TPMS March Events
March 2016
 March 8 —PTA Meeting Special Topic: Cybersafety and Civility
 March 10 —Dramatic Arts Competition, 7 p.m.
 March 24— No School for Students (Teacher Professional Day)
 March 25 -April 1—Spring Break (No School)
 April 5 — Junior Achievement
 April 8 —STEM Family Science Night, 5:30 p.m.
TA K O M A PA R K M I D D L E S C H O O L
Principal’s
Newsletter
“March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb.”
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway
through the 3rd quarter and Spring Break is right
around the corner! Students and parents should use
this point in the quarter to check their grades on Edline. I encourage students take advantage of Takoma
Academic Period every Wednesday afternoon to check
-in with teachers, complete homework assignments
and take reassessments when appropriate.
In February the TPMS Math Counts Team led by Ms.
Sarah Manchester received multiple awards at the Regional Math Counts Competition held at the University of Maryland, College Park. Congratulations to all
of the members of the Math Counts Team for an
amazing performance. Takoma came in second on the
team competition and multiple students also received
individual awards. Our students will continue on to the
state competition. Way to go Takoma Mathcounts
team!
During the last week of February, Mr. Tom Liddle organized the second annual Pops and Cabaret Choral
Concert. The concert was again a huge success! Both
the chorus, musicians, and the We Will Rock You club
gave outstanding performances. The event was very
well attended and received by students, parents and
staff. Congratulations to the performers and Mr. Liddle!
In January and February TPMS was abuzz with both a
Spelling Bee and Geography Bee. Ms. Kathryn Medland and a number of teachers hosted the Spelling Bee.
Congratulations to 6th Grader, Jason Liu. He is our
new TPMS Spelling Bee Champion!
Ms. Margaret Chang and Ms. Evette Idehen hosted the
National Geographic Geography Bee. Congratulations
to 7th grader Christopher Tong for winning the school
National Geographic Bee. 8th grader Sophia Weng
came in second. In third place were Shawn Zhao and
Marc Wagger; in 4th place—Matthew Shu and Anika
Dasgupta; and, Matthew Casertano rounds out the top
5 places – the only 6th grader left standing! Since our
school bee, 7th grader Christopher Tong qualified for
the state-level National Geographic Bee. In April, he
will compete against 99 other students to see who will
represent Maryland at the National Bee. Thank you to
all of the participants and congratulations to the winners!
This month’s PTA meeting on March 8 will focus on
the topic of Cybercivility and Safety. I hope you can
come to hear about how TPMS addresses these topics
with students. The PTA has also arranged a special
presentation from an outside organization on the topic.
Many thanks to all of the parents and students who
supported Books and Basketball in February. Students, parents and staff had a fun evening and the PTA
was successful in its continuing fundraising efforts!
Please visit the TPMS website (www.tpmsweb.com)
for more information on our calendar, events and to
view our daily, W ake Up Takoma television production.
Sincerely,
Alicia Deeny
Principal
TAKOMA PARK
MIDDLE SCHOOL
6TH GRADE NEWS
M A R C H
2 0 1 6
Social Studies
In the month of March, students in grade 6 World Studies class will begin unit 3, The Impact of Economics in Ancient and Modern China. We will continue with our study of the ancient world focusing on the dynasties of China.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in a trade simulation to compare economic systems. Students will
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
Social Studies
1
English
2
also learn about the dynasties of ancient China. At the end of the month, all 6th grade students will participate
in financial literacy program sponsored by junior Achievement. Junior Achievement uses interactive lessons to
teach youngsters about goal-setting, budgeting, insurance and credit. Junior Achievement’s partnership with
Montgomery County Public Schools supports the State of Maryland mandate for financial literacy education.
Mathematics 2
Science
3
English
The Dramatic Arts Festival is the highlight of the month of March. This year’s theme is Life is Poetry. Students choose a
poem they find meaningful and commit it to memory. The art of recitation becomes central as students practice their poem
to present for the class. Students focus not only on memorizing the poem but reciting it with poise and passion. Dramatic
Arts allows students to discover the power of spoken word and the power of their own voices. Dramatics Arts culminates with a festival on the evening of March 8th at 6:30 p.m. in the
cafeteria. Students with the best performances from all three grade levels recite their poems
for an audience of family and friends. We hope to see you there to celebrate poetry and the
voices of Takoma Park Middle School students!
