Week of August 31, 2015

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, students worked with the metric system this week. They began with a kilometer-long-jump contest (one student jumped 0.00245 kilometers!). We then measured all sorts of things in the classroom, and worked on converting the measurements to different units within the metric system. We then reviewed the four sections we've covered, and took our first chapter quiz on Friday.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

We had a great, full week of Pre-Algebra III. The class took their first quiz and did quite well. We practiced adding and subtracting integers some more, multiplied and divided integers, found the mean, median, mode, and range of many different data sets as well as decided which was the best measure of central tendency for various types of data and then calculated it. We learned how to simplify positive and negative powers (positive exponents with both negative and positive bases) and practiced the difference between the opposite of 2 raised to the fourth, -2^4 , which equals -16, and -2 raised to the fourth, (-2)^4 , which equals 16. Students simplified algebraic expressions that incorporated each skill from chapter one (except measures of central tendency).  We will have a second quiz as well as our chapter test next week.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, we continued a review of basic computation with real numbers. Students were reminded of how to multiply and divide with real numbers, while not dropping any negative signs. We also worked with the distributive property. Quizzes were returned and students have been given the opportunity to revise these for half the points back (during the first two chapter of the book). Students reviewed what makes a “term” of an algebraic expression, and whether a number is a constant or a coefficient. Students learned about the properties of real numbers and began using these to justify EVERY move they make in simplifying a problem. These skills will help them next year in Geometry! At the end of the week, we reviewed the coordinate plane for graphing. Next week will begin with a review, then a chapter test on Wednesday.

Geometry with Holly:

We continued working on some of the basic tools we will be using throughout our course of study.  On Tuesday the students took their first quiz over the material from last week.  On Monday, the students were introduced to our first theorems and postulates as we discussed measuring and adding segments, and on Wednesday we discussed measuring and adding angles.  We took a bit of a break from theory on Thursday as the students tried their hands with their first geometric constructions.  On Friday, the students were introduced to the geometry software, Geogebra, which the students will be using periodically to explore some of our geometric concepts.  We finished the week by practicing constructions and by reviewing strategies to properly complete problems and avoid small math errors.

Language Arts with Jared:

Students continued working with prepositions, and will have a prepositions quiz on Tuesday (8th) or Wednesday (6th/7th). They also wrapped up their first vocabulary unit, working on memorizing their 20 vocabulary words and being able to use them correctly in a sentence. (This quiz will be on Tuesday for the 6th/7th grade, and Friday for the 8th graders.) In our literature unit, we continued with our focus on short stories. 6th graders read "Charles" and "Chivalry," 7th graders read "Gator" and "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale," and 8th graders read "The Yellow Wallpaper." Students then spent time in groups working on drawing plot diagrams for the stories.

World Studies with Emily:

All grades read and discussed an essay entitled Prehistory by Richard E. Leakey and then outlined the essay – 6^th grade together as a class, 7^th and 8^th on their own in pairs. Each class watched the first video of a four-part BBC series called Walking with Cavemen.  As a follow-up, students read a short section about human evolution from https://humanorigins.si.edu/resources/intro-human-evolution and answered ten questions, either independently or with a partner. In our current events and NHD section of World Studies, students presented a summary of their summary of the current event article they read and wrote about for homework. I did notice that a number of students waited until quite late on the night before the assignment was due to complete the assignment, which had been assigned a full week earlier. I would encourage students to work on this weekly assignment earlier in the week so as to not find them stressful the night before they’re due. 6^th graders read most of the 2015-2016 NHD theme sheet in class, but should finish reading it for homework, and star some possible topics that they find interesting. 7^th and 8^th graders should think about, discuss with parents, and create a list of potential topics that they are interested in researching (that work with the theme). If they have time, do some preliminary research on at least two topics, but three (or more!) is preferable. 

Life Science with Molly:

This week students read about the characteristics of living things. This first reading and note-taking assignment provided 7^th and 8^th grade students reminders about what important information they should write down in their notes while reading, while 6^th grade students read the selection and took notes together. They began practicing some phonological observations of different plants and animals around the playground. This gave them a baseline to discuss which detailed observations would be most helpful for scientist trying to notice changes in the cycle of a living being. We began learning or reviewing the important skills needed for conducting a controlled experiment using scientific inquiry. Students were introduced to a mummification lab we will begin next week and began writing down the steps of the procedure. This will be good practice in scientific inquiry for their own science fair projects.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Sunshine Spanish

We continue to review basic vocabulary and have started learning verb conjugations. We will have a quiz on Tuesday.

