What's Happening?

January 26, 2026

Sixth Grade English

This week, most students completed Fastbridge testing and the Winter Writing Assessment; some absent students will complete those assessments this week. Students also continued writing pieces for Paw Prints, and a special issue of Paw Prints will be published featuring all the writing and art judged at the recent Southern Lakes Anthology event. Students also worked on writing strategies in IXL. This coming week, students will continue writing with different poetic genres and begin learning/reviewing persuasive writing and debating techniques. 

Sixth Grade Reading 

This week, students continued listening to Ungifted by Ben Mikaelsen, read independently, and practiced reading strategies in IXL. This week, students will continue listening to and discussing Ungifted, and honing reading strategies with IXL. 

Seventh Grade English

This week, most students completed Fastbridge testing and the Winter Writing Assessment; some absent students will complete those assessments this week. Students also continued writing pieces for Paw Prints, and a special issue of Paw Prints will be published featuring all the writing and art judged at the recent Southern Lakes Anthology event. Students also worked on writing strategies in IXL. This coming week, students will continue writing with different poetic genres and begin learning/reviewing persuasive writing and debating techniques. 

Seventh Grade Reading 

This week, students continued listening to Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, read independently, and practiced reading strategies in IXL. This week, students will continue listening to and discussing Touching Spirit Bear” and honing reading strategies with IXL. 

Eighth Grade English

This week, most students completed Fastbridge testing and the Winter Writing Assessment; some students who were absent will complete those assessments this week. Students also continued writing pieces for Paw Prints, and a special issue of Paw Prints will be published with all the pieces of writing and art that were judged at the recent Southern Lakes Anthology event. Students also worked on writing strategies in IXL. This coming week, students will continue writing with different  poetic genres and begin learning/reviewing persuasive writing and debating techniques. 

Eighth Grade English

This week, students continued reading The Outsiders and practiced reading strategies in IXL. Next week, students will continue reading The Outsiders, practice reading assessments like the questions they will encounter on the Forward Exam, and work on reading strategies in IXL.

January 19, 2026

Sixth Grade English 

This week, students continued writing pieces for the second issue of Paw Prints. Students then conferenced with me to discuss how to improve their writing. Students also learned about claims, counterclaims, and logical fallacies. These skills will be practiced when students begin working on formal debates. Next week, students will continue writing pieces for Paw Prints and learning strategies to improve their writing skills with IXL. At the beginning of the third quarter, students will begin learning about and practicing formal debates. 

Sixth Grade Reading 

During the week, students continued listening to Ungifted by Gordon Korman and read and discussed the short story “Little Girl Lost” by Richard Matheson. Next week, students will read and discuss the short story “It’s a Good Life” by Richard Matheson. Students will then read and discuss the teleplay by the same title, which is an episode of The Twilight Zone. 

Seventh Grade English

This week, students continued writing pieces for the second issue of Paw Prints. Students then conferenced with me to discuss how to improve their writing. Students also learned about claims, counterclaims, and logical fallacies. These skills will be practiced when students begin working on formal debates. Next week, students will continue writing pieces for Paw Prints and learning strategies to improve their writing skills with IXL. At the beginning of the third quarter, students will begin learning about and practicing formal debates

SEventh Grade Reading 

During the week, students continued listening to Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. Students also read independently. Students also read and discussed  “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl. This week, students will take the FastBridge reading assessment, read and discuss another short story by Roald Dahl, and begin practice questions for the Forward exam.    

Eighth Grade English

This week, students continued writing pieces for the second issue of Paw Prints. Students then conferenced with me to discuss how to improve their writing. Students also learned about claims, counterclaims, and logical fallacies. These skills will be practiced when students begin working on formal debates. Next week, students will continue writing pieces for Paw Prints and learning strategies to improve their writing skills with IXL. At the beginning of the third quarter, students will begin learning about and practicing formal debates

Eigfhth Grade Reading 

This week, students continued reading and discussing The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Students also took the Pre-Act on Wednesday and the Fastbridge reading assessment on Thursday. Next week, students will continue reading The Outsiders next week, and practice reading assessments like the questions they will encounter on the Forward Exam. 

