8th Grade Parent Newsletter Principal's Message We hope this message finds you well. Recently, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) asked schools to consider their current grading practices, and make any adjustments they feel are necessary in response to the varied impact distance learning may have on students and families. Aligned with MDE guidance, the following message will be applied to transcripts and report cards for the 2019-20 school year: Grades that are documented during the time period of March 16 through June 30 of 2020 reflect the distance learning period resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Future use of these grades for academic placement, admission, acceleration, or remediation is discouraged and should only be used with caution after balancing the information against student performance in other grading periods. While the majority of our existing middle school grading practices are responsive to the MDE guidelines, a few adjustments to our practices for Quarter 4 are outlined below: Establish Minimum % Recorded for Assessments A score of 0 points on an incomplete/unattempted assessment has a disproportionate impact on a student's grade in the course. In a face-to-face school setting, teachers work hard to support students with the completion of projects/assessments through a variety of interventions. Due to the unique challenges of Distance Learning, a "minimum % recorded" for assessments will be established to ensure that 0's and other significantly low marks don't have a disproportionate impact on a student's grade. 50% (for example, "5/10" on a 10 point quiz) will be entered in place of any score that is less than 50%, with the actual score entered as a Skyward comment for that assessment. While 50% is still a "U" mark, the negative impact of the single assessment score on the overall grade is less extreme. Note: These items may still be marked "missing" if they have not been turned in, and should still be turned in to improve the assigned score. This adjustment will only apply to 4th quarter assessments. Personal Management Marks Personal Management marks will not be provided for Semester 2/Quarter 4. Much of the evidence gathered to provide this feedback is based on an in-person school setting. Continued Flexibility Teachers will continue to utilize professional judgement, as they do in a typical learning environment, to ensure their grading practices account for the wide variety of circumstances Distance Learning has created for students and families. They will continue to be flexible by accepting late work, offering retakes, and working to identify appropriate supports for students who are struggling. If your student is falling behind, don't hesitate to reach out to a teacher so that they can work with you on a plan for your student to finish the year in their course. Thank you for your continued support as we make the final push to finish the school year. 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 - Students reviewed how to graph a linear inequality and learned how to graph systems of inequalities on a coordinate graph.
- Students also reviewed Pythagorean Theorem. They used it to find missing side lengths of right triangles and the distance between two points on a coordinate graph.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is an inequality?
- How do you graph a system of inequalities?
- What are you looking for as a solution when you graph a system of inequalities?
- What is the Pythagorean Theorem?
What We're Working on Next - Students will be doing some review of concepts covered at the beginning of the year. They will be practicing simplifying exponents, writing equations for sequences, and solving equations with fractions (Fraction Busting).
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What rules are do you remember for simplifying exponents?
- What is a sequence?
- How do you write an equation for one?
- What is fraction busting? Do you remember how to use it?
What We've Been Working On - We have been working on solving complicated equations. In order to solve these equations, students need to use many of the skills that we have learned this quarter in combination.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is an imaginary number?
- What is an extraneous root?
What We're Working on Next - Our next unit is a preview of next year. We will explore a tiny bit of geometry. Geometry has a lot a content specific vocabulary. A preview of some of the basics will make next year just a little bit easier.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are the triangle congruence theorems?
- What is the difference between an inscribed angle and a central angle?
- What is a linear pair?
Notes - Please encourage students to check the comments in Canvas. We are providing feedback on any errors through Canvas.
What We've Been Working On - We have finished up our poetry unit. Students posted poetry presentations to FlipGrid to show their understanding of speaking skills along with poetry analysis skills. They also took a poetry final test.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What was the best poem you read or studied during this unit?
- What was it about and what was its message/meaning?
What We're Working on Next - We are starting a unit on the genre of mystery. Students will learn the components of a mystery along with some content specific vocabulary related to the genre. We will be reading several mystery stories in the next few weeks. All stories will be links as PDF's on Canvas and will have optional audio to listen to as well. Each story will have an assignment along with it. For most stories, we will be giving two days to read/listen and complete the assignment.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What do you already know about the genre of mystery?
