I dont think we need the Electoral College because Back in 1700-1800 thay needed the Electoral College, Becuse they needed people to vote becuse thay didnt want to travel very far,but now everything is more advanced and we have computers and i think the people should get to vote for who the president is......



Dylan A

Do we still need the Electoral College?

Do we still need the Electoral College? If you say no it's outdated. What about election fraud? If you say yes keep it. What about the advances in technology? Can't the people elect their own president? Write a paragraph explaining your thinking. List at least one source on the web or in print that you looked at to get information. Explain your thinking thoroughly.
Mrs. M

4 dollars for gas i too much, i think its stupid that i may not be able to drive because the gas will be too much, i think biofuels would help beacause it would be alot cheaper than normal gas. i think if we didnt need oil we wouldnt be in iraq firghting. and i would never give up my music....



dylan a

The price for gas is a lot more than it should be because I want a car when I turn sixteen and if I have to pay for gas too then I won't be able to enjoy it, or drive in it. I don't get how the gas has anything to do with Iraq or even why we're fighting there. It just doesn't make sense. Four dollars is crazy for gas...how are people going to get places? What if I have a sick grandma and I can't see her because the gas prices are too much and I won't be able to afford a trip to go down and see her. I think we should just stop fighting in Iraq and look at what's affecting people the most.

John C.

The New Energy Crisis

Gas is predicted to go up in cost to $3.50 or $4.00 a gallon this summer! What do you think is the solution to this problem? How do you feel knowing that when you are old enough to drive that you may not be able to afford too. Do you think that biofuels could make the difference? What about buses or other formed of transportation; are they the answer?

Some people think that we would not be in the middle east an Iraq if it were not for oil. Do you agree or disagree? Are you willing to give up your computer, your ipod, your CD"s all of these things are made out of fossil fuels? This will be a big problem for your generation what do you think?

Mrs. M

PS Write well and at an eighth grade level. Write 8- 10 sentences and check spelling, please!

i dont really like hula hooping, because i cant do it and i lazy. i dont think we should have made them because there is no point.



dylan a

Hula Hooping

I didn't really think that hula hooping was as popular as it is until i read thins article. Hula hooping is fun and its cool that it is also a great workout for just five minutes three times a week! wow!
It sounds like alot of people are really into hooping and there are even compititions!

I cant wait until we get our hoops next week, im also excited for the performance on tuesday!

~ashley~

Hula Hoops

It was pretty good. I did not know that hula hoops could burn 400 calories an hour. I never really thought that when you do it it takes adults back to there childhood. Thats just crazy. I didnt know that hula hooping could cause so many inguries. Like how you can pull muscles,and you half to stertch before you get to hula hoop. My question is: why do guys hula hoop if its like a girl sport or just too girly like.


Harrison James Litehiser

The web site that I used was http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/05/america/04cndcampaign.php
Super Tuesday is a day which several U.S. states hold primary elections.
By: Leilyn Makanani

i used nytimes.com. obama has a lot more states than hilery but she has the bigger states. but the rebublicians have the leader has the most states and the bigest.


-dylan a

Super Tuesday

This week I want you to find an online article about Super Tuesday. If you aren't sure where to start I would try some of these: www.nytimes.com, www.cnn.com, www.ap.org, www.bendbulletin.com, www.time.com. Make sure you include the web address of your article in your blog statement.

Tell us about the article and what you think about the race. Do you think that America should have a national primary? What do you think about the idea of the electorial college? Do we need this anymore? What are your thoughts on election fraud?

Please DO NOT make your blog a pitch for one candidate or another. Please stick to the assignment. Remember you should write 6-8 sentences.

Mrs. M

Hey Everybody!!!

Hey everybody from Bocas Del Toro, Panama. It's been a very good trip so far. Weve been in Costa for the past week and just came here to Panama. I must say that it's hard to do my homework when It's their summer here and all the kids are out of school. I'll show you pictures when I get back and might have a couple stories to tell. We've seen monkeys and tropical fish and sloths and birds and more. But to sum it up, Ive had the time of my life. Hope to see you all soon, Austin B. :)

Faveorite book

my faveorite book would be Heavy Metal, because it tells u everything about all the old bands and some of the new bands. so that is why that is my faveorite book

Dylan A

Favorite Book

This week in honor of our RIF read in day on Wednesday I would like you to recommend a book to your classmates. Briefly tell about the book without giving away the ending. Then tell why you think eighth graders would particularly like this book. For some good examples of how to this check out readingrants.org. They are my favorite site for good recommendations for tenn literature. There are lots of lists by different genre or interest.

Mrs. M

I think teaching through music has good and bad points. The good things: It might keep you from talking to other people if the music is on loud enough. And it could keep you motivated to keep working. The bad things: It might get you unfocused, and listening to the song more than working. I think overall, It's a good idea to let kids listen to music in school. Just as long as it's not on while the teacher is talking. ; )



-Brandon Messinger

music cirricula

i think this is a good idea to teach chilren through music, i couldent live without music its what i have to have every day. i chose the song 94 hours by as i lay dying because it helps me get my work done.

Dylan a

Music As Curriculum

So do you think that music is a good medium to teach with? I do! I think music can touch ideas and thoughts differently than words or dry textbook writing. Music shows us the emotion of events or facts and can deepen our understanding of them. I think this is an exciting idea and am glad musicians are putting their energy into this. Their popularity will get people's attention too like this article.

As well as responding to the article, please pick a song that you think would be good to use to teach a subject. Say what subject you think the song goes with and what grade level it would be appropriate with and why.


I like the song " there were no mirrors in my Nana's house" by Sweet Honey in the Rock. It is about how black children learned to have pride during times of prejudice before the civil rights movement. I also like the ballad "Country Clare" which is a folk song sung by Nancy Griffiths which is about when the Irish came to America after the potato famine. It talks about the opportunity and the prejudice that they experienced. I think both songs could be used to teach American History to middle and high school students.

Mrs. M

Top Musicians Are Composing Own Curricula

You Will Be My Ain' True Love
By Alison Krauss
from Cold Mountain


You'll walk unscathed through musket fire,
No ploughman's blade will cut thee down,
No cutlass pull will mark thy face,
And you will be my ain true love,
And you will be my ain true love

And as you walk through death's dark vale,
The cannon's thunder can't prevail,
And those who hunt thee down will fail,
And you will be my ain true love,
And you will be my ain true love.

Asleep inside the cannon's mouth,
The captain cries, "Here comes the rout,"
They'll seek to find me north and south,
I've gone to find my ain true love.

The field is cut and bleeds too red,
The cannon balls fly round my head,
The infirmary man may count me dead,
When I've gone to find my ain true love,
I've gone to find my ain true love.

I chose this