New Website

I am very excited to announce that thanks to my tech-savvy husband, I will using a brand new WEBSITE that he created just for me - mrsleahy.com!  Please head over there for updates, homework, agendas, and news as I will no longer be using this blog.

Thanks!!!

And The Award Goes To...

Congratulations Taylor and Lindsay!!!!  I'm so proud of both of you!  You exemplify "In this class we don't do easy; we make easy happen through hard work."  You two ROCK!!!!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 06/09/15

AGENDA
1.)  Reading Check #4 adding the following questions to the bottom:  8.) How did Melinda choose to warn Rachel/Rachelle about Andy Evans?  9.) How did Rachel/Rachelle find out what happened to Melinda at the party over the summer?  Describe her reaction.  10.) Why did Anderson choose to have Melinda pick the word tree as her art project?  What's the metaphor there?

2.) Our last discussion about Speak - What are your takeaways?

3.) Theme Song Activity

4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Continue to work on your theme song activity
2.) Make sure your Student-Led Conference materials (tri-fold board and 1/2 inch binder) are in school!!!!!

PARENT INFO. - Reminder

Hi Parents/Families of Silver Soaring Stars Students,

Friday is our student-led conferences and we're very much looking forward to this event.  Please make sure to RSVP (either by cutting off the bottom of the letter that went home/was emailed or via email) to one of your child's teachers ASAP so we can plan accordingly.  We can't wait to share in your child's successes this year with you!

Sincerely Yours,
Katie Leahy
Shelby Gauvin
Caroline Myers
April Eringis
Allison Moss

If you need another copy of the letter, please check this link out!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 06/08/15

AGENDA
1.) Warm-Up:  TWO PART JOURNAL ENTRY - What is your theme song?  Why did you choose that and explain your thinking.  Choose two characters from Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.  What are their theme songs?  Explain your thinking.

2.) Finish reading Speak together

3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) If we didn't finish Speak in your class, please finish it tonight.  Also, make sure to read the Platinum Edition Bonus Material.  Make sure you jot down some questions to ask to the group tomorrow!

2.) Since we're finishing up the book, your Word Attack assignment is due tomorrow in class.

3.) Get the lyrics to your theme song (print them out or write them down) and bring them to class tomorrow.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 06/04/15

TODAY'S AGENDA
1.) Warm-Up:  Reading Check #3
2.) Deep Thinking Question Creation Station
3.) Discussion - Questions from a hat
4.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) Read up through page 176 (stop at Prom Preparation) for Monday, 06/08/15 - making sure to add to your Word Attack Assignment!
2.) Responding to Art assignment due on Friday

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 06/03/15

Early Release Day Today!

AGENDA

1.) Work on your art response

HOMEWORK

1.) Finish reading assignment (all of Third Marking Period - page 137) for tomorrow
2.) Completed Responding To Art Assignment due on FRIDAY, 6/5/15

PARENT INFO. - 06/02/15

Here is a link to a letter from your child's team of teachers regarding an event we have planned on Friday, June 12, 2015 from 1:00-2:00pm.  It has also been sent home with them. The letter outlines what we will be doing and why, along with the supplies the students will need.  Please respond to us via email or by detaching  off the bottom portion of the letter and sending that in with your child.

Sincerely Yours,
Katie Leahy
Caroline Myers
Shelby Gauvin
April Eringis
Allison Moss

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 06/02/15

AGENDA
1.) Table Talk Warm-Up:  Share your vocabulary paragraphs with your group.
2.) Turn in vocab paragraphs
3.) Art Response Assignment (see below)
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish your art recreation and your descriptive words (you MUST have a ton of SPARKLE words/phrases)
2.) Continue reading up to the end of the third marking period (pg. 137) in Speak

ART RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT
Supplies Needed:
~ Your printed painting (last night's homework)
~ A piece of blank white drawing paper
~ Blank lined paper from journal section of binder
~ Coloring supplies

Assignment Procedure:
~ Using the picture as a reference point, recreate it to your best ability on the blank white piece of paper.

~ Next, label your picture using descriptive words and phrases (colors, textures, etc.).  I want to see SPARKLE words and phrases, so labels like "good use of color" or "kinda bumpy" aren't going to work.  If you need to consult the thesaurus, you may do so (either text form or online form - with permission)

~ Using your list of descriptive words and phrases, write a 300 word (minimum) to 600 word (maximum) describing the art work you selected.  Spend some time addressing what the artist may have been feeling and/or why they painted this in this manner.  What is the painter trying to say?  Make sure you include the artist AND the title of the artwork in the topic sentence.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 06/01/15

AGENDA
1.) Warm-Up:  Reading Check Worksheet 1 and Reading Check Worksheet 2
2.) Discuss up to the end of the second marking period
3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Are all of your word work for the ten teacher directed words completed?  If not, make sure they are!  We WILL be finishing the book this week and those need to be done...
2.) Vocabulary Paragraph (see directions below)
3.) Painting (see directions below) and bring coloring supplies to class
4.) Read all of the third marking period in Speak by Thursday, 06/04/15

VOCABULARY PARAGRAPH
Using your ten (10) teacher directed words from the Word Attack assignment, please write a paragraph.  This paragraph must use all of the words in context (without directly saying what the words mean), and all of the words must be underlined.  This assignment can be on whatever topic you want (it doesn't have to be related to the book) and it can take the form of a journal entry, a newspaper article, a diary entry, etc.  Use your imagination for that!

PAINTING ASSIGNMENT
1.) Choose an artist that you are interested in (some may include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Claude Monet, Jackson Pollack, Vincent van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, etc.)
2.) Look up some of their famous pieces and choose the one that stands out the most to you
3.) PRINT THAT IMAGE OUT! (either at home or in school DURING HOMEROOM)

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/29/15

AGENDA:
1.) Warm-Up:  Worksheet in class
2.) Work on the Teacher Directed portion of your Word Attack sheet from Wednesday of this week.  Please make sure to follow all your directions on this!  If you need another copy of it, please email me and I will send it to you.
3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK:
1.) Finish all ten word work pages for Monday, June 1, 2015

2.) Read up to page 92 in Speak.  Make sure to dialogue with your text and be prepared to share your observations, connections and deep thinking questions in our discussion on Monday, June 1, 2015

3.) Add to your original word journals!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/28/15

AGENDA
1.) Warm-Up:  What is the tone set so far in Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson?   Find a piece of text to support your idea
2.) Accountable Talk Discussion about pages 1-24 in the book - bring your questions and connections
3.) Reading Choice (Independent Reading, Speak as a group or Speak independently)
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Bring your coloring supplies and vocabulary worksheet to class tomorrow to work on the Teacher Directed Section of the project
2.) Read up to page 92 (the end of the second marking period) in Speak by MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/27/15

AGENDA
1.) Table talk about "resilience" (your journal from yesterday) and "survival" (topic from today)
2.) Word Attack assignment
3.) Speak
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Read up to Burrow in Speak and add to your word journal
2.) Come to class prepared with a deep thinking question and a connection/observation to share with the group for our discussion

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/26/15

AGENDA
1.) Finish up the storytelling...
2.) Collection of Coat of Arms Project
3.) 1-2 page Journal - What is 'resilience'?  Identify and describe fictional characters from books, film and/or television that you would argue are resilient and explain why.  Then identify real life people that you know personally or know about that you would argue are resilient and explain why.
**Tomorrow we are starting a book that has a central theme of resilience, so it is imperative you complete this assignment to the best of your ability with a lot of thought and effort.

