Ms. Gray

Week of 5/11-5/15

It's hard to believe we only have two weeks left.  This is a crazy week because of Field Day which is on Thursday, 5/14 for 8th grade.  We will be working on memorizing either our poem 'O'Captain, My Captain" OL or Quotes from Taming of the Shrew for AC.  They are due on Wednesday 5/13. 

On Friday, 5/15 all classes will have a test to finish up their units.  OL will be on poetry and AC will be on the play.

Attached is the poetry study guide which will help them prepare as well as the Elizabethan era power point for AC.  Poetry study guide:  Download Poetry Review   AC:  PowerPointDownload Elizwpictures  Remember to know all of the characters because there are characteristics given and you need to match them with the character. Some characters have more than one characteristic.  Both tests are on scantron.

Reading cards/logs were due on Monday.  I will accept late ones until Friday. 

 After Friday, NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS OUT SICK.

Finals will be given next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Monday is a regular class day.  Tuesday will have a study hall and then the White and Purple final.  Wednesday will have a study hall/clean out lockers and the Yellow and Red final.  Thursday will have the Green final and then a movie.  If students wish to leave early to get ready for the dance they can leave after 12:45 or when they finish their final after 12:45. 

Please have students bring in $1 for an envelope and stamp for sending report cards and other information home and give it to their homeroom teacher.

Dance tickets go on sale on Monday, 5/18 for $5. 

Yearbooks will be distributed Friday morning.

Week of 4/27-5/1

Monday we still had CRCT testing therefore the classes were extremely short.  I am looking forward to regular classes again.  There are a lot of dates you will need to remember for the next four weeks (Can you believe we only have four weeks left).  Listed below are due dates and other points of interest.  Those in red are for AC only, those in Blue for On-level only,  those in black for all classes, and those in green are dates to remember for other activities.

Book Reports due on 4/27.  Presentations for the rest of the week.

Shakespeare quotes due by 5/13.  You should begin reciting to me this week. This is a quiz grade.

"O'Captain, My Captain" must be memorized and recited to me by 5/13.  This will be a quiz grade. This can be found in Literature book on page 261-262.

All reading logs/cards are due by Monday, 5/11 for your reading grade.

All classes will be going to the book fair on Monday, 5/4.  All Pope summer reading books will be available as well as other books to enjoy this summer.

Final test on Taming of the Shrew is on Thursday, 5/7. This date has changed due a school-wide activity on Friday.

End of CRCT celebration and movie In the Front of the Class on Friday, 5/8.

Field Day - Thursday, 5/14.

Eighth Grade Dance, Thursday, 5/21 at 6:45 - 7:30 for parent reception then dance until 9:00 p.m.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL- Honors Assembly in morning, 8th grade ice-cream social in the afternoon with an 8th grade only talent show.

Monday, 4/27 - Classes were short.  AC-began reading Act II, Scene 1 or Taming of the Shrew.  Homework:  NONE.  Attached is the sheet of quotes that need to be memorized and recited.  Download Taming of the Shrew quotes. OL- Began writing poems.  We worked on the Diamante poem.  Attached is the sheet with the directions and an example.  Download Diamante Poem and Download Diamante Poem1.

Tuesday, 4/28 - AC- Presentations began on their biographies.  After finishing, we read more of Taming of the Shrew.  Began reading Act II, Scene I.  Homework:  Finish reading Act II.  OL:  Worked on a new poem, Bio Poem.  They will need to complete and write neatly later this week.  Download BIO POEM PATTERN1

Wednesday, 4/29 - AC- More presentations given.  Completed Act II and started reading Act III in old English.  Homework:  None.  OL:  More presentations given.  Worked on "I am" poem.  Download I am poem

Thursday, 4/30 - AC:  More presentations and finsihed reading Act III in most classes.  Homework for Monday is to complete reading Act IV.

 

Week of 4/13-4/17

Welcome back from Spring Break.  I hope all of you enjoyed it.  Mine was spent cooking and cleaning for Passover, but it was enjoyable to have family and friends with me to celebrate.  This week is a big push to review everything for CRCT.  We are looking closely at reading comprehension since this is one of the two tests that must be passed to be promoted to 9th grade. 

The CRCT Schedule is as follows:  Tuesday, 4/21 - Reading   Wednesday, 4/22 - Language Arts  Thursday, 4/23 - Math   Friday, 4/24 - Science  and Monday, 4/27 - Social Studies and Map Skills.  The tests highlighted in turquoise must be passed to attain 9th grade.

