Miss Foyle's Classroom Updates
Room 322 - September 19, 2014
Newsletter Opt in/Out
At curriculum night, parents were able to "opt-in" to our classroom newsletter using a QR code. If you have been added to this email list and no longer wish to receive these newsletters, please email me (kfoyle@icsnorthpark.com) to unsubscribe.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about your child's day!
Remember to visit our class webpage at www.icsnorthpark.com (parent portal - SJ campus - Miss Foyle).
Service Hours Opportunity
Last year, the 8th graders had a ton of fun helping out. This year, we're looking for 8th graders to help with the various stations. There will be a sign-up sheet in class - please speak with your child about volunteering. Time slots are for 30 minutes, but students are able to sign up for multiple times/activities. This is a great chance to get a jump start on service hours! (15-20 hours are needed for all 8th grade students this year.)
Weekly Mass Reminder
There is a slight change for next Wednesday - 7B has switched with 5A due to high school visits.
This Week in Review...
6th Grade Advisory
6th Grade Language Arts
As we moved through Tuesday, students continued to identify the key parts of a memoir, including the POV, theme/lesson learned, characters, time span, and more by reading Memoirs of a Goldfish. Emotional appeal came into focus, as students examined the four main kinds, including tone (which they distinguished from mood) and sensory details.
For the remainder of the week, students used chapters from Boy to apply their understanding of emotional appeal in novels, and they began to think about including emotional appeal in their own memoirs. Students also took a look at a memoir written by Miss Foyle about her first rollercoaster ride, and they engaged in pre-writing and organizing (beginning-middle-end) of their own ideas for a memoir, which they began drafting on Friday. Students should start thinking about what artifact(s) they will want to include in their memoirs...
In Grammar this week, the focus was on predicate nouns and adjectives as well as on prepositions. Students reviewed linking verbs (am, is, are, was, were, etc.) and acted out many different prepositions.
This week's Word Study root words were AG/ACT: coagulate, transact, & agenda. Students should continue to review these words + FIC/FAC/FECT each week as new words are added in order to keep these words fresh. Students can make flash cards, quiz each other, make up songs, and more!
7th Grade Religion
On Tuesday (7A) and Thursday (7B), students ventured to the computer lab for a small activity that invited them to choose a specific topic appropriate to them in life right now (e.g. faith, friends, family, etc.). For this chosen topic, students found 2-3 Scripture verses that fit the topic, and then they reflected on some guided questions to help them explore what the quotes meant to them. Some students in 7A were able to present theirs to the class on Thursday.
Students also explored Psalms of lamentation, noting how Jesus prayed Psalm 22 on the cross as He died. It was neat to see that Jesus prayed the Psalms too!
On Friday, students rounded out our unit on thanksgiving and the Mass with a short reflection project responding to 2 short articles about the Eucharist. Students were also encouraged upon finishing to write a note to Miss Foyle with suggestions for different types of projects and learning activities they would like to try in Religion class this year.
8th Grade Religion
On Tuesday and Thursday, students engaged in various prayer stations (a "buffet", if you will), where they tried out many types of prayer that they can now use on their own. Activities included a prayer graffiti wall, intention cross, Our Father bead activity, sculpting with playdough response, Mandalas, and more! Afterwards, students were asked to reflect on their experiences and the purpose of the activity. One student said, "We did this to understand that praying isn't just going to Church and folding your hands. There are so many different ways to talk to God that we should experiment with."
The week wrapped up with the first part of a 2-day lesson on the Psalms.
Contact Info & Social Media
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Email: kfoyle@icsnorthpark.com
Website: icsnorthpark.com
Location: 363 West Hill Street, Chicago, IL, United States
Phone: 312.944.0304
Facebook: facebook.com/icsnorthpark
Twitter: @icsnorthpark