MS. RUSSELL'S CLASS: November 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

AM HOMEWORK HELP

Last chance for late assignments. Come to AM Homework Help at 8AM tomorrow.

Progress Reports will be going out early next week.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

HW Detention

For those who owe work, afterschool tomorrow 3:35 - 4:35 meet in room 317A.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving

No school on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27th.

Annotated Bibliography checks Tuesday, December 1st.

Ms. Russell's Book Log 2009 - 2010

Austenland (fiction) by: Shannon Hale
Children of the Mind (science fiction) by: Orson Scott Card
Ender's Game (science fiction) by: Orson Scott Card
First Meetings in Ender's Universe (science fiction/short stories) by: Orson Scott Card
Hidden Empire (science fiction) by Orson Scott Card
Horns (horror) by: Joe Hill
House Corrino: Dune: House Trilogy, Book 3/Science Fiction) by: Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson
House Harkonnen (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 2/Science Fiction) by: Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson
It 'Aint All About the Cooking (memoir/nonfiction) by: Paula Deen
Jaws (fiction) by: Peter Benchley
Kindred (historical science fiction) by: Octavia Butler
Little Women (fiction/classic) by: Louisa Alcott
Peeps (science fiction) by: Scott Westerfeld
Shadow Puppets (science fiction) by: Orson Scott Card
sTORI sTELLING (autobiography/nonfiction) by: Tori Spelling
The Age of Innocence (classic/fiction) by: Edith Wharton
The Art and Craft of Feature Writing (journalism/nonfiction) by: William E. Blundell
The Countess (historical fiction/gothic romance) by:Catherine Coulter
The Extras (teen/science fiction) by: Scott Westerfeld
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen (historical fiction) by: Syrie James
The Lost Recipe for Happiness (fiction) by:Barbara O'Neal
The Pretties (teen/science fiction) by: Scott Westerfeld
The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte (historical fiction) by: Syrie James
The Specials (teen/science fiction) by: Scott Westerfeld
The Uglies (teen/science fiction) by: Scott Westerfeld
The Winds of Dune (science fiction) by: Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson
Twentieth Century Ghost (horror/short stories) by: Joe Hill

MONTHLY READING GOALS

Due June 4, 2010: 25 annotated bibliographies on looseleaf in your portfolio. Portfolios will be collected and stored as of June 8th.
Continue to work on reading goal of 25 books
Due April 2, 2010: Annotated Bibliographies (20 total recorded and placed in portfolio)
Due March 1, 2010: Annotated Bibliographies (17 total recorded and placed in portfolio)
Due February 3, 2010: 3 Annotated Bibliographies (14 total recorded and placed in portfolio)
Due January 5, 2010: 3 Annotated Bibliographies (11 total recorded and placed in portfolio)
Due December 1, 2009: 2 Annotated Bibliographies (8 total recorded and placed in portfolio)
Due October 30, 2009: 2 Annotated Bibliographies (6 total recorded and placed in portfolio)
DUE September 30, 2009: 2 Annotated Bibliographies (4 total recorded and placed in portfolio)
DUE September 14, 2009: 2 Summer Book Reports

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - Third Marking Period

Fri 3/26: Independent Reading + Poetry Vacation HW Packet
Tues 3/23 - Thurs 3/25: Independent Reading; finish all incomplete classwork
Fri 3/19: IR; take your draft from today edit & revise and hand in both the draft & final copy on Tuesday 3/23
Thurs 3/18: IR; beginning bringing in favorite poems
Wed 3/17: Continue with your independent reading
Tues 3/16: Continue with your independent reading; extra credit assignments due tomorrow
Fri 3/12: IR
Wed 3/10 & Thurs 3/11: Continue to revise and edit your short story; Science Fiction Short Story Final Copy + all Drafts + frames due FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH
Tues 3/9: Continue to revise and edit your short story; Science Fiction Short Story Final Copy + all Drafts + frames due FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH
Fri 3/5: Final draft due Tues 3/9
Tues 2/2 - Thurs 2/4: Continue working on your draft of your short story
Fri 2/26: SNOW DAY
Tues 2/23 - Thurs 2/25: IR + Parent Teacher Conferences on Thurs 2/25
Mon 2/15 - Fri 2/19:Mon 2/15 - Fri 2/19:Vacation essay + IR + late work
Fri 2/12: IR + extended time for any "late work" + vacation essay
Thurs 2/11: IR
Wed 2/10: SNOW DAY
Tues 2/9:
Wed 1/27: IR + Annotated Bibliography check on Monday + Choose one (3 - 5 paragraphs) (a) Pretend you are Margot. Write a letter to your classmates after you've returned to Earth (b) Discuss the issue(s) brought up in the short story. (c) Some people say that this story contains elements of irony (a strange twist of fate). Explain your position using examples from the text.
Tues 1/26: IR
Mon 1/25: Remember we start midterms this Wednesday

