Welcome to 8 Gold Newsletter and the start of 2010 – 2011 Academic Year at
Shanghai American School!
Week Beginning Monday 30th August
Mark your Diary
Thursday 2nd September – Open House from 6 pm to 8.30 pm
Friday 10th September – Grade 8 Bonding Day
Monday 23rd September – Parent/Counselor Coffee morning
Link for the MS Agenda Book PXMS_Agenda_Book_2010-11
Curriculum News
Please note dates for Major Assessments will be posted on the blog too as well as on ical.
For more information on each of the core subjects, please refer to the teacher’s moodle or blog site. Use the links in this blog to access these sites. For previous week’s postings, please scroll down.
Hank Claassen
We completed our full-year Pre-Assessment and have shown the results to students. I will be discussing geometry enrichment opportunities with those students who demonstrated readiness now and will look for enrichment opportunities for other students as we conduct unit pre-assessments throughout the year. This week we will hand back the quiz on review material (order of operations, mathematical expressions and absolute value) and will move into solving one- and two-step equations.We will have a unit 1 test on Thursday/Friday, September 2 and 3. We are off to a great start in Grade 8 Algebra I and I hope to see you at Open House this Thursday night, September 2!
Michael Easton
In LA we will continue to work on reading Mango St, studying vocab (1st 10 words due today), crafting our essays (due Thur/Fri beginning of class), and doing our independent reading. See my blog for more details:http://teachers.saschina.org/measton/
Linda Wegener
This week we continue to work with Basic Human Needs and the meaning of Culture.
This includes a lesson on “Perception,” “Everyone is Ethnic: Your Invisible Culture,” and the metaphoric view of what we know about Culture as only being “the tip of the iceberg.”
At home follow-up primarily involves explaining the concepts and relationships to parents. This serves two purposes: to further student understanding through summarizing, and connecting student and parents.
Thursday and Friday classes will involve a formative quiz on concepts/vocabulary introduced thus far.
I look forward to meeting you on Thursday!
Ruby Hundley
After drawing their line graphs for their climate data, students will analyze the environment that results from this climate. Students will think critically of the features that animals and vegetation may need to survive and thrive and make sure that these features are reflected in their artistic interpretation of their climate data.
For Week starting Monday 23rd August
Hank Claassen
We begin the year with a brief review of important topics from Grade 7 Math to ensure a solid foundation for further study this year. Last week we conducted a pre-assessment to identify student strengths which will help guide enrichment opportunities this year. Pre-assessment scores are NOT counted in the math class grade. Students should have brought home an Algebra I textbook which is to be kept at home for doing homework assignments and they will return the textbook at the end of this school year. Homework is practice and is intended to develop skills and understanding which is vital to successful learning in mathematics. Extra help is available and it is the responsibility of the student to arrange time with the teacher on any areas of difficulty.
We continue to incorporate the latest technology by utilizing MacBook laptop computers, a SmartBoard and graphing calculators– all employed to deepen student understanding, clarify connections and explore relevant real-world applications. I look forward to seeing you at Open House the night of Thursday, September 2, and I know we will have a great year!
Linda Greer – Wegener
Our introductory learning unit, “Dude, Where’s My Culture” is underway this week. Through it, students refresh and clarify their understanding of “Culture” and its relationship to “Basic Human Needs,” as explained by A. Maslow. The role of “perception” in one’s experience as a cultural being is explored. Students will apply related skills and concepts to their own life. They may be asking questions at home, so be ready!
Please, at any time you might have any question or concerns, do not hesitate to reach me by email or telephone, whether at school or home.
Looking forward to working with you and your children this year.
Michael Easton
In LA we will hopefully get our vocabulary workbooks in and start our vocab study. We are reading House on Mango St, noting writing devices, and starting our own writing on a variety of topics. We are also setting independent reading goals and our 1st booklog will be due in about two weeks. I’m looking forward to a great year in LA!
Kevin Desmond
Mr. Desmond’s Grade 8 ESOL Classes have begun another year of active English learning. They are currently working with writing devices from the book, The House on Mango Street. ESOL students are encouraged to use writing devices in their writing in order to paint pictures in the minds of their readers.
Ruby Hundley
Welcome to the start of an exciting year of Grade 8 Science! We begin with the Unit on Ecology and in particular a look at climate – what defines climate, interpreting climate data and a look at the various groups of ecosystems and features of animals and vegataion that thrive in these types of climates. You may find that as we progress through this unit, some of these ideas are familar to you as you may either have discussed this in previous grades or experienced some of these environments first hand. If so, I hope you will share with us your knowledge and preferences of the different types of climates.As we develop these ideas, you will ‘read’ data, plot graphs, interpret numbers, reserach and discuss your findings. So, Be Ready to Analyse, Visualize, Discuss, Communicate…but most of all be ready to have FUN!
Do please let me know at any time of any question or concerns you may have. You can reach me by email or telephone.
ARCHIVE FOR 2009-2010
Hank Claassen
Students take the Semester 2 cumulative test on Monday/Tuesday, May 31 and June 1. This is the final assessment of the year. We are concluding the year by preparing students for working with radicals, primarily square root functions that occur frequently in Geometry. The 2009-2010 school year has been another terrific learning experience with our wonderful Grade 8 students and we are confident they will continue their success and development in high school.
Michael Easton
In LA students will present their TKM MI projects and receive their TKM essays back. See my blog for more daily details.
Linda Wegener
In this last full week of classes, students will be completing thinking about
What it means to be “An American”. Factors that influenced the emergence of a unique “American” experience. Factors contributing to the eventual Declaration of Independence and Identifying the connections/relationships between these factors and influences and the Social Studies Benchmark concepts on which we have focused throughout the year.
Assignments and due dates
Sunday, May 30 _ Letter to King of England, Parliament, or another relevant entity sent by e-mail to Ms. Greer-Wegener
Monday/Tuesday ___Completed Matrix sheet re. Colonial Unrest (before class!)
