Language Arts 4-30-14

Today we noted and discussed our Enduring Understanding & Essential Questions for our new unit on -- power -- The Holocaust.
New vocabulary -- bias, stereotyping, prejudice, segregation, genocide, eradicate, annihilate
We continued our power point on Hitler and his rise to power and how he was able to carry out The Holocaust.
In teams, we began constructing posters on how Hitler gained power, Memories, and Warnings.
All papers were passed back; grade sheets were passed around; missing assignments noted.

Homework:
ALL Simple Solutions #70
Princeton: Chapter 2 of Night; story box
Yale & Harvard: Chapters 5 & 6 of Parallel Journeys; two story boxes

ALL:
7:15 a.m. or 2:45 p.m. an opportunity to take a replacement test on Figurative Language/MAP Vocabulary or Simple Solutions.
Literature folders -- Friday is deadline for reevaluation

Language Arts 4-29-14

Today Room 201 took their READING MAP Test.
In class we completed a Vocabulary in Context review as Journal entry #5.
We took a Simple Solutions Test on Lessons 65, 66, 67, 68.  Packets were collected.
We discussed novels.

Homework:
Yale and Harvard:  read chapters 3 & 4; complete story map boxes
Princeton:  find 5-10 facts about the Jewish religion or Jewish culture; list your source

ALL:
Simple Solutions #69

Review flash cards and red notebook for MAP tests.
Get plenty of sleep & eat a good breakfast.

Language Arts 4-28-14

Today we completed a journal entry where we examined words in context.
We copied down a Study Guide to help on tomorrow's Simple Solutions test.
We reviewed our grammar.
We received our novels and story map papers.
We began defining Holocaust as our memoirs that we'll be reading were introduced.

Homework:
Yale & Harvard
Parallel Journeys Chapters 1 & 2; read and complete a story box for each
Princeton: Night: Chapter 1 pages 3-22; complete a story box

ALL:
Simple Solutions' Test 65, 66, 67, 68
Packet due

Room 201 MAP READING TEST on TUESDAY.


Friday May 2nd -- reevaluation of Literature folders....

Language Arts 4-25-14 (Schoolwork & 8th Grade News)

Today we graded Simple Solutions #67 and 68.
We reviewed simple diagramming of sentences and using it to locate simple subjects and simple verbs.
Small groups reviewed MAP Reading vocabulary -- Figurative Language, Genres, Literary Elements, Words, Words, Words!
We went over our MAP Reading Test answers.

HOMEWORK:
Current events due Monday:
   choose one of the following topics:  Ferry sinks off coast of Korea,  Canonization of two Popes,  Russians on the Ukraine border,  Boston Marathon or stories of the survivors a year later.

Review Red notebook and flash cards.  Compass Learning reviews online.

Literature Collection folders -- due May 2nd if you want your test grade re-evaluated.

READING MAP TEST SCHEDULE
 Room 201  TUESDAY
 Room 205  WEDNESDAY
 Room 203  THURSDAY

Get plenty of sleep -- start this weekend.
Eat breakfast on test day.
Cut out distractions -- put on earphones.
Concentrate.
Re-read passages.
Look at questions -- be sure you know what they are asking.
Explain your answer in your head!  If you can't you might be on the wrong track.


8th GRADE NEWS:
      Class of 2014 t-shirts will be handed out next week to all who have the $65.00 graduation fee paid.
White shirts from the 8th Grade Parent Committee were handed out this past Wednesday.
Both shirts can be worn as uniform IF there is no writing on them.  Once you sign a shirt, it cannot be worn as uniform.
      Friday, May 2nd is the 8th Grade Dance, the reward for the most participation at the Rummage Sale.  There are no criteria for attendance except having a signed permission form.  Be sure yours is in!
     Luncheon is May 16th, be sure your permission form is in.

Language Arts 4-24-14

Today we took our test on MAP Reading Vocabulary #1.

8th Grade Trip Day!
Special thanks to Mrs Kato and Mrs. Chavez for planning a perfect 8th grade day for us.
Special thanks to our chaperones:
Mrs. Urbinati, Mrs. Veleta, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Alcantar,  Mrs. Espinosa, Mrs. Hinckley, Mrs. Kato, Mrs. Chavez,  Mrs. Stoll, Mr. Yracheta & Mrs. Honkisz

Enjoy your evening!
No homework.  Tomorrow we continue our prep for MAP testing.

