Miss Brown's English Language Arts

7th Grade: Ancient Greece & Roman Essay Outline

2012-02-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 13, 2012 - Friday, February 16, 2012

2012-02-13T04:48:00.000-08:00

7th Grade English Language Arts
This week, 7th grade ELA student will finish collecting research on their topic and complete their final essay by Thursday, February 15, 2012. Thereafter, students will be collaborate and be prepared to present their project starting Wednesday, February 21, 2012.

8th Grade English Language Arts & Advanced English Language Arts

This week, 8th grade ELA & AELA will complete their presentation on their controversial topics and begin their grammar unit. Beginning February 19, 2012, AELA will also be completing an online book study of Lois Lowry's "The Giver". Log-in directions will be posted next week.

Guide to Writing a Bibliography

2012-02-02T07:36:00.001-08:00

7th Grade: Ancient Greece & Rome Research Project

2012-02-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

RESEARCH DATABASE...
Go To: www.mel.org

Please use one of the databases below for your research. Please ask if you have questions about any of the databases.

1.General Reference Gold
2.Info Trac Junior Edition
3.Info Trac Student Edition
4.Educator’s Reference Complete

8th Grade Persuasive Essay Template

2012-01-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

8th Grade Research Project

2012-01-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

8th Grade: Core Democratic Values Power Point

2012-01-25T07:18:00.001-08:00

Monday, January 23, 2012 - Friday, January 27, 2011

2012-01-25T03:26:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA:

Monday: Discuss, Correct, & Collect Greek materials: "Apple of Discord" and "The Beginning of the World"
Tuesday: Dramatic reading of "King Midas". Discuss, Correct, and Collect "King Midas" response reading questions
Wednesday: View and respond to Greek Mythology story-time clips viewed at: http://www.abc.net.au/arts/wingedsandals/default_lowband.htm
Thursday: Dramatic reading of "Hercules and the 12 labors". Discuss, Correct, and Collect "Hercules and the 12 Labors"
Friday: Distribute and Explain "Greek Feast" Research Project

8th Grade ELA & AELA:

Monday: Finish Discussing & Correcting the Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" and Langston Hughes' "Harlem" reading response questions
Tuesday: Distribute & Explain Persuasive Research Project
Wednesday: Begin research for Persuasive Project
Thursday: Continue researching for Persuasive Project
Friday: Finish researching & Begin organizing and drafting Persuasive Essay

Monday, January 9, 2012 - Friday, January 13, 2012

2012-01-12T14:33:00.001-08:00

7th Grade:

Monday: SRI Testing
Tuesday: Library Day, Review SRI Lexile scores and grades
Wednesday: Continue Greek Mythology Unit... read and complete "What is a Myth?" and "Myths in the Night Sky" worksheet
Thursday: Write Greek Myth short stories and complete MAZE close Test
Friday: Share Greek Myth short stories

8th Grade ELA & AELA:

Monday: SRI Testing
Tuesday: Library Day, Review SRI Lexile scores and grades
Wednesday: Read, watch, and discuss Dr. MLK Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech
Thursday: Work Day...complete the Literary Devices/Figurative Language Powerpoint, YouTube, and worksheet for Dr. MLK Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech
Friday: Complete, Discuss, and turn in "I Have a Dream" Literary Devices Worksheet

7th Grade ELA: Greek Mythology Presentation

2012-01-04T13:09:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 - Friday, Jan. 6, 2012

2012-01-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

7th Grade English Language Arts

Tuesday: D.O.L. & Writing Prompt Response
Homework: Study for Friday's Spelling Bee
Wednesday: Introduction to Greek Mythology Power Point Presentation
Homework: Study for Friday's Spelling Bee
Thursday: Introduction to Greek Mythology Quiz
Homework: Study for Friday's Spelling Bee
Friday: Class Spelling Bee Competition
Homework: No Homework

Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 - Friday, Jan. 6, 2012

2012-01-03T07:18:00.000-08:00

8th Grade ELA & AELA

Tuesday: D.O.L., Writing Prompt, Review Social Contract
Homework: Study for Friday's Spelling Bee
Wednesday: D.O.L., Continue Writing Prompt, Begin "Thank You, Ma'm" Assessment
Homework: Study for Friday's Spelling Bee
Thursday: D.O.L., Finish "Thank You, Ma'm" Assessment
Homework: Study for Friday's Spelling Bee
Friday: D.O.L. and Spelling Bee
Homework: No Homework

7th Grade: "A Christmas Carol"

2011-12-15T04:31:00.000-08:00

View "A Christmas Carol" at the following YouTube link:

http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Du2PcuRb9zFA%26feature%3Drelated

7th Grade: "A Christmas Carol"

2011-12-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

Summary of "A Christmas Carol"

Students'presentaiton: A Christmas Carol 1

View more presentations from Viorica Condrat

8th Grade "Charly" YouTube clips...

2011-12-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

8th Grader ELA & AELA

If you would like to view the movie version of Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"; entitled "Charly". With parent permission, please feel free to click on the following YouTube clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AeSf5QDEmQ

Monday, December 12, 2011 - Friday, December 16, 2011

2011-12-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA

Monday: D.O.L. and Complete "Dog Kennel" Short Answer Assessment

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: D.O.L. and write "Personal Narrative" Assessment

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: D.O.L., view Brain Pop clips of "Charles Dickens" and "Drama", begin reading and listening to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: D.O.L., begin viewing "A Christmas Carol" clips, and compare/contrast worksheet

Homework: No Homework

Friday: D.O.L. and finish viewing "A Christmas Carol" clips, and compare/contrast worksheet

Homework: No Homework...Happy Holidays. See you all Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012!!!

8th Grade ELA & AELA

Monday: D.O.L., present Revolution/Rebellion Movie Trailers, turn in Revolution/Rebellion Compare/Contrast Essays

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: D.O.L., visit Library

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: Begin "Respecting Differences" 2nd Marking Period Assessment

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: Begin viewing "Charly" and Complete "Respecting Differences" Essay

Homework: No Homework

Friday: Complete D.O.L. and Finish viewing "Charly"

Homework: No Homework...Happy Holidays and See you Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012!!!

8th Grade Revolution & Rebellions Project

2011-12-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" Vocabulary Link...

2011-12-06T13:38:00.001-08:00

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" Vocabulary Practice and Game:

http://quizlet.com/6547716/rikki-tikki-tavi-flash-cards/

Study these flash cards

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" YouTube Link...

2011-12-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

View "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by clicking on the following YouTube Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CrEX4MxAzA

7th Grade: "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" Reading Questions and Responses

2011-12-05T08:10:00.001-08:00

7th Grade: Elements of Fiction Power Point

2011-11-28T08:15:00.000-08:00

8th Grade AELA SAT Vocabulary Words

2011-11-28T07:32:00.000-08:00

Use the following link to help you study for the upcoming SAT Vocabulary Tests:

http://quizlet.com/6113733/key-words-for-high-achievement-14-flash-cards/

HAVE FUN!!!

Flowers for Algernon Activity Day

2011-11-23T04:11:00.000-08:00

Are You a Critical Thinker?: Questions and Responses

Part I:

1. There are 64 checkers players at a tournament. A player is eliminated when he or she loses a game. How many games must the champion play?

Response: 6 (64 players/2 players per game =32 players left/2= 16/2= 8/2= 4/2= 2, CHAMPION GAME)

2. The electricity goes out, and your bedroom is pitch dark. Yet you still need to find a matching pair of socks! In your drawer are 25 white socks and 25 red socks. How many socks must you take out of the drawer before you get a matching pair?

Response: three (think about it!)

3. If you have two U.S. coins totaling 55 cents and one of the coins is not a nickel, what are the two coins?

Response: a 50 cent piece and a nickel (one is a nickel --but one is not a nickel)

4. If three cats kill three rats in three minutes, how long will it take for 100 cats to kill 100 cats?

Response: three minutes (more cats and more rats don't equal more time)

5. A farmer had 17 chickens. All but 9 died. How many does the farmer have left?

Response: Nine (read the question again --and this time, pay attention!)

6. Is it legal in Canada for a man to marry his widow's sister?

Response: no (he's dead)

7. Change

8. Three men are walking in the rain with no umbrellas and no hats. Two get their hair wet and one doesn't. Why?

Response: the third man is bald

9. A girl went door-to-door selling eggs. At the first house, she sold half her eggs plus half an egg. At the second house, she sold half her eggs plus half an egg. At the third house, she sold half her eggs plus half an egg. After this she had no eggs left --she had sold all her eggs. How many did she start with?

Response: Seven (FIRST HOUSE: half of 7= 3.5 + .5 egg= 4 eggs sold. 3 remaining; SECOND HOUSE: half of 3= 1.5, +.5 eggs= 2 eggs sold, 1 remaining; THIRD HOUSE: half of 1= .5, +.5 egg= 1 egg sold, 0 remaining)

10. You have a 9-gallon container and a 4-gallon container. How can you measure out exactly 6-gallons of water from a tank without using any other container?

Response: Turn the 4-gallon container into a container that will measure out 3 gallons by filling it with one gallon of water. You can get one gallon of water by filling the 9-gallon container and emptying 4 gallons into the 4-gallon container. Now the 9-gallon in it (9 - 4 =5). Empty the 4-gallon container and fill it again from the 9-gallon container. Now the 9-gallon container has 1 gallon (5-4=1). Empty the 4-gallon container again and put the 1 gallon of water in it. Now it will take 3 gallons of water to fill the 4-gallon container. Fill the 9-gallon contianer and dump enough water from it to fill the 4-gallon container the rest of the way. Nine gallons minus 3 gallons leaves 6 gallons in the 9-gallon container!

Part II:

1. T or F: If penicillin cures an infection, then the lack of penicillin in the bloodstream must cause the infection

Response: False. You can't assume that the reverse of something is true. Although this works in some cases (sleep cures tiredness, lack of sleep causes tiredness), obviously we can't say things like, "Since aspirin relieves headaches, lack of aspirin must cause headaches."

2. T or F: Tim and Tom play the lottery. Tim picks numbers 9, 17, 22, 48, 6, 10. Tom picks numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 1 4. Tim has a better chance of winning than Tom.

Response: False. When choosing six numbers out of 40 chances for a lottery, any combination is as likely to come up as any other combination. Just because the numbers are in sequence doesn't decrease their likelihood of coming up.

3. T or F: Since nobody seems to be able to prove that Sana Claus does not exist, it's reasonable to assume that he likely doesn't exist.

Response: False. Disproving the existence of something is very difficult. But just because you can't disprove the existence of something doesn't mean its existence is therefore proven! Maybe this fact of logic is why our legal system says that person is innocent until proven guilty. When charged with a crime, you don't have to prove that you didn't do it. Rather, it must be proved that you did do it.

