SS+-+7th+Grade+-+Meeting+Notes

May 10, 2011 Liz and Sue

Revisited Analyzing Images lesson...look at student work

Reviewed Liz's lessons for transitions from Europe to Africa.

Looked at Sue's Asia Comparative Analysis.

May 3, 2011 Liz and Sue

Analyzing Images...discussed process for scaffolding: outdoor exercise, "What We Eat" from Scholastic, The Material World, before the assignment with a group picture and then individual picture.

Discussed two websites for hunger especially in Africa and Liz's differentiated assignments.

April 26, 2011 Liz and Sue

Africa and Europe overarching themes... coordinate with the document we have created so far.

Shared analyzing images assignment, six-part book report for Asia, "Shift Happens" "7 Billion" and "The Miniature Earth" fro studying population.

April 12 2011

No meeting...Sue IEP meeting

April 5 2011 Liz and Sue

Discussed assessments for Pacific Real and Latin America. Project work differentiation Failure in middle school

March 22, 2011 Liz and Sue

Looked at possibilities of use for Review and Reteach, a supplement to our text. Discussed differentiation looking at Liz's projects for Europe. Began to create an igoogle page for Liz.

March 15, 2011 Liz and Sue

Created a a list of essential skills to complement the Big Ideas and Fundamental Questions.

March 2 Liz and Sue

Completed guiding questions for World Explorer: People, Places, and Cultures. . Categorized into the following: Five themes, climate,population, government, culture and society, and economics. Changed "Essential Questions" to Fundamental Questions as it better description. Shared ideas and materials on bullying and Qwiki.

March 1 Liz and Sue Continued with the guiding questions through Unit 5.

February 15 Liz and Sue

Added guiding questions to the big ideas.

Febraury 8, 2011 Liz, Mandy, Sarah, Sue

Continued looking at national standards making sure our ideas align.

February 2, 2011

Liz, Mandy, Sarah, Sue Reviewed and revised the "Big" ideas of seventh grade curriculum. Read through national standards to check for alignment and missing content. We will continue next time.

Review January 25, 2011 Liz, Mandy, Sarah, Sue

Liz shared her differentiated Latin America Unit. Good model to keep in mind as we move forward.

January 4, 2011 Liz, Mandy, Sarah, Sue

Watched PBS broadcast on health care issues in South Sudan. This is a good resource to support the human rights segment of the curriculum. Surfed "The World" geoquiz on NPR for use with all but mostly kids who want a challenge.

December 14, 2010 Liz, Mandy, Sarah, Sue

Liz's winter holidays site : http://teacherschoastic.com/activities/holidays

Mandy goal: comparison Afghanistan and US Group offered feedback to lesson that will be presented tomorrow.

December 7, 2010 Liz, Mandy, Sarah, Sue

Continued revising differentiated instruction for "Geographic Features impact the lives of people in Africa. Discussed the units we want to focus. Looked at the big picture.

November 16, 2010 Liz, Sue, Pete, Mandy

Liz shared a rewrite of Sue's Maine Resource Project.

Pete shared his project "make your own country" : government, symbolism, and comparisons and contrasts with other countries.

Which of the common assessments have we done to date?

Mandy will share next week a webquest on evaluating websites for research projects.


 * November 2, 2010**
 * Liz, Mandy, Sara, Pete, Sue**

Sue shared her Maine Resource Project...directions, two examples of student writing, and several posters. She was generally pleased with the outcome, but was concerned that the process of finding two related articles on Maine resources from Marvel was too open ended for some. It was suggested that next time Sue could give an example of an article that might be used and students could find a second related one. The project was definitely worth keeping.

There will be no meeting next week due to conferences, but Pete will share one of his projects at the next meeting.


 * October 26, 2010**
 * Liz, Mandy, Sara, Pete, Sue**

Mock election this week...everything is in place. Idea...for the next few weeks, each week we will each share a lesson or project that we have completed looking for feedback. Sue volunteered to go first.


