Tuesday

This Week's Assignment

  1. Finish last week's assignment, including revising your Misfits final draft and printing it out, and if you're in Ms. Leuck's class; type, revise, and share your 3 page long write.
  2. Check your email and download the "13 Colonies Interpretive PowerPoint" assignment.
  3. First research the colony you would like to study by looking through your history text, pages 36 - 57.
  4. Once you decide on a colony, write a 2-3 sentence persuasive statement explaining why you want to research this particular colony.  Print this out and give to Ms. Walters.  Only 3 students can choose the same colony and there has to be at least two students per colony before a third can be added. 
  5. Before you begin the PowerPoint, write the answers to you research questions first.  You can upload the research questions to google docs before answering.  Use the history text first, then library books, and then finally for unknowns answers on the internet.  Be sure to keep track of where you find info for you bibliography later.  You need to reference at least on library book in your bibliography.

This Week's Assignment

  1. Finish Jamestown investigation from last week, share it with me and print two copies.
  2. If in Vack's L.A. class, revise Misfits rough draft
  3. If in Leuck's L:  type and revise a long write 

Monday

This Week's Assignments

  1. Finish all work from last week.
  2. Check out National Geographic's interactive Jamestown website
  3. Using google docs, you and a partner will be doing a web investigation that focuses on either the Jamestown settlement or the Powhatan village of Werocomoco.
  4. With your partner decide which one you want to investigate and download the appropriate question sheet from my website.  You will have to click on the social studies link, scroll down to year one, and look on the left hand column for the appropriate file to download.  Only one of you needs to download it, because from there you will upload it as a goo doc which you will share with your partner and work collaboratively on. When you are done, share it with me and Ms. Walters for a grade.  Try to be as specific as possible in your answers and use examples, quotes, and facts.
  5. If you finish early, try the other investigation for extra credit.

Tuesday

This Week's Assignments

  1. Finish everything from last week. 
  2. For Vack's language arts class: share with me your "character sketch."  Type out your Misfits Character essay and share with me, Ms. Walters, and two others.  When you are happy with your revisions, please post to your blog.   For Ms. Leuck's class:  Type another long write and share with Ms Walters and two others.  Please post to your blog.  

This Week's Assignments

  1. Finish your technology post from last week.  Make sure you use complete sentences and check your capitalization.  Remember, you're not texting!  I'm looking for a good paragraph response.
  2. Finish your Columbus trial defense argument.  You need to included specific examples from your reading for each indictment.  Print one out per group.
  3. For Vack's language arts class:  type and revise you character sketch.  Following the guidelines in your Write Source book on pg.  30.  Share your writing with two neighboring classmates for editing and feedback.  After peer editing you should revise again and then print.  For Ms. Leuck's language arts class:  type and revise your "long write."  You may also share with two neighbors for editing and feedback.  
  4. Only after all of the above assignments are completed, including the peer editing, can you format and update your blog. 

Monday

This Week's Assignments

  1. If you haven't already, please email me at tylervack@gmail.com.  This way I can create a master email list for our whole class.  Also please email Ms. Walters at nwaltersster@gmail.com so she can have a copy too.
  2. Create a blog for yourself using blogger. 
  3. email me your blog url (website address) so I can make a group list you can follow.
  4. Post your first blog entry by writing something about your use of technology.  What tech gadgets do you own/use?  What websites do you visit most frequently?  What do you think technology will be like in 10 years?  In 5o years?
  5. Customize your blog layout, but please don't pick more than two personal gadgets.

Thursday

Honor Flight Letter Assignment

Write an, at least, one page letter to a WWII veteran, from the list Ms. Walters has.  In your letter be sure to:
  • Introduce yourself.
  • Write something about yourself:  age, grade, where you live, what your interests are.
  • Any connections you have WWII veterans or WWII.  Do you have any relatives who served in the war or any other war?
  • Questions you have for them about their experience and their lives.
  • Wish them well on their trip!

Sunday

Welcome Back to School

First day of school is Monday, August 29th.

Monday

This Week's Assignments

  1. Complete all missing writing assignments first!
  2. Type up your 2 limericks and post to your blog (give them titles, not "limerick"!)
  3. Type up your 2 adjective, seven syllable, rhyming couplets.
  4. If your daily song presentation is this week, you can type up your essay.
  5. Begin researching ideas for your ocean project.  Start with this website for ideas.  Be sure to take notes as you research, writing down any important statistics, and facts, keeping track of where you found the info. 

Tuesday

This Week's Assignments

  1. Finish all missing work!
  2. Revise and type literature circles.
  3. Download STAR test practice tests for language arts and answer questions.  You will have to scroll a down quite a bit to get to the readings and questions.  Write down letter answers on a separate piece of paper.  Feel free to look up any terms or concepts on the internet.  When you are done,  Go back and correct your mistakes.  Mark all problem questions that we can go over in class.   7th grade questions  8th grade questions

Sunday

This Week's Assignments

1.  Finish up all of last week's poetry and responses and post to your blog.
2.  Read at least 6 student's blogs and write a positive comment about their poems.
3.  Type up lit circle responses.  (Remember they are all due on Fri!)
4.  Work on solar system PowerPoint.  (Only if everything else is done.  We will continue to work on these during science class)
5.  If all of these tasks be accomplished, bone-up for the STAR test by taking these interactive language arts quizzes.

