Month: April 2020

Good morning 7th graders,

I am so happy I got to see some of you yesterday on Teams! It made the first day back from break much better 😊. Remember that today is a Gold Day, which means you are focusing on your 5th, 6th, 7th period classes, and Tuesday’s Specialist (Music).

For your 6th/7th period class (Literature / ELA) To Do List, you have three items:

• • • Daily Journal (5 – 10 minutes)
    • Tangerine reading and discussion questions (0 – 20 minutes)
    • Daily Reading log (0 – 20 minutes)

Let’s dive right in!

1. Daily Journal (5 – 10 minutes)
   • You can free write on a topic or feeling of your choice, or use the prompt below – it’s up to you!
   • Prompt: It’s been over a month of social distancing and distance learning, and we can see the positive, life-saving results of our efforts in our state. However, sometimes, when you feel frustrated or overwhelmed, the cost of staying distant feels too high. When that happens, how do you renew your motivation? What do you do, or think of, that reminds you your sacrifice is worth it? Be as specific and concrete as possible when describing your motivation(s) for remaining socially distant.
2. Tangerine reading and discussion questions (0 – 20 minutes)
   • If you are ahead in your reading and answering of questions, you can skip Tangerine for today!
   • If you are behind, use today to catch up and work on your Part 2 Discussion Questions.
   • Reminder: Part 2 Discussion Questions are due tomorrow, 4/23
3. Daily Reading log (0 – 20 minutes)
   • If you are behind in Tangerine, you can skip your reading log for today to focus on catching up.
   • If you are ahead in Tangerine, use your time for free reading instead.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Welcome back 7th graders!

You’re here! I missed you! I hope you had a restful and fun break. While it’s not the vacation you originally imagined, I’m positive many of you used your creative problem solving skills and came up with fabulous alternatives. I look forward to hearing about your adventures in the coming weeks.

Now that you’re back, you’re in the home stretch! Hopefully, you and your parents have reviewed the Middle School Bulletin announcement from Administration and the email from Mrs. Mansfield about our schedule and expectations. If not, take a moment and do so now! (Don’t worry, I’ll still be here when you’re done 😁)…

…okay, now you have definitely read the messages and know that we are using a block schedule for the rest of the year. How does this affect you? Well, it means you will focus on fewer classes each day, and be able to give your best effort. It also means you have a manageable, predictable schedule for online classes and discussions.

Speaking of online classes (not my greatest bridge, I know🤫), the block schedule has an impact on presentation schedules. You will still present Book Talks on your assigned days, but the times have been slightly adjusted. As usual, I will send you, and your parents, an email reminder the day before with all of the details. If you ever have any conflicts with your presentation date or time, let me know and we’ll find something that works!

And now, for today’s work! You have four items for you Literature/ELA To Do list:

• • • • Sharing your favorite journal entry from week 4 (2 – 5 minutes)
      • Tangerine check-in / possible catch up (2 – 20 minutes)
      • Reading log extension (5 minutes or less – depending on your typing skills and calendar knowledge)
      • Daily Journal entry (5 – 10 minutes)

And, away we go!

1. Sharing your favorite journal entry from week 4 (2 – 5 minutes)
   • Remember that your journal entries will all be related to your Holy Week reflections.
   • Pick your favorite entry, explain why you chose it, and share both the reflection and your reason with me on the Teams assignment “Favorite Journal Entry of Week 4”
   • Let me know if you have questions or need help!
2. Tangerine check-in / possible catch up (2 – 20 minutes)
   • According to the schedule, you should be around page 190.
   • You are scheduled to finish Part 2 on Wednesday, April 22nd, and turn in your Part 2 questions on Thursday, April 23rd.
   • If you are behind, you need to send me an email today to let me know where you are and why you are behind in reading (I need to know so we can find a new plan that works for you!)
3. Reading log extension (5 minutes or less – depending on your typing skills and calendar knowledge)
   • If you have not already, you need to add more dates to your reading log.
   • You need to add enough rows to cover the dates from now through June 5th.
   • Remember, weekends are optional reading time. You can always put weekend dates in italics to remind yourself!
4. Daily Journal entry (5 – 10 minutes)
   • Prompt: When you read “Spring Break 2020”, what’s the first thing that pops into your brain? Why that? Explain it to me / your journal.

 

And that’s everything for today. As always, contact me with any questions and have a great day!

Welcome back 8th graders,

You’re here! I missed you! I hope you had a restful and fun break. While it’s not the vacation you originally imagined, I’m positive many of you used your creative problem solving skills and came up with fabulous alternatives. I look forward to hearing about your adventures in the coming weeks.

