Class of 2026 -- Blog #2 -- HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

 I absolutely love this time of year!  From the colors of fall to the scents of autumn and fun activities, this season just has it all!  I particularly LOVE Halloween!  (These ghosts have been part of our Halloween decor for years!  If I don't get them out sometime in September, my family is asking me about them!  It's funny how we grow so accustomed to our holiday traditions!) 

 

Every since I was a little girl, this holiday has been one of my favorites!  I remember going trick-or-treating with my friends in the my old neighborhood.  I remember haunted houses and bobbing for apples at parties.  (I also LOVE trying to scare the actors in haunted houses, too!  They are not expecting that!)

Then, of course, I remember taking my own children out on Halloween night to get lots of candy or to attend fall festivals. 

Today, we still try to get into the Halloween spirit at the Sweet house, with pumpkin carvings, chili suppers and bonfires!

What are some of your fun memories of Halloween?  Do you still go trick or treating for candy?  (It's ok!  My boys went way past 8th grade!)  Have you ever had a really scary experience?  Something hilarious happen? 

Your response should be a minimum of three sentences for three extra credit points!  This blog will close at midnight on (you guessed it!) October 31st! 

Class of 2026 -- Blog #1 Welcome to Our 8th Grade English Blog

Welcome to the 8th grade!  This will be an exciting year as you prepare for high school!  We have a lot of work to do, but also a lot of fun along the way!

Blogging is a relatively new idea! We will use this blog as a means of communication between us as students, classmates and teacher!  This will give us a better chance to get to know one another too!  You will need to check the blog often because there  extra credit opportunities on here are very time sensitive!  

When responding to the blog, please let me know who you are.  You  must be logged on with your Goodpasture email credentials.  You will need to make a "limited blogger profile with you first name and first initial of last name.  You may also put your class period.    For example, if your name is Charlie Brown, and you have my class 3rd period, you would simply respond something like this:

Charlie B. (3) Mrs. Sweet -- I totally agree with your point of view!  I really enjoyed learning this information!  It was awesome!  

or

Charlie B. (3) Mrs. Sweet, I really don't agree with your opinion of the book.  I feel like the author is really trying to . . . 

Get it?  Each blog entry comment will give you  extra credit points that will be calculated into your total points for the 9 week grading period.  You may NOT comment more than once per extra credit opportunity for actual extra credit!  You are welcome to comment as much as you'd like though!   As well, comments should be positive, helpful and appropriate.

Also, each blog entry will be open for a specific period of time, so you will need to make sure that you post a comment during that window of time.  Late responses will not receive the extra credit points! 

My main objective is for you to WRITE ON!  This is easy for some of you, and for others, not so much.  But we will all grow and learn together.   So . . .  here goes! 

As we begin 8th grade, are you ready?  What excites you about this upcoming year?  What scares you?  Are you involved in extracurricular activities?  If so, what?  In five COMPLETE sentences, please tell me your vision for this year.  Tell me about you and your goals for the year.


You will receive FIVE extra credit points for your completed response.  Blog #1 will close on Friday, August 27th at midnight.


I'm excited about this year and getting to know you better!  Write on! 

Class of 2025 -- Blog #5 -- Greatest Lessons of 8th Grade

 Well, we are down to only a few days left for 8th grade!  This has been a great year, and it has really gone quickly!  We have lived through the challenges of a global pandemic, and thankfully, we seem to be coming out on the other side of it.  

In a ten short months, I have had the opportunity to watch you grow as students.  I’ve seen all you of grow physically and academically, and I’ve seen many of you grow emotionally and spiritually, as well.  I am so proud of you, as a class and as individuals.

I know that you’ve learned a lot this year.  You’ve learned things about American history and mathematics.  Some of you have learned Spanish or leadership skills.  As my students, you’ve learned some great themes in wonderful literature, IXL and vocabulary.

But, I would bet many of you have learned great “lessons” that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.  I still remember some valuable lessons that I learned from my 8th grade teachers like Mrs. Switzer, Mrs. Piper and Mr. Hagewood.  These people remain influences in my life even today.  My precious 8th grade Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Wanda Boyce passed away a week or so ago.  I had so enjoyed getting reacquainted with her on Facebook because she was such a special part of my middle school years.  

So, for your final blog responses for this year, what are your greatest lessons learned in 8th grade?  What have you learned from living through the era of Covid-19?  What teachers have been examples for you to follow in life?  How will you take these lessons and examples with you going forward into high school?  How will these lessons improve your life and your Christian walk with the Lord?

Answer in THREE (3) complete sentences for THREE (3) extra credit points.  This blog will close at midnight on Friday, 5/14/21. 

Finally, I love you all, and it has been my honor to be your English teacher this year.  Have a wonderful summer break.  Please, come back to see me next year, and WRITE ON!  


Mrs. S.

Class of 2025 -- Blog #4 -- WHERE'S THE SNOW??

We've been waiting and waiting; hoping and hoping; wishing and wishing!  We've watched for the SnowBird, but he's not flying; we've worn our pajamas inside out with no luck; we've done snow dances and looked just plain silly!  So . . . where's the snow?

