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How to Write an Algebraic Expression From a Word Problem
By: Alexandra Lozanguiez – House 6-2
Can you can write an algebraic expression from a word
problem? Here are some easy steps. First you read the problem
more than once to fully understand what information you will need
to write your expression and which information you don‟t need.
Then you might want to box any important words or phrases that
might help you figure out the operation in the expression. You
also want to star numbers in the word problem that might be
helpful in writing your expression. In other words you would be
using
the
strategy
known
as
R.A.D.
When you start writing your expression you look at your
boxes or stars and see if you could figure out the operation(s).
After you figure out your operation(s) you look at your boxes or
stars again to find your terms and figure out which order you
should place the terms in the expression. Since you are writing an
expression you do not have an equal sign. However you still need
units so you need to look at your problem again and search for
units so your expression can be complete. Now you have to
check your expression by comparing it to the word problem to see
if the expression makes sense. Another way to check your
answer is to solve the word problem. If your answer does make
sense than your expression is okay. If your answer is not
reasonable than you have to re-read the problem and see where
your mistake was. If you are fussing over the order of the terms in
your expression just look back at the problem to see if you
missed any important information. That is how you write an
algebraic expression from a word problem!
February 2017
LONG VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Our Soon-To-Be Famous Chef in House 6-3
By: Finn Twomey and Tyler Gattone
Delicious food, innovative ideas, and creative recipes. These are all things you will find at the Future Chefs
competition at Cucinella School on Thursday March 9. At this event there will be 6-3 student Tyler Gattone.
A few days ago he was interviewed. Below is a copy of this exchange.
Reporter: What will you be making?
Tyler: A gluten-free healthy granola bar with a layer of fruit in the middle.
Reporter: How long does it take to prepare this dish?
Tyler: 1 hour to an hour and a half.
Reporter: How did you come up with the idea to make a granola bar?
Tyler: I scoured the Internet for ideas and found a recipe for a granola bar. Naturally, I modified the recipe
and this is the result.
Reporter: What are the ingredients to this delicious delicacy?
Tyler: I made this bar with oats, chia seed, banana, various frozen fruits, limejuice, and maple syrup.
Reporter: Do you have anyone else who is a chef that inspired you?
Tyler: My mom is a home cook that greatly inspired me to take this challenge on.
Reporter: How long have you been cooking?
Tyler: I started making food around last year and never stopped.
Reporter: Do you watch any cooking shows on TV?
Tyler: I watch a lot of food network, like Chopped: Cut Throat Kitchen and many
others.
Reporter: What inspired you to start cooking in the first place?
Tyler: I started cooking because I was looking for things to do and said “why not?”
Reporter: What is your favorite thing to make?
Tyler: I don‟t have a specific favorite, but the things I most like to make are
desserts.
Reporter: Do any of your siblings like to cook?
Tyler: I am unique in the sense that I enjoy cooking, even though my siblings do
not.
Reporter: Is this your first time competing in a food contest?
Tyler: This is my first time.
Reporter: Are you nervous?
Tyler: I am nervous, but also confident in my dish.
This event will be held at Cucinella from 5:30-7:00pm. There will be flavorful food, free samples, and of
course, creative recipes.
HELP! MISSING COAT!
Anne Klein – Wool Cashmere coat.
Knee-length with buttons. Charcoal
Gray. Size 2P. Found missing after the
Semi-Formal on February 10th. Kindly
return to Mrs. Smith’s room if located.
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February 2017
LONG VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Cost of Homework
By Elizabeth Paolella – House 6-1
For many students homework can be an opportunity to learn new knowledge. Although students
can gain new insight on a subject when doing homework, it has many negative outcomes and can be a
problem, especially when it‟s given in large amounts. Some teachers are even „winging it‟ when giving out
homework. For students today, homework can cause sleep deprivation, decrease the amount of physical
activity students should achieve, and create stress for students.
Everyone needs sleep, especially students, but homework can be a contributing factor to why
students aren't getting the needed sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2004 poll, “54
percent of first-through fifth-graders sleep just nine to ten hours each night and 17 percent sleep less than 9
hours.” Students at young ages really need their sleep, but they spend lots of time on homework. First
through fifth graders may not get as much homework, but any assignment can still take a long time to do.
Many students often stay up to late hours and don‟t get the proper amount of sleep. So, the kids who need
the nine to ten hours of sleep won‟t be able to get the sleep they need. Young students need their sleep, but
so do teenagers. Unfortunately, teenagers don‟t get as much as they should because of homework.
According to the Foundations 2006 poll, “80 percent of teens don‟t get the recommended amount of sleep.
At least 28 percent of teens fall asleep in school and 22 percent fall asleep doing homework.” Falling asleep
in general isn‟t good, but falling asleep in school or while doing homework may even create more problems.
