Ms. Johnson

Jr Raider Cafe

Today, students participated in the Jr. Raider Cafe.  During the time they spent in the cafe, they participated in a series of book talks on their favorite books.  They discussed why they choose the book they did, the main character/plot/conflict in their book, connections they found between the text and their lives/other books/current events, etc.  I really enjoyed listening to their conversations about the wide variety of books selected.  It was great to hear that students became interested in new books after hearing their classmates talk about them.

Below is the list from each period of the favorite books.  I appologize in advance for any misspelled names or titles; some of our kids don't have the neatest handwriting! :)

1^st Period

Lemony Snicket: Series of Unfortunate Events

Pendragon: The Pilgrims of Rayne

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

365 Amazing Days in Sports by David Fischer

Heat by Mike Lupica

Love, by Jerry Spinelli

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling –2 Recommendations

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

A Time for Dancing by Davida Wills Hurwin

The White Fox Chronicles by Gary Paulsen

The Truth about Forever by Jane Dessen

Star Wars

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

DJ McHale

Speak by Laurie Haulse Anderson

2^nd Period

Harry Potter-2 Recommendations

Vote for Larry by Janet Tashijan

Outsiders by SE Hinton—4 Recommendations

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

The White Fox Chronicles by Gary Paulsen

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Lark by Sally Watson

Queen of this Realm by Jean Plaidy

Rebel

Island

by Rick Riordan

Xenocide by Orson Scott Card

Asteris in

Britain

by Hodder-Dargaud

Maximum Ride: Schools Out—Forever by James Patterson

3^rd Period

The Giver by Lois Lowry

How To Be A Pirate by Cressida Cowell

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling—2 Recommendations

Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld

Matilda by Ronald Dahl

Flipped by Wendelin Van Oraanen

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

Goodnight, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian

Holy Enchilada by Henry Winkler

That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton

The Pretty Committee Strikes Back by Lisi Harrison

Sue the End by Lemony Snicket

6^th Period

Cirque Du Freak: Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan

Hab: Fall of Reach by Eric Nuland

Pendragon

Look for Me by Mary Downing Hahn

Runner

Flush by Carl Hiassen

Moonlight

Cirque Du Freak: Allies of the Night        By Darren Shan

The Wish Giver

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Heat by Mike Lupica

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Lisi Harrison

Spy Goddess by Michael Sprayloin

Switched by RL Stine

Disappearance by Jude Watson

Holes by Louis Sacher

Frozen Stiff by Sherry Shahan

A Coach’s Life by Dean Smith

The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman

Room in the Heart by Sonia Levitin

The Science Book by Peter Tallack

Matilda by Ronald Dahl

The Clique by Lissi Harrison

7^th Period

Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Telling Christina Goodbye by Lurlene McDaniel

Flush by Carl Hiasson

Heat by Mike Lupica—Recommended by 2 People

Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton

A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Dr. Williams' Email

I now have a Cobb County School email account so you can email me at either the Yahoo account or at sunderland.williams@cobbk12.org.

I am really enjoying working with your children.  They are awesome kids!

Dr. Williams

Georgia's Standards for Narratives

Here is what you are supposed to learn and be able to do after our narrative unit.  See where you are...

ELA8W2 Writing Genres: Narrative

The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres: Narrative (fictional, personal, experimental)

Element: ELA8W2.a

Narrative Writing: Engages readers by establishing and developing a plot, setting, and point of view that are appropriate to the story (e.g., varied beginnings, standard plot line, cohesive devices, and a sharpened focus).

Element: ELA8W2.b

Narrative Writing: Creates an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.

Element: ELA8W2.c

Narrative Writing: Relates a clear, coherent incident, event, or situation by using well-chosen details.

Element: ELA8W2.d

Narrative Writing: Reveals the significance of the writer's attitude about the subject.

Element: ELA8W2.e

Narrative Writing: Develops complex major and minor characters using standard methods of characterization.

Element: ELA8W2.f

Narrative Writing: Includes sensory details and concrete language to develop plot, setting, and character (e.g., vivid verbs, descriptive adjectives, varied sentence structures, and specific narratives action).

Element: ELA8W2.g

Narrative Writing: Excludes extraneous and inappropriate information.

Element: ELA8W2.h

Narrative Writing: Uses a range of strategies (e.g., suspense, figurative language, dialogue, expanded vocabulary, flashback, movement, gestures and expressions, foreshadowing, tone, and mood).

Element: ELA8W2.i

Narrative Writing: Provides a sense of closure appropriate to the writing.

Binders

Although many of you have organized your binders, there are still some who have not done so.  We will have a binder check for a classwork grade sometime this week so please make sure you have gotten your binder in order.  You need dividers for Notes, Writing, Vocabulary, and Grammar.  Check to make sure you have papers in the right sections. 

Standardized Testing

CoGAT--9/26 and 9/27

ITBS--10/1, 10/2, 10/3, and 10/4

We will be testing first thing in the morning so it is important that all students are at school on time.

Change of Date

I have changed the date the rough draft is due to Thursday.  Several of you requested an extra day, and I was able to make that work out.  I can't wait to read your personal narratives.

Week of Sept. 24-28

We will begin our next list of our SAT vocabulary words on Monday.  Flashcards will be due on Thursday for all classes.

Typed rough drafts of personal narratives will be due on Wednesday.  Students will be involved in peer editing on Wednesday.

On Friday, we will have a celebration of reading.  Each student should bring a copy of his/her favorite book to class.  Students will participate in the "Jr. Raider Cafe" during class.  Hopefully, students will learn about a book they might want to read.

Progress Reports

Progress reports will be sent home on September 19.  Please sign them and send them back to school with your child.  The 19th is also early release!

On Thursday, all classes will have a vocabulary test which will include all words from SAT 2 and some from SAT 1. 

REFLECTIONS CONTEST!

I hope many of you choose to enter this year's Reflections contest. (Sponsored by the National PTA)

This year's theme is "I Can Make A  Difference By ...".

All pertinent information, including entry forms are available online at the Dickerson PTSA web site. Here is a direct link for your convenience:

_Dickerson Middle School PTSA_ (http://www.dickersonptsa.org/)

Important Dates

Picture Day--Sept. 18--Students received a payment envelope on the 13th.  All payments must be made directly to the photographer at the time pictures are taken in the payment envelope.  If students do not have their money on the 18th, they will have their picture taken for the yearbook and then can bring money and have their pictures taken on retake day, October 23.

Early Release--Sept. 19