and our Emeritus member...
Mike Osborn
We've been cartoon characters, artwork and now we're animals...animals of other continents. Can you guess all of them?
Last updated May 25, 2007: And then there were none. Thanks to everyone who played in our little reindeer games. It's been a blast.
Note: Upcoming due dates for May
May 7: Letter/email due from "expert" for 3rd Independent Study
May 16: 4th Book Review/Project due
May 17: In-class presentation of scenes from Macbeth (here's the assignment)
May 18: Tentative beginning of 3rd Independent Study Presentation
May 25: Last day of school
And....Here are photos from the recent Mock Trials at UNM School of Law!
Week Thirty-Seven (the last one, really): May 21 - 25
Monday:
Most of us go to "Cliff's". Some of us stay back and engage in our annual "Riker's Island" penitentiary role play.
Tuesday:
Back to fun with Independent Study Presentations. We have lots of cool stuff being demonstrated this year.
Wednesday:
More ISPs, that's Independent Study Presentations to those preferring fewer acronyms in the world.
Thursday:
Even more ISPs...from unicycles to juggling to croissants and spaetzle-making
Friday:
The last day of school. A half day devoted to all that is right and wrong with the world.
Room 114 Photo Gallery
Here are the photos from our Mock Trial Extravaganza.
Here are SOME of the pictures we took from early February "Famous Dead People" Independent Study Extravaganza.
Pictures from our January Debates, featuring student debaters and student topics...
Here's a webpage of photos from our "Once Upon A Time" Seminar, featuring pics from our theatrical presentation of various "Cinderella" stories from around the world.
And here's the list of possible Seminar topics for School Year 2006-2007, developed by our students.
Here they are, the pictures from the award ceremony for the 22nd Annual Bulwer-Lytton Bad Prose Writing Contest!
For those interested..here is last year's webpage
Important Documents:
Book Reports:
Alternative Book Report/Review Information (includes 7th/8th Grade examples of quality Book Reviews)
Independent Study Project Descriptions:
7th Grade Independent Study Issue Research Paper
7th Grade Independent Study Creative Person
8th Grade Independent Study Position Paper
8th Grade "Famous Dead People" Paper
8th Grade "Famous Dead People" Success Checklists ("Cheat Codes")
Evaluation forms
7th Grade Issue Paper/Presentation
7th Grade Creative Script/Presentation
8th Grade Position Paper/Presentation
8th Grade "Famous Dead People" Evaluation Forms
Bibliographic Information:
Bibliographic "Template" for your IS Research Papers
How to properly fill out those "Source Cards" and "Fact Cards".
Other documents:
List of Seminar Topics for 2005-2006
Winning Entries in our 2005 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
Week Thirty-Six: May 14 - 18
Monday:
7th Graders: Finishing Hoot
8th Graders: Wrapping Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and assorted unfortunate victims
Tuesday:
All: We view this Semester's films done by our JMS Film Class. First prize is $50.
Wednesday:
All: Book Reports are due (Projects & Reviews)
Thursday:
All: A rather wacky day impacted (oh, you're not supposed to use that word as a verb) by many students attending the International Science Fair.
Friday:
7th Graders: We start our Independent Study Project Presentations, the last big assignment of the year
8th Graders: After a week or so of work we have the theatrical stylings of our students as they perform "Scenes From Macbeth" Perhaps the next Judi Dench or Ian McKellan is in our midst.
Week Thirty-Five: May 7 - 11
Monday: All students must turn in their "expert" letter/email by today
7th Graders: Carl Hiassen, Hoot, sarcasm
8th Graders: We continue the carnage of Macbeth
Tuesday:
7th Graders: More Hooting
8th Graders: That darn spot just won't come out! More Macbeth
Wednesday:
7th Graders: We give a Hoot
8th Graders: How can an entire grove of trees move? Hmmm...let's find out in Macbeth
Thursday:
7th Graders: Hoot can it be now, Hoot Can It be now? (obscure Austrailian song reference)
8th Graders: Okay, we haven't found out about the tree moving thing, yet?
Friday:
7th Graders: It's a bonafide Hootenanny
8th Graders: We're moving closer to the trees moving, but we need to move on to get there
Week Thirty-Four: April 30 - May 4
Monday:
We recover from mock trials with a deadline for our essay reflection on the mock trial thing, some reading and some required testing that we've put off because of mock trials.
Tuesday:
7th Graders: We begin the reading of Carl Hiassen's Hoot
8th Graders: We finally return papers written weeks ago but put off by mock trials. We discuss said papers, do some readings and introduce Macbeth.
