HLC Update 5/14/2018:
Congratulations to our Great America competitors! We had a few teams place in their competitions, and we got lots of inspiration for next year. We all enjoyed the sunny day and had lots of fun on theme park rides.We have finished our Medieval projects! They are going to be on display in the front auditorium starting Monday at pick-up (3:25) and will be available to view and interact with until the end of the week. Come see them any time you are on campus!Maria will be presenting the Changemakers project which students will create based on their interests. After Tuesday, I can provide you with more specific information if you desire. Homework for the last two weeks before our overnight trip will be related to this project as needed.On June 4th, I hope to see all of you at our end of year conference. They will all be held on that Monday. This will be a great time to celebrate growth and improvement!Finally, if you have not yet completed the online forms related to the rafting trip overnight, please do this ASAP. Note that there is a student contract that should be printed, signed by the student, and returned to school as well.Have a great week!Language Arts Update 5/14/2018:
We have finalized our last major project, the injustice letter-writing project. Students who choose to mail their work will prepare their final, super-edited drafts this week. All others will begin a 2-week, independently-designed, self-guided project related to some aspect of language arts that is motivating for them. I will be individually assessing students for reading comprehension in preparation for year-end report cards. Please help your kids get plenty of sleep and prepare them by giving them a hearty breakfast and morning snacks to help sustain them during this time when their focus is demanded (yet oh-so-challenging because of the beautiful weather!)

Thank you for all the support you have provided throughout the year. I have seen tremendous growth in students’ ability to discuss literature, support inferences with examples from the text, make inferences, complete the writing process, and investigate language. As readers, writers and critical thinkers, they are truly progressing. I look forward to our end-of-year discussion to celebrate your child’s growth during conferences on Monday, June 4. Please make sure you’ve signed up for a time with me! If there are no times available, please reach out so I can schedule you myself. Have a great week!

Katy Siegel
Lead Middle School Teacher

HLC Update 4/30/2018:
An accreditation team is visiting our school this week to see what we do and talk to members of our school about the Athena experience. We will be able to show off the project work we’re doing about the Middle Ages. The due date is 2 weeks away (next Thursday) so I am attaching a link to our project rubric in case you or your child would like to know the expectations for the final, interactive labeled model (students can view this anytime in the PLP). We will display final projects at school the week of May 14 so that parents will be able to see our hard work at pick up or drop off times. More information to come. Have a good week!

LA Update: As an accreditation team tours our school to learn about what we do and speak with us about our experiences here, students will be working on drafting their civic action letters. After completing research and composing a thesis that presents the major issue and possible solution, students are now ready to write the first draft of their letter. Students will receive significant classroom time and support this week. If you or your child would like to review the expectations for the final letter (as well as other areas to be assessed in reading, research and speaking/listening), I am attaching the project rubric. (Please note that my classes will be required to have at least 4 paragraphs, although the rubric states 5). I hope you have a good week!

Link to Justice Letter Project Rubric

4/23/2018: HLC Update:
We had an exciting visit from a professional swordsman and his wife who both taught our middle school students some memorable aspects of the Middle Ages last Tuesday! This week, students begin to research and plan their own medieval projects, which we will be presenting to families in May (date to come). This week, our classes will be joined by Athena elementary students who will soon become middle school students. Some middle school students will be their buddies for a day, showing them what the middle school experience is like. Who better to answer questions than the experts! End of year assessments will continue for various students, so good rest, a hearty breakfast and snacks will help students feel prepared with energy to do their best. I hope this week will be a great one!

Monday: Classwork will explore misperceptions about the Middle Ages, and students will have homework to ask 3 questions for which they’d like to find more information to teach others. Students will record a plan in the PLP for their work this week, in Checkpoint 2, “Plan”. Homework will be completed in the PLP under Medieval Europe, Checkpoint 1 “Ask”.

Tuesday-Friday: Students will see a model for researching and will begin to gather information from half their sources. Homework will be to complete research notes for 2-3 sources (8th grade students and those ready for a challenge will be expected to use a total of 6 sources, and all students will need to use at least 4 sources.) Homework will be completed in the PLP under Medieval Europe, Checkpoint 3 “Learn”.

We have had two conversations with students last week about the upcoming overnight trip. If you have not yet responded about whether your child will be attending, please let us know early this week so we can confirm numbers with the rafting company.

Have a good week!

4/23/2018: Language Arts Update: Students have been working hard to analyze sources and gather facts for their civic action letter. With their research complete, we will be learning how to craft a strong argumentative thesis with sub-claims for our structured letter. This week we will begin to draft our letters following a format with some structural support in the PLP. Some students may rely heavily upon this guide, while others may use it as a checklist while they write more independently. The following week will focus on revision for ideas and clarity. Our final week will allow for step-by-step editing prior to the due date on Thursday, May 10.

Monday: Classwork includes learning about what makes an argumentative claim and its subclaims. I will meet with students to identify an appropriate audience for their letters. For homework, students need to complete steps 1, 2, and 3 in the PLP Language Arts, Justices/Injustices, Checkpoint 5 Argumentative Claim.

Tuesday: The lesson will support students with subclaims, which should help them complete their thesis statement. For homework, students can draft their intro paragraph. This is located in the PLP under final product: Civic Action Letter at the top of Justices/Injustices.

Wednesday – Friday: Depending on students’ readiness and writing pace, the final three days will model each remaining section of the letter: the issue paragraph, the solution paragraph, and the conclusion. Homework will be to draft these sections. Students will likely have homework each night this week; if drafting all sections becomes too stressful, it is possible to continue the drafting phase next week, shortening the revising and editing phases.

On Wednesday (or next week), students will likely log in and begin one of three sections in the MAP test, which students took at the beginning of the year on computers. We will talk about mindset and taking breaks during assessments, with a focus on stress reduction and positive mindset. These tests do not influence students’ report cards, but it is one of several data points that can give a snapshot of student achievement. Multiple assessments will be done to allow for a more complete picture of student understanding, with skills/project-based reports, as well as the GORT, DRA and Key Math tests. Reassure your kids that no matter how they feel about testing, life is so much more than tests!

Katy Siegel
Lead Middle School Teacher

4/16/2018 HLC Update:
Welcome Back! Hopefully fortified by rest and a break from routine, we will recommit to our projects and learning experiences to end the year on a high note. On Wednesday, students will begin their end-of-year assessments. You can support your child by helping them get plenty of rest and eat a solid breakfast during their time testing.

This week, here is what to expect in HLC:

Monday: Students will be given information about our end-of-year overnight trip to go river rafting on the American River. If you were not able to attend the information session the Friday before the break, there will be an informational email headed your week this week or next with all the info you need.
Monday’s Homework: Students complete a survey online about the PLP (emailed)

Tuesday: Students will participate in an interactive demonstration on Medieval life and swordsmanship with guest presenters at Athena.
Tuesday’s Homework: Parents complete the 15-minute PLP survey online here:
Parent PLP Survey
Wednesday and Thursday: Students will rotate to all four teachers to hear the final lessons about significant changes that occurred during and following the Middle Ages in Europe. Students have been practicing personal notetaking strategies in order to take open-notes quizzes each week.
Wednesday/Thursday Homework: Comparison questions related to lessons on Medieval politics, religion, society or economics. (emailed)

Friday: Ms. Maria will be leading a group Changemakers activity with all our middle school classes. The week prior to the break, she discussed balance with students and brought rocks in so students could try making towers called inuksuks. It was a great lesson in perseverance, balance, focus, and creativity!
Homework: None

Language Arts Update:
It’s great to be back! We will read, write, and discuss our way to a fantastic year-end!

