Week of September 22nd

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we spent the week working on balancing equations. We started with one-step equations, learning how to use inverse operations (adding/subtracting or multiplying/dividing) in order to isolate and solve for a variable. We took a quiz on this on Wednesday, before starting to explore two-step equations and forming equations to solve word problems.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

In Pre-Algebra III, we practiced simplifying algebraic expressions by combining like terms and solving multi-step algebraic equations all week. Students took a quiz; corrections are due Monday. We have started writing algebraic equations and drawing diagrams to solve a range of word problems. I have encouraged students to slow down their pace while doing homework, and especially quizzes and tests, because there have been many careless errors. I am reminding them to show their work, write legibly, and check their work (and not to forget their negative signs!). 

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, students learned that some equations have no solution, while others have infinitely many solutions, called identity. We then learned to define one variable in terms of another in an equation with two unknowns. They learned to write equations to solve for consecutive integers, when they are given the sum of those integers. We have embarked on what I like to refer to as the “classic algebra” problems. These are problems of distance, rate, and time. We are taking them slowly and will continue to learn how to solve these next week as well. 

Geometry with Holly:
This week we completed Chapter 2 on logic and reasoning by studying how logic is used in Algebra (this included a review of the Algebraic properties) and also how to prove angles congruent.  After a review of the entire chapter, the students took the chapter test on Friday.

Language Arts with Jared:

In our 19th century American poets unit, we focused this week on John Greenleaf Whittier, analyzing "At Port Royal" and "Barbara Frietchie," as well as James Russell Lowell's "The Present Crisis." In creative writing, students started presenting their power point tutorials, and the rest of the class worked on writing similar poems. In grammar, we finished our Prepositions unit, and will have a test on Tuesday.

World Studies with Emily:

In US History this week we finished reading the first five chapters from Joy Hakim’s “A History of US: Reconstruction and Reform”.  We tackled many difficult questions like: how to rebuild a nation after a civil war; should the leaders of the rebellion be punished; if not punished, should they be allowed to vote; what about hold office; is too much change, very quickly, less likely to be sustainable; does freedom necessarily include the right to vote; and does the federal government need to protect minorities when a state votes and legislates in a way that disproportionately affects or singles out a specific type of people. We compared four different Reconstruction plans: Lincoln’s (what we know about it before he was assassinated), the Wade-Davis Bill, Andrew Johnson’s, and the Radical Republicans'. Eighth graders read a primary source of a Northern general writing a letter to President Johnson about his observations of the post-war South. Students are beginning to look at some specific states’ Black Codes, as well as taking a closer look at the 13th, 14^th, and 15^th Amendments.

In World Studies, we read National History Day’s  “What is history?” and “What is research?”, which included eight steps to historical research and five keys to success. We discussed the importance of choosing a topic that you are naturally curious about and interested in, and that it’s not too late to abandon their three possible topics for a new one, but that now is the time! We read and discussed a NHD metaphor about doing a group project versus an individual project. Students are working on choosing their NHD topic, and will turn in a preliminary topic selection worksheet next week. All middle schoolers received a “current event homework pass” for successfully completing four current event summaries. Each of them may use it as he/she wishes to be excused from one current event assignment. In the future, sixth graders will receive one after three current event assignments, and seventh and eighth graders after four.

Earth Science with Molly:

We finished our focus and investigations into the causes of the seasons. Students found that the tilt of Earth’s axis causes changes in the amount of light and heat an area of the Earth receives. They also found that the difference in the concentration or intensity of light angles received on an area of Earth is also caused by the tilt. They are writing culminating essays explaining and supporting these ideas for next week. We completed our focus on science fair topics and students are ready to design their own experiments. They have turned in three topic ideas and will receive feedback from me early next week before they write a proposal for their science fair project.

Spanish A with Rebecca:
This week, we started Chapter 1A in the textbooks, which focuses on expressing likes and dislikes for different activities and pastimes using the verb "gustar." The students are learning how to ask each other what they like or don't like to do, and also how to agree and disagree with each other about mutual and different likes and dislikes, using the new vocabulary for different activities. They enjoyed watching the videos that supplement the book and help explain these new grammar concepts! They had a vocabulary quiz today (Friday).

