Language Arts 9-30-13

All classes today:
*created flash cards on Figurative Language
*corrected Simple Solutions #13
*Hunger Games - discussed Chapter 8
Yale journal collected today.

Homework:
Princeton & Yale:
Read chapter 9, create a "Think and Note" sheet (at least one full page)
Simple Solutions 14
Current Events due on Wednesday
Princeton journals to be collected tomorrow

Harvard:
Study for Test on Hunger Games Part I
Current Events due Tuesday
Simple Solutions #14

Language Arts 9-27-13

ALL:  complete Simple Solutions #13
Current events (find an article especially if your families only receive the weekend paper) -- suggestions --  Syria weapons & U.N. ,  Kenya mall siege,  U.S. government budget & possible shut down


Princeton and Yale:
Read Hunger Games chapter 8; complete chapter analysis; study for a quiz on 7 & 8
Current event due Wednesday 10/2
Make sure purple journals are complete (entries 1-10; highlight the # of entry, date & title) -- will be collected on Monday.

Harvard:
Read Hunger Games chapter 9; complete team assigned job
Current event due Tuesday 10/1
Journals submitted on 9/27; will be returned next week.


This weekend -- do something kind for someone without being asked!

Language Arts 9-26-13

Princeton:
Study Simple Solutions; test on Friday Lessons 9 to 12;  packets will be collected.
Read The Hunger Games Chapter 7; complete a chapter analysis

Yale:
read The Hunger Games Chapter 7; complete a chapter analysis

Harvard:
read The Hunger Games Chapter 8; complete your team assigned job.

Language Arts 9-25-13

9-25-13


ALL:  get portfolios(binders) signed by parents.

Princeton --
Catch up night!  Reread Chapter 6; complete chapter analysis and "Think and Note."
Study Simple Solutions for Test on Friday, Be prepared to hand in packet of lessons 9-12.

Yale --
Catch up night!  Reread Chapter 6;  complete chapter analysis and "Think and Note."
Study Simple Solutions for Test on Thursday, Be prepared to hand in packet of lessons 9-12.

Harvard --
Read Chapter 7 and complete job assigned by the Literature Circle.
Study Simple Solutions for Test on Thursday, Be prepared to hand in packet of lessons 9-12.


What happened today:
Grammar exercises reviewing subject and predicates (Yale and Princeton);  reviewing possessive nouns (Harvard);  finished notes in Reading notebook on Characterization;  corrected Simple Solutions #12; discussion of The Hunger Games.

Language Arts 9-23-13

What we did today:
    took notes on characterization
    answered questions on Chapter 4 in the Hunger Games in our Reading Journal
    corrected Simple Solutions #10

Literature Circles:
   Princeton -- short write on why Katniss did not want Peeta to be chosen as tribute from District 12
   Yale -- drew District 12 using quotes from the book
   Harvard -- shared jobs (vocab, character, connection & discussion leader)

Homework:
   Princeton & Yale:  Read chapter 5 and complete a "Chapter Analysis" also known as our "Write and Note"
   Harvard:  Read chapter 5 and complete the job assigned to you by your group

All:
Simple Solutions #11
Review your notes

Upcoming:
Letter home from the West: final copy stapled to brainstorm sheet, editing sheet, & draft due on Wednesday 9/25

Language Arts Saturday, September 21st, 2013

Greetings Class of 2014,

Updates:

Friday, September 20th Homework due 9/23/13

Princeton & Yale:
read The Hunger Games Chapters 3 & 4,  complete a "Think and Note" sheet on each chapter;  it should be at least one page each;  stop to note sequence of events, vocab words, great lines from the story, questions you have, predictions, etc. (put down page #s -- you'll find it much easier to complete writing assignments that request that you use textural evidence -- you'll be able to turn to the page & look it up rather than paging through the novel again!)
Talk to someone about the novel & what is going on!

