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.