Wednesday:
7th Graders:
8th Graders: We begin the reading of Shakespeare's Macbeth
Thursday:
7th Graders: More Hoot
8th Graders: Macbeth, Act I
Friday:
7th Graders: Even more Hoot
8th Graders: Finishing up Act I of Macbeth
Week Thirty-Three: April 23 - 26
Monday:
Our first trial! An afternoon tussle to open the season. Other classes will practice like the Dickens, or Twain or Thackeray.
Tuesday:
Two big trials, one admission! It's a drive-in theater of mock trial fun! Other classes decompress from earlier trials or frantically get ready for trial.
Wednesday:
More trials! Same great taste!
Thursday:
Two more trials to finish things up. Will the Prosecution take the most cases this week? Will the defense? Dum...dum...dum (deep chords on the left side of the piano rise).
Friday:
We decompress from mock trials with a riveting teacher in-service. Or a day off from school, depending on the POV.
Week Thirty-Two: April 16 - 20
Monday:
Having distibuted cases last Friday, we delve into this year's Mock Trial Case NM v. Linn Pauling. See above for a copy.
Tuesday:
We split attorneys and witnesses into separate groups as the witnesses receive dramatic training into their characters, and attorneys brainstorm/prepare a case that can win.
Wednesday:
More split attorney/witness sessions.
Thursday:
We have help today from Mock Trial Athletes from Albuquerque High School, as well as the sponsor of the AHS team. We also might have some attorneys drop by from our Join-A-School partner, Keleher & McLeod.
Friday:
Some last second planning, training and sweating as we have our very first (of seven) trials next Monday (the 23rd) Afternoon.
Week Thirty-One: April 9 - 13
Monday:
7th Grade: Short story du jour (or is it de jour...French isn't my forte...get it, forte, French???)
8th Grade: Going over the week to come, and the seven or so weeks until graduation. A new writing focus taking a meta-look at our personal reading histories.
Tuesday:
7th Grade: Another short story
8th Grade: Stories from the vaults.
Wednesday:
7th Grade: More readings.
8th Grade: More stories from the vaults.
Thursday:
7th Grade: Rough drafts and finals.
8th Grade: Time to bring stories for this week in for revision. We'll do the "usual", editing them in class and submitting ASAP.
Friday:
7th Grade: Handing out the Mock Trial case for this year.
8th Grade: Finals for Weekly Focus due. We'll hand out this year's "real" Mock Trial case, NM v. Pauling and go over some details regarding the issues of the case.
Week Thirty: April 2 - 5: There is no Week Thirty. Well, actually there was, but in a way it didn't even ever exist, really.
Week Twenty-Nine: March 19 - 23 (A Seminar on "Climate Change")
Monday:
A series of speakers on the subject of "global warming", "climate change" or "whatever you want to call it when the planet gets hotter".
Tuesday:
Students work in seminar groups in various areas of concern involving "climate change, et. al."
Wednesday:
A day break from Seminar so that students can either register for 9th grade (8th graders), or have some good 'ol literature.
Thursday:
Continued Seminar discussions on global warming stuff.
Friday:
Group presentations on various subjects pertaining to "climate change" etc.
Climate Change Transportation Links
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/eth_vehicles.html
EPA alternative fuels page
http://media.popularmechanics.com/documents/Fuel_of_the_Future-e852.pdf
Popular Mechanics breaks down different fuel sources to compare
http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/alternativefuels101/a/altfuels101.htm
A Primer on alternative fuels from folks at "About.com"
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/alternative_fuels/
A ton of quality articles on scientific solutions via alternative fuels at Science Daily
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/01/18/EDGC7N75991.DTL
Governor Schwarzenegger's alternative fuels plan for California
http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/articles/warming.asp
It's from Sierra Club, but this position paper has plenty of significant statistics and solution ideas
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36417/story.htm
Information on the importance of transportation on climate change from the UN officer in charge of such things
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html
A UN report shows that farm animals cause more CO2 emission than cars...
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/vehicles_health/cars-and-trucks-and-global-warming.html
From the "Union of Concerned Scientists" some info on nasty CO2 emissions
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/cars_pickups_suvs/technologies-to-reduce-vehicle-greenhouse-gases.html
And some ideas to reduce vehicle emissions from the same "Union of Concerned Scientists"
http://www.euractiv.com/en/environment/alternative-fuels-transport/article-138101
It's a bit hard to dig through, but this article brings up positives and negatives of various alternative fuels
http://www.transportationchoices.org/Top12ThingsYOUCanDo.asp
12 transportation ideas to reduce global warming and links to more information on each
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=43021
A TV report about ethanol that's actually pretty good
http://www.statemaster.com/graph/ene_alt_fue_veh_percap-alternative-fuel-vehicles-per-capita
A graph with state-by-state alternative fuel usage
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-cars/
An interesting little "green center" for cars from Yahoo. They have a green rating for each car...
http://news.com.com/2100-11395_3-6155212.html
A good list of alternative fuel types and pros/cons (well, it could be better)
http://discovermagazine.com/2003/may/featoil
It's turkey guts, no it's thermal depolymerization! from Discover
http://discovermagazine.com/2005/oct/energy
and what about algae? Algae I tell ya!
http://discovermagazine.com/2006/may/methane-fuel
and finally there's cowdung, cowdung I tell ya!
