Dynamic Dialogue 10/25/13

Good Afternoon Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:         Nov. 1:  End of Term 2 and 1^st  Explo Rotation

                                       Nov. 5:  Professional Day, No Student Attendance

                                   

Important Information:    Next week we will have several Dress Up Days. Here is the schedule:

Dress Up Days:

Monday October 28th: Twin Day “Don’t Pair Up With Drugs!”

Tuesday October 29th: PJ Day “Put Drugs to Bed!”

Wednesday October 30th: Favorite Team Shirt “Stay in the Game, Be Drug Free!”

Thursday October 31st: Halloween Costume “Say Boo to Drugs!”

Friday November 1st: Spirit Day “Show your school spirit and be drug free!”

If you would like to activate your Edline account, please contact Mr. Daniels or Mrs. Pettid for your activation code.

English –

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math- This week we started a new unit (Variables & Patterns).  In this unit students will learn how to:

*Identify quantitative variables
*Recognize situations where changes in variable are related in useful patterns
*Describe patterns of change shown in words tables and graphs of data
*Construct tables and graphs to display relations among variables 
*Use algebraic symbols to write rules and equations relating variables

Please check the parent portal next week, I will have the assessments from the last unit (Accentuate The Negative) posted.

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

Learning Goal: I am able to interpret and analyze data to compare and contrast universe objects.

Universe Objects Presentation is due on Monday, 27 October.

In Dynamic Systems Science the students have been doing research on 3 universe objects of their choosing. Some of their choices are inner planets, outer planets, planets, stars, moons, black holes, dark matter, galaxies, spiral galaxies, elliptical galaxies, irregular galaxies, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, rings, etc. They have had all week in class to do their research, put all the results of their research on a GoogleDoc shared with Coach Daniels which must include the MLA formatted citation for their source. They choose one of their objects to become an expert and teach to the class by doing a presentation due on Monday, 27 October. The format of the presentation is of their choosing: a rap, a poster, a song, a poem, a Google Presentation, a video, a poster, a painting, etc.

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

Dynamic Science Course Website

http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/daniels

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

daniels.mark@wgmail.org    

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

This week we moved our focus to Mesopotamian culture.  Students also spent some time analyzing a primary source document from Mesopotamia – a mini autobiography from SARGON THE WORLD CONQUEROR.  We discussed how important it is to understand not only the main idea, but also what primary sources tell us about their civilization and the author’s purpose and bias.  We will have an open note-quiz next Thursday.

I have posted the notes for Mesopotamia on Edline.  They are available for students to make certain that they have everything they need.

Grades have been updated and are posted on the Parent/Student Portal.

After school help is available in my room every Tuesday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Heisserer's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialogue 10/18/13

Happy Friday Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:      Oct. 21 – 25:  Red Ribbon Week

                                     Oct. 25:  Hixson All-School Party, 3:30 – 5:00

                                    

Important Information:    If you would like to activate your Edline account, please contact Mr. Daniels or Mrs. Pettid for your activation code.

English –

STudents are busy working on the final project-- research based essay-- of the unit What Behind the Name? Alongside this work, students are working on Anchor activities. The anchor activities focus on discrete reading & writing skills such as reading and coding text, summarizing text which includes identifying the main idea, sentence combining/editing, and editing text. 

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math- 

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Systems Science the students have completed the Scientific Method Unit and have begun the Universe Unit. There are 5 learning goals for this unit. The students will be focusing on Goal #1for the first part of this unit. After they finish Goal #1 they will take the summative assessment.

1.    

Goal 1:  Student will analyze and interpret data to compare and contrast objects in the universe.

2.    Goal 2:  Student will develop and use models to describe the role of gravity.

3.    Goal 3:  Student will develop and use models to describe cyclic patterns of lunar phases.

4.    Goal 4:  Student will develop and use models to describe cyclic patterns of Earth’s seasons.

5.    Goal 5:  Student will develop and use models to describe cyclic patterns of eclipses.

Goal 1:  Student will analyze and interpret data to compare and contrast objects in the universe.

4	Student demonstrates innovation, in depth inference(s), or advanced application(s) with the learning goal.  In addition to level 3 the student will be able to: use ratios/scales to relate objects in the universe.
3	Student will be able to: analyze and interpret data to compare and contrast objects in the universe; such as, sizes of objects, habitable properties, layers of the crust and atmosphere, surface features, orbital radius, etc.
2	Student will able to: analyze and interpret data to relate objects in the universe to Earth.
1	The student able to: collect and organize data about objects in the universe.

The students are working on a research project, see below. Please as your student what universe objects they are researching. Select the link below to see the project details.

https://docs.google.com/a/wgcloud.org/file/d/0B7lOsIXyNVFsSWs2cTAxMGlQdlU/edit?usp=drive_web

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

Dynamic Science Course Website

http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/daniels

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

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

We have spent most of the week focused on Hammurabi’s Law Code.  This is the world’s earliest example of a written law code.  Students have been comparing and contrasting this law code with both modern day laws and the Hixson Handbook.  Next week, we will wrap up Mesopotamia with a look at some primary source materials. 

