Weekly Update (Week of 2/12)

Greetings Team Equinox Families:

• Final Reminder: If you have a skill or trade you’d like to talk about to our PLP groups, we’d like to host a couple of career panels as students work to explore their possible careers as part of their Personalized Learning Plan. If you are interested, drop an email to jmoore@mymtsd-vt.org.

Here’s what your child has been up to this week on Team Equinox~

Science:

Students have been working on their self-assessment from the science fair- this is homework for students who still need to work on it. The assignment can be found on Google Classroom and handed in as such.   We have started our unit on healthy streams and watersheds! Students will soon start a project engineering solutions for Lake Champlain’s cyanobacteria problem.

Humanities:

In Social Studies, students began a mini unit on American presidents.  Each student selected a president and created a Facebook profile for their president to learn about their background.  Then, students created a comic strip describing one event of their president’s term.  We also continued working on our geography skills with our weekly Map Quiz.  

Homework - Students should have completed their Presidential Profile and their Presidential Comic Strip.  For directions, please refer to Google Classroom.  Check for any missing work in PowerSchool.

In ELA, we have been working on a grammar and writing intensive unit. Students learned about formatting dialogue, and then put those skills to use in our weekly Caught Ya. We also participated in Vermont Writes Day on the 15th, where students from all across the state were encouraged to write for seven minutes and share their writing anonymously on the Vermont Writes website (http://vermontwritesday.org/). Many students took up this challenge and posted their writing. We ended the week by creating a study guide for the elements of a narrative. This can be used to prepare students for their on-demand assessment, to be given after the break.

Homework: Independent reading for 30 minutes each night (for 5 of 7 days per week).

Grade 7

Math:

Students have continued to explore positive and negative numbers. Students practiced adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing positive and negative whole numbers, fractions and decimals this week. They also worked on these topics through word problems.  Students took their quiz on Friday.

Next week math and science will be joining forces to do a design challenge that will involve teamwork and an application of three dimensional geometry involving surface area and volume.

If students would like additional practice on the current topic they have assignments in Tenmarks.  Students should already have their username and password.  Students also have assignments in Khan Academy.

Grade 8

Math:

Students continued to explore systems of equations. They spent their time this week finding solutions to systems algebraically using the elimination method and reviewing for their summative assessment.  The assessment has been moved to Monday due to interruptions in our schedule this week. The assessment will include writing equations from points and graphs, solving equations, solving systems of equations and deciding if a system has one solution, no solution or infinite solutions.

Students could prepare for their assessment by practicing on Khan Academy.  Khan Academy has organized materials so that it connects to the topics in  Eureka Math which is the program the middle school is using.  They can find a direct link on the Math Google Classroom page.

For more information and parent tips for the current topic of systems of equations click on the link.

Next week math and science will be joining forces to do a design challenge that will involve teamwork and an application of three dimensional geometry involving surface area and volume.

Weekly Update - 2/9

We send this update out via email, but we'll post it here for you as well.

Greetings Team Equinox Families:

• Our Science Fair was a success! Thank you all for attending!
• Reminder: If you have a skill or trade you’d like to talk about to our PLP groups, we’d like to host a couple of career panels as students work to explore their possible careers as part of their Personalized Learning Plan. If you are interested, drop an email to jmoore@mymtsd-vt.org.

Here’s what your child has been up to this week on Team Equinox~

Science:

Thank you all for participating in Milton’s Fifth Annual Science Fair! The event was a success! Over 80 Equinox students (and 400 MMS students) exemplified their ability to hypothesize, observe, and collect data over the course of two months. Thank you all for your support!

We will start next week by reflecting on our science fair projects and experience. Then, we will continue our stream study. Thanks to Trout in the Classroom we are raising 97 Brook Trout from eggs to release!  Students will study the healthfulness of a trout’s stream and how our aquarium replicates that.  

Humanities:

In Social Studies, students completed their Day of the Pelican Project, wrapping up the unit on immigration.  We continued working on our geography skills with our weekly Map Quiz.  We will soon begin a mini unit on American presidents to learn about the leaders of our country throughout history; this mini unit will take up the last couple of weeks until February break.

Homework - The Day of the Pelican Project was due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, February 6th, but some projects still have not been turned in.  Directions can be accessed on Google Classroom.

In ELA, we finished our immigration narratives, celebrating our writing skills (with illustrations of similes, metaphors, and onomatopoeia). I informed students that I will only be assessing narratives that are turned in on Google Classroom. We then shifted to a mini-unit to delve deeper into grammar and writing. We launched our Caught Ya program (learning grammar by identifying and fixing errors in an ongoing story). We also began our spelling program, where students are in charge of learning a list of spelling words centered around a common spelling hurdle. Regular assessments will track progress.

Homework: Independent reading for 30 minutes each night (for 5 of 7 days per week).

Grade 7 Math:

Students have continued to explore positive and negative numbers. Students practiced adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing positive and negative whole numbers, fractions and decimals this week.  Students will continue to practice this next week and in addition students will learn how to change fractions to decimals using long division.  Students will have quiz on this at the end of next week.

