Saturday, December 17, 2016

Winter Break!!!

Wow! What a crazy last two weeks before winter break. I'm so sorry that I didn't get a chance to wish you all a happy winter break. I hope that everyone made it home safely without getting stuck in too much traffic from school Wednesday!

The most important thing for you to do over winter break is to enjoy, appreciate, and celebrate your family and friends.

In addition, over winter break you should be reading daily!!! I expect you all to finish one book during your time away from school. I will be asking you about your reading experience over winter break your first day back.

If you are having a hard time finding a Just Right book, check out some of these options that I put together. I had planned on sharing much of these books with you as well as having others give recommendations about books, but alas, we had two straight snow days!

Books Middle Schoolers Should Read

Because there was no school Thursday and Friday many of you did not get a chance to turn in late work. I will accept late work until Thursday, January 5th. A link to view the updated grades is below.

Term 2 Grades - Updated 12/13/16

As a reminder, I will not be at school the first two day backs. I am very excited that Daniel Murphy-Cairns will be there as the substitute. You all met him in class on Tuesday and many of you know him from when he student taught for Abby when you were in 1st/2nd grade!

Tuesday, January 3rd will be a Riparian Festival Curriculum Open House. Because the festival was cancelled twice, the event will not be a major festival like we had planned and have known in the past. However, your work is way to amazing to not share! That is why Tuesday there will be an open house after school from 3:30 - 7:00. I won't be there, but all our work will still be set up and on display. Bring a family member into the room that afternoon/evening and show off all that we did this fall!

Enjoy your break, read daily, and be prepared to be awesome those first two days back with Daniel. I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday, January 5th!!!!


The Riparian Festival - Explained (from the SES Messenger)

[CHANGE IN DATE] Tuesday, January 3, 3:30-7pm: SES Riparian festival


After much deliberation and some phone calls back and forth with PPS, the Riparian Festival was again postponed due to December snow and storms.

The event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 3; however, the event will be an open house curriculum showcase, from 3:30-7pm. The 3rd through 8th grade rooms and the science lab will be open, student work will be on full display and your children will help tour you around the school.

We will not have a meal or any of the other accompanying activities that we had planned for the original event, but we will be offering an evening event dedicated to Standing Rock Solidarity and Action later in January. More to come once we have finalized information and a date.

Thank you for your flexibility; the weather simply has not been on our side this month. Please feel free to email Alexa at apearson@pps.net if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

12/13

HW due Wednesday:

Tomorrow is the Riparian Festival from 5:30 - 8:00 !!!

Make sure your How Our Earth Works Interactive Individual project is ready to be set up with the Project Write Up and Connections Web in the classroom tomorrow.

SERVICE?!?!?! Are you going to sign up for class or community service tomorrow during the Riparian Festival?

Secret Snowflake --- Come with a secret snowflake gift (spend no more than $5 total this week) for your secret snowflake. Place it in their cubby in the morning. We can all check our cubbies at the end of the day.

Late Work --- Progress Reports are being sent home Thursday. No more late work can be turned in after Friday, December 16th.

Be awesome with your sub tomorrow while I am at my district training

Monday, December 12, 2016

12/12

Welcome back from Snow Day living everybody! And happy birthday today to Kai and happy belated birthdays to Samuel and Sean!!!!!!!!

We are going to have a hectic last week of school because of all the schedule changes. Here are some things to be mindful of...

Due Tuesday (tomorrow):
1. How Our Earth Works Individual Interactive Project
...Bring your project into class along with your Project Write Up and Connections Web


Riparian Festival is Wednesday, December 14th from 5:30 - 8:30
...Be thinking if you can sign up for community service or school service in the classroom tomorrow for the festival
...Know that tomorrow is going to be a huge work day. Be thinking about what you can do to help support our class in making it as geologically awesome as possible for Wednesday

Secret Snowflake - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - $5 maximum!!!


