CONGRATULATIONS YOU FABULOUS GRADUATES. YOU DID IT. AND WITH STYLE AND GRACE AND HUMOR!

Thanks for letting me be around to help and making my first year at Twin Hills a wonderful and challenging year.

Have a great summer and best of luck and dreams in high school!

Stay in touch. You know how! (Should you still want any stray papers, let me know.)

Take care, everyone. Have fun. And wear sunscreen.

teachsilver@gmail.com

GRADUATION TONIGHT!

7 p.m. You (almost) did it!

What a great graduation party Friday night. Thanks to Ms. Ramondo, Ms. Bosch, Ms. Fitch, Ms. Arrowsmith and Ms. Konvanlinka and all our great parents. (Ahem.)



Now onto the real thing, graduation, on Wednesday. It's all gravy from here. (Look up the reference.)

Congratulations to all those who tried out for speeches and those who made it to the big event.
Practice on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Have a great weekend. Rest up for your last week of middle school.

Almost there. One work day left!

And is it really work? Last essay completed. Most everyone turned in books. Speeches very nearly completed. Collected finished work and took home to show our proud parents.

Settle any grade sheet disputes Thursday. Bring food to share and celebrate a great year in 8th grade English. Go Bears. Go Panthers.

Congratulations. Almost.

Handed back grade sheets. Check over and settle disputes/discrepancies with me by Thursday.

Began work on in-class essay about yourself. Finish in class on Weds. Not homework.

PLEASE RETURN ALL BOOKS: SPELLING, LITERATURE, WRITE SOURCE.

Hope you all had a great, three-day weekend and are so ready to graduate!

Please turn in (bring to class) all your textbooks ASAP.

The Write Source, literature textbook, and spelling book.

Thank you.

Wednesday speeches:
2nd period -- Luke, Becca, Kyra, Marlen, Jordan, Khiana, Travis, Angela, Cassidy, John
4th period -- Miles, Sam L, Devyn, Tristan, Kyndall, Chris M, Ryan, Rene
5th period -- Kirsha, Stephen, Parker, Shannin, Bruce, Kelly Dylan

HW: Thursday, BOP: Last novel response

Graduation Speeches began today, and they were great! Thanks to the brave ones who were first.

If you were scheduled for Monday and were absent, expect to go on Tuesday. Otherwise, be ready on your scheduled day.

Tuesday speeches:
2nd period -- Sarah, Tanner, Ricky, Nia, Natalie, Kyra, Mariana, Luke, Becca, John
4th period -- Jacob, Heather, Caitie, Sarah, Sam F., Sean, Yesenia
5th period -- Joe, Colette, Ry, Will, Kaya, Amanda, Avi, Eric, Stefan, Jonah, Vicki, Kirsha

Wednesday speeches:
2nd period -- Marlen, Jordan, Khiana, Travis, Angela, Cassidy
4th period -- Miles, Sam L, Devyn, Tristan, Kyndall, Chris M, Ryan, Rene
5th period -- Stephen, Parker, Shannin, Bruce, Kelly Dylan

HW: Thursday, BOP: Last novel response

Speech presentation begins Monday.

Please read over comments from your peers and me. Be prepared. Two to four minutes. Delivered, not read. Notecards okay. Your choice how many you use. Remember your audience.

Second partner/peer edit of graduation speech. Different form.

Read and commented on, in writing. Then, each of us performed speech for the other, and graded each other, using the same rubric that will be used next week.

Handed in drafts to me. I will return on Friday, with some comments to help.

Speeches start Monday. See board for schedule.

Speech work, continued.

We traded rough drafts and did very thorough peer edits on each other's work on the graduation speech.

Final drafts are due BOP on Thursday. Please be ready with your final draft so that you can participate as both writer and editor.

We will draw names to see who gives their speech on which days, beginning Monday, May 18.

Word-of-the-Day: commencement (n) a beginning; a start; a ceremony at which degrees are awarded. Gaby's 8th grace commencement speech was so inspired that a book editor offered her a contract to write about high school life.

Five minutes, write about Great America. Checked writer's notebooks. Last check. Good for up to 15 points.

Worked on rough draft of graduation speech. Due Tuesday, BOP. Ready to peer edit, in class.

Final draft due Thursday. For one more peer edit.

We finished all the STAR tests! Yeah.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we worked on speeches, stressing the unique, focusing on the details, examples, and events that will make ours standout.

Filled out personal experiences handout. Traded with a partner. Have them select the most interesting detail. Then, return it to you. Write a paragraph!

Completed Part 1 of Math STAR test. Weds. is Math Part 2.
No 2nd or 5th period on Tuesday.

4th period English same as Monday.

Completed Part 2 of Language Arts STAR test. On Tuesday, Part 1 of Math.

2nd and 5th periods only:
Finished "Spellbound." Wrote for 10 minutes, taking point of view of one of the competitors.

Graduation speeches. The work begins. Today we brainstormed ideas. Guidelines handed out.
Speech topics due Weds. Rough draft of speech due Tues., May 12. Final draft due Thurs., May 14.

No 4th period on Monday.

