Dynamic Dialogue 10/26/12

Happy Friday Dynamic Team,

Upcoming Events:        All School Party, October 26^th, 3:30 – 5:00

                                      Term 2 and Explo 1 end on November 2^nd

                                      Term 3 and Explo 2 begin on November 5^th

                                      Professional Development Day on November 6^th –                                      No Student Attendance

                                      Grades mailed home on November 9^th

Important Information: There is a new way to receive the Dynamic Dialogue!  Follow this link to subscribe to our new blog:  http://hxdynamic.blogspot.com/

English –

Poetry is meant to be read aloud, so this week, students were provided time to quickly choreograph a selected poem to share with their classmates. Many students chose to collaborate in a group. Students sang, dance and acted out poems which delighted their audience and brought the poetry to life as well as highlighted students’ creativity and talents.

Students are encouraged to update their reading logs and goals daily. When students arrive in class, we now have a theme song to remind everyone to update their logs. Many of the students are singing along as they update their documents. Reading Rocks! Reading Rocks!

On Monday, an exemplary model of a student’s reading goals and reflection was shared with the class to support all the students with deepening their understanding of writing goals. Also on Monday, students were instructed on the steps involved in reflecting. For the reflection writing on Monday, students reflected on their progress in their Personalized Reading Program. The three steps involved in reflection include:

•       Summarize the experience: What happened and what is your thinking about how it went?

•       Consider causes and effects: What effect did my decisions have on the results achieved?

•       New Learning: What did I learn from the experience that I might take forward to future learning or to other areas of my life?

Reflection writing helps students practice three types of writing and thinking: summarizing, cause and effects and inference. It also allows students to share with one another the value of our work.

Next week, our last week of using poetry as our literary focus, our poetry reading and writing will focus on figurative language.

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math – 

The students got off to a good start with the Pattern and Variables unit.  They will be doing a lot of tables, graphs, and writing simple equations.

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Systems Science the students have begun their discovery of the universe. They completed their “Universe Objects - What Do You Know?” They have practiced deductive reasoning by predicting what the objects were in a series of pictures, and recorded at least 1 fact about each object as our introduction to the universe. It generated many questions. They are to be deciding on which terrestrial planet (not Earth) and Jovian planet they want to do their planet project. They will have some time to do research in class and will complete the project as homework. They will present their research in class. They can create a poster, a pamphlet, a flyer, a digital presentation, a video, a song, etc.  This is a great opportunity to use GoogleCloud as an easy access, safe place for their presentation and to develop their primary learning styles and intelligence types!  Universe Outline

Course Websites:

4^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330004

5^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330001

6^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330002

7^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330003

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Dynamic Systems Science – Coach Daniels

daniels.mark@wgmail.org

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

Students have received every day of class time this week to work on their Mummy Booklets and you should also have seen work coming home.  They have each chosen five aspects of Egyptian life to research.  The project will be due October 31st.  Next week we will continue with Egypt, but should be wrapping everything by the end of the week or early the next week with a quiz to follow. 

Grades have been posted on the Portal.  If your child has a missing assignment, they are welcome to still turn it in.  I am available for after school help every Thursday until 4:00 p.m.

The links for the course websites are listed below.

Course Websites:

4^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340001

5^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340002

6^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M400002

7^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M400004

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page - http://schools.webster.k12.mo.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=7 Dr. Heisserer's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialogue 10/19/12

Happy Friday Dynamic Team,

Upcoming Events:           All School Party, October 26^th, 3:30 – 5:00

Important Information:  We have very much enjoyed meeting all of you during conferences.  We will continue to meet with the parents we have not yet seen during our planning period for the next couple of weeks.

If you have not yet registered for Edline, please make sure that you contact the office to get your access code.  When registering, also please add your email address so that you can receive copies of any emails we send to the students.

Many of our students had the opportunity this past Thursday to watch the performance of an orchestra from Germany, who were guests at Hixson.  All who attended truly enjoyed the experience.

