Category Archives: 7th Newsletters

7th Grade: May 21, 2010

By awollensak | Published: May 21, 2010

Language

We will finish the year reviewing our “must-spell” words and subject/verb agreement. The students have worked hard improving their language skills and trying to incoporate impressive words in their writing.  Try to keep them sharp by asking them to define tough words over the summer.  After nine months of prodding, they’re getting very good with a dictionary.

Literature

Most of the class seems to be enjoying Lit Circles.  This group of seventh graders read without much encouragement.  They will receive information  from Mrs. Murphy on summer reading requirements.  Given their performance in my class, I predict they’ll be done with their three books in June.

Students should be well on their way to completing their game book reports which are due Tuesday, May 25th.

Social Studies

We are finishing our study of the Civil War with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.  We will have our final exam next Thursday.  I hope we’ve given the students a good foundation for their study of the Constitution next year.

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7th Math Moments: May 21, 2010

By protunno | Published: May 21, 2010

GENERAL

Thank you for your support and cooperation this year with the math program. Your students have worked hard, for the most part, to be prepared for the next level. We have accomplished so much this year, and I am looking forward to spending more time with them as Religion teacher.  Next year we will all be taking an Algebra course so be sure your students spend some time on their math skills this summer. They need to be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, integers, decimals and fractions. Also basic area formulas and work with percents should be known. It will be a challenging and rewarding year. I guarantee your students will be ready for the next level if they work hard in Algebra next year. Be sure to encourage that summer practice so they don’t go all summer without working some math.

7th grade math

We were definitely challenged this year, not only because of the curriculum but because we needed to brush up on basic skills. We are done with our tests and quizzes for the year, but I will be diving into a variety of topics to handle some categories we didn’t cover during the year. This year is really the last year of math skill  instruction as we head for the rigors of Algebra next year. Again, let me ask that you prompt your students to work on thier skills over the summer.  It wil be difficult for us to take off next year without that practice in place. We covered most of the textbook this year and the few topics we skipped are ones in the Algebra curriculum so we’ll get them there.  Good study skills are another needed tool next year with organization at the top.  I hope you all enjoy your summer and come back rested and happy. Thank you again for all you do.

Pre-Algebra 

We have been on a world wind trip this year and have really accomplished so much. This group has matured and really taken to this challenging work. I am so excited to tackle the next level with them as I saw so much good work this year.  We are now involved in a big review, and I am giving them a mini end of the year exam on Tuesday and Wednesday of the next week. I want them to feel a little of the semester exam experience and this is the way to do it. They are up for the challenge, and we are going to gear up for it together this week. The very last week of school I will be preparing them for the summer packet they will have to do, which will include the first 2 chpaters of the Algebra Accel book. In September I will go over this with them and test them on those chapters in the first 2 weeks of school. By the end of September we will be testing Chapter 3 in that text. Most of those first 2 chapters we have been done this year so I don’t expect much difficulty with the work. It will be good for them to be challenged over the summer and ready to speed off in the fall. I am excited for the next level with them, and I appreciate their enthusiasm for the class. Thanks for your support this year and I look forward to a great time with the Class of 2011.

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7th Religion – Mr. Dillon

By tdillon | Published: May 21, 2010

The seventh grade will be looking at the meaning and importance of the New and Everlasting Covenant. We will be focusing on 4 main areas including discovering the meaning and importance of the paschal mystery, deepening our understanding of Jesus’ celebration of the Last Supper and his new commandment of love; appreciating that each time the Eucharist is offered, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is really made present, and to appreciate what we can learn from the Church’s reflection on the gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.

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7th Science – Mr. Dillon; May 21, 2010

By tdillon | Published: May 21, 2010

Our field trip to the physical therapy lab at Governors State University was a great success. The students received a brief history of human dissection from Dr. Robert Druzinsky and then toured the anatomy lab and received a first hand look at two bodies the students at Governors State used during their dissections.

During the next two weeks the students will begin exploring the characteristics of all living organisms,  look at how living things arise form other living things, and examine how living organisms must satisfy their basic needs for food, water, living space and stable internal control in order to survive.

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Mr. Dillon – 7th Grade Science

By tdillon | Published: May 19, 2010

The next two weeks will be filled with numerous hands on activities and a field trip to Governor’s State University.

In preparation for our frog dissection activity the students will first be learning and practicing proper dissection vocabulary and procedures by dissecting a pickle. Following the pickle dissection we will then explore the respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and reproductive systems of frogs.  On May the 14th we will be visiting the physical therapy lab at Governor’s State University. At that time the students will speak with an anatomist, tour the cadaver lab and participate in activities requiring them use mobility aids so they can experience what it is like to have a physical disability.

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Seventh Grade: May 7, 2010

By awollensak | Published: May 7, 2010

Social Studies

Our day-to-day study of the Civil War was interrupted by our foray in the world of movie producing. The Civil War newscast assignment turned into quite a production when we decided to actually tape them using Windows Movie Maker. Several groups have finished their productions and I hope others will follow. Kudos to Bobby Morales, Joe Okkema, Sam Okkema, and Shawn Pease for their technical expertise and willingness to help.

