Welcome to (or back to) the middle. Middle school will always have those classic stereotypes weighing it down whenever we think deeply about this time – awkwardness, experimentation, identity, socializing, moodiness, physical growth (or lack thereof). The image in my head is of some Buster Keaton type with his legs painfully split between two moving cars in a wacky silent film – trying to jump the gap, a little stuck, kinda funny, difficult. We met as a whole middle school for the first time this Wednesday, and it felt like the best place to start was addressing the elephant in the (middle) of the room. We talked about being ourselves, even when we are not sure who that is yet. More importantly, we talked about allowing others to experiment, change, and grow without judgement.
We watched a short news report about a cute 3rd grade boy who wore brightly colored suits to school. His peers eventually joined him in wearing fancy clothes on what they called “Dapper Wednesdays.” Instead of judging, the children applauded and even took part in this show of individualism…. Then I brought it up: Could this same cute story be possible in middle school? Our highly empathetic hawks did a great job of discussing why this might be a hard story to live out in the middle, how this time can turn down our confidence, turn up our judgement. We spoke on ways we could make more space for folks to experiment, grow, or change without fear. I have to say, it is easy for most of our students to be both accepting and themselves. It’s one of our strengths here at TCS. However, no student body is perfect, and every year is a new opportunity to be reminded of the unique opportunity that “the middle” presents. May this be a year of trying, failing, growing, and finding our best selves, knowing we’ve got an outstanding community to cheer us on.
-MK
Upcoming Dates:
- 7th Grade Off Campus Morning – Wednesday, August 26
- Labor Day (No School) – Monday, September 7
- Cooper Cluster Lunch – Wednesday, September 9th
- Middle School Curriculum Night – Wednesday, September 9th 5:30-6:30
ELA: This week in 7th grade ELA, we explored the world of argumentative writing, wondering deeply about how we could apply such a skill to our own lives. We launched a writing initiative in which they will develop their own school improvement proposal in the form of a research-based argument letter to Mr. Jason. Mr. Jason will read all arguments, provide feedback, and invite students to come to his office for collaborative interviews regarding their dream for the school! We will keep this essential question at the top of our minds as we write these next four weeks: Who holds power in my community? 7th graders also began their Unit 1 vocab study, with their first test scheduled for Thursday, 8/27.
Next week, readers engage deeply in research – navigating how to find trustworthy sources and organizing data and quotes for future writing. Be sure to utilize the flashcards we made in class, including roots/stems cards, to prepare for next week’s test!
Science: This week in science, 7th graders were introduced to C-E-R (Claim-Evidence-Reasoning), an important tool for supporting scientific claims with reliable evidence and clear reasoning. Students also began our Chemistry Interactions unit by investigating a mystery mixture. Through careful observation, students explored how different substances interact with water and then used their evidence to identify the components of the mystery mixture.
Next week, students will turn their attention to elements and begin exploring the periodic table, building on their understanding of the substances they encountered in their mystery mixture.
Social Studies: Seventh grade has done fantastic work so far on our study of humans migrating to the Americas. We are learning how the ancestors of the indigenous peoples got here and where they ended up. Next week we start looking into the tribes, nations and empires that formed once humans settled and the cultures they created. This will lead into our first project of the year in which we will choose a Native American tribe to research and learn more about their lifestyles.
Math: This week in math, 7th graders explored shapes in a plane and used terms like “translate”, “rotate”, and “reflect” to describe their moves around a plane. We practiced both drawing and describing these transformations and precisely as possible. Next week, we’ll use our knowledge of these transformations to analyze congruence and determine whether two figures are actually congruent or not.
