May…5th Grade Religion
During the final month of school the class will learn the following faith concepts: making Christian decisions, the Beatitudes, and living as children of light and holiness. Making Christian decisions reinforces that each of us has been given a conscience to help guide us in living holy lives. The Beatitudes outline many different ways to bring happiness to others. Finally, each of us is called to live the way Jesus lived and the way He taught His apostles to live. Since May is the month of Mary, the students will learn titles for her in addition to Mother of God. They will make mobiles with a title for Mary on each one.
May…7th and 8th Grade Language Arts
The eighth graders are reading the novel Seedfolks by Paul Fleishman. It is a short story about how one person can have a major effect on their community and the people around them. It begins with a young Vietnamese girl named Kim. She decides to plant bean seeds in a rundown vacant lot near her family’s apartment. Her father was a farmer. Kim was born after he died. She’s hoping that by planting and tending her seeds her father will see and be proud of her. A neighbor spies on her thinking she’s up to no good, but finds out otherwise. The story continues and is told by thirteen different characters from different ethnicities. Each character contributes to the garden for their own reasons. Their perspectives are shared with the reader. A wonderful garden flourishes and is enjoyed by all. Students will work in pairs. They will create a visual of a literary element and give an examples of it from the book. Each student will write a found poem about one of the characters. They will also take the AR test for the book. There are two units left in the vocabulary books. These will be completed by the end of the month.
During these final weeks the seventh graders are reading the novel Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Jeremy and his friend, Lizzy, are on a quest to find four keys to open a mysterious box left to Jeremy by his deceased father. Jeremy is suppose to open the box on his thirteenth birthday and time is running out. Both children travel through a series of events that will, hopefully, lead them to the keys. Along the way, they encounter many characters. But do they learn the meaning of life? The class is using a novel calendar to keep track of vocabulary, literary elements, and important quotations taken directly from the book. When the novel is completed, each student will write a book review. In English, we will continue to review the parts of speech. There are three units left to be completed in the vocabulary books. These will be done by the end of the month.
March…Religion Grade 5
The fifth graders will explore the healing ministry of Jesus and how it is continued in the Church. Chapter sixteen is “Jesus’ Work of Healing,” which tells why we celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and The Anointing of the Sick. Students will also work in groups and role play healing stories from Scripture. During March, the class will review the season of Lent, Lenten vocabulary, and Lenten resolutions. The class will read, discuss, and then reflect on the Stations of the Cross. Each child will create their own station of the cross. This is an activity I do with each of my homerooms every year. I love the ideas they come up with. They will be displayed in the hallway outside our classroom. D.A.R.E. lessons are weekly. The graduation is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th. Please mark your calendars.
Also, just a reminder to continue to check your child’s calendar in front of their assignment notebook. This is where infractions, if any, would be posted.
Language Arts…7th & 8th Grade
The seventh graders will read and compare graphic stories and novels to traditional fiction. Graphic stories are similar to comic strips, but the stories are usually longer. The purpose of many graphic stories is to entertain readers, but some also teach about history or current events. Special features of the graphic stories are dialogue and thought bubbles, panels and frames, and visual representation of action. The next focus in class will be the research report. Before beginning the research, guidelines and lessons in avoiding plagiarism will be reviewed in class. Students will then select a topic, research the topic, outline their information, provide documentation, and write a final draft. Previous vocabulary was taken from the novel read in class. We are again back in the vocabulary books. Just a reminder…Oxford-Sadlier Vocabulary Level B can be accessed online. This site provides each unit word list, definitions, pronunciations, quizzes, and games. It’s a great tool for review and your child’s book doesn’t have to leave school.
“Flowers for Algernon” is a science fiction story about an experiment a man undergoes to improve his intelligence. This is the short story the eighth graders will be reading. While reading they will identify examples of situational and dramatic irony. They will find clues to the chronological text structure using a graphic organizer. Students will develop good questions about the ethics of scientific experiments on human beings. The main character’s journal entries are a great source of review for mechanics in English. The next focus in class will be the research report. Before beginning research, guidelines and lessons in plagiarism will be reviewed. Students will select a topic, research their subject, outline their information, provide documentation, and write a final draft. Previous vocabulary words were taken from the novel we read in class. We are now back in the vocabulary books.
February…Fifth Grade Religion
The third sacrament of initiation is the Eucharist. The Eucharist nourishes and strengthens us to live as Jesus’ followers. There are many names the Church uses for the Eucharist to help us understand the meaning of this great mystery of God’s love. These are the main faith concepts taught in chapter fourteen, “One Bread, One Body.” After completing this chapter the fifth graders will have finished the three sacraments of initiation. We will then begin the sacraments of healing, Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.
February is the month designated to the sacrament of marriage. As a class we have already discussed this sacrament and how it’s comparable to Christ’s love for His Church. Because this is one of the sacraments of service, each child will be asked to write about a special talent that God has given them and how they can use it to serve the Church.
Language Arts…February 7th & 8th Grade
The seventh graders will read the novel The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson. A virus, which has swept the world, has left only children twelve and under alive. In order to survive someone has to step up and take control. Lisa is the girl who does this. She is determined to save the children from gangs, fierce armines, and other obstacles. The book’s message is that adversity can be overcome. The class will have the opportunity to freewrite about topics that come up for discussion in the novel. Vocabulary will be taken directly from the book. One “group” project will be researching the concept of a perfect utopia. Students will visit four utopias that exist today. Each group will be responsible for displaying their findings and persuading their classmates that theirs is the best.
