2011 Archive

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Class activities for the week before Winter Break, 12/16 – 12/20:

Monday: Independent reading, Voc. bookwork, Amendments Packet, Narrative second draft
Tuesday: Independent Reading, Voc. bookwork, Amendments Packet, Narrative second draft
Wednesday: Independent Reading, Voc. review, Amendments Packet, Narrative second draft
Thursday: Review vocabulary words, Voc. Unit 3 Test/ Little House on the Prairie episode – dramatic irony
Friday: Winter Fest (pm assembly schedule) Creative Response Journal workshopping in Room 28 (art room)

Homework: Creative Response Journal brainstorming (due: Friday, Dec. 20th) Amendments Packet (hybrid assignment – tentatively due Friday, Dec. 20th)

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Class activities for this 3-day week, 12/2 – 12/4:

Monday: RCP #1 Due, booktalk, continue notes on branches of government
Tuesday: booktalk, vocabulary bookwork (Unit 3), notes on separation of powers state/federal, begin typing next draft of narrative
Wednesday: (AM ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE) – booktalk, vocabulary bookwork, amendments packet, continue narrative

Homework: Vocabulary flashcards Unit 3 (due Tuesday, 12/3)

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Class activities for the week of 11/18 – 11/22:
Monday: independent reading, instructions for creative response journal entry, notes on the 3 branches of gov., — executive branch
Tuesday: independent reading, Social studies reading: “Good Words and Bad”, work on personal narratives
Wednesday: (independent reading), Social studies reading: “If You Can Keep It”, work on personal narratives (due at end of class on Wednesday)
Thursday: organize groups for cookie maps, Creative Response Journal Entry in art room
Friday: USA Cookie Map Creation (only if narrative was submitted on Wednesday)

Homework: Narrative Rough Draft (due on Wednesday), Creative Response Outline/brainstorming – orange handout (due on Thursday), RCP #1 (due Monday, 12/2)

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Class activities for the very short week of 11/12 – 11/14:
— Independent reading (RCP #1 Due 12/2)
— Begin personal narrative
— Intro to Constitution and 3 Branches of Government

Homework: Memory Chart (due Wednesday 11/13), get started on narrative (due 11/20), RCP #1

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Happy November!! This month will surely go by in a whirl.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Parent/Teacher Conferences are next week. Teachers will be available for conferences Thursday evening from 5:30 – 8:30pm and Friday morning from 8:00 – 12:00pm.
Please contact me if you would like to meet.

Some class activities for the week of 11/4 – 11/8:
— Vocabulary Unit 2 study – TEST ON FRIDAY!
— Reading of Narratives
— Begin study of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

Homework: Writing Options from Vocabulary book p.30 (due Friday); Reading Response from article “Age of Excess” (due Friday); study vocabulary words (test on Friday) (It would be a good idea to come to school on Friday ;))

UPCOMING DUE DATE: RCP # 1 due Monday, December 2nd Be sure to time manage and pace yourselves so that you finish reading your choice novel with enough time to work on your Reading Choice Product. This assignment is due the day we get back from Thanksgiving Break.

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What a great trip to Ashland! The play was a wonderfully energized and modern interpretation of Taming of the Shrew and students thoroughly enjoyed themselves! A BIG THANK YOU to the chaperones for accompanying us on the trip. The bus rides were looong but well worth it!

Some class activities for the week of 10/28 – 11/1:

Monday — Taming of the Shrew Test; documentary: A Place At The Table
(info here)
Tuesday — Vocabulary bookwork Unit 2; “America is a Melting Pot”; “Is America Still No.1?”
Wednesday — Vocabulary bookwork continued; Discussion related to Blog links: Our obsession with our phones and the distribution of wealth in America
Thursday — HALLOWEEN — Twilight Zone: “Nothing in the Dark” – Internal and External Conflict; “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” – Irony and Suspense
Friday — VTS lesson in advisory; field trip to Hult Center – Dance Theatre of Harlem; Mariache Band Performance

Homework: Flashcards for Unit 2 Vocabulary (due Tuesday)

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A four day week! We head off to Ashland for our field trip on Tuesday! πŸ™‚

Monday 10/21 – finish play
Tuesday 10/22 – view Taming of the Shrew at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Wednesday 10/23 – watch Miss Representation (documentary: website) and discuss society’s media messages about how women are valued and connect it to the treatment of women (Katherine & Bianca) in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Here are some of the connections and questions that will feed our discussion and responses:

