Middle School Minute
November 18 - 22, 2024
Please Join PTA!
If you haven't already, please join the AAA PTA! As of right now, we only have 14% family participation in PTA. We would love to have 100% participation!
📕 ELA 📕
Mrs. Stricklin
Regular ELA
Next week students will have assignments on Google Classroom, StudySync, AcceleratedReader (AR), and i-Ready.
Grading Policy - Reminder students must turn their work in by the due date or it will become a zero. Late work will not be accepted unless the student is absent or it is an accommodation in their IEP or 504. Even with this there are limitations with how long they have to turn it in.
i-Ready - Students are required to complete 50 minutes of i-Ready Reading and two passed lessons.
Accelerated Reader (AR) - Students need to be reading and taking AR tests. The only way to grow in reading comprehension is to practice. The minimum requirements are: If the book is 100+ pages, they need to take a test at least every two weeks. If the book is less than 100 pages, they need to take a test every week. This goal will change as we get rolling.
Google Classroom - We are continuing our essay writing unit. We will work through step by step how to write an essay. This week we will focus on the following
Body Paragraphs - Wrap up
Intro to Evidence
Evidence
Justification
Conclusion Paragraph
Restated Claim
Summarize the Evidence
Mic Drop Sentence
Honors ELA
Next week students will have assignments on Google Classroom, StudySync, ReadWorks, AcceleratedReader (AR), and i-Ready.
Grading Policy - Reminder students must turn their work in by the due date or it will become a zero. Late work will not be accepted unless the student is absent or it is an accommodation in their IEP or 504. Even with this there are limitations with how long they have to turn it in.
i-Ready - Students are required to complete 50 minutes of i-Ready Reading and two passed lessons.
Accelerated Reader (AR) - Students need to be reading and taking AR tests. The only way to grow in reading comprehension is to practice. The minimum requirements are: If the book is 100+ pages, they need to take a test at least every two weeks. If the book is less than 100 pages, they need to take a test every week. This goal will change as we get rolling.
A Wrinkle in Time: Novel Study - We are finished with our A Wrinkle in Time novel study.
This week we will be finishing comparing and contrasting the movie with the novel. We have a couple of activities that will wrap up in a compare and contrast writing activity.
Students will become detectives when they try to solve “The Mystery of the Broken Vase” written by Patricia Abel. Students will practice using all of their essay writing skills they have learned this nine weeks, and apply it to this activity.
Mz. Estelle
Honors English: We continue working on argumentative reading and writing skills. Students are analyzing and responding to works by Malala Yousafzai and real-world persuasive emails/advertisements.
For both my English and Science classes, students are accessing work via Google classroom. Within the google classroom, students have access to work on Flocabulary, ReadWorks, iReady, and NewsELA. Science students are also using Generation Genius to expand their science knowledge and skills.
***Please know that classwork must be completed ON TIME. Per our class syllabus, no late work is accepted with the exception of excused absences. If your child is absent and misses work, all work should be completed within five days of return.
*** All sixth grade classrooms are in need of hand sanitizer and tissues. My science class is in desperate need of paper towels. We would be MOST grateful if you can send those items in.
Ms. Talley
Ms. Talley's Honors classes are working on a School Improvement Project. They have chosen an issue/problem they see here at AAA and are creating a plan of action to make a change in their school. Part 1 of this project is due December 16. This project includes research, writing, interviews, surveys and more!
Ms. Talley's general education classes are working on the poem Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe. Focusing on Poetic Elements and Structure and Figurative Language.
**Beginning next week, iReady will be graded based on completion of lessons and time completed Monday - Friday. Work done on Saturday and/or Sunday will not contribute to work that is graded.**
➕➖ Math ➖➕
Mr. Moore
6th Grade Math
Our students will work in the domain of Algebra and Functions with a focus of applying knowledge of arithmetic to read, write, and evaluate algebraic expressions. Students will have two assignments on Alek's with a quiz on Thursday. It is expected that all students will have two lessons passed in iReady. iReady is vital for student growth in areas of weakness and also working at levels that go beyond their grade level. Each lesson is about 20 minutes long with a quiz at the end.
Ms. Whitney
General Math – We will be taking our Unit 2 test on Proportional Reasoning, Tuesday November 19th. As we move forward, we will begin study of Circles structures and Proportions & Percents for our next unit. Students will need to have a calculator for the next two units. I am requiring they have a TI-38 https://a.co/d/eLO8IYj this is the information from Amazon.
