How Tornados Came to Be
Rachel C.
One day, Windius, the goddess of wind got very bored. She heard about taking a dance class from a friend. So she signed up and attended her class. During the class, they started to work on turns. Excited, Windius began to practice. Whenever Windius moved, the wind blew. So, while she was spinning, the wind began to pick up speed. Since Windius was so excited and hyper, she started to spin a lot and loose control. The wind started to form into a funnel as Windius was spinning. The wind gained speed as Windius kept on spinning. Suddenly, with a big gust of wind, a tornado was formed. It destroyed almost everything in its path. When Windius gained control of herself and stopped, the tornado vanished. Zeus found out what she had done and banned her from dancing. But Windius loved to dance. So she decided that she would secretly dance while Zeus was dealing with the other problems. Every couple weeks, maybe months, Windius would practice her super cool dance moves. And whenever she tried the turns, she would get out of control and cause another tornado.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Great Student Persuasive Essays:
Karyna R.
Extra Curricular Activities
Do you often find yourself sitting in front of the TV doing nothing after school? Would you like something fun and interesting to do instead? If so, then an extra curricular activity is the perfect thing for you! Lakeview Jr. High has a wide variety of clubs, committees, and sports for a wide variety of personalities. Therefore, everyone should partake in an extra curricular activity.
Joining extra curricular activities can help students meet different people and form new relationships. It is important for teens to have a wide range of friends in order to become well-rounded individuals. Through extra curriculars, students can be introduced to many diverse groups of people. This could open the doors to interests and talents that many students never knew they had. Furthermore, participating in extra curricular activities may enhance students’ people skills by teaching them how to get along with and work with different people. Good people skills are essential in the future. For example, at a job, you are required to work with co-workers of various personalities, and with these skills, you will be able to better get along with everyone.
Not only can extra curricular activities help students meet new people, but they are also an excellent way for them to have more fun. After a six or seven hour school day, students are often stressed out. By being in an extra curricular activity, students can have more fun, which may relieve that stress. Last year, I was in the drama club. We did funny skits and exercises that were extremely fun. I know that by laughing and joking with my friends, I definitely relieved stress and had more fun than I would have at home. In addition to this, a typical student might spend most of their time hanging out with friends, watching TV, playing video games, or going on the computer. These same activities day after day may get boring after a while. Students can break this cycle by signing up for an extra curricular activity. Instead of playing a one-on-one basketball game with your friend, you could play on the school team and improve your skills. You could substitute watching Hannah Montana sing on TV with singing in the choir, or replace playing EA Sports on X-Box with the real thing. You could even type up an article for the school newspaper instead of typing an instant message to your friend. Joining these extra curriculars, or others, will give students something new to do after school, resulting in a more fun and happier student.
As well as having more fun, extra curricular activities are useful distractions from the many bad influences that teens face. More and more of today’s teens are abusing drugs and alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and having sex, which can result in teen pregnancies and STD’s. Extra curriculars help keep students away from the bad peer pressures that influence these harmful behaviors. There they can associate with kids with positive goals, which could inspire them to set goals of their own and encourage them to choose positive behaviors in order to reach them. Also, a great number of extra curriculars, such as sports, punish their members for participating in drugs and/or alcohol. Hopefully, many students will be motivated not to take part in these activities so that they can stay in their club, committee, or team.
Everyone should participate in an extra curricular activity. There are many rewards that come along with them, including meeting new people and having fun. Extra curriculars can also keep teens away from harmful peer pressure, drugs, and alcohol. No matter who you are, there is something out there for you, so join an extra curricular activity today!
Amelia G.
Demolishing Gang Violence
Almost everyday someone is shot or killed by gangs in Chicago, some of those people are gang members themselves, but some are just innocent people. Gangs are increasing everyday and so is the number of lives being taken away by the violence on the street. These are the reasons why the Chicago area should do their best to lessen gang violence.
Policemen across the state need to make gang violence a priority. Instead of worrying about the little things such as parking tickets, they should worry about the most important thing, people’s lives. They can make gang violence a priority by having gang specialists come in and teach new cops about so that way cops can arrest gang members faster since they know more about them. If these policemen captured gang members earlier, then that would decrease the number people being shot or killed. The state can also prevent shootings by making guns illegal. Many unlicensed teens are now in possession of guns leading to lives being killed. If guns were illegal, only good results would come from it.
Along with police making gang violence a priority, they should also worry about the drugs coming from these gangs. More and more teenagers are starting and getting addicted to drugs. Some of these drugs are reaching the suburbs, causing our supposedly “safe” neighborhoods to change into a not so safe area for kids and young adults. Gang member smuggling drugs into the U.S. is changing our world in so many ways. The amount of people going to rehab has increased rapidly through out the years. Also, many more people are doing drugs because it is easier to get yet they do not know the consequences. They may think they are just going to try it ounce, but after that one time, they start craving it making them become addicted. People lose their friends and family and sometimes even their own lives form being addicted to drugs that were supplied to them by gang members.
In addition to stopping drugs from going around, cracking down on gangs will prevent teenagers from turning into hardcore criminals. What will happen to these teenagers in the future if they’re already committing illegal actions? When teenagers/young adults graduate college, they already have there whole life planned out. Most teenagers in gangs don’t even graduate high school and they end up living in a life with little education and a no good future. When gang members first start out they think it’s a good business to be apart of, you get lots or money and get to be with your friends, but it’s also a business you can never get out of and a business that just keeps getting worse and more dangerous the longer you’re involved.
Chicago should try harder to lessen gang violence. Many people don’t get how much gangs influence and change the world we live in today. If policemen made gang violence a priority, then they could prevent many things from happening such as drug use increasing and gang members becoming hardcore criminals in the future. It’s our duty to keep Chicago’s streets safe. Aren’t you tired of turning on the news and hearing about another death in our city? I know I am.
Karyna R.
Extra Curricular Activities
Do you often find yourself sitting in front of the TV doing nothing after school? Would you like something fun and interesting to do instead? If so, then an extra curricular activity is the perfect thing for you! Lakeview Jr. High has a wide variety of clubs, committees, and sports for a wide variety of personalities. Therefore, everyone should partake in an extra curricular activity.
Joining extra curricular activities can help students meet different people and form new relationships. It is important for teens to have a wide range of friends in order to become well-rounded individuals. Through extra curriculars, students can be introduced to many diverse groups of people. This could open the doors to interests and talents that many students never knew they had. Furthermore, participating in extra curricular activities may enhance students’ people skills by teaching them how to get along with and work with different people. Good people skills are essential in the future. For example, at a job, you are required to work with co-workers of various personalities, and with these skills, you will be able to better get along with everyone.
Not only can extra curricular activities help students meet new people, but they are also an excellent way for them to have more fun. After a six or seven hour school day, students are often stressed out. By being in an extra curricular activity, students can have more fun, which may relieve that stress. Last year, I was in the drama club. We did funny skits and exercises that were extremely fun. I know that by laughing and joking with my friends, I definitely relieved stress and had more fun than I would have at home. In addition to this, a typical student might spend most of their time hanging out with friends, watching TV, playing video games, or going on the computer. These same activities day after day may get boring after a while. Students can break this cycle by signing up for an extra curricular activity. Instead of playing a one-on-one basketball game with your friend, you could play on the school team and improve your skills. You could substitute watching Hannah Montana sing on TV with singing in the choir, or replace playing EA Sports on X-Box with the real thing. You could even type up an article for the school newspaper instead of typing an instant message to your friend. Joining these extra curriculars, or others, will give students something new to do after school, resulting in a more fun and happier student.
As well as having more fun, extra curricular activities are useful distractions from the many bad influences that teens face. More and more of today’s teens are abusing drugs and alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and having sex, which can result in teen pregnancies and STD’s. Extra curriculars help keep students away from the bad peer pressures that influence these harmful behaviors. There they can associate with kids with positive goals, which could inspire them to set goals of their own and encourage them to choose positive behaviors in order to reach them. Also, a great number of extra curriculars, such as sports, punish their members for participating in drugs and/or alcohol. Hopefully, many students will be motivated not to take part in these activities so that they can stay in their club, committee, or team.
Everyone should participate in an extra curricular activity. There are many rewards that come along with them, including meeting new people and having fun. Extra curriculars can also keep teens away from harmful peer pressure, drugs, and alcohol. No matter who you are, there is something out there for you, so join an extra curricular activity today!
Alisa Z.
Materialism
Chanel, Abercrombie, Coach, and Hollister are not even a quarter of the expensive brands Americans buy today. People are getting addicted to shopping and can’t stop the urge to buy more things. Americans are too materialistic.
Americans spend too much time competing over materials. There are people who only wear on outfit once. For example, the character Massie from the book series, The Clique, only wears one outfit once and when people read these books, they want to be like her. When they think of ways to be more like Massie, they automatically think, “I need more clothes”. There are people constantly comparing what they have and how much money they have with the people they want to be. For example, if you are a fashion magazine reader, you would constantly see spotlights in these magazines about celebrities being acknowledged about the designer things they have or are wearing. If you constantly think about how you look, then you would definitely try to have what these celebrities have.
Not only are Americans spending too much time competing over materials, they are also spending too much money on materials. Many people are in deep debt and on the edge of bankruptcy. One of my mom’s friends is like that. She lives in a condo that is covered with clothes from the floor to the ceiling. She can’t control how she spends her money and she owes a lot of money to credit card companies. There are many people who head straight to the mall right after they get their paycheck. These people need to learn how to spend money wisely because there are people who are becoming homeless because they can’t pay for their rent.
In addition to spending too much money on materials, Americans also pay too much attention to materials. Many people who are materialistic don't have a good relationship with their family because their attention is too focused on having the next big thing. I have a friend whose mom is too materialistic. Her mom shows love through buying her daughter materials. Even though she gets whatever she wants, she is still not happy because she is missing the things she needs most, love and attention. Also, Americans pay too much attention on materials by obsessing with fashion magazines. Having lots of stuff doesn’t make you a better person, caring and just being a nice, respectful person is what really makes you a good person.
Americans are too materialistic. Being able to buy whatever you want is fine, but don’t abuse it. Americans spend too much time competing over materials, too much money on materials and, too much attention on materials. Buying whatever you want doesn’t make you a better person, in fact it will harm you in the long run if you don’t know how to control yourself. When parents are too materialistic and spoil their children, their child becomes materialistic too. Then the children influence other people. It’s like a bad disease spreading fast and damaging our generation.
Danielle P.
Later Days
How do you think kids would feel if school didn’t start until later in the day? If schools were to start later in the morning, and end later in the day, kids would greatly benefit the average 8-9 hours of sleep. Schools should consider changing their hours.
Schools should start later in the morning because then students would be able to get the regular 8-9 hours of sleep that they need. There are many advantages to this. First off, kids would be in a better mood in the morning. This would mean that students would get along better with both peers and teachers. Another reason would be that students would have more energy in the morning. This means that students would be able to pay better attention in class and actually stay awake through their classes and lessons. Another reason would be that they would be able to get a better start to the day. This is good because starting the day off on the right foot could put a student in a good mood and possibly keep them that way.