Please see the attached integer parent tips for more information on what your child is and will be learning.

If students would like additional practice on the current topic they have assignments in Tenmarks.  Students should already have their username and password.  Students also have assignments in Khan Academy.

Grade 8 Math:

Students have continued to explore systems of equations. They spent their time this week finding solutions to systems algebraically using the elimination method.  Next week students will wrap up their algebra unit and take a summative assessment on writing equations from points and graphs, solving equations, solving systems of equations and deciding if a system has one solution, no solution or infinite solutions.

In addition to the review we will be doing in class, students could prepare for their assessment by practicing on either Tenmarks or Khan Academy.  Khan Academy has organized materials so that it connects to the topics in  Eureka Math which is the program the middle school is using.  

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/8th-engage-ny/engage-8th-module-4?t=practice

Students could take the quizzes in Khan Academy and practice those items that they find challenging.

For more information and parent tips for the current topic of systems of equations click on the link.

Progress Reports

Good afternoon, Team Equinox Parents!

Today, in our final class of the day, progress reports were handed to your children to bring home. If you have any questions after reviewing these with your child, please feel free to contact us.

Have a great day. 

​Team Equinox.

Google Classroom for Social Studies

Hello there, just wanted to let folks know that Social Studies now has a Google Classroom! Almost all of the students have joined the class. If parents/guardians have any difficulties getting on, please send me an email and we will figure it out.

Thanks!
Miss Menard
nmenard@mymtsd-vt.org

Immigration Suitcases

Check out these suitcases that describe major waves of immigration to the United States!

Weekly Update 11/10

Greetings Team Equinox Families:

Happy last week before Thanksgiving break! The trimester closes for students on November 17th!

• Equinox student-led conferences are scheduled to be held November 28th and 29th from 4-7PM.  Please sign up for a time/date using our Doodle Poll! There are 6 slots for each time slot, so each family should have their first pick. If you’re able to choose a time, that time is yours!

• This week in Personalized Learning, students should have a “just right” question. These next couple of weeks, students are researching a project that they will present in December. Students may choose any topic of interest to them. There will be a presentation celebration during the week of December 19th.  Please ask your child to share with you about their question and their exploration project.

Here’s what your child has been up to this week on Team Equinox~

Science:

This past week, we have begun our experimentation with K’Nex Rocket Launchers.  We have also been engaging in mindfulness practices in the beginning of each class.   In regards to content, students are investigating Newton’s First Law and Projectile Motion while engineering a launcher in groups.  We are now using Wednesdays as Working Wednesdays for students to independently work on missing or incomplete assignments. Check in with your student as to what science work they need to focus on. Most students need to work on their simple machines project or cover page.

Homework: Finish simple machines project, portfolio reflection or work assessment if necessary.  Most students have homework this weekend.

Humanities:

In Social Studies, students began the week investigating the Bill of Rights and then spent several days creating a “product” of their choice to represent their learning about the Constitution (the three branches of U.S. government and the Bill of Rights).  For the directions to this “Constitutional Creation”, please click on the link here.  Students also completed their last geography quiz of the trimester and have begun reflecting on their work, experiences, and habits in Social Studies class so far this year in preparation for their student-led conferences.

Homework - If students did not hand in their “Constitutional Creation” on Friday, they need to finish that assignment and any other missing work they have.

In ELA, students have been working on developing their comma usage.  Students are being introduced to grammar conventions. We are also developing mindfulness practices.  If you are interested, here is a great New York Times article about mindfulness and children.

Homework: Independent reading for 30 minutes (for 5 of 7 days per week).

Grade 7

Math: Students took a quiz on proportional relationships and had to explain proportions through the use of  tables, graphs and equations.  Students began to explore scale drawings and their relationship to ratios and proportions.  This coming week students will continue this exploration of scale factor and scale drawings.  Students will also write reflections about their experiences in math during the first  trimester.

Parent tips for topic of scale factor.

Grade 8

Math:

Students took a summative assessment about linear equations with one variable.  Next week students will continue to explore linear equations with two variables using tables, graphs and equations.  Students will also write reflections about their experiences in math during the first  trimester.

Parent tips for current topic of linear equations in two variables.

Social Thinking Ideas:   A funny yet informative book around social thinking

Team Equinox

Weekly Update 10/29

Greetings Team Equinox Families:

• Equinox student-led conferences are scheduled to be held November 28th and 29th from 4-7PM.  Please sign up for a time/date using our Doodle Poll!
• This week in Personalized Learning, we finished up our academic and personal goals and started developing a research question for our exploration.  Next week, all students must have a “just right” question for exploration.  Students may choose any topic of interest to them. There will be a presentation celebration during the week of December 19th.

Here’s what your child has been up to this week on Team Equinox~

Science:

In science, we are starting our K’nex rocket launcher project.  We have also been engaging in mindfulness practices in the beginning of each class.  If you are interested, here is a great New York Times article about mindfulness and children.  In regards to content, students are investigating Newton’s First Law and Projectile Motion while engineering a launcher in groups.  We are now using Wednesdays as Working Wednesdays for students to independently work on missing or incomplete assignments. Check in with your student as to what science work they need to focus on. Most students need to work on their simple machines project or cover page.

