10-13-11 newsletter

Ankeney Middle School

8^th Grade Newsletter, Vol. IV

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Our next newsletter will be posted Friday, October 28^th.

Homework Link

We all post our homework daily on the “Homework Quick Access” link found on the Ankeney homepage.  http://www.beavercreek.k12.oh.us/ams  

MATH

Mr. Busch – Math 8

Students just started working on a solving equations unit, which can be found in Ch. 10 in their textbooks.  For the unit, students will learn how to write and solve two-step equations, combine like terms and solve equations with variables on both sides.  There will be a test over this unit on Friday, October 21^st.  Next, students will begin Ch. 4, which deals with solving proportions.

Mr. Busch – Enriched Math 8

Students are right in the middle of Ch. 4.  Ch. 4 has proven to be very challenging for students.  However, I have really enjoyed seeing students rise up to the challenge.  There will be a test over ALL of Ch. 4 on Friday, October 21^st.  Next, students will begin Ch. 6, which deals with solving proportions.

Mr. Busch – Honors Math 8

The test for Ch. 3 is on Tuesday, October 18^th.  There will be a review session for this test in the morning of test day from 7:15-8:00 if any students are interested.  After Tuesday, students will begin Ch. 4, which deals with graphing linear equations and functions.  This chapter really dives into some of the essential fundamental concepts for Algebra I.  There will be quiz over 4.1-4.3 on Friday, October 21^st.    The test over all of Ch. 4 will be on the week of October 24-28.

Mrs. Lovewell – Math 8- Students just took their chapter 3 test.  They should expect to get these back on Monday October 17.  We have started chapter 4.  Students are learning all about unit rates (very helpful in the grocery store!), ratios, solving proportions (a commonly used thing in real life!), and indirect measurement (do you want to know how tall your house is without climbing to the top and measuring it?). Students should expect a chapter 4 test on Thursday October 27.  In charger period, most students are working on making corrections to the Chapters 1 and 2 OAA packets.  As long as students are working hard in charger, these packets should not be homework!  Keep turning in those redos!!!! 

Mrs. Lovewell – Enriched Math 8  Students just took their chapter 3 test.  They should expect to get these back on Tuesday October 18 (as long as those students who were absent make up the test on Monday).  These grades are in the gradebook though if you are curious!  They did GREAT on this test!!!!!  Keep up the hard work!  They are really building a solid foundation for Algebra!  We have started chapter 4.  Students are learning about exponent rules (more Algebra!), greatest common factors, negative exponents, and scientific notation.  Students should expect a quiz over 4.1-4.3 on Friday October 21.  The chapter 4 test will be on Friday October 28.  In Charger, students are working on redos to their Chapters 1 and 2 OAA questions.  They are also working on the OAA questions for chapters 3 and 4.  As long as students are working hard in charger, these packets should not be homework!  Keep turning in those redos!!!!

Mrs. Lovewell – Honors Math 8 Students just took their chapter 3 test.  They should expect to get these back on Tuesday October 18 (as long as those students who were absent make up the test on Monday).  Students will get their chapter 2 tests back on Monday October 17.  I apologize for the delay in getting these back, however, I was absent the majority of this past week.  Monday we will start chapter 4.  This has proven to be a challenging chapter for some in the past.  Students need to make sure they are getting help as soon as they need it!!!  The material covered in this chapter is one of the most important things we cover all year.  Chapters 4 and 5 go hand in hand, so it's imperative that students have a solid understanding of chapter 4 in order to do well in chapter 5 and the rest of the book.  We will be talking a lot about graphing linear equations.  Also, students will be taking the first quarter exam.  They will get a review sheet for the exam on Monday October 24.  The exam will take place on Wednesday October 26.  The exam will cover chapters 1 through 3 and the first part of chapter 4.  In charger, students are working with partners on problem solving.  Problem solving is an important part of our curriculum this year, and we are lucky to have charger period to work on this important skill.  As always, if anyone is having trouble, I encourage you to talk to me.  I'm happy to help.  Keep turning in those redos!!!!

ENGLISH

Ms. Hargrove & Mrs. Casanova – English 8

We now find our characters deep in the Arctic tundra. In an endeavor to increase suspense and thus her ratings, the shrewd Secretary of Entertainment has attempted to thwart their efforts several times now. Charged with the desire to reach the South Pole and the need to fend for their own survival, the five teenagers are beginning to change their attitudes about the need to work together as a team. Will they survive the hidden dangers of the Arctic that they will undoubtedly cross? Will Steve be able to save them from the Secretary’s additional planned disasters?        

        We continue to analyze the text for Andrea White’s literary craft. In addition to our study of character development, such as the dynamic character of Andrew who continues to grow brave and resourceful, we are also thinking critically about possible themes the author is working to develop, symbolism, and integral setting.

