By Susie Rogers, 5TH-8th, ELA

This week our class put a creative twist on grammar with our Preposition House Project! Students were challenged to design a colorful and original “house” and then bring it to life with descriptive sentences that showcased their knowledge of prepositional phrases.

Each student wrote 10 sentences that used prepositional phrases to describe different parts of their house. For example: “The flowers in front of the porch are bright yellow” or “A cat sleeps under the window on the second floor.” In every sentence, students carefully labeled the preposition, the object of the preposition, and any adjectives that gave extra detail.

This project wasn’t just about building grammar skills—it also encouraged creativity. The houses were decorated with bold colors, fun designs, and unique details that reflected each student’s personality. By combining art and language, students showed how prepositional phrases can make writing more vivid and precise.

The Preposition House Project was a fun and memorable way to wrap up our prepositions unit. Our classroom is now filled with bright, imaginative houses that prove grammar can be both challenging and exciting!

By Susie Rogers, 5th-8th ELA

Every other week, our students dive into their Wordly Wise notebooks to discover, research, analyze, and apply 15 new vocabulary words. This routine gives them the chance not only to study definitions, but to use words in real life contexts, which makes the learning stick.

Because everyone learns differently, we make sure to mix things up: some students thrive with workbook practice, while others enjoy a hands-on matching game or an online Blooket challenge that keeps the energy high. Our younger learners focus on understanding and recognizing the words, while our older students take it a step further by writing original sentences that use each word correctly.

Why does this matter? According to research, students with larger vocabularies score up to 50% higher on reading comprehension tests compared to peers with smaller vocabularies. A strong vocabulary improves not just test scores, but also communication, writing, and critical thinking skills.

As the writer Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”  By strengthening vocabulary, we open the doors to clearer thinking, better expression, and endless opportunities.

Enjoy my 8th Grade class sentences:

After Fischer found out he was going to a birthday party, he had a wonderful disposition. - Shepherd

There was an anonymous letter found in Christopher’s locker. - Lennox

It is absolutely imperative that you vote this year,” he added after awhile. - Boogie

My family has generations of the name, Swan Burrus Moss, over the years. - Rivers

My class let out a spontaneous laugh after Mrs. Rogers started dancing. - Hattie

William Shakespeare was the playwright of a vast anthology of plays. - Archer

My love for reading was instilled over the hot summer. - Elliot

The school has been modified by adding new buildings, getting new students and teachers, and redoing classrooms. - Jojo

The tall and strong metal fence that glistened in the sun encompassed the school’s large and vast campus. - Christopher

Extricating our car from the crowded highway was muchore difficult than I thought. - Poca

The conjecture made by the Christians about when the rapture would take place is correct. - Reece

By Susie Rogers, 5th-8th ELA

This week in ELA, our 5th grade class put a fun twist on reviewing the parts of speech—starting with nouns. Students began with a timed challenge: filling out a list of nouns that fit specific categories. The race was on to think quickly while making sure each answer truly counted as a person, place, thing, or idea.

Once the lists were complete, we turned the review into a lively game of Scattergories. Just like the classic game, teams compared answers and had to cross off any duplicates. Only the most creative and unique nouns earned points! For example, instead of everyone writing "dog" as an animal, some students came up with clever choices like “axolotl” or “narwhal” to avoid elimination.

The activity had everyone brainstorming, laughing, and stretching their vocabulary. It was a fun way to prove that reviewing grammar doesn’t have to be boring—sometimes, a little competition and creativity is all it takes to make nouns unforgettable!

By Susie Rogers, 5th-8th ELA

The first two weeks of seventh grade have already been a whirlwind of energy, creativity, and connection! To help everyone ease into the year, we kicked things off with our “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” project. Each student designed a sneaker—think colors, text, symbols—that visually tells the story of who they are both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it was favorite hobbies, life mottos, important milestones, or happy memories, every sneaker became a beautiful window into each student’s journey.

Once the sneakers were completed, they took center stage on our “Sole Showcase” display. Walking by, you could see reflections of interests, personal strengths, and defining moments—one student’s shoe with a soccer ball and math equation spoke to both play and problem-solving, while another adorned with musical notes and a sunset hinted at creativity and calm. Paired with their written rationale, each student shared why they made specific choices for color, imagery, and words. Classmates loved comparing their designs—discovering unexpected similarities and celebrating diverse differences. It was a fun, creative icebreaker that set an empathetic tone for the year ahead!

By Susie Rogers, 5th-8th ELA

My students took a big step toward their futures with an engaging and informative College Fair that brought learning to life! Each student selected a college to research in depth, exploring key aspects such as acceptance requirements, rights and responsibilities, available majors and minors, tuition costs, housing options, and the history and motto of the school.

Students compiled their findings into creative and visually compelling trifold boards, showcasing everything from campus culture to admissions statistics. The fair culminated in a lively presentation day, where students shared their work with parents, classmates, and faculty—turning the classroom into a true showcase of academic exploration and ambition.

This project encouraged not just research skills, but also public speaking, critical thinking, and personal reflection on future goals. We’re so proud of the effort and enthusiasm our students showed, and we hope it sparked a lasting interest in planning their educational journeys!