4. T or F: If statistics show that ice cream sales go up with the number of house infants spend fussing, this means that fussy infants cause people to go out and buy ice cream.

Response: False. Fussy babies and ice cream sales are both caused by 100 degree temperatures and uncomfortable weather conditions.

5. T or F: If a study shows that children who spend their preschool years in a day-care center are more likely to finish college than children who are cared for at home, we can assume that day-care centers educate children better than parents at

Response: False. This information actually tells us nothing -or, rather, we can't way what it does tell us. It may be that day-care facilities are teaching children more, or it may be that children in day care have two working parents who can afford to send them to college in later years. Too often, a little information is interpreted mean a lot more than it does!

Part III:

1. A penny doubled every day would give you, at the end of 30 days...$10,000,000. To be exact, you'd have $10,737,418.24! So who said pennies were worthless?

2. How many times will you need to shuffle a deck of cards to make sure the deck is mixed up?...6-8 times. If you shuffle only a couple of times, a magician who knows the original order of the deck will usually be able to find a card that you remove and replace. (Much of what looks like "magic" is just skillful entertainment).

3. Two people are picked at random from the population of the United States. What are the chances that Person One will know someone who knows someone who knows Person Two?...almost certain (99/100). The chances are almost certain.

4. Four people are meeting for the first time. Two of them have the same astrological sign. Two of them have the same astrological sign. How do you feel about this?...unimpressed (this is expected). At least two will have the same sign four times out of ten.

5. You want to buy a new computer. In January, it goes on sale for 40% off. But you still can't afford it. Then, in March, it's reduced by the 40% more! You go buy it, knowing you'll save this much off the original price...64%. First you save 40%, which leaves 60%. Then you save 40% of the remaining 60%, or 24%. 40%+24%= 64%.

If you missed reading "The Speckled Band", you may...

2011-11-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

Re-watch "The Speckled Band" on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmlwZ49ibQA

Or, listen to the Radio Broadcast of "The Speckled Band" at:

http://www.archive.org/details/SherlockHolmes1948-12-19TheSpeckledBand

7th Grade: Sherlock Holmes "The Speckled Band"

2011-11-17T07:48:00.001-08:00

Flowers for Algernon: page 687 & 712 Responses

2011-11-15T12:26:00.001-08:00

Monday, November 21, 2011 - Friday, November 25, 2011

2011-11-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Complete and Review "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" questions

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: Complete "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Test

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: Half Day of School (All hours meet)...Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: No School...Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Homework: No Homework

Friday: No School

Homework: No Homework

8th Grade ELA and AELA

Monday: Turn in "Flowers for Algernon" homework and Complete "Flowers for Algernon" Test

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: "Flowers for Algernon" Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: Half Day of School (All hours meet)...Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: No School...Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Homework: No Homework

Friday: No School

Homework: No Homework

Monday, November 14, 2011 - Friday, November 18, 2011

2011-11-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Turn in Mystery Comic Strip Project, Continue listening to Doyle's "The Adventures of the Speckled Band"

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Tuesday: D.O.L., Using complete sentences respond to the "Thinking About the Selection", "Analyzing Literature", and "Critical Thinking and Reading" Questions on page 45

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Wednesday: Half Day of School (Hours 1, 2, 3)...No Class Today with 4th Hour 7th Grade ELA

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Thursday: Half Day of School (Hours 4, 5, 6)...continue answering "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" questions

Homework: Study "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary...test Friday

Friday: D.O.L. and complete "The Adventures of the Speckled Band" Vocabulary

Homework: No homework

8th Grade ELA & AELA

Monday: D.O.L., Collect re-submitted Science Fiction Comic Strips, finish answering page 687/712 "Flowers for Algernon" response questions, and begin correcting "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: D.O.L., continue correcting and discussing "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: Half Day of School (Hours 1, 2, 3) D.O.L., finish correcting and discussing "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: Half Day of School (Hours 4, 5, 6) D.O.L., finish correcting and discussing "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Friday: Half Day of School (all hours today)...D.O.L. and Vocabulary Review Activity

Homework: No Homework

Flowers for Algernon page 712 Questions

2011-11-11T07:30:00.001-08:00

Finish reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon" on page 200-222 in Brown Literature Book

Using complete sentences, complete the following questions that were found on page 712 in the Green Literature Book...

Respond and Think Critically:

1. In your own words, describe the most significant events in this part of the story. [Summarize]

2. As Charlie's intelligence increases, he begins to lose his ability to communicate with people. Why do you think this happens? [Interpret]

3. When Charlie goes back to Miss Kinnian's class, why does she start to cry and then run out of the room? [Infer]

4. Charlie describes his own pain as his intelligence decreases. Do you think the author is suggesting that Charlie would have been better off if he had never had the operation? Why or why not? [Analyze]

5. As the story ends, Charlie is planning to leave New York. What do you think will happen to Charlie? Explain your thoughts. [Synthesize]

6. BIG QUESTION: Think about what really matters to Charlie when he is a genius. Does this change as he loses his intelligence? Cite examples from the story. [Compare and Contrast]

Vocabulary Practice:

On a separate sheet of paper, write the vocabulary word the correctly completes each sentence. If none of the words fits the sentence, write "none".

a. Technique b. Cowered c. Petition d. Obscure e. Tangible

1. The window's dirt was thick enough to ___________ the view.

2. The boy's friends called him a ____________ because he wouldn't jump off the high-dive board.

3. The boxer's fighting ___________ made him unbeatable.

4. The Quiz Bowl champions gave the principal a __________ for a day off from school.

5. The brightly shining sun helped ____________ the tall mountains.

6. The fog was so thick it seemed quite ___________.

7. During the hurricane, the family ____________ in the basement.

Review: VOICE

2. Throughout the story, Charlie's writing changes. In what ways do the words Charlie writes reveal his increasing intelligence? Support your answer with details and information from the story.

3. In what ways do the words Charlie writes toward the end of the story reveal the loss of his intelligence? Support your answer with details and information from the story.

Flowers for Algernon page 687 Questions

2011-11-11T06:20:00.000-08:00

Finish Reading Daniel Keyes' "Flower for Algernon" (page 200-222 in Brown Literature Book)

Using complete sentences, answer the following questions:

Page 687...

Respond and Think Critically Questions

1. Write a summary of the major events in the first part of "Flowers for Algernon." [Summarize]

2. Think about why the doctors have chosen Charlie for this experiment. Why do they have doubts about testing him? [Infer]

3. According to Charlie, why is he unable to interpret the inkblots and pictures? What do you think the real reasons are? [Interpret]

4. Charlie ends his April 14 Progress Report with the word Why. How does this word show that Charlie's thinking has changed? [Analyze]

5. Why is Charlie ashamed at the end of this part of the story? [Conclude]

6. BIG QUESTION: What is your opinion of the experiment? Explain your thoughts. [Evaluate]

Vocabulary Practice

On a separate sheet of paper, write the vocabulary word that correctly completes the sentence. If none of the words fits the sentence, write "none".

Word Options: a. subconscious b. conscious c.laboratory d.plateau

1. After a summer of activities, Huan's life finally reached a __________.

2. Alfonso read the story and thought it was very ______________.

3. I forget your name, but I'm sure it's somewhere in my ______________.

4. The scientist entered the _______________ to complete his experiment.

5. The long-forgotten memory appeared in my ________ mind.

6. In biology class, Tanya is studying _____________.

Review: Point of View

Remember that POINT OF VIEW is the relationship of the narrator to the story. In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as "I", who is telling the story. First-person point of view gives you excellent insight into the narrator's thoughts and feelings. In limited third-person point of view, the narrator is outside the story and reveals the thoughts of only one character. In a story with omniscient third-person point of view, the narrator can reveal events, thoughts, and actions of all the characters.

3. From what point of view is "Flowers for Algernon" written? Why do you think the author chose this point of view? Explain your answer with details from the story?

4. In what ways does Charlie's language show the effects of the operation on his mind?

Flowers for Algernon: Blue and Pink Questions with Responses

2011-11-10T04:19:00.001-08:00

Blue Question #1 on page 698: What do Charlie's comments about Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss tell you about his intellectual growth?

Suggested Response: Charlie has become very critical of the doctors. He is surpassing them intellectually and no longer holds them in the awe that he once did.

Blue Question #2 on page 698: What does this comment tell you about the ways in which Charlie changed?

Suggested Response: Charlie is able to perform abstract thinking and no longer takes things at face value

Pink Question #1 on page 699: What could Charlie's struggle to communicate with Miss Kinnian foreshadow about the future of Charlie's relationships?

Suggested Response: Charlie will be just as alone as he was before the operation because no one will be able to relate to him on his intellectual level.

Blue Question #3 on page 701: Why does Charlie get so angry? Think about ways in which he might see his former self in the boy who dropped the dishes.

Suggested Response: Charlie is angry because he realizes he is laughing at someone who doesn't understand what's going on and can't defend himself. Charlie sees his past self in the boy and realizes he has been acting just like his "friends" in the factory. He takes it very personally because he is actually defending his old self.

Pink Question #2 on page 702: What might this incident foreshadow? Remember, the scientists performed the same operation on both Charlie and Algernon.

Suggested Response: The incident with Algernon could foreshadow that the operation's effect might not be permanent or that there might be bad side-effects.

Pink Question #3 on page 703: What do you think will happen to Charlie now that you know what has happened to Algernon? On what clues do you base your prediction?

Suggested Response: Charlie's intelligence will drop back to its original level. He will become violent and antisocial like Algernon. Algernon's behavior and the doctor's warnings might not be permanent are good clues.

