Math: September 26-29
6th Grade -
The 6th graders are working hard to learn how to add and subtract integers. Next week we will discuss multiplying and dividing integers and we will have a chapter test on on Thursday!
7th Grade -
The 7th grade will study hard over the weekend as well as on Monday to prepare for their chapter test on Tuesday. The test will cover expressions (specifically simplifying expressions, factoring expressions, combining like terms, distributive property, equivalent expressions). Make sure to study your quizzes from the chapter to prepare or the test!
8th Grade -
The 8th grade has been studying inequalities. They did a great job on compound inequalities in class today (Thursday). Next week we will learn to solve and graph absolute value inequalities, and have a chapter test on Wednesday.
We will begin a Quarter 1 project for each grade on Monday. We will use the last 20 minutes of every class for approximately 2 weeks to work on a math project specific to each grade. Bring your creative minds!
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Monday, September 26, 2016
Projects Recap of Week 6 and Looking Forward to Week 7
Hello all!
Last week we finished the Body Systems unit with an assessment. We also did a mini-unit exploring how photosynthesis contributes to the flow of energy and cycling of matter. We used energy pyramids to help us access this concept. At the end of the week, students wrote a paragraph to explain this concept.
This week, we are starting a new unit on Ecosystems which we will continue until the end of the quarter. In this unit, we will be exploring how biotic and abiotic (ask your students what these mean, they should be able to tell you!) factors interact in an ecosystem to maintain homeostasis (a fancy word for balance or harmony). Students will ultimately work in a group to research an endangered species and present a plan of action for how to save that species in a way that is sustainable.* Students will take on the role of zoologist, ecologist, or conservationist. I think this is a great project that will be extremely informative for both me and the students, and I hope for you as well!
Also, I updated Infinite Campus with the students' Body Systems Assessment grade as well as their Peer Assessment grade for that same project. I will be grading their projects this week, and I will let you know when those grades are completed and entered into the computer.
Thank you for the support you provide your students! They are a joy to teach!
*For any parents concerned about this project, I want to reassure you that I am of the opinion that the land is meant to be stewarded and its resources used and taken care of. So, when I teach students about conservation, it will be from the perspective that it is the job of humanity to be responsible with natural resources so that we can both benefit from the land and also protect it and those other species native to it. I know "conservation" is a hot button topic, but it is important for students to learn about the importance of caring for our world, hence the "sustainable" methods for saving their species of choice. Please let me know if you have questions or concerns!
Last week we finished the Body Systems unit with an assessment. We also did a mini-unit exploring how photosynthesis contributes to the flow of energy and cycling of matter. We used energy pyramids to help us access this concept. At the end of the week, students wrote a paragraph to explain this concept.
This week, we are starting a new unit on Ecosystems which we will continue until the end of the quarter. In this unit, we will be exploring how biotic and abiotic (ask your students what these mean, they should be able to tell you!) factors interact in an ecosystem to maintain homeostasis (a fancy word for balance or harmony). Students will ultimately work in a group to research an endangered species and present a plan of action for how to save that species in a way that is sustainable.* Students will take on the role of zoologist, ecologist, or conservationist. I think this is a great project that will be extremely informative for both me and the students, and I hope for you as well!
Also, I updated Infinite Campus with the students' Body Systems Assessment grade as well as their Peer Assessment grade for that same project. I will be grading their projects this week, and I will let you know when those grades are completed and entered into the computer.
Thank you for the support you provide your students! They are a joy to teach!
*For any parents concerned about this project, I want to reassure you that I am of the opinion that the land is meant to be stewarded and its resources used and taken care of. So, when I teach students about conservation, it will be from the perspective that it is the job of humanity to be responsible with natural resources so that we can both benefit from the land and also protect it and those other species native to it. I know "conservation" is a hot button topic, but it is important for students to learn about the importance of caring for our world, hence the "sustainable" methods for saving their species of choice. Please let me know if you have questions or concerns!
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Week 5 - Finishing up Body Systems
Hello all!
I just wanted to post a quick update of what the end of the Body Systems Unit is looking like. This week the students have been working with their groups on their Body System Poster. They finished those today, and they look great! I will make it a point to take pictures and post them hopefully on here.