There is a new way to receive the Dynamic Dialogue!  Follow this link to subscribe to our new blog:  http://hxdynamic.blogspot.com/

English –

This past week, students were allowed two days in class with computers to work on their Acoustic Acrostic, which was due Oct. 17. During that time, many students took advantage of time to conference with me about their writing. I thoroughly enjoy this one to one time with students, listen to them talk about their writing and work at troubleshooting and revising the language. If students want or need more one to one time, I am available after school on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Reading log, goals, and written reflection (purple sheet) are due on Monday. Parents are invited to participate in setting goals for students. Goals might include collaboration, writing, projects, quantity, quality, variety and more. Parents are also invited to support students’ reflection about their reading habits. Reflection questions are listed on the reading log.

Also this week, students are reviewing parts of speech. It seems adverbs and helping verbs are proving to be more difficult to understand especially when we are asked to identify them in sentences and to embed these parts of speech into sentences. Support your students by emphasizing, pointing out or playing with adverbs in speech and writing this week.

Students visited the library on Thursday. During our visit, the librarian showed students how to use the new library software Destiny. Afterwards, we took some time to organize our English binders and setup a classroom portfolio for each student to house English papers and projects.

Our work around sentence structures continues. Students are practicing writing simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences as well as learning and using all the language around sentence structures such as coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. Have some fun at home with your student by practicing this work together. Using the following three clauses to create at least one of each sentence structure listed.

1.    Steward swaggered down the street.

2.    He clicked his fingers.

3.    He popped his fingers.

Next week our reading and writing will focus on figurative language.  At the term, our literary reading and writing focus will shift from poetry to non-fiction.

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math – 

We started a new unit (Variables & Patterns) this week.  In this unit we will construct and analyze a lot of tables and graphs.  Therefore, please make sure you student have some graph paper or a graph notebook. Today we did some (Board of Fame) problems and one problem was worth 25,000 points.  We will grade the problems on Monday.  Please check with your student to see how he/she did.

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Systems Science the students have completed the Scientific Method Unit test on Wednesday. They have completed a GoogleCloud form for their learning styles and intelligence types. They have also created a ½ sheet index card with their learning styles and intelligence types and also included their interests and 3 learning goals. The students will learn to better tap into and best utilize their strengths as a learner. We are beginning the Universe Unit next week.

 The links for the course websites are listed below.

Course Websites:

4^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330004

5^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330001

6^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330002

7^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330003

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Dynamic Systems Science – Coach Daniels

daniels.mark@wgmail.org

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

We are continuing our focus on Ancient Egypt, with a particular emphasis on cooperation and conflict.  We spent some time with the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, and also took some time to investigate the tomb of Tutankhamun.  In addition, we revisited our continuing question, "How do we know what we know?" by checking out the recent genetic studies of Tutankhamun's family.   Next week students will begin their Egypt project.  Although they will have every day in class to work on this, you should see work coming home.  The project will be due Octoberr 31st.

Grades have been posted on the P,ortal.  If your child has a missing assignment, they are welcome to still turn it in.  I am available for after school help every Thursday until 4:00 p.m.

The links for the course websites are listed below.

Course Websites:

4^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340001

5^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340002

6^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M400002

7^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M400004

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page - http://schools.webster.k12.mo.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=7 Dr. Heisserer's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialogue 10/11/12

Upcoming Events:           Professional Day, no school – October 12^th

                                      Scholastic Book Fair, October 3^rd – October 15^th

                                      Picture Retake Day, October 19^th

                                      All School Party, October 26^th, 3:30 – 5:00

Important Information:    We have very much enjoyed meeting all of you during conferences.  We will continue to meet with the parents we have not yet seen during our planning period for the next couple of weeks.

If you have not yet registered for Edline, please make sure that you contact the office to get your access code.

When registering, also please add your email address so that you can receive copies of any emails we send to the students.

