Homework 10/9/09-10/30/09

Hey there all you Smartypants!

So this week in class was all about finishing our test fixes on the Reconstruction for extra points, finishing our Word-A-Palooza cards and turning them in, and finishing reading the "Speckled Band". In class we started two sets of Cornell Notes- 15.1 and 15.2. Students were to finish the notes at home. On Friday students had time in class to work on noted for 15.3. These are the last set we need for our work on the Civil War. On Monday we will be creating summaries together and going over what one should put into a summary to make it good.

We will also be starting work on the Civil War, adding to our vocabulary flash cards, beginning the book You Don't Know Me by David Klass and as it is October, we will be reading "The Tell Tale Heart" by Poe.

In You Don't Know Me we will be focusing on literary devices. We will alsow be comparing the main character of the book (who is a 14 year old boy- freshman in HS) with the main character from the last book Schooled (who was 13 and in grade 8).

There will be no essays for the rest of the month as students have two projects to work on.
1. Book report - Book Jacket
Students have their books and have already started reading. The Directions for the book report are on the Teacherweb page under 8th grade materials.
Periods 2 and 3 are reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. It is a creepy book, one of Stephen King's reported favorites, which means fun for everyone!
Period 6 is reading Downriver by Will Hobbs. Always a student favorite, this book has great characters and an engaging plot.

Book reports are DUE on 10/30/09
2. All Students are completing the American Invention project. This is also due on the 30th, and directions as well as the grading rubric are posted on the Teacherweb site under 8th grade materials. This project involves a one (1) page research paper WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PLAGIARIZED (COPIED) FROM THE INTERNET, an oral presentation that has been outlined on note cards and practiced ahead of time of time, and a visual.

These are the main assignments for the next three weeks along with reading at least 30 minutes a night. There may be occasional unfinished classwork as well, but that really depends on how much the kids are choosing to focus and work during the time that they have with me.

Have a great week!

Mrs. A