Everyone completed Part 1 of the Language Arts STAR Test on Thursday. Part 2 is on Monday. Rest. Power up with orange juice and a good breakfast.


We watched Spellbound, a documentary that follows the lives of eight young Americans who share one goal: to win the national spelling bee. Spellbound is also a movie about competition, about families, about first-generation Americans, about kids with learning disabilities, about tolerance, and about cultural and economic diversity.

On Monday, we will write about the movie.

We will also begin work on 8th grade graduation speeches, which everyone has to do in front of their class. You can then tryout before a panel of your peers and teachers to present your speech at graduation.

Completed Part 1 History STAR Test. On Weds., we will take History Part 2.

2nd and 5th periods completed a grammar handout. (No 2nd or 5th periods on Weds.)

4th period began a STAR practice test. To be completed on Weds.

On taking the tests: multiple choice, test-taking: Remember, read the question; eliminate all possible answers; decide which is the best. Sometimes you get a gut feeling. Go with it. If it takes too long, go on to the next question. Return to the hard one when you are all done with the test. Make sure you make some guess. You have a 1 in four chance of getting it right. No choice means zero chance.

One more thing on cliche, "saved by the bell." Was it boxers in the ring saved at the last minute or peopled being lowered into the grave, but not quite dead? Go here for plausible explanation. Pick yours.

Completed Parts 1& 2 of Science STAR Test. On Tuesday, will take History Part 1.

There were no 3rd or 4th period classes on Monday. Fourth period English will do the same work on Tuesday as 2nd and 5th did on Monday.

On Monday, 2nd and 5th periods tried another STAR test practice and discussed.

On multiple choice, test-taking: Remember, read the question; eliminate all possible answers; decide which is the best. Sometimes you get a gut feeling. Go with it. If it takes too long, go on to the next question. Return to the hard one when you are all done with the test. Make sure you make some guess. You have a 1 in four chance of getting it right. No choice means zero chance.


We finished going over "Good Writing" handout. Dreading and eliminating those cliches, tired phrases used so often that they indicate tired, lazy and uninspired writing. Dead metaphors. Overused expression. Find a new way to say it. Be precise. Create your own voice. If you think you have heard the phrase too often, then you probably have, and it's time to try something new. Don't "beat that dead horse," or be "as slow as molasses."

Here are few cliches to ponder: red as a beet, as easy as pie, go fly a kite, working 24/7, flat as a pancake, drives me nuts, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, saved by the bell


From sportscliche.com, an explanation of cliche:

"There's no question about it is a prolific cliche and deserves a special category all its own. This cliche runs rampant in the sports world and has begun to make inroads into political jargon. It’s only a matter of time before it infects the entire English language. Here are some examples of how one usually hears it:
'He's the best quarterback of all time, there's no question about it.' This comment might occur during an extended sports talk show devoted to this highly subjective and almost impossible to quantify topic. If there's no question about it, why are we even having this discussion? No question about it is just a cliche way of saying 'That's my opinion' and sounding authoritative about it. Another way to get the same effect is with the word arguably. If you state: 'He's arguably the best quarterback of all time,' you must really know what you're talking about. It seems you're even willing to get into an argument."

From Writer's Digest, lots more on cliche and writing. Check it out.

Quote of the Day: "My Einstein came out" -- Matt Stobba

Handed in Civil War novel project. Go Bears.

New novel assignment. Pick one. Your choice. 250 pages minimum. Choices due by Weds., April 29. Come up with one earlier and have something to do when finished STAR testing and in SSR. Get a jump on it! Find a novel you like and may love. Be engaged.

We worked on "On Good Writing" handout.

We are finished with class worktime on Civil War novel project. Due Friday, BOP.
HOWEVER, for those of you absolutely in dire need of an extra day, you can turn it in Monday morning with:

1) Use your one late pass for the quarter, signed and attached to the project.
2) Must be turned in to me by 9:05 a.m. Monday, NOT at your class time. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Work on Civil War Novel project continued.
By day's end, should have a rough draft of the essay.
One more class day to work on project.

Due Friday, BOP.

Handed out 4th quarter late assignment passes. If you were absent, get yours.
Tuesday at lunch is make-up day for all missed vocabulary quizzes. See board for your name and what you missed. One-day only for make-up.

Discussed and had library and computer lab work time for Civil War project.

Extra help on works cited: go to the Owl at Purdue Writing Lab, a great resource.

You should all be enjoying vacation, this lovely weather we are having. Incredible time to be at the beach, in Tahoe, hiking or just hanging out.
So why are you reading this?
Because, maybe, just maybe, you are thinking about next week and the Civil War Novel Project.
Could be.
If you are, please take a moment to review the assignment, which we will do on Monday when we return from spring break.
Much of the work you should already have done. We will have time left to complete the research, write the summaries of the five historical elements, and do a rough draft of the essay on Monday.
At project's end, due Friday, April 24, BOP: you will have:

• Title Page 5 points
  
• 10 Double Entry Journals 20 points
• 5 Research Summaries 30 points
• Essay 50 points
• Bibliography & List of Works Cited 15 points
  

Recapping the week before break:

On Thursday we wrote an in-class essay. 45 minutes. Timed.
On Friday, we finished up found poem recitations and continued working on Civil War novel project. The fourth DEJ was checked. You should have 10 total by now, all you needed for that first part of the project.