Our testing schedule:
Room 201 READING Tuesday 4/29
Room 203 READING Thursday 5/1
Room 205 READING Wednesday 4/30

Get a good nice sleep & eat a good breakfast!

Language Arts 4-23-14

Language Arts 4.23.14
Happy Birthday, Shakespeare
Homework
All Sections:
Simple Solutions 67 & 68.
Reading MAP Vocabulary test on Thursday
     antithesis
     paradox
     aphorism
     pathetic fallacy
     oxymoron  
     synecdoche
     allusion
     anecdote
     satire
     euphemism

Get your portfolio signed

Language Arts 4-22-14

Happy Earth Day!

Today:  Journal entry 1  (Literary devices/techniques)
define and give examples of Antithesis, Pathetic Fallacy, Aphorism, Paradox

We watched a brainpop video and took a quiz on "Diagramming."  Two sections also reviewed the 8 parts of speech -- defined and gave examples.

Harvard finished their courtroom presentations about guilt and innocence in Verona.


Homework:
Princeton -- Simple Solutions 66,  Grammar book pages 907-909, Exercise 1 and 2;  evens or odds (based on where you sit in the classroom)
Yale -- Simple Solutions 66, Grammar book pages 907-909, Exercise 1 and 2,; evens or odds (based on where you sit in the classroom);  Publish your Letter to the Prince after today's editing;  keep the draft.
Harvard -- Simple Solutions 66,  Write a letter to the Prince of Verona explaining who is most guilty for Romeo and Juliet's deaths.  Use a "business letter" format.



UPCOMING:
Reassessment of Literature Collection folders -- due May 2nd -- not before and not after.

Language Arts 4-21-14

Today we wrote out four flashcards on literary techniques/devices --
       Paradox
       Aphorism
       Antithesis
       Pathetic Fallacy

We examined our grades/missing assignments and performance on our journals and Literature Collections.
Each team planned their arguments for guilt or innocence of Romeo, Juliet, the Nurse, Friar Laurence, Fate, the families, Friar John, the Prince, Tybalt.  Teams presented their cases to the class.   You choose -- who is most responsible for the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet?

Homework:
Princeton & Yale
   Write a formal letter to the Prince of Verona explaining who you feel is most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.  You heard the evidence today, choose and defend your position with evidence from the play.
   Simple Solutions Lesson 65

Harvard
   Finish packet for Thirteen Reasons Why; study for test on novel
    Simple Solutions Lesson 65

Language Arts 4-11-2014

Career Day & College Fair

Today, Yale took their test on our novel.
Literature Portfolios were handed in;  research projects were peer-edited and submitted; and Reading Journal entries were highlighted and journals were handed in for grading.
All forms were collected (Luncheon 5/16, Trip 4/24, Dance 5/2, Graduation fees, Diploma)

Happy Spring Break!  Enjoy your week off.
      Harvard is reading 13 Reasons Why and completed a Guided Reading packet.
      Yale and Princeton:  read a novel of your choice to help meet your book requirement for the year!

ALL:
   Prepare for NWEA MAP Reading test by:
   1 Practicing Compass Learning each day.
   2 Reviewing your Reading Flash Cards;  reading over your notes



READING GUIDE QUESTIONS for Harvard:

                                 

       

STUDENT _____________________________  

Thirteen Reasons Why Guided Reading #3

Cassette 4: Side B

75. Why does Hannah love to write poetry? When did she stop?  

76. Why does Clay blame himself for Hannah’s suicide? Do you think he is right?

77. What other high school student joined Hannah at the poetry classes? How did he get hold of one of Hannah’s poems?

78. What is the correct meaning of Hannah’s poem? “

79. Mr. Porter says reading this “anonymous poem” was like reading a poem by who? Is that true in this case? Explain. 

80. How did others find out that she wrote the poem?  How did her classmates treat the poem?

81. Why doesn’t the worker at Rosie’s charge Clay?

Cassette 5: Side A

82. Why does Tony wait for Clay outside of Rosie’s?  

83. What does Hannah say about Clay?

84. Before going to the party, where does Hannah stop? What feeling fills her at this place? Why?

85. Hannah and Clay talk on the couch at the party. Who “sits” next to them?  What is ironic about this?

86. Why does Hannah wish she would have talked to Clay sooner? 

87. Why did Hannah tell Clay to stop kissing her? What happens after this?

88.Who comes in after Clay leaves? Why?

