Our Caring Community

As we continue to read Wonder, we are thinking more about what kind of people the characters are. We will continue along this line of thought and start to consider what kind of people we want to be.
Click the CHOOSE KIND button to learn more about Wonder and what you can do to be a part of the Kindness Revolution!

Our Community

Once again my students have done me proud. Below is the Community Charter they helped forge. We will sign it next week and it will be the law of the land.

 

Sad news UPDATE: The students of Mrs. Heartt's Language Arts have lost the right to eat in class! Unfortunately, Mrs. Heartt had to clean up a granola bar wrapper and the consequence is that nobody may eat in class henceforth. It was a fun couple of weeks!

A WONDERful Start to Our Year

Yesterday we started reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio. What a perfect way to help set the tone of our class, and to share a literary experience that will give us vocabulary for all those awkward middle school issues. We only have enough copies to read in class together, but I'm getting a new shipment of books (THANK YOU DonorsChoose donors!!) so I can check them out to students to take home too-- hopefully by next week.
Click here to see pictures that relate to the story. The teacher who made this website was smart! If you're not sure what a genie in a lamp is, it shows a picture. If you are unclear about the "Doogie" reference, there's a little explanation. Pretty smart!

Staggering Statistics

"Why do we have to read EVERY night?" My students often ask me why they are required to read independently every single day of the week (including Saturday and Sunday!) and here's why:

Now, pick out a book in your reading range and get reading!!!

Become a Highly Effective Teen!

Who am I?

 

I am your constant companion.  I am

your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down

to failure.  I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do you might just as

well turn over to me and I will be able to do

them quickly and correctly.

                                                                                       

I am easily managed – you must merely

be firm with me.  Show me exactly how you

want something done and after a few

lessons I will do it automatically.  I am the

servant of all great individuals and, alas, of

all failures, as well.  Those who are great, I

have made great.  Those who are failures,

I have made failures.

 

I am not a machine, though I work

with all the precision of a machine plus

the intelligence of a human.  You may run

me for a profit or run me for ruin – it

makes no difference to me.

 

Take me, train me, be firm with me,

and I will place the world at your feet.  Be

easy with me and I will destroy you.

 

Who am I?

Accept the Summer Reading Challenge!

Have you spent your summer days reading? There are staggering statistics that show that kids who read during the summer are stronger readers, writers, and thinkers all year long. Accept the HMS Summer Reading Challenge and be your best!

The Outsiders

My favorite unit of the year is always when we read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. This year is no different. Given how much time we have left, we have to charge through and read a chapter every class if we want to finish the book, which we do!

During our Outsiders unit, we are keeping journals and practicing our collegiate discussion skills. Discussing a book in a mature and respectful way is a life skill I want all my students to have.

Upcoming dates to remember:
May 9: Finish reading chapter 5
May 13: Outsiders Relay - in class
May 16: Finish reading chapter 11
May 17: 3rd period goes to Alcatraz!
May 20: Finish ch. 12 in class
May 22: Dress up like a greaser or a soc!
May 28: End of year Benchmark III
May 30: Giants Game!
May 31: Yearbook release party! $3 - must pre-order yearbook to attend
June 5: Last day of school!

Get inspired to dress like a greaser or a soc! Check out my "Outsiders Photo Album" tab to see my former students dressed up on this fun day.