 * October 19, 2010**
 * Liz, Mandy, Sara, Pete, Sue**

Election update Mock election Wed 25th Sue graphic organizer to look at issues of the candidates and referendum Liz will do Junior scholastic article on the parties, ads of gubernatorial candidates

Mandy and Sara will touch on the election next week prior to the mock election.

We discussed the use of literature to support geograhy, and Sue shared Google Lit trips and emailed the link to the others.

Happy (or not) Columbus Day
 * October 12, 2010**
 * Liz, Mandy, Sara, Pete, Sue**

Review earthpoint borchure...Sue will try to sign up for a free trial

upcoming election Perhaps Pete and Lexie could organize the election as part of their experience

Why is election day the first Tuesday after the first Monday? Yea Liz!

More election next week.


 * September 28, 2010**
 * Liz, Mandy, Sara, Sue**

Liz geo quiz now moving into into Maine with 5 themes Mandy and Sara Vital signs testing the environment workshops photography, gps, field notes got to Bradbury Mt eventually practice skills publish findings to state; shred keynote Sue sell Maine project to do over the next week

Reviewed Content standards No meeting next week due to NECAPS

Everyone shared what they have done so far. Liz shared Pirate treasure hunt: ABCya.com (children's treasure hunt longitude and longitude) Check Liz's portaportal (lpage) 5 themes of geography: still use it, just don't hammer it into them Discussed Common Core and standards reporting. What do we want to accomplish by the end of the year? Use content standards as a guide for weekly discussions. Start next week.
 * September 21, 2010**
 * Liz, Mandy, Pete, Sara, Sue**

Talked about future meetings. Current practice and current goals will be the focus for the remainder of the year. Sarah talked about a group project on a country in the world. Liz is doing Africa--focus on physical and cultural aspects. She will be doing the same with Asia. Then she will be working on "Put a Face on It." Marcia is doing a research paper on Chernobyl and will be moving onto Africa.
 * April 13, 2010**
 * Liz, Marcia, Sarah, Mandy**

Marcia shared Search and Destroy review game. Liz says students having a great time with Amazing Race. She's also done an incredible power point on European history. Marcia is finishing up Asia cultures. She's working on a student developed web-quest project. Sarah and Mandy are still working on immigration--are doing a museum walk-through today. Talked about culturegram.com.
 * March 16, 2010**
 * Liz, Marcia, Sarah, Mandy**

Went over Liz's Amazing Race Unit on Europe. Mandy and Sarah are very impressed with their immigration project which they will be finishing up in the next few days. They will be working on a world-wide country study.
 * March 9, 2010**
 * Liz, Sarah, Mandy, Marcia**

Talked about what everyone is doing. Liz let us know that she's working on Europe. Mandy and Sarah are working on an integrated project on immigration. Marcia is studying Asia.
 * February 23, 2010**
 * Sarah, Mandy, Marcia**


 * February 9, 2010**
 * Marcia, Liz, Sarah, Mandy**

Discussed plans for coming weeks and direction taken by new administration, PLC's. Sarah offered pictures of illegal immigration to teachers. Sarah's team is working on Maine immigration unit and will share information. Liz is working on Latin America--soon to start Europe. Marcia is working on Asia--will be studying religions after vacation. Talked about Guns, Germs and Steel (PBS). First episode the best. Next time, look at essential outcomes and see how we're meeting students needs.


 * November 10, 2009**
 * Marcia, Liz, Sarah, Mandy**

Asked everyone about budget stuff. Make sure budget is in by Dec. 1st. Check site--guns, germs, and steel--for geog. Geography bee--to do or not to do. Checked with Pam--we've paid. Next week set dates for Bee. Take a look at info from SS conference and above site.


 * November 3, 2009**
 * Marcia, Liz, Sarah, Mandy**

Talked about student project that Liz and Barb are putting together on the environment. Talked about move difficulties. Have 3 or 4 lessons prepared for first week in new schoo planning them jointly. Talked about schedule changes for new school.


