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Thursday, November 30, 2006

"The Silent Couple"

Whoa! Almost forgot to post today!

Students free wrote in their journals at the beginning of class.

I reminded them that we were three weeks into the marking period already, and that interim reports would be going home just in time for the holidays.

So, keep focused!

Students completed a multiple choice passage, "The Silent Couple", for a major grade. Writing chapter titles, underlining main ideas and proofing answers earned bonus points.

Spelling/vocab quiz tomorrow! Study!

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

"Young Sea" by Carl Sandburg

OM: Choose one image from "Young Sea" and explain in your journal what it means to you.

Old Business: Students who missed the listening activity of 11/7 will be issued a make-up assignment tomorrow as follows:

When immigrants came to America they had both positive and negative experiences. Write an essay in which you explain both positive and negative experiences immigrants faced. Then explain why immigrants would risk everything to come to America.

In your essay, be sure to include:
• Specific positive experiences
• Specific negative experiences
• Why immigrants risked coming to America
• Use specific examples from the video, books read and information from your Social Studies class


I read the poem from last night's homework, "Young Sea", to the class, drawing attention to its alliterative repetition of the 's', the sound of the surf, throughout the work. We discussed the meaning of the poem (the sea = the passion and restlessness of youth) and went over the questions.

Tomorrow another passage will be given in class for a major grade.

HW: Study spelling/vocab

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

"The Chocolate War" II

OM: Use as many spelling words as you can in a journal entry about some interesting event.

Went over the passage finished for homework. All students who followed directions and noted why all wrong answers were wrong received 5 bonus points.

A poem, "Young Sea" by Carl Sandburg was distributed. Two wrong answers were crossed out. Poem is to read, chapter titled, answered and proofed for homework.

Also study spelling/vocab.

Monday, November 27, 2006

"The Chocolate War"

This week's spelling/vocab list (see 11/20 post) was copied. Ensure adequate studying is done for these quizzes as a few poor spelling/vocab grades can drag down minor grade averages. (The average of quiz grades is a major grade, averaged with exams, essays and journals.)

Next, we read an excerpt from Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War. One wrong answer for each question was crossed out. Directions were:

~Read the passage.
~Underline main idea in each paragraph.
~Chapter title each paragraph.
~Answer questions, highlight and number proofs.
~Note next to each wrong answer why the answer is wrong.

This last direction is important. If you know why the right answer is right, you should also know why the wrong answers are wrong.

HW:
~Vocab definitions
~Finish passage is not finished in class.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Far and Away Tech Failure

Well the plan was to show the 8th grade Far and Away as a pre-Thanksgiving break, immigration treat but, alas, the Media folks couldn't get the feed to work... even though it worked just fine yesterday.

So it was down to the library for back-up to salvage third and afternoon periods. My remaining classes watched "The Monkey's Paw" (for text, click HERE), an excellent production of W.W. Jacob's short story which contains great examples of foreshadowing, mood, and theme. It's creepy also, so the kid's loved it.

Wishing all a safe and warm Thanksgiving holiday.

Cheers,
Mr. Lambert

PS: Remember: 20 points for coming in Monday with spelling definitions. (Words are below in yesterday's post.)

Monday, November 20, 2006

"Immigrant Kids" Presentations

All classes presented their slideshows today. Many were of outstanding quality and demonstrated high effort. All students worked excellently together, for which they are to be commended.

Well done!

Here's next weeks spelling list, a little earlier than usual:

1. circuit

2. perforate

3. transform

4. perplex

5. circulation

6. transparent

7. circumstance

8. persistence

9. transition

10. perpetual

Come in with definitions on Monday for 20 bonus points!

Friday, November 17, 2006

"How My Family Became Green"

OM: Free write for 4 minutes

After writing in journals, I had the students read their work over in a whisper, correcting mistakes as they find them. Afterwards, we were all impressed at how many students did find and correct mistakes doing this simple exercise.

I advised them that they should read work aloud and correct errors in this manner prior to handing it in. This way, their work will be more accurate and noticeably improved.

