November, to me, has always felt like the first month of winter and I start to feel a little panicked and rushed as I see the end of the year approaching. The holidays creep up with gathering gifts, attending get-togethers, and lots of travel. I also start to think about my New Year’s Resolutions, which we call our “one word” in the TCS Middle School. I always get really ambitious with my resolutions and feel like once January comes, I’m not in the space to make a big change all at once.
Reflecting on this, I’ve been listening to some podcasts about the “Winter Arc”, which is the time where we have the potential to use the coldest and darkest days of the year to refocus and set routines that will help us get to where we want to be.
With five weeks of school left before the new year, I want our students (and us!) to think about their winter arc and what habits/routines they can set in their lives to help them not only succeed when it comes time to conceptualize their “one word”, but throughout the next five school weeks, as well! When we work towards goals together, even when individualized, we’re much more likely to succeed.
AG
Math:
This week in Algebra 1, we began wrapping up and reviewing for our unit 3 test! Next week, we’ll take our test on Tuesday and begin unit 4 which introduces functions as inputs and outputs.
ELA:
8th grade photographic writers presented a striking gallery of photos, stories, and poems in their exhibit this week. Thanks to everyone who came out in support! They were tested on vocabulary this Friday, so be sure to be on the lookout for their grades.
Next week, we begin our much anticipated novel study of To Kill a Mockingbird. 8th graders will also transition back to two weeks of grammar study, with a test on 11/21.
Social Studies:
The eighth grade began their new unit this week on the world changes of the 1800’s and have done a fantastic job. It was a lot of reading and discussion, but they pushed themselves and the discussion in class was fantastic. Next week we will discuss all of the changes these revolutions led to and how European involvement across the globe affected many of these changes.
Science:
Eighth graders finished up their Rube Goldberg machines. They also finished their google slide presentations about Newton’s Laws, gravity, speed, and acceleration. Their presentation will be in the Science Lab on Wednesday, November 13th at 2:00.
Important Dates:
November 11&12: Parent Teacher Conferences (11:30 dismissal)
November 13: Cooper Clusters Lunch
November 13: Rube Goldberg Presentation (2:00)
November 22: Harvest Feast
November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break
