Team Kani News: August 29-September 2, 2016

Team Kani T-Shirt

General Team News

Team t-shirt orders are due by Wednesday, September 7.  The t-shirts are $8.00 each.  You are welcome to order one for your student and yourself!  Please give your order form and payment to Mr. Spinks.

If you have lost your order form, one is linked here:  T-shirt Order Form

English/Language Arts News

In ELA this week, we will continue exploring folktales from the middle east and begin to look at other culture's folktales. Students will compare and contrast various folktales that they view and read throughout the week. Students will also begin to work on drafting their first informational writing piece this week as we view and read folktales from different cultures around the world.

On Thursday, September 1st, we have a special guest speaker and published author visiting Hilsman Middle School!  Lisa Yee will be talking with all 7th grade students about writing, how she gets her ideas for writing, and her numerous published books!  We are looking forward to Ms. Yee's visit this week!

Please continue to check Parent Portal for posted grades and any missing assignments your child may have. Your assistance in encouraging your child to complete all work and turn in all assignments is much appreciated!

Finally, if you would like to receive an electronic invitation from me to receive Google Classroom assignment notifications, please send me your e-mail address, and I will add you so that you will receive an electronic invitation to accept. This will enable you to better track assignments your child needs to complete in Google Classroom for ELA.

I look forward to another exciting week of teaching and learning with your child!

Science News

The first Science Test (Summative Assessment) of the year was given on Friday, August 26.  I was disappointed with the overall scores of students on the team.  7th Grade Life Science is introductory Biology.  Students will see the content again at a deeper level in high school.  Biology is a required course at the high school level.  Because 7th Grade Life Science content is so important, and the students need to master the material, I am offering a retake of the test on Wednesday and Thursday of this week during ELT/1st Period.  

Over the weekend and first part of the week, I plan to call the parents of every child on the team that did not pass the Biomes Test.  I will share the retake opportunity details with parents.  2nd, 4th, and 7th Period Life Science take Quizzes and Tests on Edmodo.  If you would like to review the test and see which questions your child did or did not answer correctly, please ask him or her to show you the results on Edmodo.  

7th Grade Life Science is a challenging content that requires attention and study time.  This fall, we will study 9 biomes, food chains, food webs, energy pyramids, and all of the major human body systems plus the major function of each organ and system.  Studying and reviewing every day is essential.  

Topics this Week:

Monday:  Interdisciplinary Unit & Biomes Review

Tuesday:  Parasitism

Wednesday:  Mutualism - Biomes Test Retake during ELT

Thursday:  Commensalism - Biomes Test Retake during ELT

Friday:  Symbiosis Review, Big 10 Quiz #4, Maintenance Sheet due (homework for the week)

Interactive Notebooks
All Science students are required to keep a composition book organized as their Interactive Notebook for Science.  This Notebook includes notes, illustrations, charts, graphs, vocabulary, etc. - It is their textbook and study guide.  I do grade them once every 4-5 weeks.
The first Notebook Check will be during the week of September 12.  I will check each class on a different day.
As of right now, your child should have the following in his or her Science Notebook:

• Page 1 - Title Page with an illustration, student name, class name, and semester #.
• Pages 2 & 3 - Signed Syllabus glued or taped in
• Page 4 - Class Expectations & Procedures glued or taped in
• Pages 5 & 6 - Blank for now - the Table of Contents will be glued or taped in on these pages
• Page 7 - Big 10 Week #2 completed & glued or taped in
• Page 8 - Biomes Vocabulary written in as notes
• Page 9 - Biome Summary Chart completed & glued or taped in
• Page 10 - Exit Ticket written in as notes
• Page 11 - Big 10 Week #3 completed & glued or taped in
• Page 12 - Estuary Questions
• Page 13 - Chart of Ecological Relationships completed & glued or taped in
• Page 14 - Big 10 Week #4 completing this week & glued or taped in
• Page 15 - Maintenance Sheet #4 complete by 9/2 & glued or taped in

Math News

This past week students continued exploring mathematical algorithms (a plan or series of steps for completing a computation). During the past three weeks, we have used number lines and "chip models" to investigate addition, subtraction, and multiplication of integers (positive and negative whole numbers).
Students were given a homework assignment on Tuesday that was to be turned in on Thursday. Some students still have missing homework assignments causing their overall grade to be uncomfortably low. I have reviewed my "late-work policy" with each class. Students also took a group quiz on Wednesday. Scores on this respective quiz were lower than I had expected. Students who earned below a 70 will be given a chance to retake the quiz this week. Having said this, all grades have been posted. Please take a few moments during this week to talk with your respective student about their current grade - as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me.
Throughout this upcoming week, we will continue to work with integers. All students have now joined their respective "Google Classroom". Our daily math presentations are posted on Google Classroom with the hope that students will review what we are learning each night. Exciting information regarding "Waggle" (an online math resource) should be coming within the next week - stay tuned!
Looking forward to another great week. Go Panthers!

Social Studies News

This week in social studies we will continue our focus on Middle East Geography.  Students will continue to cover the impact oil and water have on the people there.   We will also begin studying Middle Eastern culture which covers the major ethnic groups and religions of the region.  We will continue to emphasize reading and writing through a social studies context.  Students have had two map quizzes so far which will be updated in Infinite Campus early this week.  The Middle East coach book that students have linked in the About section of google classroom is a great study resource to reinforce what we are doing in the classroom. Thank you for your support!