Hall Middle School Teacher Newsletters 2025-26

Hall 6th Grade

April 4, 2025

Math

Over the past two weeks, our 6th graders have been diving into algebra, focusing on writing and solving one-step equations. To build a strong foundation, we’ve been using a hands-on approach with a manipulative called Hands-On Equations. This tool helps students visualize the balancing act of equations—just like a scale, both sides must stay equal!

Through interactive lessons and problem-solving practice, students are developing confidence in solving for unknowns and understanding the logic behind algebraic thinking.

Reminder: Weekly quizzes are returned every week. Students have the opportunity to retake quizzes to improve scores and prove proficiency up until two weeks before school ends. I'm available every Wednesday during lunch for reteaches and/or retakes.

Language Arts

6th Grade Families,

We had a great week of discussions based on the novel The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Students developed discussion questions and we set norms for our conversations. Small groups led to maximum participation.

This week, we finished the The Lightning Thief which not only culminated in our discussions, but also with watching Episode 1 of Percy Jackson series. A nice way to head into spring break.

Open House Follow Up

It was so nice to see so many of you again at Open House. If you missed the event, below are some of the project that we on display and can be shared at home.

Tiny Book Review (2-3 minute audio recording)
Language Arts Digital Portfolio (ongoing project)

Science

In class, students are diving into the science behind sea level rise, exploring how melting icebergs and glaciers, along with a warming and expanding sea, contribute to this global issue. Human impact and designing solutions are two science standards that span all grade levels. As part of our focus on human impact and problem-solving, we’ve also been discussing how food choices, from food miles to palm oil, affect climate change.

Simulation activity showing the impact of glaciers versus icebergs on sea level rise.

Additionally, we're kicking off month 5 of the 2 Steps a Month initiative, focusing on Preparedness Pouch and Fire Awareness. (Be sure to sign your child’s notebook saying that they have spoken with you about this.) A simple but effective strategy to boost your family’s preparedness: always park your car facing out. It’s a quick, no-cost action that could make a big difference in an emergency!

Social Studies

Happy Spring Break! When we return from break, we will finish the China Unit. We will be creating a terracotta army and trading along the Silk Road. The unit test will be on Friday, April 18. After that, we will move on to the geography of ancient Egypt. It was great to see you all at Open House.

Physical Education

It's finally warming up outside, and just in time for us to hit the field for our soccer skills unit! As we return from Spring break we will start meeting on the field for our Soccer Skills unit. We will have games and activities that create opportunities for players of all experience levels. Students will develop their skills and learn to enjoy the benefits of playing this ancient game.

Music

Band - Both classes are plugging away at their current arranged pieces. I've noticed in both classes that they may be outgrowing the level grade .5 music we're playing and we may look into starting a grade 1 for our next piece. Keep practicing at home and the results will be very positive for the entire group.

Music Exp - I purchased a ukulele book of tunes (400 in total) and perused the entire thing to find do-able pieces for the kids to play. We're currently looking at one tune per genre listed and finalizing our choices this week. Going from 3-4 chord songs to 5-8 will be a big challenge, but we'll find a way to make it work. On keyboards, we're still working on method basics and improvisation on various major pentatonic scales. Soon, we'll start composition.

Wheel6 - Rodgers

In the past week, students that have smartphones have been working on syncing up iphones with Google Photos.

All students have also been been working on some computer skills of copying and importing photos they took with a class camera to a new student folder. Next students have completed their first assignment by editing photos into Black and White and importing their favorite pics into a 3 picture per page, with captions layout assignment template.

When we return, we will work on landscape shots of our beautiful school's surrounding scenery, and continue to learn different editing techniques and styles in order to complete different type of layout assignments.

Shadow portraits (a recent photo shoot) - understanding how to use shadows to compose portraits. The shadow portrait is used in stage productions to project emotional intensity of the character. In photography, we will use shadows in natural light settings to compose portraits, plant, and architectural photo assignments.

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