4/30/13

English 8th: Students read Anne Frank independently at the beginning of class. There will be a quiz up to pg.193 on Thursday. No vocabulary work this week due to the demands and late nights with theater (see... I can be nice). Students are presenting their research projects today, and will finish Friday. *homework: Read Anne Frank & read AR


Geography 7th: Students continued Ch.17 Section 2 and read pg.472-476 using the audio version of their online text. In addition to adding vocabulary to the foldable, students worked on the Guided Reading Activity 2 (17-2).  *homework: Guided Reading 17-2 if not completed in class - current event (due Friday) - read AR
English 7th: The Journal Entry (edited in digital format) and illustration were due today.  Students were given a sheet explaining that the journal will be published in two formats, digital and hard copy.  If students would like the hard copy of the journal, it will cost $5 toward the cost of supplies.    Students read The Giver for a large part of the class period today. There will be a quiz tomorrow through ch.10 (pg. 79) - most students have completed up to this point, but a few need to read a bit this evening.  *homework: Read The Giver through pg. 79 if not yet completed - spelling - read AR

4/29/13

English 8th: Students read Anne Frank independently at the beginning of class.  There will be a quiz up to pg.193 on Thursday.  No vocabulary work this week due to the demands and late nights with theater (see... I can be nice).  Students are presenting their research projects both today and tomorrow.    *homework:  Read Anne Frank & read AR


Geography 7th: Students started Ch.17 Section 2 and read pg.465-472 using the audio version of their online text.  They added more vocabulary words and notes to their foldables.  We'll continue through section 2 tomorrow.  *homework: current event (due Friday) - read AR
English 7th: Students were given the beginning of class to work on the Class Journal entry and illustration. They are both due tomorrow.  We went over spelling words - pronunciation and meaning.  We'll continue reading The Giver tomorrow in groups.   *homework: spelling - class journal entry & illustration due tomorrow! - read AR

Thursday - 4/25/13 - Substitute - Mrs. Nash to Havasu Leadership Development (HLD)

English 8th: Students worked on DOL/Journal, and were given the remainder of the class to work on the final draft of their research report.  *homework: Vocabulary - word choice editing/typing final - final research paper due Friday & read AR


Geography 7th: Quiz Ch.17 Section 1 - After the quiz students worked on a fun map activity that is an exercise in reading/following instructions.  *homework:  current event (due Friday) - read AR
English 7th: Students worked on DOL/Journal, and used the remainder of the class to read The Giver within cooperative reading groups.    *homework: spelling - all due Friday - read AR

Wednesday - 4/24/13 - Sub tomorrow - Mrs. Nash to HLD (Havasu Leadership Development)

English 8th: Students practiced parenthetical citation of different types of sources.  They watched a demonstration of using Microsoft Word to cite cources and create a bibliography, and then had time to practice on the computers in the classroom.     *homework: Vocabulary - word choice editing/typing final - final research paper due Friday & read AR


Geography 7th: We corrected the Guided Reading activity, and then worked on pg. 465 #2, 4-7.  Unfortunately, students spent so much time sharpening pencils, hunting for correcting pen/pencils, and off task, that we did not have a full class period to work on the assignment.  It was fully explained, but had to go home mostly as homework.  There will be a quiz tomorrow on Ch. 17 Section 1.  *homework:   pg. 465 - not one student had completed it before the end of class - all have this as homework - Study for QUIZ tomorrow -  current event (due Friday) - read AR
English 7th: Students were given a copy of their class journal entry and must edit, type, and illustrate it before next Tuesday (4/30/13).    After DOL & Journal, students worked on either editing their entry or the illustration.  We will continue reading The Giver in groups tomorrow.  *homework: spelling - all due Friday - read AR

4/23/13

English 8th: Students learned about parenthetical citation, watched a power point presentation on citing sources & plagiarism, and practiced citing sources.  Tomorrow I will demonstrate how to use Microsoft Word to cite sources within typed text.   *homework: Vocabulary - word choice editing/typing final - final research paper due Friday & read AR


Geography 7th: Ch.17 Section 1 - pg.460-465.  Students worked within reading groups to complete Guided Reading page.  Students also completed adding vocabulary to their foldable.   We have resumed current event as usual. *homework:   GR Activity 1 if not completed in class & current event (due Friday) - read AR
English 7th: Students all read their class journal ending and we voted on which will be published in the final version. The remainder of the class was spent reading The Giver. *homework: spelling - all due Friday - read AR

