Week of Dec. 16-19

Hello!  We will finish up testing this week and then we will watch some clips of the 1935 version of "A Christmas Carol" on Wednesday to compare it to the original text.

I hope your family has a merry holiday season, and I'll look forward to seeing everyone in 2014.

Homework:

Mon--none
Tues--2nd and 4th periods will have their Dickens folder due on Wednesday
Wed--none
Thurs--read at home over the break

READING EXPLORATORY
     There will be no homework this week.

Week of Dec. 11-13th

Hello!  Well, that was a surprise!  We have a very short week as a result.  We are scheduled to begin our middle-of-the-year online computer testing today for 2nd and 4th periods and tomorrow for 5th and 6th periods, so that will affect homework.  Please read the homework listings carefully.

HOMEWORK:

Wed--Dickens folders will be due tomorrow for 5th and 6th period classes only.
Thur--no HW
Fri--no HW
next MON 12/16--Dickens folders will be due on Tuesday for 2nd and 4th periods only.

READING CLASSES
There will be no HW for the rest of this week.

Week of Dec. 2-6th

Hello!  This week we will begin our unit on Charles Dickens and his classic A Christmas Carol.  All students will need some kind of a folder with brads by Friday.  (It does not have to be new.)  Also, please remember that Book Talk is on Wednesday, Dec. 11th, and every student must have finished his/her book by that date.

Homework:

Mon--write a short essay reflecting on your interview; be getting a folder with brads
Tues--Vocab WS; be reading on your Book Talk book
Wed--Vocab WS part 2
Thurs--WS 35 on vocab words; have a folder in class tomorrow
Fri--study for test on Monday; put folder together; be finishing up your Book Talk book

READING EXPLORATORY
We will be working with Roald Dahl's memoir Boy this week.  The only homework would be that some students may need to finish up an illustration of Mrs. Pratchett on Monday.

Week of Nov. 25-26

Hello!   All students will be conducting their "childhood" interview over the Thanksgiving break.  This is always a favorite experience for both the student and the interviewee.  I will look forward to hearing what the students have to say about it when they return.

Students will be receiving an English grade print-out on Monday in class. It should be signed and returned on Tuesday.  (They will also have graded papers returned to them on Monday.  Any graded papers should be removed from the English folder and kept at home.)  Students will also receive a progress report on Tuesday.  It should be signed and returned to the 7th period teacher following the break.

Homework:

Monday--have the English grade print-out signed; reading log due tomorrow; finish 1st draft of interview questions
Tuesday--conduct your interview over the break; read your Book Talk book

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Week of Nov. 18-22

Hello!  This week we will be working on run-on sentences and sentence fragments, as well as using precise, vivid verbs.  Mr. Petree, the counselor, will be in our classroom on Wednesday, and then we will begin working on our upcoming interview project on Thursday.

Reminder:  We are collecting food for the STUCO-sponsored food drive for Ozarks Food Harvest this week.  Thank you for sending in those non-perishable food items.

HOMEWORK:

Book Talk will be on Wednesday, Dec. 11th--all students must have finished reading every word of their books by that time.

Mon--reading log due tomorrow; WS VV1/RO1
Tues--finish WS 25
Wed--read at home
Thur--read at home
Fri--read at home over the weekend

READING EXPLORATORY
We will work on making predictions while reading using support from the text, making inferences, and using context clues this week.  There will not be any homework.

Week of Nov. 11-15

Hello!  This week we will be focusing on using consistent verb tenses.  Students will also be checking out their new Book Talk books on Thursday.  Book Talk will be on Wed., Dec. 11th, and students will need to have their books entirely finished by that day.

HOMEWORK:

Reminder--all students should be reading at LEAST 90 minutes every week outside of English class time and keeping track of their pages on the reading log.

Mon--WS 2/3 on verb tenses; salmon reading logs due tomorrow
Tues--WS VT 5
Wed--finish corrections on "Memorable School Moment"
Thur--Start reading Book Talk book
Fri--read at home

READING EXPLORATORY

This week we will focus on the reading strategy of activating prior knowledge before reading new information.  The only homework would be finishing a Word Hunt worksheet on Monday.

Week of Nov. 4-8

Hello!  This week we will focus on interpreting and creating figurative language.  The students will be writing a narrative piece about a memorable school moment.

