Good afternoon!
Just a reminder to all that book talks start a week from today!! Most students have already finished their books are are busy working on their presentations; however, a few students still need to finish their books. If this is your child, please continue to encourage them to be reading in their free time!
ALSO: This week is our bi-annual box top collection! If you have any at home, please be sending in your box tops with your child any day this week, Monday through Thursday. Make sure to check the expiration dates for any date in 2017; unfortunately, we cannot accept those!
Important Dates:
October 8-11th - Box Top Collection
October 11th - Box Top clipping party in Mrs. Valdez' room (SC members only)
October 15th - Book talks begin!
October 25th - Fall sports assembly @ 1:45 p.m.
October 26th - End of 1st Quarter/Early dismissal at 11:10 a.m./Leaf Raking
October 30th - Conferences
October 31st - Conferences
Last Week:
6th Grade ~ Last week, the 6th graders were introduced to their Patriot's Pen Essay. We spent the first day brainstorming what the students would talk about using a graphic organizer, discussed how to write a good hook/introduction paragraph on the 2nd day, worked on outlines for the essay Wednesday and Thursday, and then started writing the actual essay on Friday. This essay is a pretty quick process and we don't spend a ton of time on it (2 weeks generally). This week, the 6th graders will be finishing up their rough drafts (due Wednesday). We also continued to review text features through a fun and competitive scavenger hunt on Thursday. In grammar, we reviewed conjunctions and did a worksheet.
7th Grade ~ Last week, the 7th graders read chapters 13-18 in The Giver, and then did some accompanying activities: a color activity and comprehension questions. Surprisingly enough, we will be finishing up the book this week! I did want to give you a heads up that we talked about some pretty heavy stuff today in relation to events in the book (abortion and self-assisted suicide). It was very important for me to be able to discuss this with the students and why it happened in the book, and it was SUCH blessing to be able to confront the topic from a Christian background. If you hear your child talking about abortion tonight or something that happened in the book and are concerned for any reason, please feel free to contact me. Commonsensemedia.org is also a great resource for this issue. We also did more practice with close reading last week and spent some time working on book talks. In Shurley grammar, we reviewed conjunctions and did a worksheet. In advanced grammar, we discussed predicate adjectives and predicate nouns.
8th Grade ~ Last week, the 8th graders received list 6 of their Latin/Greek roots, and then took a quiz on Friday. On Tuesday, we discussed in length their research project and all of the due dates (on the sheet that you signed for me! Thank you for that!). The students then looked at the topic options, and selected those on Wednesday. I introduced note cards on Thursday and how to format those when it comes to researching, and the students actually started researching via MayoClinic.org on Friday. Thank you to all those parents who made a trip out to the library last week; I know you are all very busy. Also, thank you to all parents who contacted me in the case of book issues! I appreciate your cooperation throughout this entire unit :) This whole week, we will continue researching, with 25 note cards due next Monday (October 15th). We also did more practice with close reading last week as well as spending time working on book talks. In advanced grammar, we discussed predicate adjectives and predicate nouns.
Have a wonderful week! Don't forget to be sending in those box tops!
Grace