4/22/13

English 8th: Students will be working with vocabulary as usual this week (Section 3 of the Anne Frank list).  We completed peer editing with the research rough drafts, and students need to work on 10 word-choice-changes or additions. We'll work on parenthetical citation & conclusions tomorrow.  *homework:  Vocabulary - word choice editing/typing final - final research paper due Friday & read AR


Geography 7th: Ch.17 Section 1 - pg.456-460 (we will do this section in two segments - half today and half tomorrow).  Students worked on a foldable for the chapter and chart of 3 major world religions.  We have resumed current event as usual.  *homework: current event due Friday -  read AR
English 7th: We have resumed our spelling program as usual (The Giver List Ch.6-10).  Monday's work will be finding synonyms and antonyms for the words.  We read through the entire class journal today and students started writing an ending (we will vote on which one will be published).  The remainder of the class was spent reading The Giver.    *homework: spelling - all due Friday - read AR

4/19/13

English 8th: We watched a bit more of the Anne Frank movie, and students worked on their rough drafts for the remainder of the class.  Rough drafts are due Monday for peer editing.  No other homework has been scheduled this week. *homework: Rough draft & read AR


Geography 7th: We watched the remaining portion of the documentary Paperclips.   If your child comes home wearing a paperclip on his or her lapel, ask for an explanation.   No homework has been scheduled this week because we are AIMS testing- read AR!
*homework: read AR
English 7th: We watched the remaining portion of the documentary Paperclips. If your child comes home wearing a paperclip on his or her lapel, ask for an explanation.   No spelling homework has been schedules this week because we are AIMS testing. *homework: read AR

4/18/13

AIMS TESTING - APRIL 15-18 - Finished!!

English 8th: AIMS testing - Reading & Math-Part3.   The rough draft for the research report is due Monday, 4/22/13. Students must read AR - we are closing in on end of the year quickly - get it done!! No other homework has been scheduled this week. *homework: Rough draft & read AR


Geography 7th: After a brief discussion on WWII and the Holocaust, we watched a documentary called Paperclips that teaches about the injustice of prejudice and value of tolerance through an actual 8th grade class project in Tennessee. We will finish it tomorrow.   No homework has been scheduled this week because we are AIMS testing- read AR!
*homework: read AR
English 7th: After a brief discussion on WWII and the Holocaust, we watched a documentary called Paperclips that teaches about the injustice of prejudice and value of tolerance through an actual 8th grade class project in Tennessee. We will finish it tomorrow. No spelling homework has been schedules this week because we are AIMS testing. *homework: read AR

4/17/13

AIMS TESTING - APRIL 15-18

English 8th: AIMS testing - Reading & Math-Part2. We will be testing in homeroom class until lunch time each day. The rough draft for the research report is due Monday, 4/22/13. Students must read AR - we are closing in on end of the year quickly - get it done!! No other homework has been scheduled this week. *homework: Rough draft & read AR


Geography 7th: Students worked in groups to do a fun map activity (contest), and then finished their Antarctica animal scavenger hunt.  No homework has been scheduled this week because we are AIMS testing- read AR!
*homework: read AR
English 7th: Students completed DOL/Journal.  We spent the remainder of the class period reading "Who Am I?" journal entries and guessing which student wrote it.    No spelling homework has been schedules this week because we are AIMS testing. *homework: read AR

4/16/13

AIMS TESTING - APRIL 15-18

English 8th: AIMS testing - Reading & Math-Part1. We will  be testing in homeroom class until lunch time each day. The rough draft for the research report is due Monday, 4/22/13. Students must read AR - we are closing in on end of the year quickly - get it done!! No other homework has been scheduled this week. *homework: Rough draft & read AR


Geography 7th: We finished Glogster presentations today.  Students watched a video on Antarctica, and worked on an animal Internet scavenger hunt (animals relating to Antarctica).  No homework has been scheduled this week because we are AIMS testing- read AR!
*homework: read AR
English 7th: Students completed DOL/Journal, and read The Giver within cooperative reading groups. No spelling homework has been schedules this week because we are AIMS testing. *homework: read AR

4/15/13

AIMS TESTING - APRIL 15-18

English 8th: AIMS testing - Science Part 1 & 2 today.  We will likely be testing in homeroom class until lunch time each day.  The rough draft for the research report is due Monday, 4/22/13.  Students must read AR - we are closing in on end of the year quickly - get it done!!  No other homework has been scheduled this week. *homework:  Rough draft & read AR


