Announcements

Week of May 30th
  • The final story we will be learning about is The Diary of Anne Frank.  We will be reading the play aloud in class.
  • FINAL EXAM Study Guides will be passed out on Friday, June 1st.  This gives you close to two weeks to prepare!
Week of May 21st
  • Last few days of Tom Sawyer.  Will he mature?  Will he survive?  We will finish the book in class this week to find out.
  • SATIRE writing due on Thursday.  You will have had over a week to complete this 1 page writing where you get to MAKE FUN of  SOMETHING!  Don't miss out on this fun opportunity!
Week of May 7th
  • You'll be a goner if you play hooky or take a holiday and don't read Tom Sawyer!
  • Calendars are available on this site as well as directions, etc. for both final projects.
  • Project #1 due on Monday, 5/14.
  • Check the LINKS section of this website for some suggested sites to create your own comic strips (one option for Project #1).
  • Check out these easy to use sites for the "Facebook" page (one option for Project #1)   http://www.classtools.net/fb/home/page
Week of April 30th
  • Look-a-here, fellers!  'Deed we are beginning The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. 
  • Check the link on this website for reading calendars, GRQs, etc.
Week of April 16th
  • We are in full NJASK mode!  
  • Writing review Monday-Wednesday
  • Reading comprehension review Thursday-Friday.
  • Practice makes...I don't as you to be perfect, but to try harder! 
  • No grades for Q4 until after the NJASK.  On Friday, April 27th we begin The Adventures of Tom Sawyer!
Week of March 26th
  • This week we will finish reading the novel Black Storm Comin'
  • Final Project choices, directions, etc. will be introduced on Monday, 3/26.  Final Projects are due on Monday, 4/2.
  • UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28TH   For the Final Projects for BSC, please make sure you do one of the 10 point open-ended questions!  I may have been unclear when directions were first given out.  Your project should look like this:   10+15+15= 40     OR 10+30=40                                See me with any questions
Week of March 19th
  • This week we continue our study of survival and the Pony Express through the novel Black Storm Comin'. 
  • Don't forget: you are expected to be taking notes while reading.  You may use Stop & Jots or Guided Reading Questions to help demonstrate your comprehension while reading the story.
  • This week you are also asked to compile the Most Important Quote for each chapter as well as prepare chapter titles.  This is a great way to review each chapter!
Week of March 12th
  • This week we are beginning our study of Historical Fiction.
  • Due to my unexpected absence last week, and the assembly on Tuesday, morning classes have a different reading schedule from the afternoon classes.  Please see the Homework board on this website and/or Homework board in the classroom for the latest information.
  • Rachel's Challenge assembly on Tuesday   

