Week of February 20 - 24, 2017

Happy Tuesday :)

I hope everyone's week is off to a great start! I apologize for not posting last week - the stomach bug reared its head and I was just off of my game all week. 

Here's what's happening this week in ELA/SS:
Monday, 2/20
SS: Students continued to study Cuba by completing work in their textbook (Chapter 8 - Section 3).

Tuesday, 2/21
ELA: Students were assigned to read Chapters 16 - 19 to complete Hatchet. We will be discussing and analyzing these chapters in class this week.
SS: Whole group lesson: We will review all sections of Chapter 8 in Social Studies (Cuba) to ensure all students have the correct answers needed for their test on Friday.

Wednesday, 2/22
ELA: Hatchet Vocabulary Quiz - 15 words from Chapters 9 - 12. These can be found on Google Classroom. 
SS: Students will make study aids/flashcards to assist them in studying all of the terms, names, and main ideas from Chapter 8.

Thursday, 2/23
ELA: Students will work to complete graphic organizer that details Brian's changes (mentally, physically, etc) throughout the story.
SS: Students will continue to study for test on Friday.
**PROGRESS REPORTS COME HOME TODAY**

Friday, 2/24
SS: Test on Chapter 8 and Current Event #7 Due (must be an article related to Latin/South America)
ELA/SS: Work Period

Homework for the week:
Any classwork not completed during the day or any work that has not been completed yet needs to be done as soon as possible.

As always, remember your teachers are here for you and look forward to being a part of your child's academic and positive social environment. Please get in touch if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions.

Have a great week,
Ms. Susan

Week of February 6 - 10, 2017

Announcements:

• As a fundraiser for the Athletics Department, Ms. Christy will be selling carnations for $2.00 for Valentine's Day. Your child may purchase these in the MPR prior to coming to homeroom.

• Students will participate in the district-wide Tornado Drill tomorrow, Wednesday, 2/8.

• Dress Down Day - this Friday, 2/10 for $1.00. This money will benefit the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Fund.

• Jump Rope for Heart Activities  are taking place this month to support the American Heart Association.

• Please check the calendar tab on this blog to keep track of any Google Classroom due dates. 

Academics this Week:

Monday: (ELA) - Classwork: We completed the Chapter 12 analysis for Hatchet. Students need to review Chapter 12. Homework: Complete Plot Summary Worksheet for Chapter 12.

Homework: (SS) Current Event #5 Due --> this can be a new current event or a revision of Current Events (#1-4) if they received a grade of 75 or below.

Tuesday: (SS) - Classwork: Students need to complete last week's textbook assignments on Latin America Physical Geography and Ancient Latin America. This week's work is on Modern Mexico and the Mexican Government. 

Homework: Complete late Google Classwork assignments

Wednesday: (ELA) - We will be focusing on vocabulary and writing assignments related to Hatchet this week. Students will use www.vocabulary.com as well as the word list on Google Classroom. Students will find their Hatchet writing prompt on Google Classroom as well. 

Homework: Work on Hatchet vocabulary activities and the Narrative Writing Prompt - both due Friday, 2/10.

Thursday: (SS) - Students will continue working on textbook assignments related to Mexico. 

Homework: Complete textbook assignments; study for test Friday (Chapter 6 Sections 1 and 2 only).

Friday: (ELA/SS) -  TEST: Social Studies - Chapter 6 Sections 1 and 2 (these have already been returned to students to use for studying). Work Period: Students will have an opportunity to complete any ELA/SS work not completed in class. 

Due today: Hatchet Vocabulary activities and Narrative Writing Prompt

Week of January 30 - Feb 1

Happy Wacky Wednesday :)

I apologize for the late entry into our week, but we took off with a bang and haven't slowed down a bit :)
Announcements:

• There is no Current Event assigned for this week.
• We will be having a Valentine Exchange for Valentine's Day on Tuesday, 2/14. We will be celebrating our friendships by exchanging Valentine's Day cards with our homeroom. Cards can be bought or homemade. This is an optional activity. If your child chooses to participate, please have them prepare a valentine for all of their homeroom classmates. Your child is coming home with a class list this afternoon. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Monday - ELA Focus
     The students worked on completing summary plot worksheets for Chapters 9 - 11 in Hatchet.

Tuesday - SS Focus
     We worked on the location, climate, natural resources, and population of Mexico and Brazil. We completed textbook book as well that further highlighted the physical geography of Latin America.

Wednesday - ELA Focus
      The students worked in small groups further analyzing Chapters 1 - 11in Hatchet in order to remind us of our Essential Question: What happens to Brian from a dependent city boy to a self-reliant young man? This will be answered at the end of the novel in a 5-paragraph essay.
      We also returned to a practice essay in which we compared Skittles to Hershey Kisses and are working as a class to compose a compare/contrast essay.  This will be a practice piece that will help the students with their Hatchet essays.

Thursday - SS Focus
     We worked on the location, climate, natural resources, and population of Brazil and Cuba. Students will complete a compare/contrast chart on the three countries in the areas we studied.

Friday - ELA Focus
     The students will take a quiz on Chapters 9 - 11.  We will continue working on the compare/contrast essay on Skittles and Hershey Kisses as a class.