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 :)
Friday, October 18, 2013
The end is here! Of first quarter that is :)
In English: An essay in our literature book on the Supreme Court case, Brown vs Board of Education, is supplementing our Civics course work. The work is being done in class - unless a student has been absent - then checking out a book will be necessary to complete the work.
In Civics: We are busy! First - we are continuing with our study of the branches of government - this week we are looking more in depth at the Supreme Court - specifically Plessy vs Ferguson and Brown vs Board of Ed - in addition to the 14th Amendment.
The students also received a homework project that is due on 10/28 - details follow below.
Amendments Pamphlet Project:
You will need to:
1. Think about the examples shown in class.
2. Use your text book, notes and handouts as your guide.
3. Create an accurate, tidy and polished looking pamphlet for 10 of the 27 amendments to the US Constitution.
• At least 5 of your chosen amendments need to come from the Bill of Rights (chapter 4 section 1) – the other 5 amendments are your choice – but I would encourage you to choose from the list of suggested amendments named in #6 of this handout.
4. Provide the # of the amendment, give it a title and write a brief summary of each amendment.
5. Provide an image that represents each amendment.
• These images (pictures) may be from a computer, a magazine, a family photo or drawn by hand (no stick figures please!) – Please let me know if you need help with materials.
6. The suggested other amendments are the 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 26th (ch. 4 section 2)
Scoring:
Each amendment (#, title, summary) is worth 1 point
_________ 10 points possible
Each image provided is worth 2 points
_________ 20 points possible
Overall tidiness of the project
__________10 points possible
Grand total points possible – /40
Xtra Credit possible – up to 15 points for up to 5 additional amendments. /15 XC
Following the turn in of these pamphlets there will be a quiz on all the amendments in the Bill of Rights (chapter 4 section 1) and the additional amendments named in #6 of this handout (chapter 4 section 2).
I would suggest flashcards and playing “Do I Have a Right?” at www.icivics.org in order to help you prepare for the test
In English: An essay in our literature book on the Supreme Court case, Brown vs Board of Education, is supplementing our Civics course work. The work is being done in class - unless a student has been absent - then checking out a book will be necessary to complete the work.
In Civics: We are busy! First - we are continuing with our study of the branches of government - this week we are looking more in depth at the Supreme Court - specifically Plessy vs Ferguson and Brown vs Board of Ed - in addition to the 14th Amendment.
The students also received a homework project that is due on 10/28 - details follow below.
Amendments Pamphlet Project:
You will need to:
1. Think about the examples shown in class.
2. Use your text book, notes and handouts as your guide.
3. Create an accurate, tidy and polished looking pamphlet for 10 of the 27 amendments to the US Constitution.
• At least 5 of your chosen amendments need to come from the Bill of Rights (chapter 4 section 1) – the other 5 amendments are your choice – but I would encourage you to choose from the list of suggested amendments named in #6 of this handout.
4. Provide the # of the amendment, give it a title and write a brief summary of each amendment.
5. Provide an image that represents each amendment.
• These images (pictures) may be from a computer, a magazine, a family photo or drawn by hand (no stick figures please!) – Please let me know if you need help with materials.
6. The suggested other amendments are the 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 26th (ch. 4 section 2)
Scoring:
Each amendment (#, title, summary) is worth 1 point
_________ 10 points possible
Each image provided is worth 2 points
_________ 20 points possible
Overall tidiness of the project
__________10 points possible
Grand total points possible – /40
Xtra Credit possible – up to 15 points for up to 5 additional amendments. /15 XC
Following the turn in of these pamphlets there will be a quiz on all the amendments in the Bill of Rights (chapter 4 section 1) and the additional amendments named in #6 of this handout (chapter 4 section 2).
I would suggest flashcards and playing “Do I Have a Right?” at www.icivics.org in order to help you prepare for the test
Monday, October 14, 2013
***** Reminder ***** This Symbol on Skyward means that your student's score has not yet been entered or they have been excused ***** The only time this should concern you is when a quiz or test is showing an * - in which case it will become a zero if they do not schedule a time to take a missed quiz or test prior to the end of the grading period.
