March 12th, 2010
AUTOBIOGRAPHY PROJECT: Students should be working on their rough drafts for chapters 1-3. These rough drafts should be completed and edited by Monday, March 22.
MATH : Areas of parallolograms and triangles; Circumferences of cirlces; Pi; Formulas!!!!!! We are in the midst of Chapter 10 Geometry.
SCIENCE: This week we will finish up our discussions of “Light” and move to “Sight”.
DARE: DARE essays are due on Friday, March 19!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- March 17: Trimester 2 Report Cards are sent home
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- April 14 & 15: Math MCA Testing
- April 20 & 21: Reading MCA Testing
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
March 5th, 2010
AUTOBIOGRAPHY PROJECT: This past week, room 135 students began a project writing their own 6 chapter autobiographies. The 6 chapter titles are pre-determined. We have had pre-writing and rough draft discussions regarding chapters 1-3, and some pre-writing and rough draft work time in class. Check out the “Autobiographies” page of this blog for more detail.
MATH : Look for chapter 9 tests to come home on Monday, March 8. And it’s on to chapter 10.
SCIENCE: The “voyage” has ended, everyone made it back safefly, and we begin our Light, Sight, and Color unit on Monday, March 8.
DARE: On Friday, March 5, Officer Carroll assigned a DARE essay which is due on March 19.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- March 12: No school for students
- March 15: Begin Trimester 3
- March 17: Trimester 2 Report Cards are sent home
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- April 14 & 15: Math MCA Testing
- April 20 & 21: Reading MCA Testing
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
February 26th, 2010
AUTOBIOGRAPHY PROJECT: On March 1, room 135 students will begin a project writing their own 6 chapter autobiographies. The 6 chapter titles will be pre-determined. We will have pre-writing discussions and some pre-writing and rough draft work time in class, however “typing” the final copies of the chapters will be done at home. Check out the “Autobiographies” page of this blog for more detail.
MATH BLOCK 1: Chapter 8, Geometry, begins on Monday!
MATH BLOCK 2: We’re still working on quadrilaterals, octagons, pentagons, all sorts of angles and shapes.
SCIENCE: We will finish off Voyage of the Mimi with a quiz and test this coming week, and then begin our unit on Light, Sight, and Color.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- March 12: No school for students
- March 15: Begin Trimester 3
- March 17: Trimester 2 Report Cards are sent home
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- April 14 & 15: Math MCA Testing
- April 20 & 21: Reading MCA Testing
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
WINTER CONFERENCE SURVEY RESULTS: (a total of 87 surveys were returned):
- 81 (93%) responses indicated that they were able to attend the winter conference.
- 4 (5%) responses indicated that they were not able to attend, due to a scheduling conflict.
- 2 (2%) responses indicated that they chose not to attend the conference because they felt it was not necessary.
- 62 (71%) responses indicated that they preferred the “drop-in” format for the winter conference.
- 14 (16%) responses indicated that they preferred the traditional format for the winter conference.
- 11 (13%) responses indicated that they had no preference.
Thank you for your responses. We will use your feedback to help us plan for conferences in the future.
February 19th, 2010
MATH BLOCK 1: The Chapter 8 test is coming up this week (probably on Wednesday)!
MATH BLOCK 2: We are in the midst of discovering and measuring angles and learning about triangles. Next week: Ploygons!
INDEPENDENT READING: 12 total tasks in the Independent Reading Journal should be completed by Monday, February 22.
SCIENCE: We are nearing the end of our “voyage”. Coming soon: “Light, Sight, and Color”
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- March 12: No school for students
- March 15: Begin Trimester 3
- March 17: Trimester 2 Report Cards are sent home
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
February 11th, 2010
WINTER CONFERENCES: A winter conference survey was sent home with your child on Wednesday, February 10. Please return the survey by Tuesday, February 16. Thank you.
MATH BLOCK 1: We’ve been learning the similarities of equivalent fractions, equivalent ratios, proportions, rates, and scales, and then putting our knowledge to work solving problems (that’s the hard part).
