The last days...whew!

Just a few more days till we're D-O-N-E!

Until then, we will complete our novel The Outsiders, work on and present our budget projects, and spend some quality time at Triple Play! I challenge anyone to

try and beat me at putt-putt!

Week of May 18-22

Monday-
Extra Credit due
Journal
Figurative Language- Symbolism

Ch. 9

Tuesday-
Journal
Fig. Lang. Symbolism

Ch. 9 reading

Wednesday- CAREER BOARDS DUE TODAY!
Journal
Fig. Lang. Simile

Ch. 9

Thursday-
Fig. Lang- Alliteration

Ch. 9 TEST

Friday-
A.R. Reading Day!

Movie: Washington during the Depression

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Extra Credit:

TYPE a 4 paragraph essay discussing the quote, "If we do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it." and how it relates to World War One and the current war. Be thorough and use specific examples in your analysis

May 11-15

Oh you guys! I am so sorry that I am late with this...
Here's the scoop for this week:

Monday-
Extra Credit essay due
The Pearl
Ch. 8 reading

Tuesday-
Business letter and envelope due
The Pearl
Ch. 8 reading

Wednesday-
The Pearl
Ch. 8 pre-test

Thursday-
The Pearl
Ch. 8 TEST

Friday-
Progress Reports for LA/SS go home
A.R. Reading Day!
Movie: Washington during the Depression

April 27- May 1

LA- This week we will be doing some lead-in activities to prepare us for our next novel,
The Pearl by John Steinbeck. This is a great book with a strong, moral, message about greed. I think you guys will have a lot to say about it! We'll discuss symbolism and themes in literature to prepare.

SS- We'll be moving on to chapter 7 in the text. This is a really interesting chapter about the Klondike gold rush. You'll be amazed at what people did just for a little bit of gold!

top secret extra credit worth 20 points! Interview an older relative (grandparents) and ask them all about their first job. Type up the 3 paragraph response and bring it in to share with your LA class on Monday.

April 13-24

The TWO Weeks of April 13- April 24:
We will have WASL testing for the next two weeks. When we are not testing the class will move forward with their career projects and read chapter 6 in the Social Studies text.
We will also be working on Literary Strategies.

The following is the 8th grade testing schedule:
Monday- no WASL
Tuesday- Reading test 1
Wednesday- Math test 1 (with tools)
Thursday- Math test (no tools)
Friday- WASL make-ups

Monday- no WASL
Tuesday- Reading test 2
Wednesday- Science test 1
Thursday- Science test 2
Friday- WASL make-ups

March 23-27

Monday-
L.A.- Journal, Anne Frank reading
S.S.- Ch. 5 reading

Tuesday-
L.A.- Journal, Anne Frank
S.S.- Ch. 5 test review and reading

Wednesday-
L.A.- Journal, Anne Frank reading
S.S.- Ch. 5 test

Thursday-
L.A.- Anne Frank test
S.S.- High School councilors here

Friday-
L.A.- 8th Grade Trade Days!
S.S.-

March 9-13

Monday-
L.A.- Journal, Jane Schaffer persuasive essay intro., PowerPoint Lesson
S.S.- Ch. 4 Early settlers in WA and PIRATES!!

Tuesday- ALL A.R. POINTS DUE!
L.A.- Journal, Jane Schaffer class work
S.S.- Ch. 4 Power Point lesson, ec reading

Wednesday-
L.A.- Journal, Jane Schaffer essay work
S.S.- Ch. 4 reading and review

Thursday- SERVICE LEARNING DUE!
L.A.- High School councilors here
S.S.- Service Learning Presentations

Friday-
L.A.- New A.R goals, Re-read 8th grade class policy, A.R. reading
S.S.- Service Learning Presentations

top secret EC: In addition to the scurvy paper, you have two more EC choices! For 25 points to be used in any of your classes with me, calculate the actual size of a pioneer's covered wagon and then stock your wagon with the necessities needed for the trip, using no more space than you have in the wagon. Present this to the class on Tuesday.
OR
For 5 EC points you can write two paragraphs about the different types of conflict pioneers could have encountered on their journey West. Present this to the class on Tuesday.

Week of March 2-6

In Language Arts, we're going to get to conflict; I promise! But with all the interruptions going on, and projects that we've got due, time is flying by! Ms. Cumming will present conflict to you this week. Really! We'll finish reading S.T.R.R.T.S. this week and study for the BIG NOVEL TEST. Projects are due THIS THURSDAY March 5. Don't forget that you will be presenting your project to the class.
ALL A.R. points are due March 10.

In Social Studies we'll move on to Ch. 4 "Early settlers in WA." We'll plan out our Potlatch and trade day, and we'll watch a few movies about Native Americans in this area. Service Learning is due March 10!

Here are a few snaps from Ms. Mott's Career presentation.

secret extra credit: TYPE a 3 paragraph thank-you letter to one of your teachers. Be heartfelt, and give specific examples of how that teacher has made a difference in your life. I'll deliver them for you, and you get TWENTY extra credit points in LA!

