AMMS 7th Grade Gazette
November 1, 2019 Volume 6
No School for Students Tuesday, November 5 due to General Elections
ACADEMIC UPDATES
Math
70/7A
We have started solving two-step and multi-step equations. (MGSE7.EE.4) Students are beginning to see the importance of using the algebraic process especially when there is more than one-step involved in solving an equation. Students have learned the acronym “SKI” to help them solve multi-step equations. Please ask them what those letters stand for. We are having a quick turn-around for another quiz on just multi-step equations on Thursday, November 7th. Then we will begin solving inequalities. (MGSE7.EE.4a/b) Solving inequalities is very similar to equations except there is an infinite number of solutions to inequalities, and we will be learning how to graph those on a number line to visual the possible solutions. Inequalities tend to be a little harder of a concept for students to grasp though we use them a lot in real-life. Please help your students try to find ways that inequalities are used in real-life, such as to get an A on an assignment you need to get greater than or equal to a 90.
8A Math
We finished Unit 2 with a scary Rational and Irrational quiz on Halloween. We will transfer those skills to Unit 3: Geometric Application of Exponents. This unit explores equations with squares and cubes, Pythagorean Theorem and determining volume of cylinders , spheres and cones. Students are happy because they get to use calculators when calculating volume. They quickly realize having calculators means the questions become harder! Everyone loves math!
Social Studies
Social Studies is excited to be moving into our Government Unit. Students recently took a pre-test so that they can be placed in work groups which best suit their needs based on prior knowledge about world government. All students will have a Government test on Wednesday 11/13. After that we will move into our cross-curricular unit with ELA classes and read Amal Unbound in preparation for our author visit on 12/6. Thank you to everyone who has already secured a copy of the novel for their child.
Science
We finished up our Cells Unit on Halloween! Now we will be diving into our Genetics/Heredity Unit.
We will start by looking at some of our traits and determining which are dominant or recessive. We will then study various genetic disorders and their causes, treatments, and side effects. We will be comparing and contrasting asexual and sexual reproduction in relation to mitosis and meiosis.
In this unit, students will also learn to make and analyze Punnett squares and pedigree charts.
Quiz and test dates will be emailed to you in the coming weeks from your child’s science teacher.
Help sessions continue to be held on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 8am.
Please contact us with any questions!
Thanks! Ms. Johnson, Ms. Kane, Ms. Moore, Ms. Chereck, Ms. Villiume, and Ms. Fairlie
Reading
Reading students continue to work with the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. We’ve quizzed on vocabulary and plot structure. On November 15, we will incorporate those skills and others such as theme and symbolism into a test. Students continue to read their choice books and should continue reading 20 minutes each day at home
Remember that our nightly homework is to read twenty minutes at home. Here is some compelling data:
Language Arts
ELA has officially concluded our first unit of study! The summative assessments were thoughtfully crafted by the students, and it has been very eye-opening to see which themes were developed throughout their book club books.
Our next unit is the study of nonfiction texts and literature. In the upcoming weeks, we will be focusing on the concepts of central idea (RI2), analyzing the structure and features of nonfiction texts (RI5), and determining the author’s point of view of a text (RI6).
The 7th grade ELA and Social Studies departments are ecstatic to announce that this unit will be co-curricular through the study of the novel Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed. We will be reading this novel with the students beginning on November 11, so please ensure your child has a copy of the novel by that date. The author will be visiting AMMS on December 6th, and we are so excited for our students to take part in this incredible opportunity.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Patel, Mrs. Barksdale, Ms. Irvin, Mrs. Barnes, and Mrs. Matthews
Spanish
¡Hola padres!
We are currently working on our second unit - Lección 2. In the weeks ahead, your child will be learning AR Verbs as well as how to express likes and dislikes with the verb “gustar.” They will also learn how to talk about school and daily routine. Alongside the unit, we will be reading a book in class for Lunes Lees (Reading Monday). Each week, your child will learn strategies to improve reading skills in Spanish and have the opportunity to enjoy the book, La clase de confesiones.
Finally, students will focus on writing skills as they prepare for their first Written PBA in a couple weeks. Please continue to encourage your child to study vocabulary and notes at least 20 minutes per day. The repetition at home is essential for your child’s success in Spanish!
As always, students may check out a textbook from the media center to bring home for the year. Also, Spanish help sessions are Tuesdays and Fridays (by appointment on Fridays) at 8am. As always, study and practice resources can be found on Google Classroom and the textbook website component, VHL Central. Thank you for your support from home as your child continues their journey en español!
Muchas Gracias!
Srta. Brown; Sra. Clark; Srta. Underwood
French
Bonjour parents,
In 7th grade French, we are continuing to practice numbers. We are using numbers in math equations and to exchange phone numbers. We’ll look into a bit of the culture of the euro, too. Next, we’ll wrap up the Unit 1 Lesson A with the culture part called Le Zapping where we watch a health-oriented commercial. Students will receive a Study Guidelines doc (nothing to fill in, just points to make sure they know) for the test. The test is scheduled for October 22. This is likely to move if students need more time with in-class Stations/Practice or Study Guides.
We’ll start Unit 1 Lesson B by the beginning of the 5th week of October. This is our 2nd of 4 main units. In that unit, we’ll have some people and objects (review), using the verb être (to be) with different subject pronouns, describing ourselves and our friends’ (personality and nationality). Major questions we’ll practice in this Unit are: What is your nationality, What is your origin, What are you (not) like, What is s/he (not) like? We’ll have a Written and a Spoken PBA over those topics throughout November (Friday the 8th and Tuesday the 19th- dates subject to change) and an art project at the end of November. It will be based on a French comic strip superhero called Super Dupont who has all the traits of a stereotypical Frenchman.
We’ll have a Halloween oriented lesson on the 31st!
Good advice for remembering spelling of numbers and for pronunciation of numbers would be to read the numbers vocab 3x out loud. Also, refer to Quizlet, VHLcentral.com, class notes, and Google Classroom. Help sessions are Thursdays at 8AM.
Merci!
Latin
11/04 – 11/08
During this week, we will review and prepare for a summative assessment on Wednesday, November 6th. We will end the week with learning new vocabulary words and playing a game with the words.
11/11-11/15
During this week, we will learn about the theater in Pompeii, when people visited it, and what plays looked like. The plan is to show students how to make Roman masks that would be used in plays. We will wrap up the week by comparing a famous Roman play Pyramis and Thisbe to its modern adaptation, Romeo and Juliet.
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Need help with homework or other assignments?
REACH Tutoring
Any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student is invited to attend tutoring sessions with Johns Creek High School students. This opportunity is offered after school at AMMS on Tuesdays from 4:15-5:30pm. Your student should report to the cafeteria after the bus bell if they are interested in receiving tutoring on any Tuesday. Please pick up your student promptly at 5:30. Questions can be directed to Mrs. Erickson, the 8th grade AP at ericksona@fultonschools.org. No sign up necessary!
Autrey Mill Middle School
Website: ammslions.org
Location: 4110 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek, GA, USA