Now that you’re back, you’re in the home stretch! Hopefully, you and your parents have reviewed the Middle School Bulletin announcement from Administration and the email from Mrs. Mansfield about our schedule and expectations. If not, take a moment and do so now! (Don’t worry, I’ll still be here when you’re done 😁)…

…okay, now you have definitely read the messages and know that we are using a block schedule for the rest of the year. How does this affect you? Well, it means you will focus on fewer classes each day, and be able to give your best effort. It also means you have a manageable, predictable schedule for online classes and discussions.

Speaking of online classes (not my greatest bridge, I know🤫), the block schedule has an impact on presentation and performance schedules. You will still present Movie Talks on your assigned days, but the times have been slightly adjusted. As usual, I will send you, and your parents, an email reminder the day before with all of the details.

Following our block schedule, monologue performances will start on Wednesday, April 22nd, for Thomas homeroom and Thursday, April 23rd, for Mansfield homeroom.

• • • Students who signed up for group performances are going first, followed by those who signed up for individual performances.
    • Find your name on schedule here. This is also available in the “Class Materials” section of the 8th Grade Literature Team.
    • Presentation slots are quite short (3 minutes), so please arrive on time.
    • If you have any conflicts with your assigned time, let me know right away and we can find a time that works better.

For your work today, you need to:

• • • finish the final round of editing on your written analysis so it is ready to turn in on Tuesday, April 21st, 2020.
    • shake the dust off and practice your monologue one more time

If your written work is already finished (write up, annotated monologue, and completed “Questions to guide your monologue”), feel free to turn all three pieces in on Teams (Monologue Project – Written Analysis).

Contact me if you have any questions!

Good morning 7th and 8th graders,

You did it! You made it! Today is Good Friday and Catch Up day. And, tomorrow your Spring break begins! I know it’s not the break you may have imagined, but there are still fantastic opportunities to relax, revive, and renew. I look forward to hearing about your break, and sharing some exciting new ideas, when we return (hint: you may or may not be creating a themed back drop for video chats when we come back…🤫)

For today, you have two main tasks:

1. 1. 1. 1. Click on the link and join spiritually with all of us at 11am to pray the Stations of the Cross (led by the 8th graders!). Take a moment at the end to pray for whatever you, and the world, most need right now.
         2. Use today to work on projects or assignments that are incomplete or missing. If you you’re feeling overwhelmed, please reach out for help! We can help you organize and prioritize, help get you back on track and feeling like yourself 😁.

That’s every thing for today! Have a wonderful Spring break and a blessed Easter! And, as always, contact me with any questions!

Hi 7th graders,

Spring break is days away and the Paschal Triduum (the three most holy days in the Catholic calendar) begins this evening – hooray! You have worked incredibly hard over these past four weeks and you deserve a rest.

Tomorrow at 11am, I encourage you and your family to watch and pray the Stations of the Cross created for us by the 8th grade. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

You have one main item for your Literature / ELA To Do list:

• • • Religion Reflection / Daily Reading / Daily Journal (20 – 35 minutes)

This should look pretty familiar by now, but review the directions if you need any extra guidance.

1. Religion Reflection / Daily Reading / Daily Journal (20 – 35 minutes)
   • Today’s reflection focuses on the act of washing the apostles’ feet – what it meant then and what it means for us today. I look forward to reading your thoughts!
     • Use your reading time to review Mrs. Mansfield’s daily reflection on Teams, think about it, and respond.
     • Copy and paste your response for today in to your reading log entry for 4/9
   • Contact me with questions!

You can still work on posters for first responders. You can also make encouraging posters for your windows, for the people passing by. You never know who might see it, and everybody can use a little extra kindness and support. Thank you for contributing to the common good by remaining socially distant and finding safe and appropriate ways to support those in need!

Have a thoughtful and reflective Holy Thursday. I look forward to praying the Stations of the Cross with you tomorrow at 11am!

Hi 8th graders,

Spring break fast approaches and the Paschal Triduum (three most holy days in the Catholic calendar) begins tonight – hooray! You have done amazingly well over the past four weeks and I’m excited that we all get to have a well deserved rest soon.

For today, you have two items for your Literature To Do list:

• • • • Religion Reflection / Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
      • Monologue Preparation / Practice / Recording (10 – 15 minutes)

1. Religion Reflection / Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
   • Today’s reflection focuses on the act of washing the apostles’ feet – what it meant then and what it means for us today. I look forward to reading your thoughts!
     • Use your reading time to review Mrs. Mansfield’s daily reflection on Teams, think about it, and respond.
     • Copy and paste your response for today in to your reading log entry for 4/9
   • Contact me with questions!
2. Monologue Preparation / Practice / Recording (10 – 15 minutes)
   • If you feel confident in your performance (60-75% confidence counts 😁), check in with a classmate, perform your monologues for each other, and provide feedback.
   • Today and tomorrow are the last two days you can get feedback from me on your performance (because I want you to chill out over Spring break😎)
   • The assignment will go live on Teams tomorrow, but you do NOT need to turn anything in until Tuesday, April 21st, 2020.
   • Please contact me with questions!

