It's almost May! WHAT?!

I can't believe it's almost May!  I am so pleased to report that we are ahead in Bible and right on track in English in both 7th and 8th grades!  The big focus in this last quarter is in WRITING!  Students will have a bit more homework in English in this last quarter, and I will be encouraging them to manage their time wisely.

In Bible, we only have one unit left in each class, and we will be memorizing more Scripture and deeply studying God's Word together.  The emphasis on these last units, for both 7th and 8th grades, is really on strengthening our walks with Jesus and showing His love to others through our actions, attitudes, AND words.  I am looking forward to a very special time together.

For 7th grade English, each student is currently completing his/her story for his/her kindergarten buddy. (Books must be completed by May 4th.) I can't wait to present these to the kindergarteners on May 9th! Also this quarter, each student will be writing a literary critique on a novel of their choosing and completing a coinciding project.  The students will also be learning more MLA formatting.  Additionally, they will strengthen their skills of using transitions and bettering their sentence mechanics through various writings and exercises.  We also have one more short story unit to cover in literature!

For 8th grade English, students are currently writing an analysis on their recently completed novel and presenting a coinciding project.  Additionally, they will be writing speeches in MLA Format and delivering them professionally in a debate-like forum.  We also have a short story unit yet to look forward to, including writing a literary critique essay comparing and contrasting authors' writing styles.  We will end the year also with an overview of grammar, including taking the 9th grade grammar assessment.

REMINDERS:
*The Classics Reading Challenge should be completed by May 4th!
*The Middle School Awards Assembly is Thursday, May 25th at 8:25AM!
*You can still get Work-a-Thon sponsors!  Please do! :)

The End of an Era

I pronounce the third quarter as an "era" as it is the LONGEST quarter.  So, yes, it is the end of an era in the middle school.

The students have been doing AMAZINGLY well during this quarter.  We have written several papers, taken tests on Bible, Greek and Latin roots for vocabulary, done grammar units, read novels, shared writing prompts, and SO much more!  I am very proud of these students and am looking forward to the final push of the year: the fourth quarter.  It's my favorite quarter!  We have a ton to be excited about.  

Here is a small snapshot of what is on the agenda for my classes in the fourth quarter (after we kick-start it with a week of achievement tests)!

7th Bible

*Intertestamental Period Unit

*Peacemakers Unit

*Citizenship in Christ Unit

8th Bible

*Cults Unit

*Modern Church Unit

*Church Reports

*Worldview Review Unit

7th English

*Grammar: Perfecting Pronouns and Tenses

*Analogies Unit 

*Vocabulary Units 11&12

*Novel Critique Project

*Short Story Unit and Project

8th English

*Lord of the Flies Unit and Project

*Literary Analysis Paper

*Mastery of the MLA Research Paper

*Greek and Latin Roots Vocab Units 11&12

*Grammar Overview Unit

*Short Story Unit and Paper

Today the eighth grade Biblical Worldview students worked with the second graders in their Bible class.  See my Facebook post on Trinity's page for more photos!   https://www.facebook.com/trinitychristian.net/

THE VOCAB CHAMPS

Our middle school vocabulary curriculum is challenging!  The seventh and eighth graders work hard to learn vocabulary from Greek and Latin roots.  Congrats to these special students for being consistent with their vocabulary assignments, for acing vocabulary tests, for winning vocabulary games, and for doing their best!  These four recently received awards in English class for outstanding achievement in vocabulary.

Keith, Chris, Lucie, and Sarah: Vocab Champions of the World

Third Quarter in Mrs. Agate's Class...

Here are the third quarter happenings to provide a VERY general gist of third quarter material.  Ask your student for the specifics of each curriculum item as we go along!  I pray that your student is continuing to enjoy all that middle school has to offer! :)


7th English
*Almost finished with The Hobbit!
*Writing business letters
*Non-fiction literature and writing unit, including Breaking Through
*Mini-research paper
*Vocabulary units 7-10
*Grammar lessons 20-29

7th Bible
* Prophets Unit
*Prayer Unit

8th English
*Short story unit, including Flowers for Algernon
*Writing: Literary Critique; Formal Response Paper; Thematic Essay
*Classic novel mini book "club"
*Grammar lessons 40-49
*Vocabulary units 9&10

8th Biblical Worldview
*Units 4.2&4.3
*Church History: from Constantine to the Enlightenment (including the rise of Roman Catholicism, Islam, The Reformation, etc.)
*Current applications

Spencer did an excellent job with his prophet report!

Ballads...

I love when I ask my students to try a simple form of poetry (or any writing for that matter), and they really GO for it.  A recent example is when I asked eighth graders to write ballads for a homework assignment.  After explaining the form of the poetry, they realized that writing ballads is much like writing songs, and to my surprise (and delight), two students came in the next day with instruments in hand, ready to share their original ballads.  Several other students experimented with using the same complex form and rhyme scheme as Robert Service's famous ballad, The Cremation of Sam McGee, which we had read and learned about in class the day before.  It's moments like this that I can't believe I get to partake in the creativity of these students who continue to do their best by going above and beyond the requirements.  Keep up the great work, everyone!  What a blessing!

Kyra with her ukelele and Destyni with her djembe.

THANK YOU!!!

Dearest Parents,

Thank you so much for the Christmas gifts!  I am a little late with my thank you notes!  I am very thankful for all of you and for your encouragement.  I greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity and have already enjoyed hot chocolate, mugs, Panera giftcard, and Amazon giftcard!  With the Amazon gift card, I purchased the game, "Pandemic" for our class to play after the debates on Thursday.

I am very blessed by all of you.

In Christ,
Katie Agate

Current Happenings...

Here's a bit of WHAT'S UP in middle school English and Bible! :)

7th English: We just finished a riveting grammar unit.  (Sarcasm?  I think not!) We are putting our grammar skills to practice by writing in response to various prompts.  We are in the middle of a poetry unit as well!  The students have taken notes on various forms of poetry and poetic devices.  We will be reading and writing much poetry in the next few weeks.  The students should also be memorizing their speech meet piece.  As always, we will continue with vocabulary lessons as well.

7th Bible: Our Unit 3 test on Job and Ecclesiastes is Tuesday November 22nd.  The students have done a great job with this unit, and we have learned so much!  They worked hard to memorize Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 ESV, and they will also display this knowledge on their test. If you ask your student for his notes and study guide, you will see the wonderful themes and information we have discussed.  We will begin Unit 4 on Proverbs when we return from Thanksgiving.

8th English: We are mastering the rules of MLA Format (writing formal research papers) along with beginning a poetry unit.  I love reading, analyzing, memorizing, and writing poetry with these students.  The eighth graders will be learning many poetic devices and forms of poetry along with getting familiar with beautiful classic poems that have withstood the test of time.  We will be creating poetry portfolios as well during this unit.  Vocabulary and grammar will continue, par usual.

8th Bible: We are getting pretty deep in Bible class these days.  Our current unit is more theological and philosophical.  The students memorizing a passage in Philippians, and we are looking at God's word, praying together, and devoting time to growing our faith through accountability, Scripture reading, and more.  Last week, each student devised a specific plan to enhance Spiritual growth.  Our next unit focuses on church history and is more "factual."  Right now we are enjoying focusing our hearts on Jesus and God's glorious Word alone.  I'm blessed to be around this young cloud of witnesses.