Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Dear students,

I am sorry to report that today is my last day as your teacher. Something terrible has happened and I must resign immediately. Thank you for all you support and your constant concern. I will never forget the wonderful time I spent at Gra-Mar as your teacher. Jesus bless you in your future.

Yours truly,
Jason Duncan


















APRIL FOOLS!
I love ya!

Monday, March 31, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 3) Objective for Today

• Learners will understand the basic strategies for answering multiple choice questions.
• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the social studies facts and skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will make a list of three things you have learned this year in Mr. D's history class.
2. Mr. D will show a short online demonstration of how to choose the right answers on multiple choice tests.
3. We will go through several questions together as a class, using the CPS system.

READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 3) Objective for Today

• Learners will understand the basic strategies for answering multiple choice questions.
• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the core reading skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will make a list of three things you have learned this year in Mr. D's reading class.
2. We will take a short pop quiz on chapter 5 of Stepping on the Cracks.
3. We will review the story we read in our TCAP prep books from last Friday.

Friday, March 28, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 2) Objective for Today

• Learners will understand the basic strategies for answering multiple choice questions.
• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the social studies facts and skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will draw a picture of what you will feel like when your TCAP is over.
2. We will go through several multiple choice questions that will help you understand what the TCAP will look like.

READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 2) Objective for Today

• Learners will understand the basic strategies for answering multiple choice questions.
• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the core reading skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will read chapter 5 of Stepping on the Cracks and write three multiple choice questions for the chapter.
2. You will read a selected reading from your TCAP prep book and answer the 7 questions that go with it.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 2)

Objective for Today

• Learners will understand the basic strategies for answering multiple choice questions.
• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the social studies facts and skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will write out a friendly letter to 7th graders who will be taking this class next year, telling them what to expect and how to prepare for this class.
2. We will go through several multiple choice questions that will help you understand what the TCAP will look like.

READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 2)

Objective for Today

• Learners will understand the basic strategies for answering multiple choice questions.
• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the core reading skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will write out a friendly letter to 7th graders who will be taking this class next year, telling them what to expect and how to prepare for this class.
2. We will go through several multiple choice questions that will help you understand what the TCAP will look like.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

HISTORY CLASS & READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 1)

Objective for Today

• Learners will understand the basic strategies for answering multiple choice questions.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will spend 5 minutes studying for the quiz over rules and procedures.
2. You will take a quiz over the rules and procedures.
3. We will begin looking at strategies for answering multiple choice questions.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Welcome back! This is the first day of the final 9 weeks of your Middle School career.

HISTORY & READING CLASSES

Rules & Procedures Review

Objective for Today

• Learners will be able to understand and implement the rules and procedures for Mr. Duncan's classes.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will come in, sit down, and write a one paragraph description of your Spring Break.
2. Mr. D will go through a PowerPoint presentation of the rules and procedures.

Friday, March 14, 2008

LAST DAY OF 3rd NINE WEEKS!

Mr. D wishes you a super, wonderful, awesome, spectacular, memorable, excellent, incredible, unforgettable, nice, great, fantastic, fun Spring Break. This is your LAST SPRING BREAK of your middle school career. Have fun. Be safe. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.... I love you!



HISTORY CLASS

"Opposing Slavery" (Chp. 15.2)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain how the antislavery movement began and grew.
• You will describe how the Underground Railroad helped slaves reach freedom.
• You will be able to discuss why many white northerners and southerns opposed the campaign to abolish slavery.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: Draw a picture of a cotton gin. If you don't know what it is, look it up in your book and then draw what you think it would look like.
2. You will work on a crossword puzzle that will review the information we covered in class yesterday. This will serve as a test grade for this section!

READING CLASS

Core Reading Skill #9: Understanding Plot

Objectives for Today

• You will analyze the development of plot in a narrative text.
• You will recognize the basic situation of central conflict, the events or complications related to the central conflict, the climax, and the resolution.
• You will know how cause-and-effect relation ships affect the plot.
• You will understand where and when a story takes place, and trace the author's development of time and sequence.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and finish this week's Readers Workshop.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Opposing Slavery" (Chp. 15.2)

Objective for Today

• You will be able to explain how the antislavery movement began and grew.
• You will describe how the Underground Railroad helped slaves reach freedom.
• You will be able to discuss why many white northerners and southerns opposed the campaign to abolish slavery.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: Think about a situation that you consider to be unjust. You will write a two paragraph description of what actions or risks you would be willing to take to correct that unjust situation.
2. Mr. D will teach everyone a song that arose from the times of slavery in the U.S.
3. Mr. D will lecture on chapter 15, section 2 and you will take notes.

