SPRING BREAK!!!

Happy SPRING BREAK students of room 211!!!

You should be reading daily for at least 20 minuets throughout your Spring Break.

Enjoy the space to relax, spend time with friends and family, sleep, and experience new adventures in your life

The following are not things you need to do during Spring Break, but are a heads up of things to come...

When we get back from Spring Break:

Friday, April 6th - Human Rights + Refugee Unit - Taking Action will be due Friday, April 6th unless otherwise noted... We will get time in class that week to work on this short presentation about your extended learning

Monday, April 9th - Term 3 Service Hours Complete --- We will get time in school that day to work on your service reflection... You just need to make sure you have finished your term 3 service hours by then (if you are worried about them, come check in with Michael when back in school to set up a plan or check out some of the garden opportunities and beyond at http://servicesunnyside.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 12th - Term 3 Ends --- Here is a link to your most up to date grades as you head into Spring Break: Updated Grades - 3-23-18

An awesome opportunity being led by a good friend...

Capoeira for beginners is back...

Capoeira is an incredible Brazilian martial art that involves movement, music and lots of fun. Another term for beginners starts this April.

Classes begin April 11 and will run on Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30pm. The term is 9 weeks long (8 weeks of classes, last week is a big "roda"—a capoeira circle—with students from this class, as well as the ones from the advanced group). Cost per student is $80 for the term. Classes take place at the Sunnyside Centenary Methodist Church, right around the corner from our school, at 3520 SE Yamhill St.

Our teacher is Professor Pyata, a fellow Brazilian and great capoeirista. If you have questions or want to register your child, please contact me at Leticia.rlgeorge@yahoo.com.br. Classes usually fill up fast.

Thank you and axé!
Letícia Ramos Leandro George
(SES parent, Logan, 5th grade and Dahlia, 4th grade)

3/22

HW due Friday:

1. Argumentative Essay

If you didn't finish your argumentative essay in class today, send me what you have for it no later than 8:30 AM tomorrow

Argumentative Essay Work --- 

a. What is the topic of your argumentative essay?

b. Do you have at least 9 pieces of specific evidence from at least 3 sources?
(Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research)

c. Write a thesis statement and the topic sentences for each of your
body paragraphs
(Argumentative Essay - Graphic Organizer 1)

d. Start writing your essay!!!
(Argumentative Essay - FINAL Graphic Organizer)

e. HEY IF YOU ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT HOW 
TO MAKE YOUR ESSAY FLOW CHECK OUT SOME PREVIOUS STUDENT EXAMPLES
Argumentative Essay - Student Examples - 2017 + Student Examples - Counter Argument + Conclusion

f. HEY HEY HEY...  check this out for support with details 
Michael’s Class - Argumentative Essay Shared Research 

g. Have you done a Sources Cited 
...8th Graders, check out http://www.easybib.com/


Argumentative Essay - Helpful TRANSITION Words

Counter-Argument
Although
Despite the fact
Even though
Yet
In contrast
Nonetheless
In spite of
However

Transition Sentences
In addition
Additionally
Furthermore
Similarly
Not only


Explaining Evidence
This demonstrates
Therefore
As a result of
Clearly
In other words
This illustrates

3/20

HW due Wednesday:

1. LATE OPENING!!! School doesn't start until 10:45 tomorrow.

2. With me being out sick today, you have no HW due Wednesday. However, make sure you used your time well today and completed the assigned tasks in the morning and afternoon today (see the post below for those details).

Michael Out Sick - Tuesday In Class To Do

Hiya core class,

I had hoped to help you all out with your essays this morning via Happara, but was still too sick to do much of anything. Sorry. 

Here are the expectations for this afternoon from 12:10 - 1:05

-No headphones this afternoon. Sorry. Those are only for writing moments and this afternoon we are working on other things

-Get a Library Chromebook. 

-Please have your argumentative essay open and shared with me, I will be at my computer for real during this hour and would like to check in our your progress via Happara. 

