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Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

Science: 

Thank you to those who have shared or donated to our Solving Food Insecurity with Aquaponics grant!

Students are working on our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Food Insecurity and Aquaponics. Each period voted on a system design and we will begin building them in the coming weeks. This week they are using evidence (data) and reasoning to explain how limiting factors effect populations in ecosystems.

The following are materials not listed on the grant page that we will be in need of:  (if you have any of these not being used in your home we would be happy to take them off of your hands!) on:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we still need 3 (Thank you Ms. McDade for 1!)
• 2 power strips and/or extension cords (Thank you Ms. Giles for 2!)
• 4 bags of River Rock
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store to purchase fish
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

ELA: 

We will begin the week analyzing poetry inspired by the work of Langston Hughes before making our own creations. By the end of the week, we will begin planning for our Literary Essay. During this unit, students will be making claims about the similarities they see between two novels they read during our last unit.

Homework: Students should be reading nightly.

Math:

Students are practicing fraction multiplication and division.  Students are preparing for the Mid Unit Assessment which will take place on Wednesday. Also students will complete a computation quiz on Friday.  We have spend ample time preparing in class and the kids should know exactly what to expect. A copy of the January practice test is on the portal.

American History:

We will begin the week by reviewing the results of the Imperialism simulation. Next the students will learn about some reasons for US Imperialism. We will wrap up the week with an activity that will allow the students to analyze political cartoons and primary resources covering events surrounding the Spanish-American War.

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Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

Science: 

Thank you to those who have shared or donated to our Solving Food Insecurity with Aquaponics grant!

Students are working on our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Food Insecurity and Aquaponics. Each period voted on a system design and we will begin building them in the coming weeks. This week they are analyizing data to explain how invasive species effect biodiversity ecosystems.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we still need 3 (thank you Ms. McDade for 1!)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

ELA: 

We wrap up our Deep Study of Character Unit this week with a final assessment on character, setting, and theme analysis. For the assessment, students will read a short story and analyze those areas. Next up, our Literary Essay, where students will be comparing two of the novels they read during our last unit.

Homework: Students should be reading nightly.

HW:

• Read to finish daily goal (Books due by Tuesday 1/29)
• Post-Assessment on Monday (1/28) and Tuesday (1/29) (You may use your notebooks, check in sheets, and study guide as review)

Math:

Vega math students are approaching the Mid Unit Assessment which is scheduled for Friday, February 1.  All content on the assessment is available for review in the text book (in Google Classroom).  The lesson summaries are helpful and the family math section is also a good resource for extra support.  This week, there will be a continued focus on operations with fractions.  Also, we will circle back to measurement where the kids will have to compute area and volume with fractional values.

By week's end, students will receive the unit 4 study guide so they can begin to prepare for the upcoming end of unit test. We are aiming for the week before Presidents' Day.

American History:

This week we start our unit on Imperialism and the Spanish American War. We will begin the unit with an Imperialism simulation.

The students will have a chance to simulate the process of colonizing an island. They will be assigned a country and criteria to use to determine what island they will attempt to conquer.

Steger's Heart and Sole (Girls on the Run, Grades 6-8) season will begin in February.  We are currently looking for parent volunteers to help coach our team.  If you are interested, please contact Head Coach and Site Liaison, Bridget Finocchiaro at finocchiaro.bridget@wgmail.org and visit the GOTR site for more information.  All coaches must register by February 10, 2019.  Registration for the girls is open from January 21-February 20, 2019. More information to follow. 

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Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

Science: 

Students are working on our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Food Insecurity and Aquaponics. Each period voted on a system design and we will begin building them in the coming weeks. This week they are creating grant media campaigns and evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Vega will be in need of materials to build the aquaponics systems and there will be a more detailed email sent soon.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we will need 4)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

ELA: 

We’re continuing our work with our reading workshop. This week, we’ll explore the themes present in our novels. Students are keeping track of their daily reading goal on their bookmarks. The novels should be going home daily to finish reading if needed.

HW:

Read to finish daily goal

Math:

Homework resumes this week with Skill Practice OO, due Friday, January 18.  Also, several students have an extra credit packet and the deadline was extended to Friday, January 18.  This week in class we are digging into fraction multiplication and division. Addition, subtraction, and some multiplication of fractions were covered in fourth and fifth grade.  Many students could use a refresher on these topics. Khan Academy is a great resource for extra practice. There are many websites out there which serve the same purpose as long as the kids are doing some work with fraction basics and fraction operations. Every little bit helps!

American History:

This week the students are completing the Progressive Movement Project. We will begin presentations on Thursday, January 17th. These presentations will cover Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, January 24th we will have our end of the unit test. A study guide will be provided.

