Monday, April 15, 2019
Remember:  Reading Counts points are due June 5th!

Fourth Quarter Points (from 3/18/19--6/5/19)

(due June 5, 2019)

Points earned in Reading Counts	Grade
27-30	A
24-26	B
21-23	C
18-20	D
17 or fewer	F

Today we will continue the SBAC.  Some strategies include:

• Use the linereader
• Read questions before reading the text
• Reread the text
• Use the highlighting tool to locate answers
• Use the copy/paste function to use the text as evidence
• Use the strikethrough tool to eliminate unlikely answers.

Some possible tips for doing well on the test before you start:

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat breakfast
• Wear comfortable clothes

During fifth period, we will study the excerpt in Document B for the DBQ "The Maya:  What was their most remarkable achievement?" and answer the questions.  
Possibly unfamiliar words:

urban center (noun)--a city with a large population

architectural remains (noun)--the parts of a building that are
left after the rest has been destroyed or has disappeared

catalogue (verb)--to make a
complete list of all the things in a group

masonry (noun)--building with stone

densest (adjective)--containing the most buildings

Friday, April 12, 2019
Today we will continue the SBAC.  Some strategies include:

• Use the linereader
• Read questions before reading the text
• Reread the text
• Use the highlighting tool to locate answers
• Use the copy/paste function to use the text as evidence
• Use the strikethrough tool to eliminate unlikely answers.

Some possible tips for doing well on the test before you start:

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat breakfast
• Wear comfortable clothes

During fifth period, we will study the map in Document A for the DBQ "The Maya:  What was their most remarkable achievement?" and answer the questions.  
For question 5, use this sentence frame:

scale, genius, physical effort, and significance

Based on ______________, the Mayan trade routes were remarkable because ______________.

Thursday, April 11, 2019
Today we will continue the SBAC.  Some strategies include:

• Use the linereader
• Read questions before reading the text
• Reread the text
• Use the highlighting tool to locate answers
• Use the copy/paste function to use the text as evidence
• Use the strikethrough tool to eliminate unlikely answers.

Some possible tips for doing well on the test before you start:

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat breakfast
• Wear comfortable clothes

During fifth period, we will read the Background Essay for the DBQ "The Maya:  What was their most remarkable achievement?" and answer the questions.  First, write the definitions for the unfamiliar words in question 6:

Question 6 definitions:

Mesoamerica--the southern part of North

America, extending from central Mexico to

Honduras and Nicaragua

slash-and-burn agriculture--the practice of

cutting and burning forests to prepare fields

for farming

classic--relating to the period of highest

development

city-states--independent settlements,

sometimes walled, and often including the

surrounding territory

ritual--a ceremony with an established order,

often related to religion

glyphs--picture writing

Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Today we will begin taking the SBAC.  Some strategies include:

• Use the linereader
• Read questions before reading the text
• Reread the text
• Use the highlighting tool to locate answers
• Use the copy/paste function to use the text as evidence
• Use the strikethrough tool to eliminate unlikely answers.

Some possible tips for doing well on the test before you start:

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat breakfast
• Wear comfortable clothes

During fifth period, we will begin the hook exercise for our new DBQ "The Maya: What Was Their Most Remarkable Achievement?"
Which of the eight achievements listed is the most remarkable--based on scale, genius, effort, and significance?

Frame sentence:
Based on _________ and _________, the most remarkable achievement is _____________.  This is the most remarkable achievement because ___________.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Today we will begin a practice test and discuss strategies for taking the SBAC.  Some strategies include:

• Use the linereader
• Read questions before reading the text
• Reread the text
• Use the highlighting tool to locate answers
• Use the copy/paste function to use the text as evidence
• Use the strikethrough tool to eliminate unlikely answers.

Some possible tips for doing well on the test before you start:

• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat breakfast
• Wear comfortable clothes

Next we will learn about the geography of Latin America, in a slideshow (link) and taking notes.

Monday, April 8, 2019
Welcome back! Today we will begin our unit on the Americas.
Chapter 14, section 1, page 384--389. Answer questions in complete sentences.

Section 1 p. 384--389

1. Why is the soil fertile in Mesoamerica?
2. What kinds of landforms and climates do North and South America have in common?
3. Why might it be hard to define written language?
4. What landform do most scientists think the first people crossed to reach America?
5. How do you think the geography of the Americas affected early peoples’ search for food?
6. How did farming settlements lead to the development of building, trade, art, and organized religion?
7. How might the Olmec civilization have influenced later civilizations in Mesoamerica (list at least two developments)?
8. How did farming (crops, irrigation) in Mesoamerica change? List two changes.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Today you will write the second body paragraph, the counterargument paragraph, and the conclusion paragraph of your Zheng He argument essay on the DBQ. Check yesterday's (below) blog for sentence starters for the counterargument, turnback, and strong statement (in the conclusion). Check the wall for the order of sentences in each paragraph.