Finishing Up 7th Grade (Week 35)

It's hard to believe that this year is nearly over! It has flown by. It has been my immense pleasure and honor to teach each one of you this year; I feel truly lucky to have known each of you. Although we have had our fantastic days and a few rough ones, this has been an incredible year! I hope that you each remember that although I might drive you crazy from time to time, I do begin and end each day with these questions:

• Is this best for kids?
• Am I being the change I want to see in this world?
• Is this is a classroom I would want my niece to be in?

Some days the answers are YES and others, I've realized it was a loud NO!

For your final blog, please reflect on this year. Write about a few (2-4) experiences that have really stood out to you. This will be in paragraph form. It doesn't have to be about LA/SS. Anything that has happened this school year is fine!

The Colombian Exchange (Week 34)

Tuesday in class, you learned about the three major effects of the Colombian Exchange: disease, slavery and mercantilism. Of these three, which do you think was the most damaging to the people of the Americas? Be sure to back up your statement with explanation - your answer should be about a paragraph in length.

Local Color (Week 33)

Think about the documentary we watched in class on Monday, "Local Color."

 

During this time period, was the South or Portland more racist?

 

Please write a paragraph explaining which area you think was more racist and why you think that.

ROT Themes (Week 32)

This year, we've examined multiple themes through literature. In Roll of Thunder, there were many different themes presented. Please choose one of the theme statements below (or write your own based on ROT) and explain how it applies to your life in a paragraph:

• Challenges are tough or easy. It's how you deal with them that gives them their complexity.
• Sometimes you have to get your clothes dirty.
• It takes nothing to start a fight. It takes skill to stop one.
• Handling difficulties as a child is not easy. Sometimes handling them at all makes you an adult.
• Give other people chances, not just one chance.

Renaissance Values (Wk 31)

Last week with Mr. Pepper, you talked about Renaissance Values and what it meant to be a Renaissance Man or Woman. Please choose three Renaissance Values and explain how you exmplify them. Your reponse should be a paragraph in length.

The three Renaissance Values that I most exmplify are Love of Classical Learning, Adventures in Exploration and Beauty of the Human Body. For Classical Learning, I teach the history of the Greeks and Romans. I love to hear about ancient societies and to analyze how they have influenced us today. One of my favorite passtimes is to travel and discover places I haven't been to. Each new place brings me a new sense of wonder about our world. Finally, for the Beauty of the Human body, I exercise to keep my body healthy. By eating right and exercising, I am showing the Renaissance Value of the Human Body.

Cassie vs. Lillian Jean (Week 30)

We learn a lot about both Cassie and Lillian Jean in Ch. 8. Pick one of the girls and write one thing you learned about her. Your response should be a paragraph in length.

After Cassie beats up Lillian Jean, I learned how naive she is. She is so confused and bewildered at what happened. It shows she is naive because she truly thinks only the way she has been taught and not for herself. Further, she truly believes that Cassie was her friend, not just fooling her.

The Crusades (Week 29)

Find your notes from the Crusades. Think about each of the three groups: the Byzantines, the Jews and the Muslims. Which group do you think was most impacted by the Crusades? Why? Your response should be a short paragraph in length.

Character Trait (Week 28)

You have started reading Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry and have alreayd learned a ton about many characters! Pick one character - choose a character trait and which method of characterization you used to decide he/she had that character. Be sure to explain why!

Example:
TJ Avery is dishonest in Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry when he has his brother whipped for something he did. He went to the Wallace Store, but lies to his Mom, saying his brother went instead. This shows he is dishonest through his actions of not taking responsibility for what he did.

Prejudice vs. Discrimination (Wk 27)

Monday in class we discussed prejudice and discrimination. Remember, prejudice is the thought, whild discrimination is the action. Please write a paragraph giving an example of prejudice and discrimination. It does not have to be about race - any discrimintory act will work. It does not have to be an example from your own life, but if you can think of one, feel free to include that (names removed)!

When I was walking around downtown Portland, there was a homeless person holding a sign that said "Anything helps" asking for money. A person walked by and said, "You are just going to use the money for drugs or alcohol. Why would I give you anything?" The prejudice thought was that all homeless people are alcoholics or drug addicts; the discrimintory action was yelling at the homeless person. The man could have ignored him, but chose to discriminate by yelling at him on a crowded street.

Quarter 3 Reflection (Wk 26)

Can you believe we're one quarter away from finishing the school year?! WOW! Find your blog post from the end of secibe quarter (scroll all the way to the bottom and click on "Older Posts" to find the blog titled "End of First Second Reflection). Find your post and reflect on what you did well with this goal and areas you need to continue to improve. Write about what has gone well and areas you'd still like to focus on. What did you learn about yourself? Is there anything that you will do differently next quarter?

Middle Ages Defense (Wk 25)

During the Middle Ages, there was a great need to keep people safe from the Vikings and other attacking barbarians. You created castles in class that show different ways to defend a castle and are evaluating your peers' castles for the ability to withstand a siege.

