We Welcome Friday

Our morning started with devotions and looking at in-house difficulties that affected the first centuries of the church. Once again, we are reminded that God through Sacred Scripture and Tradtion, brings the His church on earth back into line. He is the Head of the Christian family.

For English, students completed the spelling test and shared their high-quality sentences (using vocab. words). Then students made thank-you cards to send to Father Mike and Father Alex (Franciscan missionaries)to express our gratitude and delight for the gift of Indian-made necklaces from Brazil.
Monday students will go the Vaughn Library to renew or get a new silent reading book. Most students in this class are committed readers. We will discuss in class next week, the requirements for the "book talk." Also next Wednesday, each student will hand in a rough draft of analysis on The Old Man and the Sea. This is be typed. New Times Roman, Font size 12 and double-space is preferred.

Due to scheduling changes, 6th grade math and history were compressed. We had the last presentation on hunters/gatherers today; by a student who was absent yesterday. Again, another good presentation supported by a well-designed visual. For the short time we had math, students worked together to make a "steps of division" poster: Does McDonalds Serve Cheese-Burgers (Division-Multiplication-Subtraction-Check your answer-Bring it down). Next week, the 6th grade will have their photo taken with the poster and we will send it to McDonalds.... maybe they will get the hint... cheeseburgers anyone?
Thanks students for another good week. Have a blessed, safe, and healthy weekend.

After announcements, pledge and opening devotions, we read together our booklet: Abuse Is Not OK. This subject is emotional and often hard to discuss, but we have the benefit of curriculum that acknowledges we are the "daughter or son of God, created in His image. You are a member of the Body of Christ, deserving of respect and dignity. No one has the right to strip away self-respect and dignity." Our booklet also states, "This is not a perfect world." We read about, what is abuse? Claiming your power and healing and forgiveness. Students are asked to share this booklet with parents for conversation.

English 8 students, finished The Old Man and the Sea. We discussed the ending and used quotes to support our observations. Students were given guidelines to a critical response of the book they will write. The rough draft is due next Wednesday.

Geography 7 students discussed the meaning of the word "culture." We used an iceberg as a metaphor; more lies beneath the surface than is observed. Culture includes values, respect, family roles, definition of beauty, attitude... many of these are hard to measure. Our study will include looking at "cultures" of other countries and how does geography determine how people live.

Students not in choir today, read with 1st grade students. I personally find this to be rewarding and a wonderful opportunity to bond with younger students at OLL. Mrs. Urling guides our partnerships with her students so the time is well spent.
6th grade students were to turn in problems in Math, pg. 26 problems 3-13. Also each student talked us through a double-digit division problem on the board. Students were given a practice worksheet that is due tomorrow. It is extremely helpful to your student, if you can check his/her work. This serves to build confidence in your budding math scholar!

For World History, 6th grade students gave oral presentations on the life of a hunter/gatherer tribe and presented their visuals. Students can be proud of their speaking skills, and creative-informative visuals. I was proud with them for the good work they did. We intend to display these in the hall for the benefit of other students. I also hope to post some photos.

8th grade students had 45 minutes to work on any assignments they needed to complete: vocabulary is due tomorrow, spelling test on Friday, begin writing book analysis, or read a book of their choice. There is plenty to do... and still have "down" time. Another week is soon over; time is flying!

Sarah Grubisic led our morning devotion time. She read from the
Children's Daily Prayer the opening information about Saint Vincent de Paul. She also led us in our prayer time together. Thank you Sarah.

For religion time, we referred to the Gospel lesson from Matthew: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." We are called to pray for workers in God's garden of humanity. As we pray, we become more tuned to hear God's call to us. Father Frank's homily today reminded me to not "load" ourselves up with the stuff we think we need, but rather keep our lives simple (and more free) so we will place our trust in God.

In Geography 7, students finished their geography term definitions and drawings. If not completed in class today, it is homework. The due date is tomorrow.

6th Grade Math students are working on the "checking for understanding" page 23. They are assigned problems 3-13. This is due tomorrow. We are soon ready for the end of the unit test. But, I feel that students still need double-digit division practice so will provide some extra practice problems before the test. Students have shown progress positioning numbers correctly in double-digit multiplication. I am calling when students need the benefit of support at home. Please call me if you have concerns.
Because of all-school liturgy practice, students will present hunter/gatherer visuals tomorrow. Thursday is the due date.

