Weekly News

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

I first want to let everyone know that once I get home, I promise I will start uploading pictures from camp. Everyone seemed to have a great time and I greatly appreciate everyone's excellent behavior. No problems from our class!!!!

This week in Math we will look at the concept of Order of Operations. We use the order of operations to solve problems with more than one operation in it, so we will use it to solve rather long problems. We will also explore the distributive property, which incorporates the use of parenthesis and multiplication along with addition or subtraction. We will be having our unit test on Integers (add, subtract, multiply, divide integers, coordinate grid, order of operations, distributive property) next week, so make sure you have your foldables handy.

In Science we will look at the differences of renewable and nonrenewable resources when it comes to converting it into electricity. The students will also be able to complete another experiment with ice, but now they are going to try to preserve the ice and NOT get it to melt. At the end of the week we will be completing a study guide and having our unit test. Our unit test is tentatively on Friday, but could change if we don't finish everything as scheduled -- pushing it back to next week.

In Advisory students will have a chance to practice parts of their exhibition for next week. Exhibitions are next week so it is important that students remember the following:

• They get 25-30 minutes to complete their exhibition.
• Students may not plaigarize in their exhibition -- meaning EVERYTHING must be in their own words.
• Students must make sure that they have every section covered, including trimester academics.
• Students must make sure they have a depth of knowledge in their topic. Stating 2-3 sentences about a topic IS NOT depth of knowledge. Do not assume that just because you mentioned something, it covers the requirements. YOU must show you are the professional about this topic and know everything about it.

Any questions?? Let me know...

See you tomorrow!!!

Weekly News

This week in Math we will be wrapping up our understanding of multiplying and dividing integers. We will be playing a game on Monday to review multiplying and dividing integers rules, and have a quiz on Tuesday.

In Science we will be completing an "Ice-Melting Competition". Students will try to figure out the fastest way to melt an ice cube. Start thinking of ways to melt an ice cube quickly and also keep in mind the types of energy that will help you with this experiment.

In Advisory I will be doing one last check-in for trimester academics topics. Students should be working on math, science, writing, reading, and social studies trimester academics. They should be wrapping up anything they need to do for their entire exhibition -- note cards, making an agenda (which I will type up and print for them if they have it to me by Tuesday), etc. Next week, we will be doing practice exhibitions so students should prepare for this!

CAMP NOTES:

As everyone knows, we will be at camp from Wednesday-Friday. We are asking the students to be at school at 7am on Wednesday so we can arrange everything (pack the luggage on the bus, get the students situated on the bus, etc.) and leave as soon as possible. We will be back on Friday at 4pm. Please be prompt picking your child up!

A few reminders:

• No cell phones are allowed. I gave all my students my personal cell phone so if anyone needs to get ahold of anyone, they can use my phone (if the signal is even strong enough there).
• Electronics are allowed only on the bus to and from camp, and in their cabins (at their counselors discretion).
• Please label all luggage -- students are allowed only 1 piece of luggage and 1 carry-on (in addition to a sleeping bag, blanket, and pillow.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. The weather looks like it is going to be beautiful for us, so I think camp is going to be a great experience for the students!

P.S -- Only 19 more days of school left!

Incredible Integers

I am so impressed at how well my class did on their integer quiz today. Adding and subtracting integers appear to be the hardest ones to do and with them doing so well on it, I am extremely impressed. Congratulations to the following students for receiving an 80% or higher on that quiz!

• NiJaia (81%)
• Cameron (83%)
• Christina (92%)
• Ananda (83%)
• Richard (92%)
• Nate (83%)
• Trinity (100%) WOO HOO!!
• DaShawn (94%)
• Leah (97%)
• Khaila (81%)
• Deacon (86%)

Keep it up everyone! I promise that multiplying and dividing will be easier so those of you struggling with adding and subtracting, have plenty of time to continue practicing before the big test. Don't give up!

Weekly News

This week in Math we will be continuing our work with integers. We will review plotting positive and negative numbers on a coordinate grid on Monday. On Tuesday, we will have a quiz on graphing on a coordinate grid, along with adding and subtracting integers. For the rest of the week, we will focus on multiplying and dividing integers.

In Science we will continue our study of energy. We will wrap up last week's activity of the energy needed to drive a nail into a foam block before looking at energy within roller coasters. With this background in mind, students should then have a good understanding of kinetic vs. potential energy, and they will study the Law of the Conservation of Energy. Using the Law of Conservation of Energy, students will be able to connect it directly to situations where energy is used and describe where the energy transfers took place.