Wednesday/Thursday__Assignment to be made
1 final assignment will be made following the viewing of the movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and will be submitted
Saturday/Sunday (June 5,6)
Ruby Hundley
After a week of discussing the concept of work in terms of force exerted and distance changed in the direction of the force and the concept of power, students will now look at how different kinds of machines make doing work easier. They will look at levers such as can openers, ramps, wheels and axles such as doorknobs and pulley systems. How each of these machines makes work more effective will be examined using some hands on activities. These activities will prepare the students for the experimental work that they will carry out in the following week.
Week Beginning Monday 24th May
Hank Claassen
We have completed the final Algebra unit of the year, Quadratics, and administered the test last week. We now begin a geometry unit starting with radicals and begin preparing for the semester cumulative test which is scheduled for Monday/Tuesday, May 31 and June 1. Students will have a practice packet to complete in preparation for the final assessment of the year.
Linda Wegener
After researching the experience of individual members of Colonial American Society, this week students put their synthesis skills to work. Tuesday and Wednesday , in the tradition of Colonial America, we hold “Town Meetings.” At these “hallmark” events, students, representing specific members of early American colonies, voice their concerns to and hear those of others. As well as being informative, and instructive, students have the opportunity to express their “voice” in a new and unique way. The Town Meeting is an assessed activity.
Following this, students move into their final “leg” of the journey seeking to find causal factors influencing the rise of the American character and justification for the eventual colonial declaration of independence to King George.
Michael Easton
In LA we are turning in a final draft of our TKM essay and starting our small TKM Multiple Intelligence project. Final booklogs are due Fri, May 28 or before. See my blog for more details about daily work–http://teachers.saschina.org/measton/
Ruby Hundley
Students have now completed their Newton Car investigation and are in the midst of writing up their complete lab reports. They have two handouts that are useful in guiding them in their writing, the Self Directed Lab Report (page 2 of the Newton Car worksheet) and the Marking Rubric both of which were discussed in class. On Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th, students will peer edit each other’s lab reports and the lengthy and valuable discussion that will ensue amongst them on their written work will help students with their final submission. The lab report will be due in the following classes on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th.
Week Beginning Monday 17th May
Hank Claassen
We have completed the Quadratics unit and are preparing for the unit test which will be on Tuesday/Wednesday, May 18 and 19. We then begin a geometry unit starting with radicals. We will also begin preparing for the semester cumulative test which is scheduled for Monday/Tuesday, May 31 and June 1.
Michael Easton
In LA we are finishing the novel TKM, having a test over the novel on Tues/Wed and starting to write our TKM essay. There’s no more work in the Vocab Workbook, but there are still remaining lessons that could be completed over the summer if students choose to. See my blog for more details.
Linda Greer Wegener
Ruby Hundley
This week students will use the time to review for their end of unit assessment and to check on any aspect of the lab report write up. This will be an ideal opportunity for students to ask individual questions and to check and reflect on their own learning. Please view my moodle for further information.
Week Beginning Monday 10th May
Hank Claassen
Students have used the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator to graph, trace and use the table operation for quadratic functions. They have also learned the quadratic formula to algebraically solve quadratic equations and created iMovies for the “Quadratic Idol” competition to develop long-term retention. We are now applying this understanding to real-life problems using the vertical motion formula which describes the mathematics of all objects affected in flight by gravitation, and studying graphical transformations of quadratic functions. Late in the week we will begin preparing for the Quadratics unit test, currently scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday, May 18 and 19. The semester cumulative test is scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday, June 1 and 2.
Michael Easton
In LA we are finishing our reading and study Q’s for TKM. We will have a Vocab test from the voc workbook on Wed/ Thurs. Please see my blog for more details.
Linda Greer Wegener
Students continue their study of Colonial America to understand the conditions, ideas, and individuals that defined the American Experience. As they learn about four different ways of life (Puritan, Quaker, Plantations, and Slavery), they seek to understand the origins of tensions and conflicts, as well as beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors continue to influence what it means to “be an American” in today’s world. In class this week, we will read and discuss “Friends and Enemies,” an account of religious intolerance. Students will consider, discuss, and defend personal choices regarding the ethical dilemmas faced in this case. This will be done from their particular character’s point of view.
Due Monday & Tuesday: Colonial Profiles; Case Study Character development
Next Week: topical vocabulary assessment
Ruby Hundley
This week we will be using Newton’s Law of Motion to design and test drive a balloon powered vehicle. It will carry as many as 4 pencils and the challenge is on to see just how far along a wire it will travel with its cargo. Also this week, using motion probes, students will map out their motion and investigate how changing either the mas or the force of an object can affect a Newton Car’s acceleration and distance over a rolling track.
Week Beginning Monday 3rd May
Hank Claassen
Students have been solving quadratic equations and applying this knowledge to sketching accurate graphs showing x- and y- intercepts, the vertex and the axis of symmetry. They have also deepened their understanding using the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator including graphing, trace and table operations. Students have used a variety of methods to factor quadratic equations and this week will be using the quadratic formula to achieve solutions. Students will participate in the “Quadratic Idol” competition using their MacBooks. They will next apply this knowledge to real-life problems using the vertical motion formula.
Michael Easton
In LA we will continue our study of the TKM reading, vocab, idioms and allusions. We’ll also turn in our Vocab workbooks Wed/Thurs–be through Lesson #19. See my blog or Moodle for more info and handouts.
Linda Greer Wegener
Students are examining life in Colonial America in order to identify
events, individuals, and experiences that fostered the ideals and cornerstone principles of the U.S. Constitution.
In order to accomplish this, each student is developing understanding of the “early American experience” from a specific colonist’s point of view.
This week, students will read and discuss an issue of colonial concern attempting to represent and understand varying and conflicting points of view.
Due Weds: colonial character background and profile.
Ruby Hundley
This week we will start to look at each Force, Motion, Work and Power and consider how these ideas are connected. Be ready to use equations to calculate your motion, your work and power and to use the accelerator probes to map your movement. We will consider such questions as How do you know if you are moving ? What causes an object to start moving, stop moving, or change direction or even continue to move? And, is there work without movement?