 * October 20, 2009**

Meeting canceled due to parent-teacher conference conflict.


 * October 13, 2009**
 * Marcia, Liz, Mandy, Sarah**

Worked on assessment for essential outcome #6. Decided to use a 3-circle venn diagram for students to make comparisons. Found the diagram at educationoasis.com to use. Next week work on directions and layout.


 * September 29, 2009**
 * Marcia, Liz, Mandy, Sarah**

Reviewed the completed assessments. Talked about the geography bee--it's time to send in our money. Next week we will begin to work on essential outcome #9 or #6.


 * September 22, 2009**
 * Marcia, Sarah, Liz**

We'll meet each week in Liz Page's room.

What's going on: Sarah working on geography skills and beginning a service learning project (about a month) on invasive species. Liz following textbook--just about finished chap. 1. Marcia in about the same place. Liz to email some of her materials to me.

Next week: Review assessments.


 * June 2**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**
 * Assessment #2**


 * Revise Question 9.** In addition to other unnamed groups, how many specifically name ethnic groups live in China?
 * Question 27.** Compare the land use map to he physical map. What is true about the elevation of land where nomadic herding occurs?
 * Question 29.** Explain where the land use manufacturing and trade is located and why it is so.
 * Question 32**. In Colonial times, the Netherlands gained tremendous power as it controlled what country? Why was the location of this reagion so important to Asian trade during the 1700s and 1800s?

Assessment #4 Liz had mixed results.Do we need to tweak the question? Yes! Change to ...forests. How would this change how people live in North Africa.

Next week Look for assesment for #10


 * May 26**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Liz and Sue will give the Asia map assessment (assessment #2) this week. Mandy and Sarah will give it next week. We will look at the results then second week of June.


 * 1) 3 Identify settlement patterns based on physical features.

Utilize the maps from "Where Are the Cities?" to explain the impact **physical features** have on settlement patterns in the contiguous United States. 1. Identify the locations of heavily populated areas. 2. Explain why people settled in these areas. 3. Identify the locations of scarcely populated areas. 4. Explain why few people live in these areas.

Sarah will download onto wiki.


 * 1) 11 Explain how technology has impacted the technology of a region. Pre-reading activity "India at a Crossroads" questions 11-14 is a good example of what we might use. We only need two pictures. We may want to tweak the questions.

Next week, conyinue with this assessment.

The preparation activities in "Where Are the Cities?" are perfect to introduce outcome #3. The assessment is as follows:
 * May 12**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

DRAFT Utilize the maps from "Where Are the Cities?" to explain the impact physical features have on settlement patterns in the contiguous United States. In your explanation, be sure to give specific examples of both heavily and scarcely populated ares with corresponding reasons of why people settled in these areas or not.
 * 1) 3 Identify settlement patterns based on physical features.

Next week revise to make sense.


 * May 5, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Reviewed NASAs lesson "Where Are the Cities" and determined that the overview matches our outcome. It is suggested that you use two days to complete the activities and then answer a prompt that we need to write. Activity packet does not include a blank outline map of the US which we would have to find. Sue has one, but here may be a better one available.

Next week we will create the prompt for this assessment.


 * April 27, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Rewrote assignment for assessment 6 and created the rubric. Rubric: To meet the standard, students must utilize at least six of the eight required terms.The sequence of events must start with natural resources and proceed through producers, products and goods and end with the consumer.

Began to look at #3.


 * April 14, 2009**

Liz shared her "Put a Face on It" for Africa. Sue shared her project on Maine Tourism.

Use Liz's Asia Geography Skill Test for assessment #1.

Email Marcia for question for #6; bring test for #7; metropolitan assignment for #3.