In Advisory students will get a list of ideas for math and science, that they can complete for Trimester Academics for their exhibition. At this point, most students should have a pretty good idea of what they are presenting for the health/animal topic, since we had our last check-in on Friday. Making notes on notecards, making sure nothing is plagiarized and having visual aids ready are some last steps to wrapping up everything before the actual exhibition. If you haven't signed up for a time yet, make sure you do quickly! Times are running out!

Just a reminder that there is no school on Friday, May 21 due to Teacher Professional Development.

Exhibition Time/Date sign-up

It's time again to start thinking about dates and times for exhibitions. We will have Exhibition Week the week of June 7. The times are as follows:

Monday, June 7 -- 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm

Tuesday, June 8 -- 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm

Wednesday, June 9 -- 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm

Thursday, June 10 -- 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm

Friday, June 11 -- 9:30am, 10:15am, 12:45pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm

Sign up is first-come, first-serve. Feel free to leave your requested date and time on the blog or fill out the form that was sent home and I will confirm that time with you.

Thanks!

Awesome Quiz/Test Scores

Today, on this beautiful Monday, students had a math quiz and a science test.

Congratulations to the students who received an 80% or higher on the math quiz (awesome work on this more difficult topic!!!):

• Trenton (89%)
• Christina (100%) WOO HOO!!
• Darren (93%)
• Richard (100%) Double WOO HOO!!
• Nate (96%)
• Trinity (100%) Triple WOO HOO!!
• DaShawn (96%)
• Khaila (100%) Quadruple WOO HOO!!
• Deacon (96%)

The Science test proved to be a bit more challenging. Congratulations to the following students who perservered and received above an 80% on the Ecology Unit Test:

• Christina (83%)
• Cameron (83%)
• Richard (93%)
• Trinity (90%)
• DaShawn (97%)
• Khaila (83%)

Keep it up everyone. Finish the year out strong!!!

Weekly News

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

This week in Math we are going to continue our study of integers. On Monday we will have a brief quiz on basic integer understanding (comparing, number lines, ordering, etc.). For the rest of the week we are going to focus on developing rules for adding and subtracting integers. Last week I taught the students how to use a number line or "chips" but that isn't always practical for larger numbers. So, once we develop a rule for adding and subtracting, it will be a bit easier. Also, we will begin to learn about the coordinate grid, the x-axis and y-axis, and how to plot points on the grid.

In Science we are going to have our unit test for Ecology on Monday. The rest of the week we are going to start our last unit of Energy. We will look at energy uses in the home, including how to reduce energy used and study the differences in kinetic, gravitational, and thermal energies. Remember, your "Introduced Species" project is due on Monday. If you don't have it, you won't be going to the student-staff basketball game on Wednesday. Please make sure you do it!

In Advisory students will be wrapping up their presentations. They should have their powerpoint done, their notecards done, their posterboards done, etc. Anything that they are using to present their project, should be done. I will be doing a final check-in on Friday to ensure everyone has everything done!

We are only 29 days away to graduating 6th grade. Lets finish strong!!!

Science questions

In Science today we had a few questions that you can answer for extra credit:

1) What is the difference between a mole and a vole (or is there one?)?

2) What does the vacuole of a cell do?

3) What does the mitochondria do?

4) What does the cell membrane do?

5) What does the cell wall do?

6) What is cytoplasm?

Any other words and definitions you can find relating to plant and/or animal cells, please add it for extra credit!

Weekly News

Happy May!!!

This week in Math we will be starting out our new unit (and our LAST unit of the year!) -- Accentuate the Negative, which is the study of negative numbers. This week's focus will be on understanding real life situations where negative numbers are used as well as getting comfortable finding negative numbers on a number line, comparing positive and negative numbers, as well as putting them in order.

In Science we will be finishing up our ecology unit by looking at the habitat of an organism, as well as the carrying capacity of an ecosystem. On Friday, students will complete a study guide for their test next Monday.

In Advisory it is expected that students are done with ALL of their five areas for their exhibition. On Monday, I will be doing a check-in for the final area -- personal qualities. At this point, students should be working on how they are going to present their information. If they are doing a talk-show, they may need to write out note cards of what they will be saying, as well as getting volunteers to be "guests" on their talk show. Other students that are working on powerpoint presentations will need to make sure their powerpoint is perfected -- making sure not to have full sentences written on their slides and having notecards with more details that they will present to us.

Don't forget that on Monday and Tuesday we will be heading to U of M - Dearborn for our 2-day science field trip. The project they work on while they are at U of M is a grade, so those students that are not able to attend because of behavior or failure to turn in a permission slip will be given a packet of work to complete both days to make up for not doing the project at U of M.

Any questions?? Let me know!!!