Week of January 21

Hope you had a great MLK day!

Reading: We are done with DRA! Yay! I will discuss scores with everyone in SEPs in a couple of weeks.

Writing: The writing SAGE test will be in sometime the middle of February. Students only have 90 minutes to write their essays, so we will be practicing writing essays and quickly the next couple of weeks.

Math: MATH HOMEWORK HAS CHANGED. Students will have brought home a blue sheet with homework for tonight, tomorrow, and Monday and Tuesday of next week. They need to show their work for each problem on either the back of the blue sheet, or on a different sheet that needs to be attached. This will not be turned in until Wednesday of next week, so it's important that it doesn't get lost. This homework is a review of past concepts, with one or two questions about what we are currently learning.

In addition to the math problems, they need to complete a reflection each night on how they feel they are doing on the math homework. This is found on classroom.google.com. They will need to sign in with their gmail account, and a green Math Reflection box. In that folder will be an assignment called Math Reflection 01/21 and I will continue to add them as homework continues. Click on that and open the google doc. This is where the students will answer two questions. This is quick and easy, is good for the students to be reflecting, and is very beneficial for me to read.

If for some reason a computer is unavailable, students can complete this assignment in the first few minutes of class, or turn in a hard copy of the two questions. They are: "After tonight's homework I still need help on..." and "After tonight's homework I am doing well on..."

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about any of this. I know it's new, and we might all be confused here at the beginning, but we'll get used to it.

Science: Solar System and Universe with Miss Sorenson

Social Studies: We've just started a unit on the Middle Ages. The students are learning about fuedalism, and we are making our own coat of arms.

SEPs are February 4 and 5. I would love to see everyone there! You can sign up by clicking the Online Scheduler icon the school's web page.

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns for me.

Week of Jan 5

Welcome Back!

I hope that you all had a great winter break!

Well, as always, we are diving right back into everything.

Reading: We will be DRA testing this week. Continue to have your students read out loud! This is so helpful in their preparation.

Reading Logs were due today, but will be accepted for partial credit if turned in late.

Writing: We are starting a new argumentative piece - Should Cell Phones Be Allowed In School. We'll see if we can improve our writing from our last essay.

Math: We are getting into some simple algebra: solving for a single unknown variable. This is new and exciting, but it's important that we lay a solid foundation that will carry them throughout their junior high, high school, and college math.

Science: New unit with Mrs. Sorenson on the Solar System and the Universe. So much to comprehend!

Social Studies: This week we will finish up our unit on Greek Gods and Goddesses. It's been fun to read about the adventures of the Gods and Goddesses.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions. Email is the best way to get a hold of me.

Thanks for everything you do!