Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Language Arts:
We started Journal entry #8 about clothes.  How are we judged by the clothing we wear?  Do clothes give power?  What do they say about us?  Connect with Katniss and Peeta's outfits for the Hunger Games.
We recorded and discussed vocabulary for Part II of the Hunger Games.
Discuss 13 & 14.  Comprehension quiz.
Check SS #13.
We went over the test for Lessons 9-12.


Homework:
Simple Solutions #14
The Hunger Games Chapter   15, 16 -- do your job or your worksheet
SS Test Corrections due Friday.  Retests by Monday afterschool.


DUE 10/8/14 -- go online and complete these exercises;  on looseleaf write the website, list the # of the exercise and the name; list your score.

www.roadtogrammar.com

Subject of the Sentence #311

Predicates #239

Prepositions #241

Noun or verb #177

http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/

    Identify predicate

    Identify subject

     Preposition quiz

     Pronoun quiz

Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

Language Arts:
  Today we took our Simple Solutions Test on Lessons 9-12.   Princeton and Harvard charted their Reading FALL MAP scores;  these documents are found behind Tab One in the red binder.
  We discussed The Hunger Games.  We took notes on Character Motivation.
  We completed an exercise on using context clues to discover meaning of vocabulary words.

Homework:
   Simple Solutions #13
   Read Chapters 13 & 14 (complete either job or Story map)
   register on newsela.com  (codes were given during class)

Monday, September 29, 2014

Today we created two flashcards:  foreshadowing and flashback
We reviewed how to study for our Simple Solutions Test tomorrow.  We took notes on Sentences, Verbs & Prepositions.
We discussed Hunger Games & were assigned Literature Circle jobs or Chapter maps.

Homework:
Study for test on Simple Solutions #9,10,11,12
Read Chapter 12 and complete either Story Map or Circle Job

Friday, September 26th, 2014

Language Arts:
    We took notes on Characterization (the Psychology, Sociology, Physiology -- traits).  We corrected Simple Solutions Lesson 12.  Literature Circles met and discussed Chapter 9.  Literature Circles worked on settings.
Students took an assessment on Part I.

Homework:
  Read Chapters 10 & 11 and complete your job.  Study Simple Solutions for test on Tuesday.

Thursday, September 25th, 2014

Language Arts:
Today we continued our notes on the Literary Element of Character.  We reviewed static, dynamic, round, flat, protagonist, antagonist.
We completed a grammar review exercise identifying nouns, pronouns and verbs in our black & white grammar notebook.
We met with our Literature Circles to assign jobs for chapter 8/9.  Tomorrow team packets for Chapters 5/6, 7 and 8/9 will be collected for grading.
We continued our viewing of The Hunger Games and comparing the movie & the book.
We grading Simple Solutions #11

Homework:
Review for Test on Part I -- chapters 1-9 & vocabulary
Simple Solutions #12
Job for 7/8
Binder signature

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Students recorded Common Language
Corrected Simple Solutions 9 & 10
Literature Circles met;  students read in class chapter 9 of The Hunger Games; they completed a job for 8 & 9; worked on their team settings

Homework:
   Read Chapter 10 and complete job
   Simple Solutions 11
   Test corrections

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014

Today students recorded Common Language -- Bystander, Upstander, Hero, Bully.....
We took the Beginning of the Year REACH assessment.
Room 216 took their Reading MAP test.

Homework:
Read Chapter 8 of Hunger Games -- no job tonight
Complete Lesson 10 of Simple Solutions
Work on S.S. test corrections due Thursday

Monday, September 22, 2014

Language Arts:

Today we created general categories for our journal entry on identity.  We discussed the ways people identify us.
We completed a Readers' Theatre on The Giver and discussed another piece of SciFi literature.
We took notes on the Literary Element: Characterization.
We discussed Chapters 5 & 6 of Hunger Games; Literature Circles met to assign tonight's jobs.
We corrected our Simple Solutions Tests -- formal corrections are due Thursday.

Homework:
Simple Solutions Test Corrections are due Thursday.
Test retakes must be completed by Friday.
Reading: The Hunger Games Read chapter 7 and complete your job.
Author Study on O.Henry due tomorrow.
Simple Solutions Lesson 9

Friday, September 19, 2014

Language Arts:
   Today we took our Simple Solutions test.  A literature circle was modeled by one team; teams met to examine their jobs on Chapter 4.  Teams began citing evidence to describe an assigned setting.
Princeton -- read "Are you a Loser?" and constructed a sample Current Events.
Students printed their "I am from.." poems.

Homework:
   Hunger Games: read Chapter 5 & 6 (complete your job - add one item and do  1/2 on 5 and 1/2 on 6;  i.e. if you are Discussion Director, construct 3 questions from Chapter 5 and 3 from Chapter 6.)

   Current Events:  look for articles on the group ISIS and the new crisis faced by the world community or an article about Scotland's vote for independence from Great Britain.

