Language Arts

First off, please ask your student about their Of Mice and Men final essay! We were so impressed with the growth in writing we saw across the board. We just started Unit 5, exploring the memoir/biography genre. Our new unit centers on the compelling story of Louis Zaperini, in Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption. This should be a welcome change to read an exciting nonfiction memoir of a WWII bomber pilot and Olympic runner who survived 40 days stranded on a raft with no food or water, then endured  gruesome torture as a Prisoner of War. We will be launching memoir lit circles soon, which will culminate in our students learning a bit about speech-writing in a way that incorporates their own experiences as they each will write (but not give) a Continuation Speech! 

As CMAS approaches, we will review reading comprehension and multiple choice strategies as well as essay planning and writing that will ensure they demonstrate their amazing abilities and growth we’ve seen from this group of students.

As always, email us with any questions at erin_brauer@dpsk12.net or rachel_sommer@dpsk12.net. 

Algebra

As we enter into April students will be gearing up for our CMAS test. Math CMAS will take place Monday April 20th – Wednesday April 22nd. Leading up to the test we will be reviewing all major concepts that we have learned throughout this year. 

1.Congruent and similar transformations (IXL CODE:  WBS)

2.Linear equations (IXL CODE:  W5E, WHM)

3.Functions (IXL CODE:  BQQ, N7D)

4. Solving multistep equations (IXL CODE: HZZ, 2AZ)

5. System of equations (IXL CODE: WV5, J8X, ZQV)

Please find some time to support your student in reviewing these skills over the next few weeks. Overall, classes have been going great and students have been working hard. I know that they will all do great on the test!

After CMAS we will jump into the final few units of the year (Volume of 3D prisms and Statistics and Probability). We will also be gearing up for the final IXL diagnostic test and the 9th grade placement test in May. 

Pat_Mahoney1@dpsk12.net 

Integrated II Math

 8th grade jumper students have been working hard on 10th grade content all year and we just wrapped up our units on geometric proofs. Next, we will tackle similarity and finally trigonometry but only after a short detour to review 8th grade content in preparation for CMAS testing. All jumper students will take 8th grade CMAS so make sure your student has everything they need to engage in their test prep and make sure they are getting extra sleep, eating a full breakfast, and bringing a charged chromebook to school. ALSO - thank you to everyone who sent food with their students for our potluck. It was an amazing time!

Science

Upon returning from spring break students will get right into CMAS testing, Science CMAS being the first of the bunch starting on Tuesday April 7th and ending on Thursday April 9th. Other than testing, students will continue working through the Chemistry unit by completing research about their element on the periodic table, and putting all their information into a book about said element. Once the chemistry unit is completed, we’ll begin our mini unit on Biomimicry before starting our final project!

Social Studies

This month, students are wrapping up our Indigenous Mapping “Case File” Project, where they have investigated how colonization and expansion reshaped Indigenous ways of life and continue to impact communities today. As we move through the remainder of April, we will return to our novel study of Stamped Remix. Students will identify and select a central theme they have noticed throughout the text and begin gathering historical evidence of how that theme repeats across different time periods. This work will serve as the foundation for our final project in May, where students will transform these historical themes into original children’s picture books that teach important lessons about history, identity, and change.