2/7/25
Upcoming Dates:
2/14- Half Day- Students dismissed at 11:10 AM
2/17- No School
2/18- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM
2/28- No School
3/3- No School
3/20- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM and Conferences from 5:00 PM- 8:30 PM
3/21- No School- Conferences from 10:00 AM- 1:30 PM
3/24-3/28- No School- Spring Break
What’s Happening at Twin Groves?
6th Grade
Core 6/7 Math: We are starting our unit on solving equations. A big focus will be on using mathematical properties to solve for the value of a variable. This is the foundation of so much of their future math work, so it is great to see how hard the students are working. It is exciting to see the students at every level apply themselves to learning difficult targets. Last month we asked you to encourage modeling with mathematics at home. We have seen such impressive modeling in all three levels! This month, we’d like to focus on constructing arguments and being able to understand others. It is always very important in math to be able to explain why something makes sense, why a strategy is valid, how an answer was obtained, or why one choice is better than another. It is equally important to be able to understand others’ viewpoints in order to critique or expand upon them. The ability to have this type of mathematical discussion is a great indicator of true understanding. Feel free to ask your children how they solved a problem or why their answer makes sense. We ask the students these questions all of the time and it’s very impressive to hear their answers!
The students have access to these apps that they should be using regularly:
Math Facts Ninja - For students who need extra practice with their math facts.
IXL - 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.
Core 7 Math: We will continue learning about Algebraic equations, as we move on to equations with two variables. It is exciting to see the students at every level apply themselves to learning difficult targets. Last month we asked you to encourage modeling with mathematics at home. We have seen such impressive modeling in all three levels! This month, we’d like to focus on constructing arguments and being able to understand others. It is always very important in math to be able to explain why something makes sense, why a strategy is valid, how an answer was obtained, or why one choice is better than another. It is equally important to be able to understand others’ viewpoints in order to critique or expand upon them. The ability to have this type of mathematical discussion is a great indicator of true understanding. Feel free to ask your children how they solved a problem or why their answer makes sense. We ask the students these questions all of the time and it’s very impressive to hear their answers!
The students have access to these apps that they should be using regularly:
Math Facts Ninja - For students who need extra practice with their math facts.
IXL - 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.
Language Arts: LA classes have been very busy the past few weeks! Students have all obtained their Book Club books and had the first Book Club meeting last week. Everyone did a great job! Students are having fun talking in their small groups, discussing engaging, thought-provoking questions that they came up with themselves.
Science: 6th-grade scientists are deep into their learning of Plate Tectonics! We have learned about plate boundaries as well as where earthquakes and volcanoes are found. We will continue our study with the rock cycle and how plates have moved from the past to where they are today! Science is surely rocking Trimester 2!
SS: In social studies this month, we will be wrapping up our government and leadership unit by studying local leaders. This will include investigating how both formal and informal leaders can shape a community, school, or business. We will then be shifting into our unit on culture, where we will get the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of activities that help to make a place unique, such as art, music, and games.
7th Grade
Language Arts: The Language Arts classes are in the middle of our novel studies. We are currently reading The Outsiders with a focus on character development, narration, and theme. We will use these strategies to develop an understanding of the theme of the novel. Although we try to start the reading in class, students may have nightly reading they need to complete. Next week will complete a CFA that asks the students to compare and contrast a fiction and non-fiction text about the same topic.
Language Arts Advanced: The Language Arts classes are in the middle of our novel studies. We are currently reading The Book Thief with a focus on character development, figurative language, and imagery. We will use these strategies to develop an understanding of the theme of the novel. Although we try to start the reading in class, students may have nightly reading they need to complete. Next week will complete a CFA that asks the students to compare and contrast a fiction and non-fiction text about the same topic.
Science: We are wrapping up our studies on the cycling of matter and energy in an ecosystem. Our next robot project will involve learning the basics of block code. We will build a robot and write code to control the robot’s movement. Looking forward, students will be studying the interactions of organisms within ecosystems with the orangutan as the main organism.
Social Studies: We are winding down another great Trimester on Civics… exploring and analyzing our government and elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels. Are the Bill of Rights more important today than they were in 1791? Civics is also about how to take informed action since this is all about “We The People”. Soon, we will be investigating the growth and development of our new nation coming out of the Revolutionary War and Constitutional Convention… continuing the themes of early American History. Initially, key issues and historically significant people, places, documents, and events pertaining to our first Presidents. Did you know that George Washington’s farewell address is just as relevant today as it was back in 1796? Another conflict with Great Britain will need to be settled. We always reflect on, and analyze potential sources for reliability and credibility.
