Humanities

This is the vocabulary that you must study for on the upcoming test:

Anne Frank:

albeit

quarrel

calamity

aggravate

nuisance

surrepitious

melancholy

gaiety

ample

blithely

impudent

clandestine

dejected

pique

reprimand

discord

remnant

rations

staid

genuine

emancipation

saboteur

congenial

peculiar

lenient

To Kill A Mocking Bird:

vacate

bantam

appomattox

acquittal

furtive

interdict

changeling

slat

asinine

altercation

formidable

amanuensis

hoodoo

ambrosia

habiliment

obstreperous

vapid

myopic

chauffeur

tranquil

inevitable

temerity

pensive

propensity

omit

I did not receive the emails from you guys to post your vocab.  So, someone please email me the vocab so we can get it up here!

Mr. Small

These are the words you must know for the tests next week:

To Kill A Mockingbird:

Subpoena -
Succinct -
Asinine -
Gingerly -
Austere -
Contentious -
Nebulous -
Acquisition -
Vigil -
Rectitude -
. Sweltering -
. Disapprobation -
Obstreperous -
Furtive -
Vapid -
Benevolence -
Antagonized -
Edification -
Acrimonious -
Assuage -
Impotent -
Morbid -
Rehash -
Negligee -
Cherub -

Anne Frank:

Imp
Coquettish
Pious
Delve
Fortnight
Het
Pessimist
Jittery
Aggravating
Obstinate
Fatuous
Nonchalance
Bemoan
Pedant
Divan
Indignation
Tincture
Prominent
Exquisite
Din
Sag
Acquaintance
Queer
Impenetrable
Consolation

Letter from the Admission Office

Dear Parents,

Each semester, we send to you a survey that asks if your child(ren) plan to return to SAS the following semester. In the past, the Office of Admission has sent this paper survey home with your youngest child. With the launch of the Parent Portal, we will “go green” and conduct the survey via PowerSchool. Please click on the survey for each child and tell us whether or not your child(ren) will return to SAS for the fall semester of the 2010-2011 school year.

You will need to complete a survey for each child and it is very important to complete the survey no later than Friday, February 12th.  As this is essential information that we use when planning for the next school year, if you do not respond to this request, we will contact you by phone or e-mail after the due date.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Admission at tel.: 6221.1445, ext.2525 Daniel Dong, Puxi campus or ext.3305 Eileen Shen, Pudong campus.

Best regard,
T.K. Ostrom
Director of Admission

1.Enrollment Survey. All enrollment surveys will be done online in PowerSchool through the Parent Portal. This enrollment survey is for next school year – 2010-2011. We will not be sending the enrollment survey form through your youngest child anymore. You will receive an email from PowerSchool regarding the details.

2.Emergency Contacts – You can now update your emergency contacts in PowerSchool. Just click the Demographics Update and scroll down to see the emergency contacts and where you need to enter the information. It is important for you to provide two emergency contacts.

Today we are embarking on our Lit. Circles.  This is a very YOU focused process.  It is up to your group to decide and lead yourselves through everything for these lit cirlces.  Of course I will be providing insight into very important aspects and strategies for reading both To Kill A Mocking Bird and The Diary of Anne Frank but for the most part it is your small group discussion that will bring meaning to these important novels.

For you convenience I will post this powerpoint on what is expected in your literature circles.  This will help you organize your daily meetings with your group members.

Remember you are being assessed on how well you function in the group.  I will be going around the classroom and checking in/talking with every group to make sure you are all doing what is expected of you.

These two novels are not as simple as Blood on the River or The Giver so it is very important that you remain caught up with your reading and really put a great amount of independent thinking into the work at night.

Mr. Small

Before Winter Break our 8th grade students took the STAR Reader Diagnostic Reading assessment through their Humanities classes. This assessment is simply a tool for the faculty to ascertain each student’s reading level as a guide for our planning and instruction. Students who took the assessment received a printed report in their report card envelopes.  The diagnostic report shows the student’s reading level and offers suggestions to help each student improve in reading and reading comprehension.  If you have specific questions about the report, please contact me.

J Small

This is it, we are jumping into the essay now!

The focus of this paper will be on making a comparison between The Giver and “The Mending Wall”.  We will make a connection between the two based upon a common THEME.  Remember theme is defined as: an idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature (its underlying meaning).  With this in mind you will answer the following question in a 5 paragraph paper.

What is a SINGLE theme that both The Giver and “The Mending Wall” share?  Use specific quote and references from both to explain how the two help deliver a similar message.

This page takes you though the step by step expectations for the paper.

Today will be used for brainstorming gathering quotes and beginning a rough outline of your 5 paragraphs.

Oh Man, I hate having to write this to you as a letter in my absence

I have missed you all over the holiday and I hope yours was as positive and peaceful as mine!

We will all catch up tomorrow; promise!

Until then please follow the directions of our kind visiting teacher who is looking after you today.  You will need to download the two documents below for your group work on The Mending Wall.  This is a really great poem that relates to the way we isolate ourselves and our communities from “others”/”outsiders”.  In this way it directly relates to the society in The Giver.  For today you will begin working through the TPCASTT document.  ONLY DO the T and the P.  We will work on the rest tomorrow.

Can’t wait to see you all again!

The Mending Wall by Robert Frost

TPCASTT poem guide

Mr. Small

Flat Jonas!!!
Imagine that Jonas has leapt from the pages of the novel to spend winter break with you!  While with you he will keep a diary detailing his thoughts and insights on the events happening around him. This diary will reveal much about his feelings, motives and reactions in reaction to a community unlike his. This project will allow you to show Flat Jonas your world and demonstrate your understanding of his character.
Flat Jonas Character Diary Project: (Due January 11th)

Create a personal Flat Jonas blog diary which depicts major events that happen during your break. You are writing as if you are Jonas, from his perspective, in the first person narrative form.

* You need to write four entries, of at least half a page each, which will be posted to your blog.
* Since  you should not post pictures of you on your blog per the internet agreement, then please either password protect your pictures, email them to me, or print them out and bring them in. You should also include pictures of you and Flat Jonas on your adventures (i.e. you and him in the picture that shows something you did together).

You need to incorporate the following modes of writing in at least three of your entries:

A descriptive entry- Use strong visual and sensory images to create a lasting impression to your reader. Anything can be vividly described – a room, an object, a person or an event that was significant to Flat Jonas.  Remember, Flat Jonas has just gone to Elsewhere, and that is wherever you are taking him!

A persuasive entry – This entry will reflect Flat Jonas’ wish for something he has found in Elsewhere or that he wants from his community.

A reflective entry – Describe in detail a significant event to Flat Jonas while he is with you.  How has it changed him?  What important lesson has he learned from it? How will he apply it in later life?

The other entry can be any type of writing.

Since this is due on January 11th it means you will not have to post any of the blog entries over the holiday, but if you have spare time you might as well write them to save from having to do them when you get back

Enjoy this project and be creative.  Also just in case Jonas runs into a tragic accident (such as falls off his surf board into the ocean or accidently gets forgotten at the restaurant, or kidnapped, or abducted by government officials, or runs afowl with a pet dog, or trips and falls into the fireplace) here is a pdf file so he can be reincarnated.  Afterall ‘Elsewhere’ is not as safe as his community

Mr. Small

Hey everyone,

Today we are going to do a test on reading comprehension.  Please do not worry this will not in any way be counted towards your humanities grade.  This said, it is important that you do your best as this is a standardized test that will place you in a percentile of readers across your grade level in America.  No one outside of this school will see your results, they are private!  Please follow this link to the Rennaisance Place homepage and begin the login procedure.

Mr. Small