The teens falling asleep in school could miss important information, like information for a future test or even
how to complete a homework assignment. Even though falling asleep doing homework may not seem bad
because the student is at home, it is because it takes away the necessary time to complete the assignment
that needs to be finished. Students need sleep each day, but homework can cause sleep deprivation, which
can affect more than just schoolwork; it can also affect the amount of physical activity needed each day.
Students do less physical activity because of homework. It can keep them inside, with little time for
outdoor sports or just fun games like tag. In the article, “The Case Against Homework,” it states, “Since 1981
the amount of time kids spend playing sports has decreased by 58 percent for six-to eight year olds, 19
percent for nine-to eleven year olds, 43 percent for twelve-to fourteen year olds, and 28 percent for fifteen-to
seventeen year olds.” Although the percentages are varied, it would be better if all of them were lower,
because many students do not play sports or aren‟t very active. Going outside to play, doing physical
activities, or just going outside can be good. People, especially students, need their exercise, but they won‟t
get it if they have a lot of homework. Doing assignments can take up so much of the students free time, that
they won‟t be able to have fun. As students move up to the next grade, so does the amount of homework
received while the amount of time to complete the homework decreases. Sometimes an assignment can be
fun, but only a small percentage and never 100% of the time. Since homework also causes lack of sleep, a
student probably won‟t want to go outside and run around. It‟s bad enough that homework causes a lack of
physical activity, but it gets worse because when homework and sleep deprivation are combined, it causes
students to not go outside and decreases the needed physical activity. Students and parents both need to
be actively aware of how this stressful assignment can cause some serious issues.
Students go to school to talk to friends, try new classes and to learn. After school is done the
students head home. Homework may be able to extend knowledge on the subject given, but is it really worth
it for students to do that homework almost every night? No, because homework has many negative side
effects, including stress. When stressed, students become unpleasant. Unlike most activities that cause
stress, homework is different. It has a deadline. Students want free time, like all people, and a way to earn it
is simple, finish the assignment, or just a lot of it, and boom-free time. The article, “Down With Homework”
says, “Furthermore, every unpleasant adjective that could be attached to homework-time-consumingapplies with greater force in the case of kids for whom academic learning doesn‟t come easy.” To have
homework isn‟t fun for students, especially for a subject that the student is not fond of or just not good at.
Doing homework can take a lot of time away from each day. For many students, it‟s all that is done in the
afternoon before the day is done. So, it is time to stop this.
For many students, homework is not a fun activity. Assignments can cause students to be sleep
deprived, can cause a lack of physical activity, and it can even cause stress for students. Although many
teachers assign homework to help extend students‟ knowledge, assigning it causes serious issues. The
purpose of homework is to help teach students outside of school, but at what cost? Losing sleep,
decreasing physical activity and causing stress are the reasons students should not have homework.
3
February 2017
LONG VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Fun Times with House 7-2
In Sra. Keena's Spanish class, students are using music to enhance their understanding of question
words, the verb ir (to go) and the differences between ser and estar (to be). They will also learn to tell
time, discuss their schedules, and order food while performing skits and doing many other
collaborative activities
In Dr. J‟s Social Studies class, we just completed the unit on the 13 colonies and ended with a
quiz/game of our knowledge. We got a set of 3 cards, one each representing the Middle Colonies,
Southern Colonies, and the New England colonies. We had to answer lightning round questions and
put the card that represented the correct answer in the air. It was fast paced and really showed what
we learned. Every quiz doesn‟t have to be on paper, sometimes in the air is good too. Now on to the
Road to Revolution.
Mr. Ryan's seventh grade math class has been diligently working on ratios and
proportions. Calculating unit rates, finding and interpreting slopes of lines as well as analyzing the
concept of proportionality in case scenarios are just some of the challenges in which students of
House 7-2 have excelled. Next up ...geometry… Then the fun of probability. Mr. Ryan says the
"probability of House 7-2 students learning and working hard is one-hundred percent".
Students in Mrs. Diatta's Language Arts and Mrs. Quam's Science classes, with the help of literacy
coach Mrs. Paolella, recently joined forces to participate in book clubs pertaining to environmental
issues. First, the students completed an introductory activity exploring multiple environmental
concerns, including water consumption, drought, and animal conservation. Now, students have been
reading novels with environmental themes, as well as participating as "scientists" in book clubs each
week and exploring scientific issues through the lens of literature. When students finish their reading,
they will be working collaboratively on a final project of their choice, as well as writing an essay by
researching an environmental issue or analyzing a theme presented in their novel. Mrs. Quam and
Mrs. Diatta look forward to seeing more of the hard work inspired by this interdisciplinary unit.