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/2690341.html?page=5
A really good look at alternative fuels and pros and cons of each
http://www.ptua.org.au/myths/fuels.shtml
A look from those favoring public transportation, walking and other non-combustion powered alternatives to transportation
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-article_115/
Yahoo on ethanol myths
Room 114 Photo Gallery
Here are the photos from our Mock Trial Extravaganza.
Here are SOME of the pictures we took from early February "Famous Dead People" Independent Study Extravaganza.
Pictures from our January Debates, featuring student debaters and student topics...
Here's a webpage of photos from our "Once Upon A Time" Seminar, featuring pics from our theatrical presentation of various "Cinderella" stories from around the world.
And here's the list of possible Seminar topics for School Year 2006-2007, developed by our students.
Here they are, the pictures from the award ceremony for the 22nd Annual Bulwer-Lytton Bad Prose Writing Contest!
For those interested..here is last year's webpage
Week Twenty-Eight: March 12 - 16
Note: This Wednesday is the due date for 3rd Quarter Book Reviews & Projects. I know it's also posted about three inches below this line, but here is the info on doing a good job on this assignment:
Alternative Book Report/Review Information (includes 7th/8th Grade examples of quality Book Reviews)
Monday:
7th Graders: House of the Scorpion
8th Graders: We read about "What's In The Meat" from Fast Food Nation, paying special attention to the vocabulary of said book and the awful truth about E. Coli O157:H7.
Tuesday:
7th Graders: House of the Scorpion
8th Graders: Continued reading and analysis of Fast Food Nation.
Wednesday:
Both 7th and 8th: Book Reports (Reviews and Projects) are due. Presentations of both in class. Be sure to avoid nasty questions by doing a great job of literary analysis in your reviews.
Thursday:
Both 7th and 8th Graders: Continued Book Report Presentations.
Friday:
7th Graders: Continued House of the Scorpion .
8th Graders: Return to a final look at Fast Food Nation. What does it all mean?
Week Twenty-Seven: March 5 - 9 (Testing Week #2: Now With Vitamins!)
Monday:
Another break day from testing with a "normal" day of classes. Of course we know, deep down, that testing is again lurking around the chronological corner, lurking and seething, seething and stalking.
Tuesday:
Testing, Day Four. Then, unlike last week, we have some classes in the afternoon.
Wednesday:
Testing, Day Five. More afternoon classes.
Thursday:
The Last Day of Testing!!!!!!!! Whoo-hoo! Yowza! Cowabunga! Then we have some afternoon classes.
Friday:
Back to normalcy with a regular 'ol Literature day, with 7th Graders reading House of the Scorpion and 8th Graders finding out "What's In the Meat?" from Fast Food Nation.
Week Twenty-Six: February 26 - March 2
Monday:
We wrap up our "Mock Trial In-Class Extravaganza" with a case about an alleged "cyberstalker" and another dealing with protections of the 1st Amendment.
Tuesday:
Testing, Day One. Parents, be sure to drop by during afternoons for Parent/Teacher Conferences, especially if you have any concerns regarding your child or just like to chat in general.
Wednesday:
Testing, Day Two. Another chance to spend some quality time with teachers in the afternoon. Jefferson has split parent into three letter groups to come by, but nobody is paying any attention to that.
Thursday:
Testing, Day Three: Return of the Sith. And yes, another not-so-unique opportunity to come by parents and talk to teachers. Conference early and often we say.
Friday:
An incongruous day in which we return to a regular schedule for one day only to have a weekend follow. Much of the same for next week during Testing Days Four, Five and Six.
Week Twenty-Five: February 20 - 23
Monday:
No School to celebrate the fact that we have presidents and not autocratic dictators.
Tuesday:
Mock Trials, Day One: The case of State of New Mexico v. Kerry Townsend. An 8th grade clash of judicial titans.
Wednesday:
Day Two of Mock Trials with resolution of New Mexico v. Townsend.
Thursday:
We take a break from mock trials due to a plethora of outside fieldtrips. This will give our 7th and 6th grade students a chance to incorporate what they learned from watching 8th graders perform New Mexico v. Townsend.
