TBMS Weekly Newsletter - Issue 24-25.05

SEVENTH GRADE

Seventh grade students have been making a case study of mung beans in science class, learning how these plants are a good example of the five characteristics of life and how they fit into the classification of living things.  Parallel to this, students are encouraged to bring in house plant cuttings from home for a year-long observation and study of plant growth.  Next up, we will begin to learn about cells, focusing on plant, animal, and bacteria, and including the basic organelles within each.  The year is off to an excellent start in science class and students are adjusting well to grade level expectations!

In Flex students have been making good use of academic support time.  Lessons on non-academic days have continued to focus on belonging, as well as basic organizational skills such as organizing Google drive.

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EIGHTH GRADE

In eighth grade English language arts, our first whole class novella is Steinbeck's The Pearl.  Students practiced closely reading for characters' decisions in reading the first chapter.  They also practiced writing a paragraph analysis as they framed Steinbeck's characters' choices as greedy or supportive. Next week, we launch our English language arts independent reading program.  Students will go to the Harvard Public Library on Tuesday, September 24, during class.  All students will choose the book(s) they take out from the library.  Mrs. Segaloff, our school librarian, has sent an email to all students who need a Harvard Public Library card.  As noted in a recent email message to families from Ms. Hodgens and Mr. Shaw, please confirm with your child if they have received an email from Mrs. Segaloff, and if so, if they have filled out the library card form. The independent reading list of books from which students will choose is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYdbPxhhHuWqI_5xsc__BIQ5pspAWlz9GN_uS9XGN0x7MQ0A/viewform.  Please regularly ask your child what they are reading or plan to read for the independent reading program. 

In Flex, students have used their academic support time to meet with teachers and peers, and to work on assignments. They have also gotten to know their classmates in social emotional learning lessons.  On Monday, they brainstormed countries of the world, fruits and vegetables, animals, and types of careers which begin with the same letters.  We debriefed on how students feel about working under time limits with partners.  We also got to know classmates through interviews on topics ranging from favorite holidays to family background to favorite ways to spend free time.  Each partner introduced their classmate to a small group of peers, and we ultimately learned about common interests and distinct experiences shared among students in each Flex classroom.

UNIFIED ARTS

We're excited to kick off our Social Emotional Health unit this week in health class! My goal is to help students develop essential skills for managing their emotions, building healthy relationships, and making informed decisions. Sixth graders will be exploring the qualities of good friendships and identifying when a relationship might be unhealthy. Seventh graders will learn how their emotions can influence their behavior and discover strategies for managing them effectively. Eighth graders will delve into decision-making models to analyze real-life situations and make thoughtful choices.