As I write this, I sit and think of how fast the year has gone by, and how much I have witnessed students change.  It never ceases to amaze me with the transformation I see students go through.  The shy student breaking out of their shell and becoming outgoing and vocal in class.   The students that strive for perfection in the classroom and turn all work in with precise accuracy and detailed answers. 

Things are difficult to keep up with this time of year, and technology does not always cooperate.  I again have to apologize for not getting current on my blog.  There have been difficulties with the site, and I have just ran myself out of time with all the end of the year activities taking place.

I would like to thank all the parents that took time off and went with us to Bois D’ Arc pond last Wednesday.  The kids enjoyed the day, as did the teachers.  From what I witnessed, the parents looked like they were having a pretty good time also.  Alot of fish were caught, no major accidents, and the weather was absolutely beautiful.  I could have not asked for a better day.  Next time I need to remember sunscreen though, as did some of the kids…

We have finished Science and will finish the school year up with Social Studies and the Middle Ages.

Here are what my lesson plans look like for this week:

MONDAY – Hand out Germanic States, Barbarian Invaders, and Charlemagne’s Empire worksheets – Due tomorrow

TUESDAY – Check yesterday’s handouts – read and discuss with a partner pages 26 – 35 from National Geographic Middle Ages booklet  – Then discuss as a class

WEDNESDAY – 6th grade goes to Junior High for Transition Day from 8:45 – 10:30 – Read / Discuss pages 37 – 41 from National Geographic Middle Ages booklet about the “Black Death” – relate this to problems with Feudalism

THURSDAY – Read / Discuss pages 42 – 47 from National Geographic Middle Ages booklet - Pass out King John and King John signs the Magna Carta handouts.   Use rest of class to read and work on assignment.

FRIDAY – Five minutes to finish assignment from yesterday – check assignment and turn in for grade – Discuss Joan of Arc movie to start watching next week.

WE MADE IT!!!!!  Spring Break is here.  WOW!!  Now that puts things in a different light.  This is both a time of celebration and a time of panic for all parties involved.  I hope you all realize that this means school will be out for summer vacation in about 7 – 8 weeks.  For teachers, this means that we have a lot to accomplish to finish up curriculum, MAP testing, and keeping students focused on the rest of the year.   This is getting very difficult to do with the turn of nice weather and the anxiety students have toward Summer Vacation.  We can do it though, and hopefully, this little break will be the bridge.

We are continuing our Science lessons and are moving on to Aquatic Ecosystems.  As I have been stating in week in review notes, Voluteers will be needed for our field trip to Bois D’Arc pond on May 6th.  We will be going from 11:00 – 3:00, back to school around 3:15…   (Dad’s, this is your opportunity to take the day off and go fishing, catch and release only though sorry)

I am going to add lesson plans for the week we return from Spring Break (March 30 – April 3) and then repost them the week we do return.

HAVE A GOOD SPRING BREAK!!

For the Week of March 23 - 27

MONDAY – Turn in Chemical Interaction books – Read library book in class

TUESDAY – FRIDAY – SPRING BREAK – ENJOY THE TIME OUT OF SCHOOL

For the week of March 30 – April 3

MONDAY – Take and grade Ecosystems Pretest (required for curriculum from Conservation Department)

TUESDAY – Discuss Water Cycle (Activity 1.1) Demonstration / Discussion Water Distribution and Scarcity (Activity 1.2)

WEDNESDAY – Introduce Activity 1.5 (Student Investigation of Water Consumption) – Read “Water is Life” pages 2-5 in student guide - take notes as we read – Assign questions 1-7 pg 5

THURSDAY – Discuss Water Consumption logs from yesterday – Explain/complete/discuss activity 1.7 Water Chemistry

FRIDAY – Chapter 1 Water is Life Test

My deepest apologies for not getting my assignments posted last week.  I was absent Monday and played catch up the rest of the week.  As you can tell, we are in the final stretch for the school year, about 8 weeks left. 

Upcoming important dates:

School in session Monday March 23rd

Map testing starts Tuesday April 14th, School is in session the 13th

For this week in Science

MONDAY – Blow it Up! Lab – discuss Hypothesis and Conclusion

TUESDAY -  work on Study guide for Test on Friday

WEDNESDAY – Solubility Lab – Discuss results

THURSDAY – go over study guide – Review for Test with Chemistry Jeopardy game

FRIDAY – Chemistry Test (Sections 3.1, 4.1, 4.2)

Let me know if I can do anything to help your child.

Well, this week brings the Third Quarter to a close.  Grades are to be in the computers by the 11th, with grade cards coming home on the 12th of March.  Time is going by too fast… To much material to cover yet, and not enough time to do it in.

Upcoming events will include a fishing trip for Yellow Team to wrap up our Aquatic Ecosystems unit.  We will be spending half a day at Bois D’Arc pond working in Math, Reading, and Science Stations, then also a group will be fishing (catch and release of course).  I will be sending home letters later asking for some help and parent volunteers.  The date is May 6th from 11:30 – 2:30.

