Week of 3.10-3.14.08

No school this Friday, 3.14 (Pi Day!).  Have a fun and safe spring break!

8th Grade Panoramic Picture is scheduled for this Wednesday at 2:00. 

College Week!  Pin Oak has activities planned this week to promote a more college-bound culture.  There will be door decorating contests and a Texas Scholars presentation for 8th graders on Thursday, 3.13.  All 8th graders will receive a T-shirt courtesy of Continental Airlines.

English

This week we will read an excerpt from Stephen Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage as well as a “War Party,” a short story by Louis L’Amour.  Ongoing are studies on mood, tone, primary and secondary sources, as well as author’s voice.

Free Choice Independent Reading is underway.  Click below for deadlines and literature circle questions.

free-choice-lit-questions-2.doc

Math

Every algebra and Math students received the hard copy of Progress Report for Math class. Please, ask your child to show it to you and sign it in. It is an easy way to get 100 points of extracredit.Algebra and Math students have to take online TAKS test 2006 Math 8 grade and print for me the Score Report.

http://tools.academicplanet.com/webs/epodossi/calendar.htm

Science

Monday/Tuesday March 10 & 11, 2008 (IPC & 8^th Grade Science)

-         Waves and their properties

-         Review for exam 

Wednesday/Thursday March 12 & 13, 2008 (IPC & 8^th Grade Science)

-         Simple Machines, Energy, Heat, Work, Force, and Newton’s Laws Exam

o       The students received a review sheet last week.  It was graded and returned so they could study. 

Week of 3.3-3.7.2008

8th Grade students will take the Reading TAKS test this Wednesday, 3.5.  Start eating a good breakfast and getting a good night’s sleep now!

Remember:  commended=free dress pass

8th graders take four tests.  This is four opportunities for four free dress days!

English

We will start our unit on Westward Expansion and Civil War Literature this week.

Heads Up!  8th grade across houses will begin a ‘Kindness Quilt’ project.  Students are asked to bring in three pieces of 8″x8″ fabric that represents this act of kindness.  Below is the handout students will receive M/Tue 3.3/3.4.

  kindness-quilt.doc

Science

I do apologize for the false alarm about the rollercoaster activity.  We were unable to pull that one off.  Instead we will construct a mobile for the 3 classes of levers.  The children will receive the project letter Friday (02/29/08), and will be due Friday (03/07/08).  I will need you guys to sign the perforated portion in acknowledgement of receiving the information.  The children will also receive a free grade for returning the signed portion.  

Monday/Tuesday March 3 & 4, 2008 (8^th Grade Science & IPC)

-         TAKS Objective Review Game

-         Simple Machine Review Sheet  

Wednesday March 5, 2008

-         Reading TAKS Test 

Thursday/Friday March 6 & 7, 2008 (8^th Grade Science & IPC)

-         Begin the concept of Waves 

Have a great week.

Week of 2.25-2.29.2008

Report cards go home Wednesday, February 27.

Meet our students of the week,

 English

All students received a Drama Unit Study Guide in class on Friday.  These will be checked next week, and the test over this unit will be on Wed/Thurs 2.27/28.

drama-unit-study-guide.doc

Free Choice book check Friday, 2.29

US History

In history students will be learning about the Jacksonian Era and Manifest Destiny (Ch 11 and 12). 

They will have a Ch. 11 vocabulary quiz on Friday the 29^th.  

Math

Math

Next week students will be solving Real-Life Problems with 3-dimentional Shapes. Wednesday and Thursday will be Final Geometry Test. Students will be working on review of Objective 4 for TAKS test.

Every student has to take TAKS 2005 Math 8 grade test online and print the Score Report.

The test cam be found on web site http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/

Algebra

Students will be working on Powers and Exponents.

Every student has to take TAKS 2005 Math 8 grade test online and print the Score Report.