Mathematics
Magnet IM – Students begin March with Unit 5 (The Real Number System). They will study scientific notation and the
laws of exponents; how to simplify and how to calculate in both. They will also examine and be able to evaluate square and cube roots as well as how to simplify radical expressions of any index. Depending on how
fast we move through these lessons, we may begin Unit 6 (Functional Relationships and Linear Equations)
before the end of March. This will mark a formal look at the Slope-Intercept Form of an equation for a line
and making connections between proportional relationships and linear equations. Please check Edline regularly to monitor
grades and the dates and topics of assessments. Thanks!
Common Core Math 6:
For the month of March, Math 6 will be continuing our exciting study in unit three by examining and understanding mathematical properties of equivalency and solving equations and inequalities. Towards the middle of the month, the math 6 classes will be having a county formative for unit 3, topic 2 which covers properties of equivalency and towards the end of the month we will be having another county formative for
the unit 3 topic 3 knowledge which covers solving equations and inequalities. Please make
sure that your students are completing assignments daily to reinforce the learning from
class and please continue to check edline for daily and weekly objectives and goals for
class instruction. Also, if you have any questions regarding the curriculum, continue to
examine the parent resources on edline or email your child's teacher.
Science
6th Grade Science In the month of March 6th grade
6th Grade Magnet Science Students will be starting
their Physics & Engineering unit in March. We will
students will be investigating Earth’s natural resources. The investigation will lead to discussions related to fossil fuels as well as alternative energies. Students
be building, testing & refining catapults this month,
and we will start our discussion of forces and vectors. STEM Checkpoint 6 will be completed in
March – only the display board to go after
will gather information in effort to debate for the energy
source on which they believe research and development
should be focused on most. Students will learn the
that! Please mark on your calendars that STEM Night
at TPMS is April 22. We will have presenters from
different STEM fields, demonstrations by the Blair Robotics
need for policy change regarding global climate change.
team and the TPMS Lego
Mindstorm team, as well as the
traveling planetarium shows, and display boards from
Supplies!
all TPMS students!
GRADE 7
NEWS
Takoma Park Middle School
7611 Piney Branch Road
March 2, 2016
Volume 10, Issue 7
Grade 7 March Newsletter
What’s Happening in Class?
World Studies
In World Studies, students are learning about the
ways in which humans interact with their environment
by looking at examples of adaptation and modification
from today and from the past. We will specifically look
at how the Incas and Aztecs created large empires in
places that had significant geographic challenges
(mountains and swamps) to overcome. We will also
discover how geography shaped the Incan and Aztec
cultures (traditions, religion, farming methods, and
homes).
Science
In Science class students completed their study of
the structure and function of organ system and the
nutrients necessary for our bodies to function
properly. We will soon be focusing on the structure and
composition of DNA which will lead us into our study of
Genetics.
In Magnet Science class students are completing the
genetics unit with an intense debate about cloning.
Many students really like to argue their points of view.
It has been a memorable experience. Students will
begin their study of Human Anatomy and Physiology.
Students will learn how the organ systems function
together to sustain life. The unit will culminate with a
comprehensive project with respect to human body
systems. STEM projects are due March 21. Our
annual STEM Night is scheduled for April 8.
Math
In Algebra 2.0 students will be finishing Unit 3,
Descriptive Statistics, which builds upon student’s
prior
experiences
with
center,
variability,
scatterplots, and linear trends in data, by providing
more formal means of assessing how a model fits
data. Students will use regression techniques to
describe approximately linear relationships between
quantities and look at residuals to analyze the
goodness of fit. Then it’s on to Unit 4, Quadratic
Relationships, which delves into quadratic functions,
the structure of quadratic relationships, and solving
quadratic equations.
In Math 7 students will be using proportional
reasoning for the month of March. The topic will
cover scale drawings and models, using proportions to
solve real world problems like taxes and tips, and
much more!
