Reminder...
As we reviewed in school this week, HOMEWORK, when assigned, has a meaningful connection to the learning we are doing in school. It is most beneficial to the learner to have it completed, thoughtfully and fully, on the day it's due. If the homework is not completed for the due date, it is still beneficial to complete it to help form a solid understanding of the material; however, credit earned for homework turned in ONE DAY LATE will only be 1/2 of the original amount. (The assignment was worth 10 points on its due date, so it's worth 5 points if it's one day late.) It is your responsibility to show me the late homework so that you will receive the 1/2 credit...half is better than none when your grade gets factored. Remember, you are responsible for you.
Week of February 6 HAPPY FEBRUARY!!~
Ugh..it was tough getting up this morning after that Superbowl.
So, to get our minds off of the Patriots' loss, we have an ambitious week ahead of us. We already laid the foundation for our Middle Ages study when we read and discussed the comic books, so this week gives us the opportunity to dig in and really gobble up feudalism and manorialism plus learn about cities and towns during the Middle Ages. Trust me, those cities were dirty and it wasn't uncommon to see the heads of traitors on stakes just outside the city gates! We will be devouring a variety of readings and participating in activities/discussions while still working on our notetaking skills and comprehension strategies. Stay focused and work hard!
Week of January 30 ~
I can't believe February starts this week!
A few announcements: As we are now in 2nd semester, please be sure to always bring your history materials to class. This may sound silly; however, people continue to come to class unprepared and without their binders, pen/pencils, and homework. Leaving class -after we have begun to get what you need for class and should have with you when class starts- will no longer be allowed. It is essential that you are responsible for yourself and your learning and this begins with being prepared for class and being here on time.
Also, you know I love sports. The headline on yesterday's sports section was "No Excuses." While it was used in connection to the Patriots upcoming SuperBowl game, we are adopting that same attitude in class. Following along with coming to class prepared, you are responsible for you - classwork and homework need to be completed; you need to participate and be engaged in your learning in class; projects are ready to be turned in when you walk in the door...you get the idea. No excuses!
This week in class, we'll load up our plates with all things knights (their training, the idea of chivalry, their armour, their lifestyle) by using a variety of readings aimed at the reading level that is best for each of us. We'll pull it all together through discussion and a shared activity mid week.
Later in the week, we'll dig into feudalism and manorialism and see, in much more depth than we did with our comic books last week, how these social structures really impacted life during the Middle Ages.
Week of January 23 ~
We will be "grazing at the buffet" of the Middle Ages as we begin the week reading a comic book (yes, a comic book!) to learn lots of small bits of information about this important 1000 year time period. We'll start "digging in and loading our plates" later in the week as we zoom in and explore Middle Ages specifics in more detail.
Remember, math mid-term on WEDNESDAY. Prepare your study sheets and take your time, check your work and show all you know!
**If you are interested, please take a Middle Ages enrichment/extension opportunity assignment sheet from the overhead projector. It is worth up to 25 bonus points and gives you an independent opportunity to dig in on an area of the Middle Ages that fascinates you. It will be due on FEB 10.
Week of January 17 ~
We will continue to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by finally watching that video about his life and his impact, "Our Friend, Martin." Thank you to all of you for your patience with the technology last week...and to my advisory who really stepped up and tried to problem solve with me.
We will have more practice analyzing graphs in social studies using a very cool website - gapminder.com. We can view trends in population, income, marriage age and more from around the world and starting in 1800! And, we can watch the evolution of these trends as the graphs move!
Friday, we'll have a Skills Review in class. You'll have to interpret a reading selection, a map and a graph - all things we've done frequently in class. There really isn't any way to study as all of the information you'll need will be in the map, graph and reading that you'll get. My advice is to take your time, read all documents/visuals carefully and answer each question with specific details to support your response. All things we've been working on in class and in assignments.
**Remember, your MLK reflections are due TUESDAY, JAN 17!
Week of January 9 ~
As I previewed last week, we will spend the first part of this week digging into our buffet and loading our plates with the Vikings. Through a cool IMAX documentary, a fun read aloud and some other activities, you will learn some cool Viking facts as well as be able to explain their role in European history, their way of life and their experiences as they traveled to and settled in new lands.
