Math Tasks, Oct 31st

Grade 8
We had an assessment today.  Page 30 #29, Page 27#17, page 32 & 33 the formulas and volumes for cylinder, square prism, & triangular prism, page 39#4-6 were collected.  No new tasks were assigned.

Grade 7
We started Investigation 3 Rules & Equations pages 29-51 I told them they were so good in class we would continue it tomorrow.

Grade 6
We are continuing work on our packets.  We can do this tomorrow in class.

Math Tasks, Wednesday Oct 30th

Grade 8
Assessment on surface area and volume tomorrow
Collecting: page 30#29 basketballs, page 27 #17 matching boxes and expressions, p 32 &33 the formula
V = B h where V = volume, B the area of the base, and h the height of the prism with appropriate formula substitutions and values for prisms made in class.

Grade 7
no new tasks

Grade 6
Complete packet: 3.2 You Meam 3 can be One?

Portfolio Conference Letter

October 29, 2013

Dear House A Families,

How times flies! It is already time for Portfolio Conferences. We hope you can attend a Portfolio Conference on the evenings of Wednesday, November 13^th and Thursday, November 14^th from 4-7pm in the House A classrooms/library. Educational research tells us that children benefit greatly from having meaningful conversations about their learning with important adults in their lives. To that end, your student will present to you artifacts of their learning from the first trimester—work from each class that s/he has thoughtfully selected to demonstrate learning and growth.

In addition to presenting artifacts of academic growth, your child will also discuss their progress with the Habits of Mind we have been working on this year: Precision, Citizenship, Preparedness, Persistence, and Flexible Thinking.

For your convenience, we are scheduling conferences in 20-minute intervals starting at 4pm and ending at 7pm on both dates (November 13^th and 14^th). An audience of 2-4 caring adults is ideal—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, etc. If no adult is able to attend on these dates, we will gladly make arrangements for you to conference with your child at another time as we do expect each student to conduct a Portfolio Conference with one or more adults who are invested in their learning. We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

The Teachers of House A:

Robert DeCicco

Stacey Endres

Joe Smith

Tiffany Brigham

Sharon Ehret

Nicki Stevens

John Finnigan

Brenda Sweeney

Gail Nichols

P.S. Please be proactive if you have any concerns regarding your son or daughter’s progress. A portfolio conference is a celebration of student work and might not be the best format to discuss your concerns. You may want to consider scheduling a separate meeting with the team. Please contact us if this applies to you!

Please detach and return.

HOUSE A PORTFOLIO CONFERENCES

*Please indicate your first and second choice for a conference time by checking the time and highlighting or circling the preferred date; have your student turn it in to his/her advisory teacher. We will get back to you to confirm the scheduled time of your conference.*

___ 4:00pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 4:20pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 4:40pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 5:00pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 5:20pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 5:40pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 6:20pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 6:40pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ 7:00pm on Wednesday, November 13^th OR Thursday, November 14^th.

___ Please contact me to schedule an alternative time.

___ I would definitely like to meet with _______________________ about ___________________

(insert teacher name/class) (topic to discuss)

Student: _________________________ Attendees: ______________________________

first & last name ______________________________

Math Mon&Tuesday

Grade 8
page 32 Make cylinder, tirangular, & square prisms
use "Notes" labsheets  3.1 & 3.2 A with formula V = B h where V=volume, B= area of the base,
 h = height of the prism
page #39 # 4-6 these were collected if they were done

Grade 7
analyzing graphs: p39 #8, p 40#10, p 40#11
page 42 # 15 & 16 tables, graphs,

Grade 6
We are working with pattern blocks as a model of fractions
Students have a packet they can share.

Math, Mon & Tues

Grade 8
page 32 make cylinder, triangular, & square prisms
use "Notes' Labsheets 3.1 & 3.2A  V= Bh , V= volume, B = area of the base, h= height of the prism
page 39 # 4-6 these were collected if completed

Grade 7
analyzing graphs: p 39#8, p40#10, p40#11
page 42 # 15 & 16 graphs, tables and questions about area & perimeter

Math Monday, Oct 28th

Power School has been upgraded for the 7th grade.

Math - Power School

Power School has been upgraded for the 8th grade.  Students have their sign-on information in the "Notes" section of their math binder/notebook.

Habit heroes

House A teachers would like to congratulate:

1) 8th grader Dylan Wellinger for persistence
2) 7th grader Matthew Goodman for citizenship
and
3) 6th grader Elisha Rollins for citizenship and precision

Each week the House A teachers will nominate a student from each grade that demonstrates or has shown growth in the "habits of mind."  The 5 habits we will focus on this year are: citizenship, precision, persistence, preparedness and flexible thinking.  Nice job to this week's recipients!

Science

Two things:
1) PowerSchool is updated to reflect the "fox and rabbits" test scores.  If you are having trouble seeing grades for it, please email me at rdecicco@mtsd-vt.org

2) All students are highly encouraged to make corrections on the "fox and rabbit" test.  They can meet with me to discuss it or make corrections on their own.  By making corrections, they will become eligible for a retest which can change their grade. Students will demonstrate persistence and precision by doing this!

