Robin’s Roost

Students in all grades completed a form for a yearbook on Monday, September 28th.  This form will be sent to the Jostens Yearbook company.  Jostens will then send a letter and a statement with the students’ request for a yearbook which may include personalization of name and icons.  Please watch your mail for this letter.  It will have North Marshall Yearbook and/or Jostens on the envelope.  From this letter, you will be able to order your yearbook by ordering online at www.jostensyearbooks.com or by sending your bill by mail.  NO MONEY comes to the school.  ALL goes to Jostens via mail or online payments.  The book will be $30.00 plus shipping and handling.  The final ordering deadline has not been set.  ORDER EARLY!

We have finished up fiction writings by looking at two stories by O. Henry… A Retrieved Reformation and The Ransom of Red Chief.  We did compare and contrast activities over the story, answered comprehension questions, discussed and analyzed the characters, and learned about irony.  We will be moving into non-fiction writing this week.  Fact and Opinion will be studied through this non-fiction unit as we determine author’s purpose for writing and the support used in the piece.

Seventh graders have finished their memoirs.  We will be moving into narrative writing this week.  We will be reading some personal narratives and the writing one of our own.  Remind your students to review their WOW words each night.  Words we have studied so far include: quest, improvise, contraption, formidable.  Ask your child what each of these mean and to use them correctly!  Let them take you on a quest for knowlege!  Hopefully they won’t have to improvise their answer. 

Language arts students in both 7th and 8th grade will be taking the Think Link Learning test tomorrow, Sept. 1.  This test will help assess what information your child retained from the previous school year.  It will also help me to know what areas are strengths and weaknesses for  the class as a whole, as well as individuals.  The students will take this test again in December and in March.

Seventh Grade students are learning what goes into a memoir.   They will be reading “The Alligator Hunt” this week, analyzing it, and then writing their own.  Help your child with memories about the subject they have chosen to write about.

8th grade students will be presenting  Shoe Box Speeches  on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  Students were given the requirements on Monday.  Students should have six items in their box which represent the following:  their family, their friends, a lesson learned, a mistake made,  and two fun things about themselves.  A rubric was given.  Two grades will be given, one for notecards, and one for the presentation of the speech.  Ask your student to practice at home in front of you so they can feel comfortable with it once they get in the classroom.

I am really looking forward to these speeches!  I know they will enlighten me.

Just a quick note… For my class you will need the following items:

• Notebook paper
• Pens (blue or black for work that is turned in)
• Pencils (if you prefer)
• A folder to keep loose papers from my class
• A small writing journal for WOW (word of the week)

In class on Thursday, students will receive a class description.  Parents, please read this with your child and sign and return the back page.  I will keep this on file.  There is a place for contact information.   You may reach me via email at robin.davidson@marshall.kyschools.us  or by phone at 270-395-7108 between 9:00 a.m. and 9:50 a.m. 

Please  feel free to check this site and make comments.  I will try my best to keep it updated.

Thursday, August 5, will be the first day of school for students.  I look forward to this new year!  We have great things planned for this year.  Come with a positive attitude for learning.  Its going to be a great year!

Tomorrow is the last day for students.  We will be having 8th grade graduation at 10:00 a.m. in the gym.  We want to wish them luck at the high school next year. 

I hope everyone has a safe and happy summer!  See you next year!

Parents,

The Kentucky state testing (CATS) will begin on Monday, May 11 and will run through Thursday, May 14.  Make up days will be Friday, May 15, and Monday and Tueday of the following week.  There are several things to remember to help you child be successful. 

1.  Know what days the tests are scheduled in your school district.

2.  Schedule student appointments and trips that don’t conflict with the testing period. It’s important that your child be in school to take the tests.

3.  Be positive. Encourage your child to take the test seriously and do his or her best. Explain to them that the results not only reflect upon their school and teachers, but also on their level of performance.

4.  Check for information from your child’s school about test preparation and anything else that may be helpful prior to taking the tests, such as practicing with sample questions.

5.  Make sure your child gets a good night’s rest – at least eight hours of sleep — before each test day.

6.  Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast that includes protein and excludes sugary food the morning of each test day.

7.  Tell your child to listen carefully to the instructions and to ask questions if he or she doesn’t understand. Encourage them to be relaxed, think positive and be confident that they will do well.

8.  Remind your children to carefully read the test questions and to not rush through a test. If there is time, remind them to check their answers.

9.  Discuss any concerns or anxieties your child may have about the tests. If you have serious concerns or questions, call your child’s teacher, principal or guidance counselor.

10. On the test days, dress your children comfortably and avoid any unnecessary distractions. Get them to school on time, give them a hug and wish them good luck.

Keep these things in mind for the following week!  We have the greatest students in the county and we know they will succeed!