After break: first few days of week of April 20 will be class time to finish project. There will be library and computer lab time available.

On Monday, we will begin the rough draft of the essay. A rough gives you/me/peers time to look over and polish for the final.
The final project is due Friday, April 24, a 3-day extension of original deadline. Keep up with this one and take advantage of class time to work on project.

Today and Tuesday we read more poems from Poetry 180.
On Tuesday we recited a few more of our own favorite poems. Will finish on Thursday/Friday.

We had lab and library research time for Civil War Project. Use time wisely. Abuse it; lose it.

HW: Thursday lunch: make-up vocabulary quizzes if absent. One day only.
Fri: Last DEJ; finish book.

SPRING BREAK! YEAH!

Today's poems from Poetry 180.
Recited more poems, with gusto. Graded for completeness and presentation.

Finished found poems work and handed in. Did you give yours a title?


Tuesday and Wednesday: Lab and library research time for Civil War Project. Bring materials. use time wisely. Use it or lose it.

Thursday lunch: make-up vocabulary quizzes if absent. One day only.

On Friday, we began sharing our own favorite poems, reciting them and telling why they were meaningful to us, or we liked them, or how they "spoke to us." It was inspiring and enlightening. To be continued next week.

We began found poem work -- first by finding about 50 to 100 words of a prose piece (roughly two paragraphs), copying that piece of prose, and then selecting words or phrases with the most impact. On Monday, we will have time to re-arrange into our very own found poems, just in time to submit to the 8th grade literary magazine.

Analy speech and debate class visited today, bringing the art of oratory and debate and a lot of fun. Demonstrations. How easy and how fun to argue. "Spontaneous Arguments?" Thought we knew but learned a whole lot more.

HW: Friday: Civil War, 2 DEJs
Poem to recite and talk about.

Today's poem, Unbidden by Rae Armantrout.

National Poetry Month starts today.

We read poems from Poetry 180, as well as watched personal interpretations from Americans who contributed to the Favorite Poems Project.
Poetry is universal. Poetry is choice. Poetry is individual.

Check it out at the Favorite Poem Project, or find other poems at the Academy of American Poets.
Also, check out Poetry 180.

HW: Thurs, Analy forms due
Fri: Pick out a poem. Write it down. (Don't cut and paste) Look up words you don't understand. Read it three times. Think about what it means to you. Be prepared to read it in class and explain how it speaks to you. Look on the Internet, books in the library, books in your home library, books in my classroom. Find one that has meaning for you.

On writing, worksheet: "Adding style to your sentences."

Began reading poem a day, today, The Blue Bowl by Jane Kenyon, found on the Poetry 180 website. React. Write.

Writer’s notebook check today. 10 entries. 10 points.

Returned novel project grades and Writer’s Notebooks assignments.

Anyone else want to read?

HW: Thurs: Bring forms to school to meet with Analy guidance counselors.

Fri: DEJ Civil War novel #3; Three-quarters through the book.

The Yamauchi students came to school with us today. We greeted them warmly, practicing vocabulary in English and (with their gracious help) in Japanese. Each of us introduced ourselves with a greeting in Japanese.
Then we watched a little bit of an animation DVD. Creativity abounds. Some of the filmmakers were from Japan, so that was a nice touch.

HW: 3 DEJ for Civil War book due Friday. Be three-quarters through your book.

QW: Write what you thought about yesterday's Analy presentation. At least three thoughtful questions or comments. Discuss.

Trade/grade Wednesday's vocabulary 1-6 test.

Practiced some Japanese for our Yamauchi visitors who are shadowing here at Twin Hills on Monday.

Analy counselor Joseph Heil came to each English class today to explain the program, what 9th graders can expect, how to choose courses and electives. He showed a DVD of Analy kids talking about the change from middle school to high school. Next week, he and other counselors will return to Twin Hills to discuss with each one of you individually what you want to do at Analy next year.

I encourage you to show your parents the information he handed out, and discuss your choices. Check out the Analy website for other questions that may not have been answered today.


HW: Friday, 2nd DEJ for Civil War novel due. Be halfway through your book.

Took a moment to study for Vocabulary 1-6 test. Then took the test.
We did not have time to trade and grade. Will do on Thursday.

Returned vocabulary work and first round of DEJs for Civil War novel.
Looked over models of well done DEJs.
Finally, finally, finally reviewed punctuation packet #3. Yippee.

Began worksheet on improving writing -- sentences every which way. No more See Spot Run!
Try your own online. Fun way to practice.

As an example, courtesy of The Owl at Purdue Writing Lab, vary the rhythm by alternating short and long sentences.

"Several sentences of the same length can make for bland writing. To enliven paragraphs, write sentences of different lengths. This will also allow for effective emphasis.

Example: The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find some native American art. In Anchorage stores they found some excellent examples of soapstone carvings. But they couldn't find a dealer selling any of the woven wall hangings they wanted. They were very disappointed when they left Anchorage empty-handed.

