Coming in January!

Have a wonderful break!

Tomorrow morning we will be playing board games. Please bring one in if you can.
Ringo is due tomorrow.

We started the day with two team activities using a deck of cards. Tell your family about these games and what purpose they served.

Because of Mr. Terupt
Here is the cliff hanger ending until January:

Peter-I didn't know Mr. T was going to be right there.

Danielle -Mr. Terupt stood up right in the way.

Jessica - I still remember Alexia's scream. Piercing. Horrified
.
Peter - I didn't want to hurt anyone.

Luke - Mr. Terupt should have stopped us. He let it go too far.

Peter - I wish I could take it back. I didn't mean to throw it.

Anna - Please let my teacher be okay.

Danielle - Dear God, Its Danielle. I really need you down here. Mr. Terupt needs  you.


Math
What is the secret number?

• It is between 8,500 and 8,800.
• When multiplied by 8, the result is a whole number.
• The digit in the hundreds place is ¾ the digit in the thousands place.
• The sum of all digits in the number is 26.
• The digit in the hundredths place is 200% of the digit in the tenths place.
• There are no zeros in the decimal places.

Reminders:

Ringo is due Friday

Tomorrow we present our Let it Snow dances!

Please bring in board games or card games for Friday - (no electronics)

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Spoken Word
Everyone who submitted drafts to me has now received feedback. Please keep working on your poems to improve your work. Our class poetry slam will be in the second week back to school.

Because of Mr. Terupt
Luke tells us "I thought for sure this event would be unequaled (dollar word) by any other for the rest of the year. Little did I know that something much bigger was coming our way."
What is Luke referring to? and do you have some predictions?

Geography
By now you should have your question for your inquiry and some direction for your research. Today we talked about how I will be evaluating the process of your inquiry itself, how to evaluate the sources we are using and what format we will be using to show what we have learned. Share your ideas for your "product" with the folks at home.

Math
Please find the area of the following shape.

Coming next week!

Because of Mr. Terupt
I challenged the class to think about what character in the book they most relate to. What are we starting to learn from each character?

Math
We started talking about the formula for the area of a trapezoid. For Monday please come to class with an idea of what is the formula for the area of a trapezoid and why. I'm really interested in the why - I know you can google "area of a trapezoid".
Checkpoint - Wednesday: area of trapezoids and composite figures.

I met with each class member individually this morning to make sure we are up to date with assignments. I worked with some students to create a list of things that are overdue. I have asked that we get fully caught up before the holiday break.

We also took time to present our poems to others in the class. Each of you now has peer feedback that you can use to improve your poem. Remember I will be collecting poems tomorrow for teacher feedback.

Math
Continuing work on area. Please make sure you have finished the area of the "F" figure.
Best practice - try it two different ways - do you get the same answer?

Dance
Our first multi-week project!
We started a dance today that will be presented next week.
Here is what I am looking for:
-creative opening and clear ending
-levels
-locomotor and non-locomotor movements
-unity and contrast
One challenge is remembering your dance.
Here is the music:

Spoken Word
I'm looking forward to reading the poems you will submit on Friday.
Over the weekend I will give you feedback on how to improve the writing.
Today we talked about the "mic drop ending".

Geography
Today we had a Knowledge Building Circle where we presented our inquiry ideas. We received some good feedback and ideas from our classmates. You can continue to work on preliminary research. Next week we will discuss the details of the inquiry project.

Math
Great discussion today!
With this new information (below), please review and revise, if necessary, last night's homework "Application of Conversion of Metric Units of Area"

Book orders are due Wednesday.

Geography

We started our research on the inquiry question that we posed for ourselves. We are working on refining our research. Have a plan for what you are looking for. Next class we will be sharing our question again and also what, specifically, we are looking for in our research. I met with each person today and gave some ideas and a bit of direction. Please be prepared to talk to the class about your project in a knowledge building circle. The class will give you ideas as to where to go - if you come to class prepared.

Spoken word
We continue to craft our poems in preparation for submission this Friday.
I'll read poems submitted to me Friday and provide feedback over the weekend.
Today we reviewed descriptive techniques:
- access all five senses
- radio commentator vs. TV commentator (be the radio commentator)
- metaphors and similes

We also talked about using outside supports for your ideas.
- statistics
- quotes
 How does G Yamazawa use these techniques in this poem?

