WEEKLY BULLETIN: GRADE 8 LEARNING SUPPORT

OCTOBER 21, 2011

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MANILA

This Week in Grade 8

ENGLISH Students have been introduced to their new unit on Transformation, specically focusing on poetry. Exploring students feelings about poetry, what poetry is, and looking at examples of poetry has been the introduction to this new unit. SOCIAL STUDIES Mapping skills have been delved into this week in Social Studies. Specically, students have completed maps focusing on the Middle East, utilizing a key, and following specic guidelines for creating maps and legends. Upon return from holiday break, students will continue learning map skills, will have a quiz on it, and will then dive into learning about Transformations;
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: October 22-Nov. 1 School Holiday Wednesday, Nov. 2 - classes resume

historic revolutions and current revolutions that have or are transforming governments and lives in the areas in which the are occurring. SCIENCE The Systems unit performance task (system dysfunction presentations) have been completed and the focus is now shifting to Transformations. Students explored the introductory vocabulary for the unit and collected data on how swings work. This will continue upon their return from holiday.

MATH This week students have been in the computer lab using the Geometry Sketchpad program; creating shapes, measuring angles, etc. using this great computer program. After returning from vacation, the focus will continue with Geometry skills.

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY BREAK!!

UPCOMING ASSESSMENTS & DUE DATES:

IMPORTANT WEBSITES USED IN CORE CLASSES: Google Docs

Strategy Instruction Class

Skill & Strategy Areas of Focus: The Writing Process: - Using editing checklists (COPS, SCOPE) - Vocabulary development - Brainstorming - using templates to organize prior to writing; we are going to introduce and experiment with the program Inspiration. - Identifying & Generating Topic Sentences, Compound Sentences (FANBOYS) Research Strategies: - using templates to organize information Reading Comprehension: - understanding new vocabulary through context clues
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Note- Taking Strategies
Study Skills: - Note-taking strategies: we are using the Cornell method which is the 2 column notes method (main ideas on left side; supporting details on right) - Paraphrasing skills

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Study Skills Time Management Self - Advocacy Paragraph Writing Summary Writing Editing Strategies Interactive Reading Learning Styles

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