November 10, 2025

Sixth Grade English 

Last week, students continued working on pieces for this year's Southern Lakes Anthology writing and art contest and writing for Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. 

This week, students will do final editing on Paw Prints, continue creating pieces for the Southern Lakes Anthology, and learning punctuation and grammar to help them become better writers. 

Sixth Grade Reading

Last week, students continued listening to Max the Mighty, answering comprehension questions from the text, and using IXL as a personalized learning platform.  This week, students will continue listening to Max the Mighty and using the RACE strategy to answer comprehension questions. Students will begin another author study. This author is Richard Matheson. He was the author of I Am Legend, other novels, many short stories, and scripts. Students will focus their study on his short stories and scripts.

Seventh Grade English 

Last week, students continued working on pieces for this year's Southern Lakes Anthology writing and art contest and writing for Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. 

This week, students will do final editing on Paw Prints, continue creating pieces for the Southern Lakes Anthology, and learning punctuation and grammar to help them become better writers. 

Seventh Grade Reading

Last week, students continued listening to Crash by Jerry Spinelli, answering comprehension questions from the text, and using IXL as a personalized learning platform.  This week, students will continue listening to Crash and using the RACE strategy to answer comprehension questions. Students will also read independently and use IXL to continue learning and practicing reading strategies.

Eighth Grade English

Last week, students continued working on pieces for this year's Southern Lakes Anthology writing and art contest and writing for Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. 

This week, students will do final editing on Paw Prints, continue creating pieces for the Southern Lakes Anthology, and learning punctuation and grammar to help them become better writers. 

Eighth Grade Reading

Last week, students read and discussed another short story by Roald Dahl entitled“Landlady.” Students learned about Dahl’s uses of irony in the story and answered questions to test their comprehension of the story. This week, students will continue to read and analyze another Dahl short story, “Poison.” Students will also use IXL to learn reading strategies.

November 3, 2025

Sixth Grade English 

Last week, students continued working on pieces for this year's Southern Lakes Anthology writing and art contest and writing for Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. 

This week, students will do final editing on Paw Prints, continue creating pieces for the Southern Lakes Anthology, and learning punctuation and grammar to help them become better writers. 

Sixth Grade Reading 

Last week, students continued listening to Max the Mighty, answering comprehension questions from the text, and using IXL as a personalized learning platform.  This week, students will continue listening to Max the Mighty and using the RACE strategy to answer comprehension questions. Students will also read independently and use IXL to continue learning and practicing reading strategies.

Seventh Grade English 

Last week, students continued working on pieces for this year's Southern Lakes Anthology writing and art contest and writing for Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. 

This week, students will do final editing on Paw Prints, continue creating pieces for the Southern Lakes Anthology, and learning punctuation and grammar to help them become better writers. 

Seventh Grade Reading 

Last week, students continued listening to Crash by Jerry Spinelli, answering comprehension questions from the text, and using IXL as a personalized learning platform.  This week, students will continue listening to Max the Mighty and using the RACE strategy to answer comprehension questions. Students will also read independently and use IXL to continue learning and practicing reading strategies.

Eighth Grade English 

Last week, students continued working on pieces for this year's Southern Lakes Anthology writing and art contest and writing for Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. 

This week, students will do final editing on Paw Prints, continue creating pieces for the Southern Lakes Anthology, and learning punctuation and grammar to help them become better writers. 

Eighth Grade Reading

Last week, students finished games for Fall Fest. This week, students will answer three extended essay questions about “Lamb to the Slaughter.” These questions will assess students' ability to answer comprehension questions with literary accuracy.  It will act as a culminating activity for the first quarter.

October 13, 2025

Eighth Grade English 

Last week, students completed the publication and distribution of The Bulldog Bark.  Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. Students also worked independently on the IXL platform and began reviewing and learning the correct usage of the comma. This week, students will continue learning the use of the comma and writing for Paw Prints.  

