7th grade social studies 2011-12

Dear 7th Grade Students and Parents,

Homework Reminder on All Hallows Eve

On this past Friday I assigned the following terms to be defined using page 11 in the most recent Upfront Magazine. You may copy verbatim or paraphrase: filibuster, supermajority, gerrymandering, moderate, Tea Party.

On Tuesday, November 1(tomorrow) I have agreed to give up our American Studies time for a presentation that relates to your current studies in English. Please find this note from Laurie Fichter.

Neil Taylor, a former resident of Westminster is coming tomorrow from (11-noon) to talk with both 7th & 8th about going blind at 29 and living independently three years later. 7th grade is reading The MIracle Worker right now, and the 8th graders read it last year. The 7th graders have just completed a 30 minute experiment of blindfolding themselves and trying to change clothes or brush their teeth. Neil lives this everyday and manages to cook, clean, and work! He is motivational and honest. 
 
We will meet in the assembly hall. 
Laurie

Finally, on this Friday, the 4th we will finish reviewing the lesson we read on this past Friday from our book We the People entitled "How did political parties develop?" We will compare and contrast this reading to the article in the Upfront Magazine about Washington's current governmental gridlock!

Best, Steve

PS - On last Friday we had a very spirited whole group discussion about the article in Upfront "Hey, Who Shrunk My Doritos?'.
Ask your child about the discussion and where their opinion fell ! You might want to ask your student to bring the magazine home, read the article first and have a discussion with your child as well. Some very interesting opinions form the students.