The Homestretch! :)

I CANNOT believe that it is May!

We have accomplished so much, and we have much left to accomplish! We are right on track with the English curriculum, and we are ahead in Bible.  Way to go!  I praise God for these amazing students!

Here is just a tiny glimpse of what is going on in my classes, along with some dates to keep in mind.

7th English

• So much grammar!  (Test on all concepts, reviewed and new, on May 15th!)
• Kindergarten short story writing! (First draft due May 10th; final book due May 24th; presentation day May 29th!)
• Resume Writing and Business Letter Writing
• One more vocabulary unit to go!
• Review of 7th Grade (Vocabulary Units, The Giver Unit, The Hobbit Unit, Short Stories Unit, Myths and Legends Unit, Poetry Unit, Breaking Through Unit, Writing Structures and Writing Units, Grammar Units) 

8th English

• Wax museum presentations May 22nd
• Lord of the Flies Unit! (We have been having amazing discussions and excellent class activities on this novel!  Test on May 14th)
• MLA Research Writing Mastery: Debate Unit
• Papers due May 28th
• Speeches given May 28th-30th 

• Review of 8th Grade (Vocabulary Units, The Book Thief / Holocaust Unit, A Midsummer Night's Dream Unit, Grammar Units, Short Story Units, Flowers for Algernon Unit, Poetry Unit, Writing Formats and Writing Units, Speech and Debate Unit, Lord of the Flies Unit)

8th Biblical Worldview

• Church reports (currently happening)
• We are in the final unit in our books!
• Bible Memory for Unit: Hebrews Chapter 12:1-14, ESV due Monday, June 3rd.

Important Events

• Last Scholastic order of the year, May 14th
• Middle School Luau, May 16th, 7-10PM in the gym!
• Kennywood Day! May 17th
• Middle School Awards Assembly, Thursday, May 23rd at 8:30AM
• Middle School class party at the park! May 23rd, after assembly.  Details forthcoming!
• Final exams May 31-June 5. Schedule forthcoming. 

Fiesta Fun!

Dear Parents,

Muchas grácias (thank you) for sending in food to help with our fiesta!  We had a great time celebrating the end of a wonderful literature unit.

The food was DELICIOUS!  We played Pin the Tail on the Burro, Cactus Ring-toss, and got lots of candy from the Piñata!  Mexican music was playing, including Cielito Lindo, a famous song that was featured in our novel.

Also, the average student rating for our novel, Breaking Through, was a 9.6/10!  So I guess they liked it, which is always a bonus for me!

Blessings!
Katie Agate

Awesome group of kiddos!

Third Quarter, Continued!

This winter is long, and so is this third quarter!  However, the students are doing really well in my English classes and my 8th grade Biblical Worldview class! The last day of the third quarter is Friday, March 29th, and report cards will go out soon after.

Here is a glimpse into what has been going on in my classes.

7th English: The week before break was all about grammar and writing!  The students completed several writing initiatives in class, and we are still working on writing skills including research writing techniques, sentence mechanics, and transitions.  I am especially proud of the students who took me up on my recent bonus assignment opportunity.  Many did a wonderful job implementing the research skills and demonstrating their understanding with this type of writing. In grammar, students brushed up on infinitive phrases vs. prepositional phrases.  We are working on sentence openers and sentence varieties in grammar as well to implement into writing.  I love seeing the students improve their writing skills before my very eyes!  We just started a new novel and will continue with writing assignments as well.  The students already seem to be enjoying Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez.  Reading homework assignments will be put on the homework board daily, and reading comprehension assessments will all be POP-quizzes.  Sometimes we will finish reading in class, and sometimes the students will have to read a couple chapters at home.  Daily, I write the page number that everyone is to be on for the next day.  This Latin American Literature Unit will culminate with a test but also with a Fiesta!  I will be asking for some help with this and will send out an email as the date draws nearer.

8th English: I meant to report that the students did an incredible job on their poetry portfolios, which were due before the break!  The class average for this challenging yet creative project was a 93%!  The students received rubrics back with their portfolios that show where points may have been deducted (mostly for missing certain literary devices and poetry formats).  Right before break we were working on writing and grammar.  Students completed a peer editing assignment where they needed to demonstrate in their own writing and then identify specific writing structures.  Right now we are in the middle of a short story unit which includes wonderful classic tales such as The Monkey's Paw, The Raven, The Necklace, and more!  The students will finish this unit by writing a short story of their own using "parallel episodes," a writing technique that we are currently exploring.

8th Biblical Worldview: We finished a long unit right before break and are now on the second-to-last unit in the curriculum.  We are currently discussing the Reformation and learning about justification, grace, sanctification, and more.  This unit discusses the sacrament of baptism and communion, and it is always interesting to share how each of our churches celebrates these.  The students were also given a handout with the requirements for their upcoming church reports. These are not due until May, but students should start NOW.  They have six Sundays to gather the necessary information.  I am so looking forward to these papers and presentations.

Please scroll down to read some beautiful poetry by Rachel Dutton.  Rachel's poetry portfolio was among the best in the class, and she is a talented writer.  I think her villanelle will especially encourage you as it did me!

We didn't plan this! :)

I just adore these goofballs!

Awesome sonnet by Rachel Dutton

LOVE this villanelle, also by Rachel Dutton

Third Quarter Starting Strong!

