Thursday, June 5, 2014

Before You Go...

Year end - such Fun!

Finishing all assignments!
AVID Field Trip
Band Field Trip
Honor Society Field Trip
Transition Ceremony Practice
Walk to the Park
Exit Surveys
Review of Themes in Movies
Field Day
Yearbook Signing
Block Party

AND

Thank you to my students!

This year has been a really great learning experience for me and I thank you for bringing into my classroom all of your experience, dreams and hope. I hope that I have lived up to your expectations and that I have brought you some experiences that enabled you to see the world a little differently and to understand yourself better.

You have such great potential! Now go out and make the world your own!

With Great Affection,

Ms. Albanese

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Touched By an Angel by Maya Angelou

Touched by An Angel
Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Ted Kooser and Robert Frost Poems

Tattoo
Ted Kooser

What once was meant to be a statement—
a dripping dagger held in the fist
of a shuddering heart—is now just a bruise
on a bony old shoulder, the spot
where vanity once punched him hard
and the ache lingered on. He looks like
someone you had to reckon with,
strong as a stallion, fast and ornery,
but on this chilly morning, as he walks
between the tables at a yard sale
with the sleeves of his tight black T-shirt
rolled up to show us who he was,
he is only another old man, picking up
broken tools and putting them back,
his heart gone soft and blue with stories.

Nothing Gold Can Stay
Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold, 
Her hardest hue to hold. 
Her early leaf’s a flower; 
But only so an hour. 
Then leaf subsides to leaf. 
So Eden sank to grief, 
So dawn goes down to day. 
Nothing gold can stay.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Lesson Plans June 2-6, 2014

A Summer Love Poem

Nikki Giovanni

Clouds float by on a summer sky

I hop scotch over to you
Rainbows arch from ground to gold
I climb over to you
Thunder grumbles, lightning tumbles
And I bounce over to you
Sun beams back and catches me
Smiling over at you

And I Have You

Rain has drops
Sun has shine
Moon has beams
That make you mine
Rivers have banks
Sands for shores
Hearts have heartbeats
That make me yours
Needles have eyes
Though pins may prick
Elmer has glue
To make things stick
Winter has Spring
Stockings feet
Pepper has mint
To make it sweet
Teachers have lessons
Soup du jour
Lawyers sue bad folks
Doctors cure
All and all
This much is true
You have me
And I have you

Nikki Giovanni

Writing

Write about your most memorable moment at MMS this year. Describe it in detail using sensory words. This can be a poem or prose.
Make a list of all the assignments that you remember from LA this year. Write this as a blog post. Then go back and put a start next to the projects that were your favorites or that you had learned something new from. Remember: writing, reading, speaking, listening, field trips, blogging, testing, and thinking.
Write a post on your blog. This is a letter to the upcoming 7th graders. Tell them what to do to be successful in the 8th grade at Mariner. Give specific advice. Tell about specific classes. Give your sage wisdom to these newbies in a letter.
Post on your blog, all the written assignments that you have done this year. Then go read other students' blogs and make comments on their assignments.

Reading

Scope Magazine - May

Read "Throw Away your Earbuds NOW!" and "I Can't Hear YOU!" Discuss.
Complete the worksheet.
Take the Quiz.

Friday

Walk to the Park

Picnic

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Maya Angelou, Rest in Peace

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
(April 4, 1928-May 28, 2014)

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Washington DC Reflection

Warm-Up

Write a travel log from you Washington field trip.

What did you see: first, second, third, last?
What did you enjoy most, least?
What would you recommend to others?

Due Today!
Then work on your Poster Project - due tomorrow.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Assignments

These projects are due soon. All must be turned in on time. Complete for homework.

