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August 30, 2004
The Internet is Back
My apologies for not posting sooner. We have had some serious connection problems at Norwayne with the Internet and we have been ”networkless” for the last several days. Hopefully we are back up and running and I can make up for lost time.
We have been busy and have many irons in the fire. Our Autobiographical poems should be completed by the end of this week, just in time for the Meet the Teacher night (September 08) next week. We have read several short stories and have worked to see the moral of these stories as well as tie them to our own lives.
We have gotten permission to use the Vocabulary book series again this year and would like to order them as soon as possible. The series is something we have used with CB Aycock for several years, and it really helps students improve vocabulary understanding and usage for the Writing test and the SAT’s. The cost this year is $8.00 and I will be sending out a letter as soon as possible. We wish we could have made you aware with the original supply list, but unfortunately we did not get permission until very recently.
In Social Studies we are studying northern Africa with a very special emphasis on King Tut of Egypt. We have looked at hieroglyphics and will be doing some writing in these ancient Egyptian characters later this week.
Now that our Internet connection is back up and running I will work to catch up with some pictures of the goings-on of the class. I have several of the students who deserve recognition for already meeting their AR goals for this nine weeks. I will also reply to email from parents in haste so that you know I have not forgotten you. Thanks for your understanding.
Posted by hlperson at 11:00 PM | Comments (1)
August 19, 2004
Memory and a Map Test
The Office told us this morning that Progress Reports should be sent out on Tuesday August 24 instead of this Friday. I will update the calendar to show the change. Tuesday is also a Early Dismissal day so the kids will be leaving at 1:00.
Today in Language Arts we had our first Vocabulary Test Review and used our Memory Cards and a little friendly (well it was friendly most of the time:-) competition. Some of the kids are extremely competitive and many had studied in an effort to win the competition. In my homeroom Addison Westbrook had the highest score with ten matches, followed by Megan Wiggins with seven and Jeanine Edwards and Daniel Rose tied with six each. Jessica Price and Jason Seeley led Ms. Cox’s homeroom with eight matches each closely followed by Jeff Carmel with seven matches. These students are exempted from our Test on Monday. Samantha Tew redesigned the children’s game “Go Fish” as another review game we can use as a fun study tool later in the year. I appreciate her ingenuity and enthusiasm. Through her efforts, our classroom is made better.
In Social Studies we really showed off our knowledge of directions, longitude and latitude and how to use a reference atlas with a test on Africa. The kids seemed real comfortable with the material and I heard a lot of excited comments as they turned them in. Look for the scores on the Progress Report Tuesday.
Tomorrow for our Team Time we are having Game Day. The kids can bring in board games and card games that they enjoy. Ms. Cox and I both believe in the Middle School concept that students need to learn how to work and play together and these kids have worked so hard and have earned a reward.
Posted by hlperson at 02:08 PM | Comments (5)
August 18, 2004
Great Day - Great Kids - Great Accomplishments
Wednesdays are always fun. Our art appreciation journals encourage the students to use an entirely different manner of explaining what they see. The details they pick out and the stories that correspond show their creative nature. Old Friends, by Sandra Rice helped to teach the students the concept of false faces and allowed another discussion of literal and inferential messages. I think I most enjoy the curiosity the students show on Wednesdays and the unusual pictures I find to share with them.
In language arts we created some Memory cards for our vocabulary unit as a way to study for the vocab test and still have some fun. The winner of tomorrow’s classroom contest will receive a 100 on the test and be allowed to enjoy some reading time on Monday when we take the test. I had a couple of late papers to check and grabbed a student’s sheet to check from. I was really impressed with Regan’s 96 on the first vocab unit!
AR is progressing well and some of the students have already raised their original point goals. Aaron Everett has already exceeded his original goal and his new goal and has raised his standard again! Way to go Aaron!
In social studies we checked our Middle East and Oceania maps and are so excited about our African Map Test tomorrow. Isaac and Antwan were extremely proud of themselves for making a 96. They have worked so hard and good things are ahead for people that dedicate themselves to being successful!
Posted by hlperson at 04:52 PM | Comments (1)
August 16, 2004
Technical Difficulties
The Agenda Books are here! Please start asking to see them on a regular basis. Some students are already showing signs that we might have to institute a signature system between home and school.
Today we used our Literature Practice Book to do a comparison between the two short stories "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto and "Melting Pot" by Anna Quindlen. The Practice Book is heavy in grammar and vocabulary. We had some difficulties to overcome. We use dictionary.com as an online tool for vocabulary and our Internet connection at school was sporadic today and many of the students had a difficult time with linking verbs. We did not finish in class, but it is not homework. We will finish it up tomorrow.
In Social Studies we had some difficulties also. This problem was more motivational than technical. On Friday we checked our map skills on the continent of Asia. Many of the students had not done their work and chose to try the excuse, "I didn't know how to do it." This does not work with me. We had already completed one continent together as a class. We had completed one continent as a small group and done one independently. We had checked all of these sing the Visual Presenter as a class. These same students who tired, “I didn’t know how,” had not even bothered to find the capital of the countries. We checked Asia and I assigned the Middle East and Oceania as a homework assignment over the weekend. They also had to get Asia signed. If you have not signed a map if Asia this weekend, ask your child why. Would you believe that 12 students had various excuses as to why they did not complete the assignment? We divided up into a “have and have not” system and will stay that way from now on. The agenda books will help with this and so will the classroom website.
Progress Reports are scheduled for August 20th so keep an eye out for them. To all of those making such pleasant comments, thank you. It is well worth the time and energy if it helps the kids achieve more.
