For a fun holiday treat I will be getting stockings for every student and putting their names on them. On the last day before break students are invited to bring in 20 small treats to put in stockings. Some ideas are candy canes, chocolates, pencils, handmade gifts, etc. Please know that this should not be more than a couple of dollars out of pocket (I'm thinking Dollar Tree). Of course this is optional, but a fun way to celebrate before our break.
This week:
Projects; We will finish our unit on heredity and take a final exam this Thursday.
7th Grade Reading: Students will learn about the Gilded Age and Progress Eras in our country's history. they will take notes, watch videos, read passages, and have discussion about these two periods of time. They are both important to understanding the state of our country prio to World War 1. Students will continue to build reading stamina and responding to their books in journals.
Writing: This week we are starting narrative writing and the kids are thrilled, to say the least. We are looking at mentor texts and discussing techniques used in effective narratives. Students will write a story on "A Day in the Life of a _______" Each student will choose an object they can relate to and tell a story about a day in the life of that object. Some examples are "A Day in the Life of a Football" or "A Day in the life of a paintbrush." These are fun to write and I'm excited to see the students get creative! We will continue to build writing stamina through journal prompts, diagram sentences, and work on IXL skills. Quiz this Thursday on the 8 parts of speech.
8th Grade Reading: Students will continue to learn about various aspects of the Middle Ages. We are looking at the Crusades, the Black Death, feudalism, and important people of this time period. We will also continue to read King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Tuesday is the trip to the Senior Center with Mr. Lenon. Students need their permission slip and $3.
Human Growth and Development starts this Thursday. Please send signed permission slip. Students will NOT be allowed to participate without one.
Projects: We are continuing our study of heredity and genetics. This week we will play with Punnett squares and deepen our understanding of how traits are passed down and the probability of dominant and recessive genes showing up. This is really fun stuff!
7th Grade Reading: We will finish Two Miserable Presidents this week and take a test over the vocabulary and certain concepts. We have been learning so much and reading this book in great detail. I know the students are coming away with a nice grasp of the Civil War! Story Elements Quiz this Thursday! We will review terms on Tuesday.
Writing: Argumentative essays are due Thursday at the end of writing block. Students have really done well on these, and the improvement in their writing is astounding. I am also so impressed with the kids' desire to share their writing with the class. The confidence is building and I'm seeing the love of writing start to seep through. :)
8th Grade Reading: We will read chapters 2 and 3 of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table this week (maybe even more if all goes smoothly). I'm hoping the kids enjoy something a little different here. The book is full of action, as well as language and syntax more often found in earlier books.
Homework:
7th grade--20 minutes reading (Tuesday IXL V.1 Inappropriate shifts in verb tense)
8th Grade--20 minutes of reading/fill out logs (Tuesday and Wednesday read King Arthur)
Human Growth and Development starts this Thursday. Please send signed permission slip. Students will NOT be allowed to participate without one.
Projects: We are continuing our study of heredity and genetics. This week we will play with Punnett squares and deepen our understanding of how traits are passed down and the probability of dominant and recessive genes showing up. This is really fun stuff!
7th Grade Reading: We will finish Two Miserable Presidents this week and take a test over the vocabulary and certain concepts. We have been learning so much and reading this book in great detail. I know the students are coming away with a nice grasp of the Civil War! Story Elements Quiz this Thursday! We will review terms on Tuesday.
Writing: Argumentative essays are due Thursday at the end of writing block. Students have really done well on these, and the improvement in their writing is astounding. I am also so impressed with the kids' desire to share their writing with the class. The confidence is building and I'm seeing the love of writing start to seep through. :)
8th Grade Reading: We will read chapters 2 and 3 of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table this week (maybe even more if all goes smoothly). I'm hoping the kids enjoy something a little different here. The book is full of action, as well as language and syntax more often found in earlier books.
Homework:
7th grade--20 minutes reading (Tuesday IXL V.1 Inappropriate shifts in verb tense)
8th Grade--20 minutes of reading/fill out logs (Tuesday and Wednesday read King Arthur)
Monday, November 7, 2016
Monday, November 7, 2016
Projects: This week we will continue to learn about heredity and genes. Students are completing small assignments, watch clips and taking notes on this topic in order to complete a final project int he next couple of weeks.
7th Grade Reading: I am hoping to finish Two Miserable Presidents with the students this week. We have really enjoyed learning about the Civil War and all of the people, places and concepts related to it. Students will have a final reading exam on the book.....details TBA! Vocabulary quiz scheduled for this Thursday!
Writing: This week students will complete their rough drafts of argumentative essays. I will conference with students as they move into the editing/revising process and final drafts.
8th Grade Reading: We will start reading King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table this week to go with our study of the Middle Ages. Students will complete activities as they read. We will also touch on poetry and annotations again. I check reading logs daily. Many students are forgetting to bring them and fill them out. This is impacting their grade, as they receive a weekly reading log grade every week.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: Study for vocabulary quiz in science/read for 20/fill out logs
8th Grade: Read for 20 minutes, fill out log
Class Auction scheduled for November 17th (possibly the 23rd). We need items if you are able!
