Daily Blog

thursday, June 5, 2025

Today:

1. Classmate trivia
2. Yearbooks

Today in History:

Elvis Presley introduced his new single, "Hound Dog," on The Milton Berle Show in 1956, scandalizing the audience with his suggestive hip movements.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Today:

1. Year Reflection
2. Self Check-in
3. Bathroom Ticket Raffle
4. Visual Puns
5. Yearbooks

Reminders:

Thursday: Last Day of School, early dismissal at 1:15

Today in History:

Congress passed the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote in 1919 (106 years ago).

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Hunter Gaw's birthday is today! Wish her a happy birthday!

Today:

1. Rome Assessment
2. Notebooks and Into Lit. Books

Reminders:

Wednesday: Carnival
Thursday: Last Day of School, early dismissal at 1:15

Today in History:

Rock 'n' Roll was banned at all public gatherings in Santa Cruz, California, in 1956. Officials called the music "detrimental to both the health and morals of our youth and community."

Monday, June 2, 2025

Today:

1. Rome's Legacy
2. Mad Libs

Reminders:

Tuesday: Rome Assessment- Have your notes
- 8th Grade Send-Off Celebration
Wednesday: Carnival
Thursday: Last Day of School, early dismissal at 1:15

Today in History:

President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act into law in 1924 (101 years ago), granting citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territory of the United States.

Friday, May 30, 2025

Today:

1. Origins of Christianity
2. My Life in 30 Words

Next Week:

Tuesday: Rome Assessment- Have your notes
- 8th Grade Send-Off Celebration
Wednesday: Carnival
Thursday: Last Day of School, early dismissal

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30, 11:59 pm

Today in History:

19-year-old Joan of Arc was burned at the stake by an English tribunal in 1431 (594 years ago). At 17, she helped the French army against the English and helped ensure Charles became crowned king. She was captured and put on trial for heresy (which included wearing men's clothes) and having demonic visions.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Today:

1. Roman Engineering
2. My Life in 30 Words

Homework:

Final Book Response (#7) is due TOMORROW

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first known explorers to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1953 (72 years ago). Mt. Everest is the highest point on Earth at 29,035 ft. above sea level.

wednesday, May 28, 2025

Today:

1. Rome: From Republic to Empire
2. Self Check-in
3. My Life in 30 Words

Homework:

Final Book Response (#7) is due Friday

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law in 1830 (195 years ago). As a result, approximately 60,000 native Americans were forced off of their lands to Oklahoma. More than 4,000 died along the way.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Milo Shlaer's birthday was yesterday! Wish him a happy birthday!

Today:

1. Book Response #7
2. Rome Expands
3. My Life in 30 Words
4. Book Response #7

Homework:

Final Book Response (#7) is due Friday

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

A ship carrying a thousand Jewish refugees, fleeing Nazi Germany, was turned away in Cuba in 1939 (86 years ago). The ship was subsequently turned away from the US and Canada.

friday, May 23, 2025

Today:

1. Advisory
2. Rally
3. Recreational Run
4. Competitive Run
5. Advisory

Reminders:

Memorial Day is Monday, May 26- No School
Final Book Response (#7) is due next Friday

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

The first major wagon train to the northwest departed Missouri on the "Oregon Trail" in 1843 (182 years ago).

thursday, May 22, 2025

Today:

1. Revision- Biography Essays- Due today
2. Hannibal & the Punic Wars

Reminders:

Tough Two May 23
Memorial Day is Monday, May 26- No School
Final Book Response (#7) is due next Friday

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Namco released the arcade game Pac-Man in 1980 (45 years ago).

