Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Period 1 and 2
We took Vocab test #5. We took our Unit 2 Social STudies test today as well. (Chapters 3,4 and 5). We worked hard and everybody finished! Results will be back next week. We reviewed JA, focusing on family budgets.

Period 3 -We took our Vocab Test #5, then reviewed our independent reading program, worked on filling out reading logs and had some time to read silently.

Period 5 and 6
We took a vocab test (#5A) and completed a lesson in our daybooks. We read Chapter 12 in Light in the Forest and answered some questions as a group. We completed another lesson in our JA books;we were surprised to find out that food was not included in the budget scenario we looked at....
Unit 3 in our Social Studies books was introduced; we read some facts about the Native Americans and the British Colonists and compared what we are learning in Social Studies to what we are reading in The Light in the Forest.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Period 1 and 2
We read Chapter 8 in Light in the Forest, reviewed our vocab words for our test tomorrow, and turned in our Social Studies homework from yesterday. We will have an open note quiz on Social Studies tomorrow, so if we didn't complete the assignment from yesterday (page 146 - 2,3,4,5,6) we are finishing that tonight so we can use the notes for the test!

Period 3 -We read Chapter 9 in Light in the Forest; practiced our vocab words, and were given our final reading project for first tri....no, its note due for a month, but we are getting it early so we can be prepared!

Period 5 -6We took our Social Studies test today; we will correct it tomorrow. Mrs. H checked in with us about our JA field trip (clothing, permision slips,etc.). Tomorrow: we will have a vocab test; be prepared to write sentences! We will also read L/F Chapter 12 in class, and complete a section in our JA books.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Period 1 and 2We turned in our final Memoirs, and spent time reading and commenting on each other's essays. Thanks Aubree and Maria for bringing cookies!
We completed Chapter 5.5 in Social Studies, and talked about the contributions of Ben Franklin. We were assigned questions 2,3,4,5 and 6 on page 146 for homework; these are due tomorrow. We will go over them in class and be ready for our quiz on Thursday.
Period 3
We read Chapter 8 in Light in the Forest; we had a choice of five questions, from which we each chose one to answer in depth. For this question we have to find three quotes from the book to back up our answer! This is due tomorrow, and counts as a mid-term assessment on this novel.
Period 5 and 6-
We practiced on demand writing with a question from Light in the Forest; received our new vocab words for a quiz scheduled for Thursday, and read Chapter 11 from LF out loud in class. We collected our notes and reviewed chapters 3-5 in our Social Studies book for our test tomorrow...this is our last open note test, and also the test over the most material; our following tests will be over 1-2 chapters.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Monday, October 26, 2009

Period 1 and 2
We read Chapter 6 in Light in the Forest and went over our worksheets - these are due tomorrow! Also, any memoirs NOT yet turned in are due by tomorrow, Tuesday! We will share these in class tomorrow.
We received our new vocab. words for this week; the quiz will be on Thursday. Remember; you are responsible for learning and remembering two words of your own choosing, in addition to the five on the list for this week.
Period 3 -
We read Chapter 6 and nearly all of Chapter 7 in class; short comprehension "check" (quiz) on Tuesday at the beginning of class.
Period 5 - 6
We listened to the PLMS Harassment Presentation today and read Chapter 10 in L/F;
In Social Studies, we wrapped up Chapter 5, completed an activity on Ben Franklin and his famous sayings, and will be ready for our test on Wednesday!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Friday, October 23, 2009

REMINDER FOR PERIODS 1-2 and 5-6 FOR NEXT WEEK!
PLEASE BRING IN YOUR CHECKS AND PERMISSION SLIPS FOR OUR JA FIELD TRIP! ALSO, WE STILL NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO MEET US THERE! PLEASE LET ME KNOW EARLY NEXT WEEK IF YOUR PARENT(S) ARE INTERESTED IN COMING!
Period 1 -2
We spent a period in the library,finishing up our final drafts of our memoirs. Most of you completed them; if you didn't finish in class, your memoir is due Monday. If you have been absent and have extra days, then the Monday due date does not apply to you!
For second period, we worked on completing our folders on the colonial economy, and watched a ppt presentation on Chapter 5.4 (the Great Awakening)

Period 3 -
Memoirs were due today - we read each other's memoirs and wrote compliments to the authors. Thanks to those who brought cookies to share during the reading time!