Eighth Grade Reading

Last week, students finished reading “The Red-Headed League” by Arthur Conan Doyle. Students gathered evidence from the text and clues observed by Sherlock Holmes. The students and I decided to abandon Conan Doyle. The stories did not interest the students enough. This week, students will begin an author study of Roald Dahl. Dahl wrote many wonderful novels, but his short stories are where the students will begin their focus. Students will also study the second group of literary terms.

Seventh Grade English 

Last week, students completed the publication and distribution of The Bulldog Bark.  Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. Students also worked independently on the IXL platform and began reviewing and learning the correct usage of the comma. This week, students will continue learning the use of the comma and writing for Paw Prints. 

Seventh Grade Reading 

Last week, students continued listening to and discussing Schooled while reviewing/learning literary terms. Students also finished reading “To Build a Fire” by Jack London.  This week, students will continue listening to Schooled, answering comprehension questions from the text, using IXL as a personalized learning platform, studying the new set of literary terms, and practicing identifying figurative language from “To Build a Fire.”

Sixth Grade English 

Last week, students completed the publication and distribution of The Bulldog Bark.  Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. Students also worked independently on the IXL platform and began reviewing and learning the correct usage of the comma. This week, students will continue learning the use of the comma and writing for Paw Prints. 

Sixth Grade Reading 

Last week, students finished listening to and discussing  Freak the Mighty and began listening to Max the Mighty, the sequel, while reviewing and learning literary terms.   Students also read another script by Rod Serling from The Twilight Zone entitled “Walking Distance.”  This week, students will continue listening to Max the Mighty, answering comprehension questions from the text, using IXL as a personalized learning platform, studying a new set of literary terms, and continuing the author study of Rod Serling. 

October 6, 2025

Eighth Grade English 

Last week, students completed a group edit of The Bulldog Bark. A digital copy of The Bulldog Bark was shared with students, and they reviewed each article to identify grammatical, style, and layout errors.  Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. Students also worked independently on the IXL platform. Thai week students will assemble and distribute The Bulldog Bark, continue writing pieces for Paw Prints, and work in IXL. 

Eigfhth Grade Reading 

Last week, I watched a dramatization of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” and began reading “The Red-Headed League” by Arthur Conan Doyle. Students gathered evidence from the text and clues observed by Sherlock Holmes. This week, students will continue to read “The Red-headed League,” act as detectives along with Holmes to try to solve the mystery, and study the second group of literary terms.

Seventh Grade English 

Last week, students completed a group edit of The Bulldog Bark. A digital copy of The Bulldog Bark was shared with students, and they reviewed each article to identify grammatical, style, and layout errors.  Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. Students also worked independently on the IXL platform. Thai week students will assemble and distribute The Bulldog Bark, continue writing pieces for Paw Prints, and work in IXL. 

Seventh Grade Reading 

Last week, students continued listening to and discussing Schooled, while reviewing/learning literary terms. Students also continued reading “To Build a Fire” by Jack London.  This week, students will continue listening to Schooled, answering comprehension questions from the text, using IXL as a personalized learning platform, studying the new set of literary terms, and finishing “To Build a Fire,”  and practice identifying figurative language from “To Build a Fire.”

Sixth Grade English 

Last week, students completed a group edit of The Bulldog Bark. A digital copy of The Bulldog Bark was shared with students, and they reviewed each article to identify grammatical, style, and layout errors.  Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. Students also worked independently on the IXL platform. Thai week students will assemble and distribute The Bulldog Bark, continue writing pieces for Paw Prints, and work in IXL. 

Sixth Grade Reading 

Last week, students continued listening to and discussing  Freak the Mighty, while reviewing/learning literary terms. Students are nearing the climax of the novel.   Students also read another script by Rod Serling from The Twilight Zone entitled “Eye of the Beholder.”  This week, students will continue listening to Freak the Mighty, answering comprehension questions from the text, using IXL as a personalized learning platform, studying the set of literary terms, and continuing the author study of Rod Serling

September 29, 2025

Eighth Grade English

Last week, students completed the layout of their news articles for The Bulldog Bark in Google Slides.. Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. They are writing various types of poetry, including haiku, acrostics, rhyming quatrains, and free-verse poems, as well as prose items. Students are working independently on the IXL platform. 

