What's Happening 2019-2020
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March 2020

3/2/2020

 

Literacy

work due
In writing, students are finishing their realistic fiction writing unit.  You should be able to see evidence of the work your child is doing everyday in his or her notebook and draft. 

 In reading, we are continuing a reading unit on Investigating Characterization which will focus on reading volume and notebook entries.

We are also in a Test Preparation unit for the 2020 ELA exam which will be held this year on March 25-26.

jbrogan@is289.org
Please check your child’s notebooks to ensure that he/she is meeting or exceeding standards for plan and prepare for reading and writing.  Students should be able to give you a tour of their notebook and teach you what they have been learning in class.

Notebooks are checked periodically-- sometimes to sort and prepare for individual and small group instruction, other times with grades to be entered in Alma.

Due Dates:
Test Prep Packet #2- 3/12/2020 (all classes)
Test Prep Packet #3-3/23/2020 (703), 3/24/2020 (701, 702)
Realistic Fiction Final Draft and Draft Packet- 3/9/2020 (701, 703), 3/10 (702)

Math

WORK DUE
In March, students will be wrapping up Accentuate the Negative, operations with rational numbers unit. We will develop algorithm for multiplication and division of rational numbers, use order of operations and connect between properties of operations (such as distributive property)

​We will have a Pi week, March 9-13. During this week students will conduct an investigation to ‘discover’ Pi. They will also develop formulas for Circumference and Area of Circles.

Following that week, we will begin Moving Straight Ahead, introduction to Linear Relationships. In this unit students will explore connections between 3 representations: tables, line graphs, and linear equations. They will also solidify their understanding of the distinction between linear proportional and linear non-proportional relationships.


yberdichevsky@is289.org
  • Daily Statements of Understanding- Expect a notebook check at the end of March
  • 1-2 ACE questions per day
  • There will be a Spring Break packet in April
  • There will be a notebook check in mid-March

Science

WORK DUE
Students are completing their studies of Geology. As we learn about the features of the Earth and how they change over time, students will continue to develop questions about the Earth and its relationship to humans. During this process, they will conduct research, interpret evidence, and draw conclusions regarding a landform of their choice. Students will begin studying Matter and Energy by mid-March and should check out books from our science classroom library in order to preview the next unit’s material.​

​Essential Questions:
How do different natural phenomena change the surface of the earth over time? 

How have our planet's processes changed due to human activities, and how can we change our individual activities so that we are part of collective solutions to make our Earth habitable now and in the future?

mmannino@is289.org
Homework for science can include:
  • Conduct additional research on a topic studied in class using a book from class or a digital resource
  • Reorganize notes from class
  • Plan for a study group meeting
  • Conduct independent research on a science topic of interest that is unrelated to the current unit
  • Plan a small group to teach other students a skill that you learned in class
  • Recreate a mini-chart for a skill taught in class
  • Add vocabulary strips to my envelope and choose 2-4 words to use in a paragraph or story
  • Review a book from the classroom library by making a book recommendation tag
  • Check out a book for the next unit to read ahead to build background knowledge

Social Studies

WORK DUE
Students will be working on Unit Six: Settlements to Colonies with the enduring understanding that Colonization is a political and economic effort.  The Thirteen Colonies were founded for distinct purposes, but developed a common identity over time.

Essential Questions for Unit Six:
Who has power?
What do people value?
Who is left out of the story?
What is stronger: An Individual or a Community of people?

mtodd@is289.org

Check out the 7th Grade Family Resource!
https://padlet.com/mtoddnyc/7th_Grade_Family_Resouces
You can expect a variety of homework assignments for the month.

Homework can include:
  • Notebook organization
  • Essay Revision Work
  • Planning for Friday Writing
  • Sorting information
  • Reflection on changed or expanded thinking
  • Sketch or diagram
  • Responding to discussion prompts

Spanish

WORK DUE
This month, students will finish Unit 5: El fin de semana. Students speak and write about what they did over the weekend, and will write about what their peers did over the weekend. 
jkelly@is289.org
  • Daily writing about past events
  • Project: My weekend

Advisory

This month,  Advisory Students finish working on personal identity by sharing identity trees.  Students will begin a series on healthy relationships. Relationships include: personal, academic, community, and romantic.

