Language Arts: MAP testing day. Homework: NEARPOD- Log on and join the session: KALID


Please join us on April 1st for our Memoir Share:

Mrs Duffield/Mrs Franco's Homeroom from 8:00-8:45 am

Mr Kruger's Homeroom from 9:45-10:30 am

Reading: 
Duffield Rotation started presenting ABC Books.
Van Ooyen rotation- book and all jobs are due tomorrow
Olsen rotation: Finish book by tomorrow

Social Studies: Completed our first Essay Quiz in our Japan Unit.

** Reminder that report cards are currently "live" and will change for the next 2 weeks until the grading period is closed. So, any scores you are able to view in Infinite Campus might change a number of times between now and April 13th. Thanks for your understanding. 

Science Projects Due Tomorrow!

Greetings, just a friendly reminder that science projects are due tomorrow Thursday April 31st.  (Students have had 5 days in class to work on their projects, including the last 2 days.  Check their planners for their daily goals they set for using class time productively:)

There are 2 parts to the project:

Part I: The visual (cell model of various) and analogies for 10 organelles (2-3 sentences each).

Part II:  Cell Organelles and their functions matching (handout received in class).

Please check the blog post from earlier for the rubric with ore details and looking forward to some great projects!

Mr. K

P.S.  To the moms out there...I often describe 7th grade kids as being particularly challenging at times.  I'm also fond of describing 6th graders post Spring Break as being 7th graders (it's like it just happens all of a sudden).  I came across this article that validates this challenging time of parenting that I thought you hard working parents and moms would enjoy - hang in there!
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/27/health/middle-school-stress-mothers-research/ 

Language Arts: Looked at our Memoir Writing scores & practiced what our celebration will look and sound like this Friday.

Please join us on April 1st for our Memoir Share:

Mrs Duffield/Mrs Franco's Homeroom from 8:00-8:45 am

Mr Kruger's Homeroom from 9:45-10:30 am

Reading: Our ABC Book are due tomorrow- Duffield Rotation.
VanOoyen- All jobs and book are due on Friday

Social Studies: Today we chose our Japan clans and roles within our clan. Ask your child about our process and what is to come!

Please join us on April 1st for our Memoir Share:

Mrs Duffield/Mrs Franco's Homeroom from 8:00-8:45 am

Mr Kruger's Homeroom from 9:45-10:30 am

Reading: Mrs. Duffield's rotation has an ABC book due on Thursday.

Mrs. Van Ooyen's rotation has jobs determined by their group and final jobs are due on Friday.

Mr. Olsen's rotation needs to have their books read by Friday. 

Social Studies: Started our Japan Unit today.

Language Arts: Completed our memoirs!

Please join us on April 1st for our Memoir Share:

Mrs Duffield/Mrs Franco's Homeroom from 8:00-8:45 am

Mr Kruger's Homeroom from 9:45-10:30 am

Reading: Duffield Rotation- ABC Book due 3/31/16

Science: Cell Project due 3/31

Language Arts: Memoirs due at the END of class tomorrow. Please use all of this time to revise and continue to make your writing stronger. There are many choices to push you along in this process. See Duffield or Franco if you care for some advice! The above vignette was completed with continual and support and motivation.

Reading: Duffield rotation- Worked on our ABC books that will summarize a fictional novel. Homework: ABC book are due March 31st. 

Mrs VanOoyen's rotation: Each person will be getting 7 different grades. 5 of the grades are their journal entries for the chosen job.  The due dates vary, since each group created their own calendar of meeting dates.  The two other grades will be the discussions and use of class time.  All journal entries need to be completed by March 31st.

Olsen's rotation- By Friday, students should be at least halfway through their book.

Social Studies: Maya Project Presentations- see above for some examples.

Math: R & P 325

Science: Cell Projects are due 3/31/16

** Field trip forms are due TOMORROW

Language Arts: Memoir final revisions are going strong. Homework: Memoirs due FRIDAY.

Social Studies: Maya Project presentations. See above for some project ideas!

Reading: Duffield rotation- Worked on our ABC books that will summarize a fictional novel. See above for a few examples. Homework: ABC book are due March 31st. 

Mrs VanOoyen's rotation: Each person will be getting 7 different grades. 5 of the grades are their journal entries for the chosen job.  The due dates vary, since each group created their own calendar of meeting dates.  The two other grades will be the discussions and use of class time.  All journal entries need to be completed by March 31st.

Olsen's rotation- By Friday, students should be at least halfway through their book.

Math: Mr Kruger- NO homework

Science: Cell Projects due 3/31/16

Please join us on April 1st:

Mrs Duffield/Mrs Franco's Homeroom from 8:00-8:45 am

Mr Kruger's Homeroom from 9:45-10:30 am

GOOD NEWS!

