While your fellow classmates are slaving away in their other classes, you will be embarking on an incredible adventure – a Hobbit adventure, that is.

Over the next two days, your quest will be to fulfill four Hobbit tasks.  I’ve even set up a special place at which to begin your journey:

There and Back Again…A Hobbit Adventure Edublog

We will start reading The Hobbit on FRIDAY if all goes well, so if you don’t have your copy with you in class, please be sure to have it then.  Our class copies are very, very limited, which means that if you’re lucky to secure a class copy, you may not be able to take it home each night. 

By the time you leave the lab today, you should have finished AT LEAST Adventure 1 & 2. 

Viva la ADVENTURE!!!

There and Back Again…A Hobbit Adventure Edublog

I hope that yesterday gave you a BRIEF insight to the GENIUS that is Edgar Allan Poe.  He was a brilliant, tortured writer who wrote about the miseries and horror that he lived.  

Today we’ll explore his life and works a little deeper.  The link below will take you to a FABULOUS website that will not only teach you more about Poe’s life, but will give you an opportunity to take an in-depth look at Poe’s work and his distinct STYLE.

Put your headphones on and plan on spending some SERIOUS time exploring this website!

Knowing Poe

Hopefully after today, you guys will know…Poe.

 Mrs. S

Here’s a downloadable copy of today’s handouts, should yours walk home with someone else this afternoon…

Knowing Poe-Interactive Scavenger Hunt

Knowing Poe-Interactive Timeline Organizer

 Knowing Poe-Interactive Scavenger Hunt, Day 2

I’ve got your first offical Edmodo online assignment details!  We’ll complete one or two of these every six weeks!

Q1. What is the assignment?

Your assignment is to write a narrative (a story, fiction or non-fiction) inspired by one of three photos I provide to you. 

Q2. How long does my story need to be?

I’d like your narrative to be at least 5 paragraphs in length

Q3. What, specifically, must it contain?

Your narrative must include the following:

1. A clear beginning/middle/end
2. At least 1 – 2 main characters
3. A recognizable setting
4. An identifiable conflict/resolution

Q4. How do I turn this in, exactly?

You may turn your assignment in two different ways:

1. Type your narrative directly into Edmodo using the Assignment Alert that was sent to you

2. Type your narrative into a Word document, save it to your computer, and upload it into the Edmodo Assignment Alert.

Q5. How will I be graded?

Your assignment will be graded based on:

            A. Story Structure (does your narrative have a beginning/middle/end?)

            B. Story Elements (plot, setting, character, conflict, resolution)

            C. Conventions (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

Q6. So…what do I write about exactly?

I’ve selected three different photographs to inspire you.  Choose one, and write a creative story about the photograph that you chose.  It can be based on something that’s really happened in your experience, or it can be completely and entirely from your imagination.  Just be sure to stick with your criteria (see Q3)!

Want to see your photo options?

Photo Option #1

Photo Option #2

Photo Option #3

Upload the entire assignment with the photos by clicking the link below:

Edmodo Writing Assignment #1

 As always, please let me know if you have questions about the assignment.  DO NOT wait until the last minute to find access to a computer if you don’t have one at home!  The library is open every morning at 8:15, as is MY CLASSROOM.  

See ya’ on the flip side,

 Mrs. S

Howdy Lions!  Welcome to 8th Grade Language Arts and welcome to my website!  

I always feel a delirious combination of exhilaration and exhaustion at the beginning of a school year.   I have been working hard to get things ready for you all, and yet it’s only just the beginning!  So many possibilities!!  

I hope you will take advantage of the information you’ll find here on my website.  I encourage you to take a look at some advice from last year’s 8th graders – they created some videos just for you!   Click HERE to see them!

Another valuable link here on my website is our class calendar.  See over there to the right?  There’s a heading titled “PAGES”.  One of those links will take you to our class calendar, so you’ll always know what’s up.  CLICK HERE to see it!  Check it often as it changes often!

Yet another VERY HELPFUL  place to look will be the Virtual Classroom File Cabinet.  It’s exactly what it sounds like – a “file cabinet” full of our class assignments.  So if you happen to misplace a handout or your dog/cat/hamster/sister eats an assignemnt, most of the time you can download and print out a shiny new copy by visiting the Virtual Classroom File Cabinet!

Lastly, you can subscribe to my website by entering your (or your parent/guardian’s) email address into the form in the top right-hand corner of this page.  Then you’ll get an email every time I post a new entry to the website. 

