Week 3 Warm-ups

September 17, 2018

Warm-up: Write the following sentences. Then, define the underlined words using context clues and prior knowledge.

1.   Please, appease the furious infant and give her a bottle!

2.   We thought the direction of the road was apparent because of the “One Way” sign.

3.   The police officer apprehended the chinchilla smuggler.

4.   Climb out of the arbor before you are covered in pine needles!

5.   “This archaic device is called a typewriter,” noted the tour guide. 

September 18, 2018

Warm-up: Create an original sentence for each of the words below. Use the word properly in your sentence, making sure to be mindful of its part of speech (noun, adjective, adverb, verb, etc.). Your sentences must be at least ten words long.

1.   Appease—v. to calm; to make happy

2.   Apparent—adj. easily seen; obvious

3.   Apprehend—v. to arrest

4.   Arbor—n. a tree

5.   Archaic—adj. old; no longer used

September 19, 2018

Warm-up: Each of these sentences is full of mistakes. Write these sentences without the mistakes; if a sentence is a fragment, then add to it to make it complete.  

1.    Even though I has a bizzey day, I still wanna go to the movies to night.

2.    Because she should of been there.

3.    well be going to Toms birthday party on tuesday

4.    What time we gonna go to the grocery store?

5.    Leslie were mad cause, I stoled her cellphone.

September 20, 2018

Warm-up: Directions: Write the quote. Then, answer the questions that follow.

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

1.     What does this quote mean? Put it into your own words.

2.     Do you agree with Mrs. Roosevelt? Why or why not?

3.     What is Mrs. Roosevelt saying about those who are constantly gossiping?

September 21, 2018

Warm-up: Solve the problem below. Show your work.

Mortimer wants some doughnuts. He is very cheap and likes to save even the smallest amount of money. He found a coupon in the paper for Dunkin' Donuts. The coupon was for $1 off a dozen donuts. This week they are on sale for $3.99 a dozen without the coupon and $.35 a piece if you use the coupon (and will use the coupon).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      What do you think Mortimer will do and why? Show work. No calculator!

Weeks 1-2 Warm-ups

September 4, 2018

At the beginning of each class, we will complete a warm-up activity. These are never too difficult—they just cause you to get into the right mindset for learning each day.

Directions: Using the marker on your desk and a piece of construction paper found in the basket under your desk, create a name tent.

To create a name tent, fold the paper vertically (hotdog style); then, write your name largely in the middle. Finally, write four words that best describe who you are. You can have fun with this; just keep it appropriate.

My name tent is on the desk beside the screen.

September 5, 2018

Warm-up: First, place your name tent on your desk, so Mr. Spivy can see it. Then, without talking, go over and look at the Survival Guide bulletin board. Write down one pro-tip from the board that you think is important (hint: they are all important, so it should be easy to choose one). Write this pro-tip down. Underneath that, write one sentence explaining what this tip means and one sentence explaining its importance for our learning environment.

September 6, 2018

Warm-up: Answer the first question and then choose one of the other questions to answer. Use the sentence stems to help you answer the question.

1.       What is hope? (Must answer this one.)
“Hope is ________”

Choose one of the following to answer.

2.       Why do we need it?
“We need hope because _________”

3.       Where can we find it?
“We can find hope ___________”

4.       How can we give hope to others?

“We can give hope by ___________”

September 10, 2018

Warm-up: Write the sentences; then, define the underlined words using context clues and your prior knowledge.

1.     Because of her abhorrence of snakes, Lydia hated going to the reptile hut.

2.     Thankfully, Mr. Gregory acceded with the proposal for more recess time.

3.     Please affix your buckle before the aircraft begins its journey into the sky.

4.     With her new disguise, Felicity will now be called by her alias, Fredrick.

5.     The amity between the two boys started when the one gave the other his favorite pudding.

September 11, 2018

Warm-up: I realize that you were not born when the events of September 11, 2001, occurred; that being said, I want you to write some (at least three) ways your life has been affected by those events. For some, that will be an easy task. For others, you may have to think some to create an answer.

Use this sentence stem to guide your thoughts: “Some ways my life has been affected by the events of September 11, 2001, are…”

Finally, if you were to meet someone who had been working in the World Trade Center or the Pentagon on 9/11, what would you say to them? What would you ask them?

Use this sentence stem to guide your thoughts: “If I met someone who had been working at the World Trade Center or Pentagon on 9/11, I would say to them (or ask them)…”

September 12, 2018

Warm-up: Create an original sentence for each of the words below. Use the word properly in your sentences, making sure to be mindful of its part of speech (noun, adjective, adverb, verb, etc.). if the word is a noun, it should have a possessive pronoun (his, her, my, etc.) or an article (a, an, the) in front of it. If it is a verb, it needs to be the action of the sentence. Your sentences must be at least ten words long.

1.     Abhorrence-noun- a feeling of extreme hate

2.     Accede-verb- to approve of something

3.     Affix- verb- to attach

4.     Alias- noun- a false name used to conceal one’s identity

5.      Amity- noun- friendship

September 13, 2018

Directions: Write the quote; then, answer the questions that follow with complete sentences.

“I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.” –Ken Venturi

1)     What does Mr. Venturi mean in this quote?

2)     Do you agree with Venturi? Why?

3)     How do you define success?

End of the Year Remarks

Independent and dependent clauses,

Gerunds, participles, infinitives,

Logos, pathos, ethos,

Narrative, expository, argumentative essays

Ideas and understandings that have been discovered and cultivated over thousands of years—we have tried to cram into fewer than 180 days of school. 

We have experienced a week of smoke, several snowy days, and a time when you were shown what standing up for principles looks like. 

We have laughed together—maybe too often, and at times, the tears that welled in our eyes weren’t from the laughter. 