In Magnet Algebra students will complete a unit on
Polynomials, both simplifying and factoring. We will
then begin Unit 7: Quadratics and continue to
prepare for the PARCC Assessments. A Polynomials
test can be expected right before Spring Break. In IM we will be wrapping up our unit on Sequences,
Patterns, and Functions. Our Unit 4 summative is
tentatively scheduled for March 4th. We will begin
our 5th unit of the year, the Language of Algebra,
where we will be exploring solving and graphing linear
equations and inequalities.
.
Grade 7 Team Newsletter Page 2
What’s Happening in Class?
THINGS YOU CAN DO ABOUT
TEST ANXIETY
English
In English 7 students are currently immersed in
Unit 3 – Perspectives – which involves reading
fiction and non-fiction books and other literature,
related to the 1940’s. Students are reading The
Diary of Anne Frank, and other related texts
as the core books for this unit. By the end of
March, students should be completing research
that investigates various perspectives on an issue
that they are interested in. Students will finish
out this unit with an “Acts of Kindness” project
that will satisfy their service learning hours
through English this year.
READ EVERY DAY!!!
Computer Science
In Intro to Computer Science students are
learning coding using the Python language. Like
any language, daily practice and review brings
about success.
In Magnet Computer Science students are
completing their Create-Share-Explain projects
and are also continuing their practice with text
files.
1.
Use good study techniques to gain cognitive mastery of
the material that will be covered on the test. This
mastery will help you to approach the test with
confidence rather than have excessive anxiety.
2. Maintain a positive attitude as you study. Think about
doing well, not failing. Think of the test as an
opportunity to show how much you have learned.
3. Go into the test well rested and well fed. Get enough
sleep the night before the test. Eat a light and
nutritious meal before the test. Stay away from junk
foods.
4. Stay relaxed during the test. Taking slow, deep
breaths can help. Focus on positive self-statements
such as “I can do this.”
5. Follow a plan for taking the test such as the DETER
strategy described in the last newsletter. Don’t panic
even if you find the test difficult. Stay with your plan!
6. Don’t worry about other students finishing the test
before you do. Take the time that you need to do your
best.
7. Once you finish the test and hand it in, forget about it
temporarily. There is nothing more you can do until the
graded test is returned to you. Turn your attention
and effort to new assignments and tests.
8. When the graded test is returned to you, analyze it to
see how you could have done better. Learn from your
mistakes and from what you did well. Apply this
knowledge when you take the next test.
Check out http://www.how-to-study.com/ for
more study skill tips.
Upcoming Events
March 25 – April 3: Spring Break
April 8: STEM Night (5:30 – 9:00)
English
8th Grade Newsletter
TAKOMA PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
March 2016
In English, students will be engaging in a variety of tasks that focus
on the context of literature. Students will write to change the point
of view of a scene and analyze how a character is significant to
the story as a whole, influencing other characters, driving the plot,
and revealing themes. Other writing assignments will focus on
comparing and contrasting events in a novel and the events in
history. Reading assignments will vary in classes, but students
might read Animal Farm by George Orwell, Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry or Narrative of
the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass. Students will
be preparing for The Dramatic Arts Festival with this year’s theme
of “Life is Poetry.” For the festival, students must select or write
and recite from memory a short speech, poem or story excerpt, of one to three minutes
in length, on that theme.
U.S. History
We will continue our study of Unit 3 on Westward Expansion. In
this unit we focus on the concept of manifest destiny and its
impact on various groups in the United States. Along with
manifest destiny, the unit focuses on the presidency of Andrew
Jackson and the Trail of Tears. The unit ends with a study of
the Industrial Revolution and immigration. The skill focus for this
unit is working with primary source documents. Students have
created their own political cartoon for the Jackson presidency
and will also write a document based essay where they make
a judgment on the presidency of Andrew Jackson.
Algebra-Prep
In March, Algebra Prep students will be continuing the unit on Geometry. Students will
be studying solid figures through measurements, area, and volume. Students will be applying the properties of two- and three- dimensional figures to solve real world problems.
Though this, students will determine relationships among length, area, and volume and
describe how a change in one measurement affects the others. Students will be working with a variety of formulas in which they will need to solve for missing components
algebraically. As a reminder, it is important to not only work hard in class, but to seek out
help during lunch or after school when struggling with key concepts.
