Science- Wednesday, September 30

Classwork: Practiced solving speed problems and learned to use problem solving boxes as a solution strategy.

Homework: Speed problems (see science folder for a copy).

Discussion Starters: Talk about possible units for measuring speed. For example, if distance is measured in centimeters and time was measured in milliseconds, what would the speed unit be?

Coming soon: First quiz on Monday, October 5 and Daily Science quiz on  Thursday, October 8.

Geometry- Wednesday, September 30

Classwork: Continued practicing constructions. We developed a second method for constructing parallel lines based on the properties of parallelogram (both sets of opposite sides congruent) and also did some patty paper constructions.

Homework: Complete the constructions packet and make up some constructions problems to practice for tomorrow's quiz.

Discussion Starters: How are you feeling about constructions? Is using the compass getting easier? Can they see improvement with practice?

Ramin - ELA - September 30, 2015

Classwork

- WW Narrative Poetry - Day 4: Ordinary People, Places and Things

Homework

- "Ordinary" poem draft & list of 20 "ordinary" people, places & things (if not finished in class)

- Read!!! AR Quizzes for First Quarter due Wednesday, November 4th. Make sure you are planning your reading accordingly!

Class Website: www.norupramin.weebly.com (sign up for Remind101, view course documents, etc.)

 

Canvasser 9.30.15 Wednesday

RR ELA-  Logs are past due. If you did not turn in your log, please turn it in tomorrow.

New reading logs was passed out and is due Monday (10.5.15)

RR Math- Test and homework packet is due on Friday (10.2.15). Homework can be turn in on/or before Friday, do not forget the last page of the packet.

ALL CLASSES WITH CANVASSER

Many students are still missing their needed supplies for each class. Please review the course syllabus for the supply list.

Donations needed: Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes ( most needed)

Thank you.

Individuals and Societies

-Students checked atlas work and were introduced to our take home test.

-We will begin the test tomorrow and students will be able to use their textbook and atlas worksheets when taking the test.

-No homework.

 

Ramin - ELA - September 29, 2015

Classwork

- WW Narrative Poetry - Day 3: Figurative Language

Homework

- Read!!! AR Quizzes for First Quarter (goal: 4 books or 50 points) due Wednesday, November 4th. Make sure you are planning your reading accordingly!

Class Website: www.norupramin.weebly.com (sign up for Remind101, view course documents, etc.)

 

Science- Tuesday, September 29

Classwork: Went over the scientific processes homework and completed yesterday's investigation. 2nd & 3rd hour then took notes on speed.

Homework: None

Discussion Starters: Try to think of 5 different units of speed. For example, miles per hour is one, centimeters per year is another.

Geometry- Tuesday, September 29

Classwork: More practice with constructions.

Homework: Constructions Practice #1-10 (skip #9). See the 8th grade mathematics folder for a copy. Here are links to a few videos that might be helpful for parallel lines:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jej0hVXKEvQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKL_3xppHcQ

Discussion Starters: Perfecting constructions takes practice much like any other skill. Don't get frustrated if you don't get it right away! What's something you had to practice often in order to get better? Maybe free-throws, playing trombone, driving a manual transmission, whistling, or cooking soufflé- all of these things take practice and you get better over time. Constructions are no different- it won't be easy at first.

Canvasser 9.29.15 Tuesday

RR ELA:  Logs are past due.  If you did not turn in your log, please make sure it gets turned in tomorrow.  Remember you need to read 5 days (20 mins.) and do the short reader's response activities.  You may use the same book that you are reading in your ELA class.

New reading logs were passed out and will be due Monday 10/5.

RR Math:  Test this Friday- study daily.  Also, your homework packet is due on/or before this Friday- 10/2.  If you turn in your homework early, I will check it and return it so you can use it as a third study tool for your test.  Remember study your notes and workbook pages.  Do not forget the last page in your homework packet- daily multiplication worksheet.

All classes with Canvasser:  Many students are still missing their needed supplies for each class.  Please review the course syllabus for the supply list. 

Donations needed:  Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes (most needed.) 

Thank you.

Individuals and Societies

-Students continued Atlas work in class.

-We also discussed current events.

-No homework, unless Atlas work was not completed in class.

 

Ramin - ELA - 9/28/15

Classwork

Writer's Workshop - Narrative Poetry - Day #2. We reviewed the elements of narrative verse and read several mentor poems.