Geography 7th: Glogster presentations today.  No homework has been scheduled this week because we are AIMS testing- read AR!
*homework:   read AR
English 7th: Students completed DOL/Journal, and read The Giver within cooperative reading groups.  No spelling homework has been schedules this week because we are AIMS testing.  *homework: read AR

4/12/13

English 8th: Students were given time to work within A+, complete their outline, and finish the quiz from yesterday if needed.  The research paper outline was due today.  The remainder of the class was spent discussing and writing thesis statements.  Students practiced writing a thesis for their own paper - it is due Monday (most students completed it in class).  *homework:  Thesis & read AR


Geography 7th:AIMS Prep - Students are completing the "cold write" AIMS practice from yesterday. When complete, students are able to work in Glogster. Glogster has been assigned as homework for two weeks, and students were given the option to create a poster presentation as an alternate project. This assignment is due tomorrow.
*homework: Glogster due today- read AR
English 7th: AIMS Prep - Students will work on a writing AIMS practice essay within class. They were asked to complete a pre-write for homework, so they will complete the draft, editing, and final in class.  *homework: read AR

4/11/13

English 8th: We corrected the QAR/Unraavel poetry lesson together.  Students then took an Anne Frank quiz (Section 3 - pg.75-120).   The research paper outline is due tomorrow, as well as 3 completed lessons (mastery apples) for A+.   *homework:  Outline, A+, & read AR


Geography 7th:AIMS Prep - Students are completing the "cold write" AIMS practice from yesterday.  Whe complete, students are able to work in Glogster.  Glogster has been assigned as homework for two weeks, and students were given the option to create a poster presentation as an alternate project.  This assignment is due tomorrow. 
*homework: Glogster due Friday- read AR
English 7th: AIMS Prep - we will complete the poetry elements lesson and correct it together.  Students are starting an AIMS writing practice assignment today, and will likely continue it tomorrow.   *homework: A+ & read AR

4/10/13

English 8th: Research notes were due today - notes from each one of the three sources required. The outline will be due Friday. 
AIMS Prep - students worked on identifying poetry elements in pairs - this was mostly completed in class and will be corrected together tomorrow.  A+ is working, and students were able to spend some time this morning within the program. Three lessons within A+ will be due by Friday.    Students read Anne Frank in cooperative reading groups, and have a quiz on pg.74-120 tomorrow (section 3).  Two groups needed to complete a few pages at home tonight for homework.  No vocabulary homework this week. *homework: Anne Frank - study for quiz and/or read to pg. 120 - Outline for research paper due Friday - A+ & read AR


Geography 7th:AIMS Prep - Cold Write!  Students were given an AIMS practice writing prompt and expected to pre-write, write a rough draft, edit, and complete a final.  If not finished today, they will continue it tomorrow.  If completed in class, students are able to work in Glogster. 
*homework: Glogster due Friday- read AR
English 7th: AIMS Prep - students worked on identifying poetry elements with partners, as well as A+ today. We discussed what the AIMS writing test will look like, and what to expect.  Students started a pre-write/rough draft of an AIMS practice test.  There will be no spelling homework this week. Three lessons within A+ will be due by Friday. *homework: A+ & read AR

4/9/13

English 8th: AIMS Prep - students worked on a poetry packet.  A+ was not working during our class time, but was fixed later in the day.  I asked students to do some as homework and stay caught up.  The poetry elements given to students today is not homework - we will work with it in class tomorrow.  Three lessons within A+ will be due by Friday. *homework: A+ & read AR


Geography 7th:AIMS Prep - We practiced reading and identifying poetry elements.  In addition, students were able to view a practice AIMS Writing test, which we will work with more tomorrow.  No current event this week.
*homework: Glogster due Friday- read AR
English 7th: AIMS Prep - students worked on a poetry packet, as well as A+ today. There will be no spelling homework this week. Three lessons within A+ will be due by Friday. *homework: A+ & read AR

4/8/13

English 8th: AIMS Prep - students worked on a poetry packet, as well as A+ today.  There will be no vocabulary homework this week.  Three lessons within A+ will be due by Friday.  *homework: A+, poetry packet, read AR


