Portfolio time!

Today we reviewed our upstanders by playing a group game. Then, we went through alllll our work from unit two (How can one individual affect change? A look at upstanders in European History), completed a unit two review sheet, and selected an artifact to represent each skill area (reading, writing, communication, cultural and historical awareness) for the portfolio. Once we selected an artifact for each skill area, we filled out a portfolio entry slip for each artifact.

We will continue this process tomorrow. All portfolio entries with artifacts are due at the beginning of class on Wednesday.

Optional homework: Once you've selected an artifact for each skill, go ahead and fill out the entry slip for each artifact.

Euro feast!!!

Today was EURO Feast day. We had spanakopita from Greece, baklava from eastern Europe, spaghetti from Italy, cookies from Poland, fruit kabobs from the Czech Republic, gingerbread from Germany...and much, much more!

Then, we finished watching the rest of the Mother Teresa movie from yesterday and discussed how Mother Teresa was an upstander.

Happy Thanksgiving break! Be safe, eat well. Read.

No homework.

One upstander: Mother Teresa

Today, we finished up remaining upstander project presentations and then took all of the Europe work out of our folders and clipped it together to put in the pizza boxes until we get back from break. At that time, we will reflect on the work we've done during the Europe unit and select items for the portfolio.

Then, we watched the Mother Teresa movie, about one of our upstanders. Students completed questions as they watched the movie.

Homework: Bring food, drinks or supplies for the EURO FEAST tomorrow!

Advisory reminder: we will walk to get ice cream tomorrow. Bring money if you want some.

Photos of upstander projects!

Here are photos from our recent upstander projects. Here's what's below: Maya and Kalei in costume, presenting on Prince Henry the Navigator, Jory and DeEric doing their mock interview with Henri Dunant, Mark and Thomas doing their rap about Isaac Newton, Joshua and Ryan present their skit on Galileo, the class celebrates the birthday of Margaret Thatcher for Reid and Ewan's project, Christian shows his Isaac Newton board game, Jana and Jamey perform "Good Morning Skopje," an interview with Mother Teresa.

More presentations...

Today was more presentations. Now, we're finished and Miss D will post pictures soon.

No homework. Remember next Tuesday is EURO FEAST DAY!

Project presentation day!!!

Today was project presentation day! Students had time to set up their projects and then we watched each group present their project, giving feedback on each project and talking about what we learned about each upstander. Here are some of the cool projects we saw today:

-game show on Catherine the great
-skit about the life of Marie Curie
-board game about the life of Isaac Newton
-birthday party for Margaret Thatcher
-scavenger hunts about Maria Montessori and Joan of Arc
-and many more!

Homework: The rest of the groups will present projects tomorrow. Please be sure you have all materials ready to do so.

Adjective quiz, Project prep

Adjective quiz day. Following the quiz, students decorated mailboxes that they would use to receive feedback on their presentations tomorrow. Then, they set up the rubrics with which they'd be graded tomorrow and as a class, we reviewed the elements on which they'd be graded for their oral presentation: energy, projection & clarity, facial expression & gestures, posture & eye contact, length, preparation, active listening and active participation. For the rest of the period, students worked on their projects and practiced oral presentations.

There are no current events due Friday. Instead, we will reflect on unit two and make selections for our portfolios.

Homework: Be ready to present project tomorrow.

Feast info, UPSTANDER PROJECT work

Happy Tuesday.

Today, students learned that they will be having a EURO FEAST next Tuesday the 24th to celebrate Europe, the region we've studied for the past few months. Information on the feast available here.

Students spent the rest of the class period working on their upstander projects. Tomorrow is the last class day (and we'll only use 1/2 of the class period) to work on upstander projects. Project presentations are Thursday.

Homework: Tomorrow is the adjective quiz. Make sure you're ready. Bring any more materials needed to work on upstander project in class tomorrow.

Upstander projects- let's go!!!

Today, students turned in their final drafts of their upstander essays with the rubrics attached. They also turned in each part of the writing process in their writing folders with the writing process rubric. Then, they paired up with their partners and used the rest of the class period to work on their upstander projects. There are some creative projects being created in class- triva game show about Mother Teresa, a rap about Isaac Newton, a magazine about Marie Curie, a timeline diorama about Catherine the Great and many more....! Projects are currently due to be presented this THURSDAY.

