7/8 M

NEWSELA Update 

https://app.newsela.com/home

Today, students watched the video “When to Capitalize Letters” as a review. This is a skill they have already been taught and are expected to apply in their writing. 

They also read the article “English Spelling is Confusing, but a Language Group Says it Can Fix That” and began a related prompt activity in their Word Work duo-tangs. 

If you’d like to explore what we’re working on in more detail, here are the class codes for accessing Newsela from home: 

6/7M FI ~ JNVF3A 

7M ~ U4EF5Q 

7/8M ~ 6NV3F3 

8P 26 ~ MBF4VY 

Today in ELA class, we focused on organizing our Google Drive files. Every document now has a designated place, and moving forward, the goal is to keep everything well-organized. This will help students stay on top of their work and find what they need more easily. 

Over the next week or two, students will be working independently on their Newsela.com accounts during class time while I conduct running records. I will post updates here regarding which assignments have been assigned.  

6/7M FI: I’ve had some requests for homework for this group, so I will be adding more assignments to their Newsela page. Feel free to have your child work on any assignments that I have not specifically assigned in class — I will be monitoring their progress on the platform. 

Class Update – 7M, 8P, 7/8M 

We’ve been thinking deeply about Terry Fox; his determination, courage, and the legacy he left behind. Students should start reflecting on how they would describe Terry, both in terms of his character and his contributions to Canada and the world. 

Tomorrow during Team Time, we’ll be upping our game with a creative activity: colouring our Terry Fox sneakers with a self-selected theme in mind to celebrate who he was as a person and inspiration. Let’s make them meaningful! 

7/8M – Social Studies: 

• Complete the two puzzles assigned in class. 

• Reflect on this question: 

Why is our Terry Fox unit placed in the Civics section of our Social Studies binders? 
Be ready to share your thoughts and support your answer. 

Let’s continue to think like active citizens and leaders—just like Terry. 

ELA Update

Girls for Girls Program 
This afternoon, all middle school girls were introduced to the Girls for Girls program. Ask your child about the session! They are invited to participate in this group over the coming weeks. Each student received an information sheet with a consent form and application to take home—please check with your child if you haven’t seen it yet. 

Reading Expectations 
In ELA, September is focused on setting routines and establishing baselines. Today, all students, except for 7M girls, were given time to choose a “Just Right” book and begin reading. This should be recorded in their reading duo-tang. 

Baseline Assessments 
Students in 6/7M FI, 7/8M, and 8P completed some more baseline reading assessments today. This valuable data helps guide my programming and helps to match students with reading materials that support their growth. 

Reminders: 

• Daily Reading: All students should be reading for 20–30 minutes each night. 

• Organization: Please ensure your child has a courier bag (available for $1.50 at the Dollar Store). A jumbo freezer bag also works well—this helps keep materials organized and easy to transport. 

Looking forward to a great year with lots of growth in reading! 

All Classes 

Read (chosen reading material) 

Record if necessary 

7M 

“Why Can’t I Skip My 20 Minutes of Reading Tonight?” See the article on the following website https://msbethhughes.org/why-your-student-needs-to-read-20-minutes-a-day/

• Get the sheet signed or initialed by an adult at home. 

8M 

Picture Book Report Assignment 

• Read a picture book. 

• Write one sentence that tells the lesson or moral of the book. 

7/8M  

Picture Book Report Assignment 

• Read a picture book  

• Write a paragraph explaining why it is a picture book (what makes it a picture book ~ keep the characteristics of a picture book in mind)