Mrs. Albanese’s Blog

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

       Write three or four paragraphs that summarize the book. Include a brief description of the book’s characters, plot, setting and theme.  If the book is non-fiction, summarize the ideas presented and give examples of what you learned.

Write your opinion of the book and give a recommendation. Examples of themes: love, war, survival, lessons learned, friendship, adventure Write your book review in Word, save it to your file, revise and edit it. Print it out and put it in the tray then copy and paste it in the comment section of my blog.

    Some Bunny Loves YOU!

Homework – Read and study for Fire Test. Bring book to class on Thursday for Book Review.

Mon – Poem: Shamrock.  “To Build a Fire” – review questions and answers – creating your own study guide.

Tue – New grading system review: 5=A, 4=B, 3=C, 2=D, 1=do over.   So far graded item this marking period (5th) are

1. To Build a Fire – 2 column notes
2. Questions #1-8 done in class for review
3. Fire test.  Today- Fire Test

Wed – Library – exchange books and take AR tests.  Readers Handbook – read Comparing and Contrasting. 383-388.  Do a compare and contrast chart using Scrooge and the Grinch. 

Thursday – Bring book to class.  Book review. 

“To be a good reader – read. To be a good writer – write.”  – Mrs. Albanese

Reading – Read your AR book for 30 minutes at least five times per week. Take at least 2 AR tests for each marking period. Your two scores are report card grades.

Writing – Follow the following chart each week to create a writiing piece that will extend your skills and knowledge.

• Monday – Create a brainstorm based on your prompt – this must be written in some form – a plan, web, organized list, graphic organizer (see the Writers Inc to review)
• Tuesday – Write a draft  – bring to class
• Wednesday – Revise the draft – bring to class
• Thursday – Edit and publish (type if you can) the piece

You can save it on a flash drive and bring it to school to save on the hard drive. Also, you must turn in your essay to the tray on paper every Friday. If there is snow or you are absent, turn it in when you return. These are graded and important.  Each essay should represent careful planning, writing and revision. Go to the link below to view the rubric that will be used to evaluate your essays.

State of Delaware Writing Rubric:  http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/aab/files/GeneralRubricforWriting.pdf

Prompt due Jan 25:  Your friend wants to try out for the Lacrosse team in the spring but you know she/he is out of shape. Write an essay with advice that would be helpful. Include facts about what you know, what you have read and has worked for you.

Prompt due Feb 1: Most people have a favorite class at school.  Think about your favorite class.  Write an essay explaining what your favorite class is and why you enjoy it.

Prompt due Feb 8: The governor is considering a law requiring all children under the age of 16 to be home by 9:00 unless they are supervised by an adult.  Think about wheter or not you agree this should be a law.  Write a letter persuading the governor to agree with your opinion on the law requiring all children under the age of 16 to be home by 9:00 pm unless they are supervised by and adult.  When you do your Prewrite/Brainstorm think about what reasons you can give to support your opinion.

Prompt due Feb 15: Many people believe that the mass media (such as television, movies, music videos, video game, and advertising) has a significant effect on teens.  Write an editorial for your school newspaper arguing that the mass media has a positive or negative effect on teens.  When you do your Prewrite/Brainstorm consider what reasons you can give to support your opinion.

Prompt due Feb 22: Your school newspaper is sponsoring a special issue entitled “Our Favorite Possessions.” Write an article describing a personal possession that is significant to you, and explain why it is significant.

Prompt due Feb 29: The time we spend with friends and family is very important. Think about what a perfect day spent with a friend or family member would be like. Write a letter to a friend or family member explaining what you would do on your perfect day together. 

NEW THIS WEEK! Big, bright, brilliant balls that illuminate your thinking and raise your IQ just by standing underneath!  Check it out in Room 507!

Homework – Read for 45 minutes each night.  Turn in all makeup work – this is the end of the marking period.

Mon – Research – Writing the first draft. Use your writing plan as a guide, refer to your notes, and use your introductory paragraph.  Reading Skills – Dialogue – Readers’ Handbook 360-367. Read and take notes.

Tue – (Library STAR testing for Core 4) Research – Writing the first draft and collaborating with you Writing Team via Google Docs.  Comment as you go.  Reading Skills – Dialogue – Notes Strategy – Close reading.  Clues about character and plot.

Wed – Research – Writing and revising via Google docs.  Reading Skills – Review of Dialogue

1. What is the purpose of a speech tag?
2. How do writers handle dialogue from several speakers?
3. How does dialogue affect characters and the plot of a story?
4. How can dialogue affect the mood of a story?
5. What is one reading tool that is useful for reading dialogue – explain.

Thur – Research – editing and adding a Works Cited page. Check up on the draft/revisions. Reading skills – test on Dialogue.

Fri – Research – edit, share, edit, publish research paper using model in the Writers INC text.  Print and turn into the tray. Share with the class via Google docs. 

Students are invited to come to the Milton Theater at 6:45 on Dec 7 to enjoy poetry in honor of John Milton. Ten eighth grade finalists will share their poems and be honored! Students from my class get 100 points extra credit for attending!  

These students have demonstrated outstanding writing skills!

Brice I., Jenny W., Ashley M., Chris F.!

Thou shalt mess around and try to figure things out! 

Thou shalt ask other students for help!

Thou shalt have patience!

Congratulations on making it back to school after that nice, long summer break!

Welcome to 8th grade Language Arts, Albanese style! Welcome to my blog!

This blog will grow as we progress through the year. Think of it as a website where you can get information about the class, find the latest assignments, post refections and other writings, participate in class discussions, and read classmates ideas. My blog is a teacher blog that will drive our classroom so bookmark it and keep coming back.

Guess who this lovely young lady is? Who do you think?