Lisa Souther's blog

Portland Public asked us to switch to a standardized site.  You can find information (including homework) for my classes at:

http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/sellwood/336.htm

Parents, please remember to vote!  Ballots are due January 26.

Also, mark Thursday, February 4 on your calendars.  That's "Bridging the Gap" night at Cleveland High School.  It's a fantastic opportunity to learn more about your future school. 

MONDAY

• Vocabulary
• Portfolio organization and goal-setting
• Read Current Events
• Launch Mystery Writing Project

TUESDAY

• OAKS reading test in Linux lab
• Be sure to sleep and eat well!

WEDNESDAY

• No quiz this week
• Work on Mysteries
• Silent reading

THURSDAY

• Poetry Thursday!
• Cleveland HS counselors return to meet with students individually and pick up forecasting sheets (which must be signed by parents)
• Current Events due
• Launch Mock Trials--select roles

FRIDAY

• Silent reading
• Work on Mock Trials--juror handbooks
• Work on Mysteries

 

Thanks to all the parents who have volunteered to drive for our field trip this week!

MONDAY

No school; Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

TUESDAY

• Courthouse Field Trip
• Arrive at school ready to go at 8:30 AM
• Dress appropriately (remember the metal detectors)
• Don't bring backpacks or binders, but do bring lunch or money to buy lunch
• Students will return to school in time to attend 5th and 6th periods

WEDNESDAY

• Two-hour late opening for students
• Debrief field trip
• Study for "Bar Exam" (Constitution test)
• Special lunchtime study session--please get a hall pass ahead of time

THURSDAY

• Poetry Thursday!
• Study for "Bar Exam"
• Cleveland High School counselors visit
• Special lunchtime study session--please get a hall pass ahead of time

FRIDAY

• "Bar Exam"--Constitution test
• Bring Constitution Packets
• Bring silent reading book

As you know, our courthouse field trip is on Tuesday, January 19.  I planned this as a parent-driver trip because we need to be downtown by 9:00 AM.  I tried not to have this last-minute scramble, but here it is: right now I have 43 seats in cars and 4 students.  I'm willing--instead of driving--to take up to 14 students with me on Tri-Met (that's the limit without arranging two weeks in advance).  But the bottom line is that I still need two more parent drivers.  I'm sorry to put the pressure on, but if anyone can make the time to join us, that would be fantastic.

The above is the web site we looked at in class.  You can use an article from the "Daily News" (under "Teachers") section to complete your current events assignment for the week (you can also use a news article from any other source, as long as you can explain how it is related to the Bill of Rights.)

We still need parent driver/chaperones for our field trip on January 19 (Tuesday).  Please volunteer!

 

MONDAY

Book Project Presentations

TUESDAY

• Presentation by a visiting attorney
• Field trip permission slips due--NO exceptions
• Overview Bill of Rights
• Current Events

WEDNESDAY

• Constitution practice quiz
• Silent Reading
• Amendments 13, 14, 15, 18 and 21, 19

THURSDAY

• Poetry Thursday!
• Presentation by a visiting attorney
• Current Events due
• First Amendment (close study)

FRIDAY

• Weekly Reading Response due
• Silent Reading
• Gideon v. Wainwright

NEXT WEEK

• No school Monday; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday observed
• Courthouse Field Trip Tuesday
• Two-hour late opening Wednesday
• No quiz Wednesday, and no homework other than studying for your Constitution Exam (The "Bar Exam")

Please check your schedules to see if you can help us out on this fantastic trip to the Multnomah County Courthouse.  We'll see the judicial system in action as we observe trials and meet judges and attorneys.  We're meeting at Sellwood at 8:30 AM, and we'll be back at school before 3:00 PM.

Welcome Back!

MONDAY

• Vocabulary
• "Who Wants to be a Naturalized Citizen"--introduction to Constitution
• Preview Chapter 9 in History Alive

TUESDAY

• Journal
• Current Events
• Preamble to the Constitution
• Book Project work time

WEDNESDAY

• Vocabulary quiz
• Silent Reading
• Constitution reading and notes

THURSDAY

• Poetry Thursday!
• Current Events due
• Constitution reading and notes

FRIDAY

• Journal
• Writing/editing review lesson
• Silent reading
• Book Projects due (with presentations) Monday

I hope you will enjoy this time with family and friends.  Your homework over break is as follows:

1.  READ!  We will have a book project due on January 8 (Friday of the week we return.  I do not expect you to work on the project, but you should have your book finished.

2.  Some of you may need to take advantage of the extra credit opportunity for social studies.

3.  Have your permission slip signed for our January 19 field trip.  We need parent drivers, please.

MONDAY

• New vocabulary
• 145th Street Essays
• Review Constitutional Convention

TUESDAY

• Special Schedule (30-minute homeroom)
• Speeches: Johnny, Kahlea, Jon, Manna, Milo, Maren, Zola, Kylee
• Review Constitutional Convention

WEDNESDAY

• 2-hour Late Opening; shortened classes
• Constitutional Convention Re-Quiz
• Silent Reading
• Speeches: Aria, Megan, Ian, Kassie, Kyle, Michael, Cole
• 3-Pass Pigout Day!

THURSDAY

• Poetry Thursday!
• Finish 145th St. Essay--due today
• Speeches: Stevie, Max, Brent, Jeff, MyTrang, Marco
• 3- and 2-Pass Pigout Day!

FRIDAY

• Celebration Day Schedule; shortened classes
• Silent Reading
• Weekly Reading response due
• 3-, 2-, and 1-Pass Pigout Day! Special reward day for 3-Pass people