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Today:

1. Library
2. Self Check-in
3. Revision- Biography Essays- Due tomorrow

Homework/Reminders:

Read 30+. Reading log due THURSDAY
Tough Two May 23
Memorial Day is Monday, May 26- No School

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Amelia Earhart became the first woman to complete a solo nonstop transatlantic flight in 1932 (93 years ago).

tuesday, May 20, 2025

Today:

1. FastBridge Reading Assessment
2. Roman Army & Armor

Homework/Reminders:

Read 30+. Reading log due THURSDAY
Library Wednesday
Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21
Tough Two May 23

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

San Francisco businessman Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis were given a patent to create work pants reinforced with metal rivets in 1873 (152 years ago)

Monday, May 19, 2025

Today:

1. Men and Women in Rome
2. Conclusions
  - Biography Essays

Homework/Reminders:

Read 30+. Reading log due THURSDAY
End of Year Fastbridge (Reading) assessment tomorrow
Library Wednesday
Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21
Tough Two May 23

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

The Sierra Gorda biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, was established in 1997 (28 years ago) as a result of grassroots efforts.

friday, May 16, 2025

Kailee Cisneros's birthday is today! Wish her a happy birthday!

Today:

1. The Roman Forum
2. Works Cited
  - Biography Essays

Next Week:

Reading log
End of Year Fastbridge (Reading) assessment
Library
Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21
Tough Two May 23

Final Deadline

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

The first Academy Awards were awarded in 1929 (96 years ago).

thursday, May 15, 2025

Today:

1. The Roman Republic
2. Self Check-in
3. Appositives
  - Biography Essays

Homework:

Read 30+. Log is due tomorrow.

Final Deadlines

Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Walt Disney premiered the character Mickey Mouse in Plane Crazy in 1928 (97 years ago)

tuesday, May 13, 2025

Today:

1. Rome Vocabulary
2. Biography Projects- Introductions

Homework:

Read 30+. Log is due Friday.

Final Deadlines

Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

The US Congress voted to declare war on Mexico in 1846 (179 years ago). The war was over the disputed border of Texas and Mexico. It ended about two years later with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Today:

1. Founding of Rome
2. Biography Projects- Drafting

Homework:

Read 30+. Log is due Friday.

Final Deadlines

Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 (205 years ago). She is considered the founder of modern nursing. She left her wealthy and privileged family to help nurse soldiers during the Crimean War and significantly improved hygiene and living conditions for wounded soldiers.

thursday, May 8, 2025

Olivia Roger's birthday is today! Wish her a happy birthday!

Today:

1. China Test
2. Self Check-in (Core 1)
3. Biography Projects

Homework:

Read 30+. Log is due tomorrow.

Final Deadlines

Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Pharmacist John Pemberton first sold a carbonated beverage named "Coca-Cola" as a patent medicine in 1886 (139 years ago).

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Today:

1. Biography Research Project
2. Self Check-in
3. China Review

Homework:

Read 30+. Log due Friday
China Test is on Thursday. Study guide due Thursday.

Final Deadlines

Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 debuted in 1824 (201 years ago).

tuesday, May 6, 2025

Today:

1. After the Hurricane- Figurative Language
2. Biography Research Project

Homework:

Read 30+. Log due Friday
China Test is on Thursday. Study guide due Thursday.

Final Deadlines

Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

The English Channel Tunnel (the Chunnel) opened in 1994 (31 years ago). The Chunnel is a rail tunnel under the English Channel. It cut travel time between England and France to 35 minutes.

friday, May 2, 2025

Today:

1. Hearst Castle-Engineering
2. Biography Research Project

Next Week:

Reading Log
China Test
Math SBAC

Final Deadlines

Final Day to Log Books for Million Words Read: May 21

Final Deadline for all Semester 2 work: May 30 (Also the due date for Book Response #7)

Today in History:

Nelson Mandela claimed victory in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994 (31 years ago). South Africa had recently ended its strict system of racial segregation called Apartheid.

thursday, May 1, 2025

Today:

1. Legacy of China
2. Biography Research Project

Homework:

Read 30 mins. Log it. Log due Tomorrow

Today in History:

The Empire State Building opened in New York City in 1931 (94 years ago). It was the world's tallest building until 1971 when the World Trade Center was built.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Today:

1. Biography Research Project
2. Self Check-in
3. The Silk Roads Activity

Homework:

Read 30 mins. Log it. Log due Friday

Today in History:

Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, was taken by North Vietnam, effectively ending the Vietnam War in 1975 (50 years ago). This led to the reunification of Vietnam.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Today:

1. The Silk Roads
2. Biography Research Project

Homework:

Read 30 mins. Log it. Log due Friday

Today in History:

The LA riots began after the acquittal of police officers charged with excessive force in the beating of Rodney King in 1992 (33 years ago). The riots went on for 53 days.

