QW: What would you do if you saw someone left out of a game on purpose?

Grammar: Manipulating Sentences, day 2. Practice in class. Identify and manipulate sentences from worksheet. Finish for Thursday. Use resources: class "cheat" sheet on eight parts of speech; thesaurus, dictionary, web sites, The Write Source, Twin Hills planner, Prentice Hall textbook, index, P. R-22

Work time: Grammar card word list; grammar worksheets, spelling.

HW: Weds: Grammar Card word list; spelling words, Unit 1
Thurs: Grammar Worksheets (2); manipulating sentences
Fri: Writer's Notebooks; Spelling test, Unit 1

QW: "Something is drastically wrong. Every time I pick up the phone..."

Checked out spelling books. Returned mystery books.
Spelling pretest, Unit 1. If miss more than two, sentences 1-20, pg. 15, due Weds.
EC on sentences if did 19 or more correct on pretest. Test on Friday.

Grammar, eight parts of speech review and worksheets. Manipulating Sentences worksheet. Complete in class on Tuesday.


HW: Due Weds., 100-word list for grammar cards.
Spelling sentences.

Yearbook field-trippers still need to turn in Wednesday work!

QW: Free choice

Discussed Grammar Card project on the eight parts of speech. Handout.
Word list due Weds., Oct. 1.* Final Grammar Card project due Friday., Oct. 10.

Reviewed information sources for grammar work, including the following websites:

http://englishplus.com/grammar/
www.dailygrammar.com
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
Advanced, but a fun one: http://www.grammaruntied.com/

Other sources, Prentice Hall textbook, index, Pg. R22. You have this one at home!

Mystery Novel Project response -- last class period for novel response.

HW: Mystery novel response project due Monday 9/29. Check response carefully for COSM. Neatly staple work together. No pencil.

*Students on yearbook field trip have to turn in word lists by Weds., afternoon, when return from field trip.

Modeled & acted out essay/argument/persuasion, Part 2.

Self-editing method for mystery novel project paragraphs -- a method to work on rough drafts. Keep handout in English notebook for future reference.

Mystery Novel project work time will continue on Friday. Make sure to bring materials to class.

WOD: blithe (adj)lacking or showing a lack of due concern; "Homer Simpson spoke with blithe ignorance of the true situation;" and/or carefree and happy and lighthearted; "Cassandra was loved for her blithe spirit."

Model & acted out essay/argument/persuasion.

Mystery novel project plan due end of period. What is your plan to finish? What do you have left to do? Write this down and show me by end of period or bring to writers conference.

Handed out Mystery Novel Check #2, due Thurs. Worked on in class.
There will be some class time on Thurs and Fri to finish up mystery novel project.

WOD: undulate (v) To move in, or have, waves; to vibrate; to wave; as, undulating air. Rather than tuna, several hundred white-sided dolphins come into focus, undulating crisply through the sea surface below.

Work on Speckled Band project while Writer’s Conference

*HW: Due Weds, Adventure of the Speckled Band project

Writers still to do: 2: Kaitlyn, Jasmine, Cassidy 3: Rollin, Caitlin, Sam F., Manna, Sarah Fuji, Kate; 4: Avalon, Will, Kelly

WOD: morose (adj) gloomy, sullen, ill-tempered. No one could blame her for being morose when her cat had to go back to the vet for the third time in a month.

Work on Speckled Band project (40 points, due Weds BOP) while Writer’s Conference.

Tuesday writer's conferences:
Per 2: Becca, Kaitlyn, Johan, Jasmine, Cassidy, Kiana
Per 4: Sam L, Chris M., Emily, Kyndall, Rollin, Caitlin, Sam F., Sarah, Manna, Kate
Per 5: Kirsha, Bryce, Kyle, Amanda, Stefan, Avalon, Will, Kelly.

HW:
Weds.: Speckled Band project
Thurs: Mystery Novel Progress Check #2
Monday: 9/29: Mystery Novel Final Project (this is a date change from original handout; you have an extra two days.)

WOD: nefarious (adj)-- wicked or criminal. The girls' nefarious actions toward some of the others at the dance were obvious to all.

On Friday class continued work on "Speckled Band" project and writer's conferences.

Be prepared for Monday writer's conferences, worth 20 points:

Per 2: Sarah, Luke, Marian, Jordan, Sierra, John
Per 3: Tenzin, Max, Sam, Sean, Ryan, Chris M. Emily, Norzin
Per 5: Vicki, Gina, Jonah, Dylan, Rylind, Kirsha

Remember class time is for working on Sherlock Holmes "Speckled Band" project, which will be due beginning of class on Weds., 9/24. Four-part project worth 40 points.

WOD: hat trick (n) The scoring of 3 goals in one game by a single player; a succession of 3 victories or successes. Mickey Mantle often managed a hat trick, getting three hits in three turns at back, making fans ecstatic.

Worked on Speckled Band project and Writer's Conferences.

Friday conferences:
Per2: Simon, Riley, Tanner, Miguel, Angela, Nia, Marlen.
Per 3: Joe C, Tenzin, Tristan, Jacob, Jesus, Miles, Norzin, Yesenia
Per 5: Shannin, Alyssa, Madi, Parker, Maria, Victoria

HW: Prepare for your writer’s conference. See assignment. Carries 20 points. Work on Speckled Band project due Weds., and mystery novel reading.