Here is the criteria I will be using to mark your poems when we present in our class slam in January:

Writing

• Voice
• Distinctive, unique - your own
• Word choice
• Similes, metaphors, descriptors
• Fluency
• Rhythm, connecting words, phrasing

Oral Presentation

• Vocal skills
• Clear, easily understood
• Variety in pace, tone, volume
• Non-verbal cues
• Eye contact
• Facial expression
• Gesture

Remember- Art - Hair Today is due Monday.
Book Orders are due Wednesday.

Literacy
Today we started Because of Mr. Terupt.
First we talked about each of the characters and made some inferences about them based on the two/three word descriptions we had of them.
Tell your family about dollar words.

Spoken Word
Today we refocused a bit. I clarified what we are working towards. We are working towards a polished, performable poem that you will be performing in the new year at our class poetry slam.
Next Friday (Dec 15th) I will be collecting everyone's first full draft of a poem. I will be reviewing the poems to provide feedback to use as we head towards our final poems and performances.

Math
We are working on figuring out how to find the area of irregular shapes.
Please complete - 4.2.1 and 4.2.1

Have a great Weekend!

Tonight is the holiday concert - band members please be here by 6:15 at the very latest.

We did some team building today as I feel our team needs some strengthening.

Please share with your family about the hoop exercise we did and the "All Adrift" activity.

Ringo is due tomorrow.

Math

WHY is the formula for area of a triangle base times height divided by two?

Here is documentation of our discussion today and a question that I will be collecting tomorrow.

For the question: you need fully explain your answer. A simple yes or no will not do.

Reminders:

• Holiday concert is tomorrow! Dress rehearsal 9:00, Evening performance 6:30.
• Your next Ringo task is due Friday
• Art - "Hair Today" project is due Monday.
• A complete project includes:
• One appetizer
• One main dish planning/rough copy
• One main dish final piece – including a title
• Two side dishes
• A well thought out reflection

Spoken Word

Now that we have a repertoire of five poems (or more!)that we can work on, we need to start to revise and add to our poems. We have the start of some good  poetry - now we make it great, amazing and unforgettable.

Today we talked about choosing a central image that can really hook the audience in. Create a picture that they can relate to. Homework tonight is to choose one of your poems and add a central image in. This means more writing tonight. I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

Math

Today we reviewed how to find the area of a rectangle and a parallelogram.

More importantly, we thought through WHY we use the formulas that we do.

Tomorrow: WHY is the formula for area of a triangle base times height divided by two?

Today we had a discussion in community circle about the power of the arts and what you can do with your power if you are given the gift of an audience. Will you use this opportunity to make someone feel small, or a lesser person and tear them down? Or will you use your power to try to address an issue and build others up? I was very impressed with the poetry shared today.

As our fifth poem, today's writing prompt is to write about a social issue. What issue in modern society do you think needs to change?

We began the day with an activity called Robots.
What did you do with your power?
Did you use it to make life hard for others?
Did you try to embarrass others?
Or
Did you use your power in a positive way?
Did you try to keep your group working together?

Math
Test tomorrow on probability.

Geography
Please complete the "K" and "W" parts of the handout we discussed today.
Remember - you are creating a question that you will eventually answer through research and investigation. Choose something you are interested in.
Next class we will be sharing our questions.

Literacy

• Sketchnotes and assignment on pathetic fallacy are both due tomorrow.
• Your next Ringo task is due Friday

Spoken word
Today's poem is about giving advice.
Choose a piece of advice that you have for others.
Build it into a poem.
Who is your advice directed at? How will you get them to fully understand your advice and why it is important?
Here are some examples:

Math
We talked about the uses of probability in everyday life.
Homework - 7.31.3
Test: Tuesday

Orbiting Jupiter
Please remember that your sketchnotes are due Tuesday. I will be looking for your understanding of the parts of a story (introduction, rising action, climax, falling action).
You will need to hand in your notes on pathetic fallacy with your sketchnote.

Spoken Word Poetry
Today we examined the "list poem".
It can be very effective - but also totally lame if not done well.
Write your own list poem. Start with the list - but expand it out to make it more interesting and engaging.
Here are some examples: