Tell Me Something Good

Homework:
Section 1: If students have time, it might be nice if they can watch the short story video.
Sections 2 and 3: None

Today:
Computer Day

Sections 2 and 3 used the computers for Achieve.  They were required to take the level set test to determine their lexile level.  The program uses the lexile to set the article complexity.  As students do well on the activities, the difficulty increases, as does their lexile.  I should see an increase each month.

Section 1 used the computers to become familiar with my online resources.  We explored Quizlet, and students practiced editing their wiki pages.  Quizlet will be used for practicing their Vocabulary Workshop words when we get the books.

Short Story project:
I am not as far as I had hoped, but we are still establishing routines.

Tell Me Something Good

Below you see a list created from one of my warm-ups I do each day.  There are so many bad things we can complain about, but I ask students to share the good things going on in their lives.  Each year I compile a list and post them.  By the end of the year, we should have over 2000 good things.  It is also a good way to get to know each other and come together.  Listening to someone shows you care.  (The typing is done quickly by a student.  Errors are expected.  The ones by Google were typed by the student himself/herself.)

Name	Good	Period	Date	Intitials of Typer
Abbie	I had sushi for dinner last night.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Abigail	BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY!	1	8/28/2014	Tommy
Abigail	The book that I am reading is really good.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Brianna	Got a blue nose pit named blue.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Claudia	I have my first softball practice tonight with my new team.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Daniel	I am glad that I got sharing my dude over with.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Daniela	This weekend I am going to see my cousins.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Ian	excited about essays	1	8/27/2014	Abigail
Ian	There are only 2 more days of the week until Friday!	1	9/3/2014	Google
Igor	We are 1 day closer to the weekend...	1	9/3/2014	Google
Igor	moving to Florida after highschool	1	9/4/2014	Jake
jackie	I got 3 new books to read.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Jackie	found a calculator	1	9/4/2014	Jake
Jacob	It is almost the weekend.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Jaimi	Loves food	1	8/28/2014	Tommy
Jaimi	1. Soccer try-outs today.... again 2. I ate pizza lastnight 3. I love the rain	1	9/3/2014	Google
JD	Today is soccer tryouts for HB dupont.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Jordan	I have field hockey tryouts today	1	9/3/2014	Google
Justin	I hope that there is no homework today, because I did alot yesterday. There is also soccer tryouts today.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Lucy	She Has A Baby Huskey	1	9/4/2013	BB
Makenna	sophia had cheerleading last night!	1	9/3/2014	Google
Megan	going to waterpark	1	8/27/2014	Abigail
Megan	Starting lacrosse league	1	8/28/2014	Tommy
Megan	Their were alot of good people at yeasterdays field hockey tryouts.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Michael	I joined soccer team	1	8/28/2014	Tommy
