December

** __December 1, 2010__ **
Class Time ||~ Practice ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today students continued to work on their first summary. They are reading two sections of the social studies book and then they will be choosing an outline for one of the sections. Some students started their outlines today. || Vocabulary #11 was handed out. Due Friday ||
 * Math || Worked on finding reflection symmetry and rotational symmetry. Students finished Problem 1.2 in class. || None. Make sure Problem 1.2 is complete. ||
 * Advanced Math || Started an angle game called Four in a Row. Students are to identify angle measures in the game, while trying to get four marks in a row to win. This game is from Problem 2.2 in our books. || None. ||
 * Language || Today students took their spelling quiz. We will be starting an informative writing and research unit tomorrow. We previewed some of the big ideas we will be exploring today. || none ||
 * Reading || We spent today reading and practicing strategies. I conferred with a number of students. || Read. Hand in book orders ASAP! ||

** __December 2, 2010__ **
Class Time ||~ Practice || Newsletters should be signed and returned. If students have not finished the outline, they should work on that before tomorrow. ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today students are continuing to work on their first summary. Most students will be working on the outline today. If they finish the outline, they will start their rough draft. || V11 due tomorrow.
 * Math || Students started to tile today using regular polygons. They are to use rulers and try to create unique tiling patterns. I gave them the situation of working as a contractor and having examples of different floor tiles to sell to a client. || Problem 1.3, page 15, A-C ||
 * Advanced Math || Students finished playing the Four in a Row game, where they had to identify different angle measures and coordinate points while trying to get four points in a row. || ACE, page 41-42, #4-5 ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading || It is the first day (out of two) for the connections assessment. We are using the book //Baseball Saved Us// as the text students will connect to. They will have tomorrow to finish in class. || Read at home. Hand in book orders. ||

** __December 3, 2010__ **
Class Time ||~ Practice || Feedback is also given today on sentences for V11 and V11 is collected. || If newsletters have not been signed, they should be. If rough drafts are not done, they should be completed at home. ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today students continue to work on their first summary. Those who have rough drafts done will type them. Most will be working on rough drafts and starting to type. There will also be time given Monday for typing. Final typed copies will be due on Tuesday.
 * Math || Students worked more with tiling and had to identify which shapes could easily be tiled and which could not. Some finished early and worked on making tessellations. || Finish Problem 1.3, page 15, A-C if not done. Finish tessellation if started one in class. ||
 * Advanced Math || Students used benchmark angles to estimate angles of different polygons and then used an angle ruler to accurately measure angles. They compared their results. || None. ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading || We are finishing the connections assessment. I went through the assessments that were turned in last night and pulled ones that needed some additional information. Those students will have the opportunity to fix them today, while other students finish. || According to the book count calendar, students should be finishing book 12. Book orders due on Monday. ||

__December 6, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today was the last in-class work time for summary #1. Many students have now turned their summaries in. || Students who are not done typing their summaries should complete them on their own time now. ||
 * Math || We discussed how different angles are formed, that is, by things turning, being a wedge shape, or by having two rays form at one vertex. Students then looked at a right angle and are to use a right angle to estimate other angles. They are to estimate the angles and not use a protractor. || Problem 2.1, page 28, A-C. ||
 * Advanced Math || We talked about Amelia Earhart and how her final flight was off by only a few degrees, which threw her off course by hundreds of miles. Students measured angles with an angle ruler and found approximate distances. || Finish ACE Problems, #6-9, 14-20. ||
 * Language || Today we continued practice with paraphrasing, research and citation. For more complete description, see 6th grade email on google docs from Dec. 3 || Finish paragraph ||
 * Reading || Today we read an article about cyberbullying. We will be using this for our discussion on determining importance tomorrow. || Read! ||