7th Grade Reading: I am hoping to finish Two Miserable Presidents with the students this week. We have really enjoyed learning about the Civil War and all of the people, places and concepts related to it. Students will have a final reading exam on the book.....details TBA! Vocabulary quiz scheduled for this Thursday!
Writing: This week students will complete their rough drafts of argumentative essays. I will conference with students as they move into the editing/revising process and final drafts.
8th Grade Reading: We will start reading King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table this week to go with our study of the Middle Ages. Students will complete activities as they read. We will also touch on poetry and annotations again. I check reading logs daily. Many students are forgetting to bring them and fill them out. This is impacting their grade, as they receive a weekly reading log grade every week.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: Study for vocabulary quiz in science/read for 20/fill out logs
8th Grade: Read for 20 minutes, fill out log
Class Auction scheduled for November 17th (possibly the 23rd). We need items if you are able!
Monday, October 31, 2016
Monday, October 31, 2016
We had a great time today! Students wore awesome costumes and created very cool pumpkins.
Projects: Tomorrow we will being a new unit on genetics. We will spend the next 2 weeks frontloading information before moving into a final product.
7th Grade Reading: Students will continue to answer questions related to our book Two Miserable Presidents. I really feel like the kids are gaining so much knowledge about the Civil War with this book. I am proud of their abilities to read and think critically.
Writing: We will begin our outlines and rough drafts of argumentative essays this week. We have spent a week looking at topics and writing sample opinions on things. Students are really gaining a lot of ground with their organization in writing.
8th Grade Reading: This week we will spend a lot of time frontloading information on the Middle Ages and King Arthur. Next week we will start reading the novel King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I'm excited to do this one!
Homework this week:
7th:
Monday--None (enjoy Trick or Treating and family time)
Tuesday--H.1 (Capitalization) I will take a grade on this
Wednesday-- Read for 20, or do IXL H.1 if you haven't mastered
Thursday--Read for 20, or IXL H.1 if you haven't mastered
8th Grade:
20 minutes of reading/fill out log
(no homework Monday night for Halloween)
Projects: Tomorrow we will being a new unit on genetics. We will spend the next 2 weeks frontloading information before moving into a final product.
7th Grade Reading: Students will continue to answer questions related to our book Two Miserable Presidents. I really feel like the kids are gaining so much knowledge about the Civil War with this book. I am proud of their abilities to read and think critically.
Writing: We will begin our outlines and rough drafts of argumentative essays this week. We have spent a week looking at topics and writing sample opinions on things. Students are really gaining a lot of ground with their organization in writing.
8th Grade Reading: This week we will spend a lot of time frontloading information on the Middle Ages and King Arthur. Next week we will start reading the novel King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I'm excited to do this one!
Homework this week:
7th:
Monday--None (enjoy Trick or Treating and family time)
Tuesday--H.1 (Capitalization) I will take a grade on this
Wednesday-- Read for 20, or do IXL H.1 if you haven't mastered
Thursday--Read for 20, or IXL H.1 if you haven't mastered
8th Grade:
20 minutes of reading/fill out log
(no homework Monday night for Halloween)
Monday, October 24, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Halloween dance this Friday, October 28th from 6:00-10:00. Cost is $5 with a costume, $7 without.
Monday, October 31st students may wear costumes to school. ALSO, we will have a pumpkin decorating party that afternoon from 2:00 (ish)-3:30. Students will need a pumpkin and any materials they would like to use to decorate their pumpkin with. I will have some items available, but the more students bring in the better. In the past I have had princess pumpkins, super heroes, television and movie characters, etc. I expect great things from this group! :) Students may also bring in a snack to share with the class for this.
Projects: This week students will finish up and present their endangered species project. The kids have worked hard, and I'm impressed with their patience as we try new programs and ideas. I told them we adapt and just deal with problems and they have done great! This Thursday there will be a final exam on ecosystems. This will be a multiple choice assessment and will not include the vocabulary, as students have already tested well on it. To prepare for the test, students should watch 2 Brainpop videos: one on the energy pyramid and one on food chains. We have already watched them together, so this is review.
7th Grade Reading: Students are finishing Civil War posters with their partners. We will continue reading and analyzing Two Miserable Presidents. On Wednesday students will read and annotate a poem, as well as create a graphic novel to go with it. This is a fun activity and this group is always so creative!
Writing: This week we will write an argumentative essay together. Through modeling students will gain a deep understanding of how to present points and counterpoints in this type of writing. Students will also continue to build stamina through daily writing prompts (they love these!)
8th Grade Reading: Students will finish major world religions posters and present them tomorrow (Tuesday). On Wednesday we will visit poetry again and kids will get to create a graphic novel with their assigned poem. Thursday we will start the Middle Ages and complete a webquest!
