Weekly News

This will be a busy week for the class since we have exhibitions this week!

In Math we will continue working with story problems, in addition to working with dividing decimals as both of these skills prove to be the most difficult ones for students still.

We will not be doing Science this week since we have exhibitions all afternoon.

In Advisory we will be presenting exhibitions. The things students must remember are:

• Do you have an agenda?
• Is your binder in the order that your agenda says?
• Do you have the necessary note cards?
• Have you practiced your exhibition in front of someone to make sure yours isn't too short or too long?
• Do you have ALL of your projects? (If you are not sure, please refer to the rubric I gave out last week for the projects that will be graded, as well as the presentation skills that you will be graded on)

I am anticipating much success for this exhibition because the students have been working VERY hard. I look forward to seeing everyone's presentation this coming week!

Upcoming Field Trip

On March 15, 2010 (Monday), we will be going on a field trip to the University of Michigan - Dearborn. We will be working with "Maple Syrup Science" where the students will learn the process of making maple syrup and all the science that is involved. This is a partially outdoor field trip so students must wear old clothes -- jeans, sweatshirts, boots, etc. and they should also have necessary warm clothes such as gloves, hats, scarfs, warm coats, etc.

The cost of the field trip is $7 and it is due no later than Monday, March 8th.

We are looking for a couple parent volunteers, so if you would like to volunteer, please let me know by Friday, March 5th.

Finally, students will be required to bring their own bagged lunch since we will not be at school for the normal lunch time. If they normally get a school lunch and would like a bagged school lunch, I must be notified before Friday, March 5th as well.

Any questions?? Let me know...

A longer vacation...

Happy Snow Day -- again! I'm sure you all know it's a snow day today, but I just want to remind you that exhibitions are next week. Have fun today, but remember that today is a GREAT day to get caught up since you'll have one less school day to get this stuff done, since we don't have school today.

Enjoy your day and see you tomorrow!

Welcome Back..

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and productive mid-winter break!! Get ready for a BUSY week!

In Math this week, we will continue our practice with decimals. Before break we focused on adding and subtracting decimals, and this week we will focus on multiplying and dividing decimals. Not only will we review the steps to completing these problems, but we will also review estimating and how to solve story problems.

In Science we will continue our study of plate tectonics. We will review the layers of the Earth and look at important events in Earth's history that make it look like the way it does today. We will also talk about the continental drift that occurred millions of years ago as well as other historical events that created the plates that are under the surface of the Eart.

In Advisory I will do a last check-in on Monday to see all of the projects that the students have done. Remember, everything should be done at this point, because exhibitions are next week. By the way, if you have not signed up for a time, please do so as soon as possible. It is first come, first serve and there are very few spots open. For the remainder of the week, students will work with note cards and plan out what they are going to say for each section and some students may decide to do a "practice" exhibition in front of the class to get some early feedback before they are graded on it. If you have any questions regarding any of the exhibition items, please let me know ASAP. Exhibition grading rubrics will be passed out on Monday, so if you are curious about how the students will be graded, please ask them for the rubric.

Don't forget, for those of you that were in school Friday before break, get your progress report signed...that is 500 points for your table and table points end this week! See you tomorrow!!!

Things to remember over break

I hope everyone is enjoying their break so far. I just wanted to update the blog with things I hope you remember to do (and remind your other classmates that don't regularly check the blog please)...

1) Get your school progress report signed. 500 points for your table will be awarded to those students that were at school on Friday and bring it back signed on Monday.

2) Work on your 3 personal qualities projects, your ELA academics, and your Geography academics projects. I will do your last check-in on Monday that we return.

3) Be sure you have an exhibition time. I have about 5-7 spots left, so if you haven't signed up for one yet, make sure you bring in your options on the Monday we return.

4) Don't forget to work on your tic-tac-toe.

Enjoy your break, but please make sure you make time for your exhibition work. When we get back to school, we only have one week left until exhibitions. During that time, you will be planning out your notecards and will have "practice" exhibitions, where you will be able to practice a section of your exhibition in front of the class to get feedback before you are graded on it.

