news and notes 4/27/07

Fast Approaching:
5/8-5/11 Trip to Live Power Farm, Covelo, CA

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Continue nurturing your poem.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

[Is there a math homework update?]

Humanities: Unfinished projects, due ASAP.
*Read and highlight packets, due Thursday 5/3.


Grammar:

French:

Spanish:

Science: Summary S81, due tomorrow.

Tech:

Other: Permission slips!!!!

Notes

This week we will begin prep for the farm including, brainstorming activities to do when we are not farming, practicing putting up our tents, picking out boots, etc.

I'm excited, are you?

Joke of the Day

To tag birds migrating, the U.S. Department of the Interior used metal bands that bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated:
Wash. Biol. Surv.
Until the agency received the following letter from a camper:
Dear Sirs,
While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you it was horrible.

Hot Chocolate

Eden is responsible for Hot Chocolate 5/1/07.

news and notes 4/26/07

This week:
4/27 Youth Speaks Poetry Assembly

Fast Approaching:
5/8-5/11 Trip to Live Power Farm, Covelo, CA

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Continue nurturing your poem.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.
*Be ready to type drafts of your poem(s) on Monday.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Friday, SMJ 236-237, SL 6.9.
Remember, there will be a guest teacher in math class Friday.

Humanities: Unfinished projects, due ASAP.


Grammar:

French:

Spanish: Comer and viver flashcards, due 4/30

Science:

Tech:

Other: Permission slips!!!!

Notes

There was a lot of great focus today as students worked independently on Reading Buddies and note taking for our Humanities unit on Asia. I've been pleasantly surprised by the maturity students have displayed in the weeks since the spring break. It seems to have happened overnight but it is really neat.

Joke of the Day

Q: What’s the hardest part about skydiving ?
A: The ground.

Hot Chocolate

Eden is responsible for Hot Chocolate 5/1/07.

news and notes 4/25/07

This week:
4/27 Youth Speaks Poetry Assembly

Fast Approaching:
5/8-5/11 Trip to Live Power Farm, Covelo, CA

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Continue nurturing your poem.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Wednesday, SMJ 236-237, SL 6.9

Humanities: Unfinished projects, due ASAP.


Grammar:

French:

Spanish: Cinco de Mayo Rap, due 4/27 and comer and viver flashcards, due 4/30

Science:

Tech:

Other:

Notes

I have not received intentional community projects from a number of students, and I've heard from even fewer as to why. While I don't believe that students need to receive homework every night, I do have a strong belief in being responsible for your work whether you do it at home or at school. If you have an assignment, you should make arrangements to complete it on time. If you can't, you are responsible for communicating with your teacher about it. The consequences for not doing homework are not bad grades, they are lack of understanding, inability to do your best work, and the development of mistrust between you and your teachers. If your name is on the board for missing homework and you haven't talked to me about it yet, do it soon.



Joke of the Day

A man walks into the Doctors with an apple in one ear, a banana in the other ear and grapes up his nose. He says, "Doctor, what's happening to me?" The doctor replies, "You're not eating properly.

Hot Chocolate

May is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/26/07.

news and notes 4/24/07

This week:
4/27 Youth Speaks Poetry Assembly

Fast Approaching:
5/8-5/11 Trip to Live Power Farm, Covelo, CA

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Rework a poem using music, emotion or image.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Wednesday, SMJ 235, 238

Humanities:
Final Intentional Communities Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French: Work up to excercise 5 in the packet, due 4/25.

Spanish: Study comer and beber, due 4/25.

Science:

Tech:

Other:

Notes

6S please don't forget to turn in your permission slips for Live Power Farm tomorrow. Thanks.

I'm still looking for maps from 10 students who have not turned them in as of yet.


Joke of the Day

A duck walked into a bar and asked the bartender, " Got annnnny grapes?"
"No, get out of here," answered the bartender.

The next day the duck walked into a bar and asked the bartender, " Got annnnny grapes?"
"No, get out of here," answered the bartender.

The next day the same duck walked into a bar and asked the bartender, " Got annnnny grapes?"
"No, get out of here," answered the bartender. "And if you come back tomorrow, I'm gonna nail your beak to the counter."

The next day the duck walked into a bar and asked the bartender, " Got annnnny nails?"
"No," answered the bartender.
"Okay," said the duck, "Got annnnny grapes?"

(courtesy of Joke Master Jennie)

Hot Chocolate

May is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/26/07.

news and notes 4/23/07

This week:
4/27 Youth Speaks Poetry Assembly

Fast Approaching:
5/8-5/11 Trip to Live Power Farm, Covelo, CA

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Rework a poem using music, emotion or image.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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


Humanities: * Map of Asia (in color), due Monday 4/23
Final Intentional Communities Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish:

Science:

Tech:

Other:

Notes

I'm not sure I got all the homework assignments today. It doesn't look like anything was added to the board, so you might want to check with a classmate, before assuming that you don't have much homework.

