Announcement

Parents and Students,

I am sorry to say that tomorrow, Friday, is my last day teaching at Jefferson Academy.  It has been one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I decided to stay home to raise my daughter.

I will always be thankful for the experience my students have given me.  They may never know how much they have contributed to my life and I want to formally say thank you.  Because of the wonderful experiences they have given me, I am very motivated to teach again one day.

The new teacher is Mrs. Kearney.  I met her today and will talk to her tomorrow about what I have already taught the students, what I planned to teach them, my rules and procedures and anything else that will help her take over my job.  She will stay on track with what I have been doing and make necessary changes only when the students are comfortable with her.  

Mrs. Kearney seems like a great teacher with a lot of experience.  I am excited for the students to learn from her.

Thanks again for everything you have done.

Mrs. Martin

History Fair: 6th grade history

Parents,

I sent a brief email about the History Fair for Jefferson Academy.  I want to let you know that your students have brainstormed topics for the theme:  Turning points in history.  They can research any person, event, or idea that they can prove is a turning point in history.

So far, students have come up with a lot of good ideas.  Tomorrow, their specific "issue" is due.  They will have to take their broad topic and narrow it down into a specific issue that they feel is a turning point in history.

One student is interested in music and believes it is a turning point in history (rightly so).  That topic is way too broad to research for this project.  He narrowed it down to the Beatles.  That is a good, narrow topic.

The next step is to research how the narrow topic is a turning point in history.  Students have until December 21st (the day before Winter Break) to come up with a thesis statement answering the question as to why their topic is a turning point.

All of the research will be done at home.  There is no time in class to complete this research.  Please remind your child to continually research.  I will teach them how to write a thesis statement appropriate for this project, but the actual process will be done at home.

During Winter Break your child will pick a way to present his/her research.  There are five ways (these are listed in my PowerPoint in assignments).  I have gone over all five options in class, but I will go over them again before the break.

If you have any questions, you can email me, but there is also a plethora of information on the PowerPoint in my assignments.

Thank you,
Mrs. Martin

Week 4 November 26 - 30

Monday

English

Bell work:
In your handbook write answers to the following questions:
1.  What is a dangling modifier?
2.  What is a squinting or two-way modifier?
3.  What is a misplaced modifier?

Objectives:
Read the short story "God Sees the Truth but Waits" by Leo Tolstoy.
Answer the following questions on the white half-sheet of paper that I handed out:
1.  What is/are the setting(s).
2.  Who is the protagonist and who are the antagonists?
3.  What is the denouement?
4.  What is one theme you can see?  (There are many themes.)

Homework:
Short story is due tomorrow.  We will be reading them in class.  Be prepared to read some or all of your story.

Finish reading the short story (posted on my website) if you didn't finish in class.  The answers are due tomorrow.

History

Bell Work:
No bell work.  Get out your homework and turn it in.  Homework is the handout I gave you for the history fair.  You needed to decide on a specific issue you will research for the history fair.

Objectives:
Alexander the Great.  There is a page reading on Alex the Great.  Posted in assignments, term two.  Follow the instructions.  If you are absent, fill out the first four things you learned and stop there.

Homework:
Continue researching for the history fair.  Your research should be helping you find out why your "issue" is a turning point in history.

Tuesday


English

Bell work:
No bell work.  Get out your short story and keep it on your desk.

Objectives:
Vocabulary:  Lego/lectum, Locus, Loquor
Start reading short stories out loud.

Homework:
Read for 20 minutes.

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Wednesday


English

Bell work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Thursday


English

Bell work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Friday


English

Bell work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Second Quarter, Week 2: November 5 to November 9

Monday, November 5

Language Arts
Bell Work:

Substitute:  I will grade your reader's journals and check your 30 minutes of writing tomorrow.

Objectives:

1.  Read short story: "An Honest Thief"  I cannot post this on my website because there is no free version online.  If you are absent, you need to come in and read it during lunch and before school.

The substitute will read out loud with the class.  Focus for this story is setting:  How does the author describe or show the reader where this story takes place?

Homework:

Read for 20 minutes
Vocabulary and spelling test on Thursday
Short story due November 27th
Sonnet due December 4th

History
Bell Work:
None.  Substitute will continue with last Friday's assignment.  Notebook check on Friday.

Objectives:
Finish Greek philosophers

Homework:
If you had to agree with one of the following three philosophers, which one would you agree with most and why.  One paragraph (not a list).  20 points for name and period.  30 points for grammar.  50 points for answering the question.

Tuesday, November 6


Language Arts
Bell Work:


Objectives:

1.  Dangling modifiers activity.

Homework:
Read 20 minutes.
Weekly word study due Thursday.
Reader's journal due on Friday.

History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:


Wednesday, November 7

Language Arts
Bell Work:
1.  What is a modifier?
2.  What is a dangling modifier?
3.  How do you fix a dangling modifier?
4.  Fix this sentence:  Running for the bus, my book fell in the mud.

Was the book running for the school bus? It's the only nearby noun beside mud

Objectives:

"Apparently with no surprise" Emily Dickinson

Homework:
Read 20 minutes.
Weekly Word Study due tomorrow.


History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Thursday, November 8

Language Arts
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Friday, November 9


Language Arts
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

2nd Quarter, Week 1: October 30-November 3.

Every assignment we do for class and homework will now be posted on the website labeled "Assignments: 2nd Term."  I am starting over the count at week one.
_______________________

Monday, October 29

Language Arts
Bell Work:
New seating chart.  No bell work.

