Come check out our WW2 museum exhibits Thursday from 8:30-10:00. We will be in all 6 middle school classrooms. They're pretty impressive!
Next Monday, May 22, is JA in the classroom. Junior Achievement is a financial literacy program. Their volunteers offer wonderful lessons tailored to each grade level. This will las most of the day and should be great!
Wednesday, May 24th at 10:00--8th grade promotion at the Fallon Convention Center
Thursday, May 25th Field Day and the last day of school. Pick up is at 2:00 that day.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Monday, May 8, 2017
Monday, May 8, 2017
7th grade tudents finish testing tomorrow! Yippee!!! 8th graders, you only have ONE MORE test--the science test on May 17. You're almost there!!!
This week in a snapshot:
Projects: Students working hard to finish content and 3D exhibit for our display. Teachers are spending time conferencing with students and helping them come up with creative ideas.
7th Grade Reading: Students are finishing book club books and response journals. They have done a great job with these.
8th Grade Reading: We will finish Night this week and do some activities with it in the days to come. This has been a difficult book to read and discuss. It cuts to the core of our emotions. However, the kids have done well with it and I'm anxious to hear their thoughts when we are finished.
Writing: Students will work on the content piece of their social studies project during writing block. I will be conferencing with each group and making sure they have nailed the comprehension piece of what they are studying.
Thursday, May 18 from 8:30-10:00 Parents are invited to come to the middle school classrooms and view projects.
Wednesday, May 24 at 10:00 am--Middle school promotion ceremony at the Fallon Convention Center
Thursday, May 25--Field Day and last day of school
This week in a snapshot:
Projects: Students working hard to finish content and 3D exhibit for our display. Teachers are spending time conferencing with students and helping them come up with creative ideas.
7th Grade Reading: Students are finishing book club books and response journals. They have done a great job with these.
8th Grade Reading: We will finish Night this week and do some activities with it in the days to come. This has been a difficult book to read and discuss. It cuts to the core of our emotions. However, the kids have done well with it and I'm anxious to hear their thoughts when we are finished.
Writing: Students will work on the content piece of their social studies project during writing block. I will be conferencing with each group and making sure they have nailed the comprehension piece of what they are studying.
Thursday, May 18 from 8:30-10:00 Parents are invited to come to the middle school classrooms and view projects.
Wednesday, May 24 at 10:00 am--Middle school promotion ceremony at the Fallon Convention Center
Thursday, May 25--Field Day and last day of school
Monday, May 1, 2017
Monday, May 1, 2017
We are smack dab in the middle of testing, but here are some important things for you to know and remember:
Projects: Students will work on World War 2 museum exhibits this week and next. We will present our exhibits to parents on May 18th--I believe in the afternoon, but will check on that!
7th Grade Reading: We are loving our WW2 book clubs! Students are doing a great job on responses, and are coming to their groups prepared and ready for discussion!
8th Grade Reading: Students are reading Night, by Elie Weisel. This book is prompting a lot of discussion, and the serious nature of this book is really making students think about life and human nature.
Writing: Students have been practicing writing tasks for Smarter Balanced, IXL skills, and writing stamina to prepare for our SBAC this week!
Dates to remember:
Tuesday, May 2-7th grade Smarter Balanced ELA test, part 1
Wednesday, May 3--7th Grade Smarter Balance ELA test, part 2
Wednesday, May 3--8th Grade ELA EOC
Friday, May 12--End of year dance for middle school (Hawaiian theme)
Wednesday, May 17--8th Grade Science SBAC
Thursday, May 18--Parents invited to view WW2 exhibits (Time TBD)
Wednesday, May 24--8th Grade promotion--Convention Center at 10:00
Thursday, May 25--Last day of school and field day!
No homework this week due to testing---students will be graded on book club assignments done in class.
Projects: Students will work on World War 2 museum exhibits this week and next. We will present our exhibits to parents on May 18th--I believe in the afternoon, but will check on that!
7th Grade Reading: We are loving our WW2 book clubs! Students are doing a great job on responses, and are coming to their groups prepared and ready for discussion!
8th Grade Reading: Students are reading Night, by Elie Weisel. This book is prompting a lot of discussion, and the serious nature of this book is really making students think about life and human nature.
Writing: Students have been practicing writing tasks for Smarter Balanced, IXL skills, and writing stamina to prepare for our SBAC this week!