MATH BLOCK 2: We took the Chapter 8 test on Thursday, February 11, and now it’s on to Chapter 9. Students can begin “brushing up” on their knowledge of geometric figures and shapes.
INDEPENDENT READING: 9 total tasks in the Independent Reading Journal should be completed by Tuesday, February 16.
SCIENCE: We took the first “Mimi” quiz on Thursday, February 11, and we will begin the second half of the “voyage” next Tuesday.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- February 12: No school for students
- February 15: No school for students
- March 12: No school for students
- March 15: Begin Trimester 3
- March 17: Trimester 2 Report Cards are sent home
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
February 5th, 2010
SNOWSHOEING: Today, we went snowshoeing in the Rush Creek Nature Area, and had a great time. Thank you to parents for helping your students come to school prepared for this outdoor activity.
WINTER CONFERENCES: Winter conferences are finished; look for a Winter Conference Survey to come home with your child this coming week. We appreciate your feedback.
MATH BLOCK 1: We are in the midst of Chapter 8, working with ratios, proportions, rates, and scales.
MATH BLOCK 2: We should finish up Chapter 8 this week; testing probably on Thursday, February 11.
INDEPENDENT READING: 6 tasks in the Independent Reading Journal should be completed by Monday, Feb. 8.
SCIENCE: The “voyage” continues: episodes and expeditions 6 and 7 this coming week; and the first Mimi Quiz!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- February 12: No school for students
- February 15: No school for students
- March 12: No school for students
- March 15: Begin Trimester 3
- March 17: Trimester 2 Report Cards are sent home
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
January 29th, 2010
WINTER CONFERENCES: Sixth Grade Winter “drop-in”conferences will continue on February 1 and February 4. Sixth grade morning conferences will occur in the sixth grade classrooms, and evening conferences will be held in the Media Center K-5 students will still follow the traditional conferencing schedule.
To keep conferences moving smoothly, and to minimize the wait time to see a teacher, we ask, if at all possible, that you drop in on the night (or morning) that you originally signed up for at open house, in the fall.
MATH BLOCK 1: We’re nearing the end of our work with multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers. Knowing those multiplication and division facts sure makes it easier! Translating word problems into math expressions and equations is still difficult.
MATH BLOCK 2: We continue with chapter 8: Ratios, Proportions, and Percents.
SNOW SHOEING AT RUSH CREEK: On Friday, February 5, from 11:15-12:15, room 135 sixth graders will be snowshoeing in the Rush Creek Nature Area with a representative from the Three Rivers Park District / Elm Creek Park. Students need to be dressed appropriately for this event. Students should dress warmly in layers, and warm hats, boots, and gloves/mittens are essential.
HELP! We’re running out of disinfectant wipes. If you are able to donate any to the classroom, we’ll accept them gratefully.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- February 1 and 4: Winter Conferences
- February 5: Snowshoeing at Rush Creek
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
January 22nd, 2010
GRADE REPORTS: We’re close to midway through the second trimester, and conferences are coming up. You child will bring home some grade reports on this coming Monday or Tuesday.
WINTER CONFERENCES: Winter conferences will be occurring before and after school on January 27, February 1, and February 4. Because of our departmentalizing schedule in sixth grade, we have decided to do something a little different for sixth grade conferences. Instead of scheduling specific 20 minute segments for a parent-homeroom teacher conference, sixth grade teachers will be setting up in the Rush Creek Media Center to receive “drop-in” conferences before and after school on the above conference dates. This should allow some flexibility with your own schedules, and also enable you to touch base with as many or as few of your child’s teachers that you feel necessary. K-5 students will still follow the traditional conferencing schedule.
To keep conferences moving smoothly, and to minimize the wait time to see a teacher, we ask that you drop in on the night (or morning) that you originally signed up for at open house, in the fall.
