Jr. High English

Welcome Back!

2012-01-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

We are off to a great start to this quarter! The LPA Honors Society just began tutoring students who are in need of help in their classes. If you need tutoring please see me and I will assign one to you. Tutoring takes place on Wednesdays from 11:30-12:30. We have also begun rehearsals for our school's production of The Taming of the Shrew. Seventh graders will be performing for the school a modern day adaptation of this play. Here is what's happening in Reading this month:

7th and 8th: We are beginning a nonfiction unit that will define the differences between literary and informative nonfiction. This week we have studied the personal essay, autobiography and memoir. Next week we will study biographies, letters, and journals. The following two weeks will be dedicated to informative nonfiction with scientific journals, historical documents, research papers, newspaper articles, reference materials, and functional text. We will conclude the unit with a group research project.

We are also continuing to work on Buckle Down and have completed Unit 1, part of unit 2, along with practice test form A. We will be reviewing all workbooks and practice tests in class. Unit 2 will be completed by the end of the month.

Thank you and have a great quarter!

Mrs. Rubasch

Hello Students!

2011-11-07T18:08:00.000-08:00

7th:

Great job on The Westing Game! We had a wonderful time at our party. Please be sure to collect your prizes this week. We are now reading "Flowers for Algernon," a short story by Daniel Keyes. We will be watching the film Charly when we come back from the long weekend. If students enjoy the story and would like to read the novel, we can order it, so please let me know!

8th:

We are approaching the midpoint for Romeo and Juliet. We will be continuing to take notes on the language of Shakespeare and we have several vocabulary exams ahead. After we complete the play, we will take our final exam and then watch the 1968 film.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Rubasch

New Units

2011-10-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents,

We are beginning our drama unit in 8th grade and wrapping up our 7th grade mystery unit this week. Here's what to expect:

8th:

We are reading Romeo and Juliet and studying the structure of the five act play. We will also explore the life and times of William Shakespeare.

7th:

We are finishing The Westing Game this week and will have our literature party next Wednesday to celebrate. Next we will move into a nonfiction unit and will explore several different selections of nonfiction from our Literature and Language text books.

Have a terrific week!

Mrs. Rubasch

New Quarter

2011-10-15T18:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome back from Fall Break!

8th: We have just finished reading Lord of the Flies and are finishing the film this week. We will have a final exam on the story, followed by our "Island Party." Next we will be doing unit 1 in our Buckle Down books. Then we will begin our drama unit. Any students in 8A who did not take the predictive test for Acuity will make it up this week in class.

7th: We are reading The Westing Game and are about half way through. We will be continuing to read and analyze this mystery novel, but will also begin working in our Buckle Down books this week.

I hope you all enjoyed your break!

Mrs. Rubasch

2011-09-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

8th: We are continuing to read William Golding's classic novel, Lord of the Flies. We are discussing symbolism and characterization at length this week. Friday we will have a vocabulary test on the following words:

compelling, assent, vivid, horrid, derisive, lamentation, decorum, tempestuous, appalled, incantation

7th: We have just begun our utopia building project that will be done in art class. Students are building 3D models of the utopias they designed in their essays. We are now reading The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. The spelling and vocabulary words are:

confidential, coo, aviator, righteous, marred, bramble, tenant, podiatrist, boundless, upholstered

Have a great week!

Mrs. Rubasch

Off to a Great Start!

2011-09-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents,

We are having a wonderful year so far! Progress reports went out today. Make sure to get in any missing work immediately so that you can still get credit for it. Congrats to all 8th graders who won the costume contest at the Outsiders party! Hope you enjoyed our trip to Little Anthony's Diner. We just began reading Lord of the Flies in 8th grade and are continuing on with The Giver in 7th. We are more than halfway through The Giver and will begin discussing a special project that we will be doing when we reach the end of this novel.

The words for this week are:

8th:

multitude, solemnly, proffer, prominent, efflorescence, immerse, omen, strident, furtive,
suffusion

7th:

vigilant, luxuriating, pervaded, hearth, ecstatic, perceived, grotesque, implore, immobile, overwhelmed

Have a great week!