Objectives:
Finish the Short Story PPT.
Vocabulary
Spelling Words

"Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," from Realms of Gold.  Full text posted in Week 1 of 2nd term assignments.
Read the short story while thinking about the following questions: (I have a PPT with all the answers in week 1.)

1.  What is the plot?  (Think about what the exposition is, the complication, the climax, and the denouement.
2.  Who are the characters and what type of characters are they (round, flat, dynamic, etc)?
3.  What is the point of view?
4.  What is the setting?
5.  What type of conflict is there and why? (man v man, man v nature, man v society, man v himself, man v fate)
6.  What symbols are there in the story and what do they mean?
7.  What is a theme of the story?
8.  Is there any irony?  If so, what kind? (situation, verbal, dramatic)
9.  What is the mood of the story?
10.  What is the tone of the story?
11.  Does the author use suspense?  How?
12.  Does the story contain any foreshadowing?
13.  What dialect does the character speak in? (refers to the time period/setting)
14.  Is there a frame story in this story?
15.  Is there any allusion?  Where?

In a class discussion, answer these questions.  We may not finish this until Tuesday.

Homework:
Read for 20 minutes.  Continue working on short story.
Spelling (all 40) and Vocabulary (13 words) test Thursday, November 8th.

History
Bell Work:
New seating chart.  No Bell Work.

Objectives:
Finish Persian War.
Textbook: Supplier, get textbooks for your table.
1. Open to page 52.
2. Read 52 and 53 out loud (quietly).
3. Person 1 reads a paragraph and asks a question.
Person 2 answers the question and then reads the
next paragraph.

As a class, write down the timeline of events in the Persian Wars.  Finish Tuesday.

Homework:  No homework.
_______________________________________________
Tuesday, October 30

Language Arts
Bell Work:
"Remembrance of a Friend" Poetry Packet p. 5-6 (Assignments: 2nd term).

Objectives:
Finish "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Homework:
Read for 20 minutes.  Continue working on Short Story.

History
Bell Work:
Describe what happened at the battle of Thermopylae.  Who won?  What happened to the Spartans? (Remember the 300!)

Objectives:
Finish writing notes about Persian Wars.  I have these notes written in the History Handbook.
Start Peloponnesian War: Sparta defeats Athens.

Homework:
Write some examples of cause and effect.  There is an effect to every action.  What are some natural consequences to our every day actions?  (100 points)
_______________________
Wednesday, October 31
Language Arts
Bell Work:
Assembly 1st period.  4th period studied vocabulary and spelling.

Objectives:
None

Homework:
Read 20 minutes.  Fill out weekly word study. Continue working on short story.

History
Bell Work:
None.  

Objectives:
Continue Peloponnesian War.

Homework:
No Homework
____________________________________________
Thursday, November 1
Language Arts
Bell Work:

Get a Realms of Gold book and read the poem on page 9.
Watch a video adaptation of the poem.


Objectives:

"I Dwell in Possibility" poem by Emily Dickenson
Apostrophes


Homework:
Read 20 minutes.
Work on Short Story.
Turn in reader's journal with a letter to Mrs. Martin

History
Bell Work: 

Get out your white paper we folded yesterday.  In the appropriate box, write each cause and effect at the bottom of the box in small writing.

Objectives:
Create a comic strip of the main events that occurred during the Peloponnesian War.  There needs to be 7 boxes with the cause and effect written on each box, and then a picture depicting that event.  Due Friday if you don't finish it in class.

Homework:
Finish your comic strip if you didn't finish it in class.
_____________________________________________
Friday, November 2

Language Arts
Bell Work:
No bell work.

Objectives:
Explain Writing Finished Portfolio.

Homework:
Read 40 minutes.
30 minutes of writing (short story or sonnet)
Study for Spelling and Vocabulary test next Thursday.

History
Bell Work:
No bell work.

Objectives:
Start Ancient Greece philosophy.
Read pages 62 to 68 as a class.
Fill in facts about the following three Greek philosophers:  Socrates, Aristotle, Plato.

Homework:
If you had to pick one of the Greek philosophers we studied, which one would you agree with MOST and why.  One paragraph.

Announcement

Dear Students and Parents,

I am starting to grade students on whether or not they write a first and last name on assignments.  Every assignment is worth 100 points in my class (except some large projects at the ends of units).  From now on I am giving ten points for students who write their first and last names on each assignment.  I have multiple students with the same name, but I believe it is good practice to have students write their proper names.  This is only professional.

Thank you,

Mrs. Martin

Week 9: October 22 to October 26

Monday, October 22

Language Arts
Bell Work:  Answer the following questions:
1.  How many feet are in Iambic pentameter?
2.  In one independent clause, write what the word "Iambic" means.
3.  In one sentence, write what the main idea is for the play Twelfth Night.

Put your 30 minutes of writing on your desk.  Once I have checked it off, place it in your green file folder.

Objectives:  Spelling, Vocabulary:  Copy into handbook and planner.  Poem:  "Ozymandias."  Irony PPT.
If you were absent, only write the first and last slide of the PPT in your handbook under a new category, "Literary Terms."

On a half sheet of paper, answer the following questions about the poem "Ozymandias:"
1.  What is the main idea of this poem?
2.  What type of irony is used in this poem?
3.  What type of poem is this?  (Look in your handbook under "Genre".  Count the lines.  Notice any meter or rhyme.)

Turn in the half sheet of paper.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes.  Shakespeare project due tomorrow.

History


Bell Work:
In complete sentences, describe how democracy came to be in Greece.  Mention kinds, land owners, tyrants, rights (remember the tiny of slice of cake and how you would react if that's all you were allowed).

Objectives:  Vocabulary Competition.
2nd period  Vocabulary quiz.  If you fail the quiz, you have until Friday to re-take it at morning greet for possible full credit.    