Not only will kids be able to get more sleep at night, but they will also have a chance at getting better grades. There are a few good reasons supporting this idea. One would be that kids would have extra time to do homework before school. This is a huge advantage because if a student had an activity after school the night before or if they didn’t have enough time to finish everything, they could finish it in the morning and still get a good grade for it. A second way that could help their grades would be that with the extra time in the morning, they can study for a quiz or test and then that would give them a much higher chance of doing good on the quiz or test they take. One last way starting school later could help student’s grades would be that the extra sleep would most likely help the brain and then kids would be able to understand the lesson better. This would help the students grades because if you understand something, the homework, quiz, and tests on it would be easier then resulting in good grades on work.
In addition to better grades, students would be able to stay out later doing different activities. One of the advantages to this would be that students wouldn’t have to worry about getting home early enough to study or do homework when they could do it in the morning. This is nice because then both parents and students wouldn’t have to worry so much about the time. Another advantage to this would be that if any activities were to run late, no one would have to worry about rushing home and cramming everything in. This means there might even be less arguments at home. Another way letting kids stay out later is an advantage because they’ll be able to have more fun as a kid. This way instead of remembering all the nights of cramming everything in, they can look back on how much fun they had even when they did have school the next day.
Schools should change their hours. Later school hours could result in kids getting more sleep, better grades, and being able to stay out later. Both students and teachers shouldn’t have to get up so early. I’m sure many people would be with me saying that school shouldn’t have to start until atleast 9:30 a.m.
Go Packers!!
Jacquelyn T
Super Bowl
Don’t look now, but the Green Bay Packers may have an appointment with destiny. The historical franchise has turned around its recent years of misfortune. The Packers are off to a ten and one start in the 2007 season. If the Green Bay Packers keep up their good work, they will make and win the Super Bowl.
One thing that makes the Green Bay Packers so awesome is their amazing defense. The Green Bay Packers are ranked fifth out of thirty two teams. They have two shutdown cornerbacks and they really have a good defensive line. Aaron Kampman is especially good with eleven sacks and Cory Williams with seven sacks to date. Johnny Jolly is a great run stopper too. The Packers linebackers are extremely strong too. Nick Barnet leads the team in tackles. The Green Bay Packers give up an average of 315.4 yards per game. They give up an average of 215.3 yards per passing game. Lastly, the Packers give up an average of 16.8 points per game.
The Green Bay Packers don’t just have a great defense, but they also have a great offense too. This has helped the Packers become a better rounded team. Offensively, they are ranked third out of thirty two teams. The Packers are currently first in their conference, the National Football conference, with a record of ten wins and one loss. The Green Bay Packers keep starting quarterback is Brett Farve. Brett has set many prestigious records and as a result will end up in the Hall-of- Fame upon retirement. Farve’s quarterback rating is 101.5. Although Brett is famous for his passing, the Packers recently have had a strong offensive running game. This helps take the pressure off of Brett and the wide receivers. Another player that makes their offense stronger is the addition of rookie kicker Mason Crosby. Mason Crosby has completed 22 of 28 field goals to date. He also has thirty-two points are extra points. The offensive team has averaged 380.4 yards and 26.9 points per game.
In addition to their outstanding offense, their new coach has worked wonders. Mike McCarthy has the best record of any Green Bay Packer coach in his first twenty-seven games. His record is eighteen wins and nine losses, which is better than Hall-of- Fame coach Vince Lombardi. His success can be attributed to his ability to have his player’s play with confidence and believe in him. The year prior to Mike McCarthy’s arrival, Green Bay Packer, Brett Farve, threw twenty nine interceptions. Mike McCarthy impressed upon Brett that he must make better decisions at the quarterback position. As a result, Brett has only thrown eight interceptions in eleven games this year. McCarthy’s confidence in Farve’s ability to make good game decisions is further evidenced by McCarthy letting Farve call audibles at the start of plays. Farve’s previous coaches limited Brett’s ability to do this. Farve has taken advantage of many defensive situations this year. As a result, the Packers have had an increase in big plays.
Another reason I feel the Green Bay Packers will go to the Super Bowl is they have the best momentum of the NFC. The Packers have won fourteen of their last fifteen games. Only the Patriots have a comparable record at this time. The Packers are also improving as the season progresses. They have scored at least thirty-one points in their last four games. In the last three games, the Packers have led by nineteen points or more. The only weakness appeared to be their running game. However, in the last five games they have averaged 101.2 yards per game. This is a great improvement over the first six games in which they averaged only 65.6 yards.
If the Green Bay Packers keep up their good work, they will make it to and win the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers strengths that are helping them with their great season are the offense, defense, coaching, and momentum. This could help bring another championship to the NFL franchise that already has more than any other team.
Friday, December 14, 2007
What's Happening in class?
The week of December 17th will be busy!
In language arts, students will be selecting one of their three final draft essays to polish and share with the class. They will also be creating visual aides to go along with the reading of their essays. Preparation for the presentations will take place in class on Monday and Tuesday, and we will begin sharing essays on Wednesday!
In reading, We will be reading the long short story, "Flowers for Algernon." Parents around my age may remember the movie version of the story called Charlie. It's a science fiction tale about a intellectually challenged man who has the opportunity to triple his intelligence! The story delves into the pros and cons of being intellectually challenged and the pros and cons of being intellectually gifted. Charlie, the main character, deals with academic, emotional, and social challenges, and we get to go along for the interesting ride. Students will be taking a quiz on "Flowers for Algernon" on Friday, December 21st!
***All students have selected their new book report books too! They are accelerated reader books and the AR quizzes will be due to me roughly 2 weeks after winter break.
HAVE A SAFE, FUN WINTER BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be in MEXICO! :)
In language arts, students will be selecting one of their three final draft essays to polish and share with the class. They will also be creating visual aides to go along with the reading of their essays. Preparation for the presentations will take place in class on Monday and Tuesday, and we will begin sharing essays on Wednesday!
In reading, We will be reading the long short story, "Flowers for Algernon." Parents around my age may remember the movie version of the story called Charlie. It's a science fiction tale about a intellectually challenged man who has the opportunity to triple his intelligence! The story delves into the pros and cons of being intellectually challenged and the pros and cons of being intellectually gifted. Charlie, the main character, deals with academic, emotional, and social challenges, and we get to go along for the interesting ride. Students will be taking a quiz on "Flowers for Algernon" on Friday, December 21st!
***All students have selected their new book report books too! They are accelerated reader books and the AR quizzes will be due to me roughly 2 weeks after winter break.
HAVE A SAFE, FUN WINTER BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be in MEXICO! :)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Magazine book report information below:
Magazine Book Report Rubric
Detailed, interesting, well written information 10 points __________
about the person
Neat, detailed, colored cover complete with picture 10 points __________
of person
Overall effort and creativity in the development of 10 points __________
the “magazine”
Magazine Book Report
1. After reading your biography or autobiography, pretend that you are an interviewer, and interview the subject of your book. (If your subject is no longer alive, pretend that he/she is still living.) You will be asking your person 10 in-depth questions which can be answered using detailed information from your book. Based on your person's fame, you will choose an appropriate magazine in which this interview might be found. (Examples: movie star = People Magazine, athlete = Sports Illustrated, political figure = Newsweek or TIME, rock star = Rolling Stone Magazine, etc.)
2. Design a cover for your magazine. First, draw, by hand, a detailed picture of your person and color it. Next, use construction paper, colored markers, colored pencils, or your computer, and add other touches to make it look like an actual magazine cover.
Think about the examples I showed you in class, and remember: Make it colorful!!
3. Your interview must be in final draft form. Either type your questions and answers for your interview, or write them in black or blue pen.
4. This book report is worth 30 points and is due on Thursday, December 13th.
Detailed, interesting, well written information 10 points __________
about the person
Neat, detailed, colored cover complete with picture 10 points __________
of person
Overall effort and creativity in the development of 10 points __________
the “magazine”
Magazine Book Report
1. After reading your biography or autobiography, pretend that you are an interviewer, and interview the subject of your book. (If your subject is no longer alive, pretend that he/she is still living.) You will be asking your person 10 in-depth questions which can be answered using detailed information from your book. Based on your person's fame, you will choose an appropriate magazine in which this interview might be found. (Examples: movie star = People Magazine, athlete = Sports Illustrated, political figure = Newsweek or TIME, rock star = Rolling Stone Magazine, etc.)
2. Design a cover for your magazine. First, draw, by hand, a detailed picture of your person and color it. Next, use construction paper, colored markers, colored pencils, or your computer, and add other touches to make it look like an actual magazine cover.
Think about the examples I showed you in class, and remember: Make it colorful!!
3. Your interview must be in final draft form. Either type your questions and answers for your interview, or write them in black or blue pen.
4. This book report is worth 30 points and is due on Thursday, December 13th.
Friday, December 7, 2007
What's Happening in class?
The week of December 10th will be action packed!
In language arts, we will be working on Wordskills unit 8. The unit will be due on Friday.
We will also be writing original myths. What seemingly unexplainable occurance would you like to explain? Do you know the real reason there is thunder? Are the gods and goddesses actually having a fierce bowling competion on Mount Olympus? Students will have a chance to tell their version of why something really is the way it is when they write original myths and share them with the class on Friday. I will be posting some interesting ones next week. Check back and check them out!!
In reading, we will be taking the mythology packet quiz on Monday! It will be worth 35 points, and cover the 4 myths covered in class. A study guide, which includes everything students need to know to do well on the quiz, was handed out and gone over in class today. (Friday, December 7th)
On Tuesday, December 11th, I will be explaining and showing examples of the magazine book report which will be due on Thursday, December 13th. Students will all receive a copy of the book report requirements, and I will also be posting the book report requirements Tuesday afternoon if you'd like to see them!
***Only two weeks left before winter break!!!!!! :)
In language arts, we will be working on Wordskills unit 8. The unit will be due on Friday.
We will also be writing original myths. What seemingly unexplainable occurance would you like to explain? Do you know the real reason there is thunder? Are the gods and goddesses actually having a fierce bowling competion on Mount Olympus? Students will have a chance to tell their version of why something really is the way it is when they write original myths and share them with the class on Friday. I will be posting some interesting ones next week. Check back and check them out!!
In reading, we will be taking the mythology packet quiz on Monday! It will be worth 35 points, and cover the 4 myths covered in class. A study guide, which includes everything students need to know to do well on the quiz, was handed out and gone over in class today. (Friday, December 7th)
On Tuesday, December 11th, I will be explaining and showing examples of the magazine book report which will be due on Thursday, December 13th. Students will all receive a copy of the book report requirements, and I will also be posting the book report requirements Tuesday afternoon if you'd like to see them!
***Only two weeks left before winter break!!!!!! :)
Saturday, December 1, 2007
What's happening in class?
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
This week in language arts, stuents are turning in their final draft persuasive essays. They are due on Monday! The rough drafts looked very good overall, so I'm looking forward to seeing the end results. We will be delving into more grammar this week as well. Prepositions and prepositional phrases will be our focus.
