Mrs. Benson

Week of Sept 5, 2011

2011-09-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

Interview projects are due on Tuesday. Don't forget to double space, proof read, and spell check your essays. Also, use colored pencils for your illustration.

Have a great weekend!

2009-05-22T10:07:00.001-07:00

Week of May 25

Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day. Enjoy your day off! Here is a little history regarding this holiday:

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

* Don't forget that the AR book report is due on Tuesday, May 26.

2009-04-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Week of April 20

On Wednesday, the 7th grade will take a field trip to the Technology Center of DuPage in Addison for a Career Fair. Students will have the opportunity to listen to presenters speak about their careers. Presentations will be given by pilots, chiropractors, nurses, police officers, air traffic controllers, chemists, firefighters, and many others.

Following the field trip, students will dine at Mc Donald's for lunch. Don't forget to bring money for lunch that day!

2009-03-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Week of March 30

Have a wonderful Spring Break! See you back on April 6.

2009-03-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

Week of March 16

This week we will continue working on prepositions. Can you name at least 10 prepositions from memory? Can you use them in a prepositional phrase?

We will finish reading The Wanderer this week. What do you think will happen to Sophie? Will she find Bompie and will he recognize her?

2009-02-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

Week of March 2

This week is ISAT week. Tests will be given Tuesday through Friday. 7th graders will be tested in the following areas: Reading, Math, and Science. Calculators are allowed so make sure you have one with you! Also, eat a good breakfast this week to avoid hunger during the test.

Have a great day off on Monday!

2009-02-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

Week of February 23

This week we will continue working on Reading Extended Responses. Be sure to complete your response to the Doc Marlowe story by Monday. Have you memorized the Extended Response template taught to you during class?

The Advanced Reading class will begin the novel, The Westing Game, this week. The Westing Game is a novel by Ellen Raskin that was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1979. The sixteen heirs of magnate Sam Westing are called upon at the reading of his will to unravel the secret behind his untimely demise. This also happens to be one of my favorite books. I hope you enjoy it too!

2009-02-06T09:53:00.000-08:00

Week of February 9

Congratulations to Emily Pikul and Kristian Cikoch for winning the 7th grade Spelling Bee. These terrific spellers now advance to the District Bee whereupon they will compete against other great spellers in the district. Good luck!

This week we will begin the novel, The Wanderer, by Sharon Creech. This novel involves a high-seas adventure taken by a very curious 7th grade girl named Sophie.

2009-01-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

Week of February 2

Congratulations to the following students for winning their classroom Spelling Bees:

Emily Pikul
Chadree Lacanlale
Rebecca Martinez
Cameron Welker
Corey Bredwell
Ellen Chiligiris

On Monday, February 2, they will compete in the grade level Spelling Bee. Good luck!

2009-01-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

Week of January 26

On Monday, the Spelling Bee will take place during Language Arts classes. If you'd like to see a list of the words, go to: www.spellingbee.com Be sure to note the definition and origin of the word you are attempting to spell.

Persuasive essays are due on Friday. The final draft must be typed and double-spaced. You will have some class time on Tuesday to work on your essays. Please see me if you have questions regarding this assignment.

2009-01-16T08:35:00.001-08:00

Week of January 19

Enjoy your day off on Monday, January 19. Do you know the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.?

Here's a little information on MLK:

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.

Week of January 12

2009-01-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

This week is IOWA week. Be sure to have a healthy breakfast everyday and get lots of sleep this week.

Book reports begin on January 12. It might be a good idea to practice your presentation in front of someone. Don't forget to include an exciting opening statement before beginning your report.

Last Week Before Break!

2008-12-12T09:20:00.001-08:00

This week the regular Reading classes will continue with the short stories unit. Two stories to be read include, "The White Umbrella" and "The Defenseless Creature."

The Accelerated Reading class will finish reading the play, "Diary of Anne Frank."

Be sure to complete the persuasive essay chart so you can begin writing your persuasive essay. What do you plan to persuade someone to do? Remember to make sure you keep your audience in mind when writing this essay.

Poetry Unit

2008-12-04T07:55:00.001-08:00

Enjoy the following poems by these talented students in my Reading class.

