Hello all!
What a great first two weeks here in the upper grades! It's been so great getting right into work as well as meeting all the new students and catching up with those returning. Here's a quick update of some the work each grade is doing in Social Studies thus far. (Also, see important dates at the bottom).
Also, if you missed Curriculum Night, scroll down a few blog posts to find links to handouts and PowerPoint from the evening.
6th Grade Social Studies
We're thick into creating context and characters for our Newsville Storyline unit. Storyline is a method of teaching that immerses students into a plot, gives them roles, and asks them to make decisions based on events that happen. This is a great way to learn and practice content in ways that approximate the real world. Be sure to come check out our town and characters at Open House next Thursday as well as ask your 6th grader about what's happening in Newsville (big things coming in the next couple weeks). For homework, 6th graders are working on informational text reading and summary through various Current Event articles and tasks.
7th Grade Social Studies
This year we're starting off with a writer's workshop unit on narrative fiction. We're pushing students to write more than they ever have and providing support and engaging lessons through our new writing curriculum. As teachers we're having a blast teaching these writing units and can already see the benefits and increased output from our extremely creative and hard working students! Be sure to ask your 7th grader if they'd mind sharing with you some of their favorite entries and ideas from their writer's notebooks. For homework, 7th graders will have almost-daily writing tasks in their writer's notebook.
8th Grade Social Studies
This year we're kicking off with an Economics and Personal Finance unit. Students are acting as advisors to a hypothetical shoe company and learning all about product markets, factor markets, and how they interact. Look for your students to be throwing around some economics terms and be sure to ask them to explain to you the difference between factor and product markets. For homework, 8th graders have been given questions to inspire conversations at home and record their thoughts/reflections from their conversations--the topics of questions will relate to topics and themes we'll study throughout the year.
Have a great weekend!
~Mr. Radich
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, September 24: Open House 6-7
9/29 to 10/2: 6th Grade to Outdoor School
Wednesday, September 30: School Photos
Wednesday, October 7: Jog-a-thon