This week in reading, we will continue the mythology unit. Students did a nice job on their god and goddess quiz, and now we will be reading and discussing some chosen myths. In the last myth we read, entitled, "The Trickery of Hermes," we discovered that it's not really white clouds that we see crossing the sky on a windy day, it's actually Hermes, the messenger of the gods, driving his white cattle across the sky.........no really, it is! :) Additonally, we will be doing some more practice for the ISAT reading test, using the ISAT workbook and writing an ISAT extended response tied to the myth, "Phaethon."
This week in language arts, stuents are turning in their final draft persuasive essays. They are due on Monday! The rough drafts looked very good overall, so I'm looking forward to seeing the end results. We will be delving into more grammar this week as well. Prepositions and prepositional phrases will be our focus.
This week in reading, we will continue the mythology unit. Students did a nice job on their god and goddess quiz, and now we will be reading and discussing some chosen myths. In the last myth we read, entitled, "The Trickery of Hermes," we discovered that it's not really white clouds that we see crossing the sky on a windy day, it's actually Hermes, the messenger of the gods, driving his white cattle across the sky.........no really, it is! :) Additonally, we will be doing some more practice for the ISAT reading test, using the ISAT workbook and writing an ISAT extended response tied to the myth, "Phaethon."
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
What's happening in class?
The week of November 26th will be a busy one!
1. On Tuesday, November 27th, students will receive their 1st trimester report cards!!
2. On Wednesday, November 28th, the 8th graders are going on a bowling field trip! They will leave Lakeview at approximately 9:30 A.M., and return at approximately 12:15 P.M.
3. Thursday night, November 29th, is parent request parent-teacher conference night.
4. Friday, November 30th, there is NO SCHOOL!
In class, we will also be busy:
In Language arts, we will be working on Wordskills unit 7. The book will be due, and the Wordskills quiz will be qiven on Thursday. We will also continue working on the persuasive essay. Things are progressing nicely, and by the end of the week, rough drafts should be complete!
In reading, we will continue our mythology unit. On Monday, November 26th, there will be a 30 point quiz on the 12 main gods and goddesses, and then students will be turning themselves into gods or goddesses through self drawn pictures. They will decide what they will look like, what they will be in charge of, and where their kingdom will be.
***I think I would like to be the goddess of shopping! Hmmmmmm......sales everyday, and my favorite stores right in my neighborhood! :)
Check out the link below to find out COOL information about 12 gods and goddesses!!
http://www.mythweb.com/gods/index.html
1. On Tuesday, November 27th, students will receive their 1st trimester report cards!!
2. On Wednesday, November 28th, the 8th graders are going on a bowling field trip! They will leave Lakeview at approximately 9:30 A.M., and return at approximately 12:15 P.M.
3. Thursday night, November 29th, is parent request parent-teacher conference night.
4. Friday, November 30th, there is NO SCHOOL!
In class, we will also be busy:
In Language arts, we will be working on Wordskills unit 7. The book will be due, and the Wordskills quiz will be qiven on Thursday. We will also continue working on the persuasive essay. Things are progressing nicely, and by the end of the week, rough drafts should be complete!
In reading, we will continue our mythology unit. On Monday, November 26th, there will be a 30 point quiz on the 12 main gods and goddesses, and then students will be turning themselves into gods or goddesses through self drawn pictures. They will decide what they will look like, what they will be in charge of, and where their kingdom will be.
***I think I would like to be the goddess of shopping! Hmmmmmm......sales everyday, and my favorite stores right in my neighborhood! :)
Check out the link below to find out COOL information about 12 gods and goddesses!!
http://www.mythweb.com/gods/index.html
Friday, November 16, 2007
What's happening in class?
This upcoming week is going to be short and sweet! We have school on Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th, and then we have 3 days off for Thanksgiving vacation!
***Enjoy the turkey, have fun and stay safe!
In language arts, we're going to continue working on persuasive essays. The below list contains some of the topics students chose:
1. school uniforms
2. homework
3. year round schooling
4. the best movie, tv show or extra curricular activity
5. daily exercise
6. Internet safety
In reading, we will begin a new unit on Mythology. We will spent time Monday and Tuesday discovering some pretty interesting facts about the 12 main gods and goddesses of Greek and Roman mythology.
For instance, did you know that Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom was born out of Zeus's brain?
Now you do! :)
***Enjoy the turkey, have fun and stay safe!
In language arts, we're going to continue working on persuasive essays. The below list contains some of the topics students chose:
1. school uniforms
2. homework
3. year round schooling
4. the best movie, tv show or extra curricular activity
5. daily exercise
6. Internet safety
In reading, we will begin a new unit on Mythology. We will spent time Monday and Tuesday discovering some pretty interesting facts about the 12 main gods and goddesses of Greek and Roman mythology.
For instance, did you know that Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom was born out of Zeus's brain?
Now you do! :)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Character sketch #1
Adam T.
11/11/07
Character Sketch
He’s four feet and eleven inches tall. He has brown eyes and long brown hair. He is always wearing a Dale Earhart Jr. racing hat. He is my cousin David. He is a very kind and intelligent boy. My cousin David is the best.
David is one of the funniest people I know. Last summer when the song “Hey There Delilah” came out, David made a very funny parody of it. He sang it to my mom and I and we laughed so hard. He made it up when we were on vacation, so it made the trip whole lot more fun. One thing that makes me laugh is when he laughs out loud. One time when I slept over at his house we watched the movie Bad News Bears. It was my first time watching it. The beginning was already funny. When David started laughing, I was laughing the hardest I have ever done. I started to cry too because David’s laugh made me laugh even harder. Now I know every time I see David I will always laugh.
In addition to being funny, David is very nice. One time I was over at his house and we were hanging out with his friends. There was this one kid, Tyler, who was with us. Tyler called our friend Dylan fat right to his face. David told him to stop, but Tyler didn’t. Finally David told him to shut up and stuck up for Dylan. Then we all left Tyler. Another time, I was hanging out with David and his friends after their hockey game. Our parents were upstairs of the ice rink getting something to eat. We all decided to play a big game of tag around the ice rink. When we were done deciding who was “it”, someone said that we should ditch the kid that was it. David refused because he knew that would be mean. At that moment I realized how nice David is.
Not only is David nice, he is athletic. One sport that he and I both enjoy is ice hockey. He loves the game just as much as I do. He is always talking and asking how my team is doing. Since we never play each other, we go to each other’s games and root for each other. Another sport David plays a lot of in the summer is golf. He is in a league with his friends and play every Friday. One sport he just started playing is lacrosse. His friends and he joined together and they all love it. I have never been to one of his games, but he tells me he is good and scores a lot of goals.
David is the greatest. He is one of my favorite cousins. I love having him around because he is like a brother to me. I don’t know what I would do without him.
11/11/07
Character Sketch
He’s four feet and eleven inches tall. He has brown eyes and long brown hair. He is always wearing a Dale Earhart Jr. racing hat. He is my cousin David. He is a very kind and intelligent boy. My cousin David is the best.
David is one of the funniest people I know. Last summer when the song “Hey There Delilah” came out, David made a very funny parody of it. He sang it to my mom and I and we laughed so hard. He made it up when we were on vacation, so it made the trip whole lot more fun. One thing that makes me laugh is when he laughs out loud. One time when I slept over at his house we watched the movie Bad News Bears. It was my first time watching it. The beginning was already funny. When David started laughing, I was laughing the hardest I have ever done. I started to cry too because David’s laugh made me laugh even harder. Now I know every time I see David I will always laugh.
In addition to being funny, David is very nice. One time I was over at his house and we were hanging out with his friends. There was this one kid, Tyler, who was with us. Tyler called our friend Dylan fat right to his face. David told him to stop, but Tyler didn’t. Finally David told him to shut up and stuck up for Dylan. Then we all left Tyler. Another time, I was hanging out with David and his friends after their hockey game. Our parents were upstairs of the ice rink getting something to eat. We all decided to play a big game of tag around the ice rink. When we were done deciding who was “it”, someone said that we should ditch the kid that was it. David refused because he knew that would be mean. At that moment I realized how nice David is.
Not only is David nice, he is athletic. One sport that he and I both enjoy is ice hockey. He loves the game just as much as I do. He is always talking and asking how my team is doing. Since we never play each other, we go to each other’s games and root for each other. Another sport David plays a lot of in the summer is golf. He is in a league with his friends and play every Friday. One sport he just started playing is lacrosse. His friends and he joined together and they all love it. I have never been to one of his games, but he tells me he is good and scores a lot of goals.
David is the greatest. He is one of my favorite cousins. I love having him around because he is like a brother to me. I don’t know what I would do without him.
Character sketch #2
Michele J.
11/11/2007
Per. 3-4
Amazing Aunt
My Aunt Jenny amazes me. She has a very hectic life, yet you’d never know it because she’s always so calm. She has 4 kids ranging in age from 2-14 years old, yet she always seems to find tome for her many nieces, of which I am proudly one. Jenny can brighten up any day and she’s always fun to be around. My Aunt Jenny is a great person.
My Aunt Jenny is very patient. She puts up with so much in one day. She has to figure out schedules, cook for 6, potty-train, help with homework, referee several matches of child wrestling, be my conformation sponsor, and keep her house at least semi-clean. She has to organize rides to dance class, karate sessions, soccer practice, and T-ball games. Once she picked me up to go to her house to play with my cousins. Five minutes after we got there, we were back in her car, off to karate class. I also remember that when I was little, she drove my cousin and me to dance class. I can’t think of anyone but her who can be fun and energetic while also being responsible.
In addition to being patient, My Aunt Jenny is very helpful. One time she helped me was learning to ride my bike. I was on my cousin’s bike which she didn’t know how to ride either. My aunt Jenny has a long driveway that has a dip in the middle that goes up just in time to be up on the street. She asked me if I trusted her and I told her that I did. So she sent me down the driveway, down the dip, and back up, turning just in time before I was on the street. I rode back to her with a huge smile on my face. She helped me ride on a two-wheeler! My mom was so proud of me and so was Jenny. That was a great day. Another time she helped me was recently, she agreed to be my sponsor for my conformation. A sponsor basically helps the person making their conformation. The day I asked her to be my sponsor was a great day. I remember being very nervous. If she said no, I’d be so embarrassed. But I knew she was the one I wanted to share this with, so I’d take the risk. I asked her if we could talk in private, and I took her into the hall. When I asked her, she was so happy. She was happy to help me! I swear, the whole room brightened up. And when I saw that she was happy, I couldn’t help but feel so good about my self because I brought her so much joy. I will never forget that. She almost cried tears of joy. I loved it.
As well as being helpful, Aunt Jenny is also outgoing. She can be so fun. I can’t believe how energetic she can be when she has the stress of 3 crazy kids and 1 bratty teen. I remember one time in her car that I won’t soon forget. My cousin Amanda and I were around 6, my sister Johanna was almost 5, and the Back Street Boys were hot! We were listening to one of my favorite songs, “I Want it That Way.” The sunroof was open, we were all belting out the lyrics, and we were having the time of our lives. At the best part of the song, my aunt turned it up very loud and we practically screamed, “Don’t wanna hear you!” Nothing could ever compare to that. Another time was less than half a year ago. Jenny thought that it might be fun to make a home cooked meal together, which I thought was crazy considering there were 7 of us, two of which were toddlers. We were all given a job to do. We made parmesan chicken, real parmesan chicken, not the stuff from the box. It was delicious. As the minutes went by, more people came. By the end of dinner, there were 17 people there. Even her neighbors who were on a bike ride stopped by unexpectedly, and Jenny just went along with it. I admire her for that.
