Word on the Street

On-Level Classes - We did Caught’ya Sentence #15 and turned #11-15 in for grading.  We went over the grammar homework.  I introduced the first major writing assignment of the year “The Moldy Bread Essay.” Students were given a letter to their parents that needs to be signed and returned. Students were also given a log sheet on which to record their observations. Homework is to have parent letter signed and returned.  Tomorrow we will begin our next unit “Sneaky Tricks and Whopping Lies.”

Moldy Bread – Parent Letter

Moldy Bread – Observation Log

Advanced Classes - We discussed Tales of the Strange & Mysterious Test II.  I introduced the first major writing assignment of the year “The Moldy Bread Essay.” Students were given a letter to their parents that needs to be signed and returned. Students were also given a log sheet on which to record their observations. Homework is to have parent letter signed and returned.  Tomorrow we will read “The Inn of Lost Time.”  Students will create a graphic organizer of the unique structure of this story.

Moldy Bread – Parent Letter

Moldy Bread – Observation Log

On-Level Classes - “There Will Come Soft Rains” and Grammar test.  After the test, students worked on a pre-reading graphic organizer for our next story and a two-sided grammar worksheet covering direct and indirect objects.  What was not finished for class should be completed for homework. 4th period’s invention and ad are due tomorrow.

Advanced Classes - Grammar test.  After the test, students worked on a “Words to Own” worksheet and a two-sided grammar worksheet covering direct and indirect objects.

1st Period On-Level- Did not meet due to ITBS schedule.

3rd Period Advanced- Class met briefly and students were given handwritten notes on the three types of subordinate clauses.  Students turned in “There Will Come Soft Rains” comic strips and rubrics. To review for the test tomorrow, the following exercises in the Holt Handbook will be very helpful. Subordinate Clause Notes

• Clauses – p. 122 Oral Practice
• Sentence Types – p. 151 A #1-30.  If the sentence was complex or compound-complex, student also had to identify the subordinate/dependent clause.
• Functions of subordinate clauses – p. 135 B #11-30, p. 136 C #31-40
• Complements – p. 79
• Direct and Indirect Objects – p. 91 A #1-10

4th Period On-Level - We reviewed the grammar for the test tomorrow.  Invention and Ad are due on Wednesday.  Please bring a highlighter for the test tomorrow.  To review for the test tomorrow, please go over these exercises again in the Holt Handbook.

• Clauses – p. 122 Oral Practice
• Sentence Types – p. 151 A #1-30.  If the sentence was complex or compound-complex, student also had to identify the subordinate/dependent clause.
• Complements – p. 79
• Direct and Indirect Objects – p. 91 A #1-10

7th Period Advanced - Students reviewed the three types of subordinate clauses using handwritten notes that were given to them.  Students turned in “There Will Come Soft Rains” comic strips and rubrics. To review for the test tomorrow, the following exercises in the Holt Handbook will be very helpful. We began reviewing these exercises in class.  Subordinate Clause Notes

• Clauses – p. 122 Oral Practice
• Sentence Types – p. 151 A #1-30.  If the sentence was complex or compound-complex, student also had to identify the subordinate/dependent clause.
• Functions of subordinate clauses – p. 135 B #11-30, p. 136 C #31-40
• Complements – p. 79
• Direct and Indirect Objects – p. 91 A #1-10

8th Period On-Level - We reviewed the grammar for the test tomorrow.  Invention and Ad were collected.  Please bring a highlighter for the test tomorrow.  To review for the test tomorrow, please go over these exercises again in the Holt Handbook.

• Clauses – p. 122 Oral Practice
• Sentence Types – p. 151 A #1-30.  If the sentence was complex or compound-complex, student also had to identify the subordinate/dependent clause.
• Complements – p. 79
• Direct and Indirect Objects – p. 91 A #1-10

8th Period On-Level and 7th Period Advanced- Did not meet due to the ITBS schedule

1st Period On-Level - Reviewed Grammar for the test on Tuesday.  In Holt Handbook:

• Clauses – p. 122 Oral Practice
• Sentence Types – p. 151 A #1-30.  If the sentence was complex or compound-complex, student also had to identify the subordinate/dependent clause.
• Complements – p. 79
• Direct and Indirect Objects – p. 91 A #1-10

4th Period On-Level - We discussed the format of the test on Tuesday.  We introduced the invention and ad assignment.  4th period’s will be due on Wednesday.  The due dates vary due to the ITBS schedule this week and Monday.

3rd Period Advanced - We discussed the format of the grammar test on Tuesday and reviewed the grammar.

• Clauses – p. 122 Oral Practice
• Sentence Types – p. 151 A #1-30.  If the sentence was complex or compound-complex, student also had to identify the subordinate/dependent clause.
• Functions of subordinate clauses – p. 135 B #11-30, p. 136 C #31-40
• Complements – p. 79
• Direct and Indirect Objects – p. 91 A #1-10

7th Period Advanced- We discussed the format of the questions for the grammar test next Tuesday.  We hope to review in class Monday.

