Grade+8+English+Language+Arts

__**Monday, January 6th to Friday, January 28th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can be more aware of our behaviours online
 * We can identify and demonstrate the proper behaviours of being appropriate online
 * We can create a 10 ten list that demonstrate the proper behaviours of being online
 * We can create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that highlights 5 elements of our list

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, January 6th**__: Today we talked about the tweet that changed one woman's world. We also worked on our top 10 things about having proper behaviour when online.

__**Tuesday, January 7th**__: Today we discussed what is a PSA (Public Service Announcement) is and then watched a few in class. YOU were the ones that said you could make some good ones so we began the planning stages. We will work more on these on Wednesday.

__**Wednesday, January 8th to Friday, January 10th**__: As you can see, I am not here today but Ms. Biro is going to be hanging out with you. Today, you are going to be given the time to continue planning your PSA. Here are some things you need to make happen before filming can even begin:

1. What are the 4 or 5 things you are going to address in your PSA regarding behaving appropriately. This needs to be written down!! 2. What is your PSA going to look like? This is where you are going to need an idea and start storyboarding your ideas. This needs to figured out on paper! You can design the storyboard any way you want to. An example is located below. 3. All of you must appear in the PSA. Who is going to do what? 4. Begin scripting your PSA. You need to write down what you are going to say!

Here is the storyboard template to help you plan:



Here is the evaluation rubric for this project:



Have a great weekend! We will begin filming next week!



__**Monday, December 16th to Friday, December 20th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can create a written and verbal presentation to share with our peers
 * We can read through and listen to someone else's piece of writing to see if it makes sense
 * We can create a piece of persuasive writing to share with a specific person
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can discuss the treatment of others as a class discussion
 * We can express our feeling and understanding of a specific subject through our writing

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, Decembe****r**__ **__16th__:** DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS CONCERT! WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT!!!! :)

__**Tuesday, December 17th**__: Final hour to get ready for your presentations! The judges are going to be here tomorrow! Don't forget that they will be using this rubric for evaluation:



__**Wednseday, December 18th:**__ DOODLE FOR GOOGLE PRESENTATIONS

__**Thursday, December 19th and Friday, December 20th**__: SURPRISE DAY!

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE AN AWESOME CHRISTMAS VACATION!

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__**Monday, December 2nd to Friday, December 13th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can create a written and verbal presentation to share with our peers
 * We can read through and listen to someone else's piece of writing to see if it makes sense
 * We can create a piece of persuasive writing to share with a specific person
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can discuss the treatment of others as a class discussion
 * We can express our feeling and understanding of a specific subject through our writing

__** How we will learn it **__ __** Monday, December 2nd to Friday, Decem **** b **** er **__** __13th__: ** During these classes we are going to be workin on the followin things,

1. Our letters for you know who 2. Our Doodle for Google presentations (check last week for specifics) 3. Watching Radio and working on our essays

__**Radio**__

Please download the following handout regarding our "Radio" assignment





__**Monday, November 25th to Friday, November 29th, 2013**__
 * __What are we learning?__**
 * We can create a written and verbal presentation to share with our peers
 * We can read through and listen to someone else's piece of writing to see if it makes sense
 * We can create a piece of persuasive writing to share with a specific person
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, November 25th to Friday, Novembe****r**__ **__29th__:** This week we are going to be spending the majority of the week working on the following 2 projects:


 * 1. Doodle 4 Google**: Remember these are the things we want to see in your presentations


 * Explain what your invention is (written speech)
 * Visual representation of your invention (prototype, you get to decide what this look like)
 * Your speeches can be practiced and Mr. Young will proof read them for you
 * Show your Google sketch that you are going to contribute
 * The presentations should be around 5 minutes in length

Speeches should include:


 * Introduction of yourself
 * What your invention is
 * Who your invention is going to help
 * Who will enjoy your invention
 * How your invention works (this is where your visuals kick in)
 * How much you would sell your invention for

Here is the rubric that we will be using to evaluate your speeches:



2. **Persuasive Letters for YOU KNOW WHO**:

Remember the letters that we are working on for YOU KNOW WHO. R ough copies should be completed and we are going to be working on your final copies on the computers. Remember, we talked about proof reading and checking your work over. You need to have two people read your letters over before giving them to me.



