8y

WELCOME TO 8TH-GRADE ENGLISH

For Monday, June 3

Please bring in and return your library book so the librarians can display the books with the shelf talkers.

For Tuesday, May 28

Your "shelf talker" for your choice book is due.

For Monday, May 20

Your American Dream presentation is due--slides and typed script. NOTE: The two-paragraph reflections (on the back of the sheet) are due on Tuesday.

For Friday, May 17

Please read to p. 72 in Mango Street. Box an important passage.

For Wednesday, May 15

Please write a thank you note to Senator Winfield.

For Friday, May 10

Please read up to p. 48 in House on Mango Street. Box a passage you particularly like, and pay attention to the subjects the author is writing about and the style she uses (verb tenses, metaphors, images, dialogue without quotes, colloquial language).

In class on Friday: please read up to p. 57. Begin writing your own short chapter (vignette), which can be based on a topic from House on Mango Street, a growing up story. Note: Pay close attention to Cisneros's style (see suggestions above) and try to write through a young person's eyes and way of thinking/speaking.

For Monday: Finish your vignette (double-spaced, typed, roughly 250 words). Give the piece an off-beat title. Please print out a copy of your vignette to bring to class.

****NOTE: Make sure you have chosen and gotten in touch with the person you're working with on your American Dream project.

For Thursday, May 9

Please read up to p. 22 in House on Mango Street.

The due date for the American Dream project is May 20th.

The due date for the shelf talker for your choice books is May 23.

For Tuesday, May 7

Please print out your letter to Bryan Stevenson. Please think about the person you would like to work with on your American Dream project.

For Thursday, May 2

Please answer numbers 4, 5, and 6 on the Clean Slate bill information gathering sheet that we started in class.

For Wednesday, May 1

Please write (type) a letter to Bryan Stevenson, describing your thoughts and feelings about reading Just Mercy. Describe what you think is a powerful and important "take-away" from the book that you can back up with specific details from the story. Make the letter honest and real. Aim for two paragraphs, single-spaced typed, 12-point font.

For Monday, April 29

Please read chapter 16 and the epilogue of Just Mercy. Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage in each chapter. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Friday, April 26

Please read chapter 15 of Just Mercy (pp. 199-215). Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Thursday, April 25

Please read chapters 14 of Just Mercy (pp. 199-215). Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Wednesday, April 24

Please read chapters 12 and 13 of Just Mercy (pp. 199-215). Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage in each chapter. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Monday, April 22

Please read chapters 9, 10, and 11 of Just Mercy. Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage in each chapter. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Tuesday, April 16

Please read chapter 7 of Just Mercy. Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Monday, April 15

Please read chapters 5 and 6 of Just Mercy. Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage in each chapter. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Thursday, April 11

Please read chapters 3 and 4 of Just Mercy. Choose, box, and respond briefly to one important passage in each chapter. Please keep track of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Tuesday, April 9

Please read chapter 1 of Just Mercy. Choose, box, and respond briefly to two important passages in the chapter, and write a short chapter summary. Please keep track of all of this in your Just Mercy google doc.

For Monday, April 8

Please reread and answer the reading questions for the Introduction to Just Mercy in your google doc (share with me). Add the following two questions to your reading questions:

**What are the profoundly negative effects of mass incarceration on the world outside of prisons?

**What vital lesson has Stevenson’s work taught him?

Also, make revisions and edits on your poem, and print out a new hard copy.

For Tuesday, March 26

Please finish your book for book group. In a google doc, choose 6 passages, and write two paragraphs (total) from the questions on the sheet (typed, double-spaced, 12-point type).

For Monday, March 4

Please come prepared to meet with your book group. Finish roughly 2/3 of your book, choose 3 passages, and write one paragraph from the questions on the sheet (typed, double-spaced, 12-point type).

For Monday, February 25

Please read 10 pages per day in Night (30 pp.) and 15 pages per day (Anne Frank) in your book group books. Box passages so that you can collect them for your sheet.

For Monday, February 18

Please write a paragraph answering a question about A Raisin in the Sun. Print out a hard copy and bring it to class.

For Friday, February 15

Choose a question to write about (tomorrow in class) for A Raisin in the Sun.

For Wednesday, February 5

Please finish writing your poem after "Knoxville, Tennessee." Single-spaced, 12-point type, left justified.

For Monday, February 4

Please write your essay about an aspect of your identity. Double-spaced, 12-point type. Please give your piece a title.

For Friday, January 11

Find a Langston Hughes poem on the Poetry Foundation website and bring it in.

For Wednesday, January 9

Please print out your self-portrait poem and bring it to class.

For Tuesday, January 8

Please write your self-portrait poem "after" Rita Dove ("Fifth Grade Autobiography") or Kevin Young ("Eddie Priest's Barbershop").