In Taming of the Shrew Katherine is considered unattractive because she is not docile and submissive. Bianca, her younger sister is sought after by multiple suitors and is considered the ideal woman because she seems to be demure, soft-spoken and obedient. In fact, it is not until Katherine is β€œtamed” by Petruchio that others will accept her.
We think we’ve come a long way from the idea that women are only valued for their beauty, youth and sex appeal and, indeed, we have. But, Miss Representation shows us that multiple forms of media in our society are still sending a strong message that a woman’s value and power lie in youth and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader.

After watching Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew and Miss Representation, compare and contrast the portrayal of men and women (What is the proper role of a woman? How should she behave if she wants high social capital?…What is the proper role of a man? How should he behave and how should he treat women?) What happens when stereotypes are repeated over and over again? How do stereotypes about femininity and masculinity limit boys and girls? How is the media shaping our view and even our actions? If Kate and Bianca were a part of our society today do you think it would be different for them or would they face the same societal pressures to conform to a male-dominated world and be a certain way in order to be attractive? Do you think it would be different for Petruchio or Lucentio?

Thursday 10/24 – test on the play
Friday 10/25 – Grading Day

Homework: no homework this week BUT, keep in mind we are starting Unit 2 Vocabulary next week and flashcards will be due on Tuesday, Oct. 29th.

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Class activities for 10/14 – 10/18 include:
— reading Taming of the Shrew
— on Wednesday all 8th graders will take the Explore Test

Homework: Map exercises (assigned Monday, due Friday, Oct.18th)

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Class announcements:
— Field Trip $ and permission slips DUE πŸ™‚
— Vocabulary Unit 1 Test on Thursday
— No school on Friday

Class activities for the week of 10/7 – 10/11 include:
— vocabulary bookwork
— introduction to Shakespeare
— Taming of the Shrew
— independent reading

Homework: Study vocabulary words, writing exercise from page 20 of vocabulary book (due Thursday)

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Class announcements:
— Starting to use the vocabulary workbook this week! WOOHOO! Please be prepared to put a down payment on the book or purchase it in full ASAP, if you haven’t already done so.
— Information about the October 22nd field trip to Ashland, Oregon was sent home. Please read through and return the permission slip (and $40) by October 8th.
— River Walk is on Friday!
— I’ve created a vocabulary review unit on Memrise.com. Check it out: Mora Voc. Unit 1 (8th)

SOME class activities for the week of 9/30 – 10/4:
Monday: Go over homework assignments, field trip specifics, Thoreau excerpt from Walden – “Simplify”, continue Heart & Soul
Tuesday: Vocabulary bookwork, Langston Hughes poem, “Let America be America Again”, Heart & Soul, Shakespeare Intro
Wednesday:Vocabulary bookwork, finish Heart & Soul, Taming of the Shrew
Thursday:Vocabulary bookwork, Taming of the Shrew
Friday: RIVER WALK

Homework for the week:
– Flashcards (or FLapperdoodle) for Unit 1 Vocabulary – due Tuesday, Oct. 1st
– Read both news articles and respond. Use questions to guide your response. Minimum length 1 paragraph per response. – due Thursday, Oct. 3rd

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Class announcements:
— Vocabulary books should arrive this week. Cost is $10 and we should be starting Unit 1 on Monday, Sept. 30th.
— SHAKESPEARE!!!!!!!! Yes, SHAKESPEARE!!!! Ms. Dean and I are putting together a Shakespeare Unit on his play, “Taming of the Shrew” and are planning a field trip to Ashland to see a performance of the play on October 22nd. More details to follow! πŸ™‚ I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!

SOME class activities for the week of 9/23 – 9/27:

Monday: Independent Reading, “What is an American?” article, final draft of personal survey, PICTURE DAY
Tuesday:”America the Beautiful?” poem analysis, America’s Heart & Soul
Wednesday:Discussion of Article: American Lives see increasingly less structure, Heart & Soul, River Walk Assemblies
Thursday: Personal response to article, Current Events, Heart & Soul — Pizza (5:30pm) and Open House (6:30pm)
Friday: Current Events Quiz, introduction to Voc. Unit 1, Heart & Soul

Homework: Political and Physical Maps of the United States, colored and labeled (due Friday, 9/27)

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FIRST FULL WEEK OF SCHOOL – Fall 2013 πŸ™‚

Hello all! My apologies for not being in class the first 3 days. I’m fighting through an illness and hope to be 100% soon. I was so fortunate to have Bill Hollingsworth (Mr. H) cover for me and I thank him and the students for their focused energies and efforts.