8th Period and 1st Period On-Level- We introduced the invention and ad assignment.  8th period’s will be due on Monday, and 1st period’s will be due on Tuesday.  The due dates vary due to the ITBS schedule this week and Monday.

3rd Period Advanced- Students were given paper and the grading rubric for the plot comic strip of “There Will Come Soft Rains.”  These will be collected from this class on Monday, September 28.  Tomorrow we will discuss the format of the questions for the grammar test on Tuesday.  Students should bring their Holt handbooks and colored pencils to class tomorrow so they are prepared for anything!

4th Period On-Level - Did not meet due to ITBS.

We are all practicing being flexible this week. Between the ITBS schedule, late buses, and the unscheduled day off, I am keeping sticky notes EVERYWHERE so I can remember what I’ve done with each class!  We are really having to “go with the flow” this week.

3rd Period Advanced did not meet today.

4th Period On-Level did not meet today.

7th Period Advanced - Students were given paper and the grading rubric for the plot comic strip of “There Will Come Soft Rains.”  These will be collected from this class on Monday, September 28.  We will work on these again tomorrow in class (well, that is the plan anyway) and review functions of subordinate clauses.  Students should bring their Holt handbooks and colored pencils to class tomorrow so they are prepared for anything!

1st Period On-Level - The worksheet and questions assigned on Friday were collected.  We discussed “There Will Come Soft Rains” and the grammar link “Do vs. Don’t.”  Students were asked to bring their colored pencils to class on Thursday for a classwork/homework assignment we will begin in class.

8th Period On-Level - The worksheet and questions assigned on Friday were collected.  We went over the material to be covered on Tuesday’s test.  We discussed “There Will Come Soft Rains” and the grammar link “Do vs. Don’t.”  Students were asked to bring their colored pencils to class on Thursday for a classwork/homework assignment we will begin in class.

I hope you and all of your loved ones are safe and dry today.  Obviously I will need to adjust due dates for a few assignments due to the unexpected day off today, but you should remember that anything that was due today will be due tomorrow.  Likewise anything that was due tomorrow will STILL be due tomorrow.

As far as the ITBS week schedule goes, we have not yet been told if we will continue with the schedule as it is each day and “make-up” today later or if we will use Tuesday’s schedule on Wednesday.  I will let you know as soon as I do.

If  you are out and about in this, BE CAREFUL!

On-Level 1st Period - Because of testing, we only had four minutes for class.  We reviewed the list of material that will be covered on next Tuesday’s test. I reminded students that the work assigned Friday will be collected on Wednesday.   I also asked students to bring colored pencils to class on Wednesday.  Because of the ITBS schedule, this class will not meet tomorrow.

On-Level 4th Period – We reviewed the list of material that will be covered on next Tuesday’s test, discussed the short story “There Will Come Soft Rains,” and do vs. don’t.  Students should bring colored pencils to class Tuesday. Students were reminded that work assigned on Friday will be due on Tuesday, September 22.

On-Level 8th Period – Because of the ITBS schedule, 8th period did not meet today. 8th period will complete today’s lesson on Tuesday. Work assigned Friday will be due on Tuesday, September 22.

Advanced Classes - We reviewed the list of material that will be covered on next Tuesday’s test, discussed the short story “There Will Come Soft Rains,” and began creating a jot list of the most significant events in the plot of the story.  Students will then narrow the list to the eight most  significant events needed to summarize the story.

• Homework – finish jot list, narrow to eight events, and create a rough draft (in comic strip form) illustrating the events in the order in which they appear in the story.
• Tuesday in class – bring colored pencils and work on the final draft of the comic strip.  This will be due in class on Thursday, September 24. Paper will be supplied.

As a member of the metro Atlanta soccer community (both of my sons have played, and I have been the head girls coach at Milton for the last five years) and because it involves a horrible situation for an 8th grader and his family, I wanted to make this information available to as many people who might want to help as possible.  This is why I have included it on my blog.

Many of us have heard this week about the 8th grade player at Ambush who suffered a stroke earlier this week while running cross country. He has already endured two surgeries and remains in a medically induced coma in the ICU at Scottish Rite. He and his family still have a very long and rough road ahead of them. When things like this happen, especially to someone so young, it certainly makes you stop and count your blessings. The Ambush organization has set up an account at Wachovia for donations to help the family at this difficult time. I wanted to give you this information in case you are interested in making a donation. Even a small donation will be a huge help in this situation. Donations can be made at any Wachovia Bank to account #2000049898569 – Alberto Diaz Assistance Fund.

Thank you.

On-Level Classes – Students finished reading and discussing the Ray Bradbury short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” p. 214.  Then students worked on written work which will be collected next week.  1st period – will be collected on Wednesday, September 23, and 4th and 8th will be collected on Tuesday, September 22.

• Graphic Organizer for Active Reading (worksheet)
• On p. 223, answer the following questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES!
• Reading Check Questions
• #1 – complete all three statements
• #2-4, 6, 8

Advanced Classes – Students watched the 1971 video version of  “The Tell-Tale Heart.”  Then the next reading selection, Ray Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains” (p. 214) was introduced.  Students began reading this short story in class and should finish for homework.