Summer Reading

The Dominican Reading Group will be reading the novel Al Capone Does My Shirts over the summer.  They were assigned a packet that highlighted multiple reading skills that we will focus on for next year.  The book can be found at any Chicago Public Library and can also be routed to your nearest branch for you convenience.  Please get a jump start on this so you can enjoy your summer.  I look forward to working with a new group of eager and excited readers in the fall!!  Please contact me if you have any questions.  Here is a quick link right to the book:  Chicago Public Library

Mr. Parsons

Reading Characters in Decoupage!!

The Dominican Reading Group finished their literature circle units by completing decoupage art of characters from their novels.  Decoupage is an art form where you glue paper onto other objects.  Often times this will be done with furniture or house ware products.

The students had 3 different novels, Park's Quest, The Watson's Go To Birmingham, and Snow Treasure to choose characters from.  The books were perfect for this type of project because each book had multiple characters with varying ethnic backgrounds.

The Snow Treasure Group

The Watson's Go To Birmingham Group

The Park's Quest Group

8th Grade Class Trip

I was fortunate to be able to go with a class I will miss dearly next year on their class trip.  We camped at Starved Rock in Utica, IL.  It was an enjoyable trip and the students learned so many new things.  Team building by putting their tents up was their first obstacle and they accomplished this task with a little nudge from their teacher :)  Overall, the students had fun being away from the city, hiking, playing soccer and baseball, sitting by a campfire and chasing raccoons away all night.

The bus trip to Starved Rock and passing over the Illinois River.

Here are a few pictures of the 8th grade class camping and enjoying some snacks after accomplishing their first task.  (Note the tents in the background)  A little friendly game of soccer between the boys and the girls took place on a wonderful open area of the campground. 

The hiking portion of our trip consisted of a 2 mile trek through the trails at the Starved Rock State Park.

The sunset at the top of Starved Rock.

 

What a wonderful way for the students to end their middle school careers.  A very peaceful, serene, and exciting journey for them to share together.