Let's try and get our letters done by the end of the week so we can give them to YOU KNOW WHO, next week!

Have a great weekend!



__ **Monday, November 18th to Thursday, November 21st, 2013** __ __ **What are we learning?** __


 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)
 * We can create a written and verbal presentation to share with our peers
 * We can read through and listen to someone else's piece of writing to see if it makes sense
 * We can create a piece of persuasive writing to share with a specific person

__** How we will learn it **__ __**Monday, November 18th**__: Today we started working a piece of persuasive writing for a certain someone that we all know! (can't say it on here because they check!) We are starting with our rough copy and we will be making our way to a finished letter that we will then give to our person! We started off today by creating a list of reasons/qualities why this person ROCKS and from there we will begin to draft our letter by choosing four of the reasons/qualities that were from the list.

__**Tuesday, November 19th**__: #GYMBLAST2013 at #CCSMJ!!!!!!!

__**Wednesday, November 20th**__: Today we continued on with our letters from yesterday. I would love to see you guys finish up your rough copies by the end of this period and also read them to a partner. Remember, sometimes all you need to do is read your work out loud to see where your writing errors are. You need to be able to find 2 people that will read your letter over to make sure that it make sense. Once that is done we will start working on our final copies on the computers.

__**Thursday, November 21st**__: We are going to be spending some time at the Book Fair down in the library, today. If you want to bring any money to purchase a book, please feel free to bring some. We will also continue working on the final drafts of our letter and hopefully have them all completed during Monday's class. We will then give them to our SOMEONE once they are done! :)

Have a great weekend!!



__ **Tuesday, November 12th to Friday, November 15th, 2013** __
 * __What are we learning?__**
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)
 * We can create a written and verbal presentation

__** How we will learn it **__ __** Tuesday, November ** 12th: __ Hope you guys had a great extra long weekend! Today we are going to finish up Losing Joe's Place. After we are done the novel, the rest of the week will be spent finishing up your study questions and ToonDoos.

__**Wednesday, November 13th to Friday, November 15th**__: Things that needed to be completed before Friday:

1. All study questions for LJP (full and complete answers) 2. ToonDoo comics (Check out Computers 8B section for assignment and rubric)

All must be completed by this Friday, November 15th

Have a great weekend!



__ **Monday, November 4th to Thursday, November 7th, 2013** __ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)
 * We can create a written and verbal presentation

__** How we will learn it **__ __** Monday, November 4th and Tuesday, November ** 5th: __ Monday we will be finishing up chapter 12 of LJP and continuing to work on our ToonDoos and study questions. Remember, we are try to have these all completed by next week!

__**Wednesday, November 6th:**__ WE Day with most of the boys! The rest are hanging out with Mrs. Goulding! :)

__**Thursday, November 7th**__: Took today to meet with the girls and have a group discussion about respect and making people more comfortable in our classes! We will definitely be working on this in the coming classes, as well!

Have a great LONG weekend!!

__**Monday, October 28th to Friday, November 1st, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__ __**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, Octo****ber**__ **__28th__:** Today we are going to be working through chapter 12 of LJP. This will be the only chapter we will work on this week as we have some other projects on the go! BUSY BOYS!
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)
 * We can create a written and verbal presentation

__**Tuesday, October 29th**__: Today you are going to be given time to work on your ToonDoo summaries of the chapters. We will get the computers from the library for you to use!

