May Update - Fairy Tales -
analyzing Gender Roles and Good vs. evil
Students created their own fractured fairy tales based upon the original classic stories. Below is Maya Rosenfeld's Little Red.
March-April: Holocaust-Upstander unit -
Students read memoirs of a holocaust survivor
During this unit the students read a memoir from the holocaust. At the same time students researched holocaust upstanders and compared them to upstanders today. The students also picked common themes between the two and wrote their fourth literary analysis.
Thesis statement written by 8th grader Ally Baron.
Thesis statement written by 8th grader Ally Baron.
Being an upstander requires humanitarian motives and is exhibited by Raoul Wallenberg during the Holocaust and Carl Wilkens during the Rwandan genocide.
Should there be more police regulation 8th Grade debate
January-February: WHO WANTS TO ARGUE? PARENTS BEWARE! STUDENTS ARE BEING EQUIPPED WITH LOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ARGUMEnt!
This month saw the launch of our argument unit. Students read a variety of articles from a number of subjects while learning and identifying the parts of an argument. At the same time they began to explore the different rhetorical strategies advertisers use to persuade people to buy their products. Now students are in the midst of debating in groups for the entire class. Topics chosen by the students are death penalty, gun control, LGBTQ+ rights, and government surveillance of its citizens. As you can see the topics are deep and so is their research. Once again a third analysis will take place that coincides with their researched argument topic. You can see our debate protocol below.
December: Cultural novel analysis and (social/political) movements through history
After reading a novel that represents at least one aspect of their identities, students researched a civil liberties subject and created a pic collage. Here are many of them below. Students turned in this assignment by uploading it to google classroom. For some reason since students turned this is through their google folder, not one decided to add their name to the collage.
November: Cultural Unit
Good Afternoon,
A quick update on what we've done and where we are going. We have been reading our cultural novels in class and having been keeping a log about how elements of dialogue or major events propel the action forward, reveal aspects of the character, or provoke a tough decision in the protagonist. Students have been noting these in a log while reading. This week we will be writing our second reading analysis. By the end of the school day Friday, students will be responsible for having a finished essay submitted through google classroom. Please encourage your children to use time wisely in class. I have been meeting individually with many students during this time to help guide their essays. Next week we will begin an investigation into cultural movements that have existed in history. Students will create a project detailing what they have learned.
Thanks,
A quick update on what we've done and where we are going. We have been reading our cultural novels in class and having been keeping a log about how elements of dialogue or major events propel the action forward, reveal aspects of the character, or provoke a tough decision in the protagonist. Students have been noting these in a log while reading. This week we will be writing our second reading analysis. By the end of the school day Friday, students will be responsible for having a finished essay submitted through google classroom. Please encourage your children to use time wisely in class. I have been meeting individually with many students during this time to help guide their essays. Next week we will begin an investigation into cultural movements that have existed in history. Students will create a project detailing what they have learned.
Thanks,
October: Bronx Masquerade/poetry unit
Good afternoon,
Just wanted to send a quick update about our 8th grade Language Arts class. The students have now completed their literary analysis and are now waiting for their teacher to read and grade all 75 of them. Let's say, I'm going to need a few days. In the meantime I've already graded their process work for this analysis and those grades have been posted. Students have also written three poems that need to be submitted to our google classroom account. I'll need these by Wednesday November 2. Today we had a pretty awesome day as many students shared their poetry into the classroom microphone. These kids are inspiring!
As far as what's coming, each student has received a packet with a list of books on culture and identity. They are to select one that is based on one aspect of their culture. Students are required to get their own book. I have some in class. The library has some at school and the Evanston library have some too. Any support in helping the students get the books they want would be greatly appreciated. Students need their books asap as we will begin reading them Monday. Thank you,
Have a nice weekend,
Mr. Ferrer
Just wanted to send a quick update about our 8th grade Language Arts class. The students have now completed their literary analysis and are now waiting for their teacher to read and grade all 75 of them. Let's say, I'm going to need a few days. In the meantime I've already graded their process work for this analysis and those grades have been posted. Students have also written three poems that need to be submitted to our google classroom account. I'll need these by Wednesday November 2. Today we had a pretty awesome day as many students shared their poetry into the classroom microphone. These kids are inspiring!
As far as what's coming, each student has received a packet with a list of books on culture and identity. They are to select one that is based on one aspect of their culture. Students are required to get their own book. I have some in class. The library has some at school and the Evanston library have some too. Any support in helping the students get the books they want would be greatly appreciated. Students need their books asap as we will begin reading them Monday. Thank you,
Have a nice weekend,
Mr. Ferrer
Welcome to 7th and 8th grade Literature!