Math tasks, Thursday, October 24th

Grade 8
page 27 #17 analyzing calculations to figure out which box is being explored & is surface area or volume being calculated

Grade 7
page 36 &37 #3&4, campground fees & T-shirt fund raiser

Grade 6
Percents on a Numberline  do division to change the fractions into decimals
page 317 on hand out #22-24 do division to calculate decimal from fraction and then decide which is bigger.

Math Tasks, Tues and Wed, October 22&23

Grade 8
Page 30#29 Basketball packaging
*Find the configuration that used the least amount of packaging and have data to support your choice

Grade 7
Wed: new task, page 28#29 construct the graph putting time on the x-axis, speed on the y-axis then use one color for Saturday and another color for Sunday. 
Tuesday: page 30&31 Bike Rentals

Grade 6
*complete Percents on a Numberline from "Notes" (converting fractions to decimals)
*page 317 from handout #16-27
*Callenge: page 319 #37 tangram
Tuesday there were no new tasks

Science 10/23

Students should complete a learning log for homework tonight around the "Sorting Out Life" activity we did in class.  Students learned the scientific definitions for the words: individual, population, community, ecosystem, and abiotic.  They should include those words in the learning log.

Progress report reminder

There are many students that have not returned a signed progress report cover letter to the team.  Please ask your son or daughter if they have done so.

Math Tasks, Monday October 21st

Grade 8
Collected: page 24#1-3, page 28#20, page 12 #11&12 (standard for volume and surface area of figures with fractional edges), page 7&8 A-E
new tasks: Vocabulary: complementary & supplementary angles
worksheet on angles

Grade 7
Graph: Skills: Tables & Graphs #2 with Jan temperatures on the x-axis and July temperatures on the y-axis
Vocabulary word: rates on Frayer model template
take examples from Ticket returned today about Deep Knee Bends

Grade 6
Packet handed out today "Comparing Fractions"  taken from MathThematics
page 312 #6 using equal and inequality signs
Labsheet: creation of fraction bars (these should be kept in their envelopes)
crane made from labsheet

Humanities Homework (study for test) 10/21-10/24

Students are asked to spend a few minutes each night preparing to study for a unit test on culture, mythology and religion, to be held on Thursday, October 24. Tonight's responsibility is to study vocabulary from the unit, located in their binder on lined paper, set up Cornell style, which allows them to fold the sheet to quiz themselves on the terms. Each night a new task will be assigned to study the information for the test. The test includes vocabulary, mapping, elements of culture, ethnocentrism, myths and morals, religion, and writing informational paragraphs.

House A Breakfast November 8

House A advisories will be hosting a Fall team breakfast on Friday, November 8.  Parents are invited to join your student at this continental style event from 7:30- 8:15, in room 241.  Please be aware that students are signing up to contribute to the breakfast.  Any parents able to assist in any way can contact Stacey Endres by emailing sendres@mtsd-vt.org Thank you! 

Math tasks, Thursday, October 17th

Grade 8
no new tasks
The following tasks should be complete and in their Current Work:
page 24 #1-3, page 28#20, page 20 all with labsheet, page 12 #11&12
Vocabulary: volume & surface area

Grade 7
Additional Practice worksheet with graph for #2  with January temperatures on the x-axis, and
July temperatures on the y-axis

Grade 6
not new tasks
The four worksheet on multiplication with division check & division worksheets with multiplication checks should be done and in their "Current Work"

Progress Reports Sent Home Today

To Parents & Guardians,

Students received a progress report packet in their last period class today.  Please look over the packet with them and sign the cover sheet to let us know that you've seen it.  Have your son or daughter return the signed cover sheet with them to school on Monday.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. 

House A Teachers

Science 10/16

Students have started a 2-day assessment.  They should look over their notes tonight to help guide their answers for tomorrow.

Math Tasks, Wednesday, October 16th

Grade 8
page 7 A-E, with Labsheet 1.3
Vocabulary: volume & surface area
page 12#11&12

Grade 6
Students have 4 worksheets : 1-multiplication, 3-division
These should be complete with work shown and check( check multiplication with division and
check division with multiplication)

Grade 7
pae 18#5, challenge page 26#26

Science 10/15

Students will have an assessment tomorrow in science class.  The test will cover the key parts to a scientific investigation.  Students should use my feedback on the "Dancing Raisins" lab, what we discussed in class today and the "Key Parts to a Scientific Investigation" handout that is in their notebooks.

Math Tasks, Monday October 14th

Grade 8
new tasks: page 24 #1-3, page 28#20
page 14 #19-24, 19-22 need formulas and substitutions

Grade 6
worksheets: 1 on multiplication with division check, 2 on  division with multiplication check
** there is an assessment on Wed : GCF,LCM, word problems, & divsion with whole numbers

Grade 7
page #17#4,  page 18#5

Humanities Homework 10/14-10/17

Homework

Monday, 10/14/13- All Due Thursday 10/17/13

1. Annotate the article, Hawaii and Football:

• Hawaiian culture- underline information related to culture - (behaviors, rituals, island history, traditions...)
• Circle white influences and Christian influences and write whites/ Christians near each.