__**Wednesday, October 30th**__: Today we going to be working on your invention assignments for Google! Remember, here are the things we are going to be working on for our presentations:


 * Explain what your invention is (written speech)
 * Visual representation of your invention (prototype, you get to decide what this look like)
 * Your speeches can be practiced and Mr. Young will proof read them for you
 * Show your Google sketch that you are going to contribute
 * The presentations should be around 5 minutes in length

Speeches should include:


 * Introduction of yourself
 * What your invention is
 * Who your invention is going to help
 * Who will enjoy your invention
 * How your invention works (this is where your visuals kick in)
 * How much you would sell your invention for



Here is the stuff you will need for the Doodle 4 Google sectioni

__**Thursday, October 31st and Friday, November 1st:**__ You are going to be given times to work on your ToonDoos and Invention Presentations.

Have an awesome weekend!



__**Monday, October 21st to Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)
 * We can use our reading strategies to fill out our reading analysis

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, October** **21st:**__ Today we are going to be finishing up chapter 11 of Losing Joe's Place.

__**Tuesday, October 22nd**__: Today we are going to hang out in the library with Mrs. Burgen. Grab a book or a magazine and park yourself and do some reading for fun! :)

Have great weekend! Wow! Short week for you guys!



__**Tuesday, October 15th to Friday, October 18th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)
 * We can use our reading strategies to fill out our reading analysis

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Tuesday, Octobe****r**__ **__15th and Wednesday, October 16th__:** Hope you all had a great weekend! Today we are going to be working on our reading assessment. Remember, every student in Prairie South will be taking this assessment. The objective for this assignment is to do your best so that we can establish where your reading level is at. This will take us two periods to complete.

__**Thursday, October 17th**__: Today we will continue on with chapter 12 of Losing Joe's Place. If there are any of you that have not completed the reading assessment, we will need to make sure that you finish that today!

__**Friday, October 18th**__: We will head into the computer lab to continue working on your ToonDoo assignments for Losing Joes Place. Remember, here is the evaluation for your ToonDoo:



Have a great weekend! Remember you only have a three day school week, next week!



__**Monday, October 7th to Friday, October 11th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, October** 7th:__ Today we will be heading into the computer lab to work on signing up for ToonDoo. We will be using this site over the next few weeks to create an online comic book for our class. Today, we need to get signed up and you can start exploring the tools within it.

__**Tuesday, October 8th**__: We will be continuing into Chapter 8 of LJP. Please remember that the response questions are posted on my wikispace and accessible to you at anytime!

__**Wednesday, October** 9th:__ We will be working on developing some more tools in ToonDoo, plus you will be given the time to work on the study questions for LJP.

__**Thursday, October 10th**__: We will be working on reading Chapter 9 of LJP, today!

__**Friday, October 11th**__: We will head into the computer lab to either work on study 9 chapter questions for LJP or you can have the option to work in ToonDoo! Next week will be be beginning your ELA/Computer assignment for LJP, using ToonDoo!

Have a great weekend! :)



__**Monday, September 30th to Friday, October 4th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, Septembe****r**__ **__30th__:** As you boys are aware, I am not here today! Mr. Sullivan is with you and you are going to start working through chapter 7 of LJP. Mr. Sullivan can decide whether or not you read on your own, he can read to you, or you take turns reading it. I'm sure you boys can figure it out! :) Tomorrow, I will give you some time to work on the computer in finishing up chapter 7 questions and working on your character charts.

__**Tuesday, October 1st**__: I am back! Did you miss me? Today I will be giving you some time to work on the computers to complete your chapter questions for chapter 7 and work on your character charts.

__**Wednesday, October 2nd**__: Working through chapter 8 of LJP.

__**Thursday, October 3rd**__: I'm gone again! You better miss me! lol! Mr. Sullivan will be back in with you and will be continuing into chapter 8 of LJP. Tomorrow, you will get a chance to go work in the lab with Mr. Carley on your study questions.

__**Friday, October 4th**__: Head into the computer lab with Mr. Carley to work on your chapter 8 study questions for LJP! BEHAVE BOYS!!!

Have a great weekend!



