Students are very excited about their space project! We will be working in class on notes until Wednesday February 2nd. The notes and bibliography will be due at this time. We will then use our notes to write the planet paragraphs and students will have certain paragraphs due each night (see the agenda). The final paper with all five paragraphs is due Friday February 4th (students may type this paper). Students will need to bring their materials for the additional project on Friday so they are able to start on Monday.
The Morehead Planetarium is visiting us in March and will bring their "space observatory" to Neuse Charter School! The cost of this visit is $5.00 per child. You will also receive letters requiring your signature early this week. If your financial situation is difficult and $5.00 is burdensome for you, please let me know. We would like all children to participate in this opportunity.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Grade 7: Week of Jan. 31st to Feb. 4th
This is our final week studying the brain. Students will do a student inquiry to test which parts of the body have the most nerves, and will watch a video on how we use research on the brain to help train athletes. We will dissect the brain and examine its parts. Students will receive a review sheet on Wednesday or Thursday and receive their test on Friday or the following Tuesday depending on how much review students need.
Very importantly, students will receive a project letter to have you sign. This will be given out Tuesday or Wednesday and projects will begin next week. Students will choose a project on the respiratory system or central nervous system, and will need to bring in research (books, magazines, or printed material from the internet).
Very importantly, students will receive a project letter to have you sign. This will be given out Tuesday or Wednesday and projects will begin next week. Students will choose a project on the respiratory system or central nervous system, and will need to bring in research (books, magazines, or printed material from the internet).
Grade 8: Week of Jan. 31st to Feb. 4th
We are finishing learning about remote sensing and will look at applications of this technology such as identifying urban sprawl, deforestation, oil spills, and movement of volcanic dust from satellite images. We will review biological, geological, and technological change. The test will be Friday to allow students who need extra help to attend tutoring.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Student Led Conferences, Report Cards, and Award Ceremonies
Dear parents,
It is that time of year again when students receive report cards. Students will receive report cards on January 28th. Some additional information will be included in the report card this term, including retention letters for those students below grade level (77%) or whose tests grades put them at risk for possibly failing the End of Grade Test. If you receive a retention letter, please sign up for a time to meet for a conference (conference times attached to the retention letter).
Awards Ceremony for Grades 5-9 will occur on January 28th at 9:00 am. Your child's homeroom teacher will inform you if your child will receive an award this quarter.
Please keep in mind that student led conferences will occur this Wednesday, January 26th for 6B and 7B in the new Science Lab (classroom closest to the road). This is an opportunity for your child to show you what he or she has learned this quarter. Although I will be in the room to facilitate and answer questions, student led conferences are not intended for parent-teacher conferences. Please schedule a separate conference time if this is your intention. I welcome you in advance to attend the Student Led conference and to visit our new Science classroom!
It is that time of year again when students receive report cards. Students will receive report cards on January 28th. Some additional information will be included in the report card this term, including retention letters for those students below grade level (77%) or whose tests grades put them at risk for possibly failing the End of Grade Test. If you receive a retention letter, please sign up for a time to meet for a conference (conference times attached to the retention letter).
Awards Ceremony for Grades 5-9 will occur on January 28th at 9:00 am. Your child's homeroom teacher will inform you if your child will receive an award this quarter.
Please keep in mind that student led conferences will occur this Wednesday, January 26th for 6B and 7B in the new Science Lab (classroom closest to the road). This is an opportunity for your child to show you what he or she has learned this quarter. Although I will be in the room to facilitate and answer questions, student led conferences are not intended for parent-teacher conferences. Please schedule a separate conference time if this is your intention. I welcome you in advance to attend the Student Led conference and to visit our new Science classroom!
Grade 5: Week of January 24 to 28th
Due to the difficult nature of the Nine Weeks test on Newton's Laws, we will go over the Nine Weeks test on Monday and any student receiving less than a B will have the opportunity to rewrite it. Newton's Laws and vocabulary are sometimes difficult to grasp, even though we have have gone over many concrete and practical examples of each one. However, there are also other possible reasons for lower test grades: some children did not study as much as they could have, only read the questions instead of tested themselves with a partner, did not complete the Bingo Science vocabulary for homework before the test for practice, were absent during the review, or still have weaker reading comprehension skills.
Your child will bring home the test for you to see on Monday and will have corrections for homework if s/he received less than 80%. I will instruct students on the best way to write corrections (using key words and synonyms for difficult words), and explain the most missed questions. Then students will write corrections three times each for repetition and have the opportunity to receive help from me. I will not allow students who received 80% and below to rewrite the test without having done the corrections since studying is one of the keys to mastery of concepts.
We will then learn about landforms: types of landforms, where they are located in the United States, and what forms each one. We will make a 3-D model of ocean, desert, plains, or mountain landforms. Since the 3-D models require a lot of clay, Your child will receive a letter requesting a dollar or donation of a clay package.
Thank you for your support!
Your child will bring home the test for you to see on Monday and will have corrections for homework if s/he received less than 80%. I will instruct students on the best way to write corrections (using key words and synonyms for difficult words), and explain the most missed questions. Then students will write corrections three times each for repetition and have the opportunity to receive help from me. I will not allow students who received 80% and below to rewrite the test without having done the corrections since studying is one of the keys to mastery of concepts.
We will then learn about landforms: types of landforms, where they are located in the United States, and what forms each one. We will make a 3-D model of ocean, desert, plains, or mountain landforms. Since the 3-D models require a lot of clay, Your child will receive a letter requesting a dollar or donation of a clay package.
Thank you for your support!
Grade 6: Week of January 24 to 28th
Space....the final frontier! Students will choose a planet for their project this week. Your child will bring home a sheet on project details and expectations on Monday. Please sign this paper and feel free to email me about any questions you may have. The only materials your child will need to bring is research by Thursday (book or internet print outs) and poster paper or material to make a model for the additional project if that is what your child chooses. Please let me know if you do not have access to the internet at home or Power Point to create a slide show.
Grade 7: Week of January 24 to 28th
Grade 7s will continue to examine the parts and functions of the brain, including the right and left hemisphere. We will do inquiries to determine whether students use their left or right brain more often, where most neurons/nerves are located in the body, and what causes a reflex action. Finally, we will watch the video, "The Brain" to gain a greater understanding of our own inner workings. Students will receive questions for homework throughout the week, and a work packet to be completed by Wednesday or Thursday (depending which class). Students will receive a test next week.
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