Fill out your Binder Reminder or calendar for this week with all your homework.

Get out any parent signature forms or computer use forms you have for me.

8/15 to 8/19

Monday 8/15:
1. Collect Forms
2. Reading Assessment
3. Personal Crests

Tuesday 8/16:
1. Finish Reading Assessment
2. Personal Crests
HW: Have your computer use form signed. Due tomorrow.

Wednesday 8/17:
1. Journals
2. Collect Forms
3. DMH Brainstorming and Rough Draft
4. Personal Crests
HW: Crests due tomorrow.

Thursday 8/18:
1. Journals
2. DMH Rough Drafts
3. Editing and Revising
4. Final Draft Requirements
HW: Final Draft Due TOMORROW.

Friday 8/19:
1. Journals
2. DMH Final Draft Read-Around
3. Start Elements of Fiction
HW: NO HW!

Please get out the two handouts I gave to you yesterday. Look them over with your partner. We are going to have a quiz on that information in just a few minutes. Happy Friday!

8/10 to 8/12

Wednesday 8/10:
1. Welcome to CJHS!
2. Meet Mrs. Hislop
3. Cougar Orientation: Getting Organized
HW: Bring an SSR book, pencils, and your binder tomorrow.

Thursday 8/11:
1. Partner Work
1. Roll and Website
2. Class Information, Rules, and Procedures
HW: Parent signature on all forms by MONDAY 8/15

Friday 8/12:
1. Procedures TEST
2. Getting to Know Mrs. H.
HW: All forms due MONDAY 8/15

Calendars and Binder Reminders

Please get out your binder reminder or calendar. If you need a calendar, I have one for you. Please use it to write down your homework for English for this week. Remember, homework is on the board to your right.

Interesting Questions

6th Period had some interesting questions for me today.

1. How much money do you make? Let's just say it's nowhere close to six digits.

2. Will we change seats any time in the year? Yes. The more you ask me about it, the less often it will happen.

3. Do you give out a lot of homework? Expect homework 3-4 times a week.

4. How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching for eight years.

5. Are we going to have homework every day? No.

6. Do you teach 7th grade as well? This is the first year I haven't had seventh graders!

7. Why do you teach English? I love reading, writing, talking . . .

8. If I need extra help, how can I get it? Ask me for it!

9. What did you do this summer? How was your summer? I did all my favorite things: traveled, read, took naps, played with Lily, stayed up late, and cooked great food. I also went camping with my friends, and I kayaked on Lake Tahoe!

10. Do you like The Beatles? No, I do not like them. I love them.

11. Are you really happy that you are going to have a baby? Yes!

12. What are the medals above your desk for? They are the special medals they give you to wear at your college graduation to show that you worked hard. One is for graduating summa cum laude (which means I was at the top of my class). One is for an honor society called Phi Kappa Phi, and the other is for another honor society, called Golden Key.

13. What will your baby's name be if it's a boy? Probably Michael.

Big Bad Eighth Grader

Here is a short list of some things that happened when I was a big, bad eighth grader:

1. My best friend from sixth and seventh grade, Amy H., suddenly didn't want to be friends anymore, so I had to find a new best friend! Don't worry, it all worked out in the end, but it was DRAMA at the time!

2. I started dating my first boyfriend. (Then we broke up. Then we started going back out again when we were sophomores. Then we broke up. Then we started going back out when we were in college. Then we broke up. Then I met my husband and married him instead. So watch out . . . you could end up dating that eighth grade boyfriend or girlfriend for longer than you'll imagine.)

3. I became friends with some people I still talk to today, like my buddies Tyler, Jessie, and Amy B.! Jessie was a student teacher here at CJHS. Amy B. has a little daughter now, too, so our daughters are now friends!

4. I was a teacher's aide for my favorite history teacher, Mrs. Bishop. That's where I learned how to grade papers and help students.