I know that I threw a ton of stuff at you today, and combined with all the other stuff that your Lions’ teachers threw at you, I imagine that your brain is pretty much fried.  (Mine is too, truth be told!) 

SOOOOOO to help you out, here’s a list of what I’ll be expecting you to turn in to me by Friday:

1. The Survival Guide Parent/Student signature page on the back of your Survival Guide.  

2. Your Internet Permission form and the Lions’ Adventures in Technology Handout – both with your parent/guardian’s signature.  (You can find both in the Virtual File Cabinet if you’ve misplaced them!)

3. Your parents’ homework assignment titled “In a Million Words or Less” (also available on the Virtual File Cabinet).

I’d love it if you’d go ahead and drop me a comment – say hello so that I know you were here!  (Don’t worry if your comments don’t show up right away – I must approve them first…)

**BTW – a special howdy to all of you leaving comments here tonight!  I feel so verrrrry popular!  (ok so I bribed you but still…)   I should have mentioned this in class, but please please please leave ONLY your first name and last INITIAL in your comment, guys!  Kthnxbuhbye, 

 TTFN!

Mrs. S

I loved watching your advice videos!  I think they’ll sufficiently scare/prepare my new Peeps-in-Training next year.  So many of them were hilarious and yet full of useful words of wisdom.  I’ll be adding them here over the next couple of days, so be sure to come back and see them all!

 
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Today you have two tasks to complete:

1. Finish the assignment from yesterday.

2. Fill out 4 charts on 4 colleges of your choice, using the links & information you’ll find HERE.

Moving forward in our Career Research…

Today we’ll look specifically at the transition from high school to college.  Click the link below:

Click here to view your assignment and the links that go with it!

Over the course of the next few days, you will be busy working on two different aspects of your career research:

1. Pages 14 – 32 of your Career Research Packet

2. The online activities detailed on the Reality Bites handout you received in class today.

Please click on the link below to continue:

REALITY BITES – Career Research – Phase 2 – LINKS

Shakespeare Name Generator

Ok, so now that you’ve got your fabulous Shakespearean name, leave a Shakespearean comment below using the Shakespeare words from your packet.  Sign your comment with your Shakespearean name AND your real name! 

Ta-ta!

Cleopatra Andronicus (aka Mrs. Sanders)

P.S. Click here for some great examples  (not all of them are fabulous, mind you, but many of them are awesome) from last year’s Peeps!  (You’ll need to scroll down past my post to read their responses).

It’s easy – just pick a “P” word from their list (those are SAT words, y’all), find (or take) a great picture that teaches/explains/represents your “P” word, and then create your Brainypic directly from their website! 

Only FIVE (count ‘em – FIVE) lucky winners will be selected to win a free iTunes, so get going!  Be funny!  Teach vocab!   I can’t wait to see what you (and all the other vocabulary beasts lurking out there in cyberspace) come up with!

And in celebration of this event, I just had to…you know…bring vocab back:

I’m Bringing Vocab Back

 Mrs. S

Tangerine by Edward Bloor is by far one of my favorite novels to teach, primarily because students LOVE it and can’t put it down.  THAT is cool – true excitement about reading a book!

My wonderful Pre-AP students have just finished a Vocabulary Video Project.  Look for the links to their videos at Brainyflix.com.  Soon you can vote for your favorite video and help them win $200! 

An entirely NEW challenge also streches before them – POETRY ANALYSIS.  This is typically met with moans and groans, and that’s understandable, because they will actually have to – GASP! – think and write and analyze.  I hope that you’ll reach the end of the unit feeling like you’ve stretched your analytical muscles!  Be strong!  At the end of the six weeks, we’ll be completing a really cool multimedia project.  I can’t wait!

If you need another copy of this six week’s calendar, click the appropriate links below:

5th Six Weeks Calendar – Pre-AP

5th Six Weeks Calendar – Regulators

My Pre-AP classes will start things off with an author study of Agatha Christie.  We’ll read “The Mousetrap”, which is a lot of fun!  Who’s got what it takes to figure out who the killer is???? Time will tell…

Then we’ll move into something a little meatier – Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express”!  Written in classic murder mystery style, we’ve got THIRTEEN SUSPECTS stuck on a luxurious train headed for London.  I think you’ll all love it.  And I promise – the murderer is NOT who you think it is!

Pre-AP will also start getting into meatier analysis skills – prose, personal narrative, poetry, and rhetoric.  I’m stepping things up around here – before you know it, you’ll be knee-deep in Freshman Pre-AP English and I will give you the skills to ensure your success.  It’s tough, but I am confident that you can handle it!