Monday, November 7, 2011 - Friday, November 11, 2011

2011-11-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Continue D.O.L. Quiz, Mystery Vocabulary Test, "Ten Little Indian" Quiz

Homework: Complete Mystery Comic Strip Project...extension until Fri. 11/11/11

Tuesday: Complete D.O.L. Quiz, Mystery Vocabulary Test, "Ten Little Indian" Quiz & Library Visit

Homework: Complete Mystery Comic Strip Project...extension until Fri. 11/11/11

Wednesday: D.O.L., Begin discussing and reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Speckled Band" on page 26

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: D.O.L., continue reading/listening to Doyle's "The Speckled Band"

Homework: No Homework

Friday: Junior Achievement Day

Homework: No Homework

8th Grade ELA & AELA

Monday: D.O.L., continue to read and discuss Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: D.O.L., continue to read and discuss Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon" (stop at May 25, go back and answer the Blue and Pink questions starting at page 698)

Homework: No Homework

Wednesday: D.O.L., Finish reading Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon", begin answering "Flowers for Algernon" questions

Homework: No Homework

Thursday: Finish reading and begin response questions to Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"

Homework: Continue to complete "Flowers for Algernon" reading questions...due Mon. 11/14/11

Friday: Junior Achievement Activity Day

Homework: No Homework

Monday, October 31, 2011 - Friday, November 4, 2011

2011-11-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA

Monday: Half Day of School...Discuss missing and late assignments and Mystery Comic Strip Project Rough Drafts
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Mystery Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Tuesday: Begin discussing and viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Mystery Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Wednesday: Continue viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Myster Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Thursday: Finish viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and Reviewing Mystery Comic Strip Project
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011; Continue to study for the Mystery Vocabulary Test...Friday, November 4th, 2011
Friday: Review Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians", Take "Ten Little Indians" Quiz, Mystery Vocabulary Test, and D.O.L. Quiz
Homework: Continue to work on Mystery Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011

8th Grade ELA & AELA

Monday: 1/2 Day of School...discuss grades, turn in missing/late work, turn in Comic Strip Rough Drafts
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Tuesday: Begin discussing and reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Wednesday: Continue to discuss and read Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Thursday: Discuss missing work, visit library, continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011
Friday: Turn In missing/late work, continue to discuss and read Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Complete Comic Strip Project...due Monday, November 7th, 2011

Online Comic Strip Sites...

2011-11-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

comicmaster.org.uk

bitstrips.com

makebeliefscomix.com

These are some additional online comic strip generators that you may use with your parent/guardians' permission. Do not wait until the last minute to create an online comic strip. Comics are due Monday, November 7th, 2011. You will complete online comics on your own. So, provide yourself time to practice using each site in order to produce a quality final product. Be sure to save frequently. And, practice printing your color copy comic, sending it to Miss Brown’s e-mail… Amanda.Brown@kentwoodps.org, saving it to a jump-drive, etc…

7th Grade: The Raven Study Guide Responses

2011-10-25T10:55:00.001-07:00

ab

More PowerPoint presentations from Amanda

Online Comic Strip Site

2011-10-25T04:24:00.000-07:00

pixton.com is an exceptional site to use to create your final comic strip. Remember, to save your work frequently. Also, don't wait until the last minute if you plan to create a comic strip online. And, practice sending it to Miss Brown's e-mail at... Amanda.Brown@kentwoodps.org

Projects are due Monday, November 7th, 2011

P.S.: If pixton.com is not working well for you, feel free to Google other free online comic strip generators and use any site that you have approval from your parents/guardians from and are able to produce a quality comic by the Nov.7th deadline.

8th Grade Science Fiction Comic Strip Project

2011-10-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Science Fiction Comic Strip Project

More PowerPoint presentations from Amanda

Monday, Oct. 24, 2011 - Friday, Oct. 28, 2011

2011-10-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

8th Grade ELA/AELA
Monday: D.O.L., Discuss Comic Strip assignment, and Begin Orson Wells' "War of the Worlds"

Homework: Work on Comic Strip Rough Draft

Tuesday: D.O.L., Begin listening to Wells' "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast, and continue to work on Comic strip Project

Homework: Work on Comic Strip Rough Draft

Wednesday: D.O.L., Continue listening to Wells' "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast, and continue to work on Comic Strip

Homework: Complete Comic Strip Rough Draft

Thursday: D.O.L.. & Continue Comic Strip

Homework: Work on Comic Strip

Friday: D.O.L. & Continue Comic Strip

Homework: Comic Strip due...Monday, November 7th, 2011

7th Grade ELA

Monday: D.O.L., Discuss & Turn-in Poe's "The Raven"

Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms...Test Friday
Tuesday: D.O.L., Explain & Begin Comic Strip Project
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms...Test Friday
Wednesday: D.O.L., complete Rough Draft of Comic Strip Project
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms...Test Friday
Thursday: D.O.L., Comic Strip Project
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary...Test Friday
Friday: D.O.L., Take Mystery Vocabulary Test, Comic Strip Assignment
Homework: Complete Comic Strip...due Monday, Nov. 7, 2011

8th Grade Vocabulary...Test Friday, Oct. 21, 2011

2011-10-18T11:13:00.001-07:00

8th Grade Vocabulary Words and Definitions...

Test will be Friday, Oct. 21, 2011:

1. Enigma: An unexplainable matter or event

2. Sects: Small groups of people with the same leaders and beliefs

3. Crustaceans: Shellfish, such as lobsters, crabs, or shrimp

4. Aboriginal: First; native

5. Reconnoitering: Making an exploratory examination to get information about a place

6. Artifacts: Any objects made by human work, left behind by a civilization

7. Discreet Surveillance: Careful, unobserved watch kept over a person, expecially one who is a suspect or a prisoner

Arthur Clarke's "Crime on Mars" Responses

2011-10-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Crime on Mars

More PowerPoint presentations from Amanda

Isaac Asimov "Rain, Rain, Go Away" Question Responses

2011-10-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

isaac asimov's "rain, rain, g...

More PowerPoint presentations from Amanda

Oct. 17, 2011 - Oct. 21, 2011

2011-10-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

8th Grade ELA & AELA
Monday: Begin reading Clarke's "Crime on Mars"
Homework: Eat & Sleep for MEAP!
Tuesday: Continue reading Clarke's "Crime on Mars"
Homework: Eat & Sleep for MEAP!
Wednesday: Complete all questions; except "Thinking and Writing" on page 143...Use Complete Sentences!!!
Homework: Answer all questions; except "Thinking & Writing", on page 143- Due Thursday 10/21
Thursday: Discuss, Correct, and Collect questions on page 143
Homework: Complete homework worksheet- Due Friday 10/21
Friday: Correct & Collect homework worksheet, Take "Crime on Mars" Pop Quiz
Homework: No Homework

Oct. 10, 2011 - Oct. 14, 2011

2011-10-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

8th & Advanced 8th Grade ELA
Monday: Discuss Science Fiction Genre and Begin read Isaac Asimov's "Rain, Rain, Go Away" pages 12-19
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP
Tuesday: Continue reading Isaac Asimov's "Rain, Rain, Go Away" pages 12-19 and (using begin asnwering Think About the Selection, Analyzing Literature, Critical Thinking and Reading Questions, and Understanding Language on page 19. NOTE: Answer using complete sentences!
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP
Wednesday: Continue Thinking About the Selection, Analyzing Literature, Critical Thinking and Reading Questions, and Understanding Language on page 19. NOTE: Answer using complete sentences!
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP
Thursday: Discuss and Correct Reading Selection Questions
Homework: No Homework
Friday: View "Rain, Rain, Go Away" clip and Conclude "Rain, Rain, Go Away" Activity
Homework: No Homework

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Discuss Mystery Genre and Prevalent Authors
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!
Tuesday: Read Edgar Allen Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart"
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!
Wednesday: Answer "Thinking about the Selection", "Analyzing Literature", and "Critical Thinking and Reading" questions on page 149. NOTE: Answer using complete sentences!
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!
Thursday: Answer "Thinking about the Selection", "Analyzing Literature", and "Critical Thinking and Reading" questions on page 149. NOTE: Answer using complete sentences!
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Discuss and conclude Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart"
Homework: No Homework

Oct. 2, 2011- Oct. 7, 2011

2011-10-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

Monday: Complete, share, and turn in group Genre Writing assignment

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Word Search and Crossword Puzzle

Tuesday: Continue MEAP Review...Genres (Discuss Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" with 8th grade AELA students)

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Word Search and Crossword Puzzle

Wednesday: Continue MEAP Review...Prefixes/Suffixes and Root Words with Brain Pops Video Clip and Jeopardy Game, (Discuss Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" with 8th grade AELA students)

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Word Search and Crossword Puzzle

Thursday: Continue MEAP Review with "The Writing Process" (8th grade AELA field trip to GVSU "Twelfth Night")

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Word Search and Crossword Puzzle

Friday: Visit Library, Study and complete Vocabulary Review Activity, and Complete Vocabulary Test

Homework: No Homework

Mon., Sept. 26, 2011 - Fri., Sept. 30, 2011

2011-09-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Monday: Review Social Contract

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday: Continue MEAP Review...Genres, Leads/Endings, The Writing Process, Prefixes/Suffixes and Root Words

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Word Search

Wednesday: Continue MEAP Review...Genres, Leads/Endings, The Writing Process, Prefixes/Suffixes and Root Words

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Word Search

Thursday: Continue MEAP Review...Genres, Leads/Endings, The Writing Process, Prefixes/Suffixes and Root Words

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Word Search

Friday: Continue MEAP Review...Genres, Leads/Endings, The Writing Process, Prefixes/Suffixes and Root Words

Homework:No Homework

meap review: leads

More PowerPoint presentations from Amanda

Week of Mon., Sept. 19, 2011 - Fri., Sept. 23, 2011

2011-09-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

Monday: Hand out new Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle, Review Test Taking Skills, Read "Song of Masefield", Review Elements of Fiction Plot Diagram, and Good Reading Skills

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle

Tuesday: Hours 1, 2, and 3...Discovery Education In-Class Testing

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle

Wednesday: Hours 4, 5, and 6...Discovery Education In-Class Testing

Homework: Complete and Study Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle

Thursday: Hours 1, 2, and 3... Study, Complete, Turn-In Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle. Take Vocabulary Test, Read "The Daisy", complete reading questions, and Plot Diagram. MEAP Review Activity

Homework: No Homework

Friday: Hours 4, 5, and 6...Study, Complete, Turn-In Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle. Take Vocabulary Test, Read "The Daisy", complete reading questions, and Plot Diagram. MEAP Review

Homework: No Homework

Tuesday, Sept. 6th - Friday, Sept. 9th, 2011

2011-09-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday: Introductions, Review Parent Letter & Name Game

Homework: None

Wednesday: Finish Name Game; Assign "I Am" Poem Mini-Project (8th grade)/"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" Essay Mini-Project (7th grade)

Thursday: Class time provided to work on mini-projects (7th/8th grade respectively)

Friday: Final class day to work on mini-projects (7th/8th grade respectively)
Homework: Mini-projects due Monday, Sept.12th, 2010

Click to enlarge image and to assist you in completing the 8th grade "I Am" poem

Click to enlarge image and to assist you in completing the 7th grade "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" Project (Note: don't forget to attach your picture to your essay).

Fall 2011 Parent Letter:

2011-08-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Parent/Guardians,

Welcome to Miss Brown’s Language Arts class! I hope we will have a great year together. What will we do in Language Arts this year?

Literature: We will study all types of literature. Your literature book contains a wealth of different types of writing. You will have homework and vocabulary words resulting from our study.

