Monday, April 30, 2012

4/30/12

It's Monday again!

This week we are going to be continuing our study of integers.  We will be reviewing adding and subtracting them as well as moving on to multiplying and dividing them.  The latter is easier than adding and subtracting.  We will be testing on this chapter soon.

In social studies, we will be wrapping up our projects soon as some people will be presenting next week and the rest of them the following week.  They will be writing in their planners today when their presentation dates are.

Field trip on Thursday!!!  I can't wait!  Don't forget to bring  money for food and anything you want at the gift shop!!!

Have a marvelous Monday!

Friday, April 27, 2012

4/27/12

What a wonderful day!!! It's Friday!

Yesterday we learned how to add integers.  Everyone seemed to catch on quickly.  Today we are going to learn the rules to subtraction.  Then we are going to play a game to practice both.  With this skill, the more you practice the better you get at it.

I am doing a project check today in social studies.  I know they have been working hard as we are coming closer to presentation day.  This is the last thing we are doing in social studies until the end of the year test.  The test is mostly on those DBQs that we did earlier in the semester.  There are only a couple other questions, but it is information we have gone over before.

Spring Fest is tomorrow at 1:00.  I hope to see everyone there.  One of the most exciting events that will be new this year is the dunk tank.  Kids can come out and dunk one of the teachers or administrators that are signed up!!!  How much fun is that!

See you all again on Monday!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

4/26/12

Well it is already Thursday...so much to do and so little time!

Next week is our field trip to Islands of Adventure.  The kids are getting excited and so are we.  You can expect some emails with any pertinent information throughout the week.

In math yesterday, we were working with coordinate planes again.  I think the kids are starting to have a firm grasp on this concept.  They are in the middle of a project in which they are going to use a coordinate plane to create their own dot to dot.  This will be due next Friday, May 4th.  They will have more time to work on it in class next Wednesday as well.

Today in math class we are going to continue our work with integers.  We are going to be working on adding them which can get a little bit confusing.  We will work it all out in class.

In social studies, they will have some more time again today to work on those projects.  I am hoping to see a lot of progress on Friday.  Friday, they are signing up for their presentation dates.  Presentations will begin on May 8th and go until all students have presented.  I have some that have already volunteered to go first because they are almost done already.  Great work!

Well, have a wonderful Thursday!   Talk to you all tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

4/25/12

Wonderful Wednesday!!!

Yesterday was a great day back.  All of my kids at school are awesome and made me feel so good to be back at school.

We learned about coordinate planes yesterday.  This is something we had talked about and worked on before.  I gave them a set of written directions of how to plot some points that I created.  When they were finished plotting the points, they had to do a connect the dots to see what my picture came out as.  It was a simple picture of a music note.   It helped to reiterate how to plot coordinates.  Today in class they are going to begin to create their own dot to dot with directions for a friend to complete.  I have asked them to please make sure their pictures are something simple, not too detailed so that their directions are not too long.  We are going to be working on that today as well as next week on Wednesday.  They will not be due until next Thursday, but hopefully will be able to finish them in class unless they are in GSP.

In social studies we are continuing work on their social studies projects.  I am going to be doing another project check on Friday to see what progress is being made.  Also, the kids will be signing up on Friday for their presentation dates as well.  Hopefully everyone will be ready  by the Tuesday after the field trip.  That is when presentations are going to begin.  Some of the kids have been procrastinating and not using their class time wisely, so I am going to suggest that they begin working on it at home some as well.  Again, the rubric that we all created is on Edline and on here if they need some guidance.

Have a fantastic Wednesday!

PS:  I have asked a few kids for some supplies for SpringFest.  If they don't bring them in today, I may be in need of some other help in this department.

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help make SpringFest a smooth, fun day for all!!!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

4/24/12

Well I am back and ready to rock and roll!!!  FCAT seemed to go very well for almost everyone.  I have been told it was much easier than my classroom tests, which is an awesome feeling.  I know that everyone had the skills they needed to succeed.  Great work guys!

We are working on integers now and will be learning how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide them.  This is a necessary skill in the sequence to learning algebra.  This will be easier than the previous geometry chapter that we did before FCAT.  I am hoping it will help with some of their grades before the end of the nine weeks.

In social studies, we will be signing up for our presentation dates soon.  I met with all of the kids on Thursday before I left to see how they were doing on their projects.  With the amount of class time they have had to work on them, I was a little disappointed to see how much some of them had done.  I had some kids who hadn't even started and have given over 3 hours of class time to work.  I hope everyone has been using their class time wisely this week.  I will be doing another project check on Friday to see if progress is being made.  They will be graded on whether or not they have anything new to show me.

I am looking forward to the presentations as well.  I think that some of them are doing some pretty awesome things.  Don't forget the rubric is posted here on the blog as well as on Edline if they need any guidance on what should be included.  This is a big part of their 4th nine weeks social studies grade.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!!!

Monday, April 16, 2012

4/16/12

Good morning!

I am just posting to let you all know that I will not be posting this week due to FCAT and my wedding.  Have a great week and I will talk to you all on Tuesday the 24th!

Friday, April 13, 2012

4/13/12

Yeah it's Friday the 13th!!!

