8th grade Commencement Speech:
If you would like to enter a contest to read a speech at the 8th grade Commencement Ceremony, please read the following:
Prepare a commencement speech in order to share your experience, values, and advice with your graduating class. What life lessons have you learned during your journey at Culbreth? What important, fun, or special memories stand out to you? What will you miss the most? The least?
Here is a cool NPR story about successful commencement speeches:
Anatomy of a Great Commencement Speech
Speeches should be submitted to Ms. Motta by Wednesday, June 3.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
In the Home Stretch
We are finally nearing the Home Stretch! You have been working so hard on your papers and you are ready to turn them in. I have been so impressed with much of the work that I have been seeing as I read the rough drafts. Please use the Final Draft assignment in Google Classroom to turn in your final draft. These are due today, Wednesday, May 27, by 3:30 pm.
I have been reading your biography essays and sending you comments and feedback through email. I also have been enjoying reading your writing on these essays. You have shown me that you know your characters.
Today we will be spending some time practicing for the language arts EOG that is next Tuesday, June 2. We will do some work in class and then you will have a practice assignment for homework.
Click this link to go to the released EOG test from last year:
Start on page 20 with the short story "A Poetic City." (Page numbers are on the bottom of the test page.) Answer questions 32-48 on looseleaf paper. Just write the letter choice.
Do not just guess or write random answers. Use the skills you've learned in class to pick the best answer. See Ms. Motta when you are finished so you can review the answers.
EOG Test Taking Tips:
1. Look for what the question is asking you: meaning, tone, explanation, analysis, emphasis, connection, impact, etc.
2. Look for the connotation of the words in the questions (positive/negative). Determine whether your answer will most likely have a positive or negative connotation.
3. Look at the connotation of the words in the answers. If you don't know a word's meaning, remember that words with positive connotations usually have soft sounds, while words with negative connotations have hard sounds. (That's not always 100% true, but if you're in a bind, try it.)
Look at the different parts of the word. What do you know about the word based on its prefix, suffix, or root? Does it sound like other words you know?
4. Eliminate distractor words (words or phrases that are exactly the same at the beginning of your answer choices.)
Ex: If these were your answer choices, you'd cross through "They are" and just look at the main answer word.
A. They are happy.
B. They are sad.
C. They are stinky.
D. They are bad.
5. Look for words that stand out to you in the passage and indicate their connotations.
6. Find evidence from the text that might support your answer.
7. Eliminate answer choices that don't match the connotation of the question.
These tips may help you on the EOG, especially if you have problems with reading stamina and have a hard time with the long passages.
I have been reading your biography essays and sending you comments and feedback through email. I also have been enjoying reading your writing on these essays. You have shown me that you know your characters.
Today we will be spending some time practicing for the language arts EOG that is next Tuesday, June 2. We will do some work in class and then you will have a practice assignment for homework.
Click this link to go to the released EOG test from last year:
EOG Practice
Start on page 20 with the short story "A Poetic City." (Page numbers are on the bottom of the test page.) Answer questions 32-48 on looseleaf paper. Just write the letter choice.
Do not just guess or write random answers. Use the skills you've learned in class to pick the best answer. See Ms. Motta when you are finished so you can review the answers.
EOG Test Taking Tips:
1. Look for what the question is asking you: meaning, tone, explanation, analysis, emphasis, connection, impact, etc.
2. Look for the connotation of the words in the questions (positive/negative). Determine whether your answer will most likely have a positive or negative connotation.
3. Look at the connotation of the words in the answers. If you don't know a word's meaning, remember that words with positive connotations usually have soft sounds, while words with negative connotations have hard sounds. (That's not always 100% true, but if you're in a bind, try it.)
Look at the different parts of the word. What do you know about the word based on its prefix, suffix, or root? Does it sound like other words you know?
4. Eliminate distractor words (words or phrases that are exactly the same at the beginning of your answer choices.)
Ex: If these were your answer choices, you'd cross through "They are" and just look at the main answer word.
A. They are happy.
B. They are sad.
C. They are stinky.
D. They are bad.
5. Look for words that stand out to you in the passage and indicate their connotations.
6. Find evidence from the text that might support your answer.
7. Eliminate answer choices that don't match the connotation of the question.
These tips may help you on the EOG, especially if you have problems with reading stamina and have a hard time with the long passages.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Update Week of May 12
This week we continue working on our Social Justice Research project. We are taking notes from sources and planning our essays. The following assignments and instructions are in Google Classroom:
Note-taking - due Tuesday, May 12
Thesis - due Wednesday, May 13
Essay Map - due Thursday, May 14.
Next week students will begin working on their rough drafts.
We also started Unit 4 vocabulary words today.
Unit 4 Vocabulary Words
Word Maps due Monday, May 18
Test will be on Tuesday, May 19
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Investigative Project-Social Justice
Social Justice Project
Good Luck!The Social Studies and English Language Arts departments in 8th grade are collaborating on a research project on social justice issues. This project will allow students to choose a topic and investigate past, present, and future issues in depth. In addition to growing students' reading and writing skills and content knowledge, we are hoping to build an awareness and empathy for issues that impact society. These skills will help them as they prepare to move on to high school.
Students are bringing home an assignment sheet and a prompt which gives more information on the project details and key milestones. Parents should read and sign the assignment sheet and talk with their child about which of the four prompts he or she will choose and why that issue is meaningful.
Project Introduction
The first milestone for students will be to write their questions to help guide them in their investigation. The students have been assigned a template in Google Classroom to complete.
Here are some additional links for students who need more support or further clarification:
Here are some additional links for students who need more support or further clarification:
Research Question Worksheet - this format offers some helpful guidelines for students who are struggling with coming up with good research questions.
Selection and Evaluation of Sources
The following Livebinder site can help you to choose your sources wisely. Please look at the following videos and corresponding handouts:
Evaluating Relevance
Evaluating Purpose
Evaluating Accuracy
We are excited about this project and the opportunities it offers our students. Please feel free to contact me if you need more information.
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