Personal Narrative Writing ~ Tell a Story

ICivics

CLICK THIS LINK TO GO TO iCivics GAMES

“The practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned anew by each generation of citizens."

-- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Learn to CODE!

Click this link to visit code.org

You can read an article about the coding twins HERE

Spice up your vocabulary...

How do I check information that I've found online?

FactCheck.org

A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the nonpartisan, nonprofit FactCheck.org says that it “aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.” Its entries cover TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. The site includes a feature called SciCheck, which focuses on false and misleading scientific claims used for political influence. Beyond individual entries, there also are articles and videos on popular and current topics in the news, among a bevy of other resources.

This one isn’t a site that performs fact-checking. Instead, the Internet Archive Wayback Machine is a tool you can use to fact-check things you find online. Like an internet time machine, the site lets you see how a website looked, and what it said, at different points in the past. Want to see Google’s home page from 1998? Yep, it’s here. Want to see The New York Times’ home page on just about any day since 1996? You can. 

Source for this information: Edutopia 

#ImaginePeace

Click HERE to write, share and read messages of peace.

Questions lead to knowledge.

HOMOPHONES

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF HOMOPHONES

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE GAMES TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 

MORE GAMES HERE

& HERE

CAUSE & EFFECT

GROWTH MINDSET Activities from Khan Academy

click HERE to go to Khan Academy's

LearnStorm growth mindset activities

CCSS Standards for 7th Grade

Common Core State Standards

7th Grade Reading Standards for Literature

Key Ideas and Details:

1. Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
3. Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).

Craft and Structure:

4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama. (See grade 7 Language standards 4–6 for additional expectations.) CA
5. Analyze how a drama’s or poem’s form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning.
6. Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:

7. Compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium (e.g., lighting, sound, color, or camera focus and angles in a film).
8. (Not applicable to literature)
9. Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity:

10. By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6–8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

An important message from Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Assures California Public School Students That They are Safe From Discrimination and Bullying

SACRAMENTO— State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today issued a statement reassuring California public school students from kindergarten through grade twelve that they are all safe from discrimination and bullying:

“I know that the outcome of the recent presidential election has caused deep concern among many students and their families. The nation maintains a strong tradition for the peaceful transition of power. And I want to let all of California’s 6.2 million public school students know that keeping them safe from discrimination and bullying at our great state’s 11,000 public schools is a top priority.

“In California, diversity is strength. Our students come from all kinds of backgrounds, cultures, languages, and religions, and they all come together to learn on their way to success in 21st century careers and college. California already has, and will always maintain, strong legal and state constitutional protections against any and all kinds of discrimination, regardless of a student’s race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

“And I want to tell young women and girls that they will always be safe, be respected, and be protected at school. As the proud father of two daughters, I know that girls can achieve anything, succeed at anything they choose, and earn the respect that they deserve every day at school, in the workplace, and in our communities. California moves forward, not back.”

Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Thursday, November 10, 2016

What is Realistic Fiction?

Is Crash by Jerry Spinelli an example of

REALISTIC FICTION?

What is Computer Programming?

Click HERE to find out...

TECHNOLOGY POWERS
OUR WORLD

You may not realize all the places we use computers — and how much they add to OUR LIVES.

HUENEME SCHOOL DISTRICT'S VISION AND MISSION

VISION: Inspiring and empowering every student to thrive every day

MISSION: We will Inspire our students to explore, dream big, and develop social and civic responsibility through a balanced learning program. They will Thrive as we foster perseverance and resiliency in a safe, culturally responsive, and inclusive community. We will Empower our students by teaching them critical thinking skills through a rigorous academic experience in a digitally-rich environment.

CLICK THIS LINK 
to watch a video 
that illustrates 
these words in action!

Reading Comprehension Strategy Checklist

Read!

Thanks to The Literacy Site for the poster :)

Vocabulary Development ~ Words to Know

ACADEMIC VOCABULARY GRADE 7/8 (source: HESD website)

add assume cause change cite claim combine compare conclude contradict contrast convey create demonstrate describe determine develop discuss effect emphasize establish explain express

find form illustrate imply include infer indicate insert label link observe order organize outline persuade place produce provide read recall refer reflect reinforce

replace represent reveal revise rewrite select sequence show source solve structure substitute suggest summarize support tell understand unify vary verify Write

The Intersection of Art & Science

Check out this video from the 

California Academy of Sciences 

where they explain the importance of illustrations 

to help people understand complex ideas.

In our ELD class, we often add illustrations to enhance* what we've written and further explain our ideas.  
Another great online tool is Canva.

* enhance means to improve, strengthen, boost or add to...

AR BookFinder

Searching for books with a corresponding Renaissance Accelerated Reader 360^® quiz is easy with AR BookFinder. 

Students, teachers, parents, and librarians can search in English or Spanish using criteria such as ATOS book level or a Lexile™ measure, interest level, title, author, fiction/nonfiction, subject, award-winners, state lists, CCSS Exemplars, and more.

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR SEARCH