Student Name: _________________

    Dear Parents,

    The last quarter of the year is well underway, and for the last few weeks, students in eighth grade Applied STEM* have several options to pursue in their education.
    It is my intent for them to create a personalized classroom working environment that is self-motivated and directed, looking ahead to high school where the instructional environment demands more self-direction to demonstrate adequate instructional mastery.
    Students have several projects/assignments to choose from for these last several weeks, and are able to work at their own pace to accomplish the tasks:

CD Mechanical Car: build a working vehicle using stored mechanical
    energy, powered by one rubber band and using CD's for wheels
Trebuchet: Build a working wooden trebuchet using plans and criteria
    found on our TeacherWeb trebuchet page
Technology Before I Was Born: A written research project about a
    qualifying technology invented during a specific time period
People in Technology: A written research project about an individual/
    team who has invented a qualifying technological device
CO2-powered Dragsters: Build one or two CO2-powered dragsters
    according to plans and criteria found on our TeacherWeb CO2 page
Composite Beam project: See the TeacherWeb page Composite Beam
PowerPoint Project: See the TeacherWeb page for details
Dragster Race Competition Event: The Sixth Annual all-middle school
    TUSD approved after-school event to race dragsters, which can be
    attended for extra credit if needed.

More specific information is available on each project page of TeacherWeb.com

    Each project has a different value of points to earn, depending on its degree of difficulty. Each has several learning criteria to master, and students may choose their work based on inherent interest and predilection. When students have completed enough project-based instructional tasks to earn the required number of points, they have free time to pursue other STEM interests/projects.
    Our website at Teacherweb.com contains explanations, requirements, and grading schedules, and combined with the ParenConnect system, you can be fully up-to-date with your student's weekly progress and achievement. I usually post scores on Fridays.
    Our intent is for students to have success not only in high school, but throughout their lives, and to do so requires the ability to be or be willing to become self-directed. I am available to meet with you at any convenient time to enable your student's success in education. Feel free to visit the classroom during the time of classroom operations; it demonstrates to all students your care and concern for your student's success in education.

Respectfully,            



Joe Petito                

jpetito@etusd.org
Classroom: 310.533.4790 X8927
Home: 310.320.5109


Please sign below to demonstrate you have read this document, and have your student return it to the classroom by Wednesday May 2nd:

Parent(s) signature: __________________________________

Student name (please print) ____________________________


* STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math