For Wednesday, December 12

Finish revising your essay or memoir piece and print out a hard copy.

For Thursday, November 29

Read to p. 48 in Of Mice and Men. Box a passage.

For Tuesday, November 27

Make sure you share your memoir piece with me on google drive. Thank you!!

For Friday, November 16

Finish reading chapter one in Of Mice and Men. Give the chapter a title and box an important passage.

For Tuesday, November 13

Your essay on the GC is due. Please bring in a printed copy.

For Thursday, November 8

Finish writing your third body paragraph of your GC essay.

For Wednesday, November 7

Finish writing your second body paragraph of your GC essay.

For Tuesday, November 6

Finish your first body paragraph for GC essay.

For Monday, November 5

Intro to GC persuasive essay. Please share your google doc with me.

Sample of intro: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rF8SV7zRKdMRrj_4tDZPqRiRUr1IcT-Hj6QYO6YclqU/edit?usp=sharing

For Wednesday, October 31

Write your trial thesis statement for the GC essay. Choose three scenes that could work as supporting evidence for your thesis statement. We will work with this in class on Wednesday.

Memorize the last stanza of "The Road Not Taken."

For Tuesday, October 30

Thesis statement for GC.

3rd stanza of "The Road Not Taken."

For Monday, October 29

Your ode is due on Monday: "after" Pablo Neruda, use apostrophe, 30 to 40 lines (3 to 4 sentences), left justified, single-spaced, 12-point type, bold title. At the bottom: After Pablo Neruda

For Tuesday, October 23

Please memorize the second stanza of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

For Friday, October 19

Finish reading The Glass Castle! Memorize the first stanza of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

For Thursday, October 18

Read to p. 273 in The Glass Castle.

For Wednesday, October 17

Read to p. 263 in GC. Find and define two new words.

Here's how psychologist Meg Jay describes a resilient people: "They were active problem solvers, who, over a period of decades, fought for better lives for themselves. Though they weren't necessarily gifted, they used whatever strengths they had to their advantage--a particular talent, an engaging personality, a ready intelligence. They sought out friends, teachers, neighbors, or relatives who cared. They made plans to better themselves and set ambitious but realistic goals for the future. In early adulthood, they seized opportunities to move forward in life, by way of higher education, the military, a new job, a supportive partner or parenthood."

In a fully developed paragraph, describe some of the ways that Jeannette Walls showed resilience in her life.

For Monday, October 15

Your memoir piece is due on Monday. Please bring in a hard copy of the piece, typed, double-spaced. Don't forget to include, if possible, a moment of transcendence (a shift, a moment of growth or learning for a character).

Finish the "Welch" section in GC. Find and define two new words. Begin to think about the following reflection on the family's life in Welch.

Due Wednesday:

Here's how psychologist Meg Jay describes a resilient people: "They were active problem solvers, who, over a period of decades, fought for better lives for themselves. Though they weren't necessarily gifted, they used whatever strengths they had to their advantage--a particular talent, an engaging personality, a ready intelligence. They sought out friends, teachers, neighbors, or relatives who cared. They made plans to better themselves and set ambitious but realistic goals for the future. In early adulthood, they seized opportunities to move forward in life, by way of higher education, the military, a new job, a supportive partner or parenthood."

In a fully developed paragraph, describe some of the ways that Jeannette Walls showed resilience in her life.

For Monday, October 15

Finish the "Welch" section in GC. Write a reflection on the family's life in Welch. It would be helpful to respond to a particular passage. Find two words.

Your memoir piece is due on Monday.

For Friday, October 12

Read GC to p. 213. Find two new words and box an important passage.

Your memoir piece is due on Monday, October 15.

For Thursday, October 11

Read GC to p. 198. Find two new words and box an important passage.

Study for the vocab quiz.

For Wednesday, October 10

Read GC to p. 188. Find two new words and box an important passage.

Study for the vocab quiz (Thursday).

For Friday, October 5

Read GC to p. 148. Find and define two new words (in your google doc).

For Wednesday, October 3

Read GC to p. 125. Please answer the following question in a well-developed paragraph (double-spaced, typed, 12-point), and print out a hard copy to bring to class.

Which part of the story in The Glass Castle (so far) is most powerful, urgent, or relevant for you?

For Tuesday, October 2

Read GC to p. 115. Choose two new words to look up and define. Also, choose a scene/image in "The Desert" section that you would like to illustrate.

For Monday, October 1

Read GC to p. 105. Choose two new words to look up and define. Also, choose a scene/image in "The Desert" section that you would like to illustrate.

For Friday, September 28

Read GC to p. 72. Choose two new words to look up and define.

For Thursday, September 27

Read GC to p. 61. In a google doc, please write a one-paragraph journal entry with your thoughts about a specific character or scene. Also, choose two new words to look up and define.