** The vocabulary books should arrive next week. Please be prepared to purchase the workbook for $10

Monday: Class syllabus, class guidelines, explanation of week’s homework and “What does the fox say?” πŸ™‚
Tuesday: Constitution Day – brief lesson on constitution/preamble (John Locke, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison), descriptive Language practice, personal survey assignment
Wednesday: Independent Reading, more descriptive language practice, “It’s All About Me” article and discussion, Historical Maps Crossword Puzzle
Thursday:Independent Reading/Library visit, organize class binders, easyCBM (voc. & reading comprehension)
Friday: easyCBM completion/Independent Reading, current events of the week, using imagery (descriptive language), matching descriptive sentences with postcards, personal survey completion

Homework:
“Bring Me Back to Summer” – descriptive paragraph about an event from summer vacation (due Friday), syllabus signature sheet (due Friday)

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LAST FULL WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!!!! Wowzers!

Monday: Work on Country Flipperdoodle/ am core: masks
Tuesday: Work on Country Flipperdoodle/ am core: masks
Showcase Night: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Wednesday: Geography A-Z, easy CBM, RCP #4
Thursday: Field Trip to Hayward Field
Friday: Field Trip to Camp Harlow (Turn in $3 to am core teacher)

Homework: Country Flipperdoodle, RCP #4, Extended Research for African Country Keynote
One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words. – Goethe

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Class activities for the 4-day week of 5/28 – 5/31:

– Keynote Presentations
– am core: African-inspired masks
– final VTS Lesson (5/30)
– Final World Geography Assignment (Country Flipperdoodle – DUE TUESDAY, 6/4)

Homework: Extended Research related to Keynote Presentation, Country Flipperdoodle
Country Flipperdoodle

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It is a bad child who does not take advice… One falsehood spoils a thousand truths…Rain beats a leopard’s skin, but it does not wash out the spots. — Ashanti Proverbs

Class activities for this 4-day week of 5/20 – 5/23:
– Keynote Presentations
– Vocabulary bookwork
– watch Independent Lens film, “T-Shirt Travels”
– warm-ups: Voc. X-word, Geo. A-Z, Response to NYTimes Article, Response to “T-Shirt Travels”
– Vocabulary Test Unit 10
– Mask making (am core only)

Homework: study for vocabulary test (use memrise) :), extended research related to Keynote Presentation

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We desire to bequest two things to our children — the roots and wings. ~Sudanese Proverb … What you help a child to love can be more important than what you help him to learn. ~African Proverb …For tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. ~ African Proverb

Class activities for the week of 5/13 – 5/17:
– complete Keynote Presentation (am core due 5/14; pm core due 5/15) and begin sharing
– vocabulary bookwork for Unit 10 (test scheduled for 5/23)
– learn from guest speakers and engage in discussion about culture (am core: 5/17 – visitors from Rwanda, Cameroon and Kenya; pm core: 5/14 – visitors from Ethiopia and Cameroon)
– step one of mask making process (am core: Thursday/ pm core: Friday – tentative)
– view National Geographic video clips about different regions and cultural practices found in Africa
– independent reading (RCP #4 due by June 7th)
– African folktales (if time permits)

Homework: Flashcards Unit 10 (due Tues. 5/14); Practice vocabulary with Memrise – “Mora Voc. Unit 10”; Mask History Reading and Comprehension Crossword Puzzle (due Fri. 5/17)

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Learning expands great souls (Namibian proverb)… Wealth, if you use it, comes to an end; learning, if you use it, increases. (Swahili proverb)…If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together (African proverb).

Class activities for this 4-day week, 5/6 – 5/9:

– writing sample (5-paragraph expository or persuasive essay)
– note-taking on statistics/facts about Africa as a continent
– independent research and creation of KeyNote Presentation on a chosen African country
– atlas work
– discussion of NYTimes article: Africa’s Culture War: Old Customs, New Values
– viewing of short video clips related to human and physical features of Africa (epic giraffe fight!!)
– introduction to folklore and African Folktales

Political and Physical Maps of Africa due on Monday, 5/6 (40 points)!!

