Happy Holidays

Tuesday - tall tales are due
WED - school out for Christmas break
Tuesday, Jan. 3 - school resumes

Have a great break

Legends, cont.

Students will be reading cultural legends and creation myths for the next couple of days. Monday, the students will have practice quiz on prefixes and suffixes. They all have a study guide to prepare them for the quiz. Next week we will also wrap up the unit by studying Tall tales and legends of the American West.

Wed. Dec. 14, classes 1-5 have a book project due and 7th period has Johnny Tremain packet due. Students have known about these assignments for almost 2 months. Please check with your student to make sure he/she is on target to have the project completed by then.

Legends, cultures, and tall tales

The students will be starting a new unit on legends, cultures, and tall tales. I will update the blog as needed so that you and your students are aware of due dates. The following dates are coming so stay on top of things!

Tuesday 11-29 - Students will learn about the different cultures that they are a part of each day. This information will be the basis for a cultural project due in Dec.

Upcoming reading - legends from other countries, move - Legend of Sleepy Hollow , tall tales from the American West.

Due Friday 12-2 - Students will report on having dinner with their family. They have four nights to choose from to complete this assignment.

Due Tuesday, 12-14 - 2nd book of the term. There are six choices for the students to pick on reporting about the book they read. Please check with your student to see what they are doing. It won't be accepted late, so keep reading!

Personal Narrative

Rough drafts to this paper are due on Thursday. Students will work on peer reviews and revise their paper.

Friday - students will work on prefix / suffix reviews and commonly confused words. All students have a handout that reviews these words.

Students also need to bring a book to read if they finish this assignment early. All students should be starting on a book for the next report/project. 7th period is reading Johnny Tremain and completing the worksheets that accompany the book.

Tuesday, Nov. 22 - final draft of the narrative due. Students will NOT be able to turn this assignment in late because the student teacher leaves this day and will be correctly the drafts.

THANKSGIVING BREAK - NOV. 23 - 25

See you Monday, Nov. 28th

Writing Unit - Oh, yea!

This week students will be working on a personal narrative paper that my student teacher, Mr. Perkins will introduce. Examples will be shown to students before they write their own. Please check with your student on due dates so that they are current on assignments.

All classes have their first book report due on TUESDAY! This was a free choice book. The students should fill out a book report form according to the genre of the book.

Contact me at the school if you have questions.

Short Story wrap-up

The students will be finishing the short story unit. Each student will be in a group this week working on a short story and deciding how to present that information to the rest of the class. Presentations will be on Thursday and Friday.

Don't forget that the 1st book report of 2nd term is due on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Contact me at the school if you have questions. :)

Mrs. D

November news

Tuesday, Wednesday/Thursday - short stories dealing with characterization and point of view. W/Th are block days. We will be going to the library to check out a book. Please ask your students about the reading requirements for 2nd term. Each of them has a handout that explains all the books that should be read by Jan. 10th.

Friday - students will be working on prefix/suffix rules and commonly confused words.

Short Story Unit

This week students in all classes will be introduced to the elements of a short story. The students will then read stories that reinforce some element of the short story criteria. The students will be responsible for the information while in class. There are not enough books to send home to do any type of homework with this unit.

We will also be going to the library in the next week to check out books. Ask your student about the reading requirements for 2nd term. Students will be responsible for staying 'on top' of this assignment. It will be broken down into sections to help the students with the reading amount.

Don't forget - Monday, the 24th is a late start. Friday, the 28th is an early out and the end of 1st term. I will not be taking any late work after Tuesday of this week.

Fall break is coming!

Periods 1-5 will be wrapping up Watson's Go to Birmingham this week. If you are not caught up on your reading, then get going. The book has to be finished by Wed.

Period 7 is working on a multi-genre project for F-451. It is due on Wed. Please have the book finished for the discussions this week.

Wed - Friday is FALL BREAK. No School! YEA!!!

Monday, the 24th, we will be starting a short story unit and learning the elements of a short story.

Watson's and Fahrenheit

All classes need to keep up with their reading of the novels that have been assigned. The goal is to finish them on or before the 19th of October.

Grades have been updated so if you have questions about your student's grade, please contact me at the school. The 1st term ends on the 28th. I will not take any work after the 26th. The students have had plenty of time and warning to make up any late work. :)

Keep reading!

Watson's Go to Birmingham

Students in periods 1-5 will begin the novel Watson's Go to Birmingham this week. Monday and Tuesday they will watch a documentary called "Eyes on the Prize" about the Civil Rights movement which will help explain the novel's events.

Period 7 will begin the novel Fahrenheit 451 with my student teacher, Mr. Perkins. Check with your student to see what reading requirements are being given so that they do not get behind.

Friday, Oct. 7th, all classes will be given a reading assessment on summarization.

We will be reading these two novels until Oct. 19. Mr. Perkins will be teaching all of my classes by then. Please contact me at the school if you have questions.

Mrs. D

It's good to be back!