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

This week we started a new chapter about the parts of the house, describing things, and chores. We started out by talking about our bedrooms- what is in them and what colors they have.  We reviewed vocabulary for colors, and we all enjoyed singing the color song. The students were very excited because we started the miniseries "¿Eres tú, María?" They have been looking forward to this for a while. We watched the first two episodes and made a list of what we know so far. I gave the students their assessments back. They were asked to revise the parts they missed. I explained that revisions do not result in more points on the test, but rather count as an extra assignment. I explained the importance of revising, in order to understand mistakes and identify potential problems.

Spanish C

This week we started a chapter that talks about extracurricular activities. We watched a videohistoria. We started looking at comparisons. We revisited what we had learned last year- comparing things with "more/less…than" and then talked about comparisons of equality ("as...as"). We finished the week with some singing. I gave the students their assessments back. They were given the option to revise the parts they missed. I explained the importance of revising, in order to understand mistakes and identify potential problems.

Spanish D

This week we started a new chapter with vocabulary about movies and the cinema. We reviewed verbs that take an indirect object, such as gustar. We saw new verbs that act this way and added pronouns, such as reflexives.  I introduced a new tense: the present perfect. We saw how to form it (with the verb haber plus a participle), saw how to form participles, and started working with irregular participles. I gave the students their assessments back. They were asked to revise the parts they missed. I explained that revisions do not result in more points on the test, but rather count as an extra assignment. I explained the importance of revising, in order to understand mistakes and identify potential problems.

Spanish D+

The students continue to work independently and efficiently on their own. I graded their first assessment and gave it back to them. Their next assessment will be next Wednesday, October 1st. I have asked them to focus on ser and estar (the "to be" verbs), particularly in instances where either one could fit the sentence, but the meaning would change depending on the choice.

Art with Patti:

Students had one art class this week where they finished their sketchbook activity of creating a color wheel, along with learning about different hues and color groups. They selected a photo to draw from, and drew a line drawing of it to translate into complimentary colors.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week we began a unit on Digital Citizenship.  In the Monday groups, we discussed a variety of ideas emphasizing how pervasive computers are in our daily life, and also learned how to search more efficiently and effectively on the internet.  Later in the week, in the grade level groups, the students began work on internet safety presentations with their partners.  This unit will last several weeks and will culminate with the students presenting their projects to their class, and taking a class prepared test over the presentations.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This meeting (7^th Fri, 6 & 8 next Mon.), we reviewed and created the rest of the instructions for the Purple Room student jobs. Students completed a survey about the Intergalactic Nemesis field trip at the Center for the Arts. We finished sharing their “If I were a …” posters, while they worked to complete their Reflections over the Rainbow Self-Portraits. Students spend the last 15 minutes in small groups discussing the character trait they feel is most important in life. I heard many meaningful explanations in support of their character trait and we shared these with the class. Next week we will continue to focus on activities about character.

Thank you from, The Purple Team

Week of September 15th

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra 1 with MaryAnn, the students worked on mean, mode, median, frequency tables, line plots, bar and line graphs, and spreadsheets. Next week we will continue with these same concepts and will most likely have an end of unit 2 test on Friday. There will also be a notebook check the same day. I gave back to the students on Monday their Unit 1 math tests. I hope you have had the opportunity to check in with your child to see how he/she did. The students did have to make corrections to their tests. I am still returning some of their tests for continued corrections.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we finished up our first chapter by covering Order of Operations, Distributive Property, and Mean/Median/Mode. We then talked about ways to study and review for math assessments, and did a lot of practice review problems. We had out first chapter test on Thursday, and then started discussion variables and expressions. On Friday we modeled equations using M&Ms, and then practiced these skills on the computer.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

We slowed down this week in Math and spent the whole week practicing two sections: “Solving Two-Step Equations” and “Simplifying Algebraic Expressions”, which involve combining like terms, using the Distributive Property, and then solving the equation or simplifying the expression.  We started solving multi-step equations today (Friday) and will practice this much more next week, as well as drawing diagrams and writing equations and solving inequalities. There will be a quiz on Tuesday on sections 2-1 through 2-4. 

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, we began our new chapter on solving equations. We began slowly with a review of solving one-step and two-step equations, including the properties associated with the steps one uses to solve the problem. We reviewed distribution and combining “like-terms.” Students learned a couple of handy methods to clear an equation of fractions or decimals before solving for the variable. Students turned in any revisions to their Chapter 1 test on Friday and these should be filed in portfolios early next week for your viewing.

