Weekly Update: December 22nd

The Badger Team would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday and a joyful New Year!  We hope everyone enjoys their break!  School resumes on Monday, January 6, 2020. 

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: We wrapped up our unit on Alexander the Great this week. Students were assessed Wednesday; be sure to check the grade book! When we come back after our two week vacation, we will start a new unit: Rome. Have a great holiday!

Science: After the holiday break we will be finishing up the Metabolism Unit with two summative assessments, a paper and a test. For the paper students will compare claims and evidence about an athletic performance and write and argument to support their claim. The test will include multiple choice and short answer/essay questions.

Literacy:  Most students have completed and submitted their narrated Atlas Obscura projects.  We have dedicated the past two weeks to this in class, and for homework.  When we return from vacation, we'll present projects and get back to Latin Roots!  If you haven't finished your project, find some time during the holiday break to get to the library if necessary, to finish up!  

English: Students finished reading A Christmas Carol this week and completed their unit test.  We also watched the movie together on Friday and discussed similarities and differences among the book, play, and movie.  Students completed a graphic organizer that depicts the character change of Ebenezer Scrooge.  Following vacation, students will receive their January independent projects and work on a character change project in the library.  For now, ENJOY the next two weeks off!  Rest, relax, and spend time with friends and family!  Happy Holidays!

Math: We 

Weekly Update: December 16th

Pencils:  It is very difficult for students to do work in class when they come without a pencil.  Many of us had a set of five "loaner" pencils at the front of the class for a student to use for a class period.  All have disappeared from The Mansion.  Our students have become complacent about preparedness, and it's time for a reset.  Please ask your child if they have pencils in their string bags.  If they do not, or can't remember where they are, can you please purchase some good Ticonderoga pencils for them this weekend?  Personalize them as we do!  Ask your kids -  they'll know how we do this.  

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: We are starting to phase away from Sparta and Athens and starting to shift our focus towards a new topic: Alexander the Great. Students questioned the life and legacy of Alexander the Great this past week. They will continue exploring Monday and will be assessed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Enjoy the holidays!

Science: Students will take a second look at the nervous system lab on Monday and then we are moving on to metabolism and an athlete. Students will apply what they learned about molecules through Elisa to how metabolism affects athletic performance.

Literacy:  Students learned how to do use the Chrome Extension Loom this week, so they can record the voice over narration for their projects.  Hopefully you have seen your children working on these projects at home.  They can't record until their research is complete, their images are selected, their slide shows are produced and their scripts are written.  Although they have been given every class period for two weeks, many remain far behind.  The project is due by Friday, December 20th. Extra help is available after school Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  

English: We are nearing the end of our Christmas Carol unit. Students have their final unit test on Wednesday, December 18th. We'll spend Monday and Tuesday wrapping up the remainder of the book and reviewing for our test.  We're also looking forward to watching the movie together as a team on Friday. 

Math: We are still working through solving equations.  This week we will focus on solving equations with negative numbers.  Students will have a test Thursday, December 19th on equations.  The study guide will go home on Monday. 

Weekly Update: December 8th

We had a wonderful time on our field trip this past Friday.  Students looked lovely, and all were respectful and responsible! Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible. We had a blast!

EARLY RELEASE is this Wednesday, December 11th!

Pencils:  It is very difficult for students to do work in class when they come without a pencil.  Many of us had a set of five "loaner" pencils at the front of the class for a student to use for a class period.  All have disappeared from The Mansion.  Our students have become complacent about preparedness, and it's time for a reset.  Please ask your child if they have pencils in their string bags.  If they do not, or can't remember where they are, can you please purchase some good Ticonderoga pencils for them this weekend?  Personalize them as we do!  Ask your kids -  they'll know how we do this.  

December Book Orders went home last week in English and are due back on Wednesday, Decmber 11th to ensure delivery before the holiday break.  Book orders may be placed in person with Mrs. McGuire, or online.  Enter code HLB4Q if ordering online.  Thanks!