The test cam be found on web site http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/

The homework can be found on web site http://tools.academicplanet.com/webs/epodossi/calendar.htm

Science

Monday/Tuesday February 25 & 26, 2008 (IPC & 8^{th Grade Science)}

• Completion of Simple Machines
• Work, Power, and Force Equations
  • The students will also receive mathematics worksheets to help them understand how to work with the formulas
• Building roller coasters
  • I will send home a notice so that the children will know what to bring to school. We will build them on Friday (02/29/08)

Wednesday/Thursday February 27 & 28, 2008 (IPC & 8th Grade Science)

• Review of Simple Machines
• Work, Power, and Force Equations
  • The students will also receive mathematics worksheets to help them understand how to work with the formulas
• Review Sheet for Simple Machines, Work, Power, and Force Exam
  • Due Monday 02/03/08 (IPC)
  • Due Tuesday 02/04/08 (8th Grade Science)

Friday February 29, 2008 (IPC & 8th Grade Science)

• TAKS Review Competition
  • The Students are competing the highest group score at the end of the 8 week review period;

Week of 2.18-2.22.2008

Happy President’s Day!

English

The 12 Angry Men Motif project is due this Wednesday/Thursday, 2.20/21.  Below is project sheet handout:

motif-collage.doc

All classes began this project in class this past week.  This is the first project grade for the 5th six week period.

Students need to bring their literature books to class next week.  We will read a couple of dramatic selections in class, the first being The Hitchhiker.

Free Choice book check will be February 29.  Students are encouraged to choose a book that they haven’t read yet.  The requirements are 1) it is at least 200 pages, and 2) it is appropriate for school. 

Week of 2.11-2.15.2008

This Friday, 2.15 from 6-8, the KSS dissertation group will have a dance to raise money for breast cancer research. 

Calling all artists:  Pin Oak Literary Magazine is needing submissions.  Please give drawings and writings to Ms. Leahy by 2.27. 

English

Nonfiction/Biography book projects are due this Wed/Thurs 2.13/14.

independent-book-projects-07.doc

independentbookprojectsrubric0708.doc

In English class, we’ll study theme and motif in 12 Angry Men.  A collage assignment will go along with this lesson. 

Please bring any magazines and/or newspapers for this assignment.  We  will do part of this project in class.

Science

Monday – Thursday February 11-14, 2008 (8^th Grade Science & IPC)

-         Simple  Machines Concepts

-         Work, Power and Mechanical Advantage Formulas 

Friday February 15, 2008 (8^th Grade Science & IPC)

-         TAKS Countdown Challenge Game

o       Each group in each class competes for the highest score on a 20 question game.  In the process we are reviewing the children over TKAS concepts that have already been covered. 

 US History

In history, students will present their “Teach the Class” topics on Monday and Tuesday (covering the War of 1812). They will have a Westward Expansion map due on Friday. We will also be covering Chapter 10 this week in preparation for a Ch 8, 9 and 10 Test at the beginning of the following week.

Week of 2.4-2.8.2008

Early release this Wednesday, 2.6 at 1:00

Student Council Sadie Hawkin’s Dance Friday, 2.8 from 6-8.  Tickets are $3 in advance, $5 at the door.

 English

This week will will finish 12 Angry Men. 

Independent Reading

The second half of the nonfiction/biography books need to be read and literature circle questions answered by this Thur/Fri 2.7/8. 

Nonfiction/Biography book projects are due 2.13/14.

Students:  Interested in writing?  Drawing?  Blogging?  Pin Oak will have its first ever literature magazine this year.  Please turn submissions in to Ms. Leahy by February 27.  

Math

Every student received the Progress Report from Math class. Please, ask your student to show it to you and sign it. It is an opportunity for Extra Credit — 100 points!

Math students have to finish the project “Area on Geoboard” over weekend.

Algebra students have to spend some time to do Carnegie Units 1-6 online.

ScienceMonday/Tuesday February 4 & 5, 2008

(8^{th Grade Science/IPC)}

• ^{Motion and Force Lab Practical}
• ^{Homework: Acceleration Worksheet}

Wednesday (Early Dismal) February 6, 2008

Thursday/Friday February 7 & 8, 2008

(8th Grade Science/IPC)

• Simple Machines

Week of 1.28-2.1.2008

Pin Oak Family Game Night this Friday, February 1 from 5:30 to 8

Bellaire HS Information Night:  bhs-postcard-08-8th-grade-information-night.doc

Meet our students of the week, Crystal Jin and Jordan Antoine

English

This week we will have a reading of the play, 12 Angry Men, in class. 

