Happy last week of school before break! I tried to send out an email reminder for the quiz tomorrow, but I'm not sure everyone received it.
So.....I'll try here: There is a quiz tomorrow on chapter 23 civics. The students know what they need to study (hints were given out on Monday)
---- this week though, instead of starting on chapter 16 - we continued with out study of the UN and other peace keeping organizations. Block one enjoyed hearing about the Peace Corps from a former student of mine, Sarah Slinker. We read The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry - and spent yesterday and today creating songs/stories/peoms/skits about peace. It has gone amazingly well and I am looking forward to seeing them performed in class tomorrow and Friday! It was a true gift yesterday to watch them ALL engaged in the collaborative process and overhear someone say, "This is the best thing I've ever done in school!" ---- Probably it's not the best, but none the less, they were really enjoying the activity :) We also have looked a bit more at other aspects of the UN (like UNESCO World Heritage Sites) and the roll of summits and diplomacy. Browsing through the web sites of peace organizations, it was reinforced that education is critical to democracy and world peace (we looked at the Peace Corps, Unisef, World Vision and others). I hope they take a week of peace study with them over the holdays --- I know I have felt enriched by unit as well :)
After the quiz and the presentations - I will be giving the intro to Night of the Notables - please have some conversations with your student regarding thier thoughts on this project.
FYI - choice book journals are due on January 9th
Enjoy the vacation and I wish for all of you peaceful moments amidst plenty of joy!
kw
Thursday, December 12, 2013
post and pre holiday update
Well hello :) I have had issues with this blog...again :( Thankfully today, after clicking a few more buttons, we seem to be up and running again!
First - I was out of the classroom with a family emergency (my mother broke her elbow and required surgery just a day before Thanksgiving). The kids were in the capable hands of Mrs. Grow. She wrapped up our disabilities literature circle with them. They read Raymond's Run in our literature book, enjoyed welcoming Mrs. Cartwright (our counselor) into the classroom to share her experience as a mom of a child with autism, and finished Temple Grandin - the movie.
Currently -
In English and Civics - we have been learning about Nelson Mandela and South African apartheid. These topics provide a review of the Cycle of Power - forms of government - ideal citizenship (preparing for Night of the Notables) - and foreign relations.
Chapter 23 Civics - all three sections - reading focus ?s and key terms at the beginning of each section are due at the end of class on Friday.
Quiz on chapter 23 will likely be scheduled for Tuesday of next week. 12/17
There will be classtime today and tomorrow as we work our way through the National Geography Bee (7 rounds).
Next week - we will start chapter 16 on the justice system - this will continue after break.
Finally - students will be introduced to Night of the Notables so they may begin the process of exploring possible choices for their notable. We will begin the formal process of reseach in February, but independent research using such sources and biography.com is very useful for narrowing the scope of choices.
First - I was out of the classroom with a family emergency (my mother broke her elbow and required surgery just a day before Thanksgiving). The kids were in the capable hands of Mrs. Grow. She wrapped up our disabilities literature circle with them. They read Raymond's Run in our literature book, enjoyed welcoming Mrs. Cartwright (our counselor) into the classroom to share her experience as a mom of a child with autism, and finished Temple Grandin - the movie.
Currently -
In English and Civics - we have been learning about Nelson Mandela and South African apartheid. These topics provide a review of the Cycle of Power - forms of government - ideal citizenship (preparing for Night of the Notables) - and foreign relations.
Chapter 23 Civics - all three sections - reading focus ?s and key terms at the beginning of each section are due at the end of class on Friday.
Quiz on chapter 23 will likely be scheduled for Tuesday of next week. 12/17
There will be classtime today and tomorrow as we work our way through the National Geography Bee (7 rounds).
Next week - we will start chapter 16 on the justice system - this will continue after break.
Finally - students will be introduced to Night of the Notables so they may begin the process of exploring possible choices for their notable. We will begin the formal process of reseach in February, but independent research using such sources and biography.com is very useful for narrowing the scope of choices.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Today we had the wonderful experience of a field trip to PHS for a dramatic presentation on Japanese American internment (imprisonment). We will cover this piece of history later in the year so it was an excellent pre-teaching experience for the kids.
In English...everyone should be through section 3 of their literature circle book and packet by Wednesday and finished with their book and packet by Friday. There is class time for reading, but most kids need to read at home in order to finish.
In Civics.... Chapter 5 sections 1 and 2 should be finished....section 3 is due Wednesday
And a small quiz will follow on Thursday. Encourage the use of flash cards!