Look at Liz's cumulative map skills test to use. This has some application of the skills which we need to add. Perhaps we should have one for two other continents. Therefore, the first one is a formative assessment; the next two can be the summative assessment. Discussed with Brian what we have been accomplishing in our weekly meetings. We have been spending most of our time creating assessments and discussing what we each are teaching currently.
 * April 7, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**


 * March 31, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Reviewed the resuts of one class and discovered that the assessment should be tweeked before the rest of the grade is assessed. Looked for a better thematic map on line, in the books, and in teh support materials. Decided to use a map form Junior Scholastic that we will choose next week.

Developed assessment #2. Plan to give the assessment by April 7.
 * March 24, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

no meeting
 * March 17,2009**

Complied results from Assessment "1. 63% met the standard; 37% did not.
 * March 10, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**


 * March 3, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Revised and passed out assessment #1**.**


 * February 24, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Finalize Assessment #1 and place it on the wiki. Use book map as it is the one all students have assess to.


 * February 10, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Final copy of assessment #4 has been placed on wiki.

Prepare #3 directions.

Look for world map to use for assessment #1.

Prepare #5 directions.


 * February 3, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Rewrite #7 to say "Define and illustrate..."

Rewrite" 4 to say "Predict how differences in physical geography impact culture." Finalize assessment. Sue will rewrite for approval.


 * January 27,2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Sue passed out new versions of Essential Outcomes. Liz organized and printed copies of new Benchmarks. Compare two documents and make changes to Essential outcomes.

Sue shared project and rubric.


 * December 2, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Liz shared the current work on the social studies curriculum.


 * 1) 10 create scenarios and students have to identify type of economy as well as #9 Make predictions of what would happen if...

The US is dependent on oil to provide fuel for our cars and heat for our homes, and is a source of electricity. Alternative fuels have not been developed fully so their use is not wide spread; however our access in the US is limited as we import most of our oil from the middle east. Due to fluctuating friendship, sometimes they are more willing to sell us oil. explain our demand for oil, the scarcity of oil and how that affects the supply and demand what would affect the demand...supply?

Liz found a better example:

Sue and Sarah will compile the geography bee materials to distribute. Bee will be scheduled for January 13 with the snow date the 14th.


 * November 18,2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue, Nola**

Nola shared a couple of lessons using Google Earth


 * November 4, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Shared Studystack to help students with vocabulary.


 * 1) 10 create scenarios and students have to identify type of economy as well as #9 Make predictions of what wold happen if...

The US is dependedt on oil tom p[orvide fuel for iur cars and heat for our homes and is a source for some of electricity alternative fuels have not been developed fully so their use is not wide spread; however our accesss in the US is limited as we import most of our oil from the middle east. due to fluctuating friendship, sometimes they are more willing to sdeel us oil. explain our demand for oil, the scarsity of oil and how that affects the supply and demand what would affect the demand...supply?

Discussed possible assessment for #8, levels of industry. Use a diagram produced by students to check their understanding. Mustt have primary, secondary, tertiary levels and add goods, services, raw materials, producer, and natural resources to the diagram. Quaternary industry would be extra (exceeds the standard if all else is there)
 * October 30, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**


 * 1) 16 works well with the current election

Shared ideas for teaching upcoming election, both candidates and referendum questions
 * October 23, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Reviewed categories and made some revisions.
 * October 16, 2009**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Looked at new learning results to determine what is missing from our assessments.

Shared iceberg organizer for cultural traits.


 * October 9, 2009**

No meeting

Created three categories of outcomes: Geography Skills, Geography Content, Literacy Skills.
 * October 2, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Organized all outcomes into these categories.


 * September 30**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Discusses summative versus formative assessments as explained on the handout from the PLC leaders' meeting. Formative assessment gives us more latitude.

Decided to look at MLR again to check for coverasge in our outcomes. We probably need to develop an assessment that assesses the reading of charts, graphs, and diagrams.

After reviewing the new organization for outcomes, we rearranged some to place in the content list.

When assessing #16, you automatically assess #13 and #14. We can create some checklist for an assessment. We will continue to work on that.


 * September 23, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Sue met with Marcia (last year's social studies PLC leader) and discussed last year's progress and the path for this year.

