8th Grade News
SEPTEMBER 2024 ~ WELCOME BACK!
8th GRADE TEACHERS
Mr. Jonte Flowers (PE Health) - jermaine.flowers@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Gifford (Math Intervention/Enrichment) - lexie.gifford@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Hess (PAES Lab) - erica.hess@marshall.k12.mn.us
Mr. Hoppe (Social Studies) - ethan.hoppe@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Lanoye-Guerrero (Art) - jordyn.LanoyeGuerrero@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Leibfried (Math) - jessica.leibfried@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Mather (Instructional Coach/Guided Learning) - jean.mather@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Maus (Language Arts) - ashley.maus@marshall.k12.mn.us
Mr. Myers (Orchestra) - wes.myers@marshall.k12.mn.us
Mr. Novosad (Choir) - eric.novosad@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Runck (Spanish) - sara.runck@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Smith (Language Arts) denise.smith@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Tauer (Math) - samantha.tauer@marshall.k12.mn.us
Ms. Welch (Science) - sara.welch@marshall.k12.mn.us
Mr. Witherow (Band) - christian.witherow@marshall.k12.mn.us
MATH INTERVENTION/ENRICHMENT
My name is Mrs. Lexie Gifford, and I am beginning my 9th year as a 7th/8th grade math enrichment/intervention teacher. I grew up in Windom, MN, and attended SMSU where I received my undergraduate in Elementary Education, Reading Licensure, and Math Endorsement; I also received my graduate degree from SMSU in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership. I live in Cottonwood with my husband, Robbie, and my son Mason. Mason is a 1st grader at Parkside this year, and Robbie also works for the district working in Maintenance. We are all excited to welcome a baby girl into our family around the end of November/beginning of December; Mason is very excited to become a big brother! This summer, we enjoyed time at the lake with friends, took a family camping trip and went to Wild Water West for the first time. We also loved spending time outside working on projects, going for walks and bike rides, and tending to our garden. I hope you have all had a great summer! I look forward to getting to know all of my new students and their families (and teaching some familiar 8th grade faces!), and I look forward to all the learning we will endure together throughout this school year!
SOCIAL STUDIES
Welcome to 8th grade social studies! Our main focus this year will be on World Geography. Students will learn about different types of maps and how to read them, locate different regions of the world, countries, landmarks, cultures, their histories, and how we as humans have an impact on our environment around us. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you better as we explore more about our world and the people around us!
PAES LAB
MATH
Math students begin the school year creating their math binder to help students organize notes, examples, and all they are learning throughout this year. We get to know our classmates, classroom, teacher, and the resources we will use in math this year. Students create a ‘Numbers About Me’ poster to show how numbers help tell their story. 8th graders have many valuable resources in their Math Schoology page to help them practice and study the standards from their math class. Khan Academy is a great video resource to help students with individual standards. Please reach out with any questions you have! samantha.tauer@marshall.k12.mn.us and jessica.leibfried@marshall.k12.mn.us
Fun facts about Dr. Tauer and Mrs. Leibfried…
Dr. Tauer grew up on farm east of Marshall; she still helps vaccinate pigs, rake hay, pick rock, mow, garden, can vegetables and fruit, and help whenever needed. Dr. Tauer likes to play ping pong, checkers and Scategories, read books, go for walks on country roads, see movies, travel, and listen to live music. Her favorite thing is to be surrounded by family and friends.
Mrs. Leibfried also grew up on a farm and has 4 children. She enjoys being active, attending her children’s activities, and cheering on the MN sports teams. She also enjoys playing cards/board games and spending time with family.
Scavenger Hunt: Tips for math success
Playing Math Bump
Math Bump!
SCIENCE
Welcome to 8th Grade Physical Science! My name is Sara Welch and I will be beginning my 4th year teaching. I enjoy long distance running, working out, hiking, cheering on MN sports (if the Vikings are winning), and spending time with friends and family!
I am excited to get to know your student and watch them grow in their Science skills this year. Topics we will focus on include: Matter, Energy, Waves, Force, Electricity, Engineering, Light, Chemical Reactions, Atomic Structure, and The Periodic Table. I will use Schoology as the learning platform for my classroom. Your student will need a binder & loose-leaf paper for this class. It would also be extremely helpful for them to have any sort of headphones that they can use when needed as well!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or comments regarding my class or your student. I look forward to meeting you in the upcoming weeks!
