New beginnings with much at stake

The start of the new year brings with it much to be done. My hopes are that the break was restful for all stakeholders and Monday will be the start of an intense amount of focus and rededicated commitment to the pursuit of scholarship. Each group will have a unique set of challenges that will guide them through the second trimester, starting on Monday.

7th Grade
* Chapter 6 Writing Assessments have been graded- Student work will be submitted back to students on Monday. Revisions of the chapter 6 writing assessments will be due on Monday, 1/10. Each assessment has specific comments written as well as identification of areas of strength and deficiencies on the rubrics attached. For those who composed a digital work sample, comments are included on the student's grade report on the web grade portal.
* Chapter 7 will be finished this week- Students will be required to A) Read a section a night, B) Complete the specified Check Your Progress Questions for each section, and C) Download, print, and complete the online study guide for each section. There is an icon on the left side that will allow students to quickly navigate to the site where this can be done. Students can also download and print online study guides for chapter 7 at school computers. All Check Your Progress Questions and study guides will be collected on Tuesday, 1/11.
* Students will work on their Chapter 7 Assessments on Thursday and Friday during class and these are due on Monday, 1/10. This will lead us to our study of the Constitution that will start next week and culminate in our Final Exam in February.

8th Grade
* Howard Zinn assessments have been graded- Student work will be submitted back to students on Monday. Revisions of the Zinn assessments will be due on Monday, 1/10. Each assessment has specific comments written as well as identification of areas of strength and deficiencies on the rubrics attached. For those who composed a digital work sample, comments are included on the student's grade report on the web grade portal.
* Students will have to read chapter 19 Monday and Tuesday night. It is important that students do not fall behind. In class time will be spent exploring the themes of Progressivism, the topic in chapter 19.
* Students will start the Chapter 19 Assessments on Wednesday- They will commit to a task and map out how they plan on completing it by Wednesday, 1/12. Students will work on this assessment at home and in class.
* Completed Assessments for Chapter 19 will include one completed assessment and five identifications from chapter 19.

Both groups have been given a list of potential extra credit tasks that can be done, if students feel they need to enhance their grades. All students are reminded to advocate for themselves if they feel they are in need of additional guidance and/ or assistance. Lunchtime, the morning, as well as through email or personal conversation are all ways in which advocacy can be accomplished. Please implore your students to keep up with all nightly work as well as ensuring that they are not "lost" in the course of this week and those that follow.

All best.
Mr. Kannan
Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/araswami/2191547357/ and http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

One Week to Go!

With this last week before Winter Break, both groups of Social Studies students on 7.8/3 will be working on submitting their work due Friday. For each group, there are specific requirements that will constitute full submission of work on Friday:
7th Grade Assessments on Chapter 6
2 sets of Check Your Progress Questions from Chapter 6
One completed Chapter 6 Assessment

8th Grade Assessments on Howard Zinn
One completed Enrichment Sheet on Howard Zinn
One completed Assessment on Howard Zinn

In the end, these are the only elements upon which we are placing focus for this week. Work will be collected on Friday or prior to student departure for Winter Break. As per policy, there will not be a late option for these assessments as there is no late work for second trimester. As the bustle of the last week before break takes hold, please keep the talking points for academic success in the forefront of your discussions. Nothing bad can result from asking your emerging scholar questions such as, "Where are you on your assessment?" or "What's your plan for meeting his deadline?" These could open up paths of discussion that could spare some significant heartbreak later on down the trimester's road. Grades will be updated before the end of Winter Recess.

Wish you and your family all the best this holiday season.
Mr. Kannan

Two Weeks before Break: Two Big Assessments

As we approach the holidays, we are now at the point where "band aids" need to be removed and a full embrace of what is there is now needed. With everyone starting at the same two week rush, work seems to be inevitable:
8th Grade
Students should finish their reading in Howard Zinn's "Robber Barons and Rebels" by Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Students will receive their Assessments for the Howard Zinn Unit on Wednesday. Students will need to complete an Enrichment sheet on a portion of the reading. Both the completed Enrichment Sheet and the Assessments are due on Friday, December 17 or before students leave for Winter Break. All stakeholders should strongly encourage students to keep up with the reading and make sure that nightly progress is made to ensure timely completion of tasks.

7th Grade
Students should be working on their Chapter 6 Assessments. Rough drafts can be submitted by Friday of this week. Students must ensure that they have a completed writing task as well as two sets of Check Your Progress Questions from Chapter 6 to be submitted on Friday, December 17 or before students leave for Winter Break. All stakeholders should strongly encourage students to keep up with the reading and make sure that nightly progress is made to ensure timely completion of tasks.

As report cards are sent home with students on Friday of this week, all students are reminded that the past is prologue and that what is done in the next two weeks can have a profound impact on is to lie ahead.

All best and happy hunting.
Mr. Kannan