Science tests went pretty good.  considering the amount of time spent on the material, overall grades were acceptable.  Some need to be studying/paying attention in class better.  This will help to improve thier grades. 

I apologize for not getting this posted sooner.  I have been getting caught up on grading and some other responsibilities I have here at WIS.

For this week (and what we have done already) Social Studies Mon – Wed.    Science – Thur & Fri.

Social Studies

MONDAY – Discuss Comparitive Essays.  Begin working on Comparitive Essay between Ancient Greece and US Democracy – Scoring Rubric was given – Paper is due Wednesday

TUESDAY – Continue working on Ancient Greece vs. US Democracy Comparitive Essay – May be typed as spelling will be graded – Paper due tomorrow at the end of class.

WEDNESDAY – Class time to finish Ancient Greece vs. US Democracy Comparitive Essay – Paper is due at the end of class TODAY

SCIENCE

THURSDAY – Check RSG 3.1 – Discuss Determining Which Chemicals Cause Which Reactions Lab – Walk through / Discuss writing the Problem, Hypothesis, and Materials List

FRIDAY – Students will conduct Chemical Cause Lab and fill out Lab Sheet - Results and Lab will be discussed on Monday.

Well, here we are…. coming close to the end of third quarter.  This quarter actually ends on March 9th, with grade cards being sent home around the 12th. 

It is very nice to be back in the classroom after going to the Science / Math Conference in Tan-Tar-A last week.  I spent 2 days in different meetings with teachers from around the state learning new strategies and ideas on how to teach the different concepts we have to cover according to state Grade Level Expectations.   I am looking forward to putting these activities and strategies in place and sharing them with the other Science / Math teachers at WIS.

This week we are focusing on Science, with a test over chemical and physical changes/properties on Wednesday.  Students will have a study guide for this given to them, as well as the RSG (Reading Study Guides) work from each individual lesson to study with.

Our Social Studies units are almost through,  We have Ancient Rome and the Middle Ages to finish up before the end of the year, so next week we will return to Social Studies and Ancient Greece to finish up that unit, then put Social Studies on the back burner in order to get through a little more science.  For Science, we still have to attempt to get through Chemical Interactions, Aquatic Ecosystems (with the Conservation Department), Light / Sound, and Cells before the end of the year. 

For Science this week:

MONDAY – Mind Map Physical Changes – to recall background knowledge and review – Read and Discuss pages 50 – 55.  Assign page 55, Lesson review questions (1-6)

TUESDAY – Review for Chapter 1 and 2 Test with Ms James.  Demonstration to preview next chapter – Review Physical / Chemical Changes

WEDNESDAY – Chapter 1 & 2 Test

THURSDAY – Pass out Chemical Interaction textbooks – Read and discuss pages 41-45.  Assign RSG 2.1B (modified version)

FRIDAY – Demonstrate Polymers A & B – Read pages 69-76 and discuss material in class.  Assign RSG 3.1A (do not do question #7)

My apologies for this not being done before today.  Time gets away from me sometimes with all the things I try to do.  Please remember that if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me with a note, email, or phone call.

A lot of things are happening.  We have a practicum student from SBU joining us every Tuesday until around May.  Her name is Ms. James.  She will teach a Science, Social Studies, and iTime lesson during that time.  So if you hear students talking about a new teacher one day a week, that is who they are talking about.

We are doing Social Studies this week, so we continue our discussions on Ancient Greece.  This week will be focused on Democracy and why it is important to us.

I will be absent 1/2 of Wednesday for a MRI (Missouri Reading Initiative) training session and then all day on Thursday and Friday for a Science / Math Conference. 

There will be no week in review notes this week due to that.  I may send them home on Monday, or just double up on Friday next week.

Assignments for this week-

MONDAY – Read, discuss, and highlight “Ancient Greece – A History”

TUESDAY – Ms. James will review yesterday’s lesson and do an activity with the class hitting the high points.

WEDNESDAY – Read and discuss pages 371 – 376 – Assign Lesson Review pg 176 questions 1, 3-5

THURSDAY – Review Greece Democracy – Discuss American Democracy – Assign compare similarities / differences between U.S. and Ancient Greece Democracy

FRIDAY – Read / Discuss pages 378 – 383.  Assign Reteach Activity handout

Well…. we are half way through the third quarter and not quite half way through the winter months.  As long as we don’t have any more major ice, I think we will be fine.  I especially don’t want to miss anymore school.  Midterm grades should be coming home Tuesday February 10th.  They were to be going home Monday, the 9th, but due to technical problems with the server going down, this has been delayed a day.  We are sorry for this delay.  Technology is nice…… when it works….

For this week, we will be moving into Matter and Energy for Science.  Ancient Greece will be set on the back burner.

I will be gone Thursday morning to a Science professional development workshop hosted by the district.  I will also be gone on February 19 and 20th to the Interface Science / Math Conference.

