COOP:

It is time to get ready for conferences. 4 signatures are due in your portfolio on Wednesday 1/11 (Math, LA, 2 from Fall Integrated). I will check them on Thursday.

Conference sign-up sheets went home on Friday and should be returned as soon as possible.

Algebra:

We have finished Chapter 5 and the test is on Wednesday 1/11. All homework for Chapter 5 is due on the day of the test.

CMP 8:

We finish the Pythagorean Theorem this week and the Unit Test is on Thursday.

All houses were due last Friday. Handouts 1 thru 10 are due on the day of the test.

Integrated:

We did a lab called The Inverted Glass Experiment on Wednesday of last week. All students should have performed and explained the science behind the results for someone at home. A signature was required from the family members who saw the lab. Currently we are figuring out how pendulums work as the beginning experiment to a study of gravity.

Students came back from Thanksgiving break and jumped right into Presentations of Learning. Overall they did a great job! As we move into December students should have their fall integrated signatures in their portfolio and be working on reflections for  math and language arts. Health begins on 12/5 and lasts to the Holiday break. All money and forms for athletic day (Dec 16th) were due Friday 12/2. Even students who are not going on athletic day need to fill out the form and return it to Mr Brown, filling in the very bottom of the form. We travel to Denver for a play (Tom Sawyer) on Thursday 12/8. The students have received information on how to prepare for this day.

Algebra:

We finished Chapter 4 and any student who wants to re-take the test must do so by Thursday, 12/15. We are currently in Chapter 5 which is on the subject of inequalities. Math reflections are due by Tuesday 12/13.

CMP 8:

The current book of study is on the Pythagorean Theory. There have been 4 handouts for homework that are concurrent with the building of houses. The houses are to apply the Theorem by foundation layout and calculating the heights and lengths of walls. Students must complete the handouts before they can continue to build. Math reflections are due Tuesday 12/13.

Health:

Students are divided by grade level and the curriculum is designed to be grade appropriate. Parents please remember that you can opt out of any parts of health by returning the form identifying the areas of concern.

Students will receive rubrics for math and LA this week. Ask your child to share them with you. If there are any questions please feel free to contact me or the class teacher.

As far as portfolios go students should have the better part of 3 personal sections complete, have chosen the LA and math pieces they are going to put in their portfolio for mid-year conferences and be thinking about reflections on why they chose those pieces.

POL’s are right after Thanksgiving Break and there are lots of responsibilities on the horizon so it is a time of high stress and needed planning. All students have a lot to do so they should be plenty busy.

Algebra:

Math rubrics go home this week. Chapter 3 is the first “all new” subject matter for the class and there were some struggles. Lot’s of students did re-takes and responded to the difficulties in a very positive manner! Chapter 4 test is on Thursday 11/17 so all should be studying for that.

CMP-8:

Math rubrics go home this week. We have started a new unit on the Pythagorean Theorem. All students need a 2’ x 2’ board to build a house on. Popsicle sticks and hot glue sticks are also on their to do list. The house is for applying the Pythagorean Theorem in a realistic way.

Ancient Ones:

Lots of parts to their LTP have been due in the last 2 weeks and now we are preparing for POL’s on the 29^th and 30^th. Parents, please join us for this event. Ask your student when their presentation time is. On Friday 12/2 we will have a cultural feast and celebration so try out some recipes related to the culture studied for your LTP.

Algebra:

The class did a great job on the Chapter 2 Test and we are well into Chapter 3. We have completed Sections 3.1 thru 3.5 and I would expect to have the unit test early next week.

CMP-8 Math:

We continue to study linear relationships and equations. This week we will move into 2 variable equations and inverse relationships. The students turned in a 6 assignment homework bundle on 10/10. The unit test will be late next week.

Ancient Ones:

The class has been studying Cultural Indicators for the past week and we are culminating this unit by creating artifacts from an imaginary culture and having these dug up in a “dig-box” and analysed by other students.

LTP projects are progressing; notes and outlines have been turned in and rough drafts are due this Thursday 10/13.

We have our second ADI field trip a week from Thursday. Final details will be available later this week and of course parents will be needed. Thanks in advance!

We have finished Chapter 2 and took the Unit Test on Monday 9/26. We are early in Chapter 3 and are beginning material that most of the students have not seen before so there will be more questions and consternation from this point on. I encourage everyone to ask a lot of questions and seek individual help sooner rather than later.

CMP-8

The unit on Geometry is now over and a few of the students are continuing to work on proficiencies. The current unit is Thinking With Mathematical Models and we have completed Problems 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. Math Help is in full swing on Tuesdays right after school.

Integrated Social Studies-”Ancient Ones”

Ancient China Timelines are done and we are exploring “Cultural Universals” through a a simulation called Specibians. We will learn about archaeology and how anthropologists study a culture. Long Term Projects are underway and the outlines were an intended struggle to get students to narrow their topics down before intensive research, rather than doing a lot of research that is not very useful in the end. We talked about this as a class on 9/27 and I hope the students are clear as to the reasoning behind the outline being due first.

Last week we finished Chapter One and took the unit test on Wed 9/7. Tests have been returned and students have until Wednesday 9/21 to finish a retake if they want to raise their score. We have finished 2/3 of Chapter 2 and will take the unit test on Wednesday 9/21 or Monday 9/26.

CMP-8:

We finished the unit on Geometry and have started “Thinking With Mathematical Models”. This is one of the most important concepts of 8th grade math: Linear Models and Linear Equations. Students need to bring in 1 0r 2 dollars worth of pennies for experiments we will start on Monday, 9/19.

“Ancient Ones”:

Studying Ancient Egypt and building pyramids has been a lot of fun! Our next journey is into Ancient China. Since China has such a vast history we will explore its chronological events through a timeline and contrast it to what we have learned about Egypt.

Friday the 16th is our first ADI and the response by parents to go along and help has been great! We are going to the Denver Art Museum to study New World cultures. Hopefully our field trip will help the students choose a civilization for their LTP. They will choose their LTP topic on Monday, 9/19. Above you will find a link to the LTP assignment. Please sit down with your child and help them plan their project management. There are lots of dates and parts to complete and they should get started ASAP.

Ancient Ones–Parents are needed for our field trip to the Denver Art Museum on Friday the 16th of Sept. We will leave for Denver at 9:00 AM and return by 2:30. You may meet us there or enjoy the ride with 58 middle schoolers!

Algebra–Test on Chapter One on Wed 9/7. Math Help Tues after school. 3:45 to 4:45.

Connected Math–Test on Surface Area Wed. 9/7. Math Help on Tuesdays 3:45-4:45.