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish your journal entry that was started in class.
2.) Periods 3, 4 and 6 ONLY - if you wanted to do a rewrite on your Cinderella open response, please do so by tomorrow.

Reminder...

Your coat of arms project and narrative are due tomorrow!  

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/15/15

AGENDA

Periods 1&3:

1.) New seats

2.) Write Around with your topic sentence

3.) Cut and Grow

4.) Agenda books

Periods 4&6:

1.) Mini lessons on theme and motif

2.) Write Around with your topic sentence

3.) Cut and Grow

4.) Agenda books

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/14/15

AGENDA
PERIODS 1 & 3:
1.) Take out BOTH HW assignments that are due today.
2.) Theme mini lesson
3.) Motif mini lesson
4.) Agenda Books

PERIODS 4 & 5:
1.) Take out your homework assignment that was due today.
2.) Final presentation and chart fill out
3.) Theme mini lesson
4.) Motif mini lesson
5.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
PERIODS 1 & 3:
1.) Start working on the storytelling aspect of your culture project (pick a story and start learning it).  Presentations will be next Wednesday and Thursday.
2.) After today's mini lessons on theme and motif, do you need to tweak your topic sentence homework from last night?  If so, please make sure it's done.

PERIODS 4 & 6:
1.) Start working on the storytelling aspect of your culture project (pick a story and start learning it).  Presentations will be next Wednesday and Thursday.
2.) Look at the two prompts in yesterday's blog post.  Read them both and choose the one you want to answer.  Write the best topic sentence you can for the prompt of your choosing on the top of a piece of lined paper and bring it to class for an activity tomorrow.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/13/15

AGENDA
1.) 15 minutes to run through your act it out with your group
2.) Presentations (YAY!)
3.) Let's chart it!
4.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
All classes:
All notes on your cultural project assignment must be done and brought to class for tomorrow

Periods 1 and 3:
Choose one of the open response prompts below to be yours to answer.  Have your topic sentence WRITTEN DOWN on a piece of paper for our Write Around activity tomorrow.

OPEN RESPONSE PROMPTS:
1.) One of the characteristics of a fairytale is that they are meant to teach the audience a lesson.  What is the overall theme that the Cinderella story is supposed to teach its audience no matter what culture's story you look at?  Support your response with specific examples from the stories you've interacted with?

2.) What is a motif?  Based on what you've experienced and all the work you've done with these three stories, what are some motifs that are present in the Cinderella stories around the world?  Support your answer with reasons or explanations from multiple texts.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/11/15

AGENDA
1.) Quick chat with me - catch me up on where you are and what you have been doing over the past two days of school
2.) Culture project
3.) Time to work on presentations

HOMEWORK
1.) Research portion of culture project must be done by Thursday, 5/14/15

Today and Tomorrow - 05/07/15 and 05/08/15

I will be out today and tomorrow, but you have a SUPER FUN project to work on.  Over the next few days, you will be diving in to the world of Cinderella Stories Around the Globe!  Any questions, feel free to email me!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/06/15

AGENDA
1.) Go over Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyon multiple choice questions
2.) Collect Tall Tale homework from Monday
3.) 15-20 minutes of group practice
4.) Present your Tall Tale
5.) Journal Assignment
6.) Agenda Books

JOURNAL
Now it's your turn to write a tall tale!  In your journal, please write a 1 page tall tale on a made up (by you) or fake (cartoon, video game character, etc.) character.  Your entry can either take on a story format (like Pecos Bill) or a poem format (like Paul Bunyon) and it also MUST include 7-10 hyperboles.  If you could underline your hyperboles, that would be GREAT!  It also needs some sort of visual to go along with it.  This should be done on a separate page.

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish up your journal entry

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/04/15

For All My Star Wars Lovers Out There:

May the Fourth Be With You!

AGENDA

1.) New math seats

2.) Word Work presentations (and then I will collect your WW HW from Friday)

3.) Read both Pecos Bill and the Mustang and Paul Bunyon in your textbooks (or in the electronic textbook in the ELA links section of the blog)

4.) Tall Tale Hyperbole Hunt

5.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK

1.) Finish the Tall Tale Hyperbole Hunt

2.) Multiple choice questions for the two stories

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 05/01/15

Happy first day of May!!!!!

AGENDA

1.) Quick discussions about expectations for the grading activity

2.) Let's check these out, shall we?!?

3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK

1.) Word Work Breakdown due Monday

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 04/30/15

TODAY'S AGENDA
1.) Graded, timed warm-up
2.) Work with your group on your writing challenge
3.) Agenda books

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 04/28/15

I am out again today :(.  I'm hoping to be back to you guys tomorrow (Wednesday)!  Anyway, the same basic rules are going to apply today - come in, get your work done in class that needs to get done in class, complete whatever you need to complete for homework - because I'm taking all of the assignments for a grade when I get back!

AGENDA FOR THE DAY
1.) Graded, timed warm-up (you may use your notes)
2.) Table talk discussion about the story using your question and connection
3.) Grade The Wise Old Woman worksheet (last night's homework) and turn in
4.) Whole class discussion about what the theme of this folktale is
5.) Start table writing challenge (if absent, you must do by yourself)
6.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Culture and Heritage Sheet
2.) Rewrite your notes from yesterday (this is a MANDATORY assignment).  You may color code them, annotate them, create a different graphic organizer for them, etc.  This will help you study because you never know when something else may POP up!

The Wise Old Woman - 04/27/15

So, apparently there was an issue with The Wise Old Woman story not being in the online text book.  I'm so sorry!!!!  Here is the link to the story, so you can still read it, dialogue with it and answer your questions for tomorrow's class.  Just keep in mind that the questions that mention specific pages or paragraphs will be off in this text, so you'll have to do some hunting!

Link to The Wise Old Woman

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 04/27/15

I am out today, so you need to take notes on the informational reading about the FOLKLORE genre and the types of stories that are a part of it. We will be diving deep into this genre over the next week or so, and you need to fully understand each type of story in order to complete the culminating assessment. Please take this assignment seriously. There is to be absolutely NO talking during this activity so that you can put your full attention and focus on to this.

You will be taking your notes in OUTLINE form.  My suggestion is that you do NOT try to create a blank outline first because you don’t know how much space you will need between each type of story. When I come back to school, we will go over these notes and we will add information, so make sure you leave some blank space as well! In the past, some students found it better to use a separate piece of paper for each type of story. It’s up to you!