Geography 7th:AIMS Prep - Students are completing the editing portion of their rough draft, as well as finishing the final copy.  This is due at the end of the class.  The remainder of the class will be spent on Glogster (due Friday).  No current event this week.
*homework: Glogster due Friday- read AR
English 7th: AIMS Prep - students worked on a poetry packet, as well as A+ today.  There will be no spelling homework this week.  Three lessons within A+ will be due by Friday.     *homework: A+, poetry packet, read AR

4/5/13

English 8th: All vocab. homework was due, and students took the TEST for section 2.  Three sources for the research report were due as well.  Students should start taking notes for their report (due Wed., 4/10/13). We were able to watch a bit more of the Anne Frank movie.  *homework:  read AR


Geography 7th:AIMS Prep - Students are editing their own rough draft today, and working with a thesaurus for word choice changes/additions.  The Final essay will be due a the end of class Monday.
*homework:  Glogster due next Friday (4/12/13) - read AR
English 7th: All spelling work was due, and students took the TEST for The Giver words (ch.1-5).  We will be working in AIMS prep next week.     *homework: read AR

4/4/13

English 8th:  We went over the notes & outline section with the research packet.  Students should have their 3 sources documented (one source should be something other than the Internet) - due tomorrow. For the remainder of class students read Anne Frank.   *homework: vocabulary (due tomorrow) - study for TEST - sources for research report (due Friday) - read AR


Geography 7th:AIMS Prep - students worked on a persuasive essay rough draft (written in business letter format).  We reviewed business letter and 5-paragraph essay format. 
*homework:  Rough draft if not completed in class - Glogster due next Friday (4/12/13) - read AR
English 7th: Quiz on The Giver- ch.1-5 (this quiz incluces vocaulary questions from their spelling word list).     *homework: spelling (due tomorrow) - study for TEST- read AR

4/3/13

English 8th: The research packet topic & signature were due today.  Students read Anne Frank within cooperative reading groups, and had some time to work on their weekly vocabulary. Their 3 sources for the research report are due Friday. *homework: vocabulary -  sources for research report (due Friday) - read AR


Geography 7th: Students read a Junior Scholastic geography magazine, and then we discussed an article on longer school days.  Students are currently researching schools around the world for their Glogster project, and this was excellent information regarding required school hours in other countries.  We are starting some AIMS preparation as well, so students will start a persuasive essay giving their opinion on this topic.  Today's assignment was the pre-write only (graphic organizer). 
*homework: Pre-write for persuasive essay due tomorrow if not completed in class - Glogster due next week - read AR
English 7th: Students read The Giver within cooperative reading groups. They were given some time to work on their weekly spelling. Quiz tomorrow on Ch.1-5 (through pg.39) *homework: study/re-read for The Giver quiz - spelling - read AR

4/2/13

English 8th:Students read Anne Frank within cooperative reading groups, and had some time to work on their weekly vocabulary.  We discussed the form on which they will put their works cited/bibliography information.  Their 3 sources for the research report are due Friday.   *homework: vocabulary - signature (due tomorrow) & sources for research report (due Friday) - read AR


Geography 7th: Ch.16 TEST - students worked on Glogster for the remainder of the class.
*homework:  Glogster due next week - read AR
English 7th: Students read The Giver within cooperative reading groups.  They were given some time to work on their weekly spelling. Quiz tomorrow on Ch.1-5 (through pg.34)   *homework: study/re-read for The Giver quiz -   spelling - read AR

4/1/13

English 8th: Students were assigned Section 2 Anne Frank vocabulary words.  We discussed them in class, and students started on the synonym/antonym activity.  Research report packets were handed out and briefly explained.  We'll go over all the parts in detail as we do them.  Pay close attention to the due dates (packet also printable from my blog's documents folder and the "digital locker" in teacherease.com)  *homework: vocabulary - signature & sources for research report - read AR


Geography 7th: Students were given a review worksheet for Ch. 16.  In addition to the worksheet, we discussed a new Glogster project.  This will be due next week.  There is a test tomorrow for Ch. 16, and we discussed study habits for quiz and test-taking - what & how to study.  No current event this week.
*homework:  Ch.16 review worksheet if not completed in class - STUDY FOR CH.16 TEST!- read AR
English 7th: Students received spelling words that are related to their class novel The Giver. Monday's work will be the synonyms & antonyms worksheet - the rest of the week's spelling homework remains the same.  We discussed unfamiliar words on the list, and will continue that tomorrow.   *homework: spelling (synonyms & antonyms)- read AR