11/26/13 Have a fantastic Thanksgiving Break!

English 8:   
Students turned in the thank you letters in friendly letter format.  Several research report presentations were given today as well.     Homework:  check grades online -  read AR 

Geography 7: Glogster presentations.   Homework:  check grades online -  read AR 


English 7:  Students completed peer editing on their persuasive business letter rough draft.  It was due and collected today.  We'll work on the final after break.    Homework:  check grades online -   read AR

NO SCHOOL NOV. 27-29

11/25/13

English 8:   
Students had the pleasure of meeting and talking to a WWII veteran that lives here in town.  He was wonderful and gave an amazing first-hand account of the war from his point of view.  Students are writing thank you letters in friendly letter format  - due tomorrow.    Homework:  thank you letters -  read AR 

Geography 7: Glogster presentations - this will continue tomorrow.   Homework:  check grades online -  read AR 


English 7:  Students were given the Run-On Sentence Quiz for revisions.  After journaling, students worked on their business letter rough draft.  This is due tomorrow for peer editing.   Homework:  business letter rough draft -   read AR

11/22/13

English 8:   
All vocabulary work was due.  Students wrote a friendly thank-you letter to our guest speaker from yesterday.   Homework:  check grades online -  read AR 

Geography 7: Students worked to complete their Glogs.  Those finished helped others edit and revise their work.  We will present Monday.  Homework:  check grades online -  read AR 


English 7:  The final edited version of the class journal entry was due today (digital), as well as the illustration.  Students were given the class period to finalize these and begin work on a business letter persuasive essay.  Homework:  check grades online -   read AR

11/21/13

English 8:   
We had a wonderful guest speaker today as part of our WWII research reports.  He specialized in WWII vehicles and weaponry.  The students did an amazing job of asking interested and informed questions.   Homework:  vocabulary & quote for character wall if not completed in class  -  read AR 

Geography 7: Students completed a chart on the three prominent religions of the Middle East, and then worked on their Glogsters for the remainder of the class.  Homework:  Glogster - GR 17-1 if not completed in class - read AR 


English 7:  Students were given a quiz on correcting run-on sentences.  They worked on editing/publishing their class journal entry and illustration, which is due tomorrow.  No spelling this week.  Homework:  class journal entry & illustration due Friday -   read AR

11/20/13

English 8:   
Students have been presenting their research reports.  We will have a guest speaker tomorrow (expert on vehicles and weapons from WWII).  Students have been asked to prepare at least one question or area of curiosity for the speaker.  We had some time at the end of class to add quotes to our Anne Frank character wall.  A couple groups did not finish and assigned one person from each group to complete it at home.    Homework:  vocabulary & quote for character wall if not completed in class  -  read AR 

Geography 7: We started Ch. 17 today, the history and religions of the Middle East.  Students read pg. 456-465 within reading groups and worked on GR 17-1 together.  This is due tomorrow.  Homework:  Glogster - GR 17-1 if not completed in class - read AR 


English 7:  Students practiced correcting run-on sentences, and then read Gathering Blue in cooperative reading groups.   No spelling this week.   Homework:  class journal entry & illustration due Friday -   read AR

11/181/3

English 8:   
Students were assigned Anne Frank Section 5 for this week's vocabulary work.  Students gave research report presentations.  This will continue tomorrow.   Homework:  vocabulary -  read AR 

Geography 7: Students were given a review packet for Ch. 16, as well as graded work form the chapter.  There will be a test tomorrow over the two sections of Ch. 16 - study.  A Glogster project has been assigned.  It will be due Friday.  Homework:  Glogster - study for TEST- read AR 


English 7:  Students were given their class journal handouts.  This will need to be edited, typed, and sent to me digitally by Friday - along with an illustration. No spelling this week.   Homework:  class journal entry & illustration -   read AR

11/15/13 T.G.I.F.

English 8:   
Students worked on their final research reports, which were due today.  We'll start presentations next week.  Homework:  check grades online - read AR 

Geography 7: 5-minute map quiz (Middle East) - Students were introduced to a new Glogster project for next week and started researching information.  They will be learning about culture regions.    Homework:  check grades online - read AR 


English 7:   Students received their completed narrative letters with a stamp.  They must mail them this weekend, and then bring the letter they receive next week into class.  We have an additional activity to perform once they are all received.   Homework:  check grades online -   read AR

11/14/13

English 8:   
Students worked on their final essay for most of the class.  They worked on typing, editing, and citing sources using Microsoft Word.  This is due tomorrow. Please check the packet to make sure all items are complete & ready for collecting.  We'll start presentations next week.   Homework:  final research report- read AR 

Geography 7: We corrected and discussed pg. 450.  Students took a quiz over Ch. 16 Section 2, and then worked on their current events (due tomorrow).  Homework:  current event due tomorrow - read AR 


English 7:   Students took a quiz for Gathering Blue (ch.1-3), and then read Gathering Blue within cooperative groups for the remainder of the period.  Homework:  (no spelling this week)  read AR

11/13/13

English 8:   
Students did peer editing with their research report rough drafts.  After peer editing, students were assigned 10 word choice changes (word upgrades using a thesaurus).  We reviewed how to input references into Microsoft Word and use it to insert citations and a bibliography.  The final report is due Friday. No vocabulary this week.  Homework:  10 word choice changes - final research report- read AR 