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students this short week learned about Ancient Greek culture. Specifically, we discussed fables and read The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This upcoming week, we will continue Ancient Greek culture and dive into leadership and public speaking. 

Science: Monday in science students participated in  an hour of code. Students were given time to experience writing code for different programs. The rest of the week we will be focusing on a nervous system lab that will be due on Friday. Students should be completing nervous systems questions each night that are part of the lab.

Literacy:  The two snow days last week put us a bit behind, but students are forging ahead with their Atlas Obscura projects!  They should be researching their obscurity each day at home, and taking notes on their Cornell note document on Google Classroom!  Those without technology at home should be staying after school with me today and tomorrow and Thursday!  We have learned to use Cite This For Me, to cite their resources, and we will be learning to check the authenticity of the images they choose.  Recording the voice over will be the last step.  The project will be due by Friday, December 20th.   

English: Students said they really enjoyed the acting this past week at the play and that it was a nice visual for what we have been reading in class. We are nearing the end of A Christmas Carol and have been discussing the subtle character change of Ebenezer Scrooge throughout the course of the book.  We've also reviewed Dickens' upbringing and how it connects to the Cratchit Family, as well as classical literature and why we still read texts that have been written almost 200 years ago.  Students will have their unit test on December 18th.  

Math: Students are working on solving equations.  We started with learning how to create tape diagrams, for all students struggling with this process there is an instructional video on Google Class. This week we will work towards moving to the traditional algorithm.  Our next test will be Thursday, December 19th. Make sure to do the nightly homework! 

Weekly Update: November 24th

Thanksgiving Recess: November 27-29

We hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends!

New Groups!  We love to mix it up! Our master scheduler, Chelsea Huckins, has created twenty five brand new class groups for us.  As much as groups become accustomed to working together, research suggests that it's healthy to resort students on a regular basis.  To that end, each student was provided with a brand new schedule for their agendas on Tuesday, as well as a new one for their lockers. These new groups will convene on Monday!  

Field Trip Information: Our field trip is next week! How exciting! We will be traveling to The Palace Theatre on Friday, December 6th, to see a live adaptation of A Christmas Carol.  Please encourage students to wear their holiday best!  Theatre attire is preferred for this field trip.  We respectfully request no jeans, hoodies, or sweatpants. 

Food Drive: It's official! The 7th grade brought in the most items for our Pennichuck food drive! Nice work, Badgers!  Thank you to everyone who donated!

Weekly Update: November 17th

Field Trip Information: Thank you to everyone who submitted their field trip forms and payment.  We really appreciate all the support from our families!  Both 7th grade teams are excited to attend our combined field trip on December 6th! 

Pencils:  It is very difficult for students to do work in class when they come without a pencil.  Many of us had a set of five "loaner" pencils at the front of the class for a student to use for a class period.  All have disappeared from The Mansion.  Our students have become complacent about preparedness, and it's time for a reset.  Please ask your child if they have pencils in their string bags.  If they do not, or can't remember where they are, can you please purchase some good Ticonderoga pencils for them this weekend?  Personalize them as we do!  Ask your kids -  they'll know how we do this.  

Food Drive: Student council is running a food drive to support our Pennichuck Food Pantry.  Seventh grade has been asked to bring in lunch items.  In demand items are listed below.  Please bring donations to your advisor, the winning grade will win a prize!

IN DEMAND ITEMS: canned chicken, ravioli, canned soup, jelly, and peanut butter

OTHER ITEMS: ramen noodle, cans of tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, mac and cheese, crackers, pretzels, mixed nuts, spaghetti o's, and powdered drink mix (crystal light)

TOILETRIES: tissues, toothpaste, feminine products, laundry soap, dish soap, toothbrushes, hand towels and dish towels. 

November Book Orders went home this week in English and are due back on November 26th.  Book orders may be placed in person with Mrs. McGuire, or online.  Please follow instructions on Mrs. McGuire's English page to order online.  

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students spent the week wrapping up the Greco-Persian Wars. We took a break Thursday to take a closer look at what life looked like in Athens; specifically how democracy worked. We discussed the concept of a lottery vs. an election. Students will determine which concept is more "democratic" on Monday. Check the grade book!

