Mrs. Colbert

Visit the TeacherWeb® videos to learn about the features, modifications, and customizations available on your website. Click here to learn more.

8th graders:  2 D  High School Registration~ PLANNING and PREPARATION

High School Registration begins in January 2012.
 It's nothing to stress about; you'll learn important essentials like: creating your four year plan for 
your specific Career Path, learning how to compute GPAs with weighted classes, as well as choosing 
electives as well as all major courses you will be taking in grades 9-12. 
Parents and 8th graders will be making decisions and narrowing down the choices so that you can 
prepare for Colleges and Careers.

NEWS Summaries are due every month. Upcoming due dates:  November 18, 2011, December 21, 
2011,
 January 25, 2012, February 22, 2012, March 28, 2012, April 25, 2012, May 25, 2012 and June
5, 2012 are the due dates.  No violent summaries will be accepted.  Choose current events about 
medicine, technology, science, inventions, psychology, performing arts, communities, music, 
celebrities, sports, colleges/universities, S.A.T news, collegeboard.com, marathons, fund raisers, 
vacations, education, entertainment or book reviews.

Please help:

Donate a box of tissues to your reading class!  
As well,  DONATE YOUR GENTLY USED MAGAZINES TO OUR READING CLASS AS SOON AS 
POSSIBLE!  THANKS.  
 MRS. COLBERT

**Banner Question**What evidence will support 8th graders who are college and career ready?

Second Quarter  MARYLAND COMMON CORE CURRICULUM STANDARDS: ARGUMENT WRITING

8TH GRADERS will learn how  about techniques in Argument Writing.  Our goal will 
be to engage 8th graders in the art of Argument Writing using interactive lessons.This will be a fun 
tutorial with hands on classroom activities.  Our Argument Writing Tutorial will be introduced in a 
short skit that will be performed by experienced 8th grade Debaters:  Joe Smith and Sonya Datta. 
Also, Dylan Gellis and Alexis Datta will assist.  
Students will use specific topics from curriculum novels as well as realistic life situations as topics 
and ideas for Argument Essays. 
Mrs. Colbert will provide additional guidelines and leadership.

Upcoming units: Historical Reading Connections, The Industrial Revolution: The American Spirit 
(Inventions Project) The Outsiders, The Wave, The Language of Literature

Upcoming assignment: *30 points* December Book Project~  Due on Monday and Tuesday, December 
12, 13, 2011.

CHOOSE ONE TOPIC:  
A.  Write a sequel to your novel (1-2 pages in length using 2-5 characters, a unique setting, and 
connect the original plot from your novel to your sequel).
B.  Examine your novel for "the author's craft" and write a 1-3 page narrative story based on your 
author's writing style.  A journal is acceptable. Effectively utilize: mood, tone, foreshadowing, 
dynamic characters, dialogue and suspense.
C. Illustrate your novel using "Comic Life" as well as setting, characters, plot, suspense and humor.  
Creatively energize your novel in comic form.
E. Dramatize 2-3 scenes from your novel by creating a SKIT.  Ask classmates to help you in the cast.  
Get your own copies of your skit and provide one copy for Mrs. Colbert.
F.  Give a testimonial speech (one minute) citing one unique heroic character as well as the character's 
special distinction in the book. 
G.  Have a "Character Day" and dress up as your favorite character in the story.  Relive some of the 
novel by reading your favorite parts ( CHOOSE 5 ) of the book.
H.  Book Talk:  Summarize the highlights of your book, and "dramatically" read 5 different parts of 
your book to get your classmates "Hooked" on your book.

8th graders: Complete your 1-2 page College to Career REFLECTION  for Homework! 
 Due dates are: 
2/6 and 2/7/12.  Use the rubric in your "College to Career" packets.

Current Events summaries are due on March 28, 2012.

"I'm a WINNER essays are due on March 9, 2012.  Use your rubric as a guide.

THE WAVE~ historical novel ~ curriculum packet and the sequel are due on March 26, 2012.

