Richard Sossel's blog

Well, We're back into the long part of the year.  I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing holiday break.

7th Grade:  The majority of you had your rough draft of the interview ready for peer editing on the 7th.  For those of you who didn't, this is your homework over the weekend.  I have to remark at this time that if you didn't have a rough draft after getting an extra day to do it that you really need to reflect upon your work ethic and implement some changes.  Your final draft of this project is due on Thursday, January 14th.

On Wednesday, January 13th, you will be doing OAKS Testing.  Get a good night's sleep on Tuesday night, and eat a good, protein-filled breakfast on Wednesday morning.

 

6th Grade:  Before break we finished our persuasive papers on the best Mesopotamian Empire.  Now we are working on our Character Analysis essays.  A rough Draft is due Monday, January 11.

I have been enjoying your over the break assignments.  You are all doing some very fine writing.

 

On Wednesday, January 13th, you will be doing OAKS Testing.  Get a good night's sleep on Tuesday night, and eat a good, protein-filled breakfast on Wednesday morning.

 

 

I have attached the Vocabulary Worksheets for both the 6th and 7th Grade.  6th Grade is working on the roots capt and tact; 7th Grade is working on biblio and mania.

6th Grade-

Six graders should read 240 minutes over break.  They should write 1 paragraph of at least six sentences every day in the writing section of their binders.  The subject of their writing is up to them.  A daily reflection is appropriate, or they can summarize their activities.

 

7th Grade-

Seventh graders should read 240 minutes over break.   There is an attachment that has an assignment for January 6th.  Students also have a copy.

 

Have a Safe and Happy break!

Because the 6th graders are working hard on their persuasive paper, there is no reading log due for Monday.  Instead, a rough draft of the persuasive paper is due.

Please download and print if you need them.

7th Grade:  In Social Studies, we are beginning a unit on Islam, which will culminate in a Middle Eastern lunch after the holiday break.  Additionally, the Current Event speeches that are part of the weekly work will be centered around news from the Middle East and the Muslim world. 

In Language Arts, students are drafting their "most Important Person" piece.  Final drafts are due by Wednesday, December 16th.  Additionally, weekly vocab is still due on Wednesdays.  # 15 is due on 12/16.

 

6th Grade :In Social Studies, students have begin drafting the district anchor paper.  This is a persuasion piece wherein the students will assume the role of a famous historian presenting a paper on the topic of "Which Mesopotamian Empire Accomplished the Most."  Yesterday we filled out graphic organizers, and today we shall begin drafting.

In Language Arts, we are continuing with our study of sentences and their parts.  We are still doing our weekly vocabulary work, which is due on Tuesdays.  Next week, vocabulary #10 is due.  Weekly speeches are still running.  Please confirm with your child their speech date as failure to be prepared will result in a zero.

7th Grade

Sorry about not keeping up wth the blog, sometimes the thought of technology makes me want to run and hide in the woods among the trees and mosses.

The 7th grade is currently exploring feudalism and life in medieval times.  They are surveying the importance of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, and the role of monasteries in preserving human learning.  A quiz on chapter three in the text is on for Friday.

Seventh graders are also doing some writing:  we are writing about events that have occurred in our lives, and learning how to include dialogue in our writing.  Addtionally, we are learning to look for errors in convention (punctuation, spelling, capitalization, grammar, and usage) in both sample sentences and in our own work.

Current events have started.  This means that students need to have read a news article from a paper, an online source, or magazine.   The assignment has two components: a written summary using the "Current Event Format" and a presentation of the article.  Students hand in write-up and article.

 

6th Grade

The sixth graders are progressing along with their speeches.  I have been impressed by the speeches I have heard so far.

In Social Studies, we are exploring the important changes between life in paleolithic times and neolithic times.  The students are currently creating comic books noting three of the five important changes that affected life in the neolithic times, and which led to the rise of civilizations.

7th Grade

We have been finishing up our study of the Legacy of the Roman Empire.  There will be a test on this chapter on Monday, 10/12.  7th Graders are also responsible for their book projects which will be presented tomorrow.  Final Drafts of the Personal Narrative are due Thursday, 10/8.

 

6th Grade

Only 6 more days until Outdoor School!  I am really excited to be attending ODS with the new sixth graders.  I think we are going to have an excellent time at Arrah Wanna.  Please go over your supplies list and gather your gear.  Try to borrow rather than buy.  Definitely bring long underwear as it may be cold at the higher elevations.  We will meet at the Sellwood Parking Lot at 2:30 pm on Sunday, Oct. 11.  Make sure you bring your baggie of soil for the tree ceremony to school by Oct. 8th.  A sandwich -sized bag with about a cup of dirt from your favorite place or a place that's special to you is what is required.

Also, there will be a quiz on Chapter 1 of the Social Studies for Oct. 8th.  Study from your SMS Challenge Questions.

 

Mr. Sossel is out tomorrow, 10/2.  There is a guest teacher who has been left with a plethora of work for the students.  I accept no rudness nor misbehavior for substitutes in my class, especially for tomorrow's substitute.  I am traveling back east in order to attend the funeral of, and perform the eulogy for my younger brother who passed in August.  I have left an adequate amount of work for the students in both blocks.  I will not accept anything less than total compliance with my lesson plans.

 

Any student whose name appears on a list left by the substitute teacher can expect lunch time detentions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next week.

7th Grade Block--

We have begun poking around in our new Social Studies textbook.  We will begin with a review of the Roman Empire and its decline, and the repercussions of that decline.  We will also begin to delve into the physical geography of Continental Europe and how that shaped human settlement and development.

 

On the writing side of things, we have started to explore the Six Traits of writing, and the Writing Process.  We will begin working on a personal narrative this week so we have a piece of work upon which to practice peer editing.

We have also begun looking at some of the 70 rules which govern the spelling of the 44 sounds of English. 

 

6th Grade Block--

The two big things for sixth graders right now are getting ready for Outdoor School at Camp Arrah-Wanna in Welches, OR, and getting our binders organized.

For ODS, please get medical forms and behavior contracts in by this Friday (9/25).  The majority of students have done this, but I am still waiting on several sets of documents.  

Payment for Outdoor School Should Be Made Out to PPS, and Sent To The Following Address: 

Portland Public Schools

Attn: Hank Horn

501 N. Dixon

Portland, OR  97227

****Please Don't Send Checks in with Your Student to Sellwood !!!!****

 

We are also beginning to explore our Social Studies Text, and our Atlases.

 

In Language Arts, we are starting out weekly reading, weekly vocabulary, and are gearing up for our first week of speeches.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance in any of the aforementioned matters.