__December 7, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science || Derived an equation for calculating speed v=d/t ||  ||
 * Social Studies || We are starting summary #2 today. Students will be spending time in class reading the next two sections. || Summary #1 should be finished if it is not done yet! ||
 * Math || Discussed how to draw angles and how to use a right angle (90 degrees) to estimate other angles. Introduced a game called Four in a Row and reviewed how to find coordinate points on a grid. || None. Some students need to finish Problem 2.1 and other practice assignments. Make sure these are complete. ||
 * Advanced Math || We practiced measuring angles, properly drawing angles, and related angles to distance. Students then measured angles that were created with parallel lines and a transversal. || Problem 2.5, page 39, A. (What we are doing right now in class requires an angle ruler/protractor, so much of our practice will be completed in class during this investigation.) ||
 * Language || We continued writing our group research papers. Hopefully we can finish tomorrow. Thursday students will start their own research papers. Check student email for more explicit instructions for writing || NO SPELLING TEST -we will finish our group practice and do a grammar activity instead. Spelling quizzes will resume next week. ||
 * Reading || We discussed the cyberbullying article from yesterday. I showed students how I would get the big idea and then find details that support it (which is very similar to outlining in social studies), and then write the gist (which is similar to paraphrasing which they are learning in language). || Read! ||

__December 8, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Summary #1 should be turned in by now. If it's not, make that a priority! ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today in class, we continued working on summary #2. Students finished reading and some got feedback from summary #1 and started new outlines. Others worked on vocabulary or putting information into their flipbooks which will be used on the essay quiz on December 21st. || Vocabulary #12 due Friday.
 * Math || Students continued to play the game Four in a Row, which they practiced identifying coordinate points on a circular grid and practiced finding angle measures. || Problem 2.2, page 31, A-B ||
 * Advanced Math || Students worked on finding patterns in angles that are formed when a transversal line intersects with a set of parallel lines and non-parallel lines. || Finish Problem 2.5, page 39, A-D, if didn't finish in class AND Ace Problems, page 45-46, #21-22. ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading || On Wednesdays, we use most of our time to independently read. I do this because I believe that is the best use of our time. In reading, practice of the strategies we work on is essential, and the time we use on Wednesdays is for students to do this in their own books. || Continue to read! Book count for December will be on the 21st. ||

__December 9, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Vocabulary #12 is due tomorrow also. ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science || Reviewed distance and speed algorithms || Speed and Distance Practica A handout problems 1-7 ||
 * Social Studies || Continued to work on summaries. Many students met with me to get feedback and got started on new outlines. || If summary #1 is not done, it is now overdue! These should be finished at home now.
 * Math || Students were introduced to using an angle ruler to measure angles more accurately. Most don't have these rulers at home, so we will do most of the measuring in class and the practice will involve problems that don't require them to us an angle ruler. || ACE, page 40-42, #1, 2, 4, 5 ||
 * Advanced Math || Students worked on finding angle measure of regular polygons; working towards finding patterns in the angle measures. || Finish Problem 3.1, page 55, A-C, AND ACE, page 62, #1,2 ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading || Learning Goal: Understand what it means to determine importance. || Read, book count on the 21st (Tuesday before break) is for 14 books.** Extra credit available for seeing the Wizard of Oz: bring your program signed by at least 2 cast members in and show Mrs. Huch! ** ||

__December 10, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Also, first chance for retaking the 5 Elements Assessment will be on Monday. Students should review for this. Those who scored a C or lower will be required to retake. Anyone else is welcome to retake to improve their score. Vocabulary Quiz next Thursday (V9-V12). Students will be required to use words in sentences. They should be practicing this if needed. || Students should assess whether they are behind on anything. If so, they should work on the weekend. ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today students continued to work on summary #2. Summary #1 will be entered in the gradebook this weekend. Summary #2 will be due mid-week next week with just Monday to work in class on it. Students could work on outlines and rough drafts over the weekend so they are ready to type on Monday.
 * Math || We talked about Amelia Earhart and how her final flight was off by only a few degrees, which threw her off course by hundreds of miles. Students measured angles with an angle ruler and found approximate distances. || None. ||
 * Advanced Math || Students discovered that the angle sum of any regular or irregular polygon is the same. We discussed different methods to find a polygon's angle sum. || None. ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading || Learning Goal: Understand determining importance through practice. We read part of a pamphlet about internet safety and then I gave students what I thought were the most important ideas. Students then found the details that would connect to them. || Read. ||

