August 24

ELA (1&2, 3&8)--click here

August 18

ELA (all): Name Meaning--click here

ELA (1&2, 3&8): Once you have completed the assignment above, then finish the Wingdings spelling activity. If you finish that, you may turn that in. After that, I want you to create a Word Search puzzle using the spelling words.

August 16, 2016

ELA (all): Mini Research Project--click here

STEM (fifth period): Paper Airplane Prep Questions--click here

Math Enrichment (sixth period): Word Problems--click here 

ELA (1-2, 3 &8):

Spelling List #1: Wingdings

Directions: The spelling words have been translated into wingdings. Without looking up a key, your job is to decode the spelling words below. Once you figure out what a symbol is, try to use it in each of the words that contains the symbol.

See you later

Knowing that I would be leaving in the middle of the year, I told myself that I should not become attached to you all at the beginning of the year. However, within the first week, I was calling all of you (yes, all of you) "my kids."

As I step out of the role of your teacher, I wanted to tell/remind you of a couple of things:

1. The pencil sharpener really does not work. I am not sure why some of you keep trying. We all know that your pencil will not sharpen, so sharpen it before you come to class.

2. Just shut up and do your stinkin' bell-ringer! There will be many times in life where you don't want to do the task ahead of you--just do it. There are some assignments that are not fun--do them! If you are asked to do something--do it!

3. Be good to one another. You have another half-year with one another. Be patient. Laugh with one another. If you are laughing at someone, at least make them think that you are laughing with them. Be supportive--do not cut other people down. There are some people who are just plain annoying--be patient. There are people in your life who have had to be patient with you. There are people who are simply unkind--kill them with kindness.

4. Ms. Brown is not me. I know this may come as a surprise to some of you. There are so many things that Ms. Brown will do better than me. Give her a chance (or two or three or four)--she is giving each of you a chance. She does not have a history with you. She does not have an opinion of you already. Use that to your advantage.

5. You will always have someone who is cheering for you, concerned about you, and praying for you.  I come off as a sarcastic jerk. I am a sarcastic jerk. But this sarcastic jerk is concerned about your life. This sarcastic jerk wants the best for you. This sarcastic jerk expects you to be the best version of yourself.

6. Do good things; make me proud. While having a 4.0 and never getting in trouble is great, what would really make me proud is that you are a good person. There is a lot of darkness in the world; be the light. Edison is full of followers; be a positive leader. Do not be a passive person; be a change-agent for good.

I expect to hear from you (either through the remind texts, e-mail, or instagram). If you ever need help with an assignment, some life advice, or just someone to vent to, I am available; just send me a message.

I will be writing in my personal blog (jtspivy.blogspot.com) during my time in Honduras if any are interested in reading. It may give you an idea why I am going there.

I leave you with a quote from Mother Teresa. It is something that I have returned to throughout my life.

"People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway."

Do good things. Make me proud. 
Mr. Spivy

Christmas Around the World

Christmas Around the World #1--click here
Christmas Around the World #2--click here
Christmas Around the World #3--click here

Poetry Analysis Questions and Poetry Project

 "Pumped Up Kicks"

Poetry Analysis Questions

Directions: Answer the questions below. Use complete sentences. Make sure to answer all parts of the question. 

1. Title: What predictions can you make from the title?
   
2. Paraphrase: Summarize the poem in your own words.
   
3. Connotation:Find examples of imagery, metaphors, similes, etc. and elaborate on their connotative meanings.
   
4. Attitude: What attitude does the poet have toward the subject of the poem?  Find and list examples that illustrate the tone and mood of the poem.
   
5. Audience: Who is the intended audience? How did you get that answer?
   
6. Speaker:  Who is the speaker of this poem? (Remember: the speaker and the author are not the same.) Your description of the speaker should start “The speaker of this poem is a person who…”

Poetry Project 

Commercial and Debate

Today's Tasks

1. Commercial: Directions – Create a 60-second commercial advertising your candidate. This commercial should focus on persuading undecided voters to vote for your candidate. This can be done using any combination of ethos, pathos, and logos arguments. Since this is a political campaign, the commercials can either be positive (highlighting your candidate's accomplishments and ideas), negative (attacking another candidate), or a mixture of both.  You will be turning in a storyboard, script, and final product. Your final product can either be a recorded commercial or one that is performed in class. Since the candidates are fictitious, anyone in the group can portray the candidate for the commercial.

Components:
1. Script – Description of what is happening (stage directions) in the commercial and what is said by the actors.
2. Final product – Your final product can either by a 60 second video or live action skit in class.

How you will be graded:
Script: 20 points
Requirements: 10 points
Persuasiveness: 10 points
Creativity: 10 points
Final: 50 points

Due Wednesday!

1. On Tuesday, there will be a presidential debate in class. Each group will select one person to play the part of the presidential candidate. This person will give a 30-second opening comments that describes who s/he is as a candidate and how s/he will make America better. Then the moderator (Mr. Spivy) will ask each candidate a variety of questions. If a the candidate mentions another candidate, then that candidate will receive a chance to defend him/herself. 

Below are a list of questions that might be asked of the candidates. Each candidate can bring up notes to reference, so it would be wise to write down answer to the questions below. 

You will be graded on how well each question is answered using sound logic (no logical fallacies) and if the answers match up with what your candidate believes. This will be worth 30 points. 

Questions:

1.       What is the best solution for an unwanted pregnancy?

2.       The rate of joblessness has dropped since the beginning of the Obama Administration; what will you do as president to continue this trend?

3.       If you could do one thing as president to assist the economy, what would that be?

4.       The environment in Washington has been toxic for nearly a decade with political parties typically choosing to argue with one another instead of trying to work together. This has led to the shutdown of the government multiple times. How can you as a president help improve the climate of Washington?

5.       How do your propose to balance the budget? Will this be a priority of your administration?

6.        At what point do you believe America should send troops to abroad to fight ISIS?

7.       Within the past two years, the amount of school shootings have multiplied; what is your solution to this problem?

8.       There are parts of Obamacare that have helped many people pay for healthcare that could not afford it before; there are other parts of Obamacare that are hurting the economy and making health insurance unaffordable for many Americans. Is there anything you would do to Obamacare as president? 

9.       What is your solution for the illegal immigration problem?

10.   Would you reform the welfare program?

11.   What would you do within the first year of your presidency? What does America look like when you are president?

12. What is your response to the attacks in Paris on Friday?