Friday:
We move to Maryland for the case of Howard v. Baltimore Sun Corporation. It's a child custody case gone wrong and turned into a 1st Amendment protection of journalistic sources civil trial. In other words, it's full of complications.
Next week: The final day of mock trials culminates with a criminal trial of an alleged "cyberstalker".
Week Twenty-Four: February 12 - 16
Monday:
We introduce the cases, position folks into roles as attorney/witness, and talk about the process.
Tuesday:
Group study in sets of prosecuting/plaintiff attorneys, defense attorneys, and witness squads. Much strategizing occurs.
Wednesday:
We begin "friendly" witness interviews by attorneys. More work is done in preparation for next week's trials.
Thursday:
More witness interviewing, role plays and practice. Continued strategizing and "discovery". By the way, today is the deadline for discovery (five pages of material maximum, please).
Friday:
One last day of prep for our student models who are going first next Tuesday/Wednesday. Remember, no school on Monday, so it's showtime the second we get back on Tuesday. More witness interviews, especially by teams having their trials on Thursday and Friday.
Week Twenty-Three: February 5 - 9
Attention: Here are SOME of the pictures we took from last week's "Famous Dead People" Independent Study Extravaganza.
Note: Next week Feb. 12 - 16 (and the following week) "In-Class" Mock Trials
Monday:
7th Graders: Reading of House of the Scorpion
8th Graders: We review the long-forgotten Weekly Focus papers on "Food", then delve into Chapter 5: "Why the Fries Taste Good" from Fast Food Nation.
Tuesday:
7th Graders: More House
8th Graders:We review our Independent Study papers, talk about upcoming I.S. work (the long-awaited "Fun" I.S. Project #3), and continue reading Fast Food Nation
Wednesday:
7th Graders: More House
8th Graders: A deeper look at Fast Food Nation
Thursday:
7th Graders: Even more House
8th Graders: Discussion on ideas revolving around "scent" and "taste" via Fast Food Nation
Friday:
7th Graders: Yet more House
8th Graders: Distribution of one of this year's "in-class" mock trial cases. It's a doozy with horsemeat hamburger accusations, murder and homlessness. You can find the case in .pdf format here.
Week Twenty-Two: January 29 - February 2
Monday:
Independent Study Presentations (We'd love to make the schedule accessible, but privacy rules make that impossible)
Tuesday:
More Independent Study Presentations
Wednesday:
Even More Independent Study Presentations
Thursday:
Yet More Independent Study Presentations
Friday:
No School in order that we teachers can acheive coma status through a series of boring meetings.
Week Twenty-One: January 22 - 26
Reminder: Remember how to do your bibliography? Here's a webpage to show you how (note: the page shows both how to create bibliographic entries at the top, and the bottom half shows a snazzy, completed ALPHABETICAL bibliography)
Things due this week:
Thursday, 1/25: 8th Grade first draft creative writings on "Food" (750 words)
Friday, 1/26: Final Independent Study Papers due
Monday:
7th Graders: Open Reading as we complete individual consultations with students on Independent Study papers
8th Graders: We begin reading Fast Food Nation, focusing on how advertising is focused on children.
Tuesday:
7th Graders: Start reading House of the Scorpion
8th Graders: Discussion on advertising to children and food marketing to middle schoolers
Wednesday:
7th Graders: More House of the Scorpion
8th Graders: We read a New York Times article on childhood obesity, focusing on body mass index testing in schools. Is such testing appropriate?
Thursday:
7th Graders: House of the Scorpion
8th Graders: Bring in first draft of your "Food" creative writing piece (750 words). We will peer edit and revise electronically in class.
Friday:
7th Graders: Final Independent Study papers/scripts due
8th Graders: Final Independent Study papers due. Final "Food" creative writing pieces due. In class we will talk over next week's "Famous Dead People Roundtable Discussions" and create questions to be asked at those sessions.
Week Twenty: January 15 - 19
Reminder: Remember how to do your bibliography? Here's a webpage to show you how (note: the page shows both how to create bibliographic entries at the top, and the bottom half shows a snazzy, completed ALPHABETICAL bibliography)
Things due this week:
Tuesday, 1/16: 3rd Data Check for Ind. Study Projects
Friday, 1/19: Rough Drafts due
Friday, 1/26 Final Papers due
Monday: No school for celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tuesday:
7th/8th Grade: 3rd Data Check, discussion of our rough drafts due Friday
Wednesday:
Something very interesting, TBA
Thursday:
We serve as judges to the school's Fall Film Festival.
