This blog is on hiatus for 2020-21. Please see Schoology for updates on classes.
Category Archives: 8th Grade Seminar
8th Grade Seminar Update — Final One
8th Grade Seminar Update — Weeks of 4/27 and 5/4
8th Grade Seminar Update — weeks of 4/13 and 4/20
8th Grade Seminar Update — Week of 4/6
MONDAY 4/6 — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud: Google Meet Link. Chapter 13
TUESDAY — I’ll be teaching about the connection between eugenics and TKAM during class.
10:00-10:20 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 1: Google Meet Link.
10:30-10:50 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 2: Google Meet Link
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud: Google Meet Link. Chapter 14
WEDNESDAY at NOON — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud: Google Meet Link. Chapter 15
THURSDAY
9am — HOMEWORK (Home Learning Survey #2 Due)
Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud: Google Meet Link. Chapter 16
FRIDAY — We do not meet, but I am always available for extra help if needed — just email. Always happy to hop onto a google meet meeting as well.
8th Grade Seminar — Quick Update 4/1/20
Hi Excellent Eighth Graders,
Just a quick update…. tomorrow (Thursday), we’ll be reading/annotating chapter 12 at noon. As it is our first significant introduction to the African-American community in Maycomb, I would like you to either handwrite or copy this chart digitally prior to tomorrow’s reading. We’ll be completing the chart during our read aloud. If you aren’t able to join us, no worries — you will want to do this independently as you read though.
Character | Actions/Words –
Specific Evidence |
Significance (What do these characters express about African American Society in this story?) |
Lula | ||
Reverend Sykes | ||
Zeebo |
You all are awesome. I so appreciate all of you.
Best, -JF
Ps. If you haven’t turned in home learning survey #1 yet, it is due tomorrow. (Most of you have already)
Pps. Friendly reminder that we’ll continue read-aloud (chapter 13 — my least favorite one!) on Monday at noon. There will not be any noon reading sessions on Fridays.
8th Grade Seminar Update — Week of 3/30
- 10:00-10:20 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 1: Google Meet Link
- 10:30-10:50 — 8th Grade Seminar Block 2: Google Meet Link
- Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud: Google Meet Link. We’ll be reading and annotating chapter 10 together. All read alouds are optional, but encouraged.
- 9am — HOMEWORK (Survey) due
- Noon — 8th Grade Seminar Daily Read-Aloud: Google Meet Link. Chapter 12.
- Survey due by Thursday at 9am (Can be filled out anytime)
- Students should be through the end of chapter 13 before class on April 7th.
8th Grade Seminar Update — 3/20
Hi Everyone,
8th Grade Seminar Update — 3/12
Dear Excellent Eighth Graders,
8th Grade Seminar Update — March
Here’s what’s happening in 8th Grade Seminar:
There’s a myriad of ways to read TKAM. Some students may read it independently. Others may join us for “read-aloud” during class. I also have audio links here. This is a super challenging text (especially at the beginning) and I encourage all students to listen to the audio and track as they track the book. I have audio links available here (and on Google Classroom).
Upcoming Dates Of Note:
- Every night: Read 30 minutes. Students should not be reading ahead in TKAM, so they will likely need a book on the side to meet the CHOICE reading requirement. I’ll be recommending books in class (and students are always welcome to email me) — but here’s also a padlet of book recommendations.
- Tuesday: Chapters 3 and 4 in TKAM with annotations. (We’ll be reading chapter 3 together in class on Monday). Skit performances on Wednesday.
- Wednesday: Book Group Menu #2 Due
- Monday, March 9th: Chapters 5-8 of To Kill A Mockingbird with annotations. “Surprise” reading-check quiz on that day.
- Tuesday, March 10th: Book Group Menu #3 Due
- Wednesday, March 11th: “Speed dating” with books. Students will have the opportunity to “date” some books and will need to identify a choice novel outside of TKAM to read over Spring break.
- Monday, March 16th: Chapters 9-11 w/annotations due.
- Tuesday, March 17th: “Reverse” Book Menus due.
- Thursday, March 19th, Friday, March 20th, Monday, March 30th: No class — Voyagers Field Trip, Athletic Day, CMAS
- Tuesday, March 31st: Chapters 12-14 w/annotations