Friday, February 27, 2015

Week of 3/2 - PURIM!!!

The merriment begins. This week we prepare for the puppet shows you will present to the Lower School students. Each block will present to one of the grade levels. I don't yet know which Block will be assigned to which grade. We have a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time, but I am confident that you will all do a fantastic job making puppets, learning to manipulate them, and learning about how to help the "Wee People" at the Lower School make their own puppets. Everyone will have a puppet to take home with them. The proverbial icing on the cake is that you will be taught by a master puppeteer - Marilyn Price. I am looking forward to a fabulous week of fun and learning.

We will decide together how to approach the Unit 10 words and roots in terms of assessment. We have some choices here, and I want to permit flexibility. Many of you received A Wrinkle in Time on Friday morning.  If you did not, please come get it from me before school begins on Monday morning. Alternatively, you may access an online PDF of the book by clicking on the title under "Important Links." The pacing chart is also available in the links list.

Have a great weekend; see you on Monday!

Friday, February 20, 2015

Week of 2/23

I truly enjoyed observing the simulations of our World Congress which demonstrated how conflict occurs. Whether the conflict occurs between two individuals or entire nations, the motivations for human behavior can always be traced back to our basic needs as human beings. I hope you will reflect on how you acted "in character" and think about how your treatment of your peers changed when you were motivated to acquire something their country had that you lacked.

This week we wrap up our study of the novel, work on a persuasive essay, and begin preparing to present a puppet show at the Lower School on Purim. I am uncertain yet when the Unit 10 vocabulary test will be, but I do know it will not be this week.

Day 1: Review for Peak Test, Easy Grammar adjectives pp. 142-149
Day 2: Peak Test in class - OPEN NOTE, OPEN BOOK
Day 3: How to research and structure your persuasive essay, intro to Purim Shpiels
Day 4: "C" Day Film Festival

HOMEWORK

Continue learning the Unit 10 words and roots. Do NOT rely solely on Quizlet. Use your vocabulary book!
Homework for Day 2 and Day 3: Spend 20 to 30 minutes reading and researching your chosen topic. Record notes and sources in Google Slides. I will explain how to do this on Day 3 and will post a screencast at that time.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Week of 2/17

***NEWSFLASH FROM MR. FRANK***

Tuesday will be a B day and Wednesday and Thursday will be an A day.


Hope you enjoyed the long weekend! I was busy preparing my Purim costume (No, I won't reveal it until Purim.) as well as many other projects around my house, including getting ready for the fabulous lesson you will encounter this week. It is a light homework week, as Wednesday is a "No Homework Night." Yippee! Friday is an all-school Kabbalat Shabbat at the Lower School as the fun of Adar begins. The rest of the day will be a "B" schedule.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Lesson on conflict
Thursday: Peak review, information on persuasive essay
Friday: work on persuasive essay research in class

HOMEWORK:
Begin learning S-O Unit 10 words, as well as Unit 10 roots from green/blue packet.
Due 2/23: Easy Grammar 142, 143, 145 - even numbered sentences only

NOTE: Peak Test (short answer, open note/open book) will be 2/24 or 2/25 in class. Unit 10 vocab and roots test will be online again, date to be determined.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Peak Vocab Test

Want to take the Peak vocab test at home? No dictionaries, please. Reviewing the test, then studying the words is not academically honest. Once you are on Socrative, take the test.
Follow this link: Socrative
On the site, log in and use 7901110 as the Room code. Good luck!

Friday, February 6, 2015

Short Week(s)!

This week you will be planning your time to accommodate the Noun Unit Test, the Peak Vocabulary Test, addressing your business letter envelopes, and completing an art project related to Peak.

Monday: Noun Unit Review Day
Day 2 (Tues./Wed.) and Day 3 (Thurs.): Noun Test/Peak Vocab Test/Peak project/address envelope

The Noun Test is on paper; the vocabulary test is on Socrative.

I am happy to help you plan your time if you need assistance. Additionally, if you are intending to complete the recovery for the Cumulative Vocabulary Test, plan for that as well to occur by the end of Thursday. You may take it home if you wish, but may not use a dictionary. If all of this is competed, you will begin research for the next essay.

You will receive a study guide for the noun unit in class on Friday (today). Enjoy the mid-winter break!!


Thursday, February 5, 2015

Vocab Practice

Follow this link for some exercises to help with studying the Peak vocabulary. VOCAB