Today, language arts and social studies teamed up to work with seventh and eighth grade students on their “Free Speech, Free Press, Free Society” essays during our afternoon class time. Students’ drafts were due in Classroom on Friday, so everyone came prepared with work to review. Mrs. Maddox set up six stations for students to work in small groups and go through their papers. Across these stations, students worked on transitions, vague word choice, organization, cohesion, ethos, pathos, logos, and grammar. Every fifteen minutes, students changed stations so they could spend time working on the various aspects of their papers. Mrs. Maddox and Mrs. Smith rotated throughout the room, checking in and providing support. Overall, these essays are looking great, and teachers are excited about how diligently students are working!
Sixth grade will work in both social studies and language arts classes to continue revisions on their papers, and students are also starting a short presentation project on George Washington’s cabinet, which is famous for its diversity of ideas and opinions. Sixth grade is also learning about how the three first presidents handled various issues, including individual liberties, taxation, and federal spending.
On Thursday, high school students were given an excerpt from Uncle Tom’s Cabin to read and analyze at the beginning of class. This task honed in on students’ ability to comprehend a source and write about its significance in a short time frame, providing valuable practice of this useful skill. Students were asked to make connections between this source and what they have been learning about regarding the sectional crisis in America, gender roles, and the impact of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. Moving on this week, students will study the Civil War and its repercussions for America.
