Updates!

Grade 8's have finished reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and in the next few weeks will be studying the themes and characters more closely.

Poster(Sketch to Stretch) is due Tuesday, May 5th.

Letters to the Editor are overdue! Please hand in or email to me asap.

Grade 9's are exploring the setting and themes introduced in the novel Forbidden City by William Bell. Sketch to Stretch posters are due Friday, May 8th.

Grade 9's

Persuasive essays are due Wednesday, April 8th. Students may email me their final copy or hand in a paper copy.

As always students are encouraged to pass in drafts beforehand so I can make suggestions.

Grade 8's & 9's - what's due this week?(March 24-27)

Grade 8's:

• Final copy of biography(don't forget to include a works cited page)

• Reading goals video(a short video detailing your reading goals for remainder of the school year) *Please email video or link to video to: sxballum@edu.pe.ca

Grade 9's

• Reading goals video(a short video detailing your reading goals for remainder of the school year) *Please email video or link to video to: sxballum@edu.pe.ca

• Expository essays are over due!

*Remember! Students are expected to read 2 hours per week outside of school.

Grade 8's

Biography final essay is due Wednesday, March 25th. Please make sure you include rough draft and sources page.

Reminder: Reading goals video is due Thursday, March 26th. Details for this assignment are below.

Grade 8 and 9 - Reading goals video presentation

Reading Goals Video Presentation

In a video interview, discuss your reading goals for the final term (14 weeks). For example: What types of books do you intend to read? How many books would you like to read? How will you find books you like? Will you try anything new? How do you intend to accomplish this goal?

Please email video or video link to: sxballum@edu.pe.ca 

Due date: Thursday, March 26. Students are encouraged to complete assignment early:)

Students will be assessed on speaking outcomes for this assignment.

Grade 8's

Below is the schedule for biography presentations. Guidelines for the presentation can be found on March 3rd's post.

Biography final essay is due Friday, March 13th. Rough draft should also be included. The final copy must be typed. Students can email it to me at : sxballum@edu.pe.ca

Grade 8 – Biography Presentation Schedule (8A)

Wednesday, March 11

Bethany D

Morgana L

Lauryn M

Maggie C

Thursday, March 12

Pippin L

Alysa M

Jade G

Julie C

Andrew G

Madi B

Allie C

Friday, March 13

Gavin B

Adam S

Cameron W

Matthew C

Grade 8 – Biography Presentation Schedule (8B)

Tuesday, March 10

Clay C

Kate R

Sarah H

Emma R

Wednesday, March 11

Mandy D

Thursday, March 12

Spencer H

Kolby W

Jared M

Emily L

Hanna D

LaShya M

Maggie C

Friday, March 13

Emily M

Ben M

Josie D

Dawson P

Maya W

Austin T

Grade 8's - Biography Presentation

*Please note: Students will not be given class time to plan or practice presentation. Today's storm day would be a fantastic opportunity  to organize and practice presentation. 

Next week students will  present an oral presentation of their biographies.  This presentation needs to be about 2 minutes in length.  Students are encouraged to dress in costume as their famous subject.  This is not a 

requirement, but it certainly makes it a lot more fun!  

Biography Presentations Guidelines:

• presentation must be no longer than 3 minutes
• you must use note cards(I have lots!)
• you must rehearse at home
• you should dress like your subject or have relevant prop(s) for presentation OR create a visual that shows your subject. Examples of costumes/props: Tim Horton - Leafs jersey/coffee cup, Anne Frank - a diary, Steve Jobs - iPhone.  Be creative!

You must include:

• 6 things you learned about this person
• answer these questions: Do you consider this person a role model? Why? or why not?