7th Grade Parent Newsletter Principal's Message The state of Minnesota has closed school for the remainder of the school year. This is a huge sacrifice for many people. The teachers, paras, administration, secretaries, culinary, and custodians all miss the students as well as each other. When we cannot see each other for an extended period of time, we truly understand how much we mean to each other. However, the focus of this message is on what is not closed... - Relationships are open. Be sure to stay in contact with your friends. Call, FaceTime, or even write a letter to a classmate that you haven't connected with this past month.
- Family is open. Enjoy time with your family. Play a board game. Go on a walk. Talk with each other. Make plans for the future together.
- Outside is open. Keep plenty of distance, but get out and play. Work in the yard or garden. Sit by a tree and read a book or create art.
- Learning is open. Distance learning may not be the same as traditional school but learning is still happening. Maintain a growth mindset and enjoy learning new things.
- Habits are still open. Make a list of healthy habits that you want to master. Create a schedule and start step-by-step to develop a new habit. Start small and build on your success.
- Gratitude is still open. Take time every day to reflect on what you are grateful for. Maybe express gratitude toward people that make your life better. (BTW: next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. They have been working extra hard to make school work for us this past month.)
These are just a few things that remain open. I am sure you can add to this list. So when you feel overwhelmed and stressed, or unmotivated, look at this list and remember EAST Mode. Thank you for your effort, attitude, self-discipline, and Trojan Pride! Distance Learning Expectations The PBIS team (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) has developed online learning expectations for all EMS students. Our goal is to set up a virtual environment that is safe and respectful for all students and staff. This is a new experience for all of us and hopefully this will help clarify what type of behaviors are expected. EMS Media Commons - Resources Available Online There are many ways to get books and other materials online. Beth Benezra, our Media Specialist, has created a Canvas course for students that will lead them to those places. Also in the Canvas course are reminders of where to go for reliable research tools, how to apply for a Hennepin County library card, and what to do to request an Honor's Reading conference. If you have other questions, please email Beth Benezra. What We've Been Working On - We began Unit 7 which focuses on proportions, percents, and solving equations with decimal, fraction, and integer coefficients.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Does it make a difference which representation of a number you use to solve an expression?
- How do you decide which multiplier to use for percentage word problems?
What We're Working on Next - In the next two weeks we will be building upon what we've learned in the last two weeks. We will look at percent increase/decrease word problems, simple interest problems, and proportion word problems.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How is the multiplier related to the percent change?
- What is the principal balance in a problem?
What We've Been Working On - Students have been solving Pythagorean theorem problems and learning how to simplify radicals.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Explain how you would find the short side of a right triangle given the hypotenuse and the long side.
What We're Working on Next - Students will be solving systems of equations using more than one method.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Explain how to use the equal values method for solving a system of equations.
Notes - Keep doing your best. Set up a Zoom meeting if necessary. Get outside!
What We've Been Working On - Students have been drafted an informative essay on either a future occupation or college to attend. Students have researched, collected information, made a Work Cited page, written four body paragraphs with in-text citations, and also written the introduction.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What did you choose to write about for your informative essay?
- What did you find interesting that you learned about your topic?
- Is this the job or school for you? Why or why not?
What We're Working on Next - Students will begin a speech unit. Students will review good public speaking qualities and skills and present an object-in-the-bag speech, a how-to speech, and a persuasive speech.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How do you feel about public speaking?
- What makes you nervous about it?
- What do you like about it?
- Why is it important to be able to speak well to an audience?
Notes - The informative essay final draft is due Tuesday, May 5. Students will turn the final draft into Canvas.
What We've Been Working On - Students finished their microbiology unit and started their ecology unit.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What did you do for Earth Day?
What We're Working on Next - Students will continue to learn about how humans have changed this planet and why biodiversity is important in an ecosystem.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is one environmental issue you could help get rid of?
What We've Been Working On - We have studied the causes and conducts of WWII, including leaders, major battles, and the Holocaust.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What were the three phases of the Holocaust?
- Which battles were considered turning points during WWII?
What We're Working on Next - We will be discussing events that brought WWII to a close and how the United States as well as other countries transitioned to post war peace.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Which middle eastern country was created as a result of WWII?
- Which two countries began spreading their influence around the world and became superpowers after WWII?
What We've Been Working On - Students have completed the 12 Major Muscle test online and have started an activity log/journal to record their physical activity.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How did you score on the muscle test? Is there something you can work on at home to use these 12 muscles?
What We're Working on Next - Students will continue the weekly activity log/ journal and begin learning the game of Ultimate Frisbee as well.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Are you staying active enough?
- Is Ultimate Frisbee something we can play together while social distancing?
Notes - Please remind your student to check Canvas each Monday at 10:00 a.m. for the upcoming weeks assignments. Thank you!