__December 13, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Lesson: Use grouped details to make important idea statements about social networking. || Read-book 14 for book count next Tuesday (the 21st) ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science || Reviewed how to calculate speed of a moving object. Practiced using timers. || none ||
 * Social Studies || Students worked on second summary in class today. Also, there was time given to redo the 5 Elements Assessment if needed. || Vocabulary Quiz is on Thursday (covering V9-V12). ||
 * Math || Students worked on finding patterns in angles that are formed when a transversal line intersects with a set of parallel lines and non-parallel lines. || Finish Problem 2.5, page 38 D-E; AND Ace Problem, page 45, #21 ||
 * Advanced Math || Students looked at different methods for finding angle sums and discovered different algorithms to use in solving for any polygon's angle sum. || Problem 3.3, page 58, A-B ||
 * Language || Today we completed the Iowa Youth Survey || none ||
 * Reading || Learning Goal: Be able to create an important idea statement.

__December 14, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Next Tuesday we will have an essay quiz over the Greece and Rome chapters. Students will be allowed to use the flipbooks that they are preparing. || Vocabulary Quiz will be on Thursday. Students should make sure they understand the words from V9-V12. || Lesson: Use grouped details to make important idea statements about email. || Read-book 14 for book count next Tuesday (the 21st). ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science || Began an experiment to calculate the average speed of a toy car rolling down a ramp. || Speed and Distance Practice B problems ||
 * Social Studies || Today students started the reading for their third summary. They started reading two sections from the Rome chapter. Please check with your students to see how they are doing on summary #2. Yesterday was our last day to work in class on this so now they need to finish at home or during study skills. So far about 35 students have turned it in, so many still need to finish.
 * Math || Students continued to define patterns that occur when a transversal intersects two parallel lines. They related these patterns to parallelograms. Students started working on a skill practice sheet at the end of class. || Finish Skill Practice Sheet, page 37-38; AND Ace Problems, page 42-46, # 6-9, 20, 24. ||
 * Advanced Math || Students related angle sums to tiling and discovered that in order to tile the angles at any vertex have to have an angle sum of 360 degrees. We then discussed interior and exterior angles. || Problem 3.4, page 61, A-B; AND Ace Problem, page 64, #13 ||
 * Language || Students worked on spelling list and then continued to work on individual research projects. Please check your student's gmail for rubrics and more specific instructions. || Spelling Quiz tomorrow. Research projects due Friday. ||
 * Reading || Learning Goal: Be able to create an important idea statement.

__December 15, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Summary #1 and #2 should now be turned in. If they aren't students should finish typing at home. || Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow. Students will be required to use words in sentences. V9 - V12. || On Wednesdays, we use most of our time to independently read. I do this because I believe that is the best use of our time. In reading, practice of the strategies we work on is essential, and the time we use on Wednesdays is for students to do this in their own books. Read-book 14 for book count next Tuesday (the 21st)
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Students continued to work on summary #3. Some turned in summary #2.
 * Math || We discussed and corrected practice from yesterday that dealt with patterns created with parallel and transversal lines. Students worked a problem to assess their knowledge of identifying degrees of angles. || None. ||
 * Advanced Math || Students took a quiz over measuring angles, identifying polygons, and finding symmetry. || Skill Practice Sheet, page 38 only. ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading ||  ||

__December 16, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Lesson: Practice determining importance with IM section of pamphlet. || Read! ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today we took a vocabulary quiz. Students also continued to work on summaries. || Summary #1 and #2 should already be completed. If they aren't, they should be finished at home. Outline for summary #3 should be done as well. ||
 * Math || We talked about angle sums today, and students started to measure regular polygons and record their angle measures/sums. We will continue this lesson tomorrow. || Problem 3.1, page 55, B only. ||
 * Advanced Math || We finished the quiz from yesterday. Students then started to try to build triangles from various side lengths to determine a pattern of what sides work and what sides don't work. || Skill Practice Sheet: Angle Sums and Exterior Angles of Polygons, page 40. ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading || Learning Goal: Clarify determining importance through practice.

