May 16, 2010

Dear Parents,

This is the last opportunity to order Market Day products for the summer.  The office is selling the few yearbooks left for $25.  The BMX stunt show incentive reward for selling magazines will be on Wed. 5/19.  On Fri. 5/21 & Sat. 5/22 the middle school students will be presenting the musical ALICE IN WONDERLAND at 7:00p.m.

Unfortunately this is a weekend with a lot of work for students to do when the weather seems wonderful. In Language Arts students will be finishing their “Portfolio Packets” which is due when the class begins on WED. 5/19.  In reading they will continue reading the novel, THE OUTSIDERS and have until Fri. 5/21 to take their FINAL AR QUIZ to earn points towards their quarterly goal. Accelerated Reading counts as 20% of the quarterly grade.  In history they will take the final Short Cycle Assessment on Tues. 5/18 and continue studying the Middle Ages and take 10-question quiz from their notes on Fri. 5/21.  In science they will investigate Invertebrates & classification systems and take the final Short Cycle Assessment on Fri. 5/21.  In math the students will be studying expanded & scientific notation.  Short Cycle Assessments are graded and count as quizzes or tests so students must take them seriously & prepare for them by studying what they have covered so far in the quarter.

Roll over assignments from last week include:

Reading: Read 50 pages in the Accelerated Reader novel by Mon. 5/17. Take an AR quiz.

Math: Study & get Study Guide signed for INTEGER UNIT TEST on MON. 5/17.

Language Arts: Work on finishing the “Portfolio Packets” which is due when the class on WED. 5/19.

History: Review notes on Mongols, Genghis Khan,  Kublai Khan, Marco Polo, guilds, feudalism, manors, Magna Carta, King John, Richard the Lion-Hearted, Crusades, Saladin, & Pope Urban II for QUIZ ON MON. 5/17.

Science: Review insect body plans for a quiz Mon. 5/17.

As there are a lot of points at stake this week in every class and fourth quarter grades determine the eligibility for students to participate in fall sports, students must make sure that they are ready for their two quizzes and one unit test on Monday and their portfolio packet which is due on Wednesday.

Sincerely,

May 2, 2010

Dear Parents,

We will now begin the last month until the end of the 7th grade year.  INTERIM REPORTS went home on Friday; please sign and return it as soon as possible.   In writing students will be working on their “Portfolio Packets” They might need help from home gathering photographs, souvenirs, and words of wisdom from family members to be added to the project.  In reading they will begin reading the novel, THE OUTSIDERS. In history they will continue taking 10 question quizzes over information about the “Middle Ages”.  In science they will continue investigating ecosystems and the relationships of the organisms that live there.  There will be an ECOLOGY QUIZ on Fri. 5/7.  In math the students will review doing the four basic processes using integers (positive & negative numbers).

Last week the untimely death of our sixth grade Language Arts teacher Miss Wilson was a heartbreaking shock.  Once again I was so proud of how sensitively our students were able to handle this difficult situation.  Although Miss Wilson is no longer here, her spirit lives on in the lives of the students & staff she loved and those who loved her.

Sincerely,

Dear Parents,

The Ohio Achievement Assessments in Reading & Math will be given this Monday, April 19th and Wednesday, April 21st.  Students should try their best to be at school on time both days.  These tests are not easy, but your children are bright and have the necessary skills to do well on them.  Their attitudes will have a major impact on their performance on the tests.  Here at school we will be encouraging them to do their best and we are trying to reduce the apprehension & stress level that students have when it comes to testing situations.  To facilitate this there will be no assignments or tests given until after the math test on Wednesday. Since the reading assessment is on Monday, it is important that the students come to school well rested from the weekend so they have the energy it will take to read long selections and answer questions for two straight hours. The students and teachers who volunteered to bring snacks, drinks, or paper products to be shared in a classroom breakfast buffet on Monday & Wednesday should do their best to remember to bring them in; their classmates are counting on them.

YEARBOOK ORDERS with the $25 will continue to be collected until THURS. 4/22.  As the school orders very few extra copies, students who want a copy must preorder them to insure they get one. Have a great weekend.

March 21, 2010

Dear Parents,

This is the last week until Spring Break and the end of the third quarter of school. Students should check their progress reports and make up or correct any possible work. All AR quizzes from which to earn points towards their goals must be taken by Friday.  Please remember that there is NO SCHOOL for students on the MONDAY after Spring Break, APRIL 5^th, as there will be a Northeastern Local School District Teacher In-Service that day.  When students come back from Spring Break there will be two weeks until the Ohio Achievement Tests.

Be on the lookout this week for the following:

Science: Third Quarter Short Cycle Assessment TEST ON MON. 3/22.

