October 31-November 4

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October 24-28

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October 17-21, 2011

Be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it. If your eyes are old like mine, you'll need to!

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October 10-14, 2011

Click on the picture to enlarge it. THEN you may be able to read it more clearly. See y'all Monday!

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September 26-30

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Next Week September 19-23

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Happy new school year!!! September 7, 2011

How exciting this year will be! I’m back teaching seventh grade and couldn’t be happier. The word in the teacher’s lounge is that the incoming 7th graders are the cream of the crop, how great is that?! You’ve earned a great reputation by behaving well, and working hard.

Some of you may be a little curious about me and what life will be like in my class. I promise you that I am pretty easy-going, and I don’t assign homework. Really! (However, you’ll probably still have class work to take home, so don’t start cheering yet.) My homework policy is at the bottom of this blog, so be sure to read it. My room is usually pretty colorful and bright. I like books, so the walls are covered with shelves; feel free to grab whatever floats your boat! There are also a zillion pictures of my family and friends posted on the walls. I like to be reminded that I have a life outside of the classroom too. Sometimes, I’ll ask you to bring in pictures and share stories about your life, so prepare yourself for that!

Okay, a little about me…I am married to Sweetie-Pie and I have three sons, but only one of them isn’t covered in fur, his name is P.J. I like to sing, and I enjoy hiking. I suppose you’ll learn more once you’re happily ensconced in our classroom!

Please be prepared for my class each day. I tend to get a little huffy if you forget basic items like paper, pencils, and books. Come in with a happy attitude and I will return it!

YAY SEVENTH GRADE!!!

HOMEWORK POLICY

Parents and Students,I’ve been reading a lot lately about the benefits and consequences of homework for middle level students. I had been thinking that perhaps our kids have been overwhelmed by the amount of work that has been given to them and I have a plan to perhaps change this.

A few years ago a lovely student named Trevin brought me an article written for the September 2007 issue of Time magazine by Claudia Wallis. This essay discusses several different viewpoints about the benefits of homework. Since the topic had already been on my mind, and then it was presented in such a concise little package by a student, I mulled it over and I’ve decided to implement a new plan: No more assigned homework. I will still be assigning essays and readings and projects, but I will not assign additional work specifically as “homework.”

Studies have shown that “students who feel overworked tend to lose interest in the topics and it may damage their interest in learning and natural curiosity.” (Wallis, 2006) While I do feel that it is important to instill a love of reading and writing in our kids, I don’t want to squash the current interest that they have.So, for the next trimester I am going to test my hypothesis. Your students will still have work to complete at home but it will be work that we began in class and didn’t get finished, or longer projects that need additional time.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact me at509-228-4994 or sfilanoski@cvsd.org.Sincerely, Sara Filanoski

June 6-10

Mixed in amongst all your field trips and out of class fun we'll be doing the following this week:

LA- Poetry Week!

SS- Finish ch. 12 and finance project

Dates to remember!

Tuesday- All final projects for The Cay are due!
June 3rd- All AR points are due.

This week we'll also be plugging along with reading and working on a finance project in Social Studies.

14 more days of school- but don't think I'm going to let you go easily! We'll be working till the last bell rings on the 17th!

What's this week got in store for you? Read on my friends!

Anyone want to take a guess about which two boys I won't send in the future to retrieve the camera?

Monday: “The Cay” scavenger hunt, read ch. 10-12,
Begin ch. 10 in SS "The Cold War and Civil Rights"

Tuesday: Read “The Cay” and analyze the characters’ development,
Mr. P presents a lesson on propaganda

Wednesday: Cay quiz ch. 7-14, plot development,
Chapter 10- Civil Rights

Thursday: Movie: Mighty Times, The story of Rosa Parks

Friday: A.R. reading, Complete Mighty Times assignment


Looking for a little extra credit? Write a one page paper about the development of a character in one of your favorite novels.
Due TUESDAY and worth 15 points in either LA or SS.