__December 17, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Lesson: Explain rubric for determining importance, show how to use exit tickets, and begin practice assessment on Posting Videos and Photographs Online. || Book count next Tues.-14 books. ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science ||  ||   ||
 * Social Studies || Today was a work day for summary #3. My plan is that Monday will be a day to type as well. However, we may get bumped from the computers on Monday. If students are able to type their 3rd summary on their google docs at home they can share them with me through email. My google docs email address is jessicasauer@ccaschools.org || Put information in flip book. These flip books will be used on Tuesday for the essay quiz. ||
 * Math || We continued to find angle sums of different regular polygons. Students completed a table and found a pattern that the angle sum increased by 180 degrees with each side added. We will continue our discussion of how to find the angle sum for any regular polygon on Monday. || None. ||
 * Advanced Math || We continued to determine if 3 given angles or side lengths make a triangle and then looked at determining whether 4 given side lengths make a quadrilateral. The students discovered the rule for determining these concepts. || None. ||
 * Language || Today the students used a rubric given to them previously to self assess and fix problems in their research papers. When students were done, they were given the option to create a visual aid to their written report with a Prezi. || If research papers are not done, they should be completed this weekend with the rubric pasted at the bottom and filled out. ||
 * Reading || Learning Goal: Show or demonstrate understanding of determining importance.

__December 20, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice || Learning Goal: Show or demonstrate understanding of determining importance. Lesson: Review practice assessments started on Friday, or finish if needed.
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science || Today we learned about the winter solstice and the total lunar eclipse happening tonight. We also took a quiz over speed. || Work on 6 scientists paper. We will finish the paper Tues. in class. ||
 * Social Studies || Today students were given the chance to finish summaries that needed to be finished or put information in their flipbook for tomorrow's essay quiz. || Be ready for essay quiz tomorrow. ||
 * Math || We continued our discussion of how to find the angle sum for any regular polygon. We practiced using the expression (n-2) x 180 to find angle sums. We then began to discover whether or not this expression works for irregular polygons. We will continue tomorrow. || Additional Practice Sheet, Investigation 2, page 35, #1 only. ||
 * Advanced Math || Students reviewed for tomorrow's test over Shapes and Designs. They have a review packet of problems, I CAN goals to study, and can make corrections on the last quiz over investigations 1-3 to help them prepare for the test. || Review for the test tomorrow. Make sure review packet is complete. Quiz Corrections. ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading ||  ||
 * Book count tomorrow, and Read-n-Feed! ||

__December 21, 2010__
Class Time ||~ Practice ||
 * ~ Class ||~ During
 * Science || Finish watching movie on Einstein and finish writing paper on the 6 scientists mentioned in the movie || Finish paper on 6 scientists if it wasn't turned in today. ||
 * Social Studies || Today we took the essay quiz over the Greeks and Romans. || If any summaries are not finished, students can finish them over break and share them with me via google accounts if possible. If they aren't able to do this, they can print them out and turn them in after break. ||
 * Math || Quiz today over Investigations 1 and 2 in Shapes and Designs. || None. ||
 * Advanced Math || TEST Today over Shapes and Designs. || None. ||
 * Language ||  ||   ||
 * Reading || Book count and read-n-feed. || PLEASE! Don't forget to read over break. Reading needs to be something that practiced constantly, otherwise skills are not as sharp as they once were. ||