Dates to remember:
Tuesday, May 2-7th grade Smarter Balanced ELA test, part 1
Wednesday, May 3--7th Grade Smarter Balance ELA test, part 2
Wednesday, May 3--8th Grade ELA EOC
Friday, May 12--End of year dance for middle school (Hawaiian theme)
Wednesday, May 17--8th Grade Science SBAC
Thursday, May 18--Parents invited to view WW2 exhibits (Time TBD)
Wednesday, May 24--8th Grade promotion--Convention Center at 10:00
Thursday, May 25--Last day of school and field day!
No homework this week due to testing---students will be graded on book club assignments done in class.
Monday, April 17, 2017
Monday, April 17, 2017
Projects: Students are working in their groups to figure out their museum exhibit plan for World War 2. Also, my students will learn about several major battles this week. Ask them about Pearl Harbor, Battle of Midway, Battle of Stalingrad, and DDay!
7th Grade Reading: This week we will focus on our book club novels and how students use Habits of Discussion and Format Matters to move their discussions along. Reading responses are due every Tuesday and Thursday for these, and I'm expecting them to be lengthy and detailed. Students must show effort of going deep on these and using evidence, evidence, evidence!!
8th Grade Reading: Students will read Night in their book clubs and use Habits of Discussion and Format Matters to make their points. I will take grades for this every day they meet, so students need to make sure they come prepared!
Writing: We will continue with grammar skills review, small responses to articles (backed up with evidence), and also do some SBAC practice. It's almost testing time!!
Auction this Thursday----Please send goodies in if possible. :) We will at least one more after this.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: Book Club responses due Tuesday and Thursday; read for 20/write responses
8th Grade: Book Club reading every night; come prepared for a possible quiz on Thursday!
7th Grade Reading: This week we will focus on our book club novels and how students use Habits of Discussion and Format Matters to move their discussions along. Reading responses are due every Tuesday and Thursday for these, and I'm expecting them to be lengthy and detailed. Students must show effort of going deep on these and using evidence, evidence, evidence!!
8th Grade Reading: Students will read Night in their book clubs and use Habits of Discussion and Format Matters to make their points. I will take grades for this every day they meet, so students need to make sure they come prepared!
Writing: We will continue with grammar skills review, small responses to articles (backed up with evidence), and also do some SBAC practice. It's almost testing time!!
Auction this Thursday----Please send goodies in if possible. :) We will at least one more after this.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: Book Club responses due Tuesday and Thursday; read for 20/write responses
8th Grade: Book Club reading every night; come prepared for a possible quiz on Thursday!
Monday, April 10, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Projects: We went over our final project for this year today--a World War 2 museum exhibit! This is going to be so much fun. Students can choose partners from other middle school classes. We will choose topics and partners tomorrow. This week we will spend our time learning about the Jewish Holocaust and the Chinesse Holocaust. Next week we will focus on battles and other important events.
7th Grade Reading: Today was Flocabulary! We read and discussed important happenings. The students always have such intelligent input! We will delve into book clubs, reading responses, and poetry for the rest of the week.
8th Grade Reading: Students finished Paideia Seminar today (3 days....they had a lot to say!). Tomorrow we will focus on Flocabulary, and Wednesday will be poetry. Thursday students will get into reading groups for our final book of the year: Night, by Elie Weisel. This book is extremely powerful. It is a memoir of Elie Weisel and the time he spent at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. I'm hoping the students appreciate if for what it is and are as moved by it as I was when I read it. We will read, discuss, write responses, look at supporting videos, etc. as we move through this book. Students will be in reading groups, but we will all be reading the same book.
Writing: This week we will focus on writing World War 2 poetry, IXL skills (simple/compound sentences), Flocabulary instructional videos, and lots and lots of journal writing. I am grading journals a few times a week now, and making sure that students are really delving into the daily prompts!
Homework:
7th--IXL N.1 (subject/predicate), read for 20, fill out logs
8th--Read for 20, fill out logs
7th Grade Reading: Today was Flocabulary! We read and discussed important happenings. The students always have such intelligent input! We will delve into book clubs, reading responses, and poetry for the rest of the week.