Spanish B

We continue working on the vocabulary for family members and parties.  We have started learning possessive adjectives (my, yours, his/hers, etc). The students answered questions about their families and made a draft of their family tree.  We'll have a test on Chapter 5A on September 16. The students should be studying vocabulary words regularly.

Spanish C

We have been talking about rules that are usually followed in schools. We learned new irregular verbs (stem changers) and we talked about negative and positive words. We worked on sentence structure. We'll have a test on Chapter 1A on September 16. The students have a short writing piece due on September 18. We talked about how it is a good idea to write a draft, take a break from it, and revise it.  That way they can catch mistakes. I am always available to help them if they need it, during homework help (Wed. and Thurs. 3:15). Finally, we finished this week with some music.

Spanish D

We have been talking about food and cooking methods. We are learning about different dishes from the Hispanic world. We revisited command forms and learned negative informal commands. We also learned a new structure "se impersonal."  This structure is similar in meaning to a passive voice in English.  Those two structures (commands and se impersonal) are used when reading/writing recipes in Spanish.  We have a test on Chapter 7A on September 16.  The students also have a short writing piece due on September 11. Finally, we finished this week with some music.

Spanish D+

We continue to focus on reading comprehension and fluency.  We continue reading an authentic short story called "Cajas de Cartón" (Cardboard Boxes). We are making a vocabulary list of words and phrases that are new.  We are also active participants in the oral discussions with the students in Spanish D.

Art with Patti:

Students have been busy in art. We have been talking about the graffiti art movement and what that style is and how it has impacted our culture. Students have been working on making a statement word in the graffiti art style. They have also started work on their classroom t-shirts and have screen printed this week.

Computer Lab with Holly:

This week the students began work on  posters to document the class Cascades Hike.  They will be practicing downloading photos, creating documents on irregularly sized paper, and arranging the photos into a collage with captions.  The students also began typing practice with the new typing masks.  Some are not too happy with them, but they are learning to adapt.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week all students focused on handwriting. They wrote a sample of their names and copied a short poem. We discussed the various situations for which writing neatly would be considered important. We tried out and talked about different letter formations and pencil grips and how they relate to efficiency in writing. I shared with the students that now may be a time when they could decide to change their writing and to decide how they would like to write as adults. Next week we will discuss the “personality” in one’s handwriting and talk about different forms of handwriting. In the coming weeks 6^th grade students will begin talking about puberty and the changes the adolescent body goes through, 7^th grade students will learn about the anatomy of their respective gender, and 8^th grade students will review the anatomy of their respective gender before discussing feelings of sexuality in the body and mind.

Thank you from, The Purple Team

Week of August 24, 2015

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with Bina:

We reviewed decimal comparison, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II students started the year with a skills review packet, which I will use to determine which skills to emphasize over the next month. Students then worked on adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals. We stressed the need to show work on the page, and to be neat and organized with their work. On Fridays we practiced these skills on the laptops, using the program www.ixl.com - and students are welcome to continue working on their level at home.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

After setting-up our binders, previewing chapter one, and completing a diagnosing readiness last week, we started Chapter One: Integers and Algebraic Expressions. We reviewed and practiced: writing and evaluating algebraic expressions, using the order of operations, using a problem-solving plan to solve word problems, finding the absolute value of integers, comparing and ordering integers, and adding and subtracting integers. We will have our first quiz on Tuesday.

Algebra I with Molly:

This week in Algebra, we focused on review to get our math brains working. We practiced using variables, exponents, and order of operations. We defined and added with real numbers. We had a quiz on our first two sections, 1-1 and 1-2 on Friday and there will be a quiz on 1-3 and 1-4 next Tuesday. The students are doing a nice job showing their work and computing carefully.

Geometry with Holly:
We began the year in Geometry by reviewing Algebra skills which will be used throughout the year.  Then we started collecting some basic skills we will be using as we study Geometry.  The students have studied patterns and inductive reasoning; types of 3D drawings, nets and other models; points, lines, and lanes; plus segments, rays, parallel lines, and planes. 