8th grade English students wrote journal responses to "trust" partnership. They were asked to answer the question: What if your life depended on the trust relationship with your partner? How does that raise the stakes of a relationship?
After journal writing, students were given the beautiful necklaces and bracelets we received from Father Michael Kellett. He was one of the Franciscan missionaries from the Amazon River Basin who gave a presentation to the jr. high two weeks ago. In response to our letters of thanks, Father Mike sent necklaces made by the Munduruku Indian People of the Amazon. The little figures were carved out of a small nut of a certain type of palm tree, called "tucuma." The seeds are from a jungle plant. Fishing line is used to string the nuts and seeds. We are grateful and thrilled for these gifts; the people of Brazil are close to our hearts. We will continue to pray daily for Father Mike and Father Alex and their ministry in Brazil.

We began our morning study in our church history textbooks. We talked about the spread of Christianity after the ascension of Christ. How the expansion of the Roman Empire provided a landscape to carry the message of Jesus. We also talked about persecution as part of the early history of the church. Even today persecution is a reality for many Christians; these believers often have to gather secretly to worship and receive the Eucharist. We talked about the meaning of the word "catholic": universal, in-clusive Christian church.

For English, 8th grade students raised the stakes on the trust partnerships. Aaron and Connor made a more difficult course and partners were challenged to navigate this course. This activity provided a "reality check" with the frustrations and risks that can accompany a trust relationship. Students will respond to this activity in their journals. (We ran out of time today.)

Geography 7 students completed the layers of the earth and continent charts. Some students began work on geography terms. Students define the term (in their own words) and draw the word. In geography, it is important to talk the "same" language so we can speak to each other and more accurately describe landscapes, earth forces, etc.

World History 6 students are finishing their Hunter/Gatherer visuals. We will present tomorrow. A finished visual should include: name and symbol of tribe, a summer day in the life of the tribe (animals, plants, clothes, shelter, entertainment), a winter day in the life of the tribe, jobs shared among tribal members. The goal of this project is to help students better understand how the availability of food, water and shelter influenced the lives and migration of early humans.

Tomorrow is school liturgy. Please have your student wear church-clothes. Hope you can join us too. Thanks.

A New Week

It is hard to believe that we are starting another new week. Our opening devotions included a passage from the Psalms about God as our shelter. To ease into the day, each student shared what he/she did this weekend. We also talked about what qualities we look for in a "good" teacher. Mrs. Grubisic came in to discuss with students the yearbook. She wants input from 8th grade students; this is"your" book. Students are to bring in baby pictures.
The new vocabulary words for the week were introduced: 10 words plus 3 bonus. Students then wrote for 10 minutes in their journals any thoughts that flowed through their minds (stream of consciousness). This paved the discussion for Hemingway's style of narrating the old man's thoughts in the boat. Students were surprised how busy their minds were in such a short period. One student noted the connection of her thinking: one thought sets off another thought. Students shared textual quotes that revealed the old man/fish growing relationship in The Old Man and The Sea. I also pointed out some passages that symbolize a christ-like figure in the old man. Students feel this book is not on their top 10 list. I expect as a teacher they will revisit this novel, and uncover new layers. One student did realize the writing was dense. Are you saying, a literary gold (or taconite) mine? Students were given questions to guide their reading as they complete this novel. They had about 30 minutes of time to read and/or work on vocabulary that is due on Friday.

6th Grade Math students were asked to rework problems from p. 23 that needed to be corrected. Also students were given a double-digit multiplication work sheet. Most students finished the majority of problems in class so they had the benefit of my support; the remainder needs to be done at home. Students are required to show their work. We are doing better with correct placement of numbers in the multiplication process.

7th grade students are working on charts to show the layers of the earth: crust, mantle, core. The other side of the chart will show the continents/countries and their placement. They were given classtime to work on this.

FYI: 6th grade World History students have one more day to complete their hunter/gathered visuals. Ask your student what he/she is doing. We have some good work to share on Wednesday.

"For He will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent, and he will set me high upon a rock." Ps. 27:5 Let us be encouraged and hold fast to His promises.

Calling all OLL students/parents and families:
We have the privilege of leading the All-School Liturgy at the October 1, Sunday Mass at 11 a.m. We need students to participate: sing, read, etc. Our school is part of the faith community. Please say "yes" to participating in this worship opportunity.

8th Grade students had their weekly spelling test today and each student shared a high-quality sentence featuring a word for the week. All students turned in their vocabulary work in on-time... way to go! We then discussed pages 41-63 from The Old Man and the Sea. We used textual evidence to discuss the relationship of the "fish" and the old man. Students are to read to p. 92 by Monday. I am proud of the sharp reading skills the students demonstrate.