WOD: omniscient (adj.) having infinite awareness, understanding and insight; possessed of knowledge. While many students expect their teachers to be omniscient, George was glad Mr. Hawkins was honest about what he did not know.

Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of the Speckled Band", mini-project, due Weds 9/24.
Work time on project in class for next four days.

Returned papers and discussed Writer's Conference expectations. Conferences scheduled for Thursday through Tuesday. You have your day on paper given to you in class today. Be prepared with three pieces of work to discuss. Conferences carry 20-point value. Look at handout for details.



HW: If you are scheduled for a writer's conference, be prepared!

For Thursday: Per 2: Marlen, Natalie, Khiana, Travis, Ricky and Kyra; Per 4: Jessie, Cris S., Devyn, Matt, Rene, Jose, Heather; Per. 5: Nick, Stephen S., Kaya, Joe, Eric and Colette

WOD: dauntless (adj) The dauntless firefighters remained in the smoldering building until they were certain all were evacuated.

QW: " A shot hit the window. He escaped. For now."

Personal impact essay paragraph on desk. Trade. Two peer edits. You will be graded on peer-editing work. Return. Write final draft. Due end of class today. Staple together: first draft, final draft, both peer responses.

Get handout on active reading strategies.

HW: Read mystery novel.

WOD: phantasmagoria:(n) a constantly shifting complex succession of things seen or imagined. He liked to mix his ice cream toppings -- chocolate, strawberry, licorice -- into a phantasmagoria of flavors.

QW: Who are your heroes? Why do you think they are so terrific?

Returned rough draft of T.T.Heart essay paragraph. Rewrote final during class and handed in.

HW: Essay paragraph #2: Using essay paragraph format, describe a friend or family member who has had a significant impact on your life. Concrete details (CD) will be anecdotes or memories. Rough draft due Tuesday. Label parts: TS, CD#1, CM 1 & 2, CD#2, CM#3 & 4 and conclusion. To be peer-edited on Tuesday.

WOD: quintessence (N) The essence of a thing in its purest form; the most typical example or representative. Marshmallows at a barbecue are the quintessence of summer.

QW: The worst injury you ever had and how did it happen and why.

Class work time to write one essay paragraph on villain or victim character study in Tell Tale Heart. Rough draft due at the end of the period, today.
Use handouts. Fill in all prompts. Hand in prompts 1-8, along with the rough draft paragraph.

WOD:torrid (adj) violently hot; drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching; as, "torrid heat;" characterized by intense emotion; as, "a torrid love affair."
We knew it was coming because just before the hurricane hit, the atmosphere felt heavy and torrid.

QW: Write about why remembering 9/11 is important.

No excuses spelling test.Trade and grade. Words wrong, write 10 times. Due Friday.

Essay paragraph on villain/victim. Example on overhead.
On your own, write a one-paragraph essay character study on either the villain or the victim in Tell Tale Heart. Rough draft paragraph. We will work on a final paragraph on Friday in class. Like Legos: we are building essay.

HW: Mystery Novel Progress Check #1 due on Friday.
Write 10 times corrections on mispelled No Excuses words due Friday

WOD: furtive (adj), done by stealth, surreptitious, sly. We exchanged furtive glances across the room when my mom asked who had eaten all the cookies.

No excuses pretest, Part 3. Study for No excuses spelling test on Thursday.

Discussed assignment for Mystery Novel Progress Check #1. Due on Friday.

Group work on villain/victim in Tell-Tale-Heart. Using character map handout, filled in personality traits and description of each. Group work. The more detail in your chart, the easier to the next step, an essay paragraph on the victim or villain, Thursday's classwork.


HW: (1) Study for No Excuses spelling test on Thursday.
(2) Mystery Novel Progress Check #1 due on Friday.

Word-Of-The-Day: characteristic (adj) distinguishing personality trait or quality. I heard my friend's characteristic laugh and knew she was nearby.

No Excuses spelling test moved to Thursday, 9/11

Pretests on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Use the tests to get yourself to perfect!

"The World On Turtle's Back," class "popcorn" read. Discuss, then wrote in writer's notebooks:
Why Iroquois honor both the left-handed and right handed twin? Consider character and characteristics. Used handouts on traits and connected to traits work in Science class and scientific investigation.

Returned paragraph work on Tell-Tale-Heart. Common class discoveries: Don’t use slang on school written work. Not he “creeped me out,” but disturbed or bothered. Not “guy,” but the old man or the narrator. Typing is great. Now double-space!

Discussed what is character/characterization. See handout.

HW: Continue reading mystery novel. Should be halfway. Novel progress check #1 on Weds.

My Twin Hills email address not currently working. If ?s, please send to: teachsilver@gmail.com

Welcome to our 8th grade English class website. I will update periodically. This will be a great place to check what happened in class and homework. Please use this as an extra "classroom buddy." From time to time, I will post handouts that were given out in class. Have fun and practice safe and responsible computing! --Ms. Silver

Friday, Sept. 5.

QW: If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be?

In class, checked in Demons No Excuses study project.

Discussed Thursday's QW: why do people tell stories about their families, their communities, their world? What is a story that is told in your family?


Began work on Native American storytelling/literature. Introduction, notetaking.
Began class "popcorn" read "The World On The Turtle's Back."

WOD: carafe (n) serving vessel for liquids. When I am tired, a carafe of coffee from my students would be teriffic!


On Monday, will do no excuses pre-test.
Tuesday: No Excuses test
Weds: Mystery Novel Progress check #1. Should be halfway through novel by now.