• Write Warrior every time being a warrior or having warrior spirit is mentioned

2.  Choose one paragraph to write in Super format:

Explain how football rituals and practices represents the culture of Hawaii.

OR

How has the arrival of whites impacted Hawaiian culture?

OR

In what ways do Hawaiian football players represent themselves as true warriors?

Science

I've updated PowerSchool to reflect all the work that I've seen up until this point.  There are many students who owe assignments and/or need to complete assignments.  Please check PowerSchool or send me an email (rdecicco@mtsd-vt.org) to find out if your son or daughter owes work.  We will be sending out progress reports later this week.

NECAP 10/9 & 10/10

Students should eat breakfast and get plenty of rest the next couple of nights.  We will have NECAP testing on Weds for grades 6-8 and on Thursday for grade 8 only.  Thanks!

Science 10/9

Students should complete the "Dancing Raisins" lab report and graph their results.  Mr. D will collect this assignment on Friday, 10/11.

We will have a test next week.  Date to be determined.  It will be a lab-based test.  Students will conduct an experiment and write up the key parts to the investigation. 

Math, Tuesday, October 8th

Grade 6
Bake Sale & lollipop problem on the GCF Ladder method worksheet
Grade 7
corrections are still in need for some students
page 10&11 A-D Atlantic City to Lewes
Grade 8
page 20  2.1 Packaging Blocks A-D with nets and sketches

Humanities- October 7

Students are responsible for writing 1-2 creative paragraphs describing a ritual of an American, a family member, a middle schooler etc... The ritual may be daily, once a year... These paragraphs are based on the Nacimera article read today in class, describing the tooth brushing, dentistry and other rituals of the culture. Paragraphs will be graded for conventions.

Math, October 7th

Power School has been upgraded for the sixth grade;
Tasks:
Garde 6
Students were asked to find the GCF & LCM for 6 pairs of number using three different strategies.  We started this work in class last Friday and had a review and more work time in class.
Grade 7
Vocabulary on the Frayer Model organizer was reviewed
Students should have: variable, co-ordinate graph, independent variable (x-axis), dependent variable (y-axis), scale, co-ordinate pair, relationship
the examples can come from the jumping jack experiment we did last week
Grade 8
Vocabulary defined on a Frayer Model format for words on pages 7-9
page 10&11 #1-7 and page 14 #19-22 finding area & perimeter
Page 14 needs formulas stated, substitutions shown, responses, and correct unit labels

10/7 Flynn Field Trip-The Odyssey

Just a reminder that students will be going on a field trip to the Flynn Theater on Monday, 10/7, to see the play "The Odyssey."  If you haven't done so already, please send in the permission slip (a note from the parent/guardian saying that it's ok will suffice) and $10 fee.  The play is part of the humanities curriculum and students are expected to attend it!  Thanks in advance.

House A Teachers

Math tasks, Friday Oct 4th

Grade 8: no new tasks

Grade 7:  Complete graph for jumping jack experiment
vocabulary (highlighted words) Pages 7&8

Grade 6:
Least Common Multiple worksheet
We did some in class with three strategies: listing, Venn diagram, & Ladder to find both GCF (Greatest Common Factor) & LCM (Least Common multiple) if they just review what we did that would be good.

Math

All students have received their PowerSchool sign-ons and have been asked to keep them in the "Notes" section of their notebook so they have access to the information at both school & home.
Grade 6
papers were returned and students were asked to keep them in the "Current Work" section
Worksheet 2.1 prime factorization

Grade 7
Jumping Jack chart for data
Co-ordinate graph with time on the x-axis & number of jumping jacks on the y-axis

Grade 8
page 6 A-E nets for 3 by 1 by 1 rectangular prism, page 10# 5, 6, 7, Page 14#19-24 Areas and Perimeters of different types of shapes
We will continue working on this assignment Friday.

NECAP 10/2 & 10/3

Students should get plenty of rest tonight and eat breakfast for the NECAP sessions that are happening this week on Wednesday & Thursday.  Homework may be light to allow students to focus their best efforts on the exam.  We hope that students' scores will reflect the hard work that has been happening in the classrooms.  If you have any questions, please email one of the teachers. 

Science 10/1

Students should complete the "what is life?" 2 famous experiments worksheet for homework tonight.  This assignment will be collected and graded when students have science next. 

Math, Tuesday, October 1st

All students were given their PowerSchool sign-ons and asked to put them in the "Notes" section of their notebook.
Grade 6
continue work on the Ladder Method for finding the Greatest Common Factor
Grade 7
page 7 make chart for 120 seconds
page 8
prepare graph with time on the x-axis for 120 seconds and jumping jacks on the y-axis
Grade 8
page 6, 1.1 A&B
page 10#1-4
Transparency in "Notes"
Vocabulary from page 5: net, cube, unit cube

Open House

House A teachers would like to thank all the parents, guardians, family members and students that came to the MMS open house last night!  It was great seeing all of you and we look forward to continuing our solid start to the school year.