Friday, December 16, 2011

Friday, December 16

Science: Today we did a jigsaw note-taking activity on pages 65 - 69. Click here for a copy of the Unit 3 notes. No homework over break, unless packets were not completed and turned in today.

Geometry: Went over the 6.3 worksheet no homework over break!

Pre-Algebra: We went over two-step inequalities.  No homework.

Art 7/8: Andy Warhol projects are complete! Staff member photos have been delivered! Students are completing "Tumbling Names" colored pencil drawings.



Advanced Art grade 8: "Shattered Values" project is displayed in front showcase. Students are currently working on "Non-objective Circular" colored pencil drawings.

Language Arts: Students began with reading and or AR quizzes, AR quiz #2 for Second Marking Period was due today. At some point this year students will need to read and take an AR quiz on The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Students that chose to take one over the break were assigned a book. This will count toward the 3 AR quizzes due each marking period. We then did Literary Analysis Day 4 and we picked out an part of their short story to debate, with back up information.  Have a great break!

Algebra (Hill): Finish the chapter 5 test on page 349... except for problems 7, 8, and 9 which will not be checked.

Algebra (Graham): We worked today with scatter plots and best-fitting lines. No homework. When we return from break, we will review for a 2 days and then test on Thursday. Have a wonderful break!

Spanish I: The only homework over the break is to begin studying for the Spanish midterm (which will around January 17th - study guides have been passed out and are on my Berkley website, not the blog). ¡Felices fiestas!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Thursday, December 15

Science: Completed investigation 3B- Conservation of energy. Lab corrections and Energy packets are due tomorrow.

Geometry: Went over the 6.2 worksheet and the 6.3 notes (similar triangles). 6.3 worksheet is homework.

Language Arts: Students Read quietly and took Ar quizzes, remember the second AR quiz for this marking period is due Friday. Today at lunch students who signed up took their retake or make up quiz for the Literary Elements. Only those that missed due to absence and with a 63% or lower are eligible to come take the quiz. We continued our Literary Analysis. A copy of the worksheet is attached and posted on my web page on the Berkley Schools website. Homework: READ and write a journal entry for home.

Humanities: Students finished current events, worked on 6.4 section assessment and began to watch a video on the Boston Massacre in class. Homework is to complete 6.4 section assessment.

Spanish I: Exs 7 pg 109, 8 & 9 pg 110. Due tomorrow

Pre-Algebra: We went over 2-step inequalities.  I handed out a homework page.  Students should do #1 - 4, 15, 16.

Algebra (Graham) Homework: Finish worksheet 5.5 and Problem Solving Workshop problems. Both due tomorrow.

Algebra (Hill): Homework page 322 problems 3,6,9,12, and 15

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Wednesday, December 14

Science: Today we started investigation 3B by collected data on the track to see how drop height and mass affect the speed of a car on a hill. Lab corrections are due on Friday and the Energy packet is also due on Friday.

Geometry: Completed 6.2 notes (scale drawings) and went over the 6.1 homework. Tonight's homework is the 6.2 worksheet.

Language Arts: Students Read quietly and took Ar quizzes, remember the second AR quiz for this marking period is due Friday. Students signed up for the "Literary Elements" quiz retake which will be given in my room during lunch on Thursday.  The signup sheet is posted by the door on the red FYI bulletin board.  Only those that missed due to absence and with a 63% or lower are eligible to come take the quiz. We continued our Literary Analysis.   A copy of the worksheet is attached and posted on my web page on the Berkley Schools website. Homework: READ and write a journal entry for home.

Spanish I: Homework: Finish the conjugating AR verbs exercise that you began in class today. This is due tomorrow. 

Algebra (Hill): Finish problems 55-63 all odds on page 299 and problems 1-25 all odds on page 314 in your text book. You must attempt every problem to get full credit. If you are stuck on a problem look at the examples in that section or in your note taking guide for solution assistance... the answers are in the back of the book for odd 

Humanities: Students discussed 6.3 and shared current events in class. No homework.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Tuesday, December 13

Science: Continued to work on the energy packet, any sheets not completed in class are homework.

Geometry: Went over the 6.1 notes (ratios, proportions and the geometric mean). 6.1 worksheet is homework.

Language Arts: Students Read quietly and took Ar quizzes, remember the second AR quiz for this marking period is due Friday. Students signed up for the "Literary Elements" quiz retake which will be given in my room during lunch today and Thursday. The signup sheet is posted by the door on the red FYI bulletin board. Only those that missed due to absence and with a 63% or lower are eligible to come take the quiz. We started our Literary Analysis. Each student chose one of the Short Stories we read over the last two weeks, we then expanded on two sentences from their story. I modeled this with the students using The Giver as an example. A copy of the poster is attached and posted on my web page on the Berkley Schools website. Homework: READ and write a journal entry for home.

