10/26/18
TGIF...Twin Groves it’s Friday!
Our Fall Play Goldilocks and the Three Bears/Goldilocks on Trial was fun for all. Congrats to the cast and crew and Ms. Bussert! TAKE A LOOK at our Twin Groves talent....
In an effort to spread positivity, Twin Groves uses our 5 Traits to recognize exemplars of the following qualities: Responsible, Accountable, Respectful, Safe, and a Community. In addition to the 5 Traits, we are also recognizing students for being an Upstander.
As part of this focus, the Twin Groves Staff would like to recognize and reward students who consistently demonstrate these qualities each month. For our first month of recognitions, we are pleased to announce that the following students have been selected for displaying these characteristics.
Aleah Alberth
Matthew Bressler
Ben Brodkin
Evan Clayson
Bobby Duff
Remy Herrejon
Amoolya Mahabhashyam
Mandy Meliker
Adrian Mesi
Hannah Smith
Carolyn Wei
Brian Yoon
What’s Happening at Twin Groves?
6th Grade
Language Arts
In LA and LA ADV, we are currently analyzing informational text. Our main goal this trimester is to determine the text's central idea and recognize some common ways that authors support their points. Another focus we've added this year is watching out for "cool moves" authors make in their writing. At both reading levels, we looked at a gushingly positive article about a 12-year-old who is changing the world by collecting books about girls of her own cultural heritage, and we looked at a scathingly negative article about a not-so-popular pop singer. The students liked the challenge of writing about someone they personally admired or disdained using similar moves to those used by the two authors. Take a look at your student's work! It's fun to read. As MAP tests are around the corner in December, please remind your child of the commitment he or she made to work toward improving his/her score. Each child chose his/her own preferred way of making progress, and it might be a good time to look at what has been done toward that goal. We'll be doing the same thing during FLEX on Mondays from now on. We're looking forward to seeing a real improvement in scores in December!
Social Studies
In Social Studies this month, we are going to be starting our investigation of the earliest civilizations in the Fertile Crescent by looking at why people settled in that area. We will be making connections to our past units on archaeology and geography as we learn about groups such as the Sumerians and the Akkadians. By looking at why these groups succeeded or failed, what they accomplished, and how they organized themselves, we can begin to get a more clear picture of how we have progressed as a society.
Science
We wrapped up the Introduction to Geoscience unit, learning about nonrenewable and renewable resources as well as the theory of continental drift and the super-continent Pangaea! Trimester 2 brings us to our next unit, Introduction to Chemistry. Our first topic in chemistry includes atoms and their parts- protons, neutrons, and electrons. We’ll learn atoms are the basic building blocks of all matter and they are EVERYWHERE!
Pre Algebra
Both math classes are in the middle of their units on rational numbers. The students are working with adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative integers, fractions, and decimals, which can be a lot to take in! We are doing a lot of practice in class and the students are working hard to master these fundamentals. Last month we talked about modeling with mathematics and being able to show work in different ways. The students were very successful in this! This month, please encourage your child to look for structure and use this to help them solve new problems. For example, can the numbers in this problem be manipulated to look more like something we’ve seen before? For this, great note-taking skills are a must, which includes lining up work in students’ notebooks and iPads carefully.
All students have access to Knowre. This app covers topics in line with the Common Core Curriculum which the students are covering this year. This program is designed to develop critical thinking skills. Each class will have expectations for completing lessons in Knowre each week, and students are welcome to work ahead and extend their learning.
Pre Algebra Survey
Both math classes are in the middle of their units on rational numbers. The students are working with adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative integers, fractions, and decimals, which can be a lot to take in! We are doing a lot of practice in class and the students are working hard to master these fundamentals. Last month we talked about modeling with mathematics and being able to show work in different ways. The students were very successful in this! This month, please encourage your child to look for structure and use this to help them solve new problems. For example, can the numbers in this problem be manipulated to look more like something we’ve seen before? For this, great note-taking skills are a must, which includes lining up work in students’ notebooks and iPads carefully.
All students have access to Knowre. This app covers topics in line with the Common Core Curriculum which the students are covering this year. This program is designed to develop critical thinking skills. Each class will have expectations for completing lessons in Knowre each week, and students are welcome to work ahead and extend their learning.
