8th Grade Grizzlies

Hello Grizzlies…welcome back from break!  We hope that you had a restful and fulfilling 17 days off.  This week all of your teachers are getting things warmed up and running for the 3rd Quarter and the 2nd Semester. The beginning of a new quarter is your chance to start from scratch and SOAR….

SOME IMPORTANT DATES:

• Wednesday, January 11, 2012 = Explore Night at CBMS (6-7 pm); All 8th graders and their parents should attend…see the Counselors for more details.
• Monday, January 16, 2012 = NO SCHOOL (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

COCHRAN Lang. Arts

This week in Language Arts we will be starting on creating our own poetry books and continuing our work with figurative language.  We will also start a very short unit reading about conspiracy theories.  With the conspiracy theories we will be working on some research techniques and writing a research paper by the end of the month. We will also be welcoming Ms. King to our classroom – she is a student who will be student teaching with us this semester.

LUTHMAN Science

Monday – What is Physical Science?
Tuesday – What safety should I be aware of in Physical Science?
Wednesday – What are the seven parts of a graph and how do you set one up?
Thursday – What is Mass and how is it measured?  What is Volume and how is it measured?
Friday – What is density and how is it measured?

BRUNGARDT Lang. Arts

This week in Language Arts we will be warming up for the 3rd Quarter.  Our focus this quarter will be on “PERSPECTIVE”.  We will revisit classroom expectations, take a look at the quarter’s big ideas and essential question, and then knock the cobwebs off by participating in some reading and writing activities.  We will also set up our new INb’s and get prepared to participate in Learning Stations next week.

Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s going to be a short week for the Grizzlies….

All of the 8th grade teachers are planning on doing academic work this week.  Please make sure you have all of your work in…grades will be posted when you are on break.

REMINDER…REMINDER…REMINDER = There is a homework packet that is to be completed over break.  It includes work from all of your core classes.  This is not intended to be just busy work…17 days is a long time during the middle of a school year to go without engaging your mind.  Please complete the packet and return it on Monday, January 9, 2012.  The packet will be your first grade for each class in the 3rd Quarter.

THE 8TH GRADE TEAM IS WORKING UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THURSDAY DECEMBER 22 @2:45 PM AS BEING THE OFFICIAL START OF WINTER BREAK AND THE END OF THE 2ND QUARTER…IF YOU PLAN ON MISSING ANY DAYS THIS WEEK PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHECK WITH ALL TEACHERS TO SEE IF YOUR WORK IS COMPLETE.  ALSO, DO NOT FORGET TO GET A WINTER BREAK HOMEWORK PACKET BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

Have a safe break and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Some notes for this week….

Don’t forget to turn in your green slip for the Jinglebird to your SSR/Advisory teacher.

Brungardt Lang Arts

Hi Grizzlies!  A reminder for you…as we continue working on “Exposition” this week, please remember that your compare-and-contrast assignment is due on Monday, December 5th.  You should do your planning on INb pg. 23 (right side), and you should write the essay on page 24.  If you use a computer to type the assignment, make sure you print it off and tape it in your INb on pg. 24.  THANKS!

Williams Math

Monday: Multiplying Algebraic Expressions
HW: p.192 4, 5, 6, 7
Tuesday: Binomials with the Distributive Property
HW: p. 194 15, 16, 17, 18
Wednesday: Review Expressions and the Distributive Property

Thursday: Generic Rectangles to Multiply
HW: p. 199 27, 28, 30, 31
Friday: Quiz and Tables, Graphs, Rules, Figures

Here’s a look at the Grizzly class schedules this week:

BRUNGARDT (Lang Arts)

Hello and welcome to the third week of the 2nd Quarter.  This week we will be continuing to look at EXPOSITION in reading and in writing.  Our essential question this quarter is: What is true? To continue this work we will have a busy week in our INb’s as we complete pages 19, 20, and 21.  Pages 17-21 of the INb will be due for a grade on Friday 11/11. We will also have a quiz on Friday over the information from INb pages 16-21.  This quiz will include the Words of the Day from 10/31 – 11/8 and the new spelling words on INb pg. 20. In addition to our scheduled classwork that will be focused on exposition, we will also be completing Acuity Test B this week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr. Brungardt will do his best to have his gradebook up-to-date by the beginning of next week.