Feb. 23-27

We had so many students gone last week that I didn't teach conflict. It would be too difficult to learn on your own, so we're going to learn all about literary conflict THIS week. Our student teacher, Ms. Cumming, will also take a spin at the crazy job of teaching- be good to her!

Monday
L.A.- Journal, Conflict in Literature NOTES (Yay! We LOVE notes!)
S.S.- Ch. 3 test review, Movie: Early PNW People

Tuesday-
L.A.- Journal, Conflict in Literature Group Activity
S.S.- Ch. 3 test

Wednesday-
L.A.- Conflict Playdough Mini-Lesson
S.S.- Ch. 4 intro., Vocabulary

Thursday-
L.A.- Conflict, Read Ch.16
S.S.- Ch. 4 reading

Friday-
L.A.- A.R. reading and text questioning
S.S.- E.C. current events, Ch. 4

Upcoming Due Dates:
March 5- STRRTS Project
March 10- Service Learning Project
March 12- ALL A.R. points earned
End of Trimester is March 13

Top Secret Extra Credit (BRANDON!!!)

Okay, here's what I'd like you to do for 20 (YES! TWENTY!) extra credit points. This is an all or nothing assignment so you can't do just one part and expect to get credit.
Part one: TYPE a 2 paragraph response to this, "Even though her peaceful existence is shattered, Sacagawea never forgets who she is and the nobility and integrity of her people. If you were taken from your family, home, and community, what would you do to never forget who you are?"
Part two: Present your thoughts to the whole class on Friday 2/20.

Week of February 16-20

Parents, an up-to-date progress report for my classes was sent home on Friday the 13th. Please ask to see your child's report if you have questions about current grades. Or, feel free to contact me ANY TIME!

Monday
L.A.- NO SCHOOL!!!
S.S.-

Tuesday-
L.A.- Journal, Read ch. 12-13,
S.S.- Kennewick Man reading

Wednesday-
L.A.- Conflict Playdough Mini-Lesson
S.S.- Kennewick Man bones: for the scientists or Tribes?Ch. 3

Thursday-
L.A.- Conflict, Ch. 14
S.S.- Ch. 3 review

Friday-
L.A.- A.R. reading and text questioning
S.S.- EC current events, Kennewick Man movie

Feb. 9-13

Hey my little munchkins!

This week in Language Arts we will continue reading Streams to the Rivers, Rivers to the Sea. It's such a great book! This week you'll see what a bad guy Charbonneau really is. We'll also be learning how to analyze characters in a very sophisticated manner... by tracing ourselves!

In Social Studies we'll finish chapter two and take a test. Then in chapter three we will move into the really cool study of Washington's Native People. In this chapter we get to see a video about Kennewick Man and learn about early Homo Sapiens. COOL RIGHT!?

Follow this link for an interesting artice to get you ready. http://archaeology.about.com/od/kennewickman/a/introduction.htm

Don't forget that 1/2 your A.R. points are due this Thursday! Oh, and I hope you wear a rabbit's foot this Friday...it's the 13th!!

Feb. 2-6

In Language Arts this week we will begin reading our next class novel, Streams to the River, River to the Sea by Scott O'Dell. This is the semi-fictional story of Sacagawea guiding Lewis and Clark through the West. It's a GREAT book! We're really short on copies of this book, and it's out of print. So, if you can find a copy for your own use you'd be ahead of the curve! Look for it at used book stores and online sites like Abe Books <http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=stream+to+the+river&x=59&y=19>

In Social Studies we will continue our study of Washington geography and early people.This is my favorite section of the text, so please forgive me if I get excited while teaching you about Pangaea, volcanoes, and frozen rivers. It's really interesting stuff!

Again, you're a great bunch of kids and I am proud to be your teacher. You really make me enjoy my days. Work isn't so much work with such a fun bunch! Thanks!

The Beautiful Brochure Bunch

What a lovely group this 3rd period is!

5 EC points if you send me an email and tell me what figurative language I've used in the heading of this post. Due Sunday evening for credit.

Week of January 26-30

You're such a fabulous group of kids and I so enjoy teaching you. Thanks for making my days so entertaining.

This week in Language Arts we are having great time working on our Pacific Northwest travel brochures. We'll be working in class, in the library, in the computer lab, and at home making the best looking brochures possible. Remember: You cannot cut and paste information directly from a website and claim it as your own work. Think for yourself and reword to make your paragraphs pop! Graded brochure presentations will be Wednesday and Thursday.

In Social Studies this week we enter the exciting world of Washington State history! We'll begin with some exciting scavenger hunts and trivia quizzes before we tackle the meatier stuff. Lots of candy prizes awarded!

Don't forget, you've earned your free periods this Friday! Woop! Woop! We can have some fun while remaining the ladies and gentlemen that we are.

Half of your A.R. reading points are due on February 12. Make sure you're keeping up on your reading and taking those tests!