In 6th grade math, we began the class with direct instruction on the steps to solving a double-digit multiplication problem. Students were then given a double-digit multiplication problem to work out and then talk the steps to the class as they wrote it on the board. If students had individual problems, I helped them before their presentation, so they felt confident to teach others. We learned from each other plus the students had the benefit of reteaching "themselves". We also talked about when it is acceptable to estimate math answers and when it is necessary to be exact. We ended our class with a weekly drawing; Thomas won the prize. Students used the last 30 minutes to work on their ongoing history visuals. I feel all-in-all, we had a good week as we strengthen our math skills by doing times tables in our head and learning the steps (on paper) to double digit multiplication problems. No homework was assigned for the weekend.

For students not in band today, they are ending the week with a project with Mrs. Marita. Check her blog to learn more... you may be jealous that you are not in our school. Don't despair, we love to welcome volunteers!!

We close the week with words of wisdom with a quote shared by David Skingel:
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thank you David. You have helped us to remember that we are doing great things here. We are called to take smart "risks" and explore new landscape and carve out new trails. We miss the 8th grade students who attended OLL last year. Have a wonderful school year.

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Today in 8th grade English, Mrs. Hamacher (a parent) came in to give a 15-minute book talk. She shared three of her favorite reads and encouraged students to read...read...read. I agree that reading expands our vocabulary, invites us to try on new perspectives, and allows us to experience the joy of reading. We were grateful for Mrs. Hamacher's presentation. We will write thank-you notes to her.
Later in the class, partners shared information about the "old man" ( main character from The Old Man and the Sea) supported with textual evidence. We will analyze his character development as we near the end: static or dynamic main character? Students are to read up to p. 63 for tomorrow.
In Geography 7, we read about the composition of our planet Earth. Students will be making their own paper-model: crust, mantle, outer core, inner core. We also talked about how this information has been gained through the use of technology.
A small group of us went to read with Mrs. Uhrling's first grade students. We had fun and got to know some these students better. Thank you Mrs. Urling and students for making us feel so welcome.
6th Grade Math students reviewed the steps of division through a mnemonic device: Does (division) McDonalds (multiplication) Serve(subtract) Cheese (check your anwer) Burgers (bring it down)? I stopped at McDonalds to get some logo-wrappers, etc. for the "division" posters that we will make in the future. Recent assignments indicate that students need more practice with double-digit multiplication and division.
For History the 6th graders continue to work on their hunter/gatherer visuals. It is fun to anticipate the questions that will be raised and how students will problem solve. This hands-on project has not disappointed me; students are taking ownership.
8th grade students used the last period to read, make thank-you cards or work on spelling. Vocabulary is due tomorrow and students will do the weekly spelling test.
If you have read any good books that you would like to share with my students, please be in touch. Word-of-mouth advertising works. I stopped by to put my name on the Vaughn Library list for one of Mrs. Hamacher's recommendations.

We started today with opening devotions, a short read, and a journal comment on "whose shoulders do you stand?" This assignment was a response to the purpose for studying church history; we study history to stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us that we may look back and learn, define better who we are today, and set our course for the future. The Native American liturgy started with a meaningful procession (accompanied by flute and drums) with students wearing clothing items from their tribes. I thought of wind chimes when the "bell" dress jingled. How the Spirit of God blows. That we seek not to harness the wind, but rather allow it to "lift" us. Father Frank's homily reminded us that Godly love is the greatest enduring force of all.
In 7th grade geography, we read our textbooks as we discussed how geography is aligned to 5 main categories: place, location, region, human/environment interaction, and movement. Many times the categories overlap. Geography is not limited to the elements of the earth, but rather it is a course that looks at how people live in response to the resources of the earth.
In 6th grade math, students started with division-drill flashcards. Students earned paper slips to write their names on to be put into the Friday drawing. Students then worked on math problems 20-50 (p. 20-21); they are to do the even number problems and this is due by class time tomorrow. These problems allow students to practice estimating (rounding numbers) up and down. Ask your student if he/she completed this in class and handed it in. If not, they should have it at home.
In World History, students worked on their hunter-gatherer visuals. They are choosing a tribal name, symbol, animals they hunt, and the work role of each member. Each visual will include a summer migration to the mountains with a shift to the prairie in the winter.
8th grade English started with instruction about the development of main characters in fictional literature: static vs. dynamic. Students worked with a partner to compare three textual examples regarding new information and growth of the "old man" (up to p. 41). Partners compared cited text and chose the best three to be shared in class tomorrow. Groups made a visual to help us see as well as hear what they learned.
It now feels like we are beyond "getting our feet wet" in the new school year, but rather we are swimming in the academic stream. We feel the tug of the challenges and sometimes want to head for shore. But we share this journey and I believe by swimming together we will do great things! Stay with us. We need you.

p.s. Thank you Mrs. Marita, for providing the info. I needed to edit published posts.

