Assignments due for 12/3 and 12/4

The following assignments are due

pp. 112 and 113 All. Must be completed before other assignments are checked.

Vocabulary for 3-1.  That's unit 3, lesson 1.
Cluster diagram for Models of the Solar System.  If lyou don't remember how to do it (it was on the board) then you may make a main idea web for the Models of the Solar System focusing on geocentric and heliocentric.

Some assignments you might want to get ahead on...

Class went on today even though there was a fieldtrip. Here is a list of the assignments that were made. Yes, there will be some time in class next week, but due to benchmark testing classes will be shorter. Due dates will be A day 11/29 and B day 11/30.

1. Pre-test for Unit 2: Go to Pearson and take the LSA 2 Baseline test.
2. Go to on-line textbook and view the electronic lesson 3-1.
3. Either read the book or read the section on-line or have the book read for you for 3-1.
4. 3-1 Complete pages 112-113 all in writing.
5. Vocabulary cards: Solar System, heliocentric, geocentric, parallax

If you haven't taken the survey in class you will be taking that upon your return from the holiday.

If I haven't checked your SPDL yet, bring that on Thursday for A day or Friday for B day. I need to check your progress. 

Some Holiday Gift Suggestions for Parents for Their Child

Parents,

This post is for your information for your own child's success.  As the holidays approach, your child will probably need a few more school supplies. Please make sure that they have pencils and pens, color pencils, a hand held sharpener that catches all of the crumbs, an eraser, a ruler, clear tape, a glue stick and index cards  for their use in school along with their composition book for class and possibly a folder with prongs.  They will also need a composition book and backboard for their science project along with computer access and art supplies. If you don't have a stapler at home, please buy one for your child. Amazingly, many children tell me they have great game consoles, top quality phones, and name brand clothes, but no stapler.  If your printer is out of ink, broken, or won't print for some reason then your child will either need to make trips to the library or to our very own JLCP computer lab (opens at 7:10 AM most mornings) to print assignments or their science project.

I try to keep some pencils, crayons, scissors, glue, and paper for students who find that they left their materials at home or in their locker. However, I can not keep enough for each child.  There's a school provided electric pencil sharpener for student use, but it's starting to show it's age. It wasn't designed for 20 pencils to be sharpened so it's really noisy and students have to grind and grind on their pencils. If each child had a hand held sharpener then there would be no line and no noise and students would not lose time waiting to use the sharpener. Also, color pencils can only be sharpened in hand held sharpeners because they ruin the electric sharpener.

Please make sure your child has the supplies he or she needs to be successful in all classes.  A few extra pencils that have been sharpened are a great addition to any pencil case. A fully stocked pencil case is invaluable no matter which class a child is in.

Thanks for your help in scaffolding your child's success.

Updating the gradebook

I am in the process of updating my gradebook. Unfortunately, I am quite under the weather and have fallen behind. Grades should be much more current by Tuesday Afternoon. I apologize for the delay.  I will post messages via the grade book about recycling and submitting late work. Please check over the holidays.

I know I will take the on-line certificate from all periods and the tidal activity from periods 4, 5, 6 and 7 next week.
Remember, there's a test on Monday for 2A and 4A. I want to have that posted by Tuesday also.

Have a great weekend

Updating grades

New Assignment for B day Part 1

GRAPHING TIDAL INFORMATION


Use your lunar log or go to Interactive Moon Phases http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html
 to identify the moon phases for the previous 2 weeks.

Go to Tide Data
http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml
 and choose any East Coast location with a Harmonic tide. Write your selection on the chart paper for your class. Only one person may do any one location.

Organize the tide data and the lunar phase data for each day of for the previous 2 weeks.

Science Project Update and some Dates.

By this time EACH and EVERY student should have submitted step 1 and step 2 for the science project.** You know if it was acceptable (doable, age appropriate, large enough of a sample size ...) if it's stamed RECEIVED and there's a date. You should also have grades for those activities.  If you don't have approval to start this is a perfect opportunity to get steps 1 and 2 finished this weekend. Remember, when preparing your RESEARCH PLAN this is a complete document that is so complete that ANYONE in 8th grade could follow the directions and replicate your study. If it's not complete - revise it.

Once you've started, make sure you are recording EVERYTHING in your SPDL. All of your data and observations should be written in this journal (in ink).  I want to check for progress on experimentation the week of Veterans Day so be prepared to show me your SPDL with data (only for approved projects) on either Tuesday11/13 for A day students or Wednesday 11/13 for B day students.

The date of the school fair has not been announced yet so I am going out on a limb and opening up the dates of 12/7/2012 - 01/03/2013 for the due date window.  I will have sign-up sheets beginning in early December for students to reserve an  opportunity to present their projects. Each student will have 3-5 minutes to present their research to a group of peers and the teacher. I style the presentations like a science fair where small groups of peers rotate through the presenters. Bonus points will be added to any project that is presented on or before 12/14/2012. If I find out that the school fair is in conflict with the classroom presentation dates then I will need to make changes. Be flexible; it's part of middle school.

NO projects will be presented on the date of our trip to the magnet high schools. Late projects will be penalized. Projects that require special review to be approved may be treated differently on an individual basis.

** See October 5, 2012 for complete directions for steps 1 and 2.