Ms. Arrese

May 13, 2008

Today in class:  All blocks completed The Diary of Anne Frank, Act I.  The test over Act One is on Thursday.  If you are scheduled to be out of the classroom during your regular class period, it is your responsibility to make arrangements to come in and take the exam on Wednesday morning or afternoon or Thursday Afternoon.  Literature books will be turned in on Thursday and Writing and Grammar books will be turned in on Friday.  If you have lost one or both of your books, the replacement costs are Lit Book - $55.47 and Writing and Grammar - $47.47.

Technology Assessment on Friday!!

HOMEROOM:

Remember to bring in a self addressed, stamped envelope to in order to receive your final school documents.  The envelope must have two first class stamps. 

May 12 - 16

It is difficult to believe that the end of the year is almost here!  We continue to be busy in class reading The Diary of Anne Frank .  The following is a list of important upcoming events in class.

May 15th - Open book test over Act one of "The Diary of Anne Frank"  Remember to bring your book to class.  Lit books will be turned in on the 15th.

May 16th - 8th Grade Technology Assessment in the computer lab

May 16th - Writing and Grammar Books turned in

May 19th - Pirates of Penzance 8th graders will attend the play at 9:45 am

May 19th - Perfect Attendance for Year Pizza Party @ 3:00

May 20th - Honor's Picnic during Lunch

May 21st - Cat Chow during Lunch

May 21st - Academic Party - 8th grade - 2:30 - 2:50

May 22nd - Grade Level Honors Assemblies, All A's, Perfect Attendance(all 3 yrs) and Honor Student Luncheon @ 12:00

Today's Agenda:

1)  Turn in The Diary of Anne Frank permission slip.  If you cannot find yours, print it from this link:Download anne_frank_permission_form.doc

2)  Listen/Read Aloud "The Diary of Anne Frank"

3)  UPCOMING TEST ON MAY 15TH.  Open Book test over Act One.

4)  HOMEWORK - You must finish reading Act Four.

MAY 7TH IS PAJAMA DAY!!!!!

Tomorrow is PAJAMA DAY!!!

If you want to participate, please bring $2.00 to homeroom.  The sticker you receive must be worn all day.  The money will benefit the Edwards Memorial Garden.  If you chose to wear PJ's to school tomorrow, please adhere to the following guidelines:

No tank tops

No see through pants

No inappropriate words/advertisements

No holes above the knee

Follow the dress code:  If a violation occurs, you will have to call home for a change of clothes.  If you questions if something is OK, don't wear it! 

May 6, 2008

Today's Agenda

1)  Turn Progress Reports into the block drawer

2)  Complete Holocaust Reading Packet

3)  Complete Study Guide Questions

4)  Preview "Ann Frank" begin on page 695 of Literature Book

5)  Test on Thursday, May 8th over background reading packet and Paperclips.

Important Dates to Remember

Upcoming Events in May:

5th - PTSA Meeting at 6:45

6th - 6th and 8th Grade Band Concert at 6:30

8th - Chorus Concert at 6:30, Language Arts Test

9th - Eighth Grade Dance, 7th Grade Band Concert @ Harrison

13th - 14th - Algebra I EOCT

9th - 13th - 50% Off Scholastic Book Fair (All Students may shop during homeroom on these dates.  Please be advised that we will not be attending the book fair during Language Arts, so you need to make arrangements to go during homeroom.)

19th - Perfect Attendance Pizza Party at 3:00

20th - Honor's Picnic

21st - Cat Chow Academic Party

22nd - All A's Perfect Attendance Honor Students Luncheon 12:00 -1:00

23rd - Last Day of School and Year Book Distribution

29th - Report Cards Mailed

May 5, 2008

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!!

Today's Agenda:

1)  Turn in homework to the block drawer ("The Butterfly" poem analysis)

2)  Reading Packet - Anti Semitism: A History of Hate, The Ball, Serving Mein Fuhrer, and Crystal Night.

3)  Work on Study Questions

4)  Homework:  Finish the reading and questions if you did not finish in class today.

TEST:  Test over Paper Clips and Reading Packet on Thursday May 8th

Bring your brown literature books to class tomorrow. We will begin reading Anne Frank.

April 29, 2008

Today's Agenda

All blocks viewed the movie Paper Clips and took notes.  Students also reviewed key words from the video.  If you missed the video today, make sure you get notes from someone in class.  You may download the vocabulary list here Download key_words.doc

Poetic Tool box

This is a list of the terms you must have defined to turn in on Monday:

Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Onomatopoeia, Rhyme, Internal Rhyme, Simile, Metaphor, Personificaiton, Hyperbole, Symbolism, Imagery

April 25, 2008

Blocks 1, 3 & 5

Students shared the poem they enjoyed reading and analyzing.  We discussed the song analysis that students will do on Monday.  Remember to bring in appropriate song lyrics to use for this assignment.  On Monday, students will turn in the following items :  1)  Poetic Tool-box. (This is a list of poetic devices and definitions.)  2) Analysis of poem selected from a poetry anthology, and 3) Analysis of song lyrics.  The analysis must include this information:  Title of the poem/song, Author's name (poem from the book), List of the poetic devices in the the poem/song, lines from the song/poem that illustrate the poetic device, rationale for why you chose the song/poem (Your rationale must be at least 3 -5 complete sentences in length.)  On Monday, we will continue to explore poetry in everyday life. Over the weekend, try to think of fun metaphors and/or similes involving everyday items. Your warm up on Monday will be an extension of this activity .  Vocabulary List and both analysis are due at the end of class on Monday!

Blocks 2 & 4:  Bring your song lyrics on Tuesday!!!

April, 24, 2008

Today's Agenda

1)  Cat Cards!  Make sure you get your cat for this 4 1/2 weeks!

2)  Block 3:  Using your "Poetry Toolkit"  Reading, analyzing and sharing poetry.

3)  Block 2 and 4:  Building your Poetry Toolkit. 

Remember to bring the lyrics to a favorite song to your next class. Please remember that the lyrics must be appropriate for discussion in the classroom.  You must bring in lyrics (or a poem if you prefer) that include at least one of the poetic devices in your "poetry toolkit".