Mrs. Rubasch

2011-09-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome back from the break!

8th: We are finished reading The Outsiders and will be watching the film, learning about life in the 1950's and having our annual "Outsiders Party" this week. Lots to look forward to! We will have homework packets due each day, but no journal work or vocab this week.

7th: We have our first test on The Giver on Tuesday. We will continue reading this week in class and will have two homework assignments on Wednesday and Thursday. If you have a book out, please return it so that you are not charged a book replacement fee.

Vocab Words:

annex
exasperated
profound
recollection
successor
integrity
mercy
immense
tentative
commerce

Have a great week!

Mrs. Rubasch

2011-08-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hello! This week on August 31st is Open House. Please come by to view your child's classrooms and see what we have been doing in school so far this year. The vocab words for the week are:

8th:

testify
survey
timid
aghast
exploits
hesitate
falter
divert
racking
resemblance

7th:

hover
bewildered
dwelling
rehabilitation
committee
indicating
exuberant
relinquish
correspond
discard

8th: We will finish The Outsiders this week and begin a fun-filled week of celebration when we return from the long weekend! 7th: We are having our first test over The Giver on Thursday, Sept. 1st.

Thanks and have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Rubasch

This Week in English

2011-08-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents!

What a great first two weeks we had! Here is what's in store for the upcoming week:

8th: We are continuing to read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and we will be teaming up with Mr. Jones to do a writing assignment. We will also have a quiz, vocabulary words, and packet #2 all due this week.

Vocab words:

gallant
unceasing
fiend
aloof
ruefully
indignant
elite
premonition
wince
eluded

7th: We will begin reading The Giver this week and will continue to discuss the elements of story and reading comprehension strategies. The spelling and vocabulary words of the week are:

apprehensive
palpable
jeer
tunic
wheedle
distraught
nurture
supplementary
aptitude
chastise

Have a great week!
Mrs. Rubasch

Welcome Back!

2011-08-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents,

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year. Remember to check this blog weekly for current news and homework. Make sure you bring in the items on the supply list to your homeroom teacher as soon as you can. The first day of school is approaching fast, be sure you are prepared for class!
It is imperative that you have a journal and pencils/pens to write with from your first day forward. Also, there are some forms you and your parents must read and sign by August 19th regarding some new book and disciplinary policies our school is adopting this year, so make sure you get that done in a timely fashion. I look forward to working with each of you. Have a great year!

8th Grade:

We will be reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and discussing the elements of fiction. Our vocabulary words for the first week are:

sarcasm
bickering
stalked
loping
innocent
law-abiding
fiery
rebellious
nonchalantly
savvy

7th Grade:

We will be reading several short stories during our first two weeks and discussing the elements of fiction. We will also be reviewing some reading comprehension strategies. We will have quizzes and short writing assignments that reflect our in-class readings. All work must be completed in your Reading journal. Journals will be graded every Friday.

Good luck guys,
Mrs. Rubasch

Next Year

2011-05-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Students,

Here are some things you need to be aware of for the upcoming school year.

Junior High Supply List:

1) 5 spiral notebooks for journal work in each subject
2) 2 packages of pencils
3) 2 packages of pens (blue or black ink)
4) 1 package of colored pencils
5) 1 box of Kleenex
6) 1 ruler
7) 2 packages of loose leaf college ruled paper
8) 1 dictionary
9) 1 package of note cards
10) 1 personal pencil sharpener
11) 1 package of glue sticks

8th Grade Summer Reading List:

1) The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
2) Animal Farm, by George Orwell

7th Grade Summer Reading List:

1) Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli
2) The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare

*The Nurse’s office needs the following supplies:

7th Grade Boys: 1 bag of cotton balls, 1 package hard peppermint candy
7th Grade Girls: 1 bag of cotton balls, sanitary pads
8th Grade Boys: 1 package of chapstick, 1 ace bandage
8th Grade Girls: 1 package of chapstick, sanitary pads