Homework:  No homework.


Tuesday, October 23


Language Arts
Bell Work:

On a piece of scratch paper, practice writing the following words 5 times each.  Pay attention to any spelling errors you have.  I will come around to check and make sure you are completing the bell work.

Words:  lightning, maintenance, mileage, necessary, occurrence, desperate, dissatisfied, extraordinary, fascinating, foreign.


Objectives: Turn in your Shakespeare project.  If you are doing a PPT, turn in your notes and email me or give me the flash drive so I can access your PPT.

Students will know when the use of italics/underlining is appropriate.  Copy the notes from the handbook on the right side of this blog.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes.

History


Bell Work:

Write a correct thesis statement to the following questions:

1.  Is our election process fair?
2.  Do we have a fair taxation system?
3.  Is cheating out of control?
4.  Should animals be used for research?
5.  Should cigarette smoking be banned?
6.  Should companies market to children?
7.  Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
8.  Should the alcoholic drinking age be increased?
9.  Does age matter in relationships?
10.  Are there benefits to attending a single-gender school?

Remember! Thesis statements are:
Short, declarative statements.
They reflect your opinion without using the words "In my opinion," or "I think", etc.
They answer the question.
They do not say "Yes," "No."
They do not use pronouns (he, she, it, they).

Objectives:  Greek Culture PPT (week 9).  Greek Wars Text book and PPT (week 9).

Homework:  No Homework

Wednesday, October 24


Language Arts
Bell Work:
Write answers to the following:
Make a list telling when you should use italics.
What makes a good short story?

Objectives:  

 Read the poem, "How They Brought the News from Ghent to Aix."
Answer the following questions on the half sheet of paper:
1.  What is the main idea or theme of this poem?
2.  Does this poem have any meter/rhythm?  Does it have any rhyme?
3.  Do you like this poem?  Don't forget to write why or why not.
4.  Who is the author of this poem?

Short Story introduction.  Fill in the blank PPT.  The complete PPT is in Assignments.


Homework:  
Read for 20 minutes.
Complete your weekly word study due tomorrow at the beginning of class.

History

Bell Work:

What makes a good Thesis Statement?  Write a five sentence paragraph.

Objectives:  
Finish Greek Culture PPT and textbook reading.

Homework:  

No homework.

2nd period:  Do not worry about the quizzes for this quarter.  If you got an “A” on the quiz, it will go on this quarter’s grade.  If you got less than an “A” you will have the first week of 2nd quarter to fix the grade.

Thursday, October 25


Language Arts
Bell Work:
1.  In one sentence, what is the main idea of the short story, "How They Brought the News From Ghent to Aix?"
2.  Taylor Mali poem "Borrowing a Pen From Girls" (week 9: assignments)

Objectives:  
Finish Short Story PPT
Irony Worksheets:  in assignments.  In class, students will write on their own paper and I will have it on the overhead.

Homework:  Read for 20 minutes.  Write your letter in your reading journal to Mrs. Martin.

History


Bell Work:
From what you have learned, make a list of 3 things that Greek Culture has left to us.  What did we get to keep and still enjoy from their culture?

Objectives:  
Finish Greek Culture PPT
Start Persian Wars:  Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis.
Ideas:  Victory and hubris (pride), defeat and shame.

Homework:  No homework



Friday, October 26


Language Arts
Bell Work:  Do NOT get your file folders.

For ten minutes, quietly study the vocabulary on the board.  We will be having a class competition.  The prize is 5 minutes of free time.  

Turn in your Shakespeare project if you still haven’t.  Remember, these are 300 points.  You have until next Friday at the very latest to turn in the project for 70% credit.

Homework (Write in your planner):

Read for 40 minutes.

Write for 30 minutes.  (Start your short story. It is due Tuesday, November 27th.)   

History

Bell Work:

1.  Get out your textbooks.  Turn to your notes on the Persian war.

2.  Remember to sit quietly and raise your hands if you have a comment or question.

Homework, Write in your planner: 

No homework.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you for helping us all have a wonderful first quarter. 

Announcement: Make up work

This has been a policy in my class for the whole year, but I feel I really need to illustrate it right now.

If a student gets an undesirable grade on any assignment in my class, that student has till that Friday to turn it in with corrections made.  I will not mark it late because it was technically turned in on time and I want my students to succeed.

If a student takes advantage of this policy--for example, they don't have time to finish the assignment so they just turn it in, knowing they can make it up--then they will get points marked down when they turn it in again.

I will only accept this policy on COMPLETED assignments that were done wrong for whatever reason.

Week 8

Monday, October 8

Language Arts
Bell Work:  Look at the poetry packet on your desk.  Read the letter from me on the first page.  Read the first poem on page 3 "Poem".  This poetry packet is in the Assignments on the home page.

Objectives:  Spelling, Vocabulary, Dashes, read first lines of 30 minutes of writing.

Homework:  Remember, tomorrow is a work day.  I will have computers.  Bring what you are working on for the Shakespeare project.  Read 20 minutes.
____________________________________
History

Bell Work:  No bell work.

Objectives:  Finish Religion.  PPT of Christianity is on Week 7 of "Assignments".  In tables and then as a class, draw a three-circle Venn Diagram.  One circle is for Christianity, one for Islam and one for Judaism.  Write 5 facts about each religion, putting them in the specific circle (if there is a fact shared between Islam and Christianity, write it in the combined portion of the diagram.

