January 31st, 2013

This morning we were pleased to have a myriad of book reports.  Some were posters, others were puppet plays.  It is fun to see what the kids come up with.  All gave great details about a famous person.  TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY FOR JANUARY BOOK REPORTS.

For geography we located and labeled the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon State and the Brooks Range in northern Alaska.  We briefly discussed the oil fields and environmental issues in that part of the North.

TOMORROW IS THE LANGUAGE ARTS TEST.  Please see Monday's post for the words to review.  I have caught students using many of these words.  My parents used to tape anything they wanted us to know on the bathroom wall: newspaper clippings, quotes, math facts, trivia, etc.  After a few days, my dad would bring up the topic, word, or concept in a dinner discussion.  We had already formed questions and opinions during our time in the bathroom; it made for interactive conversation. 
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In grammar we are trying to label sentence structure - much deeper than the four types of sentences.  For example:

Simple Sentence = complete sentence expressing one thought = labeled "S"
     Example: I stayed in my room during the storm.

Simple Sentence with a Compound Subject = simple sentence with more than one subject = labeled "SCS" (simple sentence/compound subject)
     Example: The rain and wind beat at my window.

Simple Sentence with a compound verb = simple sentence with more than one verb = labeled "SCV" (simple sentence/compound verb)
     Example: The wind whistled and howled during the storm.

Fragment =  group of words missing a subject or predicate = labeled "F"
     Example: read a book until midnight
     Example: two playful puppies in the yard
     Example: as he listened for the bell
     Example: in the back of the room

Run-on Sentence = two sentences written together as one sentence without being punctuated correctly = labeled "SS"
     Example: The phone rang all morning we were busy.  (This shows that two simple sentences, or complete thoughts, were used without separating them.

Compound Sentence = two sentences put correctly together using punctuation and possibly a conjunction = labeled "CD"
     Example: Jacob painted all afternoon, but he did not finish the fence.
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We read almost to the end of Jonathon Livingston Seagull.  These students love books read to them.  Please make it a priority in your family.

Our idiom for the day was "vice versa".  We wrote about its meaning and discussed its use.

TOMORROW ALL FINAL DRAFT BUSINESS LETTERS MUST BE HANDED IN.

MATH IS NO HOMEWORK TODAY.  We took Cum. Test 1-6.  I have finished  grading the tests.  Tomorrow they will go home for a parent signature.  We will start Unit 7 tomorrow.  It is an extension of decimals and their functions.  It will move pretty fast.

After lunch students went to Foreign Language and then Put First Things First.  That was our 7-Habits lesson for the day.  We are coming up with coping skills to organize our personal and school time.

Skiiers left for their minicourse and we worked more on puppets.  PLEASE SEND A 2' X 2' PIECE OF MATERIAL TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD.  We cannot move ahead with puppets until students have the basic costume for their puppets.  The best way to find out what they need is to look their character's image up online, and determine what color the costume should be.  Walmart has cheap material.