PBH Due Everyday until 3.31.14

Hello All,


Please do the following:


I. Reading At Home


Continue to Read! Read! Read! Read! Read! Read! everyday! This must be a combination of the following:

• a book (fiction/nonfiction) on your independent reading level
• an informational article from a newspaper, magazine (printed or online) ranging from sports, science, history, politics, research articles about stereotypes.
• the informational text can also be your SS and Science textbooks and/or articles Kaur and Smith gives you.

II. Practicing Poetic Literary Devices


Please note that the work you will receive for test prep is online. Since I will not be able to teach you literary devices in depth, as of now, and the test mostly requires a basic knowledge of it, I decided to provide you with a variety of online links that will support you in understanding and reviewing poetic literary devices.


Click on the link(s) below to practice and review poetic literary devices. If there are instructions listed, be sure to read this first before proceeding. Also, if there is sound and music involved, TURN IT UP! :)


Online Video Games
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=266


Trivia Questions
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz1068229a8.html


Java Games
http://www.quia.com/jg/27167.html


Jeopardy (Ppt)
http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/usergames/Oct201144/game1320122153.php


III. Practicing Literary Elements in a Story


If required, be sure to follow the download instructions before proceeding.


Online Game
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/course/game/play.phtml?dest=Lit_v52.dcr&width=500&height=300&ini=lesson1.ini&height2=296


http://www.quia.com/rr/482059.html


http://www.sporcle.com/games/Falon/8th-grade-literary-terms


I hope this helps! Continue to visit the BlogSpot for updates!

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com M-F by 7pm or call Dial-A-Teacher M-F between 4-7 @ 212.777.3380.


Take Care!


Miss. N

PBH Due 3.25.14

Hello All,

Please do the following:

1. Read every night for at least 30 minutes or at the most 1 hour. Nonfiction preferably and it should be on your reading level.

2. Complete the test prep work each day. Writing Only. You will receive it later.

3. 421 ONLY: Vocabulary Game moved to another date. This date will be in April before the spring break. Instead you will select an educational movie to watch after each day of the state test. Make sure to draft a an outline, typed, double space, Times New Roman and 12 font. You must include the following before getting it approved by Calderon. It should have the following:

• Rated PG, or PG-13. If it is rated R, you must write a permission slip for the parents to sign and it must explain why this movie is educationally sound for 13/14 year olds to watch
• a brief synopsis of the movie
• create a mini-activity that your classmates can do after viewing the movie (i.e. mini writing assignment, discussion, debate, quiet game, role play, etc.)
• keep in mind it must be an activity that will continue to prep you for the test

Continue to check the BlogSpot for updates!

4. 421 - You will not have the project I mentioned to you in class. For now, just focus on the state test.

If you have any questions, email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com M-F by 7pm or call Dial-A-Teacher @ 212.777.3380 between 4-7pm M-F.

Take Care!

Miss. N

PBH Due 3.17.14 (and other dates too!)

Hello All,

Please do the following:

1. Complete the assigned pages in the workbook. Newly assigned pages to be announced later.

2. Vocabulary Word Wall Game due 3.31.14. Since you will be playing your created games after the test, it must be a quiet game that does not require a lot of movement or noise. We must be considerate of other classes taking the test for a longer period of time.

3. Movie/Book Review Due 4.4.14. (Note: date change) A movie book review rubric link will be posted later. You must use the introductory, body and conclusion paragraph template to construct a substantial and meaningful essay. It will be provided for you in class later. Please note for this assignment, you will select the movie. I will provide details later!

4. Reading/Writing Test 3.17.14

Reminders:
Please note that your NYS ELA exam will be from April 1-3.
Spring Break April 14-23


Please check the BlogSpot for updates!

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com M-F by 7pm or call Dial-A-Teacher @ 212.777.3380 M-F between 4-7.

Miss. N

PBh Due 3.11.14 (and other dates too!)

Hello All,

I hope you all did remember to bring your yellow workbook home. After the 8th grade debate tomorrow, we will accelerate our learning as we revisit the novel Inside Out and Back Again.