February 2020

2/3/2020

 

Literacy

work due
In reading, students are continuing their work in our Investigating Characterization unit of study.  In this unit students will be reading short stories and novels in book clubs. Students will participate in book clubs discussions.  In writing, students are continuing to work on their realistic fiction short stories. Additionally, we have started our test prep unit in preparation for the 2020 NYS ELA exam which will be on March 25 and March 26 this year.

jbrogan@is289.org
Please check your child’s notebooks to ensure that he/she is meeting or exceeding standards for plan and prepare for reading and writing.  Students should be able to give you a tour of their notebook and teach you what they have been learning in class.

Notebooks are checked periodically-- sometimes to sort and prepare for individual and small group instruction, other times with grades to be entered in Alma.

Expect to see a test prep packets this month.  Test Prep Packet #1 is due 2/13 for class 703 and 2/14 for classes 701 and 702.  There will be a February break packet that will be due the first day back from break.

Math

WORK DUE
Students will continue Unit 3: Accentuate the Negative. We will be exploring positive and negative rational numbers. Students will be developing strategies for solving real world problems with rational numbers. We will be using models such as number lines and chip models to build a better understanding of operations with integers. We will continue to develop algorithms for all operations with rational numbers. We will also explore properties of numbers that help to simplify expressions and solve equations.

Unit 3 Essential Questions:
-How can I find rules by looking across problems?
-How do negative and positive numbers interact?

​yberdichevsky@is289.org
  • Daily homework continues along with “My Understandings”
  • There will be a February break packet distributed on or before Thursday, 2/13. It will be due the day we get back from break, Monday 3/1.
  • There will be a notebook check beginning of March
* Assessments returned to students in January include: 
    Comparing and Scaling end of the Unit Quiz
    Test Prep Packets
    Multiple Homeworks

Science

WORK DUE
Students are completing their studies of Geology. As we learn about the features of the Earth and how they change over time, students will continue to develop questions about the Earth and its relationship to humans. During this process, they will conduct research, interpret evidence, and draw conclusions regarding a landform of their choice.

Geology Essential Questions:
How do different natural phenomena change the surface of the earth over time? 

How have our planet's processes changed due to human activities, and how can we change our individual activities so that we are part of collective solutions to make our Earth habitable now and in the future?

mmannino@is289.org
Homework for science can include:
  • Conduct additional research on a topic studied in class using a book from class or a digital resource
  • Reorganize notes from class
  • Plan for a study group meeting
  • Conduct independent research on a science topic of interest that is unrelated to the current unit
  • Plan a small group to teach other students a skill that you learned in class
  • Recreate a mini-chart for a skill taught in class
  • Add vocabulary strips to my envelope and choose 2-4 words to use in a paragraph or story
  • Review a book from the classroom library by making a book recommendation tag
  • Check out a book for the next unit to read ahead to build background knowledge

Social Studies

WORK DUE
Students will be launching Mini Unit Five: A comparative study of Jamestown, New Amsterdam, and Plymouth with the Enduring understanding of Cultural mindsets inform how people think, choose, react, and interact with others.

Students are using the Essential Questions:  
Who has power? 
What do people value? 
Who is left out?

mtodd@is289.org

Check out the 7th Grade Family Resource!
https://padlet.com/mtoddnyc/7th_Grade_Family_Resouces
​You can expect a variety of homework assignments for the month.

Homework can include:
  • Notebook organization
  • Essay Revision Work
  • Planning for Friday Writing
  • Sorting information
  • Reflection on changed or expanded thinking
  • Sketch or diagram
  • Responding to discussion prompts
  • Recursive Notes
  • Research Notes
  • Synthesis Notes
  • Vocabulary Collecting
  • Locating and studying mentors
  • Locating, studying, and writing about images and/or primary documents.

