Week of September 1st

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra 1 with MaryAnn, the students have continued to work with decimals. This week we added, subtracted, and multiplied decimals. I handed out a worksheet to those students who are using the "lattice" method for multiplication. We are moving away from this method, so if your child is still dependent on it, I would suggest they practice every day with a problem or two until they get the hang of it. We will be having our first end of unit math assessment next Friday. This will include a notebook check so please encourage your child to look over the rubric before handing in their notebook. This assessment will over Unit 1 material.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, students took their first quiz (on estimating and multiplying & dividing decimals). We then introduced the metric system, and were measuring all types of objects in the classroom. We then discussed how to convert from one metric measurement to another. On Friday we held our annual "Kilometer Long Jump Competition," and one student jumped 0.0028 km! After the competition, the students then continued practicing these skills on the computer.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

In Pre-Algebra III, students continued to practice adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative integers. In addition, they reviewed and advanced their knowledge of powers and exponents—the greatest challenge was evaluating negative powers with bases inside and outside of parentheses--, using integers with mean, median, and mode, and identifying and using properties of numbers (Commutative, Associative, and Identity Properties of Multiplication and Addition, and the Distributive Property). Students took a quiz on Friday. We will review chapter one on Monday and have a test on Tuesday.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, we continued a review of basic computation with real numbers. Students were reminded of how to add and subtract fractions, as well as multiply and divide them, while not dropping any negative signs. We began working with the distributive property on Friday. Quizzes were returned and students have been given the opportunity to revise these for half the points back during the first half of the fall trimester. Students will be taking a quiz on 1-5 & 1-6 on Monday.

Geometry with Holly:

This week we continue discussing geometry tools which we will be using throughout the year.  Topics we discussed included measuring segments, measuring angles, and how to create basic geometric constructions.  Algebra is a major tool we use, so we have also spent a lot of time reviewing algebra skills.  On Wednesday, the students took their first quiz over material from the first four sections.

Language Arts with Jared:

In grammar we're continuing with our prepositions unit, and students are working on memorizing a list of prepositions for a quiz on Thursday. We continued in our 19th century American poetry unit, reading two more of William Cullen Bryant's poems, and reading Sidney Lanier's "Song of Chattahoochee." We also began discussing types of poetry, and each student was assigned a specific type which they will have to learn how to write and then teach to the class. And then in our writing section, students worked on writing sentences with their new vocabulary words, in anticipation of next week's quiz.

World Studies with Emily:

I thoroughly enjoyed reading purple roomers’ responses to the introduction of A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki; there were many thoughtful and mature ideas. In World Studies, students presented their current event articles with a summary and a statement about why we should know about the topic in the article. We also read an informative few pages about the 2014-2015 theme for National History Day: Leadership and Legacy in History. Students should be thinking about what interests them within this theme and then generate a list of ten possible topics for class next week.  In US History, students have been hard at work researching their chosen topic from the late 1800s and creating a poster to teach the rest of the class. Presentations will take place this Monday and Tuesday.

Earth Science with Molly:

We continued our focus on the Earth-Sun-Moon relationship this week. Students completed surveys and questionnaires to try to reveal their understandings and misconceptions. They are creating three graphs representing responses they collected from one of the surveys. They learned about a survey of Harvard graduates which revealed that most had misunderstandings about what causes the seasons. We will do several activities next week to learn about the actual causes of the seasons on Earth. They discussed gravity in different situations and began an imaginary journey to the sun. We continued learning about science fair skills this week such as inferences and measurement. We also discussed the basic steps to designing an experiment, but will focus more on each step next week. 

Spanish A with Rebecca:

The Spanish A students have been working on greeting each other, introducing themselves, and saying goodbye. They reviewed how to count to 100, vocabulary for parts of the body, and classroom objects. They are also learning how to tell time for the first time - quite a challenge, but they are doing well! Their first quiz was this Friday, September 5th.

Spanish with Olga:

Spanish B

We have been learning and reviewing vocabulary and present tense verb forms. We have been talking about our birthdays, birthday celebrations and traditions.  We watched a Videohistoria for unit 5A and learned about possessive pronouns.

Spanish C

We started the first chapter. We watched the videohistoria, about a boy who has a nightmare (a funny one!) about his first day of school. We have been learning how to talk about rules, ask permission for something while in class (go to the bathroom, get a book, etc.). Finally we have been talking about activities that we do in different classes (projects, exams, homework, etc).  We read the poem "Versos Sencillos" by José Martí. The students turned in their first writing entry on Friday.

Spanish D

We have been working on formal commands, positive and negative. We watched a short grammar video about this structure. We practiced the structure, both in writing and speaking.  The students turned in their first writing entry on Friday.

Spanish D+

The students continue to work independently and efficiently on their own. They have completed the first chapter in the grammar book, which was a review of present tense verbs. They translated a paragraph from the book.  We will have an assessment on that chapter on September 12.  The students turned in their first reading assignment on Friday.

Art with Patti:

We've started off the school year working in sketchbooks and preparing pages for art journaling. Students have experimented with watercolor, resist, and developing drawings to include on their pages. They have explored different transfer techniques, and use of pattern and how it can be used to connect two pages of artwork. They ended this week with briefly learning about the screen printing process, and trying it out for themselves. 

Computer Lab with Holly:
This week, the students continued work on creating their Cascades Hike poster, a montage of photos documenting the field trip the students took last week.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This class meets once a week, so some have had it on Friday, while others won’t meet until next Monday. We discussed our new planners and ways to use them effectively. We wrote important BNS and Purple Room dates in the planners. Students worked on a self-portrait to add to their Reflections Across the Rainbow binders they are building as they continue through BNS. While they were drawing, peers presented their “If I were a…” posters and explained their choices. We will continue the self-portraits and poster sharing next time we meet, as well as embark on a self-reflection activity about character traits. 

Thank you from, The Purple Team