Writing: Writing is a life skill you will use forever. You will be given many opportunities to hone your communication skills. It is important to know and practice the different stages of the writing process, especially now that the State of Michigan is testing students on their abilities in this area. Don’t worry! You will have lots of practice. Sometimes I will choose the topic; sometimes you will choose it. Let your creativity soar! Remember, all writing must be in ink or typed.

Grammar: Grammar is an important component of your Language Arts class. We will have many activities to enhance our skills in grammar and punctuation.

Spelling/Vocabulary: You will be expected spell correctly in all of your writing. You will need to learn the meaning of vocabulary words and how to spell them.

Projects: From time to time, you will participate in group or individual projects which allow you to apply knowledge from several areas of study.

HOMEWORK! HOMEWORK!! HOMEWORK!!!

Homework Policy: If you want to pass this class, you must do your homework. Assignments are due at the beginning of the hour. Remember to do your own work in order to receive all possible points. Please, refer to the school webpage at http://kentwoodps.org/ourschools/valleywoodmiddleschool/ to view the specifics regarding our homework and grading policy at Valleywood.

Late Homework Because of Absence: SEE ME!!! If you have been absent, we will work something out. BUT SEE ME. I WILL NOT come to you.

CLASSROOM RULES: In addition to the regular school/classroom rules, as outlined in your agenda school handbook, remember the following:

ü Respect each other and all school property: do not write on desks or white board.

ü PLEASE write legibly or use a word processor.

ü Display your full effort by keeping your head up and by standing up when you speak

ü Cooperate with each other

o (No physical/verbal fighting; horseplay or other)!

ü Come to class willing and ready to be appropriate, to be prepared, and to participate

Bibliography Test Answer Key

2011-06-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

Click either image to enlarge and view more clearly...

Copied on a lined piece of paper (or print out), your bibliography test work should look like the image(s) here. Please, copy and turn in to Miss Brown by Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 at 4:15pm in order to receive full credit.

Diary of Anne Frank

2011-05-20T11:22:00.001-07:00

Diary of Anne Frank

Act I

Questions & Responses

¨1. At first, Anne is unaffected and considers the hiding place “a very peculiar summer boarding house”.

¨2. While the workers are in the building, there had to be complete quiet. There could be no noise from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. They could move only in their stockinged feet and could not speak above a whisper. They could not run any water.

¨3. Her father’s command that she must never go beyond the door of their hiding place makes Anne realize the severity of their confinement.

¨4. Margot, Anne, and Peter do school assignments under the guidance of Mr. Frank. Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Van Daan do sewing, embroidery, and prepare dinners. They all celebrate Hanukkah. The families cannot make any noise for fear of people becoming aware that they are hiding upstairs. They are never allowed to leave the attic to go outside. When a thief enters the warehouse, his noise fills everyone with fear. They think the intruder is the Green Police

¨5. Anne wants to be able to ride her bike, to laugh, to have new clothes, to have a hot bath, and to be back at school with her friends. Her nightmare was that the Green Police broke down the door and grabbed her.

¨6. Hanukkah is a time of celebration. It is a way of renewing your faith in God. Anne has managed to surprise the group by finding appropriate Hanukkah presents for each one

¨7. Peter is gentle and well mannered. He is shy and at times withdrawn. Anne is intelligent, honest, and eager for perfection. However, at times she can be difficult and temperamental. Peter impulsively rips the Star of David off his shirt and burns it. Anne has stronger feelings about what the star stands for and can’t burn it.

¨8. Margot is quiet, courteous, and distant. Anne is boisterous, self-assertive, and engaging. Their mother prefers Margot’s character to Anne’s. Anne feels she is not understood and has nothing in common with her mother.

¨9. The statement means that, even though they are virtually prisoners in the attic, they can go anywhere through books. Anne is eager for intellectual activity and Mr. Frank is a great source of intellectual stimulation for her.

¨10. Everyone is fearful that the intruder will go to the Green Police and tell of their hiding. Yet they try to renew their faith and courage by continuing to celebrate Hanukkah.

¨11. Traditions help us get through difficult times by giving people a sense of security. The idea of sharing long-established values prevents a sense of rootlessness.

¨12. Answers may vary…Yes. Students should note that Anne provides firsthand observations on the barbarism of the Nazis.

Act II

Questions & Responses

¨ 1. The people from whom Miep had gotten the ration books have been arrested, and so the refugees are particularly hungry.

¨ 2. Answers may vary…Some examples include Mr. Van Daan’s attempt to sell his wife’s fur coat, Peter’s resentment over Dussel’s remark about the boy’s lost cat, news of the workman’s blackmail of Mr. Kraler, Mrs. Van Daan’s disapproval of her son’s growing affection for Anne, and Mr. Van Daan’s theft of food.

¨ 3. News of the D-Day invasion of Normandy and expectations of imminent liberation give the group hope.

¨ Mr. Kraler tells the group that he thinks one of the workmen is trying to blackmail him and knows that there are people hiding in the attic.

¨ 4. Mrs. Frank wants to turn out the Van Daans because she discovered Mr. Van Daan stealing bread that should have gone to the children.

¨ Mrs. Frank has always been shown to be concerned about the health and well-being of the children

¨ 5. The Gestapo traces the stolen radio back to the thief, who reveals the location of the hideout to the Nazis.

¨ 6. Peter provides her with the security she craves, and now this confidence in his affection for her enables her to be less defensive with the other occupants.

¨ 7. Ulcers can be caused by stress and aggravation. Mr. Frank feels that Mr. Kraler’s ulcers were caused by constantly worrying about their safety.

¨ 8. Mr. Frank refers to the fact that living in confinement, compounded by the strain and tension of war, causes problems among people which might otherwise never occur.

¨ 9. Anne’s successful struggle to achieve courage, hope, and compassion allows her to believe that people are really good at heart.

¨ 10. The implication is that Mr. Frank has lost his faith. Reading his daughter’s entries restores his own faith in humanity.

¨ 11. Answers may vary. Like Anne in this speech, some young people think they can ignore the world’s evils and on the strength of their hopes and ideals make the world a better place.

¨ 12. Anne’s diary is an enduring testimonial to the power of courage and positivism to prevail over despair

Monday, May 16th, 2011 - Friday, May 20th, 2011

2011-05-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

7th Grade English Language Arts:

Students will be given class time to complete their final project and review for their Greek Mythology Unit Test. Details for the project will be distributed on Monday, May 17th, 2011. The project will be due on Thursday, May 19th, 2011. The test for the entire Greek Mythology unit will take place on Friday, May 20th, 2011.

8th Grade English Language Arts:

Students have been assigned to read "The Diary of Anne Frank", will view clips from the film, answer questions #1-12 on page 343 and questions #1-12 on page 369. Questions will be due on Wednesday, May 18th, 2011. Class time will be given to work on answering the questions on Monday and Tuesday, May 16th & 17th. If students need additional time to complete the questions, then they will be required to check out a Literature book from the school library and complete the questions by Wednesday, May 18th, 2011. Material will be discussed and reviewed on Wednesday and Thursday, May 18th and 19th, and the test over the reading and vocabulary of "The Diary of Anne Frank" will be Friday, May 20th, 2011.

8th Grade Advanced English Language Arts:

Students are assigned to read Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, complete the accompanying Study Guide, and perform a 10 minute segment of the play by Wednesday, June 1st, 2011.

Some Notes on Note Cards

2011-04-25T04:45:00.001-07:00

Sample Note Cards

Note cards should not include your entire speech. Rather, they are simply serving as reminders of what you are going to talk about. For example, instead of writing an entire body paragraph on a note card, just write one or two key sentences (citations included) that will help you to remember your research and main point.

Basic Sample:

Topic: Lyme disease

I. Intro.

II. Body

A. What is it? (Author Name & Page Number)

B. Where do you find it? (Website Name)

C. How do you prevent it? (Article Title & Page Number)

III. Conclusion

More Detailed Example (One Card per "Paragraph"—Introduction, Supporting Evidence 1, Supporting Evidence 2, Supporting Evidence 3, and Conclusion)

Topic: Don’t drink and drive

Card #1: Introduction

A. Describe an horrific car crash

B. You or me—it could happen

C. Introduce thesis statement: “People should not drink and drive.”

Card #2: Supporting Argument 1

A. One problem with drunk driving is that it can potentially harm innocent bystanders.

B. According to ________, ________ accidents are caused by drunk driving.

C. __________ drunk driving accidents result in death (Website Name).

D. Show visual aid (picture of mangled car)

E. Personal story

Card #3: Supporting Argument 2

A second problem with drunk driving is that getting pulled over by an officer can cost you money and add points to your license.
Receiving a DUI costs $_________ and can = ________ time in prison (Website Name).
A recent study conducted by ____________ shows that about $_______ = fines for drunk driving.
According to an interview with ____________, you can get up to _______ points on your license from a DUI.

Card #4: Supporting Argument 3

Lastly, drunk driving is completely unfair to your friends and family in the car with you. Do you really want to put their lives at risk?
In 2009, _________% of people killed by drunk drivers were passengers in the car with the intoxicated driver (Author name & page number).
In an interview I had with ________, she revealed that her cousin died because the driver of the car she was in was intoxicated.

Explain how they were close friends and how the accident happened.

Card #5: Conclusion

In summary, I believe that people should not drive while intoxicated.
Summarize three points: injury/death to innocent people on the streets, money and points on your license, and injury/death to other people in the car.
Call to action—stricter rules.

Check this site out for some examples:

http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/theaudience/upload/NOTE-CARDS.pdf

More Information About How to Write a Bibliography

2011-04-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

To Create a Citation for a Book with One Author...
1. Author's last name, then first name (put a period at the end)
2. Title of book (italicized or underlined, followed by a period)
3. City of publication (followed by a colon)
4. Name of publisher (followed by a comma)
5. Copyright date (followed by a period)

For a Book with Two Authors...
1. In alphabetical order: last name, first name of first author, and first and last name of second author (followed by a period)
2. Title of book (italicized or underlined, followed by a period)
3. City of publication (followed by a colon)
4. Name of publisher (followed by a comma)
5. Copyright date (followed by a period)

For a Book with an Editor...
1. Editor's last name, first name, and then the abbreviation Ed. (for editor)
2. Title of book
3. City of publication
4. Name of publisher
5. Copyright date

For an Encyclopedia Article...
1. Author's last name, first name (if provided)
2. Title of article (put this in quotation marks)
3. Title of encyclopedia (italicized or underlined)
4. Edition year

For a Magazine or Newspaper Article...
1. Author's last name, first name
2. Title of article
3. Name of publication (the name of the magazine or paper)
4. Day, month, and year of publication (ex: 15 Feb. 2011)
5. Page number of article

For Internet Sources...
1. Author's last name, first name (if available)
2. Title of article
3. Title of document or website name (italicized or underlined)
4. Date of publication or latest update
5. Group or organization sponsoring the site (if available)
6. Date accessed (the date you visited the site)
7. URL of the source (if the URL is long, you do not have to include it)

And For Personal Interviews...
1. The last name and first name of the person interviewed
2. Personal Interview
3. The day, month, and year of the interview

How to Write a Bibliography

2011-04-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

1. Type “Bibliography” at the top of the page and center it.

2. Double space all citations, but do not add spaces between entries. It should look like this:

Maguire, Gregory. A Lion Among Men. New York, NY: HarperCollins Books, 2008. Print.