Language

We are almost done with vocabulary. I hope the students will continue to use these really great words. Some students were surprised that our unit on clauses was not a late celebration of Christmas. I am happy to say most now can tell the difference between a phrase and a clause.

Writing

By now most of you students are bidding a happy farewell to mold. Keep all the information on your review of literature and experiment for your solo activity next year.

Literature

We are dividing our time between independent reading, Literature Circle reading and a unit on plays. A game board book report due at the end of May will be the result of the independent reading. Literature Circles are small book clubs that meet Tuesdays and Fridays to discuss books chosen by the students. In the drama unit we will read several plays and learn some acting and staging fundamentals.

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Seventh Grade – April 23, 2010

By awollensak | Published: May 7, 2010

By student reporter John Fatora

The Greek Feast is an annual festival celebrated by the seventh grade.  There are costumes, posters, food, and a good time.  The day kicks-off when everyone gets into their costumes.  We all then present our reports.  You can report on Gods from Zeus and Poseidon to mortals such as King Midas and Achilles, and even monsters such as the Minotaur or Medusa, even Cyclopes is an option!  After the reports, you will head to the gym for a lunch of gyros, Greek salads, desserts, and grape juices.  After the “feast”, there is a movie about Greece and today’s depictions of the Greek Gods and Goddesses.  The celebration ends when you head back to class after lunch.  Hope you enjoyed the feast!

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Mrs. Rotunno-Math: May 7, 2010

By Kathy Lifka | Published: May 7, 2010

Pre-Algebra

Wow, is the time flying by! I am so happy with the progress of this group who have really embraced this subject matter with gusto! We are currently studying linear functions and graphing them on a coordinate plane. We are graphing using (x,y) tables and intercepts. Next week we will study slope of a line and then concentrate on wrapping up the year in review. I am going to begin the 8th grade Algebra curriculum with them this year. I will send home a summer packet to be completed and returned the first day of school so we can jump right into Chapter 3 at the beginning of 8th grade. This is in keeping with the high school curriculums around us. I will spend some time with instructions so the completion of this summer work will be easier. In the meantime we will keep our forward motion with eyes set on the future, as we complete this year’s curriculum. I have thoroughly enjoyed this male dominated class of 16 boys and 4 girls. Let it be known that the girls have done a great job keeping the bar high and we have had great fun diving into these advanced topics. I look forward to this group soaring through Accelerated Algebra.

7th Math

We have completed the chapter on areas, and I hope the formulas are etched in their minds forever. We are going back to Chapter 9 to pick up all we can on per cents. We will be solving all kinds of per cent problems from interest, to discounts, to taxes and tips. This is real day-to-day math so I hope to inspire them to learn it well for their adult lives. I will allow calculator use as I am testing their ability to handle per cent problems and don’t want them penalized by poor computation skills. I will expect all problems to be set up properly so I can see where the calculator answers were generated. Answers only are not acceptable as was the case in the previous chapter we studied. I will then take some selected topics for the rest of the year to set up our Algebra study next year.

My biggest concern for this class is their work ethic. In order to succeed we really need to devote quality time to the problem solving we are asked to do. Short cuts don’t really exist because the more we cut corners, the less we really understand. As always, please be sure these students do some math work over the summer. Next year will be very difficult if they lose any skills they have already been taught. Drill is a good thing, even if it’s only computation drills. Thank you for keeping them on task for me when you can.

I know they will enjoy the challenges of Algebra if they work hard and try every day.

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7th Grade: April 19, 2010

By Kathy Lifka | Published: April 19, 2010

Pre-Algebra

On Saturday, a group will participate in the Nazareth 7th grade math contest. I appreciate all the sacrifices families make to allow the students to make these events. Thank you so much for supporting these activities. No matter the outcome, students will be enriched by the experience. We are sailing along through square roots, radicals and the Pythagorean Theorem. Friday is a quiz on sections 9-1 to 9-4. Our next topic to tackle will be Chapter 11 involving data analysis and probability. This should be a great precursor for science fair activities next year. I will most likely not complete anymore whole chapters since the objective now is to cover as much as I can to set up the students for next year. We have just about completed all the critical and significant goals for 7th grade. Now I am working on the useful goals which are helpful if you can get to them. We are ahead of the game at this point and this class has been very pro-active in their work. They are showing great promise for the challenging curriculum next year.

Math

 We had a quiz this week on 11-1 to 11-3 which was square roots and the Pythagorean Theorem. Now we will finish up Chapter 11 with areas of parallelograms, trapezoids and triangles. The topic of area is simply a matter of following the formulas and computing correctly. I will probably allow calculator use on Chapter 11 test so I can really assess their knowledge of the material without the trouble of computation. Then we are going back to Chapter 9 on percents because that will be a very important topic to know before we embark upon the Algebra path next year. Please remember that math homework is assigned at least 3 times each week. The students are not handing in quality work all the time, and I need them to step it up. So be sure to see them doing math work and ask what they are learning. The more they talk about it, the more they understand. Let’s work together to encourage finishing strong this quarter.

