May 16th - May 20th
THE END IS NEAR!
Busy week ahead for the Middle School.
MONDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY: Each class will meet daily to ensure students get a full review of all T3 material.
THURSDAY, 5/19: Middle School Field Day at Lake Mayer. Student drop-off at Lake Mayer is 8:30am - 9:00am. Student pick-up is 1:05pm - 1:30pm.
FRIDAY, 5/20: Honors Assembly beginning at 8:30am. The assembly will be followed by a final day of classes. Student pick-up will be at 3:15pm.
Exam Schedule May 23rd & May 24th:
Please have students at school early so they can get prepared for exams. Homeroom by 8:15am; followed by exams 8:30am - 12:00pm. Student pick-up will be at 12:00pm. NO MIDDLE SCHOOL EXTENDED.
8th grade Graduation Dinner and Middle School (6th - 8th) Dance: Tuesday, May 24th beginning at 6:00pm. All school (6th - 8th grades) dance to follow 7:30pm - 9:00pm.
8th grade Graduation: Wednesday, May 25th at Isle of Hope Methodist Church. Graduates report at 11:30am for pictures. The ceremony begins at 1:00pm. Brief reception to follow.
ASSESSMENTS AND PROJECTS CALENDAR
Parents and students have an easy way to look at upcoming assessments and projects. THIS LINK leads to a Google Sheet that will have the next 2 weeks of assessments. The link below will lead to the 6th grade assessments, but by using the tabs in the lower left corner (shown below), you can navigate to 7th grade and 8th grade assessments, as well.
Different subjects will appear in different colors:
History is black, Science is green, ELA is blue, Spanish is red, and Math is pink.
Please bear in mind that Middle School Assessments may be added, removed, or changed at any time. This Sheet will always be up to date, however - once a teacher assigns or adjusts an assessment, this Sheet will reflect that change.
Each middle school student is required to complete ten hours of community service over the course of the school year. Please remember to list hours worked on a daily basis, do not log the total sum of hours worked over an extended period of time. See below for a few upcoming service opportunities. Click HERE for a log form.
As Learning Coach, I work with students, parents, and teachers to offer support and strategies throughout the year. Please reach out to me if I can be of any assistance to you and your child/ren. I will share ideas and strategies often in this space. My email is: tguggenheim@hancockdayschool.org. I look forward to working with you!
Tricia Guggenheim
Exam Prep:
Exams can be tough! But there’s good news. You might not have known this, but top students aren’t just smart, hard workers. They’ve also learned and practiced the strategies that allow them to perform well on important exams.
1. Read all of the directions, always.
2. Skip the tricky questions and return to them later. (Answer the easy questions first.)
3. Answer every question.
4. Ask questions.
5. Read questions closely. Circle any tricky words that appear in the question.
6. Read the answer choices in full before trying to answer the question.
7. Circle/highlight key words in the questions.
8. Underline key details in the questions.
9. Rephrase difficult questions.
10. On multiple choice exams, eliminate weak answer choices.
11. On reading tests, know where answers can be found in reading passages to save time and pinpoint the most important details in long texts:
12. On reading tests, preview the questions. Then read the passage.
13. On reading tests or word-problem math tests, “mark up” reading passages.
14. On free-response questions and essays,organize your thoughts before you write.
15. Write neatly.
16. Use all of the time you are given.
Research continues to come out about the importance of developing “grit” in kids. It is the ability to push toward long-term goals despite challenges or failure. Luckily, it is something that can be developed and parents can take the lead on helping their child learn. One of my personal favorite tips is for parents to model a growth mindset. This allows children to understand that with hard work, you can truly develop any skill or ability. Parents can normalize mistakes by discussing obstacles or failures and sharing positive “self talk” that helps push towards success.
How (and Why) to Teach Kids to Have More Grit
Please feel free to get in touch with me at amaher@hancockdayschool.org if you have any questions or concerns.
ALGEBRA 1- MRS. TAYLOR
Students seem to be reteaching themselves well for the exam using their study guide. They have been a little surprised by what they have forgotten. They all seem to agree that they are thankful for this project which will have them ready before exam week and ready to go. It is my hope they can study a little more for other subjects. They turned their guides in for a grade Friday and will be returned Monday.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Advanced Algebra, we will review for the exam.
GEOMETRY - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Geometry, we will review for the exam.
ELA - MRS. BOYER
I will miss you all so much!!! :) Get ready for our last week together. :)
The Exam Study Guide has been posted in GC. There will be an essay question. I have given the two topics that I will choose from. I will allow students to bring a ONE page brainstorm with them to the exam for this essay.
We will spend the next week going through the Exam Study Guide, practicing reading comprehension, and essay review.