Math Core 7:In Core 7 we just finished up our Ratios & Proportions Unit! We have transitioned back into equations with our Linear Equations Unit! Students will be learning to identify key data features like slope and the y-intercept. They will learn how to write equations to describe data from real-world problems, graphs, and tables, as well as, comparing different functions. Students will continue to complete their homework!
Math Core 8: Students took their Benchmark on a portion of our unit on Congruence and Similarity on describing and performing four types of Transformations: Translations, Reflections, Rotations, and Dilations. The second part of this unit focuses on all sorts of angle measure relationships regarding triangles and parallel lines cut by a transversal. This unit, focusing on Geometry, has been a fun change!
Algebra 1: We are now beginning our long stretch of time where we focus on everything Quadratic. We begin our Quadratic Function stretch by introducing students to polynomials teaching them how to add, subtract, multiply, and factor them. Mastering the factoring portion of this unit will be extremely important to students in ensuring their success in mastering the remaining units on Quadratics and even for portions of Geometry next year!
8th Grade
Language Arts/Language Arts Advanced:: Students have been hard at work reading and analyzing our first whole-class novel, The Last Cuentista. Students have done a wonderful job exploring the themes developed throughout the book and have dug into various elements of the author's craft. They have done an excellent job with this novel and should be proud of their hard work! We have also been focusing on Informational Texts and comparing the various text structures authors use to craft their arguments in an effort to ultimately determine the effectiveness of each article. Moving forward, our writing focus will be on writing fictional narratives as well as analytic essays.
Science: In science, we are currently studying sound waves and the energy transfers that occur within those waves. This engaging and hands-on exploration will not only deepen their understanding of the physics behind sound but also foster a sense of curiosity and discovery. Throughout this unit, students will embark on a sonic adventure, unraveling the mysteries of how sound is produced, transmitted, and received. From the vibrations of a guitar string to the echoes in a concert hall, your child will discover the science behind the music they love. Students will gather data on how objects vibrate when making different sounds and be able to characterize how a vibrating object’s motion is tied to the loudness and pitch of the sounds they make. Students also conduct experiments to support the idea that sound needs matter to travel through, and they will use models and simulations to explain how sound travels through matter at the particle level. We will use multiple different mathematical formulas to represent these wave behaviors and calculate the amount of speed, frequency, and length of specific sound waves.
Social Studies: We have continued learning about the Cold War, having covered the Korean War and practicing the skill of evaluating the credibility of sources. We have begun our Vietnam War unit and students have shown enthusiasm towards the early stages of the war and learning about the various points of view portrayed throughout the conflict. Students are learning about the divisive times that were the Vietnam Era, both through protest and music of that generation. We will be taking our next DBQ assessment soon on this topic!
Up next, students will continue to learn about the 1950’s and 60’s America, as we begin our Civil Rights unit. Students will be introduced to a variety of people and strategies that worked to make change for the black community in America during that time period.
Algebra 1: In Algebra 1, we are finishing up our Operations on Radicals and Polynomials unit! Students are learning how to add, subtract, multiply, and factor polynomial expressions along with operations with radicals. All of these skills will be used in the majority of future math classes so we make sure we work on developing accuracy skills when completing these types of problems. Coming up later this month, students will learn how to solve quadratic equations using different methods such as Zero Product Property, Square Roots, Quadratic Formula, and Completing the Square. This unit is a very important unit of study for Algebra 1. Please continue to encourage your child to get help ask questions if needed and utilize IXL/ Khan Academy!
Geometry: We are finishing up our unit on Right Triangles. We have been discovering the relationships between the side lengths and angle measures of right triangles. Pythagorean theorem will lead us to efficiently use Pythagorean triples when solving for unknown sides of right triangles. We will then work through special right triangles and the relationships of 30-60-90 triangles and 45-45-90 triangles. Finally we will be working on discovering right triangle trigonometry to solve for missing angles and sides of triangles. Next up, we will be covering non-right triangle trigonometry.
Core 8: Students took their Benchmark on a portion of our unit on Congruence and Similarity on describing and performing four types of Transformations: Translations, Reflections, Rotations, and Dilations. The second part of this unit focuses on all sorts of angle measure relationships regarding triangles and parallel lines cut by a transversal. This unit, focusing on Geometry, has been a fun change!
Virtual Backpacks
District Virtual Backpack: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/virtual-backpack
Twin Groves Virtual Backpack: https://www.kcsd96.org/tg/virtual-backpack
Daily Announcements
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