October 2008
Grade 8B and Honors Lit. are both listening to the reading of DYING GLORY by Clinton Cox, the biography of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment. Upon completion of the book, students will be writing an essay of comparison and contrast between the movie GLORY (Hollywood's version) and the researched story (the book).
Students are also INDEPENDENTLY working (as homework) on a Civil War newspaper, (by year, month, and state). A rubric was handed out, and discussion of the requirements was given. The due date for this project is Oct. 23. Students will have two (spaced-out) periods in the computer lab for this project, but the remainder of the work is being done at home.
Grade 8 LA: Students are reviewing chapter 11 and will have a test soon. Students will begin working on a short version of a graphic novel, a comic book, using PowerPoint. Hand-drawn pictures are required. The due date for this project is Oct. 22.
Grade 7B Lit. is currently reading THE INVISIBLE THREAD by Yoshiko Uchida. They are reading two chapters per day and noting the diversities of the Japanese and American cultures. Upon completion of the book, students will be writing a six-chapter 'brief' biography of their own. (Due: Oct. 24).
Grade 7 Honors is listening to a book by Joyce Carol Oates regarding an 'alleged' school threat and witnesses who report overhearing a conversation. After completion of the book, students will be assigned ten reflective statements/questions to respond to in paragraph form.
Grade 7 LA is working on chapter 11 - nouns, pronouns, antecedents. They will be having a test upon completion of the chapter. Then, students will begin a graphic novel project (as mentioned above in the grade 8 LA section).
September 2008
Welcome back!
Grade 8B Literature: 1) Students are tested on their summer reading in the form of short answer comprehension tests. 2) They will recite the GETTYSBURG ADDRESS from memory on Oct. 3. 3) Students are researching two American Civil War topics to orally present to the class. 4) Students are listening to a non-fiction account of loyalty and love regarding the Civil War...an essay to follow. 5) Students will be assigned a Civil War newspaper (by year and state)...to be completed by Oct. 23. 6) The movie version of the 54th Mass. Black American regiment will also be shown, and notes will be taken...an essay to follow.
Grade 8A Honors: 1) Students will be writing an essay based on their summer reading. 2) They will recite the GETTYSBURG ADDRESS from memory on Oct. 3. 3) Students are researching "unsung heroes" of the American Civil War and will orally present themselves in period garb. 4) Students are listening to a non-fiction account of loyalty and love regarding the Civil War...an essay to follow. 5) Students will be assigned a Civil War newspaper (by year and state)...to be completed by Oct. 23. 6) The movie version of the 54th Mass. Black American regiment will also be shown, and notes will be taken...an essay to follow.
Grade 8 LA: 1) Students are reviewing the various types of nouns. 2) Students are assigned workbook pages for practice. 3) They will WEEKLY read in their ELA practice book (for comprehension skills/practice). 4) They are writing a letter to a Presidential candidate to demonstrate their skills in using specific nouns. 5) They are researching (at home) their cultural identity, surfing 15 topics for two ethnicities. (A poster will accompany this project, as well as, a demonstration of (dance or art) and (fashion or language).
Grade 7 Literature: 1) Students are writing an essay based on their summer reading of THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London. 2) Students will begin reading THE TALKING EARTH and writing a 25 words or less summary for each of the nine chapters. (A poster displaying the summaries with accompanying hand-drawn pictures for each chapter is due Sept. 25). 3) Writing essay test on THE TALKING EARTH to take place in class Sept. 23-25. 4) Students will be reading THE INVISIBLE THREAD at the end of this month and chart the similarities and differences of the Japanese culture to our own.
Grade 7 HONORS: 1) Students are writing an essay based on their summer reading of THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London. 2) They will discuss, in depth, the pro's and con's of a gang, as well as, the similarities of a gang and a family. 3) They will be reading THE PEARL by John Steinbeck and keep track of ALL the provided vocabulary in the novel. 4) A challenging writing (point-of-view of one of the main characters) will be assigned. 5) To practice listening skills, students will be read Joyce Carol Oates's book, BIG MOUTH, UGLY GIRL. (Notes will be taken, and an essay will follow).
Grade 7 LA: 1) Students are reviewing types of nouns and doing the corresponding workbook pages. (A writing exercise, listing how to clean and organize their room, will be assigned to check their understanding and usage of types of nouns. 2) A test will follow. 3) Students will be researching (at home) two of their ethnicities and 15 topics regarding their cultures. (A poster showing pictures and artifacts will accompany this project, as well as, a demonstration of (dance or art) and (fashion or language).
