xMs. Cortes' ESOL Blog

Week of August 24th-28th

This week Ms. Cortes' ESOL Reading Connections classes are focusing on Reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition skills.  We are learning to use and analyze common textual features to get information from a text.  We are also learning new vocabulary words to use as we communicate with each other.

Seventh Grade students are reading the book "My Life So Far," by Enrique Garcia. Student will be working on two assignments this week:

• Event Map of the story (will be completed as we read the story)
• Coat of Arms (you will need your goals for school, for home, and personal goals)

Eight Grade students are reading the book "A Beauty of a Plan," by Angela Shelf Medearis.  Assignments for this week include:

• Story Map organizer ( to be completed as we read the story)
• Your design and short essay for "A Perfect Room"

We will also be visiting the Media Center on Friday to take the STAR diagnostic test.  Remember: "Reading opens the door to a great future..."

September Activities in Reading Connections

During the month of September, students in Ms. Cortes' Reading Connections are embarking on a variety of differentiated activities based on their ability as they study a novel.

Seventh Grade is reading Stuart Little, by E. B. White.  Throughout the course of their reading students will continue to work on their vocabulary acquisition skills and reading comprehension.  They will have the opportunity of Silent Reading, Read Aloud, and following parts of the book as it is read from an audio CD.  After the completion of the novel, students will watch excerpts from the movie version that will be used as a guide for them to write a compare and contrast essay about both versions of the story.

Assignments for this novel include:

• Using a graphic organizer to unpack the standards
• Completing a character frame to analyze a character of their choice from the novel
• Completing a study guide to check comprehension skills
• Compare and contrast features from the novel with features from the film
• Vocabulary practice activities that include: designing a mini book with new words, using a dictionary to find definition, and using the words to write sentences
• Enrichment activities of their choice: designing  a new cover for the book depicting the elements of the novel, designing a bookmark illustrating and describing one of the characters from the book, research about the author and present your findings to the class

Eight Grade students are reading Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George.  This novel is divided into three parts and takes place in the Arctic Tundra, which gives students an opportunity to learn and  about the interdependence of life in that region.  As they read the novel students will have the opportunity to Read Aloud or Silent Reading.  Students will be focusing on standards related to vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension. as well as practicing writing, correct grammar and punctuation skills.

Assignments for students to complete include:

• Using a graphic organizer to unpack the standards
• Complete a prediction sheet
• Study guide to take notes as their reading progresses
• Quiz on each one of the three parts of the novel
• Completion of a 100 Points Project which involves differentiated free choice activities with the goal of 100 points. Click the following link to  Download 100 Points Project