Literacy | WORK DUE |
In Reading work we’ll be launching our Skinny Books/Big Ideas unit. You can expect to see students reading one or two books each week with their book club. They are doing in-depth analysis work on the ideas, craft and norms found in shorter novels. (Some of these WILL be below grade level-- never fear, they are doing college-level analysis work and will be moving to harder texts in the next unit.) November continues Poetry Study in 8th grade! We study ideas and elaboration in poetry by reading TONS of poems in Poetry Immersion, living like poets in Observation Walks and memorizing a poem we love. Ask your poet which “Doors of Poetry” they are going through this month. | Reader’s Notebook collection - week of November 4th. 10-15 Poem Tries in your Writer’s Notebook - due by Tuesday, November 12. Five poems you plan to revise - Submitted via Google Classroom by Friday, November 15. |
Math | WORK DUE |
By now, we have moved into our first 8th Grade CMP book, Thinking with Mathematical Models. In this unit, students collect data via experimenting. This is very similar to what they have done in Science in 6th, 7th and even 8th grade. We talk about
Continuing to review linear relationship from 7th Grade and our first unit will be helpful for this unit (but it is not the essence of this unit). Since CMP3 is a problem-centered curriculum, our department’s teaching philosophy is to continue having discussions in class, make connections from one representation to the next, and “setting the stage” to be successful when the doing the problem. By doing this, we are fostering, reinforcing and emphasizing the need to think in any given mathematical situations and not just follow a set of steps or a given formula. | Homework daily (see your child’s planner daily) Exit ticket Once every week or every 2 weeks Check Up - roughly every 7-8 school days. (So far, we had 1. This will be returned the week of 11/8. Please ask your child to see it.) *Also Unit Wrap Up was returned the week of 11/1. Please ask your child to see it and sign it. There will be a short Thanksgiving Break packet assigned (15 questions). If your family is leaving early, please be sure that your child picks up a packet. This packet will be given out on 11/20 (T). A helpful tip: From time to time, ask your child to show you his/her notebooks. All homework, assessments are returned and should be taped into their notebooks. This is a good way to not look at just the grade but how much your child understands and how he/she can improve. |
Science | WORK DUE |
This month we will wrap up our Reproduction and Heredity unit. Students studied cells, DNA, cell division, and reproduction in October. Now they will move into genetics and patterns of heredity. Students will use what they’ve learned across the unit to analyze and interpret genetic test results from fictitious families to determine the probability of genetic disorders in offspring. The unit with culminate in a genetic testing report modeled after real test reports from genetic testing labs. We will begin our Evolution unit in December. Throughout this month and over Thanksgiving break, students can practice the skills that will support them in high school science by previewing material from the unit. They can do this by reading classroom books on evolution, seeking videos or articles online, or using Google classroom to check out a bibliography of resources. Exceptional science students read ahead to prepare themselves for what’s coming up! | Homework: Notebook Quick Checks EdPuzzle videos Google classroom quizzes (~1 every 2 weeks) Keeping up with notes and in-class assignments Projects: Genetic Testing Report Due the week of November 18th Synthesis Page Due the week of November 25th |
Social Studies | WORK DUE |
During November, students will be exploring current events that have their roots in America’s founding institution of slavery. Students have already explored mass incarceration, school segregation, racial profiling, and several other contemporary issues. Students are now digging into the history of slavery itself to better understand the roots of these issues. Students will also investigate how the Civil War and Reconstruction impacted the issues that our country continues to face today. | Unit 2: The Unfinished Civil War Final Project: Interactive NB page and Fishbowl Discussion Due date: 11/25-11/26 |
Spanish | WORK DUE |
Students will finish Unit 2: Reading in Spanish. We will conclude our class read-aloud “Brandon Brown vs. Yucatán.” | Comprehension questions based on reading Vocabulary recording |