Welcome BACK!!

Hi, Students,
I wanted to WELCOME you back to school from your summer vacations!! Most of you already know your teachers at Rothschild while some of you may be new. I hope you find your time spent at Rothschild productive and interesting. There will be a lot of work ahead, but there will be some fun to be had together too. Please let us know if you think you'll need extra help with assignments. We are here for you and to do what we can to help you learn what you need to know to finish your 8th grade year.
This blogspot is full of resources for homework, classwork, projects, interesting news, etc. We post at least once a week here to let you have an idea of what we'll be doing in the classroom from day to day.
We'll start by reviewing your School Handbook and Rules to have a great school year. We will set our classroom expectations the first day and begin our work together.
I am looking forward to seeing you soon!
Ms. Holden
cholden@mcsdga.net

Classroom Rules
1. Bring books, pencil, and paper.
2. Be in your seat on time.
3. Listen carefully.
4. Follow directions the first time they are given.
5. Attempt and complete all assignments.
6. Show courtesy and respect to others.

Videos on CLASS RULES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFF-LHeM50I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWM8nEqLzhE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AITMUJfR4H4&feature=related

Week One
Thursday

Georgia Studies

EQ:What do I need to know to be successful in 8th grade GEORGIA STUDIES?
GPS: REVIEW in CLASS

AGENDA:
Warm-up-Getting to Know you activity on WHITEBOARDS
Pretest-What do you REALLY know about your home state of Georgia?-Write a paragraph on what you know-label the map.

RULES POSTER-REVIEW of CLASSROOM PROCEDURES, ONLINE RESOURCES, etc.

Start Unit One-Themes in Social Studies-Create graphic organizer and take notes. Students will work in collaborative pairs to search for news articles/current events that align to the themes reviewed.


RESOURCES:
Chapter 1 - Where in the World is Georgia?

Hyperlinks

neic.usgs.gov/neis/states/georgia/georgia_history.html
The U.S. Geological Survey’s page on earthquakes in Georgia.

www.blueridgemountains.com/blue_ridge_mountains.html
Information on the Blue Ridge Mountains, Fannin County.

www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/statesong.htm
Contains words and music for “Georgia on My Mind.”

www.foxfire.org
Home page for Foxfire, an organization committed to preserving the Southern Appalachian culture.

www.frommers.com/destinations/georgia'sbarrierislands/
Contains information on Georgia’s barrier islands.

www.fs.fed.us/conf/webcam.htm
The web cam atop Brasstown Bald.

www.geography.about.com
The geography page of About.com.

www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Website of the New Georgia Encyclopedia

www.gilmerchamber.com/members/apples.asp
Contains information on Ellijay apples.

www.graphicmaps.com
Provides latitude and longitude information for U.S. and world cities.

www.helenga.org
Home page for the unique north Georgia town of Helen.

www.kidsdomain.com
Contains geography games.

www.mapnation.com
A free Internet mapping service.

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html
Contains a recommended list of disaster supplies.

www.weatherbug.com
Website provides local weather information.


English Language Arts
EQ:What do I need to know to be successful in 8th grade GEORGIA STUDIES?
GPS: REVIEWED in CLASS-POSTED

AGENDA:
Warm-up-Getting to Know you activity
Pretest-Grammar Review from Holt Textbook
RULES POSTER-REVIEW of CLASSROOM PROCEDURES, ONLINE RESOURCES, etc.
Start Unit One-Narrative Texts
Student Concepts Maps given to students

Friday
Set up Writer's Workshop Notebooks-
Review of Writing Process Stages-MiniLesson-Graphic organizer
Start Biographical Narrative Writing Activity
Read "A Painful Day at School"

RESOURCES:
http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/students/s_bio_narr.html
www.spellingcity.com