Posted by hlperson at 04:08 PM | Comments (1)
August 11, 2004
Drought Stricken Area
Today the students learned their classroom jobs. It has always been my idea that this classroom belongs to all of us and we must work together in order to excel to our fullest.
In Language Arts we worked on our Vocabulary Unit 1 and went over our AR point goals and levels. The students should be getting their AR folders signed this evening. Since it is Wednesday, our journal was an art history topic, and today was Drought Stricken Area, by Alexandre Hogue. Set in the mid 1930’s this prompt allowed the students an interesting visual, with a great deal of history. I was most impressed with Demitri Adams, who made the connection with the Great Depression. Great Job Demitri!
In Social Studies we utilized the Visual Presenter to project the map of South America onto the white board in order to draw in the answers to the map activity we had. For a group that is so opinionated and open many of them did not relish the idea of standing before the class and putting their knowledge out front for all to see. Self-confidence and a willingness to lead the classroom discussion are two of the personal growth goals I have for this group. The visual presenter is an excellent tool to have in the classroom all the time. Every student can see any map, text, or picture at a moments notice. This will be the next item I write a grant for, so that it is always available to my kids.
Posted by hlperson at 04:35 PM | Comments (4)
August 09, 2004
STAR Testing and Globes
Today we STAR tested in my classroom. It was the first chance I have had to get all seven computers up and running on the network. So much has been going on, I had neglected that task. I like being able to test in our classroom because we did not have to sign up to go and use a computer lab and hope all of the machines were hitting the network. We were able to cycle back and forth on the machines while continuing with our regular lessons. STAR evaluates each individual student and helps to set an individual goal for that child. My biggest complaint with AR when it began in Wayne County was that random numbers were chosen for whole classes. Different children read at different levels but we were setting a generic number for all of them at will. STAR eliminates that issue for me. AR is a very important part to student success at NMS. In my Language Arts classes, we devote twenty minutes a day to DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) and I ask the parents to help with twenty minutes of focused reading each night. Thusly, the AR grade is twenty percent of the student’s nine-week average in Language Arts. Parent Reports will be coming home in the next day or so, so keep an eye out for them.
In Social Studies we are knee deep in longitude and latitude. I realized by some glazed expressions today that compass directions were an enigma to many of the students so we stepped back a little and went over several of the basics. An interesting website that really helps with longitude and latitude is available here. This is the same site we utilized in class today.
A little late tonight, but I am beginning to wonder how many parents are reading these logs. If you are, please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Posted by hlperson at 07:00 PM | Comments (3)
August 05, 2004
License Plate Pride
We had an interesting inferred messages lesson today using some personalized License Plates and small group discussions. Inferred messages tend to give the students more trouble on the EOG then literal statements. We work throughout the year to improve our ability to comprehend these messages. The students came up with some interesting ways to show Plate Pride for several different groups. Working in small groups and having a civilized educated discussion is a learned skill and we are working with group dynamics to better ourselves. One of the technology pieces we put into play today is a very helpful website - dictionary.com
In Social Studies my homeroom reviewed how to use the Reference Atlas in our Geography book and got introduced to some neat history on Ancient Egypt.
Reading Logs are due tomorrow. Check out the Classroom Calendar for useful information and deadlines.
Posted today at 4:30, not bad, but still no cigar. :-)
Posted by hlperson at 04:40 PM | Comments (1)
August 04, 2004
What a Great Beginning!
What a great way to start the year. Many of you have sent in paper towels, Kleenexes, hand sanitizer, and all kinds of other supplies so that the kids don’t go without during this school year. Ms. Cox and I appreciate your generosity, support, and willingness to provide assistance. Most families have sent in the ten dollars for the agenda book and the team fees. We use this money to buy classroom supplies for special projects we do in class. It is nice to be able to take care of all of this bookkeeping earlier in the year to avoid having it drag out. THANKS!
Most of the last two days have been dedicated to going over the rules and procedures. There has been a lot of discussion about how to be successful and this is a theme that we will continue throughout the year. If we all work hard, the Honor Roll List will be large and include everyone. Who would believe that over 80% of the students would return the 4 forms for the county that had to get signed last night the very first day!?!
The students have begun their Reading Logs and should be asking you to sign them every week. It is my desire that they read at least 20 minutes every day. This really does improve vocabulary skills and comprehension and will show not only on the EOG but also in life. Please spend some time asking what your child is reading. I have an extensive classroom library with almost 1,000 books available for the students to check out. The school library is also available as well as the community libraries. We will have DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) daily and this will help the students achieve their AR point goals.
We have worked on some analogies and some higher order thinking skills. This is a theme that I use throughout the year to help the students become better thinkers. We have talked about our classroom computer network and some of the assignments we will compete this year such as the Autobiographical Poem and the Big Newspaper! Keep an eye out for more information.
We did our first journal today and since it was Wednesday it was an Art Appreciation Journal. Friday is Personal Journal Day. The students took the picture, The Studio (pictured above) and wrote some descriptive and creative papers about it. Wednesday is always Art Appreciation because it makes the kids use a different form of writing in the Journal. We will write a journal every day and they are due every other Friday.
If this sounds like a whole lot of information to you, imagine your child working on this all day long and having two different academic classes and two different electives.
In closing, let me apologize. It is my goal to have the site updated every day before 3:30. I am a little behind tonight, but I will work a little smarter in the future. Thanks for your notes and for some truly great children!
Posted by hlperson at 06:29 PM | Comments (1)