Good morning and happy Monday!
Let's start today off with a riddle, shall we?? Riddle: This is something that can fly, although it is not a kite, it’s an annoying insect, which is small and likes to bite. What am I??
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If your answer was a mosquito you are correct! Boy, are those suckers (pun intended) annoying! I spent all weekend outside and was eaten alive AFTER putting on bug spray! Thank goodness this nice, brisk fall weather means the mosquitoes are almost done! At least I hope so... I'm running out of calamine lotion :P
Important Dates:
September 26th - Picture day!!
September 28th - Mid-Quarter
October 2nd - Student Council meeting @ 7:05 a.m.
October 8-11th - Box Top Collection
October 11th - Box Top Clipping Party after school in Mrs. Valdez' room
October 15th - Book Talk presentations begin!
Last Week:
6th Grade ~ Last week, the 6th graders received a Monday Meditation which was then due this Monday (today). I have been very impressed with the students' work ethic and hard work on these writing prompts. We then spent the rest of the week finishing up our conversation on drawing conclusions and then discussed making predictions. Today, we will finish up predictions with a partner assignment and then go into our second Write About It, which will then conclude our Good Habits, Great Readers unit. Phew! In grammar, the students took their first grammar test of the year, and did swimmingly! Almost all A's on the tests! What a great way to start off the year! Also, just a reminder that I will always post big tests and project grades on Seesaw (they are private of course), just in case your child is prone to throwing away their rubrics/grades before bringing them home :)
7th Grade ~ Last week, the 7th graders and I continued reading The Giver (chapters 5-8) as a class. We also did some activities to go along with the readings, including a short comprehensive quiz, some comprehension questions, a seesaw exit slip, and a journal prompt. I love the enthusiasm the students have for this novel and cannot wait to keep reading with them. Their curiosity is soaring and I love leaving them hanging on the questions that they have that will eventually be answered in the book :) While they don't necessarily enjoy it, I love watching the kids get frustrated with this book. It teaches them patience and is SO rewarding in the end when they find out the answers they want. :) In advanced grammar, we discussed Direct Objects and did a worksheet to go along with it. In Shurley grammar, the students took their first grammar test on adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases.
8th Grade ~ Last week was kind of crazy with MAP testing, but we managed to accomplish the tasks that I wanted, haha. On Monday, the students received their 4th list for Latin/Greek roots, we practiced with them throughout the week, and then the kids took their quiz on Friday. The rest of the week, the students continued to work on their Patriot's Pen essay outline, and Friday, they actually started writing their essays. As 8th graders, we don't spend nearly as much time on this essay as previous years; however, I have been very impressed with the rate that the 8th graders have been working - they are clearly improving on their time management skills with age :) The final draft of the essay will be due sometime next week. In grammar, we discussed Direct Objects and did a worksheet to go along with it.
ALL ~ Just a reminder that we will begin book talk presentations in about 3 weeks!
Have a fabulous week and enjoy this beautiful fall weather!
Grace
