Sept. 7, 2010 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Religion          
Math    Delong: book covered Hodapp: p. 5       # 1 – 20

Dough: p. 59 pretest odd

      
Science          
Social Studies          
Language Arts       parent emails; retreat forms; picture by Thursday      
Literature      student inventory sentences if not done      
 Spanish          
Music          
Projects/Tests/Etc.      

 

  

 

WELCOME TO 8TH GRADE!

June 2010

Dear 8th graders and parents,

We are looking forward to the opportunity to work with your class in your final year at Assumption-St. Bridget.  Our year together will hold many challenges, opportunities, and celebrations to prepare you for high school and beyond.  We have already started making plans to maximize the time we have with you.  We want this coming year to stand out in your memories as one of great achievement and accomplishment.

As your homeroom teachers, you can expect us to work hard, challenge you, and help make sure you’re ready for high school.  Here are some things we will expect from you:

  • Do your best work
  • Take responsibility for your learning and behavior
  • Be honest
  • Ask for help when you need it
  • Treat each other, and us, with respect and kindness
  • Strive to be positive role models to the entire ASB community. 

YOU have the power to make this year memorable and meaningful.

SUMMER WORK

#1: Read a book.

Read at least one book this summer that you haven’t read before.  Be prepared to discuss the book you read and complete an assignment when school begins. Here are some suggestions:

U.S. History

Nightjohn (slavery in the U.S.)

Out of the Dust (Great Depression)

Sing Down the Moon (Native Americans)

A Light in the Forest (Native Americans)

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (voyage from England to U.S.)

Barrio Boy (Mexican immigration to U.S.)

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (South in the 1930s)

Bud, Not Buddy (1930s)

The Watsons Go to Birmingham (civil rights, 1960s)

I Heard the Owl Call My Name (Native Americans)

Dragon’s Gate (Chinese immigration to U.S.)

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer

Classics

The Diary of Anne Frank

Pride and Prejudice

Lord of the Flies

The Good Earth

The Call of the Wild

The Pearl

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Roots

Little Women

Alice in Wonderland

Treasure Island 

Oliver Twist

And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie mystery)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 

Miscellaneous/Modern-Day

The Cheat

Jacob Have I Loved

The Freedom Writers

Whalesong

The House on Mango Street

The Likes of Me

Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush

Baseball in April and Other Stories

Pacific Crossing

Crash

Stargirl

WWII/1940s:

The Chosen (Potok)

Summer of My German Soldier

The Last Mission

Goodnight, Mr. Tom

Farewell to Manzanar

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

The Hobbit

A Wizard of Earthsea

The Once and Future King (Arthur’s legend)

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

War of the Worlds

Fahrenheit 451

Ender’s Game

The Giver    

This will be your first literature grade for the year.

#2: Write an essay.

  • Please use a standard five-paragraph essay format to introduce us to you as you enter 8th grade.  Include a paragraph on each of the following topics:
    • What you’re looking forward to in 8th grade
    • What challenges/anxieties you anticipate in 8th grade
    • What goals you have for your 8th grade year
    • Make sure to use proper grammar and spelling, type and double-space your essay.  Include the proper school heading.  This is your first chance to impress us with your writing and ability to follow directions, so please do your best.
    • Bring a printed copy to school at the open house or on the first day of class.  You will lose points if your essay is not turned in on time. 

This essay will be your first language arts grade for the year.

#3: Review some history.

  • Think back to the history you studied in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade and prepare some answers to these questions. 
  • Please type, write in complete sentences, and answer all the parts of the questions.
  • You are welcome to use any books or online resources, and you can also ask parents or siblings for their ideas about these questions. 
  • Bring a printed copy of these questions to the open house or the first day of class.
  • Please include a list of any sources you use. 
  1. Do you like to study history?  Why or why not?
  2. Why is it important to study history?  What is the difference between why we study world history (like you did in 6th and most of 7th grade) and why we study United States history (like you will do in 8th grade)?
  3. List at least five Native American tribes in the United States.  Give at least one example of how native tribes were similar and one example how they were different.
  4. How did ancient Greece and Rome influence our government, language, or art?
  5. Why did Europeans start exploring the rest of the world in the 1500s?  Which countries sent explorers?  Name at least three famous explorers and where they went.  (For example, Christopher Columbus was Italian but he sailed for Spain.  He mostly explored the Caribbean.)
  6. What does “founding father” mean?  List at least three of our founding fathers. 

This will be your first social studies grade for the year.

We hope that you have a terrific summer, and we look forward to seeing you in September. 

Sincerely,

Mike Szott and Abby Drake

PS: Remember to bring a printed copy of your essay and history questions to school at the open house or on the first day of class!