Michael	I am going on a retreat to the poconos with my age group in church	1	9/3/2014	Google
MrBoZ	he is excited about the new book	1	8/27/2014	Abigail
Natalia	I found 50$	1	9/3/2014	Google
Preeti	I saw a Broadway show at the Walnut Street Theater on Sunday night. I stayed over at my sister's apartment on Sunday night as well.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Rachel	new teen troop at theater	1	8/27/2014	Abigail
Rachel	Work with an acting teacher	1	9/4/2014	Jake
Riley	he cant wait to do this every day	1	8/27/2014	Abigail
riley	i am happy bc soccer tryouts are today!	1	9/3/2014	Google
Riley	he is alive today	1	9/4/2014	Jake
Ryan	This weekend (saturday), i am going to my freinds slip-and-slide party.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Samantha	My something good is that i have volleyball tryouts and then practice.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Sophia	I have volleyball practice and tryouts today.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Sophia	Yesterday I finished a couple chapters of my book.	1	9/3/2014	Google
stephen	Soccer tryoutsis going greatand we are having a four-day tryout instead of three.	1	9/3/2014	Google
stephen	Soccer tryouts is going great and we are having a four-day try out instead of three.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Steve	wants to read books	1	8/27/2014	Abigail
sydney	I'm really sore today which means I actually worked last night at dance.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Taylor	We don't have school tomorrow	1	8/28/2014	Tommy
Taylor	I have volleyball tryouts again today!!!!!	1	9/3/2014	Google
Tommy	mrboz.com	1	8/27/2014	Abigail
Tommy	Using correct puncuation won't kill me.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Tommy	No soccer tryouts	1	9/4/2014	Jake
Vedant	Getting writing over with	1	8/28/2014	Tommy
Vedant	I am happy because I will go to the library after school today.	1	9/3/2014	Google
Wade	This week I had a very good time and I accomplished many things. Yesterday I got the last two books of the Last Apprentice which I have searched for over a month. Also, I signed up for Lego League even if everybody who tried automatically got in. GG!	1	9/3/2014	Google
xiangyin	i feel good about the book i going to read	1	9/3/2014	Google
Abril	I started reading Shattered	2	9/3/2014	Google
Alexis	My birthay is in about 2 weeks.	2	9/3/2014	Google
Alexis	moms getting a new phone	2	9/4/2014	Dj
Andrew	andrews got a lot of books	2	8/27/2014	Jr
Andrew	Human genome project	2	8/28/2014	Alexis
andrew	my cat Jasmine woke me up this morning. she is very sweet.	2	9/3/2014	Google
blanca	I am getting a new phone today.	2	9/3/2014	Google
chris	me and my dog went to the park for three hours yesterday	2	9/3/2014	Google
DeAndre	Im getting alot of new sneakers.	2	9/3/2014	Google
Dj	dj won some money on a cruise in puerto rico	2	8/27/2014	Jr
dj	i made 20 dollors	2	9/3/2014	Google
dj	make a lot of money every day	2	9/4/2014	Dj
GeAvis	I found 50$	2	9/3/2014	Google
Hossain	Went to Brazil	2	8/28/2014	Alexis
JaVon	I ironed my clothes this morning.	2	9/3/2014	Google
JaVon	woke up today	2	9/4/2014	Dj
Jr	cut the grass and got paid	2	8/27/2014	Jr
Jr	Swept neighboors house	2	8/28/2014	Alexis