Have a Great Summer

2011-05-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents,

We are winding down with just one week left of school. This week we will be having our annual knowledge bowl with the 7th graders while the 8th graders go on their trip to Six Flags. Monday, May 23rd is Field Day in the morning and the eighth graders will rehearse for graduation in the afternoon. Tuesday, May 24th is the 8th grade graduation ceremony at 10:00 AM at Grace Chapel. Wednesday, May 25th is the last day of school and we will have an end-of-the-year party, so please bring snacks and drinks to share. Have a great summer and stay safe!
Mrs. Rubasch

Year End

2011-05-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hello Parents and Students! We have two and a half weeks of school left and it is important that all work is turned in, all make-up tests are taken, and any extra credit is completed before Friday, May 13th. In 7th grade we are finishing The Westing Game and will soon have our Westing Game literature party. The following week we will have our annual knowledge bowl for the seventh graders. We will team up to answer questions from each subject area and the team to answer the most questions correctly will win a pizza party. Eighth graders are reading To Kill a Mockingbird all of next week and we will watch the film the following Monday. The 8th grade trip will be from the 17th to the 19th of May and the 8th graders who will not be attending will participate in the knowledge bowl with the 7th graders. Jr. high will have a field day on May 23rd in the morning. 8th grade will rehearse for graduation in the afternoon on that day as well. Enjoy the rest of the year and have a great summer!

Mrs. Rubasch

Home Stretch

2011-04-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents! We are in the home stretch of the fourth quarter. Seventh graders are reading The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin for the next three weeks, while eighth graders read To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. We will be taking quizzes and vocabulary tests over these novels, so if you miss a day you will need to catch up on your reading at home. Almost done guys, hang in there! Mrs. Rubasch

AIMS Testing

2011-04-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

It is the moment we have all been waiting for: AIMS week! Here are some tips that will help you do your best: 1) Eat a good breakfast! Your brain works better when you are well nourished with protein and carbohydrates. 2) Get a good night's sleep! You need your rest to be alert during the day. 3) Drink plenty of water. It is the desert and dehydration can give you headaches and make you tired. 4) Get some exercise after school. Exercise helps you sleep better at night, improves circulation and increases your energy level. 5) Relax. Don't stress over this. You are all very bright and capable of doing well! 6) Go with your gut. Don't second-guess yourself too much. If you have the instinct that an answer is correct, go with it! 7) Do not leave any answers blank. If you don't know an answer, make your best guess. If you leave it blank, it will be wrong, but if you guess, you could get it right. So always try and do your best. Good Luck! Mrs. Rubasch

Projects and Testing

2011-03-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

What to Expect... 8th: You have all been doing very well on your Greek mythology presentations, keep up the good work! After we complete our presentations on Thursday, we will begin Unit 3 of our Buckle Down books. We will end the Buckle Down unit with a final practice exam and then it will be time to take the AIMS test. Testing will begin on April 11th. 7th: We are ending our folklore unit with a final project, due next Wednesday, April 6th. Students are expected to write their own folk tale, five pages handwritten or three pages typed. The stories will be made into mini books with a minimum of two illustrations. Rough drafts are due Friday, April 1st. This project will be completed during class, but if you wish, you may work on it at home too. Next Wednesday through Friday we will complete our Buckle Down books. The following week we will begin the AIMS test. Keep up the good work! Mrs. Rubasch

Welcome Back

2011-03-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

8th: We are working on our Greek Mythology projects all week. Each team must turn in a typed two page essay on their god or goddess with a bibliography containing at least one book source and two internet sources that have been approved in class. A poster board or power point presentation with a five minute speech is to be given next Wednesday, March 30th in front of the class. The paper is also due at this time. The project is worth 200 points.

7th: We are now beginning our folklore unit and will be studying myths, legends, folk tales, and fables in class. We will then complete unit 3 of our Buckle Down curriculum.

Remember to return your signed report cards!

Mrs. Rubasch

Final News of the Quarter

2011-03-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hello! We are almost done with the third quarter of our school year. Report cards go out tomorrow, March 16th, and must be returned with a parent/guardian's signature by Monday, March 21st. Unreturned report cards will result in a lunch detention.