Students should bring their novel and reading guide home every night, and if they have any questions or are missing materials, they should consult the teacher webpage for access to resources related to the novel. In an effort for students to think more critically about the study guide questions, which are focused on reading strategies and analysis rather than who, what, when, where, etc., please try to engage your child in a conversation about their study at the dinner table. 

Two tools students should be using to improve vocabulary study (including literary terms)

www.quizlet.com

www.vocabularyworkshop.com

Ms. Hargrove & Mrs. Casanova – Honors English 8

Students recently received a timeline for the Community Inquiry project. It is extremely important that students manage their time wisely to ensure successful culmination of this unit. The scheduled checkpoints are to help students in this endeavor, but students will need stay on top of the assignments for each checkpoint and not wait until the last minute as this more than often lessens the value of their work.

While students continue to work on the Community Inquiry Project, we will begin our next unit, an author study of Edgar Allan Poe’s life and works.  In this unit, we will continue to review and apply the literary elements as they are aligned with state standards. We will conclude the unit with two final assessments showing students’ application of the elements: a paper and pencil test and the creation of a Microsoft Movie Maker project where students will be the directors and creators of their own “movie trailer” of another “Poe-esque” story or novella.

Our study of Edgar Allan Poe will include a background examination of his life and the time period in which he lived, a study of the gothic elements related to his writing genre, and a study of several other authors who write in the same or similar genres. Some stories we will read include, “The Tell Tale Heart”, “The Black Cat”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Pit and the Pendulum”, which will include a research study of the Spanish Inquisition, and “The Masque of the Red Death”. Other authors and stories we will read for comparison include, Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”. Other stories and poems by Poe may be included in the unit if time permits.

www.vocabularyworkshop.com

SOCIAL STUDIES / AMERICAN HISTORY

Mrs. Canfield

We are just about through Ch. 4, Growth of the Thirteen Colonies.  All we have left to cover is the French and Indian War, how the Treaty of Paris granted Great Britain more land, and the implications of the Proclamation of 1763.  While I haven’t set a specific date just yet, there will be a test over Ch. 4 by the end of next week.  After that we’ll start unit 2 by tackling Ch. 5, The Spirit of Independence 1763-1776.  This chapter describes how: the British government angered the American colonists after the French and Indian War; the colonists reacted to British policies; warfare erupted between the colonists and British soldiers; and why the Americans chose to declare independence from Britain.

Students will take Part 1 of the Citizenship Test with a quiz over questions 1-25 on October 27^th. These questions have been copied, answered, and discussed in class so all students need to do to prepare is to re-read these in their Journals.

Don’t forget that the registration deadline for the Washington DC Trip is October 28^th!

Mr. Vinson

We have been very busy the last couple of weeks in social studies class.  We just had a test over chapter 4 dealing with the colonies.  The test should be returned sometime next week.  Also next week we are doing a mini unit on the French and Indian War.   The test over the French and Indian war will be next Friday, October 21.  Remind them to study for it a little bit each night next week.  Many students are not turning in work lately.  Also please remind your child when they are absent to do the makeup work in a timely fashion.  Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!

SCIENCE

Mr. McAllister

Last week, students continued working on their Epic Newton Project.  Student groups had time to type their Newton paper and to build their Newton Law Demonstrator (N.L.D.). The project presentation date has been moved to next week.  We will begin presenting projects on Monday (10-17-11).  This week we reviewed Newton’s Laws of Motion, had our final work day for the Epic Newton Project, and students also received a review sheet for the upcoming Forces and Newton’s Laws test. This test will take place next Thursday (10-20-11).  Student should start studying their playsheets now so that they will have time to ask questions about concepts that they may find confusing. If you have any questions, please contact me.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Grothaus

In science we just finished up our unit on forces and our Epic Newton Projects. Students will still be presenting on Monday. I am very happy with all the work  and creativity I have seen so far. Thanks for all you help at home. Next week, we will be preparing for our forces test set for next Thursday the 20^th. After the test we will have another review week in preparing for our quarter exam set for the 26^th. This will cover everything we have learned so far, in order to see if students are missing parts of the learning or having gaps in the content. Have a great weekend!

ESPANOL I

Sra. Barta

We have been working on learning numbers 0-100.  The students took a verbal and written quiz over the numbers.  We began learning to tell time today.  We will continue to practice telling time in Spanish next week.  There will be a test over Lección 1 the last week of the quarter so we will be reviewing for that until then.  We will view a fotonovela in Español and watch some authentic commercials in Español as well.  On Wednesday, November 30^th my students have the opportunity to go on a fieldtrip to the Justo Lamas Concert held at Beavercreek High School.  The cost is $13 per student.  The money is due by Friday, October 21^st.  Check out my website for more information on Justo Lamas and the fieldtrip!