What are you reading right now?

Every class begins with 10 minutes of silent reading. Here are pictures of every student in the 7th grade and in the 8th grade that I teach this year. For a close up view, please come into room 311 and look at the various titles. We are eclectic readers! :) Post a comment and tell me what you are reading right now or recommend a good book!

I am. . .

I am learning more about everyone I teach in the 8th grade as I read their "I am" poems. This year our class guidelines for poems state that we are going to express our ideas honestly and uniquely creatively! Figurative language must be included, and in this particular poem we are metaphorically comparing ourselves to  board games, amusement park rides, household appliances, animals, foods, and almost anything else we can think of. Poems are going to be 12+ lines in length this year unless it is a certain format like a Haiku (three lines) or another type. Here are a few lines from the 8th graders. Profound feelings and thoughts abound.

 I am a shooting arcade
precise and on target
    by OP                                                  
                                                              I'm a toaster
                                                         that pops out of bed bursting with ideas
                                                                                          by CR

I am a golden retriever
loyal and kind
    by JB

                                      I am the ocean, sometimes sunny and playful, but
                                                          other times I am lonely
                                                                                          by DA


I am a lightening strike
sudden and unexpected
a grain of sand in a desert of people
All working together to make the world a better place
        by JM

                                                                          I am a bumper car,
                                                                     bumping my way through life
                                                                        Sometimes on purpose
                                                                           and sometimes not.
                                                                                     by JH

I am the white crayon, untouched, unused,
                                 alone
       by SG

New School Year - New School Faces!

Welcome back! August rolled around and we are all back to middle school here at Le Jardin Academy! It really is exciting to see new faces, old friends, and catch up with everyone's news from summer. I am looking forward to reading and writing with my new classes too! See you in room 311!

What is your Super Power?

Students started off this year contemplating the 10 Learner Profiles of the IB Programme. Exactly how do I learn best? Which Learner Profile is my super strength? These are a couple of questions that students were asked to write about. All of the responses are on the bulletin board in room 311, the Language A, English classroom for MYP 3/grade 8. Come and read them when you happen to be on campus! :) Read a few student responses below.

I am reflective. Last year when we wrote reflections using Evernote, I had to reflect about my strengths and weaknesses in different projects and classes. I also saw how I was learning and how my thoughts changed with different ideas and subjects. To learn, people have to reflect on their experiences. by JC, gr. 8

I am a thinker because I like to analyze situations (sometimes too much though) and then come up with a plan to complete a problem/activity quickly and efficiently. I spend a lot of time watching other people do the activity so that I can see what they do, and then see how I could make their plan better (only if their plan doesn't work at first). Some of the ideas that I come up with aren't very good at first, but they are creative and with a little adjustment they can be very effective. by CE, gr. 8

I feel that I am a principled learner because in all my group projects in whichever subject, and working with other students, I give out an even amount of work to the entire group. In science class last year, I was assigned a group for a project which would require all of us to contribute and work together to complete the task. We didn't finish it in the first class so we were assigned it for homework. We all pulled our work load and got the project done. I am glad that I worry aabvout my won past and make sure that others don't fall behind. by DM, gr. 8

Welcome to the New School Year!

 It is exciting for me to be back in school reading, writing, and thinking with you! This year will be a fabulous one and I have big plans for us. We are starting out with a SUPER theme! You will be seeing superheroes and super powers galore. Be thinking: what are my super learner skills and what are my super character gifts that I can use to contribute this year to my team. We all have our super powers - now we just need to share them with others. I admire Batman! Who is your super hero? :)



 

 

Super Grammar!
     What, you may be asking, is Super Grammar? Super Grammar is an introduction to all of the grammar tools available to you as you write. They really are super! From periods and commas to all eight parts of speech, each one has the super ability to make your writing more interesting and literate for others to understand exactly what you are saying as you write! Get ready to be super amazed!

Reading in the Middle Ages

Seventh grade English students are reading novels that tie into the hummanities lessons taking place during the Renaissance  period in England. Five novel choice were offered to students who are reading with a small group of their peers in literature circles. See the novel choices pictured below and pick up one to read. This is a very intriguing period of history!