4
February 2017
LONG VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Groundhog Day
By: Connor Mirone
Picture it, you wake up to a chilling morning, the sun shining dully over the horizon, for it is the one
day of the year that we yearn to wake early in the morning, it is February 2nd - Groundhog Day. Every
year, about 10,000 people gather in Punxsutawney to see one of the many groundhogs predict the
weather; they come to see Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. This year, when Phil the groundhog
was taken from his hole and brought outside, he did not see his shadow. This indicates that the spring
weather will come soon. However, if Phil had seen his shadow, it indicates that winter will continue for
6 more weeks. The winter did, however, have at least one last snow, on Thursday the 9 , and we had a
snow day! I hope you have a great February!
th
Ski Club
By: Olivia Montuore
First thing’s first, I love Ski Club. It is a great time to have fun with your friends and have fun skiing
and snowboarding at the same time. The eight of us get a few runs in then come in for some dinner.
The meal vouchers are so convenient. It lets you get a drink, fries, and a hamburger, cheeseburger, or
chicken fries. You do not have to worry about losing any money on the slopes with a meal voucher. We
eat quickly so we have a lot of time to ski all the slopes. Some of my favorite slopes are Country Club
and Pennsylvania. Country clubs have some jumps and secret trails on the side, which are fun to do.
Pennsylvania is one of the easier trails but it has a lot of twists and turns that are very enjoyable.
Overall, I enjoy ski club a lot and everything that I do in it.
Road Trips
By: Dana Russel – House 8-1
I see the endless roads ahead.
I can almost taste the dust of speeding cars.
The strong smell of rubber wafts.
Bumps of cars driving on potholes.
In the car I hear the loud radio.
Horrible music fills my ears.
The smell of previous coffee spills linger.
In the seats I nap, and feel the bumps of the road.
Mom turns down the awful music and starts
talking.
The topics are old but still amusing.
Her perfume blows through the vents.
Obviously relaxed in her comfy leather seats.
The sound of coffee moving in its’ canister
I take a sip of the bittersweet drink.
Spices and hazelnut jumps to my nose.
But, the coffee is still hot, so I spit.
5
February 2017
LONG VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
House 8-2 Happenings
The research project in Language Arts is done and students have presented their claims through
Infographics. Mrs. Sansom and Mrs. Reade‟s classes met and celebrated their success! Everyone is reading
historical fiction. Mrs. Reade and Mr. Marciano‟s classes are reading novels about the Civil War. Students are
reading Cezanne Pinto by Mary Stolz in class. This “memoir” is about a ninety-year-old man reflecting back on his
life as a slave, runaway, cowboy, and teacher. At the same time, video clips of Uncle Tom‟s Cabin by Harriet
Beecher Stowe is being viewed, having notes taken, and being discussed. This famous novel was one of the most
influential in history
In Algebra class we recently finished up solving systems of equations and inequalities. We also reviewed our high
school recommendations with
Mr. Inskeep so we could develop a plan for our high school courses. We are now working on exponent rules and
exponential growth and decay functions and when we finish we will be starting quadratics.
In our grade 8 math classes with have been discussing high school recommendations and studying lots of
geometry. One of our focuses has been on parallel lines with a transversal and studying the angles that are
created by them. The other focus has been interior angles of polygons with a extra special attention paid to the
triangle. We are about to begin our next chapter in functions.
In Science, we are busy examining the ways different types of matter behave, and attempting to explain the
reasons behind those characteristic behaviors. Most recently, students carried out the famous penny lab, as part
of a lesson on alloys. Coming up is an activity for investigating various elements required for good health, along
with several which will require determining exactly what happened to molecules of various reactants.
Students in House 8-2 Social Studies have been continuing their study of The Civil War in class. Students have
been learning about the main people, battles and events associated with The Civil War. Thus far, students have
learned about the first shots that were fired in The Civil War at Fort Sumter, the strengths and weaknesses of the
North and South going into The Civil War and The First Battle of Bull Run. In addition, students have learned about
how civilians were trained to be soldiers in the North and South and the hardships of Army Life. Students have
also learned about the first ironclad battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack, The Battle of Shiloh, as well as The
Battle of Antietam, also known as “bloody Antietam.”
Currently, students have been learning about the issuing of The Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln,
African American soldiers who fought for the Northern Army, including the famous 54 th Massachusetts Regiment,
the economic impact that the war had, as well as how women helped to aid the war effort, such as Clara Barton,
Dorothea Dix and Susie King Taylor. Students will be soon learning about The Battle of Gettysburg, including
Pickett‟s Charge and The Gettysburg Address, the end of the war and the consequences of The Civil War.
