Friday, September 27, 2013

8th Grade Composition Notebook - 1st Quarter

 Here is the 8th Grade Composition Notebook Point Sheet for in-class activities during the 1st quarter.  Every activity has been reviewed as a class and should be 100% complete.  Students will go through their comp book, page by page, on Monday 9/30.  They have until Monday 10/7 to finish anything that may be incomplete or is missing due to absence.  On Monday 10/7, the comp book will be scored.  This gives students the opportunity to earn 100%.


8th Grade Composition Book – 1st Quarter
Score ___/170 Letter Grade ___

Word Study
___/10  p. 1 – doc (includes root, meaning, word, say, spell, definition, activity 1-4)
___/10  p. 2 – clar
___/10  p. 3 – gul
___/10  p. 4 – greg

Journals and Warm-Ups
___/10 p. 35 – “Compound Sentence Structure” (notes on page, sheet on top stapled in)
___/10 p. 36 – “Fors and Nors and Such” (stapled in and totally complete)
___/10 p. 37 – “Commas and Compounds” (stapled in and totally complete)
___/10  p. 38 – “Compound Sentence Review” (stapled in and totally complete)
___/10  p. 39 – “Commas in Dates”  (stapled in and totally complete)
___/10  p. 40 – “Too Vague” (minimum 5 sentence paragraph)
___/10  p. 41 – “Commas in Addresses” (stapled in and totally complete; envelope underneath)
___/10  p. 42 – “Commas in Names” (stapled in and totally complete)

Notes and Activities
___/10 p. 81 – 82 - Research Without Plagiarism Notes (4 sections, 13 bullets)
___/10 p. 83 – F.A.Q’s About Plagiarism (stapled in and sections highlighted)
___/10 p. 84 – Creating a Bibliography (stapled in with 2 handwritten notes sections)
___/10 p. 85 – Bibliography Activity (3 entries)
___/10 p. 86 – How to Cite Your Sources (notes stapled in and sections highlighted)

7th Grade Composition Notebook - 1st Quarter

 Here is the 7th Grade Composition Notebook Point Sheet for in-class activities during the 1st quarter.  Every activity has been reviewed as a class and should be 100% complete.  Students will go through their comp book, page by page, on Monday 9/30.  They have until Friday 10/4 to finish anything that may be incomplete or is missing due to absence.  On Friday, the comp book will be scored.  This gives students the opportunity to earn 100%.
7th Grade Composition Book – 1st Quarter
Score ___/130  Letter Grade ___

Word Study
___/10  p. 1 – doc (includes root, meaning, word, say, spell, definition, activity 1-4)
___/10  p. 2 – clar
___/10  p. 3 – gul
___/10  p. 4 – greg

Journals and Warm-Ups
___/10 p. 35 – “First Thing’s First” (skill notes + 1-5 complete sentences)
___/10 p. 36 – “Addressing Directly” (stapled in, entire sheet complete)
___/10 p. 37 – “Parenthetically Speaking” (1-6)
___/10  p. 38 – “Long and Short of It” (1-5 complete sentences)

Notes and Activities
___/10 p. 81 – The Short Story (2 sections: 9 bullets for section 1 and 4 bullets for sect.2)
___/10 p. 82 – 83 Title and Beginning Paragraph of a Short Story (2 sections: 1-8 for section 1   
                                 and 1-5 for section 2)
___/10 p. 84 – Analyzing Plot in a Short Story (11 highlighted terms and 1 plot diagram)
              p. 85  - may be blank

___/20 p. 86–88 “The Tell- Tale” Heart Discussion Questions (1-13)

Week 8, Quarter 1 - 7th and 8th Grade English

Homework & Class Activities for 7th and 8th Grade English
Week 8, Quarter 1

Monday 9/30 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         Word of the Week, p. 5 of comp book
·         Multi-media review presentation
·         Comp book review for 1st quarter (page by page review before it’s scored on Friday 10/4)

Homework and End of Quarter Stuff
Book Project due Tomorrow!  Book project will not be accepted late (see class policy letter)
Final Reader’s Journal Week 8 due on Friday 10/4
T-shirt money due by Friday 10/4
Any and all missing or incomplete work (minus the book project) due by Friday 10/4 – including comp book.