Remembering the “Holocaust” is the theme for February in eighth grade. Students will read the play “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Afterwards, they will complete activities that relate to World War II concentration camps in preparation for the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It is the story of a nine year old boy, Bruno, and the journey he takes with his family from Berlin to the Out-With. The year is 1942. Their house is in the middle of nowhere. With no close neighbors nearby and nothing to do, Bruno explores his new environment. Eventually, he sees a tall fence and people wearing strange pajamas. One of these persons is a boy his age, Schmuel. The two boys begin a friendship which is surrounded by childhood innocence. The book is about the Holocaust, friendship, and the effects of prejudice and dicrimination. Through class and group discussions and writing activites the eighth graders will explore how these topics effected the people of that time period. All vocabulary will be taken from the book. Students will view the movie version of the novel when the book has been completed. Permission slips will be sent home beforehand because of the PG13 rating.
Junior High Language Arts & Religion (January, 2011)
7th Grade Language Arts
“Why do You Read?” is the big question that challenges the students to think while reading selections in unit two. The genre focus is the informational text and functional documents. These are two forms of nonfiction writing that present facts and information. They can tell the latest news, how to make or do something, or true stories about real people and places. The newspaper is one example of an informational text, therefore, the seventh graders will use the online version of the Chicago Tribune while working in this section of the literature books. Literary elements that will be reviewed are main idea, inference, visualization, and locating information. In English, the correct usage of various punctuation marks will be reviewed and then assessed in student’s writing. Vocabulary will continue to follow the same format that is presented in their books. The class is now on unit six.
8th Grade Language Arts
The eighth graders will first do a review unit on the different sections of a daily newspaper. They use the online version of the Chicago Tribune. After that, they will read a mystery novel. Skills that will be reviewed are: inference, deduction, author’s point of view and purpose, main ideas and supporting details, types of irony, and the development of themes. New skills that will be introduced are: the author’s use of cliffhangers to create suspense, interpreting layers of meaning, and understanding the social context of a text. Vocabulary focus will be on words taken directly from the novel. English assignments will relate to the book. The class will write reflections, expand sentences, create a “found” poem, and complete a book review.
Grade 5 Religion
During the month of January, the fifth grade class will cover chapters 11, 12, and 14 in their Religion books. Chapter 11 is about exploring the meaning of the Church’s liturgy. Topics to be covered are: why we celebrate the liturgy, how the Church celebrates the liturgical year, and why the Church celebrates the sacraments. The sacraments of initiation, Baptism and Confirmation, are the focus of chapter 12. When completed each child should be able to tell what happens at Baptism, summarize what happens at Confirmation, and tell how they live their Baptism. Chapter 14 is the Eucharist. The following faith concepts will be read, discussed, and summarized: why we celebrate the Eucharist, identify names for the Eucharist, and explain the celebration of Mass. Blessed Teresa is a role model of our faith. She will be the saint we learn more about this month.
December Grade 5 Homeroom News
Jesus, the Incarnation, is the theme for the month of December.
Advent begins the new liturgical year for the Church. We prepare for the coming of Jesus. John the Baptist, the prophet, Isaiah, and Mary, helped the people of their day to prepare their minds and hearts to welcome Jesus. Through their stories we will learn how we can get ready for Jesus’ birth. Next, is the season of Christmas. Students will read, discuss, and summarize what the title Prince of Peace means. The fifth graders are also doing a class Advent project. Each group of students made a scroll. On each scroll is a Scripture reading that is relevant to the season of Advent. These will be displayed in our homeroom. Saint Nicholas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, and Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, are saints whose feast days are celebrated during the month of December. The class will learn about what made each of these individuals role models for our Catholic faith.
Happy Holidays!
Wow, I can’t believe the holidays are almost here! I just wanted to wish you and your family a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year. It is a joy to be teaching your child and being a part of the Incarnation family. Thank you for all of your support.
Language Arts
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December…8th Grade During the next few weeks the eighth graders will be using the newspaper in the classroom. It’s a great supplement in addition to the textbook. The newspaper is versatile, it’s a source of information that deals with real life topics and it can be used individually or as a cooperative activity. Lessons will promote critical thinking skills, improve vocabulary, and increase knowledge of the world we are in today. Students will select activities that are of interest to them. For example, a language arts sports article assignment allows them to read the selection and then highlight any words that relate to the sport. They then list the word, define it, and use it in a sentence. The newspaper can help to stimulate reading and writing. Enjoy the holidays and a very Merry Christmas to you and your families.
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December… 7th Grade The seventh graders have begun the novel Freak the Mighty. It is a story about two boys who have disabilities and the friendship that develops between them. One of the many lessons that are implied in the book is that disabilities can be overcome. Vocabulary and English lessons will relate to the novel. Analyzing the main characters, introducing and identifying the four types of conflicts, review of the elements of flashback and foreshadowing, poetry, and various vocabulary activities are what the class will work on. Have a great Christmas and God bless each of your families. |
8th Language Arts November
Touching Spirit Bear is the novel that the eighth graders are close to completing. It’s a story that shows how bullying effects families and the individuals involved. It’s a story that gets students to think and be more aware of the consequences of unacceptable behaviors. Cole, the bully, is a teenage boy who gets a chance to redeem himself through Native-American Circle Justice. Can he or will he change? Students will demonstrate writing and vocabulary skills that relate to the book by completing assigned activities. They then will return to the literature book and begin a unit that focuses on the essay. The following skills will be reviewed and assessed: analyze evidence, evaluate arguments, identify types of essays. One form of assessment will be to write an “ode” that relates to a topic that concerns them. The class will also return to the vocabulary books. They will begin unit six.
