Mr. Bilenky

7TH Grade Language Arts

Track Coach

fbilenky@wcpss.net

Team Phone: 919-881-4860

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Monday, November 17, 2008

Dear Parents,

            As many of you know, we are currently reading the S.E. Hinton novel, The Outsiders in language arts. This text is a wonderful example of realistic fiction at its finest, and the students have been enthusiastic about the story thus far. In the past, I have taught this unit, tested and assessed the students’ knowledge of the book, and then rewarded the kids with a viewing of the movie version of the book. It is a true depiction of the book (directed by Francis Ford Coppola, 1983) and the students love to see this story acted out on screen.

            Before I can allow the students to participate in this fun activity, I need permission from the parents to watch a PG-13 film in class. I have sought prior approval from the principal before sending out this letter. The movie has mild violence during the “rumble” scenes. I have viewed the movie several times, and have used it in the classroom before as well. The students loved it; it’s a great reward for the students.

            In addition, to the film, which will be shown Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 I would like to have willing parents donate chocolate cake (possibly, bottled water, plates, napkins, and forks) for the first viewing day. In the book, the Curtis brothers (the main characters) have chocolate cake for breakfast everyday and I thought it would be fun to have a treat during the film that ties into the plot of the book/movie. Please let me know if you would be willing to help me in this effort. I hope all may participate, but if there is conflict, a separate setting and activity for those who cannot watch the film will be provided.

Also, if you would like to volunteer on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 please contact me via email. The parent volunteer(s) will help me coordinate food and paper goods, as well as, serve food and clean up the day of the party.

Sincerely,

Fred Robert Bilenky
7th Grade Language Arts

Daniels IBMYP Magnet Middle School
Wake County Public School System

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Attention Parents:

The Barracuda Team is looking for donations of outdoor equipment to use during outside time on Team Days. We are looking for items such as basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, kickball balls, and Frisbees, etc. The equipment can be new or gently used. Your student can bring the equipment to his/her homeroom teacher.

Thanks for your support.

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Overview of The Week
Dates: 08/25-08/29

Monday and Tuesday - Periods 1-5

• Introduction to Mr. Bilenky's class
• Classroom rules
• Getting acquainted
• Classmate scavenger hunt
• How to Be Successful In the 7th Grade
• Textbook assigned to every student -Wed 8/27

Wednesday - Periods 1 & 3 

• CW/HW: Read Popocatepetl and Ixtlaccihuatl pg857 qsts 1-9
• HW: Tenochtitlan pg 850 qsts 1-8
• *Student Insurance Form sent home (homeroom only)

Wednesday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW/HW: Tenochtitlan pg 850 qsts 1-8

Thursday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Read "Song of Myself" - Learning Log/ What is Active Reading?
• HW: Read "I'm Nobody" pg 601 qsts 4a,b,c 5c and 7

Thursday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Read "Song of Myself" - Learning Log/ What is Active Reading?

Friday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Review "I'm Nobody" pg 601 qsts 4a,b,c 5c and 7
• CW: Characteristicts of Novels and Short Stories
• Homeroom - please look for PTA Fund Raising Materials sent home today

Friday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Review "I'm Nobody" pg 601 qsts 4a,b,c 5c and 7
• CW: Characteristicts of Novels and Short Stories
  

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Overview of The Week
Dates: 09/02-09/05

• CW: Finish Characteristics of novels and short stories
• CW: Characteristics of science fiction and historical fiction

Wednesday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Finish Characteristics of science fiction and historical fiction
• HW: Read Zoo pg 302 qsts 1-8

Wednesday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Finish Characteristics of science fiction and historical fiction

Thursday - All Periods

• What are the effects of literary elements such as
  plot/ character/ setting/ point of view/ mood/ tone?

Friday - All Periods

• CW: Media Center to check out reading log books

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 09/08-09/12


Monday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Notes on Point of View
• HW: Read An American Childhood pg 52 qsts 1-10
• HW: Reading Log 2.5 hours - due Friday

Monday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Read from The Third Level
• CW: Notes on Setting
• HW: Reading Log 1.5 hours - due Friday

Tuesday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Elements of Fiction - quiz Sept 19

Tuesday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Elements of Fiction Part I - quiz Sept 19

Wednesday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Focus Lesson on Point of View - An American Childhood
• CW: Mood and Tone- The Treasure of Lemon Brown
• HW: Journal Entry -

Wednesday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Notes on Point of View
• HW: Read An American Childhood pg 52 qsts 1-10

Thursday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW/HW: Elements of Fiction Packet (this is not a "Test" as it says on one page of the packet)/read The Treasure of Lemon Brown pg 175
• Reading Log due Friday
• Study for quiz

Thursday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW:Review An American Childhood pg 52 qsts 1-10

Friday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Check reading log 1 1/2hrs
• CW: Check warm-ups
• Summary Ball - Elements of Fiction quiz Sept 19
  

Friday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Check reading log 2 1/2hrs
• CW: Check warm-ups
• Summary Ball - Elements of Fiction Part I quiz Sept 19

