Horn's Highlights

Today in Class...

Two more days - but the work is not yet finished.  Students who need to submit essay responses to replace any zero's from The Westing Game notebook will need to turn those in when you come to my class for your final exam.  That will be:  Thursday for 1st and 3rd periods, and Friday for 2nd, 4th, and 5th periods.  Here are the essay questions for any of you who may have lost them:  Download Westing Game Essay Choices

HOMEWORK FOR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW:  Answer the essay questions ONLY IF YOU HAVE ZERO'S THAT YOU WANT TO REPLACE WITH A GRADE!  Remember, the number of essays required equals the number of zero's that you have.  If you have no zero's, then you have no homework!

Today in Class...

Students received their Westing Game notebooks back with all assignments graded and recorded in ICue  Those students who have zero's for any assignment during this unit were given a list of 9 essay questions that they could answer as a way to erase these zero's.  This "re-do" will be due on either Thursday or Friday when they come to my class for their final exams.

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:  Finish Puzzle Project due tomorrow!

Today in Class...

We finished The Westsing Game.  I think that, for the most part, the students enjoyed this very complicated, very fun mystery.  Time was given in class to continue working on the notebooks that are due on Monday.  I would suggest that you remove your final Puzzle Project assignment sheet from your notebook before you turn it in on Monday, because the puzzle is not due until Wednesday.  Most of your work should be finished, so there should be very little left for you to do this weekend.

HOMEWORK THIS WEEKEND:  Finish The Westing Game notebook.

Today in Class...

We are almost finished with our novel, The Westing Game.  We have only six chapters left to read on Thursday and Friday.  The plot is getting confusing, exciting, and challenging, and many of the students are feverishly guessing the answer to this mystery.  So far, as Sam Westing said, "Wrong, all answers are wrong!"  Keep guessing, you will get it if you just think - remember, "it's not what you have that matters, it's what you don't have that counts."

We have only seven more days left in this school year, and with the onset of summer comes the summer reading requirement for all Lovinggood students.  The reading lists and assignments are attached to the Lovinggood web site, but I am attaching them here, as well.  You will be requried to read one fiction and one non-fiction book from the lists and complete the assigments.  Your 8th grade language arts teachers will be taking these for grades when you return to school.  Download 2009 Summer Reading List Draft for 6 and 7

Today in Class...

Finished through Chpater 18.  Monday will be a notebook check - I will be checking for clues and facgts through chapter 18, character information for each character, plot analysis and plot diagram should be partially completed, the crossword puzzle should be partially complete (some people have already finished this), and comprehension questions for chapters 1 - 16.  I will attach for the last time the word bank for the crossword puzzle here:  Download Word bank xword puzzle

On Monday, you will receive the puzzle template that you will use for your final project. 

Today in Class...

We now know who the bomber is and have a pretty good idea what happened to Mrs. Westing.  So many clues and so many red herrings are being given to you each and every time we read, I'm surprised you haven't yet figured out this mystery.

Once again, I am attaching the word bank for the crossword puzzle:  Download Word bank xword puzzle

It was fun to watch the classic Abbott and Costello routine "Who's on First."  I am providing the link to the video on TeacherTube so that you can watch it again:  http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=94818&title=Who_is_on_First

I am also attaching the entire script for the routine - who knows, maybe one day you'll want to perform it!  Download Who's on first manuscript

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:  Finish Chapter Comprehension Questions for chapters 13-16.

Today in Class...

We continue to read and uncover more and more clues and a few red herrings.  The suspense is getting intense, and many students are coming up with great theories and ideas for solving this mystery.  Good luck with your thoughts - everything will be explained at the end of the book.

Here is the crossword puzzle wordbank again for those of you who missed it yesterday:  Download Word bank xword puzzle   Hope this helps!

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:  Add to your Clues and Characters.

Today in Class...

We have read through Chapter 12.  If you are behind in the reading assignments, you need to check out a book from me to take home overnight so that you can get caught up.  Just come by my classroom at the end of 5th period, tell me the number of the book that you are borrowing, and I will write your name down.  You must return it to me by the beginning of Homeroom the following day, as I need all my copies for each class.

Some of you have begun working on the Crossword Puzzle.  I am attaching the word bank of answers that you will need to complete this assignment.  Even though I feel that by the time you finish reading the novel you should be able to do this puzzle without any help, I decided to give you some help so that you would be able to complete it without a great deal of trouble.  Here it is:  Download Word bank xword puzzle

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:  Answer the comprehension questions for Chapters 9-12.

Today in Class...

We have read through Chapter 8.  On your assignment calendar, you will see that you should now be working on the Crossword Puzzle, the Plot Analysis and Plot Diagram, and continuing the clues and characterizations.  Those of you who checked out a book, remember, we will still be reading in class, so you will be reading the novel twice (but that's OK, right?) and you did promise to not reveal any of the events to anyone else!!

HOMEWORK THIS WEEKEND:  See above...

Today in Class...

We read chapters 5-6-7.  Students should continue to add to their novel notebooks for the character charts and the clues/facts pages.  Tomorrow we will read chapter 8 and students will be able to begin working on their plot pages and the crossword puzzle.

I strongly suggest that you don't wait until May 14 or 15 to begin these assignments.  If you work steadily throughout the next two weeks, you should have to put in no more than 15-20 minutes per night. 

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:  Add to Clues/Facts and Character Charts.