    Homework: Develop at least 10 interview questions in preparation for our ICSP student visit.
    On May 14th Mora’s pm core will have guests from Ethiopia and Cameroon. On May 17th, Mora’s am core will have guests from Rwanda, Cameroon and Kenya.

    (No more Zero Period! We’re back to our regular daily schedule!) πŸ™‚

    Next week: starting Vocabulary Unit 10, African Mask Project, presentation of Keynotes, ICSP visits to our class!

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    “If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm me, I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” – Emily Dickinson

    Class activities for the week of 4/29 – 5/3:
    – finish up Poems of the Day — no more poetry month πŸ™ .. temporarily ending our official study of poetry with group-written poems
    – Vocabulary bookwork (TEST ON FRIDAY)
    – Africa study: intro with stats, editorial, atlas work, short video clips
    Driving Questions for Africa Unit: Where does Africa fit in the 21st century? What does Africa have to do with me?
    – writing sample (expository or persuasive essay) intro
    – finish Human Planet’s “Oceans” episode

    Homework: Political and Physical Maps of Africa (due Monday, May 6th), study for Vocabulary Test using memrise.com, get lots of good rest and eat well for optimal performance on State Test. πŸ™‚

    ** reference material posted on EDLINE: World Geography > Assignments for Africa Map assignment

    Zero Period: State Reading Test (with some BrainGym exercises and some energizing music)

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    “Poetry is the human soul entire, squeezed like a lemon or lime, drop by drop, into atomic words.” – Langston Hughes

    Class activities for the week of 4/22 – 4/26:
    – Warm-ups (Earth Day lesson, Shakespeare birthday lesson, Geo. A-Z:S, etc.)
    – Poem of the day (through April 30th)
    – Human Planet: Oceans
    – World Geography: Intro and Statistics for Africa
    – Vocabulary Unit 9 bookwork(test on Friday, May 3rd)

    Homework: Flashcards Unit 9 (due Tuesday, April 23rd), Endangered Species X-Word Puzzle (due Friday, April 26th), RCP #3 (due Friday, April 26th), memrise: Mora Voc. Unit 9

    0 period: Review for State Reading Test (am core students)

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    “Poetry is prose bewitched, a music made of visual thoughts, the sound of an idea.” – Mina Loy

    Class activities for the week of 4/15 – 4/19:
    – Warm-ups (haiku, Geo. A-Z, Poetry Slam Scoring, Found Poem)
    – Poem of the day
    – presentations of Political Cartoon/Propaganda Poster
    – Thursday, POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY — Poetry Slam!
    Poets will be assessed in the following categories:eye contact, gesturing, pronunciation, rate/volume, presence, interpretation, dramatic presentation

    Homework: Political Cartoon/Propaganda Poster (due: Tuesday, April 16th), Find/write a poem (at least 3 stanzas in length), practice reciting it, get it on paper (print from computer or write), bring in pocket on Thursday for our Poetry Slam.

    0 Period: Oregon State Reading Test (pm core students)

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    “Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary.” – Khalil Gibran

    Class focus for week of 4/8 – 4/11:
    – Vocabulary Unit 8 (test on Thursday)
    – Viewing/discussion of spoken-word poems
    – Independent Reading
    – Identifying and analyzing persuasive techniques and propaganda techniques
    – Political Cartoon/ Propaganda Poster assignment (assignment sheet on edline – W. Geo.> Assignments)
    ** due date amended to Tuesday, 4/16
    – pm core: finish Quatrains
    Homework: study for vocabulary test using memrise.com (Course Title: Mora Voc. Unit 8), political cartoon/propaganda poster (due: 4/16)

    0 period:
    – review of literary terms and figurative language (memrise.com – Course Title: Mora Literary Terms)
    – test taking strategies
    – practice test

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    FINAL QUESTIONS FOR A SINGLE SHARD:
    Please use your reading journal to answer the following questions –

    1. Why is having a past so important to people? Do you think it has more significance in Tree-ear’s society than in our own?

