It's Exhibition Time!

Parents,

Your child should have brought home a letter today regarding exhibition times. Exhibitions will be during the week of November 16-20, 2009 during the afternoon. The times each day will be 12:45pm, 1:30pm, and 2:15pm. Students are expected to use 25-30 minutes to explain all 5 of their learning plan projects as well as the other 3 academic projects (one for math, one for science, and one for ELA). The other 15 minutes will be used to discuss your child's progress and go over the results of their exhibition. Students were given a rubric yesterday that explains what they'll be graded on, so please feel free to ask them for that if you are curious.

I have suggested that you, the parent, write down the day and time you would like to schedule for the exhibition and return that form to school on Monday to reserve your time. It is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so I am also allowing the students/parents to make a comment on this blog in order to reserve their time before Monday.

Flourite

Yesterday and today in class, we discussed flourite and how it is used to make flouride which is in our toothpaste. I am VERY interested to know how a mineral is turned into something we have in toothpaste. Anyone who can research this and inform us by commenting below will get LOTS of extra credit.

Weekly News

This week, in Math we will be reviewing all the topics we learned last week (equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, turning mixed numbers into improper fractions, and turning improper fractions into mixed numbers). We will also be learning how to read numbers with decimals using the correct place value. Finally, the students will learn how to turn decimals into fractions and how to turn fractions into decimals. Remember, this week is the last week for the division timed tests, so once you get over 95%, you are done!

In Science we will be discussing more characteristics of rocks. Last week we looked at an "earring material" that could be diamond and this week we will be comparing that information to the information of a real diamond to see if it is in fact a real diamond or a fake! We will also be learning about various other minerals and rocks and students will get a chance to try to find out the names of different rocks. Finally, students will learn about the properties to identify different minerals.

In Advisory students will learn about the other projects they will have to complete for their exhibition in addition to their learning plan. As of Monday this week, students will only have 3 more weeks before their exhibition. It is expected at this time that most students are just about done with a majority of their work. The week before exhibitions, students will be practicing what they are going to say (and write notecards to help them out) so really they only have 2 more weeks of class time to work on their projects. Remember, it is expected that all students are working on parts of their project at home because 30 minutes a day in class is not enough time to complete everything.

WANTED: Thin Dry Erase Markers

We are in need of thin dry erase markers for class. In order to keep using the small dry erase boards to play math games, we need some new dry erase markers since we saw today that the ones I have from last year are drying out. Anyone who would like to donate some markers to the class will receive points for the group.

Thank you -- any donations are greatly appreciated!

Garnets, garnets, garnets

You guys had great questions in class regarding garnets. One of the questions you completed in class was: What else would you like to know to help you determine how valuable something is?

If you do some research on garnets and can comment on what you learned, you will receive credit. The more information you provide (in your own words, of course), the more credit you will get.

Science Superstars!

After today's test, I would like to congratulate the following students for receiving an 80% or higher on the "Studying Soils Scientifically" Unit Test:

Trenton (80%), Christina (80%), Richard (80%), Trinity (100%), Bekkah (100%), DaShawn (100%), Leah (85%), Khaila (80%), and Yanik (80%).

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! We will be starting our unit on Rocks beginning Wednesday!

Weekly News

This week in Math we will begin our next unit on fraction, decimal, and percent basics. This week we will first begin discussing equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, and turning mixed numbers into improper fractions, and turning improper fractions into mixed numbers. We will also continue our division timed tests. Last but not least, do not forget that the Math MEAP will take place on Tuesday.

In Science we will finish our "Studying Soil Scientifically" unit with our test on Monday. For the rest of the week, we will begin studying rocks, including looking at various rock characteristics.

In Advisory I am anticipating that the students are almost done with most of their projects. Although many students appear to have the information they need for their project, most students have not started working on the project, so I would advise them to start doing that at this time. In the coming weeks, students will learn about the extra projects they will have to do in addition to their learning plan, so finishing their learning plan projects would be a good idea at this time.

Prime Time Winners!

You guys are FABULOUS!!! The following students received above an 80% on today's unit test. Trenton (97%), Cameron (86%), Christina (90%), Ananda (90%), Richard (90%), Trinity (97%), Bekkah (93%), Leah (100%), Khaila (90%), and Deacon (83%). Keep up the great work everyone. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

(Please note: 3 students were not in class to take the test, so I will add their names to the list if they receive above an 80% when they take it!)

Weekly News

This week in Math, we will be finishing up our Prime Time unit. Students will be expected to know the following concepts for Wednesday's test:

• recognizing prime and composite numbers,
• listing factors and finding the GCF,
• listing multiples and finding the LCM, and
• finding the prime factorization of numbers.

On Thursday, we will begin our unit on basic fraction understanding, by making fraction strips to identify equivalent fractions.

In Science we will be wrapping up our Soil unit. We will first analyze our organic matter test and come to some conclusions regarding the soil from the school garden in Arizona. We will then look at some possible ways to fix the school garden and analyze other students' suggestions. We are also going to try to watch a video on the Dust Bowl so students get a good idea of the affects of weather and farming on soil in the central part of the U.S in the 1930's. Our unit test will take place next Monday, October 19th.

