Engrade is still reporting a large volume of visitors to their site. This is causing many of you to see "n/a" where there are actually grades. This being said, I have taken the time this weekend to print out an engrade report for each student. I will distribute these reports on Monday and allow one additional day to complete any missing assignments. In addition, I will pass back the remaining graded work for you and your child to review. He/she may re-do these assignments for a higher grade (unless otherwise noted on the assignment) by following the re-do protocol. (Place new answers on a sheet of notebook paper, explain why they have selected the new answer, and staple the new sheet with the old graded assignment.)
In other business, we have an exciting and busy week planned.
This week we will be focusing on the leadership/character trait: Fairness
Monday: Picture Day! Look your best. =) 9 Weeks Exam Make-Up day and for girls in Pathfinders you will meet today from 2:45-4:45. In class: FCAT Short Response 2 point rubric (Responding to Literature) and creating non-fiction posters (Including forms and reading strategies.) Those who do not finish their poster in class will finish theirs for homework. Read 30 minutes and be sure to log your entry on your reading log.
Tuesday: Unit 7: Non-Fiction Pre-Assessment in class. Read 30 minutes and log entry.
Wednesday: Early Dismissal--Computer Lab: District End of the Quarter Assessment. Homework: Read 30 minutes and log entry.
Thursday: District Timed Writing Prompt #2 In Class. Homework: Read 30 minutes and log entry.
Friday: Teacher Planning Day---Enjoy your long weekend! PS Make sure you read. By now you should have approx. 7 books read. These should be recorded in your agenda.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Engrade--minor issue
Hi all. Minor issue with www.engrade.com when I go to enter the grades in the computer a screen pops up and tells me "My time has expired." Well, I'm not logging on and leaving the computer or anything like that. I've been told by other teachers that they believe there is a possible issue on engrades end. Not to worry, I'm sure they're working on the problem. If you take a peek at your child's grade you might see a list of assignments without grades next to them. Not to worry since it doesn't have a grade it is not helping them or hindering them. If it has a zero next to the assignment, that's a whole other story. I will keep trying to update the grades and I will post a new message here letting you know my updated deadlines for quarter one work. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
9 Weeks Exam Week
Wow! Can you believe it's the end of the quarter already? Study guides for the exam went home yesterday. I hope your child shared his/hers with you. I am going to update all grades tonight and students will have until Thursday to turn in any missing work for this quarter.
Now that the first quarter is over and my students have had an opportunity to adjust to "middle school life" I am implementing a stricter make up work policy starting in the second nine weeks (Monday, 10/20). Note: this excludes students who are absent from school. I have informed my students of the make-up work policy for quarter 2 it is as follows: All assignments turned in late will lose a letter grade comparable to the number of days it is late. For example, one day late--one letter grade lower, two days late--two letter grades lower, etc. I allowed a more leniant policy for quarter one to allow for a period of adjustment. We will now be focusing on creating a more responisble student that is ready for the 7th grade. Meeting deadlines is an important concept in creating a focused, responsible, and diligent students. I look forward to working on this goal throughout the next nine weeks.
This week in ELA:
Monday: 9 Weeks Exam Study Guide
Tuesday: 9 Weeks Exam
Wednesday: Writing a New Report
Thursday: Computer Lab
Friday: Summer Hats
Thank you for your continued support.
Note: please visit www.duvalschools.org to see the updated school calendar for the days we need to make up from Tropical Storm Fay. =)
Now that the first quarter is over and my students have had an opportunity to adjust to "middle school life" I am implementing a stricter make up work policy starting in the second nine weeks (Monday, 10/20). Note: this excludes students who are absent from school. I have informed my students of the make-up work policy for quarter 2 it is as follows: All assignments turned in late will lose a letter grade comparable to the number of days it is late. For example, one day late--one letter grade lower, two days late--two letter grades lower, etc. I allowed a more leniant policy for quarter one to allow for a period of adjustment. We will now be focusing on creating a more responisble student that is ready for the 7th grade. Meeting deadlines is an important concept in creating a focused, responsible, and diligent students. I look forward to working on this goal throughout the next nine weeks.
This week in ELA:
Monday: 9 Weeks Exam Study Guide
Tuesday: 9 Weeks Exam
Wednesday: Writing a New Report
Thursday: Computer Lab
Friday: Summer Hats
Thank you for your continued support.
Note: please visit www.duvalschools.org to see the updated school calendar for the days we need to make up from Tropical Storm Fay. =)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Is it October already?
I'd like to thank all you for sending your warmest wishes to me I start this new chapter in my life. I'd also like to thank you for your patience while I learned a little bit more about blogging. I have received several inquiries regarding the use of my blog site asking if I would be posting homework on this site. As per your request, I will utilize my blog to assist you in supporting the academic efforts of your child. It will be my goal to log on at the beginning of each week and use the same type of format as Ms. Fail-Hayden and Ms. Hamlow to keep you informed on the classroom "happenings."
At the beginning of last month, I sent home a parent information sheet (on purple paper) with specific guidelines on utilizing the engrade.com website to access your child's online grade book. If you did not receive this information please let me know so I can assist you in setting up your engrade account.