8th grade:

We are continuing to study Greek mythology and will begin working on our team projects when we return from the break. Next we will do our final section of our Buckle Down books and one more practice test. The AIMS test will be given on the week of April 11th-15th.

7th:

We just learned how to play Almania, a game that teaches us how to utilize information from an almanac. This will conclude the reference materials portion of our nonfiction unit. We will have an Almania tournament next week and the winning teams will be invited to a pizza party at lunch! Then we will begin our folklore unit. We will finish our final section of our Buckle Down books just before the AIMS test. The test will be given the week of April 11th-15th.

Thank you,
Mrs. Rubasch

Two More Weeks!

2011-02-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Parents and Students,

We only have two weeks left of this quarter to finish up our final units and turn in any late work. All work is due by Friday, March 11th. Report cards go out on Wednesday, March 16th. We will be doing CBM testing on the 14th and 15th.

8th: We have just concluded our unit on persuasive writing and have had several interesting class debates. Great job on your research presentations, too! We are now beginning Unit 2 of our Buckle Down books in preparation for the AIMS test.

7th: We had a great week last week with many wonderful (and delicious) cultural research presentations. Great job guys! This week we will be studying persuasive writing and debating several controvercial topics. Next week we will play Almania to conclude our study on reference materials. When we return from the break, we will begin Unit 2 of our Buckle Down books.

Thank you,
Mrs. Rubasch

Update

2011-02-10T08:56:00.000-08:00

7th: We are wrapping up our informative nonfiction unit by working on a group research project. Each group will research a holiday or custom from a culture outside of the U.S. They will write a formal, typed essay with a bibliography, give a 5 minute speech, make a power point or poster board visual aid, and prepare a traditional holiday dish from their country to share with the class. The project will begin on Monday, February 14th, and will be due on Wednesday, February 23rd.

8th: We are now beginning our informative nonfiction group research project. Each group must research the history, rules, training, and statistics of an olympic sport. They will give a speech, power point or poster board presentation, and write a formal, typed essay with a bibliography. This project is due on February 18th.

Mrs. Rubasch

Progress Reports

2011-02-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

Progress grades will come out on Monday, February 7th. All work is due today, by 2:30 pm.

7th: We are studying literary nonfiction this week and will begin taking a look at informative nonfiction next week. Monday we are watching a documentary on the Titanic. A compare and contrast essay on the film and the reading "Exploring the Titanic" will be due next Tuesday, February 8th. We will soon have a group research project to work on, so begin thinking about customs and holidays from around the world that you would like to study.

8th: We just finished reading about Pompeii and writing a personal response to what we learned. We have covered our literary nonfiction unit and will begin our informative nonfiction unit on Monday. We will begin a research project the following week on the olympic sports.

Mrs. Rubasch

Moving Forward

2011-01-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

Hello Students and Parents,

Here is what to expect for the next two weeks:

7th: We just finished our poetry unit and turned in our final manuscripts. If you have not turned yours in yet, be aware that you will lose 5 points per day it is late. (7C, your packets are due Friday, 1-21-11, so don't worry yet...) We will now begin our Buckle Down review for the upcoming AIMS test and continue working in our workbooks and discussing them as a class for the next two weeks. We must begin preparing early so that we all know what to expect and can do well on the test. We will have three review sessions like this, of two weeks each, to review any unfamiliar concepts that might appear on the test.

8th: We are wrapping up our poetry unit with free verse narrative and lyric poetry. Great job on your sestinas everyone! I know they were difficult. Next week we will be editing and typing the poetry we have written and by Friday, your final typed packet of poems will be due. Next we will begin our nonfiction unit. We will read samples of literary and historical nonfiction from our Literature and Language textbooks and work out of the companion workbooks. Then we will begin discussing functional and informational text. We will begin a research project that puts our new skills to work after we complete our second section of Buckle Down AIMS review.

Keep working hard!

