Welcome to English 8!

Mrs. Lee Slusher

(Assignments posted are subject to change)

Parents or students may reach me by emailing lslusher@rcps.org or by phoning 731-3651, Extension 6655.

Monday, Aug. 25th - We had a wonderful day! Please sign all appropriate forms and promptly return to school.

Tuesday, Aug. 26th - Please sign and return all appropriate forms and return promptly. More will come home over the next few days as well as a checklist to help you know what to return. Thanks for your patience with all this paperwork!

APOLOGIES! Our schoolnotes account has had major problems this week, and I have not be able to post anything since Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed - I think the issues have been resolved.

Friday, Aug. 29th - Students are working on a peer interview for SOL 8.1. They will go to the computer lab on Tuesday to create a powerpoint about their classmate to use when they introduce this person to the class. Were looking forward to learning all about each other and discovering similarities as well as differences. Please make sure you have completed and signed all appropriate forms and return them to school. A checklist to help you know "what's what" was sent home two days ago. No homework for the long holiday weekend!

Tuesday, Sept. 2nd - Practice for tomorrow's presentation using the printed PowerPoint notes. Rubric for grading is attached. Scroll down to Downloads.

Wed., Sept. 3rd - Peer Presentations continue for tomorrow. No additional homework.

Thurs., Sept. 4th - Vocabulary sentence for "12 Powerful Words" due Monday. Library tomorrow to select novel. Book Talk due October 1st. See attached rubric.

Friday, Sept. 5th - Novels were selected today in the school library. Students who did not make a selection will need to go to the public library this weekend. The Book Talk is due Oct. 1st (See the attached rubric). Your child should take the total number of pages of the his/her book and divide by 25 in order to see how much daily reading should be done. Students will be given sustained silent reading time in class weekly as well.

Mon., Sept. 8th, 9th, 10th - Vocabulary flash cards due Wed. Vocabulary quiz, "12 Powerful Words" on Thursday. Students were given their reading log sheets today in class, so they can record their home novel reading time each week. Please verify the reading by signing the sheet each week. Don't forget - Back-to-School Night is Wed. Hope to see you there!

Thurs. Sept. 11th - Choose four (4) sentences from the worksheet and rewrite them using hyperbole.

MIDTERM ENDS ON MONDAY - SEPTEMBER 15TH

Fri., Sept. 12th - First reading log with parent signature due Monday. Students should be reading their novels daily, even if it's just fifteen minutes. Midterms go Monday. Have a wonderful weekend and spend some time together as a family. :)

Mon., Sept 15th - Thurs., Sept. 18th - Personification assignment due tomorrow. Reading log with parent signature due no later than Wed. Midterms went home Monday; please sign and return promptly. Students also should be reading their novels and preparing for a Book Talk on Oct. 1st. If novels are finished early, students should prepare for their book talk, but get another novel to read either from the school or public library. Computer Lab - Tuesday through Thursday of this week.

Friday, Sept. 19th - Reading log with parent signature and 2/3 sentence novel plot summary due Monday. Standardized testing on Tuesday-Thursday next week during 1st-3rd periods.

Mon., Sept. 22nd - Novel reading; reading log with parent signature

Wed., Sept. 24th - Novel reading continues. Because of standardized testing, we have lost a lot of class time; therefore, I am moving the book talk due date to Monday, Oct. 6th. Students should be preparing for this presentation as they finish their novels. No other additional homework for the rest of this week. A rubric is attached. See below.

Mon. Sept 29th - Six-weeks Test on Friday. Review notes for hyperbole, personification, simile, and metaphor. Also study DOL sentences 1-7. Reading log due for this week. Book Talk moved to next Monday, Oct. 6th.

Tues., Sept. 30th - See yesterday

Wed., Oct. 1st - See Monday; Monday marks the end of the grading period and is a 2-hour early release day, so 5th period's Book Talk won't be due until Tuesday.

Fri., Oct. 3rd - Book Talk due Monday (5th period Tuesday); reading log for next week.