The first quarter ends next Friday, October 17. If your child is missing any work I can take late work (point deduction penalties apply to all late work) until next Thursday, October 16. In addition, if your child received a grade on an assignment that they would like to re-do they may utilize the re-do policy and turn those assignments in as well.
This week in English Language Arts:
--Monday: Pg. 515 Understanding Theme(definition pg. 429). Brainstorming and pre-writing (Four Square Strategy). Students will brainstorm and complete the mini 3 column chart selecting their main character, what he/she wants, and who or what is getting in the way. Then students will use the organizational tool, the Four Square Strategy, to plan and organize their ideas for their 5 paragraph essays.
--Tuesday: Pg. 515 Understanding Theme. Drafting/Sloppy Copy and the editing process. Tonight students will move on to the next step in the writing process--drafting. Write your rough draft and ask a parent or guardian for assistance in editing. You WILL need to turn in this "sloppy copy" as evidence of growth.
--Wednesday: Pg. 515 Q&A session. Students will write/type their final draft. In class we will start discussing a new concept: Character's Motive.
--Thursday: Pg. 515 is due. In class, we will read pg. 7 in the PH Literature Book, "The Sound of Summer Running." Students will create and complete a flow chart on two of the characters (Douglas and Mr. Sanderson). If additional time is needed your child will need to finish this for homework.
--Friday: End of quarter DCPS Post Assessment. Your child took this test (as per county requirements) as a pre-assessment of their knowledge at the beginning of the quarter. They will retake the same test with the idea of showing growth in a variety of areas we have worked on throughout the past 8 weeks.
**Classwork/homework pg. #1-3 ONLY (Character's Motives) and pg. ALL sections. Please label each section and number your work.
NOTE: Each night your child is assigned 30 minutes of Silent Sustained Reading (SSR). In addition, they must log their work. Please encourage your child to read before bed every night.
Lastly, next Tuesday I will administer the Nine Weeks Exam. It will be a comprehensive exam that focuses on all of the stories we have read this quarter including: "Dragon, Dragon," "Becky and the Wheels-and-Brake Boys," Overdoing It," "Eleven," and "The Sound of Summer Running." If you would like to assist your child in preparing for this exam you might consider reading over the stories with them. Discuss plot, character development, setting, and theme. You can also use the questions at the end of each story to assist you in monitoring their comprehension of the stories. Thanks for all you do. I hope this isn't information overload. =)
At the beginning of last month, I sent home a parent information sheet (on purple paper) with specific guidelines on utilizing the engrade.com website to access your child's online grade book. If you did not receive this information please let me know so I can assist you in setting up your engrade account.
The first quarter ends next Friday, October 17. If your child is missing any work I can take late work (point deduction penalties apply to all late work) until next Thursday, October 16. In addition, if your child received a grade on an assignment that they would like to re-do they may utilize the re-do policy and turn those assignments in as well.
This week in English Language Arts:
--Monday: Pg. 515 Understanding Theme(definition pg. 429). Brainstorming and pre-writing (Four Square Strategy). Students will brainstorm and complete the mini 3 column chart selecting their main character, what he/she wants, and who or what is getting in the way. Then students will use the organizational tool, the Four Square Strategy, to plan and organize their ideas for their 5 paragraph essays.
--Tuesday: Pg. 515 Understanding Theme. Drafting/Sloppy Copy and the editing process. Tonight students will move on to the next step in the writing process--drafting. Write your rough draft and ask a parent or guardian for assistance in editing. You WILL need to turn in this "sloppy copy" as evidence of growth.
--Wednesday: Pg. 515 Q&A session. Students will write/type their final draft. In class we will start discussing a new concept: Character's Motive.
--Thursday: Pg. 515 is due. In class, we will read pg. 7 in the PH Literature Book, "The Sound of Summer Running." Students will create and complete a flow chart on two of the characters (Douglas and Mr. Sanderson). If additional time is needed your child will need to finish this for homework.
--Friday: End of quarter DCPS Post Assessment. Your child took this test (as per county requirements) as a pre-assessment of their knowledge at the beginning of the quarter. They will retake the same test with the idea of showing growth in a variety of areas we have worked on throughout the past 8 weeks.
**Classwork/homework pg. #1-3 ONLY (Character's Motives) and pg. ALL sections. Please label each section and number your work.
NOTE: Each night your child is assigned 30 minutes of Silent Sustained Reading (SSR). In addition, they must log their work. Please encourage your child to read before bed every night.
Lastly, next Tuesday I will administer the Nine Weeks Exam. It will be a comprehensive exam that focuses on all of the stories we have read this quarter including: "Dragon, Dragon," "Becky and the Wheels-and-Brake Boys," Overdoing It," "Eleven," and "The Sound of Summer Running." If you would like to assist your child in preparing for this exam you might consider reading over the stories with them. Discuss plot, character development, setting, and theme. You can also use the questions at the end of each story to assist you in monitoring their comprehension of the stories. Thanks for all you do. I hope this isn't information overload. =)
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