Biography Book Report Due Date has been c/hanged to 4/27/09 instead of 4/20/09.  Looking at the schedule for classes during testing, students will not have enough time to dress up like their character and give the presentation, therefore, I decided to give them one more week. I will accept no late book reports.  They must be turned in on April 27th or it will be a zero.  If there are unforseen circumstances please let me know and I will work with you.

Friday, 4/17 - Reviewed the answers to the practice test.  I found that many of the errors were on punctuation and not reading the questions clearly.  Students need to take more time in taking the test and reading the questions carefully.  Words like always, never, does not, etc. can be very confusing.  If students want extra practice over the weekend, Skills Tutor would be a great place to go.  To sign on students use firstnamelastname (no spaces or capitalization), password is either nothing if this is the first time or their lunch number, and hightower01. 

Thursday, 4/16 - In order to make sure they were prepared for the Language Arts CRCT, we also took a practice test.  This one did not take as long since it did not have the long articles that needed to be read to answer the questions.    AC- Homework- workbook pages 166-172 to help with the punctuation that they say causes them trouble.

Wednesday, 4/15 - Happy Tax Day :(  In class today we went over the Reading Comprehension Test to make sure the students understand what they read and some tricks to help them during the test.  We did not correct the workbook pages.

Monday and Tuesday 4/13-4/14 -Students worked on either taking the Reading Comprehension CRCT practice test or fixed the mistakes they made on it.  I found that my on-level students who took it with a substitute before Spring Break rushed through it to finish and made many mistakes.  We have taken the time to fix those mistakes and will review them on Wednesday 4/15. OL-Homework:  Complete workbook pages 166-172 on commas.

AC - We will be reading Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare the week of testing and continue until we finish. 

Week of 3/30-4/2

One more week and we will be on Spring Break!!! I know I am ready for it, and from watching the kids, they are also very ready. I do not plan on giving them any homework over the break, however, if you feel they need some extra help, they can get on to Skills Tutor off of the Hightower Trail website.  If they have not used it this year, they sign in by typing their name firstnamelast name, hightower01 and then hitting enter.  Do not fill in the password the first time.  When it prompts for a password, the student should type in his/her lunch number.

The teachers have some exciting performances this week.  Please see the information below:
HTMS Faculty Talent Show!

 Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 7 PM

Tickets on sale each morning in the Husky Hut or are available at the door!!!
All proceeds go towards completion of the third computer lab.

Mrs. Thorn, Mrs. Beckerman,                                   Dance from Napoleon Dynamite
Ms. Stoltz, Ms. Baumann

Mr. Auld, Mr. Froy, Ms. Nix, Ms. Rea                       Rock Band

Dr. Wilkins,Mrs. Montgomery,                               Electric Slide
Mrs. Goldstein, Mrs. Hackney,
Mrs. Mendelson, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Gray

Dr. Wilkins, Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs. Wilson,          Charlie Brown Karaoke    
Mrs. Dockery, Coach Richerson  

  
Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Guynn                                            Poetry Reading

Mrs. Sharp, Mr. Lane, Mrs. Grooms,                        Christmas HTMS Songs
Mrs. Lafontaine. Mrs. Healy, Mrs. Schmitz 

       
Mrs. Ham, Mr. Howe, Mrs. Flood,                            Crank That HTMS Video
Mrs. Honeycutt  

                              
Mrs. Land, Mrs. Schmitz, Mrs. Reichenbach                  Test Prep Rap

Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Logue                                             Bluegrass Babes

Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. V. Gray, Mrs. Hahn,                    Evolution of Dance
Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Moss, Mrs. Elder

Dr, Wilkins, Mrs. Friedman, Mrs. Dockery                   Race to the FINISH!

Richmond Parker                                            Master of Ceremonies

Tuesday, 3/31 - AC- Students worked on review "teaching" all of the verbals. They turned in their collages.  We will review the workbook pages today and tomorrow. I need to know the person they are doing for their biography by Friday.  It must be a biography, not an autobiography.   Homework:  None  OL- students finished up their reading  test and worked on their verbals collage due on Thursday.

