Setting Up SPRINGBOARD accounts

Click HERE to begin the process of setting up a Springboard account.

Open House!

Floyd Dryden's Open House is tomorrow--Wednesday--from 6:00 to 6:30 for eighth grade.  Hope to see you there!

This Week in Language Arts...

In language arts this week, we'll analyze poetry and film, examining the theme of heroism in both print and non-print texts.  We'll also review adjectives (what they are, how to use them, and how to find them).  (Here's a link to the Adjectives Notes and Practice Assignment.)  We'll discuss the three strategies of definition (definition by function, definition by example, and definition by negation).  At the end of the week, students will set up their Springboard accounts, so by next week the Springboard materials will be accessible at home as well as at school.
Also, grades are up on PowerSchool, so it's a great time to start checking grades.
Have a great week!

This Week in Language Arts....

This week in language arts, we'll introduce ourselves, start getting to know each other, and jump into learning.  On the first day of school, students will compose an "Opening Day Letter," introducing themselves to me.  This isn't an assessment; it's a way to start getting to know each other.  I look forward to reading the letters and meeting every student.

Also, this week, we'll reflect on the meaning of "success," thinking about broader definitions as well as goals for the upcoming school year.  In addition, we'll start familiarizing ourselves with the Juneau School District's new curriculum: Springboard.  Though this is my first year working with Springboard, I'm really excited about the program.  It involves lots of critical thinking and employs many rich, complex texts.  Of course, we'll be supplementing that base with many activities, projects, and other texts as the year progresses.  I'll be setting up links to the materials on this website.

The focus of the first Springboard unit is "The Challenge of Heroism."  We'll be examining a variety of texts, from poems to newspaper articles to films to a novel: The Giver by Lois Lowry.  In the first week, we'll work to identify the characteristics of a hero, discuss the term hero (focusing on diction, connotation, and denotation), and analyze poems with a focus on theme and tone.  And of course, we'll be doing some writing as well.

I'm looking forward to a great first week!

Welcome to Eighth Grade!

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone next week.  If you're checking in about back-to-school supplies, below is a list of recommendations.  It's okay if you don't have time to get supplies before the first day of school, but I thought I'd post this for the advance planners out there.  In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys the last days of summer, and I'll see you all soon!

Mrs. Davis's List of Recommended Supplies
The Essentials:

• pencils
• pens (at least two, in your favorite colors)
• lined paper
• a binder or set of folders for handouts

Also Useful:

• a flash drive (very handy for saving work and transferring files between computers)
• extra erasers
• a hand-held pencil sharpener
• highlighters
• Tissues (for the classroom...thanks!)