news and notes 9/28/06

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

*Draft of selected SEED TOPIC story (on binder paper, not in your notebook), due Monday.

Math:

5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.

and for Friday MB pg 26, MM pg 28-29.

Graph Investigation Poster due 10/3.


Humanities: Searching the News due Wedneday 10/4 (new due date).

Grammar: Verbs Packet, due Thursday, 10/5 (new due date).

French: Read and color-code brochure, study verbs, memorize songs, due Wednesday 10/4.

Spanish:

Science: Rap Thing Reflection, due 10/3.

Tech:

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

news and notes 9/27/06

Early Dismissal, Thursday @ Noon.

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

*5 point summary for reading book in the Reading Buddies section of your notebook, due Tomorrow.

Math:

5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.

and for Thursday in MJ "How is math going so far?", SMJ pg 24-25, SL 1.7.
and for Friday MB pg 26, MM pg 28-29.

Graph Investigation Poster due 10/3.


Humanities: Searching the News due Wedneday 10/4 (new due date).

Grammar: Verbs Packet, due Thursday, 10/5 (new due date).

French: Read and color-code brochure, study verbs, memorize songs, due Wednesday 10/4.

Spanish:

Science: Rap Thing Reflection, due 10/3.

Tech:

Other: Deadline extended!! Scholastic Book Orders due Thursday 9/28.

Once again 6s impressed me with its dedication to writing. I'm so looking forward to seeing the work we produce. Today we had a discussion about Richard Louv, the special guest speaker at our assembly and author of Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. We thoughtfully considered what the author meant by "nature-deficit disorder," discussed what makes the outdoors sometimes frightening, the meaning and use of technology in our lives and creating a balance between indoor and outdoor activities. 6sers managed the discussion on their own by raising hands and calling on each other (including me). I'm sure we'll have great comments and questions for Mr. Louv at tomorrow's assembly. Which reminds me that dismissal is at 12:00 tomorrow. Enjoy the long weekend.

news and notes 9/26/06

Early Dismissal, Thursday @ Noon.

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Math:

5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.

and for Wednesday SMJ 20-21, MB 1.6 (pg 22), SL 1.6.

Produce Surveys are Wednesday 9/27.
3 Graphs are due Wednesday, 9/27.

* Graph Investigation Poster due 10/3.


Humanities: Searching the News due Tuesday 10/3.

Grammar: Verbs Packet, due 10/3.

French: Read pg 20 in French book.

Spanish:

Science: Rap Thing Reflection, due 10/3.

Tech:

Other: Deadline extended!! Scholastic Book Orders due Thursday 9/28.

Not much time to write the blog as I got sucked into the 6/7 volleyball game (Go Panthers!!). My thought of the day is this: the posters the class created about migrant workers were moving and intelligent. I am so proud of all of you.

news and notes 9/25/06

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Math:

5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.

and for Tuesday, Student Reference Book p 132, Student Math Journal p 19.

Produce Surveys are due Tuesday, 9/26.
3 Graphs are due Wednesday, 9/27.


Humanities: Searching the News due Tuesday 10/3.

French: Read pg 20 in French book.

Spanish:

Science:

Tech: Survey due Tuesday, 9/26.

Other: Deadline extended!! Scholastic Book Orders due Thursday 9/28.

Suddenly this afternoon it got super hot!!. Nevertheless everyone seemed focused on creating a poster to let people in our school community know about the lives of migrant workers. I can't wait to see how they turn out. We changed table groups and jobs this morning, and spent a considerable amount of time debating our final classroom agreements. People did a great job of participating and of finding compromise, and of reminding me that sometimes consensus and compromise is more important that a quick decision based on majority rules. Though, I think that our agreements are not as "perfect" as some might have hoped, I do think that they are wonderful things for our classroom community to aspire to. They are as follow.
1.Follow the Golden Rule
Treat others as they/you would like to be treated.
2. No hurting anyone in any way.
3. Listen.
4. Raise your hand.
5. Don't interrupt in any way.
6. Use common sense.
7. Respect everything and everyone.

pictures of the week

The lizard found in the lower yard this week.


