Middle School Minute

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Mz. Estelle

We continue our novel study of Miles Morales: Spider Man by Jason Reynolds. Students have been assigned their own copy of the novel. We are practicing literary analysis (something I did in college!!) by reading and dialoging with the text, defining vocabulary in context, and analyzing character. In addition, we will begin comparison of Miles’ story with that of “The Hero’s Journey.” So far we have analyzed chapters 1-7. Stay tuned for further news…

ELA students are responsible for completing 60 minutes AND two (2) passed lessons (70% or better) each week on iReady. This reading is for a grade. In addition, students should be reading something of their choosing. We will have a Book Talk to complete this nine weeks.

Ms. Stricklin

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:

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

Skill: Story Structure - After rereading and discussing a model of close reading, students will be able to analyze how a particular sentence/chapter fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of theme, setting, or plot.

Vocabulary

Analyze - v. to examine the parts of something in detail
Flashback - n. a scene in a story, play, movie, or TV show that is set in a time earlier than the events in the main story
Plot - n. the sequence of events that take place in a work of literature
Setting - n. the time and place of the events in a work of literature
Story structure - n. the outline a writer uses to organize and tell a story
Theme - n. the central idea or message of a work of literature, often expressed as a general statement about life

Checklist for Story Structure:

In order to identify how a particular sentence, chapter, or scene fits into the overall structure of a text, note the following:

the author’s use of description, dialogue, and narration and how each develops the events of the plot
the pattern the author uses to organize the events within a story or chapter

chronological, or in time order
events out of time order

any literary devices the author uses, such as flashback, a part of a story that shows something that happened in the past
any particular sentence, chapter, or scene that contributes to the development of the setting, the plot, and the theme
how a particular sentence, chapter, or scene fits into the overall structure

To analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, or scene fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot, consider the following questions:

What are the key events in the story and when did they take place?
What impact does the order of events that take place in the story have on the theme, setting, or plot?
What literary devices does the author use? How do they affect the development of the plot?
How does a particular sentence, chapter, or scene fit into the overall structure? How does it contribute to the development of the theme, setting, or plot?

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)

Ms. Hunter

We have been working on identifying author's purpose and summarizing informational texts. Please check that your student is keeping up with all their assignments. Let's finish out the semester strong!

Ms. Fletcher

Students will continue writing compare and contrast paragraphs. By the end of next week, they will begin studying the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Mr. Moore

Focus for the Week:

Students will be reviewing and completing Mastery Checks on two key skills: Ratios Dividing Fractions

To support this, students will work through their i-Ready Teacher-Assigned Lessons, along with interactive tasks from Math Reveal (McGraw-Hill).

How Families Can Help Ask your child to show you their progress on i-Ready. Encourage them to complete any unfinished lessons at home. Review class notes or completed assignments together.

A strong week of focus will help students build confidence and prepare for the next unit!

Ms. Whitney

📬 7th Grade Math & 7th Grade Accelerated Math –

Parent Update Dear Parents and Guardians,

We’re excited to share a quick update on what’s happening in our 7th Grade Math and 7th Grade Accelerated Math classrooms!

🟦 7th Grade Math: Students have been working hard as we wrap up our unit on Rational Numbers. This includes adding and subtracting fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals. Coming up next, we’ll begin multiplying and dividing these numbers. In addition, we’ll focus on converting between decimals, fractions, and percents—a skill that is both practical and essential for real-world math application.

🔷 7th Grade Accelerated Math: Our Accelerated Math students are continuing their work with Linear Equations. We are specifically honing in on identifying slope in a variety of formats—graphs, equations, and tables. These skills are building a strong foundation for future work in Algebra and beyond. As always, thank you for supporting your child’s learning. Regular practice at home, especially with basic operations and reviewing class notes, will go a long way in building confidence and mastery. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Ms. Cuff

Greetings students and AAA family,

Each week in math, we will continue working on refreshing previously learned skills and standards to remediate weak areas and achieve mastery for all students. These reviews will be included in the lesson as well as bell work, before strategies, cooperative learning and partner work. Next week we will continue with the Triangle angle sum theorem, Exterior angle theorem, and Volume if time permits. The students must complete 2 iReady math pathway lessons each week. This will be worked on in and out of school (homework). Have an amazing week. :-)

Mz. Estelle

We continue our study of Earth’s Dynamic Systems. In this unit we investigate earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis among other forces that shape our planet. The week of December 7 to 12, we investigate seismic activity using springs, a shake table, and a model seismograph. Please know that our hands-on investigations can only be completed in class. It is EXTREMELY important to be IN CLASS and ON TIME.