History: Fill-in/essay TEST over Ancient Rome & the Roman Empire on TUES. 3/23.

Miss Cunningham would like the parents to know that although the students will not be required to read for Accelerated Reader over Spring Break, as it is between two quarters, they need to be aware that the 4th quarter is only 8 weeks long, and that with OAA’s and other activities that take away from their time, she would advise them to get a head start for the fourth quarter goals over spring break if time allows.

During the fourth quarter the students will be working on a seventh grade portfolio in Language Arts.  Previous classes have enjoyed making this activity, which includes written family information provided by each student.  There will be things that the students will need to have help with to complete. Please ask them to show you the information on the choices of projects they have to pick from.   

We all hope all of the students have a restful and refreshing Spring Break!

Sincerely,

March 14, 2010

Dear Parents,

Only two weeks until Spring Break and the end of the third quarter of school. Students should check their progress reports and make up or correct any possible work.  They should remember their AR goals affect their reading grade.  Once we come back from Spring Break there will be two weeks until the Ohio Achievement Tests.  Track season has started and the middle school dance will be this Fri, 3/19 from 3:30-6:00.  The student council will be selling tickets during lunch this week.

With the nice weather and outdoor activities it becomes more and more difficult for students to want to stay in and do school work.  They have worked so hard this year and accomplished so much, they just have to hang on because I believe that the last quarter will just fly by.

Sincerely,

March 7, 2010

Dear Parents,

It is getting to be that time of year when many students have run out of the replacement school supplies that their parents bought them around Christmas time.  Please check with your student to see if they are in need of things like paper and pencils.  Students often use the mobile computer lab for classroom activities.  It is becoming more and more difficult to do this as the keyboard keys keep breaking off and then never turn up.  Typing information or even inserting passwords to do programs like Study Island or Accelerated Reader is becoming nearly impossible on many of the computers, which are missing nearly a dozen keys.  Please talk to your student and ask them if they could help us remind their peers to treat the computers gently as it is difficult to come up with money to fix the computers we have.  Please also discuss with them to gently treat the calculators that they borrow to use in math class, as these calculators will be needed for students to use on future Ohio Achievement Tests.

We hope that the students got a chance to go out and enjoy the sunshine this weekend and are ready to work diligently to get their assignments completed and their studying successfully done.  They should remember to keep up on their AR quizzes so they reach their goal in three weeks by the end of the quarter.

Sincerely,

February 28, 2010

Dear Parents,

Interim reports went home on Friday, 2/26.  They should be signed and returned as soon as possible. Please note the number of AR points earned to date.  The student should have earned at least half of the required points; if not they must make the time to read over the weekends to catch up by the end of the quarter.  Because of the two-hour delay and shortened classes on Friday, the history essay test comparing America’s republic form of government with the republic form used in the Roman Empire has been postponed until Tuesday for every class except Class E whose test will be on Wed. 3/3.

            The students are encouraged to practice writing their history essay answer before they take their test. They don’t associate actual practicing driving as a way of passing the driver’s license test with practicing writing the answer to the essay as a way to pass the essay test.  It would be helpful if they thought of a word or phrase that would help them remember a common characteristic of America’s & the Roman Empire’s type of republic and then a word or phrase about how that characteristic is demonstrated in the United States and how it is demonstrated in the Roman Empire.  For example, both areas had CITIZENS; in the U. S. there are 3 ways to become a citizen (born in the U. S., one parent a citizen, or be over 18 and live here legally for at least 5 years and pass a history & English language test); while in the Roman Empire all free men or women born in the Empire were citizens.  If the student knows their minimum of 7 characteristic words they can write about, including (citizenship, voting, duties, branches, Legislative branch, Executive branch, Judicial branch, classes of people in society, veto, military leader, written laws, capital city & government building) they could write those words in the margin of their blank notebook paper they get in class to answer the question for the test.  This is helpful because students usually know more about a subject than they write about because they can’t remember a key word to get them started writing.  Good luck on the test.

Sincerely,

February 21, 2010

Dear Parents,

Parent-Teacher Conferences missed last Wednesday will be made up on Wednesday, February 24^th from 3:45- 7:05 p.m. If you did not receive an invitation but would like to come in and talk, please let us know which time would work best for you. Also because of the snow days, interim reports did not go home last Friday; they will go home this Friday, Feb. 26^th. Last week’s weekly math homework sheet was not assigned, but postponed until this week.  Miss Cunningham combined the last two reading assigned pages together, so by this Monday the students had to read a total of 50 pages for weeks 4 & 5 which should be written in one section of the bookmark.

Since there are five weeks left in this quarter the students should have already earned half of their quarterly AR points.  Those students who read during the snow days should be in fine shape, but those who did not read will have to redouble their efforts in order to reach their goal and earn an “A” for 20% of their quarterly reading grade. Please check with your child to see where they stand in this matter.