   Author Study on O. Henry is due Tuesday.

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

LANGUAGE ARTS:

Room 215 took their NWEA MAP MATH Fall test.

Reading:
  We created two flash cards on Setting.  We read an article entitled "Are you a Loser?" from Scholastic Scope magazine.  We created a Current Event summary so that students have a model when they begin their own current events this weekend.   Our Literature Circles met and discussed Chapter 3 of our novel.  Jobs were assigned for Chapter 4.
 We corrected Simple Solutions #8.


Homework:
   Study for Simple Solutions test on lessons 5, 6, 7, 8
   Read Chapter 4 of The Hunger Games and complete your job (your job should be done on a sheet of looseleaf to hand in to your team leader)
   I am from.....  finals are due tomorrow.  Type it, save it on a flash drive or email it to yourself or to me for printing.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Language Arts:

Today we read a non-fiction article "What's in a Name?"  We looked for unfamiliar words and tried to find meaning through context.  We discussed the "big idea" of the article and how our identity is tied to our names.
We finished our notes on the literary element of Setting.
We formed our Literature Circles, discussed procedure, and assigned jobs for tonight's reading of Chapter 3.  Students received a handout describing each job.  We discussed Chapter 2 focusing on symbolism and irony.
We corrected Simple Solutions #7 and handed in our Chapter Map for 1 & 2.

Homework:
Read Chapter 3 of the Hunger Games and complete your job on looseleaf.
Simple Solutions #8
Type your poem "I am from.."  bring your flashdrive to school to print it.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Language Arts:
   In class today.....
Journal entry #6 -- comprehension questions for Hunger Games Chapter One

•1. What is the reaping and why is it held?

•2. What is the history of Panem?  Why are the Hunger Games held?

•3. What is tesserae? Explain how this puts kids in increased danger of selection.

•4. Describe Katniss and her family situation.

We discussed Chapter One of The Hunger Games and began filling in the Character chart together.  We examined the history of Panem and the Games.

We created three additional sheets for our novel study:

    1. IDIOMS (and we added two together)

    2 IRONIES (we modeled a verbal irony)

    3. LUMINATING LINES  (we listed "and may the odds be ever in your favor" pg. 8 and 19

We handed in our Simple Solutions Test corrections.

We took notes on the Literary Element SETTING.

We corrected Simple Solutions #6.

Homework:

WRITING:    Simple Solutions #7,  publish your "I am from..." by Friday  (bring in on a flashdrive and print in school);  last day to retake Simple Solutions Test #1 is tomorrow (Wednesday either before or after school -- bring a note from home giving permission to stay).

READING:  Read Chapter Two of the Hunger Games and complete the story map (it will be collected tomorrow). 

                     Author Study:  O. Henry due 9/23/14

Don't forget FORMS,  SUPPLIES (paper towels, kleenex, copy paper, wipe), and SCHOOL FEES!

er family situation.

Monday, September 15th, 2014

Language Arts:
Today we copied our Enduring Understandings, Essential Questions and Skills for our unit on Power.
We completed Journal entry #5 on Power.
We discussed and defined our first set of Vocabulary words for The Hunger Games Part I and will keep them in tab #3.
 We modeled a literature circle and "face time" through a discussion of who we see with power, how they achieved it, share it, hold it.
  We corrected Simple Solutions #5.
  We received our novel, The Hunger Games, filled out an index card indicating which book we had, got a plastic baggie with a label to keep the book in, and began reading Chapter one.  We examined the country of Panem and discussed the introduction to the novel.

READING
   Finish reading Chapter One of The Hunger Games and complete the Chapter Map worksheet received during class.

WRITING:
   Simple Solutions #6;  finish test corrections;  publish "I am from..." on a flash drive.  (Keep the exact format that you find in the model poem.)

Friday, September 12, 2014

Language Arts:
  Today we took a quiz on our homework reading story, "Ransom of Red Chief."   Our  notes and discussions focused on the Literary technique/device -- irony.  We viewed a video adaptation of O. Henry's story.  We went over our discussion questions and they were collected.
   Our drafts of "I am from..." were collected.
  We received our Simple Solutions Test back and learned how to do corrections.  These are due on Tuesday, 9/15.  Students were given a worksheet to follow.  If they have more corrections than will fit, looseleaf can be used.
   Sheets were sent home for parents' contact information and helpful insights into their child's learning style or insights.  These are being handed in as completed.

Homework:
Due 9/15
   Simple Solutions #5
   Finish final paper ("Publish") on "We Learned it All in Kindergarten."
   Research project "What's in a Name?"

Due 9/16
Simple Solutions test corrections


If you had difficulty with the Grammar Test, go on www.roadtogrammar.com and complete some of the exercises and quizzes to review.  Retests must be taken before school on Mon, Tues, Weds or after school on Mon or Tues.  Deadline is  9/17.