Family
Brother and sister
We fought all the time
You were there for me
I'm here for you.
More than miles apart
You're there while I'm here
We talk somewhat,
But not enough.
I still think of the memories
that we shared
many good.

Life
I know it has taken me some time,
But I've finally seemed to realize
That with every helping hand you gave,
You seemed to make my whole life change.

I know that now you're gone
And nothing is the same,
But please don't regret the things you've done.
You made my whole life change.

Roads and Paths
I'm up and down this road again
Like I have been all my life
The same steps and the same routine
But I don't dare to find-

All of these things and people
That I wish to know
All of these places I think
I'd want to go.

But I live within the world
Where I want to find my path.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

This week is a short week of school, only two days, in fact. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break. Take a few minutes to reflect on things for which you are thankful. Share these things with family and friends!

Here is a poem for you to enjoy:

Thanksgiving Feasting

When the Halloween pumpkins are gone,
And the leaves have all fallen to ground,
When the air has turned windy and cold,
Then Thanksgiving will soon be around.
Thoughts of loved ones all feasting together,
Pleasant pictures from past times appear
To dwell in each heart and each mind--
Then Thanksgiving is finally here!

Week of November 17

2008-11-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

This week in Language Arts, we will continue studying verbs. Can you name the six Progressive Verb Forms?

In Reading, the Accelerated class will read the eerie story, "The Hitchhiker." This story requires a vivid imagination and an understanding of the super natural.

Periods 6 and 8 will begin studying poetry. Robert Frost will be the first highlighted author.

Week of November 10

2008-11-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 11 is Veterans Day. Here is a brief history of this special day:

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday — Saturday or Sunday — the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management — a complete schedule can be found here. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.
United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov.11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

Week of October 27

2008-10-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

Here is some information on Halloween...are you dressing up this year? What has been your favortie costume?

Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is an international holiday celebrated on October 31. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories and watching horror movies. Irish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween is celebrated in several countries of the Western world, most commonly in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and occasionally in parts of Australia. In Sweden the All Saints' official holiday takes place on the first Saturday of November.

The carved pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols in America, and is commonly called a jack-o'-lantern. Originating in Europe, these lanterns were first carved from a turnip or rutabaga. Believing that the head was the most powerful part of the body containing the spirit and the knowledge, the Celts used the "head" of the vegetable to frighten off any superstitions.[7] The name jack-o'-lantern can be traced back to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, [8] a greedy old farmer. He tricked the devil into climbing a tree and trapped him by carving a cross into the tree trunk. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack, condemning him to forever wander the earth at night with the only light he had: a candle inside of a hollowed turnip. The carving of pumpkins is associated with Halloween in North America,[9] where pumpkins were readily available and much larger, making them easier to carve than turnips. Many families that celebrate Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their home's doorstep after dark. In America the tradition of carving pumpkins is known to have preceded the Great Famine period of Irish immigration. The carved pumpkin was originally associated with harvest time in general in America and did not become specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 19th century.

Week of October 20

2008-10-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

On Monday, there will be an assembly to kick off Red Ribbon Week. Do you know the significance of Red Ribbon Week?

On Friday, the seventh grade will head to Chicago for a field trip to the Sears Tower and the Freedom Museum. Here are some interesting facts about the Sears Tower:

Sears Tower is strategically located on Wacker Drive in the heart of the West Loop, Chicago’s premier submarket and home to its largest corporations and commuter rail stations. Completed in early 1973, Sears Tower is an attractive and contemporary 110-story trophy office tower consisting of steel columns and beams in a “mega-module” system. The building contains approximately 3.8 million rentable square feet (“RSF”) including approximately 159,000 RSF of retail space. The Property also features a 160-car executive parking garage accessible from Franklin Street. Other amenities include a world-class broadcast platform, tallest skydeck, full-service conference center, fitness facility, and exceptional technology features. Sears Tower, completed May 3, 1973, rises to a height of 1,450 feet and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Chicago skyline and in the world. Sears Tower held the record for the world’s tallest building for 25 years until the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia were built in 1998. Then in the Fall of 2004 Taipei 101 took all but one title -- tallest to the tips of the antennas, which Sears Tower still owns. Including the Sears Tower antennas, the total height of Sears Tower increases to 1,725 feet. Designed by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for Sears, Roebuck & Company, the world’s largest retailer at the time, the 3.8 million RSF building is the preeminent office address in Chicago and one of the premier properties in the world.