Friday - No more late work from term 2 accepted (grades will be updated tomorrow)
Friday - Be prepared to tell me what book you will be reading over winter break and how you will get your hands on it. Be thinking about this all week!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

12/7

IT IS A SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW DAY!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sUwnda1FUs


HW due Thursday:

1. How Our Earth Works Individual Interactive Project!!!!!!
...Include Connections Web --- How Our Earth Works Connection Web
...Include Project Write Up ---How Our Earth Works - Individual Interactive Project Write Up

Unless we have had a previous conversation, bring everything for your project into school tomorrow

Friday = Riparian Festival

Consider if you want to sign up to earn service by helping in the community areas (that giant yellow sign up sheet that was in our room today) or in our classroom as tour guides.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

12/6

HW due Wednesday:

***CHANGE OF PLANS ---- How Our World Works Individual Interactive Project due THURSDAY, December 7th***

Use this extra time to work on your project in a non-rushed way!

Make sure the Connections Web and Project Write Up are completed by Thursday as well

How Our Earth Works - Individual Interactive Project Write Up

How Our Earth Works Connection Web

How Our Earth Works - Individual Interactive Project Write Up

Monday, December 5, 2016

12/5

HW due Tuesday:

1. How Our Earth Works individual interactive project

...Focus on completing your connections web tonight. This is what we went over in class and spent much of the afternoon working on. Check the rubric/handout below
...Including the connections web, in total, spend 30 minutes working on your project tonight
...We will get another hour tomorrow afternoon to work on our project. I will specifically go over the project write-up then.

How Our Earth Works Connection Web

7th Grade Service Project - Organization Brainstorm



7th Grade Service Project - Organization Brainstorm

Add 1 organization, their mission statement, and contact info to this sheet. Leave your name next to your organization

  1. Find at least three different service organizations you could connect into


  1. For each service project write the following in your Spanish Journal:
    1. Organization Name
    2. Why I am interested in this organization?!?!
    3. Organization mission statement → What is this organization all about? How is it helping create positive impact or change in the community?
    4. Organization contact information

Friday, December 2, 2016

12/2

Happy weekend everyone!

Next week is a big week!

Monday PM - Individual project work time - project write up + connections web
Tuesday AM - Class Geology Mural Work Time
Tuesday PM - Individual project work time
Thursday ALL DAY - Finish getting ready for the Riparian Curriculum Festival so we can show off and celebrate all our learning this fall!!!

Wednesday = How Our Earth Works Individual Interactive Project due
Friday = Riparian Curriculum Festival!!!

HW due Monday:

1. Work on How Our Earth Works Individual Interactive Project
... We will work on the project write up and connections web in class on Monday. This weekend you should spend 1 hour on your project. It is your only HW from me this weekend. First your focus should be on making sure you can respond to the following questions that we worked on in class today:


  1. What geologic concept am I focusing on? What is my research question?
  2. Do I have enough information about my project? What sources have I used for my information? What more do I need to know?
  3. How will my project answer my question and show what I learned? What big ideas/learning/information am I going to be sharing in my project?
  4. How am I going to complete my project? How will it be interactive?
Once you can answer these questions, it is time to work on your project! You should put in an hour of work this weekend. Expect an hour of class time Monday for the project write up and connections web and an hour of class time if needed to put the finishing touches on your project. Use your time wisely this weekend so that you don't have to panic at the last second next week.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

12/1

HW due Friday:

1. How Our Earth Works - 3D Interactive Project

How Our Earth Works 3D Interactive Project

You should spend 30 minutes on your project tonight. Your goal should be to complete Steps 1 and 2 of the yellow project handout (also linked above). By completing steps 1 and 2 you should know your research question, list your background info, extend your learning through more research, and think about your plan for your project.

Essentially, you should be able to answer these questions out loud if asked:



  1. What is my research question?
  2. How will this question and my answer (which is the entire project!) extend my learning?
  3. How am I going to show my thinking? What will I create for my project? How will it be interactive????
  4. What materials do I need for research and to make it?

