Thu May 17, 2012
Thursday
The day flew by! Students expressed surprise at the end of several periods when the bell rang sooner than they expected.
We were busy in all classes. In Social Studies and Lit, the students did reading and writing. In Math, we worked on examples of combinations and permutations. In General Studies we divided up the alphabet for a book about Outdoor School.
Assignments:
General Studies: Finish your brainstorming process - words that start with your letter; choose a topic; words and phrases related to your topic. Due: Friday, May 18.
Math: Finish the combination and permutation problem from class. Write and answer one problem of your own for each concept. Due: Friday, May 18.
Lit: Read Chapters 5 and 6, and complete your lit group sheet. Due: Friday, May 18.
Reading logs. Due: Monday, May 21.
Social Studies: Based on what you have completed in class, do the amount of work needed so that you can finish the packet in class. Do NOT complete it all at home tonight and have nothing to do in class tomorrow. Due: Friday, May 18.
Wed May 16, 2012
Wednesday
Here we are at mid-week already!
We began the day practicing ABC topic sentences for the CNN news stories. In Social Studies, we launched into a very compressed look at ancient Central African civilizations. (I want to have time to explore the Americas in the weeks we have remaining.) Meanwhile, in Math, we continued our look at probability with work on combinations and permutations. In Lit, we held our lit group meetings, which I felt went quite well.
Assignments:
Lit: Reading logs. Due: Monday, May 21.
Yup, that's all for today.
Tue May 15, 2012
Tuesday
We have had 5th graders touring these last two days, getting acquainted with middle school and seeing what they have to look forward to next year. Thanks for the 6th graders who have acted as tour guides.
In Social Studies, we did the "Mind Jogger" quiz on Ancient China. Fifth period we had a three-way tie for first, second, and last places.
In Math, we spent the period reviewing last night's assignment in pairs and small groups. We will continue with it tomorrow. And in Lit, the students had about 30 minutes to read and work on their preparation for tomorrow's lit groups.
Assignments:
Math: Read Lab 11B. Be ready to discuss the concept. The probability of a quiz is high. Due: Wednesday, May 16.
Lit: Read Chapter 4, prep your lit group worksheet, and make one journal entry. Due: Wednesday, May 16.
Reading logs. Due: Monday, May 21.
Mon May 14, 2012
Monday
Welcome back from Outdoor School. Most of the students made it in today, though I am hearing some coughing and congestion that may or may not be allergies at work. Now it's back to the class routine for another five weeks.
In Math, we looked at option trees and combination events in probability. In Social Studies, we watched the latest installment of In The Know and worked on correcting the China tests. Despite overwhelming approval for the self-paced reading and note-taking activity, the test scores did not indicate retention of a lot of information. In Lit, we started Chapter 4 in The View From Saturday, the last long chapter of the novel.
Assignments:
Math: P. 572-3 Boys even and girls odd - all problems. P. 576-7 Girls even and boys odd - all problems. Due: Tuesday, May 15.
Social Studies: Correct the questions your got wrong on the test. Use the book and note the page number on which you find the answer. You can earn back 50% of the lost points. Due: Tuesday, May 15.
Lit: Reading logs. Due: Monday, May 21
Read Chapter 4, complete the lit group worksheet, and make a journal entry for the chapter. Due: Wednesday, May 16. (You will have most of tomorrow's class period to work on this.)
Sun May 06, 2012
Outdoor School
Monday May 7 through Friday May 11.
We are out in the woods learning and having fun.
Next posting will be Monday, May 14.
Fri May 04, 2012
Friday
Our in-school time is done for now. Next week - Outdoor School!
OAKS testing is done for both Math and Reading.
NO assignments except to get rest, take care of yourselves, pack carefully, and be ready for fun and learning at Outdoor School.
See you Monday morning, regular time.
Thu May 03, 2012
Thursday
A wet day. Let's hope Mother Nature gets all that water out of the system before next week.
We finished the OAKS math test today - a day early! The reading test is almost finished.
We are down to our last day - tomorrow - for students to complete their Social Studies readings, note-taking packets, quizzes, and tests.
Assignments:
Lit: Finish reading Chapter 3, write one or more journal entries, complete the lit group sheet, and be ready to discuss. Due: Friday, May 4.
Social Studies: Finish the China chapter. Due: End of class Friday, May 4.
ODS: Packing carefully. Resting this weekend. Being ready for learning and fun. Due: Monday, May 7.
Wed May 02, 2012
Wednesday
Two more school days until Outdoor School. A week from now the kids will be asking how to slow time so they can continue to enjoy the experience.
We started our OAKS testing for math today. Mr. Silva was done early, so I scooped up the lab time. That should ensure we are done by Friday. There are only a handful of students who have not finished the reading assessment.
In Social Studies, we are winding down the self-paced China study. I will debrief the experience with the classes to see how they feel about this type of activity versus whole-class work.
Assignments:
No Math or General Studies work.
Social Studies: Continue your reading and note-taking work. All work is to be completed by the end of class on Friday, May 4.
Lit: You will have class time tomorrow for your prep work on The View From Saturday, and lit groups meet on Friday. Do whatever work you need to at home to be ready. Due: Friday, May 4.
ODS: Stay well, stay rested, start putting aside clothes for next week.
Tue May 01, 2012
Tuesday
Day Two of OAKS for reading, and tomorrow we will start on math. In Social Studies we continue to slog along with the reading and note-taking.
Assignments:
Math: Review all of Chapter 10.
Social Studies: Work on your reading and note-taking packets so you are ready to finish the unit on Friday. Due: Friday, May 4.
Mon Apr 30, 2012
Monday
Welcome to the end of April. We are another month closer to the end of our sixth grade year. I need time to s-l-o-w down as there is too much still to do.
We finished speeches today in all the Social Studies classes. We will finish the self-study unit on China at the end of the week.
We started round 2 of OAKS testing in Lit. We will start testing in Math later this week. I hope to have most of it completed before we go to Outdoor School.
Assignments:
General Studies/ODS: Lanyards and a few wood cookies are overdue!
Math: Complete up to and including the fifth worksheet in your packet. You should then have three worksheets for class tomorrow. Due: Tuesday, May 1.
Social Studies: Continue your reading and note-taking work. All unit work, including the test, is due by Friday, May 4.
Lit: Chapter 3 reading, journaling, and lit group sheet prep is due FRIDAY, May 4 due to the loss of class time for testing.
No reading logs this week.
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