SHOJ - English Language Arts

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." Our research of Harper Lee from self-generated questions As eighth graders work through the first part of To Kill a Mockingbird, we've been discussing this quote quite a bit and how we can practice empathy with people in our lives. They're working hard in class on maps of Maycomb, which are coming together! We've learned about Harper Lee and mapped the plot from the chapters we've read (finishing ch. 9 for tomorrow). Thursday is one of my favorite days because they bring items that they would leave in a knothole, as a character in our book does for Jem and Scout. It will be a fun end to Catholic Schools Week! Next week, we'll continue reading as we start Part Two of the book. The students are doing a great job asking good questions. Seventh graders are learning about the 1960s. I love reading the f...

Students have been doing a great job of reading this month! An impressive number read for fun over Christmas break. :) I'll be placing a Scholastic order next Friday (1/30). Please check out the catalog or the reading brochures your students brought home to find books that interest them! Thanks for your generosity in the past. We received lots of new books for our classroom library. :)  To Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub One-Time Class Activation Code: L7ZJ6 Due by 1/30 With Scholastic Reading Club: - Every book you buy earns FREE Books for our classroom library - You can choose from handpicked, grade- and reading-level-specific books for your child - You'll find the best values on a variety of formats, including eBooks Each month, your child will bring home Reading Club flyers. Together you can choose from books hand-selected by teachers and experts, and then order online or by returning your order form and payment to me. I 'm excited to get our class reading! Th...

Parents, Heads up that students are bringing $7 by next Tuesday to get their copy of The Outsiders for 7th and To Kill a Mockingbird for 8th. We're all using the same version, but if you have a copy of the book your child needs at home and you're OK with them writing in it, that's OK too! Please talk to me if money is an issue.  Students will be allowed to write in their books and keep them after we finish the unit, which will take us into March. We're excited to get started with both novels. We will be doing some pre-reading activities and looking at the different time periods that the books are set in. 7th graders will be looking at the 1960s, and 8th graders will be looking at the 1930s. Both are wonderful books. In years past, students have really enjoyed both novels. The Outsiders brings up good discussion, but does include some gang and teenage violence. To Kill a Mockingbird addresses racial issues, and we will be talking about some of the language that...

Here are our rockstar readers for this month!

Students and families, Quarter 2 is wrapping up! Students, thank you for your hard work this quarter. You've done some great learning, which you've shown in a variety of ways. Here are the standards that were introduced this quarter: 8th grade standards 7th grade standards Have a wonderful, relaxing Christmas break! You've earned it. :) Remember to read! Merry Christmas! I'm blessed to work with you. Miss Rajewski

Thank you so much to our parent speakers today! The kids learned so much from your stories. Thanks for making history come alive!  Mrs. Wentzel told about her family's experience in Belarus as Germany came through the Soviet Union.   Mrs. Farley shared her dad's experiences as a fighter pilot on his plane "Stardust."  Mrs. Farley's dad made a rosary for her mom from the Plexiglas of an airplane window.  Mrs. Hess read from her dad's letters while he was stationed overseas. Mrs. Janatello explained the experiences of her uncle during his time as a Prisoner of War.

We enjoyed watching the scenes the students prepared for today! They are looking forward to the play tomorrow.