We will be working on this project for an hour tomorrow. Chromebooks will be available. If you are ready to begin showing your learning and creating your project, bring in any resources you want to make that hour effective.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

11/30

HW due Thursday:

1. Writing For Justice - Final Draft
a. Complete Self-Editing graphic organizer: Self-Editing Graphic Organizer
b. Using the feedback from your classmate and your own feedback, go through and revise and add more to your narrative
c. Print it out or share it with me before 8:45.

After an introduction and brainstorm session, tomorrow we will spend our first full hour working on our How Our Earth Works individual 3D interactive projects. It is ok if you don't know what you are doing yet. Be consider for tomorrow:

What is my question?
How will this question and my answer (which is the entire project!) extend my learning?
How are you going to show your thinking? What will you create for your project? How will it be 3D and interactive????
What materials do I need for research and to make it?
My goal is that you are able to answer all those questions by the end of the day tomorrow after an hour of working in the class

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

11/29

My apologies for the late blog post, Tuesdays are our looooong staff meeting day!

HW due Wednesday:

1. Complete a draft of your Writing For Justice narrative.

Make sure your draft includes the following from our mini-lessons the past few weeks:
Writing for Justice Rubric

Either come to class with a printed copy of this draft or share it with me  (mjansa@apps4pps.net) before 8:40 tomorrow morning so that I can print it 



Tomorrow morning we will finish our How Our Earth Works - Geology Concepts group posters and further dig into our individual How Our Earth Works 3D interactive projects. You will have time in class Thursday, Friday, and Monday to work on those projects! Be thinking about what question you are most interested in and we will discuss the project more tomorrow.

After School Movie !!!!

For 5-8th grade:

First After-school Movie, Nov. 30, 3:30pmFifth-eighth grade SES students are invited to gather in the auditorium to watch "Big Hero 6" after school on Nov. 30. This is a GO Fund fundraiser with a suggested entry donation of $5. Of course, no one will be turned away. We will also have concessions (popcorn and baked goods) for sale. Only water will be allowed in the auditorium so we encourage students to bring their own water bottles. Once students enter, they will not be allowed to leave until the movie is over (around 5:20) unless a parent comes to collect them.

After-school Movie Help: Please check out our sign-up (http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084babab2ca02-gofund1) to see how you can support this and future GO Fund fundraisers. Specifically, we are looking for concessions donations, a few MS students who want to earn service hours at a fun and easy event, and some parents willing to organize future after-school movies. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084babab2ca02-gofund1.

Monday, November 28, 2016

11/28

HW due Tuesday:

Writing - write for 20 minutes, focusing on either Option 1 or Option 2

Option 1 - Writing For Justice
...Work on your Writing For Justice piece for 20 minutes. Focus on any feedback you may have received (if you shared your writing piece with me at the end of class!) and including the following:

Writing For Justice - Include:
  • Bystander/Target/Ally/Perpetrator
  • Hook (action/thought/dialogue)
  • Dialogue/Blocking/Inner Monologue
    • Correct punctuation/conventions
  • 1 Slow Motion Moment



Option 2 - Slow Motion Moment Practice
...Using our handout and notes from today, write a slow-motion moment. 
...You can create a slow-motion moment about something from  your day or you can pick something from any of my prompts below

Slow Motion Practice Writing Prompts:
  • Describe using slow motion writing the moment and feeling you had when you finished a big projcet
  • Describe using slow motion writing the moment when you first walked into the first middle school dance
  • Describe using motion writing the moment when you first saw a cool video and realized it was the single greatest video of all time!!
  • Describe using slow motion writing the moment you found out a major piece of news (test scores, tryouts, election, etc...)

Consider the following writing moves to expand your slow motion moment:
EFFECTIVE SLOW MOTION WRITING MOVES:
  • Hook (action/thought/dialogue)
  • Dialogue/Blocking/Inner Monolgue
    • BLOCKING
  • Similes and metaphors
  • SENSORY DETAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (touch, smell, sounds, sights, taste)
  • EMOTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • EXPLODE/EXPAND THE MOMENT

Sunday, November 27, 2016

During the Break...

