The giant push for my little ELA department of one every year is Spread the Word. This year presented a new opportunity to create distinct poetry focuses for each grade that were meant to align with both their grade level standards and developmental interests! It was such a gift to find the heart and humor in 5th grade illustrated poetry, find the bridge between art and words in ekphrastic poetry with 6th, find ourselves in 7th grade identity poetry, and find meaning in rhythm in 8th grade sonnets. No matter what each grade studied, a common thread in Spread the Word is always the golden opportunity to see into the minds of middle schoolers. They are creatures often accused of being unknowable, but I would argue they are longing to be known and offering to be known all the time if we just make the space for it. Adolescent vulnerability can sometimes be veiled in awkward gestures, generational trends, jokes, moodiness, and more, but sometimes it comes sailing profoundly towards us in the form of a middle school poetry share. I was personally reminded of the joy, pain, perfection, peace, chaos, beauty, and fun of being “in the middle.” Thank you for supporting the thoughts, feelings, and imaginations of this tender age simply by showing up and listening.
-Ms. Maggie
Upcoming Dates:
- May 14th – Pass It On at 5:00PM (11:30am Dismissal)
ELA: This week in 8th grade, journalists found fresh angles in their investigations by seeking out expert interviewees and conducting surveys. We began first drafts of our pieces after carefully outlining key sections and subheadings. 8th grade also began their final vocab unit of the year!
Next week, journalists will move towards publishing deadlines with careful edits and revisions. Students will take their vocabulary test on 4/30.
Science: This week in Science, 8th graders explored genotypes and phenotypes. Students investigated a fantasy organism, the “larkey,” to better understand how genetic information is expressed as observable traits, making abstract concepts more concrete through creative application.
Students also analyzed data from their Science Fair projects and created graphs to clearly represent their findings, strengthening their ability to communicate scientific results effectively.
Next week, students will design and create their Science Fair boards in preparation for the May 8th Science Fair, bringing together their research, data, and conclusions into a cohesive and polished presentation of their work.
Social Studies: We have finished our study of the beginnings of WW2 and got to the point of the United States entering the war. This is an important time in American history and the students have done a fantastic job with this complex material! We have also began working on our end of year research papers. They are writing a paper on a topic we have covered this year in class and I am looking forward to seeing their growth as writers from last year to now!
Math: This week in math, the 8th graders reviewed how to solve multi-step equations involving variables on both sides, variable isolation, distribution, fractions, and more. Next week, they’ll connect this back to linear functions – finding the slopes and intercepts, and graphing linear functions.
