May 22, 2018

We are continuing to read Daniel's Story chapters 9-16.  Students are given time in class to finish reading this story.  Students presented projects this week, I must say I was very impressed with the creativity of some of the students!  They really thought outside the box!

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Students will have a vocabulary quiz on terms found in these chapters on Friday, June 1st.  Also, 

we need one more test to complete this quarter. Students will have a test on Wednesday, May 30th on the second part of the story.

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May 14, 2018

We continue to read, "Daniel's Story" in class.  Students are listening to the audio version on audible.  There will be a test on Chapters 1-6 on Wednesday, May 16th.  We will review in class for this test. 

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Also, students have been assigned a project that was sent via email last Friday. The project is as follows: 

Daniel’s Bag Project- 8th Grade

DUE DATE: May 21st, 2018

PRESENTATIONS: May 21st and May 22nd, 2018

Part 1

1-Students will create a brown paper bag/empty shoe box/empty cereal box filled with that represent Daniel.

2-Write one paragraph of 4-6 sentences for object, explaining how it represents Daniel’s story and why you chose to include it in the brown paper bag/empty shoe box/empty cereal box.

3-Brown paper bag/empty shoe box/empty cereal box must be covered and illustrated/decorated with Holocaust content.Students can be as creative as possible, as long as they are respectful of the Holocaust and its significance.

Part 2

1-Students will present their brown paper bag/empty shoe box/empty cereal box and objects to the class.

2-Presentations must be between 2 to 3 minutes long.

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Any questions, please ask. Some of this project may have to be completed at home.  

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*On the link below, you will find the study guide for the test on Daniel's Story Chapters 1-6.

May 07, 2018

This week we will continue reading Daniel's Story.  Chapter 1 was read in class.  Chapter 2 was assigned to be read at home.  Chapter 3 will be read in class this week. 

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The students are answering questions regarding each chapter in class this week.  They will also have a vocabulary quiz this week.  

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Upcoming projects and tests will be announced.  

April 27, 2018

Now that the FSA Reading test is behind us, we will focus on a novel, Daniel's Story.  There will be activities, vocabulary, projects, quiz and assessments for this story, and I will be notifying you of those in the days to come.  

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April 23, 2018

This week we will be on modified schedule.  The students will be taking FSA Math/Reading tests this week at various grade levels.  We will go over the standard, Integration of Knowledge.  Students will follow a power point presentation, take notes and do activities in class.  There will be a quiz and assessment on this information, dates will be announced in class.

April 15, 2018

Quiz on Craft & Structure: Monday, April 16th.

Test on Craft & Structure : Wednesday, April 18th.

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Students were asked to take their notes home and study. 

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Week of 4/16 - This week we will focus on the FSA Standard, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas.

Students will take notes and do activities in class that reinforce all the components of this standard. 

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Quiz and Test dates: TBD. 

April 09, 2018

This week we will wrap up the skill, point of view, and move on to the next FSA standard, Craft and Structure.  Students will take notes on the content of the presentations, do activities in class and we will assess the standards during the week.  If a test is given, the date will be announced in class. 

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Please make sure that your child is getting a good night's rest and a protein filled breakfast daily in preparation for the upcoming FSA assessments.  

April 02, 2018

Welcome back to school!  I hope everyone had an enjoyable break.  We are now in gear for FSA preparation.  

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This week we will be working on the reading standard:  Determining Point of View.

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The students will review how to analyze evidence to the determine the point of view in a grade level passage. 

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The assessment date for this skill will be announced in class.  

March 19, 2018

This week we will continue reading What to Bring  and wrap up our Main Idea and supporting details review.  We will be using Commonlit.org to review FSA Standards/skills.  Specifically, we will be focusing on using text evidence to support answers on the test. 

March 12, 2018

We will be focusing heavily on FSA Reading skills.  We are looking at the last benchmark test the students took and direct our instruction to zero in on the skills most deficient. There may be times when students will take work home to complete, please make sure the work is done!

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Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details

Selection: What to Bring (Close Reader, pgs. 9-12)

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We will not have a vocabulary list, but we will still focus on vocabulary words in the passage. 

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March 05, 2018

FSA Writing this week!

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Students will read Poems about Work in class.  The poems are titled, "To Be of Use" and "A Story of How a Wall Stands."  We will complete activities in class related to these poems.  All work will be graded.    

February 26, 2018

This week students will write argumentative/informative essays in a timed fashion.  We will simulate a real testing environment and students will be expected to:

-read selections

-plan their writing

-write the essay within an allocated time frame

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We are diligently working on essays as our exam dates are fast approaching. 

February 16, 2018

This will be a short week.  We will be working on argumentative essays.  The students will read three passages and create a 5 paragraph essay stating their view either for or against the topic. 

February 09, 2018

We will work this week on a new argumentative essay.  The students will read three selections and respond to a prompt.  The prompt is "Should schools report student's health to parents?"

The students will write a 5 paragraph essay to respond to this prompt.  We will also begin timing the students.  They will have 120 minutes on the actual essay to respond.  We will mimic that in the classroom. 