O’Conner, Patricia T. Woe is I: A Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in

Plain English. New York, NY: Riverhead Books, 2009. Print.

3. Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations (see the Patricia O’Conner example above). This is known as a "hanging indention." To create a hanging indention, hit "Enter" and then "Tab" once you have reached the end of the first line.

4. List all sources (even the ones you didn't necessarily use in your speech) alphabetically by the author’s last name (if no author is listed but an editor’s name is provided, use the editor’s last name).

a. Do not list titles (Dr., Mr. Mrs., etc.) or degrees (MA, BA, PhD, etc.) with names

b. Last names are written first. Middle names or middle initials follow the first name.

5. Alphabetize works with unknown authors by their titles. Here’s one example:

Encyclopedia of Indiana. New York: Somerset, 1993. Print.

6. List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed. If you refer to a journal article that appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited page as 225-50.

7. For every entry, you must determine the Medium of Publication. Most entries will likely be listed as Print or Web sources, but other possibilities may include Film, CD-ROM, or DVD

8. If you're citing an article or a publication that was originally issued in print form but that you retrieved from an online database, you should type the online database name in italics.

*For More Information, Check Out OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab*

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/06/

Monday, March 28, 2011 - Thursday, March 31, 2011

2011-04-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

7th Grade English Language Arts

Students will be in the computer lab Monday through Thursday working on their final drafts of their research-based persuasive essays. They have already been provided with a rubric, and as of Tuesday, March 29th they will have an additional checklist to help them gather and organize their materials for submission. Students must have their rough drafts revised, edited, and signed by a parent or guardian before they can begin working on their final drafts. In addition, final drafts are due by the end of the day on Thursday, March 31st. All other materials (note-cards, outlines, and rough drafts) will be collected the Monday after we return from Spring Break.

8th Grade English Language Arts

Students will be in the media center Monday through Thursday conducting research for the persuasive speech they will deliver upon return from Spring Break. On Monday students were provided with a list of possible topics, as well as a list of online resources and databases for their use. As of Tuesday, students will have received a rubric for their speeches. After students have checked in their sources and notes with me, they may begin working on their outlines. We will continue working on these speeches after Spring Break, but conducting additional research and drafting speeches at home is encouraged.
8th Grade Advanced English Language
Students will be in the media center Monday through Thursday conducting research for the persuasive speech they will deliver upon return from Spring Break. On Monday students were provided with a list of possible topics, as well as a list of online resources and databases for their use. As of Tuesday, students will have received a rubric for their speeches. After students have checked in their sources and notes with me, they may begin working on their outlines. We will continue working on these speeches after Spring Break, but conducting additional research and drafting speeches at home is encouraged. There will be no SAT vocabulary test this week. However, students will be given Unit 19, Groups 3 & 4 SAT words to study over Spring Break.

Monday, March 7, 2011 - Friday, March 11, 2011

2011-04-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

7th Grade English Language Arts

Monday: No D.O.L. Today; Media Center Day; Continue Research for Ancient Greece/Ancient Rome Persuasive Essay

Homework: Continue research (don't forget to check out the public library for additional sources!) and continue working on source cards

Tuesday: Agenda; D.O.L.; Time in Lab 104; Continue Research for Persuasive Essay

Homework: Continue research and source cards

Wednesday: Agenda; D.O.L.; Media Center Day; Continue Research for Persuasive Essay

Homework: Continue research and source cards

Thursday: Agenda; D.O.L.; Media Center Day; Continue Research for Persuasive Essay

Homework: Continue research and source cards

Friday: Agenda; D.O.L.; Review Plagiarism and Proper Citation; Watch Video Clip about Ancient Greece
Homework: Continue research and source cards

8th Grade English Language Arts
Monday: No D.O.L. Today; Review Placement and Function of Commas
Homework: Complete all comma exercises in pink packet, including "comma conventions"
Tuesday: D.O.L.; Answer Questions About Comma Exercises; Review Placement and Function of Periods
Homework: Complete all period exercises in pink packet
Wednesday: D.O.L.; Answer Questions About Period Exercises; Review Quotation Marks
Homework: Complete all quotation mark exercises in pink packet
Thursday: D.O.L.; Answer Questions About Quotation Marks; Review Exclamation Points and Question Marks
Homework: Complete the question mark and exclamation point exercises in pink packet
Friday: D.O.L.; Answer Questions About Exclamation Points and Question Marks; Review Semicolons
Homework: Complete both semicolon exercises in pink packet

8th Grade Advanced English Language Arts
Monday: No D.O.L. Today; Continue Working on Comma Exercises in Pink Packet; Pass Out Unit 18 SAT Vocabulary Words
Homework: Study vocabulary words (Units 17 and 18)
Tuesday: D.O.L.; Take Unit 17 SAT Vocabulary Test
Homework: Begin writing vocabulary short stories (Due Friday); study vocabulary words
Wednesday: D.O.L.; Answer Questions About Colons, Brackets, and Parentheses; Review Placement and Functions of Commas
Homework: Complete all comma exercises in pink packet, including "comma conventions"; study vocabulary words; continue working on short stories
Thursday: D.O.L.; Answer Questions About Commas; Review Placement and Functions of Periods; "Soup" Review Game
Homework: Complete period exercises in pink packet and begin quotation marks exercises; finish short story (Due tomorrow!); study vocabulary words
Friday: No D.O.L. Today; Answer Questions About Periods and Quotation Marks; Collect Short Stories; Take Vocabulary Test
Homework: Study Unit 18 (Groups 3 and 4) vocabulary words; begin exclamation points and question marks exercises in pink packet

Monday, February 7, 2001 - Friday, February 11, 2011

2011-04-25T04:38:00.000-07:00

7th Grade English Language Arts
Students will continue discussing and practicing various elements of poetry, as well as reviewing for the upcoming Poetry Unit test next week. This week we will finish our discussion of figurative language with a review of personification and will begin examining different forms of poetry. By Friday we will have covered limerick poetry and the haiku.
8th Grade English Language Arts
On Monday students will take exams focusing on the novels they have covered in their literature circles. Students will also begin the Grammar Unit, which will start with a study of appositives, hyphens, and dashes. Throughout this unit students will be expected to produce their own works of creative writing that focus on the different grammar lessons covered in class. More details about these assignments will follow.
8th Grade Advanced English Language Arts
The students will finish reading and take the test on John Steinbeck's "The Pearl." In addition, students will begin a short Grammar Unit in order to prepare them for their persuasive writing project and their study of Shakespeare. Students are expected to continue studying their weekly SAT words and to prepare for the SAT vocabulary tests each Friday. More details about the Grammar Unit assignments will follow.

February 2011 - April 2011

2011-02-25T07:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents/Guardians,

From February 1st, 2011 to April 12th, 2011, there will be a Grand Valley State University student teacher, Miss Kristyn Konal, teaching all of Miss Brown's 7th, 8th, and Advanced 8th grade English Language Arts classes. The same rules and regulations apply under the instruction of Miss Konal as they have for the students the entire academic year. To keep up with what's happening in the class on a daily basis, please click the following link to Miss Konal's Blog.

Thanks You,
Miss Brown

Miss Konal's Blog Link:
http://misskonalela.blogspot.com

Mon., January 3rd, 2011 - Mon., January 31st, 2011

2011-01-11T04:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back!

7th grade English Language Arts:
Students are finishing reading, discussing, and correcting the follow-up assignment with Rudyard Kipling's "Rikki Tikki Tavi" short story, and upon it's completion will move into their Poetry Unit. (Major assignments and project due dates pertaining to the Poetry Unit will be posted soon.)

8th grade English Language Arts:
For the month of January the students will be expected to read, discuss, complete assignments, and a project for the book they are reading with their Literature Circle group. Each group consists of 4-5 students and will meet daily, in class, to discuss their assigned readings and assignments. When students finish their books, they are to complete their final project. The novels, reading assignments, and final project are all due at the end of the month (Monday, January 31st, 2011). For homework, expect your students to be reading daily and completing a page from their green packet.

8th grade Advanced English Language Arts:
The students are reading John Steinbeck's "The Pearl", completing reading response questions and class dicussions with the novel. In addition to their readings and response questions, students are expected to be studying their weekly SAT vocabulary words. Test will be every Friday and new SAT Vocabulary words will also be distributed every Friday for the remainder of the year. (Additional assignments, projects, and due dates for this month will be posted soon.)