Monday, 3/30 - The students had a sub today. AC classes had a quiz on Gerunds and then worked on their verbals collage due tomorrow, 3/31.  OL classes took a Sample CRCT Reading test.  Once I have a chance to look at them, I will then take where they are having trouble and work with them.  Students have a verbals collage due on Thursday, 4/2.  They will also have a test over verbals on Thursday.  There will be no homework over break except to read the biography book report book and look at SkillsTutor.

Week of 3/23-3/27

Another week closer to Spring Break!  This week we are working hard on understanding verbals, or understanding how verbs are used differently.  A Participle is a verb acting as an adjective, A Gerund is a verb acting as a noun, and Infinitives which is "To + the root word".

Book Report Assignment:  All students will read a biography, not an autobiography, about a famous person who has done something other than just perform or play sports.  They need to get their person approved by me by Tuesday, April 1st.  Download Biography Book Report

Verbals Collage Assignment:  All students will be doing this over the weekend after we have talked about gerunds and infinitives.  This is fun and not too difficult.l  It will be due on Tuesday, April 1st.  Download Verbals Collage

Wednesday, March 25 - AC-Students took a quiz on Participles, Participial Phrases and Prepositions.  This had been scheduled for yesterday, but we needed more work before the quiz.  Students can go to the library when they finish to choose their Biography for their last book report.  See assignment attachment above.  Homework:  NONE  OL- Students took a quiz on Participles, Participial Phrases and Prepositions.  This had been scheduled for yesterday, but we needed more work before the quiz.  Students can go to the library when they finish to choose their Biography for their last book report.  See assignment attachment above.  Homework:  NONE 

Tuesday, March 24 - AC- Decided students were not ready for quiz. Students worked with white boards writing sentences using participles and prepositions.  We also completed DGP-Week 14.  Homework:  Study for quiz tomorrow.  OL-  Decided students needed more work with participles. Students worked on DGP, Week 11 and how a diagram can help students understand a sentence.  We then worked on white boards to write sentences to practice for quiz.  Homework:  Complete pages 69-70 and 51-52 in workbook.  Study for quiz.

Monday, March 23 - AC- Students worked on white boards writing sentences that contained participles, gerunds and prepositions.  We also completed DGP- Week 10. Many students were gone for the chorus festival, therefore, we reviewed and did not cover new material.  Homework:  Study for quiz on Tuesday.  OL-  Students worked on DGP- week 10 and then participles.  We saw the power-point and then tried to make up sentences using participles.  Homework:  Complete workbook pages 51-52.

 

Week of 3/16-3/20

I am very happy with the projects that I received this week and last week.  There are very few that are late; they will receive 10 points less for every day it is late. This week we will begin verbals which includes participles, gerunds and infinitives. 

Book Report:  Students will be reading a biography on someone that has done something good for our country or our world.   Sports and Entertainment figures will be discussed.  Only one person in each class can do a specific person.  The student who brings me the book they want to read, and I approve it, will have the right to do that person.

Thursday, 3/19 AC-Writing test scores were given to all students today.  We talked about the writing test.  After, we corrected the workbook pages they did in class yesterday.  Homework:  NONE  OL - Writing test scores were given to all students today.  We talked about the writing test. Students then worked on workbook pages 77-78 on participles in their workbook.  Homework:  Finish workbook pages for tomorrow.

Wednesday, 3/18 - Students had a substitute teacher today.  AC- Class went over page 75 in the workbook, then on their own completed pages 77-78 (participles), 73-74(adj. and adv. prepositional phrases and 69-70, then they could read silently.  Homework:  Finish all work not completed.  OL-Students took the quiz on The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  They then went over workbook page 75 on participles.  Homework:  NONE

Tuesday, 3/17 - Happy St. Patrick's Day! AC- DGP week 12.  Then we practiced writing sentences with participles and prepositional phrases.  Students had a white board and in groups wrote sentences to match the directions I gave.  They then held them up and I could see how well they did.  Homework:  Bring workbook and a book to read. OL-Today we worked on DGP week 9 and then reviewed the power point on participles.  See Monday, 3/16 for power point.  We then practiced making sentences using participles as adjectives.  Homework:  Study for last quiz on novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Test tomorrow.  Bring workbook.

