March 30

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!!!

We hope everyone enjoys some much deserved and needed time off!!!!!

March 29

Math:

• I just realized that I had taken the Daily Review #8 up from my homeroom to review missed skills with small groups and did not hand them back.  My apologies!!!  You are clearly exempt from this.  Mrs. Howell's homeroom may be exempt as well. ;-)  
• A pop quiz could occur tomorrow over reading and writing numbers, surface area, and prime factorization (just like our review from all week).

Science:

• Ch. 10 Quiz tomorrow (see yesterday's post for specifics and EXTRA CREDIT!)
• PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO FINISH THE LAB RESULTS FROM TODAY'S EXPERIMENT!

SS:

• NONE

Reading:

• Read 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Pictures and/or money due TOMORROW
• Please check PowerSchool to stay on top of your student's grades and missing work.  Students that are absent are responsible for collecting their work that was missed.  
• Students who are unhappy with a grade may redo the assignment to improve their result.

March 28

Math:

• Daily Review #8 - Wed
• PB 18-3 p. 268 (Reteach p. 267 - you know who you are if you do this page)
• EXTRA CREDIT!!!!  This will get you bonus points for BOTH Math and Science!  This is due FRIDAY at the beginning of the day.  Pick three different objects from your house.  Drop each object from the SAME height and record how long it takes it to hit the ground (you will need someone else help you with a stopwatch or a watch with a second hand...so grab an adult to help you out).  Create a graph (either a line graph OR a bar graph) to record your data.  Make sure the graph has a TITLE and that the X-axis and Y-axis are labeled appropriately for your data.  NEATNESS will help get you the most points.  You can find printable graph paper at  http://lrt.ednet.ns.ca/PD/BLM/table_of_contents.htm 

Science:

• Quiz on Friday over parts of Chapter 10 (Know all vocab from Ch. 10, lesson 1, Newton's first two laws of motion, and how the shape of an object affects its fall to the ground)
• We began an experiment today on the shape of an object and how that affects its fall to the ground.
• I never like to leave a chapter "open" while we leave for a break, but there is no way we will finish Ch. 10 beforehand.  I would much rather take our time with the concepts than rush the students to finish the chapter.  Thank you for your understanding!

SS:

• Finish preparation for the Civil Rights play (these will be presented tomorrow in class)

 Reading:

• Read 20 minutes

REMINDERS:

• We still have several students with pictures and/or money out.  Please turn these in ASAP.

March 27

Mosley Math:

• Review #8 - Tuesday
• PB Topic 18-2 p. 266

Science:

• Ch. 10 Quiz on Friday

• We learned about circuits today with Dr. Shock.  It was awesome!  EXTRA CREDIT due 3/28:  What were the three types of circuits? 

Reading:

• Read 20 minutes
• Finish Scholastic News and 7 questions
•  

SS:

• Research for Civil Rights presentation.
• Presentations on THURSDAY

March 26

 Mosley Math:

• Daily Review #8 - Monday 1-8

Mosley Science:

• Motion activity sheet (students were told to take text home to complete this assignment)
• Ch. 10 Quiz on Friday
• We will be making circuits with Dr. Shock tomorrow!!!

Howell Reading:

• Read 20 minutes

Howell S.S.: 

• Finish classwork  p. 351  #1-7

 Reminders:

• Please return pictures and/or money
• Please return report cards
• Kids First Coupon Book Design-A-Cover contest entries are due tomorrow!  This form was sent home previously in the Bulldog Folder.  We have a lot of great artists out there.  Maybe the winner will be from Allen!!! 
• TCAP is coming!  Yesterday's post has information for what parents can do at home to help their children be as successful as possible for TCAP.  Below I have included strategies to help students.  We will be going over these things in class.  Plus, they are awesome for any kind of test taking.
• For the Student:

Now:

·        Pay attention in class. Your teacher is teaching you the things you need to know. If you are talking or day dreaming, you may miss something important.

·        Do your homework. This is practice and an opportunity for you to reinforce the skills you are learning.

·        Establish a routine at night and in the morning that includes 7-8 hours of sleep and a good breakfast. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your brain.

Before the test:

·        Wear comfortable, quiet clothes on testing day. Leave loud jewelry at home. Make sure your hair is not in your face, you don’t need any distractions during testing.

·        Eat a HEALTHY breakfast. Try to avoid a lot of sugar, it is cheap energy and it doesn’t last long. Eat protein, grains, and fruit.

·        Be on time, rushing can make you anxious.

·        Relax. This test is measuring what you know, not how smart you are. It is only one measure of your education.

·        Muscles tight? Got that “uh oh” feeling in your stomach? Stop and breathe; in through your nose and out through your mouth. Remember that this gets oxygen to your brain where you need it. Tighten up all your muscles from your toes to your head and then loosen them back up from your head to your toes. This will burn off that nervous energy that has built up in your body. Once you relax, you will be able to remember what you have learned and think through the problems given to you. (Don’t make a scene- no theatrics, ok?!)

During the test:

·        Read ALL of the directions first.

·        Read each passage and the accompanying questions.

·        Read every possible answer--the best one could be last.

