Mr. Vanden Bergh

Sept 2-5 Language Arts Assignment

         This week's assignments are focused on point of view once again.   Students will need their literature textbooks Tuesday through Thursday as we will be reading "Rikki Tikki Tavi" in class.  It is critical that all art critique papers from last week are turned in on Tuesday with both the final copy and the draft.  Here's this week's schedule:

Mon.     LABOR DAY - School Holiday!

Tues.     Turn in Art Critique papers if completed.  Background information on Rudyard Kipling, author of "Rikki Tikki Tavi"   Read "Rikki Tikki Tavi" (pgs. 408-422) Receive glossary of literary and reading terms.  We will review these periodically.    Download glossary_of_literary_and_reading_terms.doc   HW: Finish reading "Rikki Tikki Tavi"  Art critique due tomorrow!  Put all papers in order from top to bottom:  1) Rubric Download art_analysis_rubric.doc 2) Final copy (typed, size 12 Times New Roman), 3) Handwritten draft, 4) Peer editing sheet

Wed.    All Art Critique papers are due!  Response to "Rikki Tikki Tavi" (Pg. 422, questions #1-6 and pg 423 question #10)  Introduce point of view article to be written in groups.  Partners will choose the point of view of one of the prominent characters in the story to create a newspaper article (i.e. "The Mongoose Times" or "The Cobra Herald")  We will go to the computer lab to do brief research on the animal your group will be using for your article.  HW: none

Thurs.    Continue work on newspaper from character's point of view.   Guidelines for article attached below  HW: type at least 2 of your articles

Download newspaper_requirements.doc

Fri.      View movie - "Rikki Tikki Tavi"   Discuss similarities and differences from text.   HW: Finish all remaining articles of your newspaper and put your name at the bottom of each article.  Remember to use a text box to shape each article correctly.

Sept. 2-5 Reading Assignments

      This week we are yet further into the wilderness in The Hobbit.  We will be completing a combination of novel study and vocabulary terms throughout the shortened week.  Our test on vocabulary for Lesson #2 will be on Thursday.  Please be sure to study both the definitions and spelling for each of the eleven words.  We will also be recording an updated count of pages read by each student.   Here's our plan:

MON.   Labor Day!  No school

TUES.  Begin reading Ch #7 in The Hobbit, Review vocabulary terms HW: none

WED.  Complete Ch #7 and play a review game for tomorrow's test  HW: Study for L #2 Test

THUR. Lesson #2 Vocabulary/Spelling Test,  HW: Create Flash Cards for Lesson #3

FRI.     Silent Reading - Books Batted In Total needed with parent signature  HW: none

Aug. 25-29 Language Arts Assignments

  This week we will move from figurative language to the concept of point of view.  We will be discussing the differences between each persons point of view in stories, in art, and life in general.  The largest assignment this week is a critique of famous artwork.  Students will receive the background information and guided practice to create their own critique of a piece of art.  The art critique will be graded with the rubric following Friday's assignments.  Here's our schedule:

Mon.     Introduction to point of view, short movie clip from "The Dead Poets Society", create a working definition for point of view, point of view activity - No HW

Tues.    Begin looking at artwork as a class.  Receive notes on how to critique artwork.  Describe and analyze a piece of art. HW: Find information about your artist (i.e. where he/she grew up, influences, education, etc.)  This can be printed out and brought in to class OR recorded in your analysis worksheet under "Artist Information."

Wed.     Describe and analyze a piece of art as a group using the "My Analysis Worksheet".   Begin writing the introduction paragraph for the art critique. The artist link below will provide extra information on some of the artists.  HW: Use your notes from the worksheet to complete your 1st paragraph.  *NOTE*  The first paragraph will consist of brief information about the artist and a literal description of the artwork.

Download art_analysis_worksheet.doc

Download art_critique_overview.ppt

Thurs.    Begin writing the 2nd(Analysis) and 3rd(Interpretation and Judgment) paragraphs for your art critique. HW: Complete the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs. Look at example paper below based on the painting "Holding Tilts" shown in class.

Download art_critique_example.doc

Fri.        Peer editing of draft of art critique.  Students will be allowed to begin their final drafts in class or type them over the weekend.  **PLEASE review the art analysis rubric listed below.                Download art_analysis_rubric.doc       If you did not take a peer editing sheet with you, use the following in place of it Download art_critique_peer_editing.doc HW:  Type final copy of Art Critique.  Staple the handwritten rough draft under the final copy.  If, and only if, you are having printer trouble, please e-mail your paper as an attachment to benjamin.vandenbergh@cobbk12.org   PAPERS ARE DUE WEDNESDAY!