Capstone Project Poster: biography, letter of thanks, certificate, essay - (person you admire or proudest moment), timeline, symbols, cartoon, friendship map. Due Friday.
3 AR Tests - take these during RTI and on Friday. Due May 29th.
Final Test - reading and writing test. Due Friday, May 30th
Summary of the Field Trip.Due Friday, May 30th

Legacies by Nikki Giovanni

Legacies

By Nikki Giovanni

her grandmother called her from the playground

“yes, ma’am”

“i want chu to learn how to make rolls” said the old

woman proudly

but the little girl didn’t want

to learn how because she knew

even if she couldn’t say it that

that would mean when the old one died she would be less

dependent on her spirit so

she said

“i don’t want to know how to make no rolls”

with her lips poked out

and the old woman wiped her hands on

her apron saying “lord

these children”

and neither of them ever

said what they meant

and i guess nobody ever does

Monday, May 19, 2014

You are the Author of your Own Life Story: Capstone Project

YOU ARE THE AUTHOR

OF YOUR OWN LIFE STORY

Capstone Project

May, 2014

Part 1 – Brainstorm to create list of personal accomplishments and memories

Part 2 – Writing Workshop create written material that represents your life so far.

Part 3 – Oral and Visual Presentation poster display and oral presentation

Part 1 Brainstorm

1. MAKE A LIST of all of your accomplishments, life events, and special times from birth till today. Think about summer camp, the beach, holidays, sports, music, riding a bike, dancing, crafts, hobbies, braces, community service, favorite books, math awards, science experiments, friends and family.

2. DETERMINE which accomplishments and memories you will use for your poster display. You will create essays and documents to represent your accomplishments. Everyone must do 3 items on List A and choose 3 from List B.

List A List B

Certificate – a special accomplishment Timeline – life events, a sequence

Bio Sketch – your biography Pictures of you – photos or sketch

Resume –tells about your qualifications for a job Symbols - icons that tell about you

Letter – thanking someone for helping you Brochure – a place you have been

Essay – your proudest moment or Cartoon – a story drawn about you

the person you most admire Friendship Map –map your friends

3. PLAN YOUR OVERALL DESIGN/PRESENTATION – Design and collect items to place on your poster display in a graphically attractive way. Then create a 3-5 minute presentation to accompany your poster explaining - YOUR LIFE STORY!

Part 2

Writing Workshop

Draft, revise, edit and publish the written documents in List A. Lessons will center on how to create the documents.

Include

· Information that will give a total picture of you.

· Information that you consider important in your life. Interview your parents to get details of dates and events.

· Visually pleasing items that coordinate with your documents.

Part 3

Oral/Visual Presentation

Oral presentation must be at least 2 minutes in length and contain at least 5 major aspects of your life. Students will use the display to make their points.

Visual poster displays must have at least eight items that relate to your life – five items from list A and three items from list B. Displays should be graphically interesting and contain important information. They will be judged on the content, visual impact, information presented clearly, and comprehensiveness.

Lesson Plans for May 19-30 Washington DC Week and Projects

Language Arts

EQ: What is your Life Story?

Reading and Writing EQs?

Book Poster - see other posting
Life story Capstone Project - see other posting

Poem for the Week - The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Reflection:

What

Why?

Your opinion?

Social Studies/US History

CNN Student News

U.S. History - The American Revolution

The Constitution, Chapter 9
- Study Guide
- Test
Annanberg Video

American History Smithsonian Museum Washington DC

http://dguides.com/images/washingtondc/attractions/national-museum-of-american-history.jpg

How to Act in a Museum

Quiet voices
Hands to self
No running
Stay with chaperone
Read display information
Ask good questions

American History Museum

Highlights of AHM
The Star Spangled Banner

First Ladies Gowns

Julia Child's Kitchen

Mr. Lincoln's Hat

Friday, May 16, 2014

Founding Father Project

Who are the Framers?
Pick one, research his life and write about it on your blog. Don't have a blog? Create one!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Book Poster Project

1. Pick a book that you loved or that you really liked that you read in 8^th Grade.

2. Create a movie style poster about that book. (portrait layout)

3. Design, develop and make the poster. Use any combination of media that you wish including collage, drawing, markers, graphics.