My wonderful Regular Language Arts class will be enjoying Murder on the Orient Express (we call in MOTOE for short!) as well as “The Mousetrap”.  I hope to ignite some interest in Agatha Christie’s work and look forward to seeing what other titles you may choose to read!

Believe it or not, the test-that-shall-not-be-named is on our horizon.  We’ll be spending some time honing on on the skills that we need to do our very best on that important assessment!

As usual, be looking for lots of technology – I hope that we’ll be linking up with our friends in Alabama some time soon, and we’ll soon return to Classmarker.com for our grammar quizzes.  Watch for new forums on the discussion forum as well.  Mrs. Boydstun and I are busy brainstorming a REALLY awesome culminating project for our murder mystery genre.  I can’t wait!

TTFN,

 Mrs. S

Fall Semester Review – Definitions

Fall Semester Review – Parts of Speech

Have fun, and may the vocab be with you.

Mrs. S

By the time you leave the lab today, you should have finished all four of your Hobbit Adventures.  Here’s the link to the Hobbit Adventures website:

There and Back Again

All posts for Adventures 1 - 3 have been approved.  Verify that yours is there! 

When you have completed the tasks for Adventure 4 (which are basically to post your Hobbit & Orc names), you have several options for how to spend the remaining class time. 

1. Play any of the games or activities that are linked on Adventure Four

2. Practice your vocabulary at Quizlet

3. Play some vocab-inspired games at East of the Web.  Warning:  Popword is dangerously addictive!

TTFN,

Prisca Bramble of Willow Bottom

While your fellow classmates are slaving away in their other classes, you will be embarking on an incredible adventure – a Hobbit adventure, that is.

Over the next two days, your quest will be to fulfill four Hobbit tasks.  I’ve even set up a special place at which to begin your journey:

There and Back Again…A Hobbit Adventure Edublog

We will start reading The Hobbit on FRIDAY if all goes well, so if you don’t have your copy with you in class, please be sure to have it then.  Our class copies are very, very limited, which means that if you’re lucky to secure a class copy, you may not be able to take it home each night. 

By the time you leave the lab today, you should have finished AT LEAST Adventure 1 & 2. 

Viva la ADVENTURE!!!

There and Back Again…A Hobbit Adventure Edublog

3rd Six Weeks Vocabulary Review Online

Once there’s a plan in place, I encourage your group members to begin searching for images and sound to accompany your video.   However, it is VERY important that you first set up a place to SAVE YOUR WORK.   DO THIS NOW:  From your desktop, right-click your work area and choose “New” from the drop-down menu.  Then select “Folder”.  Once your folder shows up, click it ONCE to rename it with your group’s name.  This will be a place for you to save any images/audio that you want to use on your finished project. 

Feel free to use Google images to find images for your video.  Here’s how to save an image to your new group folder on your desktop:

Right-click the image and choose “Save As”.  Navigate to the desktop and choose your folder from its location on the desktop.  Name your image something that you’ll recognize, like “raven”, for example.  Click “Save”.

Please remember to refer to your handout for links to site for links to music/audio content.  Saving audio content is similar to saving an image.  Once you’ve found an audio clip that you like, right-click it and choose “Save Target As”.  Again, navigate to the desktop and choose your group folder from its location on the desktop.  Name you audio clip something that you’ll recognize, and then click “Save”.

You can also refer to the link below for direct links to the sites in your handout.  It will save you from having to type everything in:

Edgar Allan Poe Video Project Resources and Links

I expect to begin filming tomorrow, but please remember that we only have TWO video cameras to use at a time.  Those groups NOT filming will need to be busy in the lab on OTHER tasks.  Your group’s directors should be ready to direct group members to what needs to be completed in a timely manner.

As of today, I expect your projects to be ready for submission on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11. 

We have an exciting week this week, as we’ll be taking our big Poe test and working on our first multimedia project – a tribute to Poe.   I celebration of Poe’s 200th birthday, Weekly Reader Magazine is sponsoring a Poe Video Contest.   I’m looking forward to seeing the way that you all work together to produce a fabulous tribute to the gothic GENIUS, Edgar Allan Poe.    Our due date is flexible, depending on how well technology works for us, but I’m initially calling the due date for this project TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11.  There’s a lot to do:  shoot video, add photos, insert text, add narration, and find the perfect music to accompany your project.  Very exciting!