Jr	had to clean the lunch room	2	9/4/2014	Dj
Juan	I went to the skate park..!	2	9/3/2014	Google
Keera	went to oklahoma	2	8/27/2014	Jr
Keera	Going to Florida	2	8/28/2014	Alexis
keera	I found out that i'm related to president lynden bayne johnson.	2	9/3/2014	Google
keera	related to the 4th man to walk the moon	2	9/4/2014	Dj
Kevin	made the bus ?	2	9/3/2014	Google
lavanna	this weekend im going to a family reuioun	2	9/3/2014	Google
Michael	Yesterday I got a new pair of nike shorts	2	9/3/2014	Google
Michael	got new shirts	2	9/4/2014	Dj
Mike	Watched his favorite tv shows	2	8/28/2014	Alexis
Mr.Boz	Enjoys Excerise	2	8/28/2014	Alexis
Olivia	found a dollar in the couch	2	8/27/2014	Jr
rayniesha	This weekend im going to my god sister house so we can get our nails done.	2	9/3/2014	Google
Roman	Started reading the book from the library.	2	9/3/2014	Google
Te'Shon	Did my Bestfriend's hair & got paid	2	9/3/2014	Google
WALDEMAR ORTIZ JR	WENT TO SCHOOL :(	2	9/3/2014	Google
Yasir	had a great vaction in florida	2	8/27/2014	Jr
yasir	I read a book yesterday	2	9/3/2014	Google
Ziasia	I found 20 bucks.	2	9/3/2014	Google
Alan	I pre-order a new game	3	9/3/2014	Google
Cameron	I got a new Caculator	3	9/3/2014	Google
Destiny	I Cleaned My Room , And Cleaned The Kitchen ...	3	9/3/2014	Google
ELIJAH	i went to macdonalds	3	9/3/2014	Google
ELIJAH	played basketball	3	9/4/2014	Treazure
esmeralda	i got 20$	3	9/3/2014	Google
Hunter	I used how to use chopsticks I did my homework	3	9/3/2014	Google
Jabreya	she got a guinea pig	3	8/28/2014	Jackie
Jabreya	I got $2500 in my college fund from my great grandfathers' will yesterday!	3	9/3/2014	Google
Jabreya	Bought a beat pill	3	9/4/2014	Treazure
Jackie	walked the dog	3	8/27/2014	Jabreya
jamere	i finished my homework	3	9/3/2014	Google
Jayla	I Sleep Well !!	3	9/3/2014	Google
Jayla	had two packs of skittles	3	9/4/2014	Treazure
Jonahs	birthday yesterday	3	8/27/2014	Jabreya
Jonahs	Did not argue with mother	3	8/28/2014	Jackie
JONAHS	MY GIRLFRIEND TEXTED ME LOL :)	3	9/3/2014	Google
Joshua	I did my homework as soon as i got home and it was perfect	3	9/3/2014	Google
keandre	i bought a water ice yesterday	3	9/3/2014	Google
Keyon	helped make the world a better place	3	8/27/2014	Jabreya
Keyon	learned a new punch	3	8/28/2014	Jackie
Keyon	I Am Excited For Basketball Tryouts This Year !! :)	3	9/3/2014	Google
Larry	going to the beach tomorrow	3	8/28/2014	Jackie
Larry	im Getting A New Phone	3	9/3/2014	Google
Larry	Went to the park	3	9/4/2014	Treazure
lucciano	I got a mouse	3	9/3/2014	Google
lucciano	He found his special book	3	9/4/2014	Treazure
Luch	set the table	3	8/27/2014	Jabreya
Maddie	singing	3	8/27/2014	Jabreya
Maddie	she partisapated	3	8/28/2014	Jackie
Maddie	Her friend getting better	3	9/4/2014	Treazure
madison	Yesterday night i got my grandmothers car and it was really interesting with a new car	3	9/3/2014	Google
marcos	I preoder a new game	3	9/3/2014	Google
mary	i like dogs and sausage	3	9/3/2014	Google
Mr.Boz	went to drag strip	3	9/4/2014	Treazure
Nasir	I am into the preforming arts and I am the oldest child of 4	3	9/3/2014	Google
nykeise	i did my homework	3	9/3/2014	Google
Nykiese	woke up	3	8/27/2014	Jabreya
paola	im getting paid	3	9/3/2014	Google
sean	I played video games	3	9/3/2014	Google
Treazure	My brother birthday is today !	3	9/3/2014	Google

