Maple Avenue Middle School
December 2017 Newsletter
Student of the Month: 6th Grader, Kaylie Kurland
6th Grade: Team Bolts
Mrs. Becker and Mrs. Smith's Science classes will be moving into chapter 4: Earth's Dynamic Surface. It is encouraged that students access at home their ebook and related resources for each lesson within this chapter at connectED. There is much there to reinforce and review what is covered in class each day. A few of the topics covered in this chapter will include Earth's moving surface and the theory of plate tectonics, the shaping of Earth's surface, and the changing of Earth's surface through weathering and erosion.
Mr. Baumgardner’s ELA and Social Studies classes have finishing learning about three main world religions and have also spent time reading, writing, and discussing the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East. We have also recently finishing reading Wringer by Jerry Spinelli and now we are getting ready to start reading Peak by Roland Smith. Focusing on becoming more consistent writers will continue to be a focus as we move forward. Please check the 6th grade homework page to see what is happening in class and to see if there is any homework.
Mr. Crockett's students are finishing their first novel, Wonder. The novel has recently been made into a movie that would be wonderful for the whole family to see over the upcoming holidays. We have also been studying the process to analyze a poem and a persuasive text. Students are also working through a project of creating a digital textbook to study countries in Europe.
Ms. Willet’s ELA/Social Studies classes have been exploring West and Central Africa’s land features, culture, and history. The next stop is Southern and Eastern Africa. They have completed an argumentative writing unit and are presently reviewing TDA writing strategies. The students have been practicing using context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words, as well as, reviewing proper usage of commonly confused words.
Math Core 1-
Mrs. Raubenstine’s and Mrs. Koontz’s Core I math class is finishing up our unit on Rational Numbers and Operations. As always, when unit testing is complete, students are encouraged to take advantage of re-testing to improve their understanding of content and grade. Our next unit of study is Algebra in which we explore variables, simplifying, and solving.
Math homework is assigned each week, and it is important that students are continuing to complete their homework as well as check their answers each day it is due. Homework should be a thoughtful practice of the big, new ideas as well as a review of previous content. Remember--homework can always be turned in for late credit!
Math Core 2-
Mrs. Koontz’s Core 2 math class has just reached the halfway point of unit two. We will continue to explore algebra tiles as we transition into solving equations, as well as inequalities. Our knowledge of expressions will be beneficial as we move into solving equations. Students will be reasoning abstractly in order to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
6th Grade Chorus
Duolingo
Simple Machines
7th Grade: Team Aviators
LIFE SCIENCE -
PBLs where great and before the holiday break students will be completing Cell movement through the cell membrane, cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Please remember that students should be able to access their Science ebook and all other work through the website. www.connected.mcgraw-hill.com and use their username and password that was given to them the first week of school. This information is also located in their agenda.
ELA-
In addition to a new independent novel, students will be reading The Giver or Number the Stars for Term 2. As we explore the societies Jonas and Annemarie live in, students will be interacting with various non-fiction texts. We will be utilizing Newsela to hold class discussions and debates. We will continue annotating various texts as we become more cognizant readers and explore nonfiction text structures.
History -
Mission Accomplished! Students are saying goodbye to Japan! Students recently examined the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Our focus will now be on the religions of Judaism and Islam. Judaism may seem very familiar to many students because it had a tremendous influence on another religion they may have some knowledge of, Christianity.
Math -
In Unit 2 - Expression and Equations students will learn how to use the 5D Process to solve problems and eventually use this process to write equations. Students will also learn how to simplify algebraic expressions, solve equations, and solve inequalities. Students are currently working on a project that involves them figuring out how much a cell phone costs per month with additional pricing of text messages. The 2nd part of our Unit 2 Test will be the 20th and 21st of December. Then we will be moving on to proportional relationships and percents.
Evolution of Gaming
Modeling in Math
Coding
7th and 8th Grades: Team Lightning
Science: Mr. Decker and Mr. Liberty
7th Grade: 7th grade classes have started the study of genetics, during which they will learn how traits are passed from parents to children. Students will be using Punnett squares to predict the probability of offspring having certain traits. Once students have an understanding of how alleles interact and control the expression of traits we will make paper babies by combining traits of two different students.
8th Grade: 8th grade classes are finishing their study of sound and light. Once we complete this unit we will be moving onto thermal energy. During this unit we will understand how thermal energy is transferred and how it relates to the states of matter. To help us understand these concepts we will be interacting with dry ice and liquid nitrogen. Our end result will be making ice cream to sample using dry ice and liquid nitrogen.
Math: Mr. Heller and Mr. Liberty
7th and 8th Grade:
As the holidays approach we cannot stress enough the importance of PRACTICE in math. Whether homework problems, class work, or station practice, we encourage students to take every opportunity to learn and practice the skills they need to build a solid math foundation. Parents are reminded to check grades often looking for missing work or low scores. Please contact your child’s teachers whenever there is a problem or concern. Wishing a Happy Holiday to all!!
English: Mr. Peglow and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade:
Peglow: As we move into the month of December we will begin to focus on poetry. We will read, analyze, and write poems paying specific attention to figurative language, what it looks like when used by others and how to use it in their own poems and writing. Prior to winter break students will apply their poetic skills to writing a parody of the famous rhymed verse story that they will be required to take home and read to their families for credit. So, be on the lookout for their fabulous poetic tales.