Week Beginning Monday 12th April
Hank Claassen
Students will be handed back their Polynomials quiz early in the week. We then move into factoring quadratics in both forms, where the lead coefficient is one and other than one, we will solve quadratic equations and employ geometry applications problems as well. The internet-based Gizmos factoring virtual manipulative and Maths300 Mac software applications will be used to deepen understanding. With China Alive the week of April 19 we will be a position to have Polynomials unit review early in the week of April 26 followed by the unit test.
Michael Easton
In LA we will have wrapped up our poetry unit and will begin our unit on To Kill a Mockingbird, the classic American novel by Harper Lee. Assignments and a reading schedule will be posted on my Moodle site and you can also refer to my blog for more info. Vocab Lesson #18 is due this week, and the first Booklog for Q4 will be due around Apr 28 or before.
Linda Greer-Wegener
Students are now looking into the American Colonial Experience. Each student will attempt to develop an understanding of individuals, events, ideas, and processes that shaped “The American Experience” from the point of view of an individual or particular character type: woman, man, child, land owner, proprietor, indentured servant, leader, teacher, etc.
This week students will be given their particular role and begin research. Work carried at home will be a continuation of what is done during class time in order to advance their research and prepare for related in-class activity.
Please do not hesitate to be in touch with me for any concern.
Regards,
Linda Greer-Wegener
Ruby Hundley
This week students will review and sit their final test in Astronomy. This week also sees the start of their final topic of the year, a Physics topic called Newton and Motion. Textbooks for this topic and various worksheets and essential questions will be available to students on my Moodle site.
Week Beginning MOnday 5th April
Hank Claassen
This will be a juggling week with Qing Ming holiday on Monday and ERB testing on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, followed by Parent Conferences on Thursday and Friday, but as is the spirit of SAS we will be flexible and succeed. We are approaching mid-unit on Polynomials and will have a quiz on Wednesday/Friday covering polynomial operations including adding, subtracting, applying the distributive property, factoring out the greatest common factor, multiplying binomials (using cross-multiply, table, FOIL and/or distributive property methods), the special cases of perfect squares and difference of squares and solving polynomial equations by finding roots (or zeros). We will then move into factoring quadratic polynomials.
Michael Easton
In LA we are studying poetry and having a short poetry assessment. Please see my blog for more daily details: http://teachers.saschina.org/measton/
Ruby Hundley
Students this week will be looking at the ray diagrams of their experiments and discussing and understanding how these results are used in real world applications. For example, light reflected off convex mirrors diverge but do converge behind the mirror. The image formed is small and the right way up and this effect is used in passenger side view mirrors which because the image is small and so appears further away, have the safety message ‘Objects …are closer than they appear”.
Linda Greer-Wegener
This week students look at motivations for European colonization of the Americas during the 16th and 17th Centuries. They will analyze primary source documents to seek relationships between events past and present. At home work involves reading articles from the internet, and this may require 20 minutes, or so, of reading, followed by word processed (or hand recorded) responses.
I look forward to discussing your son/daughter’s progress during our up-coming conferences.
Regards,
Linda G-W
Week Beginning Monday 29th March
Hank Claassen
Students have their final assessment of the quarter, the Exponents/Exponential Functions test, on Friday/Monday, March 12/15. We then begin our Polynomials and Factoring unit which forms an important foundation for further study in high school Algebra II. This week we will cover polynomial terminology as well as adding and subtracting polynomials.
Michael Easton
In LA, we will get back our short story tests, finish up working on our short story projects, and then present these projects Wed-Fri. For more detailed info see my blog and my Moodle course.
Linda Wegener
We “wrap” our study of forms of government this week by viewing and responding to the movie, “The Wave.” The story is based on the true story of a high-school history class experiment that got “out of hand” and provides us with the basis for discussion about forces in society as common as “peer pressure,” and as powerful as “nationalism.” Follow-up will include some discussion at home with parents about nationalism, or nationalistic movements parents may recall during their lifetime.
Ruby Hundley
This week students continue their experimental work on the reflection and refraction of light and considering the characteristics of the different planets in our solar system.
Week Beginning Monday 8th March
Hank Claassen
Students have been handed back their exponents/scientific notation quiz. We are now completing our Exponents/Exponential Functions unit by exploring the time value of money, financial management and the concepts of compounding, appreciation and depreciation. This week we will conduct unit review on Wednesday/Thursday and have the unit test on Friday/Monday, March 12/15. This is the final assessment of the third quarter.
Michael Easton
In LA groups are presenting short stories, and students are preparing their short story projects. This project is due the week before Spring Break. See the Moodle course for guidelines and examples, and see my blog for daily class details: http://teachers.saschina.org/measton/
Ruby Hundley
This week students will be sitting the first of the topic tests in the Astronomy Topic on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th March. The ideas contained in the Essential Questions will be assessed. Students need to have drawn up revision notes and if they would like to, they can have them checked by me to ensure completeness and accuracy of ideas. In fact, please do encourage your child to see me with regards to any aspect of their science learning.
Also, happening this week, we will be riding the Milky Way and looking at the planets and their different characteristics, comets and asteroids and traveling back in time to consider parts played by such historic figures as Galileo, Kepler and Newton in the development of our modern day astronomical ideas. Hold on to your hats for a fascinating and colourful journey!
Linda Wegener
Through recent assessments, students are demonstrating understanding of forms of government and the thinking (values, beliefs, perceptions) that support them. This week students continue to use their developing understanding about governance using: demographic information; using photos and graphics; reading news articles
and comparing country data. They will also: develop coherent, precise captions to inform and provoke thinking about different forms of governance inquire about governance in their country of birth. At home follow-up includes: reading of NYTimes Upfront Magazine articles related comprehension checks and application exercises
short discussion with parents about governance in their country of birth.
March 11 I will be out of class to participate in our Social Studies Task Force work, as we review our SS curriculum and plan for the future.
Please be in touch with me regarding any concerns, by phone or e-mail
Regards,
Linda Greer-Wegener
Week Beginning Monday 1st March
Ruby Hundley
This week students start their astronomy topic and we kick off with the interactions between the sun, moon and earth. Many of the ideas in this topic are already very familar to our students and we will be looking to both elicit student’s existing ideas and images, reinforce key concepts and build upwards on existing understandings. Always an interesting, fascinating and fun topic for our students and if you would like to look at some of the ideas discussed in class then please do ask your child for their essential question sheet.