On Thursday and Friday, we'll switch gears and focus on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His birthday is celebrated next Monday, so we'll learn about his life as well as the impact of his work through viewing some video footage of him and reading and discussing his most famous speech, I Have a Dream."
Week of January 3 ~
HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is a huge year for you...moving on from CTMS and onto new beginnings in high school...but first, we have lots more learning to do here!
This week, we'll ease back into things - coming back from vacation is always tough - by "grazing at the buffet" of the Dark Ages with a mapping activity and some reading and discussion circles. We'll also explore how graphs can be used to effectively and powerfully explain trends in current events and in history...those graphs aren't just for math and science, anymore!
Week of December 19~
I am so excited, and hope you are too, to learn from all of you as you share your I Search presentations! People have invested a lot of time and effort into digging up really important and fascinating information on a wide variety of topics connected to Japan and China...so let's remember what we talked about in terms of being a supportive audience and enjoy!
We may begin the Geography Bee this week - if not, we will complete the rounds of questions our first week back in January.
Happy Holidays! Enjoy your vacation!
Week of December 5 ~
We were so productive last week - I am proud of your effort and insightful thoughts all week as we learned about China and Japan by "grazing at our buffet" and then "digging in and filling our plates." This week, we are no less ambitious! We begin by reading an interesting picture book about Confucius and you will teach each other what you've learned in your short section from the text. From here, we'll learn about another colorful and influential person in China's history, Kubla Khan, who was the leader of the Mongols! We'll connect Kubla and the Mongols to our 4 questions from last week. Since you've been grazing at the buffet for over a week, I hope you've begun zooming in on an area you'd like to really explore - later this week, we'll begin an I Search experience. This is the presentation (for the week before December vacation) we've mentioned in class. RELAX - you will do very well!!! By Friday, we'll head over to Japan and you can start sinking your teeth into the shoguns and samurais!
Let's keep putting forth that great effort! It's paying off huge dividends!
Week of November 28~
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
As we discussed in class, we have an ambitious 4 weeks ahead of us as we travel China and Japan and dig in and really refine our reading, notetaking, writing and researching strategies. Every day, we will be actively learning about and uncovering new and hopefully interesting information about these 2 fascinating empires.
Here's our overview for the week:
Monday - "Graze at the buffet" as you take notes on China and Japan from our text...and you really examine the visuals in each section.
Tuesday - Finish "grazing" and then choose JUST 1 area from your notes to "dig into" (I am really into food analogies, huh?)...we'll work on notetaking, learning how to cite a source and writing while incorporating evidence from the reading...and doing it in our own words.
Wednesday - Still digging in...you grazed over some Tang and Song inventions, now through a power point, you'll learn still more about these amazing achievements...and we'll have time to explore all those books along the chalktray to learn still more.
Thursday - Hmmm...we'll look at 4 questions that can be applied to any civilization as we follow its rise and decline. Using what we've learned this week (and then we'll add more as we learn more), we will begin responding to these questions and thinking about China and Japan more deeply.
Friday - I'll be honest...I know where we're going, but I'm not sure if we'll need Friday as a bit of a catch up day.
Along the way this week, I will be reading about Marco Polo to you...remember, we said he's our Italian whose book inspired Columbus...and Polo spent 20 years living in China as part of Kublai Khan's empire. A pretty cool story!
Week of November 14~
I'm so excited for this week and our comparison of the true history of Sundiata, the REAL Lion King of Mali, and Disney's version of this part of Africa's history! We will compare and contrast these 2 sources through discussions and some written analysis. I think you'll be amazed at some of the major similarities and even some of Disney's changes to our history lesson.
Week of November 7~
It's a short week, only 3 days in school...so let's make them productive! Remember, I'm out at a New England League of Middle Schools conference on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, you'll be learning about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, which is simply horrific. On Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll be pulling together all you've learned about Africa and creating a cube to showcase some of your highpoints. You'll get specific directions on Tuesday and will have Tuesday and Wednesday to work on this cube in class. Please take your time, include thoughtful information (as directed) and be neat and colorful. This is worth 50 points and is your first grade on 2nd quarter. I'll miss you guys - see you on Wednesday!
Week of October 31 ~
Wow! That storm was no treat...quick a trick! I hope you're all shoveled out and powered back up - soon!