Cassette 5: Side B

89. Why didn’t Hannah leave the room when the couple came in?

90. Justin leaves then room but guards the door. Who does he let in? Why?

91. Who does Clay think this boy is?

92. What does this boy do?

93. So why do the tapes go to Justin and not the other boy?

94. Why is this one of Hannah’s “reasons”?

Cassette 6: Side A

95. What did Hannah give to Tony?

.  

96. Why did Hannah give the second set of tapes to Tony?  

97. How did she give Tony the tapes and what did he do with them?

98 How did Tony keep track of people to make sure they listened to the tapes and sent them on?

99. Who offers to give Hannah a ride home? Is she sober?

100. What does Hannah want to do after  Jenny hit the sign?  Jenny? How does Jenny react to Hannah’s insistence?

101. Who gets in a wreck?

102. Why was the old man on the road?

103. What is the irony in the phone call Hannah makes?

.

.

114. Who does Clay mail the tapes to?

115. Why does Clay talk to Skye at the end of the book? 

Language Arts 4-10-14

Today was Minute to Win It!
In Class today we examined some of Shakespeare's quotations that have become common idioms.  We took our test on Shakespeare & Romeo and Juliet.  Princeton and Harvard took their novel exams.

Homework:
ALL --
1. Literature Collections folders due tomorrow -- front page needs to be completely done and at least three items of your best work noted on the back.  All should be in order, illustrated, and published copies.
2. Reading Journals due tomorrow (remember these are a test grade).  Each section has 12 or 13 entries.
All should be labeled, dated & numbered.
3. Research project on Shakespearian language is due tomorrow.

Yale:  finished guided reading #4 and prepare for test on 13 Reasons Why.

Recommendation for an 8th grade song due tomorrow.
Pictures of classmates due tomorrow for slide show.
All forms and graduation fee due before Spring Break.

Language Arts 4.9.14

•Journal questions:

1.What news does Balthasar  give Romeo, and how does Romeo react?

2.What is important about a purchase Romeo makes?

3.Who visits Juliet’s tomb, and what do he and Juliet together find?

4.How does Juliet die?

5.What does Friar Laurence confess to the Prince?

6.Knowing what you now know about the way the Elizabethans saw the world, what is the moral of this play?

Today we finished Romeo and Juliet. We completed a short write performance assessment in Princeton and Harvard.

We demonstrated iambic pentameter and read 2 sonnets.

HOMEWORK - All: 

Study for test on Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet.

Work on literature collection and research project.

Yale: Read cassette 6b and 7a. Complete guided reading.

Princeton: Finish paraphrasing "Desiderata".

Harvard: Determine who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as assigned.

Language Arts 4-8-14

Today we acted out Act IV of Romeo and Juliet; we recorded two sets of journal entry questions.
We read the Desiderata by Erhmann and began paraphrasing its meaning.


8th GRADE NEWS:
   Songs for the ceremony and for the class songs are due 4/11 (include a copy of the lyrics).
   Pictures for the slide show are due by next Friday (should be school events -- sports games, field trips, etc.); be sure to get the OK of all in the photo -- put in a plastic baggie with your name on them)
   Forms/forms/forms -- please get your forms signed & returned.
HOMEWORK:

Princeton:  tribute to female
                 "Think and Note" in Journal (8) about themes from our novel; be sure to record quotes to support the three themes you feel come from the novel.
Yale:  Cassette 5B & 6A; finish guided reading sheet #3
Harvard: have your "think and note" on ironies ready for tomorrow; publish your tribute poem to a female

All:  work on Literature folders (organize, publish, find favorites)
       Research on Shakespeare's words that were added to the English language & idioms we use today
       draft a tribute poem for an important female in your life
       Update your journal entries -- remember this time they count as an assessment grade.
       TEST on Romeo and Juliet on Thursday
       

Language Arts 4-4-14

FRIDAY, April 4, 2014
Remember I told you today was a special day!! (4-4-14???) Well it ended up being very special for Ms. Gaz who had her baby girl today!