Michael Easton
In LA we are continuing to study short stories. Groups are presenting, discussing and analyzing one short story with the class. Vocab test on Thurs/Fri over Lessons 11-15. We are also starting our short story project. See this info on Moodle.
Hank Claassen
We are mid-unit of Exponents and Exponential Functions. To date we have covered important exponent rules including multiplication and division with the same base, zero and negative powers and scientific notation. We are now investigating exponential functions particularly growth and decay functions which include several highly relevant real-world applications. Specifically, we will cover growth functions such as the concept of doubling using both manipulatives and algebraic models, as well as decay models, such as with radioactive decay. Last week we had the visiting Apple Consultant, Michael Garcia, work in our classes to further explore using the Mac to deepen student understanding. The strong foundation on exponential functions then sets the table for very interesting investigations into time value of money, financial management and the concepts of compounding, appreciation and depreciation. We are tentatively planning a quiz for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Linda Greer-Wegener
Week Beginning Monday 1st February
Michael Easton
In LA we are working in groups to memorize and act one scene of MND, which should be completed Wed., Feb. 3. Also Lesson 12 in the Vocab workbook should be finished by the end of the week. And at least one booklog should be turned in by Feb 1-2. See my blog for more daily details.
Hank Claassen
Having finished the systems of equations and inequalities unit, including returning the mid-unit quiz taken last week, we will do an in-class test review on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday we then have the unit test followed by an introduction of exponents and exponential functions, our next unit.
Ruby Hundley
This week students will demonstrate and present their research and observations pertaining to their own chemical reactions. This will be the first time that our 8th gold scientists will be presenting scientific findings to their peers and I look forward to listening and learning from them. Please see my moodle for more information.
Linda Greer – Wegener
Week Beginning Monday 1st February
Michael Easton
In LA we will finish MND, receive an assignment for groups of students to act out scenes from the play, and have a test over the play on Thurs/Friday. Booklog due dates for Q3: at least 1 Bookog by Feb 1-2, at least 2 by Feb 24-25, an at least 3 by Mar 16-17. See my blog and Moodle for more details.
Ruby Hundley
After a week of quizzes and tests, students this week will complete the last leg of this topic by investigating a chemical reaction. Each team will perform and explore the products of their reactions. They will write down their observations and if a gas is produced, they must discuss and design a way to collect and identify this gas. The culmination of this project will involve presenting and demonstrating their findings to their class peers. An exciting couple of classes are in store as students think their way through this Chemical Reactions Project.
Linda Greer-Wegener
Hank Claassen
On Tuesday and Wednesday we have a quiz covering the linear systems solution methods of graphing, substitution and elimination. The quiz will assess student understanding of solving problems when given a linear system as well as their ability to model and apply systems on real-world applications. We will introduce the so-called special cases in linear systems which involve no solution (parallel relationship) and infinitely many solutions (identical linear relationship), followed by the introduction of systems of inequalities, where solutions are an overlapping region of the two-dimensional coordinate plane.
Week Beginning Monday 18th January
Linda Greer-Wegener
Hank Claassan
We continue the unit on systems of equations and inequalities focusing on the three major solution strategies (graphing and the algebraic methods of substitution and elimination). Students will be solving authentic problems using systems of equations and we will also incorporate using the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator to check solutions and deepen understanding.
Michael Easton
In LA we are continuing our study of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, finishing Act 3, 4 and 5 of the play and examining Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter. See my blog and Moodle for more details and student resources.
Ruby Hundley
Last week, placing some of the new and crazy elements using key ideas such as Group Numbers and Period Numbers was not only an ideal way to apply these ideas but it was so much fun as student teams competed and challenged each other on meaning and explanation. In the words of Robert, one of our 8th grade scientist, ‘it was an excellent learning experience’. This week students will be sitting a mini quiz on these key ideas and a review of this quiz together with a question and answer session and a check of individual revision notes should prepare students for the upcoming End of Topic Test on the 20th and 21st January. Please do encourage your child to speak with me at any time on any aspect of their learning.
Week Beginning Monday 11th January
Linda Greer-Wegener: Social Studies Jan 6-15
The first two weeks of Quarter 3, students are exploring Government: its purpose; ideas on the origins of government, and most common forms of government in recent history.
Understanding of underlying values and beliefs will be emphasized. Parents, I would like to call upon your help with this as students raise related questions at home, particularly with regard to governments of their “home” countries. While by no means do I expect you will have “all the answers,” students are curious about their “own” governments, and will have questions. This could be an excellent opportunity to be part of their learning process and together seek to know more and understand more deeply. Personal anecdotes are always valuable in helping students develop their personal “his-tory” and “her-story.”
As always, please be in touch should you have any concerns.
Regards,
Linda Greer-Wegener
Hank Claassen
We are already in the full swing of mathematics learning after the Holiday break! Students have reviewed their Semester 1 cumulative tests, noting areas of strength and need for reinforcement. I was quite pleased with the overall “exam” results and look for students to continue having an excellent year. We will have a final cumulative semester test in May. Students have finished the inequalities unit and will have the unit test on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 12-13. Our next unit of study will be systems of equations and inequalities.
Michael Easton
In LA we are studying Shakespeare’s life and times and the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students will read/act out the entire play in the original text and examine essential themes, poetic devices and vocabulary of the writing. See my blog for daily details. Booklogs continue for Q3 with the goal again being 1200 pages and at least 3 independent books read. Happy New Year!
Ruby Hundley
Welcome Back and Happy New Year! This week students will be looking at placing some newly discovered elements into the Periodic Table. They will have to understand and be able to apply certain key ideas to help them place and justify their placement decisions. The due date for this activity is the 12th and 13th January 2010.
Week Beginning 14th December 2009
Hank Claassen
This week we continue in the inequalities unit focusing on absolute value equations and inequalities where there are interesting relevant applications in the world of manufacturing. One of the cornerstones of product quality assurance is adherence to specifications and we will clearly link the abstract to the concrete here.
Linda Wegener
The last week of Q-2 will involve readings and discussions on governance: rule by few and rule by many. Linkages will be made to themes and specifics relative to the novel, The Giver and Monday’s guest speaker on China’s Cultural Revolution. A reading and related questions are posted (above) for completion prior to Monday’s speaker.
