5th grade-

Thank you to everyone who brought in the fern and moss samples. We loved seeing the spores of close and looking at them through the microscope.

Complete #10-18 on your lesson outline an the fern life cycle worksheet.

7th grade- Grammar exercises #6 & #8. Remember you have a reading test on Thursday! Vocabulary due Friday and test on Monday.

8th Grade- Make sure you have read The Adventures of the Speckled Band through page 41 in your literature book. Vocabulary due Friday. Reading test on Friday.

Lunch orders due October 1

We are off to a great work week. Lots to do and we are going to keep a steady pace this week.

5th grade-

Homework- Lesson outline- #1-9 and Moss Life Cycle. (Reread the section on moss life cycle). Great questions today! They are thinking!

7th Grade- A big week ahead of us but I know you can do it!

Homework- Vocabulary- Write words and definitions, complete pages 38-41 ( all due Friday)

Vocab test on Monday Oct 5

Grammar- Adjectives- Exercise 5 page 342 in Grammar book

Reading Test on Thursday-

Things to know_

Reread and know the content of the following stories:

"Two Kinds", " My Furthest Back Person", The Third Level"

Vocabulary from each of these selections ( you will find it in the yellow boxes throughout the story)

Major and minor characters

Literary Terms- motive, personal essay, conflict, and setting. Know the definitions of these as well as how they apply to the story

8th Grade-

Homework: Vocabulary- Write words and definitions, complete pages 38-41 ( all due Friday)

Vocab test on Monday Oct 5

Grammar Exercise 18 #1-10 page 361

Reading Test Friday Know the following:

Re-read and know the content from the following stories:

"Rain, Rain, Go Away", Christmas Day in the Morning", The Adventures of the Speckled Band", A Retrieved Reformation"

Vocabulary from each selection

Literary Terms: Plot, conflict, flashback, surprise ending (know the definition of these as well as how they apply to the stories)

Major and minor characters

Yeah!! testing is over! And it's back to work.

5th grade- Yes, we are doing this section and yes, you do have to write the vocabulary words. Come prepared to class tomorrow with lesson 5 read and your vocabulary competed.

7th Grade- Be ready to work!

8th Grade- Adjective test tomorrow. You must be able to identify the following types of adjectives: common descriptive adjectives, articles, nouns as adjectives, proper adjectives, pronouns( possessive, demonstrative, interrogative and indefinite) as well as compound adjectives. Students have sufficient notes along with their textbooks to prepare for this test. It sounds scarier than it is. Reading test will be next week covering several short stories we have read the past few weeks. We will be starting the "Ultimate Gift" by Jim Stovall next week. I have ordered an audio copy so that we can listen to the book in class. If you want your child to have a print copy that's fine but not required. In lieu of reading our novel at home, they are supposed to be reading a novel outside of class ( assigned several weeks ago).

This week is pretty low-key given the IOWA tests. However, we are still doing some work in class.

5th grade:

You will have an open book, open notes ( not open neighbor) quiz on lesson 4. No need to study, all the answers are in your book. Don's stress!

7th grade- Won't see you until Friday!

8th grade- Adjective test on Friday. You have notes to study, use them. Re-do the exercises in our book. Learn the hints, learn the rules, you will do great!

Welcome to the weekend! Testing begins Monday. Please make sure your child has a good night's rest and eats breakfast each day next week.

5th Grade- No homework! think about our beans, what do you think they will look like on Monday.

7th Grade- final draft of paragraph due Monday

8th Grade- final draft of persuasive essay due Monday

Tag Day is tomorrow. Our theme- school colors. Please review the "Tag Day" guidelines with your child. They can be found in the handbook.

5th grade:

No homework, unless you are retaking your science test tomorrow. Those of you taking it, correct your test, write the question and answer five times ( to be turned in ) and STUDY STUDY STUDY!!!

7th Grade:

No homework! Final draft of your paragraph due Monday. You may turn it in early.

8th Grade:

Sorry guys, you get homework. Vocabulary test tomorrow . Complete page 34 "vocabulary in context. Know the parts of speech!!!! Final draft of your persuasive essay due Monday. You may turn it in early!

I'm so sorry I didn't post last night. We had a late faculty meeting and to be honest I just forgot. So here are the latest updates:

5th Grade:

We took our test today. Yeah! Another one down. We will begin lesson 4 tomorrow.

Homework: Read pages 42-45 in your science books. Be ready to discuss tomorrow. You might want to think about starting your new vocabulary entries so you are doing so much tomorrow.

7th Grade:

Paragraphs were turned in today. I will have those ready to give back tomorrow so that you can work on your final which is due on Friday. We are finishing up our first short story in our literature books. We will read and discuss a few more stories and short poems before any form of assessment.

Homework: Review "Two Kinds" and complete Check Your Comprehension (1-5) and Critical Thinking (1-6) on page 25 in the reading book.

8th Grade:

Reading: Oh how the ending confused us today! We will finish up our comic strips and present to the class.

Homework: Vocabulary: Finish copying words/definitions into your notebook. Complete synonyms and antonyms in your vocab book. Be ready for the flashcards tomorrow! Have no fear, I will have all 20 entered by then. Also, finish your adjective worksheet. We will discuss articles tomorrow.

I will have your drafts back to you with notes tomorrow so you can work on the final due Friday.

Reminders!!! Have a great weekend!

5th Grade 

Test- Tuesday September 16.  Lesson 3 Study your notes, vocabulary, outlines and know the diagrams in the book.  Think of our photosynthesis party and all the food we made today.  A special thanks to Luke ( our sun), David ( our rain), Ali ( our leaf), Catherine ( our sugar), Matthew ( our CO2) and Hailee ( our oxygen).  

7th Grade-  

Vocabulary test on Monday.  Know the parts of speech!!