Science: In a few weeks  we will be starting a new unit and students will need lined paper for their binder. It would be great to pick some up while you are stocking up on pencils. As stated above students unprepared with  pencils has become a problem.

Last week we did not quite get to find out why Elisa is so tired but students will check her results on Monday. Students will then write a final argument/summative assignment supporting their claim about the medical condition that she has.

Literacy:  It makes a teacher proud to see students master a technique.  Our students have done a terrific job learning to take neat notes in the Cornell, or two column method, and this is a skill that will stand by them throughout their education.  This week they'll finish their Cartoon Analysis documents, continue to work on Latin Unit 5, and dive back into The Omnivore's Dilemma.  The mastery test for Latin Unit 5 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 26th.  They should be completing their flash cards this weekend!  

English: This week we finished our unit in Study Sync called "In Pursuit," and began pre-reading activities for A Christmas Carol.  Together, we discussed the background of Charles Dickens, life in 19th century England, and some of the characters we'll meet once we begin reading.  Next week brings new notes on dynamic and static characters, as well as what makes a book "a classic."  As a reminder, students should be finishing their November reading books at home sometime this week;  their monthly project is due on November 26th!   

Math: We are finishing up with our rational numbers unit this week.  Students will learn how to convert fractions to decimals and multiply and divide negative fractions and decimals. A study guide will go home Thursday.  The test for this unit will be Monday, November 25th. 

Weekly Update: November 11th

NO SCHOOL MONDAY NOVEMBER 11th

Field Trip Information: Thank you to everyone who has submitted their field trip forms and payment so far!  Forms and payment are due THIS WEEK!!! Please turn them in by November 15th. Email Mrs. McGuire if you have any questions or concerns.  We're looking forward to our upcoming trip on December 6th! 

Pencils:  It is very difficult for students to do work in class when they come without a pencil.  Many of us had a set of five "loaner" pencils at the front of the class for a student to use for a class period.  All have disappeared from The Mansion.  Our students have become complacent about preparedness, and it's time for a reset.  Please ask your child if they have pencils in their string bags.  If they do not, or can't remember where they are, can you please purchase some good Ticonderoga pencils for them this weekend?  Personalize them as we do!  Ask your kids -  they'll know how we do this.  

Food Drive: Student council is running a food drive to support our Pennichuck Food Pantry.  Seventh grade has been asked to bring in lunch items.  In demand items are listed below.  Please bring donations to your advisor, the winning grade will win a prize!

IN DEMAND ITEMS: canned chicken, ravioli, canned soup, jelly, and peanut butter

OTHER ITEMS: ramen noodle, cans of tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, mac and cheese, crackers, pretzels, mixed nuts, spaghetti o's, and powdered drink mix (crystal light)

TOILETRIES: tissues, toothpaste, feminine products, laundry soap, dish soap, toothbrushes, hand towels and dish towels. 

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students spent most of the week writing their own Greek myth. It was supposed to be a story about a Greek god or a made-up god with some sort of lesson. Check the grade book! Starting next week, we will continue researching the Greco-Persian Wars.

Science: Students have a quiz on Tuesday and should review the Amplify simulation at learning.amplify.com  Students will apply their understanding of how glucose, amino acids, and oxygen move through the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems to various scenarios. Later this week students will figure out why Elisa feels tired all the time and start to write an argument to support their claim which will be a summative assessment. Binders will be checked this week and students need to turn in questions of the day every Friday.

Literacy:  We read an article about School Lunch Programs, and your children were amazed that so many students in the USA benefit from the government sponsored Free and Reduced Lunch program.  They were amazed by the publicly available statistics for Nashua.  Please consider donating to our Food Drive, to help hungry Pennichuck families.  Latin Unit 4 tests are complete! If your child missed the test on Friday, they should be ready to take the test after school on Tuesday.  Next week we will spend many days on Chrome Books, learning how to interpret and understand political cartoons by understanding the tools cartoonists use to communicate.  Hyperbole is just one!    

