Team Berlin Update 10

11/1: End of Term 1

11/4: No School: Records Day/Teacher PD Day

11/5: No School: Election Day

11/8: African American History Museum Field Trip (ELA Focus)

11/11: No School: Veterans Day

*Optional: Students may choose to stay after school on Thursdays for a little extra time to finish assignment, use their school computer or get help on an assignment.

Thursdays, 3:30-4:30

October 31: ----NO TEAM TUTORING--

November 7: Byrns, W015

November 14: Byrns, W105

November 21: Byrns, W105

11/8: National Museum of African American History & Culture sponsored by the ELA Department

This trip is focused on students investigating and documenting real-life acts of courage in connection with their exploration of courage themes in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

The work students do at the museum will count as a Formative grade. They will then use that in person research to create a digital poster that will be a Summative grade.

Logistics:

• All students are expected to be on time for school (in class by 8:45 AM).
• Depart Deal at 9:30 am and return by 3:10 pm.
• Take the metro train to and from the museum.
• There is no cost for the trip.
• Cell phones will remain in Yondr pouches, locked in lockers, at school.
• Students need to bring their Kids Ride Free card, if they have one, a bag lunch, and water bottle.
• Please dress appropriately for school and the weather.

We will begin reading Tuck Everlasting on December 7. Please send in a copy for your child as soon as possible. Many thanks.

Hi Scientists!

This past week included a trip to the National Museum of Natural History where students explored the Hall of Fossils: Deep Time exhibit. See below for a few photos from the day!

In class, students drew a scale model of Earth’s interior, dove deeper into the types of plate boundaries using a simulation, and conducted a Claim, Evidence Reasoning activity regarding Pangaea.

Next week, students will watch and reflect on a film about the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs. They will also have the chance to write questions for Evan Green, a geologist and adventure

photographer. His geology work deals with soil contamination, and his photography work has taken him to the top of Mount Everest and will soon take him to the North Pole! Much of the week will be spent in preparation for students’ Plate Motion Summative which will be held on Friday 11/1.

November 1st is also the end of the term. Please support your student in turning in ALL late work before November 1st so it can be graded.

lydia.ballantine@k12.dc.gov

Amazon Wishlist

Math 6
This week students worked on converting within units of measurement. This week students will continue working on converting within and between measurements as well as calculating percent using the proportional method. Included in our virtual classroom will be a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home. Students needing extra time/technical assistance are to see me during iRecess for help.

Math7
This week students began working on proportional relationships and constants of proportional relationships. This week students will calculate percent using the proportional method and continue to work on proportional relationships. Included in our virtual classroom will be a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home. Students needing extra time/technical assistance are to see me during iRecess for help.

marcus.brown@k12.dc.gov

jeremiah.gawthrop@k12.dc.gov

This week we focused on how to correctly punctuate dialogue. Thrilling stuff! To this end, students completed their first Quill lesson in class and we had many a-ha moments as they typed dialogue. We learned where the space goes when using a comma, that two apostrophes does not equal one set of quotation marks and many other valuable life skills!

Next week we will be taking ANET (a standardized District assessment) and then we will return to our "eerie pictures" creative writing. We will move from the tedium of punctuating dialogue to a focus on where and when to use dialogue purposefully (e.g. to move the plot along, give background or provide characterization).

After last week's heavy reading, this week's homework is a bit lighter. Students will read a short and spooky true story by R.L. Stein.

We spent some time working on creating between 1-3 slides for Round Two of Book talks. Students will need to do their second book talk sometime before Winter Break. If they are feeling overwhelmed with Roll of Thunder readings, it might be a good time to enjoy a graphic novel or a shorter read!

We will begin reading Tuck Everlasting on December 7th. Our goal is to read this much shorter book entirely before Winter Break begins. Please send a copy in for your student in the next couple of weeks. I am happy to label and store books before we begin reading.

Katy Byrns

Katy.byrns2@k12.dc.gov

Classroom Wishlist on Amazon

This week in Geography we have been steeped in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Five Themes of Geography! Kudos to Team Berlin students for their excellent job on the field trip!! I was so impressed by what I read from their take aways and connections from class to the exhibit and back! Ask your student about which object was their favorite or a connection to one of the Five themes of Geography that they found in the exhibit!

Students had a review day for their SSA map quiz on Wednesday and took their quiz on Thursday. Aspen is updated to reflect these scores. After the quiz, and on Friday, students connected the Five Themes of Geography to their own lives. We will be returning to the Five Themes for the introduction of every region.

Next week students will begin to explore the cultural side of our unit by defining diaspora and learning about the African Diaspora through case studies.

amy.trenkle@k12.dc.gov

Amazon Wishlist

Students and teachers/staff may wear a school appropriate costume on October 31. Costumes may not interfere with learning. This means no masks or costumes that restrict movement or vision, prevent sitting at desks, or prevent participation in physical education class. Additionally, costumes must not obstruct movement in the hallways.

• Costumes may not promote violence or have accessories or props that could be used as a weapon.
• Masks are not permitted.
• Make-up or face-paints are permitted.
• You must be able to sit, walk, breathe, see and hear (no masks that cover the face).
• Costumes cannot promote use of drugs, alcohol or weapons of any kind.
• All school rules will be enforced (i.e., no bikes, skateboards, roller blades, etc.).
• Students should not wear costumes that make fun of others.

We are asking students to only bring 5 or fewer pieces of candy to school on November 1. Large bags of candy will be confiscated and returned to students after school.

Click Here

The latest library newsletter has arrived! Check it out at the link below:

https://secure.smore.com/n/9vs8z

Stephen Reichlen

Library Media Specialist

Deal MS – DC Public Schools

INQUIRER learner profile: Alma DiRuggiero and Jake Maretich. The IB Learner Profile aims to develop students who are inquirers. Students who are inquirers nurture their curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. They know how to learn independently with others. Inquirers learn with enthusiasm and sustain their love of learning throughout life.

RISK TAKER learner profile: Camryn Jolly and Abdisa Kiyvyra. Risk takers approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; they work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. They are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.