Welcome Back!

Well, I hope everyone had a fun and safe Spring Break.  We traveled to spend time with family, which was a much needed event.  East Texas is home to our families so when we go to see my parents, we stay on the farm that my grandfather built.  The boys had such a great time fishing.

 

Billy shows off his Blue Gill

 

 

The boys wait patiently.  I don't think they got anything the first day.

 

We went in to town to see the Veteran's Memorial our small town has created.  It is quite a site to see for such a small east Texas town.

 

 My grandmother cooks fries up the Blue Gill for us to eat.  Yum!!!

 

 There's always bluebonnets in their side yard in March.  They make great pictures.

So, what are we doing this week?  

Language Arts: We will be working through our Figurative Language Unit and working on Spelling List 20.    PLEASE REMEMBER THAT BOOK REPORTS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY!!!  We will go over the format on Monday.

Math 6: We will review and test on Ch. 8.  Then we will move in to angles, lines, and construction.  Make sure to bring your compass and protractor on Friday.

Math 7: We will review and test on Ch. 8.  Then we will construct perpendicular and parallel lines using our compass and protractor - please bring them on Wednesday!  We will also continue our Geometry unit with Translations and Tesselations.

Assignments have been posted in RenWeb and on my Assignments page.  I'm looking forward to a great end to the school year as we begin our final quarter.  Let's make it a good one.

Mrs. Burke

Biography Book Reports

I had such a great time watching the kids present their person in our Biography Book report presentations.  The month of February, the entire class participated in a biography or autobiography report.  Throughout the year, I let them choose their genre as they work through the selection I gave them at the beginning of the year.  We mark the reports they've done on a chart in the classroom.  When a student has read the biography carefully and fully understands the events of the person's life, the reports are really neat to watch and listen to.  The students present themselves in the first person, fully dressed in character.  Here are some individuals we learned about:

Amelia Earheart

Ronald Reagan

They created time lines and completed the written book report as well.  I'm loving Pinterest for all of the ideas I'm able to steal  borrow and use in my classroom.  The kids will be choosing their March book report book by this Friday (2 days).  Happy choosing.

I never give extra credit!!!!
As an interactive bulletin board, I wanted to present the kids with an opportunity to be observant and show some self initiative.  We have done a few lessons on different types of patterns, so I had them create their own.  I would like for them to notice the board, the detailed directions, complete the task, and turn it in to me for some ...sh........ extra credit.  Not one student has even mentioned the fact that the board was changed or has asked me about the pocket with the directions on it.  Hmmmm....  I'm gonna give it a few more days.  Maybe I'll break down and mention it the day before I take it down.  I want them to be observant - or maybe parents that read this blog can encourage them to check it out.

Have a great rest of your week.  Next week is our big testing week.  We're putting last minute reviews on concepts that we've covered.  These kids will do great.  What a blessing it is to work with them each day.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! 

I can't believe February is half over.  The kids did a great job on the Paper Bag Book Reports that they completed.  I can never just send projects home after they have spent so much time working on them so here they are displayed in the room.  The important objects inside the bags have gone home, so if you're missing something - check to see if it's still in the bag.

We're having a busy week this week.  In the next couple of days I'll get another post up about our Valentine's lessons and working with idioms and fractions.

Have a great day!

Book Report Reminder

Language Arts 6: 

Just a reminder that the Paper Bag book report is due on Friday.  We ARE NOT doing this together in class.  It must be done at home.  The kids have been given the criteria, the rubric by which they will be graded, and the brown paper bag to complete the report.  There is an oral presentation as well as the written report on and in the bag.  Here is an example of one that has already been started.  The directions are very clear on what goes on each side.  Please don't wait until Thursday night.

                            If you need another copy of the book report format, please let me know.  

Band:

Please make sure that you are practicing through line #94.  We have covered a few new music elements and rhythms that you need to be working on.  When you practice at home, we can move faster in class. :)