What defense system do you think was the most effective?

This must be an actual defense system that existed at that time...not something you made up or happened later in history :)

Crispin and the Middle Ages (Week 24)

One of the reasons we teachers chose Crispin is that we love how it ties in with our study of the Middle Ages. now that you finished with the novel and we are in the thick of our SS studies, please write at least three ways you see an accurate history in Crispin. Be sure to explain your thinking. In other words prove that this is a historical fiction novel.

Clauses (Week 23)

Please write a short paragraph (3+ sentences) about a topic of your choice that includes:

• Sentences with independent and dependent clauses.
• At least one sentence with a FANBOYS.
• Commas placed correctly!

Agree or Disagree (Wk 22)

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? No matter how you answer, please tell us WHY! This response should be 3+ sentences in length.

Freedom is a state of mind.

You can respectfully respond to another students if you'd like!

Crispin's Character Traits (Wk 21)

By Wednesday, you will have read half of Crispin: the Cross of Lead. What is one character trait you believe Crispin has? Please write a CD/CM paragraph to answer this question:

• Topic Sentence: write a TADA sentence answering the question: What is one character trait you believe Crispin has?
• CD: Text excerpt from the book showing this trait (don't forget lead-in and citation).
• CMs: Explain how that text excerpt shows Crispin's charcter trait (2 sentences only!).
• Conclusion: Is this character trait helpful or harmful to Crispin? Why? (1-2 sentences)

*A few reminders about CD/CM paragraphs:

• Since Crispin:the Cross of Lead is a novel, the title is in italics!
• These are written in THIRD person - so no first (I, me, my, etc.) or second (you, your, etc.) person!
• CD/CM Paragraphs do not contain contractions (ex: won't -> will not).

Insie Mecca (Wk 20)

Last Thursday and Friday, we followed three people as they went on their hajj. What left the biggest impression on you from the documentary? Your answer should be 3-5 sentences.

Absent? Write about one more thing that you have learned about Islam that has impressed you!

Commas, Commas, Commas (Wk 19)

This week, take what you know about commas and the warm ups we've been doing and apply it! Write a paragraph with at least 5 sentences about a school appropriate topic of your choosing. In that paragraph use three different comma rules - see the Tool Box Section of your LA Spiral if you need help remembering!

This would be an excellent place to practice using the rules that were not marked as "Exceeding" on your Comma Formative Assessment!

Islam (Wk 18)

Islam is a new topic for many of you. In teacher talk, an "ah ha" moment is when someone learns something new or makes a connection in their brain (go dendrites!). What has your biggest ah ha moment been this week druing our study of Islam?

When I first started teaching about Islam, my biggest ah ha moment was learning how Muslims live their faith each day. It takes a great commitmetn to stop what you are doing, five times each day, and be intentional about prayer. Also, the idea of  fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan is hard. I had a friend growing up that would fast and I never understood why he didn't eat lunch during this time. To live as a Muslim, meaning to follow the Five Pillars of Faith each day, takes great commitment and I admire those that do!

Remember to pay attention to commas this week!!

Quarter 2 Reflection (Wk 17)

As first quarter comes to a close, reflect back on the last 9 weeks. What has gone well? What did you learn about yourself? Is there anything that you will do differently next quarter? What strategies have you applied or want to try (for organization, homework completion, test preparation, etc.)? Think about all your classes, not just LA/SS!

Remember to use proper capitalization and punctuation!

Can you believe we're half way through the school year?! WOW! Find your blog post from the end of first quarter (scroll all the way to the bottom and click on "Older Posts" to find the blog titled "End of First Quarter Reflection (Wk 8)). Find your post and reflect on what you did well with this goal and areas you need to continue to improve. Write about what has gone well and areas you'd still like to focus on. What did you learn about yourself? Is there anything that you will do differently next quarter?

Catch Up Week (Week 16)

To earn credit for the blog this week, you must go back to check the last three weeks blogs. For each date you will need to tell me who posted a comment right before you. If you were first to post a comment, you can write, "I posted first!" See the example below for how you should post your comment for this week. If you are missing a comment, please complete it before this one! That way you have someone that you posted after. Remember: Friday is the cutoff for late work, so anything not finished becomes a ZERO!

Resloutions: I posted after Sarah M.
The Byzantines: I posted first!
CDCM Paragraphs:  I posted after Griffin C.

New Year's Traditions: Resolutions! (Week 15)

New Year's Resolutions are not something new. This tradition too relates back to ancient times - the Babylonians! While we may resolve to be healthier or nicer to our parents, the Babylonians most popular resolution? To return borrowed farm equiptment!

Clearly, making resolutions have been ehre a long time and I don't think this tradition is going anywhere. Why do you think people make New Year Resolutions year after year.

Please write a minimum of 4 sentences explaining your thinking!

Feel free to share any resolutions you made if you want to, but it's not required. I've resolved to run a half marathon with my sisters and floss more regularly!