We have gotten this year off the ground! Congratulations to you and your children in their patience, open-mindedness, and perseverence. We are starting to develop routines, and are even learning their names & faces.
In ELA this week we are continuing to get to know each other and beginning to learn our procedures and routines. We spent time touring Schoology so students know how I have set up our class course and where to find what they need. Additionally, we've practiced submitting assignments multiple ways. We have started writing in our Writer's Notebooks. If your child does not yet have a spiral notebook, please, purchase one for him/her this week. Students are currently signing up for book discussion groups to discuss their summer reading selection(s).
This week has been a full one to say the least--we are getting into more of the content and past some of the typical "first days of school" types of activities. I'm enjoying getting to know your child more and more each day and have learned more about them in part thanks to our Virtual Locker activity last week. Throughout this week, students completed an assignment, called a one pager, related to their summer reading. It was great to read their reflections on what they read! Additionally, we have continued reading in our read aloud, called Count Me In, and have already had some powerful discussions about bullying, inclusion and various social situations. Students have been introduced to a new routine to complete during read aloud as well. Lastly, we are gearing up for our independent reading block next week by doing book talks and making note of "someday books"--this way, students have an ongoing list of books that they may want to read when they are searching for a new one!
I'm excited to get past the routines and having to ask how to pronounce their names! We are beginning to get into a feeling of a "real" science class! The highlight of the week has been having students choose a hands-on experiment to do at home with readily-available materials. The kids (and some parents) had fun! The best part was having students practice having science conversations in our Google Meet the next day. It was a real "spring in your step" day in class.
Speaking of activities, we will doing LOTS of online simulations to round out this week and into next week. Students will be using these exeriences to learn about waves by DOING. Peek over their shoulders and participate with them! Who knows... you may learn something, too! 😊
[type your update here]
We have hit the ground running! This week we continued our discussion of boundary crossing and what historical figures have done to be considered to be remembered long after they are gone. We have also begun to look at how to "do history" and how it similar to being a detective and is both a science and an art. We have discussed how historians draw conclusions and make interpretations based on evidence and how historians may often disagree even when considering the same evidence. We also began our project of doing history "backwards" and making predictions about which current boundary crosser will be considered a historic figure in 50 or 100 years. Our boundary crosser project will be do next week. I have been amazed at some of the subjects our young historians have selected, I look forward to learning plenty! Be sure to ask your scholar to share their project with you. I hope everyone has a relaxing long weekend, Aloha!
It's amazing the difference a week can make! We went from a quick adjustment to a new learning environment to getting into the flow and groove of learning remotely. In History, everyone had a chance to share their name stories which was a great way to connect as a class. We discussed identity and the role that we play in building and creating our identities and also the role that society plays in choosing pieces of our identity. Students dug into the various reasons we study history landing on the broader idea that everything that has happened in the past can be used to solve the challenges our society faces now and in the future. I can tell that it sparked interest in many of the students - a lot of passion around COVID-19 and Racial Justice. I'm thrilled to see where this passion takes us this year! We also flexed our historian muscles and described moments from our past by thinking like historians.
Next week, we'll explore the themes of World History. Our first current event will be due next Friday, September 11 - when we will celebrate Patriot Day!
[type your update here]
We're rolling into our first unit on circles this week! The kids have all signed into MATHia successfully (yay!) and we just started working in the student math workbooks! We will continue to study circumference next week and then we'll head into finding the area of circles. I'm working on being more clear about where they need to complete their homework assignments. Sometimes their assignments may be in their physical student workbooks and sometimes it'll be on Schoology! I also send out updates and announcements if and when assignments change so please make sure that your child checks their Schoology before emailing me questions.
We are off to a fantastic start in Algebra I. Having 7th graders 1st and 2nd periods has been a great way to start each day. We started our unit on Functions and will continue to work on this unit for the next couple of weeks.
To see what's happening in Algebra, click HERE to view the daily agenda.
This week we will discover how to bring our bedroom drawings to life with various color techniques.
This week we will continue to "Reconnect with Nature" and create something unexpected in our drawings.
We had an awesome week talking about music that inspires and how musicians can use their voice to advocate for causes that are important to them. We also listened to and sang music from the civil rights era. Next week, we will be learning about the recycled orchestra of Paraguay and making our own recycled percussion instruments. We will practice rhythms by playing our instruments and students will have the opportunity to perform for their class on Friday.
We had a great week this week exploring music that inspires. The students shared music that inspires them and issues they are passionate about! This week we will be learning about the recycled orchestra of Paraguay and exploring making our own recycled instruments, Cuban percussion and rhythms and we will have an opportunity for students who would like to perform for the class on Friday.