week of January 8th
Dear Students and Parents,
Most of our assignments are on Google Classroom, and that platform contains assignment details. Parents are able to access Google Classroom by emailing the teacher and asking for "guardian" permission. As a result, we are uncertain whether anyone uses this Weebly site as a resource to keep track of what is happening in the classroom. If you find this Weebly site valuable please email me at [email protected] , and I will maintain this site. Otherwise we may close it up and rely on Google Classroom to keep everyone updated.
Most of our assignments are on Google Classroom, and that platform contains assignment details. Parents are able to access Google Classroom by emailing the teacher and asking for "guardian" permission. As a result, we are uncertain whether anyone uses this Weebly site as a resource to keep track of what is happening in the classroom. If you find this Weebly site valuable please email me at [email protected] , and I will maintain this site. Otherwise we may close it up and rely on Google Classroom to keep everyone updated.
week of december 4th
General: The week will begin with an adapted version of Fahrenheit 451. This reader's theater version will take about two class periods to read and dicuss. We will identify the theme of the story and dig a little deeper into a nonfiction side-story that Bradbury mentioned in the book. Our week will finish with a 7 point assignment wehre students create Wanted Posters and Meaningful Moments (thought bubbles) in response to the Bradbury stories we read in class.
Advanced: We are debating this week! Students narrowed down topics and were put into debate groups. Most were able to debate their first choice topic. Research will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday and debates will be on Thursday and Friday. Mrs. Wood's debates will take place on Friday and Monday.
Advanced: We are debating this week! Students narrowed down topics and were put into debate groups. Most were able to debate their first choice topic. Research will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday and debates will be on Thursday and Friday. Mrs. Wood's debates will take place on Friday and Monday.
week of november 13th
Congratulations to our Top 10 Patriot's Pen essay writers! Trinity Glenn, Lauren Hoppe, Andrea Stewart, Zoe McFadden, Ethan Segrue, Savannah Smith, Riley Anderson, Jaiden Hilton, Lauren Davis and Hannah Markusic had their essays sent to our Local VFW Post 8736 to be judge by a panel of our local heroes. They will recognize the Top 4.
Zoe McFadden, Jaiden Hilton and Lauren Hoppe were selected at random to have the honor of sharing their essays during Thursday's Heroes Breakfast here at the middle school. Best of luck and way to represent our school!
General: We will transition into the fantasy and science fiction world of Ray Bradbury by watching an episode of The Jetsons. There is an underlying theme in the comedy of the show that we will hopefully connect to Bradbury's works. A reader's theater version of The Veldt will be read this week and will drive the discussion about theme and whether we are enabled by technology.
Advanced: We continue to read Poe's works with an emphasis on The Raven. Students will crack the meaning of each stanza, and a class discussion will help clarify our interpretations. We will watch The Simpson's parody of the story and finalize our story charts that focus on how diction creates mood. The mood test will be on Wednesday, but may carry over as we go by the pace of our learners. There really isn't a way to study for this; the 8th graders just need to have their story chart complete as it will be used as a resource and taken for a grade.
Zoe McFadden, Jaiden Hilton and Lauren Hoppe were selected at random to have the honor of sharing their essays during Thursday's Heroes Breakfast here at the middle school. Best of luck and way to represent our school!
General: We will transition into the fantasy and science fiction world of Ray Bradbury by watching an episode of The Jetsons. There is an underlying theme in the comedy of the show that we will hopefully connect to Bradbury's works. A reader's theater version of The Veldt will be read this week and will drive the discussion about theme and whether we are enabled by technology.
Advanced: We continue to read Poe's works with an emphasis on The Raven. Students will crack the meaning of each stanza, and a class discussion will help clarify our interpretations. We will watch The Simpson's parody of the story and finalize our story charts that focus on how diction creates mood. The mood test will be on Wednesday, but may carry over as we go by the pace of our learners. There really isn't a way to study for this; the 8th graders just need to have their story chart complete as it will be used as a resource and taken for a grade.
week of november 6th
General: We will revisit and strengthen our understanding of theme this week. Our workflow will begin with identifying the theme to song lyrics and move onto a Reader's Theater, The Golden Curse. A comprehension check ( 6 points) will be assigned for The Golden Curse. Students will demonstrate their understanding of how to find theme (Conflict + Resolution = Theme) with a worksheet that requires they find each of those elements. On Friday we will watch The Jetsons to introduce our exploration of how technology impacts society.
BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CASK OF AMONTILLADO RESPONSE (on Google classroom) BY 3:00 FRIDAY!
