Social Studies:
When we return from Thanksgiving, we'll finish section 3 of chapter 22 by Wednesday, so I anticipate having the official Chapter 22 TEST (Vocabulary and Focus Questions) by Thursday December 1st after Thanksgiving.
Summary: We've been working on Chapter 22: AMERICA AS A WORLD POWER
We wrapped up reading section 1 and 2 of chapter 22. Learning about America as an imperialistic nation expanding our powers to Asia Pacific. We are now up to page 701 in the text. We're learning about how Imperialistic America spread its influence overseas. Did you know America actually sent marines to the Forbidden City, attacked Spain in Cuba after the USS Maine exploded and we forced Hawaii to sign a constitution at 'gunpoint?' Thats Imperialism. When we return from vacation we will learn about the Panama Canal and Latin America.
On Tuesday November 22 most classes began a PBS video about the Panama Canal!
By the way Chapter 22 TEST on the map we are using was administered on Monday 11/21.
Students wishing to have HONORS classes in High School do need to create a portfolio with Mrs. Roller. IF you think you are interested in HONORS SOCIAL STUDIES in High School, please let me know, but also let Mrs Roller know as well.
Honors Challenge: Write a five paragraph essay that compares and contrasts imperialism and isolationism with regard to American policies.
(For example, America had both imperialistic and isolationist tendencies in her long history. George Washington encouraged America to follow a basic isolationist policy, especially with regard to Europe. What might have been considered good/bad about that? Then during the Spanish American War we tended more towards the imperialistic role. How did America benefit from that? What might be some downsides to such land grabs etc. Cite specific examples and cite your sources. I advise using the BRITANNICA ENCYCLOPEDIA found in your laptop dock (or hard-drive) as Ultimate Reference Suite. It helps you with writing your sources.
English:
Museum of I is basically finished. Any student who did not turn in the assignment must get it to me. Anyone not pleased with their results may improve their project, but please do so soon.
On Tuesday 11/15 we got our Museum of I scores, filled out a student questionnaire, and did a spelling bee to help determine who will represent Team Sugarloaf in the school-wide spelling bee. All classes have not yet graded the Spelling Bee, so we do not yet have two winners to announce.
For the remainder of the week we will be figuring out how to decide when to make a new paragraph. I will use a story I wrote called FEAR to aid discussions in paragraphing as well as identifying parts of a story. (Title, Setting, Character, Protagonist, Antagonist, Conflict, Main Event, Resolution, Theme etc)
On Thursday we read "Fear" and we'll discuss the story elements on Friday.
Students hoping to have HONORS ENGLISH in High School should let me know as well as informing Mrs Roller soon. Please keep a digital copy of your finest work to help you with your portfolio.
The purpose of the Museum of I project is to create a poem that effectively communicates the essence of a student's personality, ideas and life experiences. As a poem, it will be concise but packed with images and ideas.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Social Studies Test Monday October 17. English HW Due Friday 10/14
Social Studies: Homework. There will be a test on Monday October 17 on the material we covered in Chapter 20 about Immigration and Urbanization. Students should review the vocabulary terms in order to be able to match the vocabulary word to its meaning. Students should also feel that they can provide detailed answers (with facts) for any of the chapter 20 focus questions. Extra copies of the handouts can be found on the right hand side of this blog. Chapter 20 information will start with a #20 in the name.
In related news. Mrs Potvin will sign students up for the Washington DC trip until October 31st. If you want to go on the trip scheduled for May 5 to May 7, please see her before October 31st for information and fund raiser help!
English Homework for Thursday(Oct 13) night. Students were given a handout asking them to jot down descriptive words/phrases they plan to use in a passage describing a beautiful place. These brainstormed words and phrases should include many senses like the sense of sight, sound, smell and possibly even touch. Starting on Friday (Oct 14) students will be organizing their ideas and planning an outline for a passage that will accurately describe their beautiful place. See attached handout called Beauty Description in the English Handouts section to the right.
Technology News: Mr. Jackson informed everyone that there will be a laptop take-home meeting on Wednesday October 19 in the PAC at either 7:30 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. (Whichever meeting you can make.) He anticipates a 45 minute meeting each time.
In related news. Mrs Potvin will sign students up for the Washington DC trip until October 31st. If you want to go on the trip scheduled for May 5 to May 7, please see her before October 31st for information and fund raiser help!
