Week of December 13

NEWS:
Winter break starts after school December 17th.  Have a wonderful winter break and holiday!
2nd quarter ends January 21st. 

ACADEMICS:
Math:  Investigation 4 this week.  Will finish up Comparing and Scaling this week.

Language Arts:  1)  Vocabulary due Friday.  2)  Continuing Food, Inc study.  Will be focusing on persuasive writing and debating after winter break. 

Reading:  1)  Seedfolks final test given this week.  We will start a new book in January.  2)  Reading project on non-fiction genre due January 7th. 

Science:  All in class.  Take notes and working in lab books. 

Social Studies:  Haiti timeline and/or other choice project due Dec. 17th. 

Updated Homework December 10

Academics:

Language Arts:  Continuing Food, Inc study and discussion.  Focus is on persuasive writing.

Reading:  Finished Seedfolks and Readers Theater.  Seedfolks Test on Monday - will be short answer/essay, multiple choice, and essay.  Will be open notebook and open book. 

Math:  Will be starting Investigation 4 next week, finishing up Comparing and Scaling book next week. 

Science:  Finishing Earth History and will be starting Chemical Interactions after winter break. 

Week of December 6

NEWS: 
* Students are getting ready to make masks for our Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras fundraising dinner. Stay tuned for more details about the fundraising dinner. 

ACADEMICS:
Math:  Test #3 Comparing and Scaling;  Investigation 4.1 this week.

Social Studies:  1) Map test #3 on Friday  2) Continued study of New Orleans and Haiti  3) Students received requirements for the Haiti Project today - this will be due next Friday, 12/17.   4)  Current Events due Thursday

Science:  In-class

Reading:  1)  Readers Theater for Seedfolks this week.  2)  Reading project requirements given out today for the Non-fiction genre -due January 7

Language Arts:  1)  Vocabulary due Friday, test Fri.  2)  Continued study of Food, Inc.  Students were given an Ingredients Handout today - due Tue 12/14.  3)  Essay questions for Food, Inc. will be given out tomorrow (Thursday) and will be due on Friday. 

Week of November 29

NEWS: 
1)  Teachers will be posting grades for progress reports on December 7th. 
2)  Our fundraising efforts for New Orleans continues.  Thank you all for your contributions!

ACADEMICS:
MATH:  ACE# 1-3 page 40;  Challenge #33 page 46

SCIENCE:  Page 52 Fill out the timeline sheet

LANGUAGE ARTS:  1)  Due Tuesday:  We started our unit on Food, and watched the first chapter of Food, Inc.  Students took notes.  They need to write a reflection response to the deeper question:  "How does the production of food affect your food choices?"  2) Vocabulary

SOCIAL STUDIES: 1)  Current Events due Thursday  2)  Map Quiz #2 on Friday  3)  Paragraph on Haiti

READING:  1)  Seedfolks:  Finish characterization charts up to Maricela.  We will be finishing the book this week.  Worksheet assigned on Curtis and Nora, due Tuesday.  2)  Reading Genre for December to January:  Non-fiction.  Students will be selecting their books tomorrow.  Project will be handed out tomorrow and due January 15. 

Week of November 15

NEWS: 

• Continuing fundraising for New Orleans
• Thankyou for all the parents/guardians for coming to conferences.  We enjoyed meeting you and updating you on your child's progress.  Please feel free to contact us regarding any questions.

ACADEMICS:

Math:  ACE #1-2 page 24;  #12 p. 27;  ACE #5 p. 25 or #22 p. 29
Science:  TEST on Wednesday
Language Arts:  1) Vocabulary due Friday  2)  Test on Literary Devices and Reading from Seedfolks on Thursday .  Study from your reading notebook and your language arts notebook. 
Reading:  1)  Reading Project due Wednesday - no late projects will be accepted.  2) Seedfolks worksheet on Sam and Leona due Wednesday.  3) Fill in characterization chart for Virgil.
Social Studies:  1)  Reflection 2 paragraphs on how to present a more balanced approach about Haiti

Week of November 1st

News:

• 1st Quarter Ends Wednesday 11/3

Language Arts:

• Vocabulary Test on Friday
• Final assessment in class today

Reading:

• Seedfolks-complete notebook
• Worksheet on Seedfolks
• Project due 11/17

Math:

• Unit Test
• Starting New book Accentive the Negative

Science:

• In class work

Social Studies:

• Finish Presenting Water Projects
• Current Events due Thursday

Week of October 25

News

• WKCE Testing
• Fundraising is off to a great start!