Advanced: Argumentative essays will likely be scored and recorded by the end of the day on Friday. Be sure to reflect on teacher feedback on PowerSchool and/or PEG! Students will finalize their WeVideo (or other software) production of Annabel Lee. Be sure to share this with your parents! We will continue to focus on the mood Poe creates as students choose to read The Fall of the House of Usher or The Black Cat.
BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CASK OF AMONTILLADO RESPONSE (on Google classroom) BY 3:00 FRIDAY!
BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CASK OF AMONTILLADO RESPONSE (on Google classroom) BY 3:00 FRIDAY!
Advanced: Argumentative essays will likely be scored and recorded by the end of the day on Friday. Be sure to reflect on teacher feedback on PowerSchool and/or PEG! Students will finalize their WeVideo (or other software) production of Annabel Lee. Be sure to share this with your parents! We will continue to focus on the mood Poe creates as students choose to read The Fall of the House of Usher or The Black Cat.
BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CASK OF AMONTILLADO RESPONSE (on Google classroom) BY 3:00 FRIDAY!
Week of october 30th
General: This week we will research for and draft our argumentative essay. Resources for this assignment are available to students through Google Classroom. Students are expected to use their Student Center time wisely to finalize their essay and be prepared to share it with a peer in class on November 6th. Tuesday, October 31st, we will cut our period short and read one of Poe's classics, The Cask of Amontillado. We will go on a field trip during class on Wednesday to get a better understanding of the story and appreciate how setting impacts mood.
Advanced: We contiue to read Poe's works and identify diction that creates mood in our Poe Story Charts. We will go on a field trip during class on Tuesday to get a better understanding of The Cask of Amontillado, and appreciate how setting impacts mood.
Advanced: We contiue to read Poe's works and identify diction that creates mood in our Poe Story Charts. We will go on a field trip during class on Tuesday to get a better understanding of The Cask of Amontillado, and appreciate how setting impacts mood.
week of october 23rd
General: This week we will explore tone and argumentative writing through debate. A mini lesson on tone will be provided and students will identify with the author's position in a 4 pt. assignment. The debate topics will come from two SCOPE articles: "Should Balloons Be Banned?" and "Would You Get a Flip Phone?" After the debate we will reflect on our contributions as individuals and overall performance as a team.
Advanced: Students will have two class periods to research and draft their essay on whether Bradbury was effective in preventing the future. Assignment details and rubric are on Google Classroom. The essay is due Wednesday and students are expected to work on this at home. Parents are encouraged to read the essay aloud to their 8th grader and also listen to the 8th grader read the essay aloud. This active approach to proofreading helps the writer find and identify with her/his voice.
Advanced: Students will have two class periods to research and draft their essay on whether Bradbury was effective in preventing the future. Assignment details and rubric are on Google Classroom. The essay is due Wednesday and students are expected to work on this at home. Parents are encouraged to read the essay aloud to their 8th grader and also listen to the 8th grader read the essay aloud. This active approach to proofreading helps the writer find and identify with her/his voice.
Week of october 16th
patriot's pen essays will be accepted through thursday, october 19th.
General: The Annabel Lee movies were fantastic! Students are encouraged to truly reflect on their strongest image & stanza from their production and be honest in the Annabel Lee Reflection (posted in Google Classroom). Our mood focus will continue as we reflect on our Poe stories. Students need to take ownership of their reading and update their Poe story chart with accurate figurative and sensory language. Students will have several assignments evaluated this week including Story Chart, Bio Poem, About the Author and Annabel Lee reflection. We will end the week with a story that has a mood that we typically won't find in a Poe story.
Advanced: We will continue with our Theme Presentations and reflect on how Bradbury's lecture and final essay (vignette) connect with each other. We will discuss how he applies his own advice to writing. An essay will be assigned at the end of the week. Details will follow in individual classrooms and Google classrooms.
Advanced: We will continue with our Theme Presentations and reflect on how Bradbury's lecture and final essay (vignette) connect with each other. We will discuss how he applies his own advice to writing. An essay will be assigned at the end of the week. Details will follow in individual classrooms and Google classrooms.
Week of october 9th
General: Our focus on mood will continue this week. Students will finalize their demonstration (voice over on slide show) of Annabel Lee and update the Poe Story Chart. We are overcoming some obstacles with technology in regards to technology, and the voiceover will take more time than previously planned. We should have this activity finished by Wednesday. Ask your 8th grader to share it with you!