Please do the following each day of the week due 3.11.14:



1. Due to the overwhelming amount of work I assigned from the yellow workbook, I decided to change a few things. Please do the following in the yellow workbook:


A. Skip page 52. (It serves no purpose at this moment)
B. Complete pp. 53-59 - Due 3.11.14
C. Complete pp. 60-68 (Read and annotate the text only. For this assignment it is more important for you to thoroughly annotate the text and absorb the information from the reading) - Due 3.14.14
D. Complete pp. 69-72 - Due 3.17.14



Read the directions in the workbook and read the corresponding pages in the novel, if necessary, that it instructs you to read for each lesson.



When you read the nonfiction articles in the yellow workbook, please annotate it with a purpose. Read the questions or any instructions that precede the articles and ONLY annotate areas that provide you with the answers.


2. Debate Writing Reflection - Class 419 Due Date 3.10.14 & Class 421 Due Date 3.14.14
You have the option to either type it following the criteria of: Times New Roman, double spaced, last name numbered pages, college block style heading and the title, Debate Writing Reflection, in bold print. Or, handwrite it in your neatest and clearest writing.




The reflection questions are as follows:
¡In an essay, write about your experience researching evidence for the debate and collaborating with your classmates. Be honest and reflective.
¡What difficulties did you have finding  articles for your counter argument and presenting it? If not, why? Be very detailed (beginning to debate day).
¡What new information did you learn about  the Vietnam War? (3 examples from the articles)
¡Why was it important to understanding the novel Inside Out & Back Again? Provide examples from the novel and cite page numbers.
¡Place finished, stapled essays inside mailbox on the assigned day for your class.



Debate FYI:

Please research 5 of the strongest facts that explains the reasons for and purpose of the Vietnam War.



Reminders:

Please bring in a canned good (i.e. soup, veggies, meat, etc.) on 3.5.14 or 3.6.14 and give it to Mrs. Hamilton. One person from the class will collect it and bring it to her.



Movie/Book Review due 3.24.14. Recommended list of movies to watch TBA. I will provide you with a different rubric.

Vocabulary Game Project due 3.31.14. You will want these games to be created prior to the NYS ELA state test so that the class will have something to play after the test is done. Please follow the same rubric I provided you with for the first project. If you don't have one, please request one.



If you have any questions, please email thereadingcafe@aol.com by 7pm M-F, or call Dial-A-Teacher @ 212.777.3380 between 4-7 pm M-F.

Miss. N

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR BONUS POINTS - DUE 3.3.14

Hello All,


Please read below:
A. Print the movie/book review rubric from the following link: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/collateral_resources/pdf/r/review_writing/movies/movie_rubric.pdf


You will also need the 8th grade "no excuse list" in order to know what the rubric is talking about. The link is http://www.asdk12.org/MiddleLink/LA/spelling/grade8/No_Excuse_Spelling_Grade8.pdf






You will need this for Monday. It will be the same peer editing you did this past week. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT ON MONDAY!




B. You still have one last time to submit the previous rubric for bonus points on Monday. Make sure your name is on it, class and date.


C. Here is another opportunity to earn bonus points. Go to google images and print one profound scene from the movie you watched that best illustrates the focus question above. Please REMEMBER TO COPY AND PASTE THE SCENE TO MS WORD AND THEN SHRINK THE IMAGE TO APPROXIMATELY 3 X 5 (this is about index card size). YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE FULL BONUS POINTS.




PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL EXTEND OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS. I WILL NOT DO THIS FOR THE 4TH MARKING PERIOD. PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR EXTRA CREDIT OR EXTENSIONS TO HAND IN ASSIGNMENTS. NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO SHOW THAT YOU WANT TO GRADUATE!


*COME ON THE ASSIGNED DAYS FOR EXTRA HELP DURING LUNCH


*GIVE UP A FEW LUNCH PERIODS TO WORK ON YOUR HOMEWORK IN ADVANCE BEFORE IT IS DUE
*GO TO THE TECH LAB WITH PERMISSION OF MRS. BETTS OR MR. SILLMAN.
*WORK ON YOUR HOMEWORK EARLY BY USING YOUR TIME WISELY DURING EXTENDED DAY
*CHECK THE BLOGSPOT AND ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE TO PREVENT CONFUSION
*CHECK LEARNBOOST EVERYDAY!
*MAKE SURE YOU COME TO CLASS PREPARED TO WORK!