Monday 9/30 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4* crunch)
·         Word of the Week, p. 5 of comp book
·         Multi-media review presentation
·         Comp book review for 1st quarter (page by page review before it’s scored on Monday 10/7)

Homework and End of Quarter Stuff:
 Book Project due Thursday!  Book project will not be accepted late (see class policy letter)
Final Reader’s Journal Week 8 due on Thursday 10/3
Any and all missing or incomplete work (minus the book project) due by Friday 10/4
Comp book scored Monday 10/7 – finish anything that may be incomplete this week

Open comp book test on Plagiarism/Research Unit on Wednesday 10/2 (notes were reviewed last Friday and students could take comp book home over weekend to review notes)


Tuesday 10/1 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         Board game day! 

HomeworkDue this Friday:
RJ Week 8
Late Work (book project not accepted late – see English policy letter)
Comp Book (any incomplete class assignments can be finished before Friday)
T-shirt $ and order form


Tuesday 10/1 – 8th Grade (4*)
·         Team cheer practice and activity set-up for assembly

Homework and End of Quarter Stuff:
 Book Project due Thursday!  Book project will not be accepted late (see class policy letter)
Final Reader’s Journal Week 8 due on Thursday 10/3
Any and all missing or incomplete work (minus the book project) due by Friday 10/4
Comp book scored Monday 10/7 – finish anything that may be incomplete this week

Open comp book test on Plagiarism/Research Unit on Wednesday 10/2 (notes were reviewed last Friday and students could take comp book home Monday to review notes)
Wednesday 10/2 – 7th Grade (6*) and Thursday 10/3 (7*, 1*)
·         Collect T-shirt $
·         Introductory Elements Review, staple to p.39 of comp book
·         Begin Scholastic Close-Read (informational text)

Homework: Finish any incomplete or missing comp book assignments – scored on Friday
 Finish RJ week 8 and get signed!  Due Friday
Any late work due by Friday  (book project not accepted late)
Final day to order t-shirt and turn in money = Friday

Wednesday 10/2 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Plagiarism Unit Test (open note)
·         “Dog Advice”, p. 42 of comp book (1/2 page minimum)
·         Correct tests in class

HomeworkDue tomorrow = Book project (milk carton) and RJ week 8 (get signed!)
Due by Friday = late work (book project not accepted late)

Finish any incomplete or missing comp book assignments – scored next Monday

Thursday 10/3 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Finish and share “Dog Advice”, p. 43
·         Collect RJ week 8
·         3* only = media review presentation
·         Book Talk!  Groups of 4 to share book projects.  Book Talk form due at end of period

Homework:  All late work due tomorrow for the quarter (reminder: book project not accepted late)
Comp book scored next Monday.  Make sure everything is 100% complete for full credit!


Friday 10/4 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         Collect RJ week 8
·         Final day to collect t-shirt order forms and money
·         Score 1st quarter composition notebooks
·         Introductory Elements Quiz (complex sentence structure)

Homework:  If you turned in an order form but did not pay, please bring your $8 on Monday

Friday 10/4 – 8th Grade (2*)
·         Collect late work
·         Begin Scholastic “Close-Read” – Informative Text


Homework:  Comp book scored next Monday 10/7.  Make sure everything is 100% complete for full credit!  

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Team Prestige T-shirt Order Form (7th Grade Only)

Team Prestige
T-Shirt & Sweatshirt Order Form
 Form and Money Due to Mrs. Rice by Friday 10/4

Name __________________________­­_______          English Class period ___

___  Short-sleeved t-shirt, $8.00.  Circle size:   S    M     L     XL     XXL
         (adult only sizes; will shrink slightly)

___ Long-sleeved hooded sweatshirt, $16.00.  Circle size:  S    M    L    XL   XXL
        (adult only sizes; will shrink slightly)


Total $__________  Cash or checks made payable to Billinghurst Middle School

Friday, September 20, 2013

Week 7, Quarter 1 - 7th and 8th Grade English

Homework & Class Activities for 7th and 8th Grade English
Week 7, Quarter 1

Monday 9/23 – 7th Grade (6*) and Tuesday 9/24 (7*, 1*)
·         Flash card activity for Word of the Week Quiz review
·         Multi-media presentation
·         Plot diagram mountain group activity – “The Tell-Tale Heart”

Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 7 – due Thurs (6*, 7*) and Friday (1* only)
Study flash cards or study guide for Word of the Week Quiz #1 – Quiz Thurs (6*, 7*) and Fri (1* only)
This week for book project – create final 7 (or more for extra credit) events on game board – Due next Tue 10/1

Monday 9/23 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Flash card activity for Word of the Week Quiz Review
·         Multi-media presentation
·         Cite While You Write Notes and Activity

Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 7 – due on Friday
Study flash cards or study guide for Word of the Week Quiz #1 – Quiz on Friday

This week for book project – type final panel and glue all panels on milk carton.  Create thematic statement on bottom – Due next Thurs 10/3