7th Grade
Language Arts
Continuing our work on reading and analyzing informational text, students have just finished studying Chew On This (LA) and Fast Food Nation (Advanced). Students found these reads fascinating as they delved into the history of where our food comes from and how the industry has impacted not just our health, but also our culture. In addition, students have been formulating central ideas and incorporating analytic writing strategies to develop analyses. Moving forward, we will begin crafting narrative stories using prompts that promote authentic writing experiences. In addition, MAP tests are right around the corner! Please remind your child of the commitment he or she made to work toward improving his/her score. We're looking forward to seeing their hard work pay off!
Social Studies
The inquiry model of teaching and learning about history and social studies is not the kind of learning you probably experienced years ago as a student in history or social studies classes! Now, students are challenged to investigate essential questions and focusing questions to learn the content. Essential questions are those questions which do not have one easy defined answer. They are arguable, debatable, with many points of view. Focusing questions relate to, and help answer, essential questions. Focusing questions are more narrow and easily defined or answered with a variety of facts, definitions, or figures. Some of our recent essential questions include: Was the American Revolutionary War avoidable, or inevitable? Who was to blame for the American Revolutionary War? Which British action was the most damaging or punishing to the colonists? Which colonial response was most effective? During the Revolutionary Era, who was right – the Patriots or the Loyalists? Soon, we will be exploring the challenges of our new nation coming out of the Revolutionary War.
Science
In Science, students will be learning about heredity. We are working with Punnett Squares to predict possible inherited results. Why do some guinea pigs have short hair and some have long hair will finally have an answer! Students will also be learning about how mutations occur and how these mutations can affect an organism in a harmful, beneficial or neutral way.
Bridge to Algebra 1
In Bridge to Algebra 1 we have just begun our Linear Functions unit. We will learn about Slope-Intercept Form and Standard Form of an equation along with when and how to use them. We will also learn how to interpret the x and y intercepts and the slope or rate of change in a linear function.
Algebra 1
The 7th grade Algebra 1 classes just finished their unit on graphing and writing equations of lines. We have been working on systems of linear equations and inequalities! Students have learned about three different ways in which they can solve a system of equations. This has required a lot of prior knowledge from past units to help them succeed. It is a quick unit, but the students will have the opportunity to complete a few in-class activities and tasks along the way! Please make sure the students have their graphing calculator for our next unit beginning in a week.
8th Grade
Language Arts
In Language Arts and Advanced Language Arts students have finished the first novels of the year. Language Arts students enjoyed getting into The Giver while Advanced enjoyed A Separate Peace. Students worked hard throughout the novels analyzing setting, character change, important plot events, and why authors do what they do. They did a great job discussing these novels in class and ended the units focusing on overall themes for the stories. Students have also been hard at work writing their first analytic argument essay of the year. Their focus was whether or not stores should be open on Thanksgiving Day. We will continue to focus on analytic writing the remainder of the trimester and will incorporate a theme analysis essay to finish out trimester 1.
Science
In science, 8th graders will be looking at fossils and rock layers to compare modern and ancient organisms. Through a blood agglutination lab, students will be classifying organisms based on similarity in blood proteins.
Algebra 1
In Algebra 1, we are in the midst of our third unit, Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities. We will finish the unit learning the different methods for solving systems of equations and inequalities as well as special types of systems. We have been learning how to utilize the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator to help them solve systems of equations.
Please make sure that they are bringing this with them to class daily.
Algebra 2
In Algebra 2, we have just completed our second unit: Polynomial Functions. This was a challenging unit, with many learning targets to master and students did a great job. Our next unit of study is focused on performing operations, solving, and graphing Rational Functions. Please make sure that students have a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator they are bringing with them to class daily.
ILC
Language Arts: Students have been mastering new sound combinations, decoding multisyllabic words and looking back in text to answer comprehension questions. Argument writing has been an instructional focus for some, while others work on proper syntax and editing conventions. Guided Reading: Students have learned the value of previewing before reading, whole body listening and turn-taking while sharing ideas about a text. It's interesting to hear students learn to navigate a conversation with their peers about what we are reading. Math: The math skills taught are very individualized, per student need, much like every other class in the ILC. Student have all been working, however, on prodigy.com daily to review skills. Parents are encouraged to look at your child's progress through this interactive game. Social Studies/Science: Team ILC has decided to incorporate more the grade-level targets in our Social Studies/Science course. Parents can expect to see more content reported out on at the end of the trimester. As we delve into the American Revolution, students are learning how to formulate essential questions about our unit of study, determine whether or not a source is credible, and more!
