#endoffirstweek Tweet Responses! 8/28/14

Your tweets on our Twitter board matter to me, so I will be trying to respond to them each time we use this tool.  That being said, here are all of my responses to all of your tweets from today's class!!!!

PERIOD ONE RESPONSES FROM @mrsleahy:

@jimmya:  We're planning to have a great year too! #lookinghopeful
@hawab:  I'm glad you thought it was exciting; I felt like I got swallowed up by a tornado!  #nextweekwillbeevenbetter
@mattb:  We will write some fictional pieces, but not a huge amount.  I think you should use some of your journal Mondays for that!  #buddingauthor
@stephb:  I'm so happy you're excited to write!  I'm excited to take you to the next level!  #mykindofgirl
@amandab:  Don't be nervous about forgetting things!  We all forget sometimes!  We'll help you not make a habit of it though.  #wehaveyourback
@kaleighc:  Yes, I will assign seats, but I move kids around so frequently that you'll get a chance to sit with almost everyone in the class at least once.  #icannothavekidsinthesameplacefortoolong
@davidf:  DON'T BE WORRIED ABOUT MCAS!  Testing is just part of school.  It's a couple of days out of the entire school year.  Let's focus on all the other ones.  #shakeitoffbud
@terrynfm:  I think we're going to have a great year together with all the amazing literature we get to read and the writing we get to do #mykindofgirl
@keenanh:  I think we're going to have a great year too!  #lookinghopeful
@melissah:  I can't wait to develop new projects and see what my students bring to the table, so they're going to great!  #getyourcreativeon
@sandrah:  I did too, even though it was a whirlwind and I thought I sounded like a crazy person!  #nextweekwillbeevenbetter
@daltonl:  I'm so glad you didn't think 8th grade was as hard as you thought it would be, but I have a feeling the challenge will begin next week #bringiton
@brianm:  We are too!  DC is one of the best weeks of the 8th grade year.  #makingmemories
@elizan:  Don't worry about the tests and the homework.  We'll make sure your amply prepared for everything.  #youvegotitinthebag
@kylen:  The first week is always a bit boring because it's just the teachers yapping on and on.  Next week will be much more active, I promise! #goodtimesahead
@andrewp: I'm so glad your fears didn't come true!  #Afortheday
@sethq:  We're going to be doing a ton of writing this year - open responses, essays, research papers, poetry, journaling every Monday at least and maybe even some fictional stories #getyourpencilsready
@laurens:  Don't worry about more homework!  It's a part of school and we'll make sure it doesn't get too overwhelming #letmeknowifyouneedhelpmanagingit
@hannahs:  Yay!  We think all of our students are great too!  #winning
@brennat:  I'm pumped your first week was great!  We're going to be reading a few different books (I haven't picked them all yet), some short stories, poetry, folklore and even a play or two!  #readingsmyfavorite

PERIOD THREE RESPONSES FROM @mrsleahy:
@hayleya:  We will be jumping into a unit on short stories and focusing on discussions and responding/analyzing literature.  #notasboringasitsounds  #actuallyreallyentertaining
@tylerb:  Is your new word "apathetic"?  So many new words will be learned this year!  #youaintseennothingyet
@peterc:  We enjoyed meeting all of you!  #greatyearahead
@jessd:  I'm so glad you had such a great first week of 8th grade!  We loved meeting our students too!  #justgettingstarted
@tylerh:  Thanks!  Our students are awesome too!  #cantwaittoreallygetstarted
@maddieh:  I'm glad you had a good week!  #smileyface
@patrickh:  I wish it was still summer too; good thing we have this nice long weekend #therealworkstartsinseptemberthough
@samm: I think the pace was nice too.  Throughout the year, if things are going too quick or too slow for you, let me know #wereinthistogether
@jenm:  We really liked all of our students too!  Especially ones with keen fashion sense lol #8thgradefashionista
@khangn:  I wouldn't say it's going to get hard, but it will definitely get challenging.  If you're feeling overwhelmed, talk to us and we'll help you out.  #wevegotyourback
@nickn:  I'm glad you had a good week!  #smileyface #welcomebacktotms
@mattp:  I think that's going to be a theme this year (confusing, but fun).  When things get murky, talk to us.  We're here to help!  #iliveinastateofconfusion
@alexq:  I'm glad you had a good first week of school  #smileyface
@lindsayr:  We liked meeting you too!  This year is going to be the best!  #justgettingstarted
@lizzies:  First weeks are always chaotic, no matter how old you are.  I felt like I got swallowed up by a tornado on Tuesday, but each day got better.  #wereinthistogether  #chaosorcreativity?
@emmas:  I've been exhausted this week too!  Hopefully next week will be better.  #restupthisweekend #thefunisjuststarting
@reinas:  Yay for having a good first week of school!  #smileyface
@eliasz:  If 8th grade has been great for you, just wait until you see what's coming #justgettingstarted