Test: The Flying Machine 2/14

Project in class depicting two squares from the comic strip,  Due: 2/20

February 02, 2018

Argumentative essays are due in class on Monday, February 5th at the end of the period.  Students took their folder home.  If they were absent on Friday, February 2nd, they need to turn them in on Monday.  We will then catch up on the reading from the previous week.  The quiz will be moved to Thursday, February 8th.  The test will be Monday, February 12th. 

February 01, 2018

We will wrap up our argumentative writing and focus on reading skills this week.  We still have a lot to do with writing.  We will pick right back up after this week.   The information for this week is as follows:

Selection: The Flying Machine (Collections textbook)

Skill: Compare and Contrast Text - Short story vs. graphic story

Vocabulary: writhed, hordes, serence, solace, dominion, alit, apparatus

Quiz: Friday, February 2nd

Test: Monday, February 5th 

January 22, 2018

This week we will continue working on our essays, this time argumentative.  Students will have a vocabulary quiz on the terms for the essays this week, and will have a test on the components of the essay on Wednesday, January 24th.  The students will work on a study guide on Monday in class to prepare for the test. 

January 16, 2018

This week, we are wrapping up our expository essay and working on our argumentative essay.  There will be a quiz given on the vocabulary used in these two types of writing.  Also, there will be a test on Wednesday, January 22nd, on the characteristics of both of these types of writing.  

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Please make sure that the students study for this test.  There will be a study guide given that we will complete in class. 

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Thank you! 

January 09, 2018

Welcome back from winter break.  I hope everyone had an enjoyable time.  These are our plans for this week:

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We will be revisiting the informative essay that the students wrote before the break.  We will be focusing on two areas:

Transition words

Wrap-up Sentence

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Writing will be an integral part of our curriculum for the next 6 weeks.  The writing assessment will take place at the end of February.  

December 17, 2017

Students will continue working on their essays this week.  We will have an argumentative essay test on Monday.  Please encourage your child to keep reading.  AR Grades will be recorded on PowerSchool on Friday, December 18th by 12:15 p.m.

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Have a restful and peaceful holiday season. 

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December 10, 2017

We will be working on argumentative writing this week.  The students will read two essays and organize an argumentative essay by responding to a prompt.  There will be a quiz on the components of an argumentative essay.  The date will be announced during the week. 

December 03, 2017

The study guide for our test on Wednesday, December 6th is found by clicking below.  Please encourage your child to read through it over the weekend. Please disregard the last question.  

December 03, 2017

This week we will review for the exam on the selections read.  I will also provide the students with a study guide here to review for the exam. 

On Monday we will continue exploring the text and working on vocabulary.  On Tuesday is our classroom Spelling Bee.  I have attached the list below.  The selection test will be Wednesday, December 6th.  The rest of the week, we will be working on an argumentative essay in class, which will count as a project grade.  

November 26, 2017

We will be working on the following texts: 

"Leave the Voting Age Alone."

"Better Training for New Drivers."

" A Parent's Role in the Path to Adulthood."

"Mandatory Service to Become an Adult."

Pgs. 235-242.

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Skill: Trace and Evaluate an Argument

Vocabulary: arbitrary, unmoor, confluence, egregious, inadequate, diffuse, autonomous, thwart, cohort. 

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Selection Test: Monday, December 4th. 

Quiz: Date to be announced in class. 

November 20, 2017

Given that this is a short week, we will wrap up any unfinished items from last week.  We will then shift our focus to informative writing for the week. 

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Please remember that the autobiography project is due on Monday, November 20th.  The link with the explanation of the project is found below.  

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Have a restful holiday week. 

November 12, 2017

Reminder: www.commonlit.org passage due tomorrow, November 13th.

Plans for the Week:

Monday - Harriett Tubman Selection Test/Present Autobiography Project.

Tuesday - Continue with Autobiography Project - 1st Draft due: Thursday, Nov. 16th.

Wednesday - Autobiography Quiz/Work on Projects

Thursday - Work on Projects - Turn in 1st Draft

Friday - Revise and Edit drafts.  Work on Final Draft and board.

Projects with boards and final draft will be due Monday, November 20th. 

Autobiography Projects

Please see attached link with description for project.  This will all be discussed in class. 

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November 04, 2017

Selection: Harriett Tubman-Conductor on the Underground Railroad. pgs. 151-162.  

Skill: Analyzing Biographies

Vocabulary: disheveled, instill, dispel, linger, sullen, eloquence, evoke, cajole.

Selection Test for the story, "The Life of Frederick Douglass," will be on Monday, November 6th. 

The comprehension quiz will be Friday, November 10th. 

The test for the selection "Harriet Tubman..." will be on Monday, November 13th. 

I have assigned a new selection on www.commonlit.org that will be due on Monday, November 13th.  The class code for 3rd period is: NJQYQ.  The password for this class is: velas3.

