Yearbook!

The order forms for the school yearbook have gone out!  I would like to take a few moments to answer some questions.  The cost for the book this year is $17.  Yes, this is a significant increase, but the book is very different this year.  We have opted to go with Herff Jones and have our book professional printed in full color!  Students have seen the samples of these gorgeous books and are excited by the prospect of such a professionally bound annual.   

In the past, we have been able to offer families a 1/4 or 1/2 page ad space, but we will not be offering this in the 2008 book.   In order to keep the cost as low as possible, we needed to reduce page numbers.  By offering these advertising spaces, our book cost skyrocketed.   

For those who are interested in writing a note to their child, or this class, we are offering the opportunity to sponsor a page.   For $3.00 you can write a 75-character message to your graduate and it will appear at the bottom of a particular page.    Seventy Five Characters is a sentence about this long:

Congratulations, Elly! We are so proud of you.  Love, Mom, Dad, Tim and William.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.  We can explore the idea of returning to the 1/4 page and 1/2 page ads for future editions of the yearbook.   What other ideas do you have?  Let us know!

Free Rice!

A few weeks before our December break, a former student alerted me to Free Rice, one of the coolest websites I've ever seen! Free Rice provides the opportunity to increase your vocabulary skills and feed the hungry. Check out www.freerice.com to play. If you select FAQs, you can learn more about this neat program, but in a nutshell, when you get a vocabulary word correct, twenty grains of rice are donated to the United Nations to combat world hunger. NPR did a story on Free Rice, and references to it seem to be cropping up all over. Why don't you give it a try?

Eighth Graders enjoying To Kill a Mockingbird

The eighth graders are deep into 1930's Alabama right now as they work toward finishing our unit on To Kill a Mockingbird. We will end the unit by viewing the film starring Gregory Peck.
Some comments:
"I like it. I didn't really read it at first, but I like it."
"Chapter 28 is my favorite chapter!"
"I got so mad after the trial!"
Ask your eighth grader their thoughts--or better yet read it with them!
Happy New Year!

No More Rootin' Tootin' Vocab!

It's true, I have discontinued the monthly project: Rootin' Tootin' Vocab. While I still see the value in learning Latin and Greek roots, this project was not meeting the goals I set for it. Ultimately, I wanted students to learn the roots and find examples of them in their everyday lives. As I reviewed the results (and the projects turned in) I saw the need for a change. We will continue our daily Latin and Greek root word work, but for now, Rootin' Tootin' vocab is on hold. I will be revising the project and will provide eighth graders with new instructions soon.

Report Cards Go Home!

Report Cards for the first marking period went home today, November 2, 2007. Included in the envelope was an announcement of conference times. Parents, please feel free to drop in to visit with us Monday or Tuesday November 19th and 20th. We like the opportunity to talk with you and plan for the success of your children! See you then.

Writer Speaks!

What a cool day we had today with the visit from a guest speaker who is a teacher and writer. Ms. KDB talked with my kids about audience awareness and the importance of writing to be heard. We began the class with discussion about instant messaging and all its "code words." In an editing exercise, students translated a sample email message from a teacher to his/her principal that included way too many slang IM codes like SFSG (so far so good) and BTW (by the way). They practiced writing letters in this code and tried translating each other's cryptic messages. We went on to begin an Alphabiography project which will be due on October 4. This assignment asks students to choose a minimum of ten letters of the alphabet. For each letter, they list a word (N=niece), and tell a story about this word that ends with a lesson. Because I feel that I cannot ask my students to write without also making an attempt myself, I started my own Alphabiography. One thing I discovered was that as I began jotting down notes for the letters I chose, other letters came to me at a rapid pace. It seems as though life is full of lessons once we start thinking!
I have been enjoying this year so much-- with even more attention dedicated to writing. It has been really neat to have discussions with my students about such a variety of topics-- the new schedule (96 minute blocks!) affords us time to really talk as a method of prewriting. I love the looks on their faces when I say, "We're going to write, put your pencils down."
Ms. KDB will be in class with us two more times this year and I am really looking forward to those days. She is a dynamic, interesting person! Thanks, K!

Open House a Success

Tonight was open house at Ashford School. What a fun chance to chat with families of my students. While waiting, families were encouraged to try to find their eighth grader's "Who am I?" answer--a paragraph written with clues to identify them. I enjoyed meeting parents and becoming reacquainted with families I've known for years. My overall goal of a fun evening was definitely fulfilled!

Any families who were not able to attend are encouraged to be in contact with me with any questions or concerns!