Science – Week of February 9-13th

MONDAY - Watch Properties of Matter and Bill Nye Science Guy – Matter and Energy

TUESDAY – Read and Discuss pages 16 – 25 from Matter and Energy textbook.  Assign RSG 1.2B AND RSG 1.3A

WEDNESDAY – Read and Discuss pages 27-33 Assign page 33 questions (1-6, exclude #5)

THURSDAY – Read and Discuss 41-49.  Discuss Property differences.  Demonstrate Density with Density cubes or Density balls.  Assign:  RSG 2.1B

FRIDAY – Conservation of Mass Lab (physical) Tri-fold paper (prediction on right side, procedure to complete lab in middle, Conclusion of results on left side) 

Well, didn’t the month of January fly by.  Here we are… February already.  Hang on to your heads folks, things are about to get crazy.  These next few months will include 2 units of Social Studies, 2 units of Science, MAP testing, Spring Break, possibly more snow, and then the extras our students are involved in. 

Speaking of snow days, the following are days that we will be making up due to our recent mini-vacation.

February 16     President’s Day
March 23        First Day of Spring Break
April 13        Monday after Easter

On to the assignments for the week.  Due to Mother Nature, our Science test was postponed on Wednesday.  It has been rescheduled for Monday February 2nd.  Students knew about the test on the 26th, so they have in all actuality had a week to study for it.  Social Studies brochures and news articles about the Chinese invention are also due Monday

Science – Week of February 2 – 6

MONDAY – Chapter 4 Test – sections 4.1 – 4.3  – I will also collect pages 139 – 140 (5-16, 21-25) that we went over in class Jan 30th.  We will also be collecting the Earth Science Textbooks

Social Studies – Week of February 2 – 6

TUESDAY – Introduce Ancient Greece Unit.  List City States or Polis – Discuss importance of them.  Assign: Arete Goal Sheet and Greek City-States handout

WEDNESDAY – Read / Discuss pages 357 – 359 in class.  Then read handouts “the Early Greeks” and “Life in Ancient Greece”   Assign: Activity box on each handout.  Mr Hayes will also be out at a Training Class all day

THURSDAY – Read / Discuss handouts “Food”, “Farming”, “Trade”, “Homes”, and “Clothing”.  Assign activity box on each handout

FRIDAY – Read / Discuss “The Rise of Hellenistic Civilization”  Assign: Economy of Hellenistic Period

This week we will be focusing on Science and finish Chapter 4 (Test on Wednesday), then probably switch to Social Studies on Thursday and Friday in order to finish up the brochures and news articles started last week.

I am again asking that parents continue checking and signing agendas.  Students are slacking on the seriousness of getting homework done, and I like to have that shared communication so that students see both parents and teachers are communicating.  Also please remember that you can contact any of the Yellow Team teachers through E-mail, phone, or agendas.

3RD QUARTER MIDTERM GRADE CARDS COME HOM FEBRUARY 9TH

For Science this week:

MONDAY -  Assign Chapter 4 Review, pages 139 – 140 Questions 5-13, 14 – 16 (use a cause / effect chart to answer), and 21-25 (use support from the textbook to answer in complete sentences)

TUESDAY – Check Chapter 4 Review, Grade, and keep to study for Test on Wednesday – Pass out Chapter 4 Vocabulary – Test tomorrow

 WEDNESDAY – CHAPTER 4 TEST

SOCIAL STUDIES

THURSDAY – Work on / complete Chinese Invention Brochure / News article – Due tomorrow

FRIDAY – Finish Chinese Invention Brochure – Due at end of class today

I am so sorry I did not get this published before the week was over.  I know it is a little to late to let you know what happened, but I would like to put it down anyway, and then give you next weeks information. 

Things are starting to get crazy, as if they weren’t already.  The weather is playing havoc on people’s emotions.  Behaviors at schoolare crazy and we are trying our best to get outside to run off some bottled energy, but if the temp and wind chill are near or below freezing, we don’t get to.  Please be sure to send students in warm enough clothes so that on those close days, we can get some fresh air.

Toward the end of this week, we started a “research” project where kids looked up a Chinese invention and created a brochure.  We will only work on this for 2 days in class, and then students are on their own.  There may be a day or possibly two next week before it is due on Friday Jan. 30th.

Week of Jan 16 – 23 will include Social Studies

MONDAY – NO SCHOOL – TEACHER WORKDAY

TUESDAY – Compare Ancient China Social Structure with those of the previously studied  civilizations – Discuss in class after groups write 5 similiarities / differences

WEDNESDAY – Read and discuss The Great Wall and The Silk Road pages 266 – 280

THURSDAY – Hand out Patent Pending / Brochure & News Article Requirements pages.  Students are to pick a Chinese Invention to research and provide facts in a brochure.  Then take those facts and expand them into a Newspaper Article. 

FRIDAY - Research Invention in Library – begin working on Brochure