Happy to  return to school after the WIND so rudely interrupted! I had planned to give a quiz on Friday, but with a day less instruction, we are not where we need to be - so the quiz for Friday has been blown to the Friday following break.  

In English - we are beginning our adventure with Shakespeare's Mid Summer Night's Dream

In History - we finally have BOOKS! I am in the process of counting and checking invoices before we can begin to put them to use - but after break we should be able to start our pilot of the materials.  

Meanwhile - we are nearly to the point of the Revolution and our study of the Constitution.  

Students should also have their 2nd q. choice book selected and should be reading over the breaks and working on their "dialectical journals" ---- these are due one week before the end of 2nd quarter.  

I hope you all enjoy the break of Thanksgiving! Mrs. W

Procrastination prevention

Please remind your student that their Literature Circle book and packet need to fully completed by Monday! 3 days off is a long time to forget...a little nudging might help avoid last minute panic! Thank you for your help at home! kw

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall!
Today we are excited to welcome Vicki Leeper from Moscow's Disability Action Center.  She is sharing a Smithsonian visual history of disabilities in America.  Her presentation is a great addition to our study of the role of government (the American Disabilities Act) and our Literature Circles that center on characters with disabilities.  We will also learn about the Special Olympics next week and take a look and the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign.  If you are interested, look at: www.r-word.org


Our goal is to finish the books by Thursday October 8th. 


In US History we are hoping to have actual books sometime soon! In the meantime, we are working through a packet that looks at the variety of cultures that contribute to the population of Colonial America.  We are using the PBS series We Shall Remain.  You can find this online if you too are interested. 


Reminder....The 1st Quarter Choice Book Dialectic Journal is due October 23rd. 


Please check in with your student regarding their progress with their dialectical journal.   Happy reading and writing!!!


Kristen Walker

The word of the week is, "Prudent"....

We are off and learning (I hope!).  The first few weeks are always filled with so much "good for the order" details.  Hopefully, we are all on the same page and ready to keep our momentum through the rest of the year!

The next few weeks:

Literature Circles --- theme: disabilities
You should see reading,  journaling and "jobs" happening at home.  There is class time, but some students will need to continue their work at home.  There are group discussions at the end of each section, so keeping current on their reading is very important!

Quarterly Choice Book Journals are due the week prior to the end of each quarter (4th quarter's is due 2 weeks prior)  First quarter's due date is: October 23rd (the week prior to conferences)

In US history - we are hoping to have books in our classroom in the next month (pending final approval from Paul Sturm) In the meantime, we are working through a packet that details the different cultural groups that migrated to America (some by choice, some by force).  We are also looking at settlement in America through the lens of language with a PBS series called, "Do You Speak American" --- we will soon begin a more in depth look at the early Native American Experience and the first Colonists with use of the series, "We Shall Remain"

We also will spend a bit of time online on the plimoth.org website ---- fun interactive looks at the first settlement.

So many things to think about!

It's a gray Thursday kind of day and I think the students and myself are feeling a bit foggy as well.  Tough to shake the holiday sleep routines and get back to the business of doing school.  That being said, school must go on, so here is an update for the next couple of weeks as we head towards the end of the semester on January 23rd.
 


In English -
 - The 2nd quarter choice book journal is due on the 15th.  It would normally be due on the Friday before the end of the quarter, but I will be gone to a conference on the 16th - so the kids were warned of the one day early turn in date.
- We will start Animal Farm on Monday 1/11 - you should see a bit of reading of the book at home.
In Civics -
- Along with our reading of Animal Farm in English - we will be working with a chart called, The Cycle of Power.  Students will be testing on this chart and information regarding different types of governments.  (This is in preparation for looking at the Constitution)
- We are continuing our study of the Revolutionary War and looking at the concepts of freedom and the rights of individuals. We are watching the PBS video that examines the roles of African Americans during this time period.


*** Today we also read 2 articles in the Spokesman Review on the tragic terrorist attack in France.  Students are understandably concerned and have lots of questions.  We discussed the idea of Freedom of Speech and whether or not they thought that right was completely open or if there should be some limitations.  Please consider having further discussion on individual rights at home. (the topic of dress codes and hats was particularly intriguing for most of the kids.   

Read, REad, REAd, READ!!!!

Hope this finds you enjoying a bit of our "balmyish" weather! 


In English:  You should see your student reading their Literature Circle Book and working on their packet --- they received extended time due to my absences last week - and quite a few students are not current with their packet assignments.  Please ask to see the work they are doing for the book.  They should all be through their first 2 journals and jobs --- their 3 journal/job is due on Thursday of this week.


In History:  They have a quiz on Friday covering the "Road to Revolution" --- they should have packet notes and by tomorrow a timeline to study. 


Please encourage your student to continue working through their 2nd q. choice book and journal as well --- this will be due one week before the end of 2nd q in January. 

Hope you're staying warm --- I know kids here at LMS have needed plenty of reminders that weather in the teens is dangerous not just uncomfortable.  Please encourage your student to stash a hat and some gloves in the backpack in the event we needed to go outside for an unplanned drill.


In class this week:


While most classes had time in class - not all students completed Chapter 2 section 1 Civics - the reading checks and the key terms (p30) are due tomorrow - Thursday 11/13.


Chapter 2 section 2 will likely be completed in class.


Continue to encourage work on their 2nd quarter choice book.