My Aunt Jenny is amazing. She has always been there for me. She portrays so many important qualities that I would look for in a friend. I love her so much and I would never change her.
11/11/2007
Per. 3-4
Amazing Aunt
My Aunt Jenny amazes me. She has a very hectic life, yet you’d never know it because she’s always so calm. She has 4 kids ranging in age from 2-14 years old, yet she always seems to find tome for her many nieces, of which I am proudly one. Jenny can brighten up any day and she’s always fun to be around. My Aunt Jenny is a great person.
My Aunt Jenny is very patient. She puts up with so much in one day. She has to figure out schedules, cook for 6, potty-train, help with homework, referee several matches of child wrestling, be my conformation sponsor, and keep her house at least semi-clean. She has to organize rides to dance class, karate sessions, soccer practice, and T-ball games. Once she picked me up to go to her house to play with my cousins. Five minutes after we got there, we were back in her car, off to karate class. I also remember that when I was little, she drove my cousin and me to dance class. I can’t think of anyone but her who can be fun and energetic while also being responsible.
In addition to being patient, My Aunt Jenny is very helpful. One time she helped me was learning to ride my bike. I was on my cousin’s bike which she didn’t know how to ride either. My aunt Jenny has a long driveway that has a dip in the middle that goes up just in time to be up on the street. She asked me if I trusted her and I told her that I did. So she sent me down the driveway, down the dip, and back up, turning just in time before I was on the street. I rode back to her with a huge smile on my face. She helped me ride on a two-wheeler! My mom was so proud of me and so was Jenny. That was a great day. Another time she helped me was recently, she agreed to be my sponsor for my conformation. A sponsor basically helps the person making their conformation. The day I asked her to be my sponsor was a great day. I remember being very nervous. If she said no, I’d be so embarrassed. But I knew she was the one I wanted to share this with, so I’d take the risk. I asked her if we could talk in private, and I took her into the hall. When I asked her, she was so happy. She was happy to help me! I swear, the whole room brightened up. And when I saw that she was happy, I couldn’t help but feel so good about my self because I brought her so much joy. I will never forget that. She almost cried tears of joy. I loved it.
As well as being helpful, Aunt Jenny is also outgoing. She can be so fun. I can’t believe how energetic she can be when she has the stress of 3 crazy kids and 1 bratty teen. I remember one time in her car that I won’t soon forget. My cousin Amanda and I were around 6, my sister Johanna was almost 5, and the Back Street Boys were hot! We were listening to one of my favorite songs, “I Want it That Way.” The sunroof was open, we were all belting out the lyrics, and we were having the time of our lives. At the best part of the song, my aunt turned it up very loud and we practically screamed, “Don’t wanna hear you!” Nothing could ever compare to that. Another time was less than half a year ago. Jenny thought that it might be fun to make a home cooked meal together, which I thought was crazy considering there were 7 of us, two of which were toddlers. We were all given a job to do. We made parmesan chicken, real parmesan chicken, not the stuff from the box. It was delicious. As the minutes went by, more people came. By the end of dinner, there were 17 people there. Even her neighbors who were on a bike ride stopped by unexpectedly, and Jenny just went along with it. I admire her for that.
My Aunt Jenny is amazing. She has always been there for me. She portrays so many important qualities that I would look for in a friend. I love her so much and I would never change her.
Character sketch #3
Number One Grandma
Angela Z.
She’s about to turn 60, but doesn’t look it. She has five grandchildren. The oldest is fourteen years old and the youngest is six. She loves to cook and is very good at it. During the summer, she has many beautiful flowers around her house, but hates to take care of them. My grandma is the greatest grandma around.
My grandma is one of my biggest supporters. I remember one time when I had a softball tournament all the way in Orland Park on a hot summer day. My grandma said she wanted to come, so she drove there just to watch me play. Once we started to play, it was about twelve o’clock and ninety degrees outside. After about two hours, the game was in the last inning. She was still there cheering me on, even though we were getting slaughtered and she was sweating. Another time when my grandma was supportive, was when my sister had to go to the emergency room. We were on our way home from Michigan because my sister got whipped in the face with a tubing rope that had snapped. When we were about thirty minutes away from home, my mom called my grandma to tell her what had happened. My grandma said she would drive my mom and sister to the hospital since it would be around eleven o’clock when we got home. After we pulled in the driveway, there she was, driving down the street right behind us. When they were done with the appointment it was two o’clock in the morning, but my grandma was still wide awake when she drove them home.
Not only is my grandma very supportive, she is also the hardest working person I know. Every holiday during the year, my grandma has dinner at her house. She never allows any family member to help her out by making anything either. For example, last Christmas she started a week before Christmas making cookies. She made about ten dozen different cookies throughout the week. Then, on Christmas Eve, she spent the whole day making mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, and jello, just to name a few things. On Christmas day, she then made ham and turkey. Another time I remember her being hardworking is when she had just opened her pool for the summer. Her pool was pretty green, so every day for about a week she spent a couple of hours working on the pool. She spent time putting different chemicals in the pool, vacuuming it, and cleaning the filter. Soon, it looked better than ever!
In addition to being hardworking my grandma is extremely generous. I remember one time when my grandma was driving me home from softball practice. I mentioned to my grandma that I was really hungry and I couldn’t wait to get home to eat. Then she asked me if I wanted to stop for Frosties. My grandma went inside to get them while I stayed in the car. When she came out, she had three Frosties in her hand. Not only did she buy one for me, but she bought one for my brother and sister also. I thought that was very generous of her. I remember another time when it was my thirteenth birthday. I really wanted a cell phone, but of course my parents said no because it was too expensive. My grandma knew I really wanted one, so she didn’t give up on the idea. Even though it was over one hundred and fifty dollars, she bought it for me, with my parents’ permission.
The greatest grandma around is my grandma. I know we will always be there for each other for the rest of our lives.
Angela Z.
She’s about to turn 60, but doesn’t look it. She has five grandchildren. The oldest is fourteen years old and the youngest is six. She loves to cook and is very good at it. During the summer, she has many beautiful flowers around her house, but hates to take care of them. My grandma is the greatest grandma around.
My grandma is one of my biggest supporters. I remember one time when I had a softball tournament all the way in Orland Park on a hot summer day. My grandma said she wanted to come, so she drove there just to watch me play. Once we started to play, it was about twelve o’clock and ninety degrees outside. After about two hours, the game was in the last inning. She was still there cheering me on, even though we were getting slaughtered and she was sweating. Another time when my grandma was supportive, was when my sister had to go to the emergency room. We were on our way home from Michigan because my sister got whipped in the face with a tubing rope that had snapped. When we were about thirty minutes away from home, my mom called my grandma to tell her what had happened. My grandma said she would drive my mom and sister to the hospital since it would be around eleven o’clock when we got home. After we pulled in the driveway, there she was, driving down the street right behind us. When they were done with the appointment it was two o’clock in the morning, but my grandma was still wide awake when she drove them home.
Not only is my grandma very supportive, she is also the hardest working person I know. Every holiday during the year, my grandma has dinner at her house. She never allows any family member to help her out by making anything either. For example, last Christmas she started a week before Christmas making cookies. She made about ten dozen different cookies throughout the week. Then, on Christmas Eve, she spent the whole day making mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, and jello, just to name a few things. On Christmas day, she then made ham and turkey. Another time I remember her being hardworking is when she had just opened her pool for the summer. Her pool was pretty green, so every day for about a week she spent a couple of hours working on the pool. She spent time putting different chemicals in the pool, vacuuming it, and cleaning the filter. Soon, it looked better than ever!
In addition to being hardworking my grandma is extremely generous. I remember one time when my grandma was driving me home from softball practice. I mentioned to my grandma that I was really hungry and I couldn’t wait to get home to eat. Then she asked me if I wanted to stop for Frosties. My grandma went inside to get them while I stayed in the car. When she came out, she had three Frosties in her hand. Not only did she buy one for me, but she bought one for my brother and sister also. I thought that was very generous of her. I remember another time when it was my thirteenth birthday. I really wanted a cell phone, but of course my parents said no because it was too expensive. My grandma knew I really wanted one, so she didn’t give up on the idea. Even though it was over one hundred and fifty dollars, she bought it for me, with my parents’ permission.
The greatest grandma around is my grandma. I know we will always be there for each other for the rest of our lives.
Character sketch #4
Eric V.
11/11/2007
MY DAD
We are with each other all the time. We watch football often, play catch in the backyard, and he will even help me with my homework. No matter what we do, we have a great time. I am very lucky to have a great father.
When I think of the word helpful, I think of my dad. One time I did not know how to do my math homework. I handed it to my dad to see if he knew how to do it. He looked at it, then looked at me and told me how to do it. Another time my dad and I were golfing in Jamaica and I wasn’t doing very well. I got very mad. He told me to calm down, keep my eye on the ball, and bring my feet together a little bit. I hit the ball and it went flying down the middle of the fairway. Then my caddy told me, “Good shot mon.”
I ended up following what my dad had told from then on, and I ended up golfing very well. Another time. I bragged to my dad about how I could beat him in ping-pong and how nobody could beat me. He challenged me to a game. I had never played my dad and I thought I would beat him 21-0, but he was been pretty good. Before I knew it, he had a 20-15 point lead. I could not believe that he was about to win. After he won, he taught me how to make the ping-pong ball curve left or right. After I knew how to do it, I told him that I could definitely beat him. We played again. He won 21-15, but he had told me I had gotten much better. No matter what I need help with, my dad is always there for me.
In addition to my dad being helpful, he is also very hard working. I remember one time about a year or two ago when we were remodeling are kitchen. We hired someone to come in to remodel it. Before that, my dad and I had to take every tile, every cabinet, and a lot of drywall out of are kitchen. I woke up at 4:30 in the morning. I heard a loud, loud banging. My dad was hammering tile and taking them out. My dad told me to help him. We worked until about 10:00 in the morning, and at that time we were not even half way done with are work. I decided to go over to my friend’s house, and when I got back around 5:00, I looked in the kitchen, and my dad only had one more cabinet to take down. I couldn’t believe he worked the whole time while I was gone. My dad also works hard every day. Every morning he will get up at 4:30 am to drive to work, near Chicago. He doesn’t get home until after 5:00, yet, when my dad gets home, he still does work around the house. My whole life I have not heard one complaint from him.
