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.  

Team Update: Week of November 13th

Please help our Pennichuck community!

Beginning on Monday, November 13, we will be collecting food items to help to stock our school food pantry. Seventh graders are asked to collect non-perishable lunch items such as peanut butter, jam, soup, cans of tuna, mac and cheese, canned fruit, or other luncheon foods. Students are encouraged to bring items to their advisories, where the PMS student council will collect and tally the items. Sixth graders bring breakfast items, and eighth graders bring dinner items.  The grade which collects the most items will win a coveted prize: open lunch with friends!  In this season of giving, let's support our students and families who are in need. 

  

Team Update: 

Grade Book:  Students should be checking the portal once a week.  We are here after school for retakes or extra help!  It's the student's responsibility to maintain a passing grade. Grades close for the Trimester on November 27th!

Class Updates:

Social Studies: In just three days we will able to discuss the aftermath of the Greco-Persian Wars and take an in-depth look at what democracy really looked in Athens. Ask your child what the difference between a lottery and an election is! We will shift gears next week and explore why Sparta and Athens went to war.

Science:   Next week we will conduct our last investigation and create our final model to explain "Why are bones hard?"  Everyone is very excited to figure out this phenomenon.   Click HERE to see pictures from science class!  We will also start a new unit next week.  Stay tuned.....

Literacy: Corn in ice cream?  Corn in eggs?  How can this be?  Arctic Flounder DNA in our tomatoes?  Crazy and amazing, but these are all facts.  We're reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, and we've been watching some very informative video clips produced by Nourish, an educational initiative for teachers. Your children will certainly be sharing some of this dialogue with you! Next week we'll continue taking guided Cornell style notes through the book, and prepare to watch the movie Fresh before Thanksgiving!    

English:  We focused in on our grammar skills this week and worked with adjectives and adverbs. Those pesky adjectives gave us a tough time early on in the semester, but now we are beginning to master them. The November independent reading project was introduced this week and it will be due on November 21st, so start reading those books! Next week we will begin our unit on classic literature and begin to explore the world of Charles Dickens in the timeless classic, A Christmas Carol.

Math: We are still working through integers!  This week we will keep adding and subtracting integers on number lines and without number lines.  If you are stuck, stay after for help or check out the Google Classroom.  It's important that you understand how to add and subtract to move forward.  We have a quiz on Wednesday, Nov 15th on adding and subtracting integers.  Sigma has continued to learn about adding and subtracting with fractions and decimals, we have a test Wednesday, Nov 15th.  Students should be half way through their Go Figure this week.  If any students want me to edit/correct their rough draft please have it in by the end of this week. 

Team Update: Week of November 6th

School News:

Remember that there is no school for students on Tuesday, November 7th, as it is Election Day and many of our city's schools are used as polling locations.  Additionally, there is no school on Friday, November 10th, as we celebrate Veteran's Day, and honor all those who have served, and are serving today.  

Team Update: 

Grade Book:  Students should be checking the portal once a week.  We are here after school for retakes or extra help!  It's the student's responsibility to maintain a passing grade. Grades close for the Trimester on November 27th!

Class Updates:

Social Studies: Despite not having school on Monday, we accomplished a lot in Social Studies this week. Students were able to finish writing their Greek myths and self-assessed those on Wednesday. Ask your child how they did! I was very impressed with the creativity while reading these myths! On Friday the students conducted their second mapping assessment of the year as they mapped the Persian Empire. Check the gradebook to see how they scored. Have a nice weekend!

Science:  In science this week students made figured out how cells are put together to make tissues and how tissues are put together to make organs.  Check out some pictures of our work this week on my science blog!  Click HERE to see pictures from science class!  Next week we hope to figure out the final pieces to the puzzle, "Why are bones hard?"

Literacy: It was a busy week in Literacy!  We had fun watching the Atlas Obscura projects, learning about hidden gems from around the world.  It was fantastic hearing kids using the vocabulary they're learning in Science, in a project for Literacy!  We also discussed the importance of reflecting upon what we learned to have a better understanding of ourselves as learners! Latin root unit 4 test on Monday - so everyone should be studying all of their resources, and using Quizlet! We'll begin practicing note taking from a text next week as we dive into The Omnivore's Dilemma!

English:  This week in English class we wrapped up our exploration of Greek mytholoy and discovered that we are still culturally connected to these ancient myths in many ways. Next we will begin our unit on A Christmas Carol. The next independent reading project will be coming soon, so get ready!

Math: Thursday's quiz was a success!  We continued to play the integer game to help kids learn how to add and subtract integers. Next week we will be continuing with subtracting integers. November's Go Figure went home on Friday.  It's due Thursday, November 30th. 

Team Update: Week of October 30th

Team Update: 

Parent/Teacher Conferences: Conferences will be held on November 2nd.  There are few openings left if you would like to join us.

