Category: 8th Grade

Good morning 8th graders,

We are finishing up monologue performances and it has been wonderful to see your work! You have two items (and one explanation) for your Literature To Do list:

• Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
• Monologue performance (according to schedule)

Let’s jump in!

1. Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
   • Now that we have moved to the block schedule, you have two options for how you want to read and record your entries
     • Option 1: Read every other day for 30 minutes and record entries on those days (3 days)
     • Option 2: Read every day for 15 minutes and record entries for those days (5 days)
   • The choice is up to you and you can choose different options on different weeks!
   • I reviewed reading logs for 8th grade Tuesday, 4/28, and entered the points you earned in PowerSchool
   • Contact me with questions!
2. Monologue performance (according to schedule)
   • Wednesday is Thomas and Thursday is Mansfield – you will receive a scheduled meeting reminder on the day of your performance
   • REMINDER: Wait until I invite you into video chat.
     • We fell way behind schedule on Tuesday because students jumped into the chat and interrupted classmates performances.
     • If you have questions, please email me, or type your question in the chat section of the video.

That’s everything for today. As always, contact me with questions, concerns, or awesome game ideas!

Good morning 8th graders,

Happy Monday/Tuesday! We are near the end of our Drama unit and many of you will be presenting in the coming days. Have fun and break a leg!

You have one, possibly two, item(s) for your Literature To Do list:

• • • Daily reading and update of reading log (25 – 35 minutes)
    • Monologue performance (according to schedule)

Let’s get started!

1. Daily reading and update of reading log (25 – 35 minutes)
   • Update your reading log so it has rows and dates from now until May 29th (34 rows, including weekends)
   • After updating your log, read for 15 – 30 minutes from your free reading material, reflect for five minutes, then fill out your reading log, paying special attention to the evidence column
2. Monologue performance (according to schedule)
   • Please be online, ready to present, at your scheduled slot
   • I will invite you into the meeting when the person before you finishes, so please wait to be invited in
   • Make sure you and your camera are set up however you want to perform (standing, sitting, close-up, far away, showing a particular perspective of you, whatever you choose)

I will send out a reminder email/invitation for monologue performances each day this week. The grading expectations and schedule will be included in the message as a reminder.

Contact me with any questions and have a great day!

Good morning 8th graders,

We’re starting monologue performances today (for Thomas) and tomorrow (for Mansfield), so, break a leg!

If you have not turned your written work in to Teams yet, please do so today. Some of you have successfully submitted your work with all three pieces attached while others are struggling with this. If you haven’t already, please reach out and ask for help, from your peers and me, before giving up on Teams and sending multiple emails with different attachments. My inbox can be a mixed up place when everyone emails their work and I don’t want any of your efforts to be lost!

If you have any questions, please contact me. Otherwise, enjoy the rain and I’ll see you Teams soon!

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 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 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!

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.

Hi 8th graders,

Welcome to Holy Week  – the most sacred time in the liturgical calendar! And, it’s you’re just one week away from Spring break! This week you will have many opportunities to reflect, contribute, and grow.

You have two items for your Literature To Do list and one, highly encouraged, item for possible extra credit/make-up work on 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)

Let’s get started!

1. Religion Reflection / Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
   • We are using reading time this week to more deeply engage with Holy Week, specifically through the reflections Mrs. Mansfield is posting.
   • To complete this assignment:
     • Thoughtfully complete the reflections Mrs. Mansfield has posted each day.
     • When you are done, copy and paste your response (the one you submit to Mrs. Mansfield) into the “Evidence” column of your reading log
       • You are NOT writing two different reflections – just ONE thoughtful, complete reflection shared with two teachers.
     • Because you do not need to complete personal reading this week, all other columns (“Title (Author)”, “Time read”, and “Pages read”) will be blank.
     • Again, the time you would normally spend reading and reflecting will be used for religion reflections this week.
     • Contact me with questions!
2. Monologue Preparation/practice (10 – 15 minutes)
   • Keep practicing your monologue
   • Record yourself and pay particular attention to your tone and gestures – do they seem natural or forced? Do they make sense with what you are saying?
3. Encouraging Message Poster for first responders (optional / highly encouraged / can be used for past reading log credit)
   • Hopefully, you have seen the posts from Mr. Tice and Mrs. Mansfield about this, but, if not, here is a (near verbatim) recap:
     • • Doctors, nurses, and support staff in hospitals all over the US, including here in Washington, are working very hard to save people’s lives.
       • These people are heroes, but they’re also people.
       • They are very stressed, they are afraid for themselves and their loved ones, and sometimes they are discouraged.
       • We’re asking you to make posters of support for these very brave people working on the front lines of the pandemic.
       • Posters will be collected by Ms. O’Leary at the flagpole on Wednesday, 4/8, between 12:30 – 1pm
       • If you can laminate the posters at home – great! If not, we can laminate them at school.
       • If you can’t make it at the scheduled time, contact us.
   • This assignment is NOT required – it is purely by choice. If you choose to do this, please be thoughtful and put your best effort into supporting the people who are saving lives.
   • EXTRA CREDIT NOTE:
     • Thoughtful, heartfelt posters can be used to earn credit for the first two weeks of reading logs.
     • Every thoughtfully completed, heartfelt poster (you notice I keep using those words), will count as one day in the reading log.
     • 5 fabulous posters = 5 days worth of entries in the reading log OR (for all you fans of algebra out there) X fabulous posters = X days worth of entries in the reading log
     • Insert a picture of your poster in the evidence column of your reading log on one of the empty days from the first two weeks (March 16th – 20th and 23rd – 27th).
     • Contact me with questions! Or if you need construction paper!