I have posted the notes for Mesopotamia on Edline.  They are available for students to make certain that they have everything they need.

Grades have been updated and are posted on the Parent/Student Portal.

After school help is available in my room every Tuesday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Heisserer's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialog 10/11/2013

Good Afternoon Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:     Book Fair:  Oct. 4 – 14

                                     2^nd Quarter Bus Passes:  Oct. 14^th

                                     Picture Retake Day:  Oct. 18^th

Important Information:    If you have not yet scheduled a Parent/Teacher conference please contact Mr. Daniels to do so.  We are enjoying seeing all of you.

If you would like to activate your Edline account, please contact Mr. Daniels or Mrs. Pettid for your activation code.

English –

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math- 

This week we took assessments over the (Accentuate the Negative) unit.  Next week, we will grade these assessments, then start a new unit (Variable and Patterns).  In this unit students will learn how to write and solve linear equations, and learn how to make and interpret graphs and tables.  Please make sure your student have graph paper for this unit.

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Systems Science the students took the unit test on Scientific Method on Thursday this week. Below is clarification on interpreting science grades posted on the portal. As the unit test for Scientific Method scores are posted the class progress will look much better!

·        Any grades posted as “Classwork,” CLS, carry a zero weight.

o   Allows parents and students to see the work the students are doing to understand the learning goals and develop those skills.

o   As practice opportunities they students learn from their mistakes.

o   Any of these assignments may be re-done.

·        Any grades listed as “Formative Assessments,” FRM, carry a zero weight and give the parents and students check points on student progress on the learning goals. Repeated measures should show progression of scores across the unit.

o   These assignments may be re-done.

·        Any grades listed as “Summative Assessments,” SUM, determine the semester grade.

o   If the student does not like their scores on any goal they may choose to do some work to improve their understanding, and after documenting their work with me, can take an alternative assessment on that goal.

o   If a student scores poorly on a goal they will be required to do work do develop proficiency. Once demonstrated proficiency will be allowed to take an alternative assessment.

The students do have a school gmail account set up at i.e. @wgcloud.org. Their Google cloud accounts provide file creation & storage, as well as email access to me and distribution of course materials. 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.

The next unit of study is Universe, “to infinity and beyond!”

Dynamic Science Course Website

http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/daniels

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

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

Students are continuing to tour ancient Mesopotamia.  We have explored the effect of geography on the development of Mesopotamian civilization and are moving on to the development of government.  Next week we will spend some time with Hammurabi and the world’s first written law code.

Grades have been updated and are posted on the Parent/Student Portal.

After school help is available in my room every Tuesday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Heisserer's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialog 10/4/2013

Good Afternoon Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:        Parent/Teacher Conferences 

October 8^th, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

October 9^th, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

October 10^th, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Please click on the link below to sign up.

http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Hixson_Middle_School_1

Science Scientific Method Unit Test is Thursday, 10 October 2013


Important Information:    If you would like to activate your Edline account, please contact Mr. Daniels or Mrs. Pettid for your activation code.

English –

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math- 

I am so pleased with the effort students have put in to learn the Accentuate The Negative unit. We are at the end of this unit, and I'll send part of next week reviewing, then students will take the assessment. Also, I'm in the process of ordering the Math Flippers and Dynamic Team T-Shirts, and we should have them in about 2 weeks.

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Systems Science the students took a formative http://www.quia.com/web

quiz (Scientific Method Goal #3 - Data Tables & Graphs Formative Quiz #1) on Monday. Students did some work with their Learner profile cards to reinforce the best ways to learn. The formative lab where they went through all the steps of the scientific method to categorize, classify, count, and determine the percentage of animal shapes in a "new brand" of animal crackers to determine the percentage of giraffe animal crackers in each box. They used a GoogleDoc spreadsheet to share their data. The students continue to track their progress on the learning goals and vocabulary.

I appreciated the opportunity to answer questions and concerns from parents regarding the progress reports! Thank you for e-mailing and calling me!

After school help session is available on Thursdays from 3:15 until 4:00 in room 212.

Scientific Method Unit Test is Thursday, 10 October 2013!

Link to Scientific Method Unit outline:
https://docs.google.com/a/wgcloud.org/file/d/0B7lOsIXyNVFsd2tvU2JTdTNNYkk/edit?usp=drive_web

Link to Scientific Method Proficiency Scales:
https://docs.google.com/a/wgcloud.org/file/d/0B7lOsIXyNVFsa0lBYWJFOEI2SGs/edit?usp=drive_web

Link to Scientific Method Goal Check/Study Guide
https://docs.google.com/a/wgcloud.org/file/d/0B7lOsIXyNVFsSDdpa0pEdkp5aUE/edit?usp=drive_web

Looking forward to conferences with you!

Dynamic Science Course Website

http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/daniels

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

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

After school help is available in my room every Tuesday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Heisserer's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Conference Sign Up Reminders

Reminder:  Parent/Teacher Conferences are next week.

October 8^th, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

October 9^th, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

October 10^th, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Please click on the link below to sign up.

http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Hixson_Middle_School_1