Grade 8 Blue TeamNovember 19, 2019 Open Pod Meeting

Counseling

Kathryn Gray – 8th Grade School Psychologist

Jessica Rabine – 8th Grade School Counselor

Lindsay Tiscia - Social Worker

PowerSchool(PS)

Teachers expectations:❏ students check PS frequently

❏ parents check PS as needed - set email notifications

❏ students and parents check PS to inquire about grades and missing work BEFORE contacting the teacher

★ STUDENTS contact the teacher regarding questions about grades/assignments.

Schoology & Google Classroom

Teachers expect that students check Schoology and google classroom daily

❏ Calendar

❏ Recent activity and assignment feed

★ Parents do not need to check Schoology regularly - but should encourage students to do so!

Language Arts

★ Dystopian ❑Completed dystopian book❑Completed realistic fiction book❑Completed first essay: literary analysis ❑ Currently reading Left for Dead, our nonfiction

mentor text★ Vocabulary study through roots.

❑ Ex: val, fin, term, horr, fug ★ Grammar

❑ Subjects, verbs, mechanics★ Upcoming… To Kill a Mockingbird

Editing and Revising

★ Writing is a mixture of formative and summative. All of our writing requires revising and editing - even formatives.

★ Students should use rubrics and assignment sheets throughout the writing process.

★ Eighth grade and writing workshop stress independent, revision of writing.

★ We will also stress editing, which is understanding the mechanics of writing.

Social Studies

Current Unit: Shaping America’s Identity: What is the impact of expansion?

★ Current content: Westward Expansion, Slavery, and the Civil War

Upcoming Unit: Reconciling America’s Identity: How has the American identity evolved to reflect the wants and needs of the American people?

★ Upcoming content: Reconstruction, Civil Rights, Reform Movements

Math

★ Algebra 1:❑ Foundations, Patterns & Sequences and

Functions Units completed❑ Currently immersed in Linear Functions

★ Math 8:❑ Foundations Unit completed❑ Currently making progress with the

Exponent UnitMIDTERM - January 17, 2020

Geometry

★ Recently completed: area and

perimeter, surface area and volume

★ Current unit: logic

★  Extra help is available in the mornings.

★ Assignments posted on Schoology.

★ Midterm January 17, 2019

Science

September-October:★ Reviewed Lab Skills/Scientific Method★ Heat

❑ Thermal Design Challenge November-December:★ Earth’s Geologic History

❑ Mariana Trench❑ Grand Canyon

★ Next Up: Genetics and Evolution❑ Fossils❑ Galapagos Finches

Chromebook Update

★ Students should:❐ Bring Chromebook fully charged every day❐ Be responsible for the security of their

Chromebook.❐ Keep protective hard cover on!❐ Leave the ID label and barcodes untouched.❐ NEVER loan their Chromebook to another

student.❐ Always adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy.❐ Comply with teachers’ instructions regarding

class use.

Community Service Activities

★ Coin War ❑ November 18 - 22nd❑ Class of ‘17 raised $11,860!!!❑ Donated to Dept. of Human Services

■ ‘Tis the Season Fundraiser■ Scholarships, Camp Fund

Reminders

Save the Dates

★ April 14, 2020 12:36 PM❑ Next Open Pod Meeting

★ June 3, 2020❑ Spirit Cruise & Broadway