The yes's have it.  So when asked if kids are stressed out and if you'd appreciate more time after break (so kids don't have to stress about the project over break) 80% of parents said yes!  In response, I will be extending the science cell Analogy project until after spring break.  The Cell Analogy Project will be due Thursday March 31st, which give kids 2 more days in class after break to finish up and get organized.  No one likes a grumpy kid and everyone deserves some time to relax over break :)

Shelly Duffield says their projects for her should be twice as good now :)-

Language Arts: Our focus today was on transition words and "flow" in our memoirs. Reading them out loud helps the writer find that flow. I suggest you try that at home with your memoir prior to publishing. Some of the pictures above show students working on their drafts and peer conferencing.
Homework:  Memoirs are due on FRIDAY

Reading: Duffield rotation- Worked on our ABC books that will summarize a fictional novel. Homework: ABC book are due March 31st. 

Mrs VanOoyen's rotation: Each person will be getting 7 different grades. 5 of the grades are their journal entries for the chosen job.  The due dates vary, since each group created their own calendar of meeting dates.  The two other grades will be the discussions and use of class time.  All journal entries need to be completed by March 31st.

Olsen's rotation- By Friday, students should be at least halfway through their book.

Social Studies: Last day in class to focus on Mayan Vocabulary- packets are due on Friday. See above for 1 example of a Mayan Project Visual. These projects are due TOMORROW.


** Field trip permission slip forms are due FRIDAY, March 18th.

** Please consider coming to our informal memoir share/celebration. It will be held on Friday, April 1st. Mrs. Duffield/Mrs Franco's homeroom will celebrate from 8:00-8:45 am and Mr Kruger's homeroom will celebrate from 9:45-10:30 am  **

Cell Analogy Project

Hi parents,

  Just a quick survey to see if you would prefer that I extend the due date for the science project.  Please take a moment to fill out the survey linked below:

http://goo.gl/forms/LhqgvwwBfY

Thanks,

Justin Kruger

Language Arts: Today we discussed ways in which we might organize our memoirs. Think about ways to manage your visuals to pull the reader through. Can your visuals act as a narrator? Can you use your visuals to transition to your next vignette?  Homework: Memoirs are due 3/18

Social Studies: Worked on our Maya Vocabulary work. Homework: Vocabulary packet due 3/18 & Maya Project due 3/16

Reading: Duffield rotation- ABC Project due 3/31

Science: Cell Projects due 3/18

** We are able to use chromebooks until Friday if you are choosing to type your memoir.

 






Language Arts: Endings in memoirs should meet the reader's' needs in a number of ways. Since we, as readers, are already emotionally connected to the story, we should feel a sense of closure. We are left with the author's life lesson or theme. Memoir endings often come full circle, tying into our introductions and maybe symbolism we have used throughout the piece. See above for a vignette example and an ending example (both in draft form).  Memoirs are due 3/18.

Reading: Duffield rotation- ABC books are due 3/31
VanOoyen rotation- You have jobs and assigned readings due when your group decided they are due.
Olsen- No homework

Social Studies: Continued with Maya Vocab- due 3/18 & Maya Projects are due 3/16.

Science: Cell projects are due Friday 3/18.

Language Arts: We are starting to look at finishing up our vignettes so we can create endings tomorrow for our memoirs.

Reading: Duffield rotation- ABC Book due 3/31/16.

Social Studies: Mayan Vocabulary due 3/18/16.

Mr K's Math: R & P- page 304

This Week

MATH:

    This week we've been working on the idea of representing an unknown with a variable "x" and sharing a piece of something (dividing fractions).  We've also been working on combining like terms.  Students did a quick checkup quiz with me that I graded to give them a sense of where they are at with the skill but does not reflect on their grade for math.  There will be a test on Chapter 6 next Tuesday 3/15/16. 

Here's a good link with a video of what kids have been working on in class:
http://textbooks.cpm.org/video/algebra/algebra_tiles_like_terms_1.mp4

SCIENCE:

     Last week we wrapped up our microscope unit by looking at our final living microscopic organisms: flagellates, paramecia and chara (a plant with identifiable cells).  This week we've been focusing on cells and cell theory.  Students are focusing on Eukaryotic cells and specifically plant and animal cells and the organelles within those cells.  

    Students received the Cell Analogy  project handout and have spent the last 3 days reading about and recording notes on cells and the organelles in plant and animal cells.  Friday 3/11 students will be officially assigned the project and will begin working on their cell projects.  The project will  tentatively be due Friday 3/18 with 4 days of in-class time to work on their projects (I'm working with Shelly to make sure kids stay organized and focused and not overwhelmed with projects due in both classes).  Students can choose to do a project in which 100% of  the materials are provided by me and complete all of it in class or they can choose to work in/out of class with food or other materials. 

