February Update

All reading classes are just about finished their Nonfiction Unit. We will be having an open book Unit Test by the end of next week (probably Feb. 26 or 27). Our next unit of study will be poetry. Students will be asked to select a poem of their choice to memorize. It can be any poem as long as it is school appropriate, at least 10 lines, and not something they have written themselves. They will also have to tell the class the theme or message of the poem.

Book Report/Power Point score sheets went home today 2/17/09 and 2/18(for one class). Please sign and return to acknowledge receipt. If your son/daughter skipped a section and earned a zero in that slot, he/she can redo that seciton to pull up this grade.

In writing we are having our Chapter 3 test this Friday, February 20th on Pronouns. Students may have the chart from page 76 on an index card to help them with this test. A quiz was taken last Thursday on lessons 8,9, and 10 from Chapter 3. Some students will need to retest due to low scores. Please check with me or your child to see if they need to retest.

Autobiographical Incident Essays should be graded soon. I am half way there.

Our next essay will be the major 8th grade research paper. This assignment is done in conjunction with Science class. Students will be given a topic and directions some time next week. (Feb. 23-27)

8th Grade Update

The homework competition is in full swing. I have seen improvement from some students, but other still are not responsible enough to turn in their homework on a daily basis. A level one referral can be issued for students for "Failure to complete work in a timely manner." I have given students over a week to complete their Autobiographical Incident Essay and their Non Fiction Book Report. I still have eight essays missing and three book reports. This is unacceptable and will not be permitted in high school. If I do not have these assignments by tomorrow February 6Th, than I will be issuing referrals.