The 8th-grade is having a Pizza Party on Tuesday, November 4th! If you would like to be invited, all you have to do is read a chapter book and write a short book report. Book reports are due Friday, October 31st. This is an optional assignment, but no book report, no pizza! Book report form is attached below.
In addition to preparing our portfolios, we discussed expectations for class notebooks during 2nd Quarter. Your class notebooks are your evidence of learning, your example and results of all the hard work you will be putting into science class. During parent-teacher conferences, your notebooks will be shared with your parents. Your notebooks are an important study resource for projects, quizzes, and exams . . . all quiz and exam questions will be over material that should be in your class notebook. You will be able to use your class notebook during quizzes (although, you will not be able to use them during mid-quarter and final exams). The more effort you put into your notebooks, the more useful tools they will become for you. Attached below are some guidelines on how to keep and organize your notebooks.
Students should all have a colored manila folder (from advisory teacher) for their Student-Led Conferences Portfolio. For each class, the student should include one or more examples of student work to share with their parents during conferences. For science class, the students have two items for their portfolio. The first item is the student's class notebook. The second item is a reflection on what the student has learned in science class over the 1st Quarter. Guidelines for the student reflection are attached below.
Week 1
Today in advisory, we will watch several short videos on the virtues of hard work, and will then discuss and complete a worksheet activity. The worksheet is due the next day, 9-20-14.
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, your first priority is to KETCHUP! Please take the class time given to complete or redo any missing, late, incomplete, or low-score assignments. You may also take the time to take a missed quiz, retake a low-score quiz, or to study in preparation for a quiz. If you are 100% caught up in science class, you may get an early start on the "Solar System Research" assignment. The instructions and fact sheet are attached below. This is our first Q2 assignment.
Complete the attached word search. This activity is a vocabulary builder, and an introduction to our next unit on the Solar System. Once complete, glue it into your notebook (don't forget date, title, page #, and Table of Contents). The word search will be a part of your first Q2 notebook check.
Most Fridays in advisory, we will write for 10 minutes based on a new writing prompt each week. Students are expected to practice good writing skills such as using detailed and complete sentences, proper punctuation, and correct spelling. However, the grade in advisory for each piece of writing will be based on length. If the student writes at least a 1/2 page, they will earn 7/10 points. If they write at least a 3/4 page, they will earn 10/10.
Today's Writing Prompt A wealthy donor plans to build a new facility that will benefit young people in your area. It could be a swimming pool, a theater, a skateboard park, an art school, or any other facility that would provide young people with constructive ways to spend their time. The donor is not sure what kind of facility would be most useful. You have been asked to make a recommendation. Explain what type of facility would be most beneficial in your neighborhood and give detailed reasons why. Who would participate in this facility? Would there be an age limit? Will there be any safety restrictions? When (all year, summer, before and after school) would this facility be open? |