Hello folks!
We are still working on our Great Depression unit, and it seems like it is going really well. From what I've seen of the students' websites, they are doing a fantastic job! I have been impressed with their creativity in putting together these websites. They are learning a fantastic skill that they will be able to use in their professional lives, along with learning about this fascinating period in American history!
On Thursday, we watched a great video about the Dust Bowl. This week, we will be learning about Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal. Students will be adding the content for these topics to their websites.
Just as a heads up, I did input grades on Thursday, so your student's grades should be up to date except for what we did today. Students did exceedingly well on their Roaring 20's exams, and they also did well on their magazine projects. I also passed back the graded rubric for their Roaring 20's Magazine Project today, though I did notice some students threw these away without taking them home. Overall I was impressed with their projects, and I have seen growth in the students over these last almost three quarters.
Thank you for supporting your students and for raising such amazing kids!
Monday, February 27, 2017
Thursday, February 23, 2017
8th Grade Projects - Great Depression
I am so sorry not to have posted more. I will eventually get into a rhythm and get this blog written consistently!
We have finished our Roaring 20's unit. The students worked hard in teams of 4 to create awesome magazines that discussed different aspects of the 20's. I am almost finished grading their magazines, and they are on display by the office. You should check them out if you get a chance!
I will be updating grades tonight. Students did an awesome job on their Roaring 20's essay test, and a good job on their magazines overall.
We are now studying the Great Depression. For their final project, they are working independently to build a website about the Great Depression. We are using Wix to build these websites, which will be a great resume builder when the students get older.
We will continue studying the Great Depression until the end of 3rd quarter, and then during 4th quarter we will be focusing on World War II.
We have finished our Roaring 20's unit. The students worked hard in teams of 4 to create awesome magazines that discussed different aspects of the 20's. I am almost finished grading their magazines, and they are on display by the office. You should check them out if you get a chance!
I will be updating grades tonight. Students did an awesome job on their Roaring 20's essay test, and a good job on their magazines overall.
We are now studying the Great Depression. For their final project, they are working independently to build a website about the Great Depression. We are using Wix to build these websites, which will be a great resume builder when the students get older.
We will continue studying the Great Depression until the end of 3rd quarter, and then during 4th quarter we will be focusing on World War II.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
8th Grade Projects - Roaring 20s Continued
Hello folks!
We are still learning about the Roaring 20's, and students will continue to work on their magazines. After getting into writing/designing the magazines with the students, the middle school teachers and I realized that the original time we allotted was not quite enough, so we are extending the deadline for the magazines to be finished to Monday. Students will have all day Thursday to work on their magazines.
I have been very impressed with the depth of many of the topics your students have chosen! And it has been enjoyable reading their articles as they are writing them. I am excited to see the final products your students produce!
On Monday, the students will have a vocabulary test and a short essay test about what made the 1920's "roaring."
Until next week, when we will be starting the Great Depression!
We are still learning about the Roaring 20's, and students will continue to work on their magazines. After getting into writing/designing the magazines with the students, the middle school teachers and I realized that the original time we allotted was not quite enough, so we are extending the deadline for the magazines to be finished to Monday. Students will have all day Thursday to work on their magazines.
I have been very impressed with the depth of many of the topics your students have chosen! And it has been enjoyable reading their articles as they are writing them. I am excited to see the final products your students produce!
On Monday, the students will have a vocabulary test and a short essay test about what made the 1920's "roaring."
Until next week, when we will be starting the Great Depression!
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
8th Grade Projects Update
Hello parents of 8th graders!!
I am so sorry that I haven't been consistent with posting on the blog. I have been remiss in my duty, and I will work this semester to diligently post on the blog weekly. It always helps if you comment so that I can see that people are reading the blog! 😉
We have finished with Science and are now moving on to Social Studies, which I am very excited about! This semester we will be studying the 1920s and Great Depression in 3rd quarter and World War II in the 4th quarter. I am so ecstatic that we get to spend so much time on these eras, since most of the time in history classes they get so little time and focus even though they are so interesting!
Last week we reviewed what happened during WWI because so much of what happens in the decades following directly relates to what happened during the war. Then we started learning about the Roaring 20s. I introduced students to the project, for which students will work in assigned groups of 4 to write and design a magazine. Each student will be responsible for writing an article about a specific topic related to the 1920s, such as flappers or organized crime. Then the group will put their articles together to make a cohesive magazine, for which they will also design a cover and table of contents. I'm really looking forward to seeing all of the great articles and designs your students write and create!
The magazines will be due next Thursday the 26th, and students will also have their vocab test as well as a short essay test on that day. I feel confident that students will do well on their assessments.
If you have any questions, please email me. However, I encourage you to have your students come and talk to me to build up their independence and sense of responsibility. They benefit so much from dealing with their issues themselves, and it takes it off of your plate as well. Just something to consider.
Thank you so much for raising such amazing students. I feel honored to teach them!
I am so sorry that I haven't been consistent with posting on the blog. I have been remiss in my duty, and I will work this semester to diligently post on the blog weekly. It always helps if you comment so that I can see that people are reading the blog! 😉
We have finished with Science and are now moving on to Social Studies, which I am very excited about! This semester we will be studying the 1920s and Great Depression in 3rd quarter and World War II in the 4th quarter. I am so ecstatic that we get to spend so much time on these eras, since most of the time in history classes they get so little time and focus even though they are so interesting!