Announcement: Adjective quiz on Wednesday. NO European current events due on Friday.

Homework: Work on upstander project. Bring any supplies needed to class.

Proofreading those essays!

Great job to the students who performed and showcased art last night during Arts Night. It was a fun event!

Today we went over demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) and how they are different from demonstrative pronouns. For example:

Demonstrative adjective: I like those socks.
Demonstrative pronoun: I like those.

Then, we talked about what it means to edit or proofread a piece of writing. We practiced doing so using proofreading marks and then broke off into partners and proofread each other's papers using red pens. Finally, students began working on their final copy of the upstander essay which is due Monday. Miss Devine finished meeting with all students to work on writing goals.

Homework: Demonstrative pronoun practice sheet. Work on writing final draft of essay by Monday. There are NO CURRENT EVENTS due tomorrow. Miss D. moved all current events to be due next Friday due to the busy week.

*Miss Devine will be out tomorrow to go to the NCSS Annual Conference in Atlanta.

Revising those essays

Wet Wednesday. Hopefully, the hurricane remnants have passed.

Today, we talked about what it means to revise a piece of writing (add, subtract and rearrange things to make your writing better) and how we would go about revising our first draft of our essays. We broke off into partners in order to peer revise essays. First, Miss Devine modeled how to do this and then students went off to do it with their partners. Miss D. continued to meet with students to set writing goals.

Homework: Students need to utilize advice and changes made to their essays during peer revision to rewrite essays on notebook paper. This will be draft #2.

Essay work, writing conferences

Today, we reviewed positive, comparative and superlative adjectives. We discussed what made a good conclusion paragraph and began writing our own conclusion paragraphs for our expository essays. We also took a "pop summary" quiz on the book we're reading. Miss Devine met with individual students to set writing goals for the expository essay. Students' essays will be graded using the previously linked expository essay rubric as well as on their personal writing goals.

Homework: Complete adjective practice worksheet. Students must submit full first draft of essay (intro paragraph, 3 body paragraphs and conclusion paragraph) tomorrow at the start of class.

Essay work!

Today, we worked on positive, comparative and superlative adjectives (good-better-best, safe-safer-safest). Students have a practice sheet to work on for homework. Then, we looked at example introductory paragraphs and rated them as good, better and best and supported our ratings with reasons. Miss Devine talked about what it meant to write a good introductory paragraph and students broke off into partner groups to continue writing 3 body paragraphs and then the introductory paragraph.

Homework: Complete 3 body paragraphs and introductory paragraph of expository essay. Then, complete comparative adjective sheet.

Starting those Expository Essays!

Today, students practiced with proper adjectives. Miss Devine passed back graded research packets and explained that students would be using research to write their expository essay. We discussed what expository essays are and Miss Devine passed out the how-to-write-an-expository-essay packet. Students worked in class with their partner to write the 3 body paragraphs of the expository essay in class.

Homework: Proper adjectives sheet. Finish 3 body paragraphs if you did not already do so in class today.

Current events w/ research!

Thursday, Thursday. Aren't we all so glad for the sunshine?

Today, we did some more practice with adjectives- mild and hot ones. Then, Miss D finished modeling the new RESEARCH current event plan. Then, students grouped themselves with partners and found a Europe article do their own current event research. Students worked on these with a partner in class.

Homework: Finish adjective practice sheet. Finish Europe article current event research if you did not do so in class today.

Pop summary & news reporting

I hope everyone enjoyed a great day off yesterday!

Today, students practiced with adjectives and colored-coded their research notes. Then, they took a pop-summary quiz on the book they're reading. Then, Miss Devine modeled how to do current event reporting using the new RESEARCH NEWS report sheet. We will finish this tomorrow.

Homework: Adjective practice sheet. Read your book!

Pronoun quiz, upstander research

Well....

Today students took a pronoun quiz and then they worked on finishing up their research on their European upstander. Completed research is due on Wednesday. Happy day off tomorrow!

Homework: Complete upstander research.