Field Trip to Springfield Mosque

Make sure you are dressed appropriately for the field trip to the Springfield Mosque tomorrow, Friday 2/13. Here is the email confirming the visit, explaining what will happen, and clarifying clothing requirements: "Dear Mr. Beckum, We will be glad to receive your group on Friday. If Possible, come around 12:20 PM. For respect of the religious sanctuary, we suggest that boys and girls wear full dress, no shorts, and the girls should have a head cover, such as scarf or full hat. The boys/men will be seated on the Men's side and girls on the Ladies side, during the service. Service finishes about 1:15 PM. After that all will go to the social hall, for some refreshments and then Imam or some one else will talk to the group / answer questions for Half and hour or so. I hope these brief instructions will be helpful. M. Saleem Bajwa" Also, there should be no shorts, short sleeve shirts, no shirts with writing, and all clothing should be clean.

Homework -- 2/12

Happy 200th Birthday, Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin!

Language Arts Assigned today: Due tomorrow, Friday 2/13, in L.A. journal, draw a sketch of your main character for your short story. If you can, give them their names. (Use colored pencils.) Previously assigned/still due: None Math Reminder: As of Monday, 1/12, everyone must have their own calculator at school, as you cannot borrow one from Jane. Assigned today: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None Previously Assigned/still due: 7th and 8th Grades: None Note: When needed, you can always get grid paper for graphing from the internet. Social Studies Assigned today: Due tomorrow, Friday 2/13, read "Cultural Diffusion" handout and answer questions per instructions. Previously Assigned/still due: None Science Assigned today: None Previously Assigned/still due: None Spanish Assigned today: 7th Grade: Due Friday, 2/13, translate letters in ch. 8 of "Pobre Ana." 8th Grade: Previously Assigned/still due: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None

8th Grade Project

• Write something everyday in your journal - except weekends - (it could be a thought, a challenge, a sentence or two, etc.).
• See the list of Tasks you might do over the Winter Break.

Other

Assigned today: Reminder - tomorrow, Friday 2/13, we will be going on a field trip to a Mosque in Springfield. Please come to school dressed appropriately for this setting.

Previously Assigned/still due: If you have not yet done so, return signed permission slip, ASAP, for field trip to mosque in Springfield on Friday 2/13. Materials Needed for Homework to be Taken Home:

• L.A. Journal
• Social Studies handout "Cultural Diffusion" and instruction handout
• 8th graders - handouts on Independent Project, "Tasks You Could do Over Winter Break," and "Sample Journal Entries"
• 7th graders - your copy of "Pobre Ana"

8th Grade Project - Sample Journal Entries

These are samples of the type of journal entries you might make. (written in back section of L.A. journal) February 13, 2009 I'm so relieved to have the proposal writing finished. Hurrah! February 16, 2009 I'm really enjoying my Winter Break. It's hard for me to even think about the eight-grade project. It isn't due until some time in May. February 17, 2009 Today I decided to call my mentor to set up our first meeting time. I'm glad I did because she has a very busy schedule but was able to fit me in every other week for the next two months. February 18, 2000 I'm beginning to think that I chose the wrong project. My friends seem to have a much easier one to do. Mine is going to take so much of my time. I don't know how I will ever fit it in with my other commitments after school. February 20, It rained all day today so I decided to begin my research using the internet. I'm also making sure all the sources I print out are from reliable sites. I also started making my bibliography cards. It felt good to see the beginning of a stack of resources I can use. February 23, 2009 Mom said she would take me to the library while she did some errands. I had to hurry to find more resources and check them out before she came but I did it. I'm beginning to feel less nervous about this whole thing. It's starting to look doable - and maybe even fun. February 24, 2009 We had a "power lunch" today and I really liked hearing about the other projects being done. It was helpful to meet together. I hope we do this every week.

8th Grade Project - Possible Tasks for Over the Break

Here is a list of tasks that you might do over the Winter Break:

• Start researching.
• Set up a mentor schedule
• Go to library for resources.
• Set up a schedule for borrowing equipment needed.
• Organize resources.
• Talk to people who might know something about your project.
• Organize on computer.
• Organize a workspace for just the project.
• Read your resources.
• Pick a time to work on your project.