Notes - All poetry assessments need to be done by next week since the unit is over. Please help your child get caught up if they are behind.
What We've Been Working On - Our solar system
- The Inner planets
- The Outer Planets
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is the order of planets from the sun outward in our solar system?
- How are the inner planets and outer planets alike and different?
What We're Working on Next - Telescopes and Astronomy
- Scale of the Universe
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How have telescopes changed over time?
- What galaxy do we live in? What type of galaxy is it?
What We've Been Working On - The Political Geo. Unit was wrapped up with a focus on global independence movements, the creation of new nations and why there has been so much conflict in the Middle East. The Population Geo Unit has begun with a focus on how important it is economically for nations to study population patterns and trends within their borders and globally.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What do historians and Middle East experts believe was the major catalyst which created many of the conflicts that have occurred or continue to the present day?
What We're Working on Next - Students are will continue learning about global population clusters, population distribution and migration patterns worldwide.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Describe what a migration stream is.
What We've Been Working On - We have finished our media literacy unit where students created an ad for an imaginary product or service to solve a problem for middle schoolers.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What ad did you create?
- What was your product?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks, we will be refining and preparing to present our personal problem, solutions, revisions, and experiments.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the problem you chose to work on?
- How did your experiments/tests go?
- What did you learn?
What We've Been Working On - Students learned about added sugars, nutrition label analysis, balance, moderation, and variety in their meals.
- We also analyzed the influences on our nutrition behaviors.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - You may ask your student to share their "Analyzing Influences Nutrition Unit Assessment" with you. This was our most recent assessment.
What We're Working on Next - We will begin our unit in Relationships and Sexuality. Topics for the next two weeks were included in a recent letter that was emailed home to all families on Monday, May 11 via Skyward email.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are three healthy relationships you currently value in your life?
- What makes them healthy?
- What do you contribute to the relationship?
Notes - Please check Skyward a couple of times a week for updated grades. Late work will be graded late. Please reinforce that students should be completing work on time and make sure to turn work in to the correct turn-in. Thank you!
What We've Been Working On - Students have completed a physical activity log (distance learning week 4) and an ultimate frisbee quiz (distance learning week 5).
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is one thing you learned about ultimate frisbee?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks students will have a tennis quiz (about strategies and game knowledge), and also more physical activity.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is something you learned about tennis?
Notes - All PE directions are displayed on Canvas. All quizzes are in Skyward. All assignment turn in is through Canvas. Have your child email their teacher if there are any questions or concerns.
What We've Been Working On - Practicing and completing Sight Reading and Concert Music
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Which song did you enjoy the most when learning?
What We're Working on Next - Students will have a choice to do a Group/Individual Karaoke Project or an Individual Research Project. The Karaoke Project: Students will record their own contemporary song cover. The Individual Research Project: Students will research a contemporary artist and create a Google Slide presentation to submit.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Who are some of your favorite contemporary performing artists?
What We've Been Working On - Explored the amazing software called "Smart Music"
- Sent in a fun "Selfie" of them playing their instrument
- Studied and practiced the Concert Bb Blues Scale
- Selecting one jazz song to study and perform:
- Wayzata Rockin' Blues
- Killer Joe
- Blue Bossa
- St. Thomas
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - I hear "Wayzata Rockin' Blues" is an awesome melody. Play it for me.
What We're Working on Next - Students will continue their practice and study of our jazz songs
- Concert Bb Blues Scale
- Select one jazz song to study and perform:
- Wayzata Rockin' Blues
- Killer Joe
- Blue Bossa
- St. Thomas
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Which jazz song are you selecting to study and perform?
Notes - Students should be checking our "8th Grade Band Canvas" page each week. Mrs. Kim and Mr. Critzer have placed instructional videos there that help students understand and practice the melodies we are studying.
What We've Been Working On - Shifting
- At home Mini-Concert
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is something you can take from your At home Mini-Concert to apply to future performances?
What We're Working on Next Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is challenging about writing your own music?
Notes - If you have any issues with your instrument, please reach out to Ms. Dennis or your rental shop. Students may resubmit any work to improve their scores.