Mrs. Rubasch

2011-01-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

Class Assignments and Expectations:

7th: We are gearing up for our final poetry projects. Each student is responsible for turning in a typed packet of their poetry by next Wednesday, January 19th. The poems included are: 1 sonnet, 1 villanelle, 1 ode, 1 Limerick, 3 Haikus, and 2 free verse, (1 narrative, 1 lyric).
We have been learning about formal poetry and the requirements for each form in class, then practicing writing our own for homework for the last week and 1/2. Every student has a collection of poetry in his/her journal. We will conclude our unit with the Haiku and free verse narrative and lyric poetry.

8th: We have begun our poetry unit with the English sonnet. We wil be studying examples of the villanelle and the sestina over the next week and then we will study free verse poetry for one week. At the end of the unit, a final typed packet will be due. This will include 1 sonnet, 1 villanelle, 1 sestina, and 2 free verse poems. We will be practicing all of these forms for homework over the course of the unit. save all of your work and make sure you turn in your journal every Friday to be graded!

Thanks,
Mrs. Rubasch.

Welcome Back!

2011-01-03T13:08:00.000-08:00

Hello Students and Parents! I hope you all enjoyed your break. Here is what to expect in the upcoming weeks:

7th: We are beginning our poetry unit this week with an introduction to formal and free verse poetry and the poetic elements. We have ten terms to study for our spelling and vocabulary test this Friday. In this unit we will study formal poetry in depth and practice writing the Sonnet, the Villanelle, the Sestina, the Ode, the Haiku, and the Limerick. Then we will study narrative and lyric free verse poetry and write some of our own free verse poems. The unit concludes with a final typed manuscript, which will be worth 50 points!

8th: We will have our final exam over Romeo and Juliet on Tuesday, January 4th! For the rest of the week we will continue working in our Buckle Down workbooks in preparation for the upcoming AIMS test. Next week we will begin our poetry unit.

Have a great quarter!

Mrs. Rubasch

Final Days of the Quarter

2010-12-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

Hello Students and Parents,

We are heading into the final days of the quarter. Please turn in all missing work and take all make-up exams by Friday, December 10th!

7th: We are reading The Taming of the Shrew and will finish next week with the modern day version of the story, Ten Things I Hate About You.

8th: We are reading Romeo and Juliet and will end our unit with a final exam and showing of the film next week. The final will go on next quarter's report card.

When we return, we will begin our poetry unit in both 7th and 8th grades.
Have a wonderful break!

Mrs. Rubasch

Three More Weeks...

2010-11-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

With just three weeks to go before winter break, it is important that you all focus on getting in your missing work. See me if you have any questions.

7th: We are having our Shakespeare final on Wednesday, December 1st! We will then read The Taming of the Shrew as a class.

8th: We are discussing Animal Farm and The Russian Revolution of 1917. We will then have our Shakespeare review and begin reading Romeo and Juliet.

Mid-Quarter

2010-11-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

Hello! Progress reports were sent out today. If you have any missing work, you must make it up before the quarter ends. Here is our plan for the next two weeks:

7th: Last week we went over the basic elements of drama and Freytag's pyramid of the five act play. We are now studying the plays of William Shakespeare. We will go over plot summaries of The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello. Then we will read The Taming of the Shrew as a class. Take all your notes, as we will have a final exam on the life and major works of Shakespeare.

8th: We are now reading Animal Farm, by George Orwell. We will complete the novel in the next two weeks and then begin discussing the role of symbolism and The Russian Revolution. Finally, we will observe the 1954 film version of Animal Farm in class.

Mrs. Rubasch

Moving On...

2010-11-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

7th: We are watching Charly, the film version of "Flowers for Algernon," by Daniel Keyes this Friday in class. Those interested may read the full length novel for extra credit. It can be purchased at Bookman's for around $2. Next we will be moving into our drama unit, beginning with an overview of the life and works of William Shakespeare. We will then read The Taming of the Shrew before heading into winter break.

8th: We are reading and discussing "The Tell-Tale Heart," by Edgar All Poe in class for the rest of this week and next week we will be starting George Orwell's classic novel Animal Farm. Everyone did a great job on The Wave, thank you for your interest and participation!

