Last Friday, the Grade 8 students participated in their class debate on vaping. The students worked hard to create their: opening statements, arguments, rebuttals, crossfire examination questions, and closing statements.

Each student is being asked to complete a post-debate reflection. The purpose of this reflection is to think about ways we can improve in the future. This also provides students with a way to independently and privately express their opinions and ideas regarding the debate process. This year we will be creating opportunities to increase and develop the metacognitive abilities of each student. By “thinking about thinking”, students will begin to self-identify areas of their own growth.

Feel free to write/type your responses to the questions in the following document:

Debate Reflection

Here are a few pictures from the debate! (No debate would be complete without a little bit of apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah)

Last week at this time we were all packing for the OJCS Middle School Retreat. The students and staff had a fantastic time filled with ruach, learning, and team building activities.

The Grade 8 class started a new tradition this year! They
“owned their own learning” and created an incredible Amazing Race challenge for the entire middle school. Each year the Grade 8 class will be responsible for planning a team building activity for their peers. Check out the video below to see some of the activities they planned.

Student voice matters! We will begin preparing in-class debates when we return from the retreat. Students will find out more information about the format/debate itself next week. Today students are being tasked with brainstorming a list of topics that they are interested in debating!

Please submit five topics that you believe would lead to an interesting class debate by Monday. You can submit these ideas via Google Doc!

I hope everyone had a fantastic summer! I am looking forward to teaching, challenging, and encouraging our middle school students this year in Language Arts. Yesterday we reviewed the Seven Habits, North Stars, behavior expectations, homework policy, and uniform policy. Our goal is for each student and parent to clearly understand these policies. There are a lot of exciting upcoming events in the middle school!

If you have not turned in the retreat and JCC permission slips, please do so by tomorrow.

Please feel free to check out and review the presentation that we shared with the students yesterday. Additionally, you will find a link to my own classroom policies for the year.

Mr. Washerstein’s Classroom Policies

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Reminder: Lord of the Flies Final Project is due Monday, June 3rd. Presentations for this project will also begin on Monday. 

The end of the school year is approaching rapidly. We spent the last week working on developing and refining thesis statements.  Now we are switching gears and focusing on preparing for our mini-debates.

Students will need to decide amongst their group members who will fulfill the following roles:

1. Opening Statement-Gather the main arguments into an introductory statement. Do not give specific information; just provide the main argument with a rationale
2. Presenter of the Argument-Present the main arguments for the team. Each presenter gives specific details that prove each rationale.
3. Presenter of the Rebuttal- Answer the arguments of the other team. These presenters must take notes as the other team is presenting their arguments and respond to every argument, using specific information to disprove them.
4. Closing Statement-Present the closing arguments for the team. Repeat the main idea with rationale and or counter-argument.

Important details to note:

• Some teams only have three members (one team member will have to fill/prepare two roles)
• Everyone will have the opportunity to prepare and ask questions to the opposing team during the “Crossfire Question” time allotment
• Each person is required to do research and come up with at least 3 arguments (facts + expert opinions to support their claim)

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Student voice matters! As requested by members of the Grade 8 class, we will begin preparing for mini-debates in class. Students will find out more information about the format/debate itself next week. Today students are being tasked with brainstorming a list of topics that they are interested in debating!

Click the link below to add your debate topic choices:

Grade 8 Debate Topic List

Last week we finished our class novel study of Lord of the Flies. Attached below you will find the final project for Language Arts for the Grade 8 class. Students are being asked to choose ONE of the various project descriptions. Remember that the purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the text. Each project should also include an analytical component, along with an incorporation of direct quotations from the text, and explanation. Each student will present their project to their peers.

Presentations will begin Monday, June 3rd. Please feel free to reach out with questions, comments, and concerns.

Note: This assignment will be completed primarily at home. This assignment should be considered homework for the next three weeks. 

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