Sincerely,

February 7, 2010

Dear Parents,

Don’t forget that Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, February 8^th from 3:45- 7:05 p.m. and Wednesday, February 10^th from 3:45- 7:05 p.m. If you did not receive an invitation but would like to come in and talk, please let us know which day and time would work best for you.  Because of conferences and President’s Day these next two weeks will be a short weeks as there will be no school this Fri. Feb. 12 & Mon. Feb. 15. Interim reports will go home by that next Fri. Feb. 19 so students should be trying to keep up on their work and studying for tests. 

There will be a MATH UNIT TEST this Thurs. Feb. 11th covering 1. Congruent figures (identical in size & shape), especially triangles and selecting the correct test to determine whether two triangles are congruent (S,S,S; S,A,S; or A,S,A).  2. Complementary angles (the sum of the angles equals 90º), Supplementary angles (sum = 180º), Vertical angles (opposite angles when you make an X), Alternate exterior, Alternate interior, & Corresponding angles (angles made when a line is drawn across two parallel lines) to determine which angles are equal or determining the size of angles when the size is not given.  3. Similar figures (same shape, same size angles but different lengths) and their Corresponding sides and angles and using that information to determine the Scale Factor between the two figures (how many times bigger or smaller the figures are).  Determining how the scale factor effects the Surface area and the Volume of those figures (Surface Area = Scale factor² while the Volume = Scale factor³) 

Sincerely,

Dear Parents,

This Tuesday, February 2nd is the date for the incentive field trip to the Chiller Ice Rink. Students going on this trip should remember to bring gloves, extra socks, (so they don’t get blisters), and possibly a hat and a pair of dry jeans to change into so they don’t get stuck wearing wet pants back to school.  February 2^nd is also the last day of the magazine sale and Election Day for our bond levy to build new schools. If we pass it now we can use money provided by the state tobacco taxes to help pay for the schools. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, February 8^th from 3:45- 7:05 p.m. and Wednesday, February 10^th from 3:45- 7:05 p.m. These conferences are for all new students and for the students whom the teachers would like to speak with their parents.  If you did not receive an invitation but would like to come in and talk, please let us know which day and time would work best for you.

            The talent show was a great success.  There were 23 wonderful acts featuring over 42 talented performers. This was a standing room only performance as so many of the families and peers came out to support the performer’s efforts. The performer’s decision to give the money that was so graciously donated by the audience to help the people in Haiti shows their commitment to being responsible caring adults who will be an asset to our community in the future.  Congratulations to all who participated in this entertaining and worthy cause.

Sincerely,

January 23, 2010

Dear Parents,

Friday, Jan. 22^nd the grade cards went home. A week from Tuesday is the incentive field trip to the Chiller Ice Rink.  February 2^nd is also Election Day for our bond levy to build new schools. New schools would enable us to provide the latest technology that your children will be using in their working lifetime. Our kids will need the same opportunities that other students in the county are getting.

Roll over assignments from last week include:

History: Study for MONDAY’S Fill-in & essay TEST on Ancient Greece.

Math: #1- Study for MONDAY’S QUIZ on determining which test for congruency could be used to determine if two triangles were congruent with the information given.  #2-Weekly Math worksheet Days 81-85 due Mon. 1/25. #3- “Mug Hats” grid drawings started in class due Mon. 1/25

Reading: Bookmark with 50 pages read & recorded from Accelerated Reader book must be turned in Wed. 1/27.

Science: Study IAN for QUIZ on evaporation & relative humidity on THURS. 1/28.

Language Arts: Study for SPELLING TEST THURS. 1/29. The 10 spelling words are: absence, awesome, different, enough, probably, really, remember, success, trouble, & which.

            Tests on Monday and Thursday make this a busy week.  Studying a little each night might make it a little less stressful.  The students must keep up with reading, testing, and earning AR points so they can achieve their quarterly goal. The 10 spelling words for THURSDAY’S TEST are: absence, awesome, different, enough, probably, really, remember, success, trouble, & which.  Please sign and return grade card envelopes as soon as possible. Conferences will be held on Monday, February 8^th from 3:45- 7:05 p.m. and Wednesday, February 10^th from 3:45- 7:05 p.m.  Invitations will be sent home on Monday, Jan. 25^th for all new students and for the students whom the teachers would like to speak with their parents.  If you did not receive an invitation but would like to come in and talk, please let us know which day and time would work best for you.  Our email addresses are on the South Vienna website or you could call the school at 568-4765 or reply to this email. 