READING CLASS

Core Reading Skill #9: Understanding Plot

Objectives for Today

• You will analyze the development of plot in a narrative text.
• You will recognize the basic situation of central conflict, the events or complications related to the central conflict, the climax, and the resolution.
• You will know how cause-and-effect relation ships affect the plot.
• You will understand where and when a story takes place, and trace the author's development of time and sequence.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and begin working on this week's Readers Workshop.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Growth of the U.S. to 1853" (Chp. 13)

Objective for Today

• Learners will be able to interpret a geographic map of the early U.S.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will come in, sit down, and write a one paragraph explanation of the map you labeled yesterday. Your paragraph should explain what each of the eight divisions on the map represent and why it is important to know about these.
2. Mr. Duncan will talk briefly about your maps.
3. You will work independently, answering the questions from the overhead that relate to your map.

READING CLASS

Core Reading Skill #9: Understanding Plot

Objectives for Today

• You will analyze the development of plot in a narrative text.
• You will recognize the basic situation of central conflict, the events or complications related to the central conflict, the climax, and the resolution.
• You will know how cause-and-effect relation ships affect the plot.
• You will understand where and when a story takes place, and trace the author's development of time and sequence.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and write a definition of plot without looking it up in the book.
2. Mr. D will read chapters 4 & 5 of Stepping on the Cracks.
3. We will work on another exercise on learning to understand plot.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"The Industrial Revolution & Westward Expansion" (Chp. 11.1-2)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to identify the Industrial Revolution and explain its effects on the U.S.
• You will be able to identify the important people, places and things from the westward expansion of the U.S.
• You will be able to interpret a geographic map of the early U.S.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will have your 8 minutes to review chapter 11, sections 1 &2, specifically paying attention to the overall significance of the Industrial Revolution to American history and three innovations of the westward expansion of the U.S. (e.g. turnpikes, canals, steamboats).
2. You will take a short quiz over chapter 11, sections 1 & 2.
3. After the quiz, you will work on drawing two geographic maps of the early U.S. (pgs. 379 and 433).

READING CLASS

Core Reading Skill #9: Understanding Plot

Objectives for Today

• You will review the characteristics of plot.
• You will work in whole class, cooperative groups, and individually to read short stories.
• You will demonstrate an understanding of plot structure by analyzing a several short stories.
• You will use Plot Diagram interactive as prewriting activity for essay tracing plot structure in a short story.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: Write a defintion of plot and then write a description of the plot of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."
2. We will share our definitions of plot.
3. Mr. D will do a short read aloud.
4. We will look at our newest core reading skill and review a tip sheet on how to practice it.
5. We will do at least one mini read today to practice this new skill.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Are the lines below straight or are they curved?

MAKE-UP DAY!

Today is a day for all of Mr. Duncan's classes to get make-up work done. All make-up and missing work is due Wednesday this week. Today you will have the entire class period to work on getting things turned in.

THIS IS NOT A FREE DAY!

For those of you who were diligent enough to get all of your work done on time, Mr. D has a special Tier 2 Project for you to work on in class. If completed, it will effectively rasie your overall grade. It will be an easy project that you can complete in class and you will have fun with it.

Friday, March 7, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"Americans Move Westward" (Chp. 11.2)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to identify the important people, places and things from the westward expansion of the U.S.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will silently read Chp. 11.2.
2. Mr. D will show a presentation on this section and you will takes notes as Mr. D lectures.

READING CLASS

Readers Workshop

Objectives for Today

• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of Stepping on the Cracks and the core reading skills we've covered this year.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and finish working on the Readers Workshop.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"The Industrial Revolution" (Chp. 11.1)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to identify the Industrial Revolution and explain its effects on the U.S.
• You will be able to discuss the impact the Industrial Revolution had on American cities.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will have your homework out to be checked and then silently read Chp. 11.1.
2. Mr. Duncan will return the tests from yesterday and we will review the test together.
3. you will takes notes as Mr. D lectures on Chp 11.1.

READING CLASS

Readers Workshop

Objectives for Today

• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of Stepping on the Cracks and the core reading skills we've covered this year.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and begin working on the Readers Workshop.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"The War of 1812" (Chp. 10.5)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain the causes and outcomes of the War of 1812.
• You will be able to identify the major players in the the war and what side they fought on.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You and one partner will study for the test.
2. Mr. Duncan will show the video clip on the War of 1812 and will go over the worksheet from yesterday to prepare you for the test.
3. You will take the test on the War of 1812.

READING CLASS

Readers Workshop

Objectives for Today

• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of Stepping on the Cracks and the core reading skills we've covered this year.

Agenda for Today

1. You will come in and begin working on the Readers Workshop.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

"The War of 1812" (Chp. 10.5)

Objectives for Today

• You will be able to explain the causes and outcomes of the War of 1812.
• You will be able to identify the major players in the the war and what side they fought on.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You need to write down the key terms for chapter 10, section 5.
2. We will finish answering the questions for section 4.
3. We will watch a short video on the War of 1812.
4. Then you will work with a partner to complete a worksheet to prepare you for a test tomorrow.

READING CLASS

Stepping on the Cracks

Objectives for Today

• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of Stepping on the Cracks.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer 1: You will come in and read chapter 3.
2. We will finish grading the test over the first two chapters of Stepping on the Cracks.
3. We will read through chapter 3 together.