Simple Solutions Lesson 10
Harvard:
read Chapter 4 and complete the assigned job your team gave you.  Be maintaining your "Think and Note" sheets that we began the first chapter.
Simple Solutions 9 & 10

Grammar reviews -- if you are still struggling with the Simple Solutions Tests you need to:
1. do the lessons! (test comes directly from the lesson;  even some of the questions are the same!)
2. correct your lesson when we do so in class with a red pen that shows you what you have to go over & study
3. use the HELP pages at the end of the book to figure out ones that you are unsure of
4. google online "Grammar reviews" or use the websites I gave you to review


English:   WRITING   ASSESSMENT
Rewrite your "Letter Home from the West" for Wednesday,  9/25/13
This is your final!   Have your complete packet ready.  1. brainstorm sheet we did together 2. rough draft  3. editor's sheet (if you didn't have your homework last week, you will have to find someone to edit your work)  4. final letter (do not put your heading, just sign your first and last name to the letter; put on a date (remember you're in the 1850s, 60s, etc. depending on which events you are referencing from history).

THIS WEEKEND:
Do something kind for someone that no one asked you to do!

Language Arts Week of September 16th to 20th, 2013

Language Arts:

Yale & Harvard:
   Current events due 9/17; you have an instruction sheet; a C/E that we did together to use for help.
   Cut out an article from a newspaper or print from an online newspaper and attach to the back of your summary;  follow the format.
Princeton
  Current events due 9/18 (see above)

Monday:
Simple Solutions #7
Fantasy Book Reports were collected.
(Harvard: read The Hunger Games to page 20)

Tuesday:
Simple Solutions #8
(Princeton and Yale: read The Hunger Games to page 20, complete Chapter Graphic)

Wednesday  (Writers' Workshop)
Study for test
"I am from..." draft due.
Proofreading "Letters Home from the West" during class;  rewrite for a final draft
Take portfolios home for parent's signatures!
Read The Hunger Games,  complete task

Thursday:
Simple solutions Test (Lessons 5 to 8 to be handed in)
Parent signatures due on portfolios.
Read The Hunger Games,

Friday:
Simple Solutions #9
Read The Hunger Games

September 9th to September 13th, 2013 -- Language Arts

Language Arts:
    Focus on Literary element - Setting,  Literary technique/device - Irony
    Skill - inferencing
    Writing -- summarizing,  parts of speech

Monday:
Simple Solutions Lesson #3
Study for Tuesday's tests ("Ransom of Red Chief" - comprehension, vocabulary, ironies) (Skills:  Point of View, Setting and Irony)
Fantasy Novel -- finish reading this week; book report format/rubric handed out; due September 16th

Tuesday:
Simple Solutions Lesson #4
Tests today (hand in homework packet for "Ransom of Red Chief" which includes "think and Write," Vocabulary definitions, pg. 80 #3,4 (Harvard only),7,8  and 81 #1-10)
Author's Study:  O. Henry  (follow format) due Friday, September 13th

Wednesday:
Writing Workshop -- NOUNS, PRONOUNS, APPOSITIVES
Study your notes, practice on exercises
"I am from...."
Writing assignment -- Social Studies theme  "Going Westward" 

Thursday:
Simple Solutions Test #1 (Lessons 1-4)
Comprehension Check -- "Born Worker" 

Friday:
Simple Solutions Lesson #5
Finish reading your fantasy novel and complete book report  "Setting" -- see rubric handed out.


8th Grade Parent Meeting:
Thursday, September 12th at 5:15 p.m.

Forms:  ID card package,  health forms went home 9/10 from the school nurse listing requirements for school (immunizations, etc.),  School Code of conduct,  Eye check up form requiring parental permission  (please return by Wednesday!) Thanks.

Wendy's Night -- Monday 9/10 from 5:00 to 8:00
PTC Tile Sale -- buy a tile for the new building $15.00

Week of September 2nd, 2013 - September 6th, 2013

"What's in a Name" research project -- Due Date  Wednesday September 4th.

Simple Solutions Lesson one - 9/4,  Lesson two 9/6

Vocabulary words for "Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry
    (see page 69)  definition and part of speech

Read daily your choice of Fantasy Novel.

Current Events due Monday, September 9th.

What you should know...
  8 literary elements,  5 keys to success, 3 general categories of genres
  Literary element:  Point of View (5 types and be able to explain & pick them out)
  Literary device/technique:  Irony
  Strategies good readers use.


Techniques we've used:
      Think and Write!
      Volley discussion
      Word analysis
       Finding text evidence


We're off to a great start!
All grade book issues should be cleared up by this weekend.  All grades will be posted;  please check yours by Sunday, 9/8.
8th Grade News:
 Voting on luncheon and class trip on Friday 9/6;  announcement of results next week and at mandatory 8th Grade Parent Meeting on 9/12 at 5:15 p.m.
 Make sure all your forms are in!