TBMS Weekly Newsletter - Issue 25-26.07

SEVENTH GRADE

This week began with our first quiz in social studies.  Students were assessed on their mastery of using lines of latitude and longitude as well as their understanding of academic vocabulary associated with that skill.  There are a few more skills and concepts to cover, including research and source citation with Ms. Segaloff, before we move on to our first region of study: Africa south of the Sahara.

In addition to academic support FLEX, students have been rotating through a series of activities designed to assist their learning in ELA.  We also listened to candidate speeches for Middle School Student Council.  Congratulations to all candidates; you demonstrated courage, dedication, and enthusiasm!

EIGHTH GRADE

In English language arts, we emphasize that understanding is different from instantly knowing. This habit of mind is crucial to confident reading -- especially so with word recognition and challenging vocabulary. Over the past week, we've further emphasized how to actively read using context clues in order to unpack what a challenging passage or vocabulary word means. 

Our mentor text is Steinbeck’s The Pearl, and a list of some of the words we understand from chapter one of this text is here: avarice, subsequent, plaintively, indigene, procession, covey, judicious, consolation, suppliant, detachment, and scandal. Our learning goal is for all students to understand all of the vocabulary in The Pearl by using reading strategies including context clues.

We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Murphy as our English language arts co-teacher.  In the past week, Mr. Murphy developed a particularly powerful activity on previewing and reviewing the vocabulary words noted above.  We examined word parts, read words in context, made a contextual inference about definitions, confirmed each definition, and then expressed each word in a sentence. Context clues are emphasized in class as reading lessons for all situations, from advertisements to literary novels: look for environment, title, pictures and captures, sentences and paragraphs, and word parts.  One way to continue the conversation is to ask, what is one word from or about chapter one of The Pearl which sticks out to your student? Another way to continue the conversation is to ask, what is the movie you see when you imagine Kino’s suppliant hat?

In English language arts and one day a cycle in Flex, students continue to read a choice text from the Harvard Public Library, and the goal is for each student to read at least one choice text a quarter while practicing reading for context clues and new vocabulary words at this moment.  Also in Flex, we had a wonderful September culmination last Friday.  Students learned more about their classmates’ names and name glyphs.  We loved seeing how well the students have bonded in their homeroom and Flex spaces as they listened with care and thoughtfulness during these names and ‘continuing-to-get-to-know-you’ activities. We also notice how thoughtfully students are using their academic support time to work on assignments, meet with educators, and collaborate with peers.

UNIFIED ARTS

This month in PE, students have been playing hard and learning the building blocks of our program. Our TBMS PE curriculum stresses the importance of cardiovascular endurance through group games and small sided sports and so far we’ve used a number of different warm-up games and sports to get active and get into an exercising heart rate zone. 

From tag games to capture the flag, our daily warm-up games get kids active right from the start of class. After warm-ups we started the year with games of ultimate “flying fish” which introduces the rules and concepts of ultimate frisbee. Next we practiced throwing and catching frisbees to help us put it all together for an ultimate frisbee tournament. We’ve also spent 3 classes learning the “ins and outs” of net sports through games of Nitroball, a volleyball and 4-square hybrid.

Overall, we’ve enjoyed the sunny weather of September on the courts and fields.