NARRATIVE TOPICS

Students...post what you are writing your narrative about here!

WEEK 8 AGENDA: OCTOBER 20-24

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/>Announcements:
*Students are expected to stay up to date with their Writer's Notebook Entries. All entry prompts can be found on the left of this blog page under "Writer's Notebook Entries." Writer's Notebooks are due on MONDAY, OCTOBER 20: Entries 1-8.

*8th Grade Field Trip to Center for the Arts this Friday, October 24. Students must have updated Emergency Forms on file to participate in this outing.

*October 31 is the end of first quarter.

*Students are required to read two books per quarter on their own, and post comments for SSR credit on Ms. Swiggum's library blog at http://www.kswiggum.edublogs.org/ (hyperlink on left of page). Posted comments can be viewed under 8th Grade Flammang link at top of page. Both posts are due by October 31.

*Enrichment credit options must be completed by October 31.

WEEKLY HOMEWORK:
A Step from Heaven:
1) Read pages 33-69 for Tuesday, October 28.
2) Draw the scene that was the most interesting or powerful for you. Include a quote and a page number.

Forgotten Fire:
1) Read pages 59-92 Tuesday, October 28.
2) Draw the scene that was the most interesting or powerful for you. Include a quote and a page number.
3) ***EVERYONE...POST YOUR NARRATIVE TOPIC UNDER "Student Narrative Topics" by Friday***

Agenda:
This week students are continuing to read and research the context of their narrative novels. Also, students are reading and dramatizing Act One of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in preparation for our field trip to the Center for the Arts this Friday to see the play. Additionally, students will participate in dramatic mini-lessons to complement Shakespeare's play. Students are also beginning to draft their fictional narrative pieces, while working to incorporate dialogue and figurative language into their writing.

MONDAY:
*Writer's Notebook Entries 1-8 due!!!*
1) Weekly Overview and homework
2) Small Class Discussion: Forgotten Fire
Interview with An Na for A Step from Heaven

TUESDAY:
1) Class Discussion: Shakespeare's Theater and anticipating theme
2) Begin A Midsummer Night's Dream -- Act One

WEDNESDAY:
*Graded Apostrophe Quiz with clickers!*
1) Finish A Midsummer Night's Dream -- Act One
2) Rhythm & Inflection Exercise

THURSDAY:
Computers - Work on Draft One of Narrative

FRIDAY:
FIELD TRIP!!!

*Homework due on Tuesday of next week!*

WEEK 7 AGENDA: OCTOBER 13-17

Announcements:
*Students are expected to stay up to date with their Writer's Notebook Entries. All entry prompts can be found on the left of this blog page under "Writer's Notebook Entries." Writer's Notebooks are due on MONDAY, OCTOBER 20: Entries 1-8.

*NO SCHOOL on Monday, October 13 due to Teacher Inservice.

*October 31 is the end of first quarter.

*Students are required to read two books per quarter on their own, and post comments for SSR credit on Ms. Swiggum's library blog at http://www.kswiggum.edublogs.org/ (hyperlink on left of page). Posted comments can be viewed under 8th Grade Flammang link at top of page.

Agenda:
This week, students are beginning to read fictional narrative novels: Forgotten Fire, by Adam Bagdasarian, and A Step from Heaven, by An Na. They are also beginning to plot and draft their own fictional narratives, as well as continuing to study apostrophe use in context and crafting dialogue.

Weekly Homework:
1) Check out novels from Media Center.
2) A Step from Heaven-- Read pp. 1-31/Forgotten Fire - Read pp. 1-58.
3) Record three concrete details and three comments on your bookmark. Heaven needs to be prepared by Friday. Fire needs to be prepared by Monday.

MONDAY: NO SCHOOL

TUESDAY:
*TTT #3 due!
*Weekly Overview and homework
*Novel choices and blank bookmarks
*Apostrophes in context: Interactive video Part 2 and video quiz
*Read sample student narrative & review narrative structure

WEDNESDAY:
*Laminated Bookmarks
*Narrative deadlines and grading rubric
*Narrative Leads
*WNB #7: Plotting your narrative

THURSDAY:
*Dialogue Workshop
*Dialogue for narrative

FRIDAY:
*Weekly Homework due!
*WNB #8: Book Impressions
*Small class dicussion: A Step from Heaven
NetTrekker Virtual Museum for Forgotten Fire

MONDAY:
Small class discussion: Forgotten Fire
An Na's website tour for A Step from Heaven

WEEK 6 AGENDA: October 6-10

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

*Alexandra Fuller, author of The Legend of Colton H. Bryant, is coming to JHMS to read from her book, and present material to the 8th Grade on Monday, October 6!!!

*Students are expected to stay up to date with their Writer's Notebook Entries. All entry prompts can be found on the top left of this blog page under "Writer's Notebook Entries." Writer's Notebooks are due on MONDAY, OCTOBER 20.

