DATA 8th Grade Newsletter

ELAR

"Mental health problems don't define who you are.  They are something you experience.  You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain." 

- Matt Haig

While Red Ribbon Week is dedicated to drug prevention awareness, the 8th grade DATA teachers wanted to put a focus on mental health awareness.  Some classes have already started their study on mental health, and ours begins this week - we will look at various texts dedicated to the mental health awareness and struggles, and students will use those model texts as inspiration to create their own written product about mental health.  Whether it's interesting information to share, a story to tell, or a poem rich with feeling, students will be able to display their writing strengths and understanding about mental health awareness.

We should end the week shifting into our literary unit:  Students will be introduced to Edgar Allan Poe, learning about his personal life to gain insight into his storytelling.  Hopefully we'll be able to squeeze in a reading of one of his stories at the tailend of this week.

-Mrs. Burciaga

Tutoring

Tuesday after school, 3:45 - 4:15

Thursday before school, 7:45 - 8:15

Lunch tutoring is available upon request

Questions or concerns?  Feel free to email me:  jburci@neisd.net

MATH

“Go down deep enough into anything and you will find mathematics.” 

- Dean Schlicter

Having actually started Unit 3 in both Algebra and Geometry, our Unit 3 tests are happening in Week 12. The last couple of days of Week 11 (Oct 21-25) was spend with skill practice, and extensions for those who are ready.

Algebra 1: It's always good to see the clouds part in students' understanding, and many students have started to discover that the cycle of working, getting stuck, and seeking help to get unstuck is effective for enhancing understanding. We've hit the point in the course where our tools are getting advanced enough to apply them to real-world situations and get meaningful results. Our next unit covers systems of equations and inequalities, which have many useful applications. These include revenue/cost analysis (finding breakeven points) and optimization problems (determining the most productive way to employ limited resources).

Geometry: As we wrapped up Unit 3 on triangle properties I started engaging the students more solidly in mathematical proof and logic. It's hard for a lot of people, and is the reason Geometry is often considered "the course where you learn to think". Unit 4, on Triangle Congruence, will give many opportunities to hone reasoning skills, as we focus on justifying claims before we accept them as fact.

-Dr. Koepp

SCIENCE

EXPERIMENT. FAIL. LEARN. REPEAT. 

Last week our focus was on the main groups on the periodic table, metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. We looked at both physical and chemical properties, with a focus on general properties such as ability to conduct heat and electricity, insulators, malleability, and ductility. 

Students are learning to use the periodic table as a reference to identify different types of atoms based on their chemical symbols. They are understanding how to count the number of each atom present in a chemical formula. This skill helps them differentiate between elements and compounds. 

Students will be able to interpret chemical formulas, and accurately count the number of each type of atom in a given formula, they will use both subcripts and coefficients to help them count atoms. 

U.S. History through 1877

Mrs. Malin's Classes

Mr. Lovett's Classes

Principles of Architecture: 

Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement 

WE HAVE SKETCHUP PRO!!!!

I want to give a HUGE thank you to Mrs. Vallente and Mrs. Szabo for their support and hard work to make this happen. 

With the updated features and smooth operating software, they were able to finish off their projects adding all kinds of amazing furniture and plants from the 3d warehouse. They then took their creations and touched them up with Photoshop. Next week they will create a color board. 

Digital Media 2:

Digital Media students are working on a very challenging typography project. They are taking a favorite historical figure and using typography skills to create a portrait.