Homework: None


Tuesday, October 9

Language Arts

Bell Work:  No bell work

Objectives:  Get out your Shakespeare project and work on it for 50 minutes.  If you are done with the project here are your other options:
1.  Write for MY class.
2.  Read
3.  Study vocabulary or spelling

Homework:  Read for 20 minutes.  Shakespeare project due Thursday.  Reading journal to Mrs. Martin due Friday.
_______________________________________________

History

Bell Work:

None

Objectives:  Start Ancient Greece.  Read short stories about people in Ancient Greece.

Homework:  Write a short story from the perspective of a Grecian citizen.  Write about their lives and what they do in a typical day.  Be prepared to share this story on Friday.  Due Friday.


Wednesday, October 10

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Answer the following questions in misc. bellwork.

1.  What is iambic pentameter?
2.  What is a monologue?
3.  What is a soliloquy?
4.  Write four sentences using correct capitalization with a dash in each one.

Objectives: Understand how to use colons.  Understand what independent and dependent clauses are.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes.  Weekly Word study due tomorrow.  Shakespeare project due date change: Tuesday, October 23rd.
____________________________________________

History

Bell Work:

1.  Quiz--Write down three things you learned about religion.  (They have to pertain to what we learned in class or in your own research.)

2.  Why do people have rituals?

3.  Muhammad is the prophet from which religion?

Objectives:  Patriotism, Democracy.  PPT in week 8.

Homework:  Short story about a Greek citizen.


Thursday, October 11

Language Arts

Bell Work:
1.  What is Iambic pentameter?
2.  What is an independent clause?
3.  What is a dependent clause?
4.  Write one sentence correctly using a colon.

Objectives:  Read the poems "Lucy Gray" and "My Heart Leaps Up" by William Wordsworth.  Turn in a half sheet of paper answering the following questions for each poem.
1.  Is there any meter in the poem?  If so, what is it?
2.  In one independent clause, write what the MAIN IDEA is of each poem.
3.  Who are the characters?
4.  How does this poem make you feel?

We watched a movie adaptation of the poem, "Lucy Gray".  It is in week 8 of Assignments.  Both poems are also in the assignments.

Write in your handbook the definition of a Ballad.  This is in my online Writing Handbook.

Homework:  Write a letter in your reading journal to me about the book you are reading.
_______________________________________________

History

Bell Work:
Write one correct thesis statement to the following question:  Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school?

Objectives:
Finish Ancient Greece PPT.  Copy down vocabulary.  In class, I assigned each table one or two vocabulary words.  On a half sheet of paper, they wrote the definition, and drew a picture depicting the meaning of that word.

Homework:
Short story from the perspective of an Ancient Grecian.

Friday, October 12

Language Arts

Bell Work:  No bell work.

Objectives:  Learn about short stories from the librarian.

Homework:  30 minutes of writing.  Read 40 minutes.
_____________________________________________________

History

Bell Work:
2nd period history earned a vocabulary quiz the Monday we get back from Fall Break.  They were being loud and would not listen.  I gave them the entire time today to study for the quiz and I will give them part of Monday to study for the quiz.

Objectives:  Finish vocabulary picture.  Present.  Vocabulary competition.

Homework:  No homework.  Have a wonderful fall break!

Week 7

Monday, October 1st, 2012

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Get out your writing homework.  In tables, read what you wrote from the first page of your writing.  If you do not have your 30 minutes of writing, you can turn it in to me for late credit.  When you are done reading your writing to the table, put it in your green file folder.  The substitute teacher will come around to grade you on whether or not you completed your writing.

Objectives:  Writing, Perform Twelfth Night, Continue to fill out Act summaries.

Homework: Read for 20 minutes.  Study for the spelling and vocabulary tests.
__________________________________________________________
History

Bell Work:  2nd period--finish copying down vocabulary words. from the board.

                   3rd period--Write a 5-sentence paragraph answering the following question:
                                      "How do people make fair laws?  Do our laws reflect our morals?"  

Objectives:  Textbook assignment.  Page 18-24.  Instructions:  In your History Handbooks on the first blank page, take notes on your reading.   Write down the red headings.  Underneath each heading, write down one fact per paragraph in "Tarzan" talk.  These chapters will be posted online by Tuesday morning.

Homework:  Continue working on your religion research paper.  DUE FRIDAY, October 5th.
_____________________________
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012
Language Arts

Bell Work:  Vocabulary and Spelling Test

Objectives:  Vocabulary and Spelling.  Correct tests in class.  Continue acting out Twelfth Night and filling out Act summaries.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes.  Continue to work on Final Shakespeare Project.
___________________________________________________________ History

Bell Work:  Discuss what the Substitute covered yesterday.

Objectives:  Textbook reading, explain the research paper again, if time--article about Islam.

Homework:  Short research paper due October 5th:  There are at least 6 paragraphs, an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

Paragraph 1:  Introduction.  Make a thesis statement answering HOW the religion you researched came into existence.  Write down three sentences that describe something interesting about the religion you researched.

Paragraph 2:  Write details about how the religion started.

Paragraph 3:  Write details about your first interesting fact.

Paragraph 4:  Write details about your second interesting fact.

Paragraph 5:  Write details about your third interesting fact.

Paragraph 6:  Write a conclusion reflecting your introduction.
____________________________________________________________
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012
Language Arts

Bell Work:  Watch a video for anti-bullying month and one about How fiction affects the real world.

Objectives:  Discussion about bullying.  Perform Shakespeare.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes.  Continue working on Shakespeare project (Due October 11th).
____________________________________________________________
History

Bell Work:  Watch a video for anti-bullying month.  Discussion.