Tuesday 9/24 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         4 minute Flash Card partner warm-up
·         Commas in Address (addressing envelopes too) – stapled to p. 41 of comp book
·         “Altitude Illness” partner activity (synthesizing info and using internal citations)

Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 7 – due on Friday
Study flash cards or study guide for Word of the Week Quiz #1 – Quiz on Friday
This week for book project – type final panel and glue all panels on milk carton.  Create thematic statement on bottom – Due next Thurs 10/3

Wednesday 9/25 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         4 minute flash card partner review
·         Plot Diagram Group Activity

Homework:  Finish RJ week 7 and get signed!  Due tomorrow (6*, 7*) and Friday (1*)

Study 8 flashcards (or study guide) for spelling/vocab quiz #1.  Quiz = tomorrow (6*, 7*) and Friday (1*)

Wednesday 9/25 - 8th Grade (2*)
  • team cheer practice!  (Crunch 2*, 3*, 4* on Thursday)
Homework:  See Tuesday

Thursday 9/26 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*) and Friday 9/27 (1*)
·         Collect RJ Week 7
·         Hand out and review RJ week 8 (final RJ for 1st grading quarter)
·         Greek/Latin Root and “Word of the Week” spelling/vocab test #1
·         Finish Plot mountain with group

Homework:  Finish Book Project!! -  due next Tuesday, 10/1.  Follow all directions and review your point sheet.
Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 8 – due Friday 10/4
T-shirt order form and money due to Mrs. Rice by Friday 10/4

Thursday 9/26 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4* crunch)
·         3 minute flash card review
·         Finish “Altitude Illness” activity (internal citation of sources)
·         Staple “How to Cite While You Write” notes to p. 86 of comp book
·         Commas in Names – p. 42 (stapled in)

Homework:  Finish RJ week 7 and get signed!  Due tomorrow
Finish panel #4 and bottom of milk carton (see directions!) – due next Thursday 10/3

Friday 9/27 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Collect RJ week 7
·         Hand out and Review RJ week 8
·         Finish “Commas in Names”, review and staple to p. 42 of comp book
·         Greek/Latin Root word and “Word of the Week” spelling and vocab test #1
·         Review and organization of Research/Plagiarism notes in comp book for next week’s open note test

Homework:  Finish book project!  Due next Thursday 10/3
Read 25 min and fill out final RJ of the quarter (week 8) – due Thursday 10/3

All missing work or retakes/revisions due by Friday 10/4 (book project not accepted late)

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Greek/Latin Root and Word of the Week Study Guide #1 (7th and 8th)

“Word of the Week”
Study Guide #1

Quiz will be on Thurs 9/26 (6*, 7*) and Fri 9/27 (1*, 2*, 3*, 4*)

Greek/Latin Roots (know the definition of each)

1.   doc = “to teach”
2.   clar = “clear”
3.   gul = “throat”
4.   greg = “herd or flock”

Word of the Week (know how to spell each and the definition)

1.   indoctrinate (in-doc-tri-nate) = to educate; to brainwash

2.   declaration (dec-la-ra-tion) = a public, formal statement

3.   gullible (gul-li-ble) = describes a person who is easily cheated, deceived, or duped


4.   gregarious (gre-gar-i-ous) = describes someone who is social and likes to be around others; animals in a herd

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Week 6 - Quarter 1, 7th and 8th Grade English

Homework & Class Activities for 7th and 8th Grade English
Week 6, Quarter 1

Monday 9/16 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         Review team t-shirt proof/suggestions
·         Word of the Week, p. 4
·         Multi-media presentation
·         Who is Edgar Allan Poe? – overview of his life and museum tour

Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 6 – due Friday 9/20
This week for book project = create board and 5 events (see directions).  Due 10/1

Monday 9/16 – 8th Grade (2*) and Tuesday 9/17 (3*, 4*)
·         2* = team cheer practice for upcoming assembly
·         3*/4* = bullying prevention seminar with counselors

Homework:  Finish mandala and 100-word list – due Wednesday 9/18
Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 6 – due Thursday 9/19
This week for book project = complete panel #3 of milk carton. Due 10/3

Tuesday 9/17 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*) and Wednesday 9/18 (1*)
·         Review fall 2013 reading MAP test scores (filed in portfolios)
·         How to create a text box in Word
·         “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
·         Begin group discussion questions, p. 86 of comp book

Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 6 – due Friday 9/20
This week for book project = create board and 5 events (see directions).  Due 10/1

Wednesday 9/18 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Collect mandalas and 100-word lists
·         Review fall 2013 reading MAP test scores (filed in portfolios)
·         Word of the week, p. 4
·         Multi-media review presentation
·         Commas in Dates review, stapled in p. 39