Dear Parents, I will have a progress report for your students on Friday after I update powergrade this week. Thank you for being patient while I was gone and with the substitute, who did a great job.

Wed 9-28 - Students in period 1-5 have a Free choice book report due. 7th period has a Classic book report due.

Wednesday, students will also type their rough drafts of the PWA into Utah Writes. An automatic score will be given so the students know how well they are doing with their writing abilities.

Thursday 9-29 - students will 'wrap-up' the Flowers for Algernon Unit and organize their folders.

Friday - Periods 1-5 will have an introduction to new unit "Watson's Go to Birmingham". Period 7 will discuss the work they completed for the Watson's unit.

Students will also bring a progress report home. It must be signed by parents and returned by 10-4.

Contact me if you have questions. Mrs. D

Flowers for Algernon Unit

Updated notes of interest:

If your students have not turned in the book report from 9-7, or the pedigree chart/history of my name/1st to America papers, please have them turn those things in ASAP. I will grade all make-up work when I return to school.

a. students were to bring home a note explaining that I am in Europe until the 26th of Sept. Mr. Carl VanLeuven will be the substitute while I am gone. Students are expected to do all work assigned and to keep up in the class. Mr. VanLeuven will be correcting many of the assignments and posting grades for students to see.

b. I will be able to read email while I am gone and can correspond with parents if you have questions about what is happening in class.

c. The 'Flowers for Algernon' unit will take about 2 weeks to complete. Check with your students to see what they are doing in class.

d. No school on Sept. 26

e. I will be back to school on Sept. 27 See you then!

Free Choice book report for periods 1-5 is due on Sept. 28
Classic book report for period 7 is due on Sept. 28.

Third Week - 4 day week! YEA!

Events for the week:
Tuesday - continue introduction of LA core requirements for 8th grade

Wednesday - DOL review (grammar/usuage), spelling quiz we didn't have time for last Friday. All students have a "Twice-baked" book report due. Ask your students what this is if they haven't discussed it with you.

Thursday - All students are to turn in their pedigree chart, history of their name, and the 1st person to America on any side of their family. It is also 'National Literacy Month' - we are going to the library for check out - students will get a book of their choice. They will have about 2 1/2 weeks to read this book.

Friday - intro to a new unit - 'Mazes' Each student will be working on a 'packet' of mazes which will be due about the 14th.

We're off and running!

We are finished with our DRP testing! Students will be given their scores towards the end of the month. I'll let you know when I received the scores from the district.

DUE DATES of upcoming assignments:
Sept. 7th - "Twice-baked" Book Report
Sept. 8th - History of my Name paper, pedigree chart, and 1st person to America

Students were given the information about these assignments. Please check with your student for clarification if you need it.

Friday - students will have a practice spelling test and a review of 8th grade core requirements.

MONDAY - SEPT. 5 is Labor Day - NO SCHOOL! YEA!

WELCOME BACK TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

This is going to be a great year for all of us. I am excited to have your students in 8th grade English. I will do my best to keep this site updated so all of you know what assignments are due and what we are doing in class.

This week I have been assessing the students. All students need to turn in their signed disclosure by Friday - Aug. 26th.

Students went to the library on Wed. to check out a book they have already read. They were given book report forms and those are due on or before Sept. 7th. I will remind everyone again before they are due.

Mon - Wed - Aug. 29-31 Students will be taking the DRP in class. We will also be writing the PWA - Provo District's writing assessment. Ask your students about the prompt after we write it.


Wed - Fri I will finish my assessment of the students.

Always feel free to contact me at the school or by email if you have questions about what we are doing.

Have a great summer!

Well, it's over and it's been a great year. All assignments are in and grades will be updated and final by Monday morning.

Hope you have a good summer and fun in Provo High.

Mrs. D

UPDATES - check it out!

All book reports for periods 2-5 are due on Friday, May 6th. Periods 1 & 7 have a character sketch paper due on their Civil War book on Friday, the 6th.

Poetry unit will continue. Students received directions to doing a poetry booklet today. It is due on May 17th. Students also need to pick a 20 line poem to memorize. No Shel Silverstein or Jack Prulusky poems are acceptable for this assignment or the booklet.

Questions?

Apologies to the max!

I'm sorry I am behind on posting for the class. Spring break and reviewing for the test distracted me from being on top of things! Here is a snapshot for the next two weeks:

Monday/25 - continue poetry that we started last Friday
Tuesday - Thursday - CRT testing. Please get a good night sleep, eat breakfast each morning and PLEASE don't miss any of these days.
Friday/30 - about May 6/9 - continue with poetry. We will be learning new terminology, new types of poems, and analyzing some poems with applicable messages.

May 10-12 is the district required DRP - a reading assessment for all students.

Contact me at the school if you have questions. :)

Mrs. D

Holocaust unit

This week we have watched some incredible Personality bag presentations by the students. Tomorrow, Friday, we will discuss the Bomb Shelter 'game' the students played and discuss their reasoning for the people who 'survived'.