Eighth Grade Reading 

Last week, students finished reading “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Arthur Conan Doyle and answered a comprehension question about the clues observed by Sherlock Holmes. Students also took a quiz on the first set of literary terms. This week, students will read “The Red-headed League” by Arthur Conan Doyle and once again act as detectives along with Holmes to try to solve the mystery. Students will also study a second group of literary terms.

Seventh Grade English 

Last week, students completed the layout of their news articles for The Bulldog Bark in Google Slides.. Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. They are writing various types of poetry, including haiku, acrostics, rhyming quatrains, and free-verse poems, as well as prose items. Students are working independently on the IXL platform. 

Seventh Grade Reading 

Last week, students continued listening to and discussing  Schooled, while reviewing/learning literary terms. Students are nearing the climax of the novel.   Students began reading “To Build a Fire” by Jack London.  Students also took a quiz on the first set of literary terms. This week, students will continue listening to Schooled, answering comprehension questions from the text, using IXL as a personalized learning platform, studying a new set of literary terms, and continuing “To Build a Fire.” 

Sixth Grade English 

Last week, students completed the layout of their news articles for The Bulldog Bark in Google Slides.. Students also continued writing in a writers workshop to prepare pieces for publication in Paw Prints, Washington Caldwell’s literary arts magazine. They are writing various types of poetry, including haiku, acrostics, rhyming quatrains, and free-verse poems, as well as prose items. Students are working independently on the IXL platform. 

Sixth Grade Reading

Last week, students continued listening to and discussing  Freak the Mighty, while reviewing/learning literary terms. Students are nearing the climax of the novel.   Students also read another script by Rod Serling from The Twilight Zone entitled “To Serve Man.”  Students also took a quiz on the first set of literary terms. This week, students will continue listening to Freak the Mighty, answering comprehension questions from the text, using IXL as a personalized learning platform, studying a new set of literary terms, and continuing the author study of Rod Serling. 

September 15, 2025

Eighth Grade

English – Thompson

Week two was another great week at Washington Caldwell. Students reviewed the correct usage of end punctuation and capitalization, beyond just the beginning of sentences. Students also continued to work on their news article for The Bulldog Bark. Students interviewed primary sources and continued drafting their articles. The first draft is due by Friday of this week. Students who submit their drafts before Friday will confer with Mr. Thompson about ways to improve their writing. Students will also review how to correctly punctuate direct quotes. 

Reading – Thompson

Last week, students began listening to Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan while practicing literary terms,  read independently, and began taking the diagnostic test for IXL, a personalized learning platform.  This week, students will continue listening to Counting by 7s, take the Fall FastBridge test, and continue taking the diagnostic test in IXL. Students will also begin their author study of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Seventh Grade

English - Thompson

Week two was another great week at Washington Caldwell. Students reviewed the correct usage of end punctuation and capitalization, beyond just the beginning of sentences. Students also continued to work on their news article for The Bulldog Bark. Students interviewed primary sources and continued drafting their articles. The first draft is due by Friday of this week. Students who submit their drafts before Friday will confer with Mr. Thompson about ways to improve their writing. Students will also review how to correctly punctuate direct quotes. 

Reading – Thompson 

Last week, students continued listening to Schooled while reviewing/learning literary terms, and answered questions from the text using the RACE strategy: R--restate the question, A--answer the question, C--cite evidence from the text, and E--explain how the evidence supports your answer. Students also began taking the diagnostic test for IXL, a personalized learning platform.  This week, students will continue listening to Schooled, take the Fall FastBridge test, and continue taking the diagnostic test in IXL. Students will also continue reading “To Build a Fire,” by Jack London.

S

Eighth Grade Reading 

Last week students read “The Lonely One,” a mystery by Ray Bradbury. This is the last Bradbury piece students will read as a class. This week students will work with a partner to read a final  Bradbury short story and create a podcast analyzing the story’s setting, characters, plot, themes, and figurative language, and how these elements move the plot forward.