Not only is my dad hardworking, but he is also a very positive guy. He will make every situation better. One time my family went on a vacation in California. We were driving to our hotel from the airport and we didn’t know how to get there. We all were getting kind of mad, but my dad never really got angry. He calmed everybody down and we eventually found our way to the hotel. Another time my grandma died. My mom cried for a really long time. My dad calmed her down and told her it would be ok. After a day or two, my mom didn’t cry anymore. Another time my family and I were at home, and our power went out. We were all hoping it would come back on right away. We waited and waited. Then we got a call from our electric company, ComEd. They told my dad that we wouldn’t have power for a day or two. Every one got mad, and thought, “What were we going to do without power?” Luckily my dad came up with great ideas. During the day, my dad and I went golfing, and during the night we made a bonfire. The next day my dad and I were working on our chipping in the backyard, and out of nowhere, we heard a loud ringing. our power was back on. It would have been a very boring couple of days without my dad.
I am very lucky to have a great father. I can count on him for everything. I cannot imagine my life without him.
11/11/2007
MY DAD
We are with each other all the time. We watch football often, play catch in the backyard, and he will even help me with my homework. No matter what we do, we have a great time. I am very lucky to have a great father.
When I think of the word helpful, I think of my dad. One time I did not know how to do my math homework. I handed it to my dad to see if he knew how to do it. He looked at it, then looked at me and told me how to do it. Another time my dad and I were golfing in Jamaica and I wasn’t doing very well. I got very mad. He told me to calm down, keep my eye on the ball, and bring my feet together a little bit. I hit the ball and it went flying down the middle of the fairway. Then my caddy told me, “Good shot mon.”
I ended up following what my dad had told from then on, and I ended up golfing very well. Another time. I bragged to my dad about how I could beat him in ping-pong and how nobody could beat me. He challenged me to a game. I had never played my dad and I thought I would beat him 21-0, but he was been pretty good. Before I knew it, he had a 20-15 point lead. I could not believe that he was about to win. After he won, he taught me how to make the ping-pong ball curve left or right. After I knew how to do it, I told him that I could definitely beat him. We played again. He won 21-15, but he had told me I had gotten much better. No matter what I need help with, my dad is always there for me.
In addition to my dad being helpful, he is also very hard working. I remember one time about a year or two ago when we were remodeling are kitchen. We hired someone to come in to remodel it. Before that, my dad and I had to take every tile, every cabinet, and a lot of drywall out of are kitchen. I woke up at 4:30 in the morning. I heard a loud, loud banging. My dad was hammering tile and taking them out. My dad told me to help him. We worked until about 10:00 in the morning, and at that time we were not even half way done with are work. I decided to go over to my friend’s house, and when I got back around 5:00, I looked in the kitchen, and my dad only had one more cabinet to take down. I couldn’t believe he worked the whole time while I was gone. My dad also works hard every day. Every morning he will get up at 4:30 am to drive to work, near Chicago. He doesn’t get home until after 5:00, yet, when my dad gets home, he still does work around the house. My whole life I have not heard one complaint from him.
Not only is my dad hardworking, but he is also a very positive guy. He will make every situation better. One time my family went on a vacation in California. We were driving to our hotel from the airport and we didn’t know how to get there. We all were getting kind of mad, but my dad never really got angry. He calmed everybody down and we eventually found our way to the hotel. Another time my grandma died. My mom cried for a really long time. My dad calmed her down and told her it would be ok. After a day or two, my mom didn’t cry anymore. Another time my family and I were at home, and our power went out. We were all hoping it would come back on right away. We waited and waited. Then we got a call from our electric company, ComEd. They told my dad that we wouldn’t have power for a day or two. Every one got mad, and thought, “What were we going to do without power?” Luckily my dad came up with great ideas. During the day, my dad and I went golfing, and during the night we made a bonfire. The next day my dad and I were working on our chipping in the backyard, and out of nowhere, we heard a loud ringing. our power was back on. It would have been a very boring couple of days without my dad.
I am very lucky to have a great father. I can count on him for everything. I cannot imagine my life without him.
Friday, November 9, 2007
What's happening in class?
In language arts, students did an excellent job of polishing their character sketches. They will be giving their essay gifts soon! (I will be posting 4 example essays this weekend. Check back and check them out!)
On Monday, November 12th, students will be taking a quiz on VERBS. (linking, action, helping, and irregular)
They will also begin work on Wordskills Unit 6. The book + quiz will be due on Friday, November 16th.
Later in the week, students will begin their 3rd major essay of the year, a persuasive essay. After discussion of several suggested topics, and the sharing of some previous model student persuasive essays, students will select a topic from a provided list, or come up with one on their own. ***This will be an opinion based paper, not one requiring research. We will do the majority of writing in class, and editing and revising will be done at home.
***Check back at the beginning of the week, when I will post the suggested topic list for persuasive essays in case anyone wants to get a jump start on selecting a topic.
There is a lot going on in reading! On Monday, November 12th, students will be turning in their 1st ISAT extended response. We worked on the new 2007-2008 format in class on Thursday, and students did very well organizing their rough drafts. I'm looking forward to seeing the final results!
Also on Monday, students will receive their culminating assignment for The Outsiders. They will be writing a detailed paragraph, comparing and contrasing themselves to one of the characters from The Outsiders, using examples from the book and their own personal experiences as support.
AND.......we will then be watching the 1981 movie, The Outsiders!! Though this is close to my 70th time watching the movie, I still enjoy it. AND.....I have to admit, I still have a crush on Soda Pop, played by Rob Lowe. :)
On Monday, November 12th, students will be taking a quiz on VERBS. (linking, action, helping, and irregular)
They will also begin work on Wordskills Unit 6. The book + quiz will be due on Friday, November 16th.
Later in the week, students will begin their 3rd major essay of the year, a persuasive essay. After discussion of several suggested topics, and the sharing of some previous model student persuasive essays, students will select a topic from a provided list, or come up with one on their own. ***This will be an opinion based paper, not one requiring research. We will do the majority of writing in class, and editing and revising will be done at home.
***Check back at the beginning of the week, when I will post the suggested topic list for persuasive essays in case anyone wants to get a jump start on selecting a topic.
There is a lot going on in reading! On Monday, November 12th, students will be turning in their 1st ISAT extended response. We worked on the new 2007-2008 format in class on Thursday, and students did very well organizing their rough drafts. I'm looking forward to seeing the final results!
Also on Monday, students will receive their culminating assignment for The Outsiders. They will be writing a detailed paragraph, comparing and contrasing themselves to one of the characters from The Outsiders, using examples from the book and their own personal experiences as support.
AND.......we will then be watching the 1981 movie, The Outsiders!! Though this is close to my 70th time watching the movie, I still enjoy it. AND.....I have to admit, I still have a crush on Soda Pop, played by Rob Lowe. :)
Friday, November 2, 2007
What's Happening in Class?
In language arts, we will be tackling our next part of speech, VERBS! (linking, action and helping)
I will also be returning graded final drafts of the character sketch essays on Tuesday, November 6th. Students will then be polishing their essays and giving them to their character sketch subjects as gifts.
In reading, we will be finishing the novel, The Outsiders.
Currently, Ponyboy is in denial. He doesn't want to face the pain of losing Johnny, seeing Dally killed and the possibility that he may be separated from his brothers. Will everything work out for Ponyboy? Stay tuned to find out!
***Students have done an excellent job during this unit of character analysis, problem solving, predicting and sequencing.
The final test on The Outsiders will be on Friday, November 9th!
***In Hombase, we will be discussing service project ideas, and planning what we can do throughout the year to show our support.
I will also be returning graded final drafts of the character sketch essays on Tuesday, November 6th. Students will then be polishing their essays and giving them to their character sketch subjects as gifts.
In reading, we will be finishing the novel, The Outsiders.
Currently, Ponyboy is in denial. He doesn't want to face the pain of losing Johnny, seeing Dally killed and the possibility that he may be separated from his brothers. Will everything work out for Ponyboy? Stay tuned to find out!
***Students have done an excellent job during this unit of character analysis, problem solving, predicting and sequencing.
The final test on The Outsiders will be on Friday, November 9th!
***In Hombase, we will be discussing service project ideas, and planning what we can do throughout the year to show our support.
Friday, October 26, 2007
What's happening in class?
***Students do not have school on Monday. I have to say I'm a little jealous! :) Use that extra day to make your character sketch extra special and extra good!
In language arts, students will be turning in the final drafts of their character sketches on Tuesday, October 30th. Based on how detailed and insightful their rough drafts were, I'm looking forward to seeing the finished products!
We will also be working on Wordskills unit 5 throughout the course of the week, and we will be delving into the exciting world of pronouns!
In reading, we will start off the week with a review and a quiz on chapters 6-8 in the novel, The Outsiders. We will then continue reading, discussing and analyzing chapters 9, 10 and 11...........
***Currently, Johhny is in bad shape. He was burned badly in the church fire, and also broke his back when a beam from the crumbling church fell on him. Dally is in the hospital too, but a badly burned arm is not going to keep him there for long. The rest of the greasers are getting ready for the big rumble with the socs. The winners will get satisfaction as well as bragging rights, and if the greasers win, the socs will have to stay out of their terriory forever.
Will the greasers win the rumble? Will everything go smoothly, or will something go tragically wrong? Stay tuned to find out!
In language arts, students will be turning in the final drafts of their character sketches on Tuesday, October 30th. Based on how detailed and insightful their rough drafts were, I'm looking forward to seeing the finished products!
We will also be working on Wordskills unit 5 throughout the course of the week, and we will be delving into the exciting world of pronouns!
In reading, we will start off the week with a review and a quiz on chapters 6-8 in the novel, The Outsiders. We will then continue reading, discussing and analyzing chapters 9, 10 and 11...........
***Currently, Johhny is in bad shape. He was burned badly in the church fire, and also broke his back when a beam from the crumbling church fell on him. Dally is in the hospital too, but a badly burned arm is not going to keep him there for long. The rest of the greasers are getting ready for the big rumble with the socs. The winners will get satisfaction as well as bragging rights, and if the greasers win, the socs will have to stay out of their terriory forever.
Will the greasers win the rumble? Will everything go smoothly, or will something go tragically wrong? Stay tuned to find out!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
What's Happening in Class?
This week in L.A., we are continuing our work on an expository essay in the form of a character sketch. By the end of the week, all students should have a well developed, detailed rough draft of their chosen person essay!
This week in reading, we will continue reading and discussing the novel, The Outsiders. Students just completed a quiz on chapters 1-5 and did a great job overall! ***I just posted the quiz grades online, so check them out if you are interested!
We will be covering chapters 6-8 this week, and the plot thickens. Stay tuned to find out what happens when Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny return to the church after their trip to the Dairy Queen..............Is smoke in the air?
***Click on the link below to find out a lot of cool information about S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders! You will also find interesting information about the movie, The Outsiders, and the actors who starred in the movie!!
http://www.sehinton.com/
This week in reading, we will continue reading and discussing the novel, The Outsiders. Students just completed a quiz on chapters 1-5 and did a great job overall! ***I just posted the quiz grades online, so check them out if you are interested!
We will be covering chapters 6-8 this week, and the plot thickens. Stay tuned to find out what happens when Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny return to the church after their trip to the Dairy Queen..............Is smoke in the air?
***Click on the link below to find out a lot of cool information about S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders! You will also find interesting information about the movie, The Outsiders, and the actors who starred in the movie!!
http://www.sehinton.com/
Friday, October 19, 2007
Human vocabulary!!!
