SHOJ - English Language Arts

8th-grade students, Some of you were trying to get Bitstrips comic creator to work in the lab with little success. I found another site called ToonDoo. You do have to create an account, but you could save your comic to your "Toons" and print it from there.  http://www.toondoo.com/ Remember, making a comic is just one option! You can also draw a scene, which I know many of you are doing. Great work today on your projects!

In eighth grade this week, we've been reading Stave 3 of  A Christmas Carol.  They will be reading Stave 4 Monday. We took a Membean assessment and will finish developing our thesis statements for the project essay by Friday. I'm also checking to see that they've started their project on Friday!  For any students who want to take advantage of their project work day on 11/24 (the Monday before Thanksgiving), they should be caught up on Membean. I also challenged the students to participate in the parish reading book with  33 Days to Morning Glory.  Any students who read the consecration portion can count that as double pages for a book talk (since it bears both academic and spiritua fruit!) when they come back from Christmas break. The parish is planning to finish it by Jan. 1. When we get back from Thanksgiving break, we will finish Stave 5 and get ready to go see the play, which the students will enjoy!  Upcoming due dates: Christmas Carol Check In...

7th grade parents, We will be having an exciting day on 12/9 at 12:50 when family members with a WWII story will be coming in to share about that time with your child. I have five speakers but if you're free this day and have a connection that you could talk with the students about, we would love to have you. The students will be in groups and rotate through each station. I'm sure they'll remember the stories long after this unit is over. :) Hope you can join us! -- Miss R.

In 7th grade this week, we've been reading A Diary of Anne Frank.  Students voted to finish their maps of the attic by next Wednesday. We will be finishing Act 1 in class, and they will be reading Act 2, Scenes 1-2 for next Friday. We will be taking a Membean quiz next week too. For any students who want to take advantage of their project work day on 11/24 (the Monday before Thanksgiving), they should be caught up on Membean. I also challenged the students to participate in the parish reading book with 33 Days to Morning Glory. Any students who read the consecration portion can count that as double pages for a book talk (since it bears both academic and spiritul fruit!) when they come back from Christmas break. The parish is planning to finish it by Jan. 1. Seventh graders did a wonderful job with their Socratic seminar on Monday. They are deep thinkers! Upcoming due dates: Project 12/5 Test over Holocaust and Anne Frank on 12/11  In eighth grade this week,...

Students, Remember to mark our work day on 11/24 (the Monday right before Thanksgiving). We will be in the lab. Bring flash drives and any supplies you need for your projects. Make sure you're caught up on Membean by that point if you're wanting to work on your project for the whole class. You will be at 390 minutes for the semester by that point. Thanks! Miss R.

Students received their quarter two projects today. We will work with these as we work through our reading this quarter. I've posted them in case you need an extra copy! 8th graders, for your vocab words, some of you wanted to type them and asked me to post the template.  Please work ahead!  Due Dates: 8th -- Dec. 15th, Check-in days -- Nov. 21st, Dec. 5th 7th -- Dec. 5th 7th grade rubric 8th grade rubric 8th grade vocab box template  (Once you click on this, click the download button at the top, which looks like an arrow pointing down). 

8th grade families,  I showed this to students today, but if you want to save their video for future viewing, click on the download button when the student is logged into his or her account. Then select the MP4 option. This will be fun for the student to look back on someday!  Thanks,  Miss R.

8th-grade students, Remember that you are reading the rest of Stave 1 that we didn't finish in class for Monday. If you are interested in listening to the audiobook as you annotate, this link will be helpful for you:  https://librivox.org/a-christmas-carol-by-charles-dickens /. Please take your time! The optional Stave 1 questions will be helpful for you! Thanks, Miss R

Lab First lab activity: Visit  http://www.pat heos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/christmas-according-to-dickens/ . Scroll down to the second entry " Dickens: The Man Who Invented Christmas?." Read that whole entry (until you see "The Real Business of Christmas, according to Charles Dickens.") Summarize this article in a post on your blog. If you are interested in this topic, feel free to read other sections on the page.  Second lab activity: Visit the Kidblog site and create another post for the day. I've given you an optional prompt.  Third lab activity (if you have time): Quiz yourself (under Spelling Bee or Learn this List) on Act 1 vocab words.  https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/232629#view=notes  My username is sarah.rajewski@shoj.org, and the password is learn. 

Way to go! :)