                            

English –

This week students realized just how much fun poetry can be, especially when it is sung! Many Dynamic students were courageous enough to step forward, select a musical style and then sing one of our recent poem readings “Death of a Fox,” an Appalachian piece. We heard the poem in opera, country, blues, rap and even heavy metal. We discussed how the difference in the musical style affected the mood and interpretation of the poem.

Reading logs for October 8 – 22 are purple. Parents/guardians are encouraged to take an active role in helping students set and pursue “just right” reading goals for the independent or outside reading program.

Students are playing with sound devices—alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance, consonance--within their writing. Students will draft an Acoustic Acrostic poem to support their understanding and application of sound devices in writing. On Thursday, students will also listen to sound enhanced excerpts from famous speakers such as Barack Obama, George Clooney, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Frank Morgan (the wizard of the Oz.) Over the three day weekend, have fun with your children speaking in one of the sound devices.

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math – 

We are finally finished with the Accentuate the Negative Unit and the final grades have been posted.  Next week, students will learn about two math programs on the web that will occasionally be used for homework.

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Systems Science the students have set up a Google cloud account this week for online file storage and usage. Using Google docs allows them to access their files from any internet connected computer as well as share files for any group projects as well as distribute files to students. They have been doing a lab comparing three brands of dish soap by measuring the diameter of the bubbles it makes. The lab report should have been completed in class today.

The Scientific Method Unit test is next Wednesday, 17 October 2012. Students should be studying at least 15 minutes every night. It is an all short answer type test doing all the skills we have been practicing; including, writing a research question, writing a hypothesis, identifying independent variables, dependent variables, constants, creating a data table, calculating means, creating graphs, and writing conclusions. Once the unit test scores are entered into the grade book you will see the test scores of 2’s and 3’s turn into a more normal looking percentage grade. In order to prepare for the test they can go onto www.quia.com/web to take the two scientific method quizzes as many times as they would like, see the link below.

http://www.quia.com/servlets/quia.web.QuiaWebManager?tagModuleType=15501&rand=9964259

Below is the direct link to the Proficiency Scales for each of the Scientific Method unit goals. By the end of the unit the students are expected to have a 3 for each area.

http://www.edline.net/files/_gFE1t_/61a7d5c7682a835c3745a49013852ec4/Scientific_Method_scales_for_Goals_123.pdf  

Scientific Method Unit Goals:

·        Student will be able to question and investigate to find answers.

·        Student will make observations of qualitative and quantitative data.

·        Student clearly communicates data using tables and graphs.

Scientific Method Skills:

______  I can construct a hypothesis or testable question.

______  I can identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and constants in an experiment.

______  I can explain why multiple trials make an experiment  better.

______  I can use the correct scientific tool to make the measurement needed for an experiment.

______  I check my data to make sure measurements are reasonable.

______  I can calculate range and average/mean.

______  I am beginning to analyze and explain the results of experiments.

______  I can communicate results in various ways.

______  I can use tables and graphs to communicate data.

The links for the course websites are listed below.

The links for the course websites are listed below.

Course Websites:

4^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330004

5^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330001

6^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330002

7^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330003

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Dynamic Systems Science – Coach Daniels daniels.mark@wgmail.org

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

During this abbreviated week we continued to look at the history and culture of ancient Egypt.  We particularly focused on the causes of conflict and cooperation within a culture – especially with regards to the building of the large scale structures and the use of the Nile River.  Students have received their open-note quizzes.  Some students struggled with the short answer questions – answering part, but not all of what was asked.  Since this is a necessary skill, we are spending some time with one of the questions – taking it apart and looking for the key indicators within.  For example, if the question is about Geography and Civilization in Mesopotamia, then the answer should also be about Geography, Civilization, and Mesopotamia.  Students will continue to receive support and practice in developing this skill.

Grades have been posted on the Portal.  If your child has a missing assignment, they are welcome to still turn it in.  I am available for after school help every Thursday until 4:00 p.m.

The links for the course websites are listed below.

Course Websites:

4^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340001

5^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340002

6^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M400002

7^th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M400004

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page - http://schools.webster.k12.mo.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=7 Dr. Heisserer's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/