What We've Been Working On - Students are exploring the rhythms of African Drumming. We have learned how to perform the Slap Tone, Open Tone, and Bass Tone.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Teach me how to perform the three types African Drumming strokes; Slap Tone, Open Tone, and Bass Tone.
What We're Working on Next - Students will continue to explore more complex African Drumming beats.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - I hear you have watched some instructional vides created by a gentleman named Kalani. Show me one of his videos.
Notes - Students should be checking our "Music Exploration Canvas Page" each week. Mr. Critzer has placed instructional videos there that help students understand proper drumming technique and assignments for the week.
What We've Been Working On - Students have been working on blind contour and observational drawings and reflecting on the process of drawing.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Let me see your 20 minute drawing from this week! What did you learn from this process?
What We're Working on Next - Students will have a choice unit for the last three weeks of school. Some will know exactly what they want to do for this unit, and others will choose from a menu of options, available on Canvas. The goal is for them to explore the creative process and document the process and present their final outcome. This process might include no traditional art supplies (baking of cakes, designing of clothing, etc), while others may choose to go a more traditional route (pencil, pen, paint, paper, etc).
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Any ideas on what you might want to create, if you could create anything for art class?
What We've Been Working On - Simple Machines
- Individual Wood Project plan
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What are the 6 simple machines?
- What project did you choose?
What We're Working on Next Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the difference between hidden and visible lines?
What We've Been Working On - Over the last two weeks of distance learning students in 8th grade have wrapped up our Child Development Unit with discussing teen pregnancy, children book evaluations and then creating their own culturally relevant children's book.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What are some of the important attributes to a children's book?
What We're Working on Next - Over the next two weeks we will be moving into the Global Foods Unit. We will take a look at some of our likes and dislikes. We will also look at what other countries around the world tend to eat along with the average prices others countries pay for their food. We will be focusing on three areas in particular in our global foods unit, Asia, Mexico and Italy.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are some of the countries food preferences that you learned about in the activity called Hungry Planet?
What We've Been Working On - Writing Assessment about where we go on vacation - rough draft for feedback then final draft about a new place
- Introducing new vocabulary about more activities and sports
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Did you meet your expectations on the Writing Assessment?
- Did you resubmit the final draft for better scores?
What We're Working on Next - Invite people to do things and say at what time
- Accept or decline the invitations depending on availability
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Invite me to do your favorite activity in Spanish!
- When I invite you to do something, accept in Spanish, and then decline in Spanish.
What We've Been Working On - Information for chapters 3-6 from Fighting Invisible Tigers: Stress Management for Teens was shared.
- Teachers are also posting extension work for students and I post daily riddles for students to solve.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What technique for reducing stress do you find most effective?
What We're Working on Next - Information for chapters 7-10 from Fighting Invisible Tigers: Stress Management for Teens will be shared.
- Teachers also post extension work for students and I post daily riddles for students to solve.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Have you participated in the daily riddles?
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. Stay Creative While You Stay At Home! In these days of social distancing and stay-at-home guidance, it’s more important than ever to connect with friends and family members and to continue expressing your creativity. Destination Imagination’s Global Finals 2020 Virtual Tournament (GF20) is a one-of-a-kind collaborative problem-solving experience that takes place online and is open to all students and families (yes, you read that right!) who enjoy being creative, collaborative, and solving fun challenges that require out-of-the-box thinking. You do not need to have been on a Destination Imagination (DI) team for the 2019-20 DI season in order to participate. GF20 is a whole new experience and is open to EVERYONE! For Global Finals 2020, you will work with your DI teammates, friends, or family members online to participate in several different Challenge Experiences. The cost to participate in the Global Finals 2020 Virtual Tournament is $199. Your team may participate in as many or as few of these Challenge Experiences as you choose. GF20 teams will compete for a number of awesome awards and prizes! Check them out here. We’re excited to welcome everyone to the Summer of Creativity and hope you’ll join us for this historic, one-time-only event! Learn more on the Global Finals website. Monday, May 18, 2020 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200 |