Early dismissal

Bring in $3.00 for a fundraiser: movie and snacks tomorrow. This will help us with our big trips at the end of the year. 

Dismissal is at 11:25.

Have a great holiday!

Homework: Monday, December 16th

Work on your independent projects. I'll be checking for your progress on Thursday. It will be a quiz grade! I'll be checking for outlines, or notes, or rough drafts. Something that shows me that you've started working is all you need.

Homework: Wednesday, December 11th

Independent reader and reader response.

Vocab quiz tomorrow!

Study! The more you use the words, the easier you'll remember them. Some students are using them in reader responses, other homework assignments, etc. Be creative! The sentences, hints, and illustrations are all due tomorrow. 

Homework: Wednesday, December 3rd

Independently read and respond in your R/W notebook. Use the prompts!

Websites for independent projects

Homework: Tuesday, December 3rd

Great job with independent project pre writing, researching, and drafting today!

Both projects due on Friday, January 3rd. 

Project check-in on Thursday, December 19th. I will be checking to see your progress and ask any questions you have before we leave for break.

*Remember that if you need to stay after to work on projects, just ask! I'm available until 2:45 most days of the week.

Homework tonight: independently read and respond in your R/W notebook.

Homework: Monday, December 2nd

Happy December! We only have three short weeks before our holiday break. That means that we have a very large amount of learning to get done is a short amount of time!

Tonight, narrow down your choices for your independent projects and choose 2. Come in with your choices tomorrow. We will go over our rubrics and start brainstorming, pre writing, and drafting during writing workshop.

Homework: Monday, November 25th

Read over the sample informational research paper. This is a student's piece of writing - it's the real deal! Jot down what you notice about the paper:

Organization: how many paragraphs? How does the writer start and end each paragraph? What's included in the introduction and conclusion paragraphs?

Style: how does the writer craft his sentences? What's the vocabulary word choice like? Is it easy to read? 

Formatting: what's the font like? Sentence spacing? Does this look professional? 

Citations: how does the author cite his research? What's included in the Works Cited page?

POV: does the author use "I" to show his ideas?

In other news:

1. This week is Peace Week. Treat your peers with kindness during our Thanksgiving week.

2: Come prepared on Wednesday with index cards and scotch tape. STEM day and early dismissal! We leave at 11:25.

3. I will have rubrics available for you to look over on our Thanksgiving break. Start thinking about your independent projects!

Homework: Thursday, November 21st

Today, we will be reading and analyzing our Q2 in-class writing project and learning what skills we need to learn this quarter in order to succeed. 

For homework tonight, it is your job to start thinking about the independent projects that you're interested in. You received a copy of all 8 project choices. Read them over and complete the chart on the back. 

Tomorrow will be an independent reading day and we will continue with reading conferences. We will focus on crafting strong responses to showcase the thinking we do while we read. Come prepared with your independent reading book!

Homework: Wednesday, November 20th

Use our 5w and 1H notes to create a summary of the introduction of Getting Away with Murder. Be sure to stick to the most important facts in your summary. It should be no longer than 3 sentences!

Homework: Monday, November 18th

Independently read for at least 20 minutes and respond in your R/W notebooks. Remember to write the date, title, and pages read. 

Next Wednesday is a STEM day and early dismissal. We will need materials from home: small index cards and scotch tape. 

Post test

So much fun today with vocabulary jeopardy! Fantastic review. Can't wait to see all of your learning tomorrow!

Next week

Happy Friday! I wanted to recap today's announcements.

1. CCSS district testing Monday and Wednesday next week. Make sure you come prepared with an independent reading book. 

2. No school on Tuesday. Election Day!

3. Vocabulary review game on Thursday. You all received a review sheet.

4. Vocabulary post-test on Friday.

Happy weekending!

Just a note

Thanks for a great trip to the engineering fair. We learned a lot about aeronautics, manufacturing, engineering careers, and educational opportunities available. We received a wonderful compliment from the fair organizers who commented about what an awesome, interested group of students you all are. Keep up the good work!

A reminder that our independent writing projects are due on Friday. They can be emailed or handed in. 

Vocabulary quizzes are also on Friday. I will have last week's vocabulary quiz grades for you tomorrow. If you need to make up your quiz due to an absence, you have until Friday to complete it. After Friday, it will be a zero.

This weekend

Conduct your interviews this weekend. They can be done through research, by phone, through email, or in person. Be prepared with your answers on Monday so that we can get going with our narratives!

Permission slips for our engineering fair trip are also due Monday. 

Have a great weekend!

Vocabulary 3 quiz averages

Soooooooorry! I'm behind. Here are our class averages for those of us that like a little friendly competition:

Period 2: 93.5% (tie w. period 4)

Period 3: 100.3% 

Period 4: 93.5% (tie w. period 2)

Period 6: 96.5%

Period 7: 97.4%

Projects and other stuff!

My scholars! You did a fabulous job on last Friday's vocabulary quiz. I'll post our class averages shortly. 