Language Arts with Jared:

We started the year with a focus on short stories, using them as a springboard for the discussion of the elements of fiction. Sixth graders read "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Three Questions." Seventh graders read "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." Eighth graders read "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Cop and the Anthem." We also introduced our first grammar unit (prepositions), and students will have a quiz on memorized prepositions in a few weeks. And finally, students created flashcards for our first vocabulary unit, and students will have a quiz on these 20 words in a few weeks.

World Studies with Emily:

With three World Studies classes this week – two Ancient Civilization classes and one National History Day, current event, and geography class. We discussed what we will learn about this year regarding human origins and ancient civilizations/cultures as well as course and assignment expectations and read and discussed a thought-provoking essay entitled Why Study Ancient World Cultures? I introduced the 2015 – 2016 National History Day theme (Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History); 7^th and 8^th graders read the official theme sheet while 6^th graders watched an introductory film about NHD. 8th graders discussed themes of geography, the five guiding questions for our studies this year, and read the “World Overview” pages of our textbook.

Life Science with Molly:

After setting up our binders and learning about the topics that will be covered in Life Science this year, students began by answering the question ‘What is life?’ These writings were discussed and students realized it was more complicated than they realized to answer simply. We began a reading in the text on The Origin of Life and practiced taking notes together. We also began reading the book From Lava to Life by Jennifer Morgan. Students learned about phenology and the regular observations we’ll be making of plant and animal cycles throughout the year.

Spanish with Olga & Corinne:

Morning Spanish
We started the Sunshine Spanish with vocabulary for body parts and verbs.  We made posters to talk about what we like and dislike.

Spanish B

We started with a review of verbs in the present tense and a quick overview of vocabulary.  This week we learned vocabulary to describe our families and talk about celebrating with family and friends.  We watched a video to listen to the vocabulary. There is Spanish homework help every Wednesday and Friday from 3:15 to 3:45, in the Spanish Room.  I am delighted to be working with the students again.  Corinne McCoy will be teaching them with me this year.

Spanish C

We started with a review of the present and past tense of the verbs. We also did a quick vocabulary review. We started learning words to describe things we do at school, rules, materials, classes, etc.
We watched a video to listen to the vocabulary. There is Spanish homework help every Wednesday and Friday from 3:15 to 3:45, in the Spanish Room.  I am delighted to be working with the students again.  Corinne McCoy will be teaching them with me this year.

Spanish D
We started with a review of the verb system in Spanish. We also did a quick vocabulary review. We started learning terms for cooking and food.  We talked about a Spanish dish called paella. Ask the students to tell you all about it!  

There is Spanish homework help every Wednesday and Friday from 3:15 to 3:45, in the Spanish Room.  I am delighted to be working with the students again.  Corinne McCoy will be teaching them with me this year.

Spanish D+

To begin the school year, we are focusing on reading comprehension.  We are reading an authentic short story called "Cajas de Cartón" (Cardboard Boxes).  We are also joining the D class for vocabulary reviews, question and answer practice, and games. There is Spanish homework help every Wednesday and Friday from 3:15 to 3:45, in the Spanish Room.  I am delighted to be working with the students again.

Computer Lab with Holly:

During the one period which we met, the students were introduced to the plan for the year, set up their computer filing system, and were given codes so that they could join their Edmodo groups for their different classes.  Basic touch typing skills will receive much more emphasis this year, and towards that end, students were introduced to the new keyboard covers which they will be using to hide the key names.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

This week students began life skills class sharing something about themselves, completing a short questionnaire about how they feel in/about the Purple Room thus far, and learned about the topics that will be covered in Life Skill and Sex Ed this year. We will begin the year with a short hand-writing unit for all groups. There will be three focuses to the unit: legibility, personality, & art.

Thank you from, The Purple Team

Last Few Weeks Summary 2015

Purple Curriculum Updates

Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn:

In Pre-Algebra I with MaryAnn, the students worked on completing assessments. Students took the end of Unit 12 assessment and then end of year assessments. During the final weeks we have been reviewing concepts and skills the students asked for additional help on. 

Pre-Algebra II with Jared:

In Pre-Algebra II, we took the end-of-year Pre-Algebra 2 assessment and the Pre-Algebra 3 assessment, which covered material that students will learn next year. I will use the results of this assessment as one component for deciding student placement for next year. After this test, we began work on our final chapter of the book. Students learned how to calculate odds and probability, and then spent a lot of time with coins, spinners, and dice to calculate experimental probability. During the last week of school we continued with probability, and studied combinations and permutations.