After you complete your notes taking activity, you are going to read The Wise Old Woman in the ELA textbook (use the table of contents to find the page). You are to dialogue with your text as you read. You will come up with one deep thinking question to pose to the class during a discussion and one connection you can make to the notes you took in class (BE SPECIFIC). Finally, you need to do the multiple choice question sheet for the story.

ALL OF THIS WORK MUST BE COMPLETED FOR CLASS TOMORROW! I WILL BE TAKING ALL ASSIGNMENTS FOR A GRADE!

YOUR CHECKLIST:
o Read directions above
o Read and dialogue with notes handout
o Take notes from the handout in outline format
o Read The Wise Old Woman in the ELA textbook (use the Table
of Contents to find the page number)
o As you read, dialogue with your text. Each student is
responsible for:  ONE deep thinking question to pose to your group
about the story and ONE connection you can make between the
story and the notes that you took
o Complete the multiple choice page for The Wise Old Woman

LINKS TO NEEDED PAPERS:
1.) Notes Reading
2.) Checklist and Outline Format/Example
3.) Questions for The Wise Old Woman

REMINDER! 04/07/15

Tomorrow Night is THE Night!

Our Last Minute Question and Answer Session for parents/families of 8th graders traveling to Washington, D.C. next week is TOMORROW NIGHT - 04/08/15 - at 6:30pm in the TMS Auditorium!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 04/07/15

AGENDA
1.) Table Challenge and discussion
2.) Root words, prefixes and suffixes (two handouts given - see below)
3.) Knockout game!
4.) Agenda Books

HANDOUTS
1.) Breaking Down Meaning
2.) Common prefixes and suffixes

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish up your reading assignment for your literature circle tomorrow (if you're absent tomorrow, please make sure to reach out to your group and get the final literature circle reading assignment)

2.) Using your resources from class (and one more linked below if you choose to), compile a list of ten (10) words that highlight the root word, prefixes and suffixes.  You will be graded using the check scale based on the complexity of your words AND the fact that all ten words need different roots.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:

Here is a link to more root words

HUMANITIES - Day Three - 04/01/15

AGENDA
1.) Meet up to watch two videos about the Salem Witch Trials (video 1 and video 2)
2.) Break off into small groups - First group to room 222 for Literature Circles and the second group to room 221 for Interviews
3.) Switch halfway through our time together
4.) Agenda Books

Literature Circle Agenda
1.) Greet each other and then everyone should discuss reactions to the reading so far (open table discussion)
2.) Choose one role to share out (make sure you explain your thinking)
3.) Discuss what that group member brought to the table (no HOGS and no LOGS)
4.) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until everyone shares
5.) Set roles and reading assignments for the next meeting
6.) Complete the summarizer (see below)

Summarizer
Answer the following questions completely.  Make sure that you explain EACH answer.
1.) How did you guys work together?

What was your role?  What did you bring to the table?

What worked/what did you enjoy?

What didn't work/how can you fix it?

History Component Agenda
1.) Quick table talk about your interview
2.) Let's meet your person!
3.) Whole class discussion about the people (summing things up!)
4.) Drawing homework - We would like a visual representation about what life was like back then.  Use the videos we watched, everything we've been studying up to this point and information you've gathered from your novel to help you create this.  We're looking to see how well you fully understand the Puritan's, their lifestyle and what this hysteria looked like.

HOMEWORK
1.) Visual representation
2.) Literature circle work

DC Info. For Parents/Guardians

Parents and Guardians of 8th graders headed to Washington DC in 13 DAYS (not like we're excited and counting or anything!), mark your calendars! We are hosting a "Last Minute Info. and Q&A" night on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 6:30pm in the TMS Auditorium for the families of our DC travelers. This is a night where we can share all of the information that we will be bestowing upon the kids this week and next week for you and answer any of your last minute questions about the trip and anything related to our traveling. All questions are welcomed and will be answered by chaperones that will be going this year and that have made this trip in the past. The only questions that we will not be at liberty to answer are specific rooming questions. Other than that, anything goes! We're very much looking forward to seeing you all and sharing our excitement with you as this wonderful experience nears!!!!

HUMANITIES - Day Two - 03/31/15

I am proctoring the Math PARCC test today, so if you are absent, you need to check in with Mrs. Myers regarding today's activities/agenda

HOMEWORK:

1.) All Literature Circles will meet tomorrow, so please make sure that you have your group's assigned reading and your job complete so that you can participate in the discussions tomorrow.  I can't wait!!!

HUMANITIES - Day One - 03/30/15

AGENDA

1.) Thank you for your feedback (review your Humanities surveys)
2.) Break out groups (ELA and SS)
3.) Do activity with that group
4.) Switch at the halfway point
5.) Agenda Books

ELA AGENDA
1.) Literature circle information (what it is and what the roles are)
2.) Assigning of books
3.) First group meeting

SOCIAL STUDIES
1.) What is a puritan?  Let's take a webquest!
2.) Discussion/presentation of information

HOMEWORK
1.) Whatever your lit circle assigns you, please make sure it's done.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/27/15

AGENDA

1.) Write the best 8th grade open response you have in you to write for your Trimester 3 Writing Check.  If you are absent, I'm still expecting it done for Monday (see prompt below)
2.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish writing check if you did not finish it in class
2.) Find your motto/slogan and bring it with you to school on Monday (write it down)

TRIMESTER THREE WRITING CHECK PROMPT:

Essential to any story, conflict drives literature.  Authors deliberately build conflict in their works to captivate the audience.  Choose one character from The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and one character of your choosing from your outside Holocaust reading book.  For each character, detail one external and one internal conflict.  Remember, you must use specific examples from both texts to support your argument.

EXTRA INFORMATION
Next week is a short week of school (no school on Good Friday) and it's your math PARCC, so we are changing the schedule around again.  You will be back with your groups (1A, 1PA, 2A, 2PA) and rotating through the schedule.  We listened to your feedback from last time and did make some changes.  Ms. Eringis is handing out schedules for you today in math class.  If you were absent, make sure that you see her first thing Monday morning so that you know where to go.

GENERAL PARCC SCHEDULE
No testing times indicated on here; you'll need your schedule from Ms. Eringis to see that

7:30 - 8:30:  1PA and A - Humanities; 2A - Algebra; 2PA - Science

8:30 - 9:30:  SPECIALISTS

9:30 - 10:30: 1PA and A - Humanities; 2A - Science; 2PA - Math

10:30 - 11:00: Spanish (stay in rooms you are in)

11:00 - 11:25: LUNCH

11:25 - 12:00: Back to Spanish

12:00 - 1:00:  2PA and A - Humanities; 1A - Algebra; 1PA - Science

1:00 - 1:57:  2PA and A - Humanities; 1A - Science; 1PA - Math

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/26/15

AGENDA
1.) Finish up presentations
2.) Which one do you choose?

