What's New in LA

Teacher: Ms. Mary Ellen Harmeyer, mharmeyer@stclarepdx.org

11/2

I enjoyed meeting with you all at conferences. Eighth grade has been working hard practicing and preparing for the high school placement test. We're still learning what kinds of questions will be asked, how long the timed portions feel, what  strategies we can use to help solve the questions.

10/6

We are taking the vocab unit 3 test on Friday. 10/7. Students have the opportunity to earn a bonus point for the test by completing a practice on the website www.vocabtest.com, printing it out, and handing it in on Friday.

We will be starting our literature circles for Shakespeare on Thursday, 10/6.

10/3

We are on Unit 3 in vocabulary this week. Parents should expect homework in vocabulary on a nightly basis. Even if your student has completed the activities in the book, 15-20 minutes should be devoted to studying the words, the definitions, the parts of speech, and the accent marks. Accent marks always seem to present a challenge on the test.

We will be looking at Shakespeare's biography and a history of the play Romeo and Juliet before we tackle some of the scenes and his language.

We have begun some review of the test sections on the High School Placement Test using our HSPT test prep book. Getting used to the types of questions and the timing of the test is essential.