4/29/16 Only a few more weeks to clear AR!! Read Read Read!

English 8:  Students started watching the Anne Frank movie.  We start the movie before finishing the book so students can visualize the time period, the Annexe, and the characters.    *homework:  -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  We continued with Lesson 26 - standards.  *homework:  - read AR
English 7:   All spelling work was due, and students took a spelling test.    *homework:  - read AR

4/28/16

English 8:  After sentence stretching & journal, students read Anne Frank in cooperative reading groups.   *homework:  -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  We continued with Lesson 26 - standards.  *homework:  - read AR
English 7:   After sentence stretching & journal, 7B took a quiz on the class novel.  7A read in cooperative reading groups.  They will likely take the quiz next week.  All spelling work due tomorrow!  *homework:   spelling all due tomorrow - study for TEST - read AR

4/27/16

English 8:  Students were given a bit of time to finish and check their section 2 Anne Frank quizzes. For the remainder of the class, students read Anne Frank in cooperative reading groups.    *homework:  -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  We had a full day of public figure presentations.  We will finish them tomorrow and move on to the next lesson (standards).  *homework:  - read AR
English 7:   We had shortened classes today due to the morning assembly (Earth Day Program).  Students used the entire class time to read class novels in cooperative reading groups. 7B:  Quiz tomorrow  7A:  Quiz Friday  (The Giver quiz - through pg. 151 - Gathering Blue quiz - through pg. 154)  *homework:   spelling definitions - read AR

4/26/16

English 8:  After sentence stretching & journal, students took Anne Frank Section 2 quiz.  If not completed in class, it is homework (open book).     *homework:  -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  We had a full day of public figure presentations.  We will finish them tomorrow and move on to the next lesson (standards).  *homework:  - read AR
English 7:   After sentence stretching & journal, students read in cooperative reading groups.  The class journal entries and illustrations were due (in full) for both classes today.     *homework:   spelling (5 times each) - read AR

4/25/16

English 8:  All vocabulary from last week was due, and students took the Vocab. TEST.  Students looked over their graded research reports.  For the remainder of class, students read Anne Frank in cooperative reading groups.  There will be a section 2 (pg. 25-75) quiz tomorrow.  No Vocabulary this week.   *homework: read to pg. 75 in Anne Frank if not completed in class -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  Students participated in a game/activity regarding 'temptations' and gave each other advice.  We viewed one presentation and will continue those tomorrow. *homework:  - read AR
English 7:   After DOL/Journal, students were given the Lesson 8 spelling words (these were pronounced and discussed in class).  Students read the class novel in cooperative reading groups.   *homework:   7A class journal & entry is due Tuesday, 4/26/16 - read AR

4/22/16

English 8:  Students continued presenting research reports.  We discussed vocabulary words that students were struggling with and addressed misconceptions.  All vocabulary is due Monday, as we postponed the test until that time.  Friendly letter thank you notes were written for our guest presenter from Wednesday.  *homework: Vocab. Section 4 due Monday - study for TEST -  read AR
Teen Leadership:   Students continued presenting Public Figure PowerPoint presentations.  Great work!!  *homework:  - read AR
English 7:   After Journal, students were given some time to work on their class journal entry and illustration.  For 7B, the entries and illustrations were due and collected.  For 7A, the entries and illustrations are due Tuesday.   *homework:   7A class journal & entry is due Tuesday, 4/26/16 - read AR

4/21/16

English 8:  Students continued presenting research reports.  All vocabulary is due tomorrow.   *homework: Vocab. Section 4 due tomorrow - study for TEST -  read AR
Teen Leadership:   Students started presenting Public Figure PowerPoint presentations.  Great work!!  *homework:   public figure to research project (due Thursday - turned in Friday will be late) - read AR
English 7:   After Journal, were given some time to work on their class journal entry and illustration.  The paper clips poem was due and collected.   *homework:  7B class journal entry due Friday (edit, type, and illustrate)  - 7A class journal is due Tuesday, 4/26/16 - read AR

4/20/16

English 8:  Guest Speaker- presentation about concentration camps and Auschwitz.  Thank you SO much Mr. Miers!!  What an amazing presentation!   *homework: Vocab. Section 4 (definitions) -  read AR
Teen Leadership:   Students gave amazing speeches today.  Great work!!
   *homework:   public figure to research project (due date Thursday) - read AR
English 7:   After Journal, students created an "I AM" poem from the perspective of a paper clip.  These are due tomorrow.  *homework:  class journal entry due Friday (edit, type, and illustrate) - read AR

