Literature
We finished watching the background film Mark Twain's America today. Students were asked to find five significant facts about Twain's life before he became a writer and five significant facts about his life after he became a writer. We then wrote a paragraph stating what our expectations were for the excerpt, "Cub Pilot on the Mississippi." Tomorrow we will read that memoir and answer the questions on the study guide. (The study guide was passed out Monday in class.) The film is found on this website under the Resources tab or at the blue link above. Writing We are now reviewing types of verbs: auxiliary verbs vs. main verbs; action vs. linking verbs; transitive verbs vs. intransitive. We worked with the Warriner's text to learn about these categories, and we are working on IXL D.1, D.2, D.3, and D.4 this week. A packet covering these skills was passed out on Monday, September 25, and is due on Monday, October 2. Independent Reading Students should be ready to present their book talks and slide shows tomorrow. All students should be ready, and I will call on students at random. End of Grading Period This Friday is the end of the grading period. Make sure all make-up and late work assignments are turned in on Friday. If you make up IXL, please send me an email with the numbers of the specific skill(s) you have made up. Thank you. Literature No class today because of our Roncalli High School Shadow Day. We will have class on Friday after our morning STEM activities. Make sure you have completed your assigned study guide questions over Robert Hayden's poem "Those Winter Sundays." Link here to hear a reading of the poem and to watch a short animated film dramatizing it.. Writing
Today, we checked and corrected our Pronoun Packets (pp. 31-35, 203). There will be a quiz over this material on Monday, 9-18-17. You will be able to use your packet to help you complete the quiz. Study the packet over the weekend and bring it back to turn in on Monday. These will go in our portfolios and be valuable resources for editing and proofreading our essays this year. Independent Reading Continue to bring your book every day to both classes. We always have a few minutes to read. We now have 13 days to complete our books and to create our Google Slides presentations. Project due date is September 27. STEM Day We start tomorrow morning with our activities. Please bring paper towel rolls if you have any. Thank you! Always remember to check Jupiter daily for grades and specific assignments. Check your email, too! Literature
On Tuesday, we turned in our study guides and comparison/contrast T-chart for the poems "Old Man" and "Grandma Ling." Wednesday, we will read the poem ""Those Winter Sundays" and use a study guide to analyze it. We will use resources from this website to hear the poet read his own work and to view a short film inspired by the poem. Writing We are continuing our pronoun review with a packet of exercises. Make sure you pick up yours and check in daily with Jupiter for the specific homework. Be sure to keep up with the IXL Skills assigned for pronouns this week. We always work to a Smart Score of 100! Independent Reading We will use a few minutes in class each day for sustained silent reading. Be sure to bring your book every day to both morning and afternoon classes. We have 14 days until presentations are due. All 8th-Graders Roncalli Shadow Day will take place on Thursday, September 14, in the morning. Make sure you have turned in your field trip permission slip. Bring lunch money so you can eat in the high school cafeteria that day. We will have afternoon classes when you return to St. Barnabas. STEM Day will be Friday. We need paper towel rolls. Bring 'em if you've got 'em! Congratulations to all students who read and passed quizzes for two summer reading books! Our donut party will take place on Tuesday, September 12, at 7:15 AM!!
Literature This week we are continuing to read poems from our first unit, "Generations, Conflicts and Legacies.' We are comparing and contrasting "Old Man" by Ricardo Sanchez and "Grandma Ling" by Amy Ling. Next, we will read "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden and "Digging" by Seamus Heaney. Writing We continue with our sentence structure and parts of speech review with a focus on pronouns this week. The IXL Skills C.6, C.7, C.8, C.9, and C.10 are due on Friday, September 15, by 7:00 PM. There will be instruction and in-class group work to support our online work. We are moving toward our first essay, so please stay caught up with the grammar work. Independent Reading We now have 16 days left until book presentations on September 27. Look at the total number of pages in your book and subtract the page you are on now. Divide this number by 16. That's how many pages you need to read each day. Bring your book to both classes daily; you will always have some time to read at school. Your book presentation requirements and rubric are on the assignment sheet I gave you the first day. Please see me if you need another copy. Homeroom We are responsible for the Mass liturgy this week. Be sure you know your part and practice your songs and readings. We will practice on Tuesday during study hall. As always, check Jupiter daily for updated grades and specific homework assignments. Please see me or email me if you have missing work or questions. Thanks! |
English 8Daily homework assignments and grades are available through Jupiter. Please contact me through school email if you have questions. Patron Saint of Test-Takers,
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Patron Saint of Students,
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A Classroom Prayer
Holy Spirit, Giver of all good gifts, enter into my mind and heart. Give me the gift of knowledge and the grace to use it wisely. Help me in all my endeavors. Give me perseverance and fortitude. Help my memory, that I may remember what I learn and recall it when necessary. Guide me in the classroom.
O Jesus, You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let me not be deceived by false teaching. Our Lady of Good Studies, pray for me. Amen. Mary, Undoer of Knots,
Pray for Us! A Prayer to Christ, the Divine Teacher
O source of all Wisdom, Christ the Teacher,
You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Teach us to embrace the truths You have revealed to Your Church. Fill our souls with Your Grace that we may love God above all and our neighbors as ourselves. Christ Jesus, friend and Teacher most patient, bless us and teach us. O Light of the world, teach us always to follow You that we should not walk in darkness, but have forever the Light of Life! Amen. Archives
August 2023
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