HOMEWORK
Prepare for writing check tomorrow

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/25/15

AGENDA
1.) Open response collection
2.) Presentations

HOMEWORK
1.) If you're doing a redo on your research papers, they are due by tomorrow

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/24/15

AGENDA
1.) Warm-Up:  15 minutes of practice time with a partner.  Get ready for tomorrow!!!
2.) Fake it Til You Make It (Presentation game)
3.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) Presentations start TOMORROW!
2.) Humanities open responses final TYPED copies are due to me or Mrs. Myers by tomorrow, Wednesday 3/25/15

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/23/15

AGENDA
Objective:  Students will work independently to plan a 1-3 minute presentation for their Advocate Research Project.

1.) Warm-Up:  Get a survey on the podium and complete it silently.  As you do this, I will be collecting your PSAs that are due today.
2.) Presentation rubric and discussion
3.) Start planning (because presentations start WEDNESDAY!!!)
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Practice, practice, practice, because presentations start WEDNESDAY
2.) TYPED Humanities open responses are due to me or Mrs. Myers by Wednesday, 3/25/15

HUMANITIES DAY FIVE - 03/20/15

AGENDA

1.) Practice time
2.) Culminating presentations
3.) Revisit the iceberg
4.) Final discussions
5.) Open response
6.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) PSA due on Monday, 3/23
2.) Humanities culminating open response (TYPED) due by Wednesday, 3/25/15 to either me or Mrs. Mrs. Myers

RESOURCES TO USE FOR OPEN RESPONSE:
1.) Northeastern Righting a Wrong Video
2.) The Scottsboro Boys
3.) Plessy and the Era of Jim Crow (video from the first day)
4.) General Info. on the Scottsboro Affair (a reading from the first day)
5.) The Walking Boy (the second reading from the first day)
6.) Ewell vs. Robinson Case Notes
7.) The Scottsboro Affair (info. on each boy)

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD VIDEO CLIP:
We watched an actual movie version of the video, but clips of the court scene can be found on YouTube.  Follow these directions from Mrs. Myers if you want to rewatch it!

1.) Go to YouTube
2.) Search "To Kill A Mockingbird Movie Full"
3.) Around the 4th video down you will see "To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) Move (10 videos)
4.) The trial scene begins in clip 4 and ends in clip 7

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/27/15

AGENDA

1.) Grade reports - Where you at?!?
2.) Prep for next week (Math PARCC schedule)
3.) Lit Circles - What are they?  Book choices...
4.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

HUMANITIES DAY FOUR - 03/19/15

AGENDA

1.) Quick discussion about yesterday's findings
2.) It's time to right the historical wrongs (Northeastern video)
3.) Changing history acting activity
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Journal entry - Based on what you know of the time period we're looking at and of human nature in general, write a FULL PAGE journal entry explaining why you think Mayella (from To Kill a Mockingbird), Victoria Price and Ruby Baxter (from the Scotsboro Trial) lied about being assaulted.

2.) Your PSA is due on Monday in class - I'm after school today and tomorrow if you need help

HUMANITIES DAYS TWO AND THREE - 03/17/15 and 03/18/15

Tuesday, 3/17/15 was spent diving deeper into the Scotsboro Trial.  We discussed what goes in to finding someone guilty or innocent in a court of law and filled out a graphic organizer.  New vocabulary terms and words were introduced and we watched a short film on the Scotsboro Boys that really brought the boys to life and made them human.  Homework was to choose one of the boys, take on their persona, and write a "I Am" poem from their perspective.  Poems needed to be detailed and illustrated to show both the student's understanding of the boy and of the tension of the time period.  Poems also needed to include at least one of the four Words to Know (convicted, segregation, morality or injustice).

Wednesday, 3/18/15 is where the literature component was introduced.  One of the themes of the year in ELA class has been centered on authors' lives being present in their work (we started this with Edgar Allan Poe and continued it with The Outsiders).  Students were introduced to To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, who used the Scotsboro Trial as inspiration for the court case of Tom Robinson in the novel.  Each class was split into two groups and given case notes from the fictional court case.  Each group was given a role to play and needed to take on that perspective - one group was made up of lawyers today who needed to decide, based on the evidence, if they would prosecute Tom Robinson today.  The other group was to take on the perspective of the all white, all male jury in the case and had to decide, if based on the same evidence, they would find him guilty or not.  The kids got a lot out of this activity and really brought the unit objective to life for them.  After discussing this activity, the kids watched a clip in this scene from the movie version of the book.  We will pick up here tomorrow.

HOMEWORK FOR 3/18/15:

I moved your PSA assignment due date back to Monday, 3/23, but you still should be working on it!

HUMANITIES DAY ONE - Homework 03/16/15

Your homework for tonight is to make sure that you have the Scottsboro Reading and questions from today's stations completed for class tomorrow.  If you need a copy of the reading, click here!

Remember, your PSA assignment is due IN CLASS on Friday, 3/20.  Please continue to work on your PSA.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

I am after school this week on Tuesday and Thursday if you need any help or want my assistance on this assignment.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/13/15

AGENDA
I am out today, so please use this blog post as your bible!  

1.) Independently read for the first 20 minutes of class
2.) Research paper work

**If you need/want to have someone continue to edit and revise your research paper, please do so and  then jump on a laptop and create a final draft of your paper (rubrics are on the back table)

**If/Once your paper is done and completed to your liking, then you need to use easybib.com to make your works cited page.  This should be the last page of your research paper.  Remember, you need to list the citations in alphabetical order and do not number them.

**If/Once both your paper and works cited page are complete, you can turn it in to the substitute and then move on to number 3 in the agenda

3.) Decide on the Public Service Announcement (PSA) part of your research project - are you going to do a video, a poster or start a letter writing campaign.  Once you decide that, grab the appropriate rubric off of the back table.

4.) Google "Public Service Announcement Commercial" if you're doing the video, "Public Service Announcement Poster" if you're doing a poser, or "How to Start a Letter Writing Campaign for a Cause" if you're doing the letter writing.  Look at lots of different examples of your type of chosen project and take notes on what you see and why the PSA is effective.  Start thinking about how you will design yours.  PSAs will be due in class on Friday, so you need to be working on them throughout the week.  This will be your ELA homework each night next week.  You'll be able to ask me questions throughout the week next week.

5.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) All research papers must be completed by Monday, 3/16/15.  They MUST be typed and double spaced.  You will be handing them in to Mrs. Myers on Monday during your Humanities block of the PARCC schedule.

2.) Public Service Announcements must be completed for class on Friday, 3/20/15.  You need to be working on them next week for homework.

Parents and Guardians of ELA All-Stars, This One's For You! 03/14/15

Or if you were absent today in school, this one's for you too!

Today in class, I handed out a ELA PARCC Test Info Sheet for the kids.  It is basically meant to allay any fear of the unknown for the kids, since this is their first time taking this test.  We did look through the practice PARCC for 8th grade so they could become familiar with the layout and using the tools, however, Monday will be their first time taking it as it will be replacing the ELA MCAS test this year.  This handout can be found at the link below.