The end of a half-mile run in PE.

news and notes 9/22/06

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Math:

5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.

and for Monday, Study Link 1.5, Math Boxes 1.5 (pg 18), Student Math Journal pgs 16-17.

Produce Surveys are due Tuesday, 9/26.
3 Graphs are due Wednesday, 9/27.


Humanities: Migrant Farmer article, highlighting and questions, due Monday 9/25.

French: Read magazine for 20 mins.

Spanish: Study for quiz on Monday.

Science:

Tech: Survey, due Tuesday, 9/26.

Other: Scholastic Book Orders due Monday 9/25.

This afternoon's assembly courtesy of the fifth grade was fabulous! What a great way to start the weekend - singing, dancing and environmental conciousness. Speaking of which today we looked at a few online films that were decidely against agribusiness including The Meatrix and a BBC documentary called Supermarket Secrets (now there is a link to that documentary in our links section, as well). Next week we will be making posters to educate people about the migrant farmworkers who often pick our foods. I know I'll be thinking a lot about where my food comes from this weekend.

news and notes 9/21/06

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Math:

5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.

and for Friday, Message Box 1.5, No Math Message.

* Produce Surveys are due Tuesday, 9/26.
* Graphs are due Wednesday, 9/27.


Humanities: Migrant Farmer article, highlighting and questions, due next Monday 9/25
and for TOMORROW, write a reflection in your green farm unit folder about the lives of migrant farmworkers based on what you've found out from Coach Nick, the webquest and and the book A Migrant Family

French: Unit Packet 1, ex. 1-7 due Friday, 9/22. Also, finish the comic.

Spanish: Worksheet, pick up in homeroom tomorrow, due Friday 9/22.

Science: Earth the whole, due Friday, 9/22

Tech: Survey, due Tuesday, 9/26.

Other: Your completed Homework Plan, due tomorrow.
Scholastic Book Orders due Monday 9/25.

Today we did a lot! Writing, reading, hot chocolate. During reading time, I've started reading with each student, just to get a sense of who they are as readers. The process is going a little more slowly than I anticipated but hopefully we will be done next week. During Humanities we started to have a great discussion about meat production in the United States, but out conversation was cut short by Project Time. That reminds me, I am adding a link to a short animated film called "The Meatrix." It makes an argument against the production of meat in huge farms. I wonder if anyone can find an opposing viewpoint on the internet? Everyone had some fun playing games or the ukulele, reading, knitting and listening to Jimi Hendrix during th 9 minutes of Project Time. Hopefully next week we'll have a little more time to enjoy our interests together. Just keep working at jobs, and handing in homework.

Sylvia shared the discover of a tiny lizard in the lower yard during recess today. She and some other 6th graders lovingly put it on a sunny leaf in the planter box outside our room. It was very cute. The snapshot I took is definitely in the running for picture of the week.

news and notes 9/20

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Math: 5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.
NEW ONGOING MATH ASSIGNMENTS - look for interesting graphs

and for Wednesday, Study Link 1.4.

Humanities: Migrant Farmer article, highlighting and questions, due next Monday 9/25

French: Unit Packet 1, ex. 1-7 due Thursday (9/21). Also, finish the comic.

Spanish: Worksheet, pick up in homeroom tomorrow, due Friday 9/22.

Science: Earth the whole, due Friday, 9/22

Tech: Survey, due Tuesday, 9/26.

Other: Your completed Homework Plan, due tomorrow.
Project Time materials for TOMORROW
Scholastic Book Orders due Monday 9/25.

What an amazing day! We did some amazing writing. I've started to read the notebooks and I'm impressed by all the kids' commitments to truly write! We also read an intense section of Esperanza Rising, which it was clear everyone was moved by. I loved reading and writing with all of you today. We also did a good job with our first fire drill. Happy Wednesday!

news and notes 9/19/06

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Math: 5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.
NEW ONGOING MATH ASSIGNMENTS - look for interesting graphs

and for Wednesday, pgs 10-12, NIM strategies, and how to improve studying math facts.

Humanities: Migrant Farmer article, highlighting and questions, due next Monday 9/25

French: Unit Packet 1, ex. 1-7 due Thursday (9/21). Also, finish the comic.