Pre-Algebra III with Emily:

Students practiced new probability skills and concepts on IXL and we finished the chapter on probability. I did not give a culminating quiz or test on the probability chapter because I wanted to move right along to teaching the final chapter of the textbook, entitled “Algebraic Relationships”. We  studied sequences and writing rules for functions as well as graphing functions, both linear and nonlinear functions, such as quadratic functions. Students took the Pre-Algebra III cumulative test on  Wednesday and Thursday.

Algebra I with Molly:

We have finished out the year with a study of computation with radicals. Students have taken an end of year assessment, which will not be counted in their grades, but will give them a good idea of how much they retain from their year-long course. The assessment used was an SOL test from a previous year that was released by the state to use as practice. Everyone passed one of these practice SOLS at the end of the year. These are available online for students to practice at any time. There are links on the BHS website to these practice tests. It was a wonderful year teaching these bright young mathematicians.

Geometry with Holly:

The students completed their formal study of Geometry by reviewing for and then taking an End-of-Year assessment / mock SOL.  I was most impressed by how well the students all did.  We finished the week prior to the field trip by learning about and practicing Gothic Geometry, which is the Geometry behind the arches and windows used in Gothic construction.  The students will be using these skills in their End-of-Year project where they will use all of their Geometry skills to design a monument.

Language Arts with Jared:

In language arts, students continue to study "Much Ado About Nothing." We finished discussing and analyzing the play, and watched corresponding scenes from two different productions of the play. Students also continued working on their group picture book projects, which were presented to the younger grades on D.E.A.R. day. In addition, students continued memorizing their lines for the play, costume lists were made, and a number of paper-mache masks were made and painted. We had a number of full run-throughs during the school day for practice, and our final performance will be at 2:30 on Thursday, June 4th.

World Studies with Emily:

Students finished studying WWII and reviewed for our last test of the year. Overall, they did very well on the WWII test. I was proud of their “big understandings” as well as their retention of detail and even dates! 7^th graders watched a short documentary about a Holocaust survivor. 8^th graders watched a short video about the mystery of the “Ghost train”, which originated in Belgium, set out for a concentration camp, but the Belgian resistance movement prevented it from ever arriving at the concentration camp.  All classes read a fascinating magazine article from 2003 about how three high school students in Kansas researched and revealed to the world, via their NHD project, the story of a brave Polish, Catholic woman who rescued 2,500 babies and children from the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943. Students worked independently or with a partner on our final history project on the remaining decades – the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s. They either chose or were assigned one decade to research on their own and were excited about the independence they had in choosing how to present their decade. The presentations were varied, informative, and entertaining! Students summarized their last current event summary of the year, played a geography game on the computer, and some had the chance to play a culminating geography game.

Earth Science with Molly:

We completed the Inside Earth unit with a test. Since then, we have been focused on the rock cycle and minerals. We also spent some time doing field trip preparation.

Spanish A with Rebecca:

The Spanish A students took the listening and speaking portions of the end-of-year assessment on May 8th and 11th. They continued learning some new vocabulary grammar concepts and practiced using the Spanish they have learned over the year. On Monday (6/1), the students had a "Cooking Day" and got to make their own batch of guacamole from scratch. They also got to try flan, a traditional dessert in many Spanish-speaking countries. On Wednesday (6/2), our final class for the year, the students enjoyed playing various games to practice their Spanish. They also learned a fun song called Una Sardina.

Spanish with Olga:

After having our end of year assessments, we have been singing, playing Scrabble, guess the word,  and other games in Spanish. I gave the students their end of year Spanish pins. 

Art with Patti:

Purple Room Students finished up the year working on a surrealistic sculpture project. After looking at some of the works of Rene Magritte for inspiration, they came up with their own surrealistic approach to apply to their head forms. They used various media to accomplish their vision.

Computer Lab with Holly:

The 6th and 7th grade students prepared Power Point presentations so that they could share their Store Catalogs with their classmates on Monday.  The 8th grade students have been creating the End-of-Year Power Point to be used in our closing celebration.

Life Skills / Sex Ed with Molly:

Students finished working on planting and mulching the new trees and doing some community service projects here at BNS. 

Thank you from, The Purple Team