Speaking of homework, many of you had incomplete maps today. It seems that I was not clear about asking you to color you maps. When they are complete, please show them to me so that you can get credit. Your intentional community paragraphs and maps are also due this Wednesday. I'm looking forward to seeing your work and I am sure that everyone will turn these in on time, since you've had plenty of time to work on this assignment.


Joke of the Day

From a passenger ship, everyone can see a bearded man on a small island who is shouting and desperately waving his hands.
"Who is it?" a passenger asks the captain.
"I've no idea. Every year when we pass, he goes nuts."

Hot Chocolate

May is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/24/07.

news and notes 4/19/07

This week:
4/17 No Reading Buddies.
4/20 Earth Day

Fast Approaching:
5/8-5/11 Trip to Live Power Farm, Covelo, CA

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Write a piece of poetry with music.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Friday, SL 6.7

Humanities: * Map of Asia (in color), due Monday 4/23
Final Intentional Communities Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish: Study comer and beber and challenge words for test, due Monday 4/23
Write sentences using gustar and challenge words.

Science: Figure out the code, due 4/20

Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

We had a good discussion this morning. 6th graders are the smartest people in the world.

Joke of the Day

Three ducks, in line, are crossing the road. “The duck in the back says, “Quack, quack!”
The duck in the front says, “Hey, I’m moving as fast as I can!”

Hot Chocolate

May is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/24/07.

news and notes 4/18/07

This week:
4/17 No Reading Buddies.

Fast Approaching:
5/8-5/11 Trip to Live Power Farm, Covelo, CA

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Write a piece of poetry with music.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Thursday, ????

Humanities:
Final Intentional Communities Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish: Comer and beber

Science: * Figure out the code, due 4/20

Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

I'm looking forward to talking with students tomorrow morning about how they experienced the Day of Silence whether or not they chose to be silent. After lunch today I wrote a few of my reflections about the day. On the hand, I was definitely reminded of those times in my life when I felt I had no voice, and thought about the ironic fact that becoming a teacher was a large part of my finding my voice. I was also struck by the maturity of the students and how much this short protest changed the texture of our classroom experience, at least for one day.

Joke of the Day

Q. Why does a cow wear a bell?
A. Because his horn doesn’t work!

Hot Chocolate

Aiden is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/18/07.

news and notes 4/17/2007

This week:
4/17 No Reading Buddies.

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Write a piece of poetry with music.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Tuesday SMJ 226-229
For Wednesday. SL 6.6

Humanities:
Final Intentional Communities Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish:

Science: * Figure out the code, due 4/20

Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

Today students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade took on leadership roles to demonstrate their belief in the equality of all people. The students, Shannon among them, have decided to observe a day of silence tomorrow to demonstrate the solidarity with GLBT youth who are silenced by bullying and harassment. Their enthusiasm and passion has inspired other students to do the same. Find out more about the day of silence as www.dayofsilence.org. Maybe you'd like to join them? It's been really inspiring to see students take up a cause and lead other students. I'm so happy that they I've been able to lend my support. This is why teaching middle school is the best job in the world.

Joke of the Day

Q. Why does a cow wear a bell?
A. Because his horn doesn’t work!

Hot Chocolate

Aiden is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/18/07.

guess who?

Who is this happy camper?

news and notes 4/16/2007

This week:
4/17 No Reading Buddies.

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 5 nights a week. (Write a piece of poetry with music.)
* Write in online journal (www.wordcountjournal.com) once this week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Tuesday SMJ 226-229
For Wednesday. SL 6.5

Humanities:
Final Intentional Communities Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish:

Science: Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

Hi!! Great to have everyone back. Today we dove right back into school. It seems that everyone got to enjoy something refreshing and reinvigorating before we push the end to the school year. The weather will get hot, the students will get restless, but I'm already getting a little teary I'd thinking about the end of the year.

We tried using a website today www.wordcountjournal.com, developed by Chuck Teller. It's an online writing community. I hope that students in 6S will take advantage of it to use for writing things that they'd like to share, but which they can't write in their notebooks. (For example, we are currently writing poetry, so a scifi story is not appropriate for our notebooks right now). I hope that everyone will write in the online journal once a week. Can't wait to see what happens.

Joke of the Day

What did the mayo say when someone opened the refrigerator door?
"Close the door, I'm dressing!"