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - Marking Period 1

Tues 11/3: SCHOOL IS CLOSED FOR ELECTION DAY
Mon 11/2: No class
Fri 10/30: IR + optional extra credit movie review due Wed + Late Progress reports due Wed + CORE TEST will be given sometime next week
Thurs 10/29: IR (optional extra credit assignment: movie review of "Saving Sarah Cain")
Wed 10/28: IR
Tues 10/27: IR + FINAL COPY & ALL DRAFTS and GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS due TOMORROW + all LATE work due TOMORROW
Fri 10/23: IR + continue editing/revising your article as you were shown in class
Thurs 10/22: IR + FIRST DRAFT OF ENTIRE FEATURE ARTICLE DUE TOMORROW
Wed 10/21: IR + finish 1st draft/body of feature article
Tues 10/20: IR + finish 1st draft/introduction only
Fri 10/16: IR + Continue researching your topoic for feature article + Achieve3000/2 new assignments chosen from your mailbox due next Friday 10/23
Thurs 10/15: IR + Achieve3000 (2 assignments) due tomorrow + finish classwork (4 or more questions Jim Dolan may have prepared for the Tom McNulty story)
Wed 10/14: IR + 3 pieces of research about your feature article due tomorrow (anyone who forgets will be assigned a topic and given research: it then becomes teacher's choice ) + Achieve3000 (2 assignments) due Friday
Tues 10/13: IR + first draft & final copy of magazine proposal letter due tomorrow + Achieve3000 (2 assignments) due Friday
Monday 10/12: NO SCHOOL
Friday 10/9: IR + Finish crossword/word search (CW from Thurs) + Revise & research adding additional detail to your magazine proposal letter: DUE TUES 10/13 + Choose a topic for your feature article. Bring in 3 or more sources from the internet, books, or magazines about your topic: DUE WED 10/14 + TUES is the last time to hand in your 2 edited Annotated Bibliographies + complete any 2 assignments on Achieve3000 from your mailbox DUE FRI Oct 16
Thurs 10/8: IR + begin thinking about a possible feature article topic & begin to collect information
Wed 10/7: IR + worksheet w/ personal letter due tomorrow
Tues 10/6: IR + finish CW (literary letter/reader's notebook) + complete the worksheet (4 multiple choice questions & personal letter done on looseleaf). All work due Thursday.
Fri 10/2: Complete/add to the "Table of Contents" for your fictional magazine + independent reading
Thurs 10/1: Independent reading & finish any incomplete classwork
Wed 9/30: Bring in magazines (optional) + Late Annotated Bibliographies & Progress Reports + Read "Far Side" feature article + deconstruct the article like you did in class but on looseleaf + on looseleaf write 1 - 3 paragraphs commenting on the author's writing style and discuss how effective the article was for you
Tues 9/29: Independent Reading + progress reports
Fri 9/25: Independent reading + finish fairy tale/new perspective in your writer's notebook (classwork assignment)
Thurs 9/24: Independent reading
Wed 9/23: Independent reading + write a short news paper article using an incidence/occurrance from your independent reading book (looseleaf)
Tues 9/22: Independent reading
Mon 9/21: Independent reading
Fri 9/18: Independent reading
Thurs 9/17: Independent reading + Rooney Essay due tomorrow + finish Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle in your reader's notebooks (CW)
Wednesday 9/16: Independent Reading + Read the essay by Andy Rooney. 5 paragraph essay in response to his essay is due on Friday (looseleaf)
Tuesday 9/15: IR, Finish CW assignment in notebook, Choose another character from your independent reading (IR) book and describe him/her using text evidence, Book Order due Friday
Fri 9/11: 2 Summer Reading Reports and Supplies due Monday
Thurs 9/10: 2 Summer Reading Reports and Supplies due Monday
Wed 9/9: Get "Classroom Expectations" letter signed, bring in 2 summer reading projects/annotated bibliographies, & ELA supplies by Monday Sept 14

