TEAM AFRICA WEEKLY UPDATE

TEAM AFRICA ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTES (WEEK OF 8/18/14)

We are in the third week of our 1
st
quarter and we are enjoying our students and impressed by their excitement in
learning new things in each of their classes. Please contact any Team Africa teacher as questions or concerns arise.
GAP PARENTS: Be sure to sign the packet sent home on technology use. All forms must be signed and turned
in before GAP students are able to be assigned a netbook for in-class use. WE ARE HOPING TO ASSIGN
NETBOOKS TO GAP STUDENTS BY THE END OF THE WEEK!
NO SCHOOL on Monday, 9/1 due to Labor Day holiday.
Please visit Team Africas website at www.teamafrica.weebly.com for additional information. Information about
teachers will be posted soon.
MATH: MR. TOPP
7
th
Grade: We will add and subtract rational numbers (fractions and decimals). We will review adding
& subtracting decimals by creating our own checking account and connecting deposits & withdrawals
to addition and subtraction of decimal money amounts (writing checks, depositing paychecks, etc.).
After, we will begin to multiply and divide integers and rational numbers. We will complete test
corrections from last weeks test on adding and subtracting integers. Grades will be posted by Friday.
8
th
Grade: We will solve linear equations in one variable using the distributive property and by
combining like terms. We will also complete test corrections from last weeks test on square roots,
cube roots, and estimating irrational square roots on a number line. Grades will be posted by Friday.
Overall, scores were impressive.
AVID: We will begin to look at how tutorials will run each week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), practice
TRFs for tutorials, and there is an AVID Luncheon on Wednesday for 8
th
grade AVID students.
READING: MS. TABOR
7
th
Grade: We are working on determining two or more central ideas in a text. They will analyze texts and
summarize what is being said without including their own personal opinion.
8
th
Grade: We are determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in literature. They will
examine figurative and connotative meanings and analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and
tone.
WRITING: MRS. KLEE

7th Grade GAP Writing, 7th Grade Writing, & 8th Grade Writing:

Last week, we worked on 2-column notes while viewing an 8-minute video on Clint Dempsey. We worked on
Cornell note taking on how to give constructed responses in testing. We are also working on writing the perfect
sentence when citing a source. We set up our composition books for note taking and journal writing.

This week we will be learning about PARAPHRASING. Students will be taking Cornell notes. We started work
last week on annotating an article about concussions in soccer. Students will be answering brief constructed
responses about concussions. For the next two weeks, we will be working on summary writing.

In grammar we will be working on types of PHRASES.
Grades have been posted in Parent Vue.
Page 2
SOCIAL STUDIES: MS. BOEREMA

7th Grade: This week we begin our study of American Revolution. We will be studying the events that led to the
Revolutionary War, with an emphasis on why the colonists chose to be Loyalists or Patriots. Students will be
learning how to read and analyze primary sources and determine the author's bias. Please note that last quiz
was returned today. Students must make corrections, get a parent signature, and turn it back in tomorrow. This
is a mandatory assignment.


8th Grade: This week we are transitioning from our study of the economic changes of the 1920s to the social
changes. Students are preparing a group presentation based on an aspect of American culture during the
Roaring 20s. The groups will be teaching on Tuesday while the class takes notes. They also will be practicing
document analysis as they look at multiple primary sources about minority groups during the 1920s. After
analyzing the documents, students will complete a written response to answer the question: Was the 1920s
really a decade of "roaring" social change? Please note that last quiz was returned today. Students must make
corrections, get a parent signature, and turn it back in tomorrow. This is a mandatory assignment.
SCIENCE: MRS. ENGELMAN
7
th
& 8
th
Grade: My students will focus on measurements. Qualitative and quantitative qualities of different
objects will be discussed. Also, text analysis, writing summaries, and thinking maps will be part of our work.