On Thursday, October 18th, all my reading classes participated in a vocabulary review game to prepare them for the vocabulary portion of their chapters 1-5 The Outsiders quiz on Friday. Students were turned into living words, and all of them needed to obtain the signature of every "living word" when trying to match sentences with the correct word.
Students did a great job finding correct answers!! The first three correct finishers are listed below and were showcased on a Wall of Fame located in my classroom. GREAT JOB!
2nd hour = Alissa Z., Jeremy R. and Jerrika P.
4th hour = Keaton F., Andy K., and Kristin D.
7th hour = Karyna R., Alex I. and Brett B.
Monday, October 15, 2007
What's happening in class?
***This week will be a little crazy, schedule wise!:) On Tuesday, all 8th graders will be taking the Explore test during 1st-4th hours, but will have their regular classes 5th-8th. On Wednesday, we have early dismissal, so students will meet with all of their classes, but only briefly. Dismissal on Wednesday is at 11:30 A.M.
In language arts, we will be starting our next essay. This essay will be an expository essay, in the form of a character sketch. Students will be selecting a friend or family member to "sketch" through words.
In reading, we will continue reading the novel, The Outsiders. The socs, lead by Bob, did decide to take out their anger on the greasers, and Ponyboy and Johnny ended up being easy targets! Johnny, in order to save Ponyboy's life, stabs and kills Bob, and now, the two greasers are on the run............Tune in later to find out what happens next!
***The first quiz for The Outsiders will be on Friday, October 19th, and it will cover chapters 1-5.
In language arts, we will be starting our next essay. This essay will be an expository essay, in the form of a character sketch. Students will be selecting a friend or family member to "sketch" through words.
In reading, we will continue reading the novel, The Outsiders. The socs, lead by Bob, did decide to take out their anger on the greasers, and Ponyboy and Johnny ended up being easy targets! Johnny, in order to save Ponyboy's life, stabs and kills Bob, and now, the two greasers are on the run............Tune in later to find out what happens next!
***The first quiz for The Outsiders will be on Friday, October 19th, and it will cover chapters 1-5.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
THE EXPLORE TEST
***The 8th graders will be taking The Explore test on Tuesday morning, October 16th. Downers Grove South High School requires all of its incoming freshmen to take this test. It is a 4 part, multiple choice test, covering language arts, reading, math and science. Each subject test is 30 minutes long. The Explore test will be one of several components used to help determine placement in freshment classes at DGS.
***Please encourage your teenagers to do their best on the test, get a good night's sleep Monday evening, and have a healthy breakfast Tuesday morning before the test!
***Please encourage your teenagers to do their best on the test, get a good night's sleep Monday evening, and have a healthy breakfast Tuesday morning before the test!
Narrative Essay #1
His Death, to the Magical Pond
By Jennifer
I heard my mom coming upstairs. I forcefully, but quietly, pulled the sheets of my bed over my head. Still sad and mad over what had just happened. I told him not to go, but he just had to. My mom opened the door as quietly as she could and sighed as she heard me whimpering. “David,” she said. “Can you please just listen?”
“What,” I said in a quiet voice.
She walked over to sit on my bed and stroke my hair. “Dad had to go,” she exclaimed. “It was his duty if he has this job.” I took the covers of my bed and looked outside my window as I saw the fire still going and spreading from the distance. I felt like I should have run after him or punching something so hard it would bleed to death, but I couldn’t. “I know this is hard,” she exclaimed,” but it was his time.”
During the funeral, I found out my dad had died in the fire while trying to save a trapped kid. I felt sorry for the child, but proud that my dad had tried. “Mom,” I asked. “Are you ok?”
“Yes dear,” she said, as I she tried not to cry while the priest was saying his words. I was holding my dad’s firefighter hat close to my heart so I could feel he was close by me. I started thinking of the good times we had spent with each other and just thinking of them made my stomach sick. After the funeral, many people brought wondrous, delicious foods for my mom and me to comfort us.
“Mom, I’m going to go take a walk to try and get some air to clear my thoughts,” I said.
“Ok, but don’t go too far,” she replied.
“Yeah, I know.”
As I was walking, I spotted a family of deer and started thinking mine and how that could’ve been us, still together. “Stop it David!” I told myself. “Thinking about it will just make you feel worse.” Soon I started to get thirsty and I was pretty far from the church. “Hey, there’s a lake,” I said, “and oh thank-you God.” As I ran towards the sparkling water, I put my hands in. The water was so cool and I felt like I could swim in it. “I’ll just take a sip and then go back,” I said. As I drank it down slowly, it was really refreshing and cold, until I heard a loud boom that made the water ripple. “Who’s there?” I cried. All of a sudden, I felt a cold, wet hand around my wrist that pulled me in the water. “Oh no, help!” I yelled. “I’m drowning!” Soon, I sank into the deep water and felt every part of my body become numb with the coldness. I opened my eyes and felt like this was the end for me, but it wasn’t. “I can breathe underwater?” I asked.
“Well, now you can,” a man’s voice said.
“Who are you and what do you want?” I said. I soon saw a white figure coming close to me. I looked at him and saw myself as a white figure also, but floating in the water.
“Son,” he said, “I’m your father.”
“What?” I said. “No you’re not. My father’s dead and you couldn’t possibly be him!”
“But I am his ghost,” he said. I soon saw his face, it was him.
“Oh my God! You are!” I said. “Is this a dream?”
“No David, it’s real,” he said. “It can be, if you stay with me here forever.” I was shocked, here with him?
“Yeah dad, I want to,” I said, as I cried and hugged him. “I’ve missed you so much and so has mom, but if i stay here, what will mom do?” I asked. “She’ll worry about me and have no one with her.” I saw my dad’s expression and knew he was disappointed, but knew that was true.
“Ok son, I’ll let you go,” he said. “Just remember, I’ll always be in your heart and never forget you.”
“Thanks dad,” I said, as I hugged him once more.
“Now, close your eyes,” he said, “and wake up.”
“Wake up David,” Mom said quietly. “We’re about to close the coffin honey. Do you want to say any last words?” I was back at the church and looked at my dad once more. Everyone was watching me as I said my words in a quiet voice.
“Thank you dad. You were the best and now that you are gone from this world, just remember, you’ll always be in my heart and I’ll always be thinking of you,” I said proudly. A tear dropped from my eye and as it fell on his suit, I thought I saw him smile at me.
By Jennifer
I heard my mom coming upstairs. I forcefully, but quietly, pulled the sheets of my bed over my head. Still sad and mad over what had just happened. I told him not to go, but he just had to. My mom opened the door as quietly as she could and sighed as she heard me whimpering. “David,” she said. “Can you please just listen?”
“What,” I said in a quiet voice.
She walked over to sit on my bed and stroke my hair. “Dad had to go,” she exclaimed. “It was his duty if he has this job.” I took the covers of my bed and looked outside my window as I saw the fire still going and spreading from the distance. I felt like I should have run after him or punching something so hard it would bleed to death, but I couldn’t. “I know this is hard,” she exclaimed,” but it was his time.”
During the funeral, I found out my dad had died in the fire while trying to save a trapped kid. I felt sorry for the child, but proud that my dad had tried. “Mom,” I asked. “Are you ok?”
“Yes dear,” she said, as I she tried not to cry while the priest was saying his words. I was holding my dad’s firefighter hat close to my heart so I could feel he was close by me. I started thinking of the good times we had spent with each other and just thinking of them made my stomach sick. After the funeral, many people brought wondrous, delicious foods for my mom and me to comfort us.
“Mom, I’m going to go take a walk to try and get some air to clear my thoughts,” I said.
“Ok, but don’t go too far,” she replied.
“Yeah, I know.”
As I was walking, I spotted a family of deer and started thinking mine and how that could’ve been us, still together. “Stop it David!” I told myself. “Thinking about it will just make you feel worse.” Soon I started to get thirsty and I was pretty far from the church. “Hey, there’s a lake,” I said, “and oh thank-you God.” As I ran towards the sparkling water, I put my hands in. The water was so cool and I felt like I could swim in it. “I’ll just take a sip and then go back,” I said. As I drank it down slowly, it was really refreshing and cold, until I heard a loud boom that made the water ripple. “Who’s there?” I cried. All of a sudden, I felt a cold, wet hand around my wrist that pulled me in the water. “Oh no, help!” I yelled. “I’m drowning!” Soon, I sank into the deep water and felt every part of my body become numb with the coldness. I opened my eyes and felt like this was the end for me, but it wasn’t. “I can breathe underwater?” I asked.
“Well, now you can,” a man’s voice said.
“Who are you and what do you want?” I said. I soon saw a white figure coming close to me. I looked at him and saw myself as a white figure also, but floating in the water.
“Son,” he said, “I’m your father.”
“What?” I said. “No you’re not. My father’s dead and you couldn’t possibly be him!”
“But I am his ghost,” he said. I soon saw his face, it was him.
“Oh my God! You are!” I said. “Is this a dream?”
“No David, it’s real,” he said. “It can be, if you stay with me here forever.” I was shocked, here with him?
“Yeah dad, I want to,” I said, as I cried and hugged him. “I’ve missed you so much and so has mom, but if i stay here, what will mom do?” I asked. “She’ll worry about me and have no one with her.” I saw my dad’s expression and knew he was disappointed, but knew that was true.
“Ok son, I’ll let you go,” he said. “Just remember, I’ll always be in your heart and never forget you.”
“Thanks dad,” I said, as I hugged him once more.
“Now, close your eyes,” he said, “and wake up.”
“Wake up David,” Mom said quietly. “We’re about to close the coffin honey. Do you want to say any last words?” I was back at the church and looked at my dad once more. Everyone was watching me as I said my words in a quiet voice.
“Thank you dad. You were the best and now that you are gone from this world, just remember, you’ll always be in my heart and I’ll always be thinking of you,” I said proudly. A tear dropped from my eye and as it fell on his suit, I thought I saw him smile at me.
Narrative Essay #2
The Red-tailed Tale
By Greg
“Ah, the woods, so peaceful and quiet,” James said. “Let’s pause and appreciate its beauty, Kyle.” The boys hear ominous roars, birds chirping, and a chainsaw chopping down a large evergreen tree.
“Yeah, really peaceful,” Kyle said sarcastically. Kyle and James have been friends since the first grade. Even though they really are best friends, they don’t like to say it because they think it sounds girly. These so called Men are camping in the woods for the weekend: if you call living in a cabin with wool couches, indoor pluming, and an HDTV camping. James has always been the funny guy while Kyle is more serious. They tend to even each other out.
On their way to the cabin, the boys spot a deer. While Kyle looks through his backpack to find his camera, James decides to catch it as a pet. There was a thud and Kyle looked up. He saw the deer running away and James wrapped up in his net, struggling on the ground. As Kyle watches, the deer run away, he sees that the deer had a red tail, all while James is still on the ground. “A red tail?” Kyle asked puzzled. As he wonders about it, Kyle steps over James and walks away.
“H- Hey! Where are you going? Ugh! Get back here and help me!”