~Mrs. Rubasch

November Units

2010-10-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Parents and Students! 7th: We are now finished with our utopian building projects and have begun our short story unit. We will be reading "Flowers for Algernon," by Daniel Keyes over the next week and watching the film Charly. We will then write a compare and contrast essay in class regarding the the short story and its companion film. 8th: We finished reading The Wave this week and will be taking a final exam on the novel in essay form on Monday. Then we will watch the film version (1983) in class. Hope you all have a wonderful Halloween weekend!

Mrs. Rubasch

Projects and New Units

2010-10-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Students! We are now into our second quarter of school and moving in new directions. 8th Grade: We have completed our small group reading projects and are beginning to read The Wave, by Todd Strasser. 7th Grade: We are building our utopias in class and presenting them on Friday. Don't forget your supplies! Each student has been given a Literature and Language workbook. Please bring it to class each day for the next two weeks, as we are studying the elements of the short story for our next unit and will begin reading "Flowers for Algernon" next week.

Thank you,
Mrs. Rubasch

Quarter Wrap-up

2010-10-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hello! We are now finishing out the first quarter and wrapping up our novels before heading into fall break. Remember, all assignments are due Wednesday, October 13th at the latest. Report cards will go out on this day as well. October 14th and 15th we will have no school. 8th graders must have all group work finished, including essays, packets, and final exams. We will begin reading The Wave, by Todd Strasser on Monday, October 18th. 7th graders must have The Giver quizzes and writing assignments finished and be ready to start our Utopia building projects on Monday. We will then be moving on to our next unit: Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes. Great job and have a relaxing break!

Mrs. Rubasch

Unit Two

2010-09-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents,

Our second unit of the year is going very well so far! 8th graders are working on small group reading assignments, which will conclude with a final exam and essay. 7th graders are reading The Giver, by Lois Lowry and working on various journal assignments and comprehension quizzes. We will be wrapping up unit two in a couple of weeks and getting ready for our next round of CBM testing. We will also begin working in our AIMS practice workbooks. Report cards for the first quarter will be sent home on Wednesday, October 13th. Have a good one!

Mrs. Rubasch

New Things!

2010-09-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hello! First, I would like to say great job this week--everyone participated nicely in the two literature parties we had. 7th: We just began reading The Giver by Lois Lowry and will continue reading and completing various assignments over the next three weeks. We will conclude our unit with an essay and class project. 8th: We are working on small group reading assignments. Each group has a different book and set of assignments that go with it. Each day of the week your group will be responsible for completing a different task to show your comprehension and critical thinking skills. This unit is designed to prepare you for both collaborative and independent projects we will be working on this year. Keep up the good work guys!

Mrs. Rubasch

Last Blog Revised

2010-09-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hello! The date of the Holes party is now the 22nd of September, which is next Wednesday! See the previous blog for details. 7th Graders: Keep working on your essays. If you have not gotten your second draft to me this week, it is due no later than Monday, September 20th. We will have student-teacher conferences in class to edit your essays one more time. Final drafts will be typed and turned in on Tuesday, September 21st. Our next unit on The Giver will begin on Thursday. 8th Graders: Dress as your favorite greaser or soc for our Outsider party this Monday! Please bring a dollar to donate to party costs, if you can. Don't forget to wear an orange shirt and jeans on Wednesday for the Holes party! If you choose not to dress for the parties, you must wear your uniform. There will be NO exceptions.

Thank you,
Mrs. Rubasch

Hello Junior High!

2010-09-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Junior high students and parents! We are wrapping up our first novels next week and will be preparing soon for our annual Holes party on September 15th. All 7th and 8th graders will wear an orange shirt to school, which they may also wear jeans with. We will have a variety of activities on this day to celebrate the book Holes, and we will conclude the day by showing the film in the cafeteria and having pizza and sploosh! 8th graders will celebrate The Outsiders next week with a literature party. Dress as a greaser or soc and be entered in a costume contest. Winners will get to have pizza and milkshakes at Little Anthony's Diner! Keep up the good work and enjoy your long weekend!
~Mrs. Rubasch

Hello Students and Parents!