Week of October 13

2008-10-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

Do you know the meaning of Columbus Day?

Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492.
Columbus Day celebrations commemorate the Genoese explorer's first expedition across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. Columbus, on commission by the Spanish monarchy, was hoping to find a new naval route to India and the other nations of the East, but instead found the American continent which was virtually unknown to Europeans at the time. Columbus's sailor Rodrigo de Triana was the first on the voyage to spot land in the New World; he found the island the natives called Guanahani at approximately 2:00 AM on October 12, 1492. The exact location of this island is unknown, though it was somewhere in the Bahamas. Columbus's expedition launched the first large-scale European colonization of the Americas.

Have a great day off!

Week of September 29

2008-09-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

Do you know what happened in February 1866 that will not happen again for another two and a half million years?

Here's a hint: the answer has something to do with the moon....

This is the year for the Cubs! Are you ready for the playoffs? Do you have a favorite player on the team?

Week of September 22

2008-09-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

This week we will finish the unit on The Sentence. There will be an intensive review on Monday and the quiz will be on Tuesday. Once finished with the components of the sentence, we will begin lessons on Nouns. Do you know the difference between a proper noun and a common noun?

The accelerated class will begin book report presentations this week. Don't forget to add captions to your story board. Be sure to practice your speech before giving it to the class!

2008-09-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

This week we will be studying ISAT lesson 2. Don't forget to bring your workbooks to class!

The Advanced Reading class will read the exciting short story, "The Great Rat Hunt." There will be a quiz over the story on Thursday.

The regular Reading class will read the short story, "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." This story is one of my personal favorites! There will be a quiz over that story on Wednesday.

Have a great week!

2008-09-05T07:22:00.001-07:00

Do you know the meaning of Labor Day? Here's some information for you to consider:

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

What did you do on your day off? Hope you had a great day!

2008-08-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back!

I hope you all had a wonderful summer. Below you will find the welcome letter handed out in class. Please have this signed and returned back to me by September 5.

Dear Parent(s):

Welcome to a new school year. My name is Mrs. Benson. I began my career at Lakeview several years ago as a student teacher. Since that time, I have taught 7th grade Language Arts and Reading to regular education students as well as accelerated and gifted students. The following is a brief overview of the homework policy, curriculum, and expectations for this year. Please read the material below. If you have any questions, please contact me via email, sbenson@ccsd66.org or by phone, 630.783.5037.

Homework Policy:
Students are expected and encouraged to complete all assignments on time. Failure to do so will result in penalty grades. Essays, major projects, and daily homework will receive a full letter grade penalty each week the assignment is late (i.e., if the assignment is late one day to one week and the student scores a B on it, the penalty grade will be a C). Workbook and ISAT Coach assignments turned in late will suffer a two letter grade penalty. Late assignments may be turned in up to one week prior to the end of the trimester.

Books to be used this year:
English, English Workbook Plus, Language of Literature, ISAT Coach, and various novels. Textbook are always available for overnight check out.

Curriculum to be covered includes:
Short Stories, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Essay writing, Grammar, Public Speaking, ISAT Prep, Journal Writing, Vocabulary Development, Book Reports

Sincerely,
Mrs. Benson
7th grade Language Arts/Reading

Acknowledgment of Responsibilities

Please sign and return this portion to me by September 5, 2008.

I have read and understand the information regarding classroom rules and expectations.

______________________________
Parent signature

_______________________________
Student signature

Week of May 13

2008-05-13T08:53:00.001-07:00

On Thursday there will be a Harriet Tubman quiz over chapters 18 and 19. Make sure you study the vocabulary too!

'How To' speeches begin on Tuesday for the Accelerated class. Be sure to practice your speech and don't forget to add commentary and interesting facts regarding your talent.

Wednesday is our field trip to the museums. Don't forget to bring a lunch with you!

