Math Curriculum Update- February 25th, 2017

Greetings!

Before the winter break, students finished our unit on decimal operations.  The major units we have covered so far this year are as follows;

1. Patterns and Rules
• Discovering patterns in tables and expressing those patterns using rules.  Solving for missing values in those tables using the discovered rule.
• Discovering patterns in geometric series (When given a series of shapes, discovering the pattern and next set of shapes in that series)
2. Equations, Inequalities, and Expressions
• Solve for missing values in equations.
• Write equations to describe real-world situations.
• Write inequalities to describe real-world situations and graph those inequalities on number lines.
3. Understanding Fractions and Decimals
• Be able to convert between fractions and decimals.
• Order fraction and decimal numbers from least to greatest or from greatest to least.
• Find the prime factorization of numbers.
• Find the LCM or GCF of sets of numbers.  Use GCF or LCM to solve real-world situations.
4. Fraction Operations
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with fraction numbers.  Use these skills to solve real-world situations.
5. Decimal Operations
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with decimal numbers.  Use these skills to solve real-world situations.

When we return from the break, we will begin our major unit on percents and ratios.  By the end of the unit students should be able to do the following:

• Convert between fractions, decimals, and percents.
• Use percents to help solve real-world situations.  For example, finding the total amount paid for items with taxes included or a coupon applied (percentage off) to the purchase.
• Use ratios to help find the percent of a situation.
• Use division to help find the percent of a situation.

The videos below review many of the major skills will be expected to know by the end of the unit.  

What is a percent?

Finding a percent of a number.

What percent is it?

Percents missing numbers.

Percents and equivalent fractions.

Current English Objectives

Current Unit:   Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Essential Question(s): •      What is prejudice? •      How does literature help us to discover the continuing struggles throughout history?                                                        Unit Objectives for Reading, Speaking, and Listening: Students will be able to... ·   build background knowledge around some of the key topics surrounding the setting of this novel in order to help better understand the events in the story that  include  Reconstruction, the Great Depression, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and prejudice. ·   understand key conflicts that greatly impact the elements of plot and  discuss and create a plot mountain as a whole group while following the main events and elements of the story (Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Conflict, Falling Action, Resolution). ·   understand the key focus vocabulary words from the novel and use the words in a variety of ways. ·   delve deeper into the comprehension of the novel by writing journal entries through various characters perspectives Unit Objectives for Written Language: Students will be able to...

·   write journal entries taking the perspectives of different characters throughout the novel

·   develop a "case file" of evidence pertaining to a particular character to present in a culminating activity (class trial)

February Newsletter

Team Taylor News

February is speeding by! We have been able to avoid a lot of snow thus far! Spring will be a welcome season!  Students are working hard in all areas of the curriculum.

One of the biggest keys to success in middle school is making sure to come to class prepared. We ask for your support at home to help remind your child to replenish materials as needed. Many students are consistently coming to class without pencils and having to take them from the class supply. We encourage students to go through their binders each weekend and replenish any supplies they might need for the upcoming week, including pencils, lined paper, page protectors, etc.

As a part of our Admirable Attributes program, Team Taylor recognizes one boy and one girl each month who exemplify attributes of the authors we read in 6th grade.  The Admirable Attribute for the month of February is Creative.  We want to encourage all of our students to be creative in their work, thinking, and play.

Please know that we are all here to help all students be as successful as possible in their years at Annie Sullivan Middle School. We look forward to working with you and encourage you to contact us should you ever have a question or concern.

Warm regards,

The Teachers of Team Taylor

Hello Team Taylor!

As we enter 2017, things are ramping up here in science class. The students are studying erosion and deposition and the many forces that affect changes in Earth's surface. Each section explores how a different force affects erosion and deposition. The first section was about gravity and mass movement. The students came up with some amazing body movements to represent the four different types of mass movement - ask them to show you after dinner; it will be a nice review for them. We are now in our water erosion section and we are learning about different land forms and waterways that are created by water erosion and water deposition. The students have a test either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week on Sections 1 and 2 (mass movement and water erosion). We will be doing a lab and a lot of review between now and the test. I find that students do better in school when they discuss their academics at home. Ask your kids to tell you how water erosion changes Earth's surface - you'll learn and they will be preparing for their test. I will post study materials on Google classroom later in the week for them. This test I will be focusing more on how students study and not just that they do. We will be discussing study strategies in class so they have a nice list of choices that can best match their learning style. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions.

Enjoy your evening,
Micky Waks

Team Taylor News

2017

Happy New Year Team Taylor families! Welcome back after what we hope was a wonderful and joyous time spent with family and friends!  We also want to thank the Team Taylor families for the generous donations for our Team Raffle.

We continue to encourage you at home to take a look at your student's agenda book and compare it to our Google Classroom pages.  We also encourage you to check your child's grades via the Aspen portal.  If you have any questions regarding access to this, Mrs. Morrison, the Assistant Principal is able to provide you with information.  Students are realizing how important it is to complete their homework assignments with great effort.  This has a direct impact on their grades.  

As a part of our Admirable Attribute program, Team Taylor recognizes one boy and one girl from our team who exemplifies the attribute from the authors we read in 6th grade.  December's attribute was Perseverance.  The attribute that we will highlight for January is Curious.

We value the home/school relationships, please feel free to contact us if you have any concerns or questions about your child's progress.  We have times built into our schedule for parent/teacher conferences.  We meet as a team and discuss your child's progress.  Email is the best method to reach us. 

Warm regards,

Team Taylor Teachers

Mrs. Welshoff's A Period History Class is working on Ancient Egypt projects. They are proving that Ancient Egypt was in fact a civilization. They will prove this through the seven characteristics that are present in order to classify a civilization: Stable Food Supply, Government, Social Structure, Religion, Technology, Written language, and Arts. They will be researching using their notes and text book. They will not Google for any information for this project! They are able to create a product that backs up their claim and research in any creative outlet they choose, ( Google slides, mobiles, song, poem, etc) There will be 3 class periods devoted to this project and the rest will be completed at home. This project is due Thursday, January 19th.

Thank you!

     On behalf of myself and the team Taylor teachers, many thanks and gratitude to all the students and families for their generous gifts!  In addition, many thanks for all of the items brought in for yesterday's raffle.  The students and teachers had a blast during our first raffle.  Have a wonderful break and see everyone in the new year!

-Team Taylor