 Really?  Thousands of feet (well, not exactly!) up north, and that's just not fair!  Almost no snow for Tennessee this year! Temperatures have been cold -- too cold -- not to have a few snows!   We've been robbed of a full snow day!  

  
And then TODAY -- the ground hog saw its shadow, so there is to be SIX MORE WEEKS of winter!  But will we have snow?   It is quite disheartening!  We need a break from school!  (Yes, even the teachers!)

So, we ponder the meaning of life, and why we have not been blessed with any snow days!

Please, oh, please!  The road to spring break is still FAR AWAY!  WE NEED A SNOW DAY!

For three extra credit points, write THREE complete sentences explaining how you would have enjoyed your snow day -- IF WE HAD GOTTEN ONE!  Would you have gone sledding?  Would you have made hot cocoa?  Would you have had a Netflix binge?  This blog will close on Friday, February 12, 2021, at midnight!  Write on!  

Class of 2025 -- Blog #3 -- GIVE THANKS

Well, it's hard to believe, but Thanksgiving break is only a few weeks away.  The semester is quickly passing, and it will be over before you know it. 

I LOVE THANKSGIVING!  I think too many times, we rush through this holiday, in order to get to Christmas.  That bothers me because I think too many of us forget to be thankful.  We simply take our blessings for granted, and I think that is sad.

Thanksgiving is about stopping (at least for a moment), and thanking God for the blessings that He gives to us.  We live in a country that is free.  We live in beautiful houses.  We have food in our pantry.  We have a car in the garage. We have parents and grandparents that take care of us.  Someone may be sacrificing to make sure we are getting a Christian education at Goodpasture.    Although, those things are "second nature" to most of us, those things are blessings.

So, just stop for a moment, and think of ONE (yes, only one!) thing for which you are thankful this year.  What is your biggest blessing?  Why is that so important to you?

Mine would be my family.  They are my life, and they are God's biggest blessing to me -- every day and in every way.

Answer in FIVE (5) complete sentences for FIVE (5) extra credit points.  This blog will close on Friday, 11/20 at midnight!

So, get ready for turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie!  But don't forget to thank God for those blessings!  Write on!

GCS Class of 2025 -- Blog #2 -- (Real-life) ANIMAL FARM

 As we conclude our study of the novel, Animal Farm, we have talked a lot about rules and laws in a society.  We have also talked about persuasion, and how sometimes, we are easily led by others. 

In the novel, Snowball and Napoleon are the leaders of the pigs.  In the beginning, they both really want a better life for all of the animals on the farm. 

Napoleon eventually bullies Snowball and runs him off of the farm.  All of the other animals watch in horror, but they do nothing to help. 

Bullies have a tendency to love power, and many will do whatever it takes to have that power over others. Of course, Goodpasture is part of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, designed to improve peer relations and make schools a safer and more positive place for students to learn and develop.  We want to always make sure that we are part of the solution in the event of witnessing bullying by telling an adult at school and an adult at home, as we learned in the program kick-off. 

For this blog, please respond to this question? 

Have you ever witnessed or experienced bullying?  What happened?  (No names or juicy details, please!)  How did it make you feel?  How do you believe we can prevent bullying on our campus?  

Respond in five complete sentences for FIVE extra credit bonus points!  This blog will close at midnight on 9/25/2020.  Write on!  

GCS Class of 2025 -- Blog #1 -- BACK TO SCHOOL

  
Welcome, GCS Class of 2025.  I know that sounds strange to you, and you think that 2025 is a LONG time from now, but you will be shocked at how quickly that time will pass.

As we begin a new school year, I want to introduce you to blogging.  The word "blog" can be used as a noun or a verb.

  
It is defined as:  

noun

noun: blog; plural noun: blogs

1. 1. 

   a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

verb

verb: blog; 3rd person present: blogs; past tense: blogged; past participle: blogged; gerund or present participle: blogging 

1.  add new material to or regularly update a blog.

Over the course of this year, you will have the opportunity to respond to a variety of blog posts for extra credit.  Each nine weeks, I will post an average of two blogs.  Your responses must follow the requirements posted, and you will be able to gain three to five extra credit points for your posts.  These points are weighted as "test points," so they are actually worth 9 - 15 points in your cumulative points.  There is also a deadline by which your responses must be posted!  This is a more relaxed, conversational writing, so no worries!

 

My main objective is for you to WRITE ON!  This is easy for some of you, and for others, not so much.  But we will all grow and learn together.   So . . .  here goes! 

 

As we begin 8th grade, are you ready?  What excites you about this upcoming year?  What scares you?  Are you involved in extracurricular activities?  If so, what?  In FIVE COMPLETE sentences, please tell me your vision for this year.  Tell me about you and your goals for the year.


You will receive FIVE extra credit points for your completed response.  This blog will close on Friday, August 21st at midnight.


I'm excited about this year and getting to know you better!  Write on!