October 29, 2017

This week, we are on week 2 of benchmark testing.  We don't meet with every period, every day.  My intention is to wrap up last week's selection and begin a new one towards the end of the week.  If that happens, I will update here with new selection, vocabulary, skill and test and quiz dates. 

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I appreciate your patience! 

October 23, 2017

Welcome to the first week of 2nd quarter where the students have the opportunity to begin with a clean slate.  We will be administering benchmark testing in Reading and Math, therefore our schedule will be modified.  In turn, our activities will be modified as well. 

We will continue with our writing lessons this week on Monday.  This week, we will begin our new weekly selection, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, An American Slave.  We will exploring autobiographies.  There will be a quiz on the structure of autobiographies on Thursday, October 26th. Vocabulary words for the week are: commence, unabated, apprehension, denunciation, prudence, vindication. The date for this selection test will be next week, I will update you on the date. 

October 15, 2017

This week is a short week.  We will be working on expository/informative writing.  We will be focusing on the outline for informative/expository writing, recognizing key words in prompts and writing an effective introductory paragraph.  There will be a writing quiz on Wednesday, October 18th, where the students need to identify the sections of the outline for expository/informative writing, recognize key words in prompts and write an effective introductory paragraph.  

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This week is also the end of the 1st quarter!  We will begin with a clean slate on Monday, October 23rd!  I expect my students to surpass their performance this coming quarter and exceed their academic goals.  

October 08, 2017

This week, the students will continue working on their narrative twist to 'Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe.  The students will have a test on this selection tomorrow, October 9th.   I expect really good scores, since we have had plenty of time to explore the text. 

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The narrative twist will be due at the end of the week.  Next week, we will go back to the text with a new selection, while incorporating writing into our lessons. 

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September 30, 2017

Thank you to all the students who turned in their Personal Stories project.  I was thrilled to see the work and effort that they put into these projects.  Students who did not/could not finish their project are encouraged to turn it in on Monday.  Although it will be considered late, I feel it is still important that they turn it in.  A late project is better than not turning in a project at all. 

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This week, the students will continue reading and working with the selection, "Tell Tale Heart."  As stated last week, they will have a quiz and test this week.  Thursday and Friday they will work on a narrative to give the story a twisted ending.  I look forward to exploring their creativity!  

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On a very positive note, I was absent on Thursday, and the substitute raved about your children.  She described them as being an excellent group of students who were respectful and on task.  I am so very proud to be their teacher!  

September 24, 2017

We will be working on our Personal Stories project this week.  Projects are due Friday, Sept. 29th.

Questions and answers are due Monday, Sept. 25th. Narratives are due Wednesday, Sept. 27th.

This week we will begin reading the story, Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe.  We will be discussing suspense and point of view.  The vocabulary words for this week are: conceive, vex, stifle, derision and audacity.  There will be a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, Oct. 3rd and a selection test on Wednesday, Oct. 4th. 

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September 20, 2017

Attached to this link you will find the Personal Stories Project Guidelines.  Please review with your child and make sure they understand the requirements.  This project will count as two project grades.  I have gone over all the guidelines except the narrative format which we will discuss upon returning to class.  I did go over the rubric in class and it is not attached to the link below.  

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Thanks for your support!  

September 19, 2017

I sincerely hope your family is safe and sound from Hurricane Irma.  
Our schedule has been revised as follows:

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Monday/Tuesday- catch up on unfinished work/tests.

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Wednesday/Friday - begin working on Personal Stories project. 

September 03, 2017

All students should have received a UName and Password from their math teacher for www.my.hrw.com.  If your child did not receive one, please let me know.  They will access our textbook, Collections, through this site.  

This week, students will have vocabulary quiz on words from Bonne Anne on Tuesday, Sept. 5.  They will have a selection test on that story on Wednesday, Sept. 6.  

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We will review for the exam on Tuesday and students will take brief notes.  They must know the following for the exam:

-Students need to read the text in its entirety, Bonne Anne, possibly twice.  We began reading in class.

-Recognize the main idea and details in the story.  

-Recognize the vocabulary words and their definitions. 

-Understand the major events in the story.

-Identify the main idea of the entire story. 

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We will begin a Personal Stories project on Thursday.  The students will do some research at home and work on the project mostly in class.  I will need each student to bring in a standard size poster board, not 3D board to class.  These are sold at the Dollar Tree, Wal-mart, Target or any neighborhood drug store. More details to follow. 

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August 27, 2017

This week, students will read the text, Bonne Annee, a personal essay,  from our Collections textbook.  Students will explore critical vocabulary, analyze the text by identifying the central idea and details and explore language conventions. 

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Critical Vocabulary: predominate, coup, persecution, dispossess, natal

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Critical Vocabulary Quiz: Friday, Sept. 1st. 

Selection Test: Wednesday, Sept. 6th. 

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We will take the STAR (Accelerated Reader Placement) Test this Friday, Sept. 1st during our Language and Literature period. 

August 21, 2017

We have thoroughly enjoyed our first day.  The students will have a quiz based on the presentation, "Meet the Teacher," on Wednesday, August 23rd.  The presentation can be found by clicking on the tab below.