Midterm exams are behind us!  And we accomplished SO MUCH in the first semester.  These students are blowing me away with their work ethics and positive attitudes for learning!  During these first two quarters of school, both the 7th and the 8th graders were able to finish short story units, two novel units each, two writing units each ( including narrative essays, literary response essays, research papers, persuasive essays, and more), two grammar units each, and two vocabulary units each! I'm very proud of their first semester work, and I have high hopes for an even more accomplished second semester!

Here is what each class has to look forward to in just the third quarter:

7th English

• Vocabulary: Units 3 and 4
• Literature: Poetry and Poetry Writing Unit
• Grammar: Verbals (Participles, Infinitives, Gerunds), Conjunction types
• Writing: Expository Essay, MLA Format

8th English

• Literature: Poetry and Poetry Writing Unit
• Grammar: Sentence Mechanics in Writing 
• Writing: Speech Writing
• Vocabulary Units 5 and 6 

8th Biblical Worldview

• Church History (Constantine to the Popes)
• Self in Society (Christian Worldview in Culture)

Recent Photos of The World's Greatest Kids

Therapy Dog Visit Before Exams

Homeroom Lip Sync and Dance Battle

Heinz History Trip

Building Rockets!

Thanking our NASA Speaker

Project FUN!

7th and 8th graders presented their creative projects for the recent literary works we have studied.

We had news broadcasts, poetry portfolios, book trailers, book posters and review essays, info-mercials, illustrated children's books, original music compositions, dioramas, graphic short stories, and MORE!

I have to say that if there was a Project MVP Award, it would go to Joshua Maurer who wrote and recorded a song (music, lyrics, multiple instruments, harmonizing over his own voice, etc.) for The Hobbit.  It was INCREDIBLE and could be on the radio this minute!  If he makes a digital copy available, I will share it! 

Here are just a few representations of other wonderful projects.

Mirkwood Forrest

Bilbo's Foyer 

Warg Attack on Bilbo and Dori

"Riddles in the Dark" with Gollum

Gandalf in Hobbiton

Second Quarter, Continued...

Here's another glimpse of what is going on in my classes for those who are interested! :)


7th English: We just finished our unit on The Hobbit!  Students will present their culminating projects on December 18th and 19th. Now we are beginning an intensive writing unit where we are putting together the skills we have learned throughout the first semester. After the writing unit is an awesome poetry unit!

8th English: We are in the midst of a writing unit, using MLA format with a research paper.  Students are not only learning the proper structure, they are also learning how to support their opinion using reputable sources.  Students are also taking today and tomorrow to present their culminating projects from our last literature unit on Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night's Dream. The projects are fantastic, and the students had a wonderful class period explaining their hard work today!

8th Bible: Unit 4.1 continues with learning about the early church during the Roman Empire.  Students will memorize The Apostles' Creed during this unit.  Additionally, students will be responsible to chart their "daily" (at least five times) devotions over break. 

OTHER REMINDERS...

1. The Annual Speech Meet is approaching!  Students must have their chosen piece (historical speech, poem, novel or short story excerpt, or Bible passage) approved by me by Thursday, December 20th.  More details are forthcoming to the students.

2. The Middle School Christmas Party will be on Thursday, December 20th during 7th and 8th periods.  More details will come from room moms.

3. The ACSI Creative Writing Competition is underway.  All submissions must be given to me by January 24th.

4. Midterm exams are January 15-17.  Exam schedules will go out on January 8th.

5. K-12th collaborative unit on the Moon landing is January 3-4.  5th-8th grades will be going on a field trip to the Moon exhibit at Heinz History Center on THE DAY WE RETURN FROM BREAK (January 3rd)! Permission slips were handed out today and are due by Thursday, December 20th.

How cute are these Armadillos?

All homerooms did great work with the door decorating contest and the food drive!  

Second Quarter Start :)

It's been a great start to the second quarter already!  Here is a very brief look into what is currently happening in my classes...

7th English: We finished a lengthy grammar unit, and now we are reviewing all the concepts and applying them to our writing.  For the next three days, we will be doing intensive writing in class and working through sentence mechanics, structure, and organization in writing.  On Thursday we will begin our new literature unit: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.  This unit will include vocabulary assignments,  writing prompts, reading assessments, and a culminating project.  It will be loads of fun!

8th English: We are smack dab in the middle of our literature unit: William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The students are doing an amazing job acting it out in class, and this literary work has brought about some great class discussion.  This unit includes a project, vocabulary and writing work, and reading assessments.  Although acting skills are not being evaluated, some students would be receiving an A+++ in this department!  

8th Biblical Worldview:  We are almost finished with Unit 2.  We are looking to God's Word alone to tackle some difficult questions. What makes up a church?  What MUST be included in a church?  What are the marks of a true church?  What are primary and secondary issues that we should concern ourselves in as church members?  What is doctrine and its importance?  What is the danger of legalism in church?  Why do we go to church?  Why and how did God set up the church, starting at Pentecost?  We are looking mostly to the Pauline Epistles to answer such questions.  Discussion has been great, and this group of students is amazing!  Prayers appreciated!

Also, please enjoy this video clip from Bible class.  The students don't get recess, and they work so hard! Sometimes they deserve a 3-minute dance break...