Pancakes

Mrs. Easley,'s students made pancakes this week. They had a choice of chocolate chip, strawberry, blueberry or plain. This group made chocolate chip and brought their own whipping cream from home to top it with. Yum!

7th Grade Social Studies

Our 7th graders are using iPads and QR codes to complete definitions for the 7 Principles of Government.

6th Grade Math

Students are balancing and solving equations using cups and counters, then algebra tiles. Thank you, Mrs. Evans and Ms. Shivers, for building a strong foundation for future classes.

 

Mrs. Youngs' Class

After introducing the Fact/Opinion Anchor chart in Mrs. Youngs' class, students covered their eyes & drew something out of the bag. After all students picked something, they paired up with whomever had the same item. Then they created their own fact & opinion chart based on the product they drew from the bag. They used iPads, their own devices, and the package the product came in to obtain facts.   

7th Grade ELA

Students participated in a gallery tour of the sixth grade characterization posters and spent time providing critical analysis of peer reading projects. What Mrs. Boulet loved about this assignment was how hard students worked to give each other specific feedback about strengths and weaknesses in their projects, and they used as much academic language as they could in explaining their evaluation of the content of the projects.  Students had to compare a common theme across two texts (a drama and a poem), articulate and support their point with appropriate illustrations (text evidence) from each selection, and included explanations for how the illustrations they chose supported the main point. 

                 

Author Visit...

Sponsored by Blue Willow Books, author Lisa McMann will visit WMJH on Thursday, March 5^th at 10am.  She will be talking about the fifth book in her Unwanteds series – Island of Shipwrecks.  Students may sign-up for the author visit in the library or online at http://tinyurl.com/wmjh-mcmann.

Students may pre-order autographed copies of the Unwanteds series by printing out and returning the order form available http://goo.gl/ZkDVln or in the library.  Order forms returned by Feb. 26^th are guaranteed book delivery, but order received after that or at the event will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Watch the book trailer for the first book in the series by Lisa McMann – The Unwanteds at http://safeshare.tv/w/BuxPslVzYj.

8th Grade ELA

Read, Read, Read…..

Eighth graders are enjoying a day in the WMJH Library.

This reading time gives students the opportunity to choose a book that interests them, increases their fluency, vocabulary, stamina for reading, and become acquainted with authors they might not normally be exposed to.

                    

Theme

Our 7^th graders are working on identifying theme across multiple texts, using google drive.  They had to include evidence from the text to support their theme. 

 

6th Grade ELA

When you read a book, play, or poem, what do you envision the characters to look and act like?  In class, we brought our characters alive!  The students worked in groups to draw a picture of what they think their chosen character looks like and find textual evidence of what the character says, feels, and does.  Having the students create a visual of their character helps them to "see a movie" of what they are reading!
                                              
                                                     

                                                                                                    

Black History Month Trivia Game

Students are able to play the “Who Am I” Black History Month Trivia Game. The game is located on the cafeteria windows. Each display has a picture and important information about the individual. Students then scan the QR code to submit their answers.  

Thank you Mrs. Skinner...

Thought it would be awesome to share what Mrs. Skinner received from our Classroom Technology Designer after a room full of KISD's finest visited her classroom to see the NSpire App in action.  

Thank you Ms. Skinner, when you didn’t perspire

When they asked if you would pilot the Nspire

App to all of your 8th grade kids

I’m glad you ran with it, just like you did

Several times when I stopped by to inquire

How is the app, the TI  Nspire?

I was worried you would be ready to quit

But, you didn’t and am thankful you didn’t split!

When I asked “Can we watch? “ you replied “Please Do”

When I invited the ESC people to come observe you

You were a pro and didn’t need an imposter

when  a KISD director

3 coordinators

a manager

your principal

and a classroom technology designer

visited your 2nd period which has 29 students on the roster!!

Jaguar GEMS and their Buddies

Our Jaguar GEMS collaborated with their buddies to construct a rain stick as part of their literacy unit during Black History Month.  Everyone had a great time.  

8th Grade Math

A great way to start a Tuesday in math.  Transformations, IPADS, the Nspire App and a room full of district visitors. It was awesome to share our learning.   

 

Pizza Pizza...

It was pizza making day in Principles of Human Services.  The students enjoyed making their own pizza.  Some groups let their creativity show!  

7th Grade Pre-AP Science

Our 7th graders had a great time at Cullen Park. They are currently working on a project that involves the identification of trees based on their characteristics (dichotomous key). While at Cullen Park, the students used GPS units to locate 5 tagged trees. Once they found the trees, they collected data from the tree and gathered a leaf specimen. Some of the data collected included creating a bark rubbing, measuring the height and girth, and analyzing the habitat in which the tree was growing. Several of the groups collected data from additional trees as well. Once the students have data from ten trees, they will create a portfolio which contains the dichotomous key.

Cheer

The cheerleaders exchanged valentines they created to show appreciation and kindness to one another.  

CHOIR

WOW!  Our Advanced Women’s Choir was amazing tonight and the looked great in their new dresses.  Thank you to our parents for their help in this process.  Good luck to all of our Jaguar Choir members in March as they compete at the UIL Concert and Sightreading competition.

Teacher Appreciation

The Jaguar staff is the best.  They are cheering on our girls at the basketball game.  Go Jags!  


                                                

Spanish Class

During Spanish class, our students are learning about the importance of having breakfast in order to stay healthy. They are making el licuado de platano (banana smoothie). 

 

Our Spanish 1a class is playing “matamoscas” with prepositions.  

New software...

Our new software that our Life Skills class has received is giving our students an opportunity to work independently in both reading and communication skills.  The software is a supplement to the reading instruction the students receive in a 1:1 setting.  The program begins instruction at a pre-reading level and builds to new sight words, phrases, sentences and short stories.  Students are able to work at their individual pace and practice getting the attention of staff when the program prompts them to do so.  The program also assists students, with prompting, when they may struggle with a skill.  We are very excited to have this program to supplement our reading instruction and to allow our students to be more independent and responsible for their learning! 

                         

Blind Date with a Book

WMJH kicks off the 3^rd Annual Blind Date with a Book this week.  A display filled with wrapped books and labeled only with the genre tempts students to find a new book love during the month of February.  If they check out a “blind date,” students have to follow two guidelines: 1) they can’t unwrap it until they leave the library and 2) they commit to reading at least 30 pages.   After reading, they can rate their date on a book mark and/or recommend it to a friend!  

8th Grade Math

Students discovered nets of 3D figures using augmented reality. Students were able to scan an AR (augmented reality) card, created by the teacher, and a video or a net appeared after scanning the image. Students recorded their findings with a partner.

Student quotes about this activity “This is a cool idea how to teach.” “This is awesome!”

7th Grade Social Studies

Our 7^th grades are participating in a Civil War Sectionalism Activity today. The students are analyzing and making inferences based on an image, graph or chart depicting divisional differences prior to the Civil War.  Great discussions!

8th Grade Social Studies

8^th grade History has been analyzing the presidency of Andrew Jackson, (Jacksonian Democracy, Spoils System, Tariff of Abominations, Nullification Act, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears, etc.).  The students began with a mystery picture analysis. The students were asked to come up with 3 adjectives to describe their picture.  They were then asked to think about the opinions they formed of A. Jackson, per the pictures, then were to reflect over all of the information that was covered, analyzing his presidency.  Andrew Jackson—Villain or Hero?