New Book

We are beginning our last literature unit on one of my favorite books:  The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Check out the wonderful website, which was created for the sixtieth anniversary of the book's publishing.

Anne Frank Tonight

Just a quick note to let you know that PBS is showing a new portrayal of the Anne Frank story. It is on Channel 2 (for most people), it runs from 9:00-11:00, and it is listed as Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank.

Check out the PBS website about the show at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/annefrank/index.html.

I hope you're able to watch it tonight!  If not, try to DVR it (if you have the capability).

Once you've viewed it, please post your opinions!

Mystery Link

This article about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt caught my eye, and I think you'll be interested in it as well.  I won't give you any clues about the content, so go check it out and then post a comment about it!

Dumbledore is My Hero

So, this has NOTHING to do with what we're studying... But I'm sure a few of you are Potter fans. 

I just found this official Harry Potter website and wasted a good ten minutes playing the games until I snapped back to reality.

Check it out - I think you'll really enjoy it!

I Love the '90s

Do you remember the '90s? Probably not that much, because most of you were babies during that time!

So, I thought I'd share a video with you to help you get in the '90s mindset as we're reading Zlata's Diary:



Wow, watching that brings back a lot of memories for me, as I was a teenager in the '90s. I'm sure you're familiar with many of the images from that video; many '90s tv shows, movies, and music are still popular today.

If you're interested in more '90s culture, visit Wikipedia's 1990s entry, '90s 411, or watch VH1's I Love the '90s or I Love the '90s:  Part Deux.

Bosnian War (1991-1995)

We are continuing our literature unit about children in war with Zlata's Diary, which was written by a young girl who lived in Sarajevo.

Most of you were familiar with World War II, Adolph Hitler, and the Holocaust; but I'm willing to bet that you don't know much of anything about the Bosnian War.

Learn about The Civil war in Yugoslavia 1991

Honestly, I'll be doing a lot of learning along with you.  The Bosnian War occurred from 1991 to 1995 - a time when I was growing up.  During the height of the crisis, I was your age and was more concerned with my own life than something that was happening in a land that I knew little to nothing about.  However, I wasn't totally ignorant, and I couldn't help but notice the pictures, videos, and statistics about the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.  The situation in Bosnia - and the town of Sarajevo in particular - was an eerie reminder that the hatred and racism of the Hitler era had not been totally eradicated.

So, as we read Zlata's Diary together, I will revisit an era of my life when I should have been more aware of the world around me.  I hope that, through our studies of The Diary of Anne Frank and Zlata's Diary, your eyes will be opened to see that, despite our advancements, many people in our world still cannot enjoy the comfort, freedom, health, happiness, and safety that we take for granted.

And that realization is the first step in making a change.  A change in thinking, speaking, and acting.  A change in the way we live our lives.  A change in our plans for the future.  A change that influences others.  A change for the better.

And it starts now.

Destination Dallas 2010

On April 21, we will embark on our seventh-grade Dallas trip!  WOO HOO!  We are going to have SO much fun! :)

To tide you over until then, I thought I'd share with you a few links to many of the places that we will be visiting in the Lonestar State:

Medieval Times

Dallas Holocaust Museum

Museum of Nature and Science

IMAX

Grapevine Mills Mall

Main Event

Sixth Floor Museum

Dallas World Aquarium

SO...  Tell me what places you're really looking forward to seeing... and why! :)

My Hero

This morning my 8th grade students and I are completing videos for a Bon Jovi contest on the Animoto website. Here is my entry... Enjoy!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Kids and Technology

When Should Kids Get Cell Phones?

Read this article and share your personal opinions on this polarizing issue!

Movie Weekend

My husband and I had a date night on Friday... we ate at Ya-ya's (YUM!!) and saw Alice in Wonderland in IMAX 3D (AMAZING!!).  Did anyone else see it this weekend?  If so, share your thoughts!

Vote!

Build television sms voting polls at Poll Everywhere

RETURN TO NORMALCY!

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable three-day weekend!

Just a reminder - the test originally scheduled for Friday (A) and Monday (B) will now be held Monday (B) and Tuesday (A).  Nothing's changed other than A day's test being moved to Tuesday.

I finally made it to school and accessed my files on the PA server.  I just posted the answers to the practice test on my Edline class page in the Grammar folder.  If you're unaware of the practice test, I also posted it, as well as some other helpful handouts.  Please bring the practice test to school - you will turn it in for completion points.

I look forward to seeing your happy, smiling faces tomorrow morning... and I know you'll have a lot of funny stories to tell me about your weekend!

Mrs. Gorman

HURRAY FOR QUIA!

Hey, guys!

Here are the links to the QUIA activities that I've made to help you prepare for the upcoming grammar test:

Complements Jeopardy

Complements Rags to Riches

Complements Quiz

Don't forget to complete the practice test!  I forgot to post the file with the answers on Edline, but I will be at school at 7:30 tomorrow if you'd like to come by and check your test.  In between now and then, if you have ANY questions, please email me at sarah.gorman@pulaskiacademy.org.

Happy studying!

Mrs. Gorman

Sunday Night

Is everyone ready for school tomorrow?  Don't forget that we have Stanfords again tomorrow morning.

Who is watching the Vikings/Saints game?  It's a pretty good matchup so far!

What do you think about the avatars that I made?  Max and I really got a kick out of creating them Friday night.

Good job commenting on the discussion questions.  Keep up the good work!

See ya tomorrow!
Mrs. Gorman

GIVE! - Discussion #5

Read Anne's essay, "Give!".  Discuss how the issues discussed in this essay still have application today - about seventy years after the essay was written.

FINAL ENTRIES - Discussion #4

Although Anne did not survive the Holocaust, how have her writings become a lasting legacy to her spirit?  What impact do you think they will have on humankind at present and in the future?

ANNE AS A WRITER - Discussion #3

"Although I'm only fourteen, I know quite well what I want, I know who is right and who is wrong, I have my own ideas and principles, and although it may sound pretty mad from an adolescent, I feel more of a person than a child, I feel quite independent of anyone."

What do you think Anne means?  Does this quote apply to your own life and experiences?

GOING INTO HIDING - Discussion #2

What concerns and fears do you think Anne faced when going into hiding?  How did she attempt to make the best of the situation?

FIRST ENTRIES - Discussion #1

What are your feelings after seeing pictures of Anne, her family, and her friends?  How can you better relate to Anne after hearing her descriptions of her life?

ASSIGNMENT

Go to the website Anne Frank the Writer: An Unfinished Story.  Watch, listen, and learn from this interactive online exhibition, and then come back to my blog to post some comments in each of the discussion boards.  Enjoy! :)

Watch This Video to Learn How to Follow My Blog

How to Follow a Blog

If you have any questions, just ask me at school and I'll help you out! :)

I HAVE ARRIVED!

Ok, so here goes...  My first official blog.  For the record, I'd like to proclaim from the mountaintop directly to the ears of Diane Lafferty, registrar extraordinaire, that I am neither horrible or helpless at blogging.  Look, Diane, I did this all by myself! :)

Anyhow, I look forward to chatting on this blog with my most beloved seventh-graders, whom I sure will certainly delight in discussing class-related topics outside of school.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, some photographs which have nothing to do with school or English...

My sweet Betsy-girl...  all curled up and sleepy-like.

My clueless Jackson... always looking a little scared.

John's big oaf Dougie... curled up under the Christmas tree.

My sweetheart Max...  all exuberant and sweaty at his birthday party.