BABB (math)

In accelerated math this week we will be finishing up Chapter 4 (connections between different representations and writing equations) and also will be taking acuity.

In Algebra I this week we will be finishing up Chapter 3 (solving for x and starting to make connections) and also will be taking acuity.

LUTHMAN (science)

Monday and Tuesday we will explore Newton’s 2nd law of motion involving mass, force and acceleration.  Tuesday will include the ‘Mass Movement Lab.  On Wednesday we will finish with his 3rd Law involving ‘Action and Reaction’   We will do a pendulum lab on Thursday and discus myths about Gravity on Friday.
The students have begun their Balloon Car Project.  They had a work day on Friday and learned quite a bit about what works and what doesn’t.  The ‘Cars’ are due Nov. 17, a Thursday.

The 2nd Quarter is in full swing…here is a look at our week:

BRUNGARDT Language Arts

Hello all…I hope your weekend was relaxing and you are ready to go for another week at school.  This week we will add a “daily” activity to our classroom routine.  We will begin learning some “Words of the Day” three-to-four times per week.  We will copy these down in our INb’s (vocabulary section).  Students will be responsible for keeping up with these on a weekly basis.  It is expected that students will know how to spell these words, what the definition is, and how to use each word in a sentence.  This week we will also begin our focus on Expository Writing.  We will be taking notes and doing activities surrounding this in our INb’s.  Some activities worth mentioning that we will be participating in this week are a Socratic Seminar on Thursday, and taking SRI’s on Friday.

HOMEWORK…as always, it is expected that students are reading 20-to-30 minutes each night.  Reading is one of the best activities a student can do on a regular basis.  In addition, there will be two nights worth of editing practice (Tues/Wed and Fri).

LUTHMAN Science

Physical Science – Week of Oct. 31-Nov.4
Monday and Tuesday we will be discussing friction and its affects on motion with a Lab on Tuesday.  On Wednesday and Thursday we will begin learning about the first two of Newton’s three Laws of Motion, that will lend itself to our Balloon Car Project.  I will introduce it on Monday (Oct.31), its due date is Oct. 17.  On Friday they will have a work day on their ballooon car project,  The rest will have to be done at home.  The students should get their Chemistry test back this week as well.

COCHRAN Language Arts

This week we will  continue to work on how thinking strategies help us understand complex texts with our reading of Night. The text this week will be difficult, but using the thinking strategies intentionally will make it more accessible.  We will also be working on writing a strong short answer, and continue our practice on parts of speech.

BITNER U.S. History

We will continue our study of America’s Key Documents with the Constitution.  Our study will include a look at how this document sets up our government (3 branches and their roles) as well as provides rights (through the Bill of Rights). We will also read about and discuss the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

Here is a quick look at the week for the 8th grade Grizzlies:

COCHRAN Lang Arts

This week our Narrative project is due on Wednesday.  After we get those turned in, we will begin a short reading unit focused on Heroes.  We will be reading about people like Jackie Robinson, Mahatma Gandhi, The Little Rock Nine, Christopher Reeve, Nellie Bly, and Hans & Sophie Scholl.  The focus for this reading unit will be centered on using the thinking strategies to make us stronger readers of non-fiction texts.  The grammar focus for this week will be on verbs- action, state of being, and helping. Students should expect homework on Wednesday and Friday nights.

HORSLEY Math

Hello everyone! Fall is in the air, and the end of the quarter is only two weeks away.  The parent conferences last week went very well, and this Tuesday is the last opportunity to come to one of our open house conferences.  See you there!  This week we will explore radicals as well as continue our learning into Algebra.  This will include studying proportions and solving equations.  Good luck everyone!