Hiya core class! My apologies that I am just now updating the blog for the weekend. I hope everyone was able to enjoy time away from school, with family and good people, sharing appreciations and gratitude. 

You don't have anything due tomorrow on Monday. 

However, over the break you should have been reading daily! This includes finishing the Coming of Age Short Story you took home with you over break. 

In addition, you have a How Our Earth Work 3D Geology project due Wednesday, December 7th.

We spent all of Tuesday afternoon going over this project. As a reminder, the rubric is here:

We will spend more time this week on this project, though it would be wise to consider what you question you might ask, what project you could create based off that question, and how you will make it interactive

The Riparian Curriculum Festival is Friday, December 9th. Much of our next two weeks will be spent getting ready for this awesome celebration of our learning!


Monday, November 21, 2016

11/21

HW due Tuesday:
1. Work for 45 minutes on your Writing for Justice narratives. Include dialogue, blocking, and inner monologue in your writing. Use the Narrative Criteria and Dialogue Punctuation handouts as a guide.

Remember that the writing you did in class counts towards that 45 minutes, meaning that though everyone has to do some writing tonight (no one got all 45 minutes done in class), no one should have to write for more than 30 minutes tonight.

Monday In Class Work (not HW):

1. Click on the following link to read the Voting Laws article in NewsELA
2. Read the article, respond to the written part, and complete the quiz

NEWS ELA Article - Election Voting Laws

If the link doesn't work, sign in with google to newsela using your google PPS account, and search:

Laws from Civil War stopped 6.1 million from voting



WHEN DONE WITH NEWSELA...

With their Chromebooks

Students can begin working on their HW by continuing to write their Writing for Justice narratives on chromebooks. Students should include dialogue, blocking, and inner monologue in their narrative. USE YOUR CLASS TIME WELL!!!!

Monday PM: TO DO IN CLASS

1. Click on the following link to read the Voting Laws article in NewsELA
2. Read the article, respond to the written part, and complete the quiz

NEWS ELA Article - Election Voting Laws
The link won't automatically log you in. To access the work, sign in with google to newsela using your google PPS account

If the link isn't working, sign in and search:

Laws from Civil War stopped 6.1 million from voting



WHEN DONE WITH NEWSELA...

With their Chromebooks

  1. Students should go to the class blog (ses211.blogpsot) and follow instructions to read a NewsELA article. They should complete the writing and quiz for the article

  1. When done, students can begin working on their HW by continuing to write their Writing for Justice narratives on chromebooks. Students should include dialogue, blocking, and inner monologue in their narrative. USE YOUR CLASS TIME WELL!!!!


  1. Students should clean up their desks, return pencils, and leave at 2:08 to check back in chromebooks in the library and then go straight to Art class.
HW due Tuesday:
1. Work for 45 minutes on your Writing for Justice narratives. Include dialogue, blocking, and inner monologue in your writing.

Friday, November 18, 2016

11/18

HW due Monday:

1. Writing for Justice Narrative

...Work on your Writing for Justice narrative for 30 minutes
... Include a hook (action, thought, or dialogue)
... Attempt to include dialogue in your narrative

2, Coming of Age Short Story Assignment #3
...Read a short story, complete the corresponding assignment (link to the assignment is below)

Coming of Age Short Story Assignment 3

If you need a short story, here is a link to Bruce Colville's What's the Worst that Could Happen: http://emsyear8english.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/7/4/45749033/worstthatcouldhappen.pdf

HW due Tuesday:

1. Parent Conference Reflection

Parent Conference Reflection

Thursday, November 17, 2016

11/17

HW due Friday:

1. Reed College Cooley Art Gallery field study assignment
-I know the essential question was too wordy. What it boils down to, is what was essential about this trip and how does it connect to our previous learning.
-Consider R.A.C.E. for the essential question (Restate the question, Answer the question in complete sentences, Cite evidence (with at least two specific examples), Explain + Add other observations or connections
-Assignment Question 1 has changed... It is now simply, explain what you drew during the drawing activity
-Extra Credit: Write a thank you note to Gregory (not in your e-core so I can send it to him)
Reed College Cooley Art Gallery field study assignment