    2. Do you think A Single Shard is an appropriate title for the book? Explain.

    3. What do you think was the author’s purpose for writing this book? Do you agree with the author’s message?

    4. Do you think Tree-ear changes from the beginning of the story to the end? Is he a dynamic or static character? Explain.

    5. Give your overall evaluation of the book.

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    “Ink runs from the corners of my mouth. There is no happiness like mine. I have been eating poetry.” — Mark Strand

    April is POETRY MONTH — my favorite month of the year!!!! We will be using our warm-up time each day in class to experience the power of words through poetry. (As students witnessed today, this literally makes me dance will glee πŸ™‚ )

    Other class activities during the week of 4/2 – 4/5 will include:
    — Finishing A Single Shard (quiz on Friday, journals officially due on Monday, 4/8)
    — Finishing Wang Wei inspired Quatrains
    — Vocabulary Unit 8
    — Beginning Propaganda Poster/Political Cartoon Assignment (tentative due date, 4/11)
    — Friday afternoon Mora/Malcolm students will enjoy an ice cream “party” in appreciation of their WONDERFUL and GENEROUS contributions in the Canned Food Drive! πŸ™‚ WOOHOO!

    Homework: Flashcards Unit 8 (due Wednesday, 4/10), Reading Response Journal, memrise.com (Search for the Course: Mora Voc. Unit 8)

    Calendar items:
    Kelly School Dance on Friday, 4/5
    Poem in Your Pocket Day, 4/18
    RCP #3 Due 4/26

    Note: As you may already know, KMS will be following a different schedule through the month of April. This week during 0 period (9:00 – 9:45) I am working with my am core. Content for that class time is as follows: Tue.– Expect Respect Lesson Wed. – VTS Lesson Thur. – Climate Survey Fri. – Family Support Survey.

    *** APRIL 4th — EDLINE HAS BEEN UPDATED ***
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    HAPPY SPRING BREAK TO YOU!!! Hope you’re enjoying this time away from the classroom — but never away from learning, right? πŸ™‚ A couple of things:

    — You can get a jumpstart on Vocabulary Unit 8 (flashcards will be due on Wed. April 3rd) by going to memrise.com and searching for the course:Mora Voc. Unit 8
    — Hope you’re reading!! (RCP #3 will be due April 26th)
    — When you get a chance, take a look at the field trip photo album on my website. click here Big thanks goes to Clarice Acord for sharing her wonderful photos. If you have photos from the trip to share I’d be happy to add them to the photo album.
    — Congratulations goes out to Kylee McBride and Taylor Altieri! They are the finalists in our “pottery” competition. Check out the modeling clay works of art included in the Play-Do Pottery photo album on my website. There were 6 different FANTASTIC pieces entered in the qualifying round. In addition to the photo album on my website, some of the pieces will by on display in the small display case outside of the school library. FUN! FUN!
    — Lastly, don’t forget about Tree-ear and your 100 point journals. We will finish the novel upon our return and your journals will be due shortly after that.

    (Students: show me that you’ve read this post by e-mailing me (mora@4j.lane.edu) before 4/1 and I’ll give you bonus points!)

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    The week before SPRING BREAK and there’s a lot to cover!!
    So, here’s the plan:
    3/18 – 3/22
    – Play-Do Pottery Piece submitted on 3/18 for consideration by “Royal Emissary”
    6 potters will continue on in the competition and then it will be narrowed down to 2 potters
    Click here to go to photo album of play-do pottery (J.Mo’s website)
    – Continue reading A Single Shard; quiz on Tuesday – Chapters 6-8
    – Continue working in Reading Response Journals (worth 100 points — students should also be working on the journals as homework – scoring guide/rubric can be found on edline)
    – Finish Quatrain/Drawing/Chinese Character art assignment
    – Finish watching documentary on Mao’s Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution
    – Prep and plan for Propaganda Poster/Political Cartoon assignment (assignment sheet will be posted on edline over Spring Break)
    – FIELD TRIP on THURSDAY to CASCADE RAPTOR CENTER & UofO ART MUSEUM!!! πŸ™‚
    Get permission slips and $ turned in!

    Homework: Reading Response Journal — 3 responses PER chapter!!
    FINAL SHORT STORY IS PAST DUE!!! PLEASE TURN IN RIGHT AWAY!
    Edline will be updated over spring break. Thank you for your patience.