Academics
               Language Arts:

1. Vocabulary due Friday
2. Vocabulary Test Friday
3. Writing (Inclass)

               Math:

1. Unit Test; Tuesday 11/2
2. Worksheet

              Science:

1. Read Packet and answer questions

            Social Studies:

1. Soundbite
2. Water Poster Presentations

             Extras:

1. Wednesday is the last day to turn in any late or missing work from all subjects this quarter
2. No school on Thursday and Friday do to WEAC meetings. 

Weekly Update October 11

ACADEMICS:

Math:  Quiz today.  If you are missing any ACE assignments for the investigations in Stretching and Shrinking, students must check in with Ms. Jorgensen as soon as possible.

Science:  Assignment after reading pages 73-80, due Thursday. 

Language Arts:  1)  Writing assessment for 1st quarter will be given tomorrow and Friday.  2)  Working on writing "attention getters".  Students received instruction on 5 different types of attention getters, and need to submit 2 examples per attention getter.  3)  Update notebooks - make certain they are complete and accurate.  4)  Vocabulary definitions and test on Friday.

Social Studies:  Continuing our study on Hurricane Katrina everyday.  Reflection (1/2 page) due on Friday.  Make certain notebooks are up to date. 

Reading:  Continuing reading Emako Blue.  Next reading project will be due November 13th.  Students will receive their book and book project requirements, tomorrow.  Genre is Adventure. 

Weekly Update October 4

Apologies for the inactivity these past few weeks.  Here is the update for this week.  As always, please feel free to contact us via email or phone if you have any questions. 

NEWS: 

• Devils Lake Fieldtrip was a BLAST!  All of our students put forth amazing effort physically and mentally.  The hike from the South Shore to the North Shore was challenging, yet JoMaNa students pushed themselves and felt a real sense of accomplishment.  We hope your child shared their experience at Devils Lake with you. 
• Incentives:  Many students have been involved in random, unannounced surprises for exceptional academic effort and improvement, as well as positive behavior at Sherman.  We sincerely want to notice the positive attitudes our students are bringing to our team. 
• Dress-Up Day:  The first Tuesday of every month is dress up day.  Stay tuned for pictures of our growing group of students who are participating in this tradition.  When students ask us what the purpose is, we tell them that dressing nicely every now and then, helps boost confidence and feel a sense of "student professionalism." 
• Sherman Student and Family Closet:  Something unique to Sherman is the hardly used clothing and accessories available to students and family.  Room 20 has a huge closet filled with all sorts of clothing, appropriate to teens, and changes per season.  We encourage all of our students to visit the closet as there are some great clothes for FREE! 

ACADEMICS:
Language Arts:  1)  Vocabulary due Friday.  2)  We have been working on descriptive writing techniques, practicing every day in-class.  Homework for Friday is a sheet on Onomatopeia (sound effects in words).

Math:  1)  Students completed Variables and Patterns and were given their new book, Stretching and Shrinking just today.  Homework due Friday:  Investigation 1.1 page 6.  ACE #1, #2 page 12.

Science:  1) Complete worksheet table about rocks.  2)  Explained "Timeline" assignment/project. 

Social Studies:  1)  Reflection and Summary on movie, "Arctic Tale," due now.  2)  Continuing unit on water, and will be learning about the effects of Hurricane Katrina. 

Reading:  1)  Continuing in-class work on reading comprehension and finishing read aloud Emako Blue. 
2)  Reading projects from last genre have been turned in and will be posted in the LMC.  Our next genre is adventure and will be introduced today. 

Weekly Update September 20

NEWS:  Open House/Strut Your Stuff is Thursday, 5-7pm. 

ACADEMICS:

Math:  ACE #3 page 36;  ACE #4 page 37;  Challenge is #20 page 44 and Challenge #21 page 45.

Science:  In-class continuation of Earth History.  Make certain lab books are up-to-date.

Social Studies:  Water Table Use due Thursday.  Current events due every Wednesday. 

Language Arts:  Vocabulary due Friday.  Everybody Needs a Rock project, mostly done in class, due Friday. 

Updated Homework for week/weekend September 17th

Math:  Quiz on Thursday.  Students can expect their quizzes back on Monday.  Get ready for Investigation 2 in Variables and Patterns book. 

Science:  Worked in-class on lab book.  Make certain you have all assignments from past weeks completed.

Language Arts:  Started a new writing assignment today based on the children's book, Everbody Needs a Rock.  Most will be done in-class.  Focus is on descriptive writing.  Due next Friday. 

Social Studies:  Notebooks were collected today. 

Reading:  Work on Reading project due September 30th. 

Have a great weekend! 

Week of September 13

NEWS: 
1)  Tuesday, September 28th is our field trip to Devils Lake.  Permission slips and money due Thursday, September 16th. 