For Tuesday, September 25

Read GC to p. 41. In a google doc, please write a one-paragraph journal entry with your thoughts about a specific character or scene. Also, choose two new words to look up and define.

For Monday, September 24

Read GC to p. 31. In a google doc, please write a one-paragraph journal entry with your thoughts about a specific character or scene. Also, choose two new words to look up and define.

For Tuesday, September 18

Please write your piece about your name "after" Sandra Cisneros's piece, "My Name." Remember to give it an original title.

For September 14

Please memorize the rest of the "Nothing Gold Can Stay." Also, write your summer reading paragraph (typed, double-spaced, 12-point type).

NOTE: Your autobiographical piece about your name (after Sandra Cisneros) is due on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

For September 13

Please memorize the first four lines of "Nothing Gold Can Stay."

For Thursday, May 31

Please write your character paragraph.

For Wednesday, May 30

Please finish chapter 12 in Lord of the Flies and make sure your character document is up to date.

For Tuesday, May 29

Please read chapters 9 through 11 in Lord of the Flies, and answer the questions on your character document for chapters 7 and 8.

Ch. 7: List three important events in this chapter.

Ch. 8: a) What is the catalyst for most o the action in this chapter? Describe how events "play out." b) how would you explain the scene between Simon and the Lord of the Flies.

Also, print out your American Dream project (script, slides, and reflections).

For Monday, May 21

Please read chapters 7 and 8 in LOF and continue your character document with your partner.

NOTE: Your American Dream project is due on Monday.

For Thursday, May 17

Please read chapter six in LOF and continue your character document with your partner.

For Wednesday, May 16

Please finish chapter five (to p. 128) in LOF. Continue your character document with your partner.

For Monday, May 14

Please read chapter four of LOF. Continue your character document with your partner.

Ask your American Dream "subject" to write his/her letter, take a photograph, and begin working on your introduction.

For Tuesday, May 8

Please read pp. 37 to 47 in LOF. Continue your character document with your desk partner.

For Monday, May 7

Please finish reading ch. 1 in Lord of the Flies (to p. 36), and start your character document with your desk partner. (Take some notes on your character after reading chapter 1, if your character has already been introduced.)

NOTE: Make sure you schedule your American Dream "interview" for the week of May 7.

For Wednesday, May 2

Please write the third paragraph in your American Dream reflections. Use two of the sources we looked at to inform your ideas/opinion.

For Tuesday, May 1

Please read The Guardian piece, "Why the UN Is Investigating Extreme Poverty in America." Add two or three ideas/points to your American Dreams Reflections document for later use in paragraph 3. Also, print out your homework document for Of Mice and Men.

For Monday, April 30

Please revise your poem/essay and bring in a hard copy of the new piece.

For Monday, March 26

Please share your presentation with me and be ready to present it. Also, finish your book group book and write your three paragraphs as a response.

For Thursday, March 8

Please finish the slides for your presentation and share it with me.

For Wednesday, March 7

Write one paragraph for your book group tomorrow.

For Tuesday, March 6

Please write your script for your presentation, and have your script, notes, and article(s) ready to hand in.

For Thursday, March 1

Please continue to take notes on your Holocaust topic. You will start writing your presentation on Friday in class.

For Weds., March 7

Please read the first 80 pages (10 pp./day) of your book group book. Write one paragraph based on the questions for Wednesday.

For Wednesday, Feb. 21

Please rewrite your topic sentence for your optional Raisin in the Sun paragraph. Make sure you use title, author, genre in your sentence. The title of the play should be in italics.

Also, finish writing your thank you note to Mr. Ullman.

For Friday, Feb. 16

Please answer two questions about A Raisin in the Sun in full paragraphs. (Question 12 is required.)

For Tuesday, February 6

Your story about your identity is due. Please email me with any questions you have.

For Thursday, February 1

Please write a thank you note to Ms. Koshetz for her talk about the Peter Liang/Akai Gurley case.

For Thursday, January 18

Please complete your chapter 3 summary of the MLK bio, and read it aloud to check for important changes. Make sure your topic sentence includes: the title and author of the book, the title of chapter 3 ("Mobilizing Montgomery"), the main topics/themes covered in the chapter, and key details. Your summary should be at least 8 sentences. PLEASE BRING A HARD COPY OF THIS SUMMARY TO CLASS.

At the bottom of your summary answer this question:

• Describe how writing a summary of this chapter affected your understanding of it?

For Monday, January 8

Please write your self-portrait poem (based on Rita Dove or Kevin Young).

For Weds., Jan 3

Finish writing the summary for chapter 3 of the MLK biography.

For Weds., Dec. 13

Please memorize the first stanza of "Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost.

For Tuesday, Dec. 12

Please finish writing your summary of chapter 1, "Being Black in Dixie" from Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Photographic Story of a Life.

