WEEKLY BULLETIN: GRADE 8 LEARNING SUPPORT

MARCH 9, 2012
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MANILA

This Week in Grade 8

ENGLISH: Students have completed their novels and have turned in their 5 paragrah essays related to their Literature Circle novels. Classes are now beginning to focus on Propaganda, the various techniques, identifying how propaganda has been used throughout history (WWII, for example) and how it is used in todays media. Their upcoming performance task related to propaganda will be one for which they create their own poster using propaganda techniques studied in class. SOCIAL STUDIES: Students have turned in their 5 paragraph persuasive essay on the People Power Revolution of 1986. They are now deep into the concepts
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: * Parent Teacher Conferences: Tuesday, March 20 * End of Quarter 3: March 16

of political beliefs, learning about more about the various political beliefs on the spectrum (liberal, moderate, conservative, etc.). For their performance task, they are working in groups political committees to research topics such as education, poverty, pollution, etc. They will later have a forum during which they will present their ndings and opinion (based on their partys political platform) to the class through a speech and debate/discussion. SCIENCE: We are now into our Power Unit and the focus is on Physical Changes in objects and will move on to Chemical Changes. Students have had the opportunity to run a

number of simple lab experiments such as labs to determine boiling point, melting point and freezing point, solids, liquids and gases. They have learned about metals and nonmetals; the differences between them; and concepts such as luster, malleability, conductivity, etc. All of the hands-on activities and lessons during science class have helped to solidify the concepts for many of the students. MATH: Students are well into the unit on Pythagorean Theorem. The vocabulary and concepts are developing and building on each other. Students are provided with much practice and review of these concepts and seem to be understanding it.

UPCOMING ASSESSMENTS & DUE DATES: * ALL MS students are beginning the process of going through the MAP standardized testing. Grade 8 Schedule: March 9 MAP Math; Week of March 19 - MAP Language; Week of March 26 - MAP Reading

IMPORTANT WEBSITES USED IN CORE CLASSES: Google Docs brainpop.com Noodle tools - research skills & notecards

Strategy Instruction Class

Skill & Strategy Areas of Focus: Vocabulary Development: - Developing strategies to help determine meaning of new vocabulary & expanding students vocabulary base - Using context clues - Categorizing/Classifying - Understanding words with Multiple Meanings - Prex & Sufx meanings using these to help determine word meaning - Root Words/Base words - for meaning The Writing Process: - We are beginning to look at the structure of a persuasive paragraph or essay - how to support your opinion with valid reasons and organize them into a strong persuasive paragraph Research Strategies: - using templates to organize information - Noodle tools online - Paraphrasing skill practice 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) - difference between facts and opinions
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Study Skills Time Management Self - Advocacy Paragraph Writing Summary Writing Editing Strategies Interactive Reading Learning Styles

Time Management: - chunking long term/ large assignments into smaller due dates

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