Mrs. Arcuri's English Class Blog

This week students will continue their study of The Pearl.  Your child should continue to complete his/her study guides and update his/her character chart.

On a side note, I had the opportunity to hear Paula Gilbert from Martin Memorial library speak a few days ago.  She shared the following:

• Children under the age of 2 should not have any interaction with television (or screens of any sort)
• Most five year old children have watched as many hours of television as it takes to earn a 4 year college degree
• Children under the age of 12 should not play video games (This does not make my own children happy…)
• Children younger than high school/college age should not have a Facebook page
• Children who do not read at least 20 minutes a day during summer months can fall behind as much as 2 academic years
• READ! READ! READ!
• A library card is FREE! FREE! FREE!

Happy May!  This week in class students are reading and discussing chapters one and two of The Pearl.  Outside class, they should be re-reading those chapters and completing their character charts and chapter questions–these will serve as their study guides at the end of the unit.

Have a great week!

This week students will complete their district writing prompt; it is a persuasive prompt.  Please understand that students write about a prompt in the fall and again in the spring so that growth can be charted.

Also, this week students will take notes about John Steinbeck and begin reading The Pearl in class.

This week students will continue their poetry study.  They will read and analyze “Oh Captain! My Captain” and “I Saw Old General at Bay”.  Students’ unit of study will include dual symbolism, figurative language, and extended metaphor.  There will be an opportunity to apply the lesson using the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes.

Also, this week students will take their first grammar quiz–please study pp. 1-17.

This week students will continue their grammar study.  In addition, classes will analyze “O Captain! My Captain!” and “I Saw Old General at Bay” by Walt Whitman.  This study will include dual symbolism, extended metaphor, and figurative language.

I am so impressed by the effort the eighth grade students at YSMS put forth for the reading, writing, and math PSSA–and this week is no different!  Our students are doing their very best as they complete their science PSSA.

This week in English class, students will continue to work through grammar pages.  Also, before Thursday’s quiz, students will review some figurative language terms and learn some new ones.

ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE A SSR BOOK WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES IN ALL CLASSES—THIS IS NOT TO BE THE CLASS NOVEL, THE PEARL, BUT A SEPARATE NOVEL.

Please continue to check Google calendar and moodle!

Greetings!

Eighth graders will be taking the writing PSSA this week.  On Tuesday, they will be given multiple choice questions that test their knowledge of grammar, spelling, and mechanics as well as a writing prompt.  On Wednesday and Thursday, students will  be given one writing prompt; students have a persuasive and informational writing formula they should review each night.  Further, students should eat a healthy breakfast and get plenty of sleep!

Also, students will bring home a letter regarding the novella The Pearl –parents/guardians should please sign the form and have their students return it by this Friday.

Have a great week!

WOW!  I am super impressed, but not surprised, by how seriously our students worked on their math and reading PSSA tests.  Great job! 

And, I am confident that our students will do equally well on next week’s writing PSSA.  In an effort to prepare, students will engage in lots of formula reveiw for persuasive and informational writing.  There is a yellow study guide, and please see the Google calendar for quiz dates.

Eighth graders will be very busy over the next few weeks with the PSSA!

STUDENTS, PLEASE GET PLENTY OF SLEEP AND EAT A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST EACH DAY!

YOU CAN DO IT!

This week students will be given the third Study Island benchmark of the year.  All students are encouraged to do their very best as this test is an excellent indicator of how they will score on next week’s PSSA.  Between now and the PSSA, students will discuss test taking strategies so they can avoid errors.

Reminder:  Students need to get plenty of sleep (9.2 hours a night) and eat a healthy breakfast!