Thank-you notes are also being done this week. For my home room...a sock for the sock drive and a ticket for the sock hop are available in exchange for an extra thank you letter :)
Trotting and hopping on Friday should be good fun! My entire home room, in the spirit of supporting our school community, will all be participating :)
Choice books for 2nd quarter that were checked out from the library are due December 1st. Please encourage students to finish this up over break!
In English...everyone should be through section 3 of their literature circle book and packet by Wednesday and finished with their book and packet by Friday. There is class time for reading, but most kids need to read at home in order to finish.
In Civics.... Chapter 5 sections 1 and 2 should be finished....section 3 is due Wednesday
And a small quiz will follow on Thursday. Encourage the use of flash cards!
Thank-you notes are also being done this week. For my home room...a sock for the sock drive and a ticket for the sock hop are available in exchange for an extra thank you letter :)
Trotting and hopping on Friday should be good fun! My entire home room, in the spirit of supporting our school community, will all be participating :)
Choice books for 2nd quarter that were checked out from the library are due December 1st. Please encourage students to finish this up over break!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The good news of the day: your kids are committed to writing and spent a good hour engaged in revising their amendment argumentative essays.
The bad news of the day: nearly a third of my 90 students did not complete their small homework assignment for English over the 3 day weekend. In truth, many were finished before the weekend, and they had ample time (today was an extended due date). Far too few of them are using any form of a calendar or other organizational system. Please ask them at home to show you their "system" for keeping track of due dates etc... I am allowing for partial credit tomorrow. If you see a reduced score on Skyward, lateness is likely the cause. (On a positive note....if you see a partial score, your student at least cared enough to make amends)
PS their assignment was the first section of their literature circle. Journal and job.
The bad news of the day: nearly a third of my 90 students did not complete their small homework assignment for English over the 3 day weekend. In truth, many were finished before the weekend, and they had ample time (today was an extended due date). Far too few of them are using any form of a calendar or other organizational system. Please ask them at home to show you their "system" for keeping track of due dates etc... I am allowing for partial credit tomorrow. If you see a reduced score on Skyward, lateness is likely the cause. (On a positive note....if you see a partial score, your student at least cared enough to make amends)
PS their assignment was the first section of their literature circle. Journal and job.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Due dates often change (later, never earlier ) due to assembly schedules or school activities that cause a large number of students to be absent. I adjusted the essay due date to Thursday. We may have lab time for computer processing on Tuesday, if not....at-home work will be necessary. If that is not workable...please communicate with me :)
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Quick update....written once already and then accidentally deleted. Oh technology, how I love and loathe you!
English:
We turned in Poe note organizers in the shape of a Raven on Tuesday.
Our disabilities themed literature circle is well under way. Students should be reading and working on their packets at home.
We will also be working on an in-class argumentative essay on their most treasured amendment. We are using the Smarter Balanced rubric that aligns with the Common Core Standards (ask to see it) Most of the work will be done in class. Only fine tuning and typing will happen at home. This will be due on Tuesday of next week.
In Civics... Chapter 5 Reading Focus questions and the Key terms are due Wednesday. Chapter 6 will follow.
If your student claims to have no work , they can always continue reading their choice books and complete their 40 entry dialectical journal. :)
English:
We turned in Poe note organizers in the shape of a Raven on Tuesday.
Our disabilities themed literature circle is well under way. Students should be reading and working on their packets at home.
We will also be working on an in-class argumentative essay on their most treasured amendment. We are using the Smarter Balanced rubric that aligns with the Common Core Standards (ask to see it) Most of the work will be done in class. Only fine tuning and typing will happen at home. This will be due on Tuesday of next week.
In Civics... Chapter 5 Reading Focus questions and the Key terms are due Wednesday. Chapter 6 will follow.
If your student claims to have no work , they can always continue reading their choice books and complete their 40 entry dialectical journal. :)
Monday, October 28, 2013
Happy Fall! This week will bring a flurry of leaves, dropping temps, conferences, the turn in of our amendment project (today), an amendment quiz (tomorrow) and POE FEST (which is just code for learning about Edgar Allen Poe and the genre of horror and suspense ). Very quick and very fun...rest assured we keep it 8th grade appropriate :)
We had a good turn in for the amendment project today....a few students assured me it would be in tomorrow. Please check Skyward tomorrow to check on your student's on-time status.
I look forward to chatting with many of you this week. Stay warm and encourage your student to curl up with their 2nd quarter choice book and journal :)
We had a good turn in for the amendment project today....a few students assured me it would be in tomorrow. Please check Skyward tomorrow to check on your student's on-time status.
I look forward to chatting with many of you this week. Stay warm and encourage your student to curl up with their 2nd quarter choice book and journal :)
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