Monday, April 28, 2025

Today:

1. Hearst- Greco-Roman Art
2. Biography Research Project

Homework:

Read 30 mins. Log it. Log due Friday

Today in History:

Three weeks into its journey, the HMS Bounty was taken over by a mutiny led by Fletcher Christian in 1789 (236 years ago). Captain William Bligh and his supporters were set adrift in a small boat. They miraculously survived.

friday, April 25, 2025

Today:

1. The Han Dynasty
2. CRAAP Test Review
3. Biography Research Project

Next Week:

Reading Log
Finish China
Research

Today in History:

New York became the first US state to require license plates in 1901 (124 years ago).

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Today:

1. The Great Wall & the TerraCotta Soldiers
2. Hearst Castle and Greek Mythology

Homework:

Book Response #6- Due tomorrow
Bring your Chromebook and charger every day

Today in History:

Thutmose III ascended to the throne in Egypt, although power effectively shifted to Hatshepsut in 1479 BCE (3,504 years ago).

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Today:

1. Shi Huangdi CER
2. Self Check-in
3. Dream Vacation

Homework:

Book Response #6
Bring your Chromebook and charger every day

Today in History:

The Coca-Cola Company debuted New Coke in 1985 (40 years ago), one of the biggest product flops in history. After massive backlash and complaints, they brought back the original recipe three months later and re-branded it Coke Classic.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Happy Earth Day!

Today:

1. Book Response #6
2. Shi Huangdi
3. Dream Vacation

Homework:

Book Response #6
Bring your Chromebook and charger every day

Today in History:

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 (55 years ago). Earth Day has increased awareness of the world's environmental problems and led to the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

friday, April 18, 2025

Daniel Casillas Gastelum's birthday is Sunday! Wish him a happy birthday!

Stiles VanBuskirk's birthday is Sunday! Wish him a happy birthday!

Today:

1. SBAC- Performance Task
2. Dream Vacation

Next Week:

Book Response #6
Finish Dream Vacations, start Biography research Project
Continue Ancient China
Character Counts Assembly
SBAC: ELA Makeup Week
Progress Period Ends Next Friday

Today in History:

An earthquake and fire destroyed much of San Francisco in 1906 (119 years ago).

thursday, April 17, 2025

Today:

1. SBAC- Performance Task
2. Chinese Philosophies

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 mins. Log due tomorrow

Today in History:

"Houston, we have a problem."

Apollo 13 returned safely to Earth in 1970 (55 years ago). Two days into their mission to the moon, one of their oxygen tanks blew up, affecting their electricity, oxygen, light, and water. Ground control worked for four days on emergency procedures, the astronauts faced enormous logistical problems, and eventually, the three-man crew arrived back on Earth.

wednesday, April 16, 2025

Eva McElearney's birthday is today! Wish her a happy birthday!

Today:

1. SBAC- Performance Task
2. Self Check-in
3. Dream Vacation

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 mins. Log due Friday

Today in History:

American aviator Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel, guiding her monoplane from Dover, England to Hardelot, France in 1912 (113 years ago).

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Today:

1. SBAC- Performance Task
2. The Shang and Zhou dynasties

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 mins. Log due Friday

Today in History:

The Titanic sank in 1912 (113 years ago). The Titanic was believed to be "unsinkable." It had struck an iceberg two hours before it sank, which had slice holes into 6 of the hulls.