Monday, 3/16 - AC-In class today we took a pre-test on the verbals unit and reviewed participles with a power-point.  See attached:  Download Positively Participles!  We will continue working on these and gerunds for the next few days. Next week we will begin reading William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.  I suggested that students get the No Fear Shakespeare copy of the play since it has both the Shakespearean language as well as the regular language.  This can only be found at Barnes and Noble.  There is also a Side-by-side version of the play. I have some copies of the play that can be used if you are not able to get the book.  Please let me know as soon as possible.  Homework:  NONE  OL:  Today we wrote a reflection on the Anne Frank project and the classes presented their creativity.  We did not go over all of the quotes, but looked at how the quotes were represented.  Very enjoyable.  We then took a pre-test on the verbals unit  We also discussed the ending to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  There will be a final quiz over chapters 13-20 on Wednesday, March 18. Homework:  Study for the quiz.

Week of 3/9-3/13

Wow, what a change from a cold dreary week to a beautiful week.  This is the last week of the grading period, therefore, all work must be turned in by Wednesday.  I also need all of the reading logs and cards by Wednesday so I can put their reading log grade in the system.  It is worth 10% of their grade.

We are completing our parallel read and the play. Next week we will be starting with some grammar including verbals (participles, infinitives and gerunds).

Wednesday, March 11 -

Tuesday, March 10 - AC-We finished presenting all of the Book Talks.  Grades have been submitted for most classes.  The students then had a chance to work with their partners on their projects due 3/13.  They will have a chance to work in class after the test tomorrow and on Thursday. Homework:  Study for test on "Diary of Anne Frank".  There will be vocabulary, quotes, true/false and multiple choice.  It will cover the entire play. Listed below are the words that will be on the test.  OL-We finished presenting all of the Book Talks.  Grades have been submitted for most classes.  The students then had a chance to work with their partners on their projects due 3/16.  They will have a chance to work in class after the test tomorrow and on Thursday. Homework:  Study for test on "Diary of Anne Frank".  There will be vocabulary, quotes, true/false and multiple choice.  It will cover the entire play. Listed below are the words that will be on the test. 

Vocabulary words:  unabashed, mercurial, shamos, fatalist, stealthily, indignant, ostentatious, inarticulate, convulsive, portly, carillon, rucksack, gilder,belfry

Monday, March 9 - AC-We took the last quiz on Summer of My German Soldier.  This quiz is worth 115 points.  The first 25 questions are 4 points each and the last one is worth 15 points.  Homework:  Work on project due on 3/13.  OL- We finished off reading the play "Diary of Anne Frank" and discussed what happened after they were caught in The Secret Annex.  Homework:  Work on project due on 3/16.

Week of 3/2-3/6

A week of tests/quizzes and projects.  We are getting ready for the end of the marking period.  We are doing a parallel read where we are reading a book similar to the play we are reading.  We are also finishing up the play, "Diary of Anne Frank". 

Monday, 3/2 - AC-  Quiz on chapters 7-13 in Summer of My German Soldier. Began reading Act II of play.  Homework:  Finish reading the book by Monday 3/9.  Last quiz on book on 3/9.  OL- Finished Act I and began Act II of play.  Homework:  Read chapters 11-12 by Thursday, 3/5.  Possible quiz.

Tuesday, 3/3 - AC-Continued reading play.  Test tomorrow on Act I of play.  Homework:  Study for test - 25 questions/scantron.  OL-Continued reading play. Test tomorrow on Act I of play.  Homework:  Study for test - 25 questions/scantron.

Wednesday 3/4- Test for both classes.  When finished worked on project with partner.

Thursday 3/5-AC-finished reading play.  Book Talk on Friday.  Monday 3/9 - Quiz Summer of My German Soldier.  Tuesday 3/10 - work on project with partners.  Wednesday 3/11- Test Act II Thursday, work on project with partner.  Friday-Projects due- some presentations. Homework:  Book Talk tomorrow! You can bring treats to share while we talk about the books.  I will provide lemonade.  OL-Quiz on Chapters 7-12 on Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  If you did not do well, answer the questions below and turn them in.  I will give 1/2 credit for those answers for the quiz.  I will give full credit on the questions answered correctly and 1/2 credit on those you turn in. Homework:  Book Talk tomorrow!  You can bring treats to share while we talk about the books. I will provide lemonade.

Quiz for On-Level class:  finish it or fix it.

