Mrs. Albanese’s Blog

What does it mean to sign your name? Is it something that causes other people to remember you? How do you want to be remembered? Think about great things to say. Think about a great quote that fits your ideas and your life: a lesson learned, something of truth. 

To look for a great quote go to the poets and writers you have studied this year research on the Internet. Then copy the quote into a word document and write about what it means to you.  Then post it here on my blog in the comment section.  Then post it on your blog. 

Here’s mine

Poe wrote, “Quoth the Raven, nevermore.”  To me this means that time passes and things never stay the same. Love comes and goes, relationships come and go, so live life every day. Learn and enjoy. Experience new things, make new friends and work to be happy. 

 

Homework - Go to the public library and check out good books. READ ALL SUMMER!

Monday - Blog project: share blogs and get 200 points credit!  MAke up work time!

Tuesday - Student Teachers teach Cool Tech stuff! Avatars, RSS Feed, Audio, Video Blogrolls, Links

Wednesday - STAR Tests! This is the third test this year and your results will be given to you as part of your portfolio.  Finish all essays!  New Post: Find a poem that you love and post it. Tell why you like it.  Then visit 3 other blogs from 8th grade (see blogroll on my blog) and read posts, comment. Write a post about something that interests you.

Thursday - Jungle Jims Trip! Take a dip and have fun! Drama Club Show! 

Friday - (Honor Society Trip to Jungle Jims)  Lesson: What advice would you give the 7th graders who are moving up? What should they know about 8th grade, teachers, lessons, homework, sports, drama, music, PE? What should they know about LA with me as their teacher? Write a post to the 7th grade students giving “big brotherly” advice. Include details.  Write this in WORD, revise and edit, print on fancy paper for a bulliten board and sign it with your name.

Monday - Blog Final Grades

Tuesday - Transition practice and tee shirt/yearbook signing

Wednesday - 9pm Transition Ceremony! Half day of school! HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

 

 

Wonderful memories, beautifully dressed young men and women, loud pulsating music, dancing to the music.

But my favorite memory, that Alicia Keys song…Nothing really matters, I don’t really care, what nobody tells me, it’s a matter of extreme importance my first teenage love affair. My girls and I, standing on the dance floor, singing and smiling.  AHHH!  That did it for me… I LOVE THESE STUDENTS!  (As if you didn’t already know that.)

Can’t wipe this smile from my face. It’s true. Alex and his Cape LAX team WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP on Saturday at Dover High School. They are simply the best!  Smile. Joy. Pride.

 

Last Friday I had doubts that we would ever get any poetry written in time for Mother’s Day, but once again my students’ hard work prevailed and most of them took home some beautiful words, a description of their mom in poetic form on colorful paper with foam letters at the top.  My favorite comment from a student was that the poem he gave his mom ALMOST made her cry. I know that I would have been a blubbering mess if my son had handed me a poem. Actually, I did shed a few tears on Mother’s Day. My son Alex gave me a photograph that was matted and signed on the back with the kindest, sweetest words I have ever read. Gosh, the best gifts are gifts from the heart. 

^{YOU ARE THE AUTHOROF YOUR OWN LIFESTORY!}

^{Capstone Project}

This is it! The end of your middle school experience. Now get writing!

• Part 1 – Brainstorm to create list of personal accomplishments and memories
• Part 2 – Writing Workshop create written material that represents your life so far then post on your blog. Respond to classmates postings.
• Part 3 – Oral and Visual Presentation protopage project and oral presentation  

List of Choices   * items are a must do                                                         

1. Accomplishment Essay * – Name a special accomplishment that you are proud of. Tell about it and how it changed your thinking.
2. Resume * –tells about your qualifications for a summer job
3. Letter * –  a thank you letter thanking someone for helping you
4. Proudest Moment Essay or Person You Most Admire Essay * – your proudest moment or write about the person you most admire.
5. Timeline – your life events in a time sequence
6. Hobby or Passion – write about something that you love to do. Include pictures and descriptions.
7. Favorite Things Protopage – tab each of your favorites including food, games, sports, music, dances, art, books, colors, fashions, shoes, whatever! Include website links.
8. Virtual Vacation – what places would you like to visit? Create a blog page or a protopage linked to your blog to show this place.
9. Middle School Memories – What are your most precious memories?
10. Your choice – see me for discussion. 