IRONY -- relationship between the narrator and the story he/she tells
   Three types we focused on:
       Situational
       Dramatic
       Verbal

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Language Arts
   Today in Harvard and Yale, we discussed the meaning of 9/11 and the events that occurred 13 years ago.  We tied our discussion into our themes of identity and power.
  We took our Simple Solutions Test on lessons 1-4.  We completed Journal Entry #4  "Who had the power in "Charles?"  (Cite text evidence to support your opinion;  did power change hands?  explain)

We finished notes on Point of View and reviewed the five types.

We created an author study of Shirley Jackson, modeling how to do complete this research.  Students received a guide to insert in their notebook in section 3

We watched "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. We discussed the ownership of power in this short story.  We began discussing the terminology: upstander, bystander, bully-perpetrator, and bullied-victim.

HOMEWORK:
Read "Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry on pages 69-79.  Complete comprehension and critical thinking questions on page 80 (#s 1, 3, 7).  Write in complete sentences, in ink, on looseleaf.

"I am from...." draft due tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Language Arts:
Today we created two flash cards: Genre & Irony
We discussed our "What's in a Name?" project due 9/15
We read a poem called "I am from.." and discussed our assignment to personalize the poem to fit our lives.  This completed worksheet is due 9/12 (Friday).
We corrected Simple Solutions #3 & 4.

Homework:
Simple Solutions Test on Lessons 1,2,3,4
Sign binder
"I am from..." due 9/12
"What's in a Name?" due 91/5

Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

Language Arts:

Today we received and organized our red portfolios, added dividers and essential sheets.  We punched our flash cards & received our rings to file them on.
We finished "Charles" and discussed Point of View and Irony.
The English essay on Kindergarten was collected.

Homework:
Vocabulary words for "Ransom of Red Chief" page 69
Simple Solutions #4

Long range project:  What's in a Name? due Monday, September 15th.

Monday, September 8th, 2014

Language Arts:
    Today we reviewed the 8 parts of speech; we took a pre-test on Nouns.
We took notes on Nouns -- abstract vs. concrete;  collective, compound, common, Proper.
We corrected SS#2.
We finished listening to "Charles."  We began discussing irony.

Homework:
SS#3
Two paragraph essay on Kindergarten due tomorrow.
Review Nouns


8th Grade News
    There has been some confusion regarding clear backpacks.   In the past, the 8th graders did not carry back packs during the day.  Some students asked  if they got clear ones, could they carry them?  This was approved.   This policy will continue this year.  If they want to carry their books & things in a backpack during the day from class to class, they can do so in a clear backpack only.

Don't forget to get all your forms in.  Students took home the Language Arts Policies and class outline.  They also had a Movie/Novel permission form that needed parental signatures.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Language Arts
Today we created 8 flash cards -- one for each part of speech.
   Label each "Grammar"
                     Parts of Speech"
                       Noun -- (define and give examples)
We corrected Simple Solutions #1
We reviewed our vocabulary from "Charles."
Some classes began listening to Charles and completing a Short Write.

Homework:
Simple Solutions #2 (due Monday 9/8)
Learn what a noun is and be able to pick them out.  use the website www.roadtogrammar.com
Finish your two paragraph essay on Kindergarten (due Tuesday 9/9)

Don't forget to return the remainder of your forms:
Movie permission
Brown envelopes
Dental, Lunch, etc.

Please bring your supplies:
paper towels, kleenex, copy paper, wipes

Have a good weekend.

Thursday, September 4th, 2014

Language Arts:
  Today we completed Reading Journal entry #3  "Identity"
(we bullet pointed words and phrases that would identify us -- American, Nathan Hale 8th grader, etc.)
  We took notes on Genre and practiced the Literary Elements.  We took our test on Literary Elements and the Five Keys to Success.  We examined our Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions for our first unit.  Homework (the Interest Survey) was collected.  Students copied down the vocabulary words and definitions for "Charles."

Homework:
Review vocabulary words
Complete Simple Solutions Lesson #1 (pages 2 & 3) write in the book.
Work on two paragraph essay on the article about kindergarten (due Tuesday).

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014

Language Arts:


Homework for Tonight:
     1. Complete Interest Survey due 9/4
    2.  Study for Quiz
          (What do I need to know? -- The 8 Literary Elements & the 5 keys to success)
Literary Elements:
 Character, Mood, Plot, Point of View, Setting, Style, Theme, Tone
5 Keys to Success:
  Personal Best, Positive Attitude, Respect, Responsibility, Teamwork

$5.00 due for Binders for Reading & math
All forms need to be signed and returned.
Movie permission forms to be signed and returned.

Long term assignment due 9/9/14 (Tuesday)
    Rewrite the reflection about the article "We Learned It All in Kindergarten" using the techniques we discussed to "elevate" your writing!  Use INK or type double spaced.