1.  What does Bruno want to make to entertain himself?  What does he need?

2.  Why does Lt. Kotler speak so meanly to Pavel?

3.  What accident happened to Bruno?

4.  Who helped Bruno?  Who took credit for helping him?

5.  Why did the person know what he/she was doing?

6.  How does Bruno's grandmother feel about his dad becoming a Commandant for Hitler?  Why?

7.  Who is Herr Liszt?

8.  What subject is most important to learn?

9.  What was the "speck" Bruno saw when he was exploring?

10.  Who is Shmuel?

11.  Why do you think the author had both boys born on the same day/year?  (10 points)

12.  Where did Bruno learn to think, "Well, because Germany is the greatest of all countries...We're superior."?

13.  Why did "The Fury" and that woman come to dinner?

14. When Shmuel and his family were kicked out of their house, where did they go first?

15.  What did Lt. Kotler's father teach?  Why did he leave Germany in 1938?

16.  What happened when Pavel dropped the wine?

Week of 2/23 - 2/27

We are beginning the play " Diary of Anne Frank" in all classes.  During th time we will also have a parallel read novel.  AC-Summer of My German Soldier and  OL- Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  Since all of these have to deal with World War II. 

Remember that Book Talk is due on 3/6.  We will be discussing our books including quotes and characterization.  Attached are the assignment and rubric:  On-Level Download Book Talk assignment and rubric-on level   AC -Download Book Talk assignment and rubric

Tuesday, February 24 - AC- Today we talked about high school registration and then began reading the play "Diary of Anne Frank".  We reached  Act I, Scene 3. We will continue reading the play for the next few weeks.  There will be a test after we finish Act I and then after Act II.  Students were told about a project they will get tomorrow that will be due after the test of Act II.  It is a paired project.  They will have one day in school to work on it, and the rest will have to be done out of class.  Download Diary character maps  OL Today we talked about high school registration and then began reading the play "Diary of Anne Frank".  We reached  Act I, Scene 3. We will continue reading the play for the next few weeks.  There will be a test after we finish Act I and then after Act II.  Students were told about a project they will get tomorrow that will be due after the test of Act II.  It is a paired project.  They will have one day in school to work on it, and the rest will have to be done out of class.  Download Diary character maps-ol

Monday, February 23 - AC-Took quiz on Chapters 1-6 from Summer of My German Soldier.  It is a 16 question quiz (short answer) except for the three questions that must be answered in complete sentences.  We will then begin reading the play "Diary of a Young Girl" from our literature book.  You are to bring you literature book every day.  HW:  By Monday, 3/2 read chapters 7-13 in Summer of My German Soldier.  There will be a quiz on Monday 3/2.  OL- Today we started reading the play in our literature book, "The Diary of Anne Frank".  We will be reading it together aloud with students taking parts in the play.  During this time they will also be reading Boy in the Striped Pajamas (BISP) at home.  There will be quizzes associated with this book throughout it.  Homework:  Read Chapters 1-3 in BISP due Tuesday, 2/24.

 

Week of 2/16-2/20

I hope you all enjoyed a day off from school on Monday.  The teachers were lucky enough to go district training.  I enjoyed my sessions.  I heard an author speak about teaching grammar.  There will be some changes to the way that I teach from now on.

This week we are in the library on Tuesday, Wednesday and if necessary on Thursday.  AC-We are putting together our "How-to Photo Story Style."  I have seen some really interesting work being done. They must be done by Thursday afternoon so we can present on Friday. OL- The time in the library this week is to finish your project "The Apprentice."  It is due on Thursday, February 19th.  Please use the check-list to make sure you turn all of the necessary work in on time.  We will write the Writer's reflection on Friday in class.  Attached is the rubric that I will use to grade  "The Apprentice".  Download The Apprentice Rubric .  The writer's reflection is:  "Since you have successfully completed "the Apprentice" project, tell me in a few paragraphs what you learned, what you liked best, what you feel you did the best, and how you can use what you learned in real life."  Remember, neatness counts as well as grammar and spelling.  It should be written in blue or black ink and on only on one side of each sheet of paper you use.  Due Monday, February 23rd.  Do not forget to bring you literature book on Monday.

We will begin reading  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and the play "The Diary of Anne Frank" which is found in out Literature book.  We will look at both pieces and discuss the Holocaust.  Quizzes and tests will be given throughout our reading of these works.

AC:  We will begin reading  Summer of My German Soldier on Friday.  Monday we will begin the play "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Friday, 2/20/09  Today, we had a video viewing of all of our Photo Stories.  They were fun, some were good and others were great! Homework:  Read Chapters 1-6 in Summer of My German Solider.  There will be a quiz on Chapters 1-6.