Sincerely,

7^TH GRADE CONFERENCES

Dear Parents,

There are only seven more school days until Christmas break.  After we return from the break the students will only have two weeks until the end of the quarter. Please look at the AR points earned to date on the copy of the progress book reading grade to see if your child has reached their second quarter AR goal.  If they have not reached their goal, they should make sure to read a book over the break and be ready to take a quiz when they return in January.  To get all of the points a book is worth the students must get an “A” on the quiz. Trying to finish reading the book and doing well enough on the quiz to earn all of the points the book is worth in the two weeks before the end of the quarter can often not work out. Reaching the AR goal is worth 20% of the second quarter’s reading grade which amounts to a two letter drop in grade if no points are earned.  It is only a one-letter drop in the reading average if only half of the points are earned, but still not worth not meeting the goal. In other words, read lots and test often until the goal is reached and then start on next quarter's goal with that long book that your child has been wanting to read.

Sincerely,

December 6, 2009

Roll over assignments from this week include:

Well, the first quarter of the year is over.  Grade cards will go home on Fri. Nov. 6^th.  Market Day orders are due this coming Friday, Nov. 6^th with the pick-up day being Thurs. Nov. 12^th.  Information was sent home about our annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast to be held on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11^th from 9:00-10:00 a. m.  Please invite a relative or neighbor to come to school, be recognize, thanked, and fed. Also please return your RSVP sheet or call and let the office know how many veterans, their names, and your child’s name and grade so the correct amount of breakfast food can be purchased.  

The student-led conferences will be this Monday and Tuesday, October 12-13. The students have been working hard to be able to share with you their reflections on the work they have done so far in seventh grade.  We are all looking forward to seeing you.  This week students will not have school on Thursday or Friday because of a staff in-service day on Thursday and the Central Ohio Teacher’s Association Meetings day on Friday. 

Dear Parents,

The students will be working to prepare the portfolio of their work to show and discuss with you at the student-led conferences on Monday and Tuesday, October 12-13.  If you have not signed and returned your invitation, please do so as soon as you can.  Please remember that if you were assigned a time or day that was not convenient, please let us know as we can easily change it for you.

              This week the Ohio Department of Education will be counting the number of students in each school building for funding purposes for the 09-10 school year.  Please make sure that your child is in attendance and on time each day this week.  Also, if you child happens to be sick and misses school, please make certain to both call the office at 568-4765 and send in a note upon your child's return.  This needs to be done every week.

The PTO is still selling the ten-dollar Discount Cards for local establishments and could still use your help. INTERIM REPORTS were sent home on FRIDAY and they need to be signed by parents and returned by all students by WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30^TH. 

This Monday the students will be taking home papers explaining the student-led parent conferences that will be held on Monday, October 12^th and Tuesday, October 13^th from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Student-led conferences are a way to give students the opportunity to share their work with their parents; illustrating their strengths and weaknesses by evaluating their performance on assignments and tests in each subject.  The students will work here at school to create a portfolio of their work to present to you, which will include their personal reflections evaluating their own progress.  A time and day slot has been selected for you and arranged around athletic events, but if the selected time is not convenient for you please select a different time or day and return the paper letting us know of your choice.  Averages, and teacher evaluations of students’ performances will also be included in the portfolio.  The teachers will also be here to answer any questions that may come up. We hope to see that each student gets the opportunity to participate in this experience.

Roll over assignments from this week include:

History: Read pages 270-274 and know the terms: Confucius and five basic relationships.

Activities & Assignments for Sept. 28-Oct. 2

Mon. 9/28:  Using the maps of China, discuss a 20th Century historical overview of East Asia.  (i.e. Korean and Vietnam wars)  Finish discussing the different geographic parts of China.  Copy paragraph one of notes on China.  For homework finish Friday’s reading assignment of pages 270-274 and knowing the terms: Confucius and five basic relationships.

Tues. 9/29:  Using the history books, discuss and copy notes on China’s early history; the Shang and Zhou dynasties, oracle bones, and the Mandate of Heaven.  Begin discussing and copying notes on Confucius, his influence upon China through the centuries, and the five basic relationships.  For homework read pages 276-279 and know the terms: Qin Dynasty, Shihuangdi.

Wed. 9/30:  Finish discussing and copying notes on Confucius.  Get background and begin discussing the Qin Dynasty; the reign of Shihuangdi and his totalitarian state.  For homework read page 280 and know about the Great Wall.

Thurs. 10/1:  Continue discussing and copying notes on Shihuangdi focusing on his most significant accomplishments; the building of the Great Wall of China and his underground army of Xian. For homework read pages 281-287 and know the terms: Han Dynasty and Emperor Wudi.

Sincerely,

The PTO is still selling the Discount Cards for local establishments and could still use your help.  There will be no grade checks this Tuesday because INTERIM REPORTS will be sent home this FRIDAY. 