Academics:
MATH~
1)  ACE #7, 8 page 20 , #9 page 21  Challenge #24-28  assigned Monday.
2)  ACE #10, 11 page 21-22.  Challenge #29, #30 page 28

SCIENCE~
1) Work on "Survival" presentations in-class

LANGUAGE ARTS~
1)  Vocabulary due Friday
2)  Students submitted autobiography last Monday, and presented a few things from their paper this week. 
3)  Writing Warm-Up:  If students did not finish their writing assignment in-class today, it is assigned as homework.  Choose ONE of the following topics and write 2-paragraphs.  Focus is on Organization (clear topic sentence with details to support).    Topic 1:  Even though you may change your mind when you're older, what is one thing you can think of right now that you're pretty certain you'll never want to do in your lifetime?   Topic 2:  If you could have 1,000 of anything red, what would you want most of all? 

SOCIAL STUDIES~
1)  Reflection #2:  Who do you think should make decisions about water, and why?  Due Friday, 1/2 page, in Social Studies notebook. 
2)  Current events due Wednesdays

READING~
1)  Genre for September is Adolescent fiction.  Project due September 30. 

Updated Homework for week/weekend of September 10th

• Social Studies:  1)  Water Walk reflection due Monday.  2)  Visual presentations start Monday.  This is when a few students over time will be talking about the images they've chosen to draw in their social studies notebook. 
• Science:  Need resource book to complete Lab Book pages 4-9.  Due on Monday. 
• Math:  1)  Finish Investigation 1.3.  2)  ACE #4, #5 on page 17-18 (required).  3)  ACE #26 is Challenge problem.  Due Monday. 
• Reading:  Continue working on reading project and read book about Adolescence. 
• Language Arts:  MOST students turned in their autobiography.  There are many vocabulary assignments missing. 

Thank you for all of your efforts this week!  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Week of September 7

Update for the week of September 7th

Language Arts:  

• Vocabulary was given on Tuesday.  Due Friday, along with vocabulary test.  
• Autobiography assignment was given out last Friday.  Most of the writing has been done in-class during the hour long Language Arts session.  Rough draft is due on Thursday.  Final due Monday.

Math: 

• Variables and Patterns book - we are working on Investigation 1
• Please have your student bring in their calculators every day. 

Science: 

• Started Earth History unit.  Most readings and lab assignments for the week are in-class. 

Social Studies:

• Current Events due every Wednesday
• We started a unit on WATER - in-class assignments this week
• We're going on a Water Walk on Friday.  If students have a bucket, pail, or watering can, please bring it.  

Reading: 

• This month's genre is Adolescent fiction. 
• Project assignment handed out last Friday.  Final project due September 30. 

Welcome to a New School Year 7th Graders!

We are excited to welcome back all of our returning Sherman students, and extend a special welcome to our new students on the JoMaNa team!  Our new JoMaNa team members are:

• Richard Holmes
• Nar'shaqueta Lockwood
• Carter Ojer
• Jaylin Stueber
• Ka Yang

A special welcome BACK to our teammate and best friend, Ms. Kate Jorgensen.  She took a year long sabbatical to work on her Masters degree and is back ready to be a strong member of our teaching team.  We are SO excited!

For the first few days, we are re-orienting students back into a positive school routine.  We are hitting the ground running with brand new 7th grade curriculum in all academic subject areas.  The following have been assigned and/or are in-process.  

Math:  Variable and Patterns is our first book.  This focuses on algebra, graphing, and equations.  Students took notes and were assigned Investigation 1, which will start in-class on Tuesday.  Binders need to be organized as instructed in class.  Upcoming homework due on Wednesday, 9/8.   ACE page 23, #13-16.  

Science:  Earth History.  Lab books and resource books have been distributed.  First reading assignment in-class today.  

Social Studies:  Visual Essay  - designing a CD cover with music and artists that tell us some things about themselves.  Assignment is in-class, and will be due on Wednesday, 9/8.  

Language Arts:  

• Vocabulary will be given as usual on the first day of the school week.  Due on Friday, with vocabulary test.  
• First assignment:  Autobiography.  This will be mostly done in-class, with their final draft due next Friday, 9/10.  Requirement sheet given today.  Students may ask you for your input and advice.  

Reading:  Genre for September:  Adolescence Fiction.  Students were given books of their choice today.  Book project due September 30.  

Upcoming:  

• Parent Homework:  In a Million Words or Less, due next week sometime.  Thank you to those who have already wrote about your child.  We love hearing from you!  
• Chef Tory's hosting Harvest Night at Sherman on Thursday, 9/9.  Please come and see our garden, and the work our JoMaNa students have done to make it look so plentiful and amazing.