Thank you parents for sharing in the events of school family night. The lasagna- cheezy-hashbrown dinner was absolutely delicious and warm to the soul on a drizzly evening. I appreciated those families who could stop by and see our classroom and chat for a few minutes. I understand many of you are busy and it was not possible to join us last evening. You are welcome anytime.

Today, 8th graders spent a second day reading and discussing our new Church History curriculum. We are already starting to understand, church history is about who we are today.
For English, we(as partners) revisited the "trust" game. One student is blindfolded and his/her partner guides them through an obstacle course. This activity has brought out some good personal responses to trust: deepens with time, nice does not always mean trust, trust can be scary, a two-way relationship, related to feelings of security, trust can be in degrees, blindness strengthens trust. We connected this activity to our reading of the first 15 pages of The Old Man and the Sea: the old man/boy relationship. Students shared sentences from text that demonstrated good-tight (concise) writing. This short novel thrives on clear text. By Thurday, students should read to p. 41 and be prepared to share 3 things (using textual evidence) we learn about the old man. We are working toward a discussion on Hemingway's skill to develop his main character. Students will have the last 45 minutes of today to read this portion or read from their "outside" boooks. Soon we will be discussing the format of a book report to be given on a book read outside of class.

7th Graders finished map presentations and then completed a "student survey" designed to give me more information on how students learn. And what interests they have outside of school.

6th graders in World History will form tribes (hunters and gatherers) and prepare a visual that shows the life of the tribe. They will consider the challenge of migrating to locate food and shelter.

Tomorrow we celebrate our Native American Liturgy. Please remind your son/daughter to dress appropriately. For Native American students, we hope you can join the opening procession.

Today 8th grade vocabulary papers from last week were returned to students. Students were also given the new 10 words plus 3 bonus words for this week. This assignment and spelling test are due on Friday. We also started to read The Old Man and the Sea paying careful attention to the concise construction of sentences by Ernest Hemingway. We have as a goal to improve our writing this year and aim for the "right words." Students are to read up to p. 15 by tomorrow and be prepared to share a good (terse) sentence from the text.
In U.S. History with Ms. Shields, 8th graders gave group presentations on the Maya, Inca and Aztec indigenous groups. Student visuals were designed with a museum format in mind as the students acted as "curators" to teach us. We all learned together. Students can be proud of their good presentations. Did you know? The Aztecs introduced chocolate; we sampled... yum, yum! The Mayans invented creatives uses of popcorn; we sampled Goober popcorn...yum,yum! The Incas made peanut butter; we missed the sample. It was lunchtime already... sorry!
We are hoping that many parents can join us tonight for dinner together and tours of classrooms. Thanks again for daily support.

Mrs. Ellis' OLL Classroom

Welcome to my classroom at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School. I hope to share with you the accomplishments and academic growth of the students in my classroom. My room is the main "home" for 8th grade students, but I also teach 6th grade math and World History and 7th grade geography. 8th graders study English (spelling, reading and writing) and also Religion class. All students were given classroom manners expectations and a syllabus for academic expectations for each class. Please ask your students to share this information with you.

We have completed 9 instructional days of this school year. I feel we are off to a good start and have our feet on the ground. 8th graders completed a short excerpt from Maya Angelou's, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. They responded in their journals by choosing a meaningful quote from the story as well worked with a partner to share the answer to a critical thinking question in a group discussion. Students also completed the first complete week of vocabulary words. Our religion class has mainly been focused on the reflection of 9/11. Plus this week we had a wonderful and informative presentation by Father Mike and Father Alex: missionaries to Brazil. The students handed in thank-you letters to the Fathers on Friday. I hope on Monday that we can begin our studies in our new books, Church History.

7th Graders will be presenting their "fictional" island maps on Monday. This activity is designed for students to practice map skills: rose compass, longitude, latitude, map keys, etc. Each island map should include 5 high-interest activities for teens on the island.

6th Graders practice basic math drills each day plus are working on the first unit in their math books. The drills have included flash cards and hopscotch times tables. Friday, students worked on a poster that shows how we are surrounded by math in our daily lives. For World History, we have been considering the basic needs of humans. We are now considering the lifestyle of "hunters and gatherers."

You are invited to check this blog often. I will try to post expectations and major assignment deadlines. Feel free to comment and/or ask questions. I count it a privilege and great responsibility to share the journey of lifelong learning with your children. Please join us this Monday evening (Sept. 18) for the school family dinner and classroom/teacher visitation. Thank you for your support.