Other roll over assignments from this week include:

Activities & Assignments for Sept. 14-18

Mon. 9/21:  Students will discuss and write, on the left side of the notes, the five components of a civilization.   The students describe comparisons of the world's seven largest countries.  No homework.

Tues. 9/22:  Using the left side of the notebook, the students will begin drawing the map of China & the surrounding countries.   (This will eventually be graded.)  For homework read pages 264- 269 and know the terms: Shang Dynasty, Zhou Dynasty, and oracle bones.

Wed. 9/23:  Finish drawing the map of China.  Begin discussing and taking notes on the significance of a country's geography.  On the map, draw in and discuss China's three major rivers, the Himalayan Mountains and the Gobi Desert. No homework.

Thurs. 9/24:  Finish filling in geographic components of China and the surrounding countries.  Discuss and take notes on China’s varied population density, foods and culture.  For homework read pages 270-274 and know the terms: Confucius and five basic relationships.

MATH

SCIENCE

Mon. 9/21: Students will compile results of last Friday’s penny experiment into a data table.  They will then graph the results using a bar graph.  For homework students will get the take home portion of FRIDAY’S Experimental Design TEST and study for the other part that will be DUE on FRIDAY, 9/25.

Tues. 9/22:  Students begin writing a lab report on a new experiment. For homework work on the take home portion of FRIDAY’S Experimental Design TEST and study for the other part that will be DUE on FRIDAY, 9/25.

Wed. 9/23:  Students finish lab report from Tuesday. For homework work on the take home portion of FRIDAY’S Experimental Design TEST and study for the other part that will be DUE on FRIDAY, 9/25.

Thurs. 9/24: Take Review for Experimental Design Test Friday. For homework FINISH the take home portion of FRIDAY’S Experimental Design TEST and study for the other part that will be DUE on FRIDAY, 9/25.

Fri. 9/25:  Students take the “Using Experiment Design” TEST.  Do Lab Safety activity (if there is time).  No homework. 

READING

Mon. 9/21: Will be Accelerated Reader Day. The students will transfer information about pages read from the yellow bookmark to the AR Log folder.  They will then practice the quizzing process by reviewing summaries, looking up on arbookfind.com the quiz number, and then taking the quiz for The Giving Tree, which was read to them in class Friday.  Students who did not find two unfamiliar words for the bookmark will use two provided words to complete the bookmark, which they will then turn in.  Finally, any student who has finished their book will take an AR quiz over that book, while the others read in their novel and begin a new bookmark.  All students will get a spelling word list.  For homework read at least 50 pages from your AR novel and complete the new bookmark for Monday.  Study and practice writing the words from your word list for a SPELLING TEST Mon. 9/28.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Sincerely,

Other roll over assignments from this week include:

Activities & Assignments for Sept. 14-18

HISTORY

Mon. 9/14:  Finish Friday’s group assignment to be graded on an ancient artifact from page 159 in the history textbook.  If time remains, get back essay quizzes.  No homework.

Tues. 9/15:  Hand back artifact group assignment and discuss.  If time, on the left side of the notes, the students will write five things it takes for a civilization to begin.  No homework.

Wed. 9/16:  With the afternoon "Arts in the Classroom" on Anne Frank, do a one day background lesson on Adolf Hitler, World War II, and the Holocaust. No homework.

Thurs. 9/17:  Using a replica of an artifact, have the students describe what they can deduce about the civilization that would have made it. No homework. 

MATH

LANGUAGE ARTS

Mon. 9/14- Tues. 9/15: The students will be reading selections on Anne Frank and then completing written extended responses to questions or comments about the selection. Catch 22 homework.

READING

SCIENCE

Mon. 9/14- Fri. 9/18:  The students will continue to review how to write lab reports by practicing writing about the parts of the scientific method emphasizing writing problem statements, hypotheses, including independent, dependent, and control variables.  They will begin designing experiments making sure to have a control experiment to compare results to and listing all of the materials and steps to make sure that only one variable is changed.  They will also emphasize having a objectively measurable effect in the dependent variable to determine a change in the experimental design.  For homework Journal assignment  #1 will be due Wednesday Sept. 16^th. I am not sure about other homework yet.

            I will try to get more information to you as soon as I can. If you have any questions please email, or call me at 568-4765.

Sincerely,

September 6, 2009

Dear Parents,

             I hope your family enjoyed the long weekend.  Copies of grades from the progress book will be sent home with each student on Tuesday.  Students with any grade lower than a C- will have to have the sheet signed and returned to their homeroom teacher. If a student got a low grade on their history essay on Julius Caesar, they were able to redo the quiz.  Math homework assignments can be corrected and be resubmitted within a week to receive full credit. This Friday the Corn Festival begins.  Ride tickets will be again on sale at the office for $1 per ride which, in the past, has been a significant savings from those bought at the fair. Also on Friday, the school and yearbook pictures will be taken.  The students were given the order envelope describing the packets and prices.  Every student will be photographed but only those who order the pictures will be given copies.  Don’t forget that school breakfasts are available daily.  They are free for students receiving free lunch.