2010-08-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Students and Parents! We are heading into our third week of school and so far, things are going very well. 7th graders are learning about the elements of fiction, as they continue to read Louis Sachar's brilliant novel Holes. 8th graders are reading and reflecting in their journals on S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. All junior high students are expected to bring their English journals to class daily and turn them in on Fridays for their grades. Keep studying those spelling and vocabulary words for our weekly tests, as well. Great start everyone! I look forward to a wonderful year.
~Mrs. Rubasch

Welcome Students!

2010-08-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to La Paloma Academy's 2010-2011 school year. School officially begins on August 12, 2010 at 8:15 A.M. For our first two weeks we will be jumping in right away to our first literature unit. 7th graders will begin reading Holes, by Louis Sachar, and 8th graders will start off by reading The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. We will be studying these novels in depth, exploring the following elements of fiction: plot, setting, character, and theme. We will have daily homework assignments, which should all be completed in your English Literature journals, so please make sure you have a single-subject notebook for class. Additionally, you will need: a dictionary for in-class use, pencils, a personal pencil sharpener, dry erase markers, a box of Kleenex, pens (blue or black ink only), and a school planner. Enjoy your last few days of summer and I will see you soon!
~Mrs. Rubasch

Welcome Back

2010-04-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hello parents and students! Welcome back from Spring break, hope you all had a nice vacation. In 7th grade we are reading The Westing Game, a mystery novel by Ellen Raskin. We will be taking a short break from the novel during AIMS week, then continuing with it to completion. As we read, we will continue with our journal work and weekly spelling and vocabulary tests. 8th graders are reading The Wave, a novel by Todd Strasser, which is based on the true story of a high school history teacher. We will take a break during AIMS week, then continue on. You all did a great job on your Greek mythology projects. Way to go!

Thanks for all your hard work,
Mrs. Rubasch

2010-03-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Parents and Students,

This will be my last week of school for the next six weeks, as I will be on maternity leave until May 3rd. The substitute taking over for me, Mr. Jesse, will be happy to answer any of your questions in person during school hours, or you may contact me through this blog or by e-mail.

7th: This week we are studying the persuasive essay in preparation for AIMS testing. We will have several in-class debates to practice our persuasive arguing skills. The following week we will begin reading The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin.

8th: We are doing a unit on Greek mythology this week, which will involve learning about the Greek creation story and its influence on world literature. This unit prepares students for reading The Oddyssey, which they will be required to read in 9th grade. Students will learn about the famous Olympian gods and goddesses and their stories, and we will end our unit with an independent project in which students will choose a god/goddess to research and present to the class on Friday, March 19th. The following week we will begin reading The Wave, by Todd Strasser.

English News

2010-03-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

8th:
Poetry finals are due Friday, March 5th. Make sure you have your packets in on time! Next week we will be doing an overview of informative and literary nonfiction. In the weeks following, we will study Greek mythology. Each student will choose a Greek god or goddess to study and do a formal presentation on. The presentation will include a poster board or power point visual aid and a formal speech.

7th:
This week we are wrapping up our informative nonfiction unit with functional text and a review of reference materials. We learned how to play Almania, a game which teaches students how to use an almanac effectively, and are now beginning a group cultural research project. Students will be responsible for researching a custom or holiday from outside the U.S. and presenting a poster board to the class with a formal speech. If there is a special dish they would like to prepare to accompany their presentation, they may do so. The project will be due on March 10th and presentations will be given on the 10th and 11th.

2010-02-24T08:03:00.000-08:00

8th: We are in the middle of our poetry unit now and will be gearing up to turn in a packet of typed poems for our final manuscript. This will be due Friday, March 5th. We have worked on formal poetry this week by studying the English Sonnet and the Villanelle. Next week we will study the Sestina and then move into free verse poetry. Our final poem packet will consist of a Sonnet, a Villanelle, a Sestina, and a free verse poem. Students may write an additional free verse poem for extra credit. All work must be turned in by Friday, March 5th! Report cards come out on March 11th.

~Mrs. Rubasch

2010-02-19T06:43:00.000-08:00

7th:

Today is the last day for our book report presentations. Many of you have done a fabulous job--way to go! Next week we will be wrapping up our nonfiction unit with examples of functional and persuasive text. We will also learn about reference materials and how to use an almanac by playing a game called Almania!