Students’ work related to the Heritage Project should now.be posted in their Newsletters; assessment scores are final, unless previously discussed with Ms. Greer-Wegener
Michael Easton
In LA we are performing our Giver oral presentations and working on a re-write of our Giver essays. See my blog for more details and have an excellent vacation.
Ruby Hundley
This week the students will be starting their chemistry topic. They will discover that many of the ideas that we kick off with they will have come across in their early years at middle school. We will therefore be reinforcing these ideas of atomic structure and building upon them when discussing how electrons are arranged on energy levels and how the atoms are organised in the Periodic Table. They will be wowed by colour, fizzing and temperature changes as they carry out experiments and investigations, collecting gases and test their acidic or alkaline nature.
We will start with the differences between Physical and Chemical Changes. Don’t forget to download the worksheets for this topic to your Science folder. Scroll down and you’ll find them all attached at the bottom of this page.
Week Beginning Monday 7th December
Hank Claassen
Now that we are mid-unit in inequalities and students have submitted their Graphic Art Project we will focus our attention this week on the semester 1 cumulative test that will be held Friday, December 11 for all students. Students have been handed a review packet and know that answer keys are on my blog as are helpful study hints. Students are expected to demonstrate responsibility in completing the packet, checking accuracy against the keys on the blog and asking clarification questions in class. This type of proactive preparation will be essential in high school and it is one of the developmental goals in our administering semester tests in Grade 8. We have intentionally lightened the homework load during the Graphic Art Project and semester test preparation so students can do quality work. CALCULATORS: please remind your student that if they want to use one on the semester test they MUST bring their own calculator (a scientific or even basic four-function one will suffice, they do not need a graphing calculator).
Linda Greer-Wegener
In Social Studies, we will explore the concept of “economic reasoning.” While this has a clear role in decision-making with “economic” ends, emphasis will be placed on students understanding of the value of this reasoning process in most of the choices they must make in their daily life. Large group, small group, and individual practice with the reasoning process will occur. Students will also read and analyze related articles from New York Times Upfront Magazines. Interdisciplinary connections will be made as students use economic reasoning to consider the novel they are reading in Language Arts, “The Giver.”
Students should complete any needed revisions of the following “pieces” that should be inserted in their Heritage Newsletter: Map of Family Moves; Family Tree; and “Lost & Found in China: Reflections on the journey of a Third-Culture Kid. After this week, all related assessment will be final.
Michael Easton
In LA we will write an in-class essay over The Giver on Tues./Wed. and continue working on our Giver oral presentations, which will be Dec 14-15. See my blog for more details about daily work.
Ruby Hundley
This week students will be starting the Chemistry Topic. We will be looking at the atomic theory, how the Periodic Table is organized, Chemical Reactions and Acids and Bases. Students may well have heard of some of these ideas in 6th grade and so we will be reinforcing and building upwards from their 6th grade discussions. This topic will prove to be an exciting one with a number of hands on activities and team investigations involving coke cola and alka seltzer salts to name just a few.
Week Beginning Monday 30th November
Hank Claassen
We will continue with our inequalities unit and students are to submit all their Graphic Art Project materials on Wednesday/Thursday. Instructions and helpful tips are posted on my blog. Students are finding that this project integrates artistic skills, using multiple laptop software applications and strong understanding of linear equations. We will also hand out semester review test packets and will discuss with students keys to success when taking cumulative assessments (exams). We give these cumulative assessments for two reasons: 1) to help solidify student understanding of key mathematics concepts and 2) provide “exam” experiences designed to help students in high school but with only test grade weighting. Additional information is on my blog. The semester 1 cumulative test for all Grade 8 students is Friday, December 11.
Linda Wegener
We continue working with “Economy.” In class activity will include students’ small group skits illustrating different types of economy, incorporating related concepts. The latter part of the week is a lesson on “Economic Reasoning” and its application to everyone’s everyday life.
Vocabulary Assessment Monday & Tuesday
Students are responsible for final revisions of aspects of their Heritage Project assigned in Social Studies: Map of Significant Moves in the Family; 2009 Version of their Family Tree; and “Lost and Found in China”: Reflections from the Journal of a Third Culture Kid.
Michael Easton
In LA we’ll complete our Booktalks, finish reading The Giver, receive our oral presentation topics, and take a vocab/comprehension quiz over the novel. See my blog for more daily details.
Ruby Hundley
Students this week will continue with their Advances in Human Genetics poster and be ready to present and submit on November 30th and December 1st. Please note that Topic Test for this last segment of Genetics will be on the 7th and 8th December.
Week Beginning Monday 23rd November
Hank Claassen
We will have a writing linear equations test on Monday and Tuesday and we will begin the inequalities unit. Students will also start a Graphic Art Project which involves creating an artistic design composed of at least 30 lines, graphing all of the lines, naming major points in the coordinate plane, entering the points in Excel to create a computer image of the design and, finally, students will express the lines in both point-slope and slope-intercept form. Extensive use of laptops will be made on this project during in-class work time but students will also be required to complete some work at home. This project wonderfully ties together and enriches both algebraic and real-world understanding of this unit on linear equations.
Linda Wegener
In Social Studies students are involved in a mini-unit on Economy. This week they will read, analyze, discuss, and respond in their notebooks to Scholastic Magazine articles on examples of market and command economies, related benefits, challenges, and issues. A formative assessment activity follow. Last week, I noted that scores would not be posted until late in the week. They should be accessible Monday afternoon. Please do check & be in touch with me should you have concerns. Likewise, I will be in touch with parents of individual students with whom I have concerns.
Regards,
Linda GW.
Michael Easton
In LA we are continuing our Q2 Booktalks and working on vocab, themes, and study questions in The Giver. Booklog #2 is due Wed/Thurs.
Ruby Hundley
This week students will be looking at Genetic Techniques that have enabled people to produce organisms with desirable traits. Selective breeding, cloning, and genetic engineering are three methods for developing organisms with desirable traits. We will discuss each method and their importance in society. The students will then research a plant or animal that has been ‘created’ by one of these methods. Using the pages software on their Mac notebook, they will display their findings in the form of a poster directed towards a younger audience. This is a fascinating topic and is sure to bring out some interesting and emotional comments from amongst our students.