Spirit Days- Coming Up!!!!
Get ready to show your spirit during the week of October 29th!
***No full face makeup or masks, no items that represent weapons or resemble weapons***
Please make sure all clothing is school appropriate. If you have any questions, please refer to the Policy Handbook or call Twin Groves.
Veteran’s Day Assembly- Friday, November 9th
On Friday, November 9th, Twin Groves Middle School will honor Veteran's Day by having two special assemblies for our students. At 8AM we will have the 6th and 7th grade assembly. At 9:15AM we will have the 8th grade assembly. The assemblies will feature Dale Kriesel (a Navy veteran of the Vietnam war), and the Twin Groves Orchestra and Band. Each assembly will be hosted by students from our Youth Leadership Program.
We would like to invite any veteran, current service men, and family members of Twin Groves who would like to come to celebrate with us as we honor those who have fought for our nation. If you would like to celebrate with us please fill out this brief questionnaire so we may prepare for your attendance.
Pumpkin Voting
During all lunch periods on October 29th- November 2nd, students will have the opportunity to vote, using change, for their favorite “Staff Decorated Pumpkin.” Please bring change to vote. All money raised will go toward Feed My Starving Children.
Colts Council- Charity of the Year
Colt's Council will be supporting Feed My Starving Children as our yearly charity! We are gathering information regarding interest in volunteering at the Libertyville location on Monday evenings during the school year. Your volunteer date would be based on your child's grade level and would take place from approximately 6-7:30 pm. Students will need to go home after school and have a parent or guardian drive them and pick them up from the location in Libertyville. Parents are more than welcome to join as transportation will NOT be provided. Please take a moment to fill out this survey if you would be interested in joining us!
Link: https://goo.gl/forms/tmZRvjFjW69xbxXo2
Red Ribbon Week- Catalyst and Stand Strong
Next week we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week, which is a opportunity to come together as a community and support our youth in making healthy choices. Most youth in our community are alcohol and drug-free and we want to continue to support this effort. Thanks to our youth substance use prevention group, called Catalyst, we will celebrate our youth who are "too smart to start."
Look for a coupon coming home good for a free mini concrete mixer at Culver's! Culver's wants to reward parents and children who commit to talking about the risks and consequences of drug use. Catalyst and our community coalition, Stand Strong, has made this easy to do. On the coupon that will come home with your child will be a QR code (also below). This QR code will take you to a google document where you will find the risks and consequences of teen marijuana use. Due to the push to legalize marijuana in our country, the perceived risk of harm by teens of this substance is at an all-time low. As a community, we have to work even harder to educate youth on the facts of just how harmful this addictive substance is to them.
After reading the facts on marijuana use and discussing them with your child, complete the questions on the google form and hit "submit." You will receive an email back with the code to active the Culver's coupon. Write in the numbers on the coupon and take it to any of the Culver's in our community--Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove or Mundelein! In addition, your child will receive a goodie bag compliments of Stand Strong Coalition and Catalyst!
Parents, your voice matters! Substance abuse prevention research says parents are the #1 reason kids choose to be alcohol and drug-free. Many parents falsely believe that friends and the media are bigger influences in their child’s life. Not true– actually, parents have the power!
Thank you for your partnership!
Conferences
Conferences are Monday, November 19th from 5-7PM & Tuesday, November 20th from 2-7PM.
HERE is the link to sign up.
Daily Announcements
The Daily Announcements will be posted each morning. Please see Twin Groves website for up to date school announcements. The announcements let you know what exciting activities and clubs are going on at Twin Groves. Please click HERE to access the Daily Announcements.
PTO Happenings
The PTO is looking for volunteers to set up the book fair (in the morning of 11/15) and to help take down the book fair (11/20 at 7PM). Please email Kari Siegall at [email protected] if you are interested.
-Special Lunch is on October 31st
-Dessert Day is on November 14th
-Book Fair is on November 19th and 20th (during conferences)
-Special Lunch is on November 28th
Please click HERE to access the Membership Toolkit. All items for sale from the PTO will be available on this website.
Band & Orchestra Boosters
Please click the BLOG to access the latest news from the Band & Orchestra Boosters.