Rough draft of paragraph due Tuesday

Rubric:   http://teachers.teach-nology.com/cgi-bin/para.cgi

8th Grade-  

You are coming along nicely with your persuasive skills.  I can't wait to read why you would make a great leader of Animal Farm  **** read your rubrics***  Rough draft due on Tuesday.   http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson405/PersuasiveWritingScoringGuide.pdf

5th Grade

Homework:  You have a test next Tuesday September 16.  It is on Lesson 3 only.  I realize this is alot of material to learn so I will test you on lesson 3 and lesson 4 separately.  Tonight, please read pages 36-41 in your textbook.  Write any questions you have, and we will discuss this section tomorrow.  Finish up your lesson outline so we can go over the answers tomorrow.  We will review for the test on Monday.  Chin up!  you can do this.  Find a quiet place, make some note cards, study with your parents.  

7th Grade-  

Vocabulary-  Antonyms and synonyms, choosing the right word -  Vocabulary Test on Monday

Continue work on your paragraph, we will work on them in class tomorrow.  Rough draft due Tuesday.  Final draft due anytime before Friday September 19.  

8th Grade-  

Read pages 140-143 in Grammar/Writing Book ( this is the "big" book)  Make a T-chart to help organize your supporting sentences for your persuasive essay.  

Pros -  why you would be a good leader.  Give examples ( you can use the book) Use details!

Cons-  Why the animals should not follow Napoleon.  Give examples use details!

We will work on your essays tomorrow in class.  Be ready to work!  Rough drafts are due next Tuesday and finals due anytime before Friday September 19.  

BETA CLUB:  If you have not turned in your paperwork and money for Beta Club, do so by the end of the week. Make this a priority if you want first your first pick of competitions to enter.  

STUDENT COUNCIL:   Good luck to all who are entering the election.  If you want me to look over your speech just bring it to me! 

5th Grade-

Homework:  Re-read pages 34-35.  Answer questions 9-15 on your lesson outline.  Complete the plant structure worksheet.  Hint:  You might want to do it in pencil first then go over in different color pencils/ marker/ crayons.  Remember there may be more than one choice.

7th Grade-  

Homework-  Vocabulary-  write one sentence for each vocabulary word.  Write your supporting statements for  your paragraph.  Remember you can use:  facts, statistics, or instances, examples.  Details, details!!  

8th Grade

Homework:  Work on the list of persuasive points for your Animal Farm essay.  Think of what Snowball would do as a leader, give examples, support your examples.

If you need to revise your three main arguments to support your "candy"  come to class prepared to share.  

See you all tomorrow!

Short week and lots to get done!

5th Grade-

I hoped you enjoyed the carrots we "dissected" in class today. Think about the xylem and phloem next time you eat one.
Homework- read and re-read pages 30-35 in your science book. Answer questions 1-8 on your lesson outline. Bring back to class ready to go over tomorrow.

7th Grade-

Vocabulary- finish copying the words and definitions into your journal/notebook/flashcards. Complete page 31-32 (completing the sentence)
Writing- Write supporting sentences from your graphic organizer that we did on the board today. Remember they need to support your topic sentence.


8th Grade-

Begin to create your lists for your persuasive paper on Animal Farm ( use the handout from class today). We will begin to talk about persuasive paragraphs tomorrow.

5th Grade-  

What a great day we had with our special little visitor.  Hallie's mom, Mrs. Buchanan, was kind enough to bring in a baby squirrel that they found in their driveway over the weekend.   It is only a few weeks old.  We spent some time on the computer researching the classification of a squirrel.  

Homework:  Do a little more research about a squirrel and find out some facts.  Where does it live?  What does it eat?  What kingdom, phylum, class order, etc... does it fall into.  Write a short paper about your findings.  

7th Grade

Homework:  Think of a topic and brainstorm "free write" about it.  Come in tomorrow with ideas and details about the topic.

DPE- quiz tomorrow.  I will pick one of your daily paragraph edits and you will edit it for a grade.  Good Luck!!

8th grade- 

Vocabulary Quiz-  Unit 1  you will have definitions, fill-in-the-blanks , choose the right word and write-your-own sentences.  Study hard!  You already know so many, be confident!

Your paragraphs are due to me tomorrow.  Please turn in with your rubrics.  

Parents:  Folders have gone with some of our first tests and quizzes.  Please look over, sign and return tomorrow.  

See everyone tomorrow.

5th Grade- we made it through our first test. Take the night off and be ready to work tomorrow.

7th Grade- Study your paragraphs that we edit each morning. I will pick up for our Friday quiz

Parents, if I haven't heard from you (most have emailed), please let me know if your child has permission to watch A cry in the Wild (Hatchet)

8th Grade- Vocabulary- Write one sentence with each of your vocabulary words and complete page 27 in your book. *** hint*** you might be writing sentences on your vocabulary quiz. Vocabulary Test on Friday Sept 4

Parents, if I haven't heard from you (most have emaile), please let me know if your child has permission to watch Animal Farm.

Have a great night!

5th Grade- Science Test tomorrow- Classifying Living Things and The Kingdoms of Life
pages 2-19. **** Focus on study guide, vocabulary (they copied them into their notebooks), and the diagrams on pages 14-16- Plant Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Fungus Kingdom.


7th Grade- Complete noun worksheet ( 1 side only) Hatchet Test (chapters 1-11) Wednesday September 2. We will begin talking about how to write a good paragraph.

8th Grade- Final draft of paragraph due Friday. It can be turned in anytime this week.
Homework 9/1 Vocabulary- Finish copying the words and definitions into your notebooks, complete choosing the right word ( page 26). Vocabulary Test on Friday.

Parents, don't forget to let me know yes or no to the movie.