*Students are required to read two books per quarter on their own, and post comments for SSR credit on Ms. Swiggum's library blog at http://www.kswiggum.edublogs.org/ (hyperlink on left of page). Posted comments can be viewed under 8th Grade Flammang link at top of page.

*NO SCHOOL on Monday, October 13 due to Teacher Inservice.

*October 31 is the end of first quarter.

Agenda:

This week, students are continuing to read and respond in writing to a selection of fictional narratives. They are also beginning to draft characters and plot lines for their own fictional narrative pieces. Additionally, students are continuing to study apostrophe use in context and active verbs.

Weekly Homework:
*DUE FRIDAY*

1) Tic Tac Toe reading and response due

2) Study for Active Verbs graded quiz -- THURSDAY!

MONDAY:
*No 6th or 7th period classes for 8th Grade today -- Alexandra Fuller reading in Commons.*

1) Weekly Overview, weekly homework, and quiz notice

2) Choose a new Fictional Narrative

3) Video quiz - apostrophes

4) Reading time -- Fictional Narrative Selection #2

TUESDAY:
*Tic Tac Toe Response #1 due*

1) Discuss and share literary responses in small groups

2) Mini-lesson: 'How can I write a better paragraph? Hooks, intoductory sentences, and concluding sentences'

WEDNESDAY:
1) Narrative Assignment Overview

2) WNB #6: Character Drafting

THURSDAY:
1) Book talk with Ms. Swiggum -- Forgotten Fire and A Step from Heaven

2) Active Verbs graded quiz

FRIDAY:
*Weekly Homework due -- TTT #2*

1) WNB #7: Plotting your narrative

2) Reading Day -- student narrative samples

WEEK 5 AGENDA: September 29 - October 3

Announcements:

*Midterm is October 1. Students should check Power School to make sure all their work is in. Language Arts help session after school on Wednesday of this week.

*Each day, 8th Graders have a 30-minute enrichment period after lunch. The focus for enrichment is reading. Students are reading The Legend of Colton H. Bryant by Alexandra Fuller during 1st Quarter. The author is coming to JHMS to read from her book and present material to the 8th Grade on Monday, October 6!!!

*Students are expected to stay up to date with their Writer's Notebook Entries. All entry prompts can be found on the top left of this blog page under "Writer's Notebook Entries." When a set of entries are due, students will receive one week's notice in order to make sure all entries are revised and completed before the due date.

*Students are required to read two books per quarter outside of school, and post comments for SSR credit on Ms. Swiggum's library blog at http://www.kswiggum.edublogs.org/ (hyperlink on left of page). Posted comments can be viewed under 8th Grade Flammang link at top of page. Students should aim to post their first comment by October 1.

AGENDA:
This week, as we continue to explore narrative structure and voice, students are reading from a selection of fictional narratives and responding to selected pieces in writing. Students are continuing to study active voice and apostrophes in context, and beginning to study citations while refining their thesis statements for their History research papers. Additionally, students will be working to tighten up their paragraph structure with strong introductory and concluding sentences. In class, clickers, Brain Pop, and interactive writing will be used to practice skills and assess comprehension.

WEEKLY HOMEWORK:
*DUE ON FRIDAY*
1) WNB #5: Thesis statement
2) Read first fictional narrative choice for Friday.

MONDAY
*Reminder: Did you add a divider for vocabulary to your binder?*
1) Weekly Overview and homework. Discuss significance of blog picture. Visit library blog to check posts -- reminder of midterm on October 1. Look at clicker poll and remind on new poll (will be posted later this week).

2) Review 'Apostrophe Headaches.' Apostrophe lesson with clickers/share what you learned.

3) Finish reading and labeling figurative language in "What's the Worst that Can Happen?" by Bruce Coville. In the margins, jot down three thoughts on the use figurative language in this story.

TUESDAY
1) Discuss how figurative language contributes to the plot and creates voice in Coville's narrative piece.

2) Narrative Notes continued...

3) Fictional Narratives Tic Tac Toe handout, assignment, deadlines, and overview. Students need to choose and read three narratives and complete response activities.
Due dates:
TTT #1) October 7
TTT #2) October 10
TTT #3) October 14

4) Story choices and reading time

WEDNESDAY
*Reminder: Is your first comment up on the library blog?*
1) Thesis workshop #2 & Thesis Brain Pop

2) Reading time

THURSDAY
1) More apostrophes ... correct apostrophe homework from last week.

2) Brain Pop - Citations.

3) MLA Format Powerpoint

FRIDAY
*WEEKLY HOMEWORK DUE!*
1) How can I write a better paragraph? Mini-lesson on hooks, introductory sentences, and concluding sentences.

2) Figurative Language Bingo!!!

WEEK 4 AGENDA

Announcements:

*MAP Testing begins this week. 8th Graders will be taking the reading test in history class, the math test in math class, and the language usage test in English class. Testing will take place 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th periods on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

*Student grades can be checked online using Power School. Each student needs an id and password (from the Student Center) for this purpose.