Revision: The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find some native American art, such as soapstone carvings and wall hangings. Anchorage stores had many soapstone items available. Still, they were disappointed to learn that wall hangings, which they had especially wanted, were difficult to find. Sadly, they left empty-handed."

Fixing short sentences by sentence combining, courtesy of Prof. Siegel, Mt. Mary College. "Sentence combining is just what it sounds like. Often, a series of short sentences can be combined into a longer, more effective sentence."
For example, consider the following paragraph (this is taken from Writing with a Purpose by Joseph Trimmer):
Last weekend I saw a science fiction film. Three friends went with me. The film focused on the experiments of a mad doctor. He altered his patients' lives by manipulating their dreams.

In the sample paragraph above the short sentences, all having the same noun-verb-object pattern, create a choppy effect. Here are the sentences "combined" into one, more economical sentence:

Last weekend three friends and I saw a science fiction film in which a mad doctor altered his patients' lives by manipulating their dreams.

HW: Weds. Vocabulary quiz, lessons 1-6.
Thurs: Analy guidance counselors visit to get ready for course choices for next year.
Fri: Second double-entry journal due. Three more DEJs. Half of the book should be read.

Fourth quarter begins, your last quarter at Twin Hills. Spring is here.

Catching up.

Last week we took vocabulary #6 quiz. And completed two more practice STAR tests. Handed in the first DEJ of Civil War novel on Friday.

On Monday, corrected STAR tests.
Two teams competed mightily in flyswatter (wordswatter?) vocabulary review, all 72 words from vocabulary lessons 1-6.

Coming up this week:

Weds. Vocabulary quiz, lessons 1-6.
Thurs: Analy guidance counselors visit to get ready for course choices for next year.
Fri: Second double-entry journal due. Half of the book should be read.

Most everyone read their work from Writer's Notebooks. We heard some amazing pieces, some that surprised the writers and your classmates. In a good way. Terrific thinking and mining for the good stuff! Congratulations.


HW: Vocabulary #6 quiz and work, Thursday.
FRI: First check in. Civil War, three DEJs.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! "Experience is the name everyone gives to their own mistakes."-- Oscar Wilde.
We listened to "When Irish Eyes are Smiling." Then, wrote in notebooks and responded to that song or to one of the following Irish proverbs:

• Every dog is brave on their own doorstep.
• A good beginning is half the work.
• Two shorten the road
• Better good manners than good looks.
• If you don't know the way, walk slowly.
• Proverbs cannot be contradicted.
• God is good, but never dance in a small boat.

We discussed a New York Times music review of an article on the Irish Tenors.
With partners, we did a Web search on Irish literature. Turned in at end of period for points. Erin Go Bragh!

HW:
Weds. Writer's Notebook assignment due. Typed. BOP.

Vocabulary #6. Exercises due Thursday, same day as quiz.

Reviewed STAR practice test.
Heard from one peer's incredible notebook entry.
Wrote from prompts, or your own. Notebook check.


Questions on first Civil War novel check? Due Friday: read first quarter of your book and hand in 3 DEJs on historical elements you have found and have questions about. (See assignment sheet for details. )

Time to work on: Punctuation packet #3; Writer's Notebook assignment; vocabulary #6; Civil War check-in.

HW this week:
Weds. 3/18: Writer's Notebook assignment due. Typed.

Thurs 3/19: Vocabulary #6 work due and be prepared for quiz.

Fri. 3/20: Civil War novel check-in #1. Should have read one-fourth of your book. Three DEJs due.

Friday the 13th (of March)

Vocabulary #5 quiz. Trade and grade and hand in.

QW: Listen to music and write. 5 minutes.

Writer's Notebook Assignment. Handout. 25 points. Due: Weds., March 18

Friday-the-13th fun facts from www.LiveScience.com:

1. Fear of Friday the 13th - one of the most popular myths in science - is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.

3. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

4. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12." Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

5. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number - 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.

We did a STAR practice test today. And had lots of fun doing it. Okay, it made me happy. Results tomorrow.

HW: Friday: Vocabulary #5 worksheets. Along with quiz.

QW: Writing from art, Day 2, inspired by Milton Avery's Seated Girl With Dog. Some nice responses.

Civil War book choices made. First quarter of your book should be read by next week, March 20, along with 3 DEJs on historical elements due.


HW: Friday: Vocabulary #5 worksheets. Along with quiz.

QW: Art transparency. “Morning Light” Think about what morning light means to you. Look at the painting. Be inspired. Write for 10 minutes.

Compare/contrast Nin and Herriot essays. Handed in questions, pg. 658.

Looked over books in room to choose Civil War. Library, too.

HW: Weds: Choice of Civil War book & fill out form. Due BOP.

Work returned, including graded speeches. Great work everybody.
Handed out new ID numbers for posted grades. Get yours if you were absent.

Discussed Civil War Novel Assignment. Handouts. Choice of book due Weds., and how you decided on that book. Can look over classroom books on Tuesday.

Vocabulary #5 worksheets. Due Friday, along with quiz.

