Saturday, March 23, 2019

Spring Break Updates

Happy Spring Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A reminder that even during spring break the expectations are that you are reading daily for at least 20 minutes. I look forward to hearing what you read about when we come back together on April 1st.

Updated Term 3 Grades .... A note that no one has seen their Plant Restoration, Portland Art Museum, and Thursday EQ feedback until now. This means students haven't had their normal week to look at this and take ownership before being share with families. I am putting them here so that people can know where they stand going into the last week of term 3 when we get back from spring break.


  • 6th + 8th graders - Service learning term 3 hours should be complete by Monday, April 1st
  • 7th graders - 7th grade service learning project hours (4 hours with at least 2 visits) should be complete by Monday, April 1st.
  • We will work on our service reflections back at school.
  • Term 3 ends Friday, April 5th.


A reminder that we will be starting state ELA testing once we are back at school after spring break.

Here is a link to Rebekah's yoga Spotfiy playlist for those of you who were interested.

Extra Credit: Finish up the teacher feedback for Michael from class on Friday... What are up to 3 things that Michael does in our core class community that make learning more effective, engaging, meaningful, etc... What are up to 3 things that Michael could differently to improve his teaching or your experience in our core class community? Any other comments/feedback for Michael?

Oh, and let's hope the March Madness continues... GO GONZAGA!!!!!!!!

Friday, March 22, 2019

Spanish Class - Culture Extension

Culture Extension
a. Extend your work from previous "Culture Notes." Add at least one valuable link to the document above that you found informative or engaging. 

Thursday, March 21, 2019

3/21

HW due Friday:

1. ESSENTIAL QUESTION - Was _____________ (choose from options below) a valuable learning experience for you a human?

Option 1 - Argumentative Writing
Option 2 - Yoga with Rebekah
Option 3 - Poet X read aloud


GO GONZAGA BASKETBALL!!! Hooray for March Madness (unless it becomes March Sadness)!!!

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

3/20

HW due Thursday:

1. NewsELA - College Admissions Scandal
a. Read article + respond to 3 questions
b. Come to class prepared to share about another current event that has captured your attention lately. It can be something from NewsELA, but does not have to. If you are struggling to find a current event, here are some options:

https://newsela.com/read/womens-soccer-gender-discrimination/id/50195/
https://newsela.com/read/colorful-icebergs
https://newsela.com/read/dc-girl-advocates-for-kids/id/49898/
https://newsela.com/read/worldwide-student-climate-protest/id/50347/
https://newsela.com/read/new-zealand-terror-attack/id/50337/

We will be doing yoga with Rebekah for 30 minutes before lunch. Come prepared to positively engage with her during her final mindfulness lesson.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY RESOURCES...

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY RESOURCES...

USE THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY Handout AS A GUIDE, START WRITING YOUR ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Argumentative Essay - Student Examples

 Argumentative - Graphic Organizer 1…

Intro + Conclusion Notes:

Intro (Start board, end specific) = Hook + background info + thesis

Meaningful HOOKS related to your essay ideas include:
Thought → Inner monologue from your thinking
Action → Capture a moment of activity from the energy unit
Dialogue → Start with dialogue related to your essay topic
Quote → Begin with a quote that captures the big idea of your essay
Question???

Conclusion (start specific, end broad) = Re-stated thesis (in slightly different words or order) + extra review + concluding thought

Meaningful ways to end your essay with a powerful final concluding thought include..
Echo → circle back to how you started the essay
Anecdote → A short, personal story that reinforces the main ideas of your essay
Question → Leave the reader thinking with a big question
Action → What can the reader do now to create more positive impact?
Inference → How might the future be better, different, or worse based off the ideas in your essay

Strong, concise final sentence

Citing Sources → 
Example 1- According to Juiciest Oranges, students can reference a source within the sentence.
Example 2 - Students can also reference source at end of sentence (Juiciest Oranges).

There should be a “Sources Cited” section at the end of the essay that includes the name of the source, the name of the article, and how you accessed it (website URL).
-Cori’s Lesson - Natural Gas Activity
-NPR - Juiciest Oranges - www.npr/juiciestoranges.com



OTHER STUFF...

Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research - Graphic Organizer

Energy Sources - Resources

Energy Change Maker - Resources

Energy Change Maker - Student Found Resources

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

3/19

HW due Wednesday:

1. Argumentative Essay 
a. Update your essay with at least one piece of peer feedback you received this afternoon.
b. Work on this for 11 to 22 minutes depending on how far along you are. Students should be getting close to completing a draft of their essay. Use the links/notes in the previous blog post for support.

8th graders you have a choice 8th grade portfolio assignment that should be completed by tomorrow.

We will have our first official portfolio check in after spring break on either that Wednesday or Thursday.

Monday, March 18, 2019

3/18

HW due Tuesday:

1. Argumentative Essay - Energy Unit 
a. Work on your argumentative essay for 22 minutes tonight.
b. Share it with Michael (mjansa@apps4pps.net)

2. Bring in relevant and meaningful choice reading material for yourself for silent reading tomorrow

RESOURCES...

USE THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY Handout AS A GUIDE, START WRITING YOUR ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Argumentative Essay - Student Examples

 Argumentative - Graphic Organizer 1…

Intro + Conclusion Notes:

Intro (Start board, end specific) = Hook + background info + thesis

Meaningful HOOKS related to your essay ideas include:
Thought → Inner monologue from your thinking
Action → Capture a moment of activity from the energy unit
Dialogue → Start with dialogue related to your essay topic
Quote → Begin with a quote that captures the big idea of your essay
Question???

Conclusion (start specific, end broad) = Re-stated thesis (in slightly different words or order) + extra review + concluding thought

Meaningful ways to end your essay with a powerful final concluding thought include..
Echo → circle back to how you started the essay
Anecdote → A short, personal story that reinforces the main ideas of your essay
Question → Leave the reader thinking with a big question
Action → What can the reader do now to create more positive impact?
Inference → How might the future be better, different, or worse based off the ideas in your essay

Strong, concise final sentence

Citing Sources → 
Example 1- According to Juiciest Oranges, students can reference a source within the sentence.
Example 2 - Students can also reference source at end of sentence (Juiciest Oranges).

There should be a “Sources Cited” section at the end of the essay that includes the name of the source, the name of the article, and how you accessed it (website URL).
-Cori’s Lesson - Natural Gas Activity
-NPR - Juiciest Oranges - www.npr/juiciestoranges.com



OTHER STUFF...

Argumentative Essay - BRAINSTORM Research - Graphic Organizer

Energy Sources - Resources

Energy Change Maker - Resources

Energy Change Maker - Student Found Resources