Here’s what to expect this week:

Monday: All of us agreed that our brains would be a bit behind after spring break, so we planned to hold our 100-points celebration today in class. It is food-free, and the focus is social games. We will be playing various group games together in class and enjoying each other’s company.
Monday’s Homework: Reading for individual lit circles due Friday for a discussion.

Tuesday: PLP Checkpoint 4 Research document will be introduced with a model for answering research questions and completing a bibliography for websites used. Students will also work in groups to begin researching topics for their Injustice Letter project together.
Tuesday’s Homework: Begin working on research document. Checkpoint 4 is due on Thursday (by end of class).

Wednesday: The lesson will include a word inquiry activity and small groups will work on crafting creative prompts for Friday’s literature circle discussions.
Wednesday’s Homework: Continue completing research document, Checkpoint 4 in the PLP. Due Thursday.

Thursday: The lesson will include a discussion and student survey related to Reading Comprehension Strategies. Students should use classtime to complete any remaining research for their Injustice Letter topic.
Homework: Complete Checkpoint 2, Week 4 “Before” (to prepare for Friday’s literature circle discussion).

Friday: Literature Circle Discussions and reflection. Research should be complete in preparation to begin writing an initial draft next week. You can support your child by asking them to show you some of the highlights of their research in the PLP.
Homework: None

Katy Siegel
Lead Middle School Teacher

HLC Update 4/2/18:
With one week left before Spring Break, we are continuing to learn about the political, economic, social and religious compromises in the Middle Ages. To continue our overview of “Conflicts, compromises, and changes” during this time period, students will be rotating to each teacher to take notes and experience activities related to the area of study. In addition to lessons, students will get a taste of what it was like to create in the middle ages, just like if they were a monk copying texts with a quill pen, or weaving baskets in a guild, or crafting stained glass for windows in a Gothic cathedral. Homework this week will be light, mainly to provide a quick review of daily topics. The homework will be assigned by each teacher, and generally will consist of visiting one or more links online and answering a few questions.
On Friday, I hope you will all be able to visit Athena to see what students have been up to this semester. From 8:30-9:30, enjoy a Parent Coffee in the auditorium, followed by a 30-minute project presentation by the middle school students from their last unit, “Survival and Evolution”. From 10:15-11:00, tour your child’s HLC, Math and Language Arts classes to view work in each area. Before you head off on Spring Break, make sure to visit Mrs. Colleen’s room (Room 1) for a quick overview of our end-of-year overnight, which will be May 29 through June 1.
Have a wonderful Spring Break!
Language Arts Update 4/2/2018:
This week, we will continue our study of justices and injustices with research into students’ top three social justice issues. By the end of the week, some may have already determined which issue they will continue to research in order to write a persuasive letter recommending action to a community group or leader. Students will read in preparation for their self-guided literature circles on Thursday, and do word inquiry and clay work around the word, “action”, as well as self-selected words from their reading and writing.
Both classes have earned 100 class points–from using resources and participating appropriately (not blurting out, or taking risks to increase participation). We will discuss whether to hold our celebration on Thursday this week or the Monday we return from Spring Break. There will not be any food at this celebration, so we will be thinking about alternative ways to have fun and enjoy the fact that our class is smart, collaborative, and awesome! If you’d like information about the upcoming celebration, please email me (ksiegel@athenaacademystudents.org).
I hope to see you on Friday morning between 10:15 and 11:00 when we open our rooms to families to share what we’ve been working on this semester. Have a wonderful Spring Break next week!
Week of 3/26/2018
HLC Update:
Hi families, don’t forget that Tuesday is picture day! The day will follow regular Athena dress code.
Medieval Europe Lessons: Each day this week, students will rotate to the middle school teachers to learn about a different aspect of Medieval Europe. I will be sharing a lesson about religious conflict, centered mainly around the Crusades and the Inquisition. Homework each day will be assigned by the teacher students visit for the lesson. Typically, this should look like a video with some questions to answer, and should be doable within 20-30 minutes.
Friday is Middle School Movie Night! We’ll eat pizza and watch the new Jumanji. Students who have RSVP’d will stay after school for this event and should have plans to be picked up by 6:30.
Language Arts Update: We will continue our Justices and Injustices unit by reading letters from Martin Luther King Jr. and an adult refugee to a child refugee. We will discuss the topic of solidarity, and begin contemplating our research topic, which we will pursue in greater depth next week.
Homework will involve reading and responding to the abovementioned letters as well as preparing for a literature circle discussion on Friday. Check in with your child to see what they think of their new book so far, as well as what their possible research topic will be.
Have a wonderful, sunny week!
Mrs. Sigel
Week of 3/19/2018
HLC Update: 
HLC Update: This week we kicked off our new unit on the Middle Ages in Europe. On Monday, students discussed what they knew about the Middle Ages and compared their ideas with the way the time period was portrayed in a scene from the movie, “A Knight’s Tale”. Our project guiding question is: “How do modern perceptions of Medieval Europe compare to how things actually were?” Over the next few weeks, students will rotate among the four teachers to learn about and take notes on four aspects of this period in history: Medieval religion, politics, economics and social structures. As part of the project, students will consider conflicts, compromises, and change that occurred in Europe and beyond. This project will extend beyond spring break; upon their return, students will complete their research into Medieval topics of interest to them. They will then apply their research to construct an interactive display which will clarify misconceptions and accurately portray an aspect of life in the Middle Ages.
Homework this week: Prepare to present the evolution project to elementary students at school on Friday (1:00-1:45). Some students still need to add a few final touches to their presentation materials or practice reading through their script for comfort. Support your child by asking them to present to you before Friday and give them compliments and encouragement.
Language Arts Update:
We are in the second week of our new unit, “Justices and Injustices”. Last week we thought about what those words mean to us, and we watched “A Class Divided,” which is a PBS documentary about a teacher in the 70’s and 80’s who taught students about discrimination by giving privileges to brown- or blue-eyed students. This week, we are focusing on the skill of making inferences, which we will apply to our reading of historical letters on the topic of social injustice. This week, homework will include writing reflections on how it feels to observe or be treated unfairly, and reading a letter written by Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani. We will also be building our vocabulary to support spelling/writing and reading using word inquiry and clay mastery activities. On Friday, students will participate in the first lit circle discussion with the new book groups they designed. Students in my first block are reading a variety of books from sports-themed Heavy Hitters to fictional books like The Iron Trial, and Cinder.  In my second block, students are pursuing fictional tales like Ms. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, mysteries like Death on the Nile and historical fiction like the book Once, set during WWII.
Have a great week!

