Dynamic Dialogue 12/14/12

Good afternoon Dynamic Team,

Upcoming Events:          Last day of classes before Winter Break is 12/20/12

Important Information: Our Holiday fundraiser has ended.  In total we raised $313.48 and collected 64 cans. A special thanks to Coach Daniels and Mrs. Pettid for leading the fundraising initiative! (from your teammates and students.)

English –

With the end of the semester quickly approaching, students are busy revising assignments and taking care of any make-up work. As much as I hesitate about allowing this “Ketchup Time” in class, the conversations I’ve participated in and have overheard have been priceless. This time is promoting a review of just about everything we have studied this semester. Students are coaching one another and collaborating to resolve challenges in the writing and reading. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the conversations. The academic language—clauses, alliteration, run-on, synonym—is richer. The use of resources—dictionaries, thesaurus, digital devices—is increasing. Students are checking the Portal and advocating for their learning and academic responsibilities. The level of engagement is how I wish everyday could be!

In addition to “Ketchup Time,” we continued our work on parts of speech and sentence structures through sentence diagramming. The use of diagramming allows alternative access points, other than auditory and linguistic, into language for students. These access points include visual/spatial, analytical, and kinesthetic, even interpersonal as students work together to evaluate diagrams and correct them to deepen their understanding of parts of speech and sentence structures.

With temperatures dropping, we will take this opportunity to read, analyze, annotate and discuss a couple winter poems to continue working toward the curricular goals: 1) Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences; cite specific textual evidence to support conclusions drawn from the text, 2) Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in text, including figurative language and connotative meanings.

• Students will be receiving a reading log for the winter break.

• For English assignment details, documents and explanations, see the Portal.

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org 
Website: http://schools.webster.k12.mo.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=168

Math – 

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

Dynamic Scientists this week took the Universe Motions Unit test on Thursday. Weather is our next unit and today the students completed the "What Do You Know about Weather?" Please ask your students about how they think they did on the Universe Motions test and the What Do You Know about Weather. Many of the students do not like answering questions which they feel so uncertain about even though in earlier grades they have studied weather and the water cycle. We will go full steam ahead into next week and laying the foundations for the Weather unit. 

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 began their investigation of the Classical World this week with a focus on geography.  In the previous unit our focus was entirely on River Valley Civilizations – but now we have moved to the civilizations around the Mediterranean Sea.  With one exception, every area we study for the rest of the year will be focused on control of the Mediterranean, and students are currently being asked to analyze why that might be.  While studying Greece, we will not only look at the geography of the region, but also the tremendous impact of the Greeks on Western Civilization.  I will be asking your students to look for evidence of ancient Greece all around us.

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/