Week of April 28

2008-04-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Great job on the Career Speeches! The speeches were well thought out and very informative.

This week we will continue working on prepositional phrases. Can you name at least 10 prepositions without looking in the English book?

Week of April 14

2008-04-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Career speeches will begin on April 21. Your typed outline and bibliography is due the day of your speech. Don't forget to work on your visual aid! Be creative and incorporate your visual into your speech. Also, make sure to time yourself when practicing your speech. Keep in mind your speech must be 3-5 minutes long.

Week of April 7

2008-04-04T09:32:00.001-07:00

Career Unit research, note cards, and bibliography sheets are due by Tuesday, April 8. Once completed, begin working on your typed outline and bibliography. Then, you will be ready to begin writing and practicing your speech. Don't forget a visual aid is required for your speech.

Week of March 17

2008-03-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Do you know the history of this special day?

Saint Patrick's Day is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17.
The day is the national holiday of Ireland. In the rest of Canada, the UK, Australia, the US and New Zealand, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday.
It became a feast day in the Roman Catholic Church in the early part of the 17th century. The date of the feast is occasionally moved by church authorities when March 17 falls during Holy Week.

Permission slips for the Career Fair and Naper Settlement field trips are due by Thursday. Turn those into your Homebase teacher.

Week of March 10

2008-03-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

This week is ISAT week. Tests will be given Monday through Thursday. 7th graders will be tested in the following areas: Reading, Math, and Science. Calculators are allowed so make sure you have one with you! Also, eat a good breakfast this week to avoid hunger during the test.

In Reading, we have begun studying poetry. Our focused author this week is Robert Frost. Can you name any famous poems written by Robert Frost?

Don't forget there is no school on Friday, March 14. Do you have special plans for that day?

Week of March 3

2008-02-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

Since it is Black History Month, here's some trivia for you:

Do you know the name of the first black astronaut in space?

Do you know who refused to give up her seat on a bus?

Who is the boxer known to 'sting like a butterfly'?

Who ran for the presidency in 1098?

Can you guess the author of these personal "Songs"?

Come to my Rescue

I'm trustworthy
My friends can trust me.
Your secret is safe with me.

Watch Me

Here I plan
Entertaining the entertained
It amuses me
It's who I am

Hear What I Have to Say

Music is what I like
Music is my life,
Music is sound
Feel good to hear it.

Week of February 25

2008-02-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Can you name the 2 Presidents inaugurated in Independence Hall in Philadelphia? Here's a hint: the first President and the first Vice President.

In Language Arts this week, we will continue working on ISAT lessons and punctuation and capitalization. Don't forget book reports are due for periods 6 & 8 this week.

In Reading, period 4 will continue reading the very exciting mystery novel, The Westing Game. Have any of you figured out 'who did it" yet?

Week of February 18

2008-02-15T09:53:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday, February 18. We celebrate Presdients' Day that day.

The IOWA Test of Basic Skills will be given to 6th and 7th graders this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Students should get a good night of rest, and eat breakfast before the test. 7th graders will test over the following subjects: Vocabulary, Reading, Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Usage Expression, and Math.

Thought of the week: Suppose you were attending a costume party tonight. What or whom would you want to dress up as?

Week of February 11

2008-02-08T06:04:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Ashley Maghirang and John Irish for winning the 7th grade level Spelling Bee! Next up for these two is the District Bee which will be held at Prairieview this week. Good luck!

This is the last week we will study punctuation and capitalization. What are the main differences between a friendly and business letter? Can you use colons and semi colons correctly? What about interjections?

The accelerated class will present their Lyddie projects this week. I am looking forward to the creativity and work that I am sure went into these projects.

Week of January 28

2008-01-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

The classroom Spelling Bees certainly brought some fun to our classes this past week! Congratulations to the following winners: Ammar Kalimullah, John Irish, Kevin Raher, Kelly Stapleton, Tosha Kadakia, and Steven Kryk. The grade level Bees will be held soon, so keep studying!

Here is a list of words commonly misspelled: February, recommend, schedule, commitment, vacuum, herbivore, mediocre, necessary, gorgeous, fatigue, diorama, taupe, mayonnaise. Do you often misspell any of these words? Keeping a list of words you often misspell and referring to it can help you conquer this troublesome task.