Last week we reviewed what happened during WWI because so much of what happens in the decades following directly relates to what happened during the war. Then we started learning about the Roaring 20s. I introduced students to the project, for which students will work in assigned groups of 4 to write and design a magazine. Each student will be responsible for writing an article about a specific topic related to the 1920s, such as flappers or organized crime. Then the group will put their articles together to make a cohesive magazine, for which they will also design a cover and table of contents. I'm really looking forward to seeing all of the great articles and designs your students write and create!
The magazines will be due next Thursday the 26th, and students will also have their vocab test as well as a short essay test on that day. I feel confident that students will do well on their assessments.
If you have any questions, please email me. However, I encourage you to have your students come and talk to me to build up their independence and sense of responsibility. They benefit so much from dealing with their issues themselves, and it takes it off of your plate as well. Just something to consider.
Thank you so much for raising such amazing students. I feel honored to teach them!
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
8th Grade Projects Update
Wow, I just realized I haven't posted in the blog for basically a month, I am so sorry! I will get back into doing this consistently!
We just finished up studying Genetics, and I am finishing up entering the grades for these. Students learned about how traits are passed on from one generation to the next, how traits can be co-dominant or incompletely dominant, how some genes are passed on through either the X or the Y chromosomes, and how genetic mutations can happen. Their projects were their Interactive Notebooks that they kept throughout the unit and a poster that they worked on with a partner that showed how DNA, genes, chromosomes, nuclei, and cells all connect.
Now we are studying evolution, specifically natural selection, and how that has led to the great variety that exists in species.
I will be working to keep up with putting grades in the computer so that you have a better idea of where your child's grade stands. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this!
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to teach your students. Thanks for having great kids!
We just finished up studying Genetics, and I am finishing up entering the grades for these. Students learned about how traits are passed on from one generation to the next, how traits can be co-dominant or incompletely dominant, how some genes are passed on through either the X or the Y chromosomes, and how genetic mutations can happen. Their projects were their Interactive Notebooks that they kept throughout the unit and a poster that they worked on with a partner that showed how DNA, genes, chromosomes, nuclei, and cells all connect.
Now we are studying evolution, specifically natural selection, and how that has led to the great variety that exists in species.
I will be working to keep up with putting grades in the computer so that you have a better idea of where your child's grade stands. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this!
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to teach your students. Thanks for having great kids!
Monday, November 21, 2016
November 14 - 17
Math:
6th grade: We have been working on ratios, rates, and percentages. A test will be given today, Monday, November 21. They can enjoy their thanksgiving holiday without much math stress! We will have a cumulative review game on Tuesday to go over what we have learned so far this year.
7th grade: The 7th graders are also studying ratios, rates and percentages. The chapter started off as an easy review, but the material is becoming more and more difficult each day. Several students are ahead of schedule, so keep up the great work so you can spend extra time on the more challenging sections. We will also have a cumulative review day on Tuesday.
8th grade: The 8th graders are studying systems of equations. We are excited about a systems of equations project we are currently working on. I especially want to encourage and focus on work time during class. It is easy to get distracted and unfocused, and a lot of time is being wasted during class time. This last week was better than ever before, and I want to keep up the improvement! Thanks you guys! We will also be doing a cumulative review on Tuesday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
6th grade: We have been working on ratios, rates, and percentages. A test will be given today, Monday, November 21. They can enjoy their thanksgiving holiday without much math stress! We will have a cumulative review game on Tuesday to go over what we have learned so far this year.
7th grade: The 7th graders are also studying ratios, rates and percentages. The chapter started off as an easy review, but the material is becoming more and more difficult each day. Several students are ahead of schedule, so keep up the great work so you can spend extra time on the more challenging sections. We will also have a cumulative review day on Tuesday.
8th grade: The 8th graders are studying systems of equations. We are excited about a systems of equations project we are currently working on. I especially want to encourage and focus on work time during class. It is easy to get distracted and unfocused, and a lot of time is being wasted during class time. This last week was better than ever before, and I want to keep up the improvement! Thanks you guys! We will also be doing a cumulative review on Tuesday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Projects Update: Weeks 10 and 11
Hello all!
I am so sorry that I haven't posted for a few weeks. I am now full time, and last week was my first week teaching 4th grade Projects in the afternoon, so life has been a bit hectic.
Last week (week 10) the students finished working on their endangered species presentations, presented their plans to their classmates, took an exam, and had an informal debate about whether or not it is important to save endangered species. The students did well on their presentations and exam, and it was really fascinating and a lot of fun to have them debate (especially since they had to have evidence to support their view).
This week we started learning about genetics. So far we are just talking about the basics, but I have enjoyed watching the light-bulbs go on for your students as they realize how much our genes influence who we are. We will continue learning about genetics for the next few weeks.
I will do my best to keep up weekly with the blog so that you know what your students are doing! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about your student and/or what we are learning in class, please feel free to ask! I hope you have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Ms. Williams
I am so sorry that I haven't posted for a few weeks. I am now full time, and last week was my first week teaching 4th grade Projects in the afternoon, so life has been a bit hectic.
Last week (week 10) the students finished working on their endangered species presentations, presented their plans to their classmates, took an exam, and had an informal debate about whether or not it is important to save endangered species. The students did well on their presentations and exam, and it was really fascinating and a lot of fun to have them debate (especially since they had to have evidence to support their view).
This week we started learning about genetics. So far we are just talking about the basics, but I have enjoyed watching the light-bulbs go on for your students as they realize how much our genes influence who we are. We will continue learning about genetics for the next few weeks.
I will do my best to keep up weekly with the blog so that you know what your students are doing! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about your student and/or what we are learning in class, please feel free to ask! I hope you have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Ms. Williams
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