You can still work on posters for first responders. You can also make encouraging posters for your windows, for the people passing by. You never know who might see it, and everybody can use a little extra kindness and support. Thank you for contributing to the common good by remaining socially distant and finding safe and appropriate ways to support those in need!

Have a thoughtful and reflective Holy Thursday. I’m looking forward to taking part in the Stations of the Cross you created tomorrow at 11am. Thank you for creating this opportunity for our school to come together and pray!

 

Hello 7th graders,

It’s Roots Day – hooray! It’s also Wednesday of Holy Week and you have another opportunity to reflect and more deeply engage. You have two items for Literature / ELA To Do list and one (can’t-encourage-it-highly-enough) optional item for your Contributing to the Common Good list:

• • • • Religion Reflection / Daily Reading / Daily Journal (20 – 35 minutes)
      •  🌊 Hydros💧Quiz (5 – 10 minutes)
      • Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)

And, so we begin!

1. Religion Reflection / Daily Reading / Daily Journal (20 – 35 minutes)
   • Today’s reflection takes a closer look at Judas and offers you the chance to look at his actions from a new perspective. I look forward to reading your thoughts!
     • Use your reading time to review Mrs. Mansfield’s daily reflection on Teams, think about it, and respond.
     • Copy and paste your response for today in to your reading log entry for 4/8
   • Contact me with questions!
2.  🌊 Hydros💧Quiz (5 – 10 minutes)
   • Take your quiz on Teams.
   • No new root this week – I want you to rest over Spring break!
3. Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)
   • Please review my post from yesterday for more details and consider making a poster (or two or three or…)
   • Remember that posters can be dropped off, laminated or not, at the flagpole outside of school today – Wednesday, 4/8 – from 12:30 – 1pm.
   • Contact me if you have questions – or if you need construction paper! Seriously, I’m happy to drop it off on your doorstep if it will help us support first responders 😁.

That is everything – have a great day and contact me with questions!

Hello 8th graders,

It’s Wednesday of Holy Week and you’re just a few days away from your well deserved rest during Spring break.

You have two items for your Literature To Do list and one (can’t-encourage-it-highly-enough) optional item for your Contributing to the Common Good list:

• • • Religion Reflection / Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
    • Monologue Preparation/Practice/Recording (10 – 15 minutes)
    • Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)

And, away we go!

1. Religion Reflection / Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
   • Today’s reflection takes a closer look at Judas and offers you the chance to look at his actions from a new perspective. I look forward to reading your thoughts!
     • Use your reading time to review Mrs. Mansfield’s daily reflection on Teams, think about it, and respond.
     • Copy and paste your response for today in to your reading log entry for 4/8
   • Contact me with questions!
2. Monologue Preparation / Practice / Recording (10 – 15 minutes)
   • If you have not yet done it, you need to record yourself performing your monologue.
     • Do it today – the longer you wait, the harder it becomes.
     • Because it is incredibly difficult to give yourself balanced feedback (we are either too nice or, more often, far too negative), imagine that you are watching a friend and giving them feedback. You need to give a mix of what works and what needs to improve.
       • • Focus on tone and gesture – and how connected those two elements feel to the monologue.
         • Give concrete feedback using specific examples from your performance.
         • Start with three positive aspects – what did you do well or what have you improved on? Remember to use specific details to convince yourself! If you can’t find anything, talk to me immediately (email, Teams video call, send a raven – but get in contact!), so I can help you find the good!
         • Give yourself one area of improvement to focus on during your next practice session.
   • Contact me if you would like extra practice or feedback
   • Please hug your parents / guardians for being so supportive of this assignment (and keeping you alive/sane/healthy during this time…and always) and tell them I say “Beloved Parents and Guardians, I am eternally grateful for all that you do and appreciate your tolerance of this at-home Drama unit! It’s almost over, I promise!”
3. Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)
   • Please review my post from yesterday for more details and consider making a poster (or two or three or…)
   • Remember that posters can be dropped off, laminated or not, at the flagpole outside of school today – Wednesday, 4/8 – from 12:30 – 1pm.
   • Contact me if you have questions – or if you need construction paper! Seriously, I’m happy to drop it off on your doorstep if it will help us support first responders 😁.

That is everything – have a great day and contact me with questions!

Greetings and salutations 7th graders,

I know that the past weeks have been difficult for many of us, and I want to take a moment to say how grateful I am to be your teacher. Every day, when I see examples of your kindness, compassion, persistence, strength, and resilience, I am reminded of why I love my job. In many different ways, every one of you has shown me how powerful the human spirit is – and that motivates me to keep doing whatever I can to support all of you.