On Tuesday, you will select new novels to read for the next book report. Period 3 will select Historical fiction books. Periods 5 & 7 will select Adventure books.

Week of January 21

2008-01-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

Monday is Martin Luther King's birthday. Enjoy your day off!

This week we will continue studying extended response, punctuation, and capitalization. ISATs are slowly approaching so it is very important to focus on these topics. Do you know how to correctly punctuate a letter? Hopefully, by the end of the week, you will!

The regular Reading classes have completed The Wanderer and are now reading, Dogsong. Could you survive the cold Alaskan winters on your own like Russell? It would be quite a challenge for me!

The Advanced Reading class will continue to read Lyddie and learn about her adventures as a factory worker. What would you say is Lyddie's greatest attribute?

Week of January 14

2008-01-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to turn in your AR book reports by Friday, January 18. This is the day they are due!

We will finish reading The Wanderer this week. Do you think Uncle Dock and Rosalie will ever reunite? Will Sophie learn the true story of her parents? What will happen between Cody and his father? All these questions and more are to be answered this week!

In Language Arts, we will begin the unit on capitalization and punctuation. You will learn how to properly address a letter, use commas, and use other grammatical symbols.

Have a great week!

Week of December 17

2007-12-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

This is the last week before Winter Break! Are you ready for 2 weeks off?

This week in Reading, you will be selecting books for the next book report. It will be Accelerated Reader, any type of fiction. Miss Hagensee is busy putting aside a fine selection for you to decide upon.

On Friday afternoon, the seventh graders will be watching a movie. Can you guess which one that might be? Stay tuned for the answer!

Week of December 10

2007-12-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

Thought of the week: If you could open your own retail store, what type of merchandise would you feature?

My answer, of course as many of you have already guessed, is SHOES!

We will continue studying verbs this week. Hopefully you are learning more and more about that part of speech each week.

Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you lived during the 1840s? The novel, Lyddie, depicts just that. Would you like to churn your own butter, 'fetch' your own dinner, and work on chores all day?

Week of December 3

2007-12-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

This week, the advanced Reading class begins a new novel, Lyddie. It is a historical fiction selection about a girl learning to adapt to the pressures of providing for her family. Hopefully you will learn something about the working conditions in the 1800s by the end of the novel.

The Wanderer has entertained the other students with its "high seas" adventures. This week, the main character Sophie will learn to deal with living on a boat with her cousins and uncles.

Book reports begin on December 5. Be prepared to give your speech on Wednesday. Feel free to bring in your projects early if you'd like.

Week of Nov. 19

2007-11-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

This week a guest speaker will be coming in to teach the history of sign language to the 7th grade. Students already learned the sign language alphabet in their Reading classes. Hopefully after Tuesday, they will know a bit more. Maybe they will even be able to form a sentence in sign language.

Keep reading your realistic fiction books! Book report presentations will begin on December 5. Spend some time over the Thanksgiving break reading those books!

I hope you enjoy the Thanksgiving break. Eats lots of food, get lots of rest, and enjoy every minute of it!

2007-11-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

If you weren't able to check out a book for the next book report of Friday, make sure you do that this week. You must select a Realistic Fiction book. It does not need to be AR. You will be doing a project for this book report. That project will be assigned in the near future.

Tuesday, Nov. 13 is the last day to turn in late work. Check your grades on-line to see if you have missing assignments. Be sure to work on those assignments over the weekend if you are missing any!

Did you watch Kid Nation this week? It was great to finally hear from a Lakeview alumni! I hope "she" enjoyed her experiences in Bonanza City! It looks like it was a rather chilly experience for most of the kids.

2007-11-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

On Monday, the Miracle Worker Act 3 quiz will be given. This will be the final test for that novel. Be sure to study over the weekend. Vocabulary will be included on that test, so be sure to study those words too!

Students will have the opportunity to watch the award winning film, The Miracle Worker at some point next week. Films are watched to compare and contrast the novel to the film. Though the students probably won't know the actress, Patty Duke, I am certain others of you do. I will be sure to point her out to the students.

