Week of November 30, 2015

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

 We have begun Chapter 6 on multiplying and dividing fractions. The majority of the students understand the step-by-step process for solving these problems. However, there are several students who struggle with multi-digit multiplication and division. Therefore, they often get an incorrect answer. For these students, I recommend practicing long division and multi-digit multiplication using math games at home. They can also come to me for help during homework help time. This coming week I will teach lessons on: dividing mixed numbers, solving one-step algebraic equations using fraction multiplication, and unit comparison/conversion in US customary. About one week from now, on the 15th, I will administer the chapter 6 math test. I will help the students review for this test on Friday, the 11th and Monday, the 14th. On Friday, I will also send home the review packet. For additional practice, the students can take the pre-test on pages 298-299 of their textbook. The answers can be found in the back of the book on page 706.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we began the week by racing matchbox cars in order to find the unit rate of their speed. One car we measured rolling at 4.5 mph! After discussing ratios, unit rates, and unit price, we took a quiz on these topics on Wednesday. We then discussed proportions and how to use them to solve for variables. On Friday we practiced this on IXL, as well as introducing the concept of using ratios to solve similar polygons.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily (Alex):

Students completed remaining Chapter 4 material and a review for Thursday’s test. As a group, they demonstrated substantial progress manipulating formulas, square roots, and right triangles. To finish the week, our classed played a Pythagorean Theorem-inspired board game.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, students learned to write function rules from a set of data and to determine whether a function is a direction variation. They’ve calculated the constant of variation in a set of data as well. They learned to find terms in an arithmetic sequence using an equation they derived from finding the common difference of a function. We completed chapter 5 and will do a review on Monday then take the chapter test on Tuesday of next week.

Geometry with Holly:

This week we began Chapter 6 and the stud of quadrilaterals.  On Monday we discussed ways to classify quadrilaterals.  Then on Tuesday we discussed the properties of parallelograms, and followed that on Wednesday with a discussion of how to prove that a quadrilateral is a parallelogram. We continued this on Thursday by discussing other special parallelograms, and finished the week on Friday with a quiz over the first three sections.

Language Arts with Jared:

In language arts, students wrapped up their NaNoWriMo writing project, with a grand total of 390,000 words written by purple roomers last month! Students have the option to continue working on their stories and revising them throughout the year. With that project behind us, we then returned to our regular routine, and students worked on learning about helping verbs in their grammar unit, and received new vocabulary words to work on learning. In literature we looked at a number of origin myths from a variety of cultures, and students will be creating their own myths next week in class as a short creative writing project.

World Studies with Emily (Alex):

After an introduction to the Indus Valley civilization by our college-volunteer, students explored the ruins of Mohenjo Daro online, investigating its mysterious inhabitants. We examined the role India’s geography played in shaping early Hinduism and discussed the religion’s development and core beliefs.

Students had individual meetings to discuss articulating their NHD topics and locating relevant primary sources in addition to our weekly research checks. Over the remaining weeks before winter break, students will have additional time in class to organize their research notes, locate possible primary sources, and develop an overall plan for their upcoming projects.

Life Science with Molly:

Students began presenting their microorganism posters this week, completing a packet of questions as they listened to presentations and later read the posters more carefully. We began growing oyster mushrooms from a kit and were surprised to see rapid growth a couple of days after disturbing the hyphae. Students have taken note and drawn diagrams of the changes. Students also did a hand-washing activity this week. They applied hand-lotion that had an additive that shows under UV light. A few of them attempted to wash their hands thoroughly before we all observed our hands in the dark space of the closet. I hope they’ll all spend a little more time washing ‘germs’ off their hands in the future. This week students turned their final progress report in for science as well as their data table. They spent time in class working on the lap tops revising their science fair reports, which they have completed up through their materials and methods. They learned what should be included in the results and discussion sections of their reports. The rough draft of the report is due next week. 

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish

We have been studying stem changing verbs and reviewing vocabulary.

Spanish B

We finished the unit on chores, positive affirmative commands, and the present progressive tense.  We had a test on Friday.  Next week we will start a review of vocabulary for clothing, numbers, and stem changing verbs.

Spanish C

We continue talking about shopping, places where we go in the city/town, and errands. We learned several verbs that are irregular in the preterit (past) tense. We revisited direct object pronouns. We will have a test next Wednesday.

Spanish D

We continue working on the subjunctive mood in nominal clauses and introduced adjective clauses. We listened to a song and figured out where and why the subjunctive mood is used.  We will have a test next Wednesday.

Spanish K

We have joined Spanish D in their study of the subjunctive mood, as a review.

Art with Patti:

Students are continuing to work on ancient civilization languages. They have some really unique ideas for how they are using their handmade paper and clay slabs. Most students have finished the color-mixing project, and have moved on to working on the wheel and hand building clay projects.

Computer Lab with Holly:

We have finished the trading portion of our Stock Market simulation, so spent this week taking the spreadsheet tables and graphs that we have been creating, and incorporating them into a report documenting our trading activities.  Additionally, at the end of the week, the students took their monthly typing test.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week we continued to focus on organizing and reflecting on items in students’ portfolios. Teachers have asked to wait to send Portfolios home for parent feedback so that they can include some of the major projects that are being turned in now and will be graded over the winter break. We will send portfolios home along with the mid-winter trimester report. Students spend 10-15 minutes of time making a poster for the coat drive for the Montgomery County Christmas Store.

Next time we discuss Sex Ed. topics, 6th grade students will learn more about changes during puberty, such as growth spurts. In 7th grade, the girls will discuss breast growth and changes during puberty. Boys will discuss male breast changes and male genital changes and growth during puberty. 8th grade boys will focus on masturbation, before moving on to female sex organs and 8th grade girls will focus on male sex organs. It has been requested by more than one parent that we discuss pornography. I will include this in a future focus on sex in the media and on the internet.

Thank you from, The Purple Team