Diana Haag

As we are nearing the end of yet another busy school year, we have a few things that we need to finish.  We will complete the reading of Out of the Dust and then it will be time for final exams.  The final exam project for Reading 7 is posted here.

2 Book presentations for the final exam.

For your  presentations,  you will need to organize the way you would like to do your presentation.You will need to choose two of the novels that you have read over the course of your 7^th grade year.  This can include any of the novels we read in class and any of your “Free Choice” books.   Keep in mind that you are not standing in front of the class and reading your book review.  You may use note cards if you would like.  Your presentation should be visually appealing and interesting to your audience.  Your goal is to encourage a classmate to read the book you read.  Sell the story. Presentations should take about 3-5 minutes.   

Presentations will be done on June 4th, 5th, & 6th.

Reading Periods 1,2 & 6.

You may choose any of the following ideas.  You may choose to do the same presentation idea for each book or you may choose 2 different ideas for each book.  The books that are suggested are just that, they are not required, “Free Choice” books are an option as well.

1. Create trading cards for the novel that you read.  Include statistical information that makes the cards valuable for trading purposes.  This is a good project if you read a book about a sports figure or some sort of adventure story.
2. Create a newspaper front page, making the headline about a major event in the novel you read.  Include other smaller stories about minor events in the novel on your front page.  Your newspaper should have a title, and smaller headlines and pictures. (This is a good idea for The Outsiders)
3. Dress up as a character from the novel.  Give an oral presentation, letting the class know something about him/her and the event in the novel you read.(This one works really well for Harris and Me  or A Christmas Carol)
4. Create a collage comparing yourself or others to characters in the novel you read.  You may use computer images, hand drawings, or pictures from a magazine. (This one might be good for Nothing But the Truth)
5. Create a memory box.  Take a shoebox and decorate it with images or things that relate to the novel you read.  Place items in that box that relate to characters or places in  your novel.
6. Create a paper bag book report using an ordinary paper bag.  Choose 5-7 items to place in the bag to represent events or characters from the novel you read.  For example, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” might call for a soupspoon, a thermometer, a piece of dollhouse furniture, an ad for running shoes, etc.  You should explain how the items you chose relate to the book.

As we are nearing the end of another busy school year, we need to focus on completing the scrapbook.  The scrapbook assignment is due on May 30, 2012. Exams begin June 7th , we will continue with review for them.  The first drafts of the Reflections will be returned on May 21, so final drafts can be completed.  Dorney Park and graduation are coming up, everyone needs to,make the best use of their time.

We are heading into the home stretch of this fast paced school year.  I know that many of you are already in “spring”, but we must maintain focus and stay on track until June.  We will be having NJASK at the end of this month.  Everyone should be picking up the pace with the scrapbook assignment, which is due May 29.   8th graders have many activities going on as we head toward June, but everyone should keep in mind that it is crucial to take advantage of every opportunity and to do the best possible job.

Extra credit:  Write 2 news article summaries, one on a national news story and another one on an international news story.  Article summaries must be 3 paragraphs typed.  Don’t forget to include the name of the newspaper, title and date the articles were published.  Articles must accompany the summary.   Due date: Monday April 16, 2012.

Beginning this month we will be doing some investigating into the “Dust Bowl”, “the Fall of Wall Street” and “the Great Depression”,  in order to get a better understanding of the novel Out of the Dust.  We will be reading this novel in class and continue with vocabulary. There will be a vocabulary review for everyone to complete over the spring break.  Many of you have purchased new books at the book fair and should get right to them and do as much reading as possible.  We will be having NJASK at the end of this month.  Everyone should take advantage of all opportunities that come along as we are coming into the home stretch for this school year.  How quickly time flies!

DON’T forget to have a free choice book for class on Monday.

In English we will be working on persuasive writing over the next several weeks.  Everyone needs to remember to bring their books and composition books to class every day.  We will continue with Editorial summaries.  Editorials can be found on the “opinion” page of most newspapers,  be careful not to use a letter to the editor.  Editorials are written by employees of the newspaper, letters to the editor are written by the general public.

In Reading we are fully involved in the novel “Nothing but the Truth” .  We will be keeping journals as we are reading.  We will also continue with vocabulary.  Everyone needs to make sure that they keep up on their journal assignments.  Free choice book review will be due on March 5, 2012.  Free choice book should come to class every day.  Everyone should be reading at home at least 20-30 minutes a day.

We are currently selling Joe Corbie’s Pizza kits again.  This was a good fund raiser for our class.   We need more participation from members of the class.  We will also be having a meeting in the next couple of weeks to determine locations for the Prom next year.  Anyone who has any ideas or thoughts please leave a comment.

We’ve finished with exams and are moving forward.  Over the next several weeks we will be working on writing editorial summaries and persuasive writing.  The third marking period has 8 solid weeks of opportunities to be successful.  Everyone should be taking advantage of these opportunities by doing everything.  Clean out lockers and binders and put papers in a safe place at home.  Do not throw away important papers!  This a good time to get organized and start the second semester fresh and prepared.  8th grade graduation will be here before you know it.  Remember you should be gathering materials for your 8th grade scrapbook.  Scrapbook due date is May 29, 2012.

Now that we have finished with exams, it’s time for everyone to clean out their lockers and binders or folders.  Keep all your papers in a safe place at home in case you need them again.  Do not throw important papers away!  We will finish up with poetry by writing some poems and  a new vocabulary list will be distributed by the end of the week.   Everyone needs to have a “free choice” book to read by the first week in February.  We will also be reading a novel in class.  The third marking period is full of opportunities to be successful, everyone needs to take advantage of them.

We all enjoyed “Harris and Me” and we are currently reading the drama “A Christmas Carol”.  Everyone should pay close attention because the mid-term will be coming up very quickly in January.  We will continue with vocabulary practice.   The book reviews were well done.  Everyone should continue working with proper format whenever you type an assignment.  Keep in mind with regard to vocabulary, the test is on word usage not just memorizing the definition.  It is important to practice using the words in your writing.  Don’t forget to be reading 20 minutes a day.