Spanish: Study Flashcards and correct sentences.

Science: Earth the whole, due Friday, 9/22

Tech: Survey, due Tuesday, 9/26.

Other: Your completed Homework Plan, due tomorrow.
Project Time materials for Thursday.
Scholastic Book Orders due Monday 9/25.

Tuesday is a little sad for me because we only have something like an hour together. Nevertheless, I was glad that we made some decisions about how to use the library space during reading time. I also really enjoyed your comments about reading books again. You can get so much from reading a book again when you are a little older and understand a little more. It's also wonderful to read a book that you love to find more to admire. You guys are right on. Thanks for your thoughtful comments. We've spent a lot of time talking about homework procedures in the last week or so. I have to admit I've been very worried about it, but you guys are stepping up. I was really pleased how many people handed in their work and how many talked to me to let me know they did not have their homework. Way to go 6S!

news and notes 9/18/06

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Writing notebooks will be collected on
Mondays for Table 5
Tuesdays for Table 1
Wednesdays for Table 2
Thursdays for Table 3
and Fridays for Table 4.

Bring your reading book Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.


Math: 5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.
NEW ONGOING MATH ASSIGNMENTS - think of strategies for NIM, look for interesting graphs

and for Tuesday...letter to parents and correct quiz.

Humanities: "Where does our food come from?" due tomorrow. Please remember to write you name on your homework.

French: Unit Packet 1, ex. 1-7 due Thursday (9/21). Also, finish the comic.

Spanish: Study Flashcards and correct sentences.

Science: Decomposition Packet, due at the next class.


Whoo! Monday goes by so quickly I can hardly remember what we did. Seems that everyone had a little extra sugar in the cereal today. I suspect we were all just happy to see each other after the weekend. 6S did a great job today listening to Coach Nick talk about his experience as a migrant worker. I was impressed by your notetaking and great questions! We'll be talking more about migrant farmworkers this week as well as putting together some of the information we've found out about family and conventional farms.

Don't be shy about posting comments here. So far only a few have done it, but it's been great to know that you are using the info here. Also, I don't want to be the only voice on this blog. Type, if you've got something to say!

Picture of the Week

I probably should not have encouraged this by offering to take his picture.

news and notes 9/15/06

Homework

Reading and Writing: 15 Minutes of each daily.

Math: 5 minutes of math facts practice daily.
Estimation, due every Thursday.
Stumper (optional), due whenever you get unstumped.
Problem Solving, due every Monday.
NEW ONGOING MATH ASSIGNMENTS - think of strategies for NIM, look for interesting graphs

and for monday...Mystery Plot pg 2

Humanities: The due day for "Where does our food come from?" approaches. I'll expect it in class Tuesday

French: Read (and highlight) handout about Senegal, due 9/18 next Monday.


I've taken to heart several of the students suggestions and even started working on some changes during the school day today. By Monday, my expectations for handing in and recording homework should be clearer. We'll continue our discussions to see what changes individual students are making to keep track of their homework and possibly implement some strategies as a whole class. I've been really impressed by the recent commitment to writing in the writing notebooks. During writing time most people seem get lost the writing their doing. I'm looking forward to reading your work. I'll be collecting notebooks starting next week.

Enjoy the weekend, the weather promises to be fabulous!

btsn

I apologize. BTSN got in the way of my posting the homework this evening. The only changes were in math , where students had a handout in addition to page 13 (don't hold me to this) and French where there was the addition of pages 6, 7 and 8 in C'est a Toi. I'm writing this from home and do not have the assignment in front of me, but this is what I remember.

It was nice putting faces to names tonight. Unfortunately, I did a bit more talking that I wanted, and not enough listening. Kids, you're parents are great fun!

news and notes 9/12/06

Some Thoughts

Today we (well mostly, I) talked about the writing notebooks. The process we'll be using to write this year is probably different from the ones most student are familiar with, so I was not surprised to sense some worry and resistance. I'm looking forward to engaging students in a new way of writing and I'm sure that we will all learn something in the process. Anyway, we'll be doing more in coming days to get used to how to use our writing notebooks this year.

Tomorrow, I plan to begin posting homework to this blog daily.

Be well.