In PLC meeting reviewed assessments collected to date and determined that we need to be sure we are assessing the outcome stated. Separate out the activities from the assessments.

Decided to reorganize the outcomes under three areas: geography skills, content skills, and literacy skills.


 * September 16, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Looked at assessment for outcome #4 and determined that the assessment really did not assess the outcome. We can use it as a practice, but a new assessment should be created. Liz will forward a copy of what we have to date to Sarah who will put it on wiki.

Discussed the geography bee. Sue has the box of prizes. Pam has already sent the paper work. We will wait fot he materials then distribute them.

Tomorrow is Constitution Day. Liz shared her plans for "celebration" and gave each of us a copy.

The mock election is slated for October 39th. Liz will see if any 8th grade teacher would like to host as elections fit with the 8th grade curriculum more closely.

Discussed outcome #1 and the need for an assessment that more closely alignxs witht he outcome. Sue offered her latitude and longitude quiz. All students should receive the same assessment.


 * September 9, 2008**
 * Liz, Miranda, Sarah, Sue**

Made sure all had access to Wiki outcomes, notes, and agenda. Discussed general course outline. Decided to look at outcomes and assessments in preparation for next week's meeting and come with questions and concerns.

3/25/08

Present: Liz Page Faith McCaughin Marcia Gartley

Worked on the assessment for #7 essential outcome.


 * 3/27/08**

Present: Liz Page, Sue Anderson, Art O'Brien; Sarah Bouchard, Dana Barrows, Colette Gagnon, Cheryl Gillespie, Marcia Gartley, Sandra Abbott, Sue Atwood, Paula Curcio

- Discussed the incorporation of economics and geography. Spending less time on physical geography and more time on economics and cultural geography - Skill focused assessments rather than content focused - very general so they can be used in whatever area of the world a teacher is studying - assessments are not regionally focused, rather, they are geographically focused - New essential outcomes are updated - only teach 100 years of history instead of 400 years which makes a big difference - Made some big gains and everyone is in similar places in the book - working on Ancient and World civilizations with a focus on physical geography
 * Met as a whole group 6-8 and discussed outcomes and common assessments as a large group.
 * Grade 7
 * Grade 8
 * Grade 6

4/8/08

Present: Marcia Liz Sarah Faith (absent)

4/1/08

Present: Faith McCaughin Sarah Bouchard Liz Page Marcia Gartley

Liz showed us the MNBC news site that has a lead story everyday with an accompanying slide show. She also talked about a project she's working on.

Completed assessment *7. Will add teacher direction sheet next week.

4/15/08

Present: Faith Sarah Liz Marcia

Talked about Liz's geography picture video. Zamzar.com can be used for downloading utube videos. We reviewed and edited the #7 assessment Gathering Information from Maps.

4/29/08

Present : Faith Sarah Liz Marcia

Next week, Liz will be absent due to PET. The following week, there will be no PLC due to NWEA's. Sarah will find out how to upload our assessments to Wikispace. Reviewed several essential outcomes and will prepare these for uploading next week.

May 6, 2008

Present: Faith Sarah Marcia

Liz sent us a suggested assessment for #9 and 10. Completed assessment #4. Next week will take a closer look at the #9 and 10 assessment.

May 20, 2008

Present: Faith Liz Marcia Sarah

Liz shared a culture unit with us. Karen helped Marcia to learn how to upload our assessments to the assessment section of our wikispace site. Liz brought a suggested assessment for essential outcomes 9 and 10. Decided to delete #10 because it is really a repeat of #9. Will work on a teacher's page next week. Also will begin to upload assessments onto Wikispace.

May 27, 2008 Present: Liz Sarah Faith Marcia

Completed teacher notes for Essential Outcome #9. Liz put the assessment onto word, and we upload the test and teacher notes to the assessment section of Wikispace.

June 3, 2007

Present: Faith Sarah Liz Marcia

Went over the essential outcomes to verify changes to be made on line. Will be uploading more assessments for everyone to edit.