Friday:
Rough Drafts are due! We'll look them over and get them back as soon as possible for revision into final papers.
Week Nineteen: January 8 - 12
Things due this week:
Note: We moved our 3rd Data Check for Ind. Study Projects to Tuesday, 1/16; Rough Drafts are now due on Friday, 1/19; Final Papers due Friday, 1/26 with presentations the following week.
Monday:
We reconvene to talk about plans for Independent Study, and check note cards and student progress on their Projects.
Tuesday:
A Seminar on "World Religions", featuring speakers on various faiths.
Wednesday:
More Seminar; more speakers
Thursday:
More Seminar; more speakers
Friday:
Small group discussions between students on the subject of faith, religion and the world. No small set of topics that.
Week Eighteen: December 11 - 15
Things due this week:
Thursday, December 14th: "Data Check #2"
By Friday, the 15th: 7th Graders need to have finished their film review of "The Outsiders"
Saturday, December 16th: Have a Good Break!
Monday:
7th Graders: Finish viewing "The Outsiders"; introduce the "skit" assignment.
8th Graders: Return book reviews and discuss them; 18 minute discussion of To Kill A Mockingbird
Tuesday:
7th Graders: Work on skit.
8th Graders: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham & the rest in "To Kill A Mockingbird"
Wednesday:
7th Graders: Continued work on the skit...remember that film review is due by Friday.
8th Graders: Continued viewing of Robert Duvall, Brock Peters & others in "To Kill A Mockingbird"
Thursday:
Both 7th and 8th Graders: Our second "Data Check" for the 2nd Independent Study Project. 7th Graders: 15 cards; 8th Graders: 20 cards and who's your "expert"?
Friday:
7th Grade: Due date for Movie Reviews of "The Outsiders", performance of skits for scenes left out of the movie and book
8th Grade: The unforgettable conclusion of "To Kill A Mockingbird", scripted by famed writer/director Horton Foote.
Week Seventeen: December 4 - 8
Upcoming due dates:
Monday, December 4th: Book Reports (projects and reviews)
Wednesday, December 6th: "Data Check #1" for Independent Study. 7th Graders need 15 note cards; 8th Graders need 20.
Thursday, December 7th: To Kill A Mockingbird Playhouse (presentation of scenes from the book done in lieu of the essay portion of our upcoming test)
Friday, December 8th: To Kill A Mockingbird final exam (essay and objective)
Monday:
7th Graders: Book Project/Review Reports
8th Graders: Book Project/Review Reports
Tuesday:
7th Graders: The Outsiders...we start to watch the film and find out about our film review assignment.
8th Graders: Last day of in-class preparation for plays/reading of To Kill A Mockingbird
Wednesday:
Both 7th and 8th Graders: Our first "Data Check" for the 2nd Independent Study Project. 7th Graders: 15 cards; 8th Graders: 20 cards and solid work on finding an "expert".
Thursday:
7th Graders: Continued viewing of "The Outsiders"
8th Graders: To Kill A Mockingbird Playhouse. In-class productions of scenes from the novel. See Scout in a ham costume, watch Burris Ewell pick "cooties" off his head, watch Mayella scream at Atticus.
Friday:
7th Grade: We finish viewing Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders"
8th Grade: Final Exam over To Kill A Mockingbird. Those who successfully performed a scene of the book and/or went to the local A.M.E. church and wrote a reflection about it are absolved from various parts of the test.
Week Sixteen: November 27 - December 1
Upcoming due dates:
Monday, December 4th: Book Reports (projects and reviews)
Wednesday, December 6th: "Data Check #1" for Independent Study. 7th Graders need 15 note cards; 8th Graders need 20.
Thursday, December 7th: To Kill A Mockingbird Playhouse (presentation of scenes from the book done in lieu of the essay portion of our upcoming test)
Friday, December 8th: To Kill A Mockingbird final exam (essay and objective)
Monday:
7th Graders: The Outsiders
8th Graders: Catching up with To Kill A Mockingbird, getting ready for our quiz on Part I tomorrow. Also keep in mind the following deadlines
Tuesday:
7th Graders: The Outsiders
8th Graders: Said quiz on To Kill A Mockingbird, continued reading
Wednesday:
Both 7th and 8th Graders: It's time to figure out who's doing what in regards to Independent Study. 7th Graders need six focusing questions to discuss with an IS Advisor. 8th Graders need to bring six facts and six lingering questions about their proposed "Famous Dead Person".
Thursday:
7th Graders: Continued work on "The Outsiders"
8th Graders: More reading on To Kill A Mockingbird, including preparation for our in-class play presentations.