We postponed slideshow presentations until Monday as some groups still had work to do. I informed one and all that I would be available to supervice the computer lab after school for those who needed to finish.

We went over last nights homework, "How My Family Became Green". I modeled underlining main ideas, paragraph titling and highlighting proofs in the text. (We'll probably finish the Monday after Thanksgiving break.)

The next six weeks will fly by. It is critical for everyone to stay focused during the holiday season... especially since state assessments, unfortunately, follow soon thereafter.

Monday we'll present slideshows. Tuesday students will be viewing the movie Far and Away, as part of the ELA, Social Studies curriculum. (They're also taking a math that day, I hear.)

Have a geat weekend!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Immigrant Kids Still Continued

Finished up in the computer lab today. Some groups have a bit more to do... so I [i]may[/i] give an extension until Monday for Presentations.

A handout was given for homework. The passage should be completed as in the past:

-Underline main idea
-title each paragraph
-highlight and number answer proofs
-answer questions

Students are encouraged to take this as seriously as possible. The state assessment is coming up in January, which will be here before you know it.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Immigrant Kids Continued

Students worked on their PowerPoint projects in the computer lab and will do so again tomorrow.

HW: Read for 15 minutes, as usual.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Immigrant Kids Continued

Student continued working in groups gathering info from the book in preperation for developing slideshows. When done note taking, they planned their slide contents.

We're in the computer lab tomorrow and Thursday.

All students are commended for their teamwork.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Second Marking Period Begins! Immigration Unit continues....

No spelling/vocab this week!

Students were assigned groups and a chapter in the book Immigrant Kids. Today and tomorrow, each group is reading keeping notes on their chapter. On Wednesday we head to the computer lab where each group will generate a PowerPoint slideshow on the information from their chapter. Each student will be responsible for constructing two slides.

Slideshows will be presented to the class on Friday.

Please encourage your child to kick off the second marking period with the proper focus!

Thanks!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island

Students read this book independently, but worked with a partner over content and answering a list of content related questions. This activity will continue tomorrow.

Listening activity essay is due tomorrow. Spelling/Vocab quiz will be on Monday.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Listening Activity

Two passages were read to the students in the same format as the listening section of the state assessment. Notes were taken. The essay, first major grade of the 2nd marking period, is to be completed at home and returned to class on Thursday.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Immigration -"Janek" video

Students copied spelling/vocab list (See friday's post).

Viewed video about a family who emigrated to America from Poland. Landing at Ellis Island was shown as was housing, employment and education difficulties faced by immigrants. This unit will parallel the Social Studies Unit on Immigration.

HW: Vocab definitions

Note: Grades close for the first marking period this Friday! Any owed work must be handed in before then.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Passage Completion - Spelling/Vocab Quiz

Finished passage begun yesterday and took the spelling/vocab quiz.

Bonus (20!)points for whoever does Monay's hw over the weekend!

appropriate
acceptance
disappearance
tolerance
essential
accuracy
assistance
accelerate
recommend
patience

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Multiple Choice Test

OM: What is myth? Are myths important? What are myths about? What myths are you familiar with?

Students worked a passage about A Cherokee myth. They were instructed to underline main ideas, title paragraphs and identify and number proofs for answers to questions.

This will be finished tomorrow.

HW: Study for spelling/vocab quiz

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

"The Tell-Tale heart" IV

Students started an essay on class based on the story (Click HERE for text).

Directions for the essay are as follows:

“The Tell-Tale Heart”: Final Argument

Imagine that you are an attorney. You will either prosecute or defend the narrator on suspicion of murder.

Write an argument explaining, as to a jury, why he should or should not be convicted of murder and be prepared to present your argument to your classmates.

Remember Thesis- Proof

Start the first paragraph with your thesis statement:

“The defendant is (guilty, not guilty).”

Complete the first paragraph with statements of evidence (at least 3). Each piece of evidence you use will then be the topic sentence in a separate paragraph where you will explain the importance of the evidence.

Sum up in a closing paragraph. Total = 5 paragraphs

HW: Finish essay, study spelling/vocab