Ms. Danowitz

Weekend Blog 5/18/08

Sorry for the delay...I had an eventful weekend. The weekend ended with a 4th and final win to put the PITTSBURGH PENGUINS in the Stanley Cup FINALS!!!

I am so happy!!!

Blog Question for Monday!!!

Which is heavier? A POUND OF FEATHERS OR A POUND OF STEEL?

See you in the classroom!!!

Mr. Pellegrino

May 15th, 2008

What are proverbs? Why does society have proverbs? What do they teach us? Can you tell me a proverb?

Its another Hockey night in Pittsburgh boys and girls!!! 1 more game and they get to the FINALS!!!

See you in the morning!!!

Mr. Pellegrino

May 14th, 2008

And he shoots and scores!!!! Penguins win!! The best of four series is now Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Philadelphia Flyers zero.

What did we do today? Today all classes were to write a letter to the Board of Directors. What were you writing them about??? Well, if you may recall...the assignment in class was to look through a list of potential heart recipients. There is a heart available on the donor list. Your job was to write a FABULOUS letter to the Board to recommend the person from the list YOU feel MOST DESERVES the heart...

BLOG QUESTION!!!

In the days of the Old American West....there was a phrase that pops up in movies and television shows. "Are you yellow?" What does that mean? What does it mean if someone asks if you are "yellow"? Or what if someone calls you "yellow"?

As usual.....please wirite your answers in full sentences on a FULL sheet of paper with YOUR NAME on the top!!

Until tomorrow,

Mr. Pellegrino

May 13th, 2008

No blog question tonight...why??? It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh!!!

There will be a little something to celebrate tomorrow!!!

Mr. Pellegrino

May 12, 2008

Did everyone have a good weekend? I had a GREAT weekend!!! My Penguins hockey team won both games that they played.

The answers to the previous Blog were. The Penguins are playing the Philadelphia Flyers. The Finals series of games are also known as the Stanley Cup Finals. Leading the winning team to claim THE STANLEY CUP!!!

The Stanley Cup has several rings around it. Each year another team name and it's members are engraved into the Cup itself to be preserved for history!!! The winning team celebrates with Lord Stanley's Cup with pictures and by taking it on tour. Each member gets to take the Cup for a few days. He can take it to his hometown, take it to the beach, or even take it swimming with him. (Back in 1992, the Penguins won the Cup for their 2nd time in a row...rumor has it that it went missing and was found the next day at the BOTTOM of the swimming pool!!!)

Okay, enough hockey talk!!! What did we do today?

6th and 8th grade- Today, we took a pre-test on Unit 14 words and verbally went through the exercises Word Choice/Context clues.

7th grade- We went over the Test for Barrio Boy. The results overall, may not be what you would want as a grade. Read the story again and re-test for Tuesday!! Tuesday, we will work on a persuassive essay.

BTW- what is the plant in the picture above?

BLOG QUESTION FOR THE DAY!!!!

IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL FOR A DAY...ANY ANIMAL. WHAT WOULD YOU BE AND WHY??? WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS THIS ANIMAL FOR THE DAY?

THIS IS A THREE PART QUESTION!!!

1. WHAT ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE FOR THE DAY?

2. WHY WOULD YOU BE THE ANIMAL THAT YOU CHOSE?

3. WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS YOU CHOSEN ANIMAL FOR THE DAY?

UNTIL TOMORROW!!! GO PENS!!!

MR. PELLEGRINO

Weekend starting May 9, 2008

It is a hockey night in Pittsburgh!!! I know what you are thinking....What does that mean me?

If you are not a hockey fan, then it doesn't really mean too much to you. I am a BIG TIME hockey fan. Especially for my Pittsburgh Penguins. Do you know who they are playing in the Eastern Conference Championship? If and WHEN the Penguins make it to the Finals, what do they win? Also, what are the Finals called? (those aren't blog questions, but if you can give me the answers...CANDY may be involved with your reward)

What did we do today?

6th grade- We took a Spelling Quiz on the Unit # 2 words and then played some HANGMAN.

8th grade-We also took a Spelling Quiz on the same Unit #2 words and then we watched part of a CULTURALLY stimulating movie, DANCE WITH ME. I was hoping that you learned some new moves to show on the dance floor for your dance tonight!!!

Learn anything new?

7th grade-Today we took the Barrio Boy Test. Then, since the movie was so awesome and I am so excited for my hockey game tonight....we also watched the movie. Did you happen to notice the cultural differences from Rafael's home in Cuba to when he moved to Texas? It ties in partially to the story. Look forward to a lesson on transition words and traditions next week.

Back to hockey...why do you think the uniform jersey or shirt is called a "SWEATER"?