Well, today is the last day of review for the FCAT.  I feel as though the kids are thoroughly prepared for their tests on Monday.  Please make sure they get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast.  No need to worry.  I know I am not worried...I know they will do great!

Have a wonderful weekend!  See you all on Monday!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

4/12/12

Terrific Thursday here we come!!!

Yesterday most of the kids finished their games.   We did not have time to play any of them to review for the test.  Those of them that did not finish were supposed to finish last night for homework.  That being said, we will be playing a few of the games in class today to help them review for FCAT once again.  We also will be working on our social studies projects.  I am excited to see what the kids are going to come up with this time.

Have a great day!!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

4/11/12

Happy Wednesday!

The kids seem to be doing a great job on their game boards.  They will be finishing them up today in class and then we will begin reviewing some of the skills that will be on FCAT for the rest of the week.  I think this is a stressless way to continue reviewing.  We also will be working on our social studies projects.

We have some upcoming events that we need your help with.  Parents' Night Out is this Friday the 13th. We have a lot of volunteers and are getting in a lot of snacks as well.  Thank you all for your help with this event.  The one thing that we do need is more kids to attend.  If you know anyone in the WMSS family that is not coming that night, please encourage them to purchase a ticket.  It will be a great time!!!

Also, we have a FUNTOWN night coming up on the 20th of April.  Tickets are on sale now!!!  If every 6th grade student comes and gets 2 other people to come, we will sell over 180 tickets.  That would raise over 1800 dollars that would all benefit our 6th grade field trip.  We really need your help with this.  The kids that are going to FUNTOWN don't even have to be from our school.  As long as you send in the money with the slip, we will send the tickets home with your student to give to the kids that ordered them.  Thank you in advance for all of your support with all of the recent fundraisers!!!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

4/10/12

Good Tuesday morning!

Well, yesterday was a success.  I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do, but we got a lot done.  I think everyone had fun playing one of the review games and are looking forward to creating their own game.  We will be doing a 4 square, creating our games, and working on social studies projects today in class.  We also will be working on surface area and volume of composite figures together as a class.

Have an awesome Tuesday!!!

Monday, April 9, 2012

4/9/12

Today begins the last week before FCAT!  At this point I feel as if everyone is ready and will do just fine on the test.  There is no reason to get stressed out, you have all of the tools necessary to be successful!  This week in math, we are going to continue reviewing by playing review games on some basic skills that you will need when taking this test.  This should be a good review for you all.  We also will continue our work on our social studies projects.  We will be watching the fun-filled, thrilling, power point on how to bubble in the grids on FCAT as well.  I can't wait!!!

Have a fabulous Monday!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

4/5/12

Last day of the week!!!

We are getting closer to FCAT.  I know all of the kids are very well prepared and need to relax and they will do fine.  If they are feeling nervous, have them work through some of the problems on FCAT FOCUS.  I think they will do just fine.  We are going to continue reviewing today as well as all of next week for the FCAT.  Next week, we are going to be playing some games and having fun so they realize they can do it!

In social studies we will be continuing to work on our projects.   We will not begin presentations until after the field trip in May!

I am looking forward to the field trip and hanging out with all of the 6th graders in a less stressful environment.  It has been an awesome year so far and I can't believe it is starting to culminate already!

Have a wonderful day and an awesome weekend!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

4/4/12

Good morning!

I am sorry about last night's homework.  I did not think it would have as many problems on the page as were there and take as long as it did to solve them.  I don't think the problems were that hard, just long and tedious.  I am giving extra credit to anyone who took the time to finish the entire assignment and will be more considerate tonight so that they won't have to do so much work.  If they did not finish, but worked on it, they will be graded on whatever is finished.   Again, sorry about the inconvenience.  That being said, we are going to continue reviewing for FCAT today and keep working on our social studies projects.  The math assignments for the next few days will be worked on in class.  I want the kids to concentrate on working through FCAT FOCUS.

Have a great Wednesday!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

4/3/12

Yesterday we reviewed some of the skills that will be seen on FCAT.

We also continue with surface area and were able to calculate the surface area of rectangular prisms.  Today we will review some more and work  on the surface area of cylinders.  In order to find the surface area of a cylinder, you find the area of the circle and multiply by two.  Then you find the circumference of the circle and multiply by the height of the cylinder.

In social studies we are going to continue working on our group projects.

Please encourage your child to work through the modules on FCAT FOCUS as this is the last week that we can use it.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Monday, April 2, 2012

4/2/12

Good morning and welcome back from Spring Break.   I hope everyone is ready to begin reviewing for FCAT.  I was on FCAT FOCUS today and noticed that there are only 3 of you that have been doing the modules.  This is a great way to practice the skills you need to be successful on the FCAT.  I opened the second assessments for everyone, so those of you that have finished, there are some other assessments for you to try.  I encourage the rest of you to get on this week and work through the problems.  It may not be used next week as we will only be one week away from FCAT.

In math, we are going to be reviewing for FCAT as well as working through the rest of chapter 10 on volume and surface area.  Everyone seems to be understanding these concepts pretty well, we just need to keep practicing.

In social studies we are going to begin working on our group projects in class.  The presentations will not begin until May, so the kids still have plenty of time to work on them.

Have a fantastic Monday!