            Friday in History class the students were told to copy the essay questions that will appear on Thursday’s test.  They were given the questions in order for them to organize their ideas and practice writing their responses before the TEST on THURSDAY, 9/10.  In the past the students who practiced writing the essays achieved a substantially higher score on the test.

Other roll over assignments from this week include:

Science: “Identifying variables” activity, which will be due Wednesday, Sept. 9^th.

Reading: Finish the KWL strategy essay done in class if necessary which is due Tuesday, 9/8. #2- Study for spelling bee on Wednesday, if desired.

Activities & Assignments for Sept. 8-11

HISTORY

Tues., Sept. 8: Finish discussing & drawing the Great Pyramid of Giza.  For homework practice writing the essay, “Summarize and support with specific examples key aspects to the significance of the Great Pyramid of Giza from the Old Kingdom of Egypt” so you will be able to write the first of two good essays for the TEST on THURSDAY, SEPT. 10^th.

Wed., Sept. 9:  Discuss & take notes on the life of King Tutankhamen, his tomb, and its discovery; focusing on Howard Carter and the treasures he found in the tomb.  For homework practice writing the essay, “Describe, with specific details, key components of the life of King Tutankhamen, his tomb, and its discovery”.  #2- Practice writing both essays for the TEST TOMORROW.

Thurs., Sept. 10: Take Two-question ESSAY TEST on ANCIENT EGYPT.  No homework.

Fri., Sept: 11:  Get back essays.  Using page 159 of history book, do one-day group lesson on early civilization. It will be graded.  No homework.

MATH

Tues., Sept. 8: Do and discuss problems # 4, #5, & #6 as a class.  In the MIAN, tape in and complete problem #3 on page 11 writing down the steps to writing related expressions. For homework do page 23, # 7, 8, 9; page 24 # 10, 11 (#11 a & b only; c can be done for extra credit); both are due Thurs. 9/10.

Wed., Sept. 9:  Review writing expressions by getting a sample of a relationship and having the student write the expression. Using the Algeblock Lab sheets 1-1, 1-2 & 1-3 and the overhead Algeblocks sheeet, do the lab sheets as a class.  Then tape a sheet of Algeblock descriptions on the left side of MIAN.  On right side, do lab sheet 1-5 and then write expressions they represent. For homework do page 23, # 7, 8, 9; page 24 # 10, 11 (#11 a & b only; c can be done for extra credit); both are due Thurs. 9/10.

Thurs., Sept. 10: Turn in homework.  Learn about weekly math activity and get a work sheet. Then finish the Algeblock sheet in their MIAN defining like terms. Then get “Keys to Algebra Simplifying Expressions” sheet and go over it as a class. No homework.

Fri., Sept: 11:  Review order of operations by copying notes into MIAN. Review what exponents are and how to use a calculator to find them.  Write notes on them in MIAN.  Finally, do practice problems on order of operations involving exponents that will be checked in class. No homework.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Tues., Sept. 8- Fri., Sept. 11: Respond to daily journal prompt.  Review identifying, creating and correctly punctuating simple, compound, and complex sentences.  Catch 22 homework.

SCIENCE

Tues., Sept. 8- Review observations and making inferences.  Introduce problem statements from Power point presentation.  Students practice making their own problem statements.  For homework the students must complete the “Identifying variables” worksheet, which will be due Wednesday, Sept. 9^th.

Wed., Sept. 9- Turn in Identifying Variables homework.  Begin the Introduction to a Hypothesis PowerPoint.  Review “How to Write a Good Journal” handout.  For homework Journal assignment  #1 due Wednesday Sept. 16th

Thurs., Sept. 10 – Students will practice creating a hypothesis when given the independent & dependent variables.  For homework Journal assignment  #1 due Wednesday, Sept. 16th

Fri., Sept. 11 -Practice creating a hypothesis when given a problem statement and creating a problem statement when given a hypothesis.  For homework Journal assignment  #1 due Wednesday, Sept. 16^th.

READING

Tues., Sept. 8:  Record Accelerated Reader comfort zones (reading levels) in AR folder; Get a handout and do an activity on how to pick a novel that fits just right for me.  Next, do a book pass activity in class based on AR comfort zones.  Finally, introduce creating a personal reading list. 

For homework  Evaluate 5 library books by Friday the way that was done in class, put the ones you liked on your personal reading list, and come to class Friday with a silent reading book that's in your AR reading zone.

