Monday, 10-16

1. This week our bellringer is all about Verbals - words that look like verbs, but don't act like them in a sentence. We discussed two types of verbals: 1. gerunds - words that end in "ing" (swimming) and act like nouns (I like swimming.) 2. infinitives - the word "to" plus a verb (to swim) that can act like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs (Do you want to swim?)

2. We are almost finished with our novel, Chains. Today we read pages 250-278.

3. Because we are almost finished with the novel, it's time to start looking at the novel's theme. We discussed the definition of theme - the main message or moral of a story. And then we answered some questions that helped point us in the direction of possible themes for Chains.

4. Remember, Solomon Northrup paragraphs are due Wednesday. Final drafts of your Oppressed Country paragraph were due last Wednesday. If yours is missing, your ELA 8 will definitely take a hit.

5. Also, late work reports will go out today. October 27th is the LAST day that I can take any work from 1st quarter.