The Cold Increases, as well as the Rigor... of Academics, that is!

Indeed, the cold air and the frigidity of Chicago Winters are upon us. The first snowfall captivated many students. One student tried to remark about it in the middle of class and faced the terse response: "And this impacts our work how?" Yes, the truth of rigor is upon us.

7th Grade Work for the week of 1.16- 1.20
Monday (Dr. King's Day- No School) and Tuesday- Students should concentrate on memorizing the Preamble, as well as their notes on goals and principles to the Constitution.
Wednesday- Preamble memorization/ recitation. Finalize Thinkers to the Constitution.
Thursday- Outcome Sentences on Legislative Branch.
Friday- Study for Monday's quiz on Thinkers, Goals, Principles, and Preamble to the Constitution.

8th Grade Work for the Week of 1.16- 1.20
Monday (Dr. King's Day- No School)- Work on projects.
Tuesday- Collect 5 identifications from everyone. Introduce LeGuin.
Wednesday- Read "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas." Projects are due at 3:30 or 5:00 PM.
Thursday- LeGuin and Industrialization and Progressivism.
Friday- Chapter 20... in a day.


One quick and final point needs to be made. For both groups of students, nightly and incremental preparation is the only way through the dense forest of academic rigor. Even if students don't have something "written," such as a worksheet or some type of homework that is going to be submitted, this does not mean that homework is absent. Rather, it is the highest form of a test. It is a test of character, to see if a student is willing to give more to themselves, their learning, and their emerging scholarship. For example, if the assignment is to study the Thinkers of the Constitution, have students reviewed through flash cards, online review material (The Quizzlet icon could be helpful here), formed study groups to help review, engaged in nightly identification as to where confusion is and where clarity can lie? These are the questions that are placed upon our students. I have little doubt that if students "buy in" to this idea and if they receive help from parents/ guardians/ stakeholders, success will be evident.

As promised, here is this week's extra credit opportunities.

Video Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
For this week's seventh grade extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

For this week's eighth extra credit option via YouTube, click here for the video. After viewing it, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit. Please note: You should not access the video link until Wednesday, when we finish with the LeGuin short story.


Web Extra Credit- You might want to open up a couple of tabs so you can view the video in one tab and then complete the googledoc in another. You might have to jump back and forth between both.
This week's website for extra credit can be found here. Examine it, see what is there, and, if there are any interactive activities, go ahead and investigate them. Then, click here for the googledoc that needs to be completed for extra credit.

Best wishes.
Mr. Kannan