Algebra 2.0
During March, students will continue working with Unit 4, Quadratic Relationships. Topic 2
focuses on the structure of quadratic expressions including: transformations, polynomial
operations, factoring, completing the square, and properties. Topic 3 focuses on solving
quadratic equations using tables, factoring, graphing, and the quadratic formula. In addition, the Pythagorean Theorem and the distance formula will be studied.
Magnet Geometry
In early March, we will wrap up our unit on Area, Volume & 3-d Figures with a final look at polyhedra, nonregular solids such as the Johnson solids. The rest of
the month, we will be working with coordinate geometry. In this unit, we will draw connections between
algebra and geometry, using coordinates to calculate perimeter and area and prove properties of geometric figures. The final topic for the unit is conic sections.
Continued on next page
Magnet Algebra II
In March, we will complete a unit on trigonometric functions. We begin with a review of the unit circle,
which was introduced in geometry. We will use the unit circle to determine the graphs of the sine, cosine, and tangent functions, then examine transformations and modeling with trig functions.
Honors Geometry
Students connect what they have learned about cross-sections of threedimensional shapes to cross-sections of double cones (i.e., conic sections) as they begin Unit 4. Students continue their study of quadratics by
connecting the geometric and algebraic definitions of parabolas. In the
Cartesian coordinate system, students use the distance formula to write
the equation of a circle when given the radius and the coordinates of its
center. Given an equation of a circle, they draw the graph in the coordinate plane. Students will explore the definitions, equations, and graphs of
ellipses and hyperbolas as well.
Magnet Science
We will be completing our astronomy unit with a project related to space travel and unit exam. Capstone experiments are completing in March (Backboards are due 23 of March). STEM night at TPMS is
April 8 and all are welcome. The next unit we will investigate is the Restless Earth where we will study plate
tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and then progress through the rock cycle. Information of the upcoming field trip to NIST will be distributed once the schedule dates are finalized. We will be asking for a few
parent chaperones to help with this trip to NIST.
Science
This month in Science, we will be finishing our unit Restless Earth. Students
have learned the processes of plate tectonics, seismic waves, volcanoes
and earthquakes. They have applied that to be able to read P & S wave
charts and locate volcanos on maps. They have finished their in-class STEM
projects which will be displayed on STEM night on Friday April 8th, hope to see
everyone there! Our next unit is Earth Materials and Surface processes where
the students will be identifying minerals and igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. They will also be applying that information to understand the
rock cycle. Students will be taking the Science MSA on March 14th and 15th.
Come to 8th Grade Homework
Club!
After School
Thursdays with Ms. Taylor in room 306
Arts Department March Newsletter
Art—Ms. Spera
In March, the sixth graders will be
creating a three dimensional mask. They will be
considering the choice of colors to create a
sense of an emotion. They will also be working
with a variety of materials to complete the
design.
The seventh graders are creating a travel
poster. They will be creating two different
compositions to layout the words and iconic
image from the place they are advertising. They
will then use sharpie markers and paint to create
the image they have chosen from their plans. The eighth graders
will be starting a collage.
We watch a video on the
life and art of Romare
Bearden. They will
brainstorm for ideas for
a project with a very
personal message or
theme. A memory of the
past, thoughts from the
present, hopes for the
future. They will be
sketching a composition
and then finding the
right materials to
express their idea. Family and Consumer Sciences – Ms. Davis
Students in FACS are working on their sewing
projects. Sixth graders have created the applique and
started to sew it on to the front of their
pillows.
Seventh graders have created patterns for
tote bags or drawstring bags and selected
fabric. They have used the iron and will soon begin
to sew seams.
Eighth graders created patterns and selected
fabrics for aprons that will be used during the
food unit. Students have used the iron to
create the seam finish. In upcoming classes, they will use the sewing
machines to finish their projects.
Computer Applications
Ms. Galley
-
6th grade Computer Science students are using
Microsoft Powerpoint to create presentations and custom deliverables
such as Travel brochures. Students are also learning how to enhance
their presentations using SmartArt objects, transitions, animations,
video and audio resources. Students have been assigned their Software
speech deliverable. Students will be required to provide a summary of the
software that they chose, Powerpoint slides and be able to present their
speech to the class. Students continue to use Turbo Typing to enhance
their word processing skills.