Monday, Dec.13th, 2010 - Friday, Dec.17th, 2010

2010-12-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., & Review Elements of Fiction
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., & Identify Elements of Fiction in Silver Blaze
Homework: No Homework
Wednesday: Agenda, D.O.L., & Practice Identifying Elements of Fiction in Mystery Stories
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Agenda, D.O.L., & Practice Identifying Elements of Fiction in Mystery Stories
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Agenda, D.O.L., & Complete 2nd Quarter Assessment
Homework: No Homework

8th Grade ELA & AELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., Begin writing "Respecting Differences" Essay
Homework: Continue writing "Respecting Differences" Essay...due 12/15/10
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue writing "Respecting Differences" Essay
Homework: "Respecting Differences" Essay...due 12/15/10
Wednesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Finish writing "Respecting Differences" Essay, and begin veiwing "Charly"
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Continue viewing Daniel Keyes' "Charly"
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Finish viewing Daniel Keyes' "Charly"
Homework: No Homework

Monday, Dec.6th, 2010 - Friday, Dec.10th, 2010

2010-12-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Play Performance...12/10/10
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Play Performance...12/10/10
Wednesday: 1/2 Day of School...Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Play Performance 12/10/10
Thursday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Play Performance...12/10/10
Friday: Perform Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: No Homework

8th Grade ELA & AELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., Finish reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon", & complete reading assignment (page 223: #1-12, 1-4, and 1-3)
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Assignment (page 223: #1-12, 1-4, and 1-3)...due 12/9/10 & Study for Test...12/10/10
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Finish reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon", & complete reading assignment (page 223: #1-12, 1-4, and 1-3)
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Assignment (page 223: #1-12, 1-4, and 1-3)...due Thursday 12/9/10 & Study for Test...12/10/10
Wednesday: 1/2 Day of School, complete Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon" Assignment
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Assignment (page 223: #1-12, 1-4, and 1-3)...due Thursday 12/9/10 & Study for Test...12/10/10
Thursday: Agenda, D.O.L., Correct Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon" reading assignment
Homework: Study for Flowers for Algernon Test...12/10/10
Friday: Agenda, D.O.L. Pop Quiz, Collect reading assignment, Take Test, Read Assessment Assignment and Write Sourc pages 199-204 and 214-217
Homework: No Homework

Monday, Nov.29th, 2010 - Friday, Dec.3rd, 2010

2010-11-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Wednesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Thursday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Friday: Study & Take Vocabulary Test, Perform Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: No Homework

8th Grade ELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., Vocabulary Practice, Continue reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Vocabulary Practice, Continue reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Wednesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Vocabulary Practice, Continue reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Thursday: Agenda, D.O.L., Vocabulary Practice, Continue reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Friday: Agenda, D.O.L. Pop Quiz, Study & Take Vocabulary Test, Continue Guided reading of "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Complete Guided Reading worksheet...due Monday 12/6/10

8th Grade Advanced ELA
Advanced ELA will be completing their book study using a Computer Learning System called Moodle. They will have the entire month of November to complete the book and online assignments. Students can complete their work at school and also at home at the following link: http://moodle.remc8.k12.mi.us/login/index.php. Feel free to monitor your students progress (all you will need is your son/daughter's user name and/or password).

Monday, Nov.22nd, 2010 - Friday, Nov.26th, 2010

2010-11-30T04:56:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., Begin rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Wednesday: Half Day of School...Continue rehearsing Doyle's "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Thursday: Thanksgiving Break...No School!
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Friday: Thanksgiving Break...No School!
Homework: Silver Blaze Vocabulary Test...12/3/10

8th Grade ELA
Monday: Agenda, D.O.L., Begin reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Tuesday: Agenda, D.O.L., Continue reading Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test 12/3/10
Wednesday: Half Day of School...Review Grades
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Thursday: Thanksgiving Break...No School!
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test...12/3/10
Friday: Thanksgiving Break...No School!
Homework: Flowers for Algernon Vocabulary Test...12/3/10

8th Grade Advanced ELA
Advanced ELA will be completing their book study using a Computer Learning System called Moodle. They will have the entire month of November to complete the book and online assignments. Students can complete their work at school and also at home at the following link: http://moodle.remc8.k12.mi.us/login/index.php. Feel free to monitor your students progress (all you will need is your son/daughter's user name and/or password).

Monday, Nov.15th, 2010 - Friday, Nov. 19th, 2010

2010-11-17T03:49:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: D.O.L., Agenda, Continue viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms
Tuesday: D.O.L., Agenda, Finish viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms...Conferences 4pm-8pm
Wednesday: 1/2 Day of School (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Hours Only!)
D.O.L., Agenda, Review & Take Quiz on "Ten Little Indians", Study & Take Mystery Vocabulary Test
Homework: No Homework...Conferences 12pm-8pm
Thursday: 1/2 Day of School (4th, 5th, and 6th Hours Only!)
No class for 7th Grade ELA
Homework: No Homework...No Conferences
Friday: 1/2 Day of School (All Hours Meet!)
D.O.L., Agenda, Review Social Contract, Grades, and Missing Assignments
Homework: No Homework...No Conferences

8th Grade ELA
Monday: D.O.L., Agenda, Collect Comic Strip assignment, Begin viewing Wells' "War of the Worlds" movie
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: D.O.L., Agenda, Continue viewing Wells' "War of the Worlds"
Homework: No Homework...Conferences 4pm-8pm
Wednesday: 1/2 Day of School (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Hours Only!!!)
D.O.L., Agenda, Study & Re-take Science Fiction Test, and Review Social Contract, Grades, and Missing Assignments
Homework: No Homework...Conferences 12pm-8pm
Thursday: 1/2 Day of School (4th, 5th, and 6th Hours Only!!!)
D.O.L., Agenda, Study & Re-Take Science Fiction Test, and Review Social Contract, Grades, and Missing Assignments
Homework: No Homework...No Conferences
Friday: 1/2 Day of School (All Hours!!!)
Library Visit
Homework: No Homework...No Conferences

8th Grade Advanced ELA
Advanced ELA will be completing their book study using a Computer Learning System called Moodle. They will have the entire month of November to complete the book and online assignments. Students can complete their work at school and also at home at the following link: http://moodle.remc8.k12.mi.us/login/index.php. Feel free to monitor your students progress (all you will need is your son/daughter's user name and/or password).

Monday, Nov. 8th, 2010 - Friday, Nov. 12th, 2010

2010-11-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: D.O.L., Agenda, Read and Discuss "About Mysteries" and "Biography of Agatha Christie" Handouts, Begin viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms
Tuesday: D.O.L., Agenda, Continue viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms
Wednesday: No class...students go on Science Fair/Griffins Field
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms
Thursday: Guidance Counselors' Classroom Visit
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms
Friday: Guidance Counselors' Classroom Visit
Homework: Study Mystery Vocabulary Terms

8th Grade ELA
Monday: D.O.L., Agenda, Collect Comic Strip assignment, Begin viewing Wells' "War of the Worlds" movie
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: D.O.L., Agenda, Continue viewing Wells' "War of the Worlds"
Homework: No Homework
Wednesday: D.O.L., Agenda, Science Fiction Pop Quiz, and Continue viewing Wells' "War of the Worlds"
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Finish Viewing Wells' "War of the Worlds" and complete Plot Diagram
Homework: Complete Plot Diagram
Friday: D.O.L., Agenda, Discuss and Collect Plot and Venn Diagrams for Radio Broadcast and Film "War of the Worlds"
Homework: No Homework

8th Grade Advanced ELA
Advanced ELA will be completing their book study using a Computer Learning System called Moodle. They will have the entire month of November to complete the book and online assignments. Students can complete their work at school and also at home at the following link: http://moodle.remc8.k12.mi.us/login/index.php. Feel free to monitor your students progress (all you will need is your son/daughter's user name and/or password).

Monday, Nov. 1st, 2010 - Friday, Nov. 5th, 2010

2010-11-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Journal, Agenda, Complete Assessment, and Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Tuesday: Journal, Agenda, Listen to Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes Speckled Band" Radio Broadcast, Complete Assessment, and Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Wednesday: Journal, Agenda, Finish listening to Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes Speckled Band" Radio Broadcast, Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Thursday: Journal, Agenda, Begin viewing Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes Speckled Band" short film, and Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Friday: Journal, Agenda, Finish viewing Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes Speckled Band" short film, and finish working on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010

8th Grade ELA
Monday: Journal, Agenda, Complete Assessment, and Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Tuesday: Journal, Agenda, Complete Assessment, and Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Wednesday: Journal, Agenda, Begin listening to Wells' "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast, and Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Thursday: Journal, Agenda, Continue listening to Wells' "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast, and Continue to work on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010
Friday: Journal, Agenda, Finish listening to Wells' "War of the Worlds" Radio Broadcast, and Finish working on Comic Strip
Homework: Comic Strip...due Nov. 8th, 2010

8th Grade Advanced ELA
Advanced ELA will be completing their book study using a Computer Learning System called Moodle. They will have the entire month of November to complete the book and online assignments. Students can complete their work at school and also at home at the following link: http://moodle.remc8.k12.mi.us/login/index.php. Feel free to monitor your students progress (all you will need is your son/daughter's user name and/or password).

Monday, Oct.25th, 2010 - Friday, Oct.29th, 2010

2010-11-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Journal, Agenda, Read and Discuss Social Contract & Classroom Expectations
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: No School do to Extreme Weather
Homework: No Homework
Wednesday: Journal, Agenda, View & Discuss Edgar Allen Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart", Explain "Mystery Comic Strip" Project
Homework: Comic Strip...due Monday, Nov. 8th, 2010
Thursday: Journal, Agenda, Begin 1st Quater District Assessment ("Personal Narrative Writing")
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Half Day of School --> Finish 1st Quarter District Assessment
Homework: Comic Strip...due Monday, Nov. 8th, 2010

8th Grade/Advanced ELA
Monday: Journal, Agenda, Read and Discuss Social Contract & Classroom Expectations
Homework: Finish "Crime on Mars" Vocabulary and Mechanics Worksheet
Tuesday: Journal, Agenda, Discuss and Collect "Crime on Mars" Vocabulary and Mechanics Worksheet, Explain and Practice "Interactive Grammar"
Homework: No Homework
Wednesday: Journal, Agenda, Discuss and Begin "Science Fiction Comic Strip" Project
Homework: Comic Strip...due Monday, Nov. 8th, 2010
Thursday: Journal, Agenda, Begin 1st Quarter Assessment ("Constructed Response" Essay)
Homework: Comic Strip...due Monday, Nov. 8th, 2010
Friday: Half Day of School --> Finish 1st Quarter District Assessment
Homework: Comic Strip...due Monday, Nov. 8th, 2010

Week of Monday, Oct.18th, 2010 - Friday, Oct. 22nd, 2010

2010-10-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

8th Grade ELA & AELA
Monday: Journal, Agenda, and begin reading Clarke's "Crime on Mars"
Homework: Eat & Sleep for MEAP!
Tuesday: No Journal or Agenda, continue reading Clarke's "Crime on Mars"
Homework: Eat & Sleep for MEAP!
Wednesday: No Journal or Agenda, complete all questions; except "Thinking and Writing" on page 143...Use Complete Sentences!!!
Homework: Answer all questions; except "Thinking & Writing", on page 143- Due Thursday 10/21
Thursday: Journal, Agenda, Good News, Discuss, Correct, and Collect questions on page 143
Homework: Complete homework worksheet- Due Friday 10/22
Friday: Journal, Agenda, Good News, Correct & Collect homework worksheet, Take "Crime on Mars" Pop Quiz
Homework: No Homework

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Journal, Agenda, Good News, and Begin sharing Scary Stories
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!!!
Tuesday: No Journal or Agenda, Share Good News, and Continue sharing Scary Stories
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!!!
Wednesday: No Journal or Agenda, Share Good News, and Finish sharing Scary Stories
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Continue to Discuss Poe's "Tell Tale Heart"
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Compare and Contrast different "Tell Tale Heart" Parodies
Homework: No Homework

