Welcome Discoverers!

1. Welcome Discoverers! Dr. Brenda Gunnell Discoverer Language Arts Crosby Middle School 2014-2015

2. Good morning, Discoverers! Today is Wednesday, August 13, 2014. Welcome to 8th Grade!! Do Right Now: Please fill out your Agenda for Language Arts. Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I can use my Agenda to maximum efficiency.

3. You will receive: Instructional Fee Waiver Photo Video Release Parent Portal Student Residency Form • Agenda • Enrollment Form • Team Letter • Code of Conduct • PTSA Membership • Discoverer Order Form

4. Common Areas • Hallways – single file, to the right, walk in silence • Cafeteria – escorted to and from; sit in assigned seat/table • Bathrooms – during passing time; don’t make a mess or leave a mess • Agendas – everyday; every class

5. Agendas • Bring everyday to every class! No exceptions • Every class will have a posted Agenda – COPY IT under today’s date • Pages 2 – 8: read silently. Be prepared to discuss at least one item from each subheading • Hallway Passport: Pages A21- A23 and last 4 pages • Resource Pages: R-1 through R-24 • Study Skills and Test Preparation: (back of the book) 1 – 16 • School Closed Dates: 9/1, 10/3-6-7, 11/3-4, 11/26 – 28, 12/22 – 1/2, 2/27, 3/9, 4/2-10, 5/1, 5/19, 5/25 • Last Day (hopefully) 5/28

6. America the Beautiful Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain For purple mountains majesty, above the fruited plains. America, America God shed His Grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

7. Regular Bell Schedule(beginning August 18) • Pride time 7:35 – 8:00 • 1st period 8:05 – 9:00 • 2nd period 9:05 – 10:00 • 3rd period 10:05 – 11:00 • 4th period 11:05 – 12:20 (with lunch) • 5th period 12:25 – 1:20 • 6th period 1:25 – 2:20

8. Hello, Discoverers! Today is Thursday, August 14, 2014. We will go over our course syllabus and general classroom procedures. Do Right Now: Agenda Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I know what is expected of me in Language Arts.

9. Read with a Pencil • As you read, underline, circle, and mark the text. Leave notes to yourself in the margin. • ? Things that are confusing • * Things that are important • Things that you know or agree with • ∞Things that you make connections with • ! Things that are exciting

10. A little about me . . . • Doctorate in Education, 2000, Spalding University • Masters in Education, 1996, Spalding University • Bachelor of Arts, 1985, Western Kentucky University • Love Readin’, Writin’, and Reality TV • My two babies: Tramp & Daisy

11. The Week at a Glance • Daily • Agenda • Warm Up • Today’s activity • Weekly • Monday – Reading (usually literary or argumentative) • Tuesday – Writing Techniques • Wednesday – Writing • Thursday – Editing our Writing pieces • Friday – Informational Reading

12. My History of Language ArtsThink about your past 7 or more years of school • What did you read? • What did you write? • What was your BEST memory of reading and/or writing? • What was your WORST memory of reading and/or writing • In . . . Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade. • Conclusion (last paragraph): Because of these experiences, I am a ________ reader and/or writer.

13. Copy each question and answer in complete sentences. • What are the three most important things I should know about you? • What are things you are really good at? • What are you most proud of? • What is the favorite thing you did this summer? • What have you most loved learning (even if not in school) Why? • What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not in school? • What is the best book or books you have ever read? • What kinds of things make you happy? • What kinds of things upset you? • What kinds of things motivate you?

14. Hello, Discoverers! Today is Friday, August 15, 2014. We will complete our first On Demand Writing (ODW). Do Right Now: Agenda. You will also need paper and pen/cil. Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic or convey ideas. W.8.2

15. Writing Expectations: • to do my best effort with whatever writing task is required of me • I will work in silence to aid in my concentration and the concentration of others. • I will write a minimum of FIVE (5) paragraphs in order to receive a passing grade. I can always write more, but never less than 5 paragraphs. • I will write in complete sentences, without spelling errors. I know that dictionaries are available, should I need them. • I will abide by the CHAMPs procedures for Seat Work/Writing.

16. Letter Format August 20, 2014 Dear Dr. Gunnell, Paragraph 1 (Introduction) Paragraph 2 (Book titles) Paragraph 3 (Why you chose those books) Paragraph 4 (what did you think about them) Paragraph 5 . . . (Conclusion) Sincerely, Your Name

17. Hello, Discoverers! Today is Monday, August 18, 2014. We will write “tweets” based on our interpretation of “Ordeal by Cheque.” Do Right Now: Agenda. Warmup. Be sure you have 2-3 sheets of paper and pen/cil. Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I can determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text. RL.8.2

18. Elvis Presley - Solution Are you ANElvis Presley fan? Elvis WAS one of the most popular singers of all time. His hit songS include, “Blue Suede Shoes,” Are You LONESOME Tonight,” and “Hound Dog.” When Elvis died on August 16, 1977, fans Around the world went INTO mourning. Each August, thousands of fans flock to Presley’s home – called Graceland – in Memphis,Tennessee, to remember the singer and mark the anniversary of his death.

19. Ordeal by Cheque TWEETS You will write a 140 character “tweet” describing what is happening in each check. Pay close attention to whom the check is written, the date, and who is writing the check. EXAMPLE: August 30, 1903 Bought toys for the baby’s room When finished, write a 2-3 paragraph plot summary on what has happened within these 45 checks.

