With the storms brewing this past week and the feelings of uncertainty, and maybe even fear, they can bring, I am brought back to the discussion my advisory held a few weeks back. We explored the autumnal equinox and what it entails scientifically – which is often where most people stop. Much like I speak about the “winter arc”, I view the autumnal equinox as a pivotal moment in our year – especially here in Charleston. September is very much a goodbye to the summer (even though it might not feel like it – my glasses fogged up every morning when I left my house), as we dive into earlier nights and chillier temps. This shift in energy feels HUGE for us – as we have seemingly become immune to the morbid heat and humidity the south brings us every summer.
However, the kids and I often talk about how our calendar years feel like they start in August. With a new school year comes new aspirations, hopes, dreams, and goals – and the autumnal equinox is an ideal time to evaluate our goals and their progress, and shift the energy if needed. During this point in the school year, we often fall complacent. Six weeks is enough time to learn the routines and find ourselves coasting along – until we catch ourselves – and now is the time! What habits have we created? Do they align with our goals? What things have we grown this summer? Do they align with our goals? What things can we shed to better align ourselves with our goals?
I did this activity and created a tree in my classroom, where green leaves represent growth, and orange leaves represent sheds. From the kiddos, I noticed hopes of growth in family time, patience, and confidence, while I noted hopes to shed things like screen time, co-dependence, and preconceptions. How awesome is it that our ten-fourteen year olds can identify these things in themselves? Surely, we, adults, can do the same.
I challenge not just myself and the kids, but all of us to use this major shift in our atmosphere – whether it brings on feelings of fear or uncertainty – to help us realign ourselves with what we want. What habits can we nourish, what habits can we shed, and what can we grow instead to help us be the best version of ourselves?
-Allison
ELA- 8th grade finished reading The Outsiders, presenting illustrated and organized synthesis pages in their reader’s notebooks that analyzed power, identity, or symbols in the novel. We then went on to analyze the adaptation decisions and their meaning in the film. Students began a new grammar study, looking closely at direct objects, indirect objects, and subject complements.
Next week, 8th graders will test their grammar on 10/9 and turn in one more synthesis page based on the film on 10/10!
Science- This week in science 8th grade explored Newton’s 1st and 3rd laws of motion using marbles to play a version of billiards. Students observed what happened when the marbles collided with each other and learned to explain all the forces that are at work in collision interactions. Next week students will begin designing a way to protect a “bean brain” from all the forces involved in dropping the eggs off a balcony.
Social Studies- The eighth graders did a fantastic jobe these last two weeks with the mini unit in the American federal government. They had fun with the citizenship practice test as well as playing a game in which they got to be President! To end this unit we will be going over the separation of powers as well as a look at South Carolina’s role in the federal government.
Math- This week in math, 8th graders began proving, understanding, and using the side-angle-side theorem, the side-side-side theorem, and angle-side-angle theorems using parallel lines, transformations, congruence, similarity, and corresponding parts to evaluate.
Next week, we’ll briefly explore proofs about parallelograms before moving on to our assessment over unit 2. They’ll be assessed on their ability to prove two figures congruent using given facts and auxiliary facts. We’ll continue to build on this knowledge in unit 3 -where we use all three theorems to help us prove similarity between two fig