Literature

We are reading Lyddie, a novel about a young woman working a textile mill before the Civil War.  We are also knee-deep in mold, researching mold, that is.  When combined with the Science experiment on bread mold, students will have completed the elements of a Science Fair Project.  We hope this will provide a road map for students when they do this activity independently next year. 

 Language

“Above, about, across, after,…” Not the newest rap, but a song your seventh graders will be familiar with.  We are about all things prepositional.  We had a preposition egg hunt; we are diagramming them and we are writing with them.  We are striving to identify them in sentences by their function, rather than just memorizing them.

We will finish the last Vocabulary unit next week and finish up with a cumulative test.  Many students tell us these words help prepare them for next year’s placement tests and entrance exams.

 Social Studies

Our studies of the Civil War have progressed.  Students will research Civil War battles and prepare modern day newscasts of the event.  We are experimenting this year with Windows Movie Maker.  I hope it will be an interesting combination of great historical theater with modern day technology.

Religion

Our next step in the journey to understanding the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus brings us to exploring the nature of miracles and the understanding that they are extraordinary events caused by God’s power. To begin we will look at the healing miracles of Jesus followed by nature miracles in the Old and New Testaments and end with Jesus’ miracles of driving out demons and raising the dead.

Science

In preparation for next year’s science fair the students are conducting an experiment with the growth of bread mold. They will be following all of the Illinois Junior Academy of Science guidelines while performing the experiment.  This will include all the steps of the scientific method as well as writing a short literature review.  We will then turn our attention to the dissection of frogs followed by an in-depth look what is life and the classification of organisms.

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7th Grade: March 26, 2010

By Kathy Lifka | Published: March 25, 2010

Literature

            Students are finishing their CSI-style And Then There Were None projects.  They seem to be enjoying collecting “evidence” and creating timelines.  Projects are due Tuesday.

            Students will be given the novel Lyddie to read over break, if they chose. They will be given a week to finish it or read the entire novel when they come back.  The novel chronicles the journey of a young girl working in a Massachusetts textile mill just before the Civil War.

 Language Arts

             We are  working on our third quarter spelling words.  In this age of spell-check, it may not be as important to know how to spell every word, but it’s quite helpful to know which words you should look up.

Writing

             March Madness is in full swing.  Each student drew a team in the tournament to follow.  Students then write about the team’s tournament.  It’s the only bracket where you want a poorly seeded team, but with all the upsets the Kansas paper will be shorter than the Northern Iowa paper. Crazy!

Social Studies

            We will be finishing Chapter Fifteen next week and having a short test on Thursday.  I have been encouraging students to study for Wednesday’s review game, as if it were a test. 

Also short answer questions will be given to the students on Wednesday, so they can prepare great answers.  Help is available before class and Tuesdays immediately after school.

Religion

We are continuing our look at Jesus as both a divine person with two natures: human nature and divine nature. In addition to covering how Jesus described himself and how He let everyone know He was the Messiah and Lord.  We will explore how Jesus taught us to pray and explore the meaning of the verses of the Our Father.

Science

The next step in our examination of cells is to look at cell processes and energy. We will briefly look at the two stages of photosynthesis along with the chemical equation that neatly sums up this complex process.  From there we will also look at how cells obtain energy from glucose in the process of cellular respiration and how through fermentation cells can obtain energy without using oxygen.

Pre-Algebra

We are knee deep in Geometry at the moment as we study surface area and volume of prisms and pyramids. This is quite an involved topic and the students are doing well with it. I am completing Chapter 10 with quizzes rather than a chapter test, because there are so many shapes and formulas. I feel they will be more successful in smaller chunks rather than bringing too much of the material together.

We will then explore the Pythagorean Theorem, square roots and data analysis. At this point it appears we will cover everything but functions and polynomials which are a large part of next year’s curriculum.

I appreciate this group’s willingness to participate in the contests that took place at the high schools. I will be doing some next year, as well, and I think the participation is good for the students and our school. Next year I want to devote some time to coaching the team before the contests. Please help me keep the students focused during this last quarter when warm weather and baseball start to pull them in other directions.

Math

We just completed the test on Chapter 10 involving geometric figures, and now we will tackle area and parts of a circle. I will then head back to Chapter 9 to cover percents and finish the year with selected topics to set up next year.

I must say we have to improve on completing homework to be successful. It is impossible to produce on a test if you have not practiced the solutions by doing the homework well. The Algebra curriculum next year will be challenging, but if we work hard together, we can be successful.

This next chapter deals with square roots and the Pythagorean Theorem along with areas of parallelograms, triangles and circles. Many formulas will be needed, and we need to know how to interpret them. I will allow calculator use for finding area so we can eliminate the automatic computations errors. For this last quarter please be sure your students are bringing home math work and studying the formulas involved.  Success comes from good solid preparation which was lacking last quarter. Let’s finish strong and get ready for Algebra!

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