Homework -- 2/11

Language Arts Assigned today: None Previously assigned/still due: Due Thursday, 2/12, draw in L.A. journal using colored pencils where you think your story will begin - setting. Math Reminder: As of Monday, 1/12, everyone must have their own calculator at school, as you cannot borrow one from Jane. Assigned today: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None Previously Assigned/still due: 7th and 8th Grades: Due Thursday, 2/12, work for at least 30 minutes in Math League returned to you Tuesday. Show your work on separate paper in an organized way. You may use a calculator. Correct any errors first. Note: When needed, you can always get grid paper for graphing from the internet. Social Studies Assigned today: None Previously Assigned/still due: Due Thursday, 2/12, read handout on Islam. Underline/highlight: 1) interesting ideas, and 2) things that are unclear. Science Assigned today: None Previously Assigned/still due: Due Thursday, 2/12, make a cover for the "Physics of Weather" unit. Spanish Assigned today: 7th Grade: 8th Grade: Previously Assigned/still due: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None

8th Grade Project

• Write something everyday in your journal (it could be a thought, a challenge, a sentence or two, etc.).
• Sections 3-9 of Proposal are due Wednesday, 2/11. They should be typed on the computer, with a copy to Jane or John and a copy for yourself.

Other

Assigned today: None

Previously Assigned/still due: 8th Grade - due Thursday, 2/12, for Wellness, write a 5-minute journal reflection on "What I Learned and What I Re-learned About Relationship Violence." Also, if you have not yet done so, return signed permission slip, ASAP, for field trip to mosque in Springfield on Friday 2/13. Materials Needed for Homework to be Taken Home:

• L.A. Journal
• Social Science reading on "Islam"
• Math League handout

Homework -- 2/10

Language Arts Assigned today: Due Thursday, 2/12, draw in L.A. journal using colored pencils where you think your story will begin - setting. Previously assigned/still due: None Math Reminder: As of Monday, 1/12, everyone must have their own calculator at school, as you cannot borrow one from Jane. Assigned today: 7th and 8th Grades: Due Thursday, 2/12, work for at least 30 minutes in Math League returned to you Tuesday. Show your work on separate paper in an organized way. You may use a calculator. Correct any errors first. Previously Assigned/still due: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None Note: When needed, you can always get grid paper for graphing from the internet. Social Studies Assigned today: Due Thursday, 2/12, read handout on Islam. Underline/highlight: 1) interesting ideas, and 2) things that are unclear. Previously Assigned/still due: None Science Assigned today: Due Thursday, 2/12, make a cover for the "Physics of Weather" unit. Previously Assigned/still due: None Spanish Assigned today: 7th Grade: 8th Grade: Previously Assigned/still due: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None

8th Grade Project

• Write something everyday in your journal (it could be a thought, a challenge, a sentence or two, etc.).
• Sections 3-9 of Proposal are due Wednesday, 2/11. They should be typed on the computer, with a copy to Jane or John and a copy for yourself.

Other

Assigned today: 8th Grade - due Thursday, 2/12, for Wellness, write a 5-minute journal reflection on "What I Learned and What I Re-learned About Relationship Violence."

Previously Assigned/still due: Due Wednesday, 2/11, return signed permission slip for field trip to mosque in Springfield on Friday 2/13. Materials Needed for Homework to be Taken Home:

• L.A. Journal
• Social Science reading on "Islam"
• Math League handout

Homework -- 2/9

Language Arts Assigned today: Due Tuesday, 2/10, in L.A. journal write a one-page summary of the short story you are planning to write based on a life experience of yours (5 W's - Who, What, When, Where, Why). Previously assigned/still due: None Math Reminder: As of Monday, 1/12, everyone must have their own calculator at school, as you cannot borrow one from Jane. Assigned today: 7th Grade: Due Tuesday, 2/10, complete Math's Mate Sheet 8. Study old Math's Mates for a major unit test tomorrow, Tuesday. (Covering and Surrounding). 8th Grade: Due Tuesday, 2/10, complete Math's Mate Sheet 8. Study old Math's Mates for a major unit test tomorrow, Tuesday. Previously Assigned/still due: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None Note: When needed, you can always get grid paper for graphing from the internet. Social Studies Assigned today: None Previously Assigned/still due: None Science Assigned today: Study for unit test on the Weather Unit. Previously Assigned/still due: Reminder - there will be a science unit test on the Weather Unit on 2/10. Spanish Assigned today: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None Previously Assigned/still due: 7th Grade: None 8th Grade: None

Other

Assigned today: Due Wednesday, 2/11, return signed permission slip for field trip to mosque in Springfield on Friday 2/13.

Materials Needed for Homework to be Taken Home:

• Math binder - be sure to have old Math's Mates in binder
• Science folder
• L.A. journal
• Mosque Permission Slip