If you would like to look at the practice PARCC that the kids viewed on Friday, please feel to!  Click the link below, select Grade 8, and then "PBA Practice Test Computer Based Test" and look around.

Mrs. Leahy's PARCC Handout

Practice PARCC

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/12/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To use the techniques taught yesterday for identifying parts of opening and closing paragraphs in order to edit and revise their own work.

1.) Warm-Up:  Acquire a red, green and purple colored pencil.
2.) Past and present
3.) Revisions galore!
4.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) Voice recording revisions

TONIGHT IS THE TMS FUNDRAISER AT UNOS!  MAKE SURE YOU PRESENT THE PAPER WHEN THE CHECK COMES!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/11/15

AGENDA
Objective:  Students will work together in groups to analyze an exemplar opening and closing paragraph.  They will identify the pieces of each and discuss what makes them great.  Using the exemplars as models, students will revise their opening and closing paragraphs for own research papers.

1.) Homework check - collect homework from Monday night and check graphic organizers
2.) Exemplar Activity
3.) Independent work
4.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) Add opening and closing paragraphs to your body paragraphs to produce a final rough draft of your research paper

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/10/15

Today is an Early Release Day!

We will be in small groups doing assignments for each class.

HOMEWORK:  You need to finish ALL of your work for ALL of your classes

ELA:  

Graphic organizers for your opening and closing paragraphs (you can do this on your outline instead if you prefer!)

Social Studies: 

1.) Read pages 133-135 in the book

2.) Complete the handout

3.) Make sure your "I Have Rights" packet is completed

Algebra:

1.) Page 473 #16-46 even

2.) Extra practice worksheet due on Thursday

3.) Test/quiz corrections due Friday

4.) Test chapter 8 Thursday

Pre-Algebra:

Square root word problems

Science:

Worksheet of questions (you must use both your textbook and the green book)

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/09/15

AGENDA:
Objective:  To continue to practice giving presentations in front of the class and receive feedback.  

1.) Quick!  Last time to practice!  (5 minutes)
2.) Let's go!!!
3.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) Make sure that your body paragraphs are complete for tomorrow
2.) Watch the video of you presenting and write a 1 page reflection about how you feel you did.  Would you want to be an audience member for your presentation?  What did you notice that you did well (you must notice something)?  What are some things you need to work on?  What's your plan for working on them?  This MUST be one FULL page in length!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/06/15

AGENDA
Objective:  Students will familiarize themselves with the setup of the PARCC test.  They will experience how to use the text box to answer open responses, how to answer questions that require them to drag and drop information, how to go back and forth between the multiple texts they will be using and how to use the tools the PARCC provides (changing the background color, the size of the text, the highlighter, the crossout option, etc.) to better manipulate the texts.

1.) Practice PARCC

HOMEWORK
1.) Presentations Monday!  Make sure you bring some sort of recording device!
2.) All body paragraphs must be completed to the best of your ability

REWRITES
Today in class, everyone was given their Anne Frank open response and some people were given older writing assignments back with grades on them.  Any/all of these assignments can be rewritten to improve your overall Trimester Two average in ELA class.  Rewrites are due NO LATER than the end of the day on Tuesday.  After that, I cannot guarantee I will have time to grade them and get them in the grade book in time for report cards.  I will also be after school on Monday if anyone needs assistance with fixing these assignments.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/05/15

AGENDA
Objective:  Students will partner up and work on revising their body paragraphs together using a checklist.

1.) Quick chat - Reminders About Revision
2.) Partner up and revise
3.) Independent reading
4.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) Continue working on your second practice presentation for Monday (see post from this past Tuesday for directions)
2.) Make corrections for your body paragraphs for Monday
3.) Bring headphones for tomorrow

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/04/15

AGENDA
Objective:  Using both their completed folding in quotes graphic organizers and the subtopic sections of their outlines, students will piece together the body portion of their research papers.

1.) Homework check
2.) Work on rough draft of the body of your paper
3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish the rough draft of the body of your paper for class tomorrow
2.) Work on presentation for Monday (see yesterday's post)

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/03/15

AGENDA
Objective:  Students will listen to directions on how to fill in their outlines for the body section of their papers and then they will use their notes to complete this task.  After that, students will work in small groups on the "folding in quotes" technique before trying it on their own.

1.) Finish up practice presentations
2.) Turn and Talk about subtopics
3.) Let's go over how to fill in an outline (see quick notes below)
4.) Get cracking!
5.) Folding in quotes - you need three of these papers, one for each of the quotes you need to use (please see below for a picture of a sample page)
6.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.)  Finish outline (II-IV ONLY)
2.)  Your three folded in quotes need to be completed
2.)  Second practice presentations on Monday, 3/9 (see below for more details)

BODY PARAGRAPH OUTLINE REMINDERS
1.) Use your notes and add specific information from them to the appropriate subtopic
2.) These should consist of mostly of bullets (Remember, you want skeletal information!  Save the detail and the juicy stuff for when you write your paper!)
3.) Everyone must have ONE (1) direct quote per subtopic (please copy this down with the correct citation.  Questions about citations?!?  Use this website!

SECOND PRACTICE PRESENTATION INFORMATION
Please bring a recording device (your phone or iPod or something like a gopro).  I will be recording you so that you can watch yourself present in order to help you in the future.

Choose a place, real or fictional, that you think is a perfect place that all people should visit.  You need to give the audience your best "sales pitch" as to why that is the ideal place.  This pitch must last at least 45 seconds, no more than 1 minute.  You also must be prepared to answer 1 question about your pitch that a classmate will ask you.

FOLDED IN QUOTE EXAMPLE:
The picture below is a sample folded in quote.  The words written in purple is the work of Reina, Sam and Patrick from period three (yay!!!).  They did an excellent job!  The words written in pencil are the notes that we took and talked about in class on how to use this graphic organizer.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 03/02/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To continue to practice presenting and to understand what is expected of you in your research paper.

1.) 30 second presentations of your famous person
2.) Let's review your rubric
3.) Get cracking - make your outlines
4.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) Outline HW:  Fill in the three topic lines for your body paragraphs

2.) Read something (a poem, a story, etc.) by Dr. Seuss tonight because today is Dr. Seuss's birthday!

Friday's Food for Thought!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/27/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To continue taking notes for the activism research project

1.) Let's check your homework from last night, shall we?
2.) Continue taking notes while I continue conferencing with kids
3.) Agenda books

HOMEWORK
1.) All note taking must be completed by Monday, 3/2/15.  Remember, you need at least 3 sources!
2.) Be prepared to speak about someone famous (real or fictional) for thirty seconds in front of the class (preferably with NOTHING written down, so practice, practice, practice!!!).

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/26/15

AGENDA

Objective:  To introduce topics to the class and try our hands at getting up in front of the room and talking.

1.) Present your paragraphs from last night

2.) Let's talk about taking notes...