·        Read and respond to items one at a time rather than thinking about the whole test.

·        Reread, when necessary, the parts of a passage needed for selecting the correct answer.

·        Differentiate between thought processes involved in choosing correct answer versus choosing wrong answer (except, not).

·        Don't expect to find a pattern in the positions of the correct answers.

·        Make “intelligent” guesses.

·        Try to get the correct answer by reasoning and eliminating wrong answers.

·        Decide exactly what the question is asking.

·        Don't spend too much time on any one question.

·        Skip difficult questions until all other questions have been answered. On scrap paper, keep a record of the unanswered items to return to, if time permits.

·        Make sure to record the answer in the correct place on the answer sheet.

·        Only change an answer if you are sure the first one you picked was wrong. Be sure to completely erase changed answers.

·        Keep an eye on the time, work as rapidly as possible with accuracy.

·        After completion of the test, use any remaining time to check your answers.

·        Fill in the bubbles completely and neatly. Avoid stray marks and doodling.

·        Keep a good attitude. Think positively!

TCAP Test Prep for Parents from Dr. D

Now:

·        TCAPS are April 23^rd-27^th.

·        Note test dates on your home calendar; schedule appointments on non-testing days.

·        Encourage your child to take responsibility for homework and class study.

·        Praise your child for work done well.

·        Encourage your child to ask questions at home and in class.

·        Attend parent-teacher conferences.

·        Assure your child knows that you value a good education.

Parent Strategies for Reducing Test Anxiety

·        Discuss the test openly and in a positive way.

·        Have realistic expectations of your child's performance while encouraging his/her best efforts.

·        Emphasize that the test is only one measure of academic performance.

·        Emphasize that test scores do not determine a person's worth.

Testing Day:

·        See that your child has gotten 7-8 hours of sleep and eats a healthy breakfast. Try to avoid a lot of sugar (pop tarts, sugary cereal). It is empty energy and your child may get hungry and tired before the test is over.

·        See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed.

·        Encourage your child to do the best work possible.

·        Do not send your child to school if illness is apparent.

·        Do not remove your child from school on test days for appointments.

March 23

NO homework this weekend!!!

Great job on speeches.  It is always difficult to speak in front of your peers. 

We have several calculators missing.  These are blue Texas Instrument calculators.  Those missing are M-2, M-8, M-11, M-16, and M-18.  We also have one missing that does not have its lid on it (the lid is in Mrs. Mosley's class).  If you come across one of these calculators at home, please, please, please send it back to school.  They are very expensive.  In the past, students have been able to use a these calculators on the TCAP, therefore, we need to ensure that everyone has access to one. 

Sale Creek is having a parent meeting for upcoming 6^th graders on Thursday, March 29^th at 6:00 in the Library if you are interested.


FIVE days till Spring Break!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Mrs. H and Mrs. M

March 22

Mosley Math:  Topic 17 Quiz tomorrow (check out yesterday's post for more details)

Mosley Science: NONE!  EXTRA CREDIT:  In your own words, what will have a more difficult time
                          stopping, a truck with more mass or less mass?  Why?

Howell Reading: Reading Log

Howell S.S.: NONE


REMINDERS:

• Signed report cards due
• Making Circuts with Dr. Shock (free) on Tuesday
• Upcoming Field Trips: 
• 5/1 Track Meet  (appx $4)
• 5/8 Nashville Field Trip (appx $23)
• 5/15 Pumpkin Patch Park (behavior/attendance reward appx $5)

March 21

Mosley Math:   

• TN-13  Line Segments on the Coordinate Grid  p. TN47 (toward the back of the text book)  #10, 12, 14, 21, 22, 23 ***Please read the directions***
• We are finishing up Topic 17 (it was a short one) and we will have a short quiz on Friday.  The quiz will cover the following:

1. Integers (examples on p. 412)
2. Ordered Pairs (example on p. 414.... we say to "run, then jump")
3. Distances on Number Lines and Coordinate Planes (We did this today!  examples on p. 418 and TN46)
4. Problem Solving: Working Backward (example on p. 422) - We will work on this tomorrow.

                     ***There will probably be 2-3 questions for each of these skills.***

Mosley Science:  NONE, but

• Here are our State Performance Indicators for the science that we are currently working on:

           SPI 0507.12.3  Use data to determine how shape affects the rate at which a material  

                               falls to the earth

           SPI 0507.11.1 Explain the relationship that exist among mass, force, and distance  

                               traveled.

         SPI 0507.12.1 Recognize that the earth attracts objects without touching them.

Howell Reading:  Read 20 minutes  AND  "Romare Bearden, Artist of Life" activity sheet

Howell L.A. : Speech due TOMORROW

Howell SS: NONE!


Reminders:

• Please return pictures and/or money.
• Please return signed report cards.

March 19th

Homework:

Mosley Math: Practice Book p. 260  odds only

Mosley Science: None ~  We started Chapter 10 today.

Howell Reading: Read for 20 minutes and complete reading log

Howell Social Studies: Work on speech (due 3/22)


REMINDERS:

• No school tomorrow 3/20
• 18 school days until TCAP
• Spring Break 4/2-4/6
• You can check your child's grades on Power School.