Spanish

WORK DUE
Students will begin their project “Mi rutina diaria” where they record and illustrate their daily routine. 
We will then launch the unit “Mi fin de semana” where students learn to talk about what they did over the weekend. 
​
jkelly@is289.org
  • Daily routine project
  • Gallery Walk
  • Weekend chat

Advisory

This month,  Advisory Students finish working on personal identity by sharing identity trees.  Students will begin a series on healthy relationships. Relationships include: personal, academic, community, and romantic.

January 2020

1/2/2020

 

Literacy

WORK DUE
In writing, students are continuing in their realistic fiction writing unit.  You should be able to see evidence of the work your child is doing everyday in his or her notebook and draft.  In reading, we are launching a reading unit on Investigating Characterization which will focus on reading volume and notebook entries.

jbrogan@is289.org
Please check your child’s notebooks to ensure that he/she is meeting or exceeding standards for plan and prepare for reading and writing.  Students should be able to give you a tour of their notebook and teach you what they have been learning in class.

Notebooks are checked periodically-- sometimes to sort and prepare for individual and small group instruction, other times with grades to be entered in Alma.

Math

WORK DUE
Students are wrapping up a our Unit 2: Comparing and Scaling.

Unit 3: Accentuate the Negative. We will be exploring positive and negative rational numbers. Students will be developing strategies for solving real world problems with rational numbers. We will be using models such as number lines and chip models to build a better understanding of operations with integers.

Unit 3 Essential Questions:
-How can I find rules by looking across problems?
-How do negative and positive numbers interact?

yberdichevsky@is289.org
Students will be taking a Unit 2 End of the Unit Quiz in the middle of January.

​We will continue having 1-2 ACE questions.

Sometimes Homework is to finish classwork that is clearly articulated in  the work plan in the students’ notebooks.

My Understanding is to be completed every day there are notes in the notebook.


Returned work:
Exit tickets were returned along with homework assignments. Ask your child to show you the work in their folder.
Thanksgiving Break packets were returned as well.

Science

WORK DUE
Students are currently studying Geology in Unit 2. As we learn about the features of the Earth and how they change over time, students will continue to develop questions about the Earth and its relationship to humans. During this process, they will conduct research, interpret evidence, and draw conclusions regarding a landform of their choice.

​Unit 2 Essential Questions:
How do different natural phenomena change the surface of the earth over time? 

How have our planet's processes changed due to human activities, and how can we change our individual activities so that we are part of collective solutions to make our Earth habitable now and in the future?

mmannino@is289.org
Homework for science can include:
  • Conduct additional research on a topic studied in class using a book from class or a digital resource
  • Reorganize notes from class
  • Plan for a study group meeting
  • Conduct independent research on a science topic of interest that is unrelated to the current unit
  • Plan a small group to teach other students a skill that you learned in class
  • Recreate a mini-chart for a skill taught in class
  • Add vocabulary strips to my envelope and choose 2-4 words to use in a paragraph or story
  • Review a book from the classroom library by making a book recommendation tag
  • Check out a book for the next unit to read ahead to build background knowledge

Social Studies

WORK DUE
Students are working on Unit Three: ENCOUNTERS (the Age of Exploration) with the enduring understanding that Change occurs at the intersection of people’s beliefs and cultures.  Change can include: marginalization, annihilation, assimilation, victimization survival, and change. 

Students will be working in partnerships using the following essential questions to guide their research:

How does my life shift in response to other people?

Is change good? For Whom?

How do I know if I am positively contributing to my world?


mtodd@is289.org

Check out the 7th Grade Family Resource!
https://padlet.com/mtoddnyc/7th_Grade_Family_Resouces
You can expect a variety of homework assignments for the month.

Homework can include:
  • Notebook organization
  • Essay Revision Work
  • Planning for Friday Writing
  • Sorting information
  • Reflection on changed or expanded thinking
  • Sketch or diagram
  • Responding to discussion prompts

Spanish

WORK DUE
Students will learn to talk about their daily routine, including what time they wake up, what they eat for various meals, and what they do after school.
​
jkelly@is289.org
  • In-class notebook entries
  • Daily routine project. ​

Advisory

This month,  Advisory Students finish working on personal identity by sharing identity trees.  Students will begin a series on healthy relationships. Relationships include: personal, academic, community, and romantic.