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

11/16

HW due Thursday:

1. Reed College Cooley Art Gallery
...Tomorrow we are headed to the Cooley Art Gallery from 11:00 - 3:00. In addition to a water bottle, either bring $5-8 for food from the Reed College cafeteria or a lunch.
...Write down three facts about the gallery and/or the current exhibit: http://www.reed.edu/gallery/

Here is the essential question for tomorrow so you can ponder it well in advance:

Reed College Cooley Art Gallery Essential Question:
  1. Even though this field study does not directly connect into our other geology field studies, what made this field study an essential Year or the Mountain learning experience? In what ways does this experience with Gregory at the Reed College Cooley Art Gallery connect with the learning we have done this year? Give specific examples and connections.

2. Writing for Justice
...You don't have to do anything specific for HW, but be thinking about where you have had experiences as a target, ally, bystander, and perpetrator for our graphic organizer work tomorrow morning

READ 20-30 minutes DAILY!!!!

Extra Credit:

Read the following article on News ELA and complete the corresponding writing and quiz
In these classrooms, fidgeting, moving around and bouncing are encouraged

6th grade - Read at 950L
7th/8th grade - Read at 1040L

1. Read the article
2.  Write!!!
3. Take the quiz

4. Explore other articles in the news section of NEWS ELA. Pick another article to not only read, but complete the Writing and Quiz sections for


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

11/15

A note from our principal Amy: Participate in the #NoDAPL National Day of Action. There is a gathering of solidarity at the US Army Corps of Engineers, 333 SW 1st Ave, 4 pm. Several teachers, students and families will attend (as will I).

HW due Wednesday:

1. READ 20-30 MINUTES DAILY!!!!

2. Share an appreciation with at least 1 person. Be present to others

Notes from today:

Sarah Kay - If I Should Have a Daughter - TED Talk


Room 211 - - - What We Know to Be True

  • That everyone is equal
  • That everybody falls, but what matters is if you get back up
  • Portland hates the sun
  • Just because one person is bad, doesn’t mean the love around the ones you care about is gone
  • We are a community
  • Just because our voice is one of a billion doesn’t mean we can’t be heard
  • It isn’t over yet
  • “The power of the people is stronger than the people with power”
  • Kindness is a requirement
  • Just because someone has done something bad doesn’t mean they are a bad person
  • Calling someone stupid doesn’t make you any smarter
  • Never give up on someone
  • Just because you lose once doesn’t make you not a winner
  • After it rains there is always a rainbow
  • We need to hope
  • Anyone can be successful

Thursday = Reed College Cooley Art Gallery field study (11:00 - 3:00)
...Bring 5-8 dollars if you want to buy a lunch at the Reed College Cafeteria before our field study

Wednesday Service Opportunity:

Wednesday, November 16th, Doors-6:30, Conversation-7:00 pm
An Evening With The Tar Sands Valve-Turners
"Stepping Outside Polite Conversation"
Sunnyside Community House
3520 SE Yamhill St. Portland
On October 11th, five individuals engaged in non-violent civil disobedience to show solidarity with Standing Rock Water Protectors and to bring attention to the need for immediate action on climate disruption. "Valve-Turners" broke into five U.S. entry points for Alberta Tar Sands oil and turned the valves to shut off the flow. "...we've tried the legal, incremental, reasonable methods, and they haven't been anything like enough: without a radical shift in our relationship to this Earth, all that we love will disappear. My fear of that possibility is far greater than my fear of jail. My love for the beauties of this world are far greater than my love of an easy life."--Emily Johnston, Valve-Turner 
Legal Fund for the Valve-Turners: Suggested $10 donation---no one turned away
All Five of the Pacific NW Valve-Turners will be present to share in the evening's conversation.
EVENT INFO is ATTACHED.