**As students continue into their 8th grade year, it is imperative that they keep up with their reading, annotate their novels, and come in for extra help. The foundation of this class is heavily based on discussion and the sharing of ideas; students will need to participate to be able to engage with the material in a productive manner.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN
We are finally there…the last week of eighth grade science! It will be hard to say goodbye to all our wonderful eighth graders, especially those I also taught in sixth grade. I wish all of them the best in high school. We are finishing up the trimester with our study of the EM spectrum and light. (See below for photos of this week's lab on mirrors and lenses.) The trimester 3 final exam on Monday 5/23/22 will cover this material and the first unit we learned during this trimester on waves and sound. Next week we will review all the material and also have a lab covering some of the basic concepts for magnetism and electricity including making temporary magnets, electromagnets, exploring voltage and demonstrating series and parallel circuits. This additional information will not be on the exam. Students should be gathering all their notes and materials from the trimester and making sure it is organized in their binder for easy review. Science textbooks will also be due to turn in next week by Wednesday, 5/18/22. Students will keep their workbooks and can use those as an additional exam review resource.
US HISTORY- Mr. Gauthier
Next week in American History: Students will finish their Exam Project: Writing an historical children’s book. This is a group project and will be completed in class. Exam project is Due Friday May 20th.
SPANISH - MRS. SALE
Hello…this week the students will complete and go over a study guide. This will help the students prep for the end of the year final exam.
ADVANCED SPANISH - MRS. SALE
The students will begin to complete and go over a study guide. This will help the kids prepare for the end of the year final exam.
ADVANCED SPANISH - MS. CROCKER
This is our last week of Spanish before exams! We will be doing an exam review the entire week. The exam study guide is posted under the “Tarea” tab on Google Classroom.
*Remember, students, that Spanish homework is due BEGINNING OF CLASS or it is a zero! Outside of emergency situations!**
ALGEBRA 1 - MRS. TAYLOR
Students seem to be reteaching themselves well for the exam using their study guide. They have been a little surprised by what they have forgotten. They all seem to agree that they are thankful for this project which will have them ready before exam week and ready to go. It is my hope they can study a little more for other subjects. They turned their guides in for a grade Friday and will be returned Monday.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, there will be a test on 9.1-9.4 on Monday. Then we will review for the exam.
ELA - MRS. BOYER
Don’t forget!! Our Frost Quoting Frost essay is due this evening!!!!
This week students will be reviewing for their exam. Students will have a Kahoot, their comprehension questions packet, and long response review. :)
Students are highly encouraged to come in for extra help if they would like a practice prompt.
Summer Reading will be posted soon!
Strategies for Home:
-Students should be reviewing for a few minutes each night. Students should ask for parent/guardian help as a study buddy!
-Students should also annotate the rubric for projects and activities.
-Students should have a calendar of ‘chunking’ due dates for projects and studying.
-Students should be coming in from 7:35-8:15 am to review/ask questions/take more time on their homework.
**As students continue into their 7th grade year, it is imperative that they keep up with their reading, annotate their novels, and come in for extra help. The foundation of this class is heavily based on student reading and the sharing of ideas; students will need to participate to be able to engage with the material in a productive manner. All class activities are based on the reading completed prior to class time. **
ELA - MRS. SASSER
Students will spend this week working on their final project for Posted. They will choose a famous Robert Frost and complete a black out poetry assignment. Their poems will reflect an overall theme from the book or pertain to a particular character. Final projects will be due Wednesday 5/18 at the beginning of class.
We will also review for our exam. Students will be expected to to write on a particular topic for their exam. They will be able to use a notecard with their thesis and key bullet points. The topic is posted to Google Classroom.
I am available every morning and during tutorial if students would like to review the reading or ask questions. Because I make sure to be consistently available for the students, I expect them to walk into our class discussions and quizzes prepared and ready. I am here to assist the kids with their overall comprehension of the novel and expect them to reach out if they have questions.
It is imperative that students keep up with their reading. They will be unable to complete our class discussions and activities without completing the reading. All reading assignments and homework are posted on my classroom board and on Google Classroom daily. Students should check Google Classroom every single day. All reading should be ANNOTATED.
A reminder about any and all projects in ELA: projects in my class are designed to help students think critically and not just memorize information. Rather, I want them learning how to apply what they’ve learned. They are given detailed rubrics with checklists and a breakdown of my expectations. They should consult their rubric regularly while working on their project. The bulk of ELA projects are completed in class; they are given ample time and multiple class periods where they are strictly working on their project. Therefore, if students use their time wisely, they should have only minimal parts to complete at home.
LIFE SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT
The year has flown by! I can’t believe we only have one week and then exams! It has truly been a joy to have your children in my science classes. Next week, we will begin reviewing for the final exam. Students will receive a study guide on Monday and we will review throughout the week. I have also posted study material in the Google Classroom under the topic of Exam Prep. Biomes packet due Wednesday, 5/18/22. Science textbooks will also be due to turn in next week by Wednesday, 5/18/22. Students will keep their workbooks and can use those as an additional exam review resource.
Please remind your student to continue to check the Google Classroom daily, even during these last couple of weeks of school for announcements and study materials.