Friday:
7th Grade: The Outsiders
8th Grade: A vocabulary assignment related with To Kill A Mockingbird, continued reading.
Week Fifteen: November 20 - 22
Monday:
7th Graders: The Outsiders
8th Graders: We try to read To Kill A Mockingbird as fast as literarily possible
Tuesday:
7th Graders: The Outsiders
8th Graders: Continued speed reading of To Kill A Mockingbird
Wednesday:
Both 7th and 8th Graders: We kick off our 2nd Independent Study Projects with an outline of the 8th Grade "Famous Dead Person" assignment and a revisiting of the 7th Grade Creative Person and Issue Paper projects.
Thursday:
Harvest Festival
Friday:
Consumer Festival following Harvest Festival
Week Fourteen: November 13 - 17
Monday:
We introduce the Student Debate Seminar (that's "SDS" for those who study obscure radical political movements of earlier times) with a few notes and a 8th grade led debate to show us how it's done.
Tuesday:
We split into four groups and four topics. The topics are: corporal punishment, tattoos, gifted/enriched classes, and standardized testing. Basically all the resolutions try to eliminate or institute all of the above in APS schools.
Wednesday:
We switch to Literature for a day to remember exactly what To Kill A Mockingbird and The Outsiders are about
Thursday:
Day one of our Rockin' Student Debates, bring your scoresheets
Friday:
Day two of our Rockin' Students Debates (that's RSD if you're scoring at home). To the winners, eternal praise, to the losers...there are no losers.
Week Thirteen: November 6 - 10
Monday:
7th Graders: Back to our reading of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders
8th Graders: We return writing exercises from last week, discuss them and plot our next moves with Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird
Tuesday:
7th Graders: More Hinton
8th Graders: We celebrate Election Day with more reading of the first chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird
Wednesday:
7th Graders: More Hinton
8th Graders: Continued reading of To Kill A Mockingbird
Thursday:
7th Graders: More Hinton
8th Graders: We take a break from Harper Lee to think about/catch up on our outside independent reading. Remember Book Reviews/Projects are due prior to the end of Fall Semester...that's only five or so weeks away.
Friday:
One of those teacher in-service days, which means no school and lengthy meetings that make one wonder why we are in this profession.
Week Twelve: October 30 - November 3
Monday:
It's Election Seminar 2006! We're going to do three main things: 1. prepare for a debate between good folks who agreed to come in and "become" Rep. Heather Wilson and AG Patricia Madrid for some in-class debates; 2. put together some campaign ads for candidates in this year's election and videotape them before a live audience; 3. have the aforementioned debate with students asking the questions to our debaters. It's all here (well, I think it is) in this week's Seminar Ticket.
Tuesday:
Today we break into small groups to discuss important issues in the Madrid/Wilson (or Wilson/Madrid if you prefer) race. Specifically we're looking at: Iraq, Homeland Security (PATRIOT Act, etc.), Immigration and No Child Left Behind, and Science issues (such as stem cells, global warming, and prescription drugs). Fact sheets given to students can be found here.
Wednesday:
We continue preparing questions for Friday's debate, while also putting together 60-second campaign ads for the candidate. Remember...your "ticket" assignment (interviewing your parent/parents about Madrid/Wilson) is due tomorrow/Thursday.
Thursday:
"Tickets" due today. Don't forget to type up those interviews. In case you lost it, here's another copy of the "ticket" for this week.
Friday:
We culminate our Election 2006 week with in-class debates. Students prepare and ask the questions, our guest expert debaters sweat the answers. Parents are, of course, welcome to visit to check out the formalized, regulated fireworks.
Week Eleven: October 23 - 27
Monday:
7th Graders: We'll do Independent Reading, as we get ready for our book that starts tomorrow
8th Graders: We begin To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee with a viewing of the introductory scene from the film version. We're hoping watching that there scene will hep us talk more Southern and all. We also will introduce our weekly writing focus on "Remembrances"
Tuesday:
7th Graders: We begin another first novel by another young person (sorta like To Kill A Mockingbird). This one is S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders
8th Graders: More To Kill A Mockingbird (TKAM), including observations about the narrative style employed by Scout...ur, Harper Lee
Wednesday:
This Semester's edition of "Parent/Teacher Conference". Drop on by parents and we'll talk about how your child/student/learner has been doing in our class
Thursday:
7th Graders: More The Outsiders
8th Graders: Editing Day for our "Remembrances" assignment. Bring in your 750 word (or more) drafts ready to edit and resubmit by the end of class.
Friday:
7th Graders: More The Outsiders
Week Ten: October 17 - 21
Monday:
The final edition of "Independent Study Project Presentations"
Tuesday:
Seminar! We will take a four-day look at "The Music of New Orleans", introducing students to Zydeco and Cajun styles while also noting the New Orleans jazz scene created by musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton.
