Day Ninety, 2/7

TODAY, we again reviewed the bias project, which will be due in a week, and then made puppets. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Belong", The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Start the Bias Project, and there's a punctuation worksheet.
 
PARENTS: The students have a new project will help them be more aware of the news and the potential for bias in reporting stories. LIBRARY TOMORROW!

Day Eighty-Nine, 2/4

TODAY, we finished our discussion of the theme in "The Lottery", reviewed the homework and the new bias project, and perhaps had time for Justice Skits. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Gone", GhostPoet
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Start the Bias Project.
 
PARENTS: The students have a new project will help them be more aware of the news and the potential for bias in reporting stories.

Click here for lab instructions, 2/3

Please submit the rock essay! -->

Please write, in the comment area, a 25-character story.  (So difficult.)

Please start researching your "Bias Project".

Day Eighty-Seven, 2/2

TODAY, we held a Socratic Seminar for "The Lottery", and prepared for the new essay. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Born to Be Your Man", Birdmonster
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Prepare for the Rock Essay.
 
PARENTS: Today is the last day to sumbit a book for approval for the Independent Reading credit for the first half of the quarter.

Day Eighty-Six, 2/1

TODAY, we discussed a story called, "The Lottery", learned about conclusions, and started a new essay. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Born Broken Hearted", David Wax Museum

TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Playing with hooks.
 
PARENTS: Any student who has not submitted a book for approval by Wednesday will forfeit their Independent Reading credit for the first half of the quart

Day Eighty Five, 1/31

TODAY, we read a story called, "The Lottery". Good luck sleeping tonight. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Still Sound", Toro y Moi

TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Turn in the Friend essay for tomorrow.  Also, here is a comma worksheet.
 
PARENTS: Any student who has not submitted a book for approval by Wednesday will forfeit their Independent Reading credit for the first half of the quarter.

Day Eighty-Six, 1/28

TODAY, Enjoy the snow day. 

TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Last call for the book paper and Storybirds.  There's is a new essay due on Monday. 

PARENTS:  Sorry.  pending all day with 8th graders is usually my job, but on these snow days, I guess it falls to you.  Good luck! 

Day Eighty-Four, 1/26

TODAY, we began a new persuasive essay. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Safari Disco Club", Yelle
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Last call for the book paper and Storybirds.  There's is a new essay due on Friday.
PARENTS: The third book paper must be approved before the week is up.

Day Eighty-Three, 1/24

TODAY, we held SELECTION DAY to learn something about fairness and justice! (Slides)
Today's Song: "Until We Bleed", Kleerup
TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Last call for the book paper and Storybirds.  There's is a new essay due on Friday.
PARENTS: The third book paper must be approved before the week is up.

Day Eighty-Two, 1/4

TODAY, we hosted Regie Cabico, a local poet, who is getting us ready for a slam on 2/24!
TODAY'S HOMEWORK:A punctuation worksheet. Please have your fifth book approved.

PARENTS: The third book paper must be approved before the week is up.

Day Eighty-One, 1/21

TODAY, we reviewed the bias homework and the punctuation homework, and played StoryBird Time. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Wild Thing", Noah and the Whale

TODAY'S HOMEWORK: Please have your fifth book approved.

PARENTS: Welcome to the third quarter. There are tons of new calendar items on the right.

Lab instructions, 1/20

First, enter your book five information. (over there -->)

Then, smile and shake hands with the people near you.

Then, do this StoryBird.

Then, make one loud "caw"!

Then, go do this (and tell me your score when you're done).

Then, take a homework and get started.

Then, give yourself a high five;  try not to get injured.

Day Seventy-Nine, 1/19

TODAY, we scored our own essays, learned the origins of punctuation, and wrote in the calendar dates for the quarter. (Slides)
Today's Song: "I. G. Y.", Donald Fagen

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  The Punctuation Worksheet, if you didn't complete it in class.

PARENTS: Welcome to the third quarter. There are tons of new calendar items on the right.

Day Seventy-Eight, 1/14

TODAY, we finished our second quarter work and made some vocabulary plays. (Slides)
Today's Song: "Pushing Too Hard", The Seeds 
Also, "Wiffle Ball"

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  None, but do not forget how to write.

PARENTS: This is the last week of the quarter.

Lab instructions, 1/13

So, go to my.hrw.com. Get your username and password from Stewfa.

Once you are in, there should be a link on the right side of the picture of the red textbook that says "view assignments".  On the next screen, where it says "Assignments due", select "all" from the drop down menu.

There are four assignments.

Enjoy!

Then, make a poem on VOKI with this line:
"And if you were a piece of bread,
You'd be covered in mold."

Use this picture as inspiration.




Even weirder, you could write a sequel or a prequel to this strange story I wrote on Ficly.

Day Seventy-Five, 1/12

Today, we went wrote, by hand, a final paper as a semester exam.

TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Please read "In Trouble" from our textbook, which is available in the "For Students" tab on Blackboard.

PARENTS: This is the last week of the quarter.

Day Seventy-Five, 1/11

Today, we went to the library to discuss book papers.

Today's Song: "Howling for You", The Black Keys
TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  The Fourth Book Paper

PARENTS: This is the last week of the quarter.

Day Seventy-Four, 1/10

Today, we did a bit of review for the second quarter in preparation for a few summative exams on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Slides: click here.
Today's Song: "Tighten Up", The Black Keys
TODAY'S HOMEWORK:  Vocabulary Worksheet

PARENTS: This is the last week of the quarter.

This is a StoryBird.

The Day They Ate The Cars on Storybird

Click here for lab instructions, 1/7

Also, in the third quarter, we'll be using both Xtranormal (http://xtranormal.com) and StoryBird (http://storybird.com). Use your school e-mail to set up accounts on both sites, and begin exploring.