Take Care!


Miss. N

PBH Due 3.3.14

Hello All,

The following is due:



1. Movie Book Review (I took the liberty of reposting the previous blog info about the movie/book review to this blog)


Movie/Book Review - Due March 3, 2014 (Please note that the focus question was changed)

We are still exploring the refugee experience, and, although we have taken a little break from reading the novel, we have not taken a break analyzing the impact of war within a society. What you will explore and analyze is: what is the importance of family when  war happens to divide it? First you must have a "working definition" of what a family and war is. This must be in the body paragraphs including evidence from both the text and the movie. The movies you can select from below are as follows:
1.) Life Is Beautiful (Highly Recommended) French movie with English subtitles. Mr. Sillman said that the full movie is on YouTube.
2.) The Pianist
3.) The Devil's Arithmetic
4.) The Hiding Place

Check your local library for these movies, YouTube or Netflix! Happy watching and reading!
Please follow the outline below:

Introduction Paragraph:
Hook (thought-provoking question, anecdote, quote, etc.)
Filler (3 sentences) Explain the quote you used without giving away too much information. Please do not start off your explanation with, "this quote means..." or "I think this quote is trying to say..." or any other cheesy and unprofessional sentence starters. Just say what you have to say without having to introduce that you are going to say it.
Thesis/Focus Statement (what you are proving and three supporting examples à one sentence)Body Paragraph # 1 (Focus on the importance of family in both the movie and novel):
Topic Sentence
Quote/Evidence 1 (word for word from movie)
 Explanation of evidence 1
Quote/Evidence 2 (word for word from movie)
Explanation of evidence 2
Quote/Evidence 3 (word for word from movie)
Explanation of evidence 3
Conclusion/Wrap-Up

Body Paragraph # 2 (Focus on the importance of community in both the movie and novel):

Topic Sentence

Quote/Evidence 1 (cite evidence from text with page number)Explanation of evidence 1
Quote/Evidence 2 (cite evidence from text with page number)Explanation of evidence 2
Quote/Evidence 3 (cite evidence from text with page number)Explanation of evidence 3
Conclusion/Wrap-Up 

Conclusion Paragraph:
Restatement of Thesis/Focus Statement
Restatement of Body Paragraph Topic Sentences
Thoughtful statement to leave the reader thinking (Clincher)



2. Word Wall (this must be an unfamiliar word that comes from either the movie you selected, your independent book or the novel)



That's all...for now! : )



Continue to check the BlogSpot for updates!


Updates...


A. If you have not yet done the following, you still have an opportunity to submit the 2.3.14 Word Wall Word and post a reading blog and a response to one person by 7 pm Monday night. Don't miss this opportunity! I AM ONLY ACCEPTING THIS. ABSOLUTELY NO ESSAYS!
B. You still have one last time to submit a rubric for bonus points on Monday.


C. Here is another opportunity to earn bonus points. Go to google images and print one profound scene from the movie you watched that best illustrates the focus question above. Please REMEMBER TO COPY AND PASTE THE SCENE TO MS WORD AND THEN SHRINK THE IMAGE TO APPROXIMATELY 3 X 5 (this is about index card size). YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE FULL BONUS POINTS.



If you have any questions, email thereadingcafe@aol.com by 7pm M-F, or call Dial-A-Teacher @ 212.777.3380 M-F between 4-7pm for other subject areas.



Miss. N

PBH 5+ BONUS POINTS!! :) MUST READ!

Hello All,

I hope you enjoyed your vacation thus far!

I wanted to share another opportunity to earn extra points towards your grade.

Please click on the link below or copy/paste into your web browser and print the compare and contrast essay rubric.  Once it is printed at home, the library, STAPLES, OFFICE MAX, KINKOS, UPS or FedEx stores, write your full name, class and date on it and bring it along with your typed written essay to class.
http://www.sequim.k12.wa.us/cms/lib6/WA01000561/centricity/domain/193/cc_rubric.pdf

It must be printed and on top of your desk along with your essay on MONDAY the 24th, in order to receive the 5+ BONUS POINTS!

This will be used for the peer review evaluation in class Monday.

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com.

Take Care!

Miss. N