Week Beginning Monday 16th November
Hank Claassen
We continue with our unit on linear equations and focus now on plotting and analyzing statistical relationships. The TI84 Plus graphing calculator and Mac Grapher will be used extensively to determine lines of best fit using tables, stat plotting and linear regression analysis, and we will explore real-life data using High Jump world records data for both men and women. Interesting reflection questions are asked in this activity which serve to deepen student understanding. Later in the week we will do unit test review.
Semester Test note—In Algebra I we give cumulative semester tests designed to prepare students for high school exams. The two main goals are building exam preparation skills and concreting mathematics concepts learned to date. The cumulative test is based on chapter/unit test reviews and answer keys that are posted on my blog. We encourage students to begin the review process early. The first semester cumulative test for all Grade 8 students is Friday, December 11.
Linda Wegener
It was truly a pleasure to meet with all those parents who were able to attend conferences last week. I felt the time gave me the opportunity to know both you and your children–my students–much better. I thank you for that and trust that you feel the same with regard to their teacher (me!). Most of all, I hope you have a clear sense that we are “partners” in this process.
Students have basically completed their Heritage related research, analysis and have used some of their data to develop at least three different “pieces” that are being integrated to the newsletter being published through their language arts class. I’m really pleased with the results and believe you will be, as well. This week, then we will wrap up assessment related to “The Terminal” movie and focus on the “Economy” dimension of our “Dude, Where’s My Culture?” (extended) unit. In-class and at-home work will include using selected articles (Dude Binder and other to respond to questions on a guided reading sheet and answer essential questions about Economy. When access to the Power School portal is possible later in the week, you may view indications of your son/daughter’s completed assignments to date this quarter, as well as 1 or 2 assessment scores. As always, please do not hesitate to be in touch with me by phone or e-mail should you have any questions or concerns.
Ruby Hundley
Students this week will be reviewing key ideas from the Essential Question Sheets in preparation for the topic test on the 18th and 19th of November. All the ideas to be understood for this test can be found on the Essential Questions Sheet for DNA and Cell Division. Please encourage your child to come and see me on any aspect of their learning.
Michael Easton
In LA we are beginning our study of the novel The Giver by examining vocabulary, answering study questions, and discussing the themes/characters of the novels. Also, we will begin our Book Speeches. For 5 consecutive classes, 4 students will perform a 1.5- 3 min. speech over a book they have read in Q1 or Q2.
Week Beginning Monday 9th November
Hank Claassen
On Monday and Tuesday students have the unit test on Graphing Linear Equations and Functions. We will continue with our unit on writing linear equations by studying the third major form, point-slope form. Students will then do mixed review to synthesize the three forms (standard, slope-intercept and point-slope) and study properties of parallel and perpendicular lines. They will be using TI 84-Plus graphing calculators and Mac Grapher to model real-world applications and deepen their understanding.
Linda Wegener
Ruby Hundley
Students this week will continue to design and create their textbook. They will use their understanding of the key ideas to help them decide how best to teach it using the tech as a medium for the Genetics Textbook.
Please note the due dates and the topic test date have been changed. For more information please check my moodle page.
Michael Easton
In LA we will continue to share one piece of writing from the Heritage Project and post the project to the S Drive at school. Other elements of the project will be completed is Social Studies and a final version will be created soon. We will also have a vocab. quiz from Lessons # 6-10, discuss the speeches that will be performed based on independent reading, and introduce the novel The GIver if time permits.
Week Beginning Monday 2nd November
Hank Claassen
We are studying how to write equations for straight line graphs in slope intercept form given the slope and y-intercept, two points on a graph in function form, as ordered pairs or the graph. Students will then use the point slope form of the equation to draw graphs and write equations for parallel and perpendicular lines. Students have received back two quizzes recently and need to be reviewing these in preparation for a test on chapter 4.
Ruby Hundley
Students this week will continue to share their knowledge of DNA and cell cycle concepts with their teammates. They will also be brainstorming ideas on how to best depict, describe or display their knowledge in their online textbook. The Genetics Textbook is an exciting and unique activity that integrates technology and science and that requires the student to understand each concept fully before being able to teach someone else using this tech medium.
Please note that there will be a Quiz on this work on 16th and 17h November.
Linda Wegener
This week students will: complete an assessment of their ability to apply understanding of culture and related issues using the movie, The Terminal. They will also complete a “personal response” to something learned, or a new understanding related to the interviews they recently completed as part of the Heritage Project. In addition, using information gathered during the interview process, students will develop an online “family tree” and map documenting significant moves made by members of the generations they have researched. We look forward to viewing the results of the Language Arts-Social Studies collaboration.
Michael Easton
In LA we’ll review Lesson #6-10 in the Vocab workbook. Booklog #1 for Qtr 2 is due Nov 4-5 or sooner. We are also taking all the components of the Heritage Project and compiling them together into one multi-media document. Out Tech staff is assisting students with this process, and the results should be wonderful, a project that could perhaps remain in you family for generations.
Week Beginning Monday 26th October
Hank Claassen
Students will receive back their quiz on graphing using tables and the standard form method early in the week. They will now graph and write equations for straight lines using the slope intercept method. Students will have a quiz on graphing equations and direct variation on Tuesday Oct 27 (day 1) and Wednesday Oct 28 (day 2).
Linda Wegener
Ruby Hundley
Students this week continue to look at the DNA molecule, focusing on its role as a carrier of genetic information and its component bases and the two types of cell division with an emphasis on what happens to the number of chromosomes in a cell and why this needs to happen. Students are using a variety of online resources listed in the Essential Questions worksheet and CD-ROMs to assist with their understanding of ideas. They are currently sharing their ideas and notes with their teammates with a view to producing a Genetics Textbook using any one of their apple software. If you wish to have a look at what they are doing, do speak with your child and have them share their textbook experience with you.
