Team Update: Week of December 18th

Team Update: 

Sorry we're late! 

Class Updates:

Social Studies: Ask your child about the war that was fought using elephants! We spent a lot of time exploring Ancient Roman civilization this past week and we're going to keep on exploring this upcoming week. Keep on asking great questions!

Science:   What happened to the trout in Lake Michigan?  Students have been introduced to our new anchoring phenomenon.  Click HERE to see more about what we are doing in class.  This week we figured out how plants make their own food.

Literacy:  We are all focused on the last week of work before vacation.  Students in some classes collaborated to write an interesting essay about the world views shared by farmers featured in Fresh, The Movie.  Another class performed the Parade of Phobias for beloved Ms. Walsh, and her class!  Tuesday is the Mastery test for Latin Unit 6.  Essays are due to Google Classroom by Friday! 

English:  We kept working our way through A Christmas Carol  this week, and we are on track to finish reading early next week. We began our week by making collages to represent our understanding of the story so far, and we saw some very creative arrangements! The students are learning to think critically about A Christmas Carol and are developing some very insightful connections between our world and Victorian England. The students received their second grammar tests back early this week, and the results showed that we need to work a little harder on studying the material prior to taking the test. Grammar test retakes are being held on Monday and Tuesday after school next week. We will be wrapping up with A Christmas Carol next week, and closing out the week with a viewing of the film version of Dickens' timeless classic. Remember that December independent reading projects are due on Thursday, December 21st!

Math: We onto our last week of working through our Rational Numbers unit.  We spent last week learning about converting fractions to decimals, then moved onto multiplying and dividing rational numbers.  We went fast, as this should be review, but if you still struggling there are many videos and extra practice pages located on Google Classroom to help prepare for your test on Wednesday, December 20th.  Don't forget the Go Figure is due Thursday, December 21st! 

Team Update: Week of December 11th

Team Update: 

Grades: Report cards go home Monday, December 11th.  The team will be holding off putting in Trimester 2 grades until our grade books are switched over to reflect our new classes.

Class Updates:

Social Studies: Ask your child who conquered the world while in his 20s! Students learned just about everything that you could imagine about Alexander the Great this week. Students learned the best way, yet easiest way to learn, is to simply ask questions. We're going to keep on asking questions and keep on being curious next week as we learn about Ancient Rome. 

Science:   What happened to the trout in Lake Michigan?  Students have been introduced to our new anchoring phenomenon.  Click HERE to see more about what we are doing in class.  This week we figured out how plants make their own food.

Literacy:  It was a very busy week in Literacy! Students arrived on Monday to find the classroom rearranged!  Surprise!  We spent time in Google Classroom learning about the final performance task for the Latin root units: The Omnictionary!  Be sure to ask your student for all the details!  We ended the week diving in to our new resource StudySync, a comprehensive online resource for ELA teachers.  Students logged into their district accounts, and read a fantastic article which creates an academic bridge between Mrs. Tino's trout phenomenon and the topics we are discussing in The Omnivore's Dilemma!  Next week:  Unit 6, with the test slated for Monday, December 18th!  

English:  We continued with our reading and discussion of A Christmas Carol this week, and we are really starting to do some deep thinking about the story! We began the week by discussing Marley's chains and making a chain of our own to discuss what holds us back from living a fulfilling life. We had a great discussion with some very thoughtful comments. We ended the week with our second grammar test, and it was definitely a tough one. Now that we are in trimester two we are upping the ante, and the work will begin to increase in difficulty, so get ready! We will be continuing with A Christmas Carol next week with more discussion, analysis, and a word collage! Students should be starting to frame their December Independent Reading Projects because believe it or not, the 21st is rapidly approaching!

Math: We are continuing to work through our Rational Numbers unit.  Last Friday students quizzed on multiplying and dividing integers.  Overall it went very well!  This week we will be starting to convert fractions to decimals using long division and ordering fractions and decimals on a number line.  We will then move onto multiplying and dividing positive and negative fractions and decimals. Don't forget the Go Figure is due Thursday, December 21st! 

Team Update: Week of December 4th

Team Update: 

Grade Book:  Grades have officially closed for Trimester 1.  There were many students absent on Friday, and missed exams.  We teachers will be available for students to make up work on Monday and Tuesday to make up the exams they missed.  Wednesday is an Early Release day, and our grades must be posted by Thursday, so make up work must be completed by Tuesday.  Plan accordingly.

Class Updates:

Social Studies: Students explored all aspects of Ancient Greek culture this week in Social Studies. It seems that the majority of students loved our day discussing Socrates and the evolution of philosophy. On Monday, we'll come back and revisit a lot of those philosophical questions that we pondered this past week. Then starting Tuesday, we will begin to learn about a young man who was able to conquer most of the known world.

Science:   What happened to the trout in Lake Michigan?  Students have been introduced to our new anchoring phenomenon.    Click HERE to see more about what we are doing in class.  This week we figured out why we need food and where it comes from.  

Literacy:   What is Joel Salatin's world view?  How does his view compare with Mr. and Mrs. Fox's world view?  Students watched Fresh, The Movie this week, and will work collaboratively to discuss this and other concepts which will require that they sharpen their critical thinking skills.  Latin Unit 5 test rounded out the week.  The test results are in, and lots of students need to spend more time studying as we move into Unit 6.  Monday morning will bring a new arrangement in the room, and some exciting work in Google Classroom! 

English:  In English class we continued with our classic literature unit and began to read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We began by focusing in on some difficult vocabulary, and now we are diving right in to breaking down the text to make meaning. The students are really enjoying the different roles in the play version of the story. Next week we will be continuing to read and discuss the text in class to figure out what Dickens was really trying to say with this story. The students will receive their December Independent Reading Project on Monday, and will have their second grammar test on Friday. Remember to use Quizlet and study those flashcards!

Math: We just finished up adding and subtracting integers! This week will will start multiplying and diving integers.  The next Go Figure will go home on Monday, and is due Thursday, December 21st.