Monday, Oct. 11th, 2010 - Friday, Oct. 15th, 2010

2010-10-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

8th & Advanced 8th Grade ELA
Monday: Journal and Agenda, Begin read Isaac Asimov's "Rain, Rain, Go Away" pages 12-19
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP
Tuesday: No Journal or Agenda, Finish reading Isaac Asimov's "Rain, Rain, Go Away" pages 12-19 and begin asnwering Think About the Selection, Analyzing Literature, and Critical Thinking and Reading Questions on page 19.
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP
Wednesday: No Journal, Agenda Check, Continue Thinking About the Selection, Analyzing Literature, and Critical Thinking and Reading Questions on page 19.
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP
Thursday: No Journal or Agenda, Discuss and Correct Reading Selection Questions
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Agneda & Story Time, Concluding "Rain, Rain, Go Away" Activity
Homework: No Homework

7th Grade ELA
Monday: Journal, Agenda, Begin Scary Stories
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!
Tuesday: No Journal or Agenda, Continue writing Scary Stories
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!
Wednesday: No Journal, Agenda Check, Continue writing Scary Stories, Peer Evaluate Stories
Homework: Eat & Rest for MEAP!
Thursday: No Journal or Agenda, Continue writing Scary Stories, Peer Evaluate Stories
Homework: No Homework
Friday: No Journal, Story Time & Agenda, Finish Scary Stories and Peer Evaluations
Homework: Finish Scary Story...due Monday 10/18/10

Monday, Oct.4th, 2010 - Friday, Oct.8th, 2010

2010-10-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

Monday: Journal/Agenda, Vocabulary Test, Complete Genre Stories
Homework: Complete & Study Vocabulary Word Search...Due Friday
Tuesday: Journal/Agenda, Share Genre Stories
Homework: Complete & Study Vocabulary Word Search...Due Friday
Wednesday: Journal/Agenda, Genre Quiz
Homework: Complete & Study Vocabulary Word Search...Due Friday
Thursday: Journal/Agenda, Continue MEAP Review with Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words
Homework: Complete & Study Vocabulary Word Search...Due Friday
Friday: Journal/Agenda, Vocabulary Test, Library Visit
Homework: No Homework

Monday, September 27, 2010 - Friday, October 1, 2010

2010-09-29T08:42:00.001-07:00

Monday: Journal, Agendas, Continue MEAP Reveiw...Leads and Endings
Homework: Complete and study Vocubulary Crossword...due Friday
Tuesday: Journals, Agendas, Continue MEAP Reveiw...Leads and Endings Power Point
Homework: Complete and study Vocabulary Crossword...due Friday
Wednesday: Journal, Agendas, Continue MEAP Review...Genres
Homework: Complete and study Vocabulary Crossword...due Friday
Complete writing Genre Stories...due Monday
Thursday: Journal, Agendas, Continue MEAP Review...Genres
Homework: Complete and study Vocabulary Crossword...due Friday
Complete writing Genre Stories...due Monday
Friday: No Journals, Agendas, Story Time/Genre Pop Quiz
Homework: Complete writing Genre Stories...due Monday

Monday, Sept.20th, 2010 - Friday, Sept.24th, 2010

2010-09-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

Monday: Journal, Agenda, and Continue MEAP Review with Article 2 in Test Taking Strategies
Tuesday: Journal, Agenda, and Continue MEAP Review with Article 3 in Test Taking Strategies
Wednesday: Journal, Agenda, and Continue MEAP Review Pop Quiz over the 3 articles
Thursday: Journal, Agenda, and Continue MEAP Review with Reviewing in Leads
Friday: Journal, Agenda, and Continue MEAP Review with additional Review in Leads

Monday, Sept.13th, 2010 - Friday, Sept.17th, 2010

2010-09-21T04:40:00.000-07:00

Monday: SRI testing
Tuesday: SRI testing, Library Visit, & Book Check Out
Wednesday: Journals, Agendas, Create Social Contracts
Thursday: Journals, Agendas, Discuss SRI/Lexile Scores & Complete Arrow Handout
Friday: Begin MEAP Review with Article 1 of Test Taking Strategies

Tuesday, Sept. 6th - Friday, Sept.9th, 2011

2010-09-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Tuesday: Introductions, Review Parent Letter & Name Game
Homework: None

Wednesday: Finish Name Game; Assign "I Am" Poem Mini-Project (8th grade)/"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" Essay Mini-Project (7th grade)

Thursday: Class time provided to work on mini-projects (7th/8th grade respectively)

Friday: Final class day to work on mini-projects (7th/8th grade respectively)
Homework: Mini-projects due Monday, Sept.12th, 2010

Week of Monday, May 24th - Friday, June 11th, 2010

2010-05-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

This week, 8th grade English Language Art's students will finish up the remaining pages of their grammar packet, review for their Grammar Test, and re-take their Grammar Assessment the Tuesday that they return from Memorial Day Break. Please, encourage your son/daughter to study their grammar pages and any notes they take during the review.

In the last few weeks of school, the students will shift their focus to adequately preparing for their future. They will be drilled on investigating and contemplating their plans for their future, their knowledge of collegiate jargon, high school requirements, and more.

This week, 8th grade Advanced English Language Art's students will finish veiwing Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", work on answering their reveiw questions and take their test on Friday. Please, encourage your son/daughter to continue to always be diligently studying their weekly S.A.T. vocabulary words.

In the last few weeks of school, the students will complete a brienf Grammar review, take their Grammar Assessment, and finish with their last round of S.A.T. vocabulary words

For the month of April...

2010-04-22T03:33:00.000-07:00

Upon returning from Spring Break, students completed a short Grammar Review and "How to Create a Bibliogrpahy" Review with supplimental tests to evaluate their progress. This week, and until the end of April, students will be analyzing the characteristics of the dramayic reading of the Diary of Anne Frank. Students will improv Act 1 Scene 1 and then view and discuss the remainder of the play prior to follow up testing and assessment.
Honor Students will be reading, acting out, and analyzing Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream along with continuously learning and taking their weekly SAT vocabulary test. Expect that they will be completing worksheets on the different acts of the play and studying their vocabulary for daily homework for the remainder of this month.

Wednesday, March 4th, 2010 - Friday, March 26th, 2010

2010-03-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

This month in Miss Brown's 8th grade English Language Arts and Advanced Language Art's class, students will choose a topic to research; controversial topics and desired careers respectively. Students will spend three days conducting research in the library/computer lab. Thereafter, the students will organize their facts (at least 30 from 3 different types of sourches) and compose a rough draft that they will then have a peer evaluate. Students will incorporate the necessary suggestions and corrections as they type their final draft of their paper. Students will then create a persuasive speech from the information that they were able to gather and from the paper written. Their speeches will need to be informative, persuasive, entertaining and incorporate a visual aid. Students will be conducting presenting their speeches the last week of the 3rd marking period (March 24th - 26th).

Week of Feb. 8th - Feb.12th, 2010

2010-02-08T03:31:00.000-08:00

This week (and for the remainder of the month of February) in Miss Brown's class, students will continue to read and discuss their chosen book within their literature circles. Students are expected to complete their reading and predetermined worksheet within their green packet each night in order to be properly prepared for the following day's discussion and possible "Pop Quiz". Please, double check that your son/daughter is completing their reading and worksheets at home accordingly.

Week of Jan. 25th to Jan 29th, 2010

2010-01-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

Monday: Complete Library Research Mini-Project and Correct and Collect Grammar Worksheets
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Continue Grammar Review with Adjectives
Homework: Finish Adjective Worksheets
After School Tutoring: Review for the Grammar Test
Wednesday: Correct & Collect Adjective Grammar Worksheet and Review Note Taking Skills
Homework: Begin Studying for Grammar Test
Thursday: Class Review for Grammar Test
Homework: Study for Grammar Test
Friday: Take Grammar Test and Prepare for Literature Circle Unit
Homework: Bring book for Literature Circles

Week of Jan.18th to Jan.22nd, 2010

2010-01-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

Monday: No School...Martin Luther King Day
Homework: Complete 2 Adverb worksheets
Tuesday: Continue Grammar Review with Prepositions
Homework: Complete Prepositions Worksheets
Wednesday: Correct & Collect Prepositions worksheet, Continue Grammar Review with Verbs
Homework: Complete Verbs Worksheets by Tuesday, January 25th, 2010
Thursday: Begin Library Research Mini-Project
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Continue Library Research Mini-Project
Homework: No Homework

Week of Jan.11th to Jan.15th, 2010

2010-01-12T02:12:00.000-08:00

Monday: Correct and Collect Interjections, Begin Complete Sentences with Subject and Predicates
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Review Complete Sentences, Review Pronouns and Nouns
Homework: Complete Pronouns and Nouns worksheets
Wednesday: Correct and Collect Pronoun and Noun worksheets and Review Lexile Scores
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Library Visit
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Review Adjectives
Homework: Complete Adjective Worksheets

Week of Jan.4th to Jan. 8th, 2010

2010-01-12T02:02:00.000-08:00

Monday: Turn in Respecting Difference Essay (late), Review Improved Homework Policy, Review Social Contract, and Explain Spelling Bee
Homework: Study for Spelling Bee
Tuesday: Begin Grammar Review with Conjunctions (Subordinate, Coordinating, and Correlative)
Homework: Study for Spelling Bee and Complete 3 Conjunction Worksheets
Wednesday: Correct and Collect Conjunction Worksheets and Begin Interjections
Homework: Study for Spelling Bee and Complete Interjection Worksheet
Thursday: SRI Testing
Homework: Study for Spelling Bee and complete Interjection Worksheet
Friday: Spelling Bee
Homework: Complete Interjection Worksheet

Week of Dec. 14th - Dec. 18th, 2009

2009-12-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

Monday: Begin "Respecting Differences" Essay
Homework: Complete "Respecting Differences" Rough Draft
Tuesday: Complete Peer Edit Evaluation, Literature & Library Book Check, Begin typing "Respecting Differences" Essay
Homework: Continue "Respecting Differences" Essay
Wednesday: Finish typing "Respecting Differences" Essay & Begin viewing "Charly"
Homework: Finish Final of "Respecting Differences" Essay...Due Tomorrow!
Thursday: Turn in "Respecting Differences" Essay & Continue viewing "Charly"
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Finish viewing "Charly" and participate in Diversity Day!
Homework: No Homework. Enjoy the Holidays!!!