Michael Easton
Next week in LA the final drafts of the Heritage Project collage and the Mac Tools poem project are due. We will also start putting together the entire Heritage Project in a digital form. For the Vocab. workbook, Lesson #10 is due. We will have a test over the vocab words in Lessons 6-10 in about two weeks.
Week Beginning Monday 19th October 2009
Hank Claassen
We will continue with our unit on Graphing Linear Equations and Functions. This week SAS is using an outstanding Apple Consultant, Michael Garcia, to help utilize our new MacBooks to deepen student understanding of concepts. He will be conducting teacher sessions and working in our classrooms as well! His focus in our class will be on rate of change/slope where we will be investigating the human nose (using the Mac camera, Pages, Grapher, Garage Band and ITunes) as well as flying a paper space shuttle model. We will then move into the second major form of linear equations, the slope-intercept form, direct variation and function notation. There will be a quiz on Wednesday and Thursday, October 21 and 22, covering sections 4.1-4.4.
Ruby Hundley
Students this week will be starting their Genetics Topic in which they will look at the make-up of the DNA molecule, the gene and the relevance of mitosis and meiosis to the inheritance of characteristics and cell repair and growth. Students will be given the Essential Questions on this topic and information on a variety of resources from textbook, online addresses and CD-ROMs to use in assisting them in their understanding of these concepts.
I would like to draw your attention to a science assessment held on Tuesday and Wednesday 20th and 21st October. Please do encourage your child to come and see me with any concerns they may have with ideas discussed in class.
Finally, students on Thursday 22nd October will have the pleasure of having Mr Bruce Payne, lead them. Bruce Payne is an Apple Professional Development Certified Trainer Curriculum Development, Science and Math Specialist, Apple Computers who continues to lead the MS and HS teachers in workshops this week.
Linda Wegener
Many thanks to all parents for their support, and patience with the Three Generations Interview process undertaken by all grade 8 students. While I realize the investment of time and energy to complete the interviews, several years of experience with it, including twice with my own middle school children (now university students), I am convinced the long-term benefits of related learning are valuable. Students may groan, moan, forget directions, lose directions, and wait much later than they should to initiate the process. However, once completed, details from the interviews provide “fodder” for animated exchanges and conversations with classmates. They also become stories and help students make personal connections with themes, concepts, and topics throughout the year. Again, thank you.
This week students will use selected excerpts from the interviews and create spreadsheets to analyze for continuity and change over time within specific aspects of the family’s cultural experience. They will also apply the skill of synthesizing information, drawing up summaries of the selected aspects. Finally, they will try to identify or make inferences relative to why change has occurred, what influences were involved–or on the contrary, what factors might have influenced continuity within the family culture. These activities will be assessed. Should you have questions or concerns, including difficulties completing the interview process, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours in learning for life,
Michael Easton
In LA we are turning in the rough drafts of three poems Mon & Tues, and final drafts Wed & Thurs. We are also working on the Collage for the Heritage Project, and Lesson 9 in the vocab workbook.
Week Beginning Monday 12th October
Hank Claassen
We will continue with our unit on Graphing Linear Equations and Functions. The initial focus is on graphing linear functions, understanding domain and range, graphing using x- and y- intercepts and introducing the first major linear equation form, the standard form. Students will draw insights into real-world applications through various word problems. This unit is replete with integration of technology including the TI 84-Plus graphing calculator, Excel/Chart Wizard to work with tables of values and graphing/analyzing the relationships, and SmartBoard lesson plans to deepen student understanding.
Ruby Hundley
This week students will be considering symbiotic relationships. Please refer to my moodle for further information and to download the ‘Essential Questions’ worksheet for the second part of the Ecology unit. Please note that there are relevant websites on this worksheet for you to use.
Linda Wegener
Michael Easton
In LA we’ll be working on a re-write of Essay #3 for the Heritage Project. We’ll also begin our new poetry unit where students will write 3 poems (or more) to include in their Heritage Project. We’ll also finish up the Collage assnt (which is on my Moodle course in case they want to get a head start over the Oct. Break). Students may also retake the Vocab quiz on Tues Oct 13, or Wed Oct 14.
Week Beginning Monday 28th September
Hank Claassen
For the three-day week students will take a pre-test to identify initial strengths as we begin our unit on Graphing Linear Equations and Functions. We are also planning to make extensive in-class use of student MacBooks to investigate key linear relationships using MacGrapher, Excel, Geometer’s Sketchpad and the TI graphing calculator.
Ruby Hundley
Students have now completed their first self-generated investigation and are in the midst of writing up their complete lab reports. They have two handouts that are useful in guiding them in their writing, the Self Directed Lab Report and the Marking Rubric both of which were discussed in class. The electronic version of the lab report is due on September 28th and 29th for peer – editing. The hard copy is due in on Wednesday 30th September.
Linda Wegener
This very short week, we are looking at “Beliefs, religious practice, and Values.” Preparation work is self-guided, with debriefing in class. Reviewing and “going deeper” with these themes should help prepare students for their “Three-Generation Interviews” process, which should be carried out over the next 10 days. Documented interviews are due by Oct 14 and 15 (in class). The Interview Questions template can be accessed at Googledocs.com . They are also accessible using Mr. Claassen’s blog, as I am unable to attach them here, for an unknown reason. I will try to work out a solution to this before Weds. Sept 30.
Michael Easton
In LA students will turn in a typed 1st draft of essay #3 for the Heritage Project on Mon/Tues. The final draft will be due Wed when we have all-cores. We will also have a Vocab quiz over our 1st 50 vocab words Mon/Tues. Students will also receive the Collage assnt for the Heritage Project so they can work on it over the Break if they wish, but it is not due until about a week after we return.
Week Beginning Monday 21st September.
Hank Claassen
Students will be handed back their solving equations quiz which covered both given algebraic equations as well as word problems where students determine algebraic models in order to reach a solution. The next part of our unit covers transforming literal equations. This is a particularly useful skill that will be applied in the physics portion of science later in the year as well as on frequent occasions in both physics and chemistry in high school. Students will also do test review for the unit test which will be on Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25.