7:30 – 9:00     Abd – Litt

9:15 – 10:30    Liu – Zimm

Week of February 27th
  • We will be wrapping up or study of Science Fiction and the novel House of the Scorpion this week and next.
  • See the HOS document link on this website for Project #1 details that were handed out in class this week.
Week of February 13th
  • Fall in love with a great book!
  • Panel discussions begin this week; this gives everyone the opportunity to discuss our story.
  • If you decide you need Guided Reading Questions, they are available on this website (if you forget to pick them up at school).
Week of February 6th
  • Who is Matt?  Why is he being treated this way?  What will he do next?  All questions from the first few chapters of House of the Scorpion.  Keep reading to find out if/how Matt will survive his "jail".
  • Please keep up with the reading calendar handed out in class and available on the House of the Scorpion link on this website.  GRQs are available in class and on the HOS link.
Week of January 30th
  • Congratulations on your first formal Mid-Terms!  One semester down, one to go!
  • This week we begin our second Science Fiction novel, The House of the Scorpion.  Please see the reading calendar handed out in class on Thursday and on the HOS link on this website.
Week of January 23rd
  • Best of luck on THIS and all of your MID-TERM EXAMS!
  • Be prepared!
  • Mid-Term review STUDY GUIDE can be found on the Handouts section on this website; this is due for an ALL OR NOTHING grade on Tuesday, January 24th.
Week of January 9th
  • I have been very impressed with your questions and comments during the first week of The Giver.  It shows me this novel really has you thinking!
  • We are doing some sentence structure review this week; please make sure you complete worksheets and short response writing to earn credit!
  • MID-TERM EXAM Study Guide is being passed out on Friday, 1/13/12.  This gives you two full weekends to complete and prepare for your Mid-Term Exam.
  • Mid-Term Schedule:
     Thursday 1/26
    		 Friday
    1/27
    		Monday 1/30
    		 Tuesday 1/31
     Period 1
    		 Period 2
    		 Period 3  
    		 Period 4
     Period12
    		 Period 9/10/11
    		 Period 7/8/9
    		 Period 5/6/7
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Week of January 3rd
  • New year = new genre.  This week we begin one of two Science Fiction novels that we will read this year.
  • Please see the HW board in class, the English 8 link on this website, and your reading calendar handed out in class (also available on The Giver section of this website) for your HW each evening.
Week of December 19th
  • This week we will be finishing up our study of Strange & Mysterious literature.  
  • Please make sure you complete your final English project for 2011: Brainstorming due on Wednesday and final story due on Friday 12/23.
Week of December 12th
  • Who can you trust?  What should you do next?  These plus other thoughts are running around the minds of our characters in And Then There Were None.  Please see the English 8 homework board as well as the HW posted daily.
  • Strange & Mysterious Narrative Short Story introduced this week; you may begin early, especially if you know you will be celebrating or getting ready for the holiday season next week!
Week of December 5th
  • RESEARCH: The end is near!  Rough drafts were handed back on Monday.  Any/all recommendations and corrections MUST be made to your final draft or you will lose credit!
  • BP 2 and Closing are due in class on Wednesday; this day we will be in the Media Center to type.
  • All FINAL DRAFTS are due on Friday, December 9th!  BE RESPONSIBLE!
  • And Then There Were None Thursday-Friday; don't forget to take notes on your Character Chart!
Week of November 28th
  • Please bring Independent Reading books into class on Monday; we need to switch days and do this on Monday instead of Friday.
  • Due to teacher absence, students will begin reading And Then There Were None on Thursday, not Monday.
  • Students will be watching "The Outsiders" on Tuesday and Wednesday.  While viewing you are responsible for the Movie vs. Book worksheet; this WILL BE counted as a classwork grade!
Week of November 21st
  • Be thankful we are more than half way through research!
  • This week we will read two class Strange & Mysterious short stories from Edgar Allan Poe.
  • When we return from Thanksgiving we will:
    a) begin a Strange & Mysterious novel by Agatha Christie
    b) write the final draft of the Research Paper will due in December (final date to be determined later) check in class as well as this website for more details.
    c) write a Strange & Mysterious short story
Week of November 14th
  • We will begin the research WRITING this week.  Please remember to have any new or revised notecards printed out for class.
  • Strange & Mysterious stories will continue next week.
Week of November 7th
  • Update from last week's announcements: This week we will not begin writing the rough draft; I still need more time to grade notecards.  I hope to begin writing the rough draft when we return from the 4 day weekend on 11/14/11.
  • If I have spoken to you about your notecards and talked about the need for more research, please make sure you get books, etc. everything you need to complete the notecards before we begin writing on 11/14/11.  If you make no corrections/additions to your notecards it will affect the quality of your research paper!
  • We continue Strange & Mysterious stories this week: Roald Dahl's less famous short stories.
Week of October 31st