Mon. Oct. 6th - Fri. Oct 10th - Reading logs due. Book Talk Presentations in class on Monday-Wednesday. On Thursday, we'll celebrate the end of the first six-weeks. All eighth grade students will participate in a practice Direct Writing SOL Test on Friday, Oct. 10th, during 1st and 2nd periods. This practice is designed to help students prepare for the actual test given in March. No grades will be given; however, I will conference with your child in order to identify his or her writing strengths and weaknesses.

REPORT CARDS COME HOME MONDAY!

Friday, Oct. 10th - Reading log due Monday. Teen Read Week, October 13th-17th, as well as Spirit Week - Monday is "Mismatch Day." Show your school spirit!

Mon., Oct. 13th - Reading logs due. Spirit week continues. Wear black tomorrow and support the Bobcats!

Tues., Oct. 14th - See Monday. Also, 5th period only - complete vocabulary drawings.

Wed., Oct. 15th - 5th period only - finish vocabulary story. Reading log due Monday. Superhero Day tomorrow. School rules apply and no masks allowed. Show your school spirit and be creative!

Thurs., Oct. 16th - Reading log due Monday. 0,1,3 periods have vocabulary story due tomorrow if not finished in class today. Novel for 2nd six-weeks will be selected during our library time on Friday. Students must complete a "Character Map" after reading their book. Due date for the map is November 17th. Friday is Black and Gold Day for the last day of our School Spirit Week. Pep rally during 6th period. Go Bobcats!

Mon., Oct. 20th - Finish the self "Character Study" sheet begun in class. Reading log also due. Vocabulary test on List #1 tomorrow. Novels for the 2nd six-weeks were selected on Friday. Students must keep notes on the characteristics of their main character. They were given a worksheet for this assignment. Students also were given deadlines for reading specific sections of their novels in order to pace their reading. A poem about the novel's main character will be assigned in mid November. Check the schoolnotes calendar for future assignments and due dates. Reminder - please be aware of the novel your child selected. Many novels have mature themes and language.

Tues., Oct. 21st - Reading log; novel reading and filling in the character sheet.

Wed., Oct 22nd - I will not be in school today. Students will receive instruction from Mrs. McCraw, my substitute. An "I Am Poem" draft will be written in class and finished for homework. The draft worksheet is due on Thursday. 

Thurs., Oct. 23rd - Finish reading "The Landlady," p. 72 in literature book. Students should have completed 1/4 of their novel by today. Ask your child about his or her reading pace.

Mon., Oct. 27th - Fri., Oct. 31st - Reading logs; vocabulary list #2 - for all 12 words=label part of speech, make a drawing to help remember definition, and write a creative story using all 12 words. Students were also given other ideas for writing. All work due next Monday, Nov. 3rd. Novel reading and note taking.

Mon., Nov. 3rd - Students should be more than half way through their novels and taking notes on characterization. Novel notes are due Thursday of next week, Nov. 13th. List 2 Vocabulary Test on Friday, Nov. 7th.

Tues. Nov. 4th - Thurs. Nov. 6th - Novel reading and taking notes on characterization. Both finished by Nov. 13th. Tomorrow is the last day for this week's reading log. List #2 Vocabulary Test on Friday. SOL writing goals will be determined this week during an individualized writing conference with me.  

Mon. Nov. 10th - Wed. Nov. 12th - Novels finished and characterization notes due on Thursday the 13th. Reading logs due, too.

Thurs. Nov. 13th - Fri. Nov. 14th - Reading logs due Monday. Novel poems written in class. The final draft of this poem will be part of the 6-weeks test

Wed., Nov. 19th - The multiple choice and matching portion of the six weeks test has been moved to Monday due to the snow day. Students who plan vacation time will need to take their test this Friday. Students were given a study sheet last Friday, Nov. 14th. Review including a game will help students prepare. Reading log due Monday.

Thurs., Nov. 20th - Review for the six-weeks test. If schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather, students will still take their test on Monday. Reading log due next week.

Mon. Nov. 24th - 25th - No homework for the holiday. No reading log due next week. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Report cards will come home after the break.

Mon. Dec. 1st - 4th - Welcome back! Hope your Thanksgiving was a grand one. No reading logs due this week. Vocabulary #3 due Friday (parts of speech, drawings, and story). Report cards will come home tomorrow. Library visit on Friday.