US HISTORY - MR. GAUTHIER
Next week in American History: Students will finish their Exam Project: Writing an historical children’s book. This is a group project and will be completed in class. Exam project is Due Friday May 20th.
US HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week in American History: Students will finish their Exam Project: Writing an historical children’s book. This is a group project and will be completed in class and also in Art. Exam project is Due Friday May 20th.
ACCELERATED MATH - MRS. TAYLOR
I will hand out a study guide and hopefully a mock exam. We will work on the exam and possibly take notes for content that they are confused about or have trouble recalling.
PRE-ALGEBRA - MR. LANFEAR
Next week in Pre-Algebra, there will be a test on 9.1-9.4 on Monday. Then we will review for the exam.
EARTH SCIENCE - MS. HOFFMAN
We are finally down to our last week of Astronomy and headed toward the end of sixth grade. It has been great teaching all the students and watching them navigate their first year of middle school. This week students reviewed information about the moon, learned about the parts of the sun and their importance and compared the heliocentric and geocentric models of our solar system. They also received and worked on a study guide to begin preparing for the Astronomy unit test on Monday, 5/16/22. To end the week they participated in a mini-lab activity creating a chalk-drawn model of the solar system illustrating the distance between planets. Our third trimester exam will be on Monday, 5/23/22 and will cover Ocean, pollution and Astronomy. Students already have a study guide they completed earlier in the trimester on Oceans and we will review this along with the pollution material they will need to know for the exam. Students should be locating and organizing all the material in their binders to help with the exam review. Science textbooks will also be due to turn in next week by Wednesday, 5/18/22. Students will keep their workbooks and can use those as an additional exam review resource.
EARTH SCIENCE - MRS. DURANT
The year has gone by so quickly! I can’t believe we only have one week and then exams! Your children have been an absolute joy! Next week, we will wrap up our Astronomy unit with a test on Monday. Please note that this is a change in the originally scheduled test date. However, I let the students know a week in advance about the change in the test date. I made this change so we would have additional time to review for the final exam. On Monday, students will be given a study guide and we will review for the exam each day. I have also posted study material in the Google Classroom under the topic of Exam Prep. Science textbooks will be due to turn in next week by Wednesday, 5/18/22. Students will keep their workbooks and can use those as an additional exam review resource. Please remind your student to continue to check the Google Classroom daily, even during these last couple of weeks of school for announcements and study materials.
ELA - MRS. SASSER
Students will spend the rest of this week finishing up their Illustrate the Page project. Projects are due Wednesday 5/18 for ALL CLASSES.
If students finish their project early, they will begin prepping for their exam. Their eczema will cover The Outsiders and all major writing rules we’ve covered this year. Students will be given ONE notecard, which they can write on ONE side of and bring to the exam. The writing prompt for the exam is also posted to Google Classroom. I highly recommend they review this prompt and write a sample response to practice.
As a reminder: projects and essays in ELA are designed to help students think critically about the reading they have completed. I structure these assignments in a way that almost 95% should be completed in class. I carve out time and multiple periods for students to have ample time to work, ask questions, and be productive, which should limit their homework load. If students utilize this time wisely and stay on task, they should be coming home with minimal homework.
REMINDER: In order to find success with novel studies in middle school ELA, it is essential that students keep up with the assigned reading, annotate their novels, and THOROUGHLY answer their guided questions. Students will be assigned a set number of chapters and have a week to complete the reading/questions. All of our in class lessons will center around the assigned reading and failure to keep up with the reading will have a drastic effect on their ability to complete in class assignments/projects. I expect students to pace themselves and be reading each night, come to class prepared to discuss our reading, and come see me if they have questions.
All reading assignments and homework are posted on my classroom board and on Google Classroom daily. Students should check Google Classroom every single day.
Students MUST follow my writing formula for all formal writing assignments and should follow the MLA formatting guidelines I gave them. The students have a handout on how to do this and we have practiced together multiple times. Any paper not formatted correctly or color-coded will not be accepted.
INTRO SPANISH - MS. CROCKER
This is our last week of Spanish before exams! We will be doing an exam review the entire week. The exam study guide is posted under the “Tarea” tab on Google Classroom.
**Remember, students, that Spanish homework is due at the BEGINNING of class! No late homework will be accepted outside of emergency situations or if you have previously communicated with me**
WORLD HISTORY - MR. O’HAYER
Next week in World History students will finish working on their exam project. Students have spent the last two weeks working on this project.
The project is called an ABC Book of History. Students will research certain aspects of the major themes we studied this year: Ancient Greece and Rome, The Enlightenment, The Industrial Revolution, and American Immigration. This is a group project and will be completed in class. The project is due Friday, May 20th.
ART - MRS. COOKSON
“Art should be something that liberates your soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further.” – Keith Haring
Sketchbook Prompt:
No more sketchbook prompts for the rest of the year! Unless, of course, you feel inspired. :)
Classwork Challenges:
This is our last week of art classes. All students will spend time finishing up any unfinished or cross curricular projects. Thank you for a great year!!
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