From finding, organizing, and executing your daily work, to reaching out to see if a friend/classmate/teacher is doing okay, you show your adaptability and compassion. You have self-advocated by asking questions and for help. You have been patient with my replies. Each day, you continue to try your best, to do what you can, even when it’s really hard.

Perhaps most impressive is the resilience you have demonstrated. All of us have failed somehow – with communication, technology, organization, follow through, kindness, persistence, patience, and more. But, each time we failed, we took a moment to regroup, and then tried again. Instead of giving up, you have all chosen to keep trying. That is amazing! It is also exhausting – trust me, I know. So, remember, although you are working distantly, you are not alone. Whenever you have trouble regrouping, reach out for some support – we are here for you! Okay, that’s the end of my Tuesday pep talk.

We continue to use Literature and Language Arts time to focus on Holy Week. So, your work is very similar to yesterday – two items for Literature / ELA To Do list and one, highly encouraged, optional item for your Being a Good Person list:

• • • • Religion Reflection / Daily Reading / Daily Journal (20 – 35 minutes)
      • Study for 🌊 Hydros💧(3 – 5 minutes)
      • Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)

1. Religion Reflection / Daily Reading / Daily Journal (20 – 35 minutes)
   • Use your reading and daily journal time to review Mrs. Mansfield’s daily reflection on Teams, think about it, and respond.
   • Copy and paste your response for today in to your reading log entry for 4/7
   • Contact me with questions!
2. Study for 🌊 Hydros💧(3 – 5 minutes)
   • Use your favorite study method
   • I have posted the Hydros presentation in the Files section of the 7th Grade LIT/ELA Team, if you need it
3. Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)
   • Please review my post from yesterday for more details and consider making a poster (or two or three or…)
   • Remember that posters can be dropped off, laminated or not, at the flagpole outside of school today, 4/7, and Wednesday, 4/8, from 12:30 – 1pm.
   • Contact me if you have questions – or if you need construction paper! Seriously, I’m happy to drop it off on your doorstep if it will help us support first responders 😁.

And, that’s everything for today – unless you like Hamilton, or just want a boost of good news.

Good morning 8th grade,

I know that the past weeks have been difficult for many of us, and I want to take a moment to say how grateful I am to be your teacher. Every day, when I see examples of your kindness, compassion, persistence, strength, and resilience, I am reminded of why I love my job. In many different ways, every one of you has shown me how powerful the human spirit is – and that motivates me, and all of the teachers, to keep doing whatever I/we can to support all of you.

From delivering a fantastic, one-sided movie talk (unable to hear any teacher directions) to reaching out to see if a friend/classmate/teacher is doing okay, you show your adaptability and compassion. You have self-advocated by asking questions and for help. You have been patient with my replies and new and strange technological difficulties. Each day, you continue to try your best, to do what you can, even when it’s really hard.

Perhaps most impressive is the resilience you have demonstrated. All of us have failed somehow – with communication, technology, organization, follow through, kindness, persistence, patience, and more. But, each time we failed, we took a moment to regroup, and then tried again. Instead of giving up, you have all chosen to keep trying. That is amazing! It is also exhausting – trust me, I know. So, remember, although you are working distantly, you are not alone. Whenever you have trouble regrouping, reach out for some support – we are here for you! Okay, that’s the end of my Tuesday pep talk.

We are continuing to use Literature time to deeply engage with Holy Week. So, your work is very similar (some might say identical) to yesterday – two items for your Literature To Do list and one, highly encouraged, optional item for your Being a Good Person list:

• • • Religion Reflection / Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
    • Monologue Preparation/practice (10 – 15 minutes)
    • Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)

Here we go!

1. Religion Reflection / Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
   • Use your reading time to review Mrs. Mansfield’s daily reflection on Teams, think about it, and respond.
   • Copy and paste your response for today in to your reading log entry for 4/7
   • Contact me with questions!
2. Monologue Preparation/practice (10 – 15 minutes)
   • Continue to practice your monologue (perhaps outside to give your family a break 🙄)
   • Contact me if you would like extra practice or feedback
   • Remember that your performance will be graded on your tone, gestures, and delivery – and how well they fit with your chosen monologue.
3. Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)
   • Please review my post from yesterday for more details and consider making a poster (or two or three or…)
   • Remember that posters can be dropped off, laminated or not, at the flagpole outside of school today, 4/7, and Wednesday, 4/8, from 12:30 – 1pm.
   • Contact me if you have questions – or if you need construction paper! Seriously, I’m happy to drop it off on your doorstep if it will help us support first responders 😁.

And, that’s everything for today – unless you like Hamilton, or just want a boost of good news.