11/15 - NEWS ELA (to do in class)


In these classrooms, fidgeting, moving around and bouncing are encouraged

6th grade - Read at 950L
7th/8th grade - Read at 1040L

1. Read the article
2.  Write!!!
3. Take the quiz

4. Explore other articles in the news section of NEWS ELA. Pick another article to not only read, but complete the Writing and Quiz sections for

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

LOVE and SERVICE and HW

A Message from our amazing principal Amy...

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

News ELA

News ELA Tuesday Reading:

1. https://classroom.google.com
2. Add a class ---- Class Code: 4042j9 or 64FBB5
3. Go to News ELA - Michael's Class
...You have a NewsELA account (sign in with google account info, allow syncing)

4. Search  Issue Overview: Voting rights
5. READ article (at level 1090L)
6. Respond to the written portion
7. Take the quiz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8. Read other articles (at level 1090L)


Monday, November 7, 2016

11/7

HW due Tuesday:

1. Fall Parent Conferences: 

Talk to your families about parent conferences. What are you excited for them to learn about your first term of learning and progress this year? When are they signed up to meet with Michael?
If they aren't signed up, go to the Parent Conferences SignUp link: Fall Parent Conferences Sign Up


2. Coming of Age Short Story Reading Assignment 1
...Using one the short stories available in class (What's the Worst that Could HappenNombresLa BambaKate the GreatHarrison BergeronPicky Eater), read it while responding to the questions related to character details, connections, questions, whilte demonstrating evidence from the text.

If you need the assignment, click here: 

If you need a short story, here is a link to Bruce Colville's What's the Worst that Could Happen: http://emsyear8english.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/7/4/45749033/worstthatcouldhappen.pdf


Friday, November 4, 2016

Welcome to Term 2 - 11/4

Term 1 is over. Term 2 starts Monday (you all walk into the door with straight A's!!!). In the meantime, enjoy the loooong weekend!!!!

Service Opportunities:
-Monday, Nov 7th - Community Service: Sunnyside Neighborhood Supper and Public Forum @ Sunnyside Community House (3520 SE Yamhill St) 4:30 - 7:30. Work with the 8th grade housing cohort, sign up outside of Karen Shay's class
-Saturday, Nov 19th - Cultural Exchange/Community Service: Wreath Poinsettia Making starting 8:00 am in Woodburn with the Mujeres Luchadoras Porgresistas (Woman Striving for Progress).
-Garden Hours SIGN UP!!! SES Garden Hours Sign Up


HW due Monday:

1. OMSI Earthquakes field study assignment.
...Focus on R.A.C.E. in your response (Re-state the question, Answer all of the question, Cite examples and evidence from the field study to support your answer, and Explain how your evidence supports your response.)
...EQ responses should be in complete sentences, with AT LEAST 2 specific examples from teh field study, and AT LEAST 1 other connection and 1 other observation.





OMSI Earthquakes

November 3rd, 2016


Safety Numbers:  OMSI → 503.797.4661   SES 503-916-6226

Essential Question:
  1. How did today’s field study connect with previous geologic concepts? Share specific examples from today’s earthquakes lab, lesson with Michael, and previous geology concepts and field studies

Assignment Questions:  
  • Essential Question answered thoughtfully and thoroughly.
  • OMSI worksheet complete

  1. What were three big ideas covered in the OMSI earthquake lab?
  1. Create an image/caption of the coolest geological thing you learned today.
  1. Rate your engagement during the earthquake lab on a 1-4 scale. Give one specific example why you gave yourself that ranking. During the lesson with Michael explain how you used some of the 4 Agreements. Give at least one specific example.


HW due Tuesday:
1. Coming of Age Short Story Reading Assignment 1
...We will work on this in class Monday afternoon.
...Using one the short stories available in class (What's the Worst that Could Happen, Nombres, La Bamba, Kate the Great, Harrison Bergeron, Picky Eater), read it while responding to the questions related to character details, connections, questions, and demonstrating evidence from the text.