Objectives:  Finish Textbook assignment

Homework:  Continue working on your research paper, due October 5th.  If you didn't finish the textbook assignment, take your handbook home and read the chapters on my website.
____________________________________________________________
Thursday, October 4th, 2012
Language Arts

Bell Work: No bell work today.

Objectives:  Finish Act 4 and 5 of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare.

Homework:  Read for 20 minutes.  Write a reader's journal entry TO ME.
____________________________________________________________
History

Bell Work:  This Day In History for October 1st. Jon and Ari present today because I was gone on Monday and Mrs. Olsen's computer wasn't working for them to present in morning greeting.

Objectives:  Learn about Islam.  Write down facts from an article. (Not on my website--I apologize.  I cannot remember where I found this article.)

Homework:  Research paper is due tomorrow.
____________________________________________________________
Friday, October 5th, 2012
Language Arts

Bell Work:  Turn in your reader's journal to Mrs. Martin.  Read a book the rest of the period.

Objectives:  Reader's workshop

Homework:  Read 40 minutes.  Write for 30 minutes.

____________________________________________________________
History

Bell Work:

Objectives:  Finish religion.  Learn about the origin of Christianity. Compare and Contrast all three major religions.

Homework:  No homework.

Announcement

Dear Parents and Students,

I am getting a lot of students complaining that they are missing grades on SIS.  They promised they turned it in but they have no grade.

These are the three options for them:
1.  Look in the "no name" file stapled to the wall underneath the light switch.  I have dozens of assignments in there.

2.  Look in their green file folders.  Some students think that if they keep it in their file folders, that is as good as turning it in.  I do not check file folder ever.  I only access their notebooks if I am doing a notebook check to see if they are keeping up on class notes.

3.  They get it returned to them WITH a score on them.  I admit there are times when I grade the assignment and for some reason it just doesn't make it into SIS.  The student needs to show me that assignment with the grade on it.  If they throw the assignment away, there is no way for me to know for sure.

Some students say I lost their work.  I can assure you that is is physically impossible for me to lose student work.  I keep assignments in a pouch that is zipped up.  The only reason I take the assignments out is to grade them.  Then I immediately put them back in the pouch.

In another matter, I am noticing that my sixth and eighth graders are turning in work with no basic conventions.  I expect each student to know how to use capitalization and basic punctuation.  From now on I am going to mark down 30 percent of the grade if these basic conventions are not followed.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mrs. Martin

Friday, September 28

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Turn in a half sheet of paper with your name, the name of your partner and what project you are working on for the final Shakespeare assignment.  Exchange/turn in your letter.  Get out your book to read.

Objectives:  Reading workshop.  You should be responding to a letter or reading a book.

Homework:  Write for 30 minutes on whatever genre you choose.  Remember, never throw away your writing for this class.  Bring to class on Monday and be prepared to share.  Read for 40 minutes.

_________________________________________________________________________
History

Bell work:  Copy the vocabulary from the board.  Write these words and their definitions in your History Handbook wherever you have your unit on Religion.

Objectives:  Finish Vocabulary.  Explain research paper.  Start teaching lasting religions.

Homework:  Start working on your research paper.  Instructions are on my blog under "Assignments."

Thursday, September 27th

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Read the Shakespearean speech.  What type of meter does it mostly have? (remember the “ta-tums”)  Write the name of that meter somewhere on the paper with your speech.  It starts with an "I".

Objectives:  Polunius' Speech with the article about Lending Money (on my website).  This is homework if you do not finish it in class.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes.  Letter in your reading journal due tomorrow.  Start working on your Shakespeare Project.  Write on a piece of paper who you are working with and what project you are doing.
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History

Bell Work:  Read the article on Hammurabi.  Fill in the profile for him in your handbook page 90/91.  (Who, what, where, when, why important.)  You have 20 minutes.

Objectives:  Hammurabi Profile, Research Paper, Vocabulary for our "Religion" unit.  (I did not get to explain the research paper, so do not worry about it until the weekend.

Homework:  Research paper due next Friday, October 5.  

Wednesday, September 26th

Language Arts

Bell Work:  In your handbook under "Genre" write "Sonnet" and then two or more sentences describing characteristics of a sonnet.  If you can't remember, look at "Sonnet 18".  It should be in your green file folder.

Objectives:  Perform the rest of Act I and part of Act II of Twelfth Night.

Homework:  Read for 20 minutes.  Weekly Word Study due tomorrow.
Vocabulary and Spelling test next Tuesday.
Shakespeare Final Project due Thursday, October 11th.

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History

Bell Work:  Continue filling out the third column about "What you know" for the unit Mesopotamia.

Objectives:  Read "Hammurabi's Profile", Finish learning about Thesis Statements.  Explain Final Product:  Mesopotamia.

Homework:  Final Product:  Mesopotamia.

Tuesday, September 25

Language Arts

Bell Work:  When you create fictional characters for a story, what questions do you ask yourself?  How do you make that character seem real?

Objectives:  Spelling, Vocabulary, Capitalization, Shakespeare.

Homework:  Read twenty minutes.  Start preparing for Spelling and Vocabulary quizzes next Tuesday.

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History

Bell Work: Write down three things you learned yesterday in class.

Objectives:  Laws of Hammurabi, How to write an argumentative thesis statement.

Homework:  Write one paragraph about how to write a thesis statement.  This should be five sentences.  If you can't remember how to write one, look on my website.

Week 6 Monday, September 24

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Read the poem "America" by Tony Hoagland.  On the back of the poem, write what you notice about the punctuation, stanzas, and rhythm.  What is this poem about?  What type of tone does it have?

Objectives:  Reading journal review (see instructions on my blog).  Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act I

Homework:  Read for twenty minutes.