 Looking up lyrics for your daily song should be done on your own time or during studyhall.

Monday

This Week's Assignments

  1. Make sure you have all of last week's writings posted, including a response to "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
  2. Keep Revising your "Abstract Noun" poem, writing at least 5 lines, some of which can be from your color descriptors exercise.
  3. Work on "Monster"poem, a poem where you give monster like qualities to something un-monster like.  It could be your grandma's Chihuahua or a toaster.  Try to include a combination of least 10 similes and metaphors.  Remember to put the focus on describing the "monster" using figurative language, than its action.  Post your final draft to your blog. 
  4. Keep reading and commenting on other students blog writings. 

Tuesday

This Week's Assignments

  1.  Make sure last week's assignments are completed
  2. If you're having problems streaming the poem videos, go to tvack.com>language arts> and explore the poetry websites and find a poem to respond to.
  3. Keep writing your abstract noun simile/metaphor poem.  You should create at least six lines.  Post this to your blog.
  4. Write a poetry response to "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
  5. Read student blogs and post positive comments about their poems.
  6. Read poems online and write another poetry response to your blog.

Sunday

This Week's Assignments

  1. Make sure you have typed and blogged your "List" and "Vs" poem.
  2. Create a poem or two using the magnetic poetry website (see last post for links) and post this to your blog.
  3. Revise and type your Langston Hughes Poetry Response and post it to your blog.
  4. Watch, listen, and read, at least two poems, on the Favorite Poems Project website.
  5. Choose one and reply to this post by answering the following questions:
  • What is the name and author of the poem?
    • What is the poem about?  What messages or themes is the poet conveying?  Who or what is speaking in the poem?
    • What elements of poetry does the poet utilize?  Give specific examples from the poem itself and explain how they help convey meaning to the poem.
    •  What do you like about the poem?  Any favorite lines?
          6.  Read and respond to other student's replies.

          7.  Revise and type your Found Poem about slavery.  Post it to your blog.

    Monday

    Today's Assignment

    1.  Type and revise List Poem and post to your blog.
    2. Type VS. poem and post to your blog.
    3. Create some poems using magnetic poetry for kids or magnetic poetry online genius edition.  Type poems and post to your blog.



    Tuesday

    Assignments this Week

    1.  Read last week's Book Thief comments and respond to this week's questions below.

    2.  Now that you have your outline completed for your research paper, begin to write your rough draft on google docs.  Be sure to share it with me and Ms. Walters when you think it is time for feedback.  Underline your thesis, and topic sentence of each paragraph.  Be sure to cite your sources after a fact, quote, or paraphrase.  Example:  (Zusak 113)

    Book Thief Questions: Week 2

    1. Thievery plays a prominent role in the book, in what ways does thievery help the characters get through difficult times, in what ways is it harmful?

    2.  In what ways do German citizens have to show loyalty to Hitler and the Nazi party?  How do characters hide their true feelings about their loyalty, particularly Hans?

    3.  Who is the Jewish fist fighter?  How does he end up at the Hubermann house?  What risk is Hans taking?

    4.  Describe a compelling event or scene from this week's reading.  What makes it compelling?




    Assignments for This Week

    1.  Respond to the Book Thief discussion questions below by posting a comment.  Make sure you don't post anonymously so I can give you credit. 

    2.  Using google docs, begin to write your outline.  Start with you thesis, and for each body paragraph, begin with a topic sentence.  Using bullets, put  facts, quotes and ideas underneath your related topics.

    3.  Keep researching and writing note cards.  You'll need between 10 - 20 note cards.

    4.  Once Ms. Walters has approved your thesis, topic sentences, and note cards, you may begin writing your rough draft.

    Monday

    Book Thief Questions: Week 1

    By this week you should have read up to pg. 107.  
    Respond to this post by answering the following questions in paragraph form.  Leave a line space between each response.  Be specific.  Remember, you won't be able to read others comments until next week.

    1.)  What are your overall impressions of the book?  What aspects/parts do you like?  What parts are difficult to understand?

    2.)  What is the effect of having Death serve as narrator?

    3.)  Why do you think Death puts such an emphasis on colors?

    4.)  Briefly describe the main characters so far. 

    Assignments this Week


    1. Post your personal narrative and digital story to your blog.  You can insert your video into your blog post.  (this will take a while to upload so go ahead and work on your history research project while you wait)

    2.   Keep looking up info for your research paper, being sure to write down on note cards:  facts, quotes, and paraphrases.  Be sure to keep track of what websites and books you used.  Start narrowing down your sub-topics.