Accelerated Math – We will be preparing to test for Unit 2 Dilations, Similarity and Slope. We will complete a review on The test will be Tuesday, November 19th. As we move forward, we will begin study of Circles structures and Proportions & Percents for our next unit. Students will need to have a calculator for the next two units. I am requiring they have a TI-38 https://a.co/d/eLO8IYj this is the information from Amazon.
**Beginning next week, iReady will be graded. Students are expected to complete 50 minutes of math iReady AND complete two lessons with a passing score. These will be classwork grades. **
🧪 Science 🧪
Ms. Thrasher
6th Grade Science-
We have completed learning about Earth's Dynamic Systems and we are going to start learning about Space! We are going to start with moon phases and gravity!
7th Grade Science-
We will be continuing to learn about genetics and Punnett squares next week!
Mz. Estelle
Science: Students continue to work on an Engineering Design project: Wearable Alert System. Please see L1 Family Letter.pdf to view the family newsletter explaining the project. We are currently evaluating designs and developing new parameters for our next iteration of the project
For both my English and Science classes, students are accessing work via Google classroom. Within the google classroom, students have access to work on Flocabulary, ReadWorks, iReady, and NewsELA. Science students are also using Generation Genius to expand their science knowledge and skills.
***Please know that classwork must be completed ON TIME. Per our class syllabus, no late work is accepted with the exception of excused absences. If your child is absent and misses work, all work should be completed within five days of return.
*** All sixth grade classrooms are in need of hand sanitizer and tissues. My science class is in desperate need of paper towels. We would be MOST grateful if you can send those items in.
📜 Social Studies 📜
Mrs. Hester
WWI Chapter 8 Test - Monday/Tuesday November 18/19
Study on socrative.com
Mrs. Maynard
Civics
Grades are still in the process of being input and updated due to Mrs. Maynard's maternity leave and absence. If you have questions or concerns about your grade, please reach out to Mr. Jones or Mrs. Smith and they will get you the information you need.
🎭 Fine Arts 🎭
✍🏻 Creative Writing - Mrs. Hester ✍🏻
Creative Writing:
Field Trip Forms went home with 8th grade students this week. Please return signed forms ASAP.
🌟 Stars - Mrs. Stricklin 🌟
**Check out the AAA Theatre and Stars and Clowns merch CLICK HERE. This is one of our fundraisers, so please show your support.
🤡 Clowns - Mrs. Stricklin 🤡
- Upcoming Dates
- Makeup Dates:
Nov. 18 Makeup Design Class (postponed)
Nov. 20: Makeup Designs Due (postponed)
Nov. 22 Makeup Design Class (postponed) - Costume Dates: Dec. 5: Final Costume Parade
Dec. 8: All Costumes must be complete before our performance on this date
🎻 Strings - Mrs. Peck 🎻
There is a RED TSHIRT SALE for all Middle School Strings. We traditionally wear RED for our December 6 daytime Assembly Performance. Deadline is Nov. 22nd. You can have your student bring $10.00 and confirm small, medium, large adult size.
Best-Mary Peck-AAA MS/ES String Orchestras
🎭 Theatre - Mr. Feemster 🎭
Check out all AAA Theatre Info online @ WhyAAA.org/Ms-Theatre
🎨 Art - Mrs. Dare-Jackson 🎨
February 2025 is National Magnet Schools Month, and we are thrilled to announce the 19th Annual National Magnet Schools Poster Contest! This is a fantastic opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school students to express their creativity. Each school can submit one poster!
Entries are DUE January 10th, 2025! Please turn them into your art teacher.
Poster Requirements/ Scoring Rubric
- Use of Pillar(s) Theme (Themes are: Diversity, Innovative Curriculum and Professional Development, Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Family and Community Partnerships) 30 pts.
- Poster Sizes: 8.5x11, 11x17, or 22x28 20 pts.
- Originality and Organization 30 pts.
- Use of Color and Design 20 pts.
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Middle School Art Students who would like to join National Junior Art Honor Society can now visit https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-art.html to fill out a membership application form.
6th Grade Updates
- Make sure you have signed up for the 6th grade Remind CLICK HERE or HERE to join the class the code is @ceecdk
- Check PowerSchool often. Directions for creating a Parent Portal account are attached below.
7th Grade Updates
iReady in ELA and math will be graded based on work completed Monday - Friday going forward. Time and lessons completed on Saturday and/or Sunday will not count toward their iReady classwork grades.
Please encourage your students to complete their classwork at school. The goal is for students to not have much homework and to use their classroom instructional time efficiently. This should also help decrease the number of missing assignments students have in PowerSchool.