All in all, I think we've been having fun learning these new skills! Can't wait to apply what we've learned in a short narrative after Thanksgiving!
Until Next Time,
Ritchie
7th Grade has been busy learning about how important it is to vary sentence length and structure when it comes to writing! Students have been learning about simple, compound and complex sentences. Complex sentences can be a challenge in just understanding the clauses (independent and dependent). These two clauses which form these sentences can be difficult in identifying and writing! Interactive learning definitely helps learn these skills as well as maximize engagement! Take a look below! Compound and complex sentence practice!! After all the games and hands on activities... There was always time for some independent writing practice! For example, one independent practice we watched clips of people around the world breaking World Records! Our favorite was a bulldog named Otto who skateboards! After watching, we discussed how cool it would be to break a world record! Then my kiddos wrote a journal entry (using different sentence structures) in which they explained what world record they would want to break and why! I had many requests for a "share" and allowed any one who wanted to, to share their journal to the class!
All in all, I think we've been having fun learning these new skills! Can't wait to apply what we've learned in a short narrative after Thanksgiving! Until Next Time, Ritchie
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What a learning experience this has been! After months of working, the kids were finally able to showcase their projects! Their boards and presentations were phenomenal! Take a look to see examples of displays from the fair! Stunning Right???!? I'm extremely proud of all the kiddos and their accomplishments! Can't wait until February!!
Until Next Time, Ritchie Just to update you all, there were two 8th grade winners of the 'Design the Ad' from the News Tribune! This was a contest held for all Illinois Valley Students! Below are pictures of the winners & their advertisements! Congratulations! Keep a look out for the November 19th issue of the News Tribune where all winners pictures & advertisements will be displayed!
Until Next Time, Ritchie It seemed fitting this week (after Halloween) that the 8th graders & I worked on "Paired Passages" and learn more about the harmful effects that sugar can cause to our health. My students know ... (And now you do too) that I have a major sweet tooth! Now, I'm not admitting I have a secret stash of sweets in my classroom.... *cough* But, after having my students warn me time and time again that I have a sugar problem... It made me realize that we ALL can learn more about nutrition and make healthy lifestyle choices. No matter what age we are! ;) This week we read two sets of paired passages to practice analyzing similar topics & themes. One of the set of paired passages was called "How Candy Came to America" & "Death by Sugar?". Pictured below, are awareness posters that students created using textual evidence from the 2nd passage! I was really impressed that out of a 5 page article ALL of my students knew exactly the most important information to put on their posters. Evaluating information can be a challenge, but I think this was an engaging way to practice this skill! It was interesting how each student had their own creative way to "hook" their audience with concepts learned from the article!
We hung these posters around Washington, so more students and faculty could learn facts about how sugar can affect our health! If you are around for parent-teacher conferences... You should take a look! Until Next Time, Ritchie |
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