Monday - Friday, we will finish the Holocaust unit with some activities, my pictures of Poland and a wrap up of the books that the students are reading.

Please contact me if you have questions.

Mrs.D

4th Term - winding down!

This week, we will begin a unit on the Holocaust. As a teacher, I am concerned about the lack of tolerance in the lives of our students. In my classes, we will discuss articles, watch movies, and read books that deal with tolerance, diversity, and identity. I have worked on this unit for over 15 years, and have selected activities that hopefully, will make my students think about how they treat others or would like to be treated.

Monday - journal activity on responsibility
Tuesday - library check out - books will be chosen by students - subjects can deal with fiction/non-fiction subjects of the Holocaust or events during WWII.
Wednesday - Spelling quiz on Voc. #9; read articles about 'lack of tolerance' in a variety of settings
Thursday/Friday - watch "The Wave" a movie about how easily people are influenced; begin 'Bomb Shelter' Activity

Contact me at the school if you have questions. Mrs. D

End of term is this week

All classes must have their novels finished by Wed. the 16th. Each class has different requirements, so check with your student to see what is expected to be turned in Wed.

I am not accepting any work after Wed. Please get caught up. There are still many students who need to turn in assignments from 3rd term. If these are turned in by Wed. I will give the students at least 50% credit.

We will start a new unit on Thursday is all classes. More information coming on that.

Novel fun!

This week classes started on a new novel and learned the elements of a novel. The students will be reading these books for about 2 1/2 weeks. Each day in class they have the chance to discuss the book and read. Periodically, there will be pop quizzes, so your students should be caught up on their reading.

1st - novel groups - ask what book your student has
2nd - novel groups - ask what the group novel is
3rd - All students are reading DOWNRIVER by Will Hobbs
4th - All students are reading SNIPER by Theodore Taylor
5th - All students are reading ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY by Mildred Taylor
7th - novel groups - ask what book your student has

If you have questions, contact me at the school. We should be finished with the books about March 15th.

Parent Teacher conferences

The schedule listed below is accurate. Don't forget that Thursday, Feb. 17th is Parent teacher conferences. I will be in the west side of the lunch room from 2:00 - 7:00 pm

If parents are unable to attend, your student will bring home a progress report on Friday. Contact me if you have any questions. Mrs. D

Persuasion unit - end of month

Monday - students will wrap up the tall tale unit and begin writing their tall tale
Tuesday - Students will begin practicing/reviewing persuasion techniques for the USOE required Direct Writing Assessment on Feb. 23-24.
Wednesday - students will read their tall tales to members of the class
Thursday - Friday - work on rough draft for persuasion paper

Monday/Tuesday - 14th/15th - wrap up persuasion paper - Begin history/background on Black History month
Wed - Friday - 'drama' unit -reading House of Dies Drear, a story about the underground railroad

Mon. 21st - no school President's Holiday
Tuesday - REALITY TOWN - no class - early out
WED/THURS - DWA - school will be on a block schedule - students will be typing in lab
Friday/25th - wrap up black history - begin novel groups

Legends, tall tales, cont.

Students just finished discussing creation myths from Alaska, Washington state, and Africa. Today we began American legends.

Upcoming events:

Friday - Tuesday - legends and tall-tales
Wednesday, Feb. 2, Spelling quiz #5
Wed - Friday - cultural presentations by students

Please check with your student to see what they have decided to do for their presentation on cultural events in their family. These are the options the students can pick from to present:
a. stories from different countries
b. clothing - specific items such as a kimono, lei, sombrero
c. receipes
d. trinkets or artifacts from different countries
e. family traditions
f. food - food may come only if it is not an expense to the family or has to be heated. Have your student explain - there must be a sample for everyone in the class


Contact me at the school or through email if you have questions.

Tall tales, and Legends - Oh my! What fun!

We are starting a new unit on tall tales and legends. Tuesday and Wednesday, students took notes on terms associated with this unit. They also learned about the cultures that they are a part of in their lives. Wednesday, they also received a spelling list #4. The quiz will be on Jan. 26. Check to see if your student has this list so he/she can study each night.

The rest of this week students will be introduced to creation myths and stories from other countries. If you have questions, please contact me through my hotmail address. The school's SPAM filter is preventing some emails to reach me until several days later.

Thanks,
Mrs. D
new / better email:

pdrussel@hotmail.com

End of term!

Thursday students will finish the non-fiction unit and will write an in class essay on Friday.

Monday is a holiday - Martin Luther King day - no school
Tuesday, we will start a new unit on Legends and tall tales.

Non-fiction unit

Students are working in class on a non-fiction unit. Each day the students will have time to work on the assignment. Each student has a hand-out that explains what the requirements are for the unit. Please check with you student if you have questions.

All book reports are due on Tuesday, Jan. 11. NO EXCEPTIONS. Students will have time on Friday, Jan. 7 to work on them in class.