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On a different note - we finished our first quarter choice book - the kids did an exceptionally good job of journaling and discussing thier books. We are choosing a new book for second quarter on Wednesday - look for reading and journaling at home :) The due dates on library books for this choice book will be December 1st.
In Civics - we have been learning about the branches of government - the Shut Down - the powers of each branch - the checks on each branch - and Judicial Review (Marbury vs. Madison)
Encourage your student to play icivics.org --- a great site with Civics oriented games developed by Sandra Day O'Connor.
Finally - we have a quiz on p. 95 Civics tomorrow --- they made color coded flashcards in class today - please ask them a few questions if you get the chance!
NEXT UP - The Bill of Rights (pamphlet project) and our disabilities literature circles.
*******************************************
On a different note - we finished our first quarter choice book - the kids did an exceptionally good job of journaling and discussing thier books. We are choosing a new book for second quarter on Wednesday - look for reading and journaling at home :) The due dates on library books for this choice book will be December 1st.
In Civics - we have been learning about the branches of government - the Shut Down - the powers of each branch - the checks on each branch - and Judicial Review (Marbury vs. Madison)
Encourage your student to play icivics.org --- a great site with Civics oriented games developed by Sandra Day O'Connor.
Finally - we have a quiz on p. 95 Civics tomorrow --- they made color coded flashcards in class today - please ask them a few questions if you get the chance!
NEXT UP - The Bill of Rights (pamphlet project) and our disabilities literature circles.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Another productive week behind us :) The reminders for students were as follows:
Monday - Animal Farm needs to be completed so we can have our final book discussions and fill in the information on metaphors in the packets
Tuesday - The Animal Farm packet is due - this is an emphasis on page # support!!!
Wednesday - Final quiz on the Cycle of Power
We will watch Animal Farm the video on Tuesday and Wednesday
Choice book journals (worth 40 points) are due on October 11th - one week before the end of the quarter.
We had a blast with a "on-desk" Cycle of Power review --- the kids love the "slightly bad" nature of the activity --- I love that it is big...team oriented...and very effective ---- plus, I get my desks very clean!
We are continuing with our study of the foundations of government in America. The Declaration of Independence, the Article of Confederation and finally, The Constitution.
Up next....more work on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (project coming soon :))
I am out of the classroom next Thursday and Monday. I'm travelling to Saskatchewan via Amtrak where I am looking forward to lectures on Lewis and Clark via a National Parks guide who is a member of the Mandan tribe. I hope to bring back new info for the students when we begin our study of Washington State History :)
Enjoy your weekend! Happy MAGAZINE selling!!!! Mrs. Walker
Monday - Animal Farm needs to be completed so we can have our final book discussions and fill in the information on metaphors in the packets
Tuesday - The Animal Farm packet is due - this is an emphasis on page # support!!!
Wednesday - Final quiz on the Cycle of Power
We will watch Animal Farm the video on Tuesday and Wednesday
Choice book journals (worth 40 points) are due on October 11th - one week before the end of the quarter.
We had a blast with a "on-desk" Cycle of Power review --- the kids love the "slightly bad" nature of the activity --- I love that it is big...team oriented...and very effective ---- plus, I get my desks very clean!
We are continuing with our study of the foundations of government in America. The Declaration of Independence, the Article of Confederation and finally, The Constitution.
Up next....more work on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (project coming soon :))
I am out of the classroom next Thursday and Monday. I'm travelling to Saskatchewan via Amtrak where I am looking forward to lectures on Lewis and Clark via a National Parks guide who is a member of the Mandan tribe. I hope to bring back new info for the students when we begin our study of Washington State History :)
Enjoy your weekend! Happy MAGAZINE selling!!!! Mrs. Walker
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Hello all! Happy first not-roasting-in-the-classroom day! :)
This week -
In English: We started Animal Farm by George Orwell. The students will be required to keep a log recording examples of how dictators control/abuse their power per their Cycle of Power handout (they will receive this on Wednesday or Thursday)
**** also - please inquire occasionally about their choice book dialectical journals - these are due one week before the end of each quarter. This quarter, that means October 11th.
