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topic to learn for all the other upcoming math classes.
• Next we will be studying ratios, rates, and proportions.  So if you are shopping, please help your 7^th grader figure out the better buy when comparing prices!  We will talk about how buying the larger quantity of something in the stores is not always the better buy.  We will soon be moving on to percents, so having them find how much they are saving with something is 30% off would be a great introduction for that chapter. 
• When you are doing something at home requiring your math skills like cooking (possibly doubling a recipe), building things (taking measurements or finding areas), working on a budget, or doing your taxes, please point these real world applications out to your child to let them see how much we use math every day.  When they see real life applications, math becomes a little more important in their world.  Plus, they can practice their skills and not even know they are doing real "home"work.
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• 8^th Grade Transition Math:  Mrs. Hanson
• Our 8^th grade transition math series, takes students into many real-life application problems as well as integrating the different types of math problems into each chapter.  We have been currently learning lots of Geometry skills.  We have worked with the different characteristics of polygons, how to graph and do transformations such as translations (slides), reflections (flips), and rotations (turns).  We have also learned properties and qualities of different types of lines and angles.  By just knowing one angle in a drawing, they can find many other angles in it by using deductive reasoning skills. 
• Common Core focuses on higher level thinking skills, which is what our transition math allows us to do.  It also wants us to see different ways of solving the same problems, which is real life.  We don't all "see" things the same way.  Anytime we can point out real life applications to our students/children, it will benefit them.  So if something comes up at home or work and it is something you can share or do with them, please do. 
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• Spanish I - Mrs. Kippley
• Spanish I students are really making a lot of progress.  They can now listen to directions given entirely in Spanish and complete the tasks they've been assigned with relative ease.  Our next unit focuses on health and personal hygiene habits which introduces students to the reflexive verbs.  Reflexive verbs are verbs done to or for oneself.  An example would be you washing your hands (reflexive) versus you washing your car (not reflexive).  They are also going to be reading the first of two short novels for second semester that are written entirely in Spanish.