Sunday, May 23, 2010

Time to Say Goodbye




As we reach the last week of instruction, it is time to bid farewell to our students, your emerging scholars. We close out a year of dedicated work and intense focus with assignments for this week:
7th Grade- Be sure to submit your textbooks by Wednesday and be prepared for your Chapter 14 Assessment on Tuesday.
Monday- Last day to review in class for the chapter 14 Assessment.
Tuesday- Take chapter 14 Assessment.
Wednesday- Friday- In class analyze and read chapter 15.

Students know that their grades are updated with their chapter 11 and 12 assessments. This should be a set up for what they must deliver on Tuesday in order to do well in the class for the trimester.

8th Grade- Be sure to submit your textbooks by Wednesday and be prepare to submit your assessments on Monday.
Monday- Submit assessments on Auschwitz and finish up in class poem explications.
Tuesday- Analyze life in the 1950s.
Wednesday- Discuss how life in the '50s had both positive and negative attributes.
Thursday- Afternoon session with high school students.
Friday- From where to where we have come: Discussion of relevant topics in history.


As this will be my last blog entry for the year, I wish to take the opportunity to thank you for all of your support this year. I do hope that the paths between your scholars and I cross again in the future. I stand humbled and honored to have had the opportunity to teach them this year.

All best and happy hunting.
Mr. Kannan

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Closing Out Strong



As we reach the final 10 days of instruction, the time is now for all students to rise to the occasion and close out strong. Down the line in both classes, calls are made for only the best to board and take the inevitable steps towards departure from this gate of scholarship en route to another.
7th Grade
Monday and Tuesday- Students should be working on their Chapter 11 and 12 assessments that are due on Wednesday and worth 900 points. It will be the last major assessment of the Trimester.
Additionally, students should be working towards the in class completion of their Core Extension Projects on "October Sky." A presentation that can assist students in this process is located at this link here!
Wednesday- Collection Day for Assessments!
Thursday and Friday- Students should be reading Chapter 14 in class and at home. ALL SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOKS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO MR. KANNAN ON MONDAY, 5.24. THIS WILL BE THE LAST GRADE OF THE TRIMESTER.

8th Grade
Monday- Wednesday- Students will be working on closing out the unit on the Holocaust. Their assessment will be given out this week with the deadline to be announced in class.
Thursday- Friday- Students will be working on their assessment during class Click here for a bag of the websites displayed during Thursday's class.

As always, all students are strongly encouraged to examine their grades online to ensure that they are aware of their standing.

All best.
Mr. Kannan

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Renegades of Change in the Morning, Good and Evil in the Afternoon




This week, students will be working towards their assessments in their respective units. Both groups are facing some of the most difficult of work as they near the end of their voyages in this classroom. It could not have been planned any better.

7th Grade
In Class Work: Chapter 13 will be covered this week through Outcome Sentences. Students will be assigned a fixed number that have to be completed on a specific section and specific topics. What is not done in class will be done at home. Friday will be an open note Outcome Sentence Assessment on Chapter 13.
At Home Work: Students must utilize their out of class time to work on the Chapter 11 and 12 Assessments. These tasks are worth 900 points, and an extra copy of them can be found here., under "Task Rotation Assessment on Chapter 11 and 12." Rough drafts will be taken until Tuesday, 5/11, and final drafts of all work are due on Wednesday, 5/19.

8th Grade
In Class Work: We will be reading selected poems from the Holocaust. Writers such as Wiesel, Gershon, and Borowski will be our primary focus. We will explore themes in Holocaust Literature and through discussion delve into these topics.
At Home Work: Students will be requested to reflect on what was discussed in class and compose anything they wish towards it in order to substantiate and enhance current academic production. There will be an assessment on this unit due on 5/18.

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at school or at my home.
All best.
Mr. Kannan

Sunday, May 2, 2010

What to do this week for Social Studies



With the end in sight and less than a month to go, the time for our students to close the door on this journey of and towards scholarship is at hand. There is much to be done with little time on the clock left. Indeed, we are beginning to see the home stretch in sight and students must make sure that they are taking all needed steps to close out a very successful tenure in the confines of this classroom.
7th Grade Social Studies
Monday and Tuesday- Continue/ Complete Station Rotation for Chapter 11, sections 2 and 3.
For the bag of websites, CLICK HERE!
For the backchannel to post thoughts on the video clips, CLICK HERE!
Homework each night should be to make sure work from that day's station is done and that reading in Chapter 12 has commenced with the completion of one set of Check Your Progress Questions for sections 1 or 2 and another set for sections 3 or 4.
Wednesday- Reconvene to make sure all stations have been covered for chapter 11 and then ensure that all of chapter 12 has been read.
Thursday and Friday- Start and finish, by Friday, analysis of Chapter 12. The Chapter 11 and 12 Assessment will be distributed on Friday and is due on 5/14. It is worth 800 points.

8th Grade
We will be reading through our packets on the study of the Holocaust. Students are encourage to complete the pondering prompts each night and investigate ways to explore the Holocaust. These will be counted as Extra Credit for students. We will be working towards our study of poetry of the Holocaust, which will be started on Thursday.

Hoping all is well and that students continue to be vigilant of their grades by checking online.
All best.
Mr. Kannan