In Advisory students will continue working on their learning plan projects. I have met with about half of the students regarding the progress they've made so far. It is necessary for students to have whatever it is they are working on, in class, so when I meet with them, they can show me what they have done.

Other little updates -- please take note of the important dates listed to the right. On Tuesday and Thursday, students will be taking the Reading portion of the MEAP. On Friday, there will be no school due to Teacher Professional Development.

Great quiz scores and more!

On Friday, we had a Science quiz over the past few lessons we had -- soils located on the U.S map, the Dust Bowl, and fertilizers. Extra credit was also given to students that could remember what succulents were, as well as give an example, so some students got over 100%! Congrats to the following students who received over 80% on that quiz: Trenton (100%), Cameron (118%), Christina (118%), Richard (118%), Michael (91%), Nate (82%), Trinity (118%), Bekkah (109%), DaShawn (109%), Leah (100%), Khaila (118%), and Deacon (82%).

I also graded the first division timed test of the month and I was overwhelmed by how well the students did after just one week of practicing. I assumed that since the students did well with multiplication that they would do well with division, but I didn't realize that they would do this well so soon! I am so impressed with the following students: Marae (80%), Christina (98%), Richard (99%), Trinity (100%), Bekkah (100%), DaShawn (98%), Leah (100%), and Khaila (100%). Some of you may wonder why you should have to continue taking the test, but remember, if you already have a high grade, continue working on how fast you can do them. If you can complete them in under 1 minute 30 seconds, you can compete against me. If you beat me, I give you $20! And of course if you aren't on this list yet, you still have plenty of time to get there. You still have 3 weeks of practice.

Awesome job class! See you Monday!

Holy Moly!!

We took a math quiz today to show how much we knew about factors, multiples, greatest common factors, and least common multiples. The following students did AWESOME and got above an 80%: Trenton (80%), Cameron (90%), Christina (100%), Ananda (80%), Richard (100%), Nate (90%), Trinity (100%), Bekkah (100%), DaShawn (90%), Leah (100%), Khaila (90%)! Way to go guys! Keep up the great work

Potassium

We talked in class about the nutrients found in soil. Phosphorus is identified as "P" on the periodic table and Nitrogen is identified as "N". Why is Potassium "K"? If you can research this and put it in your own words in the comment section, you will get extra credit!!!

Weekly News

This week in Math we will return to our Prime Time unit. We will again review factors, multiples, greatest common factors, and least common multiples. After this, will begin Investigation 4 and review finding the prime factorization of a number using factor trees. We will wrap up the week by learning how to find the greatest common factor using the prime factorization of two numbers. Since it is a new month, we will also start a new timed test topic. As mentioned last week, we will be completing division timed tests. Students will be given 3 minutes and will be expected to complete 100 problems within this time.

In Science we will continue our study of soil by looking at the various nutrients in soil. Students will learn what each type of nutrient provides to the soil as well as look at various situations investigating what happens when those nutrients are not in the soil. We will finish the week making another concept map reviewing all the topics we've learned regarding soil.

In Advisory students are required to bring material to school to work on their advisory projects. Students that went to the library last Friday are strongly urged to bring the books they borrowed so they can start researching their various topics. I will also be meeting with each of the students to see what they have done so far regarding their 5 projects. PLEASE COME TO ADVISORY PREPARED!!!

I'm looking forward to a great week and I hope it proves to be one!

Succulents

Way to go DaShawn for introducing a new word to the class today in science. He said that the plants that grow in the desert are called succulents. You will get credit for this posting if you can answer any of the following questions:

1) What are succulents?

2) What is an example of a succulent?

Even though we named two succulents in class, you can always search the internet for other types of succulents. If you do, you will get even more credit for doing some extra research.

The best of the best...

The month of September is over and so are multiplication timed tests. After this week, I would like to congratulate the following students for passing their timed test with an 80% or higher Remember, I took the highest grade achieved this week for the final grade -- Cameron (80%), Marae (99%), Sh'kyra (100%), Christina (100%), Darren (88%), Richard (98%), Michael (85%), Nate (90%), Trinity (100%), Bekkah (98%), DaShawn (99%), Leah (100%), Khaila (100%), and Yanik (82%). I am SO proud of you for working so hard. Let's keep this going with the division timed tests that start next week!

End of the week updates

Tomorrow is a special day. Those students that bring their library card to school and have all their homework turned in for math and for reading/writing will be walking to the Detroit Public Library to get books for independent reading and for their exhibition work. Please note though that it is possibly going to rain. If it is raining lightly, we will still go, so be prepared with a hood or an umbrella. If it is raining hard, we won't be able to go and we'll reschedule for next week.

Tomorrow is also dress down day. For $2, students will be able to wear Michigan State (green and white) and University of Michigan (dark blue and yellow) colors/apparel, with jeans and gym shoes. This is in honor of the University of Michigan vs. Michigan State Football game on Saturday. Students that do not have these colors are expected to be in full uniform. The money will be put in a fund for future field trips and other activities that the entire school/grade participates in.

Don't forget, tomorrow is the last chance for this month's multiplication timed tests. STUDY STUDY STUDY if you haven't received above a 95% yet!