Katy Siegel

Lead Middle School Teacher
Week of 3/5/2018:
HLC Update: 
Happy March! Students will have most class periods this week to finalize their evolution presentation, which is due on March 9. This means that they have a spoken presentation and visual ready to turn in on Friday! Checkpoints associated with this project include website evaluation and research (Checkpoint 3) and presentation script and visual selection (Checkpoint 4). Each week students complete a plan for their work (Checkpoint 2) and reflect on their progress. We have diverse topics that will be presented to the elementary students later this month; research questions address the evolution of poison in frogs, the reasons for migration, the genetic story behind albinism, the nature of leadership in horse herds, pandas’ adaptations for survival, the differences between wolves and dogs survival needs, the basics of natural and artificial selection, and the big-headed mole rat’s adaptations for survival. If you have questions on how best to support your child complete this project, please reach out. It is always helpful to discuss the planning process with your child. Ask them to show you their weekly plan and explain their thinking.
Next week we have two field trips: Monday‘s trip to San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art, and Friday‘s trip to Stanford’s Theater to see a performance. The museum exhibit will be a guided tour related to the topic, “Rebel With a Cause.” The Friday trip will be to watch the Quebec City-based Machine de Cirque: 5 guys existing in a post-apocalyptic world–how will they survive? This ties in with our Language Arts Unit on Dystopian Narratives. Keep an eye out for a permission slip, and if you are able, please help drive on one or both outings. We need several parent drivers who will also join us to enjoy these arts events.
Language Arts Update:
I have been so pleased with the writing and communication progress I have observed in both my language arts classes: as I listened to students discuss dystopian elements in a literature circle on Friday, and as I read students’ revised narrative drafts over the weekend, I was impressed by the sophistication and risks students are taking to push themselves further. This week we will put the finishing touches on the written narratives by editing one step at a time (for word choice, transitions, spelling and grammar, punctuation and capitalization, dialogue formatting and paragraphing). Students will also use work time to make revisions to their reading comprehension questions before turning in their final work on Friday. We will celebrate how much strong thinking, reading, writing, and conversations happened throughout this Dystopian unit.If you have any questions about how to best support your child as they complete their written story, ask to see their revised draft and comments from peers and my written feedback. We have focused on two main ideas in our writing: does the language I use help my reader SEE what I’m describing? Does it help them HEAR what my characters think or say?
All the best for a wonderful week!

Katy Siegel

Lead Middle School Teacher
Week of 2/12/2018:
HLC Update:
This week we are celebrating “Random Acts of Kindness” towards fellow students. Each child has drawn the name of another middle school student and will attempt at least one kind act for that student each day of the week. It should not be anything purchased or food-related but could include kind notes, compliments, caring actions (like holding a door open for them) and handmade gestures (like origami, cards, or makerspace creations). In addition, we will be showing kindness to our local community by going on a field trip this Thursday to do habitat restoration in the Baylands nearby. This corresponds nicely with our unit on biology and species survival.

Academically, this week before ski week will be dedicated to student project work. Students will be assigned the homework, “Finish Checkpoint 3: ‘Learn’ by Friday. On Monday, they will devise a to-do list or plan for themselves to tackle this week and will be encouraged to return to that list and revise as needed so they can customize their work day-by-day. This is putting a lot of responsibility on students to manage their time with a week-long assignment that has multiple parts, including locating 3-5 resources on their chosen question, determining whether their sources are reliable, taking notes from their sources, and deciding how to use their notes in a future presentation. I will be available to support students as needed, and I hope to see many students taking on the challenge to work more independently. The entire project will continue after we return from break.

Of course, we will also need to take time for fun! On Thursday afternoon, our HLC will walk to Magic Bridge Park in Palo Alto for some field games and fun and enjoy an ice cream treat on our way back to school. This is to celebrate our class earning 50 points on our collaborative puzzle, each piece earned by nominating a classmate for kindness observed throughout the day.

Don’t forget that Friday is a half day, so pick up is at 11:55. I wish all of you a wonderful ski-week break whether you travel or just enjoy some time together at home.

Language Arts Update:
This week is our final week of reading with The Unwanteds. We are in week 6 of work in the PLP. Students will finish answering 3 questions for their reading this week, with each response including a quote from the book to support their thinking. Students will also be working on their first draft of their dystopian narrative story. There will be lots of time to work on these elements in class after lessons on including dialogue in writing as well as how to write narrative openings and endings. The final written story will not be due until March 9th, so students should not feel pressure to write their complete scene or story before they leave for ski week break.
We will also have a literature circle discussion on Friday beginning with the topic, “What do you think was one of the main themes in The Unwanteds?”  We have been talking about theme for a few weeks now in class together. I look forward to hearing everyone’s perspective!
Have a great week,
Mrs. Siegel
Week of  2/5/2018:
HLC Update:

Welcome to the Mrs. Siegel Homeroom Learning Community (HLC)!

HLC: We are beginning our project this week to explore the question, “What, as scientists, do you need to know in order to determine if a species will survive?”
Students will create their own question to explore biology topics that interest them. Homework this week will involve asking and refining questions and developing a weekly checklist of items to work on. We have presented lessons on cells, DNA, genetics and heredity, and will continue to share information about natural selection and evolution.
You can support your child to think about aspects of biology and survival that they may be most interested in: Animals? Plants? Extinction? There are many possible avenues, and so students should ask rich questions that will allow them to be excited about their learning. This project will extend into March. Below you will find a link to the rubric.
 Have a good week!
Check out this video about graphic novels as literature. Then answer these questions: What was the first graphic novel that got your student hooked on reading? What was the first graphic novel that convinced you that this is great literature too?
For me, I observed students getting obsessed with a book called Cardboard a few years ago. I saw students recommending it to their peers which was inspirational!
Personally, after reading Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and seeing her do a book talk inspired me to view graphic novels as powerful literature. I hope you keep encouraging your child to read anything that gets them interested and excited about reading!
Homework (due on Friday) this week is:
1) Read The Unwanteds through page 306.
2) Answer 3 or more reading questions in Checkpoint 1 in the PLP. Add quotes from the book to support 2 of those answers.
3) Continue working on story brainstorming by doing Parts 4 and 5 in Checkpoint 3 in the PLP.
Have a great week!
Week of 1/21/2018:
HLC Update:
I am looking forward to sitting down with each family this week in order to discuss the progress that has been happening with my HLC students since September. Students are really showing newfound maturity and dedication to doing strong work. If you are not sure of your scheduled time, please send me an email so I can let you know.

This week has many fresh starts: Along with new arts electives, students are beginning a new unit all about Scientific Changes, including concepts about biology, genetics, and the process of evolution. Last week, we took a look at our unit guiding question: “What, as scientists, do you need to know in order to determine if a species will survive?” The discussion that followed showed that students have lots of insight already into the biology of survival, and we came up with a collection of thought-provoking questions and topics that we’d like to learn more about. This unit will expect students to become more independent and guide the project a bit more with their own curiosity. We will also support students to supplement their knowledge with research and lessons where notetaking and question-asking to drive inquiry will be modeled and reinforced.

This week, homework will be light since we are in the introductory phase of the unit. Monday and Thursday will have no homework assigned. There may be some homework mid-week. Ask to see your child’s planner notes for more details.

Language Arts Update:

I, along with Ms. B, look forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress in language arts in the first semester. I am so positive about the developments I’ve seen in just a few short weeks since beginning to work with the class.
Last week we strengthened our reading, writing, and discussion skills. This week is week 3 of our novel study with The Unwanteds. Students are reading the book in print or using an audiobook in order to support comprehension. All students are expected to participate in our weekly lit circle discussions on Thursdays/Fridays. Already in two short weeks of practice, students have developed significantly in their ability to generate good discussion questions, engage others in discussion, contribute ideas to a group conversation, and keep a conversation from running dry. Each week, students read 8 chapters and then answer 3 reading questions from a list in the PLP (Checkpoint 1).

