English Class News

I can't wait to see everyone's how-to presentation!  Remember:  I speak in front of YOU every day.  It's not that bad!

When we finish, it will suddenly be Christmas break with the end of the first semester quickly approaching.  Happy Holidays! 

Reading Class News

Jack London Author Study:

The law of survival was eat or be eaten.  The law of living is love and loyalty.

These are two themes that are present in many of Jack London's tales of the Northwest.

We'll be reading and watching a number of his exciting tales in the weeks before Christmas break.

First up:  The Call of the Wild  and "The King of Mazy May."

English Class News

Expository writing:  Have you ever tried to put together a new toy or a gas grill and found that the directions were confusing, out of order, and even missing important steps?  With our next writing unit, we'll study how to write clear and orderly directions and explanations.

Be thinking of a skill you can explain to us --a recipe, a craft, a job, a trick--for our "How-to" presentations.

Writing Workshop

Check out the Scholastic Writing Workshop website.  There are unlimited activities for parents and students--games, writing tips, etc.  I think it would be very beneficial as we begin our persuasive writing.

Writing Workshop Home

Persuasive Essay

Want to learn how to win an argument?  Stay tuned for our unit on Persuasive writing.

We'll be learning how to state our opinions and convince others to agree with us by providing facts, reasons, details, and examples to prove our point of view (something my husband and sons say I am very skilled at doing!).

Who knows?  We just might change the world--or at least North Greene Middle School.

Check out this cool reading video:

YouTube - A Love For Reading

Literary Circles

Reading:

It's Here!  It's Here!!  Literary circles will finally begin Friday when we'll be choosing books to read and share with each other.  We have some awesome new titles (that last year's 8th graders helped choose) as well as all of the previous popular selections.

Great books always come recommended.  If YOU had to choose, what three books would you recommend?  I'll start with Wuthering Heights, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Define Normal (an 8th grade literary circles choice). 

End of Quarter

Wow!!!  If you're like me, you find it hard to believe it's almost the end of the first nine weeks.

It's been an enjoyable and productive year so far.

Make sure all of your assignments are completed:  

Reading:

Test on "High Tide in Tucson," and your pond drawing--I can't wait to see how well you visualized  the  verbal imagery of the essay.  We'll vote on the best and rewards will be given!

English:

Narrative essay--"A Time when you were Afraid."  Remember to create mood through your descriptive, sensory language, use foreshadowing, and give your feelings and thoughts about what happened.

The Twilight Zone Part 3

English:

Beauty is only skin deep, or so they say.  They also say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Prepare to be shocked as we take another ride into the Twilight Zone.  Look for mood and foreshadowing that warn us things might not turn out as we expect.

Watch for the announcement of our next writing assignment . 

Reading:

How are your artistic abilities?  We'll put them to good use with our next story, "High Tide in Tucson," which will test our powers of visualization.

Have a great weekend!!!

The Twilight Zone Part 2

Reading:

"True-nervous-very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am!  But why WILL you say I am mad?"

Do YOU think the narrator is mad (meaning crazy)?  Read "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe to answer this question.

Click on the link below to see an animated version. 

Twilight Zone Project

English:

You are about to enter a Learning Zone!!  Our new narrative writing unit is called "The Twilight Zone Project" and will use episodes of the old "Twilight Zone" series for inspiration.

Foreshadowing,  mood, descriptive language--How can YOU use these elements in your own narratives?

Reading:

How do you handle an out of control spoiled brat?  You probably shouldn't take lessons from the two bumbling kidnappers in our next story, "The Ransom of Redchief."

Keeping up with the Classes

English:

We'll be handing back the Nightjohn essays Tuesday--great first essay for most of you!!

We'll be having new "inspiration" for our next narrative essay.

Reading:

Our reading story was about the Viet Nam vet who suffered flashbacks  Ask your parents or grandparents what their memories of the war are.

You can learn more about Viet Nam by accessing the History Channel web sight.

The pictures I showed you were from Youtube.

Our next story, "A Mother in Manville," has a surprise ending and will emphasize setting.

Welcome to Open House

Open House is just around the corner!  Your family can see your Gladvertisement and where you sit in English and Reading. (you might get a cookie or donut, too!)

Remember:  Wednesday, September 10 from 6:00 to 7:30

Welcome to Open House

Open House is right around the corner.  I can't wait to meet your parents.