7th Grade Scoop
Melissa Middle School
Core Classes
ELAR
We have been helping get the kids ready for the Reading STAAR test. We reviewed maps, charts, and graphs. After practicing, the kids then had to come up and present a chart to me, the CEO, in order to see if they can keep their job, get promoted, or leave the company. They had fun making sure they looked at ALL of the details while working on their presentation skills. The next week, we reviewed test taking strategies for a Reading test. They have all expressed how this really helped them learn how to tackle the test.
For the next couple of weeks, we will be studying The Hero's Journey. We will read various myths, present in a Reader's Theatre, and watch a movie to compare how all follow the Hero's Journey.
The last week of school, the campus will play The Game of Life. The kids will use all of their skills they have used in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies to navigate through this game. We are so excited about this final activity.
Thank you so much for sharing your kids with us. It is so fun to watch each and every one of these kids learn and grow.
Alex Eichel: aeichel@melissaisd.org
Sydney Melvin: sydneymelvin@melissaisd.org
Reading
We are close to finishing THE OUTSIDERS, and as expected, our 7th graders are still loving the characters and the stories of their lives. We are continuing to focus on character traits and motivations of the characters, the various conflicts they are experiencing, as well as making connections between THE OUTSIDERS' world and ours today. Hopefully, our 7th graders will be able to apply lessons learned through reading THE OUTSIDERS to their own culture at Melissa Middle School and their home lives. Reading this novel will be unforgettable for our 7th graders. After we finish the novel and take the test over it, we will watch THE OUTSIDERS movie which will give our students the opportunity to really see on the screen what they've been envisioning in their heads! Be looking for the permission form to sign. After the movie, we will do a project called HOME ALONE which will be an opportunity for them to begin to try to understand some of the pressures the Curtis boys felt as they worked so hard to stay together by working on jobs, establishing family rules and responsibilities, and getting along. The project will take us to the end of the year! It's so hard to believe we are this close to the end!
Our STAAR Reading test is Tuesday, May 9th.
We are also offering a Book Club on Thursday afternoons after school from 4:15 - 5:00. We are reading the novel, TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR by Ben Mikaelsen. It's an unbelievable story of a troubled young man, and how he is given the opportunity to choose to make changes in his life or suffer the consequences of his hurtful choices.
Please let us know if you have questions or concerns. We'll be glad to help any way we can! GO CARDS!!! MODEL EXCELLENCE!
Susie Webb swebb@melissaisd.org
Jerad Castor jcastor@melissaisd.org
Social Studies - Texas History
Math- Academic
On Monday May 8th the 7th grade students will be taking their math STAAR test. We know they will do wonderful! After the STAAR test we will finish up the year with a personal financial literacy project, calculator understanding, and equations at the 8th grade level.
As always, students are encouraged to attend tutoring M-F morning from 8:10-8:40 or after school M-Th 4:10-5:00.
Debbie Duguid- duguid@melissaisd.org
Maghan Achimon- machimon@melissaisd.org
Tyler White- twhite@melissaisd.org
Whitney Vana- wvana@melissaisd.org
Math - Honors
Week of 5/8 – 5/12
· Monday – Honors students will work on their Science Project while the 7th Grade Academic students take their Math STAAR test
· Tuesday – 7th grade Reading STAAR Test
· Wednesday – 7.6A, C, D, I – Be able to find probability of Simple and Compound Events
· Thursday – 7.6A, E, H – Be able to find Probability of Simple and Compound Events and Predict Outcomes
· Friday – 7.6B, F, I – Be able to find Probability of Simple and Compound Events and Predict Outcomes
Week of 5/15 – 5/19
· Monday– 7.6A, B, C, D, E, F, H, I – Be able to find Probability of Simple and Compound Events and Predict Outcomes
· Tuesday – 7.6A, B, C, D, E, F, H, I – Probability Test
· Wednesday – 7.6G – Be able to Identify, List and Apply Central Tendencies
· Thursday – 7.6G – Be able to Read, Understand, and Use data from different types of graphs
· Friday – 7.12B – Be able to Read, Understand, and Use data from different types of graphs
Week of 5/22 – 5/26
· Monday – 7.6G, 7.12B,C, – Identify, Understand, and Use the different types of graphs appropriately to display different types of data
· Tuesday – 7.6G, 7.12B,C, – Identify, Understand, and Use the different types of graphs appropriately to display different types of data
· Wednesday – 7.6G, 7.12B,C, – Identify, Understand, and Use the different types of graphs appropriately to display different types of data
· Thursday – Friday - Apply 7th and 8th grade concepts learned throughout the year to produce projects demonstrating the real world application of these skills.
Tutoring is offered Monday-Friday in the morning (8:10-8:40) and Monday-Thursday after school (4:10-5:00). Please continue to check Parent Portal to keep updated on your child's averages in their classes. Please contact me at anytime if you have any questions or concerns and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Christie Weaver: cweaver@melissaisd.org.
Science
Students are working on their End-of-Year Projects which is a Paper Slide Video. They are in groups of 3 or 4 students. They will finish those up in class on Wednesday and Thursday, May 10-11. We will watch the videos in class on Friday, May 12 and Monday, May 15 which will be the review for the End-of-Year Test. The EOY Test is Tuesday and Wednesday, May 16-17. This project is worth 2 test grades, so please encourage your child to be working diligently on it while in class. Part of their grade will come from their group members.
After the EOY test, we will be doing a unit on requirements to survive in space. We will finish that unit up by watching the movie Apollo 13. We will be sending permission slips home for your student to be able to watch that movie. It is rated PG and came out in 1995.
We've had a great year in seventh grade science. We've enjoyed getting to know your children and will enjoy watching them throughout the rest of their middle school and high school years. We hope that you all have a great summer!
Sincerely,
Mr. McCarter and Coach Gabel