Establishing Routines

Homework:
Bring KBAR books to class tomorrow.
Section 1: Not all students have brought in the $35.00 check for Additional Student 
Consumables listed on the 8th grade supply list.

At this point, all students should have a book for KBAR time.  Today we started the routine of reading in class.  Next week I will establish the procedures for tracking time spent reading at home and thinking about what was read.  This is basically what I will be doing.  (I will be making some adjustments.  Section 1 will do their responses on our class wiki I handed out the passwords today.)

Section 1
I spent time briefly showing the students where they can find the resources to start their short stories.  I would like all students to watch this video and look at the notes I created from the video.  I will be referring to the techniques in the video, but I will not be showing the video in class.

Please see the resources on the Short Story page I have made for class.
(I have to fix a few links.)

Establishing my expectations

Though provoking

Homework:
Students should be thinking about a book they can use for class reading time.  Section 1 will be reading the book outside of class as well.  (I would like sections 2 and 3 to read outside of class as well, but I need to decide on the best system for tracking their progress.)

Today:
Writing Diagnostic
Students started the State writing diagnostic.  Many will need to finish next week.  I will be submitting the scores but also using the results to help me determine remedial groupings.

Responders:
I introduced the students to the wireless responder system I use in class.  They look like remotes.  I use them for tests and live results.  For example, when a student submits the answers to a test, he gets the score back immediately.  I can then see how the class did question by question so I can see where they had trouble.  They can also be used to poll the class using oral questions.

Since I had discussed my expectations for two days, I figured students would get a perfect on the "quiz" below.  Most did.  I think a few had some trouble using the responders.  Like I said, today was practice.

Mr. Bosler’s Classroom Rules Quiz

 (Yes/No)

1. You are allowed to participate
2. You are allowed to answer questions
3. You are allowed to abuse privileges (hall passes, etc.)
4. You are allowed to call out
5. You are allowed to be prepared (pencils, paper, etc.)
6. You are allowed to helpful
7. You are allowed to make insulting remarks
8. You are allowed to completed homework
9. You are allowed to not be prepared for class
10. You are allowed to be seated and ready to go on time
11. You are allowed to be out of seat without permission
12. You are allowed to be on task and focused during work time
13. You are allowed to work collaboratively in groups
14. You are allowed to be off task
15. You are allowed to Sleep
16. You are allowed to demonstrate a positive and supportive attitude

(I also realize the wording is weird, but they get the idea.)

Getting to know you

Homework: 
Students need to return the signed syllabus sheet.

Today:
I introduced students to "Tell Me Something Good."  Each day I like to start the class by hearing about the positive things in the students' lives.  I have a student type these up as we go.  Lat year I collected about 2000 good things.  This way we have a list we can go to if we want to see something positive.  We also get to know each other and begin to care about each other.  I will post the list when it gets longer.

I tested the students by making them list the positive behaviors I expect and the negative behavior I do not want to see in my classroom.  Since we discussed them yesterday in depth and they read over the syllabus with their parents, they should have done well.  They did OK.  I will test them again tomorrow and really see if they understand my expectations.

Tomorrow we will be writing a diagnostic piece for the State.  It has to be done, so I figured I would get it out of the way. 

First Day of the 2014-2015 School Year

Homework
Students and parents need to read the syllabus and return the last page signed.
Students need to starting looking for a book they will read during independent reading time.

Section 1 Activity Period
I would like you to finish up the assignment we started during the activity period.  I would like you to be ready to present your names tomorrow.  Please use the instructions below from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/top-5-ways-get-know-your-students

"What's In a Name?": Get to Know Students and Parents

This get-to-know-you activity is called "What's In a Name?" It is a fun and easy way for kids to learn each other's names and a little bit about each other. Just give each student a "What's In a Name?" form at the beginning of the year. The form is simple — just a few questions for them to answer OR ask their parents/guardians to help them answer. Without fail, parents enjoy this beginning-of-the-year task. They often write lengthy responses about how special their child's name is to them. I've found it is a great way to get to know the parents as well! 

Here are the questions for "What's In a Name?":
What's your full name?
Were you named after someone?
What does your name mean?
What names did your parents consider before deciding on the one you have?
Why did they choose your name?
What is your name's country of origin? (ex. "Ivan" has Russian origins)
What is your nickname? How did you get that nickname?
If you could change your name, what would you name yourself?
Now.... on the bottom of this paper, please write your name in a creative way. Can you use color? Fancy writing? Swirls? Block letters? A pattern? Design something as special as YOU are!
If possible, please attach a small picture of yourself to this form. (photo will be returned.)
The kids bring back their forms, and everyone gets to share about their name in a Community Circle. I usually have kids tell us their name and then they can choose up to two other pieces of information from their form to share with the class. If a child is shy or nervous, I always allow them to simply share their name without the pressure of sharing the additional information. For some kids, it is stressful enough just to speak their name in front of a new class.