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History

Bell Work:  Same as Friday (explain to me how to know what years belong to [for example] the 15th century).

Objectives:  Finished the Ancient Middle East PPT.  Started reading about Hammurabi and the 282 laws.  Posted on my website.  Additional information for interested students:  All 282 of Hammurabi's laws, games to play about what would happen if certain rules were broken.

Homework:  Check SIS to see what you are missing in my class.  Anything that was due last week is due for late credit no later than Friday.

Friday, September 21st

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Quietly come into class, turn in your letters to Mrs. Martin or exchange letters with another student.  Read or respond to letters for the rest of the class period.

Objectives:  Reader's workshop

Homework:  Read for 40 minutes, write for 30 minutes in any genre.

History

Bell Work:  Picture day (2nd period).  In a few sentences, explain to someone in writing how to tell what century a year is in.  For example, when I ask what century is 1999 in.  Or what years belong to the 21st century.  When you are done, fill out part of the third column about what you learned yesterday.  When you are done with that, glue in the timeline I pass out.

Objectives:  Mesopotamia.  Timeline.

Homework:  No homework.

Thursday, September 20

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Read the poem entitled "Footsteps to Follow" by Kelly Carter.  Write a five-sentence paragraph answering one or all of the following questions:  What is this poem about?  Why do you think the poet needed to write this poem?  Can you relate to this poem?  Get out your spelling with your planner.

Objectives:  Shakespeare act summaries, perform Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Homework:  Read for twenty minutes.  Bring a book tomorrow.  Bring your reader's journal letter.

History

Bell Work:  In your history handbook section "Mesopotamia" make a three-column chart that takes up the whole page.  Label the first column "What I know", the second column "What I should know" and the third column "What I learned."  Fill out the first two columns regarding what you know about Mesopotamia and what you should know (or want to know).

Objectives:  Mesopotamia:  Introduction.  B.C.E. / C.E. / How historians label centuries (21st, 15th, etc).  Start PPT of Ancient Middle East.

Homework:  No homework

Wednesday, September 19

Language Arts

Bell Work:  Write three sentences using a parentheses, and three sentences using a hyphen. (Check your handbook if you can't remember how.)

Objectives:  Final project explained (instructions in Assignments), Act Summaries for Twelfth Night (In Assignments), Start acting out the play.  If you are absent, go to "No Fear Shakespeare" and read Act I, Scene i.  Website link is in "Assignments" week 5.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes.  Weekly word study due tomorrow.  Letter due Friday.

History

Bell Work: Do you believe human beings need to be ruled by a government?

Objectives:  Finish Deserts (fill out third column of your KWL),  Start Mesopotamia with National Geographic Video.

Homework:  Finish "I Am" poem if you didn't finish in class (template and instructions in Assignments), Article: "Can the Sahara Forest Turn the Desert Into an Oasis?"  Follow the instructions.  Article is in "Assignments."

Tuesday, September 18

Language Arts 8

Bell Work:  Read the poem (Sonnet 18).  How many lines are there?  What do you notice about the last two lines?  Can you distinguish any rhythm or meter?

Objectives:  Iambic Pentameter, hyphens, Sonnet 18, Shakespeare.

Homework:  Read for 20 minutes.  Weekly Word Practice due Thursday.  Reading journal letters due Friday at the beginning of class.

History 6

Bell Work:  What is a primary document and what is a secondary document?  If you don't know, make an educated guess.

Objectives:  Finish "Deserts" text activity.  Start writing an "I am" poem about deserts.  Instructions and rubric under week 5.

Homework:  No homework.

Monday, September 17 Week 5

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work:  A couplet is a poetic device.  There are two lines and the last word of each line rhymes.  Write a couplet on any subject.

Ex:  A little learning is a dangerous thing;

      Drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring.

Objectives:  Spelling, Vocabulary, Traits of Drama PPT (click on "Assignments"), Monologue, Soliloquy.   

Homework:  Read 20 minutes, Spelling practice due Thursday, Journal due Friday.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  Why is writing in a journal historically important?

Objectives:  Deserts.  Textbook activity Pages 2-14 (on "assignments").

Homework:  Check my blog and write down five things you can get from my blog.

Friday, September 14

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work: Exchange letters and respond to them.  Read a book when done.  If you wrote a letter to me, put it on my desk.

Objectives:  Reading Workshop

Homework:  Read 40 minutes from a personal book.  Write in any genre for a half hour.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  Start working on textbook activity.

Objectives:  Deserts.  Textbook activity Pages 2-14

Homework:  No homework

Thursday, September 13

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work: Find your new assigned seat and get out your spelling work. 

Objectives:  Spelling check, Parentheses, Traits of drama.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes from a personal book.  Letter due tomorrow.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  Find your new seat and turn get out your "Atacama" desert article.

Objectives:  Deserts.  Textbook activity Pages 2-14

Homework:  No homework

Wednesday, September 12

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work: For twenty minutes, write a "Persona" poem.  Pick a fictional character you like and write from his/her point of view.  This poem stays in your manilla file folder all year.  

Objectives:  Persona Poem, Working portfolio, Close reading, spelling.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes from a personal book.  Reading journal 9/14.  Spelling practice on the first 10 words (weeks 3 and 4), due tomorrow.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  In three or more sentences, describe to me what close reading is.

By the end of class you must turn in to me:

1.Script (handwritten, or typed and saved in the student public network drive).

2.Powerpoint:  Saved in the student public network drive.

Objectives:  This Day In History:  If you are done, start your homework.

Homework:  "Atacama Desert--The World's Driest Desert" Do a "close" reading of this article.  Directions are at the top of the page.