3.) Independent reading

NOTES FROM CLASS:
Note Taking 101
1.) You must keep track of where you got your information.  Some techniques include:
~ using a different piece of paper (written or typed) for each source (labeled at the top)
~ separating info. on your paper (written or typed) with a heading (where you got the info.)
~ use different colors to write your information (a different color for each source)

2.) If you copy something word for word, you must put it in quotes

3.) Notes should be short, sweet and to the point

HOMEWORK

1.) Take notes from one source.  I'll check this tomorrow!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/25/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To choose a topic for an activism research paper and begin conducting research.

1.) New seats
2.) Quick check in about the last two days.  Let's chat about Human Rights
3.) Intro to research paper
4.) Rubrics
5.) Start researching your selected topic
6.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Write 1 paragraph about the topic you picked and WHY. Be prepared to share this out tomorrow.  You must convince me that this is the best topic for you.
2.) Bring your headphones to class tomorrow

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/24/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To begin to understand the ideas of human rights and activism.  

1.) JOURNAL:  Read First They Came, copy it into your journal and then respond to it.  After all of our work on the Holocaust and your lesson with Mr. Deshler yesterday, how can you connect to these words?  What rings true?  Is there anything going on in the world today or in our more recent history where these words would be appropriate?  This entry needs to be at least one page in length after you copy down the poem

2.) What are human rights?  (Click on where it says "The story of human rights" on the left hand side and watch the documentary).  Discuss your thoughts about this video at your tables.

Time to grab a laptop!  You will be doing a little self-exploration into the human rights (meaning that this is done INDIVIDUALLY and QUIETLY)

3.) Yesterday you were given the Declaration of Human Rights and asked to dialogue with it.  Choose four (ones that were unclear and you needed more information on and/or ones that caught your interest/attention), click this link, scroll down to the bottom, click on the right you are interested in and watch the little video for the right.  After each video, jot down your thoughts about the following:  Do you think this right needs to be updated?  Where in the world is this right not being granted?

4.) Champions of Human Rights:  Choose one activist from the list (other than Martin Luther King Jr.).  Would you consider this person a hero?  Why or why not?  If you wouldn't, would anyone?  What important work did they do?

5.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Whatever work is not finished from class, please make sure it is done for homework
2.) Bring your headphones to class tomorrow

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/23/15

Welcome back to school, Language All-Stars!  I am out today (Monday, 2/23/15), so you get to spend your ELA period with Mr. Deshler.  You will be asked to create correlations between the Holocaust and issues today that require reform.  Pay attention and participate appropriately, because this will be a jumping off point for our research paper unit!

YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TURN IN YOUR VOICES OF THE HOLOCAUST PROJECT BEFORE YOU LEAVE CLASS.  IF YOU TURN IT IN TOMORROW, I WILL DEDUCT TEN POINTS.

HOMEWORK

1.) Finish up whatever classwork you have from Mr. Deshler

2.) Mr. Deshler gave you a copy of the Declaration of Human Rights.  You need to read this document and dialogue with your text.  Be prepared to discuss it IN DETAIL tomorrow in class.  If you need this document, please click here.

3.) JOURNAL:  Define the word activist.  What do they do and why do they do it?  What causes stick out to you that you'd like to be an activist for?  Use the dialoguing that you did in with the Declaration of Human Rights to help you discover this.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/13/15

CLASSWORK AND HOMEWORK:

CONTINUE WORKING ON ASSIGNMENT FROM YESTERDAY.  SEE THE BLOG POST FROM WEDNESDAY (02/10/15) FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.  IF YOU ARE DONE IN CLASS TODAY, YOU MAY HAND IT IN.  IF NOT, THIS PROJECT IS DUE ON MONDAY, 02/23/15.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/12/15

CLASSWORK AND HOMEWORK:

CONTINUE WORKING ON ASSIGNMENT FROM YESTERDAY.  SEE THE PREVIOUS BLOG POST FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/11/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To show your understanding of Anne Frank, the holocaust, its victims and your characters/people in your independent reading book, you will conduct research and complete a creative writing assignment that encompasses all of that knowledge.

1.) Finish performances
2.) Quick overview of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
3.) Voices of the Holocaust (get to work!)
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Work on I Am Project *due Friday at the end of class or the Monday after vacation*

VOICES OF THE HOLOCAUST PROJECT:
1.) Click this link to take you to the survivors' voices page of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

2.) Read through some of their stories and watch some of their videos.  Choose two different types of people that stand out to you to focus in on.  Really get to know those two people.

3.) Check out page 413 of your literature text book, where the directions can be found for an "I Am" poem.  Write an "I Am" poem for each of the following:  1.) Anne Frank, 2.) another character from The Diary of Anne Frank of your choosing, 3.) the main character of your outside Holocaust reading book, 4.) a nazi soldier, 5. and 6.) the two people you focused on from your search of the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

** Each "I Am" poem needs to convey your deep understanding of the person/character and of the time period.  Don't be skimpy; dive in and show me your comprehension of these people and of the time period!

** Each "I Am" poem needs to be on its own piece of paper.  No headings are necessary (you will have a cover page).  All you need is the title (which should be "I Am ______________") and the poem.

** Each "I Am" poem needs to be illustrated appropriately for the person/character.  It should add to your understanding of them and help me to see how deep your comprehension goes.

4.) 1 paragraph that details your thoughts/ideas/musings/conclusions after this unit on Anne Frank and the Holocaust.  What lesson(s) did you learn that you can take away and apply to life today?  (*it is okay for you to use personal pronouns in this assignment - think of it as more of a journal entry).

5.) Cover page (on a piece of computer paper, center the title "Voices of the Holocaust".  Then a the bottom, center all of the elements of a heading:  your full name, my name, English Language Arts, your period number and the date.  This should all be single spaced)

RUBRIC FOR THE "I AM" PROJECT:

8 points each for quality versions of the following (48pts. total):
1.) Anne Frank "I Am" Poem
2.) A character from The Diary of Anne Frank "I Am" Poem
3.) The main character from your outside reading book's "I Am" Poem
4.) A nazi soldier's "I Am" Poem
5.) An "I Am" poem for a holocaust survivor you researched
6.) An "I Am" poem for a holocaust survivor you researched

4 points each for quality ILLUSTRATIONS of the poems listed above (24pts. total)

16 points for your one paragraph that wraps up your complete understanding (#4 above)

10 points for your CONVENTIONS (spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, legibility, etc.)

2 points for your cover page

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/10/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To complete our exercise in why works in the drama genre are better to be acted rather than read.

1.) 30 minutes of practice time
2.) Performances
3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Have someone at home edit your work for spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalization.  They should also look at how well you addressed the question (did you answer it or not).  Final copies are due tomorrow.

2.) Please bring your earbuds or headphones to class tomorrow.

