Eighth+Grade

Eighth Grade
Place date before each entry under each question.
 * ** Where are you on your long-range plans, pacing, and content standards? **
 * 8/26** We are all teaching students the foundations: The Writing Process and The Elements of Plot. Students have composed an Autobiographical Poem and have read a short story to demonstrate their understanding of these.
 * 9/2** Students have begun their memoirs. They are using the writing process to compose this first major essay. Students are using the Showing/not Telling techniques for this assignment. They are also connecting the information from the plot line to their writing so they see the literature/writing connection. Many students created plot lines as part of their pre-writing.
 * 9/9** Students are finishing memoirs. We continue to reinforce the use of the writing process. We are continuing to study the elements of plot through short story collections.
 * 9/16** Some classes are finalizing memoirs, some tested on plot and short stories. Students are reading short stories. Some classes are starting __Max the Mighty__ next week.
 * 9/23** We are continuing to analyze plot in various literature selections. Some students are working on finishing essays.
 * **After the analysis of nine weeks tests and grades, how will you address student strengths and weaknesses?**
 * 8/26** N/A
 * 9/2** N/A
 * 9/9** Interim grade analysis: Some students are not turning work in or turning it in late. Some are having trouble adjusting to work load.
 * 9/16** We will be reteaching some items and reviewing missed questions.
 * 9/23** We will continue to reinforce literary elements previously taught and tested throughout the year.
 * **How have you used your student’s scores (PASS, MAP, formative/summative assessments, grade distribution sheets) to differentiate instruction?**
 * 8/26** We have analyzed PASS data to determine levels.
 * 9/2** We are analyzing PASS data to form writing groups.
 * 9/9** Some students seem to have been placed in wrong classes
 * 9/16** Taking MAP next week. Students will view old score to set a goal.
 * 9/23** We will have recent MAP scores to analyze and form groups soon because we just finished MAP testing.
 * **Where did this week’s learning goals fall within Bloom’s Taxonomy?**
 * 8/26** All levels: They are creating as they compose their poems. They are analyzing the story for elements of plot.
 * 9/2** Composing a narrative falls into the "Creating" level. Students analysis of texts falls into the "analysis" level.
 * 9/9** Level 6: Composing Essays, Level 4: Analyzing parts of the plot, Level 5: Peer Conferencing, Level 6: Creating Glogster
 * 9/16** Level 6: Composing Biographies (Whis), Composing Memoirs (Sumter), Glogster page (Shelley) Level 4: Plot lines for stories
 * 9/23** Level 4, Level 2, Level 6
 * **In looking at your last assessment (formative/summative), identify the level of Bloom’s utilized within the assessment.**
 * 8/26** N/A
 * 9/2** Students had to "apply" their knowledge of imagery to compose better sentences on the Writing Quiz. Students "analyzed" the elements of plot in the short stories.
 * 9/9** Vocab Tests: Level II: Which word would fit into this sentence, Level I: Remembering Definition
 * 9/16** Level IV: Analyzing plot of stories, Level II: Vocab Tests
 * 9/23** Level 1 and 2 (Stems and vocab tests) MAP testing, Level 3 (Story test)
 * **Comments ~ Concerns ~ Needs (resources)**
 * 8/26** We are going to be composing a letter to the Honors parents regarding purchasing their novels.
 * 9/2** We are concerned about meeting the individual needs of our students, especially the needs of our lower level students, in such large classes.
 * 9/16:** Could we do POVs once a month instead of each week? We are feeling that it would be more benificial and a better use of our planning time to actually be able to discuss our activities and plans for the next week. We feel these questions would be great as a reflection at the end of each month.
 * 9/23:** Same as last week.

Teachers in attendance: 8/26 Donny, Sumter, Whisenant, Shelley 9/2 Sumter, Whisenant, Whetstone 9/9 Sumter, Whisenant, Shelley, Whetstone, Carter 9/16 Sumter, Whisenant, Shelley, Whetstone 9/23 Sumter, Whisenant, Shelley