    NOTE: Canned Food Drive ends this week! So proud of ALL of my students who have contributed and actively made a positive difference in OUR community! Well done!!!

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    Dawn of Spring by Meng Haoran
    I wake up at the dawn of Spring,
    And hear the birds ev’rywhere sing.
    As sounded the wind and rain o’ernight,
    I wonder how many blooms alight
    .

    What we intend to accomplish this week,
    3/11 – 3/15:
    – Read through Chapter 7 or 8 of A Single Shard by Friday; quiz on Wed. Chapters 1-5
    – Write in Reading Response Journals and exchange with journal partner (journals worth 100 points – rubric found on edline)
    – Write a quatrain and draw image to accompany poem as inspired by Chinese Poet, Wang Wei from the Tang Dynasty (this week’s warm-up)
    – Watch and respond to documentary about The Great Leap Forward and The Cultural Revolution
    – begin a propaganda poster/political cartoon assignment
    – Celebrate Pi Day (3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197…)
    – Participate in Global Connections Day (Friday, 3/15)
    – Bring in canned food for Lane County Food Drive
    – Bring in permission slips for 3/21 field trip! πŸ™‚

    Homework: Reading Response Journals, Finalize short story and submit with original draft and peer edit sheets (by Friday PLEASE!)

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    “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens

    Happy March to you! Here’s this week’s plan:
    3/4 – 3/8:
    – begin A Single Shard and reading journals
    – continue to learn about China with the 5 themes of geography
    – learn about The Great Leap Forward and The Cultural Revolution – China
    – finish peer editing of short stories, revise personal story and re-submit on Friday for grade
    – vocabulary Unit 7 – bookwork, review games,test on Friday
    Homework: Vocabulary Sentences (due: Friday, 3/8), study vocabulary words (with memrise.com), if necessary work on short story at home so that it is ready to turn in on Friday, 3/8

    So… I ask students to create flashcards in the beginning of each vocabulary unit so they can have a study tool to use throughout our practicing and learning of the words. There are multiple ways the cards can be used to test oneself on the definition/synonym/antonym/part(s) of speech. I hope each of my students are developing STRONG study habits so they are prepared for the increasing rigors of their academic careers. However, I have created another option for studying this voc. unit’s words on memrise.com. When you go to this site you can search for the course entitled: Mora Voc. Unit 7. Click on it and start practicing! πŸ™‚ Give it a try and you will undoubtedly be more than ready for the test on Friday!

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    What’s this? Another 4-day week? So much to do, so little time….
    here’s the plan for 2/25 – 2/28:
    – peer editing of original short story continues
    – wrap-up Short Story Recipe demonstrations
    – finish notes on China statistics CIA World Factbook
    – Globe Trekker — Beijing
    – People’s Century: GREAT LEAP, Communism in China
    – learn about some physical and human features of China (Theme of Geography, remember?)
    – discuss China’s One-Child Policy
    – Vocabulary Unit 7 bookwork
    – begin class novel, A Single Shard
    Homework: Flashcards Unit 7 (due Tuesday, 2/26), RCP #2 (due Thursday, 2/28), China Map Exercise (due Thursday, 2/28) – copy of map exercise can be found on edline.
    Edline has been updated. Please see me if you want to make-up missing assignments. Warning Notices go out on Friday.

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    Hope you enjoyed your 4-day weekend! πŸ™‚
    The plan for our 4-day school week is:
    – Short Story Test
    – Short Story Recipe demonstrations
    – Peer edit original short stories and finalize
    – Atlas work
    – continue study of Asia with focus on China CIA World Factbook
    Video focus on cities of Harbin, Beijing and Shanghai
    Driving Questions for study of Cultural Revolution:
    What is the difference between reform and revolution?
    When, if ever, should a government use culture to reinforce ideology or reforms?
    What is lost materially and psychologically when a government destroys parts of a country’s cultural heritage?