*Emergency forms need to be turned into the office, whether there are information changes or not.

*Each day, 8th Graders have a 30-minute enrichment period after lunch. The focus for enrichment is reading. Students are reading The Legend of Colton H. Bryant by Alexandra Fuller during 1st quarter.

*Students are expected to stay up to date with their Writer's Notebook Entries. All entry prompts can be found on the top left of this blog page under "Writer's Notebook Entries." When a set of entries are due, students will receive one week's notice in order to make sure all entries are revised and completed before the due date.

*Students are required to read two books per quarter outside of school, and post comments for SSR credit on Ms. Swiggum's library blog at http://www.kswiggum.edublogs.org/ (hyperlink on left of page).

AGENDA September 21-26:

This week, students will begin reading a series of fictional narratives, most of which they will select from a menu of choices. The first selection will be read as a class -- "What's the Worst that Can Happen?" by Bruce Coville. Students are also studying narrative structure, literary terminology, and thesis statements this week. We will be reviewing active verbs and figurative language as well.

WEEKLY HOMEWORK: Due Friday

1) Grammar Worksheet

2) Put 2-3 artifacts of your own, with explanations/captions in your WNB

MONDAY:

1) Blog Agenda and weekly homework

2) Ms. Swiggum's library blog -- post two comments per quarter

3) Language Arts binder organization

*Bell Work
*Assignments
*Grammar
*Writing
*Graded Work
*Vocabulary

3) What is a narrative?

4) WNB 'Catch up time'

TUESDAY:

MAP TESTING - LANGUAGE USAGE

WEDNESDAY:

1) www.freerice.com - 10 minutes of English Grammar

2) Literary Terms handout

3) Begin "What's the Worst that Can Happen?" and label figurative language

THURSDAY:

1) Brain Pop! Action Verbs video review and quiz (action verbs, direct objects, indirect objects)

2) Finish "What's the Worst that Can Happen?" and label figurative language.

FRIDAY:

*Weekly Homework due!!!*

1) Review and grade grammar homework

2) Mini-lesson and workshop: thesis statements

HOME BASE:

*Emergency Forms due this week

*One fact on oil drilling due on Monday

*SSR on Tuesday and Thursday

WEEK 3 AGENDA

SEPTEMBER 15-19

Announcements:

*Back to School Night Tuesday, September 16 from 6:30-8:15. All students and parents are encouraged to attend!

*Signed quarterly recognition forms need to be turned in this week.

*MAP Testing begins September 22.

*Student grades can be checked online using PowerSchool. Each student needs an id and password (from the Student Center) for this purpose.

*Each day, 8th Graders have a 30-minute enrichment period after lunch. Mondays are dedicated to student advisory and home base activities. Fridays are dedicated to SSR. (This week, SSR will be held on Thursday). The focus for enrichment is reading. The first novel that students will read is The Legend of Colton H. Bryant by Alexandra Fuller.

*Students are expected to stay up to date with their Writer's Notebook Entries. All entry prompts can be found on the top left of this blog page under "Writer's Notebook Entries." When a set of entries are due, students will receive one week's notice in order to make sure all entries are revised and completed before the due date.

THIS WEEK'S AGENDA:

This week students are completing the drafting and revising process on their name jerseys. Completed jerseys are due at the beginning of class on Friday. Finished name jerseys will be presented and displayed, showcasing both student artwork and writing.

Students are also studying active verbs, and working to incorporate them into their writing. We are using clickers and interactive writing in the classroom this week to practice skills and assess comprehension.

Next week, we will move into reading a selection of fictional narratives, and learning the rules of MLA formatting, which will help 8th Graders begin their first big research project of the year in their history classes.

WEEKLY HOMEWORK:

For Friday:

1. Color code your summer experience paragraph. We will do this together in class on Monday.

red:topic sentence (1)

blue:concluding sentence (1)

green: concrete details (2)

yellow: commentary (4)

2. Revise paragraph to include any of these that are missing.

3. Locate passive voice in your writing. Revise for active verbs.

4. Spell-check, proofread, and re-type your piece. Attach your final draft to your rough draft and turn in.

MONDAY:

1) Blog Agenda for the week/explanation of weekly homework

2) Review Lit. Response Rubric for final grading of paragraph

3) Mini-Lesson: Color coding paragraphs -- Interactive writing sample

4) Drafting of name jersey essay/design jersey

TUESDAY:

1) Mini-lesson: Active Verbs review with clickers

2) Drafting of name jersey essay/design jersey

WEDNESDAY:

1) WNB #3: "I lost..."

2) Focused revision of jersey essay draft

THURSDAY:

1) Mini-lesson: Focused review of active verbs with clickers

2) Finalize jersey design

3) Copy final drafts onto jerseys

FRIDAY:

WEEKLY HOMEWORK DUE at the beginning of class!!!

1) WNB #4: Draw a tree, and on each leaf and/or each branch, write a word or phrase that reflects your personality.

2) Jersey presentations.