Weekly News

Can you believe it is February already?

This week in Math, we will begin the week by taking our Unit Test on Fractions. Students should expect to see basic fraction problems, story problems, and solve for the unknown problems. For the rest of the week, we will focus on learning how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals. We will make another foldable and practice basic problems in order to become proficient with this (as we did with fractions at the beginning of the unit).

In Science we will finish the Erosion and Deposition Unit by taking our Unit Test. On Monday and Tuesday we will review main concepts learned in the unit and take our test on Wednesday. Beginning on Thursday, we will begin our next unit on Plate Tectonics, focusing on how what the inside of the Earth is made up of.

In Advisory, it is expected that after this week, students will be done with all country projects. On Monday, February 1st, I will be checking that the students have the following Social Studies projects:

• 2 historical events that have taken place in the country being studied
• 2 holidays celebrated, including traditions/explanations of the holiday
• Government -- including the type of government, the leader of the country, and 3 unique laws in the country.

For the rest of the week, it is anticipated that students work on their three personal quality projects that they chose themselves. The completion of those projects will be checked on February 8th.

If you have any questions, please contact me!

Weekly News

This week in Math the students will first begin by reviewing story problems dealing with fractions. Last week, we started reviewing key words, looking at labels, etc. and it is my hope that after a bit more review, students will feel more comfortable with deciding on an operation and correctly solving the story problem. After a story problem review, we will work on "Solve for the unknown" which is an algebra topic. Students will learn the basics of solving for a variable and will apply it to fractions. On Friday, we will be reviewing all the concepts we have covered in our Fraction unit and our Fraction Unit Test will take place next Monday, February 1st. Also, as a reminder to students, any tic-tac-toe activities not finished in class as of Friday will be due on Monday, February 1st.

In Science we will near the end of our unit of Erosion and Deposition by finishing up our studies of hills, cliffs, and marshes. Students will review the pros and cons of building on each of the landforms and complete a project where they write a report for the City Council of Boomtown discussing why they want to build on the landform of their choice. As a look ahead, students will be completing an Erosion and Deposition Unit Review and Exam next week, so it would be a good idea to start reviewing main ideas we have covered thus far.

In Advisory I will do another check-in on Monday to see that students have the following three things:

• A map of their country with the major cities listed
• A flag of their country, along with the meaning behind the colors and symbols used
• Their 10 words/5 phrases from last week, typed up to put in their binder.

This week, it is expected that the students work on the following three things for me to check next Monday:

• Holidays (2 major holidays celebrated in the country, along with interesting traditions/explanations of each holiday)
• History (3 important historical events within the country, along with interesting information regarding each event)
• Government -- we will discuss in class on Monday what requirements for government are expected.

As a reminder, I am selling page protectors for $.10 each. It would be a good idea for students to protect their work so it doesn't get wrinkled and necessitate a reprint on the information. It might also be necessary to start looking for a binder to hold the page protectors in, since we are nearing the end of our project.

If you have any questions, please contact me. I'm looking forward to another great week!

Today's Division Quiz...

Yahoo! Overall, the class did WONDERFULLY on their division quiz today. I am pleased to see that they are back to working diligently and improving their grades. Congratulations to the following students who received over 80%:

• Trenton (92%)
• NiJaia (85%)
• Christina (100%)
• Richard (100%)
• Nate (81%)
• Trinity (92%)
• Bekkah (100%)
• DaShawn (85%)
• Leah (85%)
• Khaila (100%)
• Deacon (92%)

Awesome job everyone! I hope that this great work shows in your homework packet that is due tomorrow. Don't forget to make those corrections tonight!

Science Superstars!

Today, we had a quiz over 17 vocabulary words we have discussed since the beginning of our Erosion and Deposition unit. I greatly appreciate those that studied over the long weekend. Congratulations to those students that received over 80%:

• Cameron 91%
• Ananda 88%
• Richard 91%
• Trinity 91%
• DaShawn 85%

I am hoping that in the future, more students take advantage of long weekends to study for quizzes so that more students can achieve success!

Weekly News

This week in Math we will be finishing up our study on the division of fractions, including story problems. I have noticed that many students can figure out the correct number sentence when they know the correct operation, but students are still struggling with figuring out the correct operation when the story problems are mixed up. Because of this, at the end of the week, we will study a variety of story problems where students have to determine the operation before writing a number sentence and solving. Although we went over key words to each of the operations last week, the students must also think about each story problem and what it means, as well as notice the labels, for a hint on the type of story problem

In Science, we will start out the week having a vocabulary quiz based on all of the vocabulary we've studied in this unit. We will also continue to study the effects of erosion on different landforms, such as coastal lines, rivers, etc. At the end of the week, we will relate all of this back to Boomtown to go towards helping us figure out what type of landform would be the best to build on.

In Advisory students are expected to have their 10 words or 5 phrases that are from their country's language by Tuesday. This is so that they can practice saying these words/phrases so that they have a good attempt at being able to say these words to the best of their ability at the exhibition.