8th Grade Reading: Students finished Paideia Seminar today (3 days....they had a lot to say!). Tomorrow we will focus on Flocabulary, and Wednesday will be poetry. Thursday students will get into reading groups for our final book of the year: Night, by Elie Weisel. This book is extremely powerful. It is a memoir of Elie Weisel and the time he spent at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. I'm hoping the students appreciate if for what it is and are as moved by it as I was when I read it. We will read, discuss, write responses, look at supporting videos, etc. as we move through this book. Students will be in reading groups, but we will all be reading the same book.
Writing: This week we will focus on writing World War 2 poetry, IXL skills (simple/compound sentences), Flocabulary instructional videos, and lots and lots of journal writing. I am grading journals a few times a week now, and making sure that students are really delving into the daily prompts!
Homework:
7th--IXL N.1 (subject/predicate), read for 20, fill out logs
8th--Read for 20, fill out logs
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Projects: Yesterday we had a fabulous guest speaker! Mr. Slonecker joined us and gave a fascinating presentation on his visit to Germany and what he knows about that country during World War 2 under the Hitler Regime. We will continue to learn about Hitler and his life this week, and apply what we learn to events that occurred under his regime.
7th Grade Reading: Students were put into book clubs today. They will read a book that is set in WW2, complete weekly responses, take quizzes, have group discussions, and complete a final project on their book. I'm so excited for this, as students take independent responsibility for their reading during this time.
8th Grade Reading: Students prepared for Paideia Seminar yesterday and today. Tomorrow and Thursday they will have their Paideia discussion and give responses to 10 open ended questions that they have spent time collecting evidence for. Please help remind students to get their reading logs signed each week. We are starting to have an issue with kids simply not doing it, which is resulting in lower grades each week.
Writing: This week students will review IXL skills, write in journals, and complete written responses that compare 2 different texts. We are practicing specific skills in order to review and prepare for our writing assessment later this month.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: IXL SS.1, SS.2, read for 20 minutes/fill out log
8th Grade: Paideia preparation, read for 20 minutes (when finished with Paideia)/fill out log.
7th Grade Reading: Students were put into book clubs today. They will read a book that is set in WW2, complete weekly responses, take quizzes, have group discussions, and complete a final project on their book. I'm so excited for this, as students take independent responsibility for their reading during this time.
8th Grade Reading: Students prepared for Paideia Seminar yesterday and today. Tomorrow and Thursday they will have their Paideia discussion and give responses to 10 open ended questions that they have spent time collecting evidence for. Please help remind students to get their reading logs signed each week. We are starting to have an issue with kids simply not doing it, which is resulting in lower grades each week.
Writing: This week students will review IXL skills, write in journals, and complete written responses that compare 2 different texts. We are practicing specific skills in order to review and prepare for our writing assessment later this month.
Homework this week:
7th Grade: IXL SS.1, SS.2, read for 20 minutes/fill out log
8th Grade: Paideia preparation, read for 20 minutes (when finished with Paideia)/fill out log.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Monday, March 27, 2017
Student-led conferences are this Friday. Please stop by with your child at any time between 8 am and 4 pm.
Projects: We started studying World War 2 today. Students will frontload vocabulary terms and learn the causes of WW2 this week.
7th Grade Reading: This week we will review figurative language terms with Flocabulary and IXL, read our independent reading books, write lengthy reading responses, annotate poetry, and read and summarize nonfiction text with "The Week in Rap."
8th Grade Reading: Students watched To Kill a Mockingbird today, and will spend the next 5-6 reading blocks preparing their responses for our Paideia Seminar.
Writing: This week students will learn to evaluate and judge by reading reviews of some of their favorite movies, books, games, etc. Using the book Write Like This as a mentor text, we will rate products, then write formal reviews for them.
Projects: We started studying World War 2 today. Students will frontload vocabulary terms and learn the causes of WW2 this week.
7th Grade Reading: This week we will review figurative language terms with Flocabulary and IXL, read our independent reading books, write lengthy reading responses, annotate poetry, and read and summarize nonfiction text with "The Week in Rap."
8th Grade Reading: Students watched To Kill a Mockingbird today, and will spend the next 5-6 reading blocks preparing their responses for our Paideia Seminar.
Writing: This week students will learn to evaluate and judge by reading reviews of some of their favorite movies, books, games, etc. Using the book Write Like This as a mentor text, we will rate products, then write formal reviews for them.
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