English: This week students wrapped up unit one in Study Sync called “In Pursuit.” Students spent the week reviewing narrative writing and completing an extended writing project for unit one. Students wrote about a time in which they worked toward a goal and explained the process they followed. Be sure to check in and ask them what they wrote about! Next week we’ll begin our character change unit and start pre-reading activities for A Christmas Carol. As a reminder, students should be reading their independent reading books 30 minutes per night! Enjoy your weekend!

Math: This week we will continue with our rational number unit.  Students will be learning how to multiply and divide integers.  We will also spend a day reviewing all integer operations.  No major assessments this week! 

Weekly Update: November 4th

No School November 5th for Election Day!

Food Drive: 

Student council will be running a food drive to support the Pennichuck Food Pantry.  Seventh grade has been tasked to bring in lunch items. In demand items are listed below.  Please bring donations to your advisor, the winning grade will win a prize!  

In demand items: canned chicken, ravioli, canned soup, jelly, and peanut butter

Other items: ramen noodles, cans of tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, mac and cheese, crackers, pretzels, mixed nuts, spaghetti o’s, and powdered drink mix like crystal light
Toiletries: tissues, toothpaste, feminine products, laundry soap, dish soap, toothbrushes, hand towels, and dish towels

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Badger teachers will be holding parent/teacher conferences again on Thursday, November 7th.  If you haven't signed up, we still have space available.  Please use the following link to sign up: Thursday, November 7th. 

Field Trip Information: Thank you to everyone who has submitted their field trip forms and payment so far!  Forms and payment are due by November 15th!  Please email Mrs. McGuire if you have any questions or concerns.  We're looking forward to our upcoming trip on December 6th! 

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students researched about the Persian Empire this past week and ultimately collected information to set up our mini-unit on the Greco-Persian Wars. Starting Monday, we will take a break with Persia and students will begin to write their own Greek myth.

Science: Students will continue their inquiry into why Elisa is tired all the time. We will read about four different disorders and figure out how they affect our metabolism. Then students will use the Amplify simulation and modeling tool to track the various molecules in our body systems and model their ideas of where they go. Students can go onto the Amplify website at home using their google account at learning.amplify.com    We are in the metabolism unit on chapter 2.

Literacy:  In addition to beginning Latin root unit 4, we are taking a serious look at all the structural elements in Informational Text that help us to understand the articles or chapters we read.  We're examining subtitles, section headings, graphics such as photographs and their captions, maps and graphs.  Each one of these text elements plays a role in helping to convey and deepen the meaning of the text we read.  The Unit 4 mastery test is scheduled for Friday, November 8th.  

English: Students chose their November independent reading books and should be reading 30 minutes nightly.  Their chosen book will be used in conjunction with the November reading projects  which were sent home this week on bright yellow paper.  Next week students will be writing narratives on the Chrome Books, describing a time where they were in pursuit of a goal.  This assignment correlates to the first unit in Study Sync, where all main characters had to work to achieve something difficult.

Math: Students will continue to learn about subtracting integers then move on to adding and subtracting positive and negative fractions and decimals (rational numbers). We will have a test on Friday, November 8th.  The study guide will go home on Wednesday.

Weekly Update: October 27th

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Badger teachers will be holding parent/teacher conferences again on Thursday, November 7th.  If you haven't signed up, we still have space available.  Please use the following link to sign up: Thursday, November 7th.  It was wonderful to meet so many of you this past week!

Field Trip Information: Thank you to everyone who has submitted their field trip forms and payment so far!  It is greatly appreciated!  Please email Mrs. McGuire if you have any questions or concerns.  We're looking forward to our upcoming trip on December 6th! 

Book Orders are due Wednesday, October 30th.  Thank you for the orders that have already been submitted!  If you'd like to order online, please follow the instructions here!

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students were assessed on early Greek civilizations on Thursday with a focus on Athens and Sparta. Check the grade book to see how they did! Starting Monday, we will discover Ancient Greece’s greatest rival.