For Weds., Dec. 6

Please finish your thank you note to Mrs. Goldblum

For Tuesday, Dec. 5

Please memorize "Harlem," by Langston Hughes.

For Monday, Nov. 27

Your letter recommending the Glass Castle is due.

For Thursday, Nov. 16

Please read to page 276 in the Glass Castle.

Also, finish writing your thank you note to Mr. Halpern.

NOTE: If you are applying to a secondary school and need a letter of recommendation, please remember that we use a Foote form for the English recommendation. Please bring me a stamped, addressed envelope (to each school). The return address should be Foote School's address. Please plan to bring in your envelopes before Thanksgiving vacation. Thank you!

For Wednesday, Nov. 15

Please read to page 265 in the Glass Castle.

For Tuesday, Nov. 14

If you have conferenced with me about your story/vignette, please make sure you print out a copy of the revision to hand in to me. Thanks!

For Monday, Nov. 13

Please finish the Welch section in the Glass Castle. Complete reading response #7.

Also, go to Jake Halpern's website and finish the comic strip about the Syrian families. Come up with one question for Mr. Halpern.

For Wednesday, Nov. 8

Please read Glass Castle, pp. 214-225. RR#7 is due on Monday, Nov. 13.

For Tuesday, Nov. 7

Please read The Glass Castle, pp. 203-213. Finish Reading Response #6: The mood in Welch is darker than it was in the desert. Describe the family's experiences in West Virginia that contribute to this change. (Focus on two to three.)

Reading Schedule (through Nov. 6)

Tues/Oct. 31: pp. 129-139

Weds/Nov. 1: pp. 140-154

Thurs/Nov. 2: pp. 155-167

Fri/Nov. 3: pp. 168-179

Sat/Nov. 4: pp. 180-192

Sun/Nov. 5: pp. 193-202

Also, make sure you choose and define six expensive words for this section.

NOTE: Please print out your reading responses and expensive words for the first two parts of the book.

For Tuesday, Oct. 31

Finish "The Desert" section (through p. 125). Memorize "Dreams" by Langston Hughes. Reading quiz on Parts I and II ("A Woman on the Street" and "The Desert").

Reading Schedule (through Oct. 31)

Thurs/Oct 26: pp. 73-84

Fri/Oct 27: 85-95

Sat/Oct 28: 95-105

Sun/Oct 29: 106-115

Mon/Oct 30: 116-125

Tues/Oct 31: Reading quiz on Parts I and II ("A Woman on the Street" and "The Desert")

**NOTE: Don't forget to find an expensive word for each day of reading!

For Thursday, October 27

Please read up to p. 72 in GC. Choose and define one expensive word from the story (cite the page number).

For Monday, October 23

Please read up to p. 47 in GC. Choose and define two "expensive" words from the story (cite the page numbers). Please work on reading response #3 for this section.

For Friday, October 20

Please read up to p. 14 in The Glass Castle, and do your reading response for the second chapter.

For Friday, October 13

Please put the finishing touches on your character list and list of events.

Reading Reflection/Please answer the following questions in one paragraph typed (double-spaced). What insights did you gain from reading The House on Mango Street? (You can check the class Essential Questions for ideas.) What questions does the story leave you with?

For Thursday, October 12

Please finish filling in your chart on the most valuable idea in The House on Mango Street.

For Tuesday, October 10

Please finish reading The House on Mango Street along with your character list and your list of events.

Reading Response to Mango Street

Write a one- to two-paragraph, typed (double-spaced) response to the book. Carefully consider and answer the following question:

What did Esperanza understand or come to believe about the world on Mango Street? Use at least two specific chapters, characters, or events to develop your idea.

For Thursday, October 5

Please read pp. 79 to 87 in The House on Mango Street. Please add names to your character sheet--it will help you on your quiz!

IMPORTANT: Your second vignette is due on Thursday. Please bring a hard copy to class.

For Tuesday, October 3

Please read to p. 71 in The House on Mango Street. Add names to your character list. There will be a reading quiz.

Please finish your drawing of what home is for you.

For Monday, October 2

Please read to p. 64 in The House on Mango Street. Add names to your character list. For Wednesday (October 4): please write your second vignette. 350 to 500 words, typed, double-spaced.

For Wednesday, September 27

Please read to p. 38 in The House on Mango Street. (Be prepared for a reading quiz.) Add names to your character list. Also, memorize the first stanza of "I'm Nobody" by Emily Dickinson.

For Monday, September 25

Review the reading we did in class (up to p. 20) in The House on Mango Street for a quizlet.

For Monday, September 18

Please write your vignette about your name, based on "My Name" by Sandra Cisneros.

For Thursday, September 14

Please finish your summer reading questions, and skim through the book to remind yourself about the details.

For Wednesday, September 13

Please draw three boxes of your "Illustrated Self-Portrait," and write your "Letter to Me."