Friday, 10.22.12

 

 

6th grade math- We are starting our measurement unit. The assignment for today is Lesson 8 # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 b and c, 8 a and b.

 

6th grade science- We are reviewing an assignment from last week that they struggled with. (Reading pages 167-171 and working on activity manual pages 103 and 104) They may have homework if they need to correct work or finish their paper atoms.

 

7th and 8th grade Language Arts- We had a spelling test today (this is a grade) and the first of three yearly spelling assessments that will not be graded.

 

7th and 8th grade science- Review game for the test on Monday. They have study notes and it covers all of chapter 2.  

 



CAN YOU HELP?

 

 

We are working on our narrative writing unit and I would love to use some picture books to help us with this unit. If you would consider getting us a book or two, I would be grateful! I have made a list of the books that work particularly well.

 

 

Amos & Boris by William Steig

 

All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan

 

Home Place by Crescent Dragonwagon

 

Letting Swift River Go by Jane Yolen

 

Midnight In the Mountains by Julie Lawson

 

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Gray

 

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

 

Any book by Patricia Polacco

 

Any book by Chris Van Allsburg

Thursday, 9.20.12

Welcome to our class blog! As I am NOT a techie, this is going to be VERY straight forward and simple. I will be trying to post here each day to let you know what we did and what is in the future. Hopefully this will help you keep up to date!

Science 6- We are working on chemistry right now. Our class project is "Atoms as Art" and we will be displaying our atoms in the hall in a few days. We will be having a quiz on the basic structure of an atom and how to read a periodic table cell on Monday.

Math 6- WOW! I cannot believe how well this class is going. We are moving right along and all the kids did really well on the first assessment. (Rounding)

     Our math class works a bit differently than other classes. I do not collect homework each day. They should not be tearing pages out of their math books because one thing I really like about this book is the fact that they explain new skills very well at the top of each lesson. If in 3 weeks when we are learning about adding fractions, for example, and they are having trouble remembering what to do with the denominator, they are able to go back and look at the lesson on LCDs to brush up.
     I do have "mini-assessments" frequently to see what level the kids are performing at and consequently adjust my teaching. Because the grading is "Standards based", they will be able to re-take any assessment for a better score (there is a sheet they will fill out to let me know how they will prepare for a re-take.)
     The grades will be changing on Sycamore a lot, but there will not be many different assignments. I will list each new objective as I obtain scores and those will be listed, but you may only see 3-5 objectives each tri-mester.

Language Arts 7 and 8- There is a spelling test on Friday and the spelling packet is due then. We just received our books, so they will have those next week. The books are NOT for writing in, they will need to use other paper. Please remind your child that the books are soft cover and they need to be responsible for them. They will be charged for any damage that is not normal wear. I am collecting writing notebooks today, so you will see some LA scores getting posted. There is a separate class listing for spelling, so there are not as many scores in LA as you may see in other classes. They have been working hard on their "short-writes" in class.

Science 7 and 8-  We are finishing up with our intro unit on the Earth in our Solar System. They have been taking study guide notes and will finish with that today. We will have study time in class on Friday, but they will need to spend time studying on their own. They had a full week notice for the test. The test covers all of chapter 2 only.

Thanks!
Susie