What We've Been Working On - Using Sight Reading Factory alone
- Learning solo rehearsal skills
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How do you record in Sight Reading Factory?
What We're Working on Next - Continuing the process of sight reading alone
- Finishing singing assessments with concert music
- Final project with concert music
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Are you more nervous about sight reading challenges or singing assessments?
Notes - Please check Encore pages daily.
What We've Been Working On - How to turn in recordings to canvas
- Ab Concert Scale
- Review of songs
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How are you turning in recordings to Canvas?
What We're Working on Next - How to play a duet with myself
- Composition- transfer note pitches to rhythm
- New song in the book
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Which new song in the book do you like?
What We've Been Working On - A Major and D Major
- SmartMusic Account Creation
- Sixteenth Notes
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is SmartMusic and how can you use it to practice?
What We're Working on Next Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How can you help yourself play sixteenth notes successfully?
Notes - Students should still be practicing 20 minutes 5 days a week. All e-learning is posted on Canvas and can be found on the homepage.
What We've Been Working On - Multi view Drawing concepts
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What id the difference between a visible line and dotted line?
What We're Working on Next - Finish simple multi view drawings
- Complex multi view drawings
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the biggest difference between simple and complex drawings?
What We've Been Working On - Over the last two weeks we have been taking the time to get to know each other with the start of the new quarter. Students made a slide to explain a bit about them. This slide show was shared with the rest of the class so we could get to know everyone!
- We also started our Careers Unit. Students used the website educationplanner.org to assess themselves as a learner. The students then researched possible careers that fit their style of learning, interests and abilities.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Ask your student to show you their slide presentation that they created! Take a look at what career choice they came up with!
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks we will be moving into our Personal Finance Unit. Students will start off this unit with notes about financial decisions and have a chance to create an outfit using a budget. Students will learn the difference between a gift card, debit card and credit card. They will also identify the pros and cons to these types of cards. Students will be conducting an interview with you about credit it cards so here is a heads up! We will wrap up the unit with the unit test.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are some of the pros and cons to a credit card?
What We've Been Working On - Eugene - Ask and answer questions about food preferences
- Rudolph - Food vocabulary, likes and dislikes and creation phrases
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Eugene - What questions did you write? How do you answer the questions?
- Rudolph - What foods do you like/not like? What food creation phrases did you make up?
What We're Working on Next - Write about what other people do with foods.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are some actions and who does them with foods? (omit, hide, eat, divide, stir,...)
What We've Been Working On - Daily riddles on riddles M-F
- Weekly emails with review lesson from Fighting Invisible Tigers with stress relieving techniques (chapters 3 and 4)
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What stress relieving techniques have you tried this week?
What We're Working on Next - Daily riddles
- Chapters 5 and 6 in Fighting Invisible Tigers
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What stress relieving techniques have you tried this week?
Notes - Have your student try the virtual break out boxes. They are posted daily at 1:00 p.m. Central time. It is a short 5-10 minute video with theme based puzzles that can be completed alone or with a team. Lots of fun!
Wayzata Education Fund’s Thank a Teacher Program We have the best teachers and staff around, and never has it been clearer than during these unprecedented times. Whether they’ve helped make a difference in person or virtually this year, show your appreciation by participating in our Thank a Teacher program. From May 4 to June 3, any donation you make to the Wayzata Education Fund honoring a teacher or staff will come with a certificate of appreciation from your student. Additionally, if you donate $25 or more, they will also receive a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes Minnetonka. Say thank you and support a good cause at the same time! Certificates will be sent via email. Bundlets will be delivered at a later date when it is deemed safe to do so, and when teachers and staff are back on school property. What can I do to protect myself and others? - Avoid being around others who are sick – when to keep your child home. When reporting attendance in Skyward Family Access, note that we have added Influenza-like Illness (oral temperature of 100° F or higher with a cough or sore throat) as an option. If your child has an oral temperature of 100° F or higher, please keep him/her home until they have been fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Do not share drinking cups and straws.
- Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (doorknobs, refrigerator handles, phones, water faucets).
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus – Child Mind Institute.
We've had so many great Ask Ali questions in our inbox – thanks to all who have submitted! Ali, along with her network of local experts, has been working hard to answer these questions. Responses are posted every Monday on her blog at partnersinpreventionmn.org/askali. Parents, you've got to check out the responses to these questions! There are some interesting ones that have been asked; chances are you might be wondering some of these things. New Online Classes We welcome you to our online classrooms! Our online classes ensure that you are able to gain valuable information, stay on track with your fitness routine, learn new skills, and connect with others during the next month. Our buildings may be closed, but lifelong learning never stops. We are offering a variety of online classes for adult and youth. You can find all the online options on our registration site. Monday, May 11, 2020 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Monday, May 18, 2020 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200 |