Homework:  Finish RJ week 6 and get signed! – due Thursday 9/19
This week for book project = complete panel #3 of milk carton. Due 10/3


Thursday 9/19 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         “The Tell-Tale Heart” group discussion questions (1-12) p. 36 and 37 of comp book

Homework:  Finish RJ week 6 and get signed! – due tomorrow, 9/20
This week for book project = create board and 5 events (see directions).  Due 10/1

Thursday 9/19 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4* crunch)
·         Collect RJ week 6; Hand out and review RJ week 7
·         “Too Vague” – journal p. 40 of comp book
·         Notes review – How to Cite While You Write (stapled to p. 86 of comp book)
·         Begin citing sources research activity, p. 87 of comp book

Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 7 – due Friday, 9/27

Finish panel #3 of milk carton.  Next week = final week before project is due.  If you haven’t started, start now!  Due 10/3

Friday 9/20 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         Collect RJ week 6 / Hand out and review RJ week 7
·         Hand out and review study guide for “Word of the Week” quiz #1
·         Finish Group Discussion Questions on “The Tell Tale Heart”
·         Short film – “The Tell Tale Heart”

Homework:  RJ week 7 due Thursday 9/26 (6*, 7*) and Fri 9/27 (1* only)
Word of the Week Quiz #1 Thursday 9/26 (6*, 7*) and Fri 9/27 (1* only)

Friday 9/20 – 8th Grade (4*)
·         Team Cheer practice for team cheer assembly

Homework:  See Thursday

Monday, September 9, 2013

Week 5, Quarter 1 - 7th and 8th Grade English

Homework & Class Activities for 7th and 8th Grade English
Week 5, Quarter 1

Monday 9/9 – 7th Grade (1*)
·         Parenthetically Speaking, p. 37 (1-6)
·         First Paragraph of a Short Story – notes p. 83 of comp book

Homework:  This week for book project = create rule sheet and game pieces. Due 10/1
Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 5 – due Thursday 9/12 (6* only) and Fri 9/13 (7*, 1*)

Monday 9/9 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Word of the Week, p. 3
·         Multi-media review presentation
·         Compound Sentence Review (3*, 4* only)
·         Finish and check bibliography entries

Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 5 – due on Friday 9/13
This week for book project = type panel #2 of milk carton project.  Due 10/3

Tuesday 9/10 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         Word of the Week, p. 3
·         Multi-media review presentation
·         Plot Structure of a short story – notes p. 84

Homework:  This week for book project = create rule sheet and game pieces. Due 10/1
Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 5 – due Thursday 9/12 (6* only) and Fri 9/13 (7*, 1*)

Tuesday 9/10 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*) and Wed 9/11 (4*)
·         100 word mandalas – 9/11
·         Hand out and review Social Studies and English extra credit assignment

 Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 5 – due on Friday 9/13
This week for book project = type panel #2 of milk carton project.  Due 10/3

Extra credit 9/11 activity due by Friday 9/13 (8th grade only)
Wednesday 9/11 – 7th Grade (6*, 7*, 1*)
·         20 minute classes due to anti-bullying presentation with counselors
·         Finish Plot structure notes
·         “Long and Short of It” (1-5) in comp book, p. 38

Homework:  This week for book project = create rule sheet and game pieces. Due 10/1

Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 5. Get signed! Due tomorrow (6* only) and Fri 9/13 (7*, 1*)


Thursday 9/12 – 7th Grade (6*) and Friday 9/13 (7*, 1*)
·         Collect RJ week 5
·         Hand out and review RJ week 6
·         “The Long and Short of It” – p. 38 (1-5)
·         Finish up notes and begin “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
Homework:  Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 6 – due Friday 9/20
Finish game pieces and type rule sheet for book project by this Sunday!

Thursday 9/12 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Compound Sentence Quiz
·         100-word lists and 9/11 mandalas

Homework:  Finish RJ week 5 and get signed!  Due tomorrow
This week for book project = type panel #2 of milk carton project.  Due 10/3

Extra credit 9/11 activity due by Friday 9/13 (8th grade only)

Friday 9/13 – 8th Grade (2*, 3*, 4*)
·         Collect RJ week 5
·         Hand out and review RJ week 6
·         Collect 9/11 extra credit
·         Final class period for 9/11 mandala

HomeworkMandala due Wed 9/18 if not turned in during class
Read 25 min and fill out RJ week 6 due Thursday 9/19

By Sunday:  Finish up panel #2 of book project.  Due 10/3