__**Monday, September 23rd to Friday, September 27th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning
 * We can respond to guiding/response questions based on our reading (class discussion/written)

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, September** 23rd:__ We will continuing reading through Losing Joe's Place. Hopefully we will be completed chapter 6 by the end of the period!

__**Tuesday, September 24th and Wednesday, September 25th**__: Today, we will be working on the study questions for LJP. Please look on the left hand side of this page, under your Grade 8 ELA section and check out the "LJP Response Questions" page. On this page you will find all of the questions for the novel. It will be up to you to create a LJP page on your wikispace and answer the questions.

I encourage you to copy the questions from my page and paste them onto your page! This way you won't have to keep coming back to get the questions over and over.

We will be using today and tomorrow to work on these questions and completing your wikispaces.

Please make sure to use your time wisely!

__**Thursday, September 26th**__: Today we will continue with LJP as we move onto chapter 7.

__**Friday, September 27th**__: Heading to the computer lab to finish up some of your work. Please make sure your study questions and wikispaces are all updated! I will be evaluating these next week!

Have a great weekend!



__**Monday, September 16th to Friday, September 20th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology as an extension of our learning

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, September 16th and Tuesday Septembe****r**__ **__17th__:** AXIS group will be with us during these days for welcome week!

__**Wednesday, September 18th**__: Today we be your last "official" day to have your wikispaces all set up for the class. Again, we will be suing these wikispaces throughout the year to highlight your learning through projects and sharing.

__**Thursday, September 19th and Friday, September 20th**__: We will be getting back into our novel study of "Losing Joe's Place" There will be some study questions, as well, that we will be looking at for the novel. These will be completed using your wikispaces.

Have a great weekend!



__**Monday, September 9th to Friday, September** **13th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can use listening and reading strategies (before, during, and after) to show understanding
 * We can analyze a story and how it can pertain to our personal thoughts and experiences
 * We can use technology to create an extension of our learning

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Monday, September** **9th**__: Hope you guys had a great weekend! Today we are going to be starting into our novel, Losing Joe's Place. First thing we are going to look at is the cover and see what we can find out about the story, based on that. Next we will start into the book and ask some questions as we go along.

__**Tuesday, September 10th**__: Today, we are going to continue into chapter 3 of Losing Joe's Place. We will continue to stop for clarification, as we move along in the story. Also, we will head back to the lab to continue to work on our dream houses.

__**Wednesday, September 11th to Friday, September 13th**__: For the next couple of classes we will be beginning to create our own wikispace websites for the our classroom. Each one of you will be able to create your own wiki and throughout the year, we will be able to complete many of our assignments on it. For the next few days we will be setting up the site and learning the many different features it has. We will also be completing a few pages that includes some writing, picture, and video input from you guys. Here is the assignment. We will talk about it in class and then you will have time to work on it.



Have a great weekend!



__**Tuesday, September 3rd to Friday, September 6th, 2013**__ __**What are we learning?**__
 * We can experiment with a variety of text forms
 * We can read for understanding of tone and audience
 * We can create classroom norms and expectations
 * We can examine Mr. Young's wikispace and know how to use it

__**How we will learn it**__ __**Tuesday, September** **3rd**:__ WELCOME TO ELA 8! I am very glad to have you here! Today we will be doing some quick introductions and get to know you activities.

Also, I am leaving you with two questions to think about tonight:

1. If you could live with two of your best friends, who would it be? 2. If you could design a place to live and have everything you wanted within it, what would you include and what would it look like?

__**Wednesday, September 4th**__: Today, we are going to get into groups of 3 and look at the two questions from yesterday. Begin by making a list of all the things would include in your house. Then we will take your top 122 and you can share them with the class. After we have made your lists up you will work with your crew to create what your house would look like. We will be using paper, the computers, scissors, and glue to make this happen. We will work on this more tomorrow and Friday.

__**Thursday, September 5th and Friday, September 6th**__: Use these classes to continue working on the design of your houses!

Have a great weekend!