As we near the end of the 2nd trimester, I’m reminded of how crazy busy the month of February is in the TCS Middle School. With the dance, self-assessment, projects, and the end of the trimester, we’re all a little frenzied over here as we work tirelessly to get things polished and ready! Now’s an important time to remember to take a step back, look at how far we’ve come, and how far we have yet to go! Self-assessment is my favorite part of the year, as the students showcase how proud they are of their learning and how excited they are to share that with you! The other MS teachers and I are so excited to share that experience with you next week.
-AG
Math:
This week in Algebra 1, we learned about the vertex form of quadratic functions and how to find the vertex of a parabola, and we’ll begin wrapping up our intro to quadratics unit. Next week, we’ll take our unit 6 test on Monday and Tuesday (since both are half days, classes are shorter), and then we’ll begin unit 7 (our last unit!!!!) by diving deeper into quadratic exploration.
ELA:
8th grade joined the rest of the middle school in beginning their Shakespeare study this week. They began their grade-level study of Hamlet and reviewed elements of a sonnet. They also began a proofreading and punctuation grammar study, with a test planned for March 6th.
Next week, 8th grade will continue Hamlet, keeping historic and religious influences in mind as we pick apart the language of the play. Poets will also begin formulating ideas and first quatrains of their sonnets, working towards their 3/21 due date. They will test their grammar skills Thursday.
Social Studies:
The eighth graders finished up this week our discussion about Black History Month and famous people, organizations and events. I think they did a fantastic job with this material and am proud of how well our discussions went. We also continued on with Imperialism and its impact for European nations. That will be our focus over the next two weeks, in particular about England and Germany and their roles in imperialism around the world.
Science:
Eighth graders finished up their science fair projects this week! Results with evidence were concluded, potential errors identified, and possible applications were considered. They polished up their reports and then contemplated what information needed to be put on their boards. The eighth graders rallied and created very polished and entertaining science fair boards. They will be out in the library next Monday and Tuesday during self-assessment conferences for your viewing pleasure!
Important Dates:
March 3rd & 4th- Student Led Conferences (11:30 Dismissal)
March 10th-12th – ERB Milestone Testing (ELA and Math)
March 15th – TCS Spring Gala & Auction
March 29th-April 6th – Spring Break
Upcoming Assessments and Deadlines:
Science Report due 2/25
Final Boards & Science Fair Report due 2/28
Algebra 1 Test 3/3-3/4
Grammar Test 3/6
Algebra 1 Quiz 3/18
Sonnet due date 3/21