December 2019

12/1/2019

 

Literacy

WORK DUE
In writing, students will be working  in realistic fiction. You can see what your child is working on in his/her writing notebook.

​In reading, students are finishing our character unit and will be moving into a unit about author’s craft and characterization-- including character perspective.  This will be primarily work in the reading notebook and in book club talks and will include independent reading and book club reading.


jbrogan@is289.org
Please check your child’s notebooks to ensure that he/she is meeting or exceeding standards for plan and prepare for reading and writing.  Students should be able to give you a tour of their notebook and teach you what they have been learning in class.

Notebooks are checked periodically-- sometimes to sort and prepare for individual and small group instruction, other times with grades to be entered in Alma.

Graded and Returned:
  • Argument Writing Final Draft
  • Argument Writing Draft Packet
  • Reading Reflection
Graded this month:
  • Published RNB Page #3
  • Book Club Talk
  • Writing Notebook/ Workshop Habits
  • Reading Notebook/Workshop Habits

Math

WORK DUE
Students are continuing Comparing and Scaling unit on proportional relationships. We will be developing strategies for finding discounts, markups, and commission. We are also exploring unit rates and proportional relationships in tables, graphs and equations. (The Vocabulary of month is: Constant of Proportionality- Ask your child about it.)

​yberdichevsky@is289.org
  • Homework is assigned every night. Most of the time it is a handout with ACE questions from the book. Sometimes it is to complete classwork. 
  • “My Understandings” are to be completed every night.
  • There will be a Winter Break Packet. It will be distributed all students on 12/18 in class. It will be due the day we get back from break.​
Students have been getting Homeworks and check ups/quizzes back. Please ask your child to show you all returned work.

Science

WORK DUE
Students are currently studying Geology in Unit 2. As we learn about the features of the Earth and how they change over time, students will continue to develop questions about the Earth and its relationship to humans. During this process, they will conduct research, interpret evidence, and draw conclusions regarding a landform of their choice.​

Unit 2 Essential Questions:
How do different natural phenomena change the surface of the earth over time? 

How have our planet's processes influenced human activities?

How can we be part of collective solutions to make our Earth habitable now and in the future?

mmannino@is289.org
Homework for science can include:
  • Conduct additional research on a topic studied in class using a book from class or a digital resource
  • Reorganize notes from class
  • Plan for a study group meeting
  • Conduct independent research on a science topic of interest that is unrelated to the current unit
  • Plan a small group to teach other students a skill that you learned in class
  • Recreate a mini-chart for a skill taught in class
  • Add vocabulary strips to my envelope and choose 2-4 words to use in a paragraph or story
  • Review a book from the classroom library by making a book recommendation tag
  • Check out a book for the next unit to read ahead to build background knowledge

Social Studies

WORK DUE
Students are beginning  Unit Three:  Essential Research for Teens with the Enduring Understanding that By choosing a topic of study, researchers personalize their relationship to the content.  That relationship can include: concern, curiosity, passion, seeking background knowledge, or to deepen or challenge previous understandings. Students will have the opportunity to select their own topic of study from a list of topics, make research goals, and decide how best to present their research to their peers.

Students are using the Essential Questions:

How can I initiate my own quest for learning by applying what I already know about choosing texts, how texts are structured, choosing effective note taking strategies, and applying lenses in pursuit of deeper understanding?

How do we become responsible to educate ourselves about topics or concerns that are urgent in our world today?

mtodd@is289.org

Check out the 7th Grade Family Resource!
https://padlet.com/mtoddnyc/7th_Grade_Family_Resouces
You can expect a variety of homework assignments for the month.

Homework can include:
  • Notebook organization
  • Essay Revision Work
  • Planning for Friday Writing
  • Sorting information
  • Reflection on changed or expanded thinking
  • Sketch or diagram
  • Responding to discussion prompts
Projects will include creating infographics to represent their research and creating an original TED Talk.

Spanish

WORK DUE
Students will begin Unit 3: Videos en español. Students will learn various stratgies to improve their Spanish comprehension through videos designed to teach language learners. Strategies including recording vocabulary, pausing to make sense of what they just heard, tracking hand gestures and looking at visuals.
jkelly@is289.org
  • “Dreaming Spanish” video watching
  • Notebook set-up
  • “My understanding” reflection

Advisory

This month,  Advisory Students will be working on personal identity by creating identity trees.