PERIOD FOUR RESPONSES FROM @mrsleahy:
@keishacb:  We loved meeting all of you too!  Thanks for having such a positive attitude this week #readingsmyfavoritetoo #happylady
@derekd:  I'm glad your week went well.  Enjoy the break from homework so that you can pour all your energy into the nights that you do have it #stockuponitnow  #probablywontlastlong
@markg:  I'll have to let @mseringis know that you enjoyed that activity!  There's a lot of moving around in all of your classes this year, so I'm sure you'll like that!  #foundyournitch
@johng:  I'm so happy you like 8th grade!  There will be plenty of time for you to be with my friends throughout the school year, I promise!  #8thgraderocks  #thanksforkeepingmyerasersafetoday
@taylorh:  I'm glad you're looking forward to all of your classes this year.  I know that every teacher does some really cool activities and you'll be learning A TON of cool stuff!  #ilovelearningnewthingstoo  #mykindofgirl
@brendanh:  I'm glad you thought we were funny since we crack each other up all of the time!  #timestolaughtimestowork
@roberth:  I'm so exhausted after this week, that I'm ready for some time away too!  I'm going camping with my friends #whatareyoudoing?  #makeitfun!
@miken:  I'm so happy you're liking all of your classes!  They're all great in their own way!  #lotstolearn  #funtobehad
@seanp:  Next week will be fun, it's just a different kind of fun, and you're totally right about the homework coming!  #workhardplayhard
@brooklyns:  I'm so happy you loved this week!  All the prep work you did in all of your classes will get you ready for a crazy-fun year ahead!  #buckleup
@zacks:  You deserve a fun, sun-filled weekend after being so focused all week!  #fourdayweekendsrock  #dosomethingfun!
@nickt:  We're glad you enjoyed all of us; we enjoyed meeting all of you too!  #ourstudentsrock  #lookinghopefulthisyear
@marissaw:  Thanks!  We think our students are pretty great too! #8thgradersrock

PERIOD SIX RESPONSES FROM @mrsleahy:
@saraa:  So are we, Sara!  #ourstudentsrocktoo  #lookinghopefulthisyear
@chrisa:  I don't know the exact dates, but we go to DC the week before April School Vacation.  #bestweekever!
@ryanb:  We're so pumped to have last lunch, too.  In the past, 8th grade has always had first lunch and @mrsgauvin referred to it as "brunch" because it was too early!  #8thgradeissues
@marinc:  I'm so glad you liked the locker times switch too!  I think it's so much better #wayeasier #nobrokenbacks
@laurend:  I'm sure @msmoss will be pleased to know how excited you are to learn Spanish!  #excellente!
@caseyd:  YES!!!!  Your excitement to do more writing makes me so happy! #mykindofgirl #weregoingtogetalongfine
@shyaf:  We're looking forward to a great school year, too!  #gigglesinela #8thgraderocks!
@ianf:  @mrdeshler will be pumped to know you're looking forward to social studies! #bringingthepastolife
@jacobh:  This year will be so fun, I know it!  #workhardtoplayhard
@annabelleh:  I'm so glad you're not nervous anymore after this week!  This year's going to be great!  #shapingupwell
@michaelk:  Sweet!  I heart reading too! #imabooknerd #mykindofkid
@jonathanl:  I'm looking forward to really diving in to teaching next week, so I'm so excited you're pumped to learn new things!  #learningisthebest
@kaleighl:  Yay!  I'm glad you had a good first week!  #smileyface
@kellyl:  We're so happy you joined our TMS community!  #welcome
@abbym:  We're here to help you with your time management, so no worries about finishing things on time, my friend!  #wevegotyourback
@rachelm:  I'm pumped you had a good first week!  #smileyface #nextweekwillbeevenbetter
@brandonm:  I CAN'T WAIT FOR DC EITHER!!!  #bestfieldtripever
@tylern:  @mrsgauvin was THRILLED when I told her you can't wait to do labs.  She's got some crazy ones up her sleeve, too!  #justwait
@ryanp:  Yay!  We'll be reading quite a bit this year, but I'm not giving anything away...#staygold
@anthonyr:  GREAT!  I'm excited to work with you this year and see where your writing will take you!  #getyourpencilsready #mykindofkid
@chrisr:  I'm so happy you're liking this year so far!  I think we're going to have a lot of fun together, too!  #8thgraderocks
@zachs:  I'm glad you had fun this week!  I did too!  Homework will be starting next week, my friend #workhardplayhard
@kylew:  No need to nervous!  We're here for you!  #wevegotyourback

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 8/28/14

AGENDA:
Catch Up/Get On the Same Page Day!
1.) Check in - where are we?
2.) Finish yesterday's writing prompt
3.) Start your symbol of me project
4.) Tweet Away!

HOMEWORK:
1.) If you didn't finish your writing assignment, please finish that up over the weekend and bring it in on Monday.
2.) Independent reading material is due on Monday, 9/8 no exceptions
3.) If you have a favorite song, please email me the title and artist so I can make a class playlist!  (kate.leahy@tyngsboroughps.org)

Today's Class 08/27/14

OBJECTIVE:
Today's objective is to write a detailed, cohesive, organized response to a prompt related to your summer reading

AGENDA:
1.) Quick check in and Q&A session
2.) Explanation and expectations of writing assessment
3.) Write Away! (Time will be given tomorrow if you do not finish) 
4.) Agenda Books
5.) Write me a tweet and head out!

Welcome Back! 08/26/14

Welcome back to school, Language All-Stars!  I know today was a hot day full of hustling, paperwork and binder set-ups, but I did really enjoy seeing you all again and learning a little bit more about you.  I know that this is going to be a PHENOMENAL year!

Hopefully you gave your parents the letter I asked you to share with them.  However, if you didn't or if you lost it, you can have your parents access one here.

TODAY'S CLASS:
OBJECTIVE:  To get to know each other and to set up our binders in order to maximize success in ELA this year

AGENDA:
1.) Welcome and attendance (tell me one interesting thing about you)
2.) Binder set-up
3.) Go over expectations sheet ("A Sneak Peak at Mrs. Leahy's Class")
4.) Get to know Mrs. Leahy
5.) Agenda Books

Tonight's Homework:
1.)  Read through "A Sneak Peak at Mrs. Leahy's Class" sheet.  Any questions?  Ask them tomorrow.
2.) Tomorrow is your summer reading writing assessment, so make sure you have your quotes tomorrow in class.