HOMEWORK: 

Remember that all students should be reading at least 90 minutes a week outside of English time and keeping track of their pages on the reading log.  Reading logs are collected and distributed on Tuesdays.

Mon--WS 2 on similes and metaphors; reading log due tomorrow
Tues--WS 2/49; have grade check signed
Wed--be ready to start writing about your memorable school moment tomorrow
Thur--finish 1st draft of memorable school moment writing
Fri--final copy of memorable moment writing due on Monday; read at home over the weekend

READING EXPLORATORY

We will finish The Outsiders this week and there will be a quiz on Friday.  Students will need to finish reading Ch. 8 on their own on Monday, and finish Ch. 11 on their own on Wednesday.

Week of Oct. 28-31

Hello!  This week we will conclude our Poe unit.  Remember that there is no school on Friday due to conferences.  If you have not scheduled a conference yet, and would like to do so, we still have times available.  Call the office at 523-7200 and they can get you a slot.

HOMEWORK:

Remember that each student is required to read at least 90 minutes per week outside of English class time and record it on the reading log.  Logs are distributed and collected on Tuesdays.

Mon--study for the Poe test tomorrow using the study guide; assemble your Poe folder; have your reading log ready to turn in
Tues--read at home
Wed--read at home
Thur--read at home
Fri--no school

READING EXPLORATORY
We are continuing The Outsiders.  The students may need to finish a WS on Wednesday.

Week of Oct. 21-25

Hello!  It is the beginning of second quarter!  Grade cards will come home on Tuesday, and we will be having parent-teacher conferences next week.  If you would like to schedule a time to meet with us, please call the front office at 523-7200.

This week in English, we will continue our unit on Edgar Allan Poe.  Students will be memorizing the first and last stanzas of "The Raven" so they should begin working on that.

HOMEWORK:

Remember that all students are expected to read at least 90 minutes per week outside of English class time and record it on the reading log.  Logs are collected and distributed on Tuesdays.

Mon--finish "Making Meaning" WS; yellow reading log due tomorrow
Tues--read at home and work on memorizing "The Raven" stanzas
Wed--finish vocab crossword puzzle
Thur--finish 1st drafts of two poems by tomorrow
Fri--finish ink copy of poem; work on reciting stanzas of "The Raven"

READING EXPLORATORY

We will continue on The Outsiders.  Students may need to finish an illustration on Monday as homework.

Week of Oct. 14-18

Hello!  This week we will be working on pronoun choice and sentence combining.  Then, on Thursday we will start our Edgar Allan Poe unit.

Homework:
(Note:  There was not a reading log this week.)

Mon--WS 3 on pronoun choice
Tues--WS 4 on pronouns
Wed--no school for students
Thur--finish Word Hunt WS
Fri--be getting a folder with brads (doesn't have to be new)

READING EXPLORATORY

   This is the end of reading for the first quarter; there will be no homework.   A new quarter class will start for students on Thursday.

Week of Sept. 30-Oct. 4

Hello.  This week we will be reviewing the 6+1 Traits of Writing and then reviewing and writing an essay together in preparation for the students' work on the DBQ essay next week.  Don't forget--FIELD TRIP to Leadership Ranch on Friday!  Each student needs to have a sack lunch including a drink, and dress appropriately for the outdoors including closed-toe shoes.

HOMEWORK:

MON--reading logs due tomorrow
TUES-- read at home
WED--read at home
THUR--read at home
FRI--no HW

READING EXPLORATORY

This week we will work on making inferences while reading and using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.  There will be no homework.

Week of Sept 23-27

Hello!  This week we will be working on theme, reading non-fiction, and the confusing words its/it's, there/their, and your/you're.  Very important:  Book Talk is on Wednesday.  All students must have their books 100% finished and be ready to discuss them on that day.

Homework:

Mon--reading logs due tomorrow
Tues--Book Talk tomorrow.  Have your book finished.
Wed--none
Thur--none
Fri--WS 232

READING EXPLORATORY
     We will be focusing on making predictions with support while reading.  There will be no HW.

Week of Sept. 16-19th

Hello, Panthers.  This week we will be reading "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" and focusing on character traits, figurative language, and making judgments based on criteria.

