PRIDE Binders

PRIDE BINDERS:

Students in grades 3^rd-8^th will ALL be participating in the PRIDE binder system starting school year 15-16. This system is a simple, efficient ONE binder system to keep all school materials in ONE place. These binders will help encourage organizational skills by; having one pocket for each class; one pocket for homework and one for “keep at home.” This is an important system that will help develop good study habits around prioritizing, homework, and overall tracking of school assignments. ONE clear communication system from home to school.

This binder is a school supply, we NEED uniformity across all classrooms for the system to work to its full potential. Therefore, we will be purchasing all the supplies and it will be a fee at back to school. This will be a tool that students will be able to use for high school and beyond.

End of the Year!

What an amazing year. It has gone by so quickly. I am amazed at how much growth each of these students has made, not only as students, but as people. Looking back over the past year it is with great joy and sadness that I watch this year's eighth graders graduate. Many of these wonderful kids were my first students at CA. We have been together for four years. I have watched them grow in so many ways and send them out into the world with the greatest confidence that they will all become successful individuals.  Best wishes to all our graduates and here's to a fun filled future!

   Mrs. Gordon

New Books!

This past week began our adventure into our new novels!

5th and 6th Grade MUR: Students began our Shakespeare unit. We spent time learning about Shakespeare's life and the Globe theater. We also talked about common terms used in dramas. This week we will begin reading Hamlet. Students will have the opportunity to perform portions of the play in class!

7th and 8th Grade MUR: Last week students began an in-depth study of Gothic Literature. Working off our background knowledge from earlier in the year, students will read Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. We will use this unit to spring board off of what we learned in our CCC unit.  Students will focus on theme, written response and elements of Gothic Lit.

Both groups continue to work on Greek and Latin roots as well as studying grammar.

Update

MUR 7th and 8th: This month students will be reading James Swason's Chasing Lincoln's Killer. We will dive into persuasive nonfiction while continuing to focus on claim, basis, and elements of nonfiction. In spelling we continue our study in Words Their Way. We will be working to find the literal meanings of words by breaking apart the prefix, root and suffix and then relating the literal meaning to its connotative meaning. In grammar, we will be working on predicate pronouns.

MUR 5th and 6th: This month we will be finishing our study of Earthsea. Students continue to focus on theme, text structure and author's craft. We will be digging into these skills by transferring them to our literature circle books.