Tuesday, September 11th

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work: Go get your file folder.  Silently read the poem I handed out.  Keep your thoughts about it to yourself for now.  Poem:  "Maybe Dats Youwr Prowblem" Jim Hall

Objectives:  Conventions mini lesson, continue genre, pick partners for Friday's workshop.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes from a personal book.  Start thinking about what you'll write in your reading letter due Friday.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  Suppliers get your table’s file folders and computers for each group at your table. 

By the end of class you must turn in to me:

1.Script (handwritten, or typed and saved in the student public network drive).

2.Powerpoint:  Saved in the student public network drive.

Objectives:  This Day In History:  Finish today or it is homework.

Homework:  Close reading instructions and assignment.

Monday, September 10th

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work:  Write an answer to this question in your Writing/Reading Handbooks:  How can I get an "A" in Mrs. Martin's English class?  Be prepared to discuss.

Objectives:  Spelling, vocabulary (write in handbook AND planner), genre, read Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf, write down each genre used in the story.

Homework:  Read 20 minutes from a personal book.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  Quietly get out your file folders.  Fill out your planner. Talk with your group about what you need to accomplish today.  

Objectives:  This Day In History:  Thursday and Friday.

Homework:  No homework.

Friday, September 7th

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work:  Quietly exchange reading journals to your partner.  When you are done, read a book.  If you wrote a letter to me, put it on my chair.  If you did NOT do the homework, fill out a blue half-sheet explaining why you did not complete your letter.

Objectives:  Reading Workshop (Refer to reading journal instructions)

Homework:  Read 40 minutes from a personal book.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  Quietly get out your file folders.  Fill out your planner.  

Objectives:  This Day In History:  Thursday and Friday.

Homework:  No homework.

September 6th, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell Work:  Quietly get your folder.  Re-read the reading journal letter I wrote to you.  Underline anything you think is important.

Objectives:  Reading Journals procedure/instructions (I will post the instructions in the "Pages" section of my blog.)

Homework:  Read 20 minutes from a personal book.  Write a half-page letter to either Mrs. Martin or someone you picked in class today.  Bring the letter (in your reading journal) and your book to class tomorrow.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History

Bell Work:  Quietly get out your file folders.  Fill out your planner.  

Objectives:  This Day In History:  Thursday and Friday.

Homework:  No homework.

September 5, 2012

1st and 4th Language Arts

Bell Work: Quietly walk into class and take a sheet from the "Bell Work" file.  Write your name and the one fact you learned about Shakespeare.  Turn it in .  Write your homework in your planner.

Objectives:  NWEA testing (Last day!!!)

Homework:  Read your choice of book for 20 minutes.

2nd and 3rd History

Bell Work:  Get out your paragraph with the answer to the question, "HOW should we study history?"  Be ready to discuss.  Turn in during dismissal procedures at the end of class.

Objectives:  Finish persona history projects.  Discuss how we study history.

Homework:  No homework.

September 4, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

Get out your reading journal if you have it with you and read the letter I handed to you as you walked in.  Underline what you think is important.

Homework:     Read a book of your choice for at least 20 minutes.  Read the article below on Shakespeare.                 Write down one fact from that article. 

Topic:             NWEA TESTS

2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:  

Come in quietly and get your personal history projects.

Homework:

Write one paragraph in answer to this question:  How should we study history?

Topic:  

Personal History Presentations

Shakespeare Biography (For Language Arts)

Taken from notablebiographies.com

Born: April 23, 1564 
Stratford-upon-Avon, England 
Died: April 23, 1616 
Stratford-upon-Avon, England

The English playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare was a popular dramatist. He was born six years after Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) ascended the throne, in the height of the English Renaissance. He found in the theater of London a medium just coming into its own and an audience eager to reward talents of the sort he possessed. He is generally acknowledged to be the greatest of English writers and one of the most extraordinary creators in human history.

Early life

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a wealthy landowner from a neighboring village. His father, John, was a maker of gloves and a trader in farm produce. John also held a number of responsible positions in Stratford's government and served as mayor in 1569.

Though no personal documents survive from Shakespeare's school years, he probably attended the Stratford grammar school and studied the classics, Latin grammar and literature. It is believed that he had to discontinue his education at about thirteen in order to financially help his father. At eighteen he married Ann Hathaway. They had three children, Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith.

There are no records of Shakespeare's activities between 1585 and 1592. Some have speculated (guessed) that he was a traveling actor or a country schoolmaster. The earliest surviving mention of his career in London, England, is a jealous attack by Robert Greene, a playwright, which indicates that Shakespeare had already established himself in the capital. It is hard to believe that even Shakespeare could have shown the mastery evident in his plays without several years of apprenticeship (the period of time a person works to learn a skill).

The Lord Chamberlain's Men

In 1594 Shakespeare became principal writer for the successful Lord Chamberlain's Men in London. This was one of the two leading companies of actors. He also became a regular actor in the company and a partner in the group of artist-managers who ran it. The company performed regularly in unroofed but elaborate theaters that seated up to three thousand people. The actors performed on a huge platform stage equipped with additional levels for performances. The audience sat on three sides or stood on the ground in front of the stage. 

In 1599 this group had the Globe Theater built on the south bank of the Thames River.

Shakespeare produced many plays for the company. They include the comedies The Taming of the Shrew (1594) about the taming of an ill-tempered, scolding woman and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595), in which fairies and magic potions in moonlit woods become entangled with young lovers who escape from a cruel society. These were followed by The Merchant of Venice (1596), Much Ado about Nothing (1598), The Merry Wives of Windsor (1599), and As You Like It (1600).