Read "Debbie," pg. 652 in literature textbook. Answers questions on pg. 658. Due Tuesday. Be ready to discuss questions on pg. 659.

On Friday, we finished speeches. Grades returned on Monday.

We went over punctuation packet #2. Period 4 to do on Monday.

Began discussion on and handed in HW questions on Anais Nin essay on forest fire. Questions on p. 651 in literature textbook.

Speeches, Day 4

For Friday:
Period 2: Becca, Cassidy, John
Period 4: Matt, Rene, Caitie F., Jacob, Jesus, Ryan, Miles
Period 5: Amanda, Maria, Shannin

Worked on punctuation handout, #2: commas with independent clauses, introductory phrases, non-restrictive clauses and dialogue.

Narrative essays. Read "Forest Fire," in literature book, pgs. 646-651. Answer questions on pg. 651.

HW: Fri: Finish reading "Forest Fire" and answer questions on pg. 651.

Speeches, day3, and what a day it was.

Among the topics: the right to be free of parental oversight, the pros of soccer, why skateboarding is not a crime, choosing vegetarian or carnivore, and making the world a better place.

For Thurs:
Period 2: Nia, Tanner, Jasmine, Kiana, Angela
Period 4: Jose, Yesenia, Martin, Joe
Period 5: Ry, Stephen, Jonah, Joe

For Fri:
Period 2: Becca, Cassidy, John
Period 4: Matt, Rene, Caitie F., Jacob, Jesus, Ryan, Miles
Period 5: Amanda, Maria, Shannin

Speeches day two completed. Beautifully! Some mighty cool props and some persuasive presentations! Next up:

For Weds:
Period 2: Kyra, Ricky, Marlen, Sierra, Angela, Khiana
Period 4: Sam F., Tristan, Emily, Kyndall, Max
Period 5: Vicki, Colette, Kirsha, Gina

For Thurs:
Period 2: Nia, Tanner, Jasmine, Kiana, John
Period 4: Jose, Yesenia, Martin, Miles, Joe
Period 5: Ry, Stephen, Jonah, Joe

For Fri:
Period 2: Becca, Cassidy, John (?)
Period 4: Matt, Rene, Caitie F., Jacob, Jesus, Ryan
Period 5: Amanda, Maria, Shannin, Alyssa

We got going on persuasive speeches. Thanks to all the volunteers willing to put themselves out there.
For Tuesday:
2nd period: Travis, Ricky, Mariana, Kyra, Luke, Jordan
4th period: Sean, Cris, Devyn, Heather, Joe, Sam L.
5th period: Parker, Avalon, Kaya, Dylan, Bryce, Eric, Will

WOD: vicariously (adv) -- done or suffered for the benefit of someone else. I lived vicariously through her adventures to the Greek island of Naxos.

Went over speech guidelines and rubric. Speeches to begin on Monday, with volunteers. You have your schedules for the rest of the week. Practice. Practice. Practice!

Novel Projects handed in today. We formed literature circles in groups of 5.
Each one of you in your group had to: 1)Show and discuss your project 2)Discuss how the main character changed from beginning to middle to end. 3) Read out loud at least one good passage and say what it means and why you selected it. 4) Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?

On a piece of paper, write the answers to all #2 and #4 questions and hand in. At the top of the paper, remember to put the name of the book and the author.

Writer's Notebooks weekly check. Hurray for keeping up. Sad for those not getting the easy 5 points/week and seeing what free writing can do.

Fabulous quotes gathered from each other over this past week:

"I felt the sun beating on my back, the whisper of the wind stealing secrets from my soul."

On Thursday, we finished up vocabulary #4 and enjoyed the surprise quiz on it. We traded and graded, of course.

Novel assignment due Friday, BOP. No lates on this one. If you will not be here, have someone else bring in your work. Make sure you staple the self-assessment sheet to your written element.

Speeches have been moved up to Monday, March 2. I will give out a schedule on Friday. Anyone who wants to volunteer to give their speech on Monday gets extra credit.

HW: Novel assignment. Be sure to bring your novel to class on Friday.

Speeches. What an amazing speech President Obama gave to Congress on Tuesday night.

We watched part of it, observing for impact, gestures, main topic and even conclusion. And what were his incredible examples and details? For one, an 8th grade girl from South Carolina who wrote a letter asking Congress not to cut education spending. And she was there, next to Mrs. Obama, getting cheers from the President and Congress and having the very words from her letter quoted by the President in his speech. Letters do matter. Hers did.

President Obama: "I think about Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina, a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom.She had been told that her school is hopeless. But the other day after class, she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this chamber. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp.The letter asks us for help and says, "We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself, and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina, but also the world. We are not quitters.'...That's what she said: "We are not quitters."

Rest of the period was worktime: novel project, writer's notebooks, speech, vocabulary #4.

We used classtime (extremely well, actually) to work on novel project, speeches, or, writer's notebooks work, or if you had nothing else to do, (!) new Vocabulary #4.

Nearly everyone has received their first semester portfolios. You have done incredible jobs of reflecting on yourselves and your work, as well as figuring out new goals. You should be mighty proud. I know am. Gold stars are on their way! (Can't wait to show your parents in May!)