Your child should have brought home a blue conference letter this past Wednesday, indicating the morning or evening, and date that you specified in the fall as a preference.
MATH BLOCK 1: We’re working on multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers. Knowing those multiplication and division facts sure makes it easier!
MATH BLOCK 2: We’re on to Chapter 8.
HELP! We’re running out of disinfectant wipes. If you are able to donate any to the classroom, we’ll accept them gratefully.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- January 27, February 1 and 4: Winter Conferences
- February 5: Snowshoeing at Rush Creek
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
January 15th, 2010
HP TESTING: Test dates: January 21 and 22
There are 2 tests taken to qualify for these classes. The first one is a Verbal test which tests vocabulary skills and general word knowledge. The second one is a writing test in which students are given a prompt in which they have to write a well constructed paragraph with evidence of pre-writing, rough draft, edited rough draft, and final copy in a 35 minute time period.
There is NO separate Science or Social Studies test. So once these tests are completed, the scores will be sent to each department at the Junior High.
Testing will take place during the Literature Circle block that your child is in during the school day. That way they are in a comfortable testing environment and there is little disruption to their daily schedule.
WINTER CONFERENCES: Winter conferences will be occurring before and after school on January 27, February 1, and February 4. Because of our departmentalizing schedule in sixth grade, we have decided to do something a little different for sixth grade conferences. Instead of scheduling specific 20 minute segments for a parent-homeroom teacher conference, sixth grade teachers will be setting up in the Rush Creek Media Center to receive “drop-in” conferences before and after school on the above conference dates. This should allow some flexibility with your own schedules, and also enable you to touch base with each of your child’s teachers for different subject areas. K-5 students will still follow the traditional conferencing schedule.
To keep conferences moving smoothly, and to minimize the wait time to see a teacher, we ask that you drop in on the night (or morning) that you originally signed up for at open house, in the fall.
Your child should have brought home a blue conference letter this past Wednesday, indicating the morning or evening, and date that you specified in the fall as a preference.
D.A.R.E : DARE classes in room 135, with officer Carroll, began Friday, January 15. Friday’s from 2:55-3:55 is our scheduled DARE time.
HEALTH /SCIENCE: We have finished and tested Health chapter 5. Tests will be sent home on Monday, January 18. We’ve also begun the unit “Voyage of the Mimi”.
MATH BLOCK 1: Chapter 6 was tested on Friday, January 15. Look for results on Monday. Now it’s on to multiplying and dividing fractions.
MATH BLOCK 2: Understanding what multiplying and dividing fractions means, and how to apply it in a problem solving situation is the big challenge we’re working on now in Chapter 7. We should finish up this chapter very soon, and take the chapter 7 test next week.
HELP! We’re running out of disinfectant wipes. If you are able to donate any to the classroom, we’ll accept them gratefully.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- January 18: No School for students
- January 21 & 22: HP Testing for HP applicants
- January 27, February 1 and 4: Winter Conferences
- February 5: Snowshoeing at Rush Creek
- March 26: “The Works” (Science Residency) cost = $6
- May 14 or 21: DARE Graduation (2:30-3:45)
- June 10: Camp Ihduhapi
- June 11: Last day of school for students
January 9th, 2010
Hopefully everyone had a restful winter break. We’re running a little low on hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes if anyone is willing to send any to school. Keep an eye open for information coming home regarding 6th grade parent-teacher conferences. They are comin up January 27, February 1, and February 4.
HEALTH /SCIENCE: We will finish our study of Chapter 5 next week, and I’m planning the Chapter test for Wednesday, January 13. Then, we’ll begin a new unit called “Voyage of the Mimi”.
MATH BLOCK 1: We’re busy working with adding and subtracting fractions.
MATH BLOCK 2: We’re findng that multiplying fractions and mixed numbers isn’t too hard, but applying this skill in a problem solving situation is challenging.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
- January 18: No School for students
- January 21 & 22: HP Testing for interested students
- February 5: D.A.R.E. begins.