Hall Middle School Teacher Newsletters 2025-26

Hall 6th Grade

February 14, 2025

Math

We will be closing out our unit on fraction and decimal operations once we return from break, then we will begin our algebra unit! A deep conceptual understanding of fractions, as well as fluency with fraction operations, is an important skill to have mastered in middle school. We've been modeling fraction division and multiplication problems with an emphasis on real world applications. I've included one of the problems that students completed at our vertical whiteboards on Tuesday, as well as a copy of the proficiency scale on fraction division. Just a reminder- you can view all of the proficency scales we will have covered in trimester 2 in our Google Classroom. Have a wonderful mid winter break!

Language Arts

Here are some updates from out Language Arts classroom.

Social Issues Book Clubs & Mock Conferences

We recently concluded our Social Issues Book Club unit, where students explored stories that opened windows into different experiences—such as the refugee journey, embracing differences, and finding one's voice. To wrap up this unit, students created scripts and performed Mock Student Conferences, showcasing their understanding of the character struggles and themes.

We also used the AI tool Magic School for support with script writing. Here were some of the students' takeaways:

🔹 "You need to put in a lot of information to get what you want."

🔹 "Once the script was written, going in and editing it and making it your own was key."

🔹 "It wasn't exactly what we wanted, so we changed a bunch, but it was helpful starting point."

Exciting News: EL Education Pilot

When we return from break, all 6th-grade Language Arts classes will begin an eight-week curriculum pilot of EL (Expeditionary Learning) Education. This program, which originated as a partnership with Outward Bound, is designed to foster deep thinking, collaboration, and inquiry-based learning. After attending training this week, I’m excited about the engaging, hands-on experiences ahead for our students! More details to come soon.

Speaking & Listening Proficiency Scale

Attached, you’ll find a screensot of our Proficiency Scale for Speaking and Listening—a key focus during our Mock Conferences. The highlighted skills were the focus of their skits.

Enjoy the break!

Ms. Irving

Science

In the past two weeks, our students have been exploring the factors that affect temperature and precipitation. Ask your kids about our acronym: SAD POLAR! We dug into how two places at the same latitude—Namibia's coast and Madagascar—have drastically different climates due to ocean currents. It's been an exciting dive into the science of weather patterns and how the Earth's systems work together!

We've also been diving in deep into air masses with our air mass booklets. Check them out at Open House in a few weeks!

Climate and Weather 2— Explain how regional climate is determined by patterns of oceanic and atmospheric movement

6.3 Five Major World Religions – (6 World History)

Social Studies

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are finished with Egypt and those grades have been updated in Aeries. Some students might need to do make-up or retake of test from either being out sick or earning a lower grade than desired. Retakes are every Wednesday at lunch in room 301. Students must complete and submit the error analysis form in Google Classroom before they can take the retake.

This week we did a quick dive into world religions. You can see the proficiency scale for this to the left. When we return we will begin our study of India including Hinduism and Buddhism. There will be two weeks left in the second trimester.

Enjoy Mid-Winter Break!

Physical Education

PE - Table Tennis is our focus this month, and students have been busy practicing their rally skills and ball control. We started a singles tournament in class last week to add a little energy and excitement to our practice. We will continue our tournament games when we return from the break, and begin practicing doubles rules in preparation for a doubles tournament to conclude our unit.

Music

Band and Music Exp - Unfortunately, the cold that's going around has hit me pretty hard and I was only at school one day this week. In band, we're finishing "The Last Gladiator," and in music exploratory we finished and recorded, "For Good." Looking forward to getting back on track the week after break.

Wheel Elective 6 - Speech

Speech6 - In the past two weeks we moved from negotiating strategies to developing Debate Strategies. Student in each class voted on two topic in each class on different "fun" (preferences) debate topics - Summer vs. Winter, Crumbl vs Home Made Cookies, GOAT - LeBron vs. Jordan - just to name a few. Each class was then randomly assigned to one or the other topic in their class. In the past week, students had to watch videos, and do research to find 5 arguments that support each side, then pick the best 3 arguments and find a solid reason to support each argument with one piece of evidence.

After that step, the assigned topics were then assigned into two group - supporting the proposition or opposed to the proposition based on a coin toss between the two captains for each team.

When we return after Presidents' Week, students will learn the panel debate format, while the other half of the team will work as judges and timers. Then the following day, first round debate team members will be judges and timers.

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