Without further ado....your blog question for the weekend..I wanted to give you a hockey question, but I couldn't think of anything REALLY good. Instead, I went the way of an expression in the good old English language....

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN SOMEONE SAYS...."I CAN SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL"? IS THERE WRITING REALLY ON THE WALL?

YOUR TASK, SHOULD YOU ACCEPT.....TELL ME WHAT THAT PHRASE MEANS. ONCE AGAIN FULL SHEET OF PAPER AND I'M LOOKING FOR COMPLETE SENTENCES IN YOUR DESCRIPTION.

Have a great weekend!!!

GO PENS!!!!                                                

Mr. Pellegrino

May 8th, 2008

No blog today...Sorry....See a new blog for the weekend

Reading logs will be checked tomorrow

7th grade- Test on Barrio Boy

6th and 8th grade-Spelling quizzes (yeah!!) and your essay about the ONE WISH and what you would do with it....

Prize for the winners!!!

Mr. Pellegrino

May 7th, 2008

What a day we had today!!!! I don't think I caught anyone daydreaming today. Well, maybe a few. You know who you are...

So, what did we accomplish today????

6th grade- Today, we reviewed analogies and completed the enrichment sections in your Everyday Spelling books....proofreading and writing also vocabulary building. I hope that tomorrow, we will have an exciting class. I promise that it won't be BORING!!

7th grade-Once we decided who the teacher in the room was, we took the Quiz on Barrio Boy. We also discussed what a brochure was...Do you remember what a brochure is? I sure hope so!!!! You may recall, that the assignment I gave you was to make a brochure for Mazatlan. I hope I can see some nice work. I want you to make me come to visit. Tell me about the landscape, food, tourist activities, and places to stay. BE CREATIVE!!! MAKE WE WANT TO STAY AT YOUR HOTEL OR RESORT!!

8th grade- Today we learned about how to retell a story. You sat in your groups and by using a simple photo as a prompt, created unique stories. I really enjoyed hearing your creative works!!! Is it true what they say? That a picture is worth a thousand words? After hearing your stories, I think that it may be TRUE!!!!

QUESTION OF THE DAY!!!!

Did you ever hear the phrase, "skeletons in your closet". What does it mean when someone has SKELETONS IN THEIR CLOSET ? YOU CAN WRITE ME A FEW SENTENCES EXPLAINING THIS PHRASE ON A FULL SHEET OF PAPER AND TURN IN PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASS.

SEE EVERYONE IN THE MORNING!!!

MR. PELLEGRINO

May 6th, 2008

Today eveyone forgot who the teacher in the classroom was. When you get to class on Wednesday please be prepared to do the work assigned without question. Tomorrow will be a better day for all of us. I realize that we are close to the end of the year, but there is no excuse for showing up in class and shutting your minds down.

What did we do today?

6th and 8th grades-

We took the Pre-Test on Unit 2 and incorporated the WORDS TO OWN from last week. The class reviewed analogies and completed the Proofreading/Writing and Vocabulary Building excerises from the Everyday Spelling Book. Look forward to some timed readings tomorrow as well as a writing assignment.

7th grade-

There were many objectives set for today's class, but unfortunately those many objectives were not completed. What we did complete was the review of Ernesto Galarza and the complete reading of the story, Barrio Boy.  Look forward to working HARD tomorrow to get back on track!!!! A writing assignment may be in your futures!!!

Remember not to let your minds daydream in class..FOCUS!!!

Daily Blog Question!!!

Since the classes as a whole today were in a state of daydaydream....

                                         What was your most enjoyable dream?

                                          How about your worst nightmare?????

As requested previously, write your answers in sentence form on a FULL sheet of paper. Please turn into me at the start of the class

Mr. Pellegrino

May 5th, 2008

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Today was lunch on the lawn. Did you all enjoy being outside listening to cool music with a cool breeze? Congratulations to all who correctly identified the pictures from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh is my hometown. FYI....Pittsburgh is home to the HEINZ Company. What does HEINZ make? I'll bet you use it all the time!!!

What did we do today???

6th/8th grade- We worked on Unit 2 Short Vowels from the Everyday Spelling Book>>tomorrow there will be a PRE-TEST. Please look over your words for the next class.

7th grade- We went over the vocabulary list from Barrio Boy and read about it's author, Ernesto Galarza. Tomorrow we will begin the reading of the story!!

Question of the day????

The United States celebrates the Fourth of July each year to recognize our independence from England. My question to you is....Does England have a Fourth of July?    I am looking for MORE than a YES or No answer to this question. I will not have an email address while I am here. You will need to write your answers on a sheet of paper with your name on it. I do not want to see answers on small pieces of paper.

See you tomorrow!!

Mr. Pellegrino