SNOW DAY! 02/09/15

Today is a SNOW DAY!  I'll see you tomorrow with your completed graphic organizer and/or rough draft of your Anne Frank open response!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/06/15

AGENDA FOR PERIODS 1, 4 & 6

1.) Finish reading the play in class
2.) Open response (go over and answer your questions)
3.) Start group act-it-outs
4.) Agenda Books

AGENDA FOR PERIOD 3
1.) Open response (go over and answer your questions)
2.) Start group act-it-outs
3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Open responses due on Wednesday, 2/11/15.  I will be checking rough drafts on Monday, 2/09/15
2.) All of your journals (there should be 7 of them)
3.) Make sure your Holocaust book is completed by Wednesday, 2/11/15

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/05/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To continue in our journey through The Diary of Anne Frank and our characterization work.

1.) Mill and Seethe - Show me the characters!
2.) Read more in The Diary of Anne Frank (Period 1 read Act II, scene ii - Act III, scene iii where Mr. Frank says "We don't need the Nazis to destroy us.  We're destroying ourselves.", Period 3 finished the play, Periods 4 and 6 read Act II, scene ii - Act III, scene iii where Margot says "Stop it!  Stop it!" for the second time)
3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
Journal (periods 1, 4 and 6) - Respond to Mr. Frank's words:  We don't need the Nazis to destroy us.  We're destroying ourselves."  This response can either be a one page (minimum) written journal or you can fully illustrate your understanding of these lines through a full page illustration with the quote written on it.

Journal (period 3) - Respond to the very end of the play  Anne:  "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are good at heart."  Mr. Frank:  "She puts me to shame."  This response can either be a one page (minimum) written journal or you can fully illustrate your understanding of these lines through a full page illustration with the quote written on it.


Read in your independent Holocaust book

PIRATE DAY! 02/04/15

Today is PIRATE Day!  Enjoy your workshops!!!!

All work assigned during yesterday's class needs to be completed by tomorrow (Thursday, 02/05/15).

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 02/03/15

We have a 2 hour delay today, so the schedule is different!

AGENDA

Objective:  To start Act II of The Diary of Anne Frank and focus on characterization.

1.) Quick check in about journals

2.) Read Act II, scene i in The Diary of Anne Frank

3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK

Write a one page journal entry about either one particular relationships or a variety of the relationships as we continue throughout this play.  How have the changed/evolved from the start of our reading?  What's causing the changes in your opinion?  What do you think about these relationships?  

SNOW DAY 02/02/15

SNOW DAY TODAY, LANGUAGE ALL-STARS!

Make sure you enjoy yourself!  See you tomorrow!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/30/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To finish Act I of The Diary of Anne Frank

1.) Quick check in with journals (Are you on track?)
2.) Finish Act I
3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Read 30 minutes each night (total of 90 minutes) in your independent Holocaust reading book
2.) Journal Prompt on the paper you were given OR the "In Anne's Eyes" drawing activity.


BONUS POINT OPPORTUNITY - But First...Let Me Take a Selfie!

Bonus points (up to 15) will be awarded for selfies with interesting, creative, telling hashtags that fall in the categories listed below.  You need to either print them out and present them to me on Monday, or you can email them to me over the weekend.  Make sure that you have your hashtag to accompany each of your pictures!

1 point for a selfie of you watching the Superbowl and cheering on the Pats ONLY 2 OF THESE PERMITTED!
1 point for a selfie of you doing something you love on the weekends (only two of these!)
3 points for a selfie of you doing your homework
5 points for a selfie of you doing your independent reading

my email address

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/29/15

DELAYED OPENING TODAY, SO WE HAVE SHORTER CLASSES!

AGENDA

Objective:  To get organized and on track.  Thursday is also your day to do your independent reading in ELA class, so we will end our 40minutes with that time.

1.) Clean and organizer binders for all classes.  Now that Spanish requires a binder and not a folder, we shouldn't see ANY papers in folders or in pockets of your binders.  

2.) Independent Reading

3.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK

1.) 30 minutes of independent reading in your Holocaust outside reading book

2.) If you are in my period 1 or period 4 classes and would like to do corrections on your Iiii Reading Check, those corrections are due tomorrow

3.) Make sure your three journals that were assigned on Monday are complete!  Remember, I'm collecting all of your one page journals after we finish reading The Diary of Anne Frank

SNOW DAY! 01/27/15

SNOW DAY TODAY, LANGUAGE ALL-STARS!

Enjoy your day off, my friends!  Stay warm and drink lots of hot cocoa...maybe while writing some journals or something!

Remember, you have your character chart and three (3) journals due for me when we get back to school.

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/26/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To continue reading, analyzing and connecting with The Diary of Anne Frank

1.) Finish reading Act I, scene iii (period four will be starting this)
2.) Discussion and reading check
3.) Always be prepared! (prepping for possible snow day)
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK:
1.) Character web
2.) Journal prompts (only if no school due to snow)
3.) Read a minimum of 15 minutes in Holocaust outside reading book (if no school due to snow, make sure you read for 30 minutes on the snow day(s) )

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
1.) Need the book?  Please click this link, scroll down to where it says "Collection Five: I Still Believe."  The Diary of Anne Frank is listed under that and it is broken up into scenes.  Click away!

2.) Characterization Chart

3.) Journal Prompts (pick one from each section; there will be a total of 3 journals)

4.) Act I, scene iii Reading Check

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/23/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To finish reading Act One of The Diary of Anne Frank.  

1.) Reading check for Act I, scene i and Act I scene ii
2.) Start reading Act I, scene iii (until right after the the huge argument/right before Mr. Kraler arrives).  If you were absent today, please use the link to the textbook to access this material.
3.) Journal prompt - Why are Miep and Mr. Kraler known as "protectors" to the Franks and the Van Daans?  What historical/factual information can you bring to this response to support it?  Responses need to be a minimum of one page in length (max. of 2 pages).
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish journal prompt above
2.) PERIOD FOUR ONLY:  You also have to do your first response journal.
3.) Read in your independent Holocaust outside reading book

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/22/14

AGENDA
Objective:  To finish the first two scenes of The Diary of Anne Frank

1.) Dramatically finish up through Act 1, Scene 2 in The Diary of Anne Frank in your literature books (PERIOD 4 DID NOT READ TODAY)
2.) Journal prompt:  After finishing the first two scenes, which character sticks out the most to you (for positive OR negative reasons)?  Why?  Explain your reasons with specific details.  This journal entry must be at least ONE full page in length.  Anything shorter than that will not be graded.
3.) Independently read

HOMEWORK
1.) Finish your journal entry you started in class (see prompt above)
2.) Read in your independent book for 20 minutes

IF YOU WERE ABSENT TODAY IN SCHOOL, YOU CAN ACCESS THE LITERATURE BOOK BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK.  JUST SCROLL DOWN UNTIL YOU FIND "ANNE FRANK," CLICK ON THE CORRECT SCENE, AND VIOLA!  YOU'RE ALL SET!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/21/14

AGENDA
Objective:  To dive a little deeper into the world of Anne Frank.