Look out high school: the Twin Hills kids are on their way.

Returned from vacation ready to roll! More than half the year is over, and you are that much closer to summer vacation and then high school. Yeah!

Handed back compare/contrast essays and portfolios. On overhead, looked at "benchmark"* essays, copies of compare/contrast essays considered the best, the second best, average and below average.

Time to work on rough draft of assignment for novel project. Work time in class on Tuesday, though the computer lab is probably not available. Bring work to do.

Novel assignment due Friday, BOP. No lates on this one. If you will not be here on Friday, have someone else bring in your work. Or, make arrangements with me ahead of time.

Speeches have been moved up to Monday, March 2. I will give out a schedule this week. Anyone who wants to volunteer to give their speech on Friday gets extra credit.

*benchmark, (n) -- a point of reference from which measurements may be made; something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged

Working on your conclusion for your persuasive essay speech? Try these handy tips provided by a University of North Carolina writing class.

Remember to bring draft of your final project assignment for review by me.

Enjoy the sound of the rain. See you Monday at school.

We had a great "play" reward day on Friday, trip to Coraline and Confessions of a Shopaholic and cool Taiko drumming assembly.
Now, have a great vacation.
Remember to read your novels and be ready for:

On Monday, Feb. 23, I will collect a draft of the assignment you created for your final project for your 2nd semester novel. I will grade your draft. This is to make sure you are on track and not putting the assignment together at the last minute. Final novel project is due Friday, Feb. 27. There will be no late passes on this.

Returned rough drafts of persuasive essay/speech and discussed. Take notes from board on effective speeches. Make sure you address the other side and refute that point of view. Examples: skateboarding, cell phone use in school, country music. Don’t rant at the beginning. Say something interesting and draw in your listener then get to your main point.
See Write Source guide on speeches for more help.

Writer’s Notebooks writing on Valentine’s Day prompts. Pick one. Write.

Have writer’s notebooks out for weekly check and any questions on rough drafts.

HW: Due Monday Feb. 23: A draft of the assignment sheet for your final project on novel.
Feb. 27: Final project novel due. No lates.

Completed quiz on Vocabulary #3. Traded and graded that and vocabulary context sentences and definitions.

Worked on speeches and handed in rough draft of persuasive speech/essay. I will return these on Thursday so you can have as much feedback as possible.

Speeches will be assigned to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Those who want extra credit can volunteer for Monday, Feb. 23.


Make up vocabulary quizzes on Vocabulary #2 for those many of you absent last week will be given at lunch on Thursday. Be there.

Coming Up:
On Monday, Feb. 23, I will collect a draft of the assignment you created for your final project for your 2nd semester novel. I will grade your draft. This is to make sure you are on track and not putting the assignment together at the last minute. Get working on that now so that you can concentrate on reading over mid-winter vacation.

Handouts – in class. Vivid Verbs worksheet
On speeches -- Read in Write Source, pgs. 348-354

Work on speeches. Rough draft due EOP Weds. Can use computer lab today only.

Remember: well defined thesis, detailed evidence, one opinion, some facts/examples/evidence; sound, logical reasoning; anticipate listener (audience) concern


HW: Study for vocab quiz #3 and context sentences due.
Rough draft of speech due EOP Weds.


Speech: 3 min max, don’t bore me. Will start Tues 2/24. EC for Monday, 2/23 volunteers.

Vocabulary #3 handout. Write definitions, parts of speech and 12 context sentences for each word. Due Weds., and quiz on vocabulary words. Spelling counts. Use a real dictionary, not the Internet. Discover how words are related by leafing through a BOOK, not just plugging in a word and having something else search it for you!

Active reading strategy. Show me. How many pages read? Sign sheet with name of book and author and your strategy. Discussed final assignment ideas.

Persuasive essays and speeches. Finished discussing "Darkness at Noon." What is the writer's point of view. What does he want you to understand?
On speeches, see help on p. 416 of literature textbook. Choose your topic for your persuasive speech from my list of 35 topics or one of your own. For Tuesday, choose a topic and brainstorm it. Bring that work in on Tuesday. You will have to do a written draft of your speech in essay form and will then convert it to a speech, using notes, not memorizing.

Guidelines for choosing and speaking:

• Pick a topic you care about; get a strong thesis
• Find examples; direct it to your audience;
• Give speech a title, and answer title in the thesis statement, like a prompt.

HW: Tues: Speech topic choice and brainstorm
Weds: Vocabulary definitions and sentences and quiz.

Vocabulary #2: study for 5 minutes, take quiz, trade/grade. Hand in.



Writer's notebooks were checked. 5 points. Remember, 10 minutes and one page a day.



On compare/contrast essay: Before you hand in, get one of the grade sheets to do a self-assessment. Give yourself a grade. Then attach that sheet to the top of your work and hand in.



Persuasive essays and speeches. Begin reading on p. 408 of literature textbook. Class discuss.



HW: Active reading strategy check for novel. Bring in your book and your "evidence" of active reading strategies. I will check on your work. Have you come up with a final assignment for your novel? Bring that with you to work on and discuss.