Tomorrow students will take a vocabulary quiz on the major body systems. They've been studying these terms on Quizlet, so they should be prepared and I'm sure they will knock the quiz out of the park. After the quiz (which we will grade in class so that students can know their score right away), students will present their poster and teach the class about their group's body system. Each group has devised a notetaker for their classmates, which students should study over the weekend to prepare for the test on Monday. The students have been studying for this test, and I am confident that they will do well!
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me, and I will get back to you within 48 hours at the very most, usually within the same day if not the same hour. I am so enjoying your students, and I am so grateful for your support! Have a great rest of your week!
-Ms. Williams
I just wanted to post a quick update of what the end of the Body Systems Unit is looking like. This week the students have been working with their groups on their Body System Poster. They finished those today, and they look great! I will make it a point to take pictures and post them hopefully on here.
Tomorrow students will take a vocabulary quiz on the major body systems. They've been studying these terms on Quizlet, so they should be prepared and I'm sure they will knock the quiz out of the park. After the quiz (which we will grade in class so that students can know their score right away), students will present their poster and teach the class about their group's body system. Each group has devised a notetaker for their classmates, which students should study over the weekend to prepare for the test on Monday. The students have been studying for this test, and I am confident that they will do well!
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me, and I will get back to you within 48 hours at the very most, usually within the same day if not the same hour. I am so enjoying your students, and I am so grateful for your support! Have a great rest of your week!
-Ms. Williams
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Projects: Week 4 and Week 5
Hello everybody! I hope you had an awesome Labor Day Weekend! I know I did!
I wanted to give you an update on what we are doing this week and next week in Projects. As I stated in my last post, this new unit is about the six primary body systems (muscular, circulatory, excretory, nervous, respiratory, and digestive).
Last week the students learned about all of the systems and did some independent research. At the end of the week, their groups (which I assigned this time, since they got to choose last time) chose what system they would focus on.
This week, the groups conducted their own research on the system they chose. Their task is to create a life-sized poster that depicts and explains the function of the major organs of their system as well as two diseases or disorders that impact that system. They will be teaching their system to the class (more details regarding the expectations for their "lesson" to come, depending on the time we have). At this point we are planning on having the posters due 9/14, next Wednesday, but that is dependent on how quickly the students are working. If they are working diligently and need more time, then I am willing to be flexible. However, if they are wasting class time, then I will make the 14th a hard due date. The test will follow either on the 15th or the following Monday.
I have finished grading their Cell Final Projects and am sending the rubrics home for you to sign. My reason for doing this is I want you to see exactly why your student scored as high or low as they did. For those boxes with a score but no written feedback, ask your student what we discussed in our conference with their group. Overall I was very pleased with the projects! I am confident that the projects will get better and better as the year goes on.
Finally, I just wanted to let parents know that I updated student grades to include their Cell Final Project, their Peer Evaluations for that project, and their Cells Final Test scores. If you have any questions regarding grades, please let me know via email.
Thank you for all you do to support your student! I hope you have a great week!
-Ms. Williams
I wanted to give you an update on what we are doing this week and next week in Projects. As I stated in my last post, this new unit is about the six primary body systems (muscular, circulatory, excretory, nervous, respiratory, and digestive).
Last week the students learned about all of the systems and did some independent research. At the end of the week, their groups (which I assigned this time, since they got to choose last time) chose what system they would focus on.
This week, the groups conducted their own research on the system they chose. Their task is to create a life-sized poster that depicts and explains the function of the major organs of their system as well as two diseases or disorders that impact that system. They will be teaching their system to the class (more details regarding the expectations for their "lesson" to come, depending on the time we have). At this point we are planning on having the posters due 9/14, next Wednesday, but that is dependent on how quickly the students are working. If they are working diligently and need more time, then I am willing to be flexible. However, if they are wasting class time, then I will make the 14th a hard due date. The test will follow either on the 15th or the following Monday.
I have finished grading their Cell Final Projects and am sending the rubrics home for you to sign. My reason for doing this is I want you to see exactly why your student scored as high or low as they did. For those boxes with a score but no written feedback, ask your student what we discussed in our conference with their group. Overall I was very pleased with the projects! I am confident that the projects will get better and better as the year goes on.
Finally, I just wanted to let parents know that I updated student grades to include their Cell Final Project, their Peer Evaluations for that project, and their Cells Final Test scores. If you have any questions regarding grades, please let me know via email.
Thank you for all you do to support your student! I hope you have a great week!
-Ms. Williams
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