The Week of May 2-6, 2011

Monday-
LA: Journal, Read The Cay ch. 3-5, Discuss your role for the MSP
SS: Background information on The Great Depression, Begin ch. 9

Tuesday-
LA: MSP- Reading test part 1
SS: Ch. 9

Wednesday-
LA: MSP- Writing test part 1
SS:Ch. 9

Thursday-
LA: Journal, A.R. persuasive book talks are due to be presented. NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED!
SS: Ch. 9

Friday-
LA: Journal, A.R. reading
SS: In library for retake of the 3rd trimester assessment

Don't Forget:
-Book Orders will be collected TUESDAY. Be sure checks are made out to me, not Scholastic as I place the order online with a CC. (Or you can order online by using the link to the right of this post.)

-You MUST have an A.R. book with you each day.

April 25-29 2011

Yup! I've updated the blog...or I'm about to anyways! I'll try try try to get better at staying current with the blog for the rest of the year.

Don't forget: ALL A.R. POINTS ARE DUE JUNE 8. This date is NOT as far away as you may be thinking! If you were a last second point earner LAST tri- don't let that happen again THIS tri!

BEGIN COLLECTING FOR THE FUND RUN! You can turn your money into your 1st period class starting Monday. 7th grade MUST dominate this year! Just think, you win and you get a whole lot of time OUT of CLASS! (and you know that would make Collin and Matt S. SO happy!) Lucky ducks!

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Monday: We'll begin pre-reading and vocabulary development before we jump into our LAST novel of the year, The Cay. We'll also discuss the invention of the automobile and watch sections of the History Channel movie Horacio's Drive.

Tuesday: We will examine maps and discuss the location of the Caribbean islands, we'll have a mini discussion about WWII and examine pictures and clips of U-boats.

Wednesday: BEGIN READING THE CAY, Chapter 9 in the WA State History text

Thursday: Continue The Cay, take an A.R. assessment in class

Friday: ALL A.R. ALL DAY! I scored the library for us, prepare to take a test today!

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Want some extra-credit?

Watch the news or read a few newspaper articles about current happenings in the Middle East- focus on Libya. Write 3 paragraphs about:
1. What has been happening for the last two months? Who has been in control? What has the U.S. done?
2. What is happening now? Who is currently in control? How?
3. What is YOUR opinion on the events happening there?
Worth: 15 points in the class of your choosing.

March 7-11, 2011

With kids like these in my class, how could I not LOVE my days!

An update: REALLY!!!

This week we've got a lot going on! Even though we don't have class on Monday, and it's conference week so the days will be short, we'll be making up for our lack of time together with intensity! Tuesday in Social Studies we've got high school students coming into help us with firming up our Project Citizen outlines. Hopefully this will allow us to really get focused and tighten up our presentations. In Language Arts we will be reading our novel in preparation for our final AR tests and the DOOZY 100 point test on 2 weeks.

The rest of the week we be alternating class periods. In these classes we will be discussing local policy in action, reading our novel, begin building our panels, and of course, enjoying each other's company!

DUE DATES: March 7th your STRRTS movie is due

March 8th ALL A.R. points are due

March 9th is the 100 point test

Thanks kiddos for making my birthday a great one!
You make my work days fun days.

One student here looks to be breaking school rules...any guesses which?

Who me?!

Some students need a little break or two in between research projects.

You guys keep getting colds, and we still need Kleenex! Bring a box for 5 points!

Just SO much fun!!!

We are really getting into Project Citizen. I can't wait to find out what topic we'll be doing for our projects. Let's hope you guys pick a good one!

This week we'll be focused on our P.C. unit and beginning a new novel: Streams to the Rivers, Rivers to the Seas by Scott O'Dell. It is the story of Lewis and Clark's journey west, told from Sacajawea's perspective. It's a pretty great read and I think you guys will like it.