Ms. Wu
-
Students in 8th grade Computer Application class will
enhance their typing skills by following the study practices. Students will
expand their knowledge of technologies by evaluating different websites
online. They will learn HTML basics and build their own websites gradually.
8th grade Computer Science classes will continue working on ACSL topics,
Boolean Algebra, Graph Theory, Digital Electronics, Data Structure, and
participate 3rd ACSL contest. Students will learn syntax and structure
of JavaScript, and apply it to enhance their HTML webpage design. They
will continue working on their Final Project at home. The next milestone is
to turn-in their draft/beta version product on 3/14, and do the peerevaluation on 3/23 or 24.
Contemporary Communications and TV Studio - Mr. Wilson
In 6th grade Contemporary Communications,
students have been reading, writing, and talking
about media. Now it’s time to make some! We
are moving into our “production” phase of the
class, in which students will create their own
short videos and learn the basics of video
production.
In 7th grade Intro to TV Studio, students are in various stages of
preproduction. Some groups have already started shooting and editing,
while others are still developing their scripts and storyboards. Next, we
will learn how to make a “news package” for Wake Up Takoma.
In 8th grade TV studio, students should be done with their scripted
production and working on their “news piece”. They are also working on
their “Music Video", which is an individual production with an option to
work in pairs, or their “Spotlight”, which is an individual production about
themselves. In addition, they are working on their class blogs. These
students are really creating a ton of media!
World Beat Music and Chorus —Mr. Liddle
February and March breathe new life into the general/choral music
program here at Takoma. General music classes change over and we
welcome 3 full classes of new and returning students back into the music
classroom. These students have been choosing instruments, digging into
beginning lessons, reviewing past skills, and taking their first steps in
applying individual skills in bands. Chorus students are looking forward to
their rescheduled Pops and Cabaret concert on March 1st. This concert
is geared towards their peers and friends being able to attend a concert
and will happen right after school from 3:00-4:15. Both singers and
audience members can ride the activity bus home on this day. Parents
are more than welcome but please know that the music performed at this
concert will also be performed at the Spring Concert in May. Our
Advanced Young Women’s and Young Men’s Choruses are working on new
music prepping for their upcoming Cluster Concert on March 17 at
Northwood High School at 7:00pm and our first MCPS Choral Festival
trip on March 22. Happy Spring!
Orchestra & Band - Ms. Pasquale
Congratulations to our students who did such fine performances for
the Montgomery County Honors Bands and Orchestras performance in early
February. Students rehearsed and prepared wonderful performances
despite cancelled rehearsals and 1st concert date due to snow. As I write
this update, we have 1 flutist representing TPMS at the Maryland All-State
Band in Baltimore, working with world class conductors. In early March 5
orchestra students (and several alumni) will represent Takoma at the AllState Orchestra Festival in Towson.
March is a big month for music students at TPMS. March is officially
"Music in Our Schools" month all over the United States. Takoma
instrumental music students have several important performances during
March and early April. Many students are participating in the Montgomery
County Solo and Ensemble Festival the last weekend in February. Individual
6th, 7th, and 8th grade students and small ensembles play for professional
adjudicators. I am especially proud of students who participate in this
festival. They have formed ensembles that are not guided by which band or
orchestra they are in or by grade level. They benefit from the preparing the
music and develop excellent social, leadership, and process skills as they
prepare together. These students all perform in the TPMS Solo and
Ensemble Recital.
TPMS Intermediate Orchestra, Advanced Orchestra (3/23) and
Advanced Band (3/16) are preparing for Montgomery County District
Festival assessment in March. Each ensemble is preparing 2 pieces and a
warm-up piece that they will play for 4 adjudicators. Each group will receive
written comments, live recorded comments, and a score from each
judge. The ensembles will also be professionally recorded. This one of the
most important performances of the year since students will play for and
hear their orchestra peers from other schools and receive a score from
objective judges. The judges will be listening for clear tone, perfect
intonation, precise technical and rhythmic details as well as a performance
that shows how fluidly they work as an ensemble in concert with their
director. The average of the judges’ scores will determine whether we will
move on to the Maryland State Festival. These scores will also be published
to the all Montgomery County Schools. We are working very hard to perfect
the details of our music so careful rehearsal and home practice are
essential.
