October Newsletter

Team Taylor Newsletter

It is hard to believe it is October! It was so nice to meet so many Team Taylor parents at our recent Back To School Night! Students are settling into their routines now and are aware of the expectations of a middle schooler. They seem to have a solid grasp of their schedules and are able to navigate their lockers like pros.

We encourage you at home to take a look at your student's agenda book and compare it to our Homework website (found on ASMS webpage). We also encourage you to check your child's grades via the Aspen portal. All of the students have been trained on accessing the site in their social studies classes. Ask your child to share their Aspen password with you. Students are realizing how important it is to complete their homework assignments and class work assignments with great effort, as this has a direct impact on their grades.


Middle school is all about teamwork. Our trip to the YMCA really helped foster this bond we are forming as a team. In our Team Time class period, we are working on a variety of social/emotional lessons, with a focus on executive functioning. This is so helpful as the students are learning to navigate their schedules and multiple classes.

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. September's attribute was Optimistic. We will be announcing nominations soon and the students who stand out as most optimistic will be nominated and announced.

We value the home/school relationship; 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. We will be reaching out to parents soon regarding setting up Parent/Teacher conferences. The dates for these are October 25th and 26th. These are both half days and we will meet with parents for the second half of the day. If you do not hear from us, all is going well! Of course, you may still want to touch base on your student’s progress, and we will make sure to set up a time to meet with you.


Warm regards,


Team Taylor Teachers
Daniel Kelley, Math & Science
kelleyd@franklinps.net

Laura Welshoff, English & Social Studies
welshoff@franklinps.net

Kerri Marcotte, Special Education Liaison
marcottek@franklinps.net

September 4, 2018

Dear Team Taylor Students and Families,

As we embark on a new school year, we want to take a moment to welcome you to sixth
grade and Team Taylor. As your teachers, we are ecstatic about the year ahead. New
novels to read, units to study, concepts to grasp!

As a team, we will work together to create a supportive environment where all feel
comfortable and safe to take on new challenges and stretch as learners and unique
individuals. Think about what talents you bring to our team. What will you be able to
share with your peers and teachers? What do you hope to learn from those around you?

Sixth grade is a time to explore and uncover a variety of topics.

In ELA, students will experience rich literature, while developing high level skills by
engaging in analytical thinking and collaboration with peers. Ultimately, students will
improve on their writing skills along with their reading.

In Math, you will continue to master foundational skills from fifth grade while continuing
your work as young mathematicians.

In Science, you will encounter earth and life science topics through inquiry based learning.

In Social Studies, you will travel back in time. You will begin with early humans and study
to the fall of Rome.

Annie Sullivan Middle School provides ample opportunities to discover new interests
and passions. Try out a new club. Meet new friends. See what exciting adventures
middle school holds for you!

Take some time to think about how you will get involved. How will you make a difference?

How can you be a pack leader on our ASMS Husky team?

Best Regards,

Mr. Kelley - Mathematics, Science - Kelleyd@franklinps.net

Mrs. Marcotte - Special Education Liaison -  marcottek@franklinps.net

Mrs. Welshoff - English, Social Studies -   welshoff@franklinps.net

Team Taylor Teachers

Incoming 7th Graders

The Assignments:

Students can find the summer reading brochure in the "School News" column on the Annie Sullivan Middle School website along with this site!

• ASMS Website Link:  http://sullivanmiddle.vt-s.net/Pages/index
• Link for district summer reading packet:  http://www.franklin.k12.ma.us/Pages/FranklinDistrict_Teaching%26Learning/Sum2018rdgmath/MS2018Rdg./MS2018SumRdg%20.pdf
• Link for teacher contact information:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1beebdDIpdGOzpLiO4tEYL7P6jnOoWoHkaScyGpevzek/edit?usp=sharing

Where you can find the book: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

• Franklin Public Library has hard copies of the book, as well as the electronic kindle verson on the Overdrive app
• Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drums-girls-and-dangerous-pie-jordan-sonnenblick/1100294623?ean=9780545722865#/
• Amazon.Com: 
• Hardcover or electronic versions of the novel:
• https://www.amazon.com/Drums-Girls-Dangerous-Jordan-Sonnenblick/dp/0545722861/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529503969&sr=8-1&keywords=drums%2C+girls%2C+and+dangerous+pie+by+jordan+sonnenblick

Summer Math 2018

​6th​ to 7th Grade Summer Math Practice

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin, MA

June 2018

Dear Student and Family,

Franklin Middle School students participate in a summer math review program to help
them retain previously learned math skills and concepts, thus leading to a successful
transition to 7th​​grade math classes.

Our goal is for each student to feel comfortable and confident as they start their 7th​
grade year. Students may choose one of two options for math summer practice. The
options are:

Option 1: Students have access to their IXL online accounts throughout the summer.
Foundational skills in preparation for 7th​ grade studies will be assigned to them for
practice. Read directions and information about the IXL program here: IXL parent letter.
Since our goal is retention, we suggest students review these skills gradually over the
summer. Here is the link to the IXL skills review:  6th to 7th IXL Skill review

Option 2: Posted on each school’s webpage is a link to a summer math packet of problems
aligned to the Common Core Math Standards and which are essential foundational skills
in preparation for 7th​​grade math studies.

