Green Lane Gazette
November 2022 - Part II
Freshmen in English 9 courses are finishing up a characterization unit and will be moving into learning and utilizing the R.A.C.E.S. strategy for writing constructed responses.
Sophomores in English 10 courses are wrapping up a unit focused on the role of plot and setting in short fiction and will be moving onto a deep dive into characterization, with a strong focus on motivation and direct/indirect characterization.
Juniors in English 11 courses have completed Patrick Henry’s famous speech at the Virginia Convention and will begin a focus on literature written from the literary era of Romanticism.
Seniors in English 12 courses are currently making the transition from reading Old English literature, mainly the epic poem of Beowulf, to reading literature in Middle English, which includes Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
One of the newest and most beneficial math courses at Truman is the popular Personal Finance course. With a full complement of students across five different sections, Personal Finance was created by, and exclusively instructed by, the math department’s own Bill Knowles. A 15-year Truman veteran, Mr. Knowles has long voiced the need for a relevant financial literacy course for our students. Through cooperation with the administration and school board, Mr. Knowles made this year-long class a reality beginning with the 2021-22 school year.
Personal Finance presents students the opportunity to study a variety of topics. From basic fundamentals, such as understanding your paycheck or completing your taxes, to smartly investing in the stock market, the essentials of responsible personal finance are covered. Along the way, students have the chance to research such practical topics as buying a car, taking on a mortgage, and budgeting for their dream vacation.
Mr. Knowles delivers all these lessons from his own unique perspective. In addition to his full-time career as a math teacher, Mr. Knowles runs several successful local businesses. It’s possible some of you have even purchased a Christmas tree or seasonal flowers from his lot on Bensalem Boulevard. Interested students can register for Personal Finance in their junior or senior year.
This month we are highlighting the work of 2 new science teachers, Mrs. McGrath and Mrs.
Tarapchak.
Mrs. Tarapchak teaches Microbiology and Biology. In Biology, she is covering a unit on
macromolecules teaching about proteins and more specifically enzymes. Students are learning
about the role of enzymes in their bodies as well as reviewing homeostasis from a previous unit.
Students conducted a glow sticks lab to reinforce the concepts of reactions and energy as well as
kinetics. Students had to design how they would measure glow after putting glow sticks in
different conditions. This activity forced students to problem solve and revisit the first unit: the
scientific method.
In mMcrobiology, her students are studying the immune system. Students are learning about the
innate and adaptive immune systems as well as the parts of the immune system. Pictures show a
station lab that students worked through to answer questions. They then did a patient zero
activity to trace an infection.
Mrs. McGrath teaches Forensics. She shared pictures showing students engaged in their
fingerprint activities. The students used magnifying glasses to examine their fingerprints. They
observed and recorded their unique fingerprint types. They used this data to tally the classroom
average for each type of fingerprint. They then compared classroom data to the national average.
Students also participated in an ink chromatography lab to identify which suspect’s marker was
used to write a note found at a crime scene.
With the first marking period coming to a close, Truman Social Studies teachers continue to explore new topics and skills with their students.
Ms. Wright's honors Civics & Government classes are preparing to do a research paper defending the significance of an amendment across time.
Mr. Huber & Ms. Wright's classes are excited to be going to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC on Tuesday Nov. 29th.
Hola, Ciao, and Hello! Fall is upon us. We hope you and your families take time to enjoy the quiet comfort of this time of year before the busy holiday season is upon us.
Classroom Corner: ELD classes continue to build vocabulary through reading and writing activities. Spanish classes have enjoyed many Day of the Dead cultural activities. Italian classes had a culture and geography mash-up making pasta maps.
Teacher Spotlight - Ms. Cheryl Barnes, ESL
Ms. Barnes has degrees in Elementary Education, Secondary English, and ESL in addition to a Masters in Education. She started her teaching career at the YMCA with pre-K and has taught students in just about every school grade. She has worked at Fitch, Lincoln, Lafayette, FDR, and currently Truman. Ms. Barnes loves being an ESL teacher and enjoys learning about new cultures. She has been to 7 countries and plans to travel the world. She also has been scrapbooking her trips and her life since she was a student here at Truman.
Truman Contact Information
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