Period 5 -6
Memoirs were due - we spent the afternoon reading and responding to each other's
writing! Thanks to all who brought goodies to share during the reading time!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Period 1 - 2

We read Chapter 5.4 in our Social Studies books and answered questions 3 and 4 on page 139. We went over Chapter 5 in Light in the Forest, and discussed some of the harder questions on the worksheet; we then turned it in after we edited our answers. We began reading Chapter 6 - this will be due on Monday; we will answer questions in class on Monday!

Period 3 -
Today was a work period for our memoirs; tomorrow we will read them in class and hopefully enjoy cookies while reading!

Period 5 -6
We read L/F Chapter 9 - questions due tomorrow! (Most of you finished those in class today!) Memoirs are due...bring cookies if you wish, and we will enjoy them while we read each other's stories!
In Social Studies, we watched a ppt on "The Great Awakening" - those of you who were absent can see it during homeroom on Tuesday...or during class next week. We also finished figuring out "Barbara's" budget on page 67 and 68 in our JA books. We will compare our answers tomorrow!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tuesday, October 2o, 2009

For ALL ClASSES!
No vocab this week, as we are completing our final memoirs. The final memoirs are all due THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23. We will be reading each other's memoirs on Friday; we will be bringing in cookies to enjoy while reading each other's writing.

Period 1 - 2
We read Chapter 5 in The Light in the Forest, and completed a worksheet.Pick this up when you return if you missed class today. The worksheet is due on Thursday.
In Social Studies, we completed Chapter 5.3, making the layered book described at the beginning of the section on page 131.
Period 3
We read Chapter 5 in The Light in the Forest, and began work on the worksheet covering this chapter; pick this up in class if you were absent today!
Period 5 - 6
We read Chapters 7 and 8 in The Light in the Forest and began work on the worksheet for those chapters; it is due on Thursday, if you didn't finish it in class today. We outlined Chapter 5.3 in Social Studies.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Monday, October 19, 2009

Period 1 - 2
We learned about TAXES today in our JA curriculum (reading pages 44-50). We looked at how we pay taxes and what those tax dollars buy. We practiced writing out a check and looking at pay stubs to see deductions; we are beginning to understand Net Monthly Income...NMI. Period 2 found us busy in the computer lab working on our memoirs. We will NOT have a vocab test this week, as we are working hard at completing those final drafts of our Memoirs by this Friday, October 23!

Period 3 - We spent the class period in the Computer lab, editing each others memoirs, and finishing up our rough drafts. THE FINAL DRAFTS ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY< OCTOBER 23!! We will not be having a vocab test this week so we can spend our extra time perfecting our memoirs.

Period 5 -6
We read over pages 44-50 and 57 - 58 in our JA books, learning about taxes; we completed the pages 53-56. 6th period we ate cookies while working hard on our peer editing.Some of us also had mini-writing conferences with Mrs. H; our final drafts are due this Friday! No vocab test; we are focusing our time and energy on writing those wonderful memoirs!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Friday, October 16, 2009

Period 1 and 2
We started the day with a presentation on Colonial Trade and discussed some of the tragedies of the slave trade in the Americas. If you were absent, you will need to view the ppt on Tuesday, during homeroom, or get notes from someone in your class.
Period 2 was spent in the Computer Lab preparing our memoirs for peer editing on Monday.
Period 3 -
Lots of hard work during class today! We completed our first drafts in the computer lab - those that did NOT finish will need to complete their first drafts over the weekend and bring a printed copy to class on Monday! We will be peer editing on Monday, and talking about ways we can make our memoirs even more interesting to read.

Period 5-6
We almost completed our unit on the colonial economy and looked at the way slavery was a part of the system; we looked at some of the travesties of the slave trade.
During 6th period, we worked on our memoirs in the lab, some of us completed peer editing, others kept working on their writing. We will complete peer editing on Monday with our final essays due by next Friday.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Permission Slip Information:
Here is what you need to fill out the permission slip! Some of you may not have gotten this off the whiteboard today.
The Activity is Finance Education, as is the purpose of the trip. The location is the JA Finance Park in Auburn. The time is 7:45 - 2:00 pm. We will be traveling by district vehicle!