This week I will also be discussing reading habits, taking students to choose books in the Athena library, reading one-on-one and discussing reading strategies, and supporting students to strengthen their reading stamina. Because reading, writing, speaking, and listening are equally valuable communication skills, I will also find time to check in with students about their writing, offering support to make their written ideas each week “longer and stronger”.  Soon I will build in an expectation that students integrate quotes from the book to support their thinking since this will be an especially important skill to have in high school or college English classes.

For homework this week, students need to finish reading The Unwanteds through page 183. Then, they need to choose 3 of the 6 questions in the PLP under Checkpoint 1: Reading Questions- week 3. Finally, students will be expected to complete a writing brainstorming task in the PLP in Checkpoint 3: Writing Process – Part 1. Students will receive daily opportunities to read and complete some of this work in class, but will certainly benefit from time at home to continue their work.

I hope you have a great week ahead! See you soon!

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Dear Families,
Our first week back was a terrific one, with lots of productive work and games to celebrate the completion of a successful week on Friday! I’m looking forward to another great week; don’t forget that Friday there is NO SCHOOL for students, and there is a holiday on Monday as well.
This week in HLC 1/8/2018:
Students will orally present their completed Global Middle Ages project this Tuesday, which includes a model artifact and a written description. Students should have Checkpoints 1-4 complete in the PLP by Tuesday, and their final product and reflection complete by Wednesday. Students will practice their oral presentation if they are done with their work on Monday; in pairs, they will practice reading their written descriptions and showing their model. They can practice answering the question, “Should we keep or change the name ‘Dark Ages’ for the Middle Ages around the world?” On Wednesday, we will have a leader from the YMCA Outdoor Leadership Club coming to do some team-building activities with our middle school group at Athena. On Thursday we will celebrate the completion of our unit with a game. Next week, we will begin a new unit with a biology focus.
This week in Language Arts 1/8/2018:
Last week was an exciting and productive week. We discussed routines related to independent reading, small group work, responding to literature through lit circles, and the characteristics of a good discussion. We had our first lit circle discussion on Friday, and discovered that sustaining an interesting conversation about a story can be harder than expected! This will be a great learning opportunity; we will reflect on what happened in last week’s discussion, and what we want to focus on this week. I will be modeling sentence formats for responding, presenting alternative view points, asking questions, and changing topics. This week, we are formally beginning our new unit on dystopian literature. Our class will be reading the book, The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann. This is a 390 page book that we will tackle over 6 weeks, with two further weeks reserved for completing an associated writing project. Our next literature circle discussion this Thursday will be based on the first 8 chapters of The Unwanteds. Each week, students will be responsible for reading (in print or audio book form) 8 chapters and responding in writing to 3 or more of the associated reading questions (there will be 6 to choose from each week). The reading questions will be completed online in the PLP (Checkpoint 1). Students are welcome to read and respond ahead of assigned chapters, but will be held responsible for completing all the work associated with our reading since they need to be prepared for lit circled discussions at the end of each week. As I mentioned last week, my goal is to weave together reading, writing and discussion about a book so that students grow deeply in their ability to analyze and communicate their ideas about a text. Please be in touch with any questions.
Have a good week!
Mrs. Siegel
HLC Update 1/2/2018:
Dear Families,
I am not a morning person, but as I sit here anticipating our next semester, I have renewed energy. I am eager to see all the ways that students are now stronger than they were last semester with pursuing curiousity through research, communicating their ideas in speaking and writing, and engaging their peers collaboratively and creatively. Best wishes for a terrific 2018! Thank you for making a terrific team to support your child to be happy and successful. If you need to be in touch, my email is ksiegel@athenaacademystudents.org.
Students will have three days of project work time to build a model artifact from the Middle Ages, and write one or more paragraphs describing what their artifact reveals about their civilization of choice. The homework assignment all week will be, “Checkpoint 3: Learn due Friday”. This is located in the PLP under Global Middle Ages. Students have all completed checkpoints 1 and 2, and are in various stages in Checkpoint 3. Some students still need to complete their website research and analysis (on pages 2-3 of Checkpoint 3) while others have begun work on writing their paragraph(s) using the outline on page 1. 6th graders are expected to write one paragraph, 7th graders 2 paragraphs, and 8th graders 3 paragraphs. To support students, we will set a goal at the beginning of the week, and review a checklist of requirements in order to successfully complete work on this project by next Monday. Students will orally present their work next Tuesday, and practicing their presentation is an item on the checklist. To support your child, ask them to show you their checkpoint 3, and review any current or historic comments that have been added by me. You can help them revise ideas in their writing for clarity, edit for spelling, and listen as they practice reading aloud. While we do not have any new content lessons this week, a transition back from a long break will mean lots of fatigue. Encourage your child to go to bed early so they can make it through each day! Looking forward to a great week and year.
This week in Language Arts (First week of January):
I am thrilled to be returning to the language arts program after a fun first semester in math! This week will feel a bit like the beginning of the year since I will be introducing my style of teaching and routines to the students. I am happy to welcome a new student, Ruby, to our second block! There will be little to no homework (perhaps a little writing on Thursday night) as we focus on mastering procedures for independent reading and work time, rotations to work with teachers in small groups, and preparing for Friday Literature Circle discussions. I believe lit circles will be a valuable opportunity for students to strengthen their ability to analyze and discuss texts with peers in a way that promotes deep and creative thinking. It also weaves together skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing since we will do preparation writing based on prompts and reflective writing based on our discussion experiences. This week we will also have a bit of fun with creative writing to get the juices flowing for our upcoming narrative writing unit. While most of our writing will allow for the use of computers and text to speech technology when needed, all students will have the chance to build their own creative writing journals for a good old fashioned, hands-on experience that can be a place for their imagination to roost free of any spelling or grammar concerns. I am looking forward to a great week and year!
HLC Update 12/12/2017:
The holidays are soon upon us! Thank you to all my students and you their families for making my 2017 a happy and fulfilling first semester. I hope you will all find the adventure or peace you seek as we head into the new year.
This week students will have three days to work on their HLC Global Middle Ages Project. Students will have one hour of worktime to take research they’ve done about their chosen region and topic and craft a response to the guiding question, “Should we rename the Dark Ages?” The work will take place in Checkpoint 3 in the PLP. Students will also have a chance to begin creating their model of a medieval artifact that visually represents their research and perspective on the guiding question. Some students may need specific materials beyond what can be found in our makerspace.
On Thursday, students will exchange “Phantom Phoenix” gifts in the style of “secret Santa.” Please make sure your child brings a gift (no more than $15, and homemade is ok!) by Wednesday so we can ensure everyone will have a gift to unwrap on our final day together. At 10AM on Thursday, all families are invited to Athena to a classroom open house. Your child will take you to their classes to show you what we’ve been working on lately! It should be a great morning.
Math Update:
Mr. Z has been doing wonderful work with his new math class! Students have finished their mini-golf holes and will be playing their golf game this week! What a fun way to answer the question, “How does geometry make the world more fun?” You will have an opportunity to play the miniature golf course as well when families come to Athena on Thursday for open house.
Mr. Z and I will be working together closely to assess students on their geometry work since we both had a chance to work with students during this unit. If you have any specific questions for Mr. Z regarding his homework or classwork, please email him at rzobel@athenaacademystudents.org. It has been my pleasure to teach math to your children this first semester, and I feel fortunate that I will see many of them in my class yet as I transition to taking on the language arts class that Ms. B has taught up to this point. One of the most wonderful aspects of teaching at Athena is the deep famililarity we are able to establish with each of the students. I am excited to apply my love of reading and storytelling to our class in the coming year!
Many wishes for a safe and joyful holiday break.
And my favorite thing to say at this time of year… “See you next year!”
Mrs. Siegel

HLC update for the week of November 27th
Welcome back! I hope your family enjoyed a Thanksgiving filled with many enjoyable moments. It’s incredible how fast the year is flying–we’re already only about a month away from the end of 2017!