If at any time you need help with your project, please visit the link below.  It will take you to the entry that I typed up for my students last year:

Edgar Allan Poe Video Project Info & Resources

Click the link below download a copy of the project handout you received in class.

Edgar Allan Poe Project Handout

If you happen to need an extra copy of any of Poe’s works to study for your test, you can find them on the “Virtual Filing Cabinet” link on the right.

Happy November!

 Mrs. S

Koolteechakids Discussion Forum

When you click on the link above, you’ll see a message saying that you “don’t have permission to view the content in this forum.”   That’s okay!   If you’ll click on “New Member” in the top, right-hand corner of the screen.  Please create your account using the following information:

Username:  first name, last initial.  For example:  JohnS

Password:  first initial, last initial, 6-digit ID #   For example, ab123456

Email:  your gaggle email address  For example:  johnsmith@gaggle.net

That is the only information you’re required to enter in order to join the board.  Please let me know if you have any questions! 

QUIZLET VOCABULARY REVIEW – CLICK HERE!!!

Have fun!!

Mrs. S

All it takes is a quick Google search to find the poem, but I’ve also got a copy right here:

“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe

Shoot me an email if you have any questions!

Today in the computer lab, you must finish the remainder of your Interactive Website Exploration Assignment.    When you have printed out your “Tell-Tale Heart” annotations, you can consider yourself done with Part 1.  There is also a Part 2!    

The last item on your Technology To-Do List is to join our new discussion board.  

Koolteechakids Discussion Forum

When you click on the link about, you’ll see a message saying that you “don’t have permission to view the content in this forum.”   That’s okay!   If you’ll click on “New Member” in the top, right-hand corner of the screen.  Please create your account using the following information:

Username:  first name, last initial.  For example:  JohnS

Password:  first initial, last initial, 6-digit ID #   For example, ab123456

Email:  your gaggle email address  For example:  johnsmith@gaggle.net

That is the only information you’re required to enter in order to join the board.  Please let me know if you have any questions! 

I hope that yesterday gave you a BRIEF insight to the GENIUS that is Edgar Allan Poe.  He was a brilliant, tortured writer who wrote about the miseries and horror that he lived.  

Today we’ll explore his life and works a little deeper.  The link below will take you to a FABULOUS website that will not only teach you more about Poe’s life, but will give you an opportunity to take an in-depth look at Poe’s work and his distinct STYLE.

Put your headphones on and plan on spending some SERIOUS time exploring this website!

Knowing Poe

Hopefully after today, you guys will know…Poe.

 Mrs. S

Here’s a downloadable copy of today’s handouts, should yours walk home with someone else this afternoon…

Knowing Poe-Interactive Timeline Organizer

Knowing Poe-Interactive Scavenger Hunt

Knowing Poe-Interactive Scavenger Hunt, Day 2 

Howdy Wester Faculty!  Please click HERE for my Staff Development Page!

1. Word Maps – 20 minutes, as usual!  By the way, if you ever need a copy of our essential Word Map, please click the link on the right side bar for my “Virtual File Cabinet”. 

2. Daily Grammar – QUIZ!!  Go to Classmarker.com and take your quiz for today. 

3. Complete the assignment on my Intro to Sleepy Hollow page.   You’ll need notebook paper and something to write with, and if you haven’t popped your earbuds in yet, you’ll need to do that, too.  This assignment is due tomorrow!  We won’t be returning to the lab tomorrow, so finish your assignment at home if you don’t complete it in class today. 

4. Looking for a new addiction?  Here’s one that offers you a chance to improve your vocabulary and do a good deed at the same time.  Does it get any better than that? 

www.freerice.com

Ok.  That’s all you need from me for today! 

TTFN,

  Mrs. S

Click here for directions on logging in to Gaggle!

Once you’ve been able to log in and see your inbox, you’ll notice three lovely emails waiting for you!  The first one I’d like you to look at is the one about Classmarker.com.  This is where I’ll occasionally send you to take quizzes.   You’ll need to change your username and password to match your Gaggle username and password as well as enter your new Gaggle email address into your account before taking your Grammar test.  Click the link for directions:

Classmarker.com instructions

Now…no, you’re not done yet!  The last step is to login to our class Ning, which is a fabulous learning network we’ll be using this year. It’s a lot of fun, and a really great way to communicate about what’s going on in class.  Again, click the link below for a quick tutorial:

How to join the class Ning

Whew!  Now besides all of that wonderful techie stuff, we’re still working on short story analysis.  PreAPeeps had their first Inner/Outer Circle Discussion last week, and it was…well, a work in progress.  Not too bad for the first time!  It’ll get better over time.  This week we’ll read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, which is always a great conversation starter.  I can’t wait to see what you guys think about it!

