WEEK 19 AGENDA: JANUARY 19-23

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Important Announcements:

*2nd Quarter ends January 23rd. All missing work due Wednesday, Jan. 21.

*Book Posts due January 20th.

*Spelling Bee coming up on February 11th. Practice round in Home Base classes next week.

Agenda: This week continues our Belief Project with pARTners. Students are working with their Memento Boxes and drafts of Belief Poems to begin assembling their multi-media portraits. They will also be learning to podcast their poetry online. We are focusing on meaningful form in poetry, including thoughtful line breaks, careful imagery, and sensory details.

Weekly Homework:
By Friday, students need to submit a letter that reflects over their performance in Language Arts over 2nd Quarter. This letter should be addressed to me, as their teacher, and be signed by each student. Length should be approximately three-quarters to a page long. Ideas to touch on are: what goals have students have met, major improvements, best pieces of work, areas of struggle, books that influenced them this quarter, how they are growing as they near the second half of 8th grade, changes they see that they have made or need to make, reflections on overall performance in terms of class participation, and on academic work. ALL LETTERS MUST BE TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACED, SPELL-CHECKED, AND SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY. HAve fun with this!

MONDAY:
Color Pallette with Molly

TUESDAY:
*Book Post #2 due
Poetry -- revising, cutting and rearranging lines with Kati
*Print and submit a copy of your poem by the end of class.*

WEDNESDAY:
*All missing work due for credit today.*
Podcasting tutorial and demos with Ms. Riley
Begin collecting images in podcasting folders

THURSDAY:
Poetry -- finalizing, thoughtful line breaks, sensory details, decisions on form
*Print and submit a final copy of your poem by the end of class -- 2 copies.*

FRIDAY:End of 2nd Quarter
*2nd Quarter Reflections due!!!* TYPED AND DOUBLE-SPACED!!!
Finalize poems and submit two copies!!!
Quarterly Recognition
Belief Game with Kati and Mrs. Hoelscher's classes coming on Monday

WEEK 18 AGENDA: JANUARY 12-16

Important Announcements:

*8th Graders will be MAP testing on Monday, January 12.

*2nd Quarter ends January 23rd.

*Book Posts due January 20th.

*Spelling Bee coming up on February 11th. Practice round in Home Base classes on January 23rd.

Agenda:
The Belief Project continues this week; students will be working with form and imagery in poetry, and mixing words and media on their digital portraits. Students should have their Memento Boxes prepared and ready for use this week.

Second quarter is coming to a close, and ends next week -- January 23rd. This date is Quarterly Recognition and practice for the upcoming Spelling Bee on February 11, as well. Second book posts are due on January 20th on the Library Blog!!!

WEEKLY HOMEWORK:
1) Belief Poem due Friday
2) Second Book Post on Library Blog due Tuesday, January 20

MONDAY:
MAP Testing
Comma Review

TUESDAY:
Working with form and imagery -- Belief Poems

WEDNESDAY:
Read "The Landlady" using Think-Aloud Strategy and study Literature Terminology
Purpose for reading: Notice when reader detects details and signs of foreshadowing.
Preview vocabulary: congenial, conjured,
compelling, compulsion, inclined, hearth,
tantalizing, emanate, trifle

THURSDAY:
Working with form and imagery -- Belief Poems

FRIDAY:
Belief Poem due
Adhering "Words of Essence" in poetry to portraits

WEEK 17 AGENDA: JANUARY 5-9

Image Source: http://www.edu-partners.org/index.cfm?id=home

This week begins our pARTners project, which will span seven weeks. Students will explore their personal histories and belief systems, and respond to various writing and art prompts in the process. Major outcomes include a belief poem, an expository essay, and a multi-media digital portrait. We are very excited to work with the pARTners organization on this creative and fun project!

WEEKLY HOMEWORK:
Please bring the following items with you for our pARTner's Belief Project:

* A favorite magazine or two that can be cut up

* A shoe box full of artifacts that represent who you are

* Artifacts might include: letters, ribbons, pictures, poems, receipts, old ski passes or any small item that reveals something about you!

These mementos will be used throughout the project for brainstorming, sharing, writing prompts, and artwork. The project will involve an artist in residence, a writer in residence, and all 8th Grade Core English classes. It will span approximately from January 5th-February 20th, and will culminate in public display and student readings.

MONDAY:
Belief Project Introduction
Contribute magazines

TUESDAY:
Picture search in magazines and writing prompt

WEDNESDAY:
Portraits with Molly
Sample "This I Believe" Essays

THURSDAY:
*ALL LEFTOVER LITERATURE CIRCLE WORK DUE.*
Writing prompts on personal beliefs and experiences

FRIDAY:
Exploration of belief poem forms

HAVE A GREAT BREAK!!!

Happy Holidays! See you in 2009!

Note: When you return from break, please bring the following items with you for our upcoming pARTner's Belief Project:

* a favorite magazine or two that can be cut up

* a shoe box full of artifacts that represent who you are

* artifacts might include: letters, ribbons, pictures, poems, receipts, old ski passes or any small item that reveals something about you!

These mementos will be used throughout the project for brainstorming, sharing, writing prompts, and artwork. The project will involve an artist in residence, a writer in residence, and all 8th Grade Core English classes. It will span from January 5th-February 20th, and will culminate in public display and student readings. We are excited!

WEEK 16: DECEMBER 15-19

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Agenda: This week students are finishing their Literature Circle novels, which focus on various disabilities and differences. In groups, they are researching the particular condition their book focuses on, and presenting information about it to the class through a visual poster. We are also continuing to work on commas.

Weekly Homework:
1)Finish Lit. Circle book for Friday
2)Finish Poster Project for Friday with group


MONDAY:
*Weekly Overview
*Finish Open Mind
*Correct Comma WS
*Reading time

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY:
Poster project research and construction in Media Center

THURSDAY:
Final Lit. Circle Day:
1) Plot Chart & Discuss Resolution
2) Final Discussion Sheet
3) Reflections
4) Complete folder -- organize and submit
5) Final Poster Planning

FRIDAY:
POSTER PROJECT PRESENTATIONS!!!

Have a great vacation!!!

WEEK 15 AGENDA: DECEMBER 8-15

photo source: http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/lang_lit_circles.htm

Announcements:

*Midterm is December 10. All missing work is due.

Weekly Homework:
1) Keep up with your Lit. Circle Reading Schedule
2) Complete your role sheet for your lit. circle
3) Comma Worksheet due Friday

MONDAY:
*Weekly Overview
*Role Sheets for tomorrow's Lit. Circle
*Reading time

TUESDAY:
*Lit. Circle #2
*Lit. Response: Conflict

WEDNESDAY:
*Open Mind Activity
*Return and file narratives
*Comma Splices
*Reading time

THURSDAY:
*Lit. Circle #3

FRIDAY:
*Comma Worksheet due
*Media Center -- research your novel's disability with group
*Begin Poster Project

A slice of inspiration!!!