              

Petals

by Pat Mora

have calloused her hands,

brightly colored crepe paper: turquoise,

yellow, magenta, which she shapes

into large blooms for bargain-hunting tourists

who see her flowers, her puppets, her baskets,

but not her - small gray-haired woman

wearing a white apron, who hides behind

blossoms in her stall at the market,

who sits and remembers collecting wildflowers

as a girl, climbing rocky Mexican hills

to fill a straw hat with soft blooms

which she’d stroke gently, over and over again

with her smooth fingertips.

A guided response to write a poem about the person who you honor on Mother’s Day. This could be your mom, stepmom, aunt, grandmother or nana.  You may write more than one poem and put it together in a very special way as a gift.

Use the five senses when you complete this sequence. Use vivid words that tell color, shape and texture.

1. write words that describe your mother’s hands
2. write words that tell what she does when she works
3. write words that describe her at work
4. write words that describe her face, eyes, nose, mouth, hair
5. write words that describe her in her favorite clothes
6. write words that describe a memory she may have from when she was a young girl
7. write words that describe her being funny
8. write words that describe her doing something that she loves
9. write words that describe her doing something with you

Now we will take this list and arrange the words into a poem.

Homework - you guessed it! READ! Must take one AR test by the end of May for your grade.

Monday - Best Short Story text - “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers. Read Introduction. Pages 190-193.  Read the story 195-205. Make a character map as you go to help you remember a major character. 

Tuesday - “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” finish reading. Dialect, page 207-209. Do Exercise A Questions 1-2. 

Wednesday - “The Treasure of Lemon Brown”. Using comparisons.  page 214-215 Do Exercise C, #1-2. Do Review and interpret questions on pages 219-223.

Thursday - Test on Lemon Brown. Poem, Petals revisited and writing our own petal poem for mom.

Friday - Book Review

http://wiarmc.edublogs.org/      Will

http://alex2012.edublogs.org/   Alex

http://taylesha2012.edublogs.org/ Taylesha

http://jonathanv2012.edublogs.org/  Jonathan V

http://john2012.edublogs.org/  John

http://dawnya2012.edublogs.org/  Dawnya

donna2012.edublogs.org/ Donna

http://brycehop2012.edublogs.org/ Bryce

http://shakeira2012.edublogs.org Shareira

3 nicholasp2012.edulogs.org Nicholas

3 http://hayden2012.edublogs.org/ Hayden

3 http://tracey2012.edublogs.org/  Tracey3 http://mohr2012.edublogs.org/ Sammy M

3 http://dillon2012.edublogs.org/ James N

  

Washington DC Monuments Walking Tour for Eighth Graders 

Assemble at Mariner Middle School parking lot, 6:45 am

• Leave Mariner Middle School at 7:00 am on 4 Jor-Lin coach buses
• Travel to Washington DC, about 2.5 hours depending on traffic
• 10:00 Arrive at the Arlington National Cemetery.
• Visit General Lee’s home, Women’s memorial and the Kennedy graves.
• 10:30 Changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
• 11:00 Board buses, go to Lincoln Memorial.  Take packed snack/lunches off bus with you.  Chaperone groups visit monuments in the area including The Vietnam, Korean, Lincoln and Roosevelt, Washington monuments.
• 1:45 Meet at the World War II memorial and board buses.
• 2:00 Drive a short distance to Union Station for some lunch and shopping. 3:15 Board buses and head back to DelawareParent pick up promptly at 5:00 pm please! 

This fabulous field trip is for all eighth graders who have adhered to the code of conduct.  We need plenty of parent/guardian chaperones!    Students must

1. Make arrangements for their ride home from Mariner at 5:00 pm
2. Be prepared to do a lot of walking.
3. Get permission and money to their homeroom teacher by Wednesday, April 16.
4. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a jacket in case of rain or cold. 
5. Bring a lunch/snack and drinks for the trip.  Bring $ for lunch and/or souvenirs.

Students are encouraged to bring a breakfast/lunch/snack for the ride and after Arlington.  We will be able to eat again at Union Station before we leave Washington. 

$25.00 for trip. Lunch at Union Station is on your own.

Do your research!  Look up these places to know more about the walking tour:

• Arlington National Cemetary: Women’s Memorial, Kennedy graves, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Lincoln Memorial
• Vietnam Memorial
• Korean Memorial
• Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
• Washington Monument
• World War II Memorial
• Union Station Washington DC
• Chesapeake Bay Bridge