DATA 8th Grade Newsletter

Week 25: Feb 18 - 21

Please check the newsletter homepage for Important Information and Dates!

ELAR

"You fail only if you stop writing."

- Ray Bradbury

First of all, I have to say that I am so INCREDIBLY PROUD of the work students are doing! Going through the writing process, I ask a lot of students as we go through various writing tasks - it can be overwhelming. But students are asking questions and using the resources I'm providing to reinforce and refine their writing skills.

This week coming up, everything gets pulled together as students write rough drafts of their argumentative essays, using the outlines they worked on in class last week (those outlines should help them get a fast start on this draft). Immediately after drafts are completed, we move on to revising and editing ... yet another detailed task, but one I hope helps students take a look at their writing in a different way.

-Mrs. Burciaga

Tutoring

Tuesdays - after school until 4:30

Thursdays - before school beginning at 7:45*

Lunch tutoring available by appointment*

*Requires a pass - see Mrs. Burciaga

Questions or concerns?

Email me: jburci@neisd.net

MATH

"Mathematics as an expression of the human mind reflects the active will, the contemplative reason, and the desire for aesthetic perfection."

- Richard Courant

Six-week progress grades have just come out. Be sure to check in to see how things are going, and plan course corrections as needed.

Algebra 1: Unit 6 (Polynomials) has reached its conclusion, with the unit test on Tuesday, February 25. We're entering the home stretch with units on Graphing and Writing Quadratic Functions, and Solving Quadratic Equations. These 2 units comprise a third or more of the Algebra 1 STAAR EOC, so it's really important for students to keep up and get clarification early if things get murky. We got STAAR Interim results, and I'll be using these to pull students in for extra help if their performance prediction for the "real thing" is low (less than 10% of students).

Geometry: Geometry finished Week 6 of the semester with the Unit 7 (Polygons) test. We started into exploring Circles (Unit 8) by extending our understanding of area from polygons, and will quickly start looking into sectors, central and inscribed angles, and sector measurements (angle, area, arc). The STAAR 8th grade interim scores from this group predict (to the surprise of no one) that 95% will score Mastery level, and that everyone will at least hit Meets Grade Level. I plan only minimal review for this test, which they all passed in 6th grade.

-Dr. Koepp

Tutoring: I have a regularly-scheduled tutorial time from 3:45 to 4:30 on Mondays (new) and Thursdays. I also work with students by appointment--just email me at wkoepp@neisd.net and we'll find a time that works for your student!

SCIENCE

EXPERIMENT. FAIL. LEARN. REPEAT.

Last week we began studying the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram, students will continue learning how astronomers classify stars based on their temperature, luminosity, and size.

This week, they will explore different types of stars, their life cycles, and how their position on the diagram reveals information about how they evolved.

We will also jump into galaxies and learn about the structure and composition of all 3 types: spiral, elliptical, and irregular. Students will also practice classifying galaxies by shape.

Tutoring is offered on Tuesdays; students can attend from 3:45-4:15.

Students are also welcomed to set up an appointment for a different time, if needed.

If you have any questions, you may email me at egonza10@neisd.net.

U.S. History through 1877

We are Living History!

🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

Welcome to Unit 7, our penultimate unit. Students will be learning about reform movements in the early to mid 19th century. Students received their vocabulary homework last Wednesday, and will be allowed to use it on their Unit 7 Vocab Quiz. This quiz will be on the 28th of February.

Another super short unit, students will take their Unit 6 Test on March 6th, the Thursday before Spring Break. If your family is blessed enough to be going on Spring Break early, I would love to know so that I may have your child take their Unit Assessment before they leave to enjoy their break.

🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

Tutoring is available Thursdays, 7:45-8:20 am and 3:45-4:15

You can reach me at lvanho@neisd.net

Have a wonderful week!

-Ms. Van Horn

Mrs. Malin's Classes

Greetings DATA Families!
Have a great week!
PLEASE REVIEW WITH YOUR CHILD THE NEISD AND CAMPUS GUIDELINES REGARDING TECHNOLOGY USE, ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY, AND THEIR SAFETY. YOU CAN ACCESS THIS VIA: https://www.neisd.net/Page/10011

Veni, Creavi, Vici. I came. I created. I conquered.

Hello to Our DATA Families!

Graphic Design & Illustration I: Students will create their second animation assignment by starting with a single frame and progressively editing it through a sequence of changes to produce a 10-second GIF or movie. This project will help them practice key animation techniques such as frame-by-frame editing, timing, and smooth transitions.

Video Game Design: Students will design a multiplayer game that requires teamwork or competition, focusing on balancing difficulty and player engagement by creating a Capture the Flag or Battle Arena map with set objectives. They will conclude their MineCraft Unit designing, coding, and testing their game world.

About Me: My name is Elizabeth Fuentes Malin. I am a technology applications teacher and have been teaching for sixteen years. I am married with one child who is now at DATA with us! I attended OLLU, UIW, Lamar University, and now UNT. I hold degrees in English, Communication Arts, Administration, Educational Technology Leadership, and now am working on my doctorates in Learning Technologies and Machine Learning.

My email is emalin@neisd.net

Tutoring is by appointment only

Mr. Lovett's Classes

Principles of Architecture:

Architecture students have thoroughly researched landscape architecture. They have learned how landscape architecture can increase property values and energy efficiency. They have also picked out some plants for the project they will begin next week.

Digital Media 2:

Web design is well under way. Next week we will present our FebrUnity projects and learn a few introductory principles of basic CSS.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send me an email.

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