Middle Ages Homework

Good Morrow, Sages.

Follow this link and read ALL sections ("Feudal Life, Religion, Homes, Clothing, etc.) of this unit from learner.org.  You will need to enter the site via the button on the bottom of the page that says [surprise!] "Enter".  Be sure to read the "Read more about..." too!  In these extended sections, you will find some interesting activities; be sure to dive into these as well.  

Your homework is to post, here on the blog, your response to AT LEAST ONE thing that you learned on this site, AND respond specifically to another student's post.

EX: "This is Ethan and I learned that medieval architecture was...I find this interesting because....
And, hey, Joey, what you said about knights and their role in the king's court was super-astute!  I happened to like the part about the knights' extra-fancy..."

PLEASE read everyone's post that has contributed at the time that you do your homework.  Make sure that you respond THOUGHTFULLY, rather than just writing the minimum amount you feel will get your homework checked off...

DUE by 9:00pm on Thursday, May 24th.

• 

4Rs Final Project Criteria

Here is a checklist for what you need to do to finalize your 4Rs Writing Projects:
FINAL PACKET DUE FRIDAY May 25th.

1. Project is submitted in a presentation folder.
2. Title page with your name and a creative title for your entire project. 
3. Four separate essays, double-spaced, with creative titles.
4. Each essay has an indication of which "R" trait to which it pertains (either in the title or as a header)
5. Each essay is thoroughly revised to your highest expectations--remember to refer to your rubric and my "love notes" to you (suggestions for revision).   TAKE TIME READING each essay from beginning to end one last time to make sure you are thoroughly satisfied with them.

Stay tuned for more details.  Oh, and check this out...http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2011/01/space_invaders.html yeah, I can be wrong from time to time.

"Bully" Field Trip Tomorrow 5/15!!

Hello Families,

It's great to be back with all your kiddos.  I missed them!

We have made a reservation to see the film Bully tomorrow at the Sebastopol Cinemas.  This film has received a lot of acclaim for its relevance and poignancy, and many parents in our community have shown enthusiasm towards our kids seeing it.  Mary Norstrom (thank you!) has actually reserved 40 seats for our group.  If any of you would like to join us, there should be plenty of room!  This may be of special interest to you if your child has experienced or has dealt with bullying in any way.  The admission is $7.00--please make sure your student has it for the movie tomorrow.  If you would like to attend, please email me to let me know, and don't forget your own admission. :)

We will be walking to the Rialto/Sebastopol Cinemas, leaving here at 11:25 to be there around 12:00.  The movie begins at 12:20.  We'll eat an early lunch, and should be back around 2:30.  

Just so everyone is informed, the movie does have some strong adult language in it (yes, the "f" word), but it is my personal experience that this particular group of students has the tools to hear the language in context and be mature about it.  If you would like to see the trailer, paste this link into your browser: 

http://www.google.com/movies?hl=en&near=Sebastopol,+CA&dq=bully+movie&sort=1&mid=d6713b46ab24570&tid=22ae3e92a46d7a63&sa=X&ei=sGexT9GKCKqYiQLH0u3-Aw&ved=0CCYQwAMoAg

Thanks all!  I think it will be really great for our kids to see this.

Homework Reminders!!

We have too many students missing work currently in class.  This morning we went over the "offenders" list, so you all know who you are...

Remember, the primary assignments that people have missing, consequently diminishing overall scores are:

• 4Rs Essays 1 & 2
• 4Rs Rubrics
• China/Japan Projects
• A Samurai's Tale: Final Essay
• NOTE: I am no longer accepting these, as so much time has passed; to make it up, please select one of the four short pieces from the Junior Great Books that we have not yet read, and write a one-page response paper.  The paper should include your understandings of the piece; your reaction to it; your sense of what the piece "means."

IMPORTANT: THESE ARE LATE, LATE ASSIGNMENTS; YOU MUST HAVE THEM COMPLETE BY THIS FRIDAY, BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR ASHLAND.  LATER PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

thanks,

your incredibly compassionate teacher.

$3.00 for Tomorrow's Presentation

Hi all--

Meg Mizutani will be coming tomorrow, so please bring your $3.00 contribution.  It is going to be fun!

This video from Vimeo relates to the presentation she will be giving, and one of my biggest passions: coffee.  I want to be friends with this guy!  View "Yoshi's Blend"

Science Fair Reports

***There have been CHANGES (I said no extensions, but CHANGES I never mentioned...) to the Science Fair Event/Due Dates.  Please Note:

Hey everyone!  Our school science fair will now be on May 28th.  Students have a report associated with this project that is due May 18th.  Follow this link if you need an extra copy of the assignment: Science Fair Report.

