Math:
What a great first week back! All students decorated their binders on the first day of school and reviewed procedures for class. This included how students will work their way through the Math Super Sleuth Academy whenever they finish their daily assignment early.
On Tuesday, 6th grade students learned how to graph integers on a number line and practiced comparing integers by playing Integer War. Wednesday they practiced Tuesday’s lesson by sorting integer inequalities into a true or false column. After, students grouped up to play Stomped. Thursday the 6th graders completed two lessons. The first covered comparing and ordering decimals while the second covered comparing and ordering fractions.
7th graders started Tuesday by drawing a diagram on where you could find golden double-stuffed oreos in HEB. This helped students then draw diagrams for number sets and plot where certain numbers belong. Wednesday they moved onto reviewing how to add and subtract integers. They solved mazes and completed a cut and paste activity to practice integer operations on Thursday.
8th graders spent day 2 taking their Algebra 1 readiness assessment. As expected, all students were prepared for Algebra 1. Wednesday they took one more assessment. It was their first attempt at earning their calculator merit badge and their right to use a calculator during class. Four students earned their merit badge after their first attempt! After that Algebra 1 students reviewed the distributive property and how to solve two-step equations. On Thursday they learned how to solve multi-step equations that included distribution and variables on both sides of the equal mark.
ELA:
Two words that describe our first week in ELA are industrious and lively! The middle school was positively humming with excitement as we saw our friends– both old and new–filling our classroom. We set up our ELA binders and journals to make sure they’re organized and ready to be filled with new ideas. We also took the time to build a strong foundation for a great year ahead by learning the procedures that will keep our classroom running smoothly.
On Tuesday middle schoolers dove into our first book study of the year, Nothing But the Truth by Avi, focusing on the characters, setting, and style of this documentary novel. This book centers around the Constitutional right to freedom of speech and the responsibility that comes with it. It’s a perfect tie in to our first quarter theme and I predict it will lead to many opinions and spirited debates.
We spent the last half of the week learning and practicing the very important strategies used to comprehend nonfiction by reading an article about the history and inspiration behind “The Star-Spangled Banner.” We wrapped up the week with the AHB Middle School tradition of writing a letter to our future selves. Students identified the academic and social emotional goals they want to meet this year and told a little about their interests at this point in time. On the last day of school they will read their letters and reflect on this year’s achievements.
Theme:
It is SO AWESOME to have our Delta students back! The returning students have been so gracious in welcoming our new students, who have risen to the challenges of a new school and settled right into their new environment and routines.
Lots of activity this week to start our first Theme: Election and the Government. Students created their Theme notebooks and binders, using their prior knowledge of how the U.S Government works as well as the rest of this year’s themes. Student notebook covers reflected images about themselves.
Our tour of the Constitution and its parts began with creating structural anatomies, outlining the Preamble (head), the Articles (Body), and the Amendments (Legs). They pondered how each connects to this anatomical structure and began working with their notebook procedures.
We finished the week taking a deep dive into the Preamble and how the first sentence of the Constitution outlines the reasons for this new plan for government. Students finished the week by investigating the primary sources of the Constitution and its works, using them to play Challenge Pictionary. The drawings they created were interesting and sometimes hilarious!
In a couple of weeks, Delta students will visit with Constitutional lawyer and AHB parent Jeff Rowes, who will discuss the Bill of Rights. We will also speak with State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, our local delegate in the Texas House, and take a trip to the Capitol.
The returning students form a bridge to welcome the new Middle School students on the first day of school. The tradition is a favorite for students and teachers alike.
6th graders color “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
7th graders organize ELA binders.
Two students showing off their calculator merit badges.
7th graders working on adding and subtracting integers.
6th graders playing Integer War
Interpretive dancing was the activity of the day to celebrate Ms Kandyce’s birthday. All moves were displayed, including the famous caterpillar from the days of breakdancing!
Kicking off a new Theme on the Elections and the Government, students, above, outlined the Articles of the Constitution. Below, students write birthday greetings to classmates.