Homework

READ! :)

Class Website: www.norupramin.weebly.com (sign up for Remind101, view course documents, etc.)

 

Geometry- Monday, September 28

Classwork: Investigated constructions of parallel lines and perpendicular bisectors.

Homework: Practice #1-4

Discussion Starters:How might being able to construct parallel or perpendicular lines help you to construct other geometric shapes, such as squares, rhombuses, rectangles & parallelograms?

Science- Monday, September 28

Classwork: Students investigated the impact of controlling variables while experimenting with changing the steepness of a track and speed of a car.

Homework: None

Discussion Starters: Think of a problem you've had to solve at home, at work or anywhere, when changing only one variable at a time was necessary in order to pinpoint the problem. For example, if a lamp stopped working you might first check the bulb, then the outlet, then the circuit breaker. Discuss the importance of only manipulating one variable at a time.

English - Kennedy

Writer's Workshop Launching Day 2 - all materials are on Google Classroom.

 

Individuals and Societies

-Students continued Atlas work in preparation for our summative assessment on Friday.

-No homework.

 

Canvasser Monday 9/28

Happy Monday.

RR ELA:  Logs were due today.  If you did not turn in your log, please make sure it gets turned in tomorrow.  Remember you need to read 5 days (20 mins.) and do the short reader's response activities.  You may use the same book that you are reading in your ELA class.

New reading logs were passed out today and will be due Monday 10/5.

RR Math:  Test this Friday- study daily.  Also, your homework packet is due on/or before this Friday- 10/2.  If you turn in your homework early, I will check it and return it so you can use it as a third study tool for your test.  Remember study your notes and workbook pages.  Do not forget the last page in your homework packet- daily multiplication worksheet.

All classes with Canvasser:  Many students are still missing their needed supplies for each class.  Please review the course syllabus for the supply list. 

Donations needed:  Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes (most needed.) 

Thank you.

Ramin - ELA - 9/25/15

Classwork: Today we began Writer's Workshop - Day 1 - Narrative Poetry. We discussed how writers use mentor texts to help them identify and examine key elements of the genres they want to emulate. We pasted a checklist into our journals to remind ourselves of the elements in narrative poetry, and used the checklist as a class to identify narrative/poetic elements in two mentor poems. For independent practice, students used the checklist to determine whether or not the poems they brought to class fit within our genre.

Homework: Read!!! Remember: 1st Quarter AR goals: 4 books or 50 points (revised)

Class Website: www.norupramin.weebly.com (sign up for Remind101, view course documents, etc.)

 

English - Kennedy

Students began their Writer's Workshop Launching Unit today.  We reviewed the elements of Narrative Verse, used the poems students brought in to analyze whether these poems were Narrative or Lyrical.  All materials for the class will be located on the Google Classroom from now on.  Please check this site for missing work.

 

Canvasser 9.25.15 Friday

RR ELA- Reading Logs are due Monday (9.28.15)

* Do not forget the Reader's Response Section *

RR Math-  Homework Packet along with multiplication sheet is due Friday (10.2.15)

* Math test is also on Friday (10.2.15)*

 

Have a great weekend!

Ramin - ELA - 9/24/15

Classwork:

• Students wrote an impromptu narrative for their second "on-demand performance assessment."

Homework:

• In lieu of tonight's freewrite, please find a narrative poem to glue/paste/tape in your journal (entry 1.8). We will be using it for an activity tomorrow.

• Read, read, read!

Class Website: www.norupramin.weebly.com (sign up for Remind101, view course documents, etc.)

 

English - Kennedy

Today students did another "On-Demand Performance Assessment."  This one was a Personal Narrative. Students wrote about a small moment in their lives in narrative style.  They printed and turned it in.

Homework: Find a poem and either print it and paste in journal or copy it in journal for tonight's journal entry.  This entry should be AT LEAST number 1.7.  We will be checking in poems and using them in class tomorrow for an activity.

 

Science- Thursday, September 24, 2015

Classwork: Completed the notes we started on Tuesday. Students then took the concepts discussed in the notes and applied them to the Investigation we did last week.

Homework: Scientific Processes worksheet (see science folder for a copy). Students were asked to write great short answers on a separate sheet. No incomplete work accepted.

Discussion Starters: Try to design an experiment at home and talk about what the independent, dependent and control variables might be. For example, if you wanted to experiment with a recipe for spaghetti, maybe you would experiment with which types of noodles went best with different sauces.

