Language Arts: September

 Students will focus on literary elements during September in language arts.

We began the month by completing a project entitled Story of Me.  This project was a booklet of biographical information that connected personal details with literary elements such as character, conflict, and foreshadowing.

After spending some time reviewing the literary elements in class, students took a test on the material and are ready to start applying the information while reading short stories in their textbooks.  Textbooks will be distributed this week in class and can be accessed online at my.hrw.com.

Additionally, students have been reading the novel Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech.  Each week or so, a set of chapters is assigned with a review activity.  Time is given at the beginning of each period to read silently, work on the review activity, and see Mrs. Wright with any questions.  We spend time in class discussing the novel on the due dates.  By the end of the month, students should be almost finished reading the novel.

Picture Day

Picture Day is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2013.  Spartans should bring in completed order forms that day and give their orders directly to the photographer.  All students should plan to get pictures taken on Thursday even if they are not ordering photos.

English book is now accessible online

Your Spartan English text (the yellow book) is now accessible online!  You were provided your username and password in Language Arts class, and that information is the same for English.

You can go to:  www.myhrw.com to access either of these books.

Spartan Tee-shirt Sale

The Spartan team is holding a tee-shirt sale to support our team and show school pride.  Forms will be sent home on September 3, 2013.  Completed order forms and money should be returned to homebase teachers by Friday, September 13, 2013.

Welcome!

The Spartan team would like to welcome our 2013-14 Spartans!  We look forward to a great year together!  Please check our blog for team information, classroom highlights, and student achievements throughout the year.

Twin Day

Spartans got a double dose of fun on Twin Day!

Aviary Visit

Spartans enjoyed a visit from the Aviary on Friday, May 3rd as part of our Endangered Species Unit.  Here, Mrs. Drakeley and Aidan pose with an African penguin named Elvis.  Meeting the birds was a great experience (but, sadly, Elvis has left the building)!

Spartans of the Month: April

Congratulations to Dedra and Aidan, selected as Spartans of the Month for April.

Cross-curricular Unit: Endangered Species

Spartans students are investigating endangered species as part of a cross-curricular unit. 

In English class, students are writing a research paper that focuses on one endangered animal. 

All Spartans wrote a performance task about the burrowing owl in language arts and currently are reading the novel Hoot to discover how the characters in the book take action to save this endangered animal.

In Science, students are studying the reasons that species become endangered and threatened.  In the upcoming weeks, they will give an informal presentation about their discoveries.

7th Grade In-House Field Trip

Spartans will attend a special presentation by the Pittsburgh Aviary on Friday, May 3, 2013.  This will be a culminating experience for our cross-curricular unit on Endangered Species.