Agenda Week April 29—May 3

This is the last week of EOG testing for students. Monday, April 29, the students will complete the Social Studies portion of the Milestones; Tuesday is the Science section.

We will remain on ELT schedules this week, with the exception being that all extended learning time will be spent in Homeroom in order to complete the Project Based Learning Assignment. The schedule is currently as follows:

Monday—Friday     April 29—April 30

Testing/PBL Schedule, Morning

8:45—9:15 a.m.       HOMEROOM

9:20—11:37 a.m.     EOG/Milestones Testing

11: 40—12:43 a.m.  ELT/Homeroom/PBL

(12:05—12:23           LUNCH & Return to Homeroom PBL)

In addition to the PBL group assignment, students also have an ancillary English Project based on the "Science of Baseball" PBL. 

Assessment due Friday, May 3; assigned on Tuesday, April 23. View the document HERE.

English/Language Arts classes commence each day after PBL/ELT. 

This week we will continue to present panel discussions; work in Literature Circles on your groups' short story to prepare the Embedded Assessment 3.1 Summative Panel Presentation. View the  assignment HERE.

Assessement(s): Film panel discussions and progressive assignments for preparing Literature Circle short story presentations. Film panel due dates will vary based on group presentation days.

Baseball ELA PBL Assignment—Summative Grade, Due Friday, May 3

1.       Choose a current or former Braves player who is NOT currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame (You can’t profile the following players/managers: Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro, John Smoltz)

2.       Research that player and make a poster, PPT or Sway to persuade an audience as to why this player should be a future candidate for the Hall of Fame.

Include the following 5 Elements in your project.

1.       BIOGRAPHY: The information you present should include the following:

a.       Biography: Where is the player born, how old are they? How did they get drafted to Major League Baseball? What other teams have they played for? Where they drafted out of high school? College? How long have they played for the Braves. Here are some places you look for player information:

b.       https://www.mlb.com/braves

c.        (search by year) http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/history/players.jsp

d.       (Below: “All time greats”—but be careful NOT to chose a current Hall of Famer) https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/atlanta-braves-all-time-greats-roster-091216

2.       POSITION & STATISTICS: Player Information: What position does this player play? Do they play any alternative positions? What are this player’s statistics? Here are some places you can look for information on statistics.

a.       http://www.sportspectator.com/fancentral/baseball/stats/linescore.html

b.       http://m.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats

c.        http://www.espn.com/mlb/statistics

d.       http://www.baseballessential.com/news/2015/02/24/understanding-advanced-baseball-stats-hitting/

3.       QUOTATIONS: You must include 2 quotes that you highlight and explain why these quotes show how this player, his philosophy of life, the game, or worldview make him a “Hall of Fame” quality player. This means, the quotes should show how this player is not just a good ball player, but a quality human being, too.

a.       The first quote should be one that the PLAYER has said

b.       The second quote should be one ABOUT the PLAYER

4.       IMAGES: you should include at least 2 illustrations or photographs that depict this player. ONE image or illustration must be an action image.

5.       PARAGRAPH: Finally, write a paragraph that explains why you chose this player, and why you are nominating them for the Hall of Fame.

Panel Discussion Assignment--Embedded Assessment 3.1

Students, the link below is the the Panel Discussion assignment that is in your SpringBoard book. Please click the link, read the assignment and the rubric, and then answer the questions regarding how will go about developing your discussion with your group.
This is individual work, however. You will be able to discuss this with your groups later.
Please click HERE to access the assignment and rubric.

Agenda for Week April 22-26

Monday, April 22
Students resume EOG testing today with Math Section I from 9:30-11:00 this morning. They will complete the Math EOG for this year tomorrow

ELA: Students will be working on and presenting panel discussions from their Literature Circles, focusing on presentation skills that highlight literary elements setting, character, plot, mood, tone, and theme.
PBL: Students will be working on researching and creating a "Hall of Fame" piece for a current or former member of the Atlanta Braves, who is not already a current inductee.

Tuesday-Friday, April 23-26
Students will finish the 8th-grade Math EOG today from 9:30-11:00 this morning.

ELA: Students will continue working on and presenting panel discussions from their Literature Circles, focusing on presentation skills that highlight literary elements setting, character, plot, mood, tone, and theme.

PBL: Students will be working on researching and creating a "Hall of Fame" piece for a current or former member of the Atlanta Braves, who is not already a current inductee.

Agenda for Week April 15-19

This week begins EOG Testing, so schedules will vary daily for the next couple of weeks. Also, the end of this week also marks the closure of the first four weeks of Quarter 4. Therefore, all assignments pertaining to our film study and our panel discussion assignment will be added to grades for the upcoming progress report.
Also remember that your next Daily Reading Log is due this Friday, April 19.

Planned Activities:
Monday: EOG ELA Section 1
Tuesday: EOG ELA Section 2 & 3
Wednesday—Friday:  students will have a rotation of extended learning time (ELT) in different classes each day. In ELA, students will be working on their project-based learning  (PBL) assignment, “The Science of Baseball.” In ELA, that will be to create a “Hall of Fame” project for one current or former Braves player or manager.
 In addition, in regularly scheduled ELA classes, the students will be continuing to focus on this unit’s theme of “finding light in the darkness.” Students will be working in literature circles with unique short stories assigned to each group to complete Embedded Assessment 3.1 (EA 3.1)

Give “Achtung!” to this Week’s Assignments & Read Below for a Chance for $5 Panther Paws

Students in my 4th and 5th periods be sure to turn in your work tomorrow from today’s split so your class work grade will not suffer.