Spanish I: Students have been given vocabulary and study guides for the midterm in January. Start studying them now.

Humanities: Students checked tests, reviewed chapter 6 and began to work on 6.3 free choice in class. Homework is to complete 6.3 and a current event by tomorrow.

Algebra (Graham): Discussed the slopes of parallel and perpendicular lines. Great stuff!  Homework is worksheet 5.5 (1-9)

Algebra (Hill): Finish problem 3 in section 5.2 of your note taking guide

Monday, December 12, 2011

Monday, December 12

Science:  Discussed lab corrections and started our unit on Energy Transformations. Students read an article on energy transformation and worked on the Energy packet. The following pages are homework if they were not finished in class: Forms, #52, #53 & #54.

Geometry: Took the chapter 5 test, no homework!

Language Arts: Student wrote an in school journal entry: Write a journal entry on: - Invent the best dessert in the world - use sensory words when describing it. or - Explain what you think is the meaning of the saying "Beauty is only skin deep." or - a "moment" that is important to you. They were given time to read or take an AR quiz - remember the second AR quiz is due this Friday. Morning classes then took their Pop Quiz on Literary Terms. We started our Literary Analysis in Writer's Workshop. Homework: write in your journal- READ

Spanish I: Students should begin to study the vocab sheets for the midterm in January.

Algebra (Hill): Finish your section 5.1 and 5.2 worksheet



Algebra (Graham): We needed another day on section 5.4. 4th hour - #7,9, 13,15, 17, 7th hour - #8, 12, 14, 16, 18


Humanities: Students completed chapter 5 test in class today. No homework. Current event due Wednesday.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Friday, December 9

Science: Took our Unit 2 test and labs were returned. Lab correction will be due by next Friday, have a great weekend!

Geometry: Went over the practice test and made a foldable to help practice the centers & relationships inside of a triangle. Homework is the chapter 5 review, odds only. Chapter 5 test is Monday.

Algebra (Graham): Homework: worksheet 5.4B (evens only). Have a great weekend!

Humanities: Students reviewed for Monday's test, shared current events and discussed the Boston Massacre in class. Homework is to study for the test on Monday.

Pre-Algebra: We continued to talk about one-step inequalities with multiplication or division. Remember, when you multiply or divide by a negative, you flip the symbol. Homework-worksheet 3.5 # 5 - 8, and 10 - 30 (evens).

Spanish I: Vocabulary quiz 2.1 on Monday.

Language Arts: We did the Plot Plan for "The Tell Tale Heart" (which we read yesterday), and read "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupaussant. We will create the Plot Plan on Monday and begin our Literary Essays. Remember, the next due date for AR quizzes this month is Friday, Dec 16th. Homework: Read and write in your journal.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Thursday, December 8

Science: Went over the practice test and discussed good study skills to prepare for tomorrow's test. Homework is to STUDY!

Geometry: Went over the 5.6 worksheet and discussed indirect proofs in more detail. Quizzes were also returned. Practice test is homework. Chapter 5 test is Monday.

Language Starts: Students Continued their Short Story Unit with reading "The Tell Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe and completed a Short Story Plot Sheet with all the pertinent information. Please remember that the second AR quiz is due before we go on break next week. Homework: Read and a Home Journal entry.

Advanced Art Grade 8: Students have just completed a 2 day drawing for a holiday art installation at the Chase Building downtown. We are now moving onto "Non-Objective" art. Students are choosing a non-objective idea by looking through magazines and using view finders. They are looking for non- recognizable compositions that show texture, value, contrast, line, shape etc. These art pieces will be completed using colored pencil.


Art grade 7/8 : We are wrapping up Andy Warhol. Students have completed 3 photo tinting assignments. Two of themselves and one of a staff member. They will be writing letters to the staff member and delivering these as a gift in the next few days.

Pre-Algebra: We started to talk about inequalities that include multiplication and division.  No homework.

Algebra (Graham): 4th hour - p.296 (4-44 multiples of 4), story problem worksheet, and How to... page. 7th hour - story problem worksheet, and How to... page

Humanities: I am out sick again and will try to be in tomorrow. We will review for the test and share current events tomorrow. The test will be on Monday.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Wednesday, December 7

Science: Students worked on the review for Friday's test. The review is due tomorrow so anything not completed in class is homework. Students are always welcome to come and get help at lunch if needed. Click here for page 1 and page 2 of the review. 


