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Terrier News
Never to Young to Write
by Stuart Strothman
The 7th grade has finished its unit on the Hunger
Games and Enlightenment period philosophy. We have
moved on to two new books, Touching Spirit Bear (about
a juvenile delinquent placed on an Alaskan island for a year
as part of a restorative justice program) and Stargirl (about
a homeschooler who arrives at a high school, and is very
different from everyone else). Both are excellent books and
we hope to finish them, if not before winter break, then
soon after. In our Common Core standards, we've been
focusing on theme, elements of a story, and presenting
evidence to support analysis. We continue to work on the
Young Writers Project and Achieve 3000 weekly, and to
read independently. I've submitted a number of creative
pieces to the local paper as part of the Young Writers
Project, but none have been published as yet!
“I Have a Dream…”
Ms. Davis has her students working on many projects. In
preparation for Black History Month, her students are creating
posters about African Americans that made a difference in the lives
of the people around them and made an impact on the lives of all
of us today. Courageous men and women that were not afraid to
try. The next part of this
project is to create a Power
Point presentation of their
person. The list that they
picked from was very diverse.
There were poets, inventors,
activists, writers, lawyers, actors,
Tony award winners, musicians,
soldiers and a president! This
promises to be a very interesting
Black History Month.
History By Sean Gould
During January and February the 7th and 8th grade will be working on an independent study. An independent study is the
self-directed process students use when researching a topic by themselves or with others. The following list includes the steps for
an independent study as well as some of the state and Common Core standards that will be addressed during this assignment.
Selecting a Topic (VT Social Studies Grade Exp ectations:
H&SS7-8: 2)
Organizing a Topic (VT SS GEs: H&SS7-8: 3)
Asking Questions (Common Core State Standards:
WHST.6-8.7)
Using a Study Method (CCSS: RH.6-8.4)
Collecting Information (CCSS: WHST.6-8.1b,
WHST.6-8.8, WHST.6-.9)
Developing a Product (CCSS: W.7.6)
Presenting Information (CCSS: RH.6-8.7)
Evaluating the Study (CCSS: WHIST.6-8.5)
Please remember to view the 7th and 8th grade homework
calendars on our team website.
Wax On…
Wax Off…
Luna Dunbar
In 6th Grade General Music, students are using the Recorder Karate method to learn how
to read music. Students must earn at least the first five of the nine belts, but most plan to
continue on to earn their black belts. In the 7th and 8th Grade General Music classes, we
are working on projects. 7th graders are composing lyrics, and 8th graders are creating
cover art and liner notes for their imaginary bands. In chorus, we are rehearsing our music
for the Spring Arts Festival, which will be on May 22. We have also started a new,
audition-only choir called "Bel Canto," which rehearses every Friday after school
from 3:00-5:00pm. In this choir, we will be working on more challenging 2 and 3 part
music. Students interested in trying out for Bel Canto should see Mrs. Dunbar for
details.