2016-2017
3rd week revelations
The first independent reading analysis was due today, Friday September 9. I will be talking more about these during curriculum night which is Thursday September 22.
The transition from summer to fall is always a difficult one for both teachers and students. So far this year has been a tremendous experience.
7th Graders will begin the Outsiders unit this week. This unit will deal with issues of identity both as an individual and social group.
8th Graders will begin the poetry unit which involves the reading of Bronx Masquerade as well as writing poetry. We will launch our Louder than a bomb team in October as well and begin competition shortly after the winter holidays.
The transition from summer to fall is always a difficult one for both teachers and students. So far this year has been a tremendous experience.
7th Graders will begin the Outsiders unit this week. This unit will deal with issues of identity both as an individual and social group.
8th Graders will begin the poetry unit which involves the reading of Bronx Masquerade as well as writing poetry. We will launch our Louder than a bomb team in October as well and begin competition shortly after the winter holidays.
Welcome to 309- materials
I am happy to announce that I will now be teaching 7th and 8th grade literature here at Chute! I will be housed in Mr. Roche's old room 309 and I am super excited. There is a lot of work to do so lets get started with a simple materials list.
Each student will need:
-a composition notebook. This notebook will be used to respond to literature and will not leave the room. Single sheets of paper will not be removed from this notebook so feel free to buy the old school black and white composition notebooks.
-post-it notes. We will be using these throughout the year so please have them handy.
-1.5 or 2 inch binder. This will also stay housed in the classroom.
More information to follow very soon...Parents can also expect an email prior to the start of school.
Each student will need:
-a composition notebook. This notebook will be used to respond to literature and will not leave the room. Single sheets of paper will not be removed from this notebook so feel free to buy the old school black and white composition notebooks.
-post-it notes. We will be using these throughout the year so please have them handy.
-1.5 or 2 inch binder. This will also stay housed in the classroom.
More information to follow very soon...Parents can also expect an email prior to the start of school.
2015-2016:
Argument Unit: Why is it important or useful to construct and analyze a logical argument?
After the initial launch of expectations and procedures we will begin working on the argument unit. This unit will consist of analyzing and creating effective, logical arguments. Students will read argument debates and be able to identify the effective uses of rhetorical strategies. Students will also create their own arguments based on current social issues. They will investigate and create logical arguments based on their research. Classroom debates will throw students into the realities of constructing logical debates using strong evidence. The classroom will then vote upon the best constructed arguments.
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I will use this page to list some of the great books that I have read. Students can also submit posts to me and I will add them to this page.
Bring me the name and title of your favorite book with a quick blurb and I will post it for you.
Let's make this a place to freely share the books we love.
I read Dead Wake this summer and loved it. Erik Larson writes non-fiction as a narrative which makes great storytelling. I'll have it in my library if you'd like to check it out.
The Demonata Series is really good scary stuff. It's written by horror writer Darren Shan who wrote the famous Cirque de Freak series. These horror books are bit more disgusting but an easy read. There are ten total in the series. Read 50 pages of book one and you'll read them all.
The Blueford Series are very poplar among girls and boys. These books are an easy read and full of characters and conflict. Students can relate with the real life struggles of these characters.
This is an awesome book. I'm almost done. It follows the adventures of Hansel and Grettel with some really great fantasy stories. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, easy reads, and non-stop action.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
This is one fantastic novel. Written by the prolific AVI, it tells the story of a young girl who crosses the Atlantic in the 1800's without any friends and family.
She faces tremendous heartache on the ship and fights for her life against a tyrannical captain.
Do not let this book slip past you. If you haven't read any of AVI's historical fiction than you are in for a treat.
The wheels are turning in Hollywood for a movie version of this novel so you better read it fast.
Below is a movie made by students portraying the events of the novel.
Further below is a video book trailer for True Confessions
She faces tremendous heartache on the ship and fights for her life against a tyrannical captain.
Do not let this book slip past you. If you haven't read any of AVI's historical fiction than you are in for a treat.
The wheels are turning in Hollywood for a movie version of this novel so you better read it fast.
Below is a movie made by students portraying the events of the novel.
Further below is a video book trailer for True Confessions
The Outsiders is a classic book all 8th graders should read. It is a story about 3 brothers trying to grow up during the 60's without parent supervision. They all go through heartache and struggle.