Your personal narratives are due on Monday. We will continue studying verbs next week. Can you tell the difference between an action, state of being, or linking verb?

No School on Monday!

2007-10-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

We are almost finished reading The Miracle Worker. Have you learned the sign language alphabet yet? Keep practicing those letters! Try to memorize your first and last name. Remember, signing is a form of communication just like speaking.

Here is some interesting information on Helen Keller:

Helen Keller attended Radcliffe College in 1900. She graduated cum laude in 1904. Upon graduation, she became the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college. Throughout these years, Annie Sullivan laboriously spelled books and lectures into Helen's hand. Helen went on to write eleven books and numerous articles on blindness, deafness, and social issues.

Your narrative essays will be due by the end of the week. Remember to double space your essays while typing them.

Have a great day off on Monday!

2007-10-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

This week we will continue to work on personal narrative essays. The focus will be on writing great introductory paragraphs. Keep thinking of a story you can use for your essay. A good story is full of interesting facts and details. Remember my story about getting locked in the museum? Think of all the details I used to tell that story.

In Reading, we will finish Act 2. Do you have a favorite character in Miracle Worker? Are you similar to any of the characters? Which character do you relate best to?

Thought of the week: If the temperature had to be the same every day of the year, what would you want the temperature to be?

My answer is 80 degrees!

2007-10-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Next week, on Wednesday, there is an early dismissal. I hope you all enjoy your after noon off!

Friday, October 19 will be the Fall Dance from 3-5 pm. I will be chaperoning that dance, so see you there!

Thought of the week: You've probably heard the expression, "They couldn't pay me enough to do that job." What job would that be for you?

Are you watching Kid Nation? Which one of the 'classes' would you like to be? I think I'd like to be the "cooks". At least it would be warm in the kitchen!

Are you ready to write an essay? Next week we will begin writing narrative essays. Start thinking of a possible topic.

Have a great day off!!!

2007-10-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy your day off on Monday. I know I will!

Next week we will begin reading the novel, The Miracle Worker. Hopefully, you will even learn how to sign the alphabet! Sign language was Helen Keller's only way to communicate with people.

Thought of the week: If you were in charge of changing the traditional food of Thanksgiving from turkey to something else, what would you choose?

October, my favorite month!

2007-09-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Thought of the week:

If you could fly in a hot air balloon over any city in the world, what city would you choose?

In Language Arts classes this week, we will continue studying elements of The Sentence. This week's focus will be on Fragments, Run-Ons, and Conjunctions. Do you know what these are?

This will be our final week for short stories. Next week we will begin reading our first classroom novel. Can you guess which one we might read? Here is a hint: it is a story about two amazing women who overcome immeasurable odds.

If you didn't check out a book for the next book report, please do so as soon as possible. Be sure to show it to me once you get it!

Week of September 24

2007-09-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Thought of the week:

What is something you believe most people consider a chore that you actually enjoy doing?

Language Arts classes have begun studying the components of The Sentence. They will continue to delve further into that topic this week.

The Advanced Reading class will learn about Rorschach tests while reading Flowers for Algernon. Maybe they'll even learn a little about their peers through the tests they will be taking this week!

The author, O. Henry, will be the focus in periods 6 & 8 this week. Also, these classes will be selecting new novels for the next book report.

9/14/07

2007-09-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

The OLSAT test will be given during 4th period on Wednesday, September 19. Students are encouraged to eat a healthy breakfast the morning of testing.

Students will begin learning the components of 'The Sentence' during LA class next week. In Reading class, students will continue reading exciting short stories.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Benson 9/7/07

2007-09-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Accelerated Reader tests due September 21. Tests can be taken in the IMC before school or during study hall.

Next week we will continue studying Nouns and read Short Stories. The OLSAT test will tentatively be given on Sept. 12 during 4th period.

Mrs. Benson 8/29

2007-08-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back!!!

Hope everyone had a great summer. I am looking forward to meeting all of my students. This year we will be writing essays, reading poetry and novels, and improving public speaking and research skills.

I can be contacted via e-mail at, sbenson@ccsd66.org or by phone at 630-783-5037.