
MOUNTAIN TRIP DEPOSIT DUE BY FEBRUARY 5
MINIMUM OF $30.00
EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
Valentine's Day is coming.......
Show love and appreciation for one another

Mrs. Mills
8th Grade

Social Studies
Survivor Red Team
Barramundi Tribe
2009-2010
We are continuing our stud of the American Civil War, its causes, battles, and the resulting Reconstruction period.
Students recently completed a map study of Civil War battles. Through reading and guided map directions, students will develop an understanding of the battles of the Civil War.
Gettysburg: Students will view a short clip focusing on Pickett's Charge and review with focus questions.
American Civil War Test:
Postponed due to snow days.
Date will be announced upon return to school.
Tentative Date: Tuesday, February 9
SPECIAL PROJECT:
In the coming weeks (late February), students will hopefully begin on a special project that will tie our curriculum to the census as it is conducted.
My plan is to have students create a census questionnaire for all CGMS students to complete. The students will then compile the data, create graphs and charts to show the data, and present the data to the administration at some stage.
While this is very much in the planning stages, please look forward to getting more information to come!
Help your student understand the census by sharing information as it becomes available.
April 1, 2010: Census Day!
Please continue to ask students about homework and test preparation.
PARENTS!!!
Please encourage your students to use agendas to track homework, tests, and projects.
We do not require signatures daily, however, it is very helpful for you to monitor student progress and upcoming assignments!
Required Supplies for 2009-2010:
Paper and Pen/Pencil (also bring any carry over materials from classwork)
Highlighters (any color)

If you can dream it, it can happen!
THE TWELVE POWERFUL WORDS!
In the last couple of years, teachers at CGMS have worked hard to help students prepare for End of Grade Tests. As part of that preparation, we are really emphasizing the "12 Powerful Words" from Larry Bell. Please review these words with your student. We encourage them to know the correct spelling, definition, purpose in a question, and how to use it in a sentence. Please review the foldables, activities, and even the song with your students as we continue to do everything we can to help students achieve!
The 12 Powerful Words & Definitions:
Trace- outline the steps
Analyze- break it down
Infer- read between the lines
Evaluate- judge
Formulate- create
Describe- tell all about
Support- back it up with details
Explain- tell how
Summarize- give me the short version
Compare- tell how alike
Contrast- tell how different
Predict- what will happen next
The Eighth Grade Twelve Words
Convert
Associate
Characterize
Conclude
Distribute
Correlate
Exhibit
Identify
Substitute
Synthesize
Design
Monitor
Continue working with your student to develop an understanding for what these words mean, how to identify their purpose in a question and how to use them to answer questions.
"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great."
~ Orison S. Marden