LANGUAGE ARTS
In 8th grade language arts, we will be doing a lot of reading and writing. We will start out with some short stories and then move on to nonfiction, poetry, and a novel. Please bring a notebook that is dedicated to language arts only, a folder, two pens (one black or blue and one red), a pencil, and an independent reading book to class every day. As part of your homework, we kindly ask that you dedicate 15-20 minutes every evening to independent reading. This practice not only enhances your literacy skills but also broadens your horizons and fosters a lifelong love for learning.
Hello! I’m Denise Smith and I am thrilled to have you in 8th grade Language Arts this year. I have been teaching for 20 years and every year is a little different – special in its own way because of kids like you. That might sound a little cheezy, but…. Oh well. It’s the truth. Something you should know about me is that I firmly believe in the power of “yet,” the power of a forgiving and grateful heart, and the value of a smile. I can’t wait to get to know you, read with you, and write with you. Some fun facts about me are I love kayaking and riding my bike. I have a golden retriever named Agatha who farts a lot and loves to eat cicadas. I love knitting, reading, and making my kids laugh by dancing in the kitchen. I also enjoy baking pie from scratch.
Hello, My name is Ashley Maus and I am excited to be teaching 8th grade Language Arts again this year. This is my second-year teaching and I'm excited to be able to dive into literature with you. I ask that the students in my class come with positive attitude and a willingness to try. I understand that things are hard, but trying just a little can go a long way. I am here to help. Outside of the classroom you can find me trying new recipes, reading, enjoying time outdoors and hanging out on the farm.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Hello! My name is Mr. Flowers, and I am the 7th and 8th grade Physical Education and Health teacher. This is my second year at Marshall Middle School. Outside of the classroom, I am an avid basketball fan, and I love traveling to attend various sporting events.
I am excited to continue working with our students to embrace fitness and a healthy lifestyle. The Physical Education curriculum emphasizes physical fitness, lifestyle choices, and strength training. Our program is designed to empower students to take charge of their health and wellness. I look forward to seeing their growth and commitment to fitness!
SPANISH
¡Bienvenidos a la clase de español! My name is Profe Sara, and I am so excited for Spanish class this year. We will focus primarily on the Super Seven verbs, calendar, geography, and culture. Progress will be measured in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will participate in interviews, a music bracket competition, reader’s theater, games, illustrations, running dictations, cooking, calendar talks, reading a novel, and many other activities. ¡Nos vemos pronto!
This year we have a new class called Advanced Spanish. This class is for students that already have significant experience with the Spanish language. The focus of the class is reading and writing, as well as the exploration of bicultural identities. 😊 We are very excited for this new opportunity.
Este año tenemos una clase nueva que se llama Español Avanzado. Esta clase es para los estudiantes que ya tienen mucha experiencia con el español. El enfoque de la clase está en la lectura y la escritura, así como la exploración de la identidad bicultural. 😊 Estamos muy emocionados por esta oportunidad nueva.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
BAND
Welcome back band students! I am looking forward to another year of making music together. I am excited to get started and hope you are ready for another great year.
ORCHESTRA
Orchestra is working on getting back into the routine, getting instruments checked, and preparing for our first concert on November 26th.
GUIDED LEARNING/INSTRUCTIONAL COACH
Hello! My name is Ms. Mather, and I am an Instructional Coach and Guided Learning Teacher at the middle school. As an Instructional Coach, I work with teachers to develop their skills, set goals, and incorporate effective teaching strategies. In my role as a Guided Learning Teacher, I support students in their learning journeys by monitoring and assisting them in their work and encouraging them to explore their educational interests.
ART
Hello My name is Jordyn Lanoye-Guerrero. This is my second year here! In art class, the students do a variety of projects. They paint, draw, use paper mache, and get to explore the amazing properties of clay and how the drying and firing process works to make ceramic. They will do an 8th grade project of painting ceiling tiles that will be placed around the school. It's going to be an exciting year full of art and creativity!