Now the report must include your research PLUS your data/results from the experiments. Presentation boards, etc. will be due on the day of the fair.  We will be talking more in class about what these steps entail.

Remember, kiddos (especially now!) : no, No, NO! extensions on these reports--we need to respect Sean's time and hard work for us; he has the other classes to help, too.  Late reports will not be accepted.  So get started early, ask questions early, and be Responsible!!  You can do it.

Projects

The Seventh Grade Ravens are presenting their research reports on China & Japan, plus a couple of very interesting independent study projects.  They are beyond incredible.  Check this post as I do my best to add digital means of viewing our students' work!

Spencer's Edinburgh Blog  He's a gigapanner's apprentice!
Selena's Tea Ceremony She's a movie star now!!
Check out Brandon's Junk!  It's a Chinese boat!
Check out David's Junk!  A nautical genius!
Sumi'i from Master Ben "Bamboo with a Pear"
Lily is giving Hokusai a Run for his Money!  Incredible grid-enlargement falconry!
Caleb is a Samurai Warrior!  Or at least an expert on them...!
Elani finally does this Hokusai justice! Elegant cherry blossoms and a birdie!
Ila accomplishes what Hokusai only dreamt of!  Contemplating on the banks of a river near Fuji...

STAR Week

Hello Students & Families.

Just a reminder that this is STAR testing week, so make sure to (1) come to school (2) get sleep and (3) eat healthy and substantial breakfasts all week long.  This way you'll be in your best form for the tests--we want your scores to reflect YOUR abilities, not a ZOMBIE'S!!!  See your there!

Work Cited for China/Japan Research

Here is a link to a page that gives guidance on how to format a works cited (bibliography) page in MLA format.

You should have at least 3 sources for these papers; I am anticipating that you will have more.  Please do your best to get the formatting right, as this will be a skill you need for the rest of your academic careers, and it also helps ensure that you don't plagiarize!

Keep up the good work!!

Rubrics ROCK!

Hi everyone!  Hope you are enjoying the long weekend; I know I certainly am!

Attached here is a blank rubric that I created with my rubistar account.  You can use them however you'd like, and you do not have to use this at all.  The rubric MAY be printed out, then handwritten on this template.  You can also download it and type directly into it, if you wish.

Some things to remember from our discussion about creating your own rubric:

• Have high, but fair, expectations for yourself (don't make yourself fail just because you misspelled one word, but create a rubric that will help guide you to write a high-level compilation that represents excellent 7th grade work).
• Look to the 6 traits of writing (you  do not have to include all of them, or any of them; this is your rubric!): IDEAS, VOICE, ORGANIZATION, WORD CHOICE, SENTENCE FLUENCY, & CONVENTIONS.  Ask yourself: Which of these is essential to this writing?
• Create row categories that are specific to this task, which is to write personal narratives about the 4Rs in your life.  Remember the example of "arguments and reasons" in the Persuasive Essay rubric as an analogous .
• I WILL use these rubrics to grade your final packets (final score will be a % of the total points that you determine possible).  I WILL use my own expectations (which don't think will be too different from for own!) as you hand in the individual essays so that I can guide you to any necessary revision.

Keep up the good work and keep writing!!

Four R's

The 4R's writing project will see us to the end of our writing class!  Below you will find the attachment with the timeline for completing each stage of the assignment.

If you happen to have "writer's block" as you try to figure out how each of these qualities show up in your lives, remember you shouldn't be thinking along the lines of a straightforward essay, but rather conceiving of a narrative that depicts some way in which an "R" as had an effect on you.  "Responsibility" can be more than just household chores and homework (although a narrative could be constructed around these things--humor could easily be employed to illustrate your relationship to these things), responsibility can refer to holding oneself accountable for one's actions, feeling regret, taking action, or feeling responsible for the actions of others, just to name a few things.

Try to think outside the box, and do this through the prewriting you do this week.  If you would like to listen to the full story that we listened to on This American Life,  it may inspire you.  Click on the play button by the story entitle "Resurrection."  This author really learned about responsiveness as he came to understand his relationship to his brother.

Attached here is the 4Rs assignment with the due dates.  Be well and keep writing!

A Samurai's Tale Final Essay Prompt

Hope that everyone had a relaxing and fun spring break.  Welcome back.  Here is the final assignment for Haugaard's A Samurai's Tale.

Write a short essay (3-5 paragraphs, TYPED) about the main character of A Samurai's Tale, Murakami Harutomo, that answers this question:


What quality of character does Harutomo possess that allows him to overcome each obstacle in his life?  