As we ease back into school, here’s what you can expect this week:
Our HLC classes will rotate to each teacher throughout the week to learn about transportation and trade in the three regions we are focusing on during the middle ages: Asia, Africa and the Americas. In my class, students will experience a trade simulation game to get a sense of the importance of the Silk Road in China.

Homework will be due on Wednesday and Friday this week. Students will make progress deciding upon their final project research topic and questions for Wednesday in the PLP. The project is called “Global Middle Ages” and Wednesday’s assignment is to complete “Checkpoint 1: Ask”. On Friday, students will need to complete some of the planning that is part of “Checkpoint 2: Plan”.
Finally, I encourage all who are able to attend this Friday’s parent coffee to learn about the new report card format and meet our new middle school teacher, Ryan Zobel.

Math update:

Welcome back! I hope your family enjoyed a Thanksgiving filled with enjoyable moments. It’s incredible how fast the year is flying, already only about a month away from the end of 2017! Our new middle school HLC and math teacher, Ryan Zobel, has been participating in our math classes for several weeks now. On Tuesday, the math class under his direction will relocate to classroom 5 (next door to our current classroom) where it will continue to meet through the end of the school year. The language arts class that has been meeting over there will shift to begin meeting in class 6, where it will continue through the end of the school year. I will still be present as Ryan transitions to teaching the math class; eventually I will begin to observe and support in the language arts class. Students may feel excited or uneasy during this time of transition, and we will do our best to support and listen to any concerns. Please let me know if you sense your child needs any extra support during this week.

As we ease back into school, here’s what you can expect this week:
On Monday, we will have a welcome-back activity called a “Breakout Challenge”. This is a series of educational puzzles designed like an escape room where students have a goal to achieve in a certain time limit.

On Tuesday through Friday, Ryan will be leading lessons that extend students’ understanding of geometric calculations, and meeting with students in small groups to address any areas of concern highlighted in last week’s assessment.
Our project work time each day will include opportunities for students to complete building and decorating their golf course holes, as well as making sure all their calculations and design work in their packets is complete before December 8th.
Have a great week!

Mrs. Siegel

HLC update for the week of November 13th

Our Global Middle Ages Unit is off to a great start! Last week we introduced students to the government, military and society structures of the following regions: Asia (China and Japan), Africa (Medieval kingdoms of Western Africa), and the Maya, Inca and Aztecs in the Americas. Students have been practicing taking notes (either digitally or by hand) and comparing the regions based on their notes and a set of vocabulary concepts at the end of each week. This week, students will hear presentations on the arts and sciences in each of the regions we are studying. They will again take notes and compare the regions at the end of the week. In addition, on Thursday or Friday, students will be introduced to the project that will accompany this unit: students will answer the question, “Middle Ages: Dark Ages or Golden Ages?” by creating a model of an artifact from one of the regions being studied, and writing a description that explains how the artifact demonstrates their response to the question. Students will be researching sources to support their writing; using sources to inform writing will be modeled as well over the next few weeks. Look for a rubric and project guidelines by next week.

On Friday morning, our school will be attending a showing of Wonder in theaters. Please make sure you sign your child’s permission slip as soon as possible.

Math update for the week of November 13th

This week students will continue to build in the Makerspace; we are making good progress on answering the question, “How can geometry make the world more fun?” by constructing mini golf holes! Besides the building project, students will be reviewing geometry concepts in order to take a geometry assessment at the end of the week. On Wednesday, students will take a practice test (which we call a twiz: bigger than a quiz but smaller than a test). The practice twiz will mirror the types of questions on the final twiz. We will review the types of problems as well on Monday and Tuesday in class and with homework, so students should feel confident with the assessment. Please make sure your child gets lots of good sleep and eats a healthy breakfast to ensure they have the energy to be focused and alert during their assessment. We discuss positive mindset around testing before each test, and will continue to do so.

You can help your child on Wednesday night when they study their practice test for the final exam. Ask your student to visualize the answers to each type of question, especially those they may have missed on the practice test. The test will cover concepts related to the coordinate grid, angle measuring, finding area, perimeter, surface area and volume.

Week of 1/21/2018:
HLC Update:
I am looking forward to sitting down with each family this week in order to discuss the progress that has been happening with my HLC students since September. Students are really showing newfound maturity and dedication to doing strong work. If you are not sure of your scheduled time, please send me an email so I can let you know.

This week has many fresh starts: Along with new arts electives, students are beginning a new unit all about Scientific Changes, including concepts about biology, genetics, and the process of evolution. Last week, we took a look at our unit guiding question: “What, as scientists, do you need to know in order to determine if a species will survive?” The discussion that followed showed that students have lots of insight already into the biology of survival, and we came up with a collection of thought-provoking questions and topics that we’d like to learn more about. This unit will expect students to become more independent and guide the project a bit more with their own curiosity. We will also support students to supplement their knowledge with research and lessons where notetaking and question-asking to drive inquiry will be modeled and reinforced.

This week, homework will be light since we are in the introductory phase of the unit. Monday and Thursday will have no homework assigned. There may be some homework mid-week. Ask to see your child’s planner notes for more details.

Language Arts Update:

I, along with Ms. B, look forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress in language arts in the first semester. I am so positive about the developments I’ve seen in just a few short weeks since beginning to work with the class.
Last week we strengthened our reading, writing, and discussion skills. This week is week 3 of our novel study with The Unwanteds. Students are reading the book in print or using an audiobook in order to support comprehension. All students are expected to participate in our weekly lit circle discussions on Thursdays/Fridays. Already in two short weeks of practice, students have developed significantly in their ability to generate good discussion questions, engage others in discussion, contribute ideas to a group conversation, and keep a conversation from running dry. Each week, students read 8 chapters and then answer 3 reading questions from a list in the PLP (Checkpoint 1).

This week I will also be discussing reading habits, taking students to choose books in the Athena library, reading one-on-one and discussing reading strategies, and supporting students to strengthen their reading stamina. Because reading, writing, speaking, and listening are equally valuable communication skills, I will also find time to check in with students about their writing, offering support to make their written ideas each week “longer and stronger”.  Soon I will build in an expectation that students integrate quotes from the book to support their thinking since this will be an especially important skill to have in high school or college English classes.

For homework this week, students need to finish reading The Unwanteds through page 183. Then, they need to choose 3 of the 6 questions in the PLP under Checkpoint 1: Reading Questions- week 3. Finally, students will be expected to complete a writing brainstorming task in the PLP in Checkpoint 3: Writing Process – Part 1. Students will receive daily opportunities to read and complete some of this work in class, but will certainly benefit from time at home to continue their work.

I hope you have a great week ahead! See you soon!

