Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Guided Reading/Grammar:  We will begin paragraph writing strategy (PWS), so please bring a notebook to class from now on.  You will still read silently for at least 30 minutes each day as well, so please also remember to bring your novels.

Math: We did the AIMS web assessment today and then began our new math book, Frogs, Fleas, and Painted Cubes, which focuses on quadratic relationships. We will continue with 1.1 tomorrow, and you will get your new books.

Language Arts:  Just another reminder to please remember to get caught up on your journal entries.  Some of you have slacked, and I'm concerned that you will run out of time before the end of the quarter. (NEXT WEEK already! Can you believe we are half-way through the year??)  Homework for Friday is to read Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26.  Journal response for this section includes two parts:

1. List as many reasons as possible as to why someone might make a false confession.  Has anyone in this book made a false confession?  If so, who? 
2. Create a chart with three different classifications:  Likely suspects, possible suspects, and least likely suspects.  Fill in the chart with the names of all 16 Westing heirs.

Also, Block 1 will be walking to the Main Library tomorrow; Block 2 will go Thursday.  Here are some reminders regarding the library:

• Dress accordingly. The last time we went, some of you were planning to wear t-shirts and no coats, hats, or mittens.  I'm sure your parents wouldn't be happy to see that, and I again will ask you to go to your lockers and get the proper winter attire.
• Bring your library card if you plan to check out any additional books.  I will not be checking out books for students on my personal library card this time.  Sorry :(
• Bring any overdue books or NHD resources that you want to renew.
• Bring $ for overdue fines if you have any.
• Bring a backpack to carry all your notetaking necessities.  We will be there from 9:30 to noon, so this is a wonderful time to get some good notes taken and find some more sources!  This is also our LAST walking field trip to the library, so make it worthwhile.

NHD/Social Studies:  There are three main parts to the NHD project that need to be completed by the end of the month:

1. A well planned out, neat, and thorough project
2. An annotated bibliography
3. A process paper (This has not been introduced yet.  If you want to get a head start, I believe the information is in the student guide that I uploaded to Edmodo under the NHD group.  You don't have to start this yet, though.  Just know that it is coming and that it is a requirement.)