Today in Math we continued working on dividing a whole number by a fraction. Tomorrow we will divide a fraction by a whole number.
In ELA we continued working on our interpretive essays.  They are very frustrated with these (they have never had to do this type of essay before).  Encourage them to try (the major writing grade will be the research project they will get next week).  This is more of an introduction to interpretive essays.
In Social Studies we focused on the issues starting the Civil War and how passionate people felt about them.

I think the Social Studies test will be on Monday or Tuesday next week.

In math we started dividing whole numbers by fractions.  We will continue that tomorrow.
In ELA we finally have everyone with a "pre-write" for the interpretive essay.
In Social Studies we went on a webquest for the Underground Railroad (you can find it on my resources tab).

Happy Monday!  In math we reviewed multiplying mixed numbers by  mixed numbers.  TEST TUESDAY.
In ELA we focused on our Civil war novels and writing our interpretive essay.  Pre-writing (bullets, graphic organizer, etc.) should have been started today.
In Social Studies we started our Civil War unit.  Questions of the day..How did we go from a country united (ratification of the constitution) do a country divided, in only 73 years?  We looked at the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights again, to talk about who had rights?   We looked at the Gettysburg Address to see how it compared to the Declaration of Independence.

Today we finished the CASE 21 math and reading portions.
In ELA we read "Pioneer Girl" as a class, and then did a read aloud of Chains
Today in Human and Growth we learned about the boys.  I hope lots of good discussions are happening at home.
NO SCHOOL FRIDAY!

REPORT CARDS WENT HOME TODAY!  Please sign and return the envelope.  You may keep the papers inside.

MIDDLE SCHOOL registration electives were sent home today.  Please sign and return the paper.

Because I was out with my sick son, on Tuesday...tomorrow all students will get back the CASE 21 ELA to review and finish (I think only 5 or 6 students said they were done).  They will then get the opportunity to review answers to the Math CASE 21 before grading it.
The Science test we will not take until review time (and we will use it as a review).

Don't forget that students should be asking you questions every night about puberty.  Yesterday we talked about bathing, deodorant, acne and nutrition. Today we talked about the girls and all the things that change during puberty.  Tomorrow we will talk about boy changes.

In Math we reviewed multiplying mixed numbers by mixed numbers.  Based on last weeks homework, we needed to review.
In ELA we worked on our Pioneer Girl menu's and our interpretive essays.
In Science we started human growth and development.  HOMEWORK is to talk to parents about what we discussed and write down how it felt to talk to a parent about puberty.  Today we discussed what changes occur in girls and boys, and how you cannot control when those changes start.

CASE 21 STARTS TOMORROW!  Go to Sleep!  Eat a good breakfast!

The students started with specials today.  They got to meet the band director from Durant Road Middle school, and talked about what it is like to be in band.  If your child now wants band as an option from the middle school electives form, just send me an email (with the priority number 1-6)
In Math we went over about 30 math word problems.  I asked that they find out if it was + - x or division.
In ELA, we had a "catch-up" day.  I need to grade most everything this weekend.  Report cards go home next week.

 

The kids did great for the sub yesterday!

In math we continued practicing multiplying mixed numbers.
In ELA the kids should have finished the poetry test, but some still are not done.  We started our new menu on Westward expansion to the beginning of the Civil War.
In Science the students were editing the Body Systems paper.

Photo booth pictures are tomorrow.  Props are there, but kids are encouraged to bring "their thing" for the picture.  (horse helmet, basketball etc...)

Early release is tomorrow.  We dismiss at 1:15.

In Math we learned 4 ways to multiply mixed numbers by mixed numbers.  At the end of the lesson I taught them how to change both to improper fractions, multiply and then simplify.
In ELA the poetry menu should have been turned in (I will find out who is missing when  I grade tonight).  We started a new novel study on the Civil War.  And we worked on our letters from our body system to the President of Health and fitness.
In Science we took our test.

DONT FORGET TO GO VOTE!

Today in math we assessed multiplying fractions times fractions and fractions times whole numbers.  I was impressed by the number of students who earned the right to try the level 4.
In ELA we are finishing up the poetry menu's.  They are due tomorrow.  We also had a little science during ELA (that was when the computers were available).  Students continued to work on writing a letter from the perspective of a body system.
In science, we finished filling out the study guide.  Test is tomorrow.

Today in math the kids blocked out a playground using the total area, and an assigned fractional value for each section.
In ELA we reviewed the poetry "test".
In Science we went outside to read in pairs from the textbook...teacher reflection: I need to give more direction for working outside.  It did not go as well as I planned.

Media by Moonlight

You and your family are cordially invited to join us on Tuesday, March 22nd for our SUPERHERO MEDIA BY MOONLIGHT from 5:30 - 8:00pm.

CHICK FIL A will be available via PRE ORDERS ONLY.  We will order a few extras; however, if you are planning for your family to enjoy dinner at Brassfield, a pre-order is required to guarantee availability.

Please email your order to Stacey Knox Motley at papercafe@gmail.com no later than SUNDAY, March 20th.  Stacey will email you an order confirmation upon receipt!  We are offering:
8 count nuggets $3.50
Large Fruit Cup $3.00
Drinks $1.00
2 Cookies $1.00

After you have enjoyed dinner, please join us in the Learning Commons for our Book Fair with a special meet and greet with THE EXCLESIOR LEAGUE (including Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Iron Man, Cat Woman and more).

We hope you will also visit ARTOPIA to create a SUPERHERO make and take!

We look forward to see you at the Book Fair!

In math we continued working with multiplying fractions and showing an area model to represent that.  We will have a fun project tomorrow, where the kids will make a playground with set parameters for each area (kiddie park is 1/2 of the park and within the kiddie park 1/3 of it is a splash pad).
We will test multiplying fractions by whole numbers and fractions by fractions on MONDAY.
In ELA I gave the kids a poetry "test".  I wanted a measure of where they are, and what I still need to re-teach them.  It is not a gradebook grade (unless they do fabulously).  The real poetry test will be next  Wednesday.
In Science they are not done with the letter about body systems.  We will continue that on Monday and the Science unit test will be TUESDAY.
I want to wrap up grades by the 18th for the quarter.  I can't believe it is already the end of 3rd quarter!

Today we had a diverse math time...We had a tornado drill, and the students were excellent.  I had a group taking a retest of + and - of fractions.  A group went to AG, and I taught a group how to multiply fractions like we did when we were kids.

In ELA we learned how to compare two stories for setting, plot, problem, solution, images, theme, characters, point of view, perspective, and fantasy (literary) elements.  We also continued to work on our poetry menus.

In Science we started a fun writing assignment.  The kids will choose which body system they want to research.  They will then write a letter as if they are that body system, and describe how to make "themselves" healthy.

If you are collecting money for Jump Rope for Heart, do not send in cash. Please make a check payable to the "American Heart Association".

Today in math we investigated multiplying fractions by whole numbers.
In ELA we continue to create our poems and find figurative language in poetry.
In Science we learned about the respiratory system and started the digestive system.

Welcome back!  In math we started thinking about what happens to our answers when we multiply a whole number by a fraction, a whole number by a mixed number, fractions by fractions, and mixed numbers by mixed numbers.  We practiced doing the multiplication in a calculator.

In ELA we are working hard to finish our Poetry Menu's by Friday.

READ THE HOMEWORK TAB!!!!

In Science we used a stethoscope to listen to our heart beat and our breathing.  We took our blood pressure.  We measured our pulse before, during and after exercise, and we watched video's on blood and the circulatory system. Whew!

ELECTIVE COURSE CHOICE info went home today.