Students received a copy of their progress report for English.  If these are signed and returned next week, your student will receive 100 bonus points.

Math

Today and Monday students will get a hard copy of the Progress Report. Please ask them to show it to you and sign it. It is free grade 100 for you child.  Next week Students will have Notebook check.  

Grade for Notebook 4 th Period  

1. Rewrite Equations and Formulas.
2. Graphing Linear Equations
3. Finding intercepts of Graphs. X and Y intercepts.
4. Writing Equations using Slope and Y-intercept
5. Writing Equation of Linear  Using 2 points
6. Forms of Linear Equations. Slope-Int, Standard, Point-Slope
7. Equation of Parallel  and Perpendicular  Line
8. Review for Midterm Test. Translation of Linear Equation
9. Solving Inequalities
10. Linear Inequalities

  Grade for Notebook 3 d Period   

1. Rewrite Equations and Formulas.
2. Graphing Linear Equations
3. Slope and Y-intercept
4. Writing Equations using Slope and Y-intercept
5. Find the Slope using 2 points. Undefined Slope
6. Writing Linear Equations  Using 2 points
7. Practice Writing Equation  of line
8. Different Forms of Linear Equations
9. Equation of Parallel  and Perpendicular  Line
10. Review for Midterm Test 

 Grade for Notebook 2 nd, 5 th, and 6 th  Period   

1. Reflection and Translation on Coordinate  Plane
2. Dilation on Coordinate Plane
3. Translation on graph calculator  Plane
4. Review for Chapter 4 Test
5. Review Find Percent of Number
6. Find the Percent of Change.
7. Geometric Vocabulary. Angles
8. Circumference and Area of Circle.
9. Area of Rectangle and Parallelogram
10. Area of Triangle

 Science

Monday/Tuesday January 28 & 29, 2008 (IPC & 8^th Grade Science)

-         Formula Quiz for Force and Motion

-         Review for Exam

o       Review Sheets are due

§        IPC (Monday January 28, 2008)

§        8^th Grade Science (Tuesday January 29, 2008) 

Wednesday/Thursday January 30 & 31, 2008 (IPC & 8^th Grade Science)

-         Exam

-         Temperature and Thermal Energy Outline

-         There will  be a laboratory on Friday

o       No open toe shoes, long hair pulled back, and no shorts.  I apologize for any inconveniences, but safety first. 

Friday February 1, 2008

-         Motion and Force Lab Practical

Week of 1.21-1.25.2008

No school Monday, 1.21 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Raffle Baskets for Family Game Night

Each cluster will sponsor a basket theme for Family Game Night on Friday, February 1.  8A’s theme is Sports.  Please send with your student anything that is sports-related that we can put in this basket to raffle.  Some suggestions are handheld sports games, Frisbees, Academy or Sports Authority gift cards, sports balls, badminton, sporting event tickets, or monetary donations to go towards furnishing the basket.  Our deadline to have this all ready is January 25.

English

Ms. Leahy’s email address has changed to dleahy@houstonisd.org

“The Lady, or the Tiger” essays are due M/Tue.  Students have to write an essay explaing why they believe the Lady, or the tiger came out from behind the door.  Papers must have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.  250-300 words is a good guideline for length.  This is a quiz grade.

We will begin our drama unit this week with 12 Angry Men.

Literature Circles for Biography/Nonfiction free choice books are this Thursday/Friday 1.24/25.  Students must come to class with the first half of the book read and the literature circle questions answered.