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - 2nd Marking Period

Thurs 1/21: IR; write 3 - 5 paragraphs about class topic due Tues 1/26; achieve3000 2 more assignments
Wed 1/20: IR
Tues 1/19: IR
Fri 1/15: IR; achieve3000 2 more assignments due Fri 1/22
Thurs 1/14:IR; continue editing/revising your draft; final copy of essay due Fri 1/15; complete any incomplete cw
Wed 1/13: IR; continue editing/revising your draft; final copy of essay due Fri 1/15; complete any incomplete cw
Tues 1/12: IR; continue editing/revising your draft; final copy of essay due Fri 1/15; complete any incomplete cw
Fri 1/8: IR; completed first draft due Tuesday 1/12; Achieve3000 any two assignments due next Friday 1/15
Thurs 1/7: IR; finish frame & first draft of "the conclusion" only (begun in class)
Wed 1/6: IR; finish frame & 1st draft of "the body" only (begun in class)
Tues 1/5: Annotated Bibliography check tomorrow (11 books); IR; work on graphic organizer for WDM essay
VACATION HW (due Monday, January 4, 2010): Independent Reading, one choiceboard assignment from the vacation homework packet, finish one WDM lit circle book/Annotated Bibliography of that book on looseleaf, Annotated Bibliography check (11 books:goal)
Mon 12/21 - Tues 12/22: Finish at least 1/2 of the WDM Lit Circle Book, IR/reading log, finish incomplete CW
Fri 12/18: IR/reading logs, finish incomplete CW
Tues 12/15 - Thurs 12/17: IR only
Mon 12/14 - Begin Reading Logs for those who were assigned + Get PROGRESS REPORTS signed HW Detention tomorrow 8AM
Fri 12/11 - IR + Get PROGRESS REPORTS signed + HW Detention Tues Dec 15th 8AM
Thurs 12/10 - IR
Wed 12/9 - IR + Final Copy of Report due tomorrow
Tues 12/ 8 - 1st draft of report due Thursday+ Reading Comprehension Test Tomorrow
Fri 12/4 - IR + final copy of "Friendship" essay/narrative due Tues + 2 or 3 on/offline articles about the topic you will be writing about on your report which links with your literature circle book due Tues + 2 more Achieve3000 due Fri
Thurs 12/3 - IR + first draft of "Friendship" essay/narrative due tomorrow
Wed 12/2- IR + finish CW
Tues 12/1 - IR + finish CW + late work
Thanksgiving Homework Assignments: (1) IR (2) Annotated Bibliography check Tues Dec 1 (3) drafts if not in notebook + final copy of essay or narrative due Tues + Achieve3000 2 more assignments due Fri Dec 4th
Tues 11/24: IR + 1st draft of writing piece due tomorrow for editing/revision in class
Mon 11/23: IR + 1st draft of writing piece due tomorrow (looseleaf or in the writer's notebook)
Fri 11/20: IR + finish CW in writer's notebook (write 3 - 5 paragraphs about 1 of the two topics) + decided which short piece of writing you worked on Thurs or Fri of this week. Have a first draft ready by Tuesday + 2 more Achieve3000 assignments due Friday
Thurs 11/19: Finish CW in writer's notebook (write 3 - 5 paragraphs about a time you had a streak of good or bad luck "The Steak") + IR + in reader's notebook read like a reverberator (make connections) using your IR book + remember Achieve3000
Wed 11/18: IR
Tues 11/17: Achieve3000 (2 more assignments) due Friday + Bring in LATE short stories by tomorrow + IR
Fri 11/13: Idiom Short Story due Tuesday 11/17
Thurs 11/12: IR
Wed 11/11: NO SCHOOL
Tues 11/10: IR
Fri 11/7: IR
Thurs 11/6: IR + Achieve3000 work
Wed 11/5 - IR
Tues 11/4 - IR + Remember to hand in late work & progress reports + 2 more assignments for Achieve3000 due Fri

INDEPENDENT READING BOOK CHATTER

"The Extras" by: Scott Westerfeld
(teen/science fiction)

I started this book with a little tepridation since I was a little surprised to see that Westerfeld changed his main character from the first 3 books ("The Uglies", "The Pretties", & "The Specials") from Tally Youngblood to Aya, a want-a-be kicker, a total different kind of character. Even though it's been three years since Tally's story, all people in Aya's city are connected to the city feed (sort of like Twitter) where their whole lives are "online" and people are judged on their "face ranks". "Kickers" are people who "kick" or launch important stories of interest. If their stories are good, their "face rank" moves up and they become famous. Famous people are followed by "hover cams", mechanical Paparazzi and are invited to the best parties and live the high life.

Has anyone else read this series or read books like this?

MS. RUSSELL'S CLASS

Monday, November 30, 2009

AM HOMEWORK HELP

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

HW Detention

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving

Ms. Russell's Book Log 2009 - 2010

MONTHLY READING GOALS

Homework Assignments: Fourth Marking Period

My Blog List

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - Third Marking Period

MORNING HOMEWORK CLUB - Period 1

DETENTION - Wednesdays after school 3:40 - 4:30PM

BOOK CLUB Session 1 (PEEPS by: Scott Westerfeld - Every Wednesday during Period 1

Specialized High School Test Preparation Classes

What kind of bookclub would you be interested in?

For Book Club Members Only

Contact Ms. Russell

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - Marking Period 1

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - 2nd Marking Period

Interesting Websites

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

My Blog List

Blog Archive

Followers

INDEPENDENT READING BOOK CHATTER

8th GRADE NEWS