Geometry: Went over the 5.5 homework and 5.6 notes. 5.6 worksheet is homework. The chapter 5 test is Friday.


Pre-Algebra:  We worked on one-step inequalities with addition and subtraction.  Homework-worksheet 3.4, #10 - 30 evens.


Spanish IVocab quiz 2.1 on Monday, Dec 12th


Humanities: I am out ill and will probably not be back tomorrow.  The test will be postponed until my return.  Please keep studying.



Algebra (Graham): 4th hour- finish notes, 7th hour - p. 296 (4-44 multiples of 4)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Tuesday, December 6

8th Graders took the ACT Explore Test in hours #1-3 today.

Science: Reviewed Newton's Laws of Motion for Friday's test.

Geometry: Did not meet today due to the explore test.

Humanities: Students took the Explore test in the morning. Students finished the video on the causes of the American Revolution and continued to work on the test review that they received yesterday in class. Homework is to complete the review and current event by Wednesday. We will check the review Wednesday and take the Chapter 5 test on Thursday.

Spanish I: 2nd hour has their 1.3 test tomorrow.

Pre-Algebra: No class due to the explore test.

December P.E. QUESTION: Explain the importance of a proper warm up and cool down.  Define the following components of physical fitness: muscular strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. Describe exercises for each component and the muscles they work. Papers should be at least one page in length, completed on time, information accurate and neat. Paper due on or before Wed., Dec. 14.

Algebra (Hill): Homework: Study your notes from chapter 4 and section 6.7. Study your exam reviews, and the practice problems I gave you in class on Monday. Use the odd problems in your book to test yourself with different problems in chapter 4 and section 6.7.  Test Tomorrow! Study hard, and you will do great!

Algebra (Graham) Started chapter 5 today. Homework is from the book: p. 286 (2-38 evens)

Monday, December 5, 2011

Monday, December 5

Geometry: Took notes on section 5.5 (Triangle Inequalities). 5.5 worksheet is homework. Chapter 5 test is Monday, December 12.

Science: Began working on the review for Friday's test by playing Jeapardy. Labs are due tomorrow!

Language Arts: Students met with Mrs. Weiss regarding the EXPLORE test. Homework: READ! Write a journal entry for this evening.

Pre-Algebra: We started to work on basic inequalities. No homework.

Algebra (Hill) Your chapter 4 and section 6.7 test is coming up fast! Practice Practice Practice...Study your notes, study your reviews, and try all kinds of book problems in chapter 4 and section 6.7.  Remember to finish the practice problems I gave you today in class.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Friday, December 2

Science: Peer reviewed the "Is the Force With You?" lab today, see yesterday's post for the rubric. Final draft is due on Tuesday, December 6. Unit 2 test is Friday, December 9.

Geometry: Completed the 5.4 notes and did an activity the investigate the Centroid of a triangle. The Chapter 5 quiz was assigned as homework and is due on Monday.

Language Arts: Students wrote in the journals using the following prompts:

- Write some sayings for fortune cookies that you would like to get yourself.
- Invent a game or toy other 8th graders would buy.
- Write about a "moment" of importance to you.
They were given time to read or take an AR Quiz, we then finished our Literary Terms Presentation.

Humanities: Students checked 5.2, were introduced to 5.3 and began to work on 5.3 section assessment in class. Homework folders are due Monday. Chapter 5 test will be Thursday. Study guides will be provided on Monday.

Spanish I: Unit 1.3 test on Monday.

Algebra (Hill): Test Tuesday. Study chapter 4 & section 6.7 notes, homework and book examples....review problems are very similar to test problems!!! 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Thursday, December 1

Science: Worked on the critique reflection section of the "Is the Force With You?" lab and also worked on rough drafts. Rough drafts for peer review are due tomorrow, the rubric is attached. Final drafts of the lab are due on Tuesday, December 6 and the Unit 2 test is Friday, December 9.

Geometry: Went over the 5.3 homework and started the 5.4 notes (medians & altitudes). We will complete the notes tomorrow and do a foldable activity, the quiz has been moved to Monday. 5.4 worksheet, front side only, is homework.

Language Arts: Students worked quietly on their "school" journal entry of the day. They chose from one of the following:

- Write about a person that is your hero and why.
- What game or "toy" do you want but don't have and why.
- Write about a moment of importance to you.
They then read quietly or took an AR quiz. We began our mini-unit on Short Stories with Literary Terms.

Algebra (Hill): Study your chapter 4 and section 6.7 notes.

Algebra (Graham) Test tomorrow. I have attached the homework for tonight!

Spanish I: Home work: study for the 1.3 test on Monday, Dec 5th.


Pre-Algebra: We reviewed for our quiz tomorrow.