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 09/15-09/19


Monday - All Periods

• CW/HW: Read "Seventh Grade" pg 250 qsts 1-4 - talk about theme 

Tuesday - All Periods

• CW: Review "Seventh Grade" and theme
• HW: Study for Elements of Fiction quiz

Wednesday - 1 & 3

• CW: Notes on Conflict
• CW/HW: Journal Entry - Personal Experience
• HW: Study for Elements of Fiction quiz

Wednesday - 2 & 5

• CW/HW: Journal Entry - Personal Experience
• HW: Review for Elements of Fiction quiz
• HW: Study for Elements of Fiction Part I quiz

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 09/22-09/26



Monday - All Periods

• *Field Trip Letter sent home (field trip money/perental consent form due Oct)
• HW: Study for vocab quiz - Oct 2
• HW: Vocab Skill and Practice

Tuesday - Periods 1 & 3

• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• CW: Read "The Sneaker Crisis" answer qsts 1-8
• field trip money/perental consent form - due Oct

Tuesday - Periods 2 & 5

• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• CW: Make flashcards for vocab quiz
• field trip money/perental consent form - due Oct

Wednesday - All Periods

• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• field trip money/perental consent form - due Oct
• EOG prep

Thursday ( Early Release) - All Periods

• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• field trip money/perental consent form - due Oct
• Data Discussion

Friday - All Periods

• CW: EOG prep - Blue Diamond
• CW: Check reading log 1 1/2hrs
• CW: Check warm-ups

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 09/31-10/03


Monday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Review Elements of Fiction quiz
• HW: Elements of Fiction quiz corrections (fix all mistakes and get a max of five points added to grade)
• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• HW: Reading Log - due Friday

Monday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Review vocab quiz
• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• HW: Reading Log - due Friday

Tuesday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Outsiders worksheet (3rd period - homework)
• CW: Learn about S.E. Hinton
• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• Field Trip money and parent consent form due Oct 3

Tuesday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Learn about Louis Sachar
• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• Field Trip money and parent consent form due Oct 3

Wednesday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Outsiders Pre-reading Journal Entry
• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• Field Trip money and parent consent form due Oct 3

Wednesday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Holes Pre-reading Journal Entry
• HW: Study for Vocab test Oct 2
• Field Trip money and parent consent form due Oct 3

Thursday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Vocabulary Quiz
• Read The Outsiders
• Field Trip money and parent consent form due Oct 3

Thursday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Vocabulary Quiz
• Read The Outsiders
• Field Trip money and parent consent form due Oct 3

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 10/06-10/09


Monday - Periods 1 & 3

• HW: Study for vocab quiz Oct 16
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• CW:  Read The Outsiders

Monday - Periods 2 & 5

• HW: Study Elements of Fiction Part II quiz Oct 16
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• CW:  Read Holes

Tuesday - Periods 1 & 3

• HW: Study for vocab quiz Oct 16
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• CW:  Read The Outsiders
• HW: Outsiders Ch 1 qsts

Tuesday - Periods 2 & 5

• HW: Study Elements of Fiction Part II quiz Oct 16
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• CW: Make flashcards

Wednesday - Periods 1 & 3

• HW: Study for vocab quiz Oct 16
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• CW:  Read The Outsiders
• HW: Outsiders Ch 2 qsts

Wednesday - Periods 2 & 5

• HW: Study Elements of Fiction Part II quiz Oct 16
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• CW:  Read Holes

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 10/13-10/17



Monday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: EOG prep - Blue Diamond
• CW: Read The Outsiders
• HW: Study for vocab quiz Oct 16
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)

Monday - Periods 2 & 5

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 10/20-10/24


Monday - Periods 1 & 3

• HW: Study for vocab quiz "C" words Oct 30
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• HW: The Outsiders Ch 5 qsts
• HW: Vocab worksheets pg 9-11

Monday - Periods 2 & 5

• HW: Study for vocab quiz "Mysteries" words Oct 30
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• HW: Study for Holes Ch 8-17 quiz Oct 23

Tuesday - Periods 1 & 3

• HW: Study for vocab quiz "C" words Oct 30
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• HW: Response to Literature worksheet - due Wed
• HW: Study for Response to Literature quiz - Friday, Oct 24

Tuesday - Periods 2 & 5

• HW: Study for vocab quiz "Mysteries" words Oct 30
• HW: Book Cover Project - due Oct 27 (major assessment)
• HW: Study for Holes Ch 8-17 quiz - Th, Oct 23
• CW: Review for Holes Ch 8-17 quiz
• CW: Read Holes

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 10/27-10/31

Monday - Periods 1 & 3

• HW: Study for vocab quiz "C" words Oct 30
• Due: Book Cover Project
• CW: Blue Diamond - EOG prep

Monday - Periods 2 & 5

• CW: Read Holes
• HW: Holes Ch 41-43 qsts 1-17

Wednesday - Periods 1 & 3

• CW: Read Holes

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Overview of The Week

Dates: 00/00-00/00



Monday - Periods 1 & 3

Monday - Periods 2 & 5

Tuesday - Periods 1 & 3

Tuesday - Periods 2 & 5

Wednesday - Periods 1 & 3

Wednesday - Periods 2 & 5

Thursday - Periods 1 & 3

Thursday - Periods 2 & 5

Friday - Periods 1 & 3