The first few days of this week will be spent dicussing TONE in literature.  Tone is hard, and unfortunately, you’ll be addressing tone ALL through high school, so I’ll spend only an introductory amount of time on it.  I will say this:  TONE is all about DICTION – word choice.  The author conveys his/her TONE by the words he/she chooses.  When I ask you to give me tone, I’ll also be asking for some words from the text that support your ideas.  A great piece to look at for TONE is “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms” by Ray Brabury.   What a great story – I’m sure that you’ll get to the end of the story and really be able to feel how the author feels – which is his TONE. 

By Friday, we’ll be reading “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs…hey, it’s close enough to Halloween to get the chills, right?  This cautionary tale puts that song by the Pussycat Dolls in a whole new light.  “Be careful what you wish for ’cause you just might get it…”

Oh yes, and then there’s that little thing we call VOCABULARY.. Isn’t is great?  You have a hefty quiz coming up on Friday – 25 words, and yes – you’ll need to know them all!  Consider this a practice for your Six Weeks Vocabulary TEST, which will be next week.  The content is the same, but the stakes are higher…

I found a nifty place for you to do a little studyin’…check it out:

 Fall Vocabulary – Fifth Six Weeks

I dare to beat my high school on Space Race!

TTFN,

Mrs. S

Another great story is “The Moustache” by Robert Cormier, a poignant story about a young man sent to visit his grandmother, who is losing her memory…or is she?  

Later in the week, we’ll conduct our first Inner/Outer Circle discussion over “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros – I think you’ll love this discussion technique!  We’ll continue using it throughout the year.   

By the end of the week, we’ll be reading “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl.  If this story doesn’t give you the heebie-jeebies, I don’t know what will!  I love this  one…

Special note to my Pre-APeeps:  In November, we’ll begin reading the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.   I always highly recommend that my Peeps get their own copy of the novel.  We’ll be doing LOTS of reading outside of class, and you’ll need a copy that you can tote back & forth from school.  It’s not required, please understand, but I wanted to give the heads-up early enough to start scouring Half-Price Books!  Amazon.com often has great deals on used books, too.  I’m offering a free, unconditional 100 if you bring your own copy of The Hobbit, so start remind your parents NOW.

Regulators, we’ve just finished up “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros, and will begin reading Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” this week, as well as “The Landlady” Roald Dahl.  Got chills, anyone? 

Oh – and before I forget…the time will come, sooner or later, when you’ll need a handout from class or a copy of a story that you have forgotten/misplaced/lost/thrown away accidentally, so I’ve prepared a quick video tutorial to show you how to find what you need from this website! 

 Click here to watch the quick tutorial video!

TTFN,

Mrs. S

This week we’ll be PIGGING OUT on those figurative cookies.  Hopefully, Pre-APeeps, you filled your bellies with a little “Most Dangerous Game” this weekend while you worked on your analysis.   I acknowledge that this is a challenging assignement – please send me an email if you have questions, or come to tutorials in the morning.  We’ll actually spend a little bit of time on it tomorrow, so don’t panic too much. 

Once we finish with “The Most Dangerous Game,” my Regulators will move on to Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”.   THAT, my chickadees, is CLASSIC Man Vs. Nature!!!  

Pre-APeeps will get some well-needed instruction on annotating and then practice, practice, practice.   Next we’ll read Robert Cormier’s “The Moustache”.  (KLEENEX ALERT!)

I don’t know about you, but I have really enjoyed familiarizing ourselves with the Qwizdom system.   I’m looking forward to using this interactive system more often!    What a great way to assess learning and have fun at the same time.  Stay tuned for more quizzes!!!

I’m working on getting everyone their own Gaggle email address.  Having a Gaggle email is important for a couple of reasons.  One – we’ll be working in our Ning (short for social networking) soon, and you need an email address to join, and two – Gaggle is safe & smart – anything & everything you do with it is 100% safeguarded by me.   Sooooooooo if you haven’t turned your Web Publishing Permission form into me, please do so ASAP, because you won’t be able to participate if I don’t have that back from your parents.

Oh, and please be sure to check out our class calendars.  You can always access these to know what’s going on in class for the week. 

Regulators’ Class Calendar

Pre-APeeps’ Class Calendar

See ya on the flip side,

 Mrs. S

This week we’ll be digging deeper into “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell.  I love this story because it’s chock full of lots of literary goodness.  Really – all the best figurative devices, recognizable conflict & resolution, a universal truth (that’s called THEME ladies & gentlemen), and AMAZING characterization of both General Zaroff and Rainsford. 