Science: Within the metabolism unit we are investigating the question "Why does Elisa feel so tired?" To help in our investigation we will be evaluating evidence for quality. We will also be modeling how molecules move within the human body systems. There will be a lab write up for the human body system model due Friday. If students need more time they may turn it in Monday. (lab write ups are summative assessments) Also please note there is now a question of the day and all five days are to be turned in every Friday. There will also be a binder check on Wednesday covering pages 1-18 and handouts.

Literacy:  The team watched the classic video Akeelah and the Bee on Wednesday, for two reasons: to see the power of learning Latin and Greek Roots, and to examine some very important traits of personal character.  They wrote about them, and should be ready to turn them in to Google Classroom by Monday.  Next week we dive into Unit 4 of Latin Roots, and  we'll be examining the structure of text in informational text articles.

English: October reading projects are due this upcoming week on Wednesday, October 30th!  Students should also prepare over the weekend for their quiz on Tuesday, October 29th.  Vocabulary and personification notes are posted on Google Classroom and were reviewed in class.  Students also began reading "The King of Mazy May" this week and will continue analyzing the text this coming week.  Be sure to ask them what book they chose for their November projects!

Math: We finished our proportional reasoning unit on Thursday. Grades have been posted on Aspen.    Friday we started our rational number unit.  Students learned how to play the Integer Game, which will be a fun way to practice integers throughout this unit.  Over the next week students will be learning how to add and subtract integers.

Weekly Update: October 20th

Wednesday is an Early Release day! 

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Badger teachers will be holding parent/teacher conferences on Thursday, October 24th and Thursday, November 7th.  If you haven't signed up, we still have space available.  Please use the following links to sign up by night. Thursday, October 24th or Thursday, November 7th.

Progress Reports went home Thursday, October 17th!  Please sign and return the envelopes to school as soon as possible.

Field Trip Information: Thank you to everyone who has submitted their field trip forms and payment so far!  It is greatly appreciated!  Please email Mrs. McGuire if you have any questions or concerns.  We're looking forward to our upcoming trip on December 6th! 

New Book Orders will be sent home this week for the month of October!  Orders are due October 30th.  If you'd like to order online, please follow the instructions here!

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students spent this past week researching and investigating two of the most famous Greek city-states: Athens and Sparta. We will continue this journey on Monday. There was one assessment this week, students created a political and physical map of Ancient Greece on Friday. Check the grade book!

Science: This week we start the metabolism unit. Students take on the role of medical students as we explore the molecules the body uses and investigate body systems. We will be using Chromebooks and the Amplify website, learning.amplify.com to interact with system simulations. Tests from the Microbiome unit have been posted and make-ups or retakes need to be completed by Thursday 10/24.

Literacy:  This was a wrap up week in Literacy.  We completed note taking for Chapter 3 of The Omnivore's Dilemma and students were provided with the master set of notes for Fresh, The Movie in Google Classroom.  Learning to study and learn material is incredibly important in 7th grade.  Students were provided with time in class, and provided with many different ways to study the material for the Latin Unit 3 test given on Friday.  It cannot be stressed enough that the study process needs to continue at home, in order to be effective.  There will be a test on Fresh, The Movie on Tuesday.  No more time in class will be provided for studying.  It is expected that students review their notes and the study guide in Google Classroom to prepare.  They should remember the stories told!  

English: This week students read a nonfiction text entitled "Call of the Klondike," as well as a narrative poem called "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Both texts are set during the Gold Rush movement in the early 1900s.  Together, we explored the structure of an informational text, as well as the rhythmic pattern of a narrative poem.  Students will have a quiz on contextual vocabulary words, as well as text structure on Monday, October 21st. 

Math: We are wrapping up our proportional reasoning unit.  Students will receive their study guides Monday, they are expected to be studying for homework this week.  Extra instructional videos and practice can be found on my google classroom, if needed.  Test will be on Thursday, October 24th.  We will begin our rational numbers unit on Friday. 

