An end and a beginning....

Summer is here, and yes, you should relax and have fun! Fun could include reading...don't be shocked! A book doesn't need batteries or electricity, it can fit in almost any bag and take you on a trip for free! Plus, if you read, and write a great report, including characters, plot (in sequence), and your favorite part....then you can start in September with an "A".

Check in to my site periodically for other grammar exercises and vocabulary worksheets that you can complete and email to me or bring to school with you in September. Oh, and another easy "A"....keep a writer's journal. Sit in the park even and write about the people you see, the ice-cream truck, the basketball game. While you're at it, add some pictures, drawings or photos...even press a flower or tape in a movie ticket stub!

You all did so well on your State ELA test but research shows that 2 months of no writing or reading can cause scores to drop! Don't let it happen!! See you in September, smarter than ever!

**Para los que el ingles todavia es una gran lucha...aprovecha de los sitios conectados aqui...en septiembre estare hablando mucho mas ingles y van a necesitar un base...porque no practica aqui? Muchos de los sitios que escogi son bilingues...
les veo en septiembre!

Wait, wait....it's not over yet!

My special congratulations go out to my class for your hard work on the social studies projects. You will be given time this week to use my sticky notes I have placed on the projects and my suggestions during our conferences to make them even better. The school is going to have a hard time competing with the level of work you all achieved.

One last literacy project that we still need to finish (besides improving our speed/fluency with QReads) is the immigrant story. This has to be handed in this week (yes 8th graders even though graduation is Thursday). If you click on the poem you will read something that my father wrote about a visitor to New York.

You need to choose the following for your main character:

Name of the character.
Age at the time the character comes to the United States.
Country of origin and language of origin (real not invented).
Style of dress and other details (such as style of music they like, and other things they do on their free time).
A problem the character has to overcome and how they overcome it.
You must present the story in a sequence that is interesting, entertaining and easily understandable.

This needs to be at least two pages to receive a 4. Good luck. Drawings are encouraged!! For additional inspiration reflect on the true story about the Chinese kindergarten student we read in class.

Social Studies Project Notes

Hi Students,

This is a quick post to give you the links for the sites I put on the board today and to give you a reference for how to complete your projects step by step. The key is that first as a group, you create a timeline of an era in American History that interest you. This should be 15-20 events. Then individually you divide up the events and the eighth graders should have 5 each, seventh graders three. Next after designing a really cool time-line (use the sites for examples), you will need to find one document, primary or secondary to accompany each of your 3 to 5 events. Finally you will present the timeline to the class and each group will have a three part question for the class to answer and multiple choice questions for a class quiz to be given once all the presentations are complete. This will be a nice way to end the year and prepare for the 8th grade social studies test!

Let me know if you have questions. If you do not want to work in a group you need to see me immediately.

Here is an example of a primary document and a question to go with it.

Address of John Brown to the Virginia Court:

Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the
ends of justice and MINGLE MY BLOOD FURTHER WITH THE BLOOD OF MY
CHILDREN, and with the blood of millions in slave country whose rights are disregarded
By the wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments – I summit; so LET IT BE DONE.


1. Describe the tone of John Brown’s Address to the Virginia Court.

2. What does Brown admit to? What does he deny?

3. Why was he tried in a Virginia Court and not a federal court?

4. Are Brown’s actions at Harper’s Ferry justified? Explain your viewpoint.

􏰀 Sampletimelinescanalsobefoundat thefollowingwebsites: (just copy and paste onto your browser)
• AnimatedAtlas:
http://www.animatedatlas.com/timeline.html
• WorldAlmanacforKids:
http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/EXPLORE/timeline.html
• Libraryof Congress:
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/index.html
• TheHenryFord:
http://www.hfmgv.org/education/smartfun/timeline/timeline.html

End of year tests and projects

We all wish life could be as easy as Luke makes it look in this picture, but we need to work harder than ever now that the end of the year is approaching. Our class has the NYSESLAT beginning this week and continuing all the way into the middle of May. Then there are the science and social studies exams plus the eighth grade social studies projects. I AM HERE TO HELP but you need to ask and be willing to spend some time after school. There will be snacks provided and you can even make requests! ELA missing assignments can still be handed in...re-writes are especially important. Finally, remember your grade can improve (or go down) as much as a whole letter grade if you do not read and hand in the Novel Partner projects (there is now a chart of questions in the class if you have lost your sheet).

I HATE TO READ!

If this describes you, even a little, then I think I have a solution. In class we will be reading as partners and then presenting (and writing) literature responses. The four week process is described below. Also, we will be reading Huckleberry Finn and watching segments of the movie. Be careful, you might just enjoy yourself!

*First person to tell me who is depicted in the picture gets a Blow Pop. :)

OVERVIEW: The Novel Partners unit is a structured, yet
independent four week reading program in which partners read
the same self-chosen novels; complete a weekly assignment
including vocabulary, comprehension, and literary
appreciation activities; then meet with one another weekly
to discuss the readings and the assignments.

PURPOSE: Provide motivation and guidance for independent
reading in a way that can be easily integrated into a more
structured whole class reading program.

OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to:
1. Work cooperatively with a partner to devise a 4 wk.
reading plan for self-chosen novels.
2. Use context to figure out the meaning of unknown words.
3. Summarize the main events in a novel.
4. Respond to literature by telling what they like and
dislike about the elements in their novels.
5. Analyze the elements of a novel, including setting,
characters, plot, and theme.
6. Discuss ideas with their partners about the readings
and the assignments.
7. Work independently to prepare for the weekly
discussions.

http://www.col-ed.org/cur/lang/lang81.txt