8ELA-We had our Reading period followed by the continuation of key Concept #2 in media literacy (Audiences Negotiate Meaning).  I also conferenced with students on their independent writing pieces and some students worked on their SS projects.  HOMEWORK:  GIANT SPELLING TEST, JOURNALS DUE TOMORROW.  TARGET MARKET WORKSHEETS DUE TOMORROW (THESE WILL REQUIRE STUDENTS TO WATCH TWO TV SHOWS),  C&C WRITING DUE ON MONDAY.

8SS-We learned about the birth of democracy in ancient Greece.  We learned about Solon and Cleisenthenes and various forms of government.  We also watched a short video on the topic.  HOMEWORK:  GREEK DEMOCRACY DEFINITIONS AND WORKSHEET.

7SS-We focussed on the first cluster of the Global Goals--those focussing on Happy and Healthy Life.  We did an activity that made it plain that all people should have the same minimums in life (food, water, shelter) to be successful.  HOMEWORK:  HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE Q 1-5 DUE TOMORROW.

8ELA-We had a Reading period followed by spelling; it was a review unit so there was no pre-check.  I collected our Free Press field trip reflections and other homework.  We reviewed Key Concept #1 of media literacy and moved on to #2 (Audiences Negotiate Meaning).  HOMEWORK:  CONTINUE WORKING ON OUR C&C WRITING PIECE.

8SS-Students were reminded that the Athens v Sparta comparison chart is due tomorrow.  Polis groups then had time to meet and work on their skits.  HOMEWORK:  A V S CHART, SKIT PRACTICE.  8B DID NOT HAVE CLASS TODAY.

8ELA-We had our Reading period.  Since this is a short week (no school on Friday and all morning field trip on Thursday), we won't be doing Spelling or Skills this week.  I have also cancelled Reading Journals this week (but we're still reading!).  We started a new unit today on media literacy.  Our focus today was defining media and thinking about examples.  We also learned about the first key concept of media literacy:  media are constructions.  We discussed what this meant and watched a short video to enhance the concept.  NO HOMEWORK.

8SS-We started a comparison chart for Athens and Sparta.  NO HOMEWORK.

7SS-We reviewed what we learned from the CIA Factbook regarding high and low ranking human development countries.  NO HOMEWORK.

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Grade 8 students need to return their field trip forms tomorrow.

8ELA-We had a Reading period today and didn't get much time on our writing assignments.  We had a special presentation from MADD which focussed on the consequences of impaired driving.  HOMEWORK:  JOURNALS, SPELLING TEST, PRONOUN TEST DUE TOMORROW.  SPELLING TEST RE-WRITES ALSO HAPPEN TOMORROW.

8SS-We corrected our lesson on ancient Athens.  HOMEWORK:  NOTHING NEW BUT WE WILL CORRECT SPARTA Q 1-6 TOMORROW.

8ELA-We had our Reading period then launched into writing.  Students are working on a creative writing piece in which they choose the genre (poem, short story, memoir, or non-fiction paragraph) on a theme related to our last unit (chuckles and chills).  HOMEWORK:  SPELLING AND SKILLS DUE TOMORROW, WRITING ASSIGNMENT (ROUGH DRAFT) DUE TOMORROW.  THIS FRIDAY, SPELLING TEST, PRONOUN TEST, AND JOURNALS WILL BE DUE.

8SS-Students are working in polis groups to turn a myth into a play and performance.  Today they broke into smaller groups with members working on the script, setting, and costumes/props.  HOMEWORK:  SCRIPT ROUGH DRAFT AND SETTING/COSTUMES/PROPS PLAN DUE TOMORROW.

7SS-We learned about the concept of human development today and compared it to our understanding of standard of living.  We also learned about how poverty makes people feel.  NO HOMEWORK.

What a fun day we had!
8ELA-We had our Reading period and did our spelling test #15.  We also did our Character Booktalks (8B will finish on Monday).  HOMEWORK:  SPORT POEMS Q 1-6.

8SS-We worked on our Mount Olympus Challenge; we focussed on the myths of King Midas and Orion.  HOMEWORK:  ATHENS Q 1-6.

7SS-We worked on questions of poverty and standard of living.  HOMEWORK:  STANDARD OF LIVING Q 1-6

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To kick off I Love to Read month, today was "Dress as Your Favourite Book Character" 

or "Dress as Text (black and white)". 

8M won the challenge of Best Dressed Class and will now decide from whom

 they will steal a gym class.  

We also had an assembly to celebrate reading and played a trivia game among the 5-8 classes.  

8B won that challenge and gets to have a day without uniform.  Congratulations 8M and 8B!