Hot Chocolate

Aiden is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/18/07.

news and notes 4/5/07

This week:
Poetry Month begins. Teachers will be sharing their favorite poems with students all week.

Next week:
Spring Break. Yes, yes, ya'll.

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 3 nights a week. (Write poetry pieces using your senses.)

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Friday SMJ 222-225. SL 6.5

Humanities: Rough Draft of Intentional Community worksheets, due Wed 4/4
* Rough Draft of Map, due Thursday 4/5
Final Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish: * Food for the cafe, due 4/6

Science: * Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

I am really enjoying our poetry unit. I hope that the rest of 6S is. It was especially great to hear the things you saw as I read Pink to you today. The images were so neat! Stick figures, orbs of color, the color of the sky and the tint of blue around everthing at the short space between light and total darkeness. I could write a poem abbout the way that you all see things. It was so neat!! Thanks for sharing.

Joke of the Day

A mother mouse and a baby mouse were walking along, when all of a sudden, a cat attacked them. The mother mouse goes, "BARK!" and the cat runs away.
"See?" says the mother mouse to her baby. "Now do you see why it's important to learn a foreign language?"

Hot Chocolate

Aiden is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/17/07.

news and notes 4/4/07

This week:
Poetry Month begins. Teachers will be sharing their favorite poems with students all week.

Next week:
Spring Break. Yes, yes, ya'll.

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 3 nights a week. (Write poetry pieces about emotions.)

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Friday SMJ 222-225. SL 6.5

Humanities: Rough Draft of Intentional Community worksheets, due Wed 4/4
* Rough Draft of Map, due Thursday 4/5
Final Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish: * Food for the cafe, due 4/6

Science: * Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

Happy Wednesday!!

Joke of the Day

While driving along the back roads of a small town, two novice truckers came to an overpass with a sign that read CLEARANCE 11'3". They got out and measured their rig, which was 12'4" high..."What do you think?" one asked the other. The driver looked around carefully, then shifted into first. "Not a cop in sight. Let's take a chance!"

Hot Chocolate

Zoe is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/3/07.

news and notes 4/3/07

This week:
Poetry Month begins. Teachers will be sharing their favorite poems with students all week.

Next week:
Spring Break. Yes, yes, ya'll.

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 3 nights a week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Wednesday, SL 6.4
For Friday SMJ 222-225. SL 6.5

Humanities: Rough Draft of Intentional Community worksheets, due Wed 4/4
* Rough Draft of Map, due Thursday 4/5
Final Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish:

Science: * Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

Yesterday we had a great discussion about the Let's Get Real Unit. Everyone came up with a plan on how they can make the school and our classroom safe for everyone. I'm thinking about sharing our idea about more interaction between 5/6 and 7/8 with Nina. Our conversation showed me how much we have grown as a class and our comfort with each other. We were able to talk and listen and share in a way that showed 6s is mature beyond its years.

Joke of the Day

When the usher noticed a man stretched across three seats in the movie theater, he walked over and whispered "Sorry sir, but you are allowed only one seat." The man moaned but didn't budge. "Sir," the usher said more loudly, "if you don't move, I'll have to call the manager." The man moaned again but stayed where he was. The usher left and returned with the manager, who, after several attempts at dislodging the fellow, called the police. The cop looked at the reclining man and said, "All right, what's your name, joker?" "Joe", he mumbled. "And where are you from, Joe?" Joe responds painfully, "The balcony!"

Hot Chocolate

Zoe is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/3/07.

news and notes 4/2/07

This week:
Poetry Month begins. Teachers will be sharing their favorite poems with students all week.

Next week:
Spring Break. Yes, yes, ya'll.

Homework

Writing: Write 15 minutes 3 nights a week.

Reading Buddies: Read 15 minutes 5 nights a week.

Bring Reading Buddies books and be prepared for Reading Buddies meetings and discussions every Tuesday and Thursday.

Literature:

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

For Tuesday, SMJ 218-221
For Wednesday, SL 6.4

Humanities: Rough Draft of Intentional Community worksheets, due Wed 4/4
* Rough Draft of Map, due Thursday 4/5
Final Project, due Wed 4/25

Grammar:

French:

Spanish:

Science: * Moon Project, due 4/23

Tech:

Other:

Notes

Today we took a big leap. Students choose their own seating assignments, privilege they earned for being attentive to our classroom agreements. I hope this works out. It's a great temptation to talk with friends when sitting next to them. It also requires a lot of growth and maturity to enjoy working with friends, while recognizing the boundaries between social and academic time. I hope this will work out.

Joke of the Day

Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar. One says, "I've lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive..."

Hot Chocolate

Zoe is responsible for Hot Chocolate 4/3/07.