While in the cabin, Kyle is making Mac and Cheese in the microwave. Real outdoors men, right? He was watching cartoons on the big screen, when in comes James who was covered with leaves, branches, and what he hopes is mud.
“Thanks for the help,” James said sarcastically.
“That was your own fault,” Kyle reacted. “Now shut-up, I’m watching this,” he said with his mouth stuffed with cheese and pasta.
“What are you watching?” James asked. “Oh, SpongeBob, Big macho man. Why don’t we watch baseball or something?”
“Nothing’s on, it’s just news,” Kyle remarked.
“I don’t believe you, change the channel,” James demanded.
“Alright then, I will change it,” Kyle said all sure of himself.
“Click. Click. Click.”
“See, just news. I win,” Kyle said with his hollow victory.
“Yeah, way to go,” James said while sitting down.
While enjoying his Amazing accomplishment, Kyle overheard the reporter talking about a red-tailed deer. He was talking to a hunter. The hunter said that the red-tailed deer’s blood gives someone the ability to live forever!
The boys, jaws open, immediately started to scream. Kyle was screaming because of the fact that there was a hunter in the woods that would kill anybody to get to the deer. James was screaming because Kyle was screaming right in his ear. Once out of breath, Kyle began to explain his thoughts to James. James wanted to find and sell the deer.
“No,” yelled Kyle, “we have to put it in the zoo.”
“Well, whatever we do, we have to catch that deer,” James explained.
James and Kyle set out on their hike to find the red-tailed deer. For hours and hours, they were out on their dedicated and dangerous journey.
“What was that?” James asked after hearing a strange sound.
“That was a squirrel… again,” Kyle said, now irritated. While in the woods, the boys began to get tired and hungry.
“Let’s go back,” James suggested. “I can’t stand hiking,” he began to whine.
“It’s a good thing that we came to the woods than,” Kyle said sarcastically. “We’ll just stay out for a few more minutes.”
“You said that an hour ago,” James said with anger. “I’m going back.”
“No, we have to stay together,” explained Kyle.
While on the road, they saw headlights and turned back. Knowing it was the hunter, the boys looked around for the deer.
“There it is!” James exclaimed. They saw the hunter go right for it. While running after the car, they heard a thud. As the hunter stepped out, Kyle went to help the deer, while James went after the hunter. To help James, Kyle got out his camera, flashed a shot, and stunned the dangerous man. While James tied up the hunter, Kyle called the police.
“I still think we should have sold it,” James said at the zoo. The majestic animal has brought in enough tourism to put every other zoo out of business. While watching the deer, Kyle felt some sort of gratitude, from the deer. This was going to be his one, silent victory.
“Yeah, we Really should have.”
By Greg
“Ah, the woods, so peaceful and quiet,” James said. “Let’s pause and appreciate its beauty, Kyle.” The boys hear ominous roars, birds chirping, and a chainsaw chopping down a large evergreen tree.
“Yeah, really peaceful,” Kyle said sarcastically. Kyle and James have been friends since the first grade. Even though they really are best friends, they don’t like to say it because they think it sounds girly. These so called Men are camping in the woods for the weekend: if you call living in a cabin with wool couches, indoor pluming, and an HDTV camping. James has always been the funny guy while Kyle is more serious. They tend to even each other out.
On their way to the cabin, the boys spot a deer. While Kyle looks through his backpack to find his camera, James decides to catch it as a pet. There was a thud and Kyle looked up. He saw the deer running away and James wrapped up in his net, struggling on the ground. As Kyle watches, the deer run away, he sees that the deer had a red tail, all while James is still on the ground. “A red tail?” Kyle asked puzzled. As he wonders about it, Kyle steps over James and walks away.
“H- Hey! Where are you going? Ugh! Get back here and help me!”
While in the cabin, Kyle is making Mac and Cheese in the microwave. Real outdoors men, right? He was watching cartoons on the big screen, when in comes James who was covered with leaves, branches, and what he hopes is mud.
“Thanks for the help,” James said sarcastically.
“That was your own fault,” Kyle reacted. “Now shut-up, I’m watching this,” he said with his mouth stuffed with cheese and pasta.
“What are you watching?” James asked. “Oh, SpongeBob, Big macho man. Why don’t we watch baseball or something?”
“Nothing’s on, it’s just news,” Kyle remarked.
“I don’t believe you, change the channel,” James demanded.
“Alright then, I will change it,” Kyle said all sure of himself.
“Click. Click. Click.”
“See, just news. I win,” Kyle said with his hollow victory.
“Yeah, way to go,” James said while sitting down.
While enjoying his Amazing accomplishment, Kyle overheard the reporter talking about a red-tailed deer. He was talking to a hunter. The hunter said that the red-tailed deer’s blood gives someone the ability to live forever!
The boys, jaws open, immediately started to scream. Kyle was screaming because of the fact that there was a hunter in the woods that would kill anybody to get to the deer. James was screaming because Kyle was screaming right in his ear. Once out of breath, Kyle began to explain his thoughts to James. James wanted to find and sell the deer.
“No,” yelled Kyle, “we have to put it in the zoo.”
“Well, whatever we do, we have to catch that deer,” James explained.
James and Kyle set out on their hike to find the red-tailed deer. For hours and hours, they were out on their dedicated and dangerous journey.
“What was that?” James asked after hearing a strange sound.
“That was a squirrel… again,” Kyle said, now irritated. While in the woods, the boys began to get tired and hungry.
“Let’s go back,” James suggested. “I can’t stand hiking,” he began to whine.
“It’s a good thing that we came to the woods than,” Kyle said sarcastically. “We’ll just stay out for a few more minutes.”
“You said that an hour ago,” James said with anger. “I’m going back.”
“No, we have to stay together,” explained Kyle.
While on the road, they saw headlights and turned back. Knowing it was the hunter, the boys looked around for the deer.
“There it is!” James exclaimed. They saw the hunter go right for it. While running after the car, they heard a thud. As the hunter stepped out, Kyle went to help the deer, while James went after the hunter. To help James, Kyle got out his camera, flashed a shot, and stunned the dangerous man. While James tied up the hunter, Kyle called the police.
“I still think we should have sold it,” James said at the zoo. The majestic animal has brought in enough tourism to put every other zoo out of business. While watching the deer, Kyle felt some sort of gratitude, from the deer. This was going to be his one, silent victory.
“Yeah, we Really should have.”
Narrative Essay #3
GO DEEP!
By Keaton
"HUT!” Shane heard someone shout. He started to back up from what looked like giants. He looked down and he had a ball in his hand. He looked around and he was in a stadium of some sort. He looked to his right and there was someone in a headset yelling at him. He looked forward and… BOOM!!!! He was down.
Shane stood up and realized that he was the quarterback in the Super Bowl. He had zoned out for a second and forgotten where he was. The excitement must have overwhelmed him, but it was all coming back to him. He was the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. He became the starter when the Bears dropped Rex Grossman, which was a smart move, since Shane and the quarterback behind him were way better than Grossman.
“Shane, are you ok?” asked one of his lineman as he helped him up.
“What happened?” asked Shane.
“You got hit so hard, I thought you got knocked back into yesterday,” said his lineman.
Shane looked up at the scoreboard. It said Bears 0 Patriots 0, with 14:37 left in the first quarter, 2nd down and 15, and the Bear’s ball on their 19.
“Hut!” yelled Shane. He dropped back, stopped, and threw a 15 yard pass. The ball was now on the 34 yard line. During the next two plays, he handed the ball off to Cedric Benson, and he had gotten the ball to their 47 yard line
“Hut!” yelled Shane again. This time, though, the Patriots had blitzed. Shane dodged Patriot after Patriot, but finally he ran toward the sideline and threw a pass to a wide open Bernard Berrian. Berrian dove into the end zone, stretched out as far as he could, and caught it one handed. The referee raised both arms, signaling a touchdown. Everybody went crazy and was happy. Shane, getting high fives, walked back to the sideline.
By halftime, the score was tied at 7. The Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady, had thrown a 20 yard touchdown to Randy Moss in the second quarter, tying the game. In the locker room the Bears head coach, Lovie Smith, was giving his halftime speech.
After, the Bears went back on the field not knowing what would happen later…
It was the 4th quarter, and there was 1:10 left in the game. The Patriots had the ball on the Bears 20 yard line. The Patriots drove the ball to the 10 yard line with 25 seconds left in the game. Tom Brady dropped back to pass, threw it over the middle, and Brian Urlacher picked it off! He ran it back to the Bears 40 yard line. He got hit before he could run out of bounds, so the Bears had to use their last time out to stop the clock at ten seconds.
The Bears had time for only one last play. Shane lined up and got ready. “Hut!” he yelled. He dropped back and rolled to his right. He saw Devin Hester down field and just before he got tackled, he threw a deep pass to him. It seemed like the ball stayed in the air forever. Shane saw the ball hit off Hester’s hands, but then Hester dove and caught it in the end zone. The Bears had won!
After the game, hundreds of reporters asked him the same question, “What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to, going to, going to school?”
“Yes, Shane. It’s Wednesday morning. You have to go to school. Get up or you’ll be late”
By Keaton
"HUT!” Shane heard someone shout. He started to back up from what looked like giants. He looked down and he had a ball in his hand. He looked around and he was in a stadium of some sort. He looked to his right and there was someone in a headset yelling at him. He looked forward and… BOOM!!!! He was down.
Shane stood up and realized that he was the quarterback in the Super Bowl. He had zoned out for a second and forgotten where he was. The excitement must have overwhelmed him, but it was all coming back to him. He was the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. He became the starter when the Bears dropped Rex Grossman, which was a smart move, since Shane and the quarterback behind him were way better than Grossman.
“Shane, are you ok?” asked one of his lineman as he helped him up.
“What happened?” asked Shane.
“You got hit so hard, I thought you got knocked back into yesterday,” said his lineman.
Shane looked up at the scoreboard. It said Bears 0 Patriots 0, with 14:37 left in the first quarter, 2nd down and 15, and the Bear’s ball on their 19.
“Hut!” yelled Shane. He dropped back, stopped, and threw a 15 yard pass. The ball was now on the 34 yard line. During the next two plays, he handed the ball off to Cedric Benson, and he had gotten the ball to their 47 yard line
“Hut!” yelled Shane again. This time, though, the Patriots had blitzed. Shane dodged Patriot after Patriot, but finally he ran toward the sideline and threw a pass to a wide open Bernard Berrian. Berrian dove into the end zone, stretched out as far as he could, and caught it one handed. The referee raised both arms, signaling a touchdown. Everybody went crazy and was happy. Shane, getting high fives, walked back to the sideline.
By halftime, the score was tied at 7. The Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady, had thrown a 20 yard touchdown to Randy Moss in the second quarter, tying the game. In the locker room the Bears head coach, Lovie Smith, was giving his halftime speech.
After, the Bears went back on the field not knowing what would happen later…
It was the 4th quarter, and there was 1:10 left in the game. The Patriots had the ball on the Bears 20 yard line. The Patriots drove the ball to the 10 yard line with 25 seconds left in the game. Tom Brady dropped back to pass, threw it over the middle, and Brian Urlacher picked it off! He ran it back to the Bears 40 yard line. He got hit before he could run out of bounds, so the Bears had to use their last time out to stop the clock at ten seconds.