More works from Poe will be explored as students choose which stories they would like to read and analyze in class. We will wrap up the week with an in depth analysis of The Raven. Students need to be critical when selecting their 2 quotes for the story chart: one figurative language example and one sensory language example.
Advanced: We will analyze the end of Fahrenheit 451, and invest our class time on our Fahrenheit project. This will be sent out to student on Google Classroom. Students will work on their 451 project in class on Wednesday and Thursday. ALL STUDENTS must be prepared to present on Monday, October 16th.
We will read the following article and watch the following video in class on Friday, October 13th:
Article:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/06/04/take-me-home
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W-r7ABrMYU&t=7s
*We will show the video from 14:00 - 22:46
More works from Poe will be explored as students choose which stories they would like to read and analyze in class. We will wrap up the week with an in depth analysis of The Raven. Students need to be critical when selecting their 2 quotes for the story chart: one figurative language example and one sensory language example.
Advanced: We will analyze the end of Fahrenheit 451, and invest our class time on our Fahrenheit project. This will be sent out to student on Google Classroom. Students will work on their 451 project in class on Wednesday and Thursday. ALL STUDENTS must be prepared to present on Monday, October 16th.
We will read the following article and watch the following video in class on Friday, October 13th:
Article:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/06/04/take-me-home
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W-r7ABrMYU&t=7s
*We will show the video from 14:00 - 22:46
Week of october 2nd
General: Students will submit their character analysis revisions on Monday, October 2nd. We will revisit mood and watch two introductions to Edgar Allan Poe (each video creates a different mood...links are below). Poe's works will be our vehicle to analyze how diction creates mood. Our first Poe story will be The Tell Tale Heart; we will read the original along with a voice actor (Christopher Lee...the actor not the student) and do a Scholastic Scope reader's theater. Students will have a choice later in the week to read either The Black Cat or Annabel Lee.
Poe Introduction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIp4m_v9xGs
Socially Awkward Poe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9N-ZZ0Q7SM
Advanced: We are thrilled with the creative approaches to the "451 Discussions!" Students continue to facilitate discussion (small group and whole class). We will finish Fahrenheit 451 this week and introduce students to a project towards the end of the week.
Poe Introduction - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIp4m_v9xGs
Socially Awkward Poe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9N-ZZ0Q7SM
Advanced: We are thrilled with the creative approaches to the "451 Discussions!" Students continue to facilitate discussion (small group and whole class). We will finish Fahrenheit 451 this week and introduce students to a project towards the end of the week.
September 19 - 22
General: We will apply our focus on paragraph writing from SCOPE to identifying theme in short stories. We will transition into poetry by creating black-out poetry and bio-poetry.
The following video will be used in class to give the general idea of Black-Out poetry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt5nguT3hEM
Advanced: We will begin to read Fahrenheit 451 as a class and then students will read independently. Student led discussions and Socratic circles will strengthen our understanding of Bradbury's works and formulate a common theme in his work.
We will introduce Fahrenheit 451 with the following video. It's worth it to see it both in class and at home.
https://youtu.be/iE2JVmJxQFk
The following video will be used in class to give the general idea of Black-Out poetry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt5nguT3hEM
Advanced: We will begin to read Fahrenheit 451 as a class and then students will read independently. Student led discussions and Socratic circles will strengthen our understanding of Bradbury's works and formulate a common theme in his work.
We will introduce Fahrenheit 451 with the following video. It's worth it to see it both in class and at home.
https://youtu.be/iE2JVmJxQFk
September 11 - 15
General: Students will participate in Socratic circles to strengthen their understanding of character analysis and story events. Class time will be used for an open-note writing assessment about assigned characters, and we will read an article in SCOPE that shows how failure is a way to make something better the next time (failing up).
Advanced: We will use The Jetsons as an introduction to the sci-fi / fantasy writing of Ray Bradbury. We will read The Pedestrian, Dark They Were and Golden Eyed and watch The Veldt. Class conversations and dialogue will emphasize the influence technology has on all aspects of our lives.
Advanced: We will use The Jetsons as an introduction to the sci-fi / fantasy writing of Ray Bradbury. We will read The Pedestrian, Dark They Were and Golden Eyed and watch The Veldt. Class conversations and dialogue will emphasize the influence technology has on all aspects of our lives.
August 21 - 25
General - Students are reading The Outsiders and focusing on using reading strategies to help with comprehension.
Advanced - Students are analyzing characters of their choice and determine if the character is flat, round, dynamic, or static using text evidence.
Advanced - Students are analyzing characters of their choice and determine if the character is flat, round, dynamic, or static using text evidence.