Saturday, July 26, 2008

I'll be seeing you...

Hope you are all having fun these last weeks of summer. I pray you are all safe and working your brains. Remember, call or write anytime. Mrs. B

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Week 5

Week 5 is coming down to a close. Your presentations are this week, movie review day is on Friday, and we still need to wrap up a few group projects. If we have time, we will do more poetry, as requested by several students.

Thank you all for coming to class and spending part of your summer here at St. John the Baptist Catholic School. This was a different learning experience for most of you. Technology can be fun and challenging at the same time. The more challenges and new "food" we face, the better we can digest a variety of things; experiences like this will make you strong learners. I will miss you all after this week and hope that you stay on track with your dreams and never let your brain "sleep". Mrs. B

Sunday, July 6, 2008

My Quote Has Meaning (for Wednesday morning)

This is the place to be, if you have something to tell me. What does your quote really mean? Help me understand by painting the scene. Post your quotes and comments here. You have freedom of expression and nothing to fear. Just keep it rated "G", or you'll be coming to the office to see me. Mrs. B

Week 4

Oh my! We are down to the last two weeks of school. Ms. Arleen will be with you on Monday and Wednesday. I will allow for you to post your Food for Thought answers to #'s 7 and 8 on Monday. Also, please look to the bottom right for the Inspirational Quotes for Kids. You are to look at these by Monday and choose one quote. Each of you must have a different quote (First come, first served). On Wednesday you will explain your quote in at least three paragraphs and post it on the blog entry entitled My Quote Has Meaning. Please write your quote first before you give your response. Please proofread your work with a partner.

We will be finishing our interview project this week and I will review how to develop your presentations for next week THURSDAY. A visual aid must be utilized in your presentation. A rubric along with details will be distributed this week.

You will be working together in teams to create an accurate 2-dimensional layout of our church, and in smaller groups to review your past POTW (Problems of the Week). Students who have succeeded in achieving the highest points (85%) for their math journals will not have math journal homework for the last week of school. You can make corrections to your journal until July 10th to obtain higher scores. Secret message-post a comment by listing ten positive adjectives below.

Hope you all enjoyed the holiday weekend.
Mrs. B

Food for Thought 8

An understanding of the past is necessary for solving the problems of the present.
Please write at least two paragraphs (6 - 8 sentences each): Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which solving a current problem might not require an understanding of the past. Discuss what you think determines whether or not the past should be considered in solving the problems of the present.

Food for Thought 7

Although it claims to promote individuality, most advertising promotes conformity.
Please write at least two paragraphs (6 - 8 sentences each): Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which advertising might promote individuality rather than conformity. Discuss what you think determines whether advertising promotes individuality or conformity.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

For Week 3...please read carefully

Tomorrow will be week 3. All missing work must be turned in by tomorrow to receive any credit. After June 30th work must still be turned in, but you will not receive credit for these assignments.

The Food for Thoughts are posted and you have until Wednesday morning, 8 am, to post a comment for one of the two, either #5 or #6. I reminded you during weeks one and two that we will no longer have class time to post comments. Therefore, please arrange for computer time before class, during recess, or after class if you do not have internet access. You could also visit your local library or try a friend's house. Be resourceful and be resilient.

Language Arts
Your Historical Hawai'i project is due tomorrow. We will be continuing polishing our grammar and building our writing skills. This week's writing workshop will be on Persuasive writing. Our LA project for week 3 will be learning how to conduct an interview, using a Venn diagram, creating a skit based on your interview results, and reflecting on what we have learned. REMINDER: You should be finished with your book (for presentation) by Wednesday, July 2nd. Your final reading log is due on Thursday, July 3rd, at 8 am. (Secret message: if you are reading this, please post a comment to this post by responding with at least one sentence. This secret response is worth 10 points.)

Math
We will be learning about measurements. Remember, if you do not bring in the supplies you chose last Thursday by tomorrow, we will be doing another activity that does not result in yummy treats. This week, we will continue working on math skills and building individual areas that need improvement.

Our next project will require graphing paper and measuring tape. We were going to do this project first, but most of you voted for the measurement project. Once again, please bring in measuring tape for this week. If you cannot afford graphing paper, I will try to find you some.

