Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013

Hello!!!!

It has been a while since I talked to you and I apologize for that, but we have been very busy here at school. The kids started a new project that was designed by the state, so it is very different from what they are used to doing.  I have been right there with them and helping them get through it, since it is so new.  They are researching upset tummy remedies to find a chewable tablet and liquid with the same active ingredients, but different brands.  They want to find out which one will get rid of the upset tummy the fastest and why, using information found on the internet and what we learned in class about solids and liquids.  It has been a very interesting project for all of us and we have actually enjoyed it.  The hardest part has been to find out why.  When we discussed the solid vs. liquid part of why, they could figure that one out, but there is not information on that part on the internet.  We did find out that sugar plays a role in medicines and how the help you get better.  It was very exciting.  We will be finishing up with these tomorrow and playing them in front of the class on Friday.  I am waiting for our technology director to email directions on how they can email their voice threads to me.  There were some steps to follow that I was unclear on how to do, so he is going to figure it out for me.  These voice threads can be accessed from the internet, so you will have to let your child show it to you!!!  Next week, we will be working on speed, time and position.  It will be involving graphs and looking at them to decide on the speed of an object.  The students will get velocity and acceleration in high school.  I will be back on here next week to tell you what is going on with speed.  Have a great rest of your week and weekend!!!  Remember, if you need anything, please email me or call me.  My available time is 8:45 to 9:25.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Monday, Jan. 14

Hello!!!!

Well, it is the start of the 3rd grading period!  I still cannot believe that we have been through half the year already.  We are still working with solids, liquids, gases and plasma in class.  There will be a quiz on Wednesday over the material they have been given.  I gave them three handouts they are to use to study from.  Today, I gave them song lyrics that went with the lesson, so they can even use those to study from!  They have a few vocabulary terms, as well.  After they quiz, we will be starting a new project.  It will be a different type of project.  For this project, the kids will be given a situation and a question they have to answer.  They will be using the internet to find a solution to that question.  The good part about this project is that there is not just one right answer.  We will be using voice thread for this project.  It is one we have not used yet this year.  The students will find images and then record their information.  It will be played back to the class, so they will not have to be in front of the class for presentations.  I hope they like this tool.  Have a great week and if you have any questions, please email me or give me a call.  Talk to you next week!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013

Hello, and Happy New Year to everyone!

What a week we have had!  I was sick last week and was not able to come back to school when everyone else did.  We spent the first part of the week getting our folders cleaned out and LABS ready to turn in for extra credit.  I told the students they could turn the LABS in either Wednesday or Thursday, so they would have plenty of time to get them all together.  We had six of them this grading period.  I told them to keep the vocabulary we have been working on all year in their folders, the new vocabulary on matter should stay in their folders, the syllabus (if they still have it) should also be in there, any sheet with web addresses on it and that is about it.  They need to take all the other papers out and put them somewhere in their rooms and not throw them away until the last day of school.  We now have added to their folders two sheets they will use as notes on matter, since we do not have a book they can take home and LAB #1 for the new grading period.  These are the materials they will use to study from when it comes test time.  I will be giving them a short quiz over matter next week and then they will be working on a project over matter.  I will give you more information on the project next week.  Well, that is the end of this week's blog.  Have a great weekend and I will talk to you next week!