All of the students who receive a Superior rating (1) at the District
Festivals are eligible to play at the state festivals in May.
6th—9th Grade
Black-Eyed Susan
Nominees
Takoma Park Middle School
Media Center News

March 2016

The Night Gardener

The Great Trouble: a
Mystery of London, the
Blue Death, and a Boy
Called Eel

Black-Eyed Susan Reading
Incentive Program and Voting Party
What is the Black-Eyed Susan
reading incentive program? Each
year, librarians across the state of
Maryland nominate the best new
children’s and young adults’ books
for the Black-Eyed Susan award.
In the spring, Maryland students
vote for their favorite nominees.
To encourage TPMS students to
participate, the Media Center holds
a Black-Eyed Susan voting party .
Any student wishing to be invited to the 2016 Black-Eyed Susan voting
party must read at least 3 nominated books and submit one summary
project to Ms. Phelan by Monday, April 18. All nominees for grades 4-6,
6-9, and high school are eligible.
The party will take place on Wednesday, April 20, in the Media Center. See
the TPMS Media Center webpage or Ms. Phelan in the Media Center for a
full list of nominees and summary project directions.
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/takomaparkms/
Current Media Center News
English—Dramatic Arts
Blind Date with a Book
All students will select poems,
speeches, or song lyrics to
recite at the 2016 Dramatic Arts
Festival. Students also have the
option of writing original
speeches. This year’s theme is
“Life Is Poetry.”
The Blind Date with a Book
reading contest was a huge hit!
Students had blind dates with
countless books, and submitted
date ratings for a chance to
win a Valentine’s gift bag.
Here’s how the books were
rated (based on rating cards
submitted by 2/19).
Project Website:
http://
msphelan.edu.glogster.com/
poetry/
“Disaster”—6 books; “OK”—8
books; “Better Than Expected”
- 25 books; “I Want to Marry
This Book!” - 20 books.
I Kill the Mockingbird
Congratulations to Our
Blind Date with a Book
Prize Winner, Brandi Ling!
(7th Grader)
Brandi had a blind date with,
I Am Pusheen the Cat. It was
“love at first site!” Brandi rated
the book 5 out of 5 hearts.
Brandi’s name was drawn live
on Wake-Up Takoma on
Monday, Febraury 22. She won
a gift bag full of candy, a
fleece blanket, and a Pillow
Pet.
The Crossover


Ice Dogs
The Boy on the Wooden
Box: How the Impossible Became Possible on
Schindler’s List

Greenglass House

The Boundless

Screaming at the Ump

I am Malala: How One
Girl Stood Up for
Education and Changed
the World
Important
Dates:
March 8:
Dramatic Arts
presentations on
WUT
March 14—15:
Science MSA Grade 8
March 24—April 3:
Spring Break
April 18:
BES Summary
Projects Due
April 20:
BES Party
World Languages Department March Newsletter
Spanish
Spanish 1AB—Ms. Carroll & Sra. Kim
Students have finished a Unit on Pastimes focused on where we go and what we do
for leisure time. Students are beginning a unit on La Familia. Vocabulary and grammar concepts center around family members and relationships to each other. Students will learn the various ways to show possession in Spanish, how to talk about
what family members like and don’t like to do and how to tell names and ages of
family members. Students will also learn basic conversation for a trip to a restaurant,
including table settings and how to ask the waiter for different items. Parents are
encouraged to check Edline frequently for student progress and homework completion. Students
should be writing HW in their agenda books so parents should check that as well. This is a great time for
students to talk at home about how they are related to someone else in the house or other family
members. Students should check Edline frequently as she keeps her grade book updated so you have
an accurate picture of your progress.