English Homework for Thursday(Oct 13) night. Students were given a handout asking them to jot down descriptive words/phrases they plan to use in a passage describing a beautiful place. These brainstormed words and phrases should include many senses like the sense of sight, sound, smell and possibly even touch. Starting on Friday (Oct 14) students will be organizing their ideas and planning an outline for a passage that will accurately describe their beautiful place. See attached handout called Beauty Description in the English Handouts section to the right.
Technology News: Mr. Jackson informed everyone that there will be a laptop take-home meeting on Wednesday October 19 in the PAC at either 7:30 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. (Whichever meeting you can make.) He anticipates a 45 minute meeting each time.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
NECAP WEEK AND IMPORTANT DATES
We are Done with NECAP EXAM week. I appreciate all the hard work and extra time students put into their testing:
Mr Jackson gave us a heads-up about laptop take-home policy. He said:
Our first "take-home" meeting will be on OCTOBER 19. There will be two sessions offered. One at 7:30 a.m. and one at 5:30 p.m. Forms will be distributed the day after and with any luck, laptops may begin going home by the last week in October to those students who fulfilled the requirements.
The Washington DC trip has a deadline for signing up with Mrs. Potvin. You should see Mrs. Potvin before October 31st to sign up. The trip itself is from May 5 through May 7. (Saturday through Monday) It is a great trip and the expense can be discussed in detail with Mrs. Potvin. Fundraisers are available, so get in early!
Social Studies: Homework is to review notes. The first test will be on Monday October 17. We have wrapped up sections 1 and 2 of chapter 20: Immigration and Urbanization. Once we are done with section 3 by FRIDAY 10/14 students will be tested on the material for the chapter. Students have vocabulary lists to study as well as a list of the questions that will appear on the test. (see SS handouts in the right hand margin of this blog for extras) Students should make sure that they are comfortable answering those questions with attention to specific details.
English: NO HW: I was pleased to see the third draft of the students' essay on something they care about. The first draft was handwritten and in most cases, more closely resembled a paragraph. In their defense, I asked them to write about something they cared about deeply, but did not instruct them as to what form their writing should take. Then we discussed how an essay is a perfect format for developing their ideas on this topic. We figured out what constituted a good essay and tried the same writing prompt again. The second time I gave detailed feedback about their progress. Then the students reviewed my feedback and adjusted their essay accordingly. I am impressed with the improvements over their first attempt to write about the topic. Good Job!
We just completed the Writing NECAP test this Wednesday. Thursday and Friday will be devoted to organizing passages for creative writing in class. At this point, there is no HW.
Mr Jackson gave us a heads-up about laptop take-home policy. He said:
Our first "take-home" meeting will be on OCTOBER 19. There will be two sessions offered. One at 7:30 a.m. and one at 5:30 p.m. Forms will be distributed the day after and with any luck, laptops may begin going home by the last week in October to those students who fulfilled the requirements.
The Washington DC trip has a deadline for signing up with Mrs. Potvin. You should see Mrs. Potvin before October 31st to sign up. The trip itself is from May 5 through May 7. (Saturday through Monday) It is a great trip and the expense can be discussed in detail with Mrs. Potvin. Fundraisers are available, so get in early!
Social Studies: Homework is to review notes. The first test will be on Monday October 17. We have wrapped up sections 1 and 2 of chapter 20: Immigration and Urbanization. Once we are done with section 3 by FRIDAY 10/14 students will be tested on the material for the chapter. Students have vocabulary lists to study as well as a list of the questions that will appear on the test. (see SS handouts in the right hand margin of this blog for extras) Students should make sure that they are comfortable answering those questions with attention to specific details.
English: NO HW: I was pleased to see the third draft of the students' essay on something they care about. The first draft was handwritten and in most cases, more closely resembled a paragraph. In their defense, I asked them to write about something they cared about deeply, but did not instruct them as to what form their writing should take. Then we discussed how an essay is a perfect format for developing their ideas on this topic. We figured out what constituted a good essay and tried the same writing prompt again. The second time I gave detailed feedback about their progress. Then the students reviewed my feedback and adjusted their essay accordingly. I am impressed with the improvements over their first attempt to write about the topic. Good Job!
We just completed the Writing NECAP test this Wednesday. Thursday and Friday will be devoted to organizing passages for creative writing in class. At this point, there is no HW.
Monday, October 3, 2011
NECAP TESTING THIS WEEK!
NECAP TESTING THIS WEEK
Please get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast and bring a book to read in case you are done.
Please get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast and bring a book to read in case you are done.
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