20. Hello, Discoverers! Today is Tuesday, August 19, 2014. We will look at what makes a good lead. You need your Cougar Pause book today. Do Right Now: Agenda. Warmup. Do not write on today’s warmup. Be sure you have 2-3 sheets of paper and pen/cil.Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I can produce clear and coherent writing (development, organization & style). W.8.4

21. Movie LEADS Think of 10 movies you are familiar with. Write two entertaining leads for each movie using one of the techniques we’ve learned. Question, dialogue, snapshop, action for entire story EXAMPLE: The Wizard of Oz “You can’t kill my dog!” cried Dorothy. “That dog is a menace! I mean to have him destroyed!!” Miss Gulch sneered. (dialogue) Life was bleak in Kansas for Dorothy and her dog. The gray, dismal day was made worse by the fact that Miss Gulch wants to have Toto, Dorothy’s beloved dog, killed. (snapshot)

22. Hello, Discoverers! Today is Wednesday, August 20, 2014. It’s our first Writing Wednesday. We will spend the last 10 minutes reading silently from our Cougar Pause book.Do Right Now: Agenda. You need paper and pen/cil.Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I can write routinely over extended and shorter time frames. W.8.10

23. Writing PromptsPrompt #1: What do you think about the binder we use to track behavior? Why? (5 mins.)Prompt #2: What are 5 things you would change about yourself? Why? (5 mins.)Prompt #3: If you had unlimited money and a time machine, how would you have spent your summer? Why? (5 mins.) Prompt #4: What are 5 things you would change about Crosby? Why? (5 mins.)Prompt #5: What do you think about what is going on in Ferguson, Missouri? Why? (5 mins.)Prompt #6: Write about whatever you want . . .

24. Hello, Discoverers! Today is Wednesday, August 20, 2014. We will complete our first On Demand Writing (ODW). Do Right Now: Agenda. You will also need paper and pen/cil. Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic or convey ideas. W.8.2

25. Solution to Boudoir Strangled, with the kerchief which is still around her neck. No. all objects are apparently in place. Yes, strong enough to over power and strangle her, and to bend the bars of the bird cage. Yes. She is wearing a bracelet, and her jewel box is overflowing with jewelry. No, because her jewelry was left in its box, and there is no indication of a search for valuables. Yes, because there is no sign of a struggle, and she was apparently still brushing her hair when attacked. No. if the bird had been strangled while she was still alive, she would have objected forcibly and not simply have sat there brushing her hair. Yes. The killer was angered enough to strangle both Amy and her bird. Yes. It was jealousy, aroused by the sight of Joe’s picture and his gifts. Henry Willy, because Spanker would have stolen, Wonty seems to have in good favor, and the maid had no reason to kill and probably lacked the strength to strangle Amy and break the bars of the cage.

26. Are commas important? • Panda eats, shoots, and leaves. • Panda eats shoots and leaves. • It’s time to eat Grandma. • It’s time to eat, Grandma. • The student said the teacher is crazy. • The student, said the teacher, is crazy. • Eat here and get gas. • Eat here, and get gas.

27. Comma Rules Use commas between items in a series. Use commas in numbers Use a comma in letters (the greeting and closing) Use a comma between the day and the year Use a comma between the city and a state Use commas in compound sentences. Use commas after an introductory word, interruptions and interjections. use a comma to set off a speaker’s words Use a comma after introductory phrases and clauses Use commas to set off appositives (a word or phrase that renames or explains a noun) Use commas to set off explanatory phrases (that add information)

28. Re-write each sentence using correct comma rules. He glued on the wings added the decals and painted the model. He spoke to John then called his mother and finally phoned me. She made a salad with crispy lettuce Bermuda onions mandarin oranges and sunflower seeds. In case you do not join us for dinner have a nice time at the musical. After we watch the movie we are going out for lunch. After we get home I am going to take a hot bath and read a good book. Stephanie was wearing a red jacket black jeans and a yellow sweater. We had hamburgers hotdogs and French fries for lunch today.

29. 9. The meal ended with hot apple pie coffee and vanilla ice cream. 10. I am so bored Emily that I think my head is going to explode. 11. My friend Jose has a basketball game Friday night. 12. Jennifer your witch costume was the best at the party. 13. We watched the cold wet spring snow blanket the hills. 14. I had a long scary bad dream last night. 15. The Johnsons have cute funny curious children. 16. The birds outside my window a cardinal and a blue jay are fighting over the birdbath. 17. John Nash a Nobel Prize winner is a brilliant mathematician.

30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMS0O3kknvk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUTodLfkbPM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUn-f5t53qc

31. Discoverers’ Pride Time Agenda • Silent Reading & • ALS Challenge

32. Hello, Discoverers! Today is Friday, August 22, 2014. We will receive our computer logins and take the SRI test, and complete a word search puzzle. NOTE: When logging onto the computer, your password should be jcps (lowercase), your initials (UPPER CASE) and then the 4-digit number Do Right Now: Agenda. You will need a Cougar Pause book today. Who you are is enough. Believe in yourself. Dr. Gunnell Learning Target: I can complete the Scholastic Reading Inventory test.