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Dear Families,
Our first week back was a terrific one, with lots of productive work and games to celebrate the completion of a successful week on Friday! I’m looking forward to another great week; don’t forget that Friday there is NO SCHOOL for students, and there is a holiday on Monday as well.
This week in HLC 1/8/2018:
Students will orally present their completed Global Middle Ages project this Tuesday, which includes a model artifact and a written description. Students should have Checkpoints 1-4 complete in the PLP by Tuesday, and their final product and reflection complete by Wednesday. Students will practice their oral presentation if they are done with their work on Monday; in pairs, they will practice reading their written descriptions and showing their model. They can practice answering the question, “Should we keep or change the name ‘Dark Ages’ for the Middle Ages around the world?” On Wednesday, we will have a leader from the YMCA Outdoor Leadership Club coming to do some team-building activities with our middle school group at Athena. On Thursday we will celebrate the completion of our unit with a game. Next week, we will begin a new unit with a biology focus.
This week in Language Arts 1/8/2018:
Last week was an exciting and productive week. We discussed routines related to independent reading, small group work, responding to literature through lit circles, and the characteristics of a good discussion. We had our first lit circle discussion on Friday, and discovered that sustaining an interesting conversation about a story can be harder than expected! This will be a great learning opportunity; we will reflect on what happened in last week’s discussion, and what we want to focus on this week. I will be modeling sentence formats for responding, presenting alternative view points, asking questions, and changing topics. This week, we are formally beginning our new unit on dystopian literature. Our class will be reading the book, The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann. This is a 390 page book that we will tackle over 6 weeks, with two further weeks reserved for completing an associated writing project. Our next literature circle discussion this Thursday will be based on the first 8 chapters of The Unwanteds. Each week, students will be responsible for reading (in print or audio book form) 8 chapters and responding in writing to 3 or more of the associated reading questions (there will be 6 to choose from each week). The reading questions will be completed online in the PLP (Checkpoint 1). Students are welcome to read and respond ahead of assigned chapters, but will be held responsible for completing all the work associated with our reading since they need to be prepared for lit circled discussions at the end of each week. As I mentioned last week, my goal is to weave together reading, writing and discussion about a book so that students grow deeply in their ability to analyze and communicate their ideas about a text. Please be in touch with any questions.
Have a good week!
Mrs. Siegel
HLC Update 1/2/2018:
Dear Families,
I am not a morning person, but as I sit here anticipating our next semester, I have renewed energy. I am eager to see all the ways that students are now stronger than they were last semester with pursuing curiousity through research, communicating their ideas in speaking and writing, and engaging their peers collaboratively and creatively. Best wishes for a terrific 2018! Thank you for making a terrific team to support your child to be happy and successful. If you need to be in touch, my email is ksiegel@athenaacademystudents.org.
Students will have three days of project work time to build a model artifact from the Middle Ages, and write one or more paragraphs describing what their artifact reveals about their civilization of choice. The homework assignment all week will be, “Checkpoint 3: Learn due Friday”. This is located in the PLP under Global Middle Ages. Students have all completed checkpoints 1 and 2, and are in various stages in Checkpoint 3. Some students still need to complete their website research and analysis (on pages 2-3 of Checkpoint 3) while others have begun work on writing their paragraph(s) using the outline on page 1. 6th graders are expected to write one paragraph, 7th graders 2 paragraphs, and 8th graders 3 paragraphs. To support students, we will set a goal at the beginning of the week, and review a checklist of requirements in order to successfully complete work on this project by next Monday. Students will orally present their work next Tuesday, and practicing their presentation is an item on the checklist. To support your child, ask them to show you their checkpoint 3, and review any current or historic comments that have been added by me. You can help them revise ideas in their writing for clarity, edit for spelling, and listen as they practice reading aloud. While we do not have any new content lessons this week, a transition back from a long break will mean lots of fatigue. Encourage your child to go to bed early so they can make it through each day! Looking forward to a great week and year.
This week in Language Arts (First week of January):
I am thrilled to be returning to the language arts program after a fun first semester in math! This week will feel a bit like the beginning of the year since I will be introducing my style of teaching and routines to the students. I am happy to welcome a new student, Ruby, to our second block! There will be little to no homework (perhaps a little writing on Thursday night) as we focus on mastering procedures for independent reading and work time, rotations to work with teachers in small groups, and preparing for Friday Literature Circle discussions. I believe lit circles will be a valuable opportunity for students to strengthen their ability to analyze and discuss texts with peers in a way that promotes deep and creative thinking. It also weaves together skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing since we will do preparation writing based on prompts and reflective writing based on our discussion experiences. This week we will also have a bit of fun with creative writing to get the juices flowing for our upcoming narrative writing unit. While most of our writing will allow for the use of computers and text to speech technology when needed, all students will have the chance to build their own creative writing journals for a good old fashioned, hands-on experience that can be a place for their imagination to roost free of any spelling or grammar concerns. I am looking forward to a great week and year!
HLC Update 12/12/2017:
The holidays are soon upon us! Thank you to all my students and you their families for making my 2017 a happy and fulfilling first semester. I hope you will all find the adventure or peace you seek as we head into the new year.
This week students will have three days to work on their HLC Global Middle Ages Project. Students will have one hour of worktime to take research they’ve done about their chosen region and topic and craft a response to the guiding question, “Should we rename the Dark Ages?” The work will take place in Checkpoint 3 in the PLP. Students will also have a chance to begin creating their model of a medieval artifact that visually represents their research and perspective on the guiding question. Some students may need specific materials beyond what can be found in our makerspace.
On Thursday, students will exchange “Phantom Phoenix” gifts in the style of “secret Santa.” Please make sure your child brings a gift (no more than $15, and homemade is ok!) by Wednesday so we can ensure everyone will have a gift to unwrap on our final day together. At 10AM on Thursday, all families are invited to Athena to a classroom open house. Your child will take you to their classes to show you what we’ve been working on lately! It should be a great morning.
Math Update:
Mr. Z has been doing wonderful work with his new math class! Students have finished their mini-golf holes and will be playing their golf game this week! What a fun way to answer the question, “How does geometry make the world more fun?” You will have an opportunity to play the miniature golf course as well when families come to Athena on Thursday for open house.
Mr. Z and I will be working together closely to assess students on their geometry work since we both had a chance to work with students during this unit. If you have any specific questions for Mr. Z regarding his homework or classwork, please email him at rzobel@athenaacademystudents.org. It has been my pleasure to teach math to your children this first semester, and I feel fortunate that I will see many of them in my class yet as I transition to taking on the language arts class that Ms. B has taught up to this point. One of the most wonderful aspects of teaching at Athena is the deep famililarity we are able to establish with each of the students. I am excited to apply my love of reading and storytelling to our class in the coming year!
Many wishes for a safe and joyful holiday break.
And my favorite thing to say at this time of year… “See you next year!”
Mrs. Siegel

HLC update for the week of November 27th
Welcome back! I hope your family enjoyed a Thanksgiving filled with many enjoyable moments. It’s incredible how fast the year is flying–we’re already only about a month away from the end of 2017!

As we ease back into school, here’s what you can expect this week:
Our HLC classes will rotate to each teacher throughout the week to learn about transportation and trade in the three regions we are focusing on during the middle ages: Asia, Africa and the Americas. In my class, students will experience a trade simulation game to get a sense of the importance of the Silk Road in China.