Wednesday:
Seminar: Small group work with genre exploration in Jazz, Zydeco, Cajun & Brass Band music.
Thursday:
More Seminar: Musicians prepare for tomorrow's "funeral". Non-musicians work at making accoutrement of the "funeral" experience: umbrellas, coffins, Grand Marshal sashes and such....
Friday:
We culminate our musical look at the "Big Easy" of New Orleans with a tradition N.O. funeral march, replete with walking musicians, a grand marshal and a coffin. Pictures to come.
Week Nine: October 10 - 13
Monday:
No School
Tuesday:
ISP Presentations (our schedule is posted everywhere in our classroom)
Wednesday:
More ISP Presentations (we're hurrying only because we have so many students, we always wish we had more time)
Thursday:
Son of More ISP Presentations (Yikes! Over there, it's Godzilla!)
Friday:
Bride of ISP Presentations (Life! Do you hear me? Give my creation LIFE!!!!...oh wait, that's a line from "Frankenstein"...or is it "Young Frankenstein"?)
Week Eight: October 2 - 6
Monday:
7th Graders: We act as judges for a film contest involving Documentary Film Students.
8th Graders: We act as judges for a film contest involving Documentary Film Students.
Tuesday:
7th Graders: Independent Study Papers are returned in a series of teacher/student consultations. Bring a book to read as you await your consultation.
8th Graders: Independent Study Papers are returned in a series of teacher/student consultations. Bring a book to read as you await your consultation.
Wednesday:
7th Graders: Readings
8th Graders: Readings
Thursday:
7th Graders: Book Reports in class. Remember both your book project and book review are due first thing today.
8th Graders: Book Reports in class. Remember both your book project and book review are due first thing today.
Friday:
7th Graders: Excess Book Reports, if necessary, otherwise readings. Final independent study projects due.
8th Graders: Excess Book Reports, if necessary, otherwise readings. Final independent study projects due.
Week Seven: September 25 - 29
Monday:
7th Graders: Go over details and questions for our Independent Study papers and read Thief of Always.
8th Graders: Go over details and questions for our Independent Study papers, return our last writing assignment and read a few shining examples of class writers/writing.
Tuesday:
7th Graders: Read Thief of Always.
8th Graders: We finally get to read "Harry Belten and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto", a story we tried to get to last Literature Block and failed.
Wednesday:
It's the big day! Our Independent Study Rough Drafts are due. They will be peer edited in class, and returned to authors for a 2nd draft. This 2nd draft must be submitted Thursday.
Thursday:
7th Graders: 2nd Drafts of IS Papers due to teacher/advisors. Independent Reading after a short exam regarding Thief of Always.
8th Graders: 2nd Drafts of IS Papers due to teacher/advisors. We will be reading a scary sea story entitled "The Ledge".
Friday: No School...in order that we teachers may have a bunch of boring meetings.
Week Six: September 18 - 22
Monday: We're moving from Literature to Seminar with a week's look at overcoming racism. We start with definition of some terms, and a guest speaker on the subject of race & class.
Tuesday: We move to small groups to talk about different aspects of racism: legislation, community, education and workplace issues.
Wednesday: We break from our seminar to complete another deadline for Independent Study. In making your cards, keep in mind two things: 1. Remember how to do a fact/source card?; 2. Print out a Bibliographic Template.
Thursday: Back to small seminar groups to develop ideas on solving racism. These ideas will be presented to the larger group by a "Council on Racism".
Friday: And here is that "Council on Racism". Lots of good public speaking opportunities.
Week Five: September 11 - 15
Monday:
7th Graders: Students take a break from Thief of Always with a September 11, 2001 memorial reading of "Hum" by Naomi Shihab Nye.
8th Graders: Our writing focus this week is "atmosphere", especially music and sounds. We will hear and read stories by Sherman Alexie "My Father Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at Woodstock" and "White Men Can't Drum". We also get a homework writing assignment on "atmospheres". Here's a copy of this week's assignment.
Tuesday:
7th Graders: Thief of Always
8th Graders: Today we read "Harry Belten and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto"...it's a long story but worth it. And did we mention you have a writing assignment this week due Thursday? Here are the details of that assignment.
Wednesday:
7th & 8th Graders: 2nd Data Check for 15/20 cards for Independent Study. In making your cards, keep in mind two things: 1. Remember how to do a fact/source card?; 2. Print out a Bibliographic Template.
Thursday:
7th Graders: Thief of Always
8th Graders: In-class editing of our writing assignments on "atmosphere". Here are the details of that assignment.
