What a great group of students! I feel extremely fortunate to have such a terrific group of
young adults to work with! Please let me know if you ever have any questions/concerns.
Check the "Grades" section of this website to see your/your student's individual grade report.
If a student is absent, they should also be sure to read the section of the chapter
we're studying in addition to making up the homework missed (for instance, we're
studying ch. 6 "The Declaration of Independence" in all of the Social Studies classes;
in English classes we're starting the research process for our Americana Research
Paper and monologue). Since class discussions are missed when a student is absent,
it is important to be sure to get the all of the information. Students are welcome to
come in at lunch (Tuesdays or Thursdays, or any other day if they arrange with me)
to get extra help.
Late work is accepted during the current unit of study and is worth up to 1/2
credit. No late work is accepted for the current unit after the final unit
test. Be sure to complete assignments on time in order to be able to earn
full credit. Students need to keep all of their work.
U.S. History (College Prep & GATE): Every student is required to maintain and
update their "U.S. History Packets". Packets will be collected and graded
approximately every 2-3 weeks and will need to have a Table of Contents page
stapled to the front. Our new unit is The Revolutionary War (chapters 5-7).
We're learning about the causes of the American Revolution, what Patriots,
Loyalists, and Neutralists believed, different acts (laws), the Declaration of
Independence, and the results of the war. The Ch. 5 Test (Toward Independence)
was on Wednesday, November 4th for per. 1 & 2 SS8G classes and on Friday,
November 6th for per. 3 & 4 SS8 classes. The chapter 5 packets of work are
due the days of the tests. All History classes will be preparing for a debate the
week of November 9th and should prepare their written arguments.
English 8 GATE: Every student is required to maintain an "English
Notebook"(9x11 spiral bound, 100 pages, 1 per semester) which will be
collected and graded approximately every 2-3 weeks. GATE students are
required to read at least 2,000 pages each semester (and read a variety of
genres) and complete 2 book projects each semester. The final exam
on House of the Scorpion was on Friday, October 30th. We are writing a
Character Compare/Contrast Essay based on House of the Scorpion (final draft will
be due on Friday, November 6th). Then we're moving into research skills in preparation
for the Americana project that GATE English and GATE History work on (now-Feb.).
Students will be using a variety of sources (a minimum of five) as they evaluate and
gather research materials. We'll be working on summarizing and paraphrasing as well.
On Tue. 11/10 and Thur. 11/12 we'll have the "Grand Conversation" about books
we've read so far this semester; students will have a letter assignment in response to
this speaking and listening activity.
Americana Performances (for GATE History and GATE English) will be on
Thursday, Feb. 4th and Friday, Feb. 5th. (Please see the "Calendar" section of this
website for more dates.) We have a mandatory dress rehearsal all day Sat. Jan. 30th.
There will be other rehearsals during the Saturdays in January and once a week.
Students will be researching a historical era/group/person. We're choosing our
Americana Research topic on Friday, November 13th in GATE English classes.
The thesis statement & outline for the research paper is due Tue. 11/24/09, the
3-4 page (typed) research paper rough draft will be due Fri. 12/4/09 & the final draft
will be due Thur. 12/10/09; the monologue that students will write will be due
on Thur. 12/17/09.
Help is available to students before school and during lunch ("officially" on Tuesdays
and Thursday in room Q-4). I'm also available to help other days/times if
students arrange in advance with me.
If there are ever any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact me at 967-4506 ext. 204 or cstevens@lacolinajhs.org.