November 2019

11/6/2019

 

Literacy

Work Due
In reading, students are continuing their work in the Deep Study of Character unit.  Most recently we have been thinking about how setting impacts characters and the story.  Please ask your child for a tour of his or her reading notebook to see evidence of this work.  In writing, we have entered the revision phase of writing argument. You should see evidence of this work in your child’s writing notebook.

​jbrogan@is289.org
Students have on going work in the reading and writing notebooks.  

For reading, students will publish a RNB entry later this month for grading.

In writing, there will be a WNB check to assess progress on their argument writing process.

Please continue to check your child’s planner  and notebooks and ask about what he/she is learning in class.

Math

WORK DUE
In Math, students are beginning a new unit called Comparing and Scaling. In this unit, we will be developing strategies for solving problems with proportional relationship. We will explore setting up and solving proportions, coordinate graphing of rate tables, and writing one and two step equations.

Essential Questions for Unit 2:Comparing and Scaling:
Does fair and equal mean the same?
How do we compare things that are different from each other?

yberdichevsky@is289.org
  1. All classes had an end of the unit quiz and turned in an end of the unit project.
  2. There will be a notebook check at the end of this month. Please, review the notebook rubric and the notebook with your child
Dates will be recorded in student planners, so please check your child’s planner.

Graded and returned in October:
Check up 1 and 2, Unit 1 project

Graded this month will be: (be on a lookout)
  • Unit 1 Quiz
  • Notebooks

Unit 2 “unit readiness” will be returned for information purposes only, not for a grade.

Science

WORK DUE
In November, students will complete in Unit 1: Body Systems. Students will explore the systems of the human body, along with threats and complications to human health. 

Body Systems Essential Questions:

What are the possible threats to and complications of the human body?

​How do body systems interact to promote the health of a human?

Students will begin Unit 2: Geology, in late November. Suggested reading for this unit is the Rocks, Minerals, and Gems and Smithsonian: Super Earth Encyclopedia. Students can check out books from our science classroom library or access any digital resources using the padlets posted on Google Classroom.
​
mmannino@is289.org
Homework for science can include:
  • Conduct additional research on a topic studied in class using a book from class or a digital resource
  • Reorganize notes from class
  • Plan for a study group meeting
  • Conduct independent research on a science topic of interest that is unrelated to the current unit
  • Plan a small group to teach other students a skill that you learned in class
  • Recreate a mini-chart for a skill taught in class
  • Add vocabulary strips to my envelope and choose 2-4 words to use in a paragraph or story
  • Review a book from the classroom library by making a book recommendation tag
  • Check out a book for the next unit to read ahead to build background knowledge

Social Studies

WORK DUE
Students will complete Unit Three:  Peoples of the Eastern Woodland with the enduring understanding that citizens develop concerns and understandings for individuals or groups of people who are marginalized or became extinct.

Students are working in research partnerships using the following Essential Questions to guide their research:

What are people’s beliefs about the use of the land and how does it affect their way of life?

How do we develop concerns for people who are different than us?

How can I read in such a way that I can determine central idea(s) of a text?

mtodd@is289.org


Check out the 7th Grade Family Resource!
https://padlet.com/mtoddnyc/7th_Grade_Family_Resouces
You can expect a variety of homework assignments for the month.

Homework can include:
  • Notebook organization
  • Essay Revision Work
  • Planning for Friday Writing
  • Sorting information
  • Reflection on changed or expanded thinking
  • Sketch or diagram
  • Responding to discussion prompts

Notebooks were collected for grading the last week of October.

Spanish

WORK DUE
Students will continue Unit 2: Reading in Spanish. We will finish our read-aloud “Edi el elefante.” Students will create a final re-tell of the story, and then their own story using vocabulary acquired from the book. 
​
jcohen@is289.org
  • Edi el elefante re-tell
  • Original story using vocabulary

Advisory

Students will be reflecting on their first round of student-led conferences and evaluating their work to develop their portfolios.

