8th Grade

JOURNAL: Would You Rather – – be raised by birds or fish? 

As a table group, students came up with an example of assigned figurative language and then we shared and discussed as a full class. We then added the example to our interactive notes.

HOMEWORK:  NWEA testing next Tuesday (reading), Wednesday (Math), and Thursday (Language).

6th Grade

JOURNAL: NO Journal today. 

Today students startes a new Google Doc and save the document under the title “Bravery TDA”. They formatted the Google Doc to be double spaced, size 12 font, with font style – Times New Roman, Arial, or Tahoma

They than began writing their bravery TDA – introduction and body #1 (the could use their notes and notebook. Some students started a peer critique of their introductions and body 1.

HOMEWORK:  Students can work on their introductions and body 1 paragraphs at home if they choose, but NO PARENT OR SIBLING ASSISTANCE PLEASE! 🙂

8th Grade

JOURNAL: Story Dice – – flower, shooting star, credit card, dice, bee, house, flashlight, lock, lightening bolt.

1.Glue in TDA rubric to our interactive notebooks

2.New Unit 3 notes – Poetry

3.Figurative Language glue in and review – we will review all of these in class tomorrow.

HOMEWORK:  Book check in January 22^nd – have 3 books read with notes/annotations.

6th Grade

JOURNAL:  Story Dice – – flower, shooting star, credit card, dice, bee, house, flashlight, lock, lightening bolt.

1. Review TDA

2.Review stories and create an outline – we created a class outline of the introduction and body paragraph #1 for both stories. This will TREMENDOUSLY help students write their essays tomorrow.

3.Answer the following TDA question:  Of the two characters, Aaron and Mako, which one was the bravest?  Explain in a Text Dependent Analysis 1.“Aaron’s Gift” page 248 2.“The Ghost of the Lagoon” page 208

HOMEWORK: No homework 🙂

Welcome back to 2020! I can’t believe we are almost half way through the year! I hope that everyone had a restful break.

8th Grade

JOURNAL:  Story Starter – – All the polar bears of the North Pole were gathered around the TV.  It was December 31^st and they were just 5 seconds away from the new year!  5…4…3…2…1…SUDDENLY…

Review TDA essays – suspense (slide show of examples to discuss)

HOMEWORK:  Next book check in has been moved to January 22^nd due to NWEA testing 🙁 and 🙂

6th Grade

JOURNAL:  Story Starter – – All the polar bears of the North Pole were gathered around the TV.  It was December 31^st and they were just 5 seconds away from the new year!  5…4…3…2…1…SUDDENLY…

1.Finish presentations.

2.Review TDA

HOMEWORK:  No homework 🙂

Thank you for all of the lovely gifts and cards. Your generosity and kind wishes are greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

8th Grade

JOURNAL: “Story Dice” – – The Christmas edition:  jingle bells, snow, elf, sleigh, reindeer, hot chocolate, lights, presents, and stocking.

Today we did a cross-over lesson with the 6th graders. The 6th graders needed to gather data on how long it took a student to solve a puzzle cube, so the 8th graders were the test subjects 🙂 Great fun was had by all!

HOMEWORK:  Have a safe and restful break!  Merry Christmas!

6th Grade

Journal: Your Choice – –

1.  Finish presentations – some will need to go in the New Year due to absences.

HOMEWORK:  Have a safe and restful break!  Merry Christmas!

8th Grade

As a Christmas gift, I let students finish the literary analysis essay from yesterday.

HOMEWORK: Tomorrow is PJ Day 🙂

6th Grade

JOURNAL: “Story Dice” – – The Christmas edition:  jingle bells, snow, elf, sleigh, reindeer, hot chocolate, lights, presents, and stocking.

Today students began to present their FBI slides. We will continue tomorrow.

HOMEWORK: Tomorrow is PJ Day :

8th Grade

Today students wrote a TDA on the following prompt: Explain which of the three stories is the most suspenseful and why.

They had 45 minutes to type their essays, but many if all of them did not finish. In high school and on the SAT, students will be expected to do similar essays in 30 MINUTES! We are practicing to get there by the end of the year. Since we are not there yet… they will get tomorrow to finish 🙂

HOMEWORK: Tomorrow is holiday hat day.

6th Grade

JOURNAL: Would You Rather – – be a wizard or a superhero?  Explain.

1.  Finish YOUR part of the slide show

2.  As a GROUP, complete slide show slides 1 and 17

HOMEWORK:  Be ready to present TOMORROW.  Tomorrow is also holiday hat day.

8th Grade

JOURNAL: Philosophical Question – – Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few?  Explain.

1.  New seats

2.  Review thesis statements

3.  Glue in TDA review

HOMEWORK:  Tomorrow you will have 1 class period to write a TDA.  You need your notes from the three stories.  I will post the three stories in Google Classroom so that you can review them. 

Tomorrow is Ugly Sweater Day

6th Grade

JOURNAL:  Would You Rather – – be a clown who distracts the bull at the rodeo or the cowboy/girl who rides the bull?  Explain.

1.Finish PFAST/Character cutout – don’t forget to DISCUSS with your group who will be recommending for the job!

2.Each team member needs to start their slide shows

HOMEWORK: No homework .  Tomorrow is Ugly Sweater Day

And the countdown to Christmas Break begins!

8th Grade

JOURNAL:  Guilty or Not Guilty? – – Is the narrator guilty of murder because he is sane, or not guilty because he is insane?  Explain.

1.  Discuss “The Tell-Tale Heart” page 80

2.Create a line in the middle of your paper

3.On the left put major events that are NOT suspenseful on the right put the ones that are.  It is like a timeline and it is in chronological order.

HOMEWORK:  No homework.  Tomorrow is White Out Day.

6th Grade

JOURNAL:  Do-Over – – Explain something that you wish you could do all over again.

1.All three stories SHOULD be done being read.

2.Decide which group member will get which character and create a PFAST or a character cutout.

3.MAYBE start your slideshow.

HOMEWORK:  No homework .  Tomorrow is White Out Day.

8th Grade

JOURNAL: Your Choice – –

Read and discuss “The Tell-Tale Heart” – ask them about it! It was an Oscar winning performance on my part! LOL

HOMEWORK:  No homework

6th Grade

Journal: Your Choice – –

1.Read “Matthew Henson” page 810

2.Discuss the character of Aaron and how he does or does not show the characteristics of fidelity (loyalty), bravery, and integrity (honesty).

3.GOAL:  To finish reading all three stories – all groups should be done with all three stories now. All stories have been posted in Google Classroom.

HOMEWORK:  No homework

8th Grade

Journal: High School – – Explain what type of high school experience you want and explain your high school goals.

Today we heard about the high school options for the 8th graders to consider. All information has been posted on the STEM Blog.

HOMEWORK: No homework

6th Grade

JOURNAL: Story Dice – – Magnet, parachute, plane, fountain, beetle, house, half moon, castle, alien

1.  Finish reading and discussing “Aaron’s Gift” page 248

2.Start reading “Matthew Henson” page 810

3.Discuss the character of Matthew and take notes on how he does or does not show the characteristics of fidelity (loyalty), bravery, and integrity (honesty). ● ●

HOMEWORK:  No homework.