4/19/16

English 8:  Students presented research reports for the entire class period.  We'll continue tomorrow.  Assigned was Anne Frank vocabulary section 4.  *homework: Vocab. Section 4 (categories)-  read AR
Teen Leadership:   We continued Lesson 25 (Values). Students were given speech preparation forms for their speech tomorrow.  The topic is:  A Lesson I've Learned.
   *homework:  speech preparation (due tomorrow) - public figure to research project (due date Thursday) - read AR
English 7B:   After Journal, students were given time to edit, type, and illustrate their class journal entry.  For the remainder of class, students read in cooperative reading groups.  No spelling this week due to editing the class journal.  *homework:  class journal entry due Friday (edit, type, and illustrate) - read AR
English 7A: After Journal, students were given time to edit, type, and illustrate their class journal entry.  No spelling this week due to editing the class journal.  *Homework: class journal entry due Tues, 4/26/16 (edit, type, and illustrate) - read AR

4/18/16

English 8:  Students presented research reports for the entire class period.  We'll continue tomorrow.  Assigned was Anne Frank vocabulary section 4.  *homework: Vocab. Section 4 (synonyms & antonyms)-  read AR
Teen Leadership:   We started Lesson 25 (Values) and will continue tomorrow. 
   *homework:  public figure to research project (due date Thursday) - read AR
English 7B:   After DOL/Journal, students were given a copy of his or her class journal entry.  By Friday, students must edit, type, and turn in a digital version (not printed) of the class journal entry. Each student must also illustrate his or her journal entry (also due Friday).  No Spelling this week as students are working on their final class journal entry.   *homework:  class journal entry (edit, type, and illustrate) - read AR
English 7A: Students were given some time to write in their journals and finish working on the class journal ending if they were not yet done.  Each student read his or her class journal ending during the class period, and each student voted for his or her favorite.  The winner will be revealed tomorrow.  No spelling this week as students will be working on their final class journal entry (edit, type, and illustrate).  *Homework: read AR

4/15/16

English 8:  All vocab. work was due, and students took the Anne Frank Section 3 vocab. test.   The final Research Report was due and collected.  Students will start presentations next week (visuals will be due next week for presenting).     *homework: visual for research report presentation-  read AR
Teen Leadership:   Students that were here were given time to work on the public figure research project. 
   *homework:  public figure to research project (due date next Thursday) - read AR
English 7:   All spelling work was due, and students took the novel list 3 spelling test.  Gathering Blue students took the quiz for section 2 (Ch. 4-9). *homework:  - read AR

4/14/16

English 8:  AIMS Science TEST - continued through part of Block 3.    *homework: All vocab. due tomorrow - RESEARCH REPORT DUE TOMORROW! -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  Due to AIMS testing in 8th grade, TL students did not have a full class period today.  Several students were gone to the GCU campus visit.  Students that were here were given time to work on the public figure research project. 
   *homework:  public figure to research project (due date next week -  TBA) - read AR
English 7:   After DOL/journal, students read the class novel in cooperative reading groups.  7A continued the class journal ending.  We should be ready to read & vote on them Monday.   *homework: All spelling work due tomorrow - study for spelling TEST - read AR

4/13/16 8th Grade AIMS Science TEST tomorrow!

English 8:  Students learned how to create references, a bibliography, and in-text citations within Microsoft Word.  The remainder of class was spent working on the character wall for Anne Frank.  *homework:  Vocabulary definitions - work on final research report (due Friday) -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  Students were given time to work on the public figure research project. 
   *homework:  public figure to research project (due date next week -  TBA) - read AR
English 7:   After DOL/journal, students read the class novel in cooperative reading groups.  7A started writing the class journal ending.  We should be ready to read & vote on them by Friday.   *homework: Spelling definitions - read AR

4/12/16

English 8:  After journal, students practiced writing in-text citations correctly. We discussed vocabulary words and addressed misunderstandings.  *homework:  Vocabulary categories - work on final research report (due Friday) -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  Class has been inconsistent for the last two classes due to AzMerit testing.  We have been working on Lesson 23, Public vs. Private Self.  We started discussing the research project of a public figure and groups he or she affects either positively or negatively.
   *homework: choose public figure to research - read AR
English 7:   After journal, we discussed spelling words and addressed misunderstandings with meaning.  7B finished reading the class journal ending and voted for the ending to be in the published version (congratulations Anya!).  7A read the class journal from beginning to end and started writing the journal ending.    *homework: Spelling list 3 - 5 times each - read AR