8th: Today is the last day of our drama unit. We will finish reading ACT V of Romeo and Juliet, watch ACT V of the film, and wrap up with our final exam. On Monday we will begin our poetry unit.

2010-02-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Parents,

Please make sure you talk to your child about being respectful in the classroom to their teachers and peers. Also, it is important that all students come prepared for class each day. We are not able to provide pencils and notebooks for your children, they must have their own supplies and bring them to school, ready to work.

8th Graders: We are reading Acts III -V of Romeo and Juliet this week. We will then watch the film version in class and take a final exam on this play.

7th Graders: Your rough draft of your nonfiction book report is due tomorrow! We will have conferences and go over them on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and your final drafts are due next Monday. We will then work on our class presentations and I will give each of you the date you will be presenting. Do a great job and use your time wisely.

Mrs. Rubasch

Progress Grades

2010-02-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hello parents and students! This is just a quick reminder that progress reports will be sent out on Monday, February 8th. Students have until Friday, February 5th to turn in any missing work. 8th graders are doing a wonderful job in their reading and understanding of Romeo and Juliet and 7th graders are coming right along with their nonfiction projects. We are doing a heavy grammar review and beginning our AIMS practice tests this week as well. Remember to be prepared for class each day with your journal and pencil or pen! I do not have any more supplies to lend out or give away to students at this time.

Thank you,
Mrs. Rubasch

2010-01-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy 100th Day! We have perfect attendance--thank you all for being here and participating in the festivities! 8th graders: Your mechanical hounds are incredible! Everyone did a great job. We will begin our drama unit tomorrow, starting with an overview of William Shakespeare's life and major works. We will then read Romeo and Juliet. 7th graders: We are in the beginning stages of our nonfiction unit. Each student has selected a biography, autobiography, memior or collection of essays to read independently and do a formal book report on. These book reports will be followed up with poster board or power point presentations in late February. 7th and 8th graders: Remember to always bring your school supplies and do your daily journal assignments. Keep up the good work!

~Mrs. Rubasch

This Week in English

2010-01-20T07:26:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a restful break. We are back in full swing this week! 7th graders are wrapping up their poetry unit by typing five of their poems into a final manuscript. This is due on January 20th. Next week we will begin our non-fiction unit. 8th graders have just completed an in-class essay discussing the plot, major themes, and character development in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. We will be following up with several projects that celebrate the novel, which will include a diagram of Montag's city and the designing of our own mechanical hound. Next week we will begin reading William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Please make sure you are prepared for class each day! Many are forgetting their pencils and notebooks, resulting in unnecessary lunch detentions.

2010-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome back! We have a lot of exciting new lessons to look forward to this quarter.

7th grade:

We are beginning a unit on poetry, which will span over the next two weeks and cover both formal and free verse poems of the 19th-21st centuries. We will be writing our own poems as well, and assembling a final manuscript at the end of the unit.

8th grade:

We will continue with our close study of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 over the next two weeks. We will then begin our drama unit by reading William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Parents: Please make sure you have signed your child's report card. Signed report cards are due by the end of this week to the homeroom teacher.

Thank you,
Mrs. Greengaard Rubasch

2009-12-16T08:32:00.001-08:00

Hello! I wanted to let parents know I have a few different blogs that I manage for my class, so make sure you click on my profile to see all of them. Thank you, Mrs. Rubasch

News from English

2009-11-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

7th Grade: We have finished our units on Louis Sachar's Holes, Lois Lowry's The Giver, and "Flowers for Algernon," by Daniel Keys. We have reviewed the elements of fiction in detail and will be moving into our drama unit next week. Keep up with your daily journal assignments and don't forget to study your vocabulary words!

8th Grade: Our "Lord of the Flies Island Party" was on Wednesday, October 28th, and was a huge success. There were prizes for best costume, best face paint, best tribal dance, best tool, and best fort. We are now reading and studying the history behind George Orwell's Animal Farm.