-Read the assigned NewsELA article on student walk-outs. While reading, highlight 3 big ideas, take the quiz, and complete the written response with evidence from the article. This will be graded! 

-When done with your NewsELA article you can do any of the following:

1. Choice read NewsELA articles
2. Work on your argumentative essay
3. Silent read choice reading material
4. Work on late work (updated grades are linked below... If you need an assignment, email me and I will try to send it to you).
5. Work on their 8th grade portfolio (8th graders I PROMISE I will check in with you all about this tomorrow!!!)
6. Work on your Taking Action presentation: Human Rights + Refugee Unit - Taking Action 

-Here is a link to the most updated grades: Term 3 Updated Grades - Student View - 3-20-18

-At the end of the hour you are also going to write me a note with your name on it and leave it in my HW bin responding the following 4 questions:

a. Today I worked on ______...

b. On a scale of 1-4 (3 being grade-level expectation), my engagement, behavior, and effort was a ________ because _________...

c. 1 thing that went well today for the class was....

d. 1 thing we could have done better as a class today was ...

Tuesday AM - 9:25 - 10:20 Expectations

Hiya core class,

I am sorry to say that I am going to be out sick today. I got side-swiped by a stomach bug when I got home from school that hasn't gone away at all yet.

I'm looking forward to connecting with you all on Wednesday (we have a late opening on Wednesday by the way! School starts at 10:45) and hearing how the day went.

Use the following instructions as your guide for your classroom work time.

Tuesday AM - 9:25 - 10:20 - This is your time to work on your argumentative essay!!! In addition to using your neighbors for support, use the following resources below to support your work, including the final graphic organizer and student shared research page.

The goal for this time is to continue making progress on their argumentative essay. It is NOT due tomorrow. I'm taking a big risk while you all have a sub, but because this is writing time you can use headphones if you have some (you can't take them from other classmates though!). Please do not make me regret it.

Also, if I am feeling well enough that I will be logged in through Happara to give you all feedback on your writing and to help support you in using the chromebooks appropriately.

Argumentative Essay Work --- 

Please share whatever documents you are working on with Michael so that he can better support your writing
a. What is the topic of your argumentative essay?

b. Do you have at least 9 pieces of specific evidence from at least 3 sources?
(Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research)

c. Write a thesis statement and the topic sentences for each of your
body paragraphs
(Argumentative Essay - Graphic Organizer 1)

d. Start writing your essay!!!
(Argumentative Essay - FINAL Graphic Organizer)

e. HEY IF YOU ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT HOW 
TO MAKE YOUR ESSAY FLOW CHECK OUT SOME PREVIOUS STUDENT EXAMPLES
Argumentative Essay - Student Examples - 2017

f. HEY HEY HEY...  check this out for support with details 
Michael’s Class - Argumentative Essay Shared Research 

If you are finishing early, attempt to share your essay with a classmate. Give each other feedback based off the criteria in the final graphic organizer. You could also use this time to catch up on late work or 8th grade portfolio.

3/19

HW due Tuesday:

1. Argumentative Essay - Spend 17 minutes continuing your work on the argumentative essay tonight. During that time, add another fact/quote/detail with the source that you are using for your essay on the Michael’s Class - Argumentative Essay Shared Research google doc (Meaning that now each student should have 2 facts/quote/details with sources under their name on the document). Thank you for using this appropriately.  In addition to adding your own research details onto this document, it is a great space to learn about other research from classmates that you could use in your essay.

You can use the blog information from in class today below to support your work during the 17 minutes of homework tonight.

