Preparing for High School Success

All 7th grade students are currently enrolled in “Preparing for High School Success,” a one semester half block class taught by Ms. Davis.

The first unit of study was Career Development.  Students used the Montana Career Information System to learn about their skills and abilities as they relate to careers.  Then, students completed a PowerPoint presentation on a career of interest to the class.

We are now learning about study skills.  Working with the S.O.A.R. book, students have learned to take notes using the Cornell Method, learn about time management by tracking how they spend their time in an average week, and set priorities and goals related to school and being healthy.  Future topics include test taking strategies, writing research papers, interacting with teachers, and organization.

The study skills they are learning about are important for students of all ages.  Here are some excerpts from the S.O.A.R. book to help all students improve their study skills:

· The key to being a good student is finding a balance between school work and activities.

· The best thing you can do to prepare for class is to review your notes or read about the topic in your textbook before class.

· Review all notes within 24 hours of each class.

· Include drawings and visuals in your notes.

· Create questions that review concepts covered in notes to help you predict test questions.

· Study your notes by reading them out loud.

Woodcock Kruger, Susan, M.Ed. S.O.A.R. Study Skills. Grand Blanc, MI: Grand Lighthouse, 2011.

Many Free Tutoring Options Available for Troy Students

Most days, there is a studious atmosphere in Mrs. Willis’ room after school.  The room is full of students who have come to get extra help for their classes.  These students may be struggling and need help raising their grade or they may just want some extra time with a teacher to do well on an upcoming test or assignment. 

Make the most of this free opportunity to get some help for your classes.  The activity bus leaves the high school at 6:00pm and goes from Little Joe’s to the Yaak hill, so students concerned about how they will get home if they stay late do not have to worry.  And, snacks are always available at after school tutoring.

BEFORE SCHOOL:

7:30am-8:00am Monday through Friday in Mrs. Miller’s room

AFTER SCHOOL:

3:30pm-5:30pm Monday through Thursday in Mrs. Willis’ room

7th Grade Student Interview: Sarah Osborn

What do you like most about 7th grade so far?

I like how Ms. Drury helps explain math well and that we get to go on more college trips.

Describe your experience at the GEAR UP summer camp last year:

I went to the CSI camp.  It was fun.  I met new friends.  Some of them live around here like in Libby.  I liked having all the activities planned before we did anything else—our whole day was scheduled.

What are your favorite things about school?

I really like doing art and hanging out with friends.  I like having math because I like doing math and I want to be a kindergarten teacher.

What activities are you involved in outside of school?

I help coach 1st and 2nd grade soccer.  I’m a Daisy leader for Girl Scouts and I play volleyball.

7th Grade Student Interview: Tyler Ekstedt

What do you like most about 7th grade so far?

I like the teachers.  They are very supportive of what I do.  And it’s not as hard as I thought it would be.  I like how I get to choose what my lunch is instead of being told what to have.

Describe your experience at the GEAR UP summer camp last year:

I went to the College Semester in a Week program in Glendive.  I thought it was really fun.  You got to pick all your classes and if it was full, you couldn’t get the class.  So you had to choose between other classes.  The counselors in the dorms were nice as well as all the teachers.  They brought us to a lake to go swimming and to a big park and we helped do a community service there by picking up trash.  We also picked weeds.  It was worth the long trip over there—it took almost ten hours to get there!

What are your favorite things about school?

My favorite thing would be the teachers.  If you don’t really like one teacher, you don’t have to have him/her the whole day because you get to have other teachers through out the day.

What activities are you involved in outside of school?

I play football, baseball, and wrestling.  I’m in the North America Hunting Club.

What do you want to do after graduating from high school?

I want to either go to the military to get help paying for college or go straight to college and get my pilot’s license.  Then I want to fly helicopters and fight fires and fly things out  for people.

Be in the Geography Bee!!

This year, 4th-8th grade students in Troy are eligible to enter the National Geographic Bee.  It is a contest similar to a spelling bee in that students will be required to answer questions prepared by the National Geographic Society.  The goals of the bee are to have teachers include geography in their classes, create student interest in geography, and increase the public’s knowledge of geography.

We will receive contest materials by mid-November and at that time, teachers will use the material in their classrooms to help prepare students.  Students who are interested in participating can also study by visiting the contest’s website and taking the daily ten question quiz or by studying an atlas or National Geographic magazines!

The date of the bee will be published as soon as it is chosen.  The bee will take place before January 15, 2013.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/

Career Speaker on November 9th

On Friday, November 9th, Robert Warrington of Northwest Harness and Leather will speak to the 7th and 8th graders about his career and business.

The purpose of the monthly career speakers is to invite local professionals into the school to increase awareness of career options to students, as well as to increase their exposure to adults in the community who have attended postsecondary education.

Last month, Ms. Davis spoke to students about her career path in education.  Future career speakers will come from the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics, a trade, a professional degree (a 4 year college degree or higher), a medical career, and the USFS.

Students listen to a short presentation about the speaker’s career path and education and then have time to ask questions.  These events will prove to be useful to students and  show them the wide variety of careers out there in order to live a fulfilling life.