Geography 7: Guided Reading 16-2 was due.  Students were assigned pg. 450 #1-6 (with picture vocabulary).  We will have a quiz tomorrow on Ch. 16-2.  Homework: pg. 450 if not completed in class - study for quiz - current event due Friday - read AR 


English 7:   The final narrative letter was due today with addressed envelope.  It will be returned by Friday for mailing.  Students reviewed Ch.1-3 of Gathering Blue within their reading groups and identified literature items (theme, plot, characters, setting, conflict).  There will be a quiz tomorrow on Ch. 1-3 (spelling/vocabulary words from List 1 will be included in the quiz).  Homework:  study for quiz-   read AR

11/12/13

English 8:   
Students practiced parenthetical citation, and then watched a demonstration for Microsoft Word on managing references/citing sources.  Students were given some time to finalize their rough draft.  We will do peer editing with them tomorrow.  The final is due Friday.  No vocabulary homework this week.  Homework:  rough draft- read AR 

Geography 7: Students read Ch. 16 Section 2, pg. 447-450.  Within reading groups students worked on the climate chart, and independently worked on GR 16-2.  Homework: GR 16-2 & chart - current event due Friday - read AR 


English 7: After journal and sentence stretching, students were given time to work on their friendly letter narrative.  Each student was given an address and an envelope.  The final letter is due tomorrow.  No spelling this week.   Homework:  Final Narrative letter -   read AR

11/8/13 NO SCHOOL MONDAY 11/11/13

English 8:   
All vocabulary work was due.  Students took a vocabulary test.  The outline for the research report was due today as well.  Students should be working on their rough draft over the break.  We will get some time Tuesday to complete it, but need to get a good start on it before then.   Homework:  check grades online - read AR 

Geography 7: Students turned in their current events and then watched the Suez Canal video.   Homework: check grades online - read AR 


English 7: All spelling work was due as well as the pre-write activity for the narrative essay.  Students took a spelling test and then worked on their narrative rough draft. We will continue it Tuesday in class.   Homework:  check grades online - start rough draft -   read AR

11/7/13

English 8:   
Students practiced parenthetical citation for different types of sources.  They read Anne Frank in cooperative reading groups after writing in journals. Outline is due tomorrow.  Homework:  vocab & outline - read AR 

Geography 7: Students had a 5-minute map quiz, and then took a quiz on Ch. 16 Section 1.  We watched more of the Suez Canal video at the end of class.  Homework: current event due Friday - read AR 


English 7: After DOL/Journal, students worked on a graphic organizer (pre-write) for a narrative essay.  This will be written in the form of a friendly letter to another student.  Students were given some time to work on the rough draft and will work on it further tomorrow.  Homework:  pre-write if not completed in class - spelling all due tomorrow -   read AR

11/6/13

English 8:   
We discussed plagiarism and parenthetical citation in class.  We will start practicing citations tomorrow.  Students need to work on their outline, which is due Friday.   Homework:  vocab & outline - read AR 

Geography 7: We discussed and graded pg. 446 in class, and then watched part of a video o the Suez Canal.  Students should study for the quiz tomorrow (Ch.16 Section 1) Homework:   STUDY FOR QUIZ - current event due Friday - read AR 


English 7:  Students had a few minutes to finish their class journal endings, and then we read all endings & voted.  The results of the vote will be available tomorrow.   Homework:  spelling & address -   read AR

11/5/13

English 8:   
Students learned about and practiced writing thesis statements.  They completed the activity with a thesis for their research report.  We discussed due dates for both notes and the outline.  Notes are due tomorrow.   Homework:  vocab & notes- read AR 

Geography 7: Guided Reading 16-1 and the map activity were due.  Assigned: pg. 446 #1-6  - due tomorrow Homework:   pg. 446 if not completed in class - current event due Friday - read AR 


English 7:  Students worked on their class journal endings.  In pairs, they compared and contrasted friendly letter & business letter formats.  There are several address permission forms still needing to be returned.   Homework:  spelling & address-   read AR

11/4/13

English 8:   
Students were assigned Anne Frank section 4 vocabulary.  We discussed notes and the outline for the research report - both due this week.  Homework:  vocab & notes- read AR 

Geography 7: Ch. 16 read pg. 442-446.   Students read in reading groups and worked on the landform chart together.  Independently they worked on GR 16-1 and were to finish their map activity from Friday.  Homework:   map activity and GR 16-1 - read AR 


English 7:  Students were given Gathering Blue spelling list 3.  We read the class journal from beginning to "almost end," and students are currently writing their own ending within their journals.  We will vote on which is to be published.  An address form was sent home for permission to use a personal address in a friendly writing activity.  This is due by Wednesday.  Homework:  spelling & address-   read AR

11/1/13 Happy November!

English 8:   
Students took a vocabulary TEST and turned in all vocab. work.  Three documented sources were due for the research report.  Homework:  Check grades online - read AR 

Geography 7: The oil video response essay was due today (with pre-write).  Students worked on a Middle East map activity for the remainder of the period - we will finish it Monday.  Homework:   check grade online - read AR 


English 7:  Students took a spelling TEST and turned in all spelling work.  Homework:  check grades online -   read AR