In Civics: We took a quiz on Chapter 2 sections 1 and 2. Those scores should be entered today or tomorrow. The Cycle of Power for dictatorship vs democracy will be introduced this week - a quiz will follow our reading of Animal Farm. Look for a project on the Bill of Rights sometime next week.
In addition - we continue to look at citizenship. This week, I shared Steve Gleason's story with them. A documentary on his life, his battle with ALS and his tireless work with his Team Gleason/No White Flags foundation airs tonight on the NFL network. It should be very inspirational and begin to help the students start thinking about options for Night of the Notables.
Our key quote over the past week has been:
"A hero is a man who does what he can." Romain Rolland
This week -
In English: We started Animal Farm by George Orwell. The students will be required to keep a log recording examples of how dictators control/abuse their power per their Cycle of Power handout (they will receive this on Wednesday or Thursday)
**** also - please inquire occasionally about their choice book dialectical journals - these are due one week before the end of each quarter. This quarter, that means October 11th.
In Civics: We took a quiz on Chapter 2 sections 1 and 2. Those scores should be entered today or tomorrow. The Cycle of Power for dictatorship vs democracy will be introduced this week - a quiz will follow our reading of Animal Farm. Look for a project on the Bill of Rights sometime next week.
In addition - we continue to look at citizenship. This week, I shared Steve Gleason's story with them. A documentary on his life, his battle with ALS and his tireless work with his Team Gleason/No White Flags foundation airs tonight on the NFL network. It should be very inspirational and begin to help the students start thinking about options for Night of the Notables.
Our key quote over the past week has been:
"A hero is a man who does what he can." Romain Rolland
Monday, September 9, 2013
3rd week - still hot - but still learning (I hope!)
Happy September to you all! I have had some tech. difficulty with Skyward - hence the delay with grades being posted in a timely fashion - I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused! I'm hoping to get the glitches resolved within the week. (FYI - they are issues I am not "authorized" to resolve on my own)
In the meantime - In English we have Choice books with dialectical journals well underway --- these are due the week prior to the end of the semester on 10/18. Ask to see your student's sheet regarding this assignment.
We also are reviewing some basic concepts for English via short stories in our literature book - inference and theme are the concepts for the this week. Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, MLK Jr, and Colin Powel have provided our essays thus far. This week - we are delving into forms of government. Your student should have their Civics book at home and be able to share with you the ideas we are discussing in class (such as Syria). We are also spending time with current events via the Spokesman Review.
We had a short quiz on Ch. 1 sec 2 last week --- nearly all students did quite well! We have another quiz scheduled for Monday 9/16 --- this will cover the questions and terms they have completed for Chapter 2.
Next week, we will start our first novel, Animal Farm, and will focus on "The Cycle of Power" --- this should be very high interest for many of the students and provide a good tool for evaluating other countries and their governments.
Please contact me if you have any questions --- and FYI - if your student is absent, I would love for them to touch base via email so they can stay in the loop in regards to class.
Thanks for sharing great kids with me each and every day! I'm looking forward to meeting so many of you at Open House on Thursday evening :)
In the meantime - In English we have Choice books with dialectical journals well underway --- these are due the week prior to the end of the semester on 10/18. Ask to see your student's sheet regarding this assignment.
We also are reviewing some basic concepts for English via short stories in our literature book - inference and theme are the concepts for the this week. Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, MLK Jr, and Colin Powel have provided our essays thus far. This week - we are delving into forms of government. Your student should have their Civics book at home and be able to share with you the ideas we are discussing in class (such as Syria). We are also spending time with current events via the Spokesman Review.
We had a short quiz on Ch. 1 sec 2 last week --- nearly all students did quite well! We have another quiz scheduled for Monday 9/16 --- this will cover the questions and terms they have completed for Chapter 2.
Next week, we will start our first novel, Animal Farm, and will focus on "The Cycle of Power" --- this should be very high interest for many of the students and provide a good tool for evaluating other countries and their governments.
Please contact me if you have any questions --- and FYI - if your student is absent, I would love for them to touch base via email so they can stay in the loop in regards to class.
Thanks for sharing great kids with me each and every day! I'm looking forward to meeting so many of you at Open House on Thursday evening :)
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