4th Quarter project:  Who Is Your Idol?  
Is your idol your father, your coach?  Choose a wonderful 
person you idolize and write a 1-2 page essay including the following details.  Each answer should be 
one paragraph.  **30 points  ~Due date:  April 12, 2012
1.  Why do you adore them?  2-3 reasons*
2.  One way you want to follow in their footsteps.
3.  If you could ask YOUR IDOL 3 questions, what would the 3 questions be and WHY would you select 
these 3 questions?

DO YOUR BEST!

4th quarter Project #2:  DESCRIBE 3-5 THINGS THAT YOU WOULD INCLUDE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST.  
BUCKET LISTS include everything you want to do before you die.  You must write one paragraph for 
each idea.  This is a free-write essay; the only question you have to answer in each paragraph is WHY 
you want to do whatever you have chosen from your Bucket List. 
BUCKET LIST***New due date:  Monday, April 30, 2012

EXAMPLES:  Say the things on your bucket list were:  TOP 3 things!!***

to meet One Direction, receive a Division 1 university sports scholarship,  go shopping in Paris, or go 
to go to a midnight premiere of a movie.

10 pts= Paragraph one: Why you want to meet One Direction?

10 pts= Paragraph two:  Why you want to go shopping in Paris?

10 pts= Paragraph three: Why you want to go to a midnight premiere of a movie?
    ***Conclusion**

Project due date:  April 19, 2012   **4th Quarter

4th Quarter  WARM UP   PSAT/SAT   POP   QUIZZES  ARE ON THE WAY!

CREATE YOUR OWN INVENTION PROJECT:  DUE MAY 31 AND  JUNE 1, 2012~

CREATE A UNIQUE INVENTION THAT CONNECTS TO REAL LIFE.  Imagine how life would be enhanced 
with your invention.  Ideas are endless! Consider these categories:  science, computer technology, 
music, sports. Create an invention that symbolizes the AMERICAN SPIRIT and connect your invention 
to REAL LIFE. Write up an explanation essay that provides details of your invention's usefulness, as 
well as how your invention connects to real life!

RUBRIC~*CREATIVE/ CAPTIVATING = 10 POINTS  *USEFUL/CONNECTS TO REAL LIFE/EXPLANATION 
(CUPS) = 10 POINTS   *NEATNESS/COLORFUL = 5 POINTS      *TOTAL= 25 POINTS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REFLECTION  2012

Teach Like A Champion provides teachers with specific techniques that place students on the

path to college.  Maryland Common Core Curriculum Standards support students who are college and

career ready.  Teach Like a Champion could help experienced and new teachers with techniques that

put students on the path to college.  Educators can benefit from the 49 techniques that are included

on the DVD.

The DVD focuses on a variety of role model type classrooms, so we learn how the teachers engage

their students using a variety of strategies.  I chose two strategies that worked in my classroom.

Technique #18: Check For Understanding, is equivalent to gathering data. Data is always essential

in measuring students' growth.

This technique worked well in my classroom since I observe and listen while students work in

groups.  Observing and listening help me when I need to reteach a skill or associate  difficult

vocabulary terms. Checking for understanding after my delivery of instructions provides a valuable

assessment.  After I've explained an assignment, I ask "Are there any questions?"

If students are uncertain,  I explain with more details.  Technique #18 is a

useful idea.

Technique #2 Right Is Right was a good idea as well.  Right is Right applies to using precise

answers on tests, quizzes and research.  Following directions to perform multi-step directions is an

example of assessing data for this technique. The Big 6 Process and the Works Cited research page is

another example of this technique.  I would recommend selecting three or four techniques to

critique during professional development sessions.  Staff would evaluate pros and cons of their

preferred techniques and get immediate feedback. Viewing the techniques individually is less

engaging.

Overall, Teach Like A Champion is a useful text and the DVD adds a visual learning connection.

I would recommend this text to next year's professional  development group, but  the DVD should

become a discussion focus during sessions rather than an assignment for teachers to complete.

Automatically clean input to optimize for the web.

Or, would you like to view and optionally restore one of these previous versions?

Password: Forgot your password?

TeacherWeb.com

Content on this site is the responsibility of the Subscriber. Additional information is available in the TeacherWeb Terms & Conditions

Mrs. Colbert

Announcements