Shakespeare's tragedies of the period are among his most familiar plays: Romeo and Juliet (1596), Julius Caesar (1599), and Hamlet (1601). Although very different from each other, they share the setting of intense personal tragedy in a large world vividly populated by what seems like the whole range of humanity. Like most of his contemporaries in the theater, Shakespeare used the same techniques in writing comedies as tragedies. Politics are constantly present, and what is best in the protagonist (hero) is what does him in when he finds himself in conflict with the world.

Shakespeare, continuing his interest in the historical play, wrote King John (1596). Despite its one strong character it is a relatively weak play. His other epics range from Richard II (1595), through the two parts of Henry IV (1597), to Henry V (1599). These four plays pose disturbing questions about politics, particularly the difference between the man capable of ruling and the man worthy of doing so. They are not optimistic about man as a political animal.

August 31, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

Come in quietly and get your file folder.

Homework:  No homework

Topic:  Discussed what homework will be every week.  Put page numbers in our writing/reading handbooks.  Mrs. Martin presented her "Writing Territories" and student took 5 minutes to list their own writing territories.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:  

Come in quietly and get out your personal history projects.  Get ready to present.

Homework:  If you didn't present, bring your personal history project on Tuesday to present.

Topic:

Personal History Presentations

August 30, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

NWEA testing

Homework:  NWEA testing

Topic:


2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

Write about what you want to learn about deserts.

Homework:  Personal History Presentations Friday, August 31st.

Topic:

Chart in notebook:  Three columns (what I know, what I need to know, what I learned).  Filled in the first two columns.  Vocabulary on page 15 of textbook.  Wrote down words and definitions.

August 28-29, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

NWEA testing

Homework:  NWEA testing

Topic:


2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

Write about the climate of a region you have visited (city, state, country, etc).

Homework:  Personal History Presentations Friday, August 31st.

Topic:

Finished Geography Unit.  Started Deserts in 3rd period.

August 27th, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

Read, "If" by Rudyard Kipling.  Discuss.

Homework:  Fingerprint poetry due 8/28

Topic:
Worked on fingerprints.  Talked about what procedures we have and have not learned.


2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

Go to the file on the board labeled, "Bell Work".  Take a slip of paper and write one thing you learned last Friday.

Homework:  "Personal History" assignment.  Due August 31st.

Topic:

Procedures:  Reviewed what procedures we have learned and not learned yet.  Finished coloring map of continents.  Due today in class.  Started talking about latitude and longitude and the international dateline.

August 24th, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

Read, "You Can't Write a Poem about McDonalds."

Homework:  Have a good weekend!

Topic:
Worked on fingerprints.  Will work on more for Monday.


2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

Think about what the five rings of the Olympics mean.

Homework:  "Personal History" assignment.  Due August 31st.

Topic:

Procedures:  Learned how to access and put away Mrs. Martin's supplies.  Learned what the 7 continents are and colored a blank map.

August 23, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

Read, "Why I write" by Terry Tempast Williams

Homework:  Disclosure, Reading/Writing survey if you didn't finish in class, Fingerprint (a page of writing about yourself.  Due Friday, 24th.

Topic:
Procedures:  Filing cabinets.  Reading/writing handbook.
We wrote for 10 minutes in class.


2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

Without talking, organize yourselves in order by height.

Homework:  Disclosure due August 24th.  "Personal History" assignment due August 31st.  Presentations should be no longer than 3-4 minutes.

Topic:

Procedures:  Learned how to use the filing cabinet.  Organized our History Handbooks (the notebooks that belong in class).

August 22, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

I handed out a Writing and Reading survey.  If you didn't finish, it is homework due on Friday, August 24th.

Homework:  Disclosure, Reading/Writing survey if you didn't finish in class.

Topic:
Reviewed procedures.  Pre-writing activity for Fingerprint Poetry.  We came up, as small groups and together as a class, ideas to write about on your fingerprint.


2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

While whispering only, organize yourselves alphabetically by last OR first name.

Homework:  Disclosure due August 24th.  "Personal History" assignment due August 31st.

Topic:

Reviewed procedures.  Introduced "Personal History" assignment.  Pre-writing activity:  Come up with a list of ideas of how to present personal history information.  There is no limit to the student's creativity on this assignment.

Where to find this assignment if you lose my handout:  On the "PAGES" section of this blog.

August 21, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

List the steps for the "Entrance" procedure in my classroom.

Homework:  Have your parents read and sign your disclosure before Friday.

Topic:
Discussed the following procedures:  "Instruction", "While you are working", "What to do after you get done working".  Reviewed the procedures, "Raising your hand in class" and "How the teacher gets students' attention."

Paired reading activity with my disclosure.

2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

List the steps for the "Entrance" procedure in my classroom.

Homework:  Have your parents read and sign your disclosure before Friday.

Topic:

Discussed the following procedures:  "Instruction", "While you are working", "What to do after you get done working".  Reviewed the procedures, "Raising your hand in class" and "How the teacher gets students' attention."

Paired reading activity with my disclosure.

August 20th, 2012

1st and 4th Period:  Language Arts

Bell work:

Think of as many reason as you can for why people write.
Write your name on a popsicle stick.

Homework:  Access Mrs. Martin's class website.

Topic: 
Mrs. Martin introduces herself, discusses class procedures: "Entrance", "Hand Raising", "When I need to get your attention", "Dismissal".

2nd and 3rd Period:  History/Social Studies

Bell work:

Make a list of why people study history.

Homework:  Access Mrs. Martin's class website.

Topic:
Mrs. Martin introduces herself, discusses class procedures: "Entrance", "Hand Raising", "When I need to get your attention", "Dismissal".