IB in the Real World

We have been learning about the Approaches to Learning and Learner Profile Traits and how they can be used in the real world by looking at the sinking of the Costa Concordia from 2012. We read a news article that was published recently after the disaster. By then, students were able to look at the Sinking of the Concordia through the lens of a profession or role, like nurses & doctors, engineers, passengers, and reporters.
Then, we watched the news reports to find out what really happened. The ship was finally moved just this last July, so it has taken over two years for this disaster to be resolved.
This is a CNN news report that was produced a week after the disaster.

Use this link to learn more about how the engineers and divers planned to move the sunken ship away from the protected nature preserve. It's a pretty in depth clip from 60 Minutes. http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/costa-concordia-salvaging-a-shipwreck-50137223/

This is a more recent report on how the ship was moved in July 2014. http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/27/world/europe/costa-concordia-salvage/

Learning HOW to Learn

Our first unit of the year is already in full swing!

We are tackling the idea of Learning How to Learn. Our inquiry will revolve around:

Learning how to learn with purpose often improves communication and broadens perspective on cultures, values, and beliefs.

We have been discussing the qualities that make up the IB Learner Profile and will soon be looking at the Approaches to Learning.

In Tutorial, we have taken an interest survey to figure out what kind of careers might be interesting and fulfilling in the future. Students will go to O*Net online to learn more about a career in their interest area. They will be doing a short research project about a career of their choice, making a budget based on the projected income, and getting an idea of what education would be needed to reach that career goal.

Tutorial students, click here to get started!

Getting Ready to Rumble...

What a relaxing and fun summer I've had! I hope you have had a lovely summer as well. As August begins, my thoughts always turn back to my class. This year BIG changes are underway.

I'll be teaching 8th grade with the great Mr. Paniagua, so many of my students will be familiar from last year. I spent a lot of time reflecting about my students and learning last year and I'm getting excited to see so many familiar faces on August 13th.

Orientations are Thursday and Friday of this week! Thursday 9-11am and 1-3pm will be 6th grade orientations. Friday 9-11am will be 7th and 8th grade orientation. I'll be there selling yearbooks, so come by and say "hi!" Also, put in your order for your 2015 yearbook for the low price of only $30! This is the lowest price we'll offer all year, and it won't last long, so take advantage of it and order your yearbook this week!

MS. HEARTT IS ON TWITTER!! Come on and follow Ms. Heartt for 8th grade Language Arts info and updates! @ms_heartt #keepitreal

Can't wait to see you all soon!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Getting into the Roots of Poetry

 

  

The questions above are the ones we are asking as we explore our Poetry Unit.
We are full-swing into this unit, the last unit of the year!
We are reading poems every day and learning so much about the Elements of Poetry. Check out the slide share we are using to take notes on Poetic Elements here.
Our wall of "favorite poetry" is up! Read a poem or two!

We've been reading poetry aloud to each other!

We loved reading "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes.

We are starting to write our own "Where I'm From" poems, inspired by this poem by George Ella Lyon. It is a lovely poem that captures so many images and senses from childhood. We strive to put into words where we belong. This is a topic we started the year talking about, so ending the year discussing where we belong ties up the year nicely.

Things Are Rough All Over

Another amazing day of greasers and Socs taking over Harvest has come and gone! So many students were looking tuff that I had to make a video to feature the best of my classes.

Stay gold, Ponyboy.

Being an Outsider

Why might people hide their true selves?

This is the question we are working toward answering as we read The Outsiders. Many students have already finished the book because they found it hard to put down! Those who are still reading the book have completed reading chapter 8 and took a quiz about sunsets and church fires and who is a better friend: Ponyboy or Dally?
Next week, we'll finish the book and recite Robert Frost's poetry or dress up like greasers or Socs and watch the movie. I can hardly wait!

Mrs. Heartt, Mrs. Banta, & Mr. Vessar look pretty tuff 

Soc boys always make their girls cry

Make Way for the DWA!

As we know, the District Writing Assessment happens every year in early spring. This year, to align with Common Core Standards, we are writing Argumentative Essays rather than persuasive essays.
We have been working to discover how argument essays are different from persuasive essays.

We have practiced Close Reading Strategies so that we can use evidence from articles to support our positions.

We practiced finding more than one side of an argument so that we can present a clear argument that addresses a counter-argument.
We read a well-written argument essay about whether pets should be required to be "fixed."
We read several articles about the proposal to put cameras in classrooms to help observe and evaluate teachers. Together as a class, we wrote an argument essay about whether or not we should have cameras in classrooms here in the NVUSD.
Today, students are practicing writing for 55 minutes after reading and annotating three articles about technology's effects on children. They are writing to either support or disagree with a proposal to have a "Shut Down Your Screen Week" at our school.

Writing an argument is a challenging process for students who have never done it before. But I know you can do it!

Adriana cites sources to write a convincing argument