REMEMBER to support your claim (the quality you claim he possess) through examples from the book. These do not have to be direct quotes (but can be), and you should cite the page number to which you are referring.  This essay will be scored on how well you support your claim, not whether your argument is "right" or "wrong"; you will prove this via the strength of your writing!!


THEN...

Compose a haiku that describes the essential qualities that a samurai must possess, as you have interpreted from your reading of this book.  Remember that a haiku is a poem that consists of three lines, the first having 5 syllables, the second having 7, an the third having 5.  Make it good (!) and study Taro's poetry in the book to get ideas of the tone you are looking for.  Please center the poem at the end of your essay.

DUE MONDAY,  APRIL 2ND.  

Hey Girls!!

Here is a link to April 3rd Science Workshop for 7th and 8th grade girls at Sonoma State!  Looks pretty cool...don't tell the gentlemen about it.

Samurai Chapters 8-12

Really enjoying A Samurai's Tale!

Here are the next round of questions.  As always, four thoughtful responses to comprehension questions, and one thoughtful response to an interpretive question.

DUE DATE: March 14th, this Wednesday.

Medieval China and/or Japan Project

DUE April 17th!!!!!!!

Here is the link to the document for our next projects.  Students, you have many choices here for what you can do to demonstrate your learning for China & Japan.  Do your best to make a decision by this Wednesday, 3/15, on which project you will do.  Take note that you can also make up your own project.  They all must have two elements: an "artifact" and a 3-5 page research paper!  If you do think of some thing else besides what's on the grid, see me asap to confer and design you project.

Check this posting periodically, as the document might be modified.  There are links embedded into the doc that might help you, and I may add some more as time goes on.  Enjoy.

Samurai's Tale Chapters 5-7

Glad that, for the most part, students had an easy time retrieving the homework from the blog!  Keep up the good work.

Here are the questions for A Samurai's Tale for chapters 5-7.

DIRECTIONS: Choose four comprehension questions and one interpretive question.  Answer them in complete sentences with proper grammar.


DUE DATE: Friday, March 9th.

Taoism vs. Confucianism PPT

Here is the PowerPoint on Taoism & Confucianism.  Study it & enjoy!

There may be a question based on this information on tomorrow's test!

Samurai's Tale HWK

STUDENTS: Your Homework is to pick 4 "Questions for Comprehension" (written in regular type) and 1 "Question for Interpretation" and thoughtfully respond in complete, grammatically-correct, sentences.  View Questions Due Tuesday, March 6th.

TCM with Cara Ortiz, LAc-to-be!

Last Tuesday my wife Cara came in with her apprentice, Izzie Bee and gave a presentation on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  The students had a great time and, as I understand, were very interested in the topic.  Here is her Power Point Presentation on TCM.

STUDENTS: study this ppt!  There just MIGHT be a question having to do with TCM on our test on China this Wednesday!!

Friday Night at the Grange

Bravo to the incredible acts at the REACH Talent Show.  7th graders rocked the stage!  So great to see everyone and what a beautiful event.  We will have pics and video up on the blog as soon as we can.  Thanks to all that helped put it together, and congrats to Felicia and Brandon, who, against all odds, pulled it off!  You guys were great up there.

Raven Good Cookie Drive

Ask your kiddos about the "Raven Good Cookie Drive."  A flyer went home yesterday and it's a big opportunity to raise much-needed $$$ for REACH!  Students will pre-sell bags of ready-to-bake cookie dough for $15 to friends, family, and neighbors.

Thanks!

Persuasive Letter Rubric

View Rubric

Here's the rubric to help guide in the writing of your persuasive letters.  Grading will be based on this!

Spelling Test Moved

Hi all--

Moved the spelling test to tomorrow 3/2!

Unit 8 Spelling

Here is a pdf of the spelling list.  Test on Thursday, March 1st!!

Homework: Write five grammatically correct & creative sentences using 10 of the words!  Due: Tuesday, February 28th.

U8 Word Study

Persuasive Letters

Hello all!  This Friday, March 2nd, the final drafts for the persuasive letters are due.  Final drafts must be typed, and are to be turned in with the Persuasive Letter Graphic Organizer and the Rough Draft(s) attached.  For Monday, please be ready with the revised rough drafts for a final in-class edit in the writing period.

Rubric for final drafts to come!



This assignment corresponds to CDE Standard 7.2.4 

Tonight's homework is to begin writing a creative piece based on idiomatic speech.  The pieces will be due on Friday the 20th.

Language Arts

Today we are going to discuss Vonnegut.

Friday