  • We are approaching the end of research RESEARCH (the investigating part).  By the end of class on Tuesday you should have printed out a hard copy of your 8 (minimum requirement) notecards.
  • Wednesday and Thursday we have a shift of focus - Strange & Mysterious literature - as Mrs. Sulva catches up grading notecards, etc. 
  • We will begin writing the rough draft of the research paper next week (11/7-8-9)
Week of October 24th
  • We are smack-dab in the middle of research!  I am very proud of how well everyone is cooperating in the Media Center.  Thank you for your patience as I answer questions.
  • Parent Teacher Conferences!  Don't forget the schedule:  Periods 1-4 on Tuesday and Thursday, Periods 5-12 on Wednesday and Friday.
UPDATED Friday, October 21st
  • Churchill BOOKFAIR on-line  Shop the Bookfair at CJHS between October 24-28 OR shop online!
  • In a perfect world, you would have completed 1 bib card and 2 notecards on each Thursday and Friday.  We do not live in a perfect world, therefore "goals" for the day have changed.
  • By MONDAY 10/24 you need to have completed 1 bib card and 2 notecards.  This is why we have "catchup" days built into the calendar
  • You ARE expected to complete this work at home/library if you didn't finish in class.
  • Don't forget: use researchitnow for username and password on the databases.
  • If you forgot how to access databases from home, look here HOW TO ACCESS DATABASES FROM HOME
Week of October 17th
  • RESEARCH BEGINS
  • Please see the calendar and other documents handed out in class and on the RESEARCH link on the left of this page.
  • This week we will get an introduction to the research topics, the online databases will we be using, and a refresher on Noodletools.  (I am SO lucky to have so many veteran Noodletools users!)
  • Remember, if you feel you are falling behind, I will be available after school Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday (parent/teacher conferences next week = unavailable for students )
  • If you have a question after school, e-mail me BEFORE 9pm!  I promise to respond to questions that night if you e-mail me before 9pm.
Week of October 11th
  • We are focusing on the end of book ESSAY this week; two days to work on the rough draft.  FINAL DRAFT due on Friday.
  • Remember, the format of this essay will mirror the essay you will be writing for your research paper.
  • RESEARCH BEGINS NEXT WEEK
Week of October 3rd
  • Wow!  September went fast! 
  • We will be finishing our first novel, The Outsiders, this week.
  • Please do not forget you are responsible for completing one Stop & Jot bookmark for each chapter (3 squares = 1 summary + 2 reactions)
  • Please see The Outsiders DOCUMENTS on this website for copies of project information handed out in class this week.
Week of September 26th
  • Please do not forget that Stop & Jots are a required activity for a homework grade!  The more you demonstrate what you are thinking about while reading, the more you will understand.
  • 3 day week
  • Don't forget, if you are absent keep up with the reading!  You were given a reading calendar plus HW is listed on this website!  RESPONSIBILITY BUILDS CHARACTER!
Week of September 19th
  • We are getting into the swing of things. 
  • Monday we are working on one of my favorite lessons: Poetry Analysis.  You will get experience with 8 different poems as we figure out the topics/themes of our first novel of the year, The Outsiders.
  • Tuesday you will receive the novel and a reading calendar (also found on The Outsiders DOCUMENTS link on the left side of this webpage.)
  • Assignments will be:
  1. Written on the HW board in the classroom
  2. Available on your reading calendar
  3. On teacher web.
  • Responsibility builds character.  What kind of character are you?
Week of September 12th
  • Many new faces last week!  It was a great start to the school year.  I really look forward to getting to meet and talk with each and every one of you.
  • This week we are examining what makes good writing.  You will be learning what my expectations are for any and all of the writing assignments you hand in this year.
  • Friday we will be having our first Independent Reading Friday of the year.  Expectations and procedures for IR Fridays will be discussed as we meet in the Media Center to explore the Churchill library of books and find materials for independent reading.
Thursday, September 8, 2011

 Welcome back to school and to eighth grade English! I am looking forward to a wonderful new year. The goal of this course is to incorporate a variety of activities to develop each students ability to become a reflective, critical, and thoughtful reader and writer. These are skills that are essential to all subject areas and to all areas of life.

Classroom Expectations and Procedures

1. Be in your seat before the late bell rings.

  • Take care of all your personal needs before you come to class. Passes out of the classroom during class time are limited.
  • Your supplies should be ready, and you should immediately begin your DO NOW which will always be posted.
  • Any homework that is due should be out on your desk.
  • Being late three times will earn a teacher detention; additional late arrivals will earn an office referral. Hanging out in the hallway will not be tolerated.

2. Respect others: Respect their space, their belongings, and their time.

  • This includes your teacher, your classmates, and all adults.
  • Follow directions the first time given.
  • Raise your hand to speak.
  • Leave your seat only with permission.
  • The teacher, not the bell, will dismiss the class.

3. Obey all School Rules.
 
Last Modified: Wednesday, May. 30, 2012
 
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