Middle School Minute

In “Scout’s Honor,” by Avi, three friends from Brooklyn, all Boy Scouts, go camping by themselves in the Palisades of New Jersey in order to earn merit badges and prove they are “tough.” But their trip turns out to be more of a challenge than they thought it would be.

• First Read: Scout’s Honor - After an initial reading and discussion of the “Scout’s Honor,” students will be able to identify and describe character traits and setting details as well as articulate the conflict that is integral to the story’s plot.

• Introduction - Avi is the pen name of Edward Irving Wortis (b. 1937), the Newbery Medal-winning author of more than 75 books for children and young adults. Avi was born and raised in New York City, and his childhood and adolescence were an inspiration for many of his stories and books. “Scout’s Honor,” presented here, is the humorous story of a nine-year-old boy and his Boy Scout friends who set out to the New Jersey “wilderness” to prove their toughness. Avi’s body of work spans many genres, from historical fiction to graphic novels. Yet his stories and books are united by their relatable and evocative depictions of young people in challenging circumstances, struggling to learn and grow.

• Vocabulary

• Absorbed - adj. polite or respectful

• Approach - adj. showing desire for what someone else has

• Courteous - adj. very great or large

• Envious - adj. showing desire for what someone else has

• Immense - adj. very great or large

• Possession - n. something belonging to someone

• Simultaneously - adv. done at the same time as something else

• Read - Annotate

• As you read, monitor your comprehension by:

1. Using context clues to make predictions about the boldfaced vocabulary words.

2. Making connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society. You may use the following sentence frames:

• To make connections to personal experiences:

• How does this relate to my life?

• What were my thoughts and feelings when I read this?

• To make connections to ideas in other texts:

• How is this similar to other texts I have read?

• How is this different from other texts I have read?

• To make connections to society:

• How does this relate to issues in society?

• How is this similar to or different from things that happen in the real world?

• Quiz

• Students will complete the ten question quiz using the story and vocabulary list if they wish.

• Think

• Students will answer five questions using evidence from the text to support each answer.

• iReady: Students in Regular ELA are required to complete and pass 3 lessons with at least a 67%. Students in Honors ELA are expected to complete and pass 5 lessons with a 67% or better.

• Regular iReady Grading - There are three components to the iReady requirements. Here is how I grade iReady Pathway requirements. (No minute requirement)

• 3/3 - 100

• 2/3 - 75

• 1/3 - 50

• 0/3 - 0

• Honors iReady Grading - There are five components to the iReady requirements. Here is how I grade iReady Pathway requirements. No minute requirement)

• 5/5 - 100

• 4/5 - 85

• 3/5 - 70

• 2/5 - 55

• 1/5 - 40

• 0/5 - 0

• Membean: Welcome to Membean! Your child will soon be using Membean, an online vocabulary learning system that helps students develop an excitement to know what words mean and how to use them with nuance and precision. Membean is completely personalized with regards to your child’s current level of vocabulary expertise and learning pace. Students must practice three days a week for 15 minutes in each session.

• Regular Membean Grading -

• Minutes Trained is 70% of their grade

• Accuracy is 30% of their grade (Students achieving 60% or higher accuracy will get full credit)

• Honors Membean Grading -

• Minutes Trained is 60%

• Accuracy is 40% (Students achieving 70% or higher accuracy will get full credit)

Topic Focus: Operations with Rational Numbers – Fractions & Decimals
This week, 7th grade students are deepening their understanding of rational numbers. We're reinforcing key concepts like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions and decimals in real-world and multi-step problems. Students are learning how to apply these operations to solve word problems with confidence and precision.

Parent Tip: Ask your child to help you with a measurement task around the house that involves fractions or decimals—like doubling a recipe or converting measurements while building something.

📬 7th Grade Accelerated Math Update

Topic Focus: Writing and Solving Linear Equations from Tables, Graphs, Equations, and Word Problems
Our accelerated students are building foundational algebra skills by working on identifying linear relationships in various forms. They are learning how to write and solve equations based on data from graphs, tables, and real-world scenarios. This work is preparing them for Algebra I concepts coming later in the year.

Parent Tip: While reviewing bills or planning a trip, ask your student to help estimate total cost or distance using a table or graph. Let them explain how they set up and solved the equation.

How You Can Help at Home (All Students):

• Review math vocabulary like rational numbers, linear equation, variable, solution, slope.
  
  

• Encourage your student to explain what they learned today in their own words.
  
  

• Practice basic operations (especially with fractions and decimals) through real-life activities like cooking or shopping.
  
  

If you'd like additional resources or suggestions for supporting your student at home, feel free to reach out. Thank you for your partnership!

December 4th - All Students making or renting costume parade. There is no need to sign up; I will see you all there from 3-4:30pm.

December 7th - The Orion Amphitheater - Call Time 12:30pm; Performance Time 1:00pm

December 8th and 9th - Final Schedule TBD - 8am-3pm. Students should still be able to take their usual way home. 8 shows over the course of two days. Permission slip is coming. Students will need to pay $15 for the trip. They will need lunch money for the food court in the mall. $20 is plenty. There will not be any time for shopping.

December 16 - ACT Night! This is our public performance! Please make sure you join us to see your student(s) perform. Call Time 6:30pm; Performance 7:00pm

December 19 - School shows and pictures. 7:30 Individual pictures

8:45 Elementary Performance

9:30 Group Pictures/Finish Individual pictures

10:30 Middle School Performance

11:00 finish any Individual pictures

Join the Remind: https://www.remind.com/join/aaa2526

If you missed the Music Competition Parent meeting. Check the website for more information https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-stars--clowns.html

Please continue to bring in caboodle checklist items.

Rental/Fabrication Forms were sent home two weeks ago with students. I need to know whether you plan to rent or make your costume. If you plan to rent, you can pay the $20 rental fee in cash, checks made payable to AAA, or on myschoolfees.com.

December 7th - The Orion Amphitheater - Call Time 12:30pm; Performance Time 1:00pm

December 8th and 9th - Final Schedule TBD - 8am-3pm. Students should still be able to take their usual way home. 8 shows over the course of two days. Permission slip is coming. Students will need to pay $15 for the trip. They will need lunch money for the food court in the mall. $20 is plenty. There will not be any time for shopping.

December 16 - ACT Night! This is our public performance! Please make sure you join us to see your student(s) perform. Call Time 6:30pm; Performance 7:00pm

December 19 - School shows and pictures. 7:30 Individual pictures

8:45 Elementary Performance

9:30 Group Pictures/Finish Individual pictures

10:30 Middle School Performance

11:00 finish any Individual pictures

Join the Remind: https://www.remind.com/join/aaastar84

If you missed the Music Competition Parent meeting. Check the website for more information https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-stars--clowns.html

Please continue to bring in checklist items.

Rental Forms and Contracts were sent home with students that have not turned in theirs. Please, sign and return. Make sure you have paid your rental fee. You can pay the $20 rental fee in cash, checks made payable to AAA, or on myschoolfees.com.