Period 1 - 2
We took our Vocab Test and watched a powerpoint on Chapter 5.2 in our Social Studies book. We took notes and discussed some of the economic reasons for the Revolution.
We also received our permission slips for the JA Field Trip (Coming up on November 5th). Parents can let me know if you are able to volunteer on this trip by returning the forms as soon as possible.
We spent time in the computer lab formatting our memoirs; we will hopefully be completing the typing process tomorrow and peer editing will occur on Monday.

Period 3 - We took our vocab test and then spent time in the computer lab working on our memoirs. The first drafts are due on Monday - we will peer and self edit, and then submit our finals by next Friday.


Period 5 -6
We took our vocab test; went over our JA permission slips and parent information; discussed the need for business casual clothing (the field trip will be on November 5, so we have awhile to prepare!) We discussed/took notes on English Trade Laws, and discussed the relationship between England and her colonies. We began typing our memoirs; I was able to book the computer lab for 6th period tomorrow, so we will have that time to print and work on adding to our papers; I will have peer/self editing sheets available for those of you who are ready for that step.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Tuesday, October 14, 2009

Period 1 and 2

We finished Chapter 5.1 and worked on our timelines for the Dominion of New England.
We reviewed our questions to Light in the Forest, Chapter 4, and discussed point of view as was revealed in the text. We have our vocab test tomorrow!(Light in the Forest words ditties, grimace, bandy-legged, strouding, ominous, plus two of your own choosing).

Period 3 -
We turned in our Light in the Forest questions for Chapter 3 and 4 and practiced writing with elaboration in our table groups. We will begin typing our memoirs during class tomorrow - bring flash drives in order to take your papers back and forth between school and home.
REMEMBER!!! We have our vocab test tomorrow!(Light in the Forest words ditties, grimace, bandy-legged, strouding, ominous, plus two of your own choosing).

Period 5 - 6
We collected the homework from Chapter 5.1 (yesterday's assignment: 5.1 pg. 125 - 1, 2,3,4B and 5) The Light in the Forest worksheet for Chapters 5 and 6, and completed pages 18 through 21 in our JA books in class. If you didn't finish, please complete those pages by Monday, October 19. We also reviewed the use of elaboration in writing and will begin writing our memoir/essays during class Thursday. Bring your flash drives in order to transport your virtual papers between home and school Remember the vocab test tomorrow!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Tuesday, September 13, 2009

ALL CLASSES
I was involved in a meeting all day today, so I didn't get a chance to check in with Mr. Finnerty as to what was accomplished in class. I would like you to complete all Social Studies and Light in the Forest questions for tomorrow; we will go over the material in class. Also, my two block classes will need to bring their JA Finance books to class on Wednesday.
I will update the blog with more specifics tomorrow!
Mrs. H

Monday, October 12, 2009

Monday, October 12, 2009

Period 1 - We worked on our Memoir Brainstorming sheets, making sure that we had our topics, titles and hooks ready to go. We put our memoir in chronological order (beginning, middle and end); we will finish up the brainstorm sheets with a partner on Wednesday. We also received our vocab sheets for this week - words are from The Light in the Forest - and picked two words (in addition to the five class words) from the novel. We will learn those words and write sentences using them (with the part of speech) for the quiz on Thursday.

Period 2 - We continued to work on our Colonies Grids - we located data for each of the colonies from our text book and added them to our papers. We will finish this on Wednesday.

Period 3 - We worked on our Memoir Brainstorming sheets, making sure that we had our topics, titles and hooks ready to go. We put our memoir in chronological order (beginning, middle and end); we will finish up the brainstorm sheets with a partner on Wednesday. We also received our vocab sheets for this week - words are from The Light in the Forest - and picked two words (in addition to the five class words) from the novel. We will learn those words and write sentences using them (with the part of speech) for the quiz on Thursday.


Period 5 - 6
We listened to an article about Columbus and responded in writing;we received our Light in the Forest worksheets back and will save them as they contain our vocab lists for this week!