Monday, April 14, 2025

Today:

1. SBAC- Performance Task
2. Dream Vacation Research

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 mins. Log due Friday

Today in History:

John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 (160 years ago). President Lincoln died the following morning, becoming the first US president to be assassinated.

friday, April 11, 2025

Sayde Hickman's birthday is Sunday! Wish her a happy birthday!

Today:

1. SBAC- Performance Task Info
2. Geography of China- Core 1
3. Dream Vacation Research
4. SBAC Reward for hard work

Next Week:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
ELA Performance Task
Reading Log

Today in History:

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing (57 years ago).

thursday, April 10, 2025

Today:

1. SBAC- CAT
2. Geography of China

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 minutes. Log due tomorrow

Today in History:

The Statute of Anne, the first law regulating copyright, came into force in Great Britain in 1710 (315 years ago).

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Today:

1. SBAC- CAT
2. Self Check-in
3. Dream Vacation Research Project

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 minutes. Log due Friday

Today in History:

Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in 1865 (160 years ago), effectively ending the Civil War.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Today:

1. SBAC- CAT
2. Ancient China Vocabulary

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 minutes. Log due Friday

Today in History:

Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman in space in 1993 (32 years ago).

Monday, April 7, 2025

Today:

1. Apostrophes
2. Ancient China Intro
3. SBAC Info

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30 minutes. Log due Friday

Today in History:

The Tony-winning musical South Pacific opened on Broadway in 1949 (76 years ago). It was one of the most popular musicals of the 1950s.

Friday, April 4, 2025

Alexandro Arroyo Moreno's birthday is tomorrow! Wish him a happy birthday!

Today:

1. Vocabulary Quiz
2. India Test
3. Summarizing

Next Week:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Reading Log
SBAC Testing- CAT test

Today in History:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 (57 years ago).

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Today:

1. SBAC Practice
2. Self Check-in
3. The Boatman's Flute

Homework:

Bring your Chromebook and Charger EVERY DAY
Read 30+ mins. Log Due Friday
Vocabulary List 9 HW Due Thursday. Final Test Friday
Gather notes and papers for India Test- Friday
Next Week: SBAC Testing.

Today in History:

US troops landed in Okinawa in 1945 (80 years ago). This became the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War.

Monday, MArch 31, 2025

Ben Rodger's birthday was Thursday! Wish him a happy birthday!

Mackenzie Flanagan's birthday was Friday! Wish her a happy birthday!

Today:

1. Vocabulary List 9
2. Summarizing
3. The Boatman's Flute Prep.

Homework:

Read 30+ mins. Log Due Friday
Vocabulary List 9 HW Due Thursday. Final Test Friday

Today in History:

The Eiffel Tower opened in 1889 (136 years ago). The tower honored the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It was the tallest human-made structure until 1930.

Thursday, MArch 20, 2025

Jaxson Crawford's birthday is today! Wish him a happy birthday!

Today:

1. The Legacy of India
2. Hero Story- Endings
  - Writing Celebration
3. Quizlet Live

Homework:

Read 30+ mins. Log Due Tomorrow
Vocabulary List 8 quiz tomorrow.

Today in History:

President Lyndon B. Johnson sent federal troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama in 1965 (60 years ago). He sent troops after state and local police had attacked marchers with billy clubs and tear gas and the governor of Alabama, an outspoken segregationist, refused to send the Alabama National Guard to supervise and protect the march. President Johnson's action created a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.

Wednesday, MArch 19, 2025

Today:

1. Performance Task Quiz
2. Self Check-in
3. Hero Story- Figurative Language

Homework:

Read 30+ mins. Log Due Friday
Vocabulary List 8 HW Due tomorrow. Quiz Friday

Today in History:

The Iraq War began in 2003 (22 years ago). The US, with forces from the United Kingdom, initiated the War on Iraq by bombing the capital city of Baghdad. The war was initiated on the belief that Iraq was creating "weapons of mass destruction." The US declared an end to the war in 2011. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found.