Argumentative Essay Work --- 

Please share whatever documents you are working on with Michael so that he can better support your writing

a. What is the topic of your argumentative essay?

b. Do you have at least 9 pieces of specific evidence from at least 3 sources?
(Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research)

c. Write a thesis statement and the topic sentences for each of your
body paragraphs
(Argumentative Essay - Graphic Organizer 1)

d. Start writing your essay!!!
(Argumentative Essay - FINAL Graphic Organizer)

e. HEY IF YOU ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT HOW 
TO MAKE YOUR ESSAY FLOW CHECK OUT SOME PREVIOUS STUDENT EXAMPLES
Argumentative Essay - Student Examples - 2017

3/16

Weekend HW

1. Read choice reading material daily

2. You do not have anything specifically due on Monday. However, this weekend your HW is to look into what you are going to be doing for the next steps in your Human Rights + Refugee Unit - Taking Action 

Look through the document linked above and consider what you are going to do for your taking action extension. Are you going to Portlander's Stand with Immigrants and Refugees event tonight (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/672932)? Are you going to give a book talk presentation based on a novel you read this unit? What about a documentary? Remember that the second page on the main document gives links to all the corresponding events, documentaries, and presentations.

This will not be due until the Friday after spring break. However, figuring out your plan, how you are going to make it happen, and getting those steps figured out (or taken) is a part of the expectations for your work this weekend. 

3/15

HW due Friday:

1. Continue working on your argumentative essay for 12 minutes (see details about that work on the previous blog post)
2. Share 1 specific fact/quote/detail and the source you got it from with our class community either via email or on the following document: Michael’s Class - Argumentative Essay Shared Research

3/15 - In Class To Do

Argumentative Essay Work --- Make sure you have enough evidence to support your argument and that you have attempted to write your thesis statement and topic sentences

Please share whatever documents you are working on with Michael so that he can better support your writing

a. What is the topic of your argumentative essay?

b. Do you have at least 9 pieces of specific evidence from at least 3 sources?
(Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research)

c. Write a thesis statement and the topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs
(Argumentative Essay - Graphic Organizer 1)

d. CHECK OUT WITH MICHAEL!!!

e. Start writing your essay!!!
(Argumentative Essay - FINAL Graphic Organizer)

f. Argumentative Essay - Student Examples - 2017

3/14 - To Do In Class in the Afternoon

Thank you for your engagement and positive participation with Bonnie this afternoon.

Here is what you should do while using chromebooks this afternoon. I'm sorry but you may not use headphones today. You all don't have a good enough history when we have substitutes for me to trust you on this. We will have an opportunity to use them Thursday in class.

1. After hearing the presentation from the Wildlife Cohort, consider taking the Lights Out pledge if you feel it is appropriate for you:  http://audubonportland.org/issues/hazards/buildings/lo ... you can also access their presentation details here: Wildlife Cohort Lights Out Presentation

2. NewsELA
a. In relation to our walk out today, read the assigned article on an "inspiring school shooting cartoon." Read the article, highlight 3 big ideas, take the quiz, and complete the written response with specific evidence from the text. This will be graded so consider how you are showing up and engaging with Bonnie during this time this afternoon.
b. When done, you can read 1 choice NewsELA article without having to do any work for it.

3. Argumentative Essay Work --- Make sure you have enough evidence to support your argument and that you have attempted to write your thesis statement and topic sentences

a. What is the topic of your argumentative essay?

b. Do you have at least 9 pieces of specific evidence from at least 3 sources?
(Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research)

c. Write a thesis statement and the topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs
(Argumentative Essay - Graphic Organizer 1)

d. Start writing your essay!!!
(Argumentative Essay - FINAL Graphic Organizer)

4. Homework due Thursday:
-We are not going on a field study tomorrow. We will be in class tomorrow.
-Bring choice silent reading material (do not pick up something random off my shelf in the morning!!!
-Reading + Response (choose one of the following)

Whatever you choose to read, when done reading write out 1 connection, 1 question, and 1 interesting thought you had while reading

reading hw option 1 - Take home the Common Ground article from Street Roots and read the article
reading hw option 2 - Read another choice NewsELA article
reading hw option 3 - Read choice reading material of your own

5. Other
-Happy Pi Day!!! - What Pi Sounds Like
-Thanks for holding space in our class meeting to make me comfortable being vulnerable and shedding a few tears... Remember, It's Alright to Cry (😉)

3/13

If you did not already finish in class today, due Wednesday you need to have written a draft version of your argumentative essay thesis statement and corresponding topic sentences. 