Science

Tuesday/Wednesday  January 22 & 23, 2008 (IPC & 8^th Grade Science)

-         Ecology through “A Bug’s Life”

o       Followed by  a quiz

-         Introduction to Force and Motion 

Thursday/Friday  January 24 & 25, 2008 (IPC & 8^th Grade Science)

-         Completing Force and Motion

o       Equation Worksheet

o       Chapter 3-1 Section Summary Worksheet

-         Preparation for Force and Motion Lab Practical next week

Week of 1.14-18.2008

Stanford Testing this week, Tuesday 1.15 -Thursday 1.18.  This is the schedule:

Monday:  Charger Day

Tue/Thursday:  Funky Blue 

8:30-11:30     Testing

11:35-1:45     5th period; lunch

1:50-2:25     1st period

2:30-2:05     3rd period

3:10-3:45     7th period

Wed/Friday — Funky Green

8:30-11:30     Testing

11:35-1:45     6th period; lunch

1:50-2:25     2nd period

2:30-3:05     4th period

3:10-3:45     8th period

Tuesday:  Science and Social Science Tests

Wednesday:  Reading Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension tests

Thursday:  Math Problem Solving and Math Procedures tests

Friday: Language, Spelling, and Listening Tests

Remember to eat a good breakfast and to bring a book to read for when you are finished testing.

Attn:  Interested in going to Lamar HS?  Freshman Round-Up part II is quickly approaching.  Click below for more information.

lamar-hs-freshman-round-up-part-ii.doc

Raffle Baskets for Family Game Night

Each cluster will sponsor a basket theme for Family Game Night on Friday, February 1.  8A’s theme is Sports.  Please send with your student anything that is sports-related that we can put in this basket to raffle.  Some suggestions are handheld sports games, Frisbees, Academy or Sports Authority gift cards, sports balls, badminton, sporting event tickets, or monetary donations to go towards furnishing the basket.  Our deadline to have this all ready is January 25.

English

We have been reviewing grammar and parts of speech.  Students need to have p. 1o1, 1-6; 25-37 odd completed from the English book on Monday.

Spelling Test Unit 5 on Monday.  This unit is over homophones (chord, cord; faze, phase, etc.)  Students will be required to know the meanings of the words on the list, not necessarily how to spell the words.  The words will be given on the test.

On Thurs/Friday 1.10/11, we read “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank R. Stockton.  In class on Monday, students will write an essay justifying why they think either the Lady, or the Tiger came out from behind the door.  These will be due on Thursday/Friday 1.17/18.  Students will work on these papers in class.

We are reading nonfiction for this quarter’s independent reading unit.  Below is a link to the literature circle questions and due dates:

bio-response-to-lit-questions.doc

Note:  the first half of their book must be read by January 25, and the questions answered for then, too.

Math

Hello, I wish my students the best during Stanford test!

No math homework during Stanford week!

 

Week of 1.7-1.11.08

Welcome back!

Monday, January 7 will be a Charger Day

English

Below is a link to the biography and non-fiction book list.  This list is only a suggestion; if there is another book with a more interesting topic to your student, that is acceptable as long as it is at least 200 pages and appropriate for school. 

lit circle questions and due dates: 

bio-response-to-lit-questions.doc 

Biography/NonFiction book list:

bio-autobio-memoir-list-2007-2008-2-4.doc

Book check is January 10 and 11 — students will get a 100 for having their book physically in class this day.  If it has been ordered, a receipt will be accepted.

Math

Math students received the packet for Objective 3.  I would like them to start doing the work on this objective. It will be checked on Jan. 9,10 and 11.

Algebra students received the packet Linear Equations. I would like them to do it before they come back to school. However  it will be checked on Jan 9 and 10. 

Science

Monday January 7, 2008 (8^{th Grade Science & IPC)}

^{Topography Maps}

^{Tuesday/Wednesday January 8-9, 2008 (8th Grade Science & IPC)}

^{Moon Phases Thursday/Friday January 10-11, 2008 (8th Grade Science & IPC)}

Force and MotionNote: There will be a track meeting for about 15 minutes after school on Monday January 7, 2008. The students need to make sure that their physical and all other documents are ready to be turned in. We will inform the students of practice days (the practices will be after school) on Monday as well. Have a safe and happy holiday.