Google Email Issue - The school has just recently learned and informed us that teachers are limited to sending 100 emails a day beyond our district email network. If a large group email contains or puts our numbers at more than 100 emails, Google has been randomly deleting emails from the contact group. We now know why some of our emails have not reached some of you.
As a result, we will be sending out Voyager Voice and other large group notices by a core contact list. We hope that this will resolve this problem that has been eluding us and has ultimately been beyond our control.
⅞ NYC Field Trip
Deposit/Commitment Forms were due today. We will take a look at the numbers and make some decisions about transportation and accommodations very soon. If you would like to help organize an evening activity (ex. Yankees game or Broadway show) please contact Mr. Merrill.
Ms. Q's Corner
7th Grade Math
This week we put down our pencils and graph paper and utilized graphing calculators. We learned how to turn our calculators on and off, how to use some of the basic operation keys, and to graph linear functions. We changed settings on our window so we could see graphs with different dimensions and we changed our table settings to embody the range in data. We continued our exploration of the y intercepts, what it means for a line to pass through the origin. Comparing and contrasting lines with positive and negative slope, observing at the relationship between equations, graphs and tables were practiced using our new found graphing calculator skills. Finally, we compared and contrasted a linear and a non-linear model. Students will be finishing up the Variables and Patterns Unit with a test next week.
8th Grade Math
Students complete their Thinking with Mathematical Models Unit Test this week and will begin our new unit next week. Many students have been coming in for extra help with math skills and students are beginning to master scientific notation and prime factorization. Students need to take responsibility for asking for help when they are struggling with day-to-day work or haven't grasped a keystone skill from the skill sheets. Visiting Khan Academy, reviewing basic skills by working through the skill hand-out is a way a student can take responsibility for their math learning.
Science 7th/8th
Students recieved their results from their quiz and we spent some time reviewing student test responses that showed understanding, accuracy and precision. After reviewing the exemplar responses, students were given their own tests back and they began to correct. Corrections are due on Monday. We discussed that having an index card is not the same as studying for the quiz; it is important to review the important scientific concepts.
What happens to an old field if left undisturbed? Students took notes, read a scientific journal, and created water color diagrams of primary and secondary sucession. We learned about pioneer species in an ecosystem and how they alter the environment for other species to come in. This eventually leads to greater diversity and ecological equilibrium.
Mr. Merrill’s Wrap Up - (5/6 Social Studies and Language Arts)
This week students typed and printed drafts of their “Qualities and Characteristics of Elected Officials” and “Where I Stand” Constructed Responses. This work will form the basis of an argument paper that we will start next week. We also looked into Voting Rights in the US and how the Electoral College system works (something to watch on election night!!!).
Writing instruction focused on sentence construction practice (simple and compound sentences) and a free write on “Halloween” or “My Scariest Moment.”
News from Ms. O
Math 5
Students in fifth grade math had an assessment this week on tile sequences (more algebra) and on Order of Operations. This isn’t the last time students will see this material. A final unit assessment is approaching! I will be sure to support any students who did not get the big idea of these two concepts after scoring the quizzes. We will spend a few more days discussing data and statistics and move on from Unit 1. It always seems like it takes a while to get through Unit 1 because it crosses so many strands of math! We will finish up and dive deeply into multiplication and division, one of the big ideas of 5th grade math.
Many parents have been wondering about the level and volume of homework students are receiving. Now that I have a good grasp of where students are at, I will work toward differentiating this. Please let me know if this causes anguish at home. The goal is to meet each student at their current level as an independent learner. Don’t be afraid to communicate with me!
All students will receive a report today re: FASTT MATH status. It will be going into their portfolios. Please pay close attention to this report, as it is an indicator of math competency.
Math 6
We have just finished our first unit on Properties of Numbers and are moving into a fractions unit next. I will be teaching pre-algebra concepts throughout the rest of the year. This approach will help prepare students for a full algebra unit in the spring, but also beef up this area of math given the new standards for Common Core.
All students will receive a report today re: FASTT MATH/Fraction Nation status. It will be going into their portfolios. Please pay close attention to this report, as it is an indicator of math competency.
5/6 Science
We began investigations on the property of Density this week. Students are learning how to find mass and volume and exploring why these measures together might indicate what kind of substance they have!
To learn more about density, we will be floating and sinking things next week. Feel free to send in any objects from home that might help us learn more about the properties of the substances the objects are made from!
We also met with UVM students to learn more about water. Big ideas include:
We are all connected to our water systems.
- The quantity of water on Earth is limited and finite.
- Water here in Williston is connected to water in say, New York City, because the way water cycles around.
- We are responsible for ensuring water quality on Earth.
The Week in Ms. Wesnak’s Room
7/8 Language Arts and Social Studies:
This week students continued to work on their final essays around a political issue of their choice. They all got a lot of work done and were able to make some real progress in their writing. Stressing the fact that writing is a process, students were also given class time to peer edit and conference. This week we also took some time to catch up on some current events, read and analyze political cartoons, learn about quotation marks and punctuation, and also watch some great persuasive speakers! Students were also given the chance to read a famous historical speech and get some public speaking practice in during class on Friday. This week was full of great stuff and we are all really looking forward to November 6th! The classroom this week just seemed to be a buzz with great work and excitement around election day!!
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