Students have also been working on interdisciplinary lessons in Social Studies, which coincide with the historical
fiction Civil War novel that they are reading for Mrs. Reade‟s Language Arts classes. Students have been
discussing the novels that they have been reading, including analyzing the novel using the OPCVL strategy that is
used in the History Department at West Morris. Students have been connecting some of the historical events in
their books with what they have been learning in class.
Students were also given the requirements for The History in the Making Timeline and Essay project that will be
due on April 3rd. Students have to create a timeline of their life and then go thirty years into the future, as well as
writing an essay, highlighting their life and what they hope to accomplish in the future. It is based on a project that I
completed when I was in 8th Grade Social Studies and it gives students the opportunity to think of their future goals
and to dream big, knowing that they can accomplish anything that they set their mind to.
It is a real pleasure to teach your child each day and please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns,
as I am always happy to be of assistance.
In Spanish class, we continue reading the book Esperanza; right now we are about to begin chapter 5. We have
learned new vocabulary while reading the book and we are using it in context. Soon, we will be role-playing the
first five chapters of the book to demonstrate our understanding of the story. We also reviewed the verbs with a
“yo” irregular form and we had a Winter Egg Hunt activity to practice them.
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February 2017
LONG VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
What’s Going on in House 8-3?
During the month of February, Mr. Shapiro has taught his young scholars about the beauty of
poetry. For the first time ever, students across houses 6-3, 7-3, and 8-3 are collaborating to make amazing
work called Co-art! Co-art is when you select a poem and dig deep to annotate it by using fun colors and art.
You cut and paste the poem on a sheet of 12” X 18” construction paper and divide it into boxes. After you
annotate the poem, there are boxes to illustrate a picture that you think is significant to the poem. After you
color and fill up the box, the piece of art gets passed down to Mr. Katzoff‟s seventh grade language arts
classes. The 7 graders will continue to annotate the poem using all kinds of markers and then draw another
picture in a different box that comes to mind while reading the same poem. Finally, the 6 graders will do the
same and the co-art will be returned to the 8 graders. The activity becomes complete and results in a
wonderful work of art that shows lots of fun and the beauty of poetry. -By Kiley Murphy and Chelsey
Cochrane
th
th
th
As we all know, everything matters! Literally, everything is matter. Throughout the duration of this
month, Mrs. Wolke has been educating our house about the different phase changes that take place in all
the states of matter. Through fun labs and interesting lessons, we have learned all about the changes that
occur in solids, liquids and gases. One lab that we conducted in science class investigated the change
between liquids and gas. In order to see this change, we used sparkers to catch gas from a burner on fire.
These experiments prove to be unique and fun but also educational. Having this hands-on experience has
provided us with a great new way to understand the different phases matter undergoes. -By Kimaya Bajpai
and Julia Zeman
8-3 math students have been very busy. In Pre-Algebra students solve for angle
measurements. Along with that they use fractions and cross multiply them to find if fractions are
proportional. Students have also learned that each angle measurement can be found in any regular polygon.
Using a similar equation any angle measurement can be found in any polygon. Meanwhile in Algebra One,
students have been solving exponential functions. An exponent is a number times itself, a certain amount of
times. An example is 2³, which equal 8 or 2*2*2. Students learned the many rules about them. The
exponents can be used for many things. The world of math is a busy one but also a fun one. -By Josh
Schlesinger
Since the beginning of time the events of the world have been recorded. Not literally, but we‟ve
gone back as far as we could to learn about the history of the great United States of America. Last week
Mrs. Smith‟s Social Studies classes wrapped up their unit on Westward Expansion. From pioneers and the
famous California gold rush to the annexation of Texas, students used their textbooks to investigate different
note taking methods and complete checklist activities to learn about these important events in U.S. History.
Students visited the library to participate in a “Database Smack down,” where they gathered in teams to
compete against one another and employ the school‟s online databases, embracing this generation‟s love of
technology. Recently, scholars have picked up books and subscription databases to research someone who
left a legacy in America. Their job is to create a monument for the person they choose, discover their
accomplishments, and delve into their creative side by creating a 3D model. This will allow the opportunity to
pair with our Language Arts class taught by Mr. Shapiro later on and write and deliver a speech that would
actually be given at the unveiling ceremony. -By Gianna McCarthy
The world of Spanish speaking people is diverse. Here at Long Valley Middle School, Senora
Schweitzer gives students an opportunity to experience the wonders of that world. In her class, the students
just started Esperanza, a story about a mother from Guatemala. In her Hispania del dia, she gives us the
chance to listen to songs by artists in different Spanish speaking countries. This really gives us a chance to
delve headfirst into the exciting world of Spanish. She makes it fun for the students to learn another
language, especially one used in so many countries around the world. -By Jacqueline Cooper
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