Wed., Sept. 9:  Grade level spelling bee.  Do “Using Textbook Features to Your Advantage” activity.  As a class, create a purpose for reading by asking and then answering guiding questions based on text features Julius Caesar from History textbook. For homework  Evaluate 5 library books by Friday the way that was done in class, put the ones you liked on your personal reading list, and come to class Friday with a silent reading book that's in your AR reading zone.

Thurs., Sept. 10:  As a class, create a purpose for reading by asking and then answering guiding questions based on text features "The Great River Civilization" article to be turned in at the end of class or it becomes homework. For homework  Evaluate 5 library books by Friday the way that was done in class, put the ones you liked on your personal reading list, and come to class Friday with a silent reading book that's in your AR reading zone.  #2-Finish "The Great River Civilization" if not completed in class.

Fri., Sept. 11:  Turn in your personal reading list activity, your “Great River Civilization” activity, and have your Accelerated Reader novel.  Finish "Eight Pages a Day" response.  Read in novel for 20 minutes.  Discuss the value of making connections to books stressing what does it do for you?  Make a written connection to your novel so far.  For homework read your AR novel 20 minutes each night.

            If you would like a copy of an email like this sent to you weekly, please send your email address to lorraineprecek@nelsd.org

Sincerely,

August 30, 2009

Dear Parents,

             I hope your child had a great first week back to school. It is very hot and humid in the building so the students are more than welcome to bring water bottles to class.  The water can be refilled from the cold-water drinking fountains so they should not need to buy water each day.  Since we eat lunch so late (1:15), the students are also encouraged to bring a snack and drink for intervention class, which starts at 12:13.  South Vienna School will be serving breakfast each morning there is a costs but it is free for students who get free lunch.

            The students should have returned the papers to be filled out by Friday.  If for some reason, they were not able to turn it in they should do so as soon as possible.  If there is a problem with filling out the paperwork or bringing in the school supplies, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

            Remember, if your child is absent, you need to call the school the day they are absent and send them back to school with a note, with their full name on it, when they return.  This is for your child’s protection and to eliminate problems with the incentive field trip. Please continue to collect soup labels, box tops, ink and laser jet cartridges, and cell phones and turn them in to the middle school office.

            For Homework Last week in History the students had to make a cover for their composition notebook which was due Monday, Aug. 31..  To earn the 100 points their cover had to follow the following directions:

 #1-Draw a history picture on a piece of unlined paper and  #2-write their full name on the paper

 #3 Their book must have a title for example “Mr. Arter: His story from the Past to the Present”

#4-They write “published by” or “publisher” and put their class name as the publisher.  (7-A-Herodotus, 7-B- Thucydides, 7-C-Sima Qian, 7-D-Livy, & 7-E-Plutarch). #5- Finally, they must tape or staple the paper to their composition-type history notebook.  Each missing part is worth a 20-point deduction in grade so missing one part results in the student starting off with a “C” average in History.

            Abbreviated information for activities, assignments, and tests for the week of August 31- September 4^th include:

HISTORY:

Monday- Notebook cover graded and practice how to write a history essay. For homework review how to write an essay so when you are given information to read you can use it to write an essay that will be graded tomorrow.

Tuesday- Write an essay using information from their history books.  This will be graded.  For homework: read pages 191-195 and know the meanings of the terms: Old Kingdom and pyramid, 

Wednesday- Copy down the two essay questions for the next test.   Take notes on the Old Kingdom. No new homework.

Thursday- Take notes on the building the Great Pyramid of Giza. For homework: read pages199-203 and know the terms: New Kingdom, pharaoh, Hatshepsut, and Ramses II. #2- Practice writing the Great Pyramid essay question answer for the TEST on the Great Pyramid & King Tut on WED, SEPT. 9.

Friday- take notes on the discovery of King Tut's tomb. For homework: Practice writing the two essay answers they will write for the TEST on the Great Pyramid & King Tut on WED, SEPT. 9.

MATH:

Monday- Do Problem Set A pages 6 & 7 in textbook.  No homework.

Tuesday- Do Problem Set B page 7 #1-8 in textbook. In their MIAN (Math notebook), make a drawing of bag model with an explanation of what it represents and an expression (equation like 3n+2).  Then make a table to find the total number of blocks for any given number of bags, and define the terms variable and algebraic expressions.  For homework do the “Share & Summarize” questions #1-3 on page 9 of their textbook, due by the next class on Wed.

Wednesday- “Share & Summarize” homework will be collected. Read Problem Set C on page 10 and use the information to complete worksheet “Master 2” doing questions #1-3.  For homework do “On Your Own Exercises, Practice & Apply” questions #1-6, on page 22; “Connect & Extend” questions # 37-39, on page 27, and the “Mixed Review” questions #49 – 51 on page 30 due on Friday, 8/29.