Prepare for the following:
Monday you have your one sentence homework due
Tuesday you'll be writing a summary of the first couple of chapters from S.T.T.R.R.T.T.S.
and the rest of the week we'll be having a lot of fun learning about how our government works, and practicing non-fiction reading strategies.

See you soon!

At long last...

Welcome to the NEW YEAR my friends! It's 2011, does that seem weird to anyone else? I'm looking forward to spending the next five months with you guys!

This week we will continue with our TREATY TRAIL lesson in Social Studies. I think this is a great way for you to come to an understanding of how our forefathers settled the city of Spokane, and why there are so many reservations surrounding us here in Eastern Washington.
If you need to work on the project at home please visit: http://stories.washingtonhistory.org/treatytrail/index.htm

In Language Arts we will be reading stories related to Native Americans while also studying irony. Prepare to do a little writing too!

Here's to a great week!

Top Secret Extra Credit: For a few extra points, bring in examples of IRONY to share with the class.

Happy 2nd Trimester!!

Welcome to the second trimester of your 7th grade year! You're almost halfway done...time sure does fly when you're having fun! Everyone starts this tri off with an A+; be sure to do all you can to keep yours!

This week you'll be busy in the library learning research skills. These new skills will become VERY important later this trimester when we begin our Project Citizen project. Ms. Albers has some great things planned for you, and I know you'll all be great kids for her!

For Social Studies we will begin our learning about Washington state history. We'll start with a quick assessment to see what you already know (no reason to teach you what you already know...right!?) and then we'll go from there. A whole new textbook awaits you; oh the joy!!

Don't forget, you get your report cards this FRIDAY. Be sure to share your reports with your parents and be sure to tell them HOW MUCH YOU'VE LEARNED THIS TRIMESTER!

Had to share this shot of PJ...gotta brag about how the cute little guy is.

OH! I almost forgot, thanks for representing the team H.S.!

A PHOTO BLOG!

So, the post cut off the bottom of the picture. All AR points are due NOVEMBER 30. That's that was cut out. Don't freak out and think they're due this Friday.

Also, don't forget to work on your Crispin project! Most of your grade will be based on detail and originality. Don't put off doing it until the last minute! Due December 1st.

Remember: I will not be in class Monday. Do your best to be great and earn a free day Friday!

No School Thursday!

This week we've got a lot on our plates. Sorry I am so late posting this- it seems the weekend really escaped me!

Monday 11/8-
Journal
Expository Essay: Body Paragraph
Crispin
"The Crusades"
Movie Quiz

Tuesday 11/9-
Journal
Expository Essay: Body Paragraph
The Plague
Read Crispin at home tonight!
Wednesday 11/10-
Journal
Expository Essay: Tighten up your focus
Crispin Quiz
Black plague group work: How did the plague affect the feudal groups?
Group poster

Thursday 11/11-
No School today.
Hug a Veteran and thank them for all they've done for you!

Friday 11/12-
AR reading day
Present group posters
Movie: Black Death

Spirit Week!

PROJECT RUBRIC! CLICK TO ENLARGE!

Don't forget that this week is SPIRIT WEEK! We start off in out PJs on Monday- so I guess I'll have to be okay with y'all in your slippers. UGH!

This week YOUR BIG OLE PROJECT IS DUE! I've uploaded the rubric so CLICK on it if you're working at home and wonder what you're going to need to earn your "A." In Social Studies Monday and Tuesday will be devoted to working on your projects and combining slides. YOU MUST PRESENT ON WEDNESDAY (or before) OR YOU WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE! Thursday and Friday we will be discussing the Great Plague...ewwww!

In Language Arts we will begin an expository writing, and you're just going to L.O.V.E the process. We'll also be reading Crispin throughout the week.

Boggle on Friday- bring your BEST vocabularies to class!

Medieval Feast Information

LET'S HAVE A GREAT WEEK!