Weekly Update: October 14th

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Badger teachers will be holding parent/teacher conferences on Thursday, October 24th and Thursday, November 7th.  If you haven't signed up, we still have space available.  Please use the following links to sign up by night. Thursday, October 24th or Thursday, November 7th

Progress Reports go home Thursday, October 17th!

Field Trip Information: Badger students received field trip forms in English class this week for our upcoming trip in early December.  If you have any questions, please email Mrs. McGuire.  Thank you to the students who have submitted their field trip forms and payment so far!  It is greatly appreciated!

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students spent the week investigating the geography of Ancient Greece and ultimately learned about two of the oldest Greek civilizations. Students were assessed on what a "Dark Age" is on Friday. Please check the gradebook! Starting Tuesday, we will begin questioning two of the oldest rivals in history. 

Science: Students will start the week with a summative assessment for the microbiome unit. The assessment will consist of writing their final argument for a fecal transplant followed by two short answer questions. Students then change rolls from science researchers to medical students as we begin to study metabolism in the body.

Literacy:  Lots of notes this week!  We began the week tackling the vocabulary and roots of Latin Unit 3, and ended the week practicing a different note taking style with  The Omnivore’s Dilemma. This is a short, but busy week, as students should be preparing for the Mastery Test for Latin 3 which will be given n Friday, October 18th! If students use Quizlet, remember to access from my Google Classroom, Vocabulary Links . If it asks for a PW?  It's the proper name of our school!

English: This week students finished the unit on "Barrio Boy," and we continued working with main idea and supporting details. We also switched gears to discuss the reading project due at the end of the month.  At this point, students should be nearing the end of their independent reading books.  An example of a completed project has been posted to Google Classroom and was discussed in class.  Students also had an opportunity to ask questions.  I encourage them to access this example from home if they need a model.  Projects are due on October 30th. 

Math: Students completed another overwhelmingly successful quiz on Friday. Grades are updated and will reflect in the progress report.  This week we will continue with our last topic in our proportional reasoning unit, complex unit rates.  It's one of the hardest topics this year, if your student is struggling please encourage them to use the extra practice and instructional videos on my Google Classroom.  Our next test is on Thursday, October 24th.

Weekly Update: October 6th

Warning! Grades close for Progress Reports this week!!  Be sure to check the portal!

THANK YOU for the September book orders!  Book orders were placed this week and should arrive soon.  We were able to purchase over 20 new titles for our class library!  October book order forms will be sent home with students in the next two weeks.

Field Trip Information: Badger students will be receiving field trip forms in English class on Monday, October 7th for our upcoming trip in early December.  We will be visiting The Palace Theatre to see a live adaptation of A Christmas Carol.  Please be on the lookout for this information! 

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students spent this past week reviewing the basic concepts of government and took a deep look at American government. There was an assessment on Friday; please check the grade book! Starting Monday, we will begin our journey investigating Classical Civilizations.

Science: We are in the middle of our Human Microbiome Unit and will continue investigating the benefits of a fecal transplant. Binders will be checked every week and students should have completed pages 22- 35 for this week's check. Time is allowed to complete work in class but if more time is needed it may be finished at home.

Literacy:  Have your students been talking about food a little more lately?  They have been exploring where their fast food comes from as we have begun reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, the student edition, and we watched Fresh, The Movie. Bring them to the grocery store so they can begin looking at labels!  Friday, students took the mastery test on Latin Unit 2, and I hope to have the grades posted by this afternoon.  This week we will begin Latin Unit 3, and continue our reading.  

English: Students have been off to a great start in English!  So far, we've read two of Gary Soto's works: a short story entitled "Seventh Grade" and the poem Oranges.  We began the year reviewing elements of literature and how they applied to these two texts.  Recently, students finished another short story called "Barrio Boy" and together we discussed how to locate the main idea of a text.  Students will be taking a quiz on Wednesday, October 9th.  They are encouraged to review their main idea notes and study their vocabulary words on Quizlet (there is link right on Google Classroom)!

Also, as a reminder, students should be reading their independent reading books 30 minutes per night.  Their projects are due on Wednesday, October 30th!