WILLIAMS Math

Monday: Review for Test 2
Tuesday: Test 2
Wednesday: Go over Test, Start corrections, make up missing assignments, chapter 2 closure if not finished then homework
Thursday: CSAP Practice/ Review
Friday: Begin Chapter 3

LUTHMAN Science

On Monday and Tuesday we will be studying elements and compound in terms of differences and properties.  On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we will b studying mixtures with Labs involving separating a mixture and comparing dissolving rates of a sugar cube.  There will be a test on Chapters 2,3 and 4 next week.

BRUNGARDT Lang Arts

Monday = Lawn Boy, Personal Narrative Writing Assignment Guidelines (INb 15), Story Planning Worksheet (DUE IN CLASS), HOMEWORK = Personal Narrative Writer’s Workshop worksheet

Tuesday = Lawn Boy, Personal Narrative Writer’s Workshop worksheet DUE TODAY, Mobile Lab for rough draft typing, GRADE UPDATES (ALL WORK CURRENTLY TURNED IN WILL BE HANDED BACK)

Wednesday = PC Lab for rough draft writing, ROUGH DRAFTS DUE BY 1:15 pm.

Thursday = SSR, Lawn Boy quiz, Figurative Language Overview

Friday = Library Day, Elements of a Story activity, Figurative Language activity, ALL RE-WORK and MAKE-UP WORK DUE TODAY.

HOMEWORK RECAP= MONDAY = Writer’s Workshop worksheet due Tuesday, TUESDAY – FRIDAY = Read at home 20 – 30 minutes each night.

This is a short week due to P.T.C.  Here is our week at-a-glance:

HORSLEY Math

This week we will focus on variables and their properties.  This will include different ways to see them and combine them.  We will also review negative exponets and scientific notation. Parents, do not forget that conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, and Thursday of this week. Have a great week everyone.

LUTHMAN Science

Monday – To determine what boiling point and freezing point means by graphing
- Demo, graph, prep lab
Tuesday – To determine the boiling point of water and graph.
- Lab
Wednesday – To describe the factors that affect the behavior of gases.
- Demos, notes wkst.
Thursday – To review chap 3 and intro to Chap. 4 – Elements
- chap. review wkst., quiz, comparison
Friday – NO SCHOOL (comp day)

BRUNGARDT Language Arts

MONDAY

• sub day (Mr. Brungardt will be at No Place For Hate training)
• worksheet packet due Thursday

TUESDAY

• Explore Test Interest Inventory

WEDNESDAY

• Explore Test

THURSDAY

• Monday’s sub packet and personal event paragraph edited with editor’s marks due today
• Elements of a Story quiz
• Personal Narrative Writing Assignment (planning ; graphic organizer)

FRIDAY

• NO SCHOOL
• Mr. Brungardt available by appointment 7:30 – 12:30 (please call or email by Thursday)

Here is a brief outlook for Grizzly classes this week:

BRUNGARDT Language Arts

Hello Grizzlies!  Midterm grades are due on Monday and should be sent out by Thursday.  It has been a busy first 5 weeks and the outlook for the rest of the quarter is about the same.  In Language Arts this week we will be looking at the basic “Elements of a Story”.

MONDAY we will do a couple of things.  First, we will have a presentation by the counselors on “Being an 8th Grader”.  They will focus on expectations and upcoming activities.  Additionally, we will become familiar with the Elements of a Story Vocabulary and we will look at a Story Map.

TUESDAY we will take time out to have a Socratic Seminar.  The current issue we will tackle has to do with Face Book.    We will also read a short story on Tuesday and break it down on a story map.

