Clean Slate 2014-2015

WELCOME BACK and WELCOME TO MY BLOG

The term "Clean Slate" is an idiom. Its origins lie in the fact that people (mainly students in the 18th and 19th centuries) used small rectangular slates (like small chalkboards) for their work as pencils hadn't yet been perfected and as we all know, students need to erase a good amount.  The idiom, "Start with a Clean Slate" comes from erasing all previous problems and issues and starting over again.



This applies to my classes because this is a totally new year.  For the most part, your teachers don't know you.  Even if they do know you or are aware of a reputation, for good or bad, you get a second chance at a first impression this year.  Be sure to take advantage of your fortune and let's all start off on the right foot.

I'm looking forward to a great year, and hope you are as well.

2013-2014 Class Photos!

Here are our class photos. We had a great year; enjoy high school!

The yearbook has arrived and it is AWESOME. We have fewer than 100 copies of the yearbook left available for you to purchase, and when they are gone, they are GONE! Don't miss out! Bring $20 to the office or use a credit/debit card at the MV Webstore!

CIVIL RIGHTS SPEECHES - SCHEDULE

AM CORE: Speeches Starting Tuesday, June 3rd 1. Emmett Till 2. SNCC 3. Plessy v Ferguson, etc 4. KKK 5. Montgomery Bus Boycott 6. Malcolm X / MLK 7. Birmingham 8. 16th Street Bombing 9. Little Rock Nine 10. Mississippi Freedom Summer

PM CORE: Speeches Starting Tuesday, June 3rd 1. Emmett Till 2. Montgomery Bus Boycott 3. Plessy v Ferguson, etc 4. SNCC 5. Malcolm X / MLK 6. KKK 7. Birmingham 8. 16th Street Bombing 9. Freedom Riders 10. Little Rock Nine

Following Spring Break

In April, we're getting into the Civil War and narrative writing as a core class.  These two subjects will consume the majority of our time for April; the Civil War will spill over into May as well.
April 7th-11th: Official District Writing Assessment

Oregon Trail Exercise

Make Sure to Follow Directions on Your Worksheets While Reading This Information

Government Branches Project Update

Paper Organization:
1st paragraph: Intro/main job of branch, how people become part of the branch
2nd paragraph: Primary powers/responsibilities of your branch - DETAILED!!
3rd: Checks and balances, specific to all branches/conclusion

DUE DATES:
Friday/Monday (A & B), 2/21 or 2/24 - Complete Rough Draft of Paper Due
Week of 2/24 - Working on visual project in class
Monday/Tuesday, March 3rd/4th - Finishing Touches on Visual
Wednesday/Thursday March 5th/6th - Everything Final Due

HOORAY, U.S. GOVERNMENT!
I love this section of curriculum because we learn about the government under which we all live.  I will continually try to share how our government pertains to you and how it can and will affect all of our lives.

NEW YEAR, NEW PROJECT!!
RESEARCH PROJECT ON ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:
Henry Ford
Olympics
September 11th, 2001
Your topic has some specific parameters, so make sure to refer to your handouts.
DUE DATES:
First Five Sources: Due Wednesday, January 15th
Thesis: Due Wednesday, January 15th
Full Ten Sources: Due Tuesday, January 21st
Outline: Due Friday, January 24th
Rough Draft: Due Monday, February 3rd
Works Cited Page: Due Monday, February 10th
Final Draft: Due Monday, February 10th

Important December Dates!

Reading - Figurative Language Quiz - Retake by 12/6
L.A. - Persuasive Essay - Rewrite by 12/13
Causes of the Revolution Quiz - 12/13
Current Events Project Presentations - 12/16-12/17

Next Two Weeks

Persuasive Essay:
Rough Draft is due Friday, November 1st - Appropriately Underlined
Final Draft is due Friday, November 8th - This is considered an assessment

Early Colonial Life Test:
Friday, November 8th
This covers the earliest settlements (Roanoke/Jamestown), interactions with Native Americans, and the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies.

UPCOMING DATES!!

Scored < 70%? You MUST retake your SPEECH by Tuesday, October 29th and fill out the retake form.  See me to schedule a time.
Scored < 70%? You MUST retake your PILGRIMS TEST and complete the retake form by Friday, November 1st.

We are also starting work on our persuasive essays Wednesday. I will give you an outline sheet that is due Tuesday, October 29th.

UPCOMING QUIZ!

Friday, October 18th
Test on early English settlements / "We Shall Remain"
Friday, October 18th

UPCOMING RETAKE/REDO DATES

ATTENTION GALLAGHER'S 8th GRADERS:

The dates that the essay rewrites are due are as follows:
State History: Wednesday, October 9th
State Geo/Econ: Monday, October 14th
State Politics: Wednesday, October 16th
Sub/Pred/Clause Quiz Retake Day: Tuesday, October 8th - BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL. Get here at 7am or be here right after school.

QUIZ

Remember, we have a quiz Friday, 27th on subjects, predicates, phrases, and clauses; you should study so you don't have to retake.

Subject and Predicate Video

SUBJECT AND PREDICATE SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK

UPCOMING DUE DATES!!

State History Paper: September 20th
Geography/Econ Paper: September 27th
State Politics Paper: October 4th 
Final Project/Map: October 10th

Links for the State Research Project

These are some very good links that should provide you with MOST of the information you need.  In order to exceed, you might need to go outside of these given websites.  You will also need to do some work within these websites to find exactly what you need.

 

http://www.en.wikipedia.org

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/ (enter search terms)

http://www.netstate.com/

http://www.50states.com/

http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states (find your state, read through the geography section, and it will lead you to the economy section - that way you get lots of info)

BACK TO SCHOOL!

First week of September...

We will spend the requisite amount of time reviewing school rules, classroom rules, getting to know each other, and all of those pleasantries.

We will also get to know our classroom as a community, check out books and take some assessments to figure out where we should start this year as a class.