Math: Students did an amazing job on Friday's quiz, please check the gradebook to see how your student did.  Great work!  This week we will be continuing to talk about the constant of proportionality (unit rate), and creating equations in the form y = kx to help better understand graphs of proportions.  We will have another quiz on Friday October 11th. 

BADGERS 2019 - 2020

Welcome to The Badger Team! 

It's hard to believe that the 2019-2020 school year has begun!  Badger teachers are happy to welcome your children,  as well as a new science teacher, Mrs. Duval Buell, to our team!  As I'm sure your students told you, we spent the first few days getting to know one another by participating in many team building activities and competitions, as part of our Growth Mindset learning/teaching model.

We watched the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons one morning, to illustrate that making mistakes and learning from them is one of the keys to learning.  Keep moving forward is the motto in the movie, and it applies quite well to The Badger Team's overarching philosophy.  Immediately after watching the movie, we adjourned to the gym, where groups were given paper bags filled with identical, common items.  Students were asked to collaborate, and build a self sustaining tower.  We observed were kids who worked beautifully together, communicated, and gracefully accepted failure every time their structure crumbled.  There was one winning team, who built the tallest, most stable tower, but every team won, because they all accomplished the goal:  to collaborate, fail, and keep moving forward!  Every team built a tower!  This is definitely what we hope to see all year long.  

Your students are adjusting quite well to the Badger Lite program - not lugging huge, heavy backpacks to classes!  We've provided each student with a large format copy of their individual schedule, as well as a small format copy which they were given time to tape to the inside of their lockers.  The hope is that with structured time to return to lockers, they will become accustomed to planning to carry only what they need for two to three classes at a time.  We've notice a majority of students are using a small string bag to keep only those materials they'll need in every class - their agenda, pencil case and their Passport.  Please be sure to ask your student to share their Passport with you!  

There remain a handful of students who did not have the opportunity to do back to school shopping for supplies, so we thought it would be helpful to remind you of our list:

• personal ear buds for standardized tests
• a 1" 3-ring binder with a set of five dividers, and loose leaf paper for English
• 160 3 x 5 inch flash cards with a flexible storage container  for Literacy
• Literacy will share the 3 ring binder for English
• 2 spiral notebooks and a folder for Social Studies
• a 1/2" 3-ring binder for Science with loose leaf paper
• a composition book and a folder for Math
• a large supply of pencils and erasers

Many thanks for subscribing to our blog!  Each Badger teacher will post interesting information and updates every Sunday.  

Weekly Update May 12th

Progress Reports: Grades have closed! Progress Reports will be coming home Tuesday, May 14th.

I-Ready: Students will be completing their last I-Ready testing for the year on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  Be ready!  We recommend going to bed early and eating something for breakfast!

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: Students spent the week working on an in-class research project on the Middle Ages. Students will wrap up the Medieval unit with a performance task on Monday and Tuesday. We will start the Renaissance on Wednesday.

Science:  We'll be wrapping up our unit at the end of this week with an assessment.  Students can log on to their unit anytime to review the concepts that we've been learning about.  At the end of the week they should be able to tell you exactly why the moon jelly population exploded in the Glacier Sea!

Literacy:  We have returned to The Omnivore's Dilemma to enjoy learning about how an ecological, sustainable farm works!  In the week ahead we'll get the final unit of Latin roots started, and take the final round of iReady tests.  

English: Students submitted their final independent reading projects for the year last week!  We also began a new article in Study Sync, entitled "The Dangers of Social Media."  It has yielded such wonderful, honest discourse in class, and I'm proud of our students for respecting alternate points of view.  We discussed author's purpose as well as counter-claims within the article.  The article mentions the "Wait Until 8th" Pledge, which we then explored in class.  Students will spend time this week creating pledges of their own and working in small groups.

Math: Students are wrapping up our statistics unit we are still working with sample variability and random samples this week.  The study guide will go home on Tuesday and the test is Friday, May 17th.  Make sure to study and ask questions.