I apologize for not updating this last week - I don't know how I forgot!
We will continue to work on taking notes from a lecture using your guided notes at the beginning of this week. We'll tap all of that knowledge as we try a new activity, called 9 Square, that will get you up and moving and talking to classmates about what you've learned about Ghana and West Africa. I think it'll be fun! By the end of this week, we'll be digging into the empires of Mali and Songhai...did you know that Disney took a piece of Mali history and made it into one of its biggest films ever? How's that for a tease? Stay tuned for more!
Week of October 17 ~
We'll explore the many magnificent Muslim achievements this week - they took what the Ancient Greeks and Romans had discovered and deepened it and really formed some amazing achievements that have made our world what it is. We'll start out with a rousing read aloud from
1001 Nights, and then learn about these achievements through readings, read alouds and an excerpt from the "Islam" documentary from PBS. Also, this week we'll be writing our "faction" exhibitions, which were discussed in class today. We'll have class time on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then these creative writings that blend facts and your imagination are due on FRIDAY, OCT. 21.
Week of October 10 ~
Well, it's what I call I "squishy week." With no school Monday in honor of Columbus Day and a 1/2 day on Wednesday and the German trip on Friday, we really only had 1 day on which to have our quiz on the Muslims - Thursday. I know you also have a science test that day - Mrs. Daigle and I were in the same position: we don't want to test on Tuesday (with no school on Monday), can't test on a 1/2 day - not enough time, can't test on Friday with so many of you heading to the concert...so, Thursday it is. You've had study guides since last Thursday and we discussed how to study (note cards, divided page) and when to study (a little bit of studying over a lot of nights is way more effective than a lot of studying over 1 little night) and we will review in class on Wednesday. Please give quality effort to preparing for this - there is a good deal of content and it's worth 100 points so it will really impact your grade.
Week of October 3 ~
Happy October! I must apologize - I was at home with sick kids today and I goofed with the homework on the sub plans! We didn't see the documentary part that went along with that homework assignment - for those of you who figured it out and emailed me - kudos to you! I am so sorry about my mix-up!
We'll keep learning about the Muslims this week and we'll do it through some readings and hopefully, some engaging ways to dig through readings. On Tuesday, get creative - you will become trading card designers as you create Muhammad trading cards! Should be a cool way to show all you've learned!
Week of September 26~
We'll wrap up our Byzantine study on Monday with our open notes assessment. Then, we'll move into learning about the Muslims and their role in the Middle Ages. We'll start by meeting Muhammad and working on taking notes by lecture as I read you a story about this man. Don't worry...we'll take our time and work together on this skill that you'll need often in high school and beyond. Muhammad and his amazing story will be our focus this week - through read alouds, a reading from the text and an excerpt from a PBS video. Lots of ways to build our understanding!
**Can you believe that Friday, Sept. 30 is the halfway point of 1st quarter?? It has flown by! Be sure you keep working hard and remember, if you're absent, it is your responsibility to check our daily absent folders and to turn in work that was due when you were out. **
Week of September 19~
We'll keep digging in and learning about the Byzantine Empire this week and you'll get to really and creatively show what you know through a project that is due on Thursday. We will have an in-class work day on Wednesday, where you can focus on that project. It is also your homework this week.
For you long term planners, we will have an assessment on the Byzantines next Monday...it won't be your typical test format, and we'll talk about that later this week.
Week of September 12 ~
Welcome to our first full week of school! After taking the first few weeks to explore our reader's toolbox (strategies good readers use) and primary and secondary sources, we will be diving back in time begin our year of time travel. We'll start with a quick refresher focusing on the fall of Rome and this massive empire's legacy and then we'll head into the Byzantine Empire - a fascinating time with Greek and Roman influences and one of our first feminists, Empress Theodora! Gotta love her!
Week of August 29 ~
Welcome to 8th Grade!!! I'm so excited for us to have a year full of neat and interesting learning experiences!
Week of September 6~
With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 coming up, we will spend time this week learning about the events of that day (and its impact on our lives now) through primary source interviews, read alouds and your choice of articles and/or documentaries. We'll also continue to set our foundation by reviewing strategies that good readers use every time they approach a text or story or article.