In science, we are using our online textbook as only a limited number of printed copies were supplied with our AMSTI kits. The textbook is available at Carolina Science Online. Username is: Estelle Student; password is: password123.

Not required but fun: SciStarter’s Citizen Science for December : https://scistarter.org/calendar Please know that in my class, I assign silent lunch for students who come to class without charged computers. It is the expectation that students come to class prepared. Please make a designated spot in your house to prepare school materials.

Mrs. Thrasher

Hello!

We have been learning about how cells divide. We are going to have a quiz over cellular reproduction on Tuesday December 9th for B day and Wednesday December 10th for A day. Study guides were handed out Monday December 1st for B day and Tuesday December 2nd for A day. Students were to fill these out prior to going over them in class on Friday December 5th for B day and Monday December 8th for A day (there will be a review game also posted on the same day as the review to help study along with the study guide).

After the quiz, we will be learning about DNA and RNA.

Ms. Plummer

This week we will be finishing up project presentations for the Chemistry My Way project through Wednesday. We will also continue our semester review dealing with all topics (Chemistry related) to prepare for our semester test on December 17th (B Day) and 18th (A Day). Please make sure that your student comes to class prepared with all necessary materials.

Mrs. Hester

- 1920s Flocabulary - Due Friday, December 19

- Capitalism vs Communism paper packets due by Friday, December 12

- Palmer Raids and Chicago Race Riots Primary Sources Assignments - Due Friday, December 12

Mr. Garner

We will be covering Alabama's role in global economics and identifying the differences in the social and economic climates of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Mr. Hughes

This week we will continue learning about the world of Ancient India, specifically focusing on the religion of Hinduism, the Caste System, and the social system that supported India for millenia based on the Caste System! We'll be doing a couple of interactive activities this week as well.

Find the Elf Contest – Begins Monday, December 8!

Our annual Find the Elf challenge kicks off on Monday, December 8! Each day, our sneaky library elf will hide in a new spot.

Students can stop by the library, locate the elf, and submit their guess for a chance to win fun prizes. Good luck, elf hunters!

New Books Arriving!
We’ve added fresh titles to our shelves, including graphic novels, fantasy favorites, and new popular series. Come check one out before they’re gone!

Student Book Recommendations
We’re accepting book suggestions! Students can request titles they'd love to see added to our collection by making a request on the Library Wish List at the circulation desk.

Tyletha Lord

AAA Middle School Library Media Specialist

🤡 Clowns - Ms. Stricklin 🤡

Check the website for more information https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-stars--clowns.html

December Dates and Times:

December 7th - The Orion Amphitheater - Call Time 12:30pm; Performance Time 1:00pm; meet at the pavilion where the food trucks are.

December 8th and 9th - Call time: 745 am Students must come dressed with full make up on; Performances: 8am-3pm. Students should still be able to take their usual way home. 8 shows over the course of two days. 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; meet in the theater.

December 19 - School shows and pictures. Call time 7:30 am meet in the theater.

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

🤩 Stars - Ms. Stricklin 🤩

Check the website for more information https://www.whyaaa.org/ms-stars--clowns.html

December Dates and Times:

December 7th - The Orion Amphitheater - Call Time 12:30pm; Performance Time 1:00pm; meet at the pavilion where the food trucks are.

December 8th and 9th - Call time: 745 am Students must come dressed with full make up on; Performances: 8am-3pm. Students should still be able to take their usual way home. 8 shows over the course of two days. 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; meet in the theater.

December 19 - School shows and pictures. Call time 7:30 am meet in the theater.

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.

✍🏻 Creative Writing - Mrs. Hester ✍🏻

- Final comic assignments will be completed in class the next two weeks. Students will be making a 6-panel mini comics book. Additional copies of books will be available for purchase at Open-Mic in January.

- Save the Date: Open-Mic - January 22

🧰 Theatre Tech - Mr. Stricklin 🧰

We are currently working on Scenic Design. The kids are drafting designs for the stage, elevation view and floor plans.ly.

