October 3, 2014

Currently, we are reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and should finish the novel by the end of next week.   We have been taking daily reading check quizzes throughout this unit.  Please check ParentConnect to see how your child is doing on these quizzes.

In terms of writing, the students need to write a 150 persuasive paragraph on who they feel suffers most in The Scarlet Letter.  This paragraph needs to be completed on the classroom blog page and is due Monday.

Next week, we will take another vocabulary Word of the Day quiz worth 40 points.  You can find a list of the words below.  Please help prepare your child for this quiz.

I also want to inform you about an extra-credit assignment your child can complete during our upcoming parent-teacher conferences.  Essentially, your child can "run" the meeting the night of conferences and explain to you what the goals of the class are, how he/she is progressing in the class, and how he/she can make improvements.  While this assignment is optional, it might be a good way for your child to raise his/her grade.  I will hand out a sheet to each student next week explaining the particulars.

Set #3

protract (v):  to lengthen or prolong

abridge (v):  to shorten or condense

copious (adj):  plentiful; abundant

profuse (adj):  flowing; extravagant

sycophant (n):  flatterer; one who sucks up to people in power

ascendant (adj):  superior; dominant

undaunted (adj):  fearless; courageous

supercilious (adj):  scornful superiority; haughty

circuitous (adj):  roundabout; indirect

diffident (adj):  shy; aloof; lacking self-confidence