6th grade 

The sixth graders completed the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The sixth graders began discussing and writing their compare and contrast graphic organizer regarding the novel and film with a partner. They also began lessons about William Shakespeare and will begin an infographic assignment about his life. Have a great weekend!

7th grade

The seventh graders completed the novel Refugee and will finalize their last discussion next week. The students began several lessons about William Shakespeare. They began an infographic assignment regarding his life, famous sayings, and work he has written. The students even translated, “The Seven Ages of Man'' into modern English with a partner. Have a great weekend!

8th grade

The eighth graders completed the novel Chains. They began their novel assessment and will complete it next week. They will also have their final discussion predicting what will happen next with two characters that freed themselves. The students began several lessons about William Shakespeare as well. They began an infographic assignment regarding his life, famous sayings, and work he has written. The students even translated, “The Seven Ages of Man'' into modern English with a partner. 8th grade had an SEL lesson regarding change and reviewed important dates regarding graduation. They had their 8th graduation pictures and looked amazing! Have a great weekend!

6th grade 

The sixth graders completed the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. They completed an end of novel discussion assignment with their groups. They wrote a claim, evidence, and reasoning for each response. As a culminating activity the students began watching The Boy in the Striped Pajamas movie in order to compare and contrast two characters and two themes from the text and film. They also started an assignment called Family slides where they are sharing things that they love, celebrate, and enjoy doing with their family. Have a great weekend!

7th grade

The seventh graders chose a character in Refugee and identified one character trait. They wrote a claim, three pieces of evidence, and three reasonings to support that character trait. They also started an assignment called Family slides where they are sharing things that they love, celebrate, and enjoy doing with their family. Have a great weekend!

8th grade

The eighth graders continued to read and annotate the novel Chains. They complete the novel next week. In writing the students completed their research template and published their 5 paragraph research paper onto another document to revise and edit with a partner next week. They also started an assignment called Family slides where they are sharing things that they love, celebrate, and enjoy doing with their family. Some of the students presented their slides today and came to school with their culture's traditional clothing. Have a great weekend!

6th grade 

The sixth graders received a new partner to read and annotate chapters 18-20 to finish the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. They were engaged in the text and also worked on their novel slides. The novel slides reviewed symbolism and figurative language. I also read aloud the book, “What the Road Said,” by Cleo Wade. During our SEL time we discussed the theme and how to continue doing their best even if there is a lot of uncertainty. Remember to keep going!

7th grade

The seventh graders continued to read and annotate Refugee. They published their MUN essay and are getting ready to debate. I conferred with students throughout the week. In writing they compared and contrasted MLA versus APA with a partner. The 7th graders created a venn diagram or t-chart with the information and discussed their findings. I also read aloud the book, “What the Road Said,” by Cleo Wade. During our SEL time we discussed the theme and how to continue doing their best even if there is a lot of uncertainty. Remember to keep going!

8th grade

The eighth graders continued to read and annotate the novel Chains. In writing the students continued their research template and began writing introductions and conclusions. They worked in partners or groups to create seven different types of hooks that can be used in essay writing. One class wrote great hooks and the other class identified the hooks, revised, and edited them. The 8th graders are finalizing their research templates in order to revise them next week.  I also read aloud the book, “What the Road Said,” by Cleo Wade. During our SEL time we discussed the theme and how to continue doing their best even if there is a lot of uncertainty. Remember to keep going!

6th, 7th, & 8th

The middle school students had the opportunity to come together in a circle after our winter break and share moments they enjoyed doing. The students had time to reflect on 2021 and create a one word wallpaper. They chose one word that they would like to focus on this 2022 year. We discussed that whenever they need encouragement to look at their word or say their word to help them refocus. 

6th grade 

The sixth graders received a review grammar packet this week. They worked with partners to remember how to identify simple, compound, complex, and compound complex sentences. They also reviewed subordinating and coordinating conjunctions. Have a great winter break!

7th grade

The seventh graders continued to read and annotate Refugee. They were able to finalize their position paper in order to revise and edit with a partner when they return from break. Have a great winter break!

8th grade

The eighth graders continued to read and annotate the novel Chains. In writing the students continued their research template and are practicing their in-text citations after every evidence MLA format. They also reviewed how to do the works cited for their research paper using the template given to them. Have a great winter break!

6th grade 

The sixth graders read chapters 12 and 13 in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. They worked with a partner on reading Elie Wiesel’s Acceptance Speech, on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize and answered research questions regarding the speech. This week they reviewed how to do in-text citations when quoting and paraphrasing nonfiction text in MLA format. They will have their book club discussion on chapters 12 and 13 on Monday. They took an assessment on in-text citations and works cited. Have a great weekend!

7th grade

The seventh graders continued to read and annotate Refugee. They read pages 104-120 and had great discussions with their peers answering higher order thinking questions. I am encouraging them to continue to create better questions. They are also completing their position template about their countries' views for next week's Model United Nations debate. They also worked with a partner on reading Elie Wiesel’s Acceptance Speech, on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize and answered research questions regarding the speech. This week they reviewed how to do in-text citations when quoting and paraphrasing nonfiction text in MLA format. We are in week 10 in our SEL lessons. Students began to share stories about bullying and will continue to discuss ways that bystanders could become upstanders. Have a great weekend!

8th grade

The eighth graders continued to read and annotate the novel Chains chapters 23 and 24 and had great discussions with their peers answering higher order thinking questions. I am encouraging them to continue to create better questions. They took their second formal assessment for chapters 13-22 on Friday. In writing the students framed their essays using the box and bullets graphic organizer. They began their research template and are practicing their in-text citations after every evidence. All of these skills will continue to support them with their current research essay. Have a great weekend!