Progressive Movement Project

Steger's Heart and Sole (Girls on the Run, Grades 6-8) season will begin in February.  We are currently looking for parent volunteers to help coach our team.  If you are interested, please contact Head Coach and Site Liaison, Bridget Finocchiaro at finocchiaro.bridget@wgmail.org and visit the GOTR site for more information.  All coaches must register by February 10, 2019.  Registration for the girls is open from January 21-February 20, 2019. More information to follow. 

-----------------------------------

Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

Science: 

Students are working on our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Food Insecurity and Aquaponics. Each period voted on a system design and we will begin building them in the coming weeks. This week they are identifying criteria and constraints in design solutions and learning to use data as evidence to explain that physical and biological changes in an ecosystem affect populations.

After winter break science classes on Vega will be in need of materials to build the aquaponics systems and there will be a more detailed email sent soon.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we will need 4)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

ELA: 

Welcome back from break! This week we are easing our way back into our ELA groove. We are refreshing ourselves on our class expectations and doing some goal setting for the 2019 year. We will then move back into our Deep Study of Character Unit.  We will continue to focus on the mood and settings of our novels. Students are keeping track of their daily reading goal on their bookmarks in these novels. The novels should be going home daily to finish reading if needed.

HW:

Read to finish daily goal

Math:

Students received their Unit 3 tests back on Monday.  Those earning 70% or better have no homework for the week.  Students who earned 70% were given a pink revision sheet and encouraged to revise their work for extra credit.  After school help sessions are scheduled on Tuesdays from 2:30-3:15. Students may reserve a spot by alerting me on, or before, Monday of each week.

Please check the portal and read my comments on any "D" grades on tests/quizzes that indicate revision sheets and deadlines.  Weekly homework will begin again next week and will continue throughout the end of the school year. If we have school on Friday then there will be homework assigned the week before and due each Friday.

American History:

This week the students will learn about Labor Unions and Labor Strikes during the early to mid-1900’s. They will also begin a project, this week, that will focus on the Progressive Movement. Topics will include: Labor Unions and Labor Strikes, Women’s Suffrage, Impact on African Americans, Muckrakers and more.

Steger's Heart and Sole (Girls on the Run, Grades 6-8) season will begin in February.  We are currently looking for parent volunteers to help coach our team.  If you are interested, please contact Head Coach and Site Liaison, Bridget Finocchiaro at finocchiaro.bridget@wgmail.org and visit the GOTR site for more information.

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Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

Science: 

Students are working on our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Food Insecurity and Aquaponics. Each period voted on a system design that we will be building after Winter Break! This week they are participating in a Socratic Seminar about how energy flows and matter cycles during photosynthesis and cellular respiration. 

The Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Test is on Wednesday the 19th. There is a study guide in Google Classroom, but it is not for a grade.

After winter break science classes on Vega will be in need of materials to build the aquaponics systems and there will be a more detailed email sent next week.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we will need 4)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

ELA: 

The students have been loving their books for this reading unit! This week we are working on analyzing the setting and mood in our novels. Students are keeping track of their daily reading goal on their bookmarks in these novels. The novels should be going home daily to finish reading if needed.

HW:  

• Read to finish daily goal
• Correct narrative edits based on Ms. Scott’s highlighted feedback for better grade (optional).

Math:

Students are wrapping up Unit 3 and the test is scheduled for Thursday.  Monday and Tuesday the kids will have time to work on the study guide in class, ask questions, and complete two review exercises on Khan Academy.  Wednesday will be set aside for more individual support and/or enrichment.  

American History:

The students are completing their Industrial Revolution Invention Advertisement assignment. They are also preparing for the vocab quiz on Thursday, Dec 20th. Our next stop is an activity that will look at the working conditions during the early 1900’s that led to the formation of Labor Unions.

 Steger's Heart and Sole (Girls on the Run, Grades 6-8) season will begin in February.  We are currently looking for parent volunteers to help coach our team.  If you are interested, please contact Head Coach and Site Liaison, Bridget Finocchiaro at finocchiaro.bridget@wgmail.org and visit the GOTR site for more information.

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Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

Science: 

Students are working in lab groups with their PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Aquaponics and Food Insecurity. They have designed aquaponics systems and are creating videos to explain how energy flows and matter cycles during photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Each class period will be voting on 1 aquaponics design and then we will be building the systems. We will build the systems after winter break. 

Energy and Matter test redos can be turned in during recess on Thursday December 13th.

After winter break science classes on Vega will be in need of materials to build the aquaponics systems and there will be a more detailed email sent next week.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we will need 4)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

ELA: 

This week we will be continuing our reading unit titled A Deep Study of Character. We are working on analyzing the characters in our novel and revising our thinking about them as we read. Students are keeping track of their daily reading goal on their bookmarks in these novels. The novels should be going home daily to finish reading if needed.

HW:

• Read to finish daily goal
• Correct narrative edits based on Ms. Scott’s highlighted feedback for better grade (optional).

Math:

Computation test on Thursday, Dec. 13.  This test will mirror the Skill Practice MM from last Friday.  