Homework: Finish simple machines project or work assessment if necessary.

Humanities:

In social studies, students have begun looking at the government that formed as a result of the American Revolution. We discussed the Articles of Confederation and why they didn’t work, and we began dissecting pieces of the Constitution, beginning with the idea of the separation of powers, the Preamble and the legislative branch.  Students also completed a map quiz to improve their geography skills.  

Homework - If students have not handed in their American Revolution Timeline or their Separation of Powers worksheet, they should complete that to turn in. Please check PowerSchool to see if your child is missing either of these.

In ELA, we have launched our spelling and grammar programs. We’re looking forward to seeing how students take to these practices. Ms. Coax is our long-term sub while Mr. Moore is out on paternity leave. Her email is rcoax@mymtsd-vt.org. She will be an engaging presence on the team, and we hope this is a smooth transition!

Homework: Independent reading for 30 minutes (for 5 of 7 days per week).

Grade 7

Math: Students continued to analyze tables and graphs and find unit rates of ratios with complex fractions. Next week students will be working on solving real world multi-step problems that involve discounts, commissions, and taxes  We will also begin to look at scale drawings and their relationship to ratios.

If you are interested in seeing what your child has been working on in Khan Academy please ask your child to invite you as a coach.

Grade 8

Math:

Students continued to explore linear equations in algebra.  Students spent the week working on solving equations with one variable using cross multiplication where division was involved.  Students also began to write and solve equations with two variables  (x and y).  We will continue this exploration in more depth next week.

If you are interested in seeing what your child has been working on in Khan Academy please ask your child to invite you as a coach.

Social Thinking Ideas:   

From Friendly to Friendship

The Progression of Friendship

Team Equinox

Check out some awesome propaganda of the American Revolution!

Will you join the Patriot cause, or the Loyalist cause?

Weekly Update - 10/6

Greetings Team Equinox Families:

This weekly update was sent to you via email. If you didn't get it, please let us know, and we'll double check your email address!

We hope the start of the year is treating you well! Here’s what your child has been up to this week on Team Equinox~

• Survey - Thanks to those of you who have responded. If you haven’t yet, we’re asking parents to fill out this survey to tell us a little bit about you and your child. This survey should take no more than 10 minutes.

Science:

In science, we have finished our station work! I’m sure your student is happy to hear that. At this point, if your student has not finished their stations, I am asking that they come to lunch or after school to finish it up. The same is true for students who have not yet completed their “work” assessment- see PowerSchool. Next on the docket, we have started our Simple Machine Project.  Students have a choice of a bunch of mini-projects (worth a variety of points).  They can choose between writing a creative story, constructing a Rube-Goldberg Machine, writing a song/poem, creating a notebook sheet/poster, or a student led project. The combined value must be 100 points or higher and will count for ½ of the final assessment for our simple machines unit. Depending on our progress, we may finish the week with a traditional assessment or start Newton’s First Law.      

Humanities:

In social studies, students have been looking at the conditions that led up to the American Revolution, including British taxes and acts, the idea of “taxation without representation”, the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, and revolutionary propaganda.  Students will be creating their own propaganda posters to convince their viewer to support their Patriot or Loyalist cause.

Homework: Hand in “Revolutionary Reporter” assignment (news report of either the Boston Massacre or the Boston Tea Party)

In language arts, we have continued our trip into the surprising world of The Giver. Students have been continuing their note-taking practice, and we have been exploring how to determine meanings of new words in the text. We also compared the world of The Giver with that of Milton, Vermont in a Venn diagram. For our grammar practice, we focused on appositive (TMI) commas and coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) commas. Next week will be Mr. Moore’s last week before going out on paternity leave until January 3. We have had a visit from the long term sub, and we hope to have her back this week to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Homework: Independent reading for 30 minutes (for 5 of 7 days per week).

Math:

Grade 7: Students continued to analyze tables and graphs and continued to practice writing algebraic equations to represent the proportional situation.  Next week students will take an assessment to check in on their understanding of proportional relationships.

Use the link to parent tips if you want to see examples of what we are currently working on and what you can do to help.

Grade 8: Students continued to explore linear equations in algebra.  Students worked to determine if an equation has one solution, no solution or infinite solutions. Students also reviewed the rules of operations with positive and negative numbers. Next week they will continue to work on solving equations in the context of word problems and will move on to equations with two variables (x and y).

Use the link to parent tips if you want to see other examples of what we are currently working on and what you can do to help.

Team Equinox

Schoology for Social Studies

Hi folks!

In Social Studies this year I will be using Schoology as our online learning management system.  Please check out the link (below) to a Google Doc that explains why I am using this system and describes more about how to access it!

https://docs.google.com/a/mymtsd-vt.org/document/d/1N1wGm5lJNUiWPIlWUjuiySl-ViwY20rpIQTXDQ2qc8s/edit?usp=sharing


Thanks,

Miss Menard