I spoke with many of you today regarding your independent writing projects and heard some great ideas. Remember that if you need extra help, I'm available after school. 

The only homework you'll have between now and next Friday is our vocab exercises and studying and the projects. Projects are due Friday, October 25th. I can't wait to see all of your awesome work! 

Friday, October 11th

Independent project time! This weekend, read over the options listed below. Choose the 2 that you're most interested in and come with the titles on Tuesday. Choose projects that speak to your talents and interests.

I'll have more information and rubrics available for you on Tuesday. *If you don't come with your choices, I will assign you projects!

1. Everything Old is New Again

 -Choose a text that you read that has relevance to our current time period (current events, trends, society).

-Write a narrative filmscript using Monster as your model.

2. Everybody Talks, Everybody Talks

-Write a narrative text in the form of a children's book, using the same theme, central idea, or life story from a text you've read this year.

-Drive the action forward with well-written dialogue.

-Illustrate it yourself, with the help of another student, or with a computer application/program

3. Scene it, Did it

-Create a comic strip that depicts the most important scenes in a text you've read this year.

-Write an explanation why you chose those scenes and explain how they reveal aspects of the main character.

-Include information about how those scenes provoked (moved or made) the main character make decisions.

4. Plot it Out

-Create a poster-size or online version of a plot diagram for any text you've read this year.

-Be creative in how you illustrate your plot diagram (a mountain? A sound wave? Etc.)

5. If You Ask Me

-Write an opinion piece/editorial in response to a contemporary issue or problem in the voice of a character from a text you've read this year.

6. If You Can Speak, You Can Sing

-Choose an existing melody or compose your own to create a song, ballad, or rap dealing with a theme in a novel you've read this year.

-Include similes, metaphors, sensory details, rhythm, rhyme, etc.

7. If I Can Think it, I Can Blog it

-Write a narrative in the form of a blog from the perspective of a character in a novel you've read this year.

-Include the character's attitudes about key events in the novel, reactions to other characters, the character's opinions about contemporary issues, topics, etc.

8. My Best One-Liners

-Create a book of one-line (one sentence) summaries for a novel read this year.

-Only include elements of the plot: characters, rising and falling action, exposition, climax, setting, resolution, conflict.

Tuesday, September 8th

Hello, my students! Today we learned about sensory details and selected examples from Monster that we can use for our own narrative writing. You also received this week's 5 new vocabulary words. Quiz on Friday!

For HW tonight, you're going to complete the "interview brainstorm" handout to get you formally thinking about our narratives. 

SRI Test Link

http://mash-02:55880/slms/studentaccess

Homework: October 2nd

Tonight you will complete the plot diagram for "Fear." 

Tomorrow, we will complete the SRI reading assessment in the computer lab. This assessment will help me better understand you as a reader this year.  

In order to complete this assessment, you'll need a link. I will post the link later on today or tomorrow morning.

Don't forget walk-a-thon donations! 

Homework and other good stuff!

Hi, students. Homework tonight: independently read and complete a reader response. If you didn't get to complete one in class today, you'll do two for homework tonight.

Don't forget about the walk-a-thon on Friday! Every dollar you raise counts. I will be collecting envelopes on Friday morning. We will walk to the park at 10:00 and compete in a little friendly competition. Wear comfortable shoes!

Homework: September 26th

Independently read and complete a reader response in your r/w notebook. Use the prompts if you get stuck!

Homework: September 25th

Afternoon! Tonight: dialogue practice. Create 10 lines of dialogue about the subject of your choice. 

Open house tonight! Can't wait to meet all of your parents.

Homework: September 24th

Sorry, my awesome students! I haven't been able to access my blog at home. But I'm back up and running!

Tonight's homework is the same as last night: you will read for at least 20 minutes in your independent reading book and respond in your r/w notebook. Please use the prompts if you need guidance or get stuck. A simple summary doesn't cut it! Interact with what you read. 

Reminder: tomorrow evening is open house. It begins at 5:30 in the gym with administration. Classroom visits will begin promptly at 5:47. Remember to fill out the schedule I gave you and give it to your parents. 

Great job on our DRP pretest!

Homework: September 18th

Good afternoon! We finally started Monster today, whoooo! 

Homework: illustrate (draw) each vocabulary word. Start reviewing your words - vocab quiz #2 on Friday.

Homework: September 16th

We've started week #2 of our academic vocabulary. For homework tonight, you're completing the 3,2,1 vocabulary handout. Remember that we changed the 1st exercise: you're putting "tortuous" in a sentence. 

Tomorrow, we'll start learning about one the elements of our Monster unit through reading workshop. Then, you'll have a chance to find examples in your own independent reading.

We will also start writing workshop this week, begin reading Monster, and get organized for our book club.

If you have Scholastic book orders for me, I'll take them thins week.