October 2019

10/20/2019

 

Literacy

WORK DUE
In reading, students are working on a deep study of character which includes establishing strong partnerships and developing lenses for character analysis in their books. This work is expressed and assessed in partner talk and writing done in the reader's notebook.

In writing, students are working on developing an argument writing piece in response to the research question, “Should competitive sports be allowed in schools”.  Currently, their work for this unit is in the writer’s notebook and in an initial flash draft in their writing folder.  

jbrogan@is289.org
Daily reading homework should be 40 or more pages of independent reading.  Additionally, for each finished book your child should have four total entries in their reader’s notebook (three during the process of reading the book and one end of book entry).
Students should expect periodic notebook checks for both reading and writing this month.
​
Please check your child’s planner and ask about what he/she is learning in class.

Math

WORK DUE
Students are currently working on Stretching and Shrinking Unit. They are exploring similar shapes. Students are using coordinate rules to enlarge, shrinking and move characters on the coordinate plane. They are also developing understanding proportionality of similar figures. They will be setting up and solving proportions to find missing sides of similar shapes. 

​yberdichevsky@is289.org
In September: Students had a Unit Readiness, 2 Math HW assignments, and 1 Check Up. 
Students received first HW, Unit Readiness and Check Up 1.

In October: Students will work on:
Stretching and Shrinking a Self Created Character Project (will be introduced by the end of first week of the month)
DUE: TBD Checklist and Rubric to Follow

First Notebook collection: Last week of October.

Science

WORK DUE
In October, students will engage in Unit 1: Body Systems. Students will explore the systems of the human body, along with threats and complications to human health. Suggested reading for this unit is the Survive! Inside the Human Body Series by Gomdori Co, Hyun-Dong Han, Cells at Work! Series by Akane Shimizu , and  Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks. Students can check out books from our science classroom library or access digital resources using the padlets posted on Google Classroom.

Body Systems Essential Questions:
What are the possible threats to and complications of the human body?
How do body systems interact to promote the health of a human?

mmannino@is289.org
Homework for science can include:
  • Conduct additional research on a topic studied in class using a book from class or a digital resource
  • Reorganize notes from class
  • Plan for a study group meeting
  • Conduct independent research on a science topic of interest that is unrelated to the current unit
  • Plan a small group to teach other students a skill that you learned in class
  • Recreate a mini-chart for a skill taught in class
  • Add vocabulary strips to my envelope and choose 2-4 words to use in a paragraph or story
  • Review a book from the classroom library by making a book recommendation tag
  • Check out a book for the next unit to read ahead to build background knowledge

Social Studies

WORK DUE
 Students will begin Unit Two:  Peoples of the Eastern Woodland with the enduring understanding that citizens develop concerns and understandings for individuals or groups of people who are marginalized, victimized, or became extinct.


Students are working in research partnerships using the following Essential Questions to guide their research:

What are people’s beliefs about the use of the land and how does it affect their way of life?

How do we develop concerns for people who are different than us?

How can I read in such a way that I can determine the central idea(s) of a text?

mtodd@is289.org

Check out the 7th Grade Family Resource!
You can expect a variety of homework assignments for the month.

Homework can include:
  • Notebook organization
  • Essay Revision Work
  • Planning for Friday Writing
  • Sorting information
  • Reflection on changed or expanded thinking
  • Sketch or diagram
  • Responding to discussion prompts

Spanish

WORK DUE
Students will finish up and participate in a gallery walk on their project “Todo Sobre Mi” (All About Me). We will then begin our second unit “Reading in Spanish” where students will learn strategies to read in Spanish.
jcohen@is289.org
​
  • Todo Sobre Mi project
  • Gallery walk/Reflection
  • Write and Discuss Translation

Advisory

​Students are being reoriented to Academic Coaching and planning for their first coaching session.

    7th Grade Team

    Jennifer Brogan - LIT
    Yelena Berdichevsky - MATH
    Mari Mannino- SCI
    Marc Todd - SS
    Jennie Cohen - SPA/ESL
    Keisha Adams - ​LS
    ​Ray Salinas - LS

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