HOMEWORK:
     Remember that all students are required to read at least 90 minutes per week outside of English class time and record it on the reading log.  This is the majority of homework for this class.  Reading logs are distributed and collected on Tuesdays.

Mon--logs due tomorrow
Tues--WS 55 on personification
Wed--read on Book Talk book--Book Talk is one week from today!
Thur--read at home
Fri--no school

READING EXPLORATORY

     We will be focusing on activating prior knowledge before reading this week.  There will not be any homework.

Week of Sept. 9-13

Hello!  This week we will be focusing on the four types of sentences, recognizing "helpful" and "distracting" voices in our minds while reading, and writing summaries of non-fiction articles.  Open House is on Thursday from 5-7; hope to see you then!


A note from our principal:

Cherokee Families,

We will be providing a FREE shuttle from the Community Blood Center to Cherokee for Open House Thursday evening from 4:45 to 7 p.m. due limited parking. Please take advantage of this service as parking is limited here at the school.

Thank you and we look forward to visiting with you all Thursday evening.

 

Bill Powers

Principal

Cherokee Middle School

 

HOMEWORK:

Remember that all students are required to read at least 90 minutes a week outside of English class time.  They should be recording pages read on their reading logs.  Logs are distributed and collected on Tuesdays.

Mon--reading logs due tomorrow.
Tues--read at home
Wed--read at home
Thurs--read at home
Fri--read at home

READING EXPLORATORY

     This week we will continue reading The Outsiders. The only homework is that students will need to finish Ch. 11 on Tuesday.

Week of Sept. 3-6

Hello!  This week the students will be writing their BOY (Beginning of the Year) argumentative essays on the topic of year-round schools.  We will also be checking out Book Talk books on Wednesday.  Book Talk will be on Wednesday, September 25th, and all students will need to have completely finished reading their books by then.

HOMEWORK:
       Reminder--all students are required to read at least 90 minutes per week outside of English class.  They should keep track of their reading pages on the reading log.  Reading logs are collected and distributed on Tuesdays.
      There will be no other homework this week.

READING EXPLORATORY
     We are continuing on The Outsiders.  Students may need to finish the "Making Movies" WS on Thursday, and they need to finish reading Ch. 8 on Friday.

Week of August 26-30

Hello!  This week we will be in the computer lab taking the online assessment for Language Arts on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  On Thursday we will be back in our room writing a poem.  There is no school for students on Friday.

HOMEWORK:

Remember that all students are required to read at least 90 minutes a week outside of English class time.  The reading is recorded on the weekly reading logs which are collected and distributed on Tuesdays.

Mon--reading log due tomorrow.  Make sure you've read at least 90 minutes!
Tues--no HW
Wed--finish 1st draft of acrostic poem
Thur--no HW


READING EXPLORATORY

We will continue reading The Outsiders this week.  There will be no homework.

Week of August 19-23

Hello!  I hope that everyone is feeling positive about the new year; I know I am!  I think we have an excellent bunch of students!  Please contact me if you have questions or concerns.

This week we will be reviewing writing high-quality answers, reading some literature, and continuing to go over procedures for the year.  On Tuesday, we will go to the library for a short orientation, and the students will have the chance to check out a self-selected reading book at that time.  After Tuesday, all students will be expected to have their reading book with them everyday in class.  Students will also be recording their reading pages on a reading log that will be given out on Wednesday.  The weekly reading log is a big part of the homework points for this class, and every student is expected to read regularly at home.

HOMEWORK:

Mon--be thinking about your independent reading book
Tues--have your independent reading book with you starting tomorrow
Wed--WS 1 (Subject/Predicate)
Thur--read at home
Fri--finish CR

READING EXPLORATORY

On Monday, we will finish and grade the Handbook Quiz.  Students should have a parent sign this and return it on Tuesday.  On Tuesday, we will start reading The Outsiders.  The only homework would be that students might need to finish up an illustration on Thursday.

Week of August 14th

Hello! Welcome to the 2013-14 school year. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you. It's going to be a great year!

Please check this blog weekly for class updates. I will post new information for the week on Mondays, and if things change I will post it here.

HOMEWORK:

Wed--have all forms signed and return them to your 7th period teacher tomorrow
Thurs--have "Expectations" page signed
Fri--finish WS 34