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The year is in full swing now and all middle school students are working
hard. Many students are now enjoying the extra credit questions that are
posted online under my "Extra Credit" link. I try to get the questions
posted no later than Tuesday of each week.
Our 6th graders are getting used to taking notes together in class. One of
the most important skills we want our students to learn is how to take
notes. Each student will develop their own method of taking notes, however
for now, we are working together on them before I turn them loose. They are
doing a good job of deciding what the important concepts are that need to be
written in their notebooks.
The 6th graders are learning about the beginnings of civilization and how it
will be linked to every part of the world we will study this year. They are
also studying map skills through their weekly work, and their first project -
planning a vacation. They are working in small groups and are doing
research on stops along the way within their trips. Each group has their
own road map with which to work. It is fun to see where they are planning
to go! They are learning PowerPoint along the way!
The 7th grade is studying the age of explorers and are learning how
incredibly brave some of the first explorers were to cross the oceans to
venture to new continents they didn't even know were there! They are also
learning how the explorers from the various countries settled in the
Americas and how they took control of various areas - how they took control
of the natives. We discuss the morality and ethics of such practices.
The students are also working on their "Colonial Projects" in which they
research a given topic and construct a PowerPoint presentation. They are
doing a good job finding information on their various topics.
The 8th graders are finishing up their study of Reconstruction and will
continue on to the late 1800s and early 1900s with the Second Industrial
Revolution and then immigration. They are also going to be researching the
presidentail candidates and where each stands on the issues in order to vote
responsibly in early November. The 8th grade will be doing the majority of
the research for the rest of the Middle School students.
We are ALL learning to adjust to using the new Smartboard technology with
our notetaking in class. Using the new LCD projectors has been quite a gift
as the notes I post in class are MUCH more visible to all. I am converting
all of my chapter notes for all classes to the new software...time
consuming, but well worth it!
Happy Fall!
Mrs. Drabik
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