Wednesday, April 16, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

Black History Project

Objective for Today

• Students will be able to identify the accomplishments of three to four black people in American history.
• Students will be able to find pictures of people using the Internet.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will write out the name of the person from black history you admire the most and why.
2. Mr. Duncan will distribute a list of over 200 names of famous people in black history. You will choose four names from the list to research.
3. Using the laptops provided, you will research the individuals and write down some of their accomplishments and save pictures of them.

READING CLASS

Core Reading Skills Review

Objective for Today

• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the core reading skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will write a six-line poem about technology.
2. We will go over and review each of the core reading skills we have covered this year.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Well, now that TCAP is over, we must move on to bigger and better things. Your 8th grade year is not quite over. We have 27 school days left and we still have many, many more things to do and learn about. Stay tuned....

HISTORY CLASS

Black History Project

Objective for Today

• Students will be able to define the term "accomplishment."
• Students will be able to name at least five accomplishments in their lives.
• Students will be able to list categories of possible accomplishments for all people.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will write a definition for the word "accomplishment."
2. We will work in small groups to define the word accomplishment and make lists of our personal accomplishments.
3. We will write a list of things we'd like to accomplish in our lifetimes.
4. We will come up with "categories of accomplishments" and list them on a chart.
5. For the remainder of the class period, you will categorize people onto the correct list of types of accomplishments.

READING CLASS

Core Reading Skills Review

Objective for Today

• Learners will demonstrate their understanding of the core reading skills learned so far this year.

Agenda for Today

1. Bellringer: You will choose a magazine from the library and write a one paragraph response to one article. (15 minute time limit)
2. We will go over and review each of the core reading skills we have covered this year.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Final TCAP Day 2008

The day has finally arrived. After many days of TCAP preparation and three days of testing, you are finally ready to take the last test: the social studies test! There will be plenty of breaks and snacks. Mr. D will try to keep the atmosphere lite and fun. You need to bring 2 No. 2 pencils and some notebook paper. Relax and remember the four steps to passing multiple choice tests:

1. READ THE QUESTION (including any accompanying visual such as a graph, map, etc.) very carefully. Make sure you understand it before moving on the the possible answers.
2. READ ALL POSSIBLE ANSWERS thoroughly. If you think the first choice is the right answer, put a check mark beside it and go ahead and read the rest. If you do not read all of them, you might choose the wrong answer because you didn't choose the BEST answer.
3. ELIMINATE THE CHOICES you know are WRONG. By doing this next, you increase your odds of selecting the correct answer.
4. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER from the choices left. Remember to always go with your first choice unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE you chose wrong the first time. When in doubt, go with your the answer you chose first. Trust your first instincts.

I wish you luck and will be praying for your success!

Friday, April 11, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TCAP Preparation

Objectives 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 a paragraph that honestly describes how you felt after taking the first three TCAP tests and another paragraph that predicts how you will do on the Social Studies test on Monday.
2. We will review the TCAP Pretests that you took last week.

READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation

Objectives 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 a paragraph that honestly describes how you felt after taking the first three TCAP tests and another paragraph that predicts how you will do on the Social Studies test on Monday.
2. We will work on some worksheets over our core reading skills.

April 8-10, 2008 (Tues, Wed, & Thurs)

TCAP Days 2008

The day had finally arrived. After 8 days of TCAP preparation, you are finally ready to take the thing! You will be spending the entire day in your homeroom class, working on TCAP tests for three days. There will be plenty of breaks and snacks. Mr. D will try to keep the atmosphere lite and fun. You need to bring 2 No. 2 pencils and some notebook paper each day. Relax and remember the four steps to passing multiple choice tests:

1. READ THE QUESTION (including any accompanying visual such as a graph, map, etc.) very carefully. Make sure you understand it before moving on the the possible answers.
2. READ ALL POSSIBLE ANSWERS thoroughly. If you think the first choice is the right answer, put a check mark beside it and go ahead and read the rest. If you do not read all of them, you might choose the wrong answer because you didn't choose the BEST answer.
3. ELIMINATE THE CHOICES you know are WRONG. By doing this next, you increase your odds of selecting the correct answer.
4. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER from the choices left. Remember to always go with your first choice unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE you chose wrong the first time. When in doubt, go with your the answer you chose first. Trust your first instincts.

I wish you luck and will be praying for your success!

Monday, April 7, 2008

Today is the LAST day before TCAP! Mr. Duncan will be working with all classes to review for TCAP, using the game "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." It will be lots of fun and will help you prepare for TCAP tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday. Good luck!

Friday, April 5, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 7) 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 your family.
2. We will review the TCAP Pretest #2 you took yesterday.
3. You will be allowed to take the TCAP Prep Workbook home over the weekend to review and prepare for the TCAP test coming up next Tuesday.

READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 7) 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 draw a picture of your family.
2. You will work on two more stories from your TCAP Prep book (to be determined).
3. We will review each of the two stories in class before we leave for the weekend.
4. You will be allowed to take the TCAP Prep Workbook home over the weekend to review and prepare for the TCAP test coming up next Tuesday.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 6) 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 10 facts about American History.
2. You will take the TCAP Pretest #2.

READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 6) 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: FREE TIME!
2. We will review the three stories we read in our TCAP prep books from yesterday: "LaSalle's Expedition", "Starting a Benefit Car Wash", and "Hercules".

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

HISTORY CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 5) 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 a 6-line poem (or longer) about being an 8th grader.
2. We will review the TCAP Pretest #1 that you took yesterday.

READING CLASS

TCAP Preparation (Day 5) 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 a 6-line poem (or longer) about being an 8th grader.
2. We will review the story we read in our TCAP prep books from yesterday.

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.