Day Seventy-Two, 1/6

Today was dress up day for the LHP.
Today's Song: "Baker Street", Gerry Rafferty (who died yesterday)

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Prepare for revision day in the computer lab.

PARENTS: The LHP Songs are here.

Day Seventy-One, 1/5

Today, we watched the simple presentations and songs for the Living History Project. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Clair de Lune", Debussy

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Prepare your costumes.
PARENTS: For those students who chose the "dress-up" option, the presentation is tomorrow.

Day Seventy, 1/4

Today, we constructed words from roots, diagrammed sentences, explored the purpose of memory and read a story called "Camp Harmony". Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Waiting Room", Fugazi (An Arlington band)

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Vocabulary Worksheet

PARENTS: The presentations start tomorrow.

Day Sixty-Nine, 1/3

Today, we explored the purpose of memory and read a story called Mrs. Flowers. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Sentimental Lady", Bob Welch

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Prepare for the Interview Project presentations

PARENTS: The quarter has only two weeks remaining

Have a fantastic winter break!

HOMEWORK:  
1. Do the interview and prepare the presentation for the Living History Project (due after break)
2. Read the biography you selected.
3. Try the extra credit (voice thread; search the blog)
4. Enter the writing contest (also extra credit; search the blog).
5. Please consider writing me a letter.

Any letters should be addressed to

State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Commonwealth of Virginia
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120

and delivered to the Gunston office by January 10th. I was absolutely touched by the nomination and continue to be humbled by your support.

Click here for lab instructions, 12/21

NEW REQUIREMENTS: Your poster must now contain a simple sentence (noun-verb), 

a sentence with a coordinating conjunction

And, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet

, and a sentence with a subordinate conjunction  (google it).



Comment below on how you think the person sitting near you should spend Winter Break.

Day Sixty-Six, 12/20

Today, we held some practice interviews for our Living History Project, which is DUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER BREAK.
Today's Song: "Ready to Start", Arcade Fire

TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Be ready to finish your poster in the computer lab tomorrow.

STUDENTS & PARENTS: This is shameless self-promotion, but I would be grateful if you would write a letter on my behalf in support of my teacher of the year nomination. Any letters should be addressed to

State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Commonwealth of Virginia
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120

and delivered to the Gunston office by January 10th. I was absolutely touched by the nomination and continue to be humbled by your support.

Click here for lab instructions, 12/16

Don't forget the song of the year voting -->

Don't forget the song of the year voting -->

Registration Page: click here

Extra Credit

EXTRA CREDIT:  Make a 45-second slide show where you narrate the story of an interview that goes terribly, horribly wrong.  Use VOICETHREAD to make the slide show. 

Day Sixty-Three, 12/15

Today, we did sentence diagramming and created timeline for our novels. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Lemonade", Gucci Mane

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Create Read your class novel. Follow the schedule in your agenda book. .

PARENTS: Students are writing questions for their interview project.

Day Sixty-Two, 12/14

Today, we wen to the library and submitted the name of our interview person and the title of our biography.
Today's Song: "Solitude is Bliss", Tame Impala

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Write 5 interview questions. Read your class novel. Follow the schedule in your agenda book. Pick an interview person, and consider the extra credit and the writing contest.

PARENTS: Students are now searching for a person for their interview project. Progress reports went home today.

Day Sixty-One

Today, we created a few thoughtful projects for our novels, and began sentence diagramming. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Dancing on My Own", Robyn

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  WORKBOOK p. 76. Read your class novel. Follow the schedule in your agenda book. Pick an interview person, and consider the extra credit and the writing contest.

PARENTS: Students are now searching for a person for their interview project. Progress reports go home tomorrow.

Day Sixty, 12/10

Today, we read aloud our "good class" paragraphs, took a book test, and reviewed sentence combining. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "El Microfono", Instituto Mexicano del Sonido

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Read your class novel. Follow the schedule in your agenda book. Pick an interview person, and consider the extra credit and the writing contest.

PARENTS: Students are now searching for a person for their interview project. Progress reports go home next week.

Click here for lab instructions, 12/9

Homework:  A news article.  Read only one side of it and respond to the review (agree or disagree; why?).

Registration Page: click here

Extra Credit for the Second Quarter

EXTRA CREDIT:  Make a 45-second slide show where you narrate the story of an interview that goes terribly, horribly wrong.  Use VOICETHREAD to make the slide show. 

Day Fifty-Eight, 12/8

Today, we took a book quiz, wrote a"good class" essay, and reviewed clauses. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Stillness is the Move", Dirty Projectors

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Read your class novel. Follow the schedule in your agenda book. THANKS FOR THE ABSTRACTS!

PARENTS: Science Fair Abstracts were due today. Progress reports go home next week.

Day Fifty-Eight, 12/7

Today, we talked about the LHP, revised the "good class" essay, and made funny clauses. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Baiser Sale", Dobacaracol

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Read your class novel. Follow the schedule in your agenda book. THANKS FOR THE ABSTRACTS!

PARENTS: Science Fair Abstracts were due today. Progress reports go home next week.

Day Fifty-Seven, 12/6

Today, we turned in the science fair abstracts, started planning the next project, and discussed our books. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Chinatown", Destroyer

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Read your class novel. Follow the schedule in your agenda book. THANKS FOR THE ABSTRACTS!

PARENTS:  ReadScience Fair Abstracts were due today. Progress reports go home next week.