Ruby Hundley
Students this week will perform an ecological investigation of their choosing where they will apply the ideas discussed thus far. They will then write a lab report and peer edit each other’s work using the detailed marking rubric. Important dates to keep in mind are as follows:
• Be ready to brainstorm ideas for an investigation – September 21st & 22nd • Perform the investigation – September 23rd & 24th • Bring to class, written investigation to be peer-edited – September 25th & 28th • Submit written Lab Report – September 29th & 30th.
Linda Greer-Wegener Social Studies
“Dude, Where’s My Culture” continues…students learning about their “invisible culture,” or the values, beliefs, assumptions, and shared memory that are the foundation of our cultures and major influences on our collective and individual identities and actions. This week’s activity focuses on cultural and personal values and morality (code of behavior), including understanding the meaning of congruent behavior and personal integrity. Students will apply related skills and concepts to their own life. They may be asking questions at home, so be ready!
Monday (21) and Tuesday (22) students complete an in-class assessment on
- concepts and related terms introduced to date
- Students should review their notebook and “Dude..” Unit Overview to prepare for this
Michael Easton
In LA we will be working on a 2nd re-write of our 2nd essay, especially gramar, usage and mechanics. We will also begin our 3rd and final essay of the Heritage Project and continue to look at the 6 Traits to improve our writing. Students also need to complete Lesson 5 in the Vocab workbook; we will be having a fun competition, Red vs Gold, w/ these vocab words. The following week we’ll have a test over these 50 words. Booklog #2 is due by Sept 24 or 25.
Week Beginning Monday 14th September
Hank Claassen
We will have a quiz on Monday/Tuesday covering solving equations. The next part of the unit covers using ratios, proportions, the cross-product property and problems involving percentages. Teachers will be in meetings on Thursday/Friday to prepare for the upcoming 1:1 MacBook laptop rollout to students. Substitutes have been arranged to cover our classes in fine fashion.
Ruby Hundley
What makes a type of plant and animal live in a certain part of the world? Are there definite parts of the world that are different in temperature and rainfall? What are these areas known as and where are they in the world? An exciting week where we look at the six major biomes of the world, explore the factors that determines a particular type of biome, consider the species of plants and kinds of animals living in that biome and finally identify the locations of all six major biomes. A number of students will have visited some or all of these biomes and will be able to describe to the class their own images of these environments. Please note that next week will be a busy week of quizzes and topic tests. Please visit my moodle page for more details.
Michael Easton
In LA students should complete Lesson 4 in the Vocab. workbook and review Lessons 1-3 words. Booktalks have begun, with each student getting their turn at some point in the quarter. We are continuing to work on narrative and expository essay writing and trying to strengthen the 6 Traits of writing. Essay #2 is due Mon/Tues. Students should enroll in my Moodle course if they have not yet, and parents can access the site from our team blog and enter Moodle as “guest.”
Week Beginning Monday 7th September, 2009
Hank Claassen
Students will be handed back their Unit 1 summative assessment on Monday and Tuesday which covered the subject content thus far, primarily review material. We will then move into solving multi-step equations and solving with variables on both sides of an equation. A key skill that will be incorporated into this unit is discerning relevant information from an application in the form of a word problem, determining the best problem solving approach, identifying the appropriate variable, setting up the representative equality and then reaching a solution.
Ruby Hundley
This week, we will continue to plot and analyze population graphs and consider predator prey relationships and how they affect population sizes. We will also consider the 6 major biomes, their differences and their location in our world as well as what exactly determines a biome in a particular area. The ecology investigation that students generate themselves is scheduled to start on Monday 21st September. Please also note the date of the first summative assessment is 16th September for classes C1 and D1 and 17th September for classes C2 and D2. For further information on the week’s work and homework, please click on the link for my moodle site here on this blog. Finally, I hope you will join us all at Open House this week and I look forward to meeting you and talking with you.
Michael Easton
In LA students have taken have the vocab workbook home and should complete Lesson 3 and review Lesson 1 & 2 words. They can keep the workbooks at home for now. Our first Booklogs should have been turned in last week. Booktalks start this week and each student has signed up for a time to his/her Booktalk. We will also be starting our second paper for the Heritage Project and turning in a re-write of the first one. My 8 Gold LA Moodle site will be up and running shortly.
Week Beginning Monday 31st August
Curriculum News
Hank Claassen
We completed our full-year Pre-Assessment and have shown the results to students. I will be discussing geometry enrichment opportunities with those students who demonstrated readiness now and will look for enrichment opportunities for other students as we conduct unit pre-assessments throughout the year. This week we will hand back the quiz on review material (order of operations, mathematical expressions and absolute value) and will move into solving one- and two-step equations. We will have a unit 1 test on Thursday/Friday, September 3 and 4. We are off to a great start in Grade 8 Algebra I and I hope to see you at Open House this Thursday night, September 3!
Ruby Hundley
In Science we will be reviewing and building upon the Scientific Method. Students will review ideas studied in 7th grade and will discuss and apply new ideas such as a fair test, manipulated variables and evaluating procedures and errors. They will perform an investigation of their choosing where they will apply these ideas and use measuring skills to gather data to support their purposes.
I look forward to meeting you all at the Open House, to meeting your son/ daughter and to a fantastic year of exploring Science together!
Linda Greer-Wegener
The first full week of school, students have thought, discussed, and written about perception, basic human needs, and the emergence of culture as a response to basic human needs. Your son/daughter should already have spoken with you about these ideas. If they haven’t, then be sure to ask!
This week (8/31-9/4) we continue an overview of the origins and meaning of “Culture,”
focusing on “invisible culture,” or the values, beliefs, assumptions, and shared memory that are the foundation of our cultures and major influences on our collective and individual identities and actions.
A formative assessment (quiz) will follow.
I am enjoying each one of my 8 Gold students and look forward to seeing you this up-coming Thursday at our orientation night! Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Michael Easton
It has been great getting to know the students in 8 Gold! In LA we have reviewed expectations and started working on our Qtr 1 project, the Heritage Project. So far we have begun four types of work: 1. Reading House on Mango St and identifying writing devices in the literature. 2) Studying our Vocab workbooks, which will soon by used at home. 3) Discussing our independent reading program (the 1st booklog is due by Sept 3/4. And 4) Writing our 1st paper, which is due Sept 1/2.