We have been snarky and snippy with one another but also supportive and silly. 

We have perhaps been more than just a class. 

Together, we have read stories about Scarlett O’Hara and Romeo and Juliet—sort of.

We have met an orphaned street kid that reminded us that societal expectations can only shackle us if we let them,

An abused boy who taught us that heroes can come in all shapes,

And a group of teens that may have opened our eyes to more of life’s lessons and realities than those whom we call friends.

We were gripped with emotion while witnessing the world’s profound ugliness as those who simply wanted to live life and love God were massacred because it offended someone, 

And many who could’ve done something about the evil chose not to. 

We heard and told stories through poetry—because poetry is a lot less scary than previously thought.

And while many of you may have connected for the first time to a book this year, remember that your story is unique. 

Your story is remarkable. 

Your story is necessary. 

And while it might be easier sometimes to try to tell and to live someone else’s story, know that our world would be less interesting if yours is never told. 

I can’t promise that life after middle school is going to be easy.

Heck, life in middle school isn’t always easy.

There will be times when you are broken,

And the pieces of disappointment, grief, and betrayal will be so heavy in your pockets that you will feel like you can’t swim back to the top.

And I hate that. 

But you will swim back up

Because you are resilient, and you are strong. 

You know that this is not the end. 

And if you haven’t figured that out, yet, listen to me—even if it is for the first time this year: this is not the end. 

There may be times when your survival depends on help from others. 

Ask for that help

Because I know the people who surround you,

And I know the types of people, whom you can choose to surround yourself with,

And when you have finally swum back to the top, and you have climbed back in that boat and dried yourself off, keep your eyes open. 

Look for those who are still struggling to stay afloat. 

And instead of saying, “Oh, how terrible,” jump right back in. 

Don’t be afraid to get your clothes wet if it means saving someone else. 

Care for others long before they care for you. 

Be the person who stops to pick someone else up, and if she can’t get up, sit down with her until she is ready.  

The way you treat, think about, and talk about those whom you do not like say so much more about you than how you treat your friends,

Friends that you have chosen, maybe wisely or poorly,

And, it isn’t too late—it is never too late to choose again

Because those who hang out with trash, end up smelling like trash.

And those who associate themselves with honorable people will, too, be honorable.

Many will say that you are too young to be in love—and most times, I tend to agree. 

In fact, I think I’m too young to be in love. 

Relationships are a high-risk, high-reward investment because both sides of a broken heart requiring mending. 

“I love you” may be the sweetest or the bitterest words that can ever cross your lips.

Your heart may sing for someone long after they’ve stopped playing the music,

But in the end, your value to this world will not come from some guy or some girl. 

Fall in love with who you are, and if you can’t, it might be time to re-examine your heart. 

Remember that “I” and “seen,” don’t go together, but “I think,” “I can,” and “I will” can change your whole life.

Remember that every thought that comes to your head is not worthy to be spoken,

And “please” and “thank you” are not magic words because they get you what want.

Guard your opportunities. Guard your words. Guard your reputation. Guard your innocence because each is fragile and once broken, can never be fixed again. 

Use your words wisely and your anger even more prudently,

Know that forgiveness is not weakness 

Because being able to rid yourself of resentment and pain each day takes immeasurable strength.

I know that some of you don’t feel like you’re enough. Smart enough. Pretty enough. Talented enough. Accepted enough. Loved enough. “Fill in the blank” enough

And I know that as long as I am on this earth, you will have someone in your corner. You will be loved, you will be cared for, and you will be enough. 

When you look back on this year, on this class, I hope you stand up a little taller

Because you made it. You survived.

You survived a daily barrage of sarcasm thrown at you like confetti.

You survived being called “bud” or “mujer” more often than your own name.

Your survived a presidential campaign, writing essays and poems, and giving speeches, sometimes wholly personal, in front of your classmates and a teacher who has a hard time controlling his face, 

And when I look back on this year, I, too, will swell with pride

Because I know who you were, I know who you are, and I know who I hope you will become.

I have always wanted to be a great artist.

I have always been envious of those would could make people stop and wonder at their masterpieces,

But, now, I ‘m not jealous—well, not as jealous

Because you are my works in progress, and you join nearly a thousand of my other works in progress. 

I will probably never get to see the masterpieces that will be your lives: 

Your successes and disappointments,

Your family and your lost love ones,

Your joy and your pain,

But if ever I hear your name, I will smile because you are one of “my kids.”

So, here are some words that you have heard at least 180 times:

Do good things.

Feed the hungry. Welcome the lonely. Better the world.  Love others.

Make me proud.

I will be proud when you transcend the expectations that the world places on you. 

And above all else, in times of darkness, do not be another person who complains about how dark it is. 

Walk over and turn on the lights. 

5.31-Bell-ringer, Etymology Activitiy

Bell-ringer: Follow the directions below.

1.       Write three things that you learned this school year (in or outside of school)

2.       Write three positive things from this school year.

3.       Write three things that you want to change for next school year.

Etymology Activity
Write down the spelling word that is being described by each clue.

1.       A proposed scheme or plan

2.       From the Latin word meaning to corrupt

3.       A bivalve mollusk

4.       A cognate of the High German word meaning to glow

5.       From the Greek word meaning fullness

6.       Synonym of “defectively”

7.       “Before militants surrounded the Syrian city, it had been a place of _______ and free speech.”

8.       When used as a noun, this word can mean a sharply pitched mountain face.

9.       Ancient Sparta, like many Greek cities, had one of these.

10.   Green Bank in West Virginia

11.   “Dampen” and “expand” are antonyms of this word

12.   Synonym of “proclivity”

13.   From the Latin word meaning negligent or superficial

14.   From the Cuculidae family

15.   A formal demand