 Fri. Dec. 5th - Reading log due Mon. New novels chosen today. Novel and graphic organizer finished by Jan. 5th. See attachment. Monday is also the last day to receive extra credit for returning a signed spreadsheet.

Mon. Dec. 8th - Noveling reading and reading log. Midterm next week.

Friday, December 12th is "Fuzzy Slippers Reading Day." Students may wear their favorite slippers (in my classroom only) for an all-period novel read (Monday if school is closed due to inclement weather). Students may also bring a small pillow and/or blanket IF all can fit in their lockers. Students should also be reading their novels at home and completing their literary map (see attached). Deadline is Jan. 5th.

Fri. Dec. 12th - Reading logs due Monday. Students should also be reading their novels at home and completing their literary map (see attached). Deadline is Jan. 5th, the first day back after the winter holiday. vocabulary #3 test next Wed. or Thursday.

CANNED FOOD DRIVE ENDS THIS WEEK. PLEASE REMEMBER THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS DIFFICULT FINANCIAL PERIOD OUR COUNTRY IS FACING.

Mon. and Tues., Jan. 5th and 6th - No reading logs due this week. Novel literary map was due Monday. PowerPoint projects in the lab. No homework. Optional classroom spelling bee on Thursday.

Mon. Jan. 12th - Reading Logs due this week. Presentation of Novel PowerPoint has been delayed due to computer problems. Our technology staff is working to solve the problems.

Friday - End of the 3rd Six-weeks

Schools closed Monday (1/19) - MLK, Jr. Holiday

Schools closed Tuesday(1/20) - Teacher Workday

Schools closed Wednesday(1/21) - Teacher Workday

Thurs. Jan 15th - Reading Logs due next week on Thursday or Friday. No other homework.

Thurs. Jan. 22nd - Fri. Jan. 23rd - Due to the short week, reading logs are due either day as well as next Monday. Vocabulary homework will be assigned on Thursday after students return and will be due next Thursday, Jan. 29th. 

Reminder - Vocabulary homework is due on Thursday, Jan. 29th or the first day back if we miss school due to inclement weather. Reading logs are also due tomorrow.

Mon. Feb. 2nd - Reading log due; SOL writing outline if not finished in class.

Tues. Feb. 3rd and 4th - Reading log due; an outline for either "Invention" and "Someone Special" is due Wednesday; the other one is due Thursday. After the outline is complete for each prompt, students should write an introduction paragraph. Students should be reviewing nightly words from vocabulary lists #1-#4. A comprehensive vocabulary test will be given next week.

SOL WRITING OUTLINES ARE ATTACHED; SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. THIS OUTLINE MAY BE DOWNLOADED FOR USE AT HOME.

Wed.. Feb. 11th - Vocabulary Test on Friday, Feb. 13th. Students should be studying lists #1-#4. No reading log due next week.

Our school continues having computer issues. I regret that my schoolnotes account is not updated daily. The technology folks are working to correct this problem. No homework this week - Feb. 17-20.

Mrs. Slusher

Thurs., Feb. 19th - Reading logs next week. Novels should be finished in two weeks.

Thurs. Feb. 26th - No reading logs due next week due to SOL Testing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students will receive review sheets today and tomorrow to help them prepare for next week. No additional homework other than novel reading. The next book project will be done in the classroom during the week of March 9th.

Fri., Feb. 27th - Students will take the VA SOL Multiple Choice Test on Tuesday, March 3rd. We have reviewed in class, but students have been asked to go to the Department of Education Website and "test" themselves. I have asked that they review all the multiple choice questions on the released tests items from 2002 and 2007. Each student was given the answer key. Questions or concerns will be addressed in class on Monday. No reading logs due next week. The website is www.doe.virginia.gov.

I continue having issues with my schoolnotes site. I post assignments regularly, but the notes are not visible at times. Please send me an email if you cannot view my homework on a regular basis. Thank you for your patience.

Fri. Mar. 6th - Reading logs are due for next week. Students should also have their novels finished by Tues., March 10th. We will develop a newpaper about their novels for our latest project. The 4th six-weeks ends on Tuesday. Report cards will come home the following week. REMINDER - Students who volunteered to bring food or drinks for our End-of-the-Writing SOL Party should bring their items on Monday.