Thursday- Do problem #1 parts a & b from Problem Set D on page 11 Then do problems #2 & 3 parts a – e.  Next do problems # 4, 5, & 6. Finally, put sample problem and write down steps to writing related expressions in their MIAN.  For homework the do “On Your Own Exercises, Practice & Apply”: #1-6, on page 22,  “Connect & Extend” questions # 37-39, on page 27, and the “Mixed Review” questions #49 – 51 on page30, which will all be due on Friday, 9/4.

Friday- Homework will be collected.  Then complete “Algeblock Labsheets” # 1-1, #1-2 & #1-3.  In their MIAN tape in sheet of block descriptions on the left page and the labsheet #1-5 on the right page and write the expressions that each problem represents.  Finally go over the “Keys to Algebra Simplifying Expressions” sheet.  There will be no homework.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Monday-Wednesday Practice “Writing Better Answers.”  Review and practice rephrasing questions adding a gist answer.  Catch 22 homework.

Thursday, Sept. 3 Practice writing an introductory sentence that rephrases the question or prompt and gives a “gist” answer.  (Ex. for many reasons, did many things, had many good qualities) Catch 22 homework.

Friday, Sept. 4 Write a paragraph with an introductory sentence that rephrases the question and answers it with a gist answer, add three details that support their gist answer and then add a conclusion sentence which rephrases the question again. Catch 22 homework.

SCIENCE

Monday-Take a pretest over the unit on Experimental Design. Continue to work on the IAN (Science notebook) For homework finish the cover for their IAN similar to their history composition notebook due Friday.

Tuesday-: Review the “Steps of a scientific experiment” by doing an in-class activity.  For homework finish the cover for their IAN similar to their history composition notebook due Friday. 

Wednesday-: Review vocabulary associated with variables in a scientific experiment (independent, dependent, & control). Use the information to identifying variables in an experiment. For homework finish the cover for their IAN similar to their history composition notebook due Friday.

Thursday: Continue to practice identifying variables in experiments. For homework finish the  cover for their IAN similar to their history composition notebook due Friday.

Friday: The IAN cover will be checked in class.  More practice with variables or begin forming hypothesis (using the If, then, format).  For homework do an “Identifying variables” activity due Wednesday, Sept. 9^th.

READING

Monday: Set up the reading three-ring binders labeling the tabs. Set up their AR (Accelerated Reader) folder.  Accelerated Reader is a program, which tests students’ comprehension on novels that they will choose to read independently.  In the program, students’ reading levels are selected based on passage comprehension pretests they took Friday.  Based on these levels, the South Vienna library has identified books to help the students select books that would be best for them.  Students then select a book of their choice and when they are finished they take a test created from the program.  Each book is assigned a number of points and, based on the students’ achievement level on their quiz; they earn points towards their quarterly AR goal.  Finally finish their "Getting to Know You" sheet and add a Reading box to each day in the agenda.  For homework add the word reading to a box in their daily agendas.

Tuesday: Complete AR level testing.  Read and respond to the article "Read a Minimum of Eight Pages a Day." Students with difficulty writing their names cursively will get a name practice sheets for homework For homework By Thursday they must have finished their practice worksheet of their name in cursive and #2- have finished adding a Reading box to each day in the agenda.

Wednesday, Sept. 2: Practice re-stating the question in their answer for various types of questions.  For homework #1- finish their practice worksheet of their name in cursive. #2- finish adding a Reading box to each day in the agenda. #3-Complete a “Re-stating question” worksheet due Friday. 

Thursday, Sept. 3: Turn in the cursive signature practice sheet.  Examine the Pre-reading strategies part of the reading checklist.  Be introduced to "Creating a purpose for reading” and review activating background knowledge to aid comprehension by using a KWL worksheet (what I Know, what I Want to learn, what I Learned) to create questions before reading. For homework Complete a “Re-stating question” worksheet due Friday. 

Friday, Sept. 4: - The students finish their KWL activity and discuss reading strategies this format helped them use before, during, and after reading.  Turn it in to be assessed at the end of period.  For homework as soon as the students are giving their AR reading levels they should begin to find and read an independent reading book.

Chad Kirkbride, the seventh grade math intervention specialist, is starting his third year at South Vienna.  He earned his B.S. in adolescent to young adult (7-12) education with a second major in Mathematics from Heidelberg College.  Chad is married to Tiffany Kirkbride, who is a Math teacher at Kenton Ridge High School.  Chad also enjoys being part of the Northeastern High School Track and Field coaching staff.

Grade Checks are Coming!  Grade Checks are Coming!