Homework will be due on Wednesday and Friday this week. Students will make progress deciding upon their final project research topic and questions for Wednesday in the PLP. The project is called “Global Middle Ages” and Wednesday’s assignment is to complete “Checkpoint 1: Ask”. On Friday, students will need to complete some of the planning that is part of “Checkpoint 2: Plan”.
Finally, I encourage all who are able to attend this Friday’s parent coffee to learn about the new report card format and meet our new middle school teacher, Ryan Zobel.

Math update:

Welcome back! I hope your family enjoyed a Thanksgiving filled with enjoyable moments. It’s incredible how fast the year is flying, already only about a month away from the end of 2017! Our new middle school HLC and math teacher, Ryan Zobel, has been participating in our math classes for several weeks now. On Tuesday, the math class under his direction will relocate to classroom 5 (next door to our current classroom) where it will continue to meet through the end of the school year. The language arts class that has been meeting over there will shift to begin meeting in class 6, where it will continue through the end of the school year. I will still be present as Ryan transitions to teaching the math class; eventually I will begin to observe and support in the language arts class. Students may feel excited or uneasy during this time of transition, and we will do our best to support and listen to any concerns. Please let me know if you sense your child needs any extra support during this week.

As we ease back into school, here’s what you can expect this week:
On Monday, we will have a welcome-back activity called a “Breakout Challenge”. This is a series of educational puzzles designed like an escape room where students have a goal to achieve in a certain time limit.

On Tuesday through Friday, Ryan will be leading lessons that extend students’ understanding of geometric calculations, and meeting with students in small groups to address any areas of concern highlighted in last week’s assessment.
Our project work time each day will include opportunities for students to complete building and decorating their golf course holes, as well as making sure all their calculations and design work in their packets is complete before December 8th.
Have a great week!

Mrs. Siegel

HLC update for the week of November 13th

Our Global Middle Ages Unit is off to a great start! Last week we introduced students to the government, military and society structures of the following regions: Asia (China and Japan), Africa (Medieval kingdoms of Western Africa), and the Maya, Inca and Aztecs in the Americas. Students have been practicing taking notes (either digitally or by hand) and comparing the regions based on their notes and a set of vocabulary concepts at the end of each week. This week, students will hear presentations on the arts and sciences in each of the regions we are studying. They will again take notes and compare the regions at the end of the week. In addition, on Thursday or Friday, students will be introduced to the project that will accompany this unit: students will answer the question, “Middle Ages: Dark Ages or Golden Ages?” by creating a model of an artifact from one of the regions being studied, and writing a description that explains how the artifact demonstrates their response to the question. Students will be researching sources to support their writing; using sources to inform writing will be modeled as well over the next few weeks. Look for a rubric and project guidelines by next week.

On Friday morning, our school will be attending a showing of Wonder in theaters. Please make sure you sign your child’s permission slip as soon as possible.

Math update for the week of November 13th

This week students will continue to build in the Makerspace; we are making good progress on answering the question, “How can geometry make the world more fun?” by constructing mini golf holes! Besides the building project, students will be reviewing geometry concepts in order to take a geometry assessment at the end of the week. On Wednesday, students will take a practice test (which we call a twiz: bigger than a quiz but smaller than a test). The practice twiz will mirror the types of questions on the final twiz. We will review the types of problems as well on Monday and Tuesday in class and with homework, so students should feel confident with the assessment. Please make sure your child gets lots of good sleep and eats a healthy breakfast to ensure they have the energy to be focused and alert during their assessment. We discuss positive mindset around testing before each test, and will continue to do so.

You can help your child on Wednesday night when they study their practice test for the final exam. Ask your student to visualize the answers to each type of question, especially those they may have missed on the practice test. The test will cover concepts related to the coordinate grid, angle measuring, finding area, perimeter, surface area and volume.

Mrs. Siegel

November Updates:

Mrs. Siegel’s Previous HLC and Math Updates:

I look forward to having a chance to talk with you in person this Thursday and Friday at conferences! (Don’t forget Thursday is a half day with optional activities for students in the afternoon, and Friday is no school for students). I notice most families have already signed up for a time slot, and I encourage you to sign up for a second slot if you have the time and your child is in two classes with me (HLC and Math). That will give us the necessary time to talk about all aspects of their academic goals and progress so far.

This week in HLC students will define the procedure for their chemical reactions experiment. They will test their hypothesis next week. Homework this week will include finalizing their materials and procedures lists in the PLP under Chemical Reactions (HLC) in Checkpoint 2. This will be due on Wednesday. They will also begin writing their lab report introduction, which will be modeled in class for students to submit by Thursday. The resources on this web page should now include a description of the PLP, which will also be emailed to Middle School families this week. In case your child needs support accessing the Checkpoint 2 document in the PLP for Wednesday, here are the steps to follow to get there:

  1. Log in to www.summitlearning.org using the student’s Athena gmail login and password
  2. Click on “Yearly View” (from the selection on the left)
  3. Find the HLC row, and open the second project segment called “Chemical Reactions”
  4. Open Checkpoint 2 by clicking on the title “2. Planning Your Investigation”
  5. Complete all answers to Step 1 (should already be done from last week) and Step 2
  6. Click the button that says “Request Feedback” in the bottom right corner, then “Submit for Feedback” when done

On another note, I encourage all families to attend the “Athena Speaks” speaker on Tuesday evening in the auditorium. Dr. Bob Hendron will be speaking on the topic of Anxiety, ADHD, and their relation to Reading Disorders. It should be interesting!

Have a great week and see you on Thursday or Friday!

Math update for the week of October 9

I look forward to having a chance to talk with you in person this Thursday and Friday at conferences! I notice most families have already signed up for a time slot, and I encourage you to sign up for a second slot if you have the time and your child is in two classes with me (HLC and Math). That will give us the necessary time to talk about all aspects of their academic goals and progress so far.

This week we will discuss inequality statements and use them to order rational numbers. We will review concepts learned about integers and rational numbers so far this year, and students will take a pre-test modeled after a short test on these concepts. This is the first in-class assessment after weeks of practicing related concepts. We will discuss how to prepare for a test (with sleep, eating a good breakfast/snack, and practicing positive language and mindset related to approaching an activity that can be stressful for lots of people). The test will not be long, and students will have unlimited time to complete the activity, and test questions can be read to students. There will be an emphasis on success and using what they’ve learned. The pre-test will be “open notes” so students can refer to their binders with homework, classwork and vocab definitions. The test is planned for Thursday. If you have any questions about this, please let me know.

We will also have a guest teacher in Block 1 on Wednesday morning; this is a potential candidate to take on the fourth middle school HLC that we lost at the start of the year. He will teach a math lesson with the kids.

I hope you have a wonderful week, and see you on Thursday or Friday!

HLC update for the week of October 2nd:

Thank you for attending Back To School Night! The handout and informational slides are in the resources section of this webpage for your continued reference.

If you have not yet signed up for conferences (which are next week, Thursday after noon or Friday all day) please do so with the link sent to you by Athena. If you need help signing up for a slot, please email me as soon as possible.

** NOTE: You should plan on reserving one time slot for EACH subject (HLC, LA and Math), even if your child has the same teacher for multiple subjects. **

This week students will finalize their testable question and begin writing the procedure for their self-designed chemical reactions experiment. We are using the “PLP” for classwork and some homework this week. Watch for information about the PLP to come your way later this week! I will also add an informational resource about the PLP to our website.