Trout: Students are continuing to read The Giver and work collaboratively in Literature Circle groups. Your student should be reading at home and doing work in a reading journal designed to practice literacy skills such as summarizing, questioning, connecting, and vocabulary building. In class, students are using close reading strategies to construct Text Dependent Analysis responses.
8th Grade: After finishing up the intro unit on writing and organizing a composition, we will begin our focus on poetry. We will read, analyze, and write poems paying specific attention to figurative language, what it looks like when used by others, and how to use it in their own poems and writing. Students will create an anthology of personal poems as well as favorite poems from famous poets. The culminating activity will be to perform an original or a favorite in the form of a SLAM poetry session. We will continue working on Text Dependent Analysis writings as well as they use these to analyze the poems.
Social Studies: Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Trout
7th Grade Ancient Civilizations:
Students just completed their final stop through Asia’s ancient civilizations with Japan. Major religions will be the primary focus throughout December and much of January. Earlier in the year students examined the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Now students will begin analyzing the religions of Judaism and Islam. Judaism will probably seem very familiar to many students because it had a tremendous influence on another religion they may have some knowledge of, Christianity.
8th Grade U.S. History:
Students in 8th grade are currently in the process of signing the Treaty of Ghent which will officially end America’s second war for independence (War of 1812). Throughout December students will begin to truly see America’s goal of Manifest Destiny come into focus. Western expansion will not come easy though; American will encounter several challenges from some familiar foes along the way including the Spanish, British, and Native Americans.
Science Project
Obstacles
Forensics
8th Grade: Team Sky Pilots
Decembers Math Growth Mindset Theme is “We Love a Challenge”
Several traditional textbook lessons will be replaced with online interactive experiences which challenge students to learn through their efforts and mistakes.
Core 3 students will be assessed on chapter 4 and then begin chapter 5 “Systems of Equations.”
Geometry students will be assessed on chapter 4 and then begin chapter 5 “Trig ratios”
All math students who score as non-proficient on any assessed Grade 8 Math PSSA assessment anchor or Geometry anchor will be required to complete remediation activities and alternate assessments. Students are required to email me when they complete the activities and assessment. Activities and assignments will be posted in Schoology in the same chapter as the test. A majority of the assignments will be online activities. Students are expect to see me or email if they have any questions about any activity. **Please note: Additional math help is available before and after school as well as during ACE Period.
Science is moving through Energy, Work and Simple Machines. We will be testing Levers and Pulleys in lab investigations. Later we will be discussing Sound and Light and then moving into Chemistry: the Periodic Table of Elements, Atoms and Chemical Reactions.
English classes begin a short unit on poetry that will take us through to the next holiday break. During this unit students will analyze and produce at least six forms of poetry and then compete for a spot in the high school Poetry Alive performance.
History classes are looking at the launch of a new nation following the writing of the U.S. Constitution. Following this, we will discuss the age of Andrew Jackson as president and westward expansion. We will also be looking at the root causes of the Civil War in the third marking period and will be looking forward to the Civil War traveling trunk and Gettysburg field trip in May.
Sphero
Swift Playground
Art Elective
Guidance Department
Conversations can sharpen your child’s thinking skills
What kind of thinker is your middle schooler? Can he tackle a tricky assignment in a clever way? Does he weigh all sides of an issue before picking a position? Will he give a reasoned opinion about something when asked?
Like other skills, your child’s thinking skills can be sharpened over time.
To develop your middle schooler’s thinking skills:
- Engage your child in conversation. Don’t gloss over the issues of the day when sitting down to dinner. Really discuss them. Encourage your child to ask questions about the things he sees online or hears at school. It may prompt him to consider those topics more deeply.
- Ask open-ended questions. When possible, avoid asking your child questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Instead, ask questions that are more likely to lead to a thoughtful response. “What has your science teacher said about global warming?” may result in a more detailed answer than, “Did you talk about anything interesting in school today?”
- Read a news article to your child or watch the news together. Then, ask him to share his opinion about specific topics in it.
- Avoid quizzing your child. Boosting his critical-thinking skills shouldn’t seem like school. Try not to make him feel as if you’re testing him. Rather, keep your exchanges casual and friendly.
When you trust your middle schooler, you have faith that she will do the right thing most of the time. But knowing what the right thing is takes judgment—and that develops over time.
Here are two ways to guide your child toward good judgment:
- Give him increasing amounts of responsibility. Start with a basic habit, such as bedtime. He knows what time he needs to get up for school. Tell him you will let him judge for himself a reasonable hour to get to bed. If this goes well, allow him to exercise judgment over another area of his life. If it doesn’t go well, ask him what he has learned from the experience. Work out a new plan with him, and try again.
- Discuss situations in advance. What would he do if a friend asked to copy him homework or a test? Your child probably knows that cheating is wrong, but kids often get flustered when presented with tough situations for the first time. Role-playing situations with you will help him call upon his judgment skills and make a good decision when it really counts.
Reprinted with permission from the December 2017 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2017 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.
Reminder from the Nurse
Just a reminder to parents: 6th grade students need to turn in a physical and 7th grade students need to turn in the dental form.
Spotlight on "Growth Mindset"
December's Mantra: We Love a Challenge!
A student in the growth mindset is motivated to tackle new challenges and overcome obstacles. Educational challenges and high expectations are hallmarks of a growth-oriented classroom. Doing hard things is exercise for our brains!
Upcoming Dates
School resumes on Tuesday, January 2, 2018
January 12: In Service Day, No School for Students
January 15: Act 80 Day, No School for Students
January 22: End of the 2nd Marking Period