3.20.08

PLEASE regularly check your student's grades available on-line. While the quarter is ending soon, the semester, which determines course credit, continues. I sent students home with a print out of their current grades.
Thank you.

3.19.08

We finished the media center time, and we collected the packet. One worksheet is also due, tomorrow. Finally, we have our spelling quiz tomorrow, as usual, before finishing watching the movie , Of Mice and Men. It was a grand day by all students!

3.18.08

This week students are working in the media center on a detailed orientation presented by the media staff/faculty. Even already knowing pieces of how to use the media center, the repetition and swifter avenues presented are invaluable to students. Each student has a topic connected to the time period of the novel on which we just took the unit test last Friday, Of Mice and Men.



Some students listened very respectfully and worked swiftly, utilizing the directions both verbally from the librarian, and written on the packet. Others choose to meander off task, which leads to no good.

3.13.08

After a briefing on the test content and format for tomorrow, we watched more of the video. After the test tomorrow, we may well have time to see more of it this week. NEXT week, we'll be in the library for orientation and mini-research on a given topic.

3.11.08

With the shorter period, we did a bit less today than usual. After the D.O.L., I checked the study guide for chapter 5 (it was due today , in class), and then we discussed the answers as well as the idea of the importance of dogs (especially since they lead into the notion of friendship and its importance). Finally, we watched some of the movie. Tomorrow is the quiz on chapters 4 and 5; we will also read chapter 6 tomorrow. The only homework is studying for the quiz!

3.10.08

After the vocabulary quiz (from the early chapters), Ms. Morelli and I checked the homework (ch 4 study guide) and collected the extra credit (Writers Week letter, only option was to turn it in today for any possible credit). Then students worked on a worksheet to categorize loneliness in the novel, with supporting evidence from the book (quotes).

Tonight, read chapter 5 and do the corresponding study guide questions. Quiz on ch. 4-5 is on Wednesday. The unit test is this Friday.

3.6.08

Today we worked in class on a worksheet/study guide page for chapter 3, as well as a review chart worksheet, due tomorrow. There is a spelling and quiz on chapters 1-3 tomorrow.

Chapter 3 is the "so sad" chapter with Candy's dog, as well as the first glimmer of real HOPE at the end of the chapter with the potential dream moving closer to a reality for George, Lennie, and , now, Candy.

3.06.08

Okay! We started a new unit, Of Mice and Men, by J. Steinbeck, a spectacular book about loneliness, friendships, dreams, and life kindnesses and cruelties. After reading chapter one, we discussed how hearing it read aloud makes it easier to follow; I encourage them to read it aloud until they have an easier time with it. Also, we have a focus on vocabulary and using context clues to resolve new word difficulties. Today, we did some small group work with vocabulary and predictions for chapter two, which we read in class, either as groups or individually. Chapter three is homework for today.

We do have quizzes coming up: this Friday is the usual spelling quiz, as well as a chapter 1-3 quiz. Monday will be the vocabulary quiz (matching) for chapters 1-3. Next Wednesday is a chapter quiz on the remaining chapters, and the final test is scheduled for Friday, the 14th.