If you are still struggling with the concept of the topic sentences, use the following example linked here as a guide... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABO9gcMygy69tuWq0U6aQU1FpEiYv_tS_Eljxh2qMno/edit?usp=sharing

3/13 Argumentative TO DO IN CLASS:

 

3/13 TO DO IN CLASS:

1. What is the topic of your argumentative essay?

2. Do you have at least 9 pieces of specific evidence from at least 3 sources?
(Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research)

3. Write a thesis statement and the topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs
(Argumentative Essay - Graphic Organizer 1)

4. CHECK OUT WITH MICHAEL

5. Start writing your essay!!!
(Argumentative Essay - FINAL Graphic Organizer)

Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research

HW due Tuesday:

1. Spend 16 minutes continuing your research for your argumentative essay. The goal is to eventually have up to 9 specific pieces of evidence to support your main claim from at least 3 different sources. Use the following document to guide your 16 minutes of work tonight. Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research

2. Bring in choice silent reading material to core class tomorrow as we will start the day with silent reading like we do every Tuesday morning

3/9

HW due Monday:

1. Common Ground Portland Art Museum Field Study Assignment
...Finish assignment questions 2 + 3 (you only need to complete 3 out of the 4 parts of assignment question 3)

2. Human Rights + Refugee Unit - Taking Action Brainstorm

READ-A-THON ... Don't forget to updated you reading units (YOU SHOULD BE READING DAILY!!!) and work to get pledges to support this important SES fundraiser

3/8

HW due Friday:

1. Common Ground Portland Art Museum Field Study
...Respond to the following question: What was 1 - 2 specific things from the Common Ground exhibit that stood out to you today and why? Add an observation and connection.

Other (this is not required homework, but is listed below for your consideration):

This Saturday, Portland Meets Portland is recording a podcast with refugee youth who live in Portland, exploring concepts of home at the Portland Art Museum. This is an EXCELLENT action opportunity for the assignment below... https://portlandartmuseum.org/event/miller-family-free-day-3-10-2018/?instance_id=28978

Also, here is a link to the Human Rights + Refugee Unit Taking Action Final Assignment that we spent time going over in class today: Human Rights + Refugee Unit - Taking Action... Look it over and spend some time considering what topic you want to write about and what you want to do for your final piece of action. We will spend more time in class tomorrow figuring out what direction you want to take this assignment.

3/7

Sorry for the late blog you all... I am just getting home and the internet was broken at school!

Due Thursday:

1. Portland Art Museum - Common Ground Exhibit - 3 facts
https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/common-ground/

We will be leaving for the field study right after lunch at 12:15.

Also, here is a link to the Human Rights + Refugee Unit Taking Action Final Assignment that we spent time going over in class today: Human Rights + Refugee Unit - Taking Action... Look it over and spend some time considering what topic you want to write about and what you want to do for your final piece of action. We will spend more time in class tomorrow figuring out what direction you want to take this assignment.

Also, this Saturday, Portland Meets Portland is recording a podcast with refugee youth who live in Portland, exploring concepts of home at the Portland Art Museum. This is an EXCELLENT action opportunity for the assignment above... https://portlandartmuseum.org/event/miller-family-free-day-3-10-2018/?instance_id=28978

3/6

HW due Wednesday:

1. What do you think the most important experience was for you in the Human Rights + Refugee Unit and why?
...Respond to this question like it is an essential question, using at least two specific examples with a connection and a question

3/5/18

HW due Tuesday:

1. Thesis Statement Practice
a. Pick three arguable topics related to our human rights and refugee unit. Write a thesis statement for a potential argumentative essay for each topic.
b. Consider using the following google doc (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uIXyob93kz9ykAnkguYJHplwsWcZMd50Mpwx0HIm-tM/edit?usp=sharing) for support as it has a brainstorm list of topics as well as thesis statement and topic sentences notes and a thesis statement recipe!

2. Please have silent reading material in class tomorrow morning

We are traveling to the Portland Art Museum this Thursday for our field study