8th Grade:
You need to finish your work for The Hitchhiker, posted below...  Also, if you did not turn in your "Macavity: The Mystery Cat" illustration, please do so next class.

8th grade parents:  Please consider chaperoning the end of the year field trip to Islands of Adventure.  If you are, please contact me as soon as possible and I can forward your information to the trip's organizer.

6th Grade:
Your "Apollo's Tree" and "Arachne" assignments are due soon (Friday for A day students, Monday for B day students).  The assignments are below.  Remember that you may complete a third assignment for 20 points extra credit added in where you need points.

Students should also finish "The Chenoo" paragraph and illustration (B day will receive this on Thursday), if not already.  You were to draw the Chenoo before and after, then write a paragraph explaining what the theme is and how the heart of ice relates to the theme.

“Apollo’s Tree” and “Arachne”

After reading these two myths, you are to choose one activity from column A (25 points) and one activity from column B (25 points) to complete.  You may complete a third activity from either column for 20 points extra credit (to replace missing points in the gradebook).  The extra credit is due at the same time as the assignment.

A	B
Answer questions 1-8 after the story on page 667 in complete sentences that restate the questions, making sure to provide plenty of evidence.	In “Arachne,” Athena and Arachne include designs in their weavings that are intended as messages for each other.  Illustrate how you imagine these designs look, using the descriptions in the myth as your guide.  Ask for a sheet of copy paper to use.
In “Apollo’s Tree,” the god Apollo is overly sure of his powers.  How does his excessive pride end up hurting both him and Daphne?  Support your answer with details and examples from the myth.  You need at least a page on this topic (like a mini-essay).  An effective analysis will give details from the myth that show Apollo’s pride and explain the consequences of his pride.	Create a storyboard for both myths.  A storyboard is sort of like a film strip or comic strip; it would show important events in the story and have a small caption with each one.  I will let you be the judge as to how many parts of the story need to be included in the storyboard.
Write a short “myth” or “fable” that explains a wonder of the natural world (such as how “Arachne” explains why there are spiders and why they weave webs).  You need at least a page, but it may be longer.	Write a song about the events of one of the myths, making sure to incorporate some of the story’s dialogue and imagery into the lyrics.

6th Grade A day - Don't forget to write your introductory paragraphs for the three prompts that you received.  You need to have an engaging beginning, transition to the thesis, and thesis statement for each paragraph.  Remember - you are only writing the introductions to each essay.  The prompts were:

1.      Everyone has an activity he or she enjoys. Think about an activity you enjoy. Now write to explain why you enjoy the activity.

2.      Through the years, new inventions have changed the way we live. Think about one invention that has had an impact on the way you live. Now write to explain how this invention has changed your life.

3.   Most of us like something found in nature. Think about something from nature that you like. Now write to explain why you like that part of nature.

 

8th Grade - You need to finish your illustration for "Macavity: The Mystery Cat."  Make sure it is neat, colorful, and has your assigned lines written on the paper.

6th Grade Parents:

Chaperones are still needed for the World of Nations field trip!!!

Spend a fun day with your child discovering other cultures and enjoying food from around the world!  It is going to be a blast!  Let one of your child's teachers know as soon as possible so that you don't miss out on this opportunity.

Countdown to the FCAT

Students have not had homework from me lately because we have been working on FCAT review and practice assessments.  This week, students need to make sure they have turned in their corrections for the Units 1-4 assessments.  Some students may take the corrections home tonight (or last night) so that they can be completed.  We are primarily working on the corrections in class.

Extra Credit Opportunities

I hope everyone has a wonderful, fun, and safe Spring Break!  You do not have any official homework over the break, but I would like for everyone to read every day.  Setting aside 30 minutes to an hour each day to read can significantly improve your reading skills, simply by the exposure to new vocabulary and concepts.  There is also an extra credit assignment, should you choose to complete it.  They are different for sixth and eighth grades.

6th Grade 3^rd Quarter Extra Credit Opportunity

Due Monday, March 24 (A Day) and Tuesday, March 25 (B Day). 

I will NOT accept the assignment after those two dates.

“Beware the Ides of March!”

This is a famous saying from . . . well, I’ll let you figure it out!  For 50 extra credit points (added into your grade where points are needed, not added on top), write a one-page response that explains the following:

1.      The origin of the quote

2.      Who wrote the quote

3.      Who said the quote

4.      Why the quote is famous and/or significant

5.      What the quote means

If you turn in anything that was clearly copied off the Internet, it will be counted as plagiarism and you will not receive credit.  You should use the Internet as a source, but you should put all of the information in your own words and cite where you found the information.

 

8^th Grade Extra Credit Opportunity for the 3^rd Quarter

Due Tuesday, March 25, 2014

I will NOT accept it after that date!

Put those writing skills to good use!  Write an essay persuading me to give you 50 extra points in the gradebook.  You will receive the 50 points (whether I agree or not) as long as you follow all of the rules of an essay (Introduction, thesis, topic sentences, etc.).  You may either type your essay or write it by hand.  If you type it, please make it 12 point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced.  If you handwrite it, please keep it neat!

3A/4A/5B/6B - your handout on mood, tone, and imagery (the movie handout) is due next class.

2A - If you did not turn in your response for "Nadia the Willful," please turn it in tomorrow!

8th Grade - Your assignment for "Clean Sweep" is due next class.  Make sure you use evidence from the text to write your paragraphs.  Also, if you did not turn in your Essay Smart essay, do so ASAP so that you can receive a grade for it.  Email it to me or print it and hand it in (with your score attached).

CGAs are near!  6th Grade A day - you will take your CGA on Friday.  6th Grade B day, you will take your CGA next Wednesday (3/12).  8th Grade - you will take your CGA on Monday.

I have a lot of grades to enter into the gradebook, but I have not been able to log in to the grade portal this weekend!  As soon as I can log in again, I will input the grades.  Going into the gradebook for 6th grade students are the quiz everyone took the week before last, work completed for "The Good Deed" (conflict), work completed for "The Dog of Pompeii" (theme), work completed for "Nadia the Willful" (conflict), the theme homework sheet, and bellringers.  Also, I have quite a few grades to enter that are late work or make-up work.  If you have not completed the work for "The Dog of Pompeii" or "Nadia the Willful" (or if you still have it and haven't turned it in), please turn them in ASAP.  For both stories, you were to explain what the theme of each story is.  For "The Dog of Pompeii," you should have also turned in the webs we completed while reading, and for "Nadia," you should have also turned in the questions completed while reading.

For my eighth graders, I have grades for the bellringers, textbooks brought to class, the last couple of grammar practices, the reader's workshop, and the Essay Smart Essay.  There are still a couple of people who have not turned in the Essay Smart essay.  Make sure you email the score to me!

This week and next week, you will take the CGA for the 3rd quarter.  Then we have Spring Break, the end of the 3rd quarter, and the FCAT not too long after that.  Please stay focused and ready to work each day.  Remember - there comes a time when you have to be accountable for your own work and learning.  If I assign work, it is for a reason; the assignments are meant to assist you in understanding and applying the concepts in order to help you succeed with the standards.  Be proactive by completing work on time and pay attention in class!