Homeroom 8A

Welcome to our homeroom/math page!  

Current and former students, please take a moment to fill out this survey about my classes.  Thanks!!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DVKTYHH

In 2011, we'll have 9 students in our homeroom and we are located directly across from the school's beautiful tech lab!  We run math out of our classroom and rotate through SS, Science and Language Arts for 60 minutes daily.  We have a sunny, south facing window and normally have an active terrarium, some Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and an active Red Wiggler worm farm on our shelves.  We also have a strange collection of natural objects from as near as Quonochontaug and as far away as Peru lining our room. You're welcome anytime for a visit!

Our 8th grade math curriculum follows the McDougal Algebra I text (http://www.classzone.com).  We also participate in the state-wide Stock Market Game and develop and exhibit projects for a school-wide Math Night.  Students who advance quickly through math at lower grades join us and may take a high school text-based Geometry class as an independent study in 8th grade.  We teach chess as part of our introduction to math and many students end up competing in the RI Chess Association Middle School League (http://richess.org/).

 

Homework: 

We use homework as a reinforcement of the skills taught during the school day.  Typically at Highlander, students and families can expect about 10 minutes of homework per grade level.  In 8th grade, we try to balance this to be not more than 20 minutes per subject of math, science, literacy and social studies.  Teachers typically give out their email and/or phone numbers to assist with homework problems but students are also encouraged to develop "homework survival strategies" for high school which include seeking assist/guidance from trusted (non-teacher) adults, peers and/or reliable online resource when challenge points arise.

Other Notes: 

Most days start with a full school meeting at 0825.  Our classroom conducts a morning meeting at least twice a week and an upper school community meeting once or twice per month.  These are meant to be structured group times that utilize the Responsive Classroom model to guide an introduction and sharing aspect to the class day.  Other morning activities may include keyboarding practice, learning/exercise walks or chess instruction or practice.  Most days, we work in heterogeneous mixed-gender groups and rotate through the four main subject areas (math, science, language arts and social studies.  Fridays have a mix of subject areas and our "specials" of art, fitness, computers and library.  

 

Thanks to organizations and partners who help to make our school community the best it can be:

http://www.rhodeislandchess.org/

http://www.andradefaxoncharities.org/

http://www.asri.org/

http://www.risd.edu/nature.cfm

http://www.providencecityarts.org/

http://www.highlanderdunn.org/index.php