Geometry with Holly:

This week we began chapter 2 and the study of logic and reasoning.  On Monday through Wednesday the students learned about deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, biconditionals, and definitions.  They took a quiz over this material on Wednesday, and spent the rest of the week working logic puzzles to practice their reasoning skills.  This is a fun unit, but will be a short one, as we will finish it up next week.

Language Arts with Jared:

In our 19th century American poets unit, we focused this week on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, analyzing "Paul Revere's Ride" and a section of "The Song of Hiawatha." In creative writing, students turned in (and some read aloud to the class) the poems they wrote in each of their assigned styles. They also worked this week on creating power point tutorials, so that they can teach the rest of the class how to write similar poems. In grammar, we are nearing the end of our preposition unit, and will have our first grammar test at the end of next week.

World Studies with Emily:

In U.S. History, purple roomers reviewed and shared their mid-to-late-1800s notes from students’ poster presentations and asked one another (and me) questions in order to study for the quiz we took on Tuesday. In class, we read an essay entitled Ghost Dance at Wounded Knee  from Teaching Tolerance’s publication “Us and Them: A History of Intolerance in America” by Jim Carnes.  We discussed the essay and some of the more recent gains for Native Americans as well as touching on the complexity of tribal sovereignty. The students are responding to a question in their readers’ response journals about how the 1800’s U.S. government might/could have approached Native Americans differently. Meanwhile, the 7^th and 8^th graders traveled back in time 25 years and began reading about how to reconstruct the South and the nation after the Civil War. The 6^th graders will begin this same reading on Monday.  The question: “what is liberty or freedom and how does it fit with equality?” has resurfaced again as we discuss the emancipation of four million African Americans and how the North should treat its former enemy—the South.

In World Studies, students improved immensely in writing their summaries of current event articles (well, at following the rubric!).  Students have chosen their top three choices for National History Day projects and done a preliminary search on all three. They are currently searching the Virginia Tech online library database for appropriate books and articles as well as the online Blacksburg library to see what is out there for all three of their possible topics before choosing one. 

Earth Science with Molly:

We continued our focus and investigations on the causes of the seasons. Students did a simulation applying the 23 degree tilt of Earth, they graphed the hours of daylight of different places around the world, and they finished the week with an activity about how the angle of light affects the intensity of light. These activities complete our investigations to support the reasons for the seasons and to refute the misconceptions held by most people. Next week we will wrap up this focus, pinpointing the true causes of the seasons. In preparation for the science fair, we learned about controlling variables in experiments and forming operational definitions in their procedures. Students are currently researching ideas and isolating variables for their science fair project. They’ll turn these preliminary ideas in to me next Thursday. 

Spanish A with Rebecca:
The students spent Monday (9/15) reviewing grammar concepts and vocabulary for the opening review chapter of their book in preparation for Wednesday's test (9/15). Today, we started Chapter 1A, which introduces vocabulary for different past times and how to express which activities one likes or dislikes.

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

This week we reviewed and had our assessment for 5A and 5B. We finished the week with a game of Verbo.

Spanish C

This week we reviewed and had our assessment for 1A. We finished the week with a game of Verbo.

Spanish D

This week we reviewed and had our assessment for 6A. We finished the week with a game of Verbo.

Spanish D+

The students continue to work independently and efficiently on their own.

Art with Patti:

September 15

Our classes have been filled with color this week. Students created a color wheel including primary, secondary and intermediate colors. The complimentary color project has also been introduced, and some students have started working on it. 

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students have been practicing typing by creating a "Future Bio", in which they document their lives to date and describe what they imagine their lives will be in the future, with emphasis on the legacy they will leave.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This meeting (7^th Fri, 6 & 8 next Mon.), we reviewed and created instructions for more Purple Room student jobs. We continued to share their “If I were a …” posters, while they worked to complete their Reflections over the Rainbow Self-Portraits. We then discussed what character is and listed character traits we admire in others. Students rated the 10 character traits they feel are most important to them. We then watched a character video on responsibility. Students were also given a poll over Edmodo asking them if they would like to move their 15 minute snack time to the beginning of their Tuesday and Thursday lunches for a 45 minute lunch. Teachers are discussing this possibility. Next week we will continue to focus on activities about character.

Thank you from, The Purple Team