Making Inferences about Unfamiliar Words

What is the unknown word presented in this story? What are the clues to the meaning of the unknown word? Make an inference about the meaning of the unfamiliar word based on the context clues.


Try the following practice. Please begin with Intermediate Practice 1. We will continue with a different practice each day.
Your homework this week will focus on using context clues to infer, or figure out, the meaning of unfamiliar words. Your Friday quiz will also focus on this important reading skill.

Survey Results

Today, Lakeview 7th graders took your Survey on Bullying.



A. Please click here to see the survey results. Do any of the results surprise you? Do you consider the results to be good 
or bad news? Use the Analyzing Results document in your classroom folder to think more deeply about what the results are saying about our school.
  
B. How might you use the survey results as evidence in your article? 

We surveyed ______ seventh graders from Lakeview MIddle School. According to our research, ___% of Lakeview 7th graders...

Today, you will finish your draft. Be sure to include statistics from our survey in your article. Because the focus of our articles is the power of the bystander, it is especially important to include at least one statistic about bystanders.

Your Thesis Statement

Newsela: Please read, write and take the quiz for the assigned article on Newsela. This will count as your weekly quiz.

Lisa is an upstander. She stands up for the victim!

Your Thesis Statement
Now that you have engaged your reader with a narrative about bullies and bystanders, you will need to present a clear thesis statement. The thesis statement is the main idea of your article. 
The subject of your article is bystanders. What is the main point you are trying to make about bystanders? Please write your idea for a thesis statement in the classroom stream.

Before moving on to the next section of your article, be sure to present your thesis statement. The thesis can be the last sentence of the introduction. 

Cabrillo College Scholarship Essay

Today we will take a break from our bullying-bystanders article to participate in an exciting opportunity from Cabrillo College. Cabrillo is an excellent two-year university located in our area. Each year, Cabrillo selects 6th grade students to receive a $2000 scholarship for the student to use after graduating from high school.  The scholarship can be used for Cabrillo College only. The scholarship winner also has the opportunity to participate in special college preparation programs during the summer. To  be selected for the scholarship, you are asked to write an essay about your dream job.
To start thinking about your essay, select your dream career. Post:
your first name;
last initial;
career;
picture of someone in this caree;r
on the Padlet wall.

Transition Words for Cause-Effect

Your journalistic feature article will explain the effects that bystanders can have in a bullying situation.
Practice cause-effect transitions with this Quizlet link so that your writing will be crystal clear.

Bullies and Bystanders Research

Food for Thought




Research
Today will be your last day to research for your journalistic feature article on bullies and bystanders. 

1. Be sure to focus your research today on the area that needs the most information: 
Problem, Effects, Causes, or Solutions. 
2. Try using more specific search terms to get the exact results you need.
3. Remember: statistics can show how the issue effects a lot of people. If you need statistics to make your evidence stronger, add "statistics" to your search terms. Be sure to link to the source of the statistics. 
4. Survey for 7th Graders: We will be surveying Lakeview 7th graders about the issue of bullies and bystanders. Think of three possible questions we could ask in our survey. You can write your questions in the classroom stream.

Bullies and Bystanders Links

http://www.eyesonbullying.org/bystander.html

http://www.stompoutbullying.org/index.php/information-and-resources/about-bullying-and-cyberbullying/bystanders-become-upstanders/

http://us.reachout.com/facts/factsheet/bystanders-role-in-bullying

Transition Word Quiz

Transition Words Warm Up

If you have time, continue your practice with the Quizlet flashcards.

How to Summarize Informational Text

As you watch the short video, complete the "box and bullet" strategy practice in your Google classroom folder.

Mean Girls

What is the song's central idea about bullying? You can read along with the lyrics here.

What causes mean behavior in girls? How does social media make the problem worse? Today you will read and analyze the article "Why are those girls so mean?" You will find the article in your Google classroom folder.

Informational Text: Bullies and Bystanders

This quarter, we will be focusing on reading text for information, and using that information to answer questions and solve problems. Bullying, for instance,  can be a problem in middle school, but it doesn't have to be.  It all depends on the bystanders--those who witness the bullying.
1. We will begin our study of bystanders with a poem written for three voices, or speakers. We will then devote ourselves to the current research on the important role of bystanders in a bullying scenario.
You will find the poem in your Google classroom folder.

Types of Evidence:
2. Informational text often includes a variety of evidence. Listen carefully to the following presentation.
Be looking for different types of evidence in the article:
"Do You Have What it Takes to Stop Bullies?"




3. Read the article "Is Facebook Making You Mean?" Analyze the article for the types of evidence used. Record the types of evidence on the document in your Google classroom folder.

Transition Words

This week, our sentence study will focus on using transition words to connect ideas. Here is a list of possible transition words. Notice how they are organized.