Mrs. B

Food for Thought 6

Students should be more interested in the process of learning than in the facts learned.
Please write at least one paragraph (6 - 8 sentences): Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which students might be more interested in the facts learned than in the process of learning. Discuss what you think determines when students should be interested in the process of learning and when they should be interested in the facts learned.

Food for Thought 5

In education, the newest is not always the best way.
Please write at least one paragraph (6 - 8 sentences): Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in education when the "newest way" might in fact be the best way. Discuss what you think determines whether or not innovation in education is an improvement.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow will be week 2. We will be finishing our projects on Monday. If you did not turn in your Math assignments on Friday, you will need to turn them in tomorrow. The Food for Thoughts are posted and you have until Wednesday morning, 8 am, to post a comment for one of the 2, either #3 or #4. Students who have not brought in your supplies for Math, please do so this week in order to maximize our classroom time together.

You will need graphing paper and measuring tape for this week's Math project. For Language Arts you will need to do some research, which we will discuss in class. I will clue you in tomorrow. BTW, great job on those narrative stories and I'll tell you the winners of the contests tomorrow. - Mrs. B

Food for Thought 4

Education comes not from books, but from practical experience.
Please write at least one paragraph: Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which books might educate students better than practical experience. Discuss what you think determines when practical experience provides a better education than books do.

Food for Thought 3

The more people rely on computers, the more people become alienated from one another.
Please write at least one paragraph: Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which computers might not alienate people from one another. Discuss what you think determines whether or not computers alienate people from one another.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

My Studious Summer School Students

Tomorrow we will be working on alliteration in poetry and creating a drawing using geometric patterns. I hope most of you have your supplies ready for tomorrow.

As discussed today if you do not finish your 3 sets of Math homework during the regular school week, it will become your weekend homework. Also, for those who have had their assignments checked, remember to make as many corrections as you can before your final grade.

This Saturday will be the first day of your reading journal entries. You must submit at least one entry for Saturday AND Sunday by Monday morning. To keep you on tract, remember to take the number of pages you have and divide them by about 20 (depending on the number of pages; some of you may need a few more days). Once you start the reading process on Saturday, you will not stop until your book is complete. Around week 3 or 4, we will be working on presenting your book to the class.

If you have any questions, please post a comment below. - Mrs. B

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

ATTENTION ATTENTION!!

If you do not have an e-mail account to use to post comments, please call me at (deleted#) to obtain a username and password for class use. Any improper use will result in serious consequences. You can also create an account with your parents or if possible, you may use your parents' account(s), with their permission. You must post a comment for one of the two THOUGHTS below.

Please bring in your supplies so that we may begin poetry. Tomorrow, we also will be visiting the library again for Language Arts and having our Stump contest for Math. I am looking forward to seeing your beautiful and organized flash cards. Good day - Mrs. B.

Monday, June 16, 2008

For Tuesday...

For Tuesday, June 17th, we will visit some Web sites. Please click on the following links to discover narrative writing tutorials for grade 6, grade 7, and grade 8. It is for the intermediate school level, but no matter your age, all of you will benefit from reviewing parts of a narrative to complete your narrative essay. Mrs. B

Our First Day of School

Hello all! What did you think of your first day of summer school? Well, remember, today and tomorrow are predominantly assessment days. Remember to pick one (or both) of the "Food for Thought" and answer them with honesty and much effort. It is due by Wednesday, 8 am. Also, remember your math supplies for geometry and poem supplies for our alliteration project. Lastly, please do not forget to pick a book for your summer book presentation. I will allow time for you tomorrow to visit our library and choose a book of your liking. The book must be at a reasonable reading level for you. God bless and I'll see you all tomorrow! Mrs. Brown

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Food for Thought 2

Progress often complicates as much as it simplifies.
Please write at least one paragraph: Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which progress does not complicate as much as simplifies. Discuss what you think determines when progress complicates and when it simplifies.

Food for Thought 1

In advertising, truth is irrelevant.
Please write at least one paragraph: Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which truth in advertising might be relevant. Discuss what you think determines when truth in advertising is irrelevant and when it is relevant.