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November 16, 2008 -
Hope this finds all of you having a great weekend. Just wanted to give you a brief update on
what's coming up in language arts and mention some TARGET-related areas of interest.
Please allow your students to bring in cans of food for the Beta Club Food Drive this week. The
TARGET class which collects the most cans wins a pizza party! (So - if you're in MRS. EASTON'S
TARGET CLASS, please pay VERY close attention to that last "tidbit" of information, okay?! :)
We have reached the end of our "Strange and Mysterious" unit, and I hope to have time for
an "Active Reader" notebook check prior to Thanksgiving. I will have an updated "Table" listed
(for downloading, if needed) under that unit title within the next day or two (and will also be
assisting students in updating their notebooks this week in class.) Again, with the exception of
the G.U.M. worksheets, any and all documents needed may be located under that unit heading on
the home page. In terms of a "final" assessment for this unit, it has been determined that we
will include any additional assessments in our mid-year testing. We will also be returning to
our ballads and mystery short stories for additional revision within the next few weeks.
We began our "Colonial America" unit at the end of last week. In addition to providing
historical background information as a "cross-curricular" activity with social studies, we will
be reading a book called "Witch Child." This wonderful, "kid-friendly" book, incorporates
information about the Salem Witch Trials while providing a major emphasis on colonization in
America. Again, we'll have more information to follow. We will be giving students their books
this week, and they will be expected to bring their copies to EACH class.
Hopefully, you have heard a great deal by now with regard to our required Eighth-Grade Service
Project. Although most of our students have brought in their signed project sheets, a number of
them have not yet done so; please be aware that this is considered to be part of an overall
grade, so, if students have not turned in their forms by Monday (as they were originally due on
Friday), they will be assigned lunch detention. I am very excited about all of the service
proposals which I have been shown thus far! We will also be discussing philanthropic activities
and inspirational persons of interest during language arts classes and reinforcing plans, etc.,
during TARGET classes.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me via email and/or phone if you have any
questions, issues, comments, or concerns. If I haven't told you lately, then let me add one more
piece of information: I LOVE WORKING WITH YOUR PHENOMENAL KIDS!! (Yes, I know I said that LAST
week, but it's STILL true!)
Have a wonderful week,
Annette Easton, MSW, MAT
Eighth-Grade Language Arts
North Oldham Middle School
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