Team 8-2 News
Mrs. Bense, Mr. Frazier, Mrs. Madera, Ms. Waxman
General News!
Happy Monday!
Our first full week is under our belts, and everyone seems to be settling in. We have made some schedule changes within the team to help us balance our class sizes and to provide the best instructional environment we can for all of our students. These schedules went home this afternoon with students who are affected by these changes. We realize change can be difficult, but we hope you will support the process, and know that our ultimate goal is for everyone to be as successful as possible.
With 2017's Total Solar Eclipse coming up next Monday, our science classes will be discussing eclipses, as well as safety procedures.Please be aware that the scheduled time of this event coincides with our dismissal times. Students should only be viewing this directly if they have proper eye protection.
A special thank you to those of you who have sent in the additional supplies that were on our wish list. Those items are greatly appreciated!
Tomorrow is our first SMMS Spirit Day of the year. Students are encouraged to show their school spirit, by wearing red and blue.
SMMS Yearbooks are on sale now for $37.00, until September 1st ( order online at)
Have a great week!
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
August 17th- Honor Roll Breakfast (4th Qt 2016-17 for 7th and 8th graders) 8:45-9:15
August 15th& 17th- SMMS Spirit Day...Show your school spirit,wear your red, white, and blue
August 21- 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
August 22- Math Inventory taken in Math classes
August 29th- SMMS Spirit Day...Show your school spirit,wear your red, white, and blue
September 1st- Middle School Night/ Chris Gilman Stadium 7-9 pm
September 4th- Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 5&6th- SMMS Spirit Day...Show your school spirit,wear your red, white, and blue
September 13th- 1st Quarter Progress Reports go home
Language Arts- Ms. Waxman
Greetings!
This week our focus will be understanding and identifying some of the techniques that authors use in their writing to "show us" rather than "tell us". Students will examine various pieces of text, as well as try a hand at this themselves. We will also begin to examine how dialogue and actions can be used to develop characters in our reading and writing.
W e were able to get a jump start on our"Reading Inventory", and students who were here last Friday have already taken it. I was very impressed by the scores overall, and look forward to sharing that information with you if your child hasn't already.We will monitor growth and other progress mid and end of year. The only way to maintain or increase a reading lexile level is with continued regular practice.
Your student should be reading independently each evening for approximately 20-30 minutes. Last week we took our first trip to the library, and most of the students checked out 2 books. If they have not already begun to focus on some independent reading each night, please encourage this practice. It is the primary homework they will have for language arts. I have asked the students to try and complete at least one of their books by Aug. 25th. This will help me have a better idea of their independent reading comprehension. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they should have their books with them for some independent practice time. We will be using their own choice readings to complete some of our other classroom activities on those days. (It is great practice to have those books with them EVERYDAY)
The students also have access to books and stories online at https://myon.com/. Your child's login is their student number, and their password is myon.. Another resource is TweenTribune
http://tweentribune.com/ , which are high interest, short non-fiction articles. Both would provide wonderful practice for your student. Most students have their logins and passwords for this in their agenda books.
Our "Literary Terms Chart" containing the 30 terms that we will be using throughout the year should be being reviewed. There will be an assessment on these terms, so students should focus on terms that they do not have a strong understanding of over the next few weeks. I will be providing them with study aids as we go, but those who are not comfortable with them yet, may need some additional reinforcement at home.
In grammar, we have introduced our first root word set, "Over and Under". I have placed the link for a STUDYSTACK in their Google Classroom. We will be taking a quick check quiz on these this Thursday. We are also working on "Mountain Language", which reinforces 20 grammar skills on a weekly basis. Last week we walked through each of these together, and this week I am looking for students to try it independently. We will also have a quiz over a few of the key skills this Friday.
Science- Mrs. Madera
Physical Science- Students joined a Google Classroom for science last week. Google Classroom is a great one stop shop to see what your child is working on in class. Students have started entering notes into their notebook. They should be reviewing these notes each night.
Students completed building their “Trash to Treasure” project last Friday. Please ask your student about the purpose of “Upcycling” and how it relates to our Engineering Design Process. We will be using this process throughout the school year for various group projects.
We will begin exploring topics on “Measurement” and “Graphing” during the week ahead. Students worked on five mini-assignments today in class. These assignments are posted on Google Classroom and are to be submitted by Tuesday, 8/15.
Our learning goals will include:
1. Lab Safety
2. Metric System
3. Data Tables and Types of Graphs
4. Measurement-Mass, Volume, Density
5. Steps to a lab write-up
The "Measurement" Vocabulary and “Graphing” Vocabulary can be found by visiting my Quizlet link below. I will post vocabulary at the beginning of each unit. Science homework will be to review notes and vocabulary. https://quizlet.com/join/kRj6Jgpam
Students will receive a Measurement Packet tomorrow. The packet consists of notes, reinforcement/practice activities, and labs to demonstrate their knowledge. The Measurement Packet is due on Friday, 8/25. Students will be tested on the material in this packet as well as their notes taken in class. Students should be reviewing their notes each night and completing any work that is not completed in class. Please encourage your student to tell you all about their day in Physical Science.
Mr. Frazier
This week, Team 8-2 Mathematics will be issued textbooks. These books belong to the students and they can keep them at home for there reference. This will often be their source of homework assignments. However, the students must take care of these books as I don’t have extras if something happens to the one issued. Academically, we will continue exploring angles formed when parallel lines are cut by a transversal. We will likely have a quiz on Wednesday before transitioning to the study of interior and exterior angles of triangles.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS (See Agenda Books for possible changes)
MONDAY (7 AUG): TBD
TUESDAY (8 AUG): Study for Quiz
WEDNESDAY (9 AUG): TBD
THURSDAY (10 AUG): TBD
FRIDAY (11 AUG): None
QUIZ/TESTS
Wednesday (16 Aug): Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal Quiz
VOCABULARY
Interior Angle: Formed by two sides of a triangle.
Exterior Angle: Formed by one side of the triangle and extension of an adjacent side.
RESOURCES
1. Learnalberta.ca – Interactive Manipulative (virtually hands-on): http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mejhm/index.html?l=0&ID1=AB.MATH.JR.SHAP&ID2=AB.MATH.JR.SHAP.ANG&lesson=html/object_interactives/parallel_lines/explore_it.html
2. Mathisfun.com – Virtual presentation with pictures and practice problems: https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/interior-angles-polygons.html
3. Math Warehouse:
http://www.mathwarehouse.com/geometry/triangles/
4. IXL.com – Practice problems
https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-8/exterior-angle-theorem
5. Khan Academy.org – Collection of videos and practice problems
Social Studies- Mrs. Bense
This week students will finish Georgia’s Land and Climate by taking a map and vocabulary quiz on Wednesday, August 16.
Students will complete a graphic organizer and comic strip on the First People of Georgia.
Students should review graphic organizers and vocabulary for a few minutes each evening. Links for Quizlet and Study Stack can be found on Google Classroom.
Teacher Contact Information
Mrs. Bense- tbense@camden.k12.ga.us
Mr. Frazier- ajfrazier@camden.k12.ga.us
Mrs. Madera- kmadera@camden.k12.ga.us
Ms. Waxman- bwaxman@camden.k12.ga.us
Location: 205 Martha Drive, Saint Marys, GA, United States
Phone: (912)-882-8626