The Bears had time for only one last play. Shane lined up and got ready. “Hut!” he yelled. He dropped back and rolled to his right. He saw Devin Hester down field and just before he got tackled, he threw a deep pass to him. It seemed like the ball stayed in the air forever. Shane saw the ball hit off Hester’s hands, but then Hester dove and caught it in the end zone. The Bears had won!
After the game, hundreds of reporters asked him the same question, “What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to, going to, going to school?”
“Yes, Shane. It’s Wednesday morning. You have to go to school. Get up or you’ll be late”
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
What's happening in class?
L.A. = In language arts class we are finishing our review on nouns. On Wednesday, October 10th, students will demonstrate their brilliance by performing well on a 15 point noun quiz!
Wednesday, October 10th also marks the day I will return final draft narrative essays! Overall, students did a very nice job on their essays! Students turned in a variety of original story ideas, ranging from serious - a teenager deals with the realization that her best friend has a life-threatening illness, to silly - a family of pickles panics when the baby pickle goes missing, to adventurous - two boys outsmart a hunter and save a rare red-tailed deer.
***Check back later this week when I'll have 3 student essays posted on my blog for you to enjoy!
READING = This week we will continue to read and discuss the novel, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Ponyboy, the lead character, and his friends, Johnny, and Two-Bit, (all Greasers), have just spent the evening at the drive-in movie with Cherry and Marcia, the girlfriends of two Socs, their arch rivals. Once the Socs find out, will they let it go, or will they seek revenge on the Greasers? Stay tuned to find out!
***Students should also contunue reading their AR silent reading book. AR quizzes are due to me by Tuesday, October 23rd!
Wednesday, October 10th also marks the day I will return final draft narrative essays! Overall, students did a very nice job on their essays! Students turned in a variety of original story ideas, ranging from serious - a teenager deals with the realization that her best friend has a life-threatening illness, to silly - a family of pickles panics when the baby pickle goes missing, to adventurous - two boys outsmart a hunter and save a rare red-tailed deer.
***Check back later this week when I'll have 3 student essays posted on my blog for you to enjoy!
READING = This week we will continue to read and discuss the novel, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Ponyboy, the lead character, and his friends, Johnny, and Two-Bit, (all Greasers), have just spent the evening at the drive-in movie with Cherry and Marcia, the girlfriends of two Socs, their arch rivals. Once the Socs find out, will they let it go, or will they seek revenge on the Greasers? Stay tuned to find out!
***Students should also contunue reading their AR silent reading book. AR quizzes are due to me by Tuesday, October 23rd!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
What's Happening in class?
READING............
On Monday, October 1st, students will be taking their first unit test in reading. Each student will receive and complete in class a study guide for the test which will include a list of targeted vocabulary for making flash cards, a list of the short stories covered in the unit + a summary of each story, and the definitions of the key elements of a short story. Studying this information before Monday should ensure a good grade on the test!
***We will be choosing a new silent reading book on Tuesday, October 2nd, and students will be selecting Accelerated Reader free choice novels.
On Wednesday, we will begin our first novel study, The Outsiders - a well-loved classic exploring the topics of stereotyping, overcoming tragedy, growth, and acceptance.
LANGUAGE ARTS..........
Rough draft narratives were turned in last Monday for teacher edit, and returned on Friday. Final draft narrative essays are due on Tuesday, October 2nd. They are worth 100 pts! Here's to creating great polished essays!!!!!!
On Monday, October 1st, students will be taking their first unit test in reading. Each student will receive and complete in class a study guide for the test which will include a list of targeted vocabulary for making flash cards, a list of the short stories covered in the unit + a summary of each story, and the definitions of the key elements of a short story. Studying this information before Monday should ensure a good grade on the test!
***We will be choosing a new silent reading book on Tuesday, October 2nd, and students will be selecting Accelerated Reader free choice novels.
On Wednesday, we will begin our first novel study, The Outsiders - a well-loved classic exploring the topics of stereotyping, overcoming tragedy, growth, and acceptance.
LANGUAGE ARTS..........
Rough draft narratives were turned in last Monday for teacher edit, and returned on Friday. Final draft narrative essays are due on Tuesday, October 2nd. They are worth 100 pts! Here's to creating great polished essays!!!!!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
What's happening in class?
L.A. = Currently, each student is working on writing an original narrative essay. After discussing what makes a great story, and listening to and reading model essays from past 8th grade writers, students concieve their own topic idea and are then encouraged to use creativity to develop their own story and writing style.
You never know. We may have a future author among us! Keep in mind the fact that S.E. Hinton was only 16 years old when she wrote her first novel, The Outsiders.......
reading = Currently, we are multi-tasking in reading class. Tomorrow, September 20th, students begin presenting their first book report - a story board focusing on the plot of their free choice fiction novel......We are also in the middle of a short story unit, which exposes students to a number of writing styles, plots and focus. In addition to reading the stories and discussing them, we are also expanding vocabulary understanding and doing reflective writing.
Before reading the short story, "The Lady or the Tiger," by Frank Stockton to prompt a character study of the main character, the princess, students were asked to respond to the question, "Which emotion is stronger, love or jealousy?" After reading the story, the students used knowledge gleaned from the text to write their own ending to the unfinished story, defending their belief that the princess made her decision based on either love or jealousy over powering her in the end.
What do you think? Check out the story at http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Frank_R_Stockton/The_Lady_or_the_Tiger/The_Lady_or_the_Tiger_p1.html
You never know. We may have a future author among us! Keep in mind the fact that S.E. Hinton was only 16 years old when she wrote her first novel, The Outsiders.......
reading = Currently, we are multi-tasking in reading class. Tomorrow, September 20th, students begin presenting their first book report - a story board focusing on the plot of their free choice fiction novel......We are also in the middle of a short story unit, which exposes students to a number of writing styles, plots and focus. In addition to reading the stories and discussing them, we are also expanding vocabulary understanding and doing reflective writing.
Before reading the short story, "The Lady or the Tiger," by Frank Stockton to prompt a character study of the main character, the princess, students were asked to respond to the question, "Which emotion is stronger, love or jealousy?" After reading the story, the students used knowledge gleaned from the text to write their own ending to the unfinished story, defending their belief that the princess made her decision based on either love or jealousy over powering her in the end.
What do you think? Check out the story at http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Frank_R_Stockton/The_Lady_or_the_Tiger/The_Lady_or_the_Tiger_p1.html
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Rubric for Poster Board Book Report
Explanation of novel plot (detail, clarity) 10 pts.______
Pictures telling story 10 pts.______
(neat, detailed, colored
and blurbs in final draft)
Delivery (enthusiastic, good eye contact) 10 pts. ______
Story summary in written form (final draft) 10pts. ______
+__________
40 pts.
Comments:
Pictures telling story 10 pts.______
(neat, detailed, colored
and blurbs in final draft)
Delivery (enthusiastic, good eye contact) 10 pts. ______
Story summary in written form (final draft) 10pts. ______
+__________
40 pts.
Comments:
Story Board Book Report
***The overall purpose of this assignment is to tell the plot of your book through pictures.
1. Number 1 - 10 on a piece of paper. Write down, in order of occurrence, the 8, 9 or 10 most important events that take place in your book.
2. Leaving space for the title of your book and the author's name, (which you will need to include somewhere on your poster board), divide your poster board into 8, 9 or 10 squares, to match the number of important events you've chosen to share.
3. Now draw your story's plot, using the squares to tell your story. ****Under each picture, write a brief explanation of your picture. (Explain what's happening in your picture)
4. Since you won't be able to tell your entire story through your poster board, (you will just be focusing on the main events from beginning to end) you also need to write ( in final draft form) a complete one page summary of your book, which you will give me the day you present your book report.
5. On Friday, September 20th, we will begin oral presentations of the poster boards. Your grade will also include your speaking skills. Remember to speak clearly, loudly enough for all to hear, and slowly enough so we can follow along and understand what you are saying. Eye contact is also very important! Please practice your presentation before class.
1. Number 1 - 10 on a piece of paper. Write down, in order of occurrence, the 8, 9 or 10 most important events that take place in your book.
2. Leaving space for the title of your book and the author's name, (which you will need to include somewhere on your poster board), divide your poster board into 8, 9 or 10 squares, to match the number of important events you've chosen to share.
3. Now draw your story's plot, using the squares to tell your story. ****Under each picture, write a brief explanation of your picture. (Explain what's happening in your picture)
4. Since you won't be able to tell your entire story through your poster board, (you will just be focusing on the main events from beginning to end) you also need to write ( in final draft form) a complete one page summary of your book, which you will give me the day you present your book report.
5. On Friday, September 20th, we will begin oral presentations of the poster boards. Your grade will also include your speaking skills. Remember to speak clearly, loudly enough for all to hear, and slowly enough so we can follow along and understand what you are saying. Eye contact is also very important! Please practice your presentation before class.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Me Bag Speech
****Beginning Friday, September 8th, my language arts classes will present Me bag Speeches. The Explanation of and the rubric for this presentation are below:
"ME BAG" SPEECH
Directions: Present a 2-3 minute speech about yourself which contains an introductory statement, a concluding statement, and an object for and an explanation of the following:
1. The food you love the most
2. Your ethnicity, culture, background, religion
3. Something that captures your personality
4. A hidden talent that you possess
5. One admired family member
6. One goal you would like to accomplish this year
*****Speeches will begin on Friday, September 7th
GOOD LUCK!
____________________________________________________________________
ME BAG SPEECH RUBRIC
1. INTRODUCTION (interesting, focused on self) 4pts. _____
2. BODY OF SPEECH 12pts. _____
A. Favorite food
B. Ethnicity-culture-background-religion
C. Object the captures personality
D. A hidden talent
E. One admired family member
F. One goal for the school year
3. CONCLUSION (summarizing, tied to introduction) 4 pts. _____
4. DELIVERY (posture, voice level, clarity, eye contact) 5 pts. _____
(enthusiasm)
GRADE =
TOTAL = + _____
25 pts.
____________________________________________________________________
"ME BAG" SPEECH
Directions: Present a 2-3 minute speech about yourself which contains an introductory statement, a concluding statement, and an object for and an explanation of the following:
1. The food you love the most
2. Your ethnicity, culture, background, religion
3. Something that captures your personality
4. A hidden talent that you possess
5. One admired family member
6. One goal you would like to accomplish this year
*****Speeches will begin on Friday, September 7th
GOOD LUCK!
____________________________________________________________________
ME BAG SPEECH RUBRIC
1. INTRODUCTION (interesting, focused on self) 4pts. _____
2. BODY OF SPEECH 12pts. _____
A. Favorite food
B. Ethnicity-culture-background-religion
C. Object the captures personality
D. A hidden talent
E. One admired family member
F. One goal for the school year
3. CONCLUSION (summarizing, tied to introduction) 4 pts. _____
4. DELIVERY (posture, voice level, clarity, eye contact) 5 pts. _____
(enthusiasm)
GRADE =
TOTAL = + _____
25 pts.
____________________________________________________________________
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