WEDNESDAY we will add to our “Elements of a Story Vocab” list, and we will look at each of the elements in regards to our read aloud book, Lawn Boy. We will also begin to read another short story together and look at it in regards to the elements of a story.  The HOMEWORK for Wednesday will be to edit (using editor’s marks) the “Event” paragraphs that we wrote for homework last weekend.

THURSDAY we will wrap up the short story we began in class on Wednesday.  After that we will be revising our “Event” paragraphs and work on them in relation to a “Series of Events” graphic organizer.  HOMEWORK will be to re-write your paragraph so it tells a story.

FRIDAY is Library Day.  Make sure you have your books, IDs, and any money needed for fines.  We will also be taking an ELEMENTS OF A STORY QUIZ.

COCHRAN Language Arts

This week we will be reading several narratives. Our focus for comprehension will be examining the difference between literal and inferential comprehension as well as how to best use the text to help us answer difficult questions.  The POW is due on Wednesday, and students should expect homework this week on Wednesday and on Friday.

LUTHMAN Science

Monday – To describe 4 signs of a chemcal change and compare chemical changes with                        physical changes.
- Notes and poster
Tuesday -  To observe and comparre 12 mixtures/reactions  and determine whether they                          are  physical or chemical changes.
- LAB
Wednesday – To compare three of the four states of matter and how they differ.
- Wkst and notes
Thursday – To determine the boiling point of water at 5000 feet and recognize various                               phase changes.
- LAB
Friday – To review states of matter and finish lab.
- vocab wkst and movie.

IMPORTANT NEWS

Family Facebook night is this Thursday @ 6:00 pm.

GRIZZLY PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES (Drop-in format; Cafeteria area)

• The 8th grade teachers will be available for drop-in conferences in the cafeteria area on these dates and times:
• Tuesday October 4 = 3:30 – 8:30 (Brungardt available 6:00 – 8:00)
• Thursday October 6 = 3:30 – 8:30
• Tuesday October 11 = 3:30 – 7:30 (Bitner unavailable this day; Brungardt available 6:00 – 7:30)
• ****Brungardt will also be available by appointment (either phone or in-person) from 7:30am – 12:30 pm on Friday, October 7.  Please contact Mr. Brungardt if you are interested in having a conference during this time.***

BRUNGARDT Language Arts

Howdy!  This week in Language Arts we will be wrapping up our look at the eight parts of speech.  Last week we learned about nouns, pronouns, and adjectives.  This week we will learn about verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.  Monday and Tuesday will be spent taking notes in our INb’s as well as practicing with and identifying the parts of speech.  On Wednesday we will wrap-up and review all of the parts of speech.  Thursday we are going to the computer lab to take the SRI and we will have a Parts of Speech Quiz as well.  Finally, on Friday, we will start looking at plots in a story, and we will begin to turn our writing focus towards narratives.  In addition to reading 20-30 minutes every night, you can look for homework dealing with the parts of speech on Tuesday and Wednesday night.  Additionally, there will be some grammar homework on Friday that will be due on Monday.  Let’s have a great week!

BITNER Social Studies

We are looking at Everyday Life in Colonial Times through handouts (to read and write about in class).  We are also watching Johnny Tremain and exploring the idea of what exactly are Patriots or Traitors.

HORSLEY Math

Hello to everyone. I know we are all enjoying these cooler temperatures.  This week we will focus in on learning how to make educated guesses when soving problems.  We will learn how to organize data in a way that allows the information to be read by others.  Our first test will be on Friday, and I recommend that everyone attend the review session on Thursday.  Have a great week everyone.

COCHRAN Language Arts

This is an important week!  Students will turn in their first major piece of writing and give their first classroom presentations on Tuesday.  This grade will appear on their mid-term grades coming up next week.  The remainder of the week will be spent working on types of sentences and getting started on Personal Narratives.  Students should expect homework on Wednesday – there will be grammar homework and a new POW will be assigned. Friday’s homework assignment will be a reading assignment.

