Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Journal entry
    "all the glitters is not gold" -- CLOSE READING!!  interpret

    "All the world's a stage......"

We took our Parallel Journeys test on chapters 9-17; we corrected in class & reviewed chapters 16 & 17.

We took notes on Poetry, discussed our Poetry group project & met in groups.

We handed in our short write on Chapters 15, 16, 17.

HOMEWORK:

Read 18 & 19 of Parallel Journeys, do a Think & Note

Your two original poems are due...."If I were in Charge of the World..."
and a poem with rhyme modeled after "The Germ" by Ogden Nash.

SADLIER LESSON 4 delayed due date until Monday!!; Quiz will be taken then.


EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY:
    In honor of National Police Week....write a card thanking a police officer.  Address it
"Dear Officer,"  sign only your first name,  grade level and Nathan Hale School -- due tomorrow!!

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Today we discussed and identified key terms from Chapters 11 to 14 of Parallel Journeys.  We read most of Chapter 15 together and worked on a Think and Note together.

We completed a Short Write choosing to present
    Alfon's rise in the Hitler Youth to a pilot
    Describe deportation
    Describe procedures at the concentration camp
    The assassination attempt on Hitler's life

(we highlighted leads and underlined thesis statements).

We took our Simple Solutions test.

HOMEWORK:
Sadlier lesson 4 due Friday; we will take our quiz
Poems (delayed until Friday)
Finish reading Chapter 15, read 16, & 17;  create a Think and Note; prepare for test tomorrow on Chapters 9 to 17.

Monday and Tuesday, April 27th & 28th, 2015

PARCC TESTING!
    Catch up on current assignments or missing work in between.
    Read your Parallel Journeys.


What's coming up:

Wednesday:
     Think and Notes on Chapters 11 & 12, 13 & 14 due for Parallel Journeys
     We'll be reading 15-17 and getting ready for TEST #2 on chapters 9 to 17
     Simple Solutions Test on Chapters 69-72

Thursday:
      Poems due
      Test -- Parallel Journeys #2

Friday:
      Sadlier Lesson 4 due
      Think and Note due on Chapters 18 & 19 Parallel Journeys
   

Poems -- Create Your Own -- due 4/30

1. Choose a noun to describe; create your own poem with rhyme and rhythm modeled after Ogden Nash's "The Germ"

 The Germ   by Ogden Nash

 

 A mighty creature is the germ,

 Though smaller than the pachyderm.

 His customary dwelling place

 Is deep within the human race.

 His childish pride he often pleases

 By giving people strange diseases.

 Do you, my poppet, feel infirm?

 You probably contain a germ.

2. Create your original "If I were in Charge of the World" modeled after Judy Viorst's poem...

If I were in charge of the world
I'd cancel oatmeal,
Monday mornings,
Allergy shots, and also Sara Steinberg.

If I were in charge of the world
There'd be brighter nights lights,
Healthier hamsters, and
Basketball baskets forty eight inches lower.

If I were in charge of the world
You wouldn't have lonely.
You wouldn't have clean.
You wouldn't have bedtimes.
Or "Don't punch your sister."
You wouldn't even have sisters.

If I were in charge of the world
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts would be a vegetable
All 007 movies would be G,
And a person who sometimes forgot to brush,
And sometimes forgot to flush,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world. 

Judith Viorst

Friday, April 24th, 2015

Today we completed the Practice Guide for our Simple Solutions Test on Lessons 69-72; we corrected it together.
We completed an "inferencing activity" to prepare for the PARCC test on Monday.
We continued our notes on Poetry, focusing on Sound.
We discussed Parallel Journeys, chapters 9 & 10; students turned in their Think and Notes.
Current events was collected.

Yale & Princeton finished an "exit ticket" to assess their initial knowledge of poetry.

Homework:
Read Chapters 11 & 12, complete a Think and Note
Read Chapters 13 & 14, complete a Think and Note  (both are due Wednesday, April 29th)

Write your own poems:
1.    "If I was in charge of the world..."
2.    write an 8 line poem using rhythm and rhyme describing a noun (pattern like "A Germ" by Ogden Nash)

Study for first grammar test of quarter on Wednesday April 29th.  Lessons 69-72 (you have the study guide).

Red binders will be collected on Monday for grading.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Today students took a test on chapters 1-8 of Parallel Journeys.  We went over answers together.
Think and Note # 7 & 8 was collected.  We discussed the Non-Aggression Pact between Russia and Germany, its violation, and Hitler's takeover of Holland.

Yale & Princeton corrected SS#72.

All continued notes on Poetry, discussing the element: SOUND --  Rhyme and Rhythm.

HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 9 & 10, complete an annotation, Think and Note
Current Events due tomorrow
MAP Practice activities (complete one a day and record)
Begin work on an original poem (think of our model "The Germ" by Ogden Nash) -- 8 lines using a rhyme scheme and rhythm (due next Thursday).

8th Grade News:
Monday and Tuesday PARCC testing
Blue Man Group Trip lunch choices & permission slips were passed out today; please return promptly; deadline Wednesday April 29th.
Flocking Flamingoes -- bring in your 25 cents daily!!

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Students completed a Short Write using their "Think and Note" on Chapters 5 & 6.  Three choices included:
  A. September 1939, W.W. II declared after Germany invaded Poland.  Describe the takeover and how the Germans treated the Poles after the invasion.
B.   Dunkirk.  Describe what happened.
C.   How did Germany's takeover of Holland affect Helen's life?

Students took down definitions of vocabulary words (prejudice, stereotypes, bias, etc.)

We corrected Simple Solutions #71.

Poetry Unit:
    Reviewed "FFISS" and took notes on Form and Sound.

HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 7 & 8 in Parallel Journeys (annotate on a Think and Note).
Finish Simple Solutions #72
Current event due Friday
MAP practice (daily 15 minutes!)
Binder signature