Friday:
7th Graders: Thief of Always
8th Graders: We return "atmosphere" papers graded and discuss our writing...We might also need to finish up the reading of "Harry Belten and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto".
Meanwhile, Ms. Griffin's classes will
have 7th graders floating down the Mississippi with Huck and Jim and
learning just how important Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn in
particular are to American Literature.
8th Graders will
continue to lose hope of rescue along with the characters in Lord
of the Flies...we should be finishing this week, there will be a take
home essay/exam when we finish the book.
Both 7th and 8th Graders will devote Wednesday to independent study..we'll be working in the library, next set of notecards are due.
Week Four: September 5 - 8
Tuesday:
Back to Literature Block after our Introductory Seminar
7th Graders: Thief of Always
8th Graders: Returning student papers and discussion. Questions on Independent Study, and a reading.
Wednesday:
7th & 8th Graders: 1st Data Check for 15/20 cards for Independent Study. In making your cards, keep in mind two things: 1. Remember how to do a fact/source card?; 2. Print out a Bibliographic Template.
Thursday:
7th Graders: Thief of Always
8th Graders: We read Flannery O'Connor's great & gruesome symbolic short story "A Good Man Is Hard to Find". Discussion of evil, symbolism and all that.
Friday:
7th Graders: Thief of Always
8th Graders: Independent Reading
Week Three: August 28 - September 1
Monday:
Seminar! Seminar!
Tuesday:
More Seminar on "Once Upon a Time". Here's the "ticket" from the Seminar.
Wednesday:
Back to Independent Study with a weekly deadline to come up with a topic/person and six focusing questions on that topic/person. Remember 8th Graders, you need to come up with a controversial topic on which you will develop a position. As mentioned last week, 7th Graders can choose a 7th Grade Independent Study Issue Research Paper or a 7th Grade Independent Study Creative Person project. As just stated above, 8th Graders will undertake a 8th Grade Independent Study Position Paper.
Thursday:
Seminar presentations on "Once Upon A Time".
Friday:
More Seminar presentations on "Once Upon A Time". We also have a "ticket" or homework due that day. Hint: it's the green sheet passed out in class (which appears orange here).
Week Two: August 21 - 25
Monday:
7th: Beginning The Thief of Always
8th: We go over some notes pertaining our first writing assignment. Then a few readings, especially those dealing with use of similes. You know...the "like" or "as" thing. Our second writing assignment is an exercise in the use of simile.
Tuesday:
7th: More The Thief of Always
8th: We read Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find" in class. Discussion of the story, especially as it ties to what we try to accomplish as writers.
Wednesday:
Both 7th and 8th: Introduction to the various types of Independent Study Projects for this nine weeks (or so). Specifically, 7th Graders can choose a 7th Grade Independent Study Issue Research Paper or a 7th Grade Independent Study Creative Person project. 8th Graders will undertake a 8th Grade Independent Study Position Paper.
Thursday:
7th: More Thief of Always
8th: Simile paper rough drafts due. We will go from draft to final version in class, using peer editing.
Friday:
Both 7th and 8th Graders will convene for the formal announcement of winners in our 22nd Annual Jefferson Bulwer-Lytton Prose Writing Contest.
Week One (Really): August 14 - 18
Monday:
Introduction to what we're doing this year in Literature. 8th Graders have some rules to go over, including grading parameters. 7th Graders need to bring their Independent Reading books.
Tuesday:
8th Graders will read over some examples of how authors match the audiences they seek. We'll use this as a springboard to having students try to do the same in their writing assignment #1. 7th Graders will do independent reading.
Wednesday:
The Introduction to the 22nd (or something like that) Annual In-House Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Writing Contest. We'll read previous winners, both in the worldwide contest and in our little corner of the world. By the way...Those interested can find our winning entries from last year here. Your entries are due on Monday, August 21st.
Thursday:
8th Graders will look at a short reading selection and discuss it.
7th Graders will read Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron".
Friday:
8th Graders will break out the Independent Reading while they turn in their first written work of the year. Here's a description of that assignment.
7th Graders will break out the "handicaps" they developed for themselves in reaction to reading Vonnegut's handicaps for "Harrison Bergeron".
Week One (Not Really): August 11 through August 11...really
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday: Teachers endure torpor-inducing meetings, alternating with slightly more fun stuff like student registration
Friday: Intro to The Judd/Key Experience. We fill out data cards, get reacquainted and posit whether going to school at 8:20 is such a good idea.
You can email us by clicking on the pictures at the top of the page, or if you're too lazy to go back to the top: Ms. Judd Ms. Griffin Mr. Key