1.) Turn in HW and check outside reading books.
2.) Word Work Share Out
3.) #flashback
4.) Start the play version of The Diary of Anne Frank
5.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Polished copies of your essays put together in this order:  (from top to bottom)  writing rubric, essay, works cited page, graphing rubric, data table, graph  **I do not need your prewriting, rough draft or graphic organizers

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/20/15

AGENDA

Objective:  To introduce the Holocaust.

1.) Journal:  Copy the quote down and respond to it.  What do you think MLK Jr. meant by it?  Does it still ring true today?  How?  Explain with examples.

"Darkness cannot drive out the dark, only light can do that.  Hatred cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."  ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

2.) Quick discuss

3.) Check in...what do you already know about the Holocaust?

4.) A Brief Introduction

5.) 6,000,000 assignment (see below)

6.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK

1.) Polished copies of your essays put together in this order:  (from top to bottom)  writing rubric, essay, works cited page, graphing rubric, data table, graph  **I do not need your prewriting, rough draft or graphic organizers  DUE ON THURSDAY

2.) I need to see your book or your book title and author of your outside Holocaust reading book.

3.) Finish 6,000,000 activity.

4.) Holocaust Word Work - Find a word, phrase, person or event that is related to the Holocaust for your word work assignment this week.

6,000,000 ACTIVITY
Six million Jewish people were murdered in the Holocaust.  6,000,000.  Just how many is that?  Choose a place that you love - Fenway park, TMS, the state of CA, etc. - and find out just how many people those places hold/what the population of those places are.  How many of those places would there need to be in order to equal the amount of Jewish people that perished during the Holocaust?  

You need to illustrate your finding on a piece of paper and include a few sentences explaining your illustration.

Your Writing Mantra!

As you're revising, editing and polishing up your essays, I want you to keep saying this to yourself! (Just replace the word "here" with the phrase "doing this")

I know how awesome you all are; now I want you to SHOW ME!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/15/15

AGENDA
Objective:  To edit and revise opening paragraphs of five paragraph essays.  

1.) Partners, partners, partners GALORE!
2.) Quiet self reflection and revision
3.) Are you brave enough?
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
Due on Wednesday
1.) Polished copies of your essays put together in this order:  (from top to bottom)  writing rubric, essay, works cited page, graphing rubric, data table, graph  **I do not need your prewriting, rough draft or graphic organizers

2.) You need to find a book of your choosing, fiction or non-fiction, that centers around the Holocaust.  Please have that book by Wednesday of next week.

Because of the short week, we will not be doing our word work activity.  Word work will resume the following week!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/14/15

AGENDA
1.) Finish up mini-project
2.) Independently Read

HOMEWORK
1.) Make sure your opening and closing paragraphs are in class for tomorrow.

Class and Homework for Tuesday 01/13/15 and Wednesday 01/14/15

Class time will be dedicated to working on your #WordCrimes project with your group and for writing conferences with me.

HOMEWORK:

You need to edit your rough drafts the day that you meet to conference with me.  Any rewrites are due a week from the day you get them back (so either next Tuesday or next Wednesday).

Word Crime Spotted!!!! 1/12/15

O   M   G!

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/12/14

AGENDA
Objective:  To begin to look at common mistakes that we make when we're writing or speaking and work towards fixing our #wordcrimes.

1.) Warm-Up:  JOURNAL:  What do you think a "word crime" is?  Give examples to support your thinking.
2.) #WordCrimes
3.) Group project
4.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK
1.) Graph for your mini research project
2.) Is your Works Cited page of your paper complete?  If not, it needs to be for tomorrow.

Tonight's Homework - 01/09/15

Please make sure that you have a rough draft of your essay completed for Monday.  If you are typing it, you DO NOT need to print it out.  All graphic organizers and prewriting must be brought to class on Monday as well.

White poster boards are needed for class on Tuesday.  Three bonus points will be awarded if you bring in one!  Thank you!

REMEMBER

You need to include a Works Cited page in your essay.  This will be the last page of your essay.  It doesn't require a heading, however, it does need the title of "Works Cited."  Make sure you use easybib.com  to create the citations for this page.  

Need help using easybib.com?!?  Check out this How-To video that will walk you step by step through the process.

Remember, sometimes we can't find all the information that easybib is asking for, and that's absolutely fine.  Please make sure that all the info. you're able to find is filled in.

Hook and Clincher Help? 01/09/14

Need some help crafting a hook/grabber for your essay?  Here are some resources that you may find beneficial!

How to Write a Hook

How to Write a Good Hook

How to Write an Essay Intro

What about clincher assistance?  Anyone in the need for that?  Try some of these strategies on for size!

Grabbers and Clinchers

This site is really good because it shows how to connect your clincher to your grabber.  You have to scroll down to find the clinchers, but they're on there!

Homework Clarification - 01/08/15

I've received a bunch of emails tonight asking for clarification on homework.  Your homework tonight is to make sure all of your prewriting is complete for your body paragraphs.  I'd like to dedicate all of class tomorrow to your opening and closing paragraph graphic organizers.

I'm sorry for the confusing!  See you all tomorrow!

Classes and Homework This Week - 01/06/15 - 01/09/15

Classes this week will be held in the library, so please do not go to room 222 at all

AGENDA (Tuesday):

1.) Independent reading (20minutes)

2.) Start research project AND 1-on-1 writing conferences with me begin!

3.) Agenda books

AGENDA (Wednesday - Friday):

Work on mini research paper (rubrics given on Thursday) AND 1-on-1 writing conferences with me continue
     ** Prewriting and graphic organizers should begin on Thurs., 01/08/15
     ** Rubrics handed on out Thursday, 01/01/15
     ** Rough drafts of essays and graphs due in class on Mon., Jan. 12, 2015
     ** Bring your data for your graph to Sci. class on Thurs. & Fri.

HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEK:

1.) Work on your research project (writing should begin on Thursday)

2.) Once you conference with me, you have one week to redo any writing assignment you want for a regrade

Today's Class and Tonight's Homework - 01/05/15

WELCOME BACK, LANGUAGE ALL-STARS!

I hope you all had an awesome vacation full of plenty of laughs, rest and fun!  I also hope that you had some time to do some reflection and reset your head for school.  It's nice to have a break to allow us to refresh and hit the reset button, but now it's time to get to work.  We only have two weeks until grades close for progress reports and three weeks until progress reports go home.  Good news?  We have only six weeks of school until February vacation!  So, it's time get your heads in the game, my friends!  We have no time for dilly dallying!

AGENDA

Objective:  To jump headfirst into our first writing lab activity - a mini research project.  You will spend today and the next few days collecting research from multiple sites on the endangered species of your choosing.  You will also be keeping an easybib.com list of your sources.

1.) New Year, New Seats!

2.) Quick chat and check in

3.) Collection of The Outsiders textbooks

4.) ELA/SCI collaboration - Writing Lab Project #1

5.) Rev your engines and let's get started with our research

6.) Agenda Books

HOMEWORK

If you want to submit your author letter into the contest, I need your best work by this Thursday.  If you do not want to submit it, I need your best draft to be in class with you tomorrow so that when I start meeting with you to conference we can look at it together.