QW: Write a real or imaginary diary entry focusing on fear, hope, or regret. Can begin with: I hoped that;I will always fear;I will forever forget.

Punctuation handout in class. Apostrophes 1&2; Using the right word 2, 3 & 4.

HW: Final draft compare/contrast essay. Study for vocabulary #2 quiz.

Class time to work on compare/contrast essay. Rough draft checked by me EOP Weds.

Final draft due Friday, includes a self- or peer-edit; rough draft and Venn or chart brainstorm diagram.

Vocabulary sentences. Traded/graded. Handed in.

Finished rough draft of letter to President and Mrs. Obama. Final draft, typed, and in proper business letter format is due Weds., BOP. (Information on formal letters in The Write Source, p.243.)

Can start work on compare/contrast essay. Work time in class on Weds. to do rough draft.
Final draft due Friday. Make sure you read directions on handouts. Transition words for compare/contrast essay, p. 106, The Write Source.

HW: Final draft letter to President and Mrs. Obama. Typed. BOP

New vocabulary list. Worksheet. Exercises in class. For homework, 12 context sentences.

In class, finish presidential children exercise. Form groups. Answer questions as a group.

Individually, write a letter of advice to President and Mrs. Obama, on raising their daughters in the public eye. Letter will be graded and it will be sent. Rough draft finished in class on Tuesday.
Final draft, typed, due Weds. Follow proper letter format.

HW: Tues. 12 context sentences from new vocabulary. Vocabulary quiz on Friday.

Work on rough draft of letter to the Obamas. Rough draft of letter will be written during class Tuesday. Final due Weds.

Completed vocabulary quiz. Traded and graded.

Did first surprise writer's notebook check. Many of you surprised yourselves, writing more than you expected and finding things in your writing that you did not know were there. Terrific.

At Katie Conroy's suggestion, I have posted a list of writing ideas or prompts. Click to access that list.

Considered the nasty editor/voice on our backs, the one who cramps our writing and stops us from getting to the good stuff.

Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down The Bones, says: "If the voice says: 'You are boring,' and you listen to it, stop your hand from writing. Hear 'You Are Boring' as distant white laundry flapping in the breeze. Eventually it will dry up and someone miles away will fold it and take it in. Meanwhile, you will continue to write."

Corrected punctuation work and handed in.

QW: 10 minutes, one page: If you had to choose deaf or blind, which would you choose to be? Why?

Began work on newspaper literacy and the lives of presidential children. To be continued on Friday.

HW: Fri: Study for vocabulary quiz; be ready for surprise notebook check; novel choice.

Vocabulary work, continued. Trade/grade and share context sentences.

Punctuation work. See Write Source, starting on pg. 387.
Three handouts. Work on in class; finish for homework.

End punctuation.
Comma rules.
Commas in a series.

Thank you notes to Quinn and Ren. Mention at least two things you found interesting or two questions you had. Graded.

New vocabulary work. Worksheets. Write at least 6 context sentences using at least 6 of the vocabulary words. Due Weds. Vocabulary quiz on Friday. Spelling counts, too.

Still looking for books for new novel assignment? Try this, The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, which just won the National Book Award. New and used, on sale at Amazon. Do also, check the school and local Sonoma County library. Can reserve ahead.

HW: Weds: Vocabulary sentences due. Quiz Friday.
Look for new novel.
Write in writer's notebooks.

Trade/grade spelling test and exercises #10 from Friday.

Finish writer’s conferences. (Carry over to lunch Monday and Tuesday if necessary)

Handed out 2^nd semester novel assignment. Due Date, Feb. 27. Worth 100 points. Choose novel by Friday.

While conferencing, movie: The Red Pony and The Old Man and Sea.

NOTE: If you miss a quiz on day you were out, it is your responsibility to arrange with me a make-up time at lunch within two days of your return, or zero.

HW: Look for new novel
Write in writer's notebooks: 10 minutes and one page a day!

We took spelling test #10 and handed in exercises. Will do the trade/grade on Monday.

Guests: Quinn Fujii and Ren Cassity, Twin Hills graduates now Analy seniors presenting their digital arts/video projects and discussing how they put it together and how much writing essays in 8th grade prepared them for life and their video projects! (Yes, true.)

Writer's Conferences to finish on Monday. Be ready.

HW: Start writing in your writer's notebooks. Be creative. Get them going. Checks begin next week.

Be looking for a novel to read, fiction only, not non-fiction, not biography, not memoir. At least 250 pages. Assignment next week.

Check us out, today on Press Democrat's education blog!

New guidelines for Writer's Notebooks handed out.

Third-quarter late passes handed out. Worth 5 points at end of quarter if turned in.

Spelling pretest #10. Exercises p. 52 for everyone, regardless of score on pretest.

HW: Spelling #10 post-test and exercises due Friday.

We read the newspaper. Picked an article. Paraphrased or summarized it for its main points.

Then, we wrote in writer's notebooks about the article -- reacting to it, connecting to it, asking questions. Responding in writing. Thinking.