Now, the students should be working on their Social Studies topics, including getting a map (with large cities shown), having a flag (and knowing what the colors and objects in the flag represent), government (which we will discuss more in-depth in class), a minimum of 2 important holidays (explaining the importance of the holiday), and a minimum of 3 important historical events (explaining the importance of the events). The next check-in, where students should have their map (with cities identified) and flag (with information on what everything represents) will take place on Monday, January 25th, so students have one full week to complete this.

Any questions? Feel free to let me know -- email me or contact me at school! See you Tuesday.

Parent Volunteers???

Hi Parents. Now that we are half way into the school year, with school activities becoming more and more frequent, we are looking for parent volunteers. Parents would be greatly appreciated helping out with after-school activities (upcoming spaghetti dinner, for example) as well as during the school day, in the office and classrooms.

Also, a few parents have inquired about speaking to the 6th graders regarding certain topics academically, behaviorally, and socially. If you would like to speak to the 6th graders regarding something you are passionate about, please let me know and you could be a speaker at our weekly "pick-me-up".

If you are interested in volunteering in any way, please contact me or Mrs. Martin, our principal!

Thanks in advance!

Monday Math

Most of you know that I do not like to give quizzes or tests on Monday, but sometimes it is hard to avoid. Because of Friday's snow storm, with many absences, we had a quiz today on multiplying fractions. Congratulations to the following students for receiving an 80% or higher:

• Richard (86%)
• Trinity (100%)
• Bekkah (93%)

As proud as I am of the three above students, I am deeply saddened that more people didn't receive over 80% on such an easy quiz. Hopefully the next one will be easier! =)

Weekly News

This week in Math, we will continue our study of story problems by analyzing situations that involve the division of fractions. Students will understand the importance of setting up number sentences correctly as well as how to determine which of the numbers are being divided.

In Science, we will continue our study of weathering and erosion, along with deposition. Students will complete another experiment to help clarify these topics and show how all of the terms relate to one another.

In Advisory, students will complete a "check-in" on Monday to show me all of their science projects, which should be 100% complete. At this point, all math and science projects should be completed and in final copy. By Friday, I am expecting that all students have a list of words from their country, that they are going to present. It is highly anticipated that students actually try reading these words to us, so getting a list quickly will help them practice how to say the words they are going to choose. During the week, and at home, students can next start working on their social studies projects. We will talk in class about more specific qualifications for their government section, but the other topics should be pretty easy to get information for. Still have questions??? Please don't hesitate to ask.

Since all students do not have access to the computers each day in class, students are expected to have a personal reading book that they are reading. They will be introduced to book talks later this week (with requirements going home as well), that they will be expected to do later this trimester. Please be on the lookout for this, and also know that it is important that your child always has a book to read with him/her at all times.

Looking forward to another great week! Please remember that students do not have school this coming Friday for Teacher Professional Development and next Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Don't forget...

Just as a reminder to everyone, your science projects for your exhibition are due Monday, January 11, 2010. I expect the following:

• 3 animals in your country -- you must have a picture, which must be printed in ink, as well as some facts about the animals as well.
• 3 plants/flowers in your country -- same as with your animals, you must have a picture of each one, in color, as well as some facts about it.
• A minimum of a half page paragraph (typed) about the general weather/climate of your country.

Not having the following projects will lower your advisory grade, so please make sure you have everything necessary. Starting tomorrow, I will check off those of you that have everything done already!

Also, don't forget to get your progress report signed if you haven't done so already. You want to add 100 points to your table, not subtract 200 for a forgotten progress report!!!

See you tomorrow!

Weekly News

I hope everyone had a very restful holiday break and that you are ready to get back into the swing of things at school.

This week in Math, we will do a little review of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. We will focus most of the week working with story problems that deal with multiplying fractions and how to identify such story problems. Don't forget that the homework given over holiday break is due on Monday when you return to school!

In Science we will continue looking at erosion and deposition in Boomtown. We will review the graphs we made before break, looking at the amount of rainfall in Boomtown. We will then investigate how flowing water (rivers) can affect the way that land is shaped. Finally, we will read about weathering and how erosion and deposition play a role in shaping our land.

In Advisory students will get some time to work on their projects in class. It is expected that over break, students worked on their science portion. They are expected to have researched 3 native plants/flowers in their country, as well as 3 animals in their country. Along with a picture, students should have facts regarding their plants/flowers and animals. They also need to research the overall weather/climate of their country and have a 1/2 page written regarding this. All of this is due in one week -- January 11th -- in its final form. Final form means that written information is typed, in the student's own words, and that any pictures printed are big enough to see and are printed in color ink. Please make sure you don't wait until the last minute (that's why students were told about this before leaving for the holiday break), to print these items out.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

It's 2010! Did you have a good last week of 2009? I hope everyone has a good last weekend before returning to school on Monday, being all rested and ready to get back into school and all that you were learning before you left!

One last reminder -- everyone should be working on their science projects for their country as well as their math fraction problems, for those of you that had homework. See you Monday!!!