And don't forget to congratulate Ashley when you see her - her library title won our contest. Now "Just Go Sit and Read!" :)

Homework: Sept. 11th

Reader Response tonight! Read for at least 20 minutes. Log your your reading in the reading log. Respond using the prompts that you pasted into your notebooks (if you need them) and make sure you include the: 

Date

Title of your book

Pages read

Our first vocabulary quiz will be on Friday. Start reviewing!

Homework: Sept. 10th

You all did a fabulous job today during our independent reading run-through. Get ready for the real thing tomorrow. We will start with a reading response mini-lesson. Then, you're on your own in reading workshop!

Tonight we have more vocabulary practice. In the vocab section of your binder, you will write a creative paragraph (about anything you'd like!) and in your paragraph, you will use 5 of the 10 vocab words for this week.

Tomorrow is the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our country. If you can, ask a family member about the attacks. Ask them to describe to you what they remember. All of the victims and their families will be with us in our thoughts tomorrow. 

Homework: Monday, September 9th

Good evening, scholars! Tonight you should be using each of this week's ten vocabulary words in a sentence. You will also illustrate each word -- this helps you to visualize and remember the word. Vocab quiz on Friday.

Just a reminder that you should have an independent reading book EVERY DAY! Even if we don't have an independent reading day scheduled, you always need to be prepared.

Tomorrow we'll be doing some role-play activities to get acclimated with reading workshop routines and expectations. Put your acting shoes on!

Homework: Sept. 3rd

Welcome to September! Today, you started a writing sample in class. We will continue with that tomorrow.

You will complete the reading survey for homework tonight. The survey will help me get top know you as a reader. Next week, we will get started with our reading workshop and independent reading.

Homework: August 29th

Create three meaningful goals for this school year: one personal, one academic, and one reading. Describe what actions you will take to attain these goals and why you chose them. Please complete this assignment on a lined sheet of paper. 

Some reminders:

1. You should have all class materials for language arts by Tuesday, including an independent reading book. 

2. Your signed 8th grade contract is due Tuesday.

3. This weekend's homework is to go to your local library and get a library card, if you don't already have one. 

Interested in doing some extracurricular reading? Here's a great article about MLK Jr. and the 50th anniversary of his "I have a Dream" speech: http://www.timeforkids.com/news/honoring-kings-dream/100171  

Reading about Dr. King's goals for equality are a great way to get you thinking about your own. How will you contribute to making the world a better place? 

First day: homework, materials, etc.

Scholars, 

You've survived the first day of 8th grade. Congratulations! Now, on to homework.

Tonight's homework: 

1. Read over all of today's documents with your parent/guardian

2. Have your parent/guardian sign the parent letter

Materials needed for language arts class: (by Tuesday)

1. Binder

2. Notebook

3. Two three-ring folders (currently 17 cents at WalMart!) 

4. Notebook paper

5. Writing utensils (pencils or pens are fine)

6. A designated area to write down homework

7. An independent reading book 

Blogger currently won't work on my school computer, but when I can get it figured out (bear with me!) I will post pictures of how your binder should be set up. 

I'm looking forward to a great year with you! 

Happy New School Year!

Welcome to 8th grade language arts and the 2013-2014 school year. I hope that you had a great summer. This is my first foray into blogging - you'll soon learn that I'm not technologically up-to-date - and I hope that this blog will help you succeed this school year.

If you haven't yet thought about the new school year (I know it's not what many of you like to fill your brains with!) now is the time to start. With a new year brings new goals, experiences, and memories. Start thinking about what you'd like to accomplish this year, inside and outside of school. Do you want to earn higher grades? Would you like to join a new club or sport? Do you want to try to be a better person? Would you like to remember to bring a pencil to class everyday? Whatever your new goals are, start small. Write it down. Pin it up in your wall in your bedroom or write it down in a notebook. Here's a great article about setting goals from kidshealth.org:

5 Facts About Goal Setting

These practical tips on goal setting can help make it easier to set and reach goals:

1. Specific, realistic goals work best. When it comes to making a change, the people who succeed are those who set realistic, specific goals. "I'm going to recycle all my plastic bottles, soda cans, and magazines" is a much more doable goal than "I'm going to do more for the environment." And that makes it easier to stick with.
2. It takes time for a change to become an established habit.It will probably take a couple of months before any changes — like getting up half an hour early to exercise — become a routine part of your life. That's because your brain needs time to get used to the idea that this new thing you're doing is part of your regular routine.
3. Repeating a goal makes it stick. Say your goal out loud each morning to remind yourself of what you want and what you're working for. (Writing it down works too.) Every time you remind yourself of your goal, you're training your brain to make it happen.
4. Pleasing other people doesn't work. The key to making any change is to find the desire within yourself — you have to do it because you want it, not because a girlfriend, boyfriend, coach, parent, or someone else wants you to. It will be harder to stay on track and motivated if you're doing something out of obligation to another person.
5. Roadblocks don't mean failure. Slip-ups are actually part of the learning process as you retrain your brain into a new way of thinking. It may take a few tries to reach a goal. But that's OK — it's normal to mess up or give up a few times when trying to make a change. So remember that everyone slips up and don't beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back on track.