Thursday, Dec. 20 students will take a unit assessment over ratios, unit rates and percentages.  There will be a study guide going home this week.

Homework: Skill Practice is due Friday.

American History:

This week the students are finishing a political cartoon analysis that focuses on the Industrial Revolution tycoons. Next up is a graphic organizer activity on 4 specific tycoons of the early to mid 1900’s. Following this the students will pick an early invention to research and then create a period news article promoting the invention.

Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

ELA: 

This week we will be diving into our next reading unit titled A Deep Study of Character. We will start off the beginning of the week with a pre-assessment and then move onto exploring various books to choose from for our unit.   

HW:

1. Read your shelfie! November Book Talks will be due by FRIDAY! As soon as you finish your novel, record your book talk using the FlipGrid link on our Google Classroom.
2. Correct narrative edits based on Ms. Scott’s highlighted feedback for better grade (optional).

*Extra copies of the Book Talk expectations/rubric are in our classroom and on Google Classroom. There is also an example Book Talk video on Classroom as well!

Math:

This week students are continuing to work with ratios and unit rates.  They are working toward efficient strategies that will work no matter the given numbers.

Homework:

Skill Practice LL, due Friday.

American History:

This week the students will analyze a series of political cartoons that deal with the immigration port of Angel Island and the treatment of Asian immigrants in the early 1900’s.

Science: 

Students will really be diving into our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Aquaponics and Food Insecurity as they learn about photosynthesis and cell respiration. They will be drawing models of this phenomena and using those models to design possible working aquaponics systems that each period will eventually be building during class.

Soon the science classes on Vega will be in need of materials to build the aquaponics systems and there will be a more detailed email sent next week.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we will need 4)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

ELA: 

This week our Personal Narrative Unit is coming to an end. Students will be editing and revising their work using our scoring checklist. Narratives are due on Thursday!

HW: 1. Narrative final draft due Thursday.

        2. Read your shelfie! November Book Talks            will be due 11/30. As soon as you finish                your novel, record your book talk using the            FlipGrid link on our Google Classroom.

*Extra copies of the Book Talk expectations/rubric are in our classroom and on Google Classroom. There is also an example Book Talk video on Classroom as well!

Math:

Students wrapped up unit 2 last week and study guides were  due Friday. The unit test will be on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Unit 3 will focus on unit rates.  This would be a great time for you to shop with your child and talk about costs per unit, miles per hour, athletic stats, and any other situation where we compare two numerical values.

No School Friday, so NO homework this week!  :)

American History:

This week we transition from the West to the East and look at the movement of people into the US through Ellis Island. The students will work through a series of readings and activities that will help them understand how the face of the US changed during the early 1900’s due to the immigrations.

Science: 

Students will really be diving into our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Aquaponics and Food Insecurity as they learn about the cycle of matter and flow of energy. They will be drawing models of this phenomena and using those models to design possible working aquaponics systems that each period will eventually be building during class.

Soon the science classes on Vega will be in need of materials to build the aquaponics systems and there will be a more detailed email sent next week.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we will need 4)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)

Grades and assignments can be found in the Portal

ELA: 

This week in our Personal Narrative Unit students will be selecting their final small moment to serve as their narrative inspiration. Throughout the week, we will be flashdrafting with a focus on description, craft, and elaboration. This narrative will later be turned in as a grade.

HW: Read your shelfie! November Book Talks will be due 11/30. As soon as you finish your novel, record your book talk using the FlipGrid link on our Google Classroom.

*Extra copies of the Book Talk expectations/rubric are in our classroom and on Google Classroom. There is also an example Book Talk video on Classroom as well!

Math:

Students are working on their study guide which is due Friday.  The test will be next week. Students have been encouraged to work nightly on the study guide and to come to class with questions.  We will spend class time reviewing the study guide on Wednesday and then the kids should continue working for the remainder of the week.

HW: Skill Practice JJ due Friday

American History:

This week we transition from the West to the East and look at the movement of people into the US through Ellis Island. The students will work through a series of readings and activities that will help them understand how the face of the US changed during the early 1900’s due to the immigrations.

Science: 

In the beginning of this week students are finishing their Interactions in Ecosystems Assessment. They will be starting the next topic in our Ecosystems Unit: Cycle of Matter and Flow of Energy. Students will really be diving into our PBL (Problem Based Learning) related to Aquaponics and Food Insecurity as they learn about the cycle of matter and flow of energy. They will be drawing models of this phenomena and using those models to design possible working aquaponics systems. 

Soon the science classes on Vega will be in need of materials to build the aquaponics systems and there will be a more detailed email sent next week.

For now, if anyone has any of the following items to donate please email Mrs. Mason:

• 10 or 30 gallon fish tanks (we will need 4)
• Gift cards of any amount to a local Pet Store
• Gift cards of any amount to a hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc)