Thursday, March 18, 2010

Paws Team Update

The 3rd quarter ends tomorrow. Grade cards will be distributed the week after spring break. All missing work and late work must be turned in by Friday (3-19-10) to be included in the 3rd quarter grading period. The following week is spring break. The week we return from spring break we will begin the MAP Test. Here are the tests and dates:

Communication Arts MAP Test will be taken on
Wednesday-March 31
Thursday-April 1
Tuesday-April 6
Mathematics MAP Test will be taken on
Thursday-April 8
Friday-April 9


In Social Studies, we will finish presenting the projects over Ancient Greece tomorrow. There are many students that have done nothing for the last 18 days, in regards to their projects. Please check on the STI system to see if your student has completed the project and folder or not. Gold classes’ grades were entered today, and I will enter blue classes tomorrow during 3rd block. Students have had 18 days to complete this project. The work that I have seen has been wonderful. Many students put a great deal of effort into the project—it was recognized and complimented! We will begin our study of Ancient Rome when we return from spring break.

In Communication Arts, Mrs. McFarland is thrilled with all the winners from this year's Language Arts Department Fair for the south region of Missouri. Congratulations to these winners: Description Of Mood - Merrick Altis 1st Place; Paige Wilcox 2nd Place; Sabrina Steffins 3rd Place; Sammy Gardner Honorable Mention, Description of Place - Sammy Gardner 1st Place, Essay With Original Photos - Cassie Curtis 1st Place, Journal/Diary Fictional - Sammy Gardner 3rd Place, Original Literature Related Newspaper - Aki Fong 3rd Place, Persuasion - Sammy Gardner 3rd Place. All of our students who entered will have their work displayed at Willard High School on April 24th from 7:30 to 11:30 for the Regional LAD Fair. Mrs. McFarland will be a Spelling Bee pronouncer/judge that day at the LAD Fair. Please feel free to come and see all the work that middle school students have written. It is quite impressive. Way to go sixth graders!

Mathematics-We will have a few days to review for the MAP test when we get back from spring break. The Language Arts test is first, so we will test April 8th and 9th. Students have done a great job working to get ready! Have a great spring beak, and come back ready to complete the year!

In Science, the students completed a test this week over Newton’s Laws and solving for speed, distance, and time. We will continue our investigation of this unit with a focus on the relationship between mass, distance, and gravitational forces. This will be a terrific segue into our unit on the solar system.

In Reading Exploratory, please make sure that your student is reading 100 minutes per week, writing three complete summaries, and having you sign the Reading Log (attached). Please have students proofread and edit their summaries if it is not their best work. There will be a reading log due every Friday.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Paws Team Update

The end of the 3rd quarter is next Friday (3-19-10). All missing work and late work must be turned in by Friday (3-19-10) to be included in the 3rd quarter grading period. The following week is spring break. The week we return from spring break we will begin the MAP Test. Here are the tests and dates:

Communication Arts MAP Test will be taken on
Wednesday-March 31
Thursday-April 1
Tuesday-April 6
Mathematics MAP Test will be taken on
Thursday-April 8
Friday-April 9

In Social Studies, we are completing our study of Ancient Greek culture. Students will present their projects on Friday (3-12) for gold classes and on Monday (3-15) for blue classes. I will attach the project sheet with this e-mail. They will turn in all of the work we have done for this chapter prior to making their presentations.
Chapter 5 Folder-80 points
1. Chapter 5 Section 1
2. Chapter 5 Section 2
3. Chapter 5 Section 3
4. Chapter 5 Section 4

In Communication Arts, Mrs. McFarland is pleased to announce that these students have been selected to have writing entries in the upcoming Language Arts Department Fair at Willard High School on April 24th. The students are: Arylle Kathcart, Aki Fong, Kevin Lewis, Virginia Davison, Paige Wilcox, Sammy Gardner, Merrick Altis, Autumn Nelson, Haylie Kiser, Payton McDaniel, Sabrina Steffins, Austin Tyler, Madisson Terry, Cassidy Evans, Cassie Curtis, Noah Tews, Izzy Yandell, Kevin Jean, Aaqila Johnson, Brayden Jones, Courtney Cummins, Ashton Hawkins, Hailee Pederson, Alexis Lambeth, Kylie Meeker, Jimmy Gove, Kyle Brown, and Molly Eagan. Congratulations to all of our Paws Team authors! Way to go!

In Mathematics, we will be taking the chapter 8 test on Monday for Blue, and Tuesday for Gold classes. This chapter includes ratios and proportions, which is difficult material. There is a study guide on pages 442-444 (skip sections 6,8,&9). It includes vocabulary, examples and questions. It is a great study tool, and is part of the assignment due on test day. Worksheet 8-8 is also due test day. Have a great weekend, and remember to study for the test!

In Science, the students just completed their “Race Car Speed Lab.” We are beginning our investigation of Newton’s three laws of gravity. We will have a small test next week over the speed portion of our unit and the basics of Newton’s Laws.

In Reading Exploratory, please make sure that your student is reading 100 minutes per week, writing three complete summaries, and having you sign the Reading Log (attached). Please have students proofread and edit their summaries if it is not their best work. There will be a reading log due every Friday.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Paws Team Update

In Social Studies, we are continuing our study of Ancient Greek culture. Ask your student to share the fable they have written. Ask for them to tell you about the great philosopher Socrates. Students will present a project at the completion of our study of Chapter 5. The project and presentation will take the place of the test for Chapter 5. I will attach the project sheet with this e-mail. The project will be similar to the one we completed over Ancient Egypt. Blue classes will get the information about the project on Monday; gold classes got their information sheets today. The projects are due on Friday (3-12) for gold classes and on Monday (3-15) for blue classes. Students will continue to have homework each time they have social studies. Please ask to see the completed assignment for verification.

In Communications Arts the students are continuing to prepare for the upcoming MAP testing. The students have been asked to take their MAP prep activities home for their parents to look over. Spelling Test 10 will be given to Blue classes on Thursday, March 11 and Gold classes on Friday, March 12. The "Pioneer Life" words include: anvil, barrow, bounty, buckshot, chink, cultivate, employ, enable, expand, flail, ford, foresee, grizzly, liniment, pemmican, quill schooner, stockade, and vulture. The Language Arts Department will be sending in entries to LAD fair on March 12. If any child has a piece of writing they would like to add to the ones that Mrs. McFarland has already designated as entering, please let her know.

In Mathematics, we are working on chapter 8, covering ratio and proportions. It would be a good idea to start reviewing the chapter vocabulary. We will finish the chapter next week, and test the 15th and 16th. We continue to prepare for the MAP, which will start the week we return from spring break. Please check with your child about supplies. Many students are running low on pencils and paper. Have a great weekend!

In Science, the students are investigating the principles related to forces and motion. This week students have graphed speed, completed a ball drop lab, measured items using spring scales, and are now in the middle of a lab attempting to determine the speed of a variety of vehicles.

In Reading Exploratory, please make sure that your student is reading 100 minutes per week, writing three complete summaries, and having you sign the Reading Log (attached). Please have students proofread and edit their summaries if it is not their best work. There will be a reading log due every Friday.