Let me know if you have any questions...

Happy Snow Day

That's right! We have a snow day today. So go back to bed, or watch tv, or go play in all the snow we have. This is actually a great chance to get all the exhibition work done too! See you tomorrow!!

Weekly News

Only 5 more days until Mid-Winter Break, but it will be a busy 5 days!

In Math we will continue our study of decimals by using estimation to see if our exact answer is reasonable, as well as starting our study with story problems. Since we worked so hard with story problems for decimals, I think this will be easier for everyone. We'll see!!

In Science we will continue discussing plate tectonics and how the things on the inside of the earth affect the outside. On Monday, we will finish up our discussion on nuclear waste being stored at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. For the rest of the week, we will study volcanoes, which I know everyone is excited about!

In Advisory this is a very important week because students need 13 projects to be turned in, in order to attend the exciting Valentine's Day dance on Friday. I have advised the students not to buy a ticket until they get the "all clear" from me, so they don't miss out by buying a ticket and not being able to go. The following must be turned in by Wednesday (please recall that all of these items have been due in previous weeks, but some students had to redo some of them -- only 2 items (the last two) are new from last week!)

• 4 math graphs
• 3 currency problems
• 3 animals with explanations/fun facts about the animals
• 3 plants/flowers with explanations/fun facts about the plants/flowers
• Paragraph of climate of the country
• 10 words/phrases in the other country's language
• Map (with major cities identified)
• Flag (with meanings of the colors and symbols)
• 2 holidays (indicating what is special about that holiday/traditions of the country)
• 2 historical events (listing why it was important)
• Government (including the leader, type of government, and 3 unique laws the country has)
• Math academics -- 2 fraction problems (one basic problem, one story problem/solve for the unknown)
• Science academics -- Where would you build? (based on seaside cliff, delta marsh, or green hill -- 1 page report as well as a visual aid)

The only thing not required to be done yet are the 3 personal qualities topics that the students have chosen themselves. This will be required to be turned in the Monday we return from Mid-Winter break, so that means at this point, they have 2 weeks to get it done!

Parents, please expect a letter to come home about the exhibition dates and times. Again, it is first come, first serve. You may respond under this post, once you get the form Monday if you would like and I can confirm with you that way.

I'll see everyone tomorrow!!

This is a good sign!

Wow. I am so pleased with how quickly everyone is picking up the work on decimals that we've done. We've only been working on adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals for four days and the following students already received over 80% on their first quiz:

• Christina (90%)
• Richard (90%)
• Michael (80%)
• Trinity (100%)
• DaShawn (90%)
• Leah (90%)
• Khaila (100%)
• Deacon (90%)

Keep up the great work and I hope that after a little more practice, more names will be on this list!!!!

Spectacular Science Scores

The students did REMARKABLE on their science test today over Erosion and Deposition. A big pat on the back goes to the following students who all received an 80% or higher:

• NiJaia (89%)
• Cameron (89%)
• Christina (96%)
• Ananda (93%)
• Richard (93%)
• Nate (89%)
• Trinity (86%)
• DaShawn (93%)
• Leah (96%)
• Khaila (93%)

Awesome job. Keep up the fantastic work...I am so proud of you!

Fantabulous Fraction Stars!!

After 2 months, we are finally done with our fraction unit. We have learned how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions. From there, we put them in story problems and solved them, after analyzing the problem to determine which operation to use. After that, we learned some algebra and was able to solve for the unknown letter in problems. I'm so excited to announce that the following people received an 80% or higher on this HUGE unit test:

• Richard (84%)
• Trinity (96%)
• Bekkah (96%)
• Leah (96%)
• Khaila (92%)
• Deacon (80%)
• DaShawn (88%)
• Christina (92%)

I hope to see more students keep up with our next unit so I can list more names on a posting like this for decimals. Remember -- DO NOT wait until the last minute to get help and be sure to ask questions. Again, congratulations to the 8 of you. I'm very proud at your hard work!