Week of January 12-16, 2009

Language Arts:
This week we will be composing a Jane Schaffer model essay. The topic that the district chose for this essay is, "My Favorite Season." I'll do my best to make this a fun experience for you and, keep you from feeling overwhelmed. ('Cause you know this teacher likes y'all a lot- right? RIGHT!)
We'll also play a few rounds of Boggle for a journal activity. Hopefully this will engage the section of your noggins assigned to spelling. BIG BOGGLE PRIZES AWAIT!

Social Studies:
We will be studying chapter 17 in the text book. We're leaving the Civil War and moving on to the Reconstruction of the US after the war. It's pretty interesting learning! I've got some videos and picture books to help us really "get it."
I AM still hoping to have our Battle of Gettysburg reenactment in the snow. So cross your fingers that we get a light dusting that sticks enough for us to go outside!

See you on Monday!!

secret blog extra credit:
For 5 points on Monday, bring in a small item representing your favorite season. Show it to me, and be prepared to explain why it reminds you of that season.

Service Learning

You have another week before you have to trudge back to the 'ole school. But lucky for you, there are fabulous opportunities to provide service to others during this time! Woo Hoo! (Repeat after me: "I love to serve others Ms. Filanoski!")

Anyhow, I live in the Valley and I know that the plows are not being very good about clearing our streets. So, a great way for you to be of service (and help your neighbors) would be for you to grab your nearest snow shovel and get to work! You might even make friends with someone new! Making a path for the mailman will help keep people from stumbling to their boxes, and help the mailman deliver mail faster.

Also, The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery is in critical need of baby items. A fun few days might be spent making quilts for the babies or gathering food and diapers for the little ones. So many of the items they need are easily accessible. http://www.vanessabehan.org/

There are so many chances for you to be of service that I'd hate for you to miss any- so get on it buddies!

OH, as an update, you might want to know about the families for whom we had been collecting Christmas gifts. Well, the gifts were supposed to be delivered on Thursday, but as you know that was a snow day and there was no way cars could get from here to there. So, on Monday Mr. Weis, Ms. Moffit, and Mr. Smith loaded their cars with all the fabulous items you had collected and delivered them all to Broadway Elementary School for the families to pick-up.
I'm so proud of all the work you did. Thank you for giving a nice Christmas to those in need.

Week of December 15-19

Woo Hooo! This is your last week of school before your Christmas break!

Be careful out in the snowy cold!

Monday-
LA- Introduction to Walt Whitman
SS-Chapter 16 section 4 pop quiz and video

Tuesday-
LA-"Oh Captain my Captain"
SS- Ch. 16 section 5 vocab and intro.

Wednesday-
LA- "Oh Captain my Captain" practice recite, worksheet
SS- Monitor and Merrimack, Ch. 16 section 5

Thursday-
LA- "Oh Captain my Captain" practice recite, Whitman quiz
SS- Test review, video

Friday-
LA-"Oh Captain my Captain" final recite, vacation essay assigned, Charlie Brown movie
SS- TEST! and then... YOU'RE FREEEEE!

secret extra credit:
Come to class on Tuesday wearing polka dots for 5 S.S. extra credit points.
Be sure to show me your dots!

WELCOME TO A NEW TRIMESTER AND A NEW TEACHER!

Now that you have a new block teacher, there are some changes that will be made, and a few little twists to what you've grown accustomed to. No worries though; I promise to take it easy on you...at first!

To start with, I follow the 8th grade team policy to a "T". That means everything you read (and your parents signed) on that funny green paper on the first day of school is the L-A-W in my room.

I do not assign homework. That does NOT mean you won't have work to do once you get home, but I will not assign homework just for homework's sake. (I've posted my policy at the end of this post.)

If you're a knucklehead during class time, flex those little fingers of yours and prepare to WRITE! I very rarely yell. I very rarely show anger. BUT, if you commit a "NO NO" in our class you will know I am upset because you will be writing during your free time! Sometimes you will be writing A LOT! If you do not turn in your "No-No" writing assignment at the agreed upon time, I'll keep you after school (regardless of your after school schedules) to finish. It'd be a shame to miss your basket-weaving class wouldn't it? Yes, it would. So be a good kid!

I like 8th grade kids. I really do. Be good in our class, and I'll be good to you too.
See ya December 8th!
Yee Haw!


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Filanoski's Homework Policy

November 21, 2006

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.

Yesterday in class a lovely student named Trevin brought me an article written for the September 2006 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 at 509-228-4980 or sfilanoski@cvsd.org.
Sincerely, Sara Filanoski
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SECRET EXTRA CREDIT!!!
Leave a comment with your name and LA period.
In your comment please tell me one school goal you
have set for yourself for the second trimester.
This is worth 20 points.
(That's like FOUR book assignments!!!)

The Award Winning PSA!!

This will air on KREM 2 and channel 22 for the next 8 weeks.
Keep your peepers open for it!