Spanish 1A Full Year—Ms. Carroll
Students are in the middle of the school unit. We have learned to talk about school schedules, how to
describe our classes and to tell what we like and don't like about our classes. Students have learned
how to use verbs that end in –AR in order to talk about what they do in school. Students have begun
more extensive writing assignments as we learn more about how to put sentences together in Spanish. The month of March will focus on school supplies and what we need for various classes. We will
learn how to talk about the location of items in a classroom and how schools in Spanish-speaking countries are different than Takoma Park. Students will also review gender and number agreement. This unit
includes a lot of vocabulary so students should study vocabulary outside of the classroom on a regular
basis. Parents should encourage students to practice their words out loud and to name school supplies
that might be lying around at home!! Parents are encouraged to check EdLine and agenda books to
monitor homework assignments and academic progress. Sra. Carroll updates her grade book frequently so parents can have an accurate picture of their student's progress.
Spanish 1B full year—Ms. Vogel
Spanish 1B students are working on a new unit: The Home. Vocabulary will revolve around rooms in the
home, types of housing, furniture and chores around the house. We will be focusing again on SER and
ESTAR, two new stem-changing verbs, comparative words and the superlative, affirmative tú commands and the present progressive. Culture will center on the architectural design of Spanish homes
and how it compares to that of the typical home in our area. Parents are encouraged to check Edline
frequently for student progress and homework completion, and to check agenda books regularly for
homework. Contact me any time for extra practice suggestions at [email protected].
Spanish 2—Sra. Kim, Sra. Guevara and Sra. Vogel
In March, students will be working on a unit about natural disasters and medical emergencies. In this
unit, students will continue to discuss the difference between the two past tenses in Spanish: the imperfect tense and the preterit tense. Students will focus on using these tenses when reporting information
about a past event. Keep your eyes out for permission slips to La Casita for our field trip in April which
will align with our next unit about cooking. The pace of the class moves quickly and students are encouraged to establish a routine of studying every week night for 10-15 minutes in order to help build vocabulary and ease with structures. There are many resources on Edline for them to practice such as
Quizlet, an online flashcard website which allows students to make flashcards for vocabulary but also
verb conjugations as well. In Ms. Guevara’s class, students may also complete the monthly optional
formative assignment, ¿Dónde está Sra. Guevara? which students can find on Edline or posted on the
board in the classroom. Ms. Kim encourages students to check in with her if they need any extra help.
Spanish 3-Sra. Guevara
In March, students will be working on a unit about work situations such as applying and interviewing for a job as well as discussing volunteering. They will be using Spanish to recruit
and hire employees as well as apply for a job and interview for a position. In this unit, students will refine the use of many tenses and voices such as the preterit, imperfect, subjunctive, future, and present perfect. The pace of the class moves quickly and students are
encouraged to establish a routine of studying every week night for 10-15 minutes in order
to help build vocabulary and ease with structures. There are many resources on Edline for
them to practice such as Quizlet, an online flashcard website which allows students to
make flashcards for vocabulary but also verb conjugations as well. Students may also
complete the monthly optional formative assignment, ¿Dónde está Sra. Guevara? which
students can find on Edline or posted on the board in the classroom. Students will continue
to refine their ability of the subjunctive voice as well as learn two new tenses: the present
perfect and the future tense. The pace of the class moves quickly and students are encouraged to establish a routine of studying every week night for 10-15 minutes in order to
help build vocabulary and ease with structures. There are many resources on Edline for
them to practice such Quizlet, an online flashcard website which allows students to make
flashcards for vocabulary but also verb conjugations as well. Students may also complete
the monthly optional formative assignment, ¿Dónde está Sra. Guevara? which students
can find on Edline or posted on the board in the classroom.
French—Mme Finklea
French 1
French 1 students will be working on our food unit. We will be communicating about food
preferences and also eating habits in Francophone countries. This unit has lots of verbs and
vocabulary, so students will need to keep on top of their work DAILY!
French 2
In French 2 we wax nostalgic as we talk about how things were when we were little. Students will be learning to distinguish between the 2 main past tenses in French: the passé
composé and the imparfait.
French 3
French 3 students will be discussing the environment and natural disasters. Make sure to
keep up with daily reading assignments and other homework and please encourage your
child to SPEAK FRENCH IN CLASS!