Also: please remember you have Springboard assignments. It was assigned last Monday, April 8, so you've had all week to get it done or out of your textbook. Please review the assignment from the original post HERE under Monday's entry.
It is due either hard copy tomorrow by the end of the school day or you can turn them in Saturday, 4/13,  by 6 PM in Springboard Digital (check the "Helpful Links" on the right side of the blog to get to Clever/SpringBoard Digital).
You can also check the Class Documents Library to download a .pdf printable copy of the assignment. However, you will need to bring it to me during Monday morning's Homeroom christi.williams@cobbk12.org

How About Some Panther Paws? 
Do you remember what Achtung! means from the film Life is Beautiful? If you know, email me the answer over the weekend or drop it by to me on a note with your name first thing Monday morning during Homeroom!

How to log-in to Office 365 from Home

It is VERY important that students know how to access the technological tools that CCSD provides to students. As rising high school students, it is even more important that eighth-grade students become familiar and comfortable with navigating these tools. By now, most Floyd students should be well aware of how to do this, but there are some students that need refreshers. Please consult the image attached in this post for instructions. These same instructions and a full library of technology assistance "how-to" videos and guides are available for students and parents on the CCSD website at the following LINK. Please consult these great resources whenever you have questions about digital access to school technology.
Today in the computer lab, I am going over these instructions on how to access Office365 while away from school and can briefly assist those whom are in need while we are there.
You may review the abbreviated version of the instructions for logging-in below, if needed. Click image to enlarge further.

Adjustments to April 8-12 Agenda

Students, as I mentioned in class today, I will be providing you access to view and work with the Milestones Online Testing Practice Exam and the testing tools during class on Wednesday, April 10. Therefore, we will be making adjustments to the schedule that was previously posted for this week.
Wednesday, April 10: 7th Grade Computer Lab. Finish watching Life is Beautiful. Milestones Practice Test assigned in-class.
*Thursday, April 11: Work in Literature Circles to complete the Life is Beautiful assignment in your Literature Circles. Also, you will need to begin work on the short story for EMBEDDED ASSESSMENT #1 OF UNIT 3.
Assessment: Classwork grade for breaking down the Setting, Character, Plot, and Mood and those relationships to the Unit 3 theme, "Finding Light in Darkness."
Friday, April 12: Working in groups for Embedded Assessment 3.1 Panel Discussion
Assessment: Lit. Circle worksheet, signed by all members of the group, with a statement of your contribution. Each member of the group is required to demonstrate they have added to assignment.
*Note for 4-5th classes on Thursday, April 11: I will be out of class that day. HOWEVER, you are EXPECTED to complete and turn in the Life is Beautiful assignment. I will be available to answer your questions via email during the school day. 

Link to Practice Milestones Test

Testing begins Monday, April 15, 2019. I hope to have copies of testing days and schedules posted for you soon. Please bear with me while I get those uploaded.
Please use the link below to start practicing with the digital testing interface on the Ga. DOE website.
Practice EOG Test for students LINK HERE

Week of April 8-12

Welcome back from Spring Break. Hope you all did some relaxing and rejuvenating to get ready for these last weeks of middle school!
Here's the planned agenda; as usual, though, it is subject to change based on schedules and student needs. *Please see post from Tuesday, April 9, where this agenda was later updated and amended.

Monday: Continue the film study of Life is Beautiful, keeping in mind our Essential Question:
Why is it important to learn about past social injustices and crimes against humanity (or animals/environment)? Why is it important to remember them, and how can it affect the decisions we make in the future? How can we make parallels to our own lives when we consider these questions?
Assessment: Movie Viewing Graphic Organizer, due daily.
3rd and 5th Period--MS Forms Assessment: Complete at this link. Due today by 10 p.m., April 8, 2019.
SpringBoard Assessment--Due Saturday, April 13, 6p.m. Use the SpringBoard/Clever link on the sidebar on the right of the blog.
Read excerpt from the Diary of Anne Frank (SpringBoard Activity 3.10). Complete the LC 3.10. In the hard copy book, these activities are pages 205-219. Complete only the grammar exercises in LC 3.10. You can complete it online in SpringBoard; it is already set up for you. OR, you can tear it out of your book and turn it by end of school day, April 12, Friday.

Tuesday: Continue the film study of Life is Beautiful, keeping in mind our Essential Question: 

Why is it important to learn about past social injustices and crimes against humanity (or animals/environment)? Why is it important to remember them, and how can it affect the decisions we make in the future? How can we make parallels to our own lives when we consider these questions?

Assessment: Movie Viewing Graphic Organizer, due daily.

IXL Assignment: (Linked before Tuesday)

Wednesday: Continue the film study of Life is Beautiful, keeping in mind our Essential Question: 

Why is it important to learn about past social injustices and crimes against humanity (or animals/environment)? Why is it important to remember them, and how can it affect the decisions we make in the future? How can we make parallels to our own lives when we consider these questions?

Assessment: Movie Viewing Graphic Organizer, due daily.

Thursday:Panel Discussion preparation. Assignments of short stories for Panel Discussion. Reading, notetaking, discussion in Literature Circles.

Assessment: Literature Circle Movie Review to answer the Essential Question as a presentation.

Assessment: Literature Circle Sharing

Friday:Panel Discussion preparation. Assignments of short stories for Panel Discussion. Reading, notetaking, discussion in Literature Circles.

Assessment: Literature Circle Sharing