We viewed a ppt on Memoir writing, and practiced (with our 2:00 buddies) ways that we will incorporate some of the learnings presented in our own memoir.

We finished up our colonies grids in our table groups.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday, October 9, 2009

Period 1 -2
We learned about using Credit (page 17) today, and filled out pg 18 in our JA books. Good discussion!
We took our Vocab test on the words from "My First Free Summer" and read an example from our Lit books of a memoir; we began brainstorming for our personal memoir, filling out a graphic organizer.
In Social Studies, we began creating a graphic organizer of the English colonies; to be continued in class on Monday!
No weekend homework except independent reading! Also, if you haven't read through Chapter 3 in Light in the Forest, complete that on your own.

Period 3 -
We took our vocab and comprehension quizzes today; following that, we read through a sample memoir in our lit book (Jalapenos, Anyone?) and began working on our graphic organizer for our own memoir. We will complete that activity on Monday in class.

Period 5 -6
We turned in the worksheet on Light in the Forest (Chapters 3 and 4), read the sample memoir in our Lit Book (Jalapenos, Anyone?) and began working on our brainstorming sheets. In Social Studies, we worked on our analysis of the English Colonies, creating a baseline for understanding their unique characteristics.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Period 1 -2
We completed the Section on Financial Institutions and Debit cards in our JA books, reviewed for our Vocab test tomorrow (we had a schedule change today that made our normal Thursday vocab quiz difficult to schedule!), read through Chapter 3 in Light in the Forest, and began working on Chapter 4.2 in our Social Studies book.
Period 3 -We read the first Chapter in Light in the Forest in class, and then were assigned Chapter 2 and 3 on our own. The pages that need to be read by tomorrow are pages 3 - 24. There will be a quiz over that reading tomorrow, following a class discussion. You may use any notes you take on the reading in class. The very short vocab test (only five words from the reading, My First Free Summer in your Lit Books) is scheduled for Friday, instead of Thursday, this week only.
Period 5 -6
We took our vocab quiz, began reading Chapter 4 in Light in the Forest, and completed the section on Financial Institutions and Debit Cards in our JA books. Homework for tomorrow: fill in the worksheet for Light in the Forest, Chapters 3 and 4. This is due tomorrow! Remember, you will need three questions or observations for the final section on the worksheet, and each of your quotes need to have an explanation as to why you think it represents cruelty/racism by one group toward the other.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Period 1 - 2

We completed our Light in the Forest Jigsaw Activity, and discussed the background and intent of the author, Conrad Richter. We then read Chapter 1 out loud in class.
We corrected the vocabulary worksheet; the vocab quiz is scheduled for Thursday!
We also turned in our three brainstorm ideas for our memoir...
In Social Studies, we completed a crossword puzzle for Chapter 4.2 and a summary question. We will turn those in tomorrow. Number 7 Across is still a mystery...don't worry if you can't find the answer! We will figure that out in class tomorrow!

Period 3
Busy day! We turned in our Fact Sheets and filled out our Light in the Forest Jigsaws. We also corrected our vocab worksheets - the quiz will be Thursday!
We turned in our three ideas for our Memoir. Finally, we checked out our Light in the Forest books and read the introduction. We will read Chapter 1 in class tomorrow!

Period 5 - 6
In Language Arts, we took a quiz on Light in the Forest; corrected Vocab Worksheets, and turned in our Memoir Brainstorm. In Social Studies, we got our JA books and took a pre-test to assess our financial knowledge. We practiced writing summaries for our Social Studies notes and turned them in; we read a selection on the Salem Witch Trials with a partner and answered some key questions.
Tonights homework:
Outline Chapter 4.3, but omit (leave out!) the sections on Daily Life and Customs and The Salem Witch Trials.
Also, read Chapter 2 in L/F and bring your independent reading book to class tomorrow.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Monday, October 5, 2009

Period 1 and 2

We started our Light in the Forest Unit by researching about the novel. Our table groups were assigned one topic (author background, Fort Pitt, PA, The Allegheny/Ohio/Muskingum Rivers/ White-Indian Culture Relationships/White Captives in the 17th Century) to gain historical perspective that will help with understanding this novel. We created documents and then shared our findings with our small group, creating an information sheet to share with the class.