Grade Book:  Students should be checking the portal once a week.  We are here after school for retakes or extra help!  It's the student's responsibility to maintain a passing grade.

T-Shirts: Orders are in!  The shirts have been ordered!  Stay tuned!

Class Updates:

Social Studies: This past week was very eventful in Social Studies! Kids were able to take a look at the Greek alphabet and learned how to translate and write their names in Greek. We also incorporated numeracy this week by creating a population graph comparing the civilizations that we've studied thus far. On Friday kids started writing their very own Greek myth and will continue writing these on Monday and Tuesday. Good times ahead!

Science:  In science this week students made observation of four different phenomena to figure out what osmosis is.  Check out some pictures of our work this week on my science blog!  Click HERE to see pictures from science class!  We will have a quiz on Monday.  Students should review cell organelles, the cell membrane, diffusion and osmosis. 

Literacy: Badger students are learning new vocabulary words each week that will make studying for quizzes in Science and Math much easier!  Hydrophilic and hydrophobic as well as vacuole and dialysis just might be on the quiz in science, right Mrs. Tino?  Atlas Obscura presentations begin on Monday, and we will discuss the written reflection, which will be due on Friday.  The reflection is a written response to their own work process on the project.  Be sure to ask your student about it!  A Google doc is preferred.  Have your students told you about the potatoes for fast food French Fries?  Ask them!  We have officially begun to read and study The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan.  The Latin 4 test will be on Monday, November 6th. 

English:  This week in English class we continued with our study of Greek mythology. The students finished up their storyboard projects on Friday. Many students came up with some very creative stories for their gods and goddesses! This week we will wrap up with Greek mythology and do some more practice with grammar. We will be focusing specifically on adjectives this week. The October Independent Reading Project is due on Tuesday! Also, we will be having a test on the Greek mythology vocabulary and characters on Friday. Remember to use flashcards and Quizlet to study!

Math: We have been working with integers all week. If you want a great way to practice play the Integer Game at home. CLICK HERE to see how to play.  Just a reminder the Go Figure is due on Tuesday!  You have had a month to work on the project.  All classes have a quiz on Wednesday, November 1st.  The new Go Figure will go home on Friday.  Next, week we will continue to work with integers, learning how to subtract and using negative fractions and decimals!

Team Update: Week of October 23rd

Team Update: 

Badgers dominated Spirit Week!!!  Check out all our Pajama day participants. 

Class Updates:

Social Studies: This past week we took closer looks at the Ancient Greek city-states Sparta and Athens and did a great job comparing and contrasting the two. On Friday we took a major assessment on Early Greek Civilizations and the kids did an awesome job proving their mastery! This upcoming week we will spend learning about Ancient Greece’s rival: Persia.

Science:  In science this week students took one day to meet with their guidance counselors to participate in a career planning activity.  We continued our investigations this week inside the bone cell.  Students are working hard to figure out how diffusion works in our bodies.  Pictures this week show some initial models students developed to explain how diffusion works in our bodies and some demonstrations that we used to figure out what diffusion is.

Click HERE to see pictures from science class!

Literacy: Students learned how to record the narration for their Google slide shows this week, using a quirky program called Educreations.  Completed projects and notes are due by Monday evening! Plenty of class time was provided, so hopefully everyone is all set!  We watched Akeelah and the Bee Wednesday, a movie that celebrates perseverance, teamwork, honest and studying Latin and Greek roots to learn vocabulary!  Sounds just like Literacy class! The week ended with the Latin unit 3 test.  Next week we will watch student Atlas Obscura projects, and begin the next Latin root unit!  


English:  We began our storyboard project on Greek gods and goddesses this week, and the students are having a lot of fun designing their projects! We also continued to read Greek myths when we weren't working on our projects. We read about Icarus and Daedalus this week, and next week we will read about Demeter, Persephone, and Phaethon. The storyboard project is due at the end of class on October 27th. All students should be working on their independent reading projects! The independent reading projects are due at the start of class on October 31st!

Math: We are finishing up our scale unit with a design project.  Students are designing rooms to a specific scale and putting in the furnishings.  The project is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday.  We have been working on the project for three class periods, so no excuses.  Tuesday we will start our Rational Numbers unit; integers, fractions, and decimals.  This is the most important unit to learn for the rest of your mathematical life!!  Sigma has a quiz Wednesday.

Team Update: Week of October 16th

T-Shirts:  Last call for Badger Team T-Shirt orders!  Checks made payable to Pennichuck Middle School!  Orders to Mrs. Simeone.  

Progress Reports:  Progress Reports go home on Friday, October 20th!  

Class Updates:

Social Studies: Sparta and Athens--these are the two ancient Greek city-states that we'll be focusing in on this upcoming week. We spent the last few days gaining a basic understanding of these two city-states and how despite being Greek they have totally different cultures. We will go much deeper in our research and discussions on Sparta and Athens starting on Tuesday. Enjoy your weekend!