LUTHMAN Science

Monday – To review measurements of volume mass and density.
Tuesday – To describe and apply 8-10 physical properties of matter.
Wednesday – To identiy what a physical change is and giv examples.
Thursday – To use density as an identifying tool of matter.  LAB!
Friday – To describe and demostrated chemical properties and chemical changes of matter.

BRUNGARDT Language Arts

This week in Language Arts we will begin the week by taking the first round of Acuity tests.  There will be one test taken on the computer and a written test taken in the classroom.  After Acuity testing, Mr. Brungardt will re-visit his grading policy with students to cover a couple of minor changes.  The rest of the week we will be looking at the parts of speech.  The vocabulary we will encounter is: noun, common noun, proper noun, concrete noun, abstract noun, collective noun, compound noun, pronoun, antecedent, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING SILENT READING MATERIAL TO CLASS DAILY.

BITNER Social Studies

This week we will start a study of the original colonies, why each was created, what made them unique.

HORSLEY Math

Hello everyone, hope all are well.  This week we will really move into the Algebra textbook.  Our classes will cover how to use the coordinate plane, collecting and analyzing data, as well as how to find and generalize patterns. Some of our fundamental curriculum this week include, homework on the metric system and scientific notation.  Also, all of my math classes will take the acuity test on Tuesday in the PC lab.  I have been really proud of the kids coming in for extra tutoring. Keep it up! Have a great week.

LUTHMAN Science

Monday – To understand how mass relates to volume when determining density.
- Wkst., demos, practice water displacement
Tuesday – To determine the density of multiple marbles.
- Lab prep., Marble Lab
Wednesday – To review process skills and assess using the Popcorn lab.
-Popcorn Assessment, count and size 100 kernals
Thursday – Popcorn assessment
- finish collecting data, graph data, make conclusion
Friday – To finish Assessment and measurements.
- finish and collect lab, measruement activity.

COCHRAN Language Arts

This week we will be working on the writing required for their “The Week” project that is due next Tuesday.  They will have instruction Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday they will have time with their group and some homework.  Thursday and Friday they will have time in the Library and with some computers. Their drafts need to be in class next Monday and they will give the presentation portion of the project on Tuesday.

LAUDERBACK Math

Here’s what were doing this week in 4th period 8th grade Algebra A.
Scope and Sequence : Number Sense —Number Lines and Review of Fraction Operations
Activities Planned:  Students will receive graded Quiz #1 and will rewrite any missed
problems for 1/2 credit
Assignments this week will continue to develop number sense and fractions
Thursday we will do Acuity Testing and students will receive a Practice Test
to prepare for the Number Sense – Number Line Test which will be on Friday 9/16.

WILLIAMS Math

Monday:
Operations with Exponents

Tuesday:
Rational Exponents
HW: Exponent Practice Worksheet

Wednesday:
Working backwards with exponents using square and cubed roots

Thursday:
Test Review

Friday:
Unit Test

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENT

“NAVIGATING SOCIAL MEDIA AND PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY”

Join us at Conrad Ball Middle School for a two part series presented by Conrad Ball staff and the school’s resource officer.

“Be sure to SOAR with social networking and personal technology.”

“What will your digital footprint say?”

Part I: “Family Facebook Night” – Thursday. September 29^the from 6:30-8:00p.m.

• 6:00p.m. – A light dinner will be served for a minimal cost
• 6:30-7:00p.m. – Protecting yourself and your student
• 7:00-8:00p.m. – Parents and students alike will learn ideas and tips of how to use Facebook as a positive networking tool to stay connected

Part II: “Utilizing Personal Technology Devices” – Thursday. January 19^the from   6:30-8:00p.m.

• 6:00p.m. A light dinner will be served for a minimal cost
• 6:30-7:00p.m. – Protecting yourself and your student
• 7:00-8:00p.m. – Parents and students will both learn how to use their cell phone, iTouch, iPad, laptop or any other personal technology device to enhance their learning and keep them engaged and connected positively.