Homework for tomorrow: Complete the following three sentences:
1. I will always remember__________________________
2. I will always remember__________________________
3. I will always remember__________________________
Each sentence should be a separate memory that could be a possible topic for your Memoir.
Also, finish and bring the vocab sheet you received on Friday. We will correct it in class.

Period 3


We started our Light in the Forest Unit by researching about the novel. Our table groups were assigned one topic (author background, Fort Pitt, PA, The Allegheny/Ohio/Muskingum Rivers/ White-Indian Culture Relationships/White Captives in the 17th Century) to gain historical perspective that will help with understanding this novel. We created documents and then shared our findings with our small group, creating an information sheet to share with the class.

Homework for tomorrow: Complete the following three sentences:
1. I will always remember__________________________
2. I will always remember__________________________
3. I will always remember__________________________
Each sentence should be a separate memory that could be a possible topic for your Memoir. (ex. the time a spent the night away from home for the first time).

Also, finish and bring the vocab sheet you received on Friday. We will correct it in class.

Period 5-6
Busy day! Here is your homework summary:
Due Tuesday: Outline of 4.2 in your Social Studies book - highlight push factors (why were the Europeans being pushed out of Europe?) and pull factors (what drew them to the New World?) in two different colors.
Read Chapter 1 of The Light in the Forest No notes this time, but be prepared for a short quiz tomorrow!
Bring the answers to the questions you were assigned on Friday:
1. I will always remember__________________________
2. I will always remember__________________________
3. I will always remember__________________________
Each sentence should be a separate memory that could be a possible topic for your Memoir. (ex. I will always remember the time I spent the night away from home for the first time).
Bring the vocab sheet you received on Friday - we will correct it in class. DO NOT ANSWER THE LAST QUESTION!
In class, we completed a pre-reading activity for Light in the Forest. If you did not complete this in the lab, please complete at home and turn in tomorrow. If you were absent, see me about making this up outside of class.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Friday, October 2, 2009

Period 1 - 2
We took a Social Studies test over Chapter 3 and corrected it in class. We discussed what worked and what didn't work with our notes; we will practice writing clearly, and making sure we write everything down that appears in class powerpoint presentations!
We brainstormed "What is a memoir?" and listened to a few written by 8th graders. We read through lists of questions for memoirists, and will have a list of three possible topics by next Tuesday. We also received our vocab list for next week - only five words this time! This quiz will be next Thursday.

Period 3
We brainstormed "What is a memoir?" and read "My First Free Summer" from our Lit Book. We watched a powerpoint, read through lists of questions for memoirists, and will have a list of three possible topics by next Tuesday. We also received our vocab list for next week - only five words this time!The quiz will be next Thursday.

Period 5 - We shared our posters in small groups, teaching each other what we found out about the time peiod before the arrival of the Pilgrims. We took notes on what we found out. We discussed some of the long range consequences of the events covered in this time period. We watched a ppt about Choosing a Topic for our memoirs, and will have three possible options by next Tuesday. We received our vocab list for the week - along with some questions to help us think of topics for our memoirs. Light in the Forest Books and JA Books will be checked out in class on Monday!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Period 1 -2
We took our second vocab test and completed our dialogue sketches in class. Mrs. H. checked our reading logs and our current books in class, and recorded the results on GradeBook.

We read Chapter 3.4 in our Social Studies books and answered question number three at the end of the chapter (page 87). Tomorrow we will have an open note test over Chapter 3, so bring all of your notes to class!

Period 3 - We took our vocab quiz, completed our dialogues and some of us performed them for the class. We checked in with Mrs. H about our independent reading books - we should be 1/3 of the way through our 800 pages at this point in the trimester.
If we didn't have books/logs in class today, we need to bring them tomorrow.

Period 5 - 6

We shared our skits and brilliant dialogue with our class during 5th period, after taking our vocab quiz. Great work on the skits!

Social Studies - We completed the posters for Chapter 4.1 and will teach them in small groups to each other tomorrow.