Week of Dec. 4th - Dec. 11th, 2009

2009-12-14T11:40:00.000-08:00

Monday: Continue reading "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Finish reading and discussing "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: Finish reading "Flowers for Algernon"
Wednesday: Silent work day
Homework: Complete questions #1-12 and #1-4 on page 223
Thursday: Snow Day! No School!
Homework: Complete questions #1-12 and #1-4 on page 223
Friday: Correct and Collect "Flowers for Algernon" questions #1-12 & #1-4 on page 223
Homework: No Homework

Week of Nov. 30th to Dec. 4th, 2009

2009-12-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

Monday: Begin Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: No Journals, Silently read "Flowers for Algernon" pages 201-210 and create Vocabulary Flashcards (words on page 200)
Homework: Finish class work
Wednesday: Journals, Discuss SRI score, New Academic Policy, and Social Contract, Reading Pop-Quiz
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Journals, Read "Flowers for Algernon" pages 210-215
Homework: Get Letter Signed & Study for Vocabulary
Friday: No Journals, Discuss SRI scores and Lexile levels, Visit library
Homework: Get Letter Signed & Study for Vocabulary

Improved Academic Policy

2009-12-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Parent/Guardian,
In order to help support academic excellence, students that have a grade of “C-“ or below, that have missing or late assignments, and/or have been producing unsatisfactory work will be required to stay after school on Tuesdays from 3:15pm-4:15pm. The students that stay after may either coordinate their own individual transportation from school or may take the activity bus home at 4:15pm. If students fit any of the above mentioned stipulations, attendance on Tuesdays from 3:15pm- 4:15pm is mandatory until their grade and work adequately meets academic expectations and requirements.
Please sign and return the bottom portion of the letter that was sent home with your son/daughter on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009, to verify that you and your 8th grader have read, and fully understand, this policy that your son/daughter will be held accountable to uphold. Returning this sheet of paper will account for one homework grade for your son/daughter. Thank you for continuing to take an active and supportive role in your child’s education; it is truly appreciated.

Thanks,
Miss Brown

P.S.:

Any student unable to serve 3:15pm - 4:15pm may make pre-arrangements to serve their time from 7:00am - 8:00am on any Tuesday.

Interactive Calendar: Click to the date you wish to view.

2009-12-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

Week of Nov. 30th to Dec. 4th, 2009

2009-12-04T01:02:00.000-08:00

Monday: Begin Short Story Unit with Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon"
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Read pages 202-210 of "Flowers for Algernon" and complete Vocabulary Flashcards
Homework: Complete unfinished in class work
Wednesday: Discuss improved school policies, check Flashcards, "Flowers for Algernon" Pop Quiz
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Read pages 210-215 of "Flowers for Algernon" and discuss
Homework: Get letter signed by parent and study flashcards
Friday:
Homework: Continue to study Vocabulary words

2nd Marking Period Extra Credit Opportunities...

2009-11-24T04:06:00.000-08:00

1. Complete a pre-approved Book Report Project (will be available starting Monday, Nov. 30th, 2009)
2. Attend a culturally enriching performance (i.e.; play, theatre, opera, symphony, etc.) and bring Miss Brown a parent-signed program from the event
3. Bring in an inspiring or motivational quote to share as a launch at the end of class

Stay posted! Additional extra credit opportunities coming soon...

Week of Nov. 23rd - Nov. 27th, 2009

2009-11-24T04:01:00.000-08:00

Monday: Last Day of Sherlock Holmes "Silver Blaze" Play Rehearsal
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Perform Sherlock Holmes "Silver Blaze" Play
Homework: No Homework
Wednesday: School wide "Diversity Day" (Half Day of school)
Homework: No Homework
Thursday: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
Homework: No Homework

Technology Survey

2009-11-20T02:59:00.000-08:00

Click Here to take survey

Week of Nov. 16th- Nov.20th, 2009

2009-11-16T04:28:00.000-08:00

Monday: Begin Sherlock Holmes "Silver Blaze" Play Project
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Continue "Silver Blaze" Play Rehearsal
Homework: No homework
Attend Parent/Teacher Conferences...3:30pm-7:30pm
Wednesday: Continue "Silver Blaze" Play Rehearsal (1, 2, and 3 Hours Only)
Homework: No Homework
Attend Parent/Teacher Conferences...12:30-3:00 & 5:00-7:30pm
Thursday: Continue "Silver Blaze" Play Rehearsal (4, 5, 6 Hours Only)
Homework: No Homework
No Conferences Today!
Friday: Library Book Checkout
Homework: No Homework
No Conferences Today!

Week of Nov. 9th- Nov.13th, 2009

2009-11-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

Monday: Review Mystery Unit and Begin discussing Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes
Homework: Study for Test...Due 11/13
Work on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16
Tuesday: Listen to Radio recording of Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes Speckled Band"
Homework: Study for Test...Due 11/13
Work on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16
Complete Questions #1-13 on page 45...Friday 11/13
Wednesday:Silent In-class Work Day...Study for Test, Complete Sherlock Holmes Questions, and Work on Comic Strip Project
Homework: Study for Test...Due 11/13
Work on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16
Complete Questions #1-13 on page 45...Friday 11/13
Thursday: Silent In-class Work Day...Study for Test, Complete Sherlock Holmes Questions, and Work on Comic Strip Project
Homework: Study for Test...Due 11/13
Work on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16
Complete Questions #1-13 on page 45...Friday 11/13
Friday: Study and Take Vocabulary Test, Review and Turn-in Sherlock Holmes Questions
Homework: Finish Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16 (Rough Draft, Final Draft, and parent signed Peer Evaluation)

Week of Nov. 2nd- Nov.6th, 2009

2009-11-16T04:05:00.000-08:00

Monday: Explain and begin Comic Strip Project, Begin study of Agatha Christie
Homework: Work on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16
Vocabulary Test....Friday, Nov. 13th, 2009
Tuesday: Begin viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and take notes
Homework: Continue working on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16
Vocabulary Test...Friday, Nov. 13th, 2009
Wednesday: Continue viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and take notes
Homework: Continue working on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/16
Vocabulary Test...Friday, Nov. 13th, 2009
Thursday: Finish viewing Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and take Quiz
Homework: Complete take-home Quiz...Due Friday, Nov. 9th, 2009
Continue working on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/6
Vocabulary Test...Friday, Nov. 13th, 2009
Friday: Review Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root words
Homework: Continue working on Comic Strip Project...Due Monday 11/6
Vocabulary Test...Friday, Nov. 13th, 2009

Week of Oct.26th to Oct.30th

2009-10-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Monday: Discuss and Turn In Questions #1-10 on page 19. Begin Part 1 of State Assessment "Thank You, M'am"
Homework: No Homework
Tuesday: Finish Part 2 of State Assessment "Thank You, M'am" and fnish sharing Scary Stories
Homework: No Homework
Wednesday: View and work in groups to complete questions on Poe's "The Raven"
Homework: Finish questions on "The Raven"
Thursday: Discuss and turn in questions on "The Raven", View Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart"
Homework: No Homework
Friday: Grammar and Genre Friday
Homework: Grammar Homework

Week of Oct.19th to Oct.23rd

2009-10-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Monday: Begin sharing Scary Stories
Homework: Sleep and Eat well for MEAP and Complete questions #1-11 and #1-3 on page 149...due Wed. 10/21/09
Tuesday: Continue MEAP Testing and Continue sharing Scary Stories
Homework: Complete questions #1-11 and #1-3 on page 149 due tomorrow
Wednesday: Discuss and collect Poe Questions
Homework: No Homework...Sleep and Eat well for MEAP Testing
Thursday: Continue MEAP Testing and Continue sharing Scary Stories
Homework: Study for Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart" reading selection Test
Friday: Take "Tell-Tale Heart" Test then Read and answer questions to "Rain, Rain, Go Away!"
Homework: Complete "Rain, Rain, Go Away!" questions #1-10 on page 19

Week of Oct.12th to Oct. 16th

2009-10-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

Monday: MEAP Week!!! No New Vocabulary Terms Assigned, Introduce Interactive Grammar, Explain 6+1 Traits of Writing, Explain Scary Story Writing Assignment
Homework: Sleep and Eat well for MEAP Testing
Tuesday: MEAP Testing Begins today. Work on Brainstorm and Rough Draft of Story
Homework: No Homework
Wednesday: Discuss creating Mood and Atmosphere with Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart" and Continue work on Brainstorm and Rough Draft of Story Scary
Homework: Sleep and Eat well for MEAP Testing
Thursday: Continue MEAP Testing and Discuss "punctuating dialogue"
Homework: No Homoework
Friday: Complete Brainstorm, Rough Draft, and Peer Evaluation of Scary Story
Homework: Complete Brainstorm, Rough draft, Peer Evaluation, and Final copy of Scary Story...Due Monday, October 19th

Week of Oct.5th to Oct.9th

2009-10-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

Monday: New Vocabulary Terms Assigned, Continue MEAP Preparation with Genre Wheel group mini-project
Homework: Complete crossword puzzle and Extra Credit Wordsearch and study for Vocabulary Review Test...Fri., 10/9/2009
Tuesday: Continue MEAP Preparation with Genre Wheel group mini-project
Homework: Complete crossword puzzle and Extra Credit Wordsearch and study for Vocabulary Review Test...
Wednesday: Finish and share MEAP Preparation with group Genre Wheel mini-project
Homework: Complete Crossword puzzle and Extra Credit Wordsearch and study for Vocabulary Review Test...
Thursday: Continue MEAP Preparation with a Genre Pop Quiz
Homework: Complete Crossword puzzle and Extra Credit Wordsearch and study for Vocabulary Review Test...Due Tomorrow!!!
Friday: Study, Complete, Hand-in, & Take Review Vocabulary Test
Homework: No Homework

Week of Sept.28th to Oct.2nd

2009-10-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

Monday: New Vocabulary Terms Assigned, Continue MEAP Preparation with reviewing Literary Devices
Homework: Complete both word puzzles and study for Vocabulary Test...Fri., 10/2/2009
Tuesday: Create a 1-page Journal Entry using an "Interesting Lead" and a "Conclusive Ending" and visit the Library
Homework: Complete word puzzles and study for Vocabulary Test...
Wednesday: Continue MEAP Preparation with reviewing Literary Devices
Homework: Complete word puzzle and stduy for Vocabulary Test...
Thursday: Collect Journals, Take Figurative Language Test, and begin Genre mini-project
Homework: Complete word puzzle and study for Vocabulary Test...Due Tomorrow!!!
Friday: Study, Complete, Hand-in, & Take Vocabulary Test, Kick Ball Game MSU vs. UofM
Homework: No Homework

Week of Sept. 21st- Sept.25th, 2009

2009-09-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Monday: Assign New Vocabulary Terms. Continue MEAP Preparation in reading, creating a Plot Diagram, and Summarizing the reading selection; "The Daisy"
Homework: Complete reading, answering questions, plot diagraming, and summarizing the reading selection; "The Daisy"...Due tomorrow, Tues. 9/22/2009
Complete Crossword and Study for Vocabulary Test- Friday 9/25/2009