Assignment) - Person Requirements OR Spirit Requirements

- 3rd Annual Gift of Words Requirements

- "We are Family - A Celebration of our Ethnicity and Family Traditions" Expectations/Requirements

Here's a look at the upcoming week (12/5 - 12/9):

1. Go over Stave 4 A Christmas Carol Comprehension Questions (Monday, 12/5)
2. Read Stave 5 and Go Over Comprehension Questions (this will be done verbally) of A Christmas Carol (Tuesday, 12/6)
3. Receive Expectations for the 3rd Annual Gift of Words Gift Exchange (Wednesday, 12/7)
4. Prok's We are Family... Presentation (this will be modeled for the student so they know the expectations ... they will time and grade me) (Wednesday, 12/7)
5. Attend A Christmas Carol Field Trip/Luncheon (Playhouse Square - Thursday, 12/8)
6. Take STAR Reader Assessment for Use with Recommendations for 2017-2018 School Year (Friday, 12/9)
7. Receive We are Family... Presentation Date - either Wednesday, December 14th OR Thursday, December 15th (Friday, 12/9)

SIDE NOTE - please continue to prepare for your #ENGRoom121 midterm exam by studying the A Christmas Carol comprehension questions, your Summer Vocabulary list, and your types of sentences resources.

Vocabulary to know for the upcoming week (12/5 - 12/9):

NONE

I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!