Homework this week:
7th Grade: 20 minutes reading nightly/fill out log
8th Grade: 20 minutes reading nightly/fill out log
Monday, October 31st students may wear costumes to school. ALSO, we will have a pumpkin decorating party that afternoon from 2:00 (ish)-3:30. Students will need a pumpkin and any materials they would like to use to decorate their pumpkin with. I will have some items available, but the more students bring in the better. In the past I have had princess pumpkins, super heroes, television and movie characters, etc. I expect great things from this group! :) Students may also bring in a snack to share with the class for this.
Projects: This week students will finish up and present their endangered species project. The kids have worked hard, and I'm impressed with their patience as we try new programs and ideas. I told them we adapt and just deal with problems and they have done great! This Thursday there will be a final exam on ecosystems. This will be a multiple choice assessment and will not include the vocabulary, as students have already tested well on it. To prepare for the test, students should watch 2 Brainpop videos: one on the energy pyramid and one on food chains. We have already watched them together, so this is review.
7th Grade Reading: Students are finishing Civil War posters with their partners. We will continue reading and analyzing Two Miserable Presidents. On Wednesday students will read and annotate a poem, as well as create a graphic novel to go with it. This is a fun activity and this group is always so creative!
Writing: This week we will write an argumentative essay together. Through modeling students will gain a deep understanding of how to present points and counterpoints in this type of writing. Students will also continue to build stamina through daily writing prompts (they love these!)
8th Grade Reading: Students will finish major world religions posters and present them tomorrow (Tuesday). On Wednesday we will visit poetry again and kids will get to create a graphic novel with their assigned poem. Thursday we will start the Middle Ages and complete a webquest!
Homework this week:
7th Grade: 20 minutes reading nightly/fill out log
8th Grade: 20 minutes reading nightly/fill out log
Monday, October 10, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
Class auction scheduled for this Thursday at 12:25. We are always looking for fun items to put up on the block!
Projects: Students will continue to research and work on presentations and infographics for their ecosystem projects. They are working so hard on this! Vocabulary quiz this Thursday on ALL ecosystem vocabulary!
7th Grade Reading: This week students will take a person, place or idea about the Civil War and work with a partner to create a poster about it. Partners will present the posters on Thursday!
Writing: We are trying to finish the causes of the Civil War essays. This is the last major paper due this quarter and kids should finish up tomorrow. We will end the quarter with some fun writing from Kelly Gallagher's book Write Like This.
8th Grade Reading: This week students will study the five major religions in the world and work in groups to create a poster or presentation about one of them. This will take us into the Middle Ages when we start the 2nd quarter. I'm so excited.....we're going to read King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table!
Homework this week:
7th: 20 minutes of reading OR study science vocabulary terms
8th: 20 minutes of reading (if students in other projects classes have a quiz this week on vocabulary they may use the 20 minutes to study also)
Projects: Students will continue to research and work on presentations and infographics for their ecosystem projects. They are working so hard on this! Vocabulary quiz this Thursday on ALL ecosystem vocabulary!
7th Grade Reading: This week students will take a person, place or idea about the Civil War and work with a partner to create a poster about it. Partners will present the posters on Thursday!
Writing: We are trying to finish the causes of the Civil War essays. This is the last major paper due this quarter and kids should finish up tomorrow. We will end the quarter with some fun writing from Kelly Gallagher's book Write Like This.
8th Grade Reading: This week students will study the five major religions in the world and work in groups to create a poster or presentation about one of them. This will take us into the Middle Ages when we start the 2nd quarter. I'm so excited.....we're going to read King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table!
Homework this week:
7th: 20 minutes of reading OR study science vocabulary terms
8th: 20 minutes of reading (if students in other projects classes have a quiz this week on vocabulary they may use the 20 minutes to study also)
Monday, October 3, 2016
Monday, October 3, 2016
Projects: This week students will break into teams and begin researching and focusing on their specific roles for their project. The project focuses on endangered species. Each team will choose a species and create a plan of recovery to present to members of "congress."
7th Grade Reading: Continuing with Two Miserable Presidents, students will learn about the first major battles of the Civil War.
Writing: Using their whole class reading book, Two Miserable Presidents, students choose 3 causes of the Civil War and use the book to cite evidence. We will focus on cause and effect strategies for reading strategies, along with writing strategies.
8th Grade Reading: We will continue to read about Ancient Greece and disucss its cultural, societal and religious contributions. On Thursday students will have a test on characteristics of civilizations, along with their knowledge of contributions made to modern society.
Class auction scheduled for this Thursday, October 6, at 3:00.
Please remember to send any spare change or dollar bills to school for our fundraiser for the Fallon Youth Club!
7th Grade Reading: Continuing with Two Miserable Presidents, students will learn about the first major battles of the Civil War.
Writing: Using their whole class reading book, Two Miserable Presidents, students choose 3 causes of the Civil War and use the book to cite evidence. We will focus on cause and effect strategies for reading strategies, along with writing strategies.
8th Grade Reading: We will continue to read about Ancient Greece and disucss its cultural, societal and religious contributions. On Thursday students will have a test on characteristics of civilizations, along with their knowledge of contributions made to modern society.
Class auction scheduled for this Thursday, October 6, at 3:00.
Please remember to send any spare change or dollar bills to school for our fundraiser for the Fallon Youth Club!
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