We’ll also take some pretty heavy duty notes over short story analysis.    Once we get our heads around “The Most Dangerous Game”, we’ll use that story as a reference as we go over the literary elements & figurative devices.  

Surely you all remember that your All About Me presentations begin tomorrow.  We’ll do some tomorrow, some Wednesday, and we’ll probably save a few for Wednesday as well.  I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of creative stuff you all came up with!

Let’s not forget that you’ll get a new list of vocabulary words this week, and that you will have another quiz on Friday.

This week also marks the beginning of our Daily Grammar series.

It’s a party around here, that’s for sure.

I’d love it if you’d leave me a comment to let me know you were here. 

Have a groovy week,

 Mrs. S

 
Howdy Lions! Welcome to 8th Grade Language Arts and welcome to my webpage! If you are in my Pre-AP Language Arts class, please click the category “Pre-AP Language Arts” link in the sidebar of my webpage for any information that is for your class.

I am always feel a delirious combination of exhilaration and exhaustion at the beginning of a school year. I have been working hard to get things ready for you all, and yet it’s only just the beginning! So many possibilities!! This year poses an interesting challenge for us – the “Test-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named” comes a LOT earlier than it has in the past, and the stakes are getting higher and higher. I am confident that we will be ready to meet it head-on!

I hope you will take advantage of the information (and fun stuff) you’ll find here on my website – look for my podcast to be posted here in the next day or so.

I know that I threw a ton of stuff at you today, and combined with all the other stuff that your Lions’ teachers threw at you, I imagine that your brain is pretty much fried. (Mine is too, truth be told!)

SOOOOOO to help you out, here’s a list of what I’ll be expecting you to turn in to me by Friday:

1. The Survival Guide Parent/Student signature page on the back of your Survival Guide.

2. Your Internet Permission form.

3. Your parents’ homework assignment titled “In a Million Words or Less”.

If you have managed to misplace any of these handouts – panic not. Take a look at the blue box titled “Handouts” on the far right hand side of this page. EVERYTHING that I passed out to you in class today is there – it’s like a virtual file cabinet – SWEET! Simply scroll down until you see the handout you need, click on it & it will download to your computer.

Our class calendar can be found at

Koolteecha’s Class Calendar

I’d love it if you’d go ahead and drop me a comment – say hello so that I know you were here! Please only leave your first name and last initial!

(Don’t worry if your comments don’t show up right away – I must approve them first…)

TTFN!

Mrs. S.

This is my favorite time of year – the pressure of the test-that-shall-not-be-named is behind us!   Plus, my Pre-APeeps are reading SHAKESPEARE, y’all!  LOVE IT!  My Regulators are reading Tangerine by Edward Bloor and I can’t make them quit!  It seriously can’t get any better than this!

Pre-APeeps, I have a small online assignment for you.  Go to the link below and discover your Shakespearean name.  Then leave me a Shakespearean comment using some of the Elizabethan terms on page 42 of your study guide.  Don’t forget to include your real name along with your Shakespeare name!

Shakespeare Name Generator

Ah, Regulators – you have no idea how much I revel in the thought that you can’t put Tangerine down!    (I hate to say “I told you so,” but I told you so!)

I have been pretty fired up about using our iPods to listen to Tangerine – how cool is that?   The next time we check them out, be sure to watch the video projects from last year. 

So here’s my next thought about listening to Tangerine:  Wouldn’t it be even better if you didn’t have to listen to ME read every time?  How about some volunteer readers?  You need a computer at home and the audio editing program Audacity, but I’d be happy to give you a quick training.  Let me know if you’re interested in being a guest reader in our Tangerine series!

I will leave you with my next idea. (and no, my brain really doesn’t ever stop thinking about stuff…)

For those of you who have ever watched “The Real World” or “Big Brother” or any of those reality shows, you may have seen that they tape a segment in the “Confessional”, where the people kind of share their individual thoughts with the camera?   Keep that in mind, because Coach Mac and I are brewin’ up an end-of-the-year video project called “8th Grade Reflections” that will mirror those segments somewhat.  Take some time and muse (ding! ding!) about what you have learned this year, or how you’ve grown academically.  Think about what you liked best about your time in Language Arts and what you’d tell next year’s rookie 8th graders about being in my class.

 Mrs. S

Visit Koolteecha’s PreAPeeps