7th Grade Classroom Update - September 21, 2018

7th Grade Parent Newsletter

September 21, 2018

Principal's Message

Wayzata Public Schools has committed resources so that all schools are safe. We have made facility upgrades as well as updated our practices. Included in our practices is how we respond to emergency situations. We are required to conduct 10 emergency drills each year. This includes 5 evacuations and 5 lockdown drills. We will also conduct two severe weather drills. We have completed two drills already this year and are planning to conduct future drills at various times of the school day.

Another level of security is limiting the amount of people having access to the building when students and staff are present. Parents may drop off students at door #3 beginning at 7:45 a.m. Access is limited to the cafeteria from 7:45-8:50 a.m. Parents and students have access to classrooms and the office from 8:50-9:10 a.m. After 9:10 a.m., parents and visitors must sign in at the greeter's desk at door #1. Our top priority is maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff. Thank you for supporting this effort.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences - Mark Your Calendars

Conferences will be held on October 23, 25, and 30 from 4:30-9:00 p.m. The conference scheduler will be open on Monday, October 8 at 9:00 a.m. More information will follow on how to schedule conferences.

Math

What We've Been Working On

Students have been working on team dynamics and getting to know their classmates. They have had some review and introductory lessons on data analysis, algebra, and proportionality and geometry.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What kind of data does a histogram show?

What We're Working on Next

Students are working on rational number operations including negatives.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How could you model -3 + 6 two ways?

Notes

Students should be checking their homework on Canvas.

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

We have spent the first two weeks of school looking at patterns and proportional relationships.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

How can you identify a proportional relationship?
How can you translate from a table or a graph?

What We're Working on Next

We will continue working in unit 2 on algebraic expressions.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How can you create zero pairs to simplify an algebraic expression?

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

We have established the classroom expectations and have begun learning the six fiction signposts to help students improve their reading comprehension.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is the Contrast and Contradiction signpost? What could it tell you about the book?
Give an example of an Aha Moment you have found while reading your book.
What is the Tough Question signpost?
Have you found any examples of Words of the Wiser while reading your book?
How do all of these signposts help you determine the theme of a book?

What We're Working on Next

We will continue learning, reviewing, and applying all six fiction signposts while reading.
We will also begin writing some short pieces designed to emulate real-world writing.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is the Again and Again signpost? What does it usually tell you about the book?
What is a Memory Moment? Provide an example of a Memory Moment from your independent reading book.

Notes

Students will be on a field trip December 11, 2018, to watch a live performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream performed at the Park Square Theater in St. Paul. More details and information will be coming.

Science

What We've Been Working On

Students learned about observation and why it is important to scientists. They also learned about the different types of scientific questions.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is an example of a review of existing work question?

What We're Working on Next

Students will learn different techniques used in field studies and conduct their own mini-investigation.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What are you planning to study for your mini-investigation?

Notes

Send in appropriate, used magazines for an advisory activity if you have any.

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

Over the past two weeks, we have been focusing on the Constitution, amendments and how the United States began.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is another name for the French and Indian war?

What We're Working on Next

Over the next two weeks, we will focus on the United States moving westward and obtaining the different land masses.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

Was it our Manifest Destiny to move westward?

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

Endurance and interval training

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is the difference between these two types of workouts?

What We're Working on Next

Fitness testing and sports units

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is one fitness test you hope to improve on from last year?

Notes

Please remind your child to change into their PE clothes everyday, thank you!

Choir

What We've Been Working On

Sight reading with solfege
Singing in unison
Hearing and notating rhythmic patterns

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What task is easiest for you in Hear it, Read/Perform it, Write it?

What We're Working on Next

Sight reading
Introducing repertoire
Time signatures
Dotted notes

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What does a dot do when added to a note? (Answer: adds half the value of the note it follows). What are some examples? (Answer: dotted half note, dotted quarter note)

Notes

7th and 8th grade students interested in auditioning for the MN ACDA Honor Choir need to have materials and fees to Mrs. Hartje by Wednesday, Sept. 26.
Orders for Blue Wayzata Polo shirts are due by Wednesday, October 7.

Band

What We've Been Working On

Reviewed Book 1
Assigned assessment song using dotted quarter note eighth note rhythms

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What song are you being assessed on and when?

What We're Working on Next

Finish final assessments in book 1
Work in Harmony Bridge Trio books

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

Do you like playing the Harmony Bridge Trios?

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

D Major Review
Finger Patterns
Posture Review

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What are some checkpoints for good posture on your instrument?

What We're Working on Next

Bowing Review
Note Reading
D and G major

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is an area you want to improve in this year in orchestra?

Notes

Students are assigned a practice SMART goal "calendar" every two weeks. Instruments should be traveling to and from school each orchestra day.

Tech Ed

What We've Been Working On

Finishing Whitebox
Intro to Inventor CAD

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What are some of the basics on Inventor?

What We're Working on Next

Designing model dragster and drawing it on Inventor
General and Machine Safety in the Production Lab

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How did you design your model dragster?

Notes

There is a $10 lab fee that is associated with making the Model Dragster project. The fee can be paid through EPay (on our school's website – a printed receipt would help me record it) , cash or check (made out to EMS). If there is a financial hardship, please feel free to send me an email at Terri.Bostrom@Wayzataschools.org.
Check out Skyward to see if it has been paid or not.

FCS

What We've Been Working On

Last week students presented their career choice to classmates. On Friday, we kicked off our Personal Finance unit by learning about the PACED decision-making model. Students practiced using PACED while taste-testing saltines and honey graham crackers.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What does PACED stand for?
P- Identify the problem
A- Find alternatives/choices
C- Identify criteria (what are you looking for?)
E- Evaluate choices
D- Make a decision

What We're Working on Next

Students will learn about credit cards, debit cards, and store credit. They learn more about why people choose to use credit, and the pros and cons of having credit cards.
We are on track to start our Foods unit on Tuesday, September 25. We will begin by learning about kitchen safety and cleanliness.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

Do you think teenagers should be able to get credit cards? Why or why not?

Notes

Please watch for an email through Skyward from Mrs. Chaffee. It will contain the recipes and ingredients used for 7th grade Foods.

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

We have been working on describing our personalities and telling what we like and don't like to do.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

How do you describe yourself in Spanish?

What We're Working on Next

We will be working on classroom items and telling where they are in the classroom.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What classroom items do you know in Spanish?

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

We will meet for our first time on Friday, September 28.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

Do you know when your first seminar meeting is?

What We're Working on Next

We will review expectations and discuss NUMATS testing. We will also review the Habitudes and begin our unit on stress.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

Do you remember the 7 Habitudes?

PTO News

Join or Volunteer

Community Education WISHES Youth Enrichment

Destination ImagiNation Information Night for parents and Team Managers is Tuesday, Sept. 25, from 6:30-7:30 at Central Middle School. Visit www.wayzatadi.org for more information on D.I.

Chess Team
K ung Fu Wu Shu