    Homework: Japan Map Exercise (due Friday, 2/22)
    Next week: Beginning Vocabulary Unit 7 (flashcards due Tuesday, 2/26), RCP #2 DUE: 2/28, beginning class novel – A Single Shard

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    Chinese New Year, Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Spirit Week and NO SCHOOL on FRIDAY! πŸ™‚

    Here’s the plan for 2/11 – 2/14:
    – Share and peer edit original Harris Burdick short story then resubmit a final version for grading
    – Short Story Test on Wednesday, 2/13 — TEST HAS BEEN PUSHED TO TUESDAY, 2/19!
    – continue to work on Vocabulary Unit 6 (Test on Thursday, 2/14)
    – Atlas work – Asia
    HOMEWORK: Asia Map Exercise (due Thursday 2/14); study vocabulary words (test on 2/14); rework short story (hybrid assignment — classwork AND homework)

    PLEASE NOTE: Superintendent Shelly Berman will be coming to KMS on Monday, February 11th at 7pm to address concerns and answer questions about the proposed common schedule for all 4j middle schools. Please consider attending this meeting as any decisions made will have a direct impact on your student’s daily learning experience next year.

    SPIRIT WEEK 2/11 – 2/14:
    Monday – Pajama Day
    Tuesday – Twin Day
    Wednesday – Sports Day
    Thursday – Superhero Day
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    Running list of short stories read/discussed/analyzed:
    “The Bet” by Anton Chekhov
    “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros
    “Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury
    “Lose Now, Pay Later” by Carol Farley
    “Before Their Very Eyes” by Clare Wigfall
    “The Strangers That Came To Town” by Ambrose Flack
    “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty
    “Appointment With Love” by Sulamith Ish-Kishor
    “Examination Day” by Henry Slesar
    “All Summer In A Day” by Ray Bradbury
    “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes
    “To Build A Fire” by Jack London
    “Snow” by Julia Alvarez
    “My Lucy Friend Who Smells Like Corn” by Sandra Cisneros
    “Twenty And Ten” by Claire Huchet Bishop
    “All The Years Of Her Life” by Morley Callaghan

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    A full 5 day week! πŸ™‚ Here’s the plan for 2/4 – 2/8:
    – Finish Short Story Unit
    – Begin Social Studies Unit on Asia
    – Begin Vocabulary Unit 6 (Voc. Test on Thursday, 2/14)
    – Review Figurative Language
    – Share original short stories and commercial podcasts
    HOMEWORK: flashcards Unit 6 (due 2/5); Longitude/Latitude Map X-Word Puzzle (due 2/8)

    YAY! It’s a fresh start to a new term!!
    Plans for 1/28 – 2/1
    Finish podcasts (we’ve had some interruptions to our class time and have run into some technological glitches but we’re getting through it!!)
    Submit short story
    Participate in VTS (Visual Thinking Strategy) Lesson – schoolwide
    Homework: Blog Responses – due Friday

    ** Grades are now (finally) updated. Thank you for your patience in my delay. Unfortunately I’ve been dealing with some personal health issues and the poor health and hospitalization of my mother. Please e-mail me with any questions/concerns regarding your student’s progress in Language Arts and Social Studies. Thank you **

    Plans for 1/22 – 1/24:
    Complete bulk of Podcast (will be due Tuesday)
    Complete Vocabulary Unit 5
    Continue Short Story Unit
    Homework: Read “The Strangers That Came To Town” & Respond with 7-response sheet; study voc. words

    1/14 – 1/18
    no warm-ups
    Class activities included: independent reading, short story analysis, vocabulary bookwork, podcast scripting, development of original short story
    Homework: flashcards for Unit 5 (due Tuesday, 1/15)

    1/14 – 1/18
    plans for the week —
    begin Vocabulary Unit 5
    finish working draft of original short story
    record podcast
    read multiple short stories and discuss elements of a short story like theme, point of view, conflict, plot and character,
    continue to discuss and understand stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination in an historical context (Civil Rights Movement)
    Homework: flashcards unit 5 (due Tuesday), short story

    1/8 – 1/11
    Driving Question: What makes a good story?
    Warm-ups:
    Tuesday – 5-4-3-2-1
    Thursday – Expect Respect lesson in journals and shared short story
    Friday – Geography A-Z:N
    Class activities included: independent reading, review of significant events in 2012, reading and discussion of short stories (“The Bet” by Anton Chekov, “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros, “Lose Now, Pay Later” by Carol Farley), Harris Burdick Short Story Packet, scripting of podcast, Expect Respect lesson focusing on discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes
    Homework: The year 2012 from A-Z (due: Monday, 1/14),H.Burdick Short Story Packet (due: Friday, 1/11)

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