  • On Monday, students will observe some possible chemical reactions with the materials available to them. They will finalize their testable question with their partner or small group. The homework includes adding 2 new examples of physical changes and 2 new examples of chemical changes on a study guide from class.
  • On Tuesday, we will review the process for writing an introduction for the lab report for their chemical reactions project. Ms. Maria has provided materials for a Changemakers lesson while she is away in Canada this week.
  • On Wednesday, students will consider how to write an experimental procedure. Beginning on Wednesday, I will be meeting individually with students to refine their HLC goals, which students are composing in the PLP.
  • On Thursday, we will be learning about how to write a hypothesis, and create a controlled experiment, as well as doing a hands-on lab.
  • On Friday, students will complete a reflection about their week, and attend the elementary school’s arcade, which is a culmination of several weeks of work to construct cardboard arcade games.

Math update for the week of October 2nd:

Thank you for attending Back To School Night! The handout and informational slides are in the resources section of this webpage for your continued reference.

If you have not yet signed up for conferences (which are next week, Thursday after noon or Friday all day) please do so with the link sent to you by Athena. If you need help signing up for a slot, please email me as soon as possible.

** NOTE: You should plan on reserving one time slot for EACH subject (HLC, LA and Math), even if your child has the same teacher for multiple subjects.

This week in math, we will extend our understanding of positive and negative numbers to the realm of rational numbers: positive and negative numbers inclusive of decimals and fractions. As we learn about these concepts, we will reinforce them by putting the abstract numbers into a real-world context.

  • On Monday, students will review integers concepts in a PLP focus area called “negative numbers”. This focus area has resources for reveiw, as well as a 10 question assessment. Once students have passed 8 out of 10 questions, they have “mastered” the focus area, and it will turn green in the PLP. Students should be able to pass by the end of the week or early next week.
  • On Tuesday, students will rotate through small group lessons and independent activities to reinforce and extend their understanding of fractions and how rational numbers show up on a number line. Tuesday through Thursday night will have a one page review of the day’s concepts for homework.
  • On Wednesday, students will compare rational numbers on a number line and in other contexts.
  • On Thursday, we will take a look at inequalities.
  • On Friday, the lesson covers absolute value and order in the real world. Throughout the week, I will meet with students to discuss their semester math goal. We will work together to refine a specific, realistic goal. These will be presented at next week’s conferences.

I look forward to partnering with your family for a fun and engaging year. If you need to reach me, please email me at ksiegel@athenaacademy.org. I will do my best to thoughtfully respond to you within 48 hours during the week.

Best wishes for a fantastic year!

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Previous Weekly Updates

HLC update for the week of SeptemberI hope to see all of you at Back to School Night this Tuesday from 6:30-8:30!

This week students will be introduced to the guidelines for their first HLC project unit, Chemical Reactions. Students will pursue a self-designed scientific experiment to investigate the question, “How cn we use scientific investigations to explore the natural world and explain the interactions of matter?” The students have an online portal, called the “PLP” (for Personalized Learning Platform) where much of the information for their project work can be found.

  • On Monday, students will review the rubric and materials that will be available to them during their project. They will then learn about what makes a testable question. Students will also complete a lab investigating the properties of molecules in liquids.
  • On Tuesday, we will do a lab about the property of molecules in solids, and have Changemakers with Ms. Maria.
  • On Wednesday, students will begin brainstorming testable questions with their experiment partner(s), and do another lab about the properties of matter.
  • On Thursday, we will be learning about how to write a hypothesis, and create a controlled experiment, as well as doing another hands-on lab.
  • On Friday, students will complete a reflection about their week, and observe a presentation related to our recycling program at school.

Homework is twofold this week: On a nightly basis, students will supplement their understanding of chemical reactions by watching videos, reading articles, and doing activities found in the PLP under the focus area “Chemical Reactions”. A long-term assignment, due Friday, is to draft their HLC, Math and Language Arts goals, so that they can review these with their classroom teachers next week. Goal setting is an independent learning behavior students will practice and refine over the course of the year, and their middle school experience.

Math update for the week of September 25th

This week in math, we will strengthen our understanding of integers (positive and negative whole numbers) and rational numbers (positive and negative numbers inclusive of decimals and fractions). As we learn about these concepts, we will reinforce them by putting the abstract numbers into a real-world context.

  • On Monday, students will think about integers in relationship to money, temperature and elevation, creating their own story using one of these concepts.
  • On Tuesday, students will continue small-group lessons with me to learn about the opposite of the opposite of a number (-(-5)) and reflect on the progress they have made with their Superhero project.
  • On Wednesday, students will consider the concept of rational numbers, so that on Thursday we can order and compare rational numbers on a number line and in other contexts.
  • On Friday, we will take a look at inequalities, and finish up all project work on Superhero comics.

My math classrooms have a positive energy this year! Students are taking on challenges, advocating for their needs when confusion arises, and supporting each other to make progress. I am certain we will have a terrific year of math exploration and growth.

HLC 9/18/2017

In HLC this week, we will discuss elements of independent learning: goal setting, reflecting, and using the online personalized learning platform (known as the PLP). Then, we dive into our first unit all about Chemical Reactions! We are focusing on the concepts of “change” as we ask questions, pursue investigations, and collect data from experiments we observe and design. Next week, I hope I will see many of you at Back to School Night (September 26th, more details to come).

In Math, we will begin our first unit studying rational numbers (positive and negative whole numbers and fractions/decimals) as well as their location within a coordinate plane. We will examine the mathematical concepts in the context of real-world scenarios, and students can access several online learning tools to solidify and stretch their mathematical understanding. Watch for information coming home describing Dreambox, a math practice website that students can access at home or at school for continued practice. I look forward to sharing all about our math classes at Back to School Night next Tuesday, September 26th.

HLC 9/10/2017

Last week, students in our HLC focused on identifying kindness in each other. We had fun drinking tea together, and unique, individual personalities are finding their place within group dynamics.  This week, our HLC will be pursuing hands-on activities to continue building community and help us get to know each other better. These activities include plaster hand casting and get-to-know-me circuitry boards. We will also begin exploring the nature of asking good questions, which is important for students as they research and investigate topics that interest them throughout the year. Students begin their regular PE and arts elective schedule, so students should have PE clothes (comfortable shoes and clothing that allows for stretching and running). Students can change into their clothing at school, so should still come to school in dress code. While HLC homework may be light this week, it is still beneficial to check in with your child to see what they have recorded in their planner. I put a sticker next to the homework they complete and return to school the following day.

Math Block 1 and 2:

Last week we practiced math discussions by describing how our brains see dot patterns in unique ways, and how we interpret and create multi-variable graphs. We learned and practiced using math vocabulary like “variable” and pursed open-ended problem solving through games and group activities. Along with this, we watched Jo Boaler’s videos about mindset in math, which debunk the “myth of the math brain” and emphasize the power of making mistakes. This week, students will begin assessments that will provide insight into their capabilities in various mathematical tasks. We will also be learning and practicing some math games which we will teach to an elementary class later in the week. In addition, we will begin our first math project of the year, called “Problem-Solving Superheroes vs. Problem-Creating Math Villains”. Students have the opportunity to imagine a creative scenario involving mathematical superpowers, and then illustrate their story within Pixton, an online comic creator. While homework might be lighter this week, I encourage you to find time to have a conversation with your child each night about something they learned or did in math each day. Some questions that might help stimulate conversation include: “I hear you have a project about super heroes. Tell me what your super hero is like…” or “I really enjoy card games. What new game did you learn this week in math?”

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