More writer's conferences today. Will continue on Thursday.

Handed in first semester portfolios. Could have used one late pass in this. Passes for 3rd quarter coming Thursday.

"In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun--" Elizabeth Alexander, inaugural poem, Jan. 20, 2009.

WOD: inauguration (n) The ceremonial induction into a position. "The new president obviously enjoyed his inauguration." The formal beginning or initiation of any movement, course of action, etc., as the inauguration of a new system, a new condition, etc.

Inauguration Day!
After watching the speech, we read a transcript of President Obama's speech and highlighted passages or phrases that moved, interested or captivated us. We wrote and explained and discussed. I posted some of your writing at the link above and hope to put up more when I can get a hold of your writer's notebooks!

It was a great moment for me as a teacher, having you as close and immediate to the news as possible. It felt like I was back at the newspaper, a reporter again, only this time, you guys did the work, and you were fabulous.

HW: Essay and portfolio due Weds., one extra day, BOP. No lates!

Be ready for writer's conferences:
2--Luke, Mariana, Jordan, Sierra, John, Tanner
4--Max, Ryan, Emily, Tristan, Jesus, Miles, Caitie F., Sarah
5-- Stefan, Gina, Ry, Kirsha, Shannin, Alyssa, Madi, Parker

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Holiday.

Read the text of his famous "I have a dream" speech.

The beginning is always today -- Mary Wollstonecraft

We continued writer's conferences on Friday.

Be ready for your conference with me on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Due date for portfolio has been extended by one day, until Wednesday. Everyone worked so well in class that you get another day to do it!

Please take your time with your essay and reflection. Your opinion of yourself matters. A lot. So, take it seriously. This will be your first grade of second semester and everyone should be able to get a good one!

Report cards are sent home next week. You should all know your grades by now. Remember that a letter or number grade does not say everything about you and your work. That is why the portfolio reflection is so important. In it, you can say exactly how much you think you have learned and how far you have come. It is your opportunity to talk about yourself; your perspective is the one that matters.

See you Tuesday! Inauguration Day.

Writer's Conferences.

Class time to work on portfolio contents, cover and essay. Due Tues., Jan. 20.

Friday conferences:

Per. 2: Marlen, Simon, Becca, Cassidy, Kiana
Per. 4: Joe, Manna, Kyndall, Caitie F., Sarah
Per. 5: Nick, Kyle, Amanda, Stefan, Avalon, Gina

Handouts and appointments on writer's conferences to begin Thursday.

Be ready:
2nd period -- Natalie, Nia, Jasmine, Johan, Ricky, Sarah
4th period -- Jacob, Devyn, Sam L., Norzin, Sean, Chris M., Jessie
5th period -- Jonah, Dylan, Colette, Bryce, Nick

Received list of assignments handout for portfolio. You must include list and choose 25 to put in your final 1st semester portfolio.

Settled grade disputes with me.

HW: Writer's Conference and Portfolio

WOD: reflection (n) - contemplation; reflect (v) -- to think seriously on or upon.
John reflected on his first semester work and was awed by his progress.

QW: Free choice. OR The sound of a blueberry muffin broke the silence. OR What is the difference between what happens on TV and what happens in the real world?

First semester portfolio assignment handed out. Due Tues., Jan. 20.

Grade sheets handed out. Look over. Settle all disputes with me on class Weds. Last chance.

HW: Look over grade sheets for discrepancies; begin work on portfolio project.

Start of third quarter/ second semester.
The beginning is always today -- Mary Wollstonecraft

WOD: emote (v) - to give expression to emotion, especially in acting. Think emo!
Trina's ability to emote effectively makes her very interesting to her friends.

QW: What would you do if everyone in your family and your friends forgot your birthday?

Return multiple choice part of finals. Check over.
Turn in extra credit/late slips. And Mini-novels

Movie: The Red Pony (2nd period) and Old Man And The Sea (4th and 5th periods)

Watch for and note differences between book and movie.

HW: Make sure all your first semester work is in class on Tuesday to work on portfolio reflection and essay and writer's conference.

First semester and second quarter are over!

Completed multiple choice final.

Next week we will be doing portfolio review and an essay, as well as writer's conferences and picking our next novel.

One half of final finished. Yeah!
One to go.

HW: Study for multiple choice final on Friday.

Grammar. Spelling. Essay Terms. Second Mini-Novel.
All the good stuff!

Finals review Day 3:

Grammar and Essay practice.

HW: For Thursday's in class final: bring water, sharpened pencils if you use, and something else to do if you finish early. Your SSR book or other work. No one will be excused during the final.

Friday: study for multiple choice test on final.

Finals review, day 2.

Finals review handout.

Spelling words for final.

Discussed and did exercises on:
1. Literary elements of fiction
2. Grammar and punctuation

Happy 2009! Welcome back.

Resolution (n) a thing determined upon, decision as to future action. Her New Year's resolution was to learn how to ski more than competently.

New Seats
Returned papers.
Resolution. Got one? Write it. Share it.

Spelling review for final.

HW: English final Friday, Jan. 9
Week of Jan. 12: portofolio review and essay. Writer's conferences.