Upcoming Events: Professional Day, no school – October 12th
Scholastic Book Fair, October 3rd – October 15th
Picture Retake Day, October 19th
All School Party, October 26th, 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.
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.
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:
4th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330004
5th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330001
6th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M330002
7th 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:
4th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340001
5th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M340002
6th Period - http://www.edline.net/pages/Hixson/Classes/M400002
7th 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/ |
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