Journal entry: Romeo & Juliet Act II

1.What kind of person is Mercutio?

2.Tell the story of Romeo and Juliet when he is standing under the balcony.

3.What does Romeo ask Friar Laurence to do for him, an dhow does the Friar respond?

Describe the conspiracy among the two young lovers, Nurse, and Friar Laurence.  What is its result?

We finished performing Act III.

Literature folders were handed out and a cover sheet which lists all the poems and contents needed.  These folders are due back before the Holiday break for grading.  Students are to organize their poems and best work.  Number them on the back & highlight on the list each item they have.  We will be reading The Desiderata together next week.  You will receive a copy for your packet.

Masks were shared and collected.  Self-evaluations of 3rd quarter grades were collected today.
Princeton handed in their summaries; Yale handed in their Reading Guide #2 on Thirteen Reasons.

We went over 8th grade news.
   Songs for the ceremony and for the class songs are due 4/11 (include a copy of the lyrics).
   Pictures for the slide show are due by next Friday (should be school events -- sports games, field trips, etc.); be sure to get the OK of all in the photo -- put in a plastic baggie with your name on them)

HOMEWORK:
All:  work on Literature folders (organize, publish, find favorites)
       Research on Shakespeare's words that were added to the English language & idioms we use today
       draft a tribute poem for an important female in your life
       Update your journal entries -- remember this time they count as an assessment grade.

Princeton -- finish reading The Skin I'm In -- complete summaries.
Yale -- read cassettes 4B and 5A; work on questions for Reading Guide #3 that correspond
Harvard -- finish reading #17 & 18;  create a one page "think and note" on the ironies in our story. (Don't overlook the title).

Language Arts 4-3-14

Today we took the Simple Solutions Test on Lessons #61-64 and handed in our packets.

Journal entry:  Romeo & Juliet Act I questions (copy questions or answer in complete thoughts).

•Journal Questions:

1.How do we first learn of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets?

2.Why is Romeo unhappy when we first meet him in the play, and why does he change?

3.Who does Capulet want to woo his daughter an dhow does he intend to help him do it?

4.Describe Juliet as she seems to you, and then as she seems to Romeo.

We finished performing Act II.

Students received their grading sheets and have to complete a self-evaluation for homework.

Homework:

All: masks (can be on cardboard with a stick or string); must be decorated, colorful; must include words from Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet or drama vocabulary intertwined in the design

    self-evaluation sheet

    finish journey entry

    mini-research project given on Shakespearian words and idioms due 4/11/14.

Princeton: Read 18, 19, 20, 21  (complete summary and picture)

Yale: Read Cassette 4A, finish guided reading Sheet 2

Language Arts 4-2-14

Today:
We completed, discussed & gave examples of grammar principles and copied a Study Guide for tomorrow's test.  We discussed our novels.  Our dramatic version of Romeo and Juliet continued with Act II Scene I and II.
Homework:
Study for Simple Solutions Test on Lessons 61 to 64
Packets will be collected
Read your assigned chapters in your novels & complete task (Princeton:  Skin 16, 17, 18)  (Yale: 13 Reasons Cassette 3B) (Harvard: NBT #15 & 16)
Work on masks (due Friday)
Extra credit -- research history of masks especially in the middle ages and the renaissance or
research history of coat of arms

Language Arts 4-1-2014

Happy April!

Today we created a journal entry listing, describing, finding evidence of character traits of the main characters in our novels.  You should continue to add to this page as you read the novel.

We watched a brain pop on Shakespeare and took a quiz.
   New vocab words:  sparse
                                  prolific

We spent some time discussing or reading our novels.

We acted out Scenes 4 & 5 of Act I of Romeo & Juliet.


Collected today:  RoadtoGrammar quizzes,  novel assignments for Princeton & Harvard

HOMEWORK:
Princeton: Read the next four chapters (12, 13, 14, 15)  in your novel; create a three-step.
read the article on Shakespeare's language;  use the recommended websites to find 10 words and/or idioms that the English language got from Shakespeare.
Yale:  Read Cassette 3A and answer questions on guided reading for this cassette
Harvard:  Read sections 14 and 15; create an article for a newspaper summarizing what has happened.

ALL:
Masks due Friday
Simple Solutions Test on Thursday