Aug. 25-29 Reading Assignments

                                  This week we continue are trip into "The Wild" with Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.  We will also be continuing our study of vocabulary with Lesson #2.  Please bring your Hobbit book and vocabulary book to class every day.  You also need to be sure to bring your silent reading book on Friday.  Here's this week's schedule:

MON. Read Chapter #5 in The Hobbit  HW: Complete Lesson #2 Keyword Activity

TUES. Hobbit Response Ch #1-5.  Finish Ch #5 in The Hobbit.  HW: none

WED.   Begin The Hobbit Ch #6 and begin skits for lesson #2 vocabulary.  HW: none

THUR.  Perform Skits for Lesson #2 and finish Ch#6 in The Hobbit  HW: Study Lesson #2 Vocabulary and Spelling

FRI.    SILENT READING HW: Study Lesson #2 Vocabulary and Spelling

Aug. 18-22 Language Arts

          This week will be dedicated to a continued study of figurative language.  Students will receive important notes that they will need to study for Friday's quiz.  I have posted a figurative language resource below.  Feel free to check it out if you need to review any type of figurative language.

                          Download figurative_language_review1.ppt

MON.     Continue work on baseline writing  HW: none

TUES.    Literal and Figurative Language Notes, Six types of figurative language HW: UGA vs. UF sheet Download fig. Lang. FloridaGeorgia.doc , study notes for quiz on Friday

WED.   Review Oxymorons and Onomatopoeia,  Homework: Fig. Lang. Packet (First half), study notes for quiz on Friday

Download similies_and_metaphors.pdf

Download similies_and_metaphors_cont..pdf 

Download whats_that_sound.pdf      

THURS.  D.O.L., Review Game to prepare for quiz.  Homework: Fig. Lang. Packet (Second half), Study notes for tomorrow's quiz

Download Hyperbole.pdf 

Download Personification.pdf

Download the_fishing_trip.pdf 

FRI.   QUIZ on Literal and figurative language  HW: none

Aug.18-22 Reading Assignments

             This week we will be working on a combination of items.  We will continue are study of Lesson #1 Vocabulary and have a test covering both the spelling and definition of each of the 10 words.  Each student has also been issued a copy of The Hobbit.  We will begin our journey through Middle Earth with readings from the book in class.  Here's the plan:

MON.  Review Lesson #1 Vocab,  Read Chapter #2 in The Hobbit  HW: Study Vocabulary for Lesson #1

TUES. Read Ch. #3 in The Hobbit, Response to Ch. #1-2. HW: Study definitions and spelling for L #1

WED.  Lesson #3 Vocabulary test, Begin Ch. #3 in The Hobbit HW: none

THU.  Continue Ch #3 and begin #4 in The Hobbit  HW: none

FRI.   SILENT READING HW: none

First 9 Weeks Syllabus

Download syllabus_1st_nine_weeks

Aug. 10-14 Language Arts Assignments

           Welcome back seventh graders!  I am glad to see that you are checking the weblog.  Please bookmark this site for daily reference.  At this cite you will find important daily class news and information.  You will often be able to download notes, classwork, or homework here.  The most important item this week is to create a Language Arts notebook.  We will be discussing this in class, but if you need a refresher, here's what you'll need:   A three-ring binder with the following 5 sections divided: D.O.L., Grammar, Writing, Literature, and Classwork/Homework.    As you will see, generally homework assignments have been started in class and will be denoted in red below.  Oh, by the way, the guy on the left is my dog, Abraham.  Unfortunately, this picture was taken on a good day.  Here's our schedule for the week:

Mon.       Beginning of the year preparation, class routines, and activity, "What is a proverb?"  There will be a quick crossword puzzle for review.  Homework: organize your notebook!

Tues.      Finding the difference between "literal" and "figurative" meaning.  Homework:  complete the proverb sheet that we began in class. Download Proverbs.doc

Wed.      Personal Agenda information, review proverb sheet. Homework:  create 5 of your own proverbs.  Download create_your_own_proverb.doc

Thurs.    Classroom rules review, discuss proverbs that you have created and choose your favorite.   Homework:  Make a copy of your favorite proverb along with an illustration.

Fri.         Base line writing sample (Personal Narrative)  Students will be given three topics from which to choose for writing a personal narrative.  The requirements will be discussed in class.  HW: none

Aug. 11-15 Reading Assignments

     Welcome back seventh graders!  We will be working on a number of different activties this nine weeks such as The Hobbit novel study, vocabulary, skits, plays, and much more.  Here are a few notes that are important to know in reading class.

1) Students must always bring their novels (once issued) vocabulary workbooks, and 3 x 5 index cards to class. 

2) Please check and sign agenda when students have finished reading a book.  Each book should be listed with the number of pages in each students agenda.  The number of books read is posted in our class on the "Books Batted In" chart and on the student drive at school.   

3)  Vocabulary/Spelling tests are usually given every two weeks and will almost always be on Mondays. 

4) Fridays are dedicated to silent reading and students must bring their own novel (along with The Hobbit) to class. 

Here's our schedule for this week:

MON.  Reading Comic Strip  HW: bring vocabulary workbook tomorrow!

TUES. Word Boxes for Lesson #1 vocabulary.

WED.   Work on group skit and begin skit performances

THU.  Continue skit performances, issue The Hobbit books, overview of novel HW: bring a book for silent reading on Friday.

FRI.    Silent Reading - You must have your own book