Here is all the notes for the cell organelles students should have in their lab books:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVQm4IfX8UWOW0yeDlubXEtNHM/view?usp=sharing

Here's a link to the project handout which we'll discuss in detail Friday 3/11:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwVQm4IfX8UWRm9UcnJxTTdPRlk


READING:

   The kids really got into the Greek Mythology unit this year with valuable literary lessons and perhaps even more valuable teamwork lessons abounding :)  I thought all the groups did a great job and I was particularly impressed with the way groups worked through their differences with group members and made the best of their situations.  We read 10 Greek Myths and hidden within the competitions were literacy skills like diagramming a plot, identifying themes, synonyms and antonyms and many more.  The unit ends with final projects by kids and this year the puppet show was very popular and there were some awesome puppets and hilarious puppets.  Stay tuned for some pics of that!

Language Arts: Discussed the importance, again, of showing not telling. It is essential in producing a strong narrative piece. Students should write that "movie they have in their mind" instead of just telling us about the event as a retelling. Working on sentence fluency was also addressed- see above for an example. Also seen above, the two main mentor texts for memoir writing we are using in class.

Reading: Duffield's new rotation- The rubric and summarizing sheets were sent home with the students. ABC Book due 3/31/16

Social Studies: Continued to work on Maya Vocabulary. Maya projects are due 3/16.

Language Arts: Today we focused on what makes a meaningful introduction to our memoir- what hints at the bigger picture and theme. If you look at the two examples above, the authors hint at their vignettes (or bullet points) in their introductory paragraphs. This is purposeful and part of what good writers do. Homework: ALL vignettes (3-5) are written in first or second draft form- due Friday March 11th. 

Reading: Mrs Duffield's new rotation- ABC books are due 3/31/16

Social Studies: Continued our work on Maya Vocabulary. Homework: Maya Projects due 3/16 & Maya Vocabulary due 3/18/16. 

Math: Mr Kruger's math- No homework 

Science: Optional Science test corrections due Friday

** Field trip sheets are due 3/16/16**

Language Arts: Developed a plan for our memoir writing, see above. We will discuss introductions tomorrow as they will lead us in our next steps for our writing. Memoirs are due 3/18/16

Reading: Mrs Duffield's section- ABC Books are due 3/31. Remember we are on to the next rotation in our 3 week cycle.

Math: R&P 294.

Science: Optional test corrections due Friday.

Language Arts: Today we revisited our memoir theme/lessons learned and our bullet points. Students assisted me in editing my piece to make sure you saw the accomplishment theme come through.

Reading: New rotations for Duffield/Franco, Olsen and Van Ooyen starting on Monday.

Social Studies: Continued on Maya Vocabulary. Homework: March 16th Maya Project due. 

Language Arts: Solidified our theme/lesson learned for our memoir writing along with our 3-5 bullet points (short stories) that go with that theme/lesson learned. See above for some examples of what that process looked like. Homework: THINK about the strategy good writers use- SHOWING NOT TELLING! We have forgotten about this.

Social Studies: Maya Project due- 3/16. Worked on Maya vocabulary.

Math: Mr K's class- homework- 289 R & P 6-74 to 6-79

** A permission slip was sent home with students today for the Milwaukee Public Museum- they are due 3/16/16** 

Language Arts: Today we did four 8 minute quick writes using different bullet points on our memoir planning sheet. Homework: complete two additional 8 minute quick writes with NEW bullet points. 

Social Studies: Continued with our Maya and vocabulary work

Reading: 
Duffield section, ABC books are due TOMORROW. All students have a rubric to use in order to do the best job possible.
VanOoyen- The book needs to be finished along with their individual jobs for the final discussion on Friday. 
Olsen- Books need to be read by Friday of this week.

Math: Mr K's class- R & P page 288

** 7th grade election sheets are due tomorrow**

Language Arts: Discussed our memoir ideas and thought about them thematically or as lessons learned. Created an umbrella for organizing our thinking around this. The umbrella holds the theme/and or lessons learned and the bullet points under are the vignette story ideas. We are going for 3-5 bullet points under each umbrella.

Reading: 
Duffield section, ABC books are due this Thursday. All students have a rubric to use in order to do the best job possible.
VanOoyen- The book needs to be finished along with their individual jobs for the final discussion on Friday. 
Olsen- Books need to be read by Friday of this week. 

Social Studies: Continued our vocabulary around the Mayas. Maya project due March 16th. 


** Blue 7th grade election sheets are due on March 3rd!