Science:  This week in science we have been investigating the question, "What is inside bone cells".  Students have figured out what the organelles in the cells do and how the cell membrane works.  Click on the microscope below to see pictures of one of our investigations!  Next week students will investigate how things can move into and out of the cell.  

Click HERE to see pictures from science class!

Literacy: We have spent this week learning to research using trusted, scholarly search engines and students have been taking notes using the Cornell template for two column notes!  They have learned how to cite their sources to create a bibliography, and on Monday will learn how to narrate their slide shows using a voiceover recording application!  Most students have lots of work to do on their projects to be ready to record their narrations in class.  If technology is cooperative, the due date for the finished project will be posted tomorrow in Google Class.  The mastery test for Latin Root Unit 3 is on Friday this week!  Quizlet time!

English:  This past week in English class we began our journey into Greek mythology. We started with Narcissus and we will continue to read and analyze Greek myths in the coming weeks. We also reviewed some grammar basics and had an assessment on grammar on Friday. This week we will start the Greek god/goddess storyboard project and continue to learn more about Greek myths. This project will be completed entirely in class and allows the students to get creative while learning more about Greek mythology. The students should also be starting their independent reading projects for the month of October. The independent reading projects are due on October 31st!

Math: We just finished up with proportions, your test grades are posted online.   Next we will be learning about scale and doing some scale drawings.  Be ready to design a space to scale!  Make sure you are all working on your Go Figures, they should be about half way done at this point!  If you want me to look over your rough drafts, please have them in this week.  

Team Update: Week of October 9th

T-Shirts: Order forms are available from Mrs. Simeone in Literacy class. It would be wonderful for every student to have a beautiful T-Shirt to show their team spirit!  Having the orders and money turned in by October 13th would be fantastic, as our supplier usually turns around the order within a week!

Yearbook: It's not too early to start thinking about a yearbook. Each yearbook comes with two custom pages for your student to customize as they wish. The cost is $15, with an option to upgrade to a hardcover. To order and customize online CLICK HERE.  Our school's passcode is 1014746590884141

Heavenly Hats: Thanks to all the students who donated a dollar to wear a hat today.  Heavenly Hats is a non-profit organization founded by a 12 year old boy in Wisconsin who wanted to donate hats to kids with cancer. The school raised $150 to help the cause! Above are some Badger students with Mrs. Joseph, the school's Principal, and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, the district's new Assistant Superintendent, rocking hats.

Class Updates:

Social Studies: This was a busy week in Social Studies as we started our unit on Ancient Greece! Students were able to learn the basic geography of Greece and they were able to use our class Chromebooks to research "random" facts about Ancient Greece. Ask your child what they discovered through their research! Next week we will continue our journey through history and investigate two of the oldest civilizations in Greece.

Science:  We spent this week in science class figuring out how cells meet the needs of living things.  Students figured out that the cell has parts called organelles.  Students should use Quizlet (linked on our google classroom page) to practice matching the organelles to their structure and function.  Next week we will investigate the inside of the cell further to answer our questions.  

Literacy: What a week! Students received the results of their second Latin root unit test, and we jumped right into unit 3! Flash cards should be complete, and it's never too early to start to practice with Quizlet!  Next week will be lots of fun, as we'll be in the library beginning a project that will involve research, note taking in a Google template, using a citation add-on, and building a slide show. Students can and should check out Google Classroom this weekend, to get a head start perusing the Atlas Obscura website!  

English: This week in English class the students bounced around between a few different topics. We continued our discussion of figurative language and read Gary Soto's famous poem, Oranges. The students spent the first couple days of the week analyzing this poem, and they had some very interesting things to say! Some students enjoyed the poem, while others claimed it was boring and the worst poem they had ever read. The students also continued their study of grammar basics and began to work with verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. There will be a grammar test coming up next week, but don't fret! There are resources in Google Classroom for extra practice. To end the week, the students were introduced to Greek myths and their October Independent Reading Project. The reading project will be due on October 31st. Next week the students will begin to read some Greek myths and continue to practice their grammar basics.

Math: The first Go Figure has been handed out!  They are not due until October 31st, but due dates are always closer than they appear.  To better manage the project students should have at least the first and second question done this week. There will be a test on Thursday to wrap up our Proportional Reasoning unit and then we are onto scale drawings!  Make sure to check out Google Classroom for extra practice and a practice test.  Make sure to be completing the nightly homework, practice for improvement.

Garden Needs: Badger team is revamping the garden here at Pennichuck.  As you prepare to do your own fall clean up work at your homes, consider making a donation to our team!  We are looking for the following items in good working condition:

• bow rakes 
• metal shovels 
• a wheel barrow
• cultivators and/or hoes (hand or standing)
• trowels

Please no: pitchforks or sickles!

Many hands make light work, so the goal is to have lots of tools to be used by lots of young, energized students!