8th Grade Language Arts: Vocabulary Root Words

We will be studying common Greek and Latin root words throughout the school year in Language Arts class.  Students will learn to use clues from those roots when they encounter unfamiliar words.  They will complete creative and challenging vocabulary building activities to reinforce the root words.  Each of the twelve units introduces ten vocabulary words and traces their definitions back to a common meaning.  Students will examine the words in context to understand correct usage and complete hands-on activities to build their vocabulary skills.

Be sure to check with your child and hear the new words they are learning this year!

The roots we will study this year in eighth grade include:

graph, gram (write), curr, curs, cours (run), carn, corp (body), arch (ruler), cycle, orb (roundness), min (small), phone (sound), anthro, homo (man), dict (speak), port (carry), sum, syn (together), phil (love)

Week 2: BLAST OFF!!!

Week 2:

Hopefully the kids have recovered from their sleep deprivation of week 1.  We reviewed our lab protocols, enjoyed each others summer vacations, and reviewed this years curriculum.  Our main focus this quarter in Physics will be motion.  The 8th graders have already gotten started on their first project “Bottle Rockets.”  They will change two variables on their rocket to see which one can fly the longest.  The launch is scheduled for sometime during the week of September 15th.  Hopefully we will see you their.  

It's a pleasure meeting you.

I’m excited to introduce myself as the new music teacher at North Park Elementary School.  I’d been a music teacher in the Chicago Public Schools since 2004 where I had developed my curriculum to include a variety of folk instruments including recorders, ukuleles and guitars, as well as an extra curricular band program.  I look forward to bringing some of the experiences I’ve gained in my former school as well as taking advantage of the many resources available at NPES.  

This year we will put extra emphasis on the music of Chicago. In addition to developing the basic concepts such as rhythm, pitch, dynamics, and notation covered in the general music classroom, we will be looking at the musicians and the rich musical history and influence of one of the world’s greatest cities, Chicago.  

I really look forward to getting to know and making some great music with your children throughout the year.

-Ben Saltz

MAP Test Dates from CPS

Thank you all for your patience with all the communication about the CPS test process for the fall. Remember that applications to test are due by September 10th. Mrs. Johnson is currently compiling the grades from 7th grade to submit to CPS. This will be 1/3 or 300 points of the total rubric.
According to OAE, any student that has registered to take MAP in October will be sent a letter at the beginning of October. This letter will contain your pin for the overall application process and your exact dates for MAP testing.

The 8th graders will take a math MAP test on 9/28/15 and a reading MAP test on 9/29/15 at NPES. If your child will be participating in the boot camp and you would like their MAP scores shared with BEC, please send Mrs. Smith an email with permission for that to be done. Information (a flier) from BEC regarding pricing and scheduling for the MAP boot camp will be forthcoming this week. We are confirmed for the weekend of 10/10 and 10/11 from 9:00-12:30. Carlos Becerra, owner and founder of BEC, will be teaching the boot camp classes, at my request.

Registration for the Selective Prep test prep session for the Selective Enrollment exam is ongoing. This session will begin at NPES on October 19, 2015. The session consists of 8 classes to be held on Mondays at NPES from 3:30 to 4:30. If you have not registered yet and would like to, you can do so here.

Ms. Rosenberg is working on a timeline reference with important dates in the high school application process. This will be forthcoming. Remember that it is best to begin visiting schools as soon as possible so you can cast a wide net in the application process. Open Houses for high schools will likely begin in October, but you can begin to visit high school events (sporting events, performances, etc.) at any time, once the school year begins. Talking to students and parents of students at the high schools of interest can be a resource that is more valuable than an Open House.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Ms. Rosenberg or Mrs. Smith.

8th Grade Math

Hello 8th Grade Families,

It was great to see all the 8th graders even if for just a short time on Monday.  We spent our class period on Monday getting iPads distributed and setting up Google Drive and Schoology accounts.

For the rest of the week we will be doing some introductory problem solving activities and playing games.  We will begin working in the text book and quickly going over review material from last year.  Lastly, we will begin our study of Pascals triangle this week in preparation for project fair in December.

8th Grade Language Arts Week 1: Adjective Fashion Show

This week students will be given the following creative writing task:
“To practice knowledge of adjectives and descriptive language, we will be having an adjective “fashion show.”  Each student will bring outrageous clothes to model and they will write a description which they will read as they model their ensemble.”

Students must follow these rules:
The description must include 35 highlighted adjectives
It must be written in third person point of view
No adjectives can be used more than once
No “dead” (overused) adjectives can be used.

The Adjective Fashion Show will take place on Friday, September 11th, 2015.
Check back to see pictures from the outrageous event!

-Mrs. Payne

NPES Art 2015-2016 The Year of the Human and "Humans of Chicago"

This year I am excited to focus on all aspects of humans and the human body as it pertains to art. We will be looking at art that explores the human form and learning what it means to be a human, especially a "human of Chicago". Along with a wide variety of new lessons and old favorites, we will take time this year to do more figure drawing and portraiture, in an effort to learn how to draw human proportions and faces.

One or more elements and principles of art are addressed with each project. They include:

Balance, emphasis, contrast, unity/harmony, movement,/rhythm, proportion, line, shape, form, value, texture, space, and color. 

Students practice:

Looking at and talking about art

Following directions and sequential steps in a process

Creative problem solving

Craftsmanship and technique with new and familiar mediums

Philosophy and Objectives

Art students learn how to be engaged fully in the artistic process and gain skill and confidence by learning to work in the following two and three dimensional mediums: drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, print-making, collage, fiber, and computer arts. Drawing receives the greatest emphasis because it provides the basis for all other creative activities. Drawing is the single most accessible form of art available and provides a direct link between reading, writing, and math.

  The art program is integrated with the core curriculum in order to establish historic relevance and offer students the opportunity to create and do in all subject areas. The program nurtures inventiveness as it engages students in a process that aids in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, and self-motivation. The program is spiraled to allow for building on and practicing prior knowledge and skills at every grade level, while adding more complex techniques, critical thinking opportunities and higher expectations of craft as the student matures.

The goals of the visual art program at NPES are to provide students with the tools to understand human experience; to learn to adapt to and respect others way of thinking; to learn creative methods of problem solving; understand the historical and cultural influences of art; to make decisions in situations where there are no standard answers; to analyze non-verbal communication; and to communicate thoughts and feelings using a practiced and highly developed visual vocabulary.

Student Assessment

Effort 

Participation (including clean-up) 

Creativity and meeting project criteria 

Following directions 

Office Hours

Tuesdays 3:30 - 4:30