Beginning of the Year Math Updates

We’re off to a great start in math!  

Unit 1 introduces reading, interpreting, and analyzing data. 

From the Unit 1 Family Letter:

Throughout Unit 1, students think critically about representations of real-world data. Students consider the following questions:

*What is the purpose of the graph or table? Can the display be improved for clarity?
*Does the display seem accurate, or is it biased?
*Where is the center of the data and how is the data distributed?
*Can you draw conclusions or make predictions based on the data display?

A typical schedule for math class may be as follows:

1. Do Now: This is an activity students work on as soon as they enter the classroom while everyone is getting settled. Typically lasts about 5 minutes.
2. Mental Math: practice of mental math strategies (5 minutes)
3. Math Message: Introduction to skills for the day’s lesson (10 minutes)
4. Main Lesson: 20-30 minutes
5. Small group or independent work: journal pages or skill sheets that practice the daily skills. (20-30 minutes)
6. Menu Time: 20 minutes of content related choice time. May include extra practice or support with an adult, or enrichment options.
7. Exit Ticket: One or two problems to check comprehension of what was learned in class (5 minutes)
8. Homework assigned (three to four times per week)

The students will have access to Everyday Math Online at school and at home. It is a great resource with access to the Student Reference Book and tutorials, for support at home, as well as content related games, and links to the Home Links. Their username and password is as follows: username: CSD2019lastnamefirstinitial password: abc123

I’ve included a few pictures from this week in math class.

Welcome Team Juniper

Welcome CMS Team Juniper families!

We have had a great first few days of school!

We have been spending a lot of time getting to know each other and the norms of the middle school. We have also been going over individual schedules, and getting to know our way around the school. We have spent a lot time practicing our locker combinations.

This is a big transition and there is a lot of new information on these first few days. Please feel free to let me or Ms. Evelyn know if you have any questions or concerns. Email is the best way to reach us. We check it regularly!

Please remember a water bottle each day as it is still quite warm!

We're really looking forward to a great year!

susanne.digrande@colchestersd.org
evelyn.stenroos@colchestersd.org

What A Week!

What a busy and fun few weeks we've had! Last week was our Starbase Launch, DARE Graduation, and our Bayside field trip. We also welcomed parents into the classroom to check out our Genius Hour projects that we've been working on for the last month. We had everything from a soda machine, a vending machine, an aqua scape, personal fans, to students learning about the solar system and how to hatch baby chics. The students worked hard and learned a lot in the process. Thanks to the parents came by MBS for any of the events last week. Also a special thanks to Hilary Davis who brought in two of her rescue dogs for the class to visit with. Here are a few pictures (and one video) of the week's events. It's been a great year!

Starbase Launch Prep:

Showing off our Genius Hour Projects:

 

Launch time:

A video of Julianna's launch:

Fun after DARE Graduation:

Bayside Beach:

Penelope and Lily:

Classroom Visit

If you are able to come to school for either DARE Graduation on Wednesday, or our Starbase rocket launch on Tuesday please feel free to stop in the classroom for a few minutes afterwards. You can check out your student's Chesapeake Bay specie slide show, and if they created a genius hour project, you can see that as well! Hope to see you!

Ft. Ticonderoga

Great day at Fort Ticonderoga!

Ft. Ticonderoga Reminder

Our field trip to Ft. Ticonderoga is tomorrow! Please remember that students need to be at school by 7:45-55 because we are leaving at 8:00 promptly. Students should have a bag lunch with no glass. Please dress appropriately for the weather. If students are leaving Ft. Ticonderoga with a friend's parent after the field trip, they must have a signed note from their parent. There is a gift shop at Ft. Ticonderoga, however we are encouraging educational purchases only. If a student chooses to buy a non-appropriate school item such as a weapon, it must be kept with an adult for the bus ride home.

Field Day!

Check out the fun we had on Friday during Field Day! A huge thanks to Ms. Eastman and Mr. Kluk for organizing this fun day!