Weekly Update: May 5th

Progress Reports: Grades will be closing this week!  Make sure you are caught up.  Progress reports will be going home the following week.

Spirit Week!

We'll be celebrating SPIRIT WEEK this upcoming week!  Please remember all dress code rules apply!

Monday: Pajama Day
Tuesday: Crazy Hair Day
Wednesday: College Day
Thursday: 80's Day
Friday: Color Wars - Grade 7 is RED!

School Walk-A-Thon:  Each team will be participating in a walk-a-thon to benefit our school's PTO.  Collection envelopes for our school fundraiser were sent home with Badger students and are to be returned by Friday, May 10th.  Any amount helps!  Thank you for your fundraising efforts!

Book Orders are due to Mrs. McGuire no later than Thursday, May 9th!

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: After returning from vacation, we spent time wrapping up the late Middle Ages. We recapped the Black Death along with researching the story behind Joan of Arc. Students were assessed on Friday. Next week, we will be starting an in-class research project!

Science:  We had a great time on the field trip!  It certainly was the highlight of our science lessons.  Next week we will be completing a mid-unit assessment.  Students are well on their way to figuring out what happened to the moon jellies.  

Literacy:  It's been a very productive week.  Students have been working diligently in class on their Art of Civil Disobedience essays. We have had Chrome Books available all week, so that students can type their work once the editing and revision processes are complete.  The finished document, typed and printed, is due by the end of the school day on Monday, May 6th.  All papers received after that date will be considered late.  The Latin Unit 11 Mastery test is scheduled for Thursday, May 9th!  Students need to be sure that they are studying that material, too! 

English: Just a friendly reminder that final IRP projects are due Thursday, May 9th.  An example has been posted to each Google Classroom.  Badger students worked on a district common assessment this past week, which required them to read nonfiction and fictional excerpts.  We continued with another nonfiction article in our Study Sync unit about the dangers of social media.  This article yielded excellent discourse in class!  Be sure to ask your student some of the topics we addressed together!

Math: We have covered histograms and box plots, now onto populations and samples.  Student did a great job on their last quiz and we are flying through this unit!  This week we will be learning how to determine the difference between a population and a sample.  Using samples we will then learn how to select a sample and determine how to take a random sample.  Our next test will be Friday, May 17th.

Weekly Update: April 14th

Happy Spring!

Field Trip Information

The Badgers will be going on a field trip on May 1st.  Click here to download the information and permission slip.  Students all have paper copies.  Money and permission slips are due on April 12th.

Class Updates: 

Social Studies: The majority of this week was spent completing SAS testing. Students spent Social Studies classes reviewing materials in preparation for their assessment on Monday. Make sure your child studies over the weekend!

Science:  We'll wrap up our badger unit on Monday with a quiz.  Tuesday we will start working on figuring out a new phenomenon:  Why are there so many moon jellies?  

Literacy:  Students have spent a great deal of time learning about how pacifists brought about change in our country. They have watched a trilogy of movies about the the most famous acts of civil disobedience which resulted in changes under the law.  This week they learned how Cesar Chavez changed the lives of the migrant farm workers. Links to the three movies are posted on the Google Classrooms.  Next week they will begin a major writing assignment on the Art of Civil Disobedience.  Be sure to keep an eye out for the packet!    

English: Badgers spent the majority of the week completing their state assessments.  Overall, I was very proud of how diligently our students worked!  There will be a final unit test on The Giver on Tuesday, April 16th.  There is a study guide posted online to each Google Classroom.  Students should also read their independent reading books over the weekend.  Aim for an hour of reading at a minimum!

*April book orders will be sent out next week and are due back to Mrs. McGuire by Friday, April 19th!

Math: Last week students students reviewed measures of center (mean, median, and mode). We estimated how many jelly beans are in a jar and analyzed all the estimates to determine if a single person or a group are better at estimating. This week we are starting our unit on statistics, but continuing with measures of center and looking at different types of graphs.  This year we are going to primarily focus on dot plots, histograms, and box and whisker plots.