Mon., Mar. 9th - Reading logs and novel complete no later than Wed. Tomorrow is the last day of the 4th six-weeks. Report cards go home next week.

Wed. Mar. 11th - Vocab. part of speech, drawing, and short, creative story due next Wed., 3/18. Bring novel read for project to class tomorrow.

Monday/Tuesday, Mar. 16th-17th - Reading logs due. Report cards go home tomorrow with a spreadsheet. Vocabulary (see above) due Wed. In class, we are working on drafts of our novel newspaper that will be created in the computer lab beginning Wednesday. Students who do not complete their written copy in class need to finish for homework. Library visit tomorrow, so bring novels to class.

Mon., Mar. 23rd - Reading logs. Vocabulary test on Friday. Students are taking a practice Reading SOL in class on Mon. and Tues. of this week. Tomorrow is the last day to receive extra credit for returning a signed spreadsheet.

Thurs., Mar. 26th - Vocab. test tomorrow. Reading logs for next week.

Wed., April 1st - Reading logs due next week. Spring break begins on Thursday, April 9th for students.

Mon., April 6th - Prefix quiz on Wed., April 8th. Note the following reading logs due dates: Week of April 6-8 and  April 20-24. No reading logs due April 15-17 due to the short week after our holiday.

NOVEL PROJECT DUE MAY 15TH 

My Schoolnotes site and those of some other teachers continues with problems. I regret that my assignments are often deleted. Our technology staff is notifying the company about the difficulty we are having.

Thurs., April 16th - Reading logs due next week. Reading library book for upcoming project. A test on internal text structures will given mid week. The 5th six-weeks ends on Thursday, April 23rd.

For the next two weeks, we will play review games for our SOL Test preparation. When the weather is good, we will often go outside. Your child may need a light jacket for cool early mornings. I suggest keeping a hoodie or something similar in your child's locker or bringing one to school daily.

 Mon. April 20th - Test of Internal and External Text Structures on Wed., 4/22. Reading logs due this week, too. Students should be reading their biography or novel for the next project due after the SOL's.

Wed. April 22nd - 5th Six-Weeks ends tomorrow. Report cards go home next week. Reading logs due next, too.

Mon., April 27th - Students filled out 9th grade class schedules with electives for next year. Please discuss these choices with your son or daughter and return the RHS form to me by Friday, May 1st. Changes may be made, if necessary, over the next few weeks. Go to the RHS Website and click on departments, guidance (student planning guide)to see all courses available for freshman. Reading logs due this week.

SOL TESTING - MAY 1ST - 7TH - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

Wed.- Fri., April 29th - May 1st - No reading log due for the next 2 weeks due to SOL Testing. The zero period SOL Test will be given on Mon., May 4th. Please see that your child gets adequate sleep each night next week. Breakfast will be provided for each child on Tues.-Thurs. during testing.

Tues, Wed., and Thurs. of this week, May 5-8, SOL Testing. A brown-bag breakfast will be provided for every child. Please see that your child gets adequate sleep each night.

SOL Testing is over! Your children worked hard, and I couldn't be prouder! We'll take a little down time and then on to our "Beatnik Coffee House/Poetry Slam." We'll end the year on a dramatic note with a class play. More info. to come. No reading log due next week; however, students should be finishing their library book for the next character book talk due on Friday, May 15th. We'll have some time to work on projects in class, too.

Mon. May 11th - No reading log due this week. Book Character Project Presentations begin on Friday. Students have been given guidelines. We will select poems for our poetry slam in class on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wed., May 20th - Coffee House/Poetry Slam is tomorrow. Dress like a beatnik or hippie for extra credit. :)

Thurs., May 21st - Last day for poem recitations is tomorrow (Tues. for 5th period). Students should read their lines for the class play for homework over the weekend. Good expression and an understanding of play is expected by Tuesday, May 26th. Lines do not have to be memorized. Reading logs are complete for the year.

Tues., May 26th - May 29th - Practice aloud lines from class play. Plan costume. Show time on Tuesday, June 2nd and Wed., June 3rd!