4/11/16

English 8:  After journal, students were shown a PowerPoint presentation on parenthetical citation and plagiarism.  We will practice in-text citations tomorrow.  Students were assigned Section 3 Vocabulary from the Anne Frank vocabulary list (synonyms & antonyms are due tomorrow).      *homework:  Vocabulary synonyms & antonyms - work on final research report (due Friday) -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  We started lesson 23, public self vs. private self. 
   *homework: - read AR
English 7:   After DOL/Journal, students were assigned the spelling list 3 for their class novel.  7B started reading the endings to the class journal (to vote for the ending - we will finish tomorrow).  7A worked in cooperative reading groups.   *homework: Spelling list 3 (synonyms & antonyms) - read AR

4/8/16

English 8:  Research report rough draft was due for peer editing.  Students read and edited each others' reports and were assigned 10 word choice changes.
NO VOCABULARY THIS WEEK due to testing.     *homework:  word choice changes -  read AR
Teen Leadership:  Paperclips response essays were due and collected.  Students presented their "Self-Concept vs. Image" collages to the class. 
   *homework: - - read AR
English 7:   We are continuing with the Paperclips documentary. Assigned is a response to the movie. 
NO SPELLING THIS WEEK due to testing.   *homework: - read AR

4/7/16

English 8:  Students worked on their rough drafts and wrote in journals.  For the remainder of class, they read Anne Frank in cooperative reading groups. 
NO VOCABULARY THIS WEEK due to testing.     *homework:  Rough Draft due tomorrow- read AR
Teen Leadership:  We continued discussing Personal Brand.  The "Self-Concept Vs. Image" collage was collected.  The Paperclips response essay is due tomorrow.
   *homework: - Paperclips response essay - read AR
English 7:   We are continuing with the Paperclips documentary. Assigned is a response to the movie. 
NO SPELLING THIS WEEK due to testing.   *homework: - read AR

4/6/16

English 8:    AzMerit TESTING - Reading & Math Part 2
NO VOCABULARY THIS WEEK due to testing.     *homework:  - read AR
Teen Leadership:  Due to AzMerit Testing, students were with Ms. Simon during 3rd block.  They started the documentary Paperclips and will finish it tomorrow.
   *homework: work on "Self-Concept vs. Image" collage (due Thursday) - Paperclips response essay - read AR
English 7:   We are continuing with the Paperclips documentary.
NO SPELLING THIS WEEK due to testing.   *homework: - read AR

4/5/16

English 8:    AzMerit TESTING - Reading & Math Part 1
NO VOCABULARY THIS WEEK due to testing.     *homework:  - read AR
Teen Leadership:  Due to AzMerit Testing, students were with Ms. Simon during 3rd block.  They started the documentary Paperclips and will finish it tomorrow.
   *homework: work on "Self-Concept vs. Image" collage (due Thursday) - Paperclips response essay - read AR
English 7: Due to AzMerit Testing, 7B (4th block) did not have English class today.  7A was able to start a KTWL and the documentary called Paperclips.
NO SPELLING THIS WEEK due to testing.   *homework: - read AR

4/4/16

English 8:    NO VOCABULARY THIS WEEK due to testing.  We corrected and discussed the AzMerit Practice Packet and test-taking strategies.    *homework:  - read AR
Teen Leadership:  We started Lesson 22: Personal Brand.  Students will go to Ms. Simon for Tuesday and Wednesday due to 8th grade AzMerit testing.  With Ms. Simon, students will watch the movie Paperclips and write a response essay tying it to Teen Leadership.  The essay is due Friday.
   *homework: work on "Self-Concept vs. Image" collage (due Thursday) - Paperclips response essay - read AR
English 7: NO SPELLING THIS WEEK due to testing.  We corrected and discussed the AzMerit Practice Packet and test-taking strategies.   *homework: - read AR

AzMerit TEST - April 5th and 6th

Tuesday, April 5th - Reading & Math Part 1
Wednesday, April 6th - Reading & Math Part 2
*Please make sure students are in attendance, on time, well-fed, and well-rested!  Thank you for taking an interest in your child's education!

4/1/16 April Fool's Day!

English 8:    NO VOCABULARY THIS WEEK due to testing & testing prep.  Students were given some time in class to complete the AzMerit practice packet, as well as complete their outline.  These were due at the end of class.    *homework:  rough draft due 4/8/16- read AR
Teen Leadership:  We started discussing personal brand, and will continue this Monday.  *homework: work on collage (due 4/7/16) - read AR
English 7: NO SPELLING THIS WEEK due to testing & testing prep.  Students were given time to finish the AzMerit prep reading packet.  Those who were finished at the beginning of class were able to peer review answers.  *homework: - read AR