If a student chooses the summer packet option we ask that they print​ a​ copy of the
packet, complete the problems and return the packet to their 7th​ grade math teacher
by Sept. 10, 2018. Printed copies of the packet will be available at the office of each
middle school.

If a student chooses the IXL option, their teacher has access to this data via the online
instructional program.

Additionally, we have attached a list of online resources which students can reference
for review. These resources include: videos, model problems, interactive games, additional
worksheets.

We thank families in advance for your support of this important summer math review.
Please let us know if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Motte, Brian Wildeman, Beth Wittcoff

Middle School Principals

Jeff Chaffee, Colleen Donahue, Caryn Parnell

Middle School Math CET’s

Hello Parents and Guardians!

It is hard to imagine that it is June and sixth grade will soon come to a close! We are so proud of all of the growth we have seen in our Team Taylor students from the beginning of this school year.

As we wrap up our year, we are going to have our final raffle of the year. This will take place on June 21st. This is where students get the chance to spend their hard earned Team Taylor money and to celebrate all of their hard work. As always, in order for this raffle to be successful, we need your help! Any donations you might be able to provide to our raffle would be greatly appreciated. Items that are typically a hit with the students might include: movie tickets, gift cards, school supplies, games, puzzles, nail polish, and of course candy! The most expensive items are not always the most popular, candy is always a huge hit! Students can drop these items of in Mr. Kelley's classroom each day up to the day of the raffle.

The seventh grade ELA teachers will be meeting with our team this month to discuss their summer reading requirements. All incoming 7th graders are required to read Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick, as well as one other book of their choice. Look for more information of summer reading on the ASMS main page soon!

As we wrap up our year, the Admirable Attribute is Responsible. With the end of the year, comes a lot of exciting activities. It is also a time for students to make sure that they are fulfilling their academic responsibilities to ensure participation in these activities. We ask to encourage your student to look around for any books that may belong to the library or classroom. We want all of the Team Taylor students to finish sixth grade strong! 

We are honored and excited that we were able to begin this chapter in middle school with your child. We have truly enjoyed watching each of the students on our team grow as learners and young adults. We will miss this amazing groups of students and wish all of you best of luck in 7th grade! And finally, thank you for all of your support this year!

Warmly,
Team Taylor Teachers

Important Dates This Month:

June 12 - Grade 7 ELA teachers to address Summer Reading

June 15 - Field Day

June 19 - Talent Show

June 21 - Raffle

June 22 - Last Day of School

Team Taylor Admirable Attribute Recipients:

September - Optimistic - Ben P. & Hannah M.

October - Curious - Ryan P. & Sabrina T.

November - Respectful - Nicolas A. & Sammy B.

December - Perseverance - Ahan S. & Maya A.

January - Generous - Brian A. & Alex B.

February - Creative - Ashley D. & Maria Z.

March - Compassionate - Victoria O. & Mason S.

April - Independent - Luke T. & Charlotte K.

May- Flexible - to be announced!

June - Responsible -

Math & Science Update

I'd like to provide you with a brief update of our curriculum for the remainder of the school year.

In Math, students finished their MCAS testing on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I saw many students making use of effective strategies while testing!  Before MCAS, students had been working on expressions and equations.  We will be continuing our work with expressions and equations into early June.  Students should be able to express various situations with an equation and solve those equations using different strategies.  Those strategies include using back tracking, a tape diagram, or algebra.  When we finish our unit on expressions and equations, we will do some more work on data and probability.

In Science, students recently finished our major unit on cells and body systems.  The culminating task required students to create a comic book which highlighted the journey of a food, oxygen, or water molecule's journey through at least two body systems.  In addition, students were asked to describe what happens at a cellular level.  We have moved on to our unit on fossils and evolution.  Students are learning how the fossil record gives us information about ancient organisms, their environments, extinctions, and how life forms have changed throughout Earth's history.  Additionally, students are learning how anatomical structures can show us relationships between and among ancient organisms and modern organisms.

When we complete our unit on fossils and evolution, we will be completing our final unit for the year which will cover waves and their properties.  Students will learn the various properties of waves and how light, sound, and electromagnetic waves behave.  Additionally, they will be learning about digital waves.

May ELA and Social Studies Curriculum Update

     In ELA the Essential Question is: What is my place in this world?  We have been busy reading the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. Along with learning about segregation in the 1930's in the South, students are also working on looking at main ideas and details, using two-column notes in order to better understand the story. In addition, students continue to work on their ability to respond to text by synthesizing ideas from multiple sources. Students will work on an engaging and fun culminating activity of the Roll of Thunder Trial. Students will simulate what a real court of law is like, while looking at the trial through various characters' perspectives.  As May comes to a close, students will be working on a Research project that will be further explained then!

     In Social Studies, student are learning about Ancient Rome. The Essential Question is How is the ancient Roman influence seen today? Also, how does geography impact the  growth of a civilization? Some of the objectives students will meet are the ability to describe how the Etruscans and Greeks had a major influence on Roman culture. Also they will be able to describe the Roman government systems and differentiate between the patricians and plebeians in the Roman Republic. They will study and learn about how Rome expanded from a republic and grew into a vast empire. They will be able to make connections between ancient Rome and our modern world today. They will study the internal weaknesses of the Roman Empire and identify and analyze the reasons that fall of Rome. Finally, students will be able to describe the legacy of ancient Rome as seen in art, science, technology, architecture and engineering.