Group Thinking: August 31, 2016

Hey everyone,
Today, all my classes except Per 7 set some expectations for how we behave in group work.  You did a great job demonstrating the expectations for what will and WON'T happen when we work in groups!

You got a handout of vocabulary terms associated with our first unit of study on historical thinking.  If you lose that handout or need a new copy, get one from me in class, or print the FIRST page of the handout linked below.  Be sure to keep track of these terms!!!

Historical Thinking Unit Vocabulary

HOMEWORK:  Scroll down to find the blog post about the Blog Check-In assignment.  Click on the link to the form and fill it out!

In the Eye of the Beholder: August 30, 2016

Kandinsky, Composition VIII

Today in class, we talked about how it can be difficult for us living in modern times to know exactly what happened in our past.  We did an activity in class to show how we may struggle to understand what we are told, using this picture as our topic of discussion. I hope you had a good time trying to make sense of what your partner was telling you!

For homework, you are going to complete the handout "Group Work Analysis" - we will use this tomorrow to help us set expectations around how groups will function in our classroom throughout the year.  If you misplaced your handout, it's linked below.

Group Work Analysis

Team Forms If Needed

If you have lost or misplaced the welcome packet, here are the forms that need to be returned:

Parent Contact Information

CMS Recess Contract

If you want a copy of our contact information:

Contact Information

If you want a copy of the entire welcome packet, please contact Mrs. Siecke at csiecke@sau16.org.

Any school forms (nurse, etc.) can be turned in to any team teacher.  Any subject-specific forms (such as the ones for gym or science labs) need to go to that teacher.

PHOTO DAY IS THURSDAY.  Please do not bring in school photo forms until Thursday - they are given directly to the photographer.  Geskus will have an online option for ordering photos available as well.

Welcome to 8th Grade!!! August 29, 2016

Hello everyone, and welcome to 8th Grade US History!  This is where you will find a brief description of what we do on a daily (or almost daily) basis, along with links to handouts, other websites, and additional information you may find useful.  Your first line of action whenever you are out, unsure of what to do, or in need of something should be to check this site!

I threw in this photo because I love what it has to say to us about history, sources, truth, and perceptions. We'll spend our first unit of study talking about what it means to study history and what historians have to watch for - and watch out for!  I hope over the course of this year, you will learn some things about this country we call home, gain deeper insight into yourself as a student and member of a community, and have some fun at some point along the way.

HOMEWORK:  Go home, take a deep breath, have a peaceful evening, and adjust to the reality of everyday life again.

Final Days: June 13, 2016

Today we missed seeing your smiling faces, since you spent most of your day at the Big House.  Please make sure you take care of any outstanding obligations soon, as time is winding down!!!

You will get a chance to see your tests tomorrow.  If you really feel compelled to try a retake, you can do that during per 5, 6, or 7 on Wednesday.  The info will be the same, but the format will change.

FIELD DAY FIELD TRIP FORM for those in need

If you are reading this, you probably need a Field Day field trip form.

Here is the letter.

Field Trip Form

Please keep the letter and use it for reference so you know what you should and should not do/bring/wear/expect on Field Day!!!!

Quick Recap: June 7, 2016

Hey everyone, we have a test tomorrow, in case you forgot!

Here is what you need to know:

Vocab - be familiar with the terms on the Quizlet that were written on the board.  Be able to use them in a fill-in-the-blank section.

Major Battles - Be able to match descriptions with names.  There are five key battles and the name of the event that began the war.

Multiple Choice - Be able to recognize the answers to the guiding questions we used to take our notes.  Be familiar with the different phases of the war, the different strategies and goals, different leaders of each side (one key person per side), the "turning point" moments of the war, why the South lost, how the war affected each side. I suggest reviewing the PPTs with audio commentary - see instructions on how to download them on yesterday's post.

Identification - be able to recognize different statements as describing the Confederacy or Union.

Extension - there are three questions to answer for extension credit if you want to try to earn an E.

You are almost there!  Good luck!!!