🎭 Theatre - Mr. Feemster 🎭

Intro to Theatre

This week marks the beginning of our final theatre performance unit with an exciting Agatha Rex Scene Study. This adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone offers a contemporary twist on the classic tale, providing an engaging platform for students to explore themes of power, justice, and individuality. Students will read the play and work towards a memorized scene performance scheduled for December 15th and 16th. Important Reminder: For 6th graders in Intro to Theatre, these are the final couple of weeks before the class switch. When we return from Winter Break, Tech Theatre and Theatre Performance classes for 6th graders will swap. Be prepared for this exciting transition!

Theatre 1

In Theatre 1, we are diving into the adventurous world of Treasure Island. Students are currently reading the play and will work on memorizing scenes for a performance on December 15th and 16th. This classic tale of pirates and treasure hunts will provide ample opportunity for students to develop their acting skills and bring these timeless characters to life.

Thespian Production

Our Thespian Production class is focused on finalizing Thespy Individual Event (IE) selections, which are due as soon as possible. Additionally, we are preparing for our upcoming meeting on December 18th at 5 PM. This meeting will be a crucial opportunity to discuss our progress and plan for future events.

Upcoming Auditions

Exciting news! Auditions for 67 Cinderellas will take place during the first week after we return from Winter Break. Students interested in auditioning should check out the information available at WhyAAA.org/MS-Theatre. This is a fantastic opportunity to participate in a magical production and showcase your theatrical talents. We look forward to seeing all the wonderful performances and continued dedication from our students as we approach the end of this semester. Keep up the great work, everyone!

💃Dance - Ms. Fuqua 💃

This week, we're reviewing student choreography pieces and going over dances for our upcoming dance showcase "Soul Train: The New Edition". I'll be giving students new formations and also go over performance needs.

🎻Strings - Mrs. Peck🎻

Hello Strings Families and Students! We're moving right along towards our next big endeavors and they are AAA Spring Concert/Festival Music pieces (2 for all strings and 2 for combined band and strings in the category called 'Full Orchestra') We're very happy to have given you 2 performances this semester. The November Concerts and the Winter Concerts helped inspire us and definitely helped us GROW! Please look forward to trying to secure your REGISTRATION if you're planning on having your child participate in the Smoky Mountains Music Competition Festival by going to #WHYAAA music dept links in any of we three music directors' pages (lead teacher for Festival Jenny Stricklin, or Mr. Snodgrass' or Mrs. Peck's pages in #WHYAAA.org) Please also look forward to more A or B combined blocks staying after school for fun Popcorn and Playing Practices. THE BEST POPCORN IS KROGER 6pack microwavable ORIGINAL BUTTER for 2.99:) Send some with your child-we have microwaves and napkins. Nobody goes HANGRY in our music classes! There's an AMAZING music concert coming up this Sunday, December 7 of choirs and orchestra at Whitesburg Baptist Church-see the attached link. Also don't forget this is the best season to go to all of our local music rental and purchase vendors for quality instruments and supplies. Lastly, our Smoky Mountain Competition trip has a finalized deadline for REGISTRATION this month. Get your student into the $50 initial start up registration to begin payment plan so Mr. Lindley can schedule. Our Best Always-MPeck

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Rental providers AAA recommends - Mary Peck.docx

2025 2026 Strings Calendar FIRST SEMESTER - Mary Peck

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🎵 Band and Choir - Mr. Snodgrass 🎤

All Choirs and Bands:

December 1, 2025 is our annual AAA Music Winter Concert. Beginning Band, Advanced Band, Concert Choir and Orchestra will be performing.

There will be 3 performances. 2 school performances and 1 evening performance. The evening performance is for parents, families and friends.

The school shows will be at 9:30a.m. for middle school and 1:00p.m. for elementary school. The attire for the school shows will be house shirts or house colors and jeans. 6 Houses, 1 Family!

The evening performance will be at 6:30p.m. Call time is 6:00p.m.

Evening Concert Attire:

Concert Choir Girls - Choir dresses

Concert Choir Boys - White dress shirt (not a polo), black dress pants (not jeans), the black vests and bow ties will be given by Mr. Snodgrass.

Beginning & Advanced Bands - White dress shirt (not a polo), black dress pants (not jeans), the black vests and bow ties will be given by Mr. Snodgrass.

GIRLS IN BAND & CHOIR WILL WEAR CHOIR DRESSES...