In Language Arts This Week...

In language arts this week, students will continue to analyze stories for the hero's journey archetype while developing their understanding of a variety of literary terms. Some of the terms on our "Word Wall" thus far include the following: imagery, setting, mood, theme, protagonist, and point-of-view. This week our focus piece of literature is an excerpt from Homer's epic, the ODYSSEY. Students will be responding to the piece both creatively and critically.
Our grammar focus for the week will be adjectives and adverbs. Students will study and practice adjectives and adverbs, using this packet: ADJECTIVES & ADVERBS PACKET for notes and practice and building from there.
Friday, September 19th marks the mid-point of first quarter. Conferences will take place on September 25th and 26th. Look for conference forms to come home this week.

This Week in Language Arts...

In language arts this week, students will continue to analyze the hero's journey archetype. We'll read and analyze Ray Bradbury's short story "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh," and students will do some creative work with the earliest stages of the hero's journey plot pattern. Also, we'll review and study verbs--action, linking, and helping. Students will have a quiz on nouns, pronouns, and verbs on Thursday. You can find links to two of the reviews students will complete in preparation for the quiz here and here.

Finally, thanks to everyone who came to Dryden's Open House last Wednesday night. It was great to meet you. Parent conferences will be on Thursday, September 25th and Friday, September 26th. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

This Week in Language Arts

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. This week in language arts, we'll be focusing on the hero's journey archetype and verbs. Most of the work we'll be doing with the hero's journey archetype is in the students' SPRINGBOARD books, but here's a link to an overview of the concept.
We'll begin our study of verbs with some notes and practice, examining the various types of verbs and practicing identifying them in sentences. Here's a link to the Verbs Notes and Practice Packet. As always, there will be EXTENSIONS available for students who are looking for an additional challenge.

What's Happening in Language Arts

It has been wonderful meeting everyone. I had a wonderful first day, and I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone better as the year goes on.

Over the next few weeks we'll be digging into the first unit of the Juneau School District's adopted Springboard curriculum. There's a link to information about Springboard on the sidebar of this website. The first unit is called "The Challenge of Heroism." Some of the goals in the unit include the following:

• To create an original illustrated narrative based on the Hero's Journey archetype
• To analyze and synthesize a variety of texts to develop an original definition of "hero."
• To analyze and evaluate expository texts for ideas, structure, and language
• To develop expository texts using strategies of definition

We'll also be doing a review of some important grammar concepts, beginning with a review of the eight parts of speech. Students will be taking notes, practicing individually and in groups, and taking short quizzes on each part of speech. Here's a link to the notes for all of the packets; it's a concise summary students and parents may use as a reference. We'll begin next week with a review of nouns and pronouns.

Again, thanks to everyone for helping us all get off to a great start!

Welcome to Eighth Grade!

With the beginning of the school year just around the corner, I thought I'd pop in here to say hello! I am very excited to meet everyone. If you're checking the website in search of a back-to-school supplies list, I have some suggestions below. 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 SuppliesThe 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!)

Upcoming End-of-Year Events

Below is a list of important dates and events coming up as we near the end of the year:

May 15^th (Thursday) ALL school library books and textbooks due! (If either type of book is not accounted for, student may not enter the dance. Books may be brought to the dance if needed. You can pay for missing books and if you find them later, bring them in for a refund)

 May 17^th (Saturday) 8^th Grade Dance, 7-10pm

May 21^st (Wednesday) All late work that was due in May must be in for credit by 3:30pm (grades are due to Mr. Milliron early to prepare for 8th grade promotion)

May 22^nd (Thursday) Final AR reading tests due by 3:30

May 26^th (Monday) No school (Memorial Day)

May27th (Tuesday)  8^th grade Gold Rush walking field trip

May 28^th (Wednesday) 8^th grade picnic

 May 29^th (Thursday) 8^th grade promotion ceremony

Shakespeare!

This week, we'll be wrapping up our study of Holocaust narratives and transitioning into our final unit of the year--and one of my favorites--Shakespeare! We'll learn a bit about Shakespeare himself as well as the beliefs of his times, and we'll play around with his language before diving into his play A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's a play with love, magic, and laughter: perfect for spring!