 

Geometry- Thursday, September 24

Classwork: Took our first quiz!

Homework: None

Discussion Starters: Ask your student how they think they did on the quiz.

 

Canvasser 9.24.15 Thursday

RR Math- Homework packet is due Friday (10.2.15)

*First test will also be on Friday (10.2.15)*

RR ELA- First reading log is due Monday (9.28.15)

* Do not forget the reader's response section*

* Students remember to bring in supplies that is located in the back of your syllabus*

Individuals and Societies

-Today students went to the computer lab to make sure they have a Goggle docs ID, continued our Atlas work and worked on current events.

-Homework is to finish a current event for tomorrow.

 

Science- Tuesday, September 22

Classwork: Today we began looking at using an outline format for note-taking, and discussed how to take good notes in science. Students then began our first note-taking utilizing the jigsaw method.

Homework: None

Discussion Starters: Ask your student what the hallmarks of good notes are.

 

Geometry- Tuesday, September 22

Classwork: More practice with the distance formula, followed by an investigation to come up with a conjecture related to the midpoint formula.

Homework: Complete the midpoint practice pages (both of them!) in the packet.

Discussion Starters: We have our first quiz on Thursday. It will either be an open note quiz or a group quiz. Talk to your student about which option they are hoping for!

 

Canvasser 9.22.15 Tuesday

RR ELA- Reading Logs are due Monday (9.28.15)

Students must read a minimum of 20 minutes for 5 days a week

RR Math- Homework packet will be due Friday (10.2.15)

Students must practice multiplication facts daily and get the sheet signed

*First assessment will also be on Friday (10.2.15)* 

8th Individuals and Societies

-Students completed a mind map, shared information on geography and began atlas work in class.

-No homework.

 

Ramin - ELA - 9/21/15

Classwork:

• Reader's Workshop #4 – Turn & Talk.

Homework:

• Summer reading AR quizzes due tomorrow
• Read, read, read! J

Announcements:

• Absent? Visit www.norupramin.weebly.com and click on "ELA 8" to view the Launching Reader's Workshop slides and an updated Table of Contents.
  
  

Click to add a signature 

English - Kennedy

Today we practiced reporting the books we read.  Students were given a sheet called a "Reader's Book Record" or RBR on which they will record their book, thoughts on the book, the sticky notes they have created for their independent reading book.  Students then made a plan to complete this first independent reading book by Monday, September 28th. Students should have their book done and RBR turned in to their "In" box.  The RBR helps me to track who is keeping up on their reading and who is not. This RBR grade will show as Classwork/Formative and the average of their AR quizzes will show under Tests/Summative.

The Teaching Points and RBR can be found in the  8th Grade ELA folder in Drive.

 

Science- Monday, September 21, 2015

Classwork: Completed graphs from data collected on Friday and discussed patterns/trends in data as well as outliers.

Homework: None!

Discussion Starters: Ask your student how they defined "summer" when doing today's daily science.

 

Geometry- Monday, September 21, 2015

Classwork: Investigated the distance formula.

Homework: Distance formula practice (in the notes packet).

Discussion Starters: Ask your student how the distance formula and Pythagorean theorem are related.

 

Canvasser 9.21.15 Monday

RR ELA- First reading log was passed out today, it will be due on  Monday (9.28.15)

Students must read a minimum of 20 minutes for 5 days a week

RR Math-  Homework today or tomorrow depending on what group you are in due Friday (10.2.15)  

English - Kennedy

Students had time in class to read and sticky note their Sign posts this week.  Today after seeing how we pull meaning from these sticky notes students were assigned a journal entry as their Independent Practice in which they chose two sticky notes and then explained what they meant.  This helped them think more deeply about their reading and understand the author's purpose.  This was graded as a classwork/exit slip.  They showed me their entry and they received credit. There are no make ups for this assignment unless the student was late.

Ginger Kennedy
6th-8th Tech & 8th Grade English

Norup International School
Berkley School District
(248)837-8314 vkennedy@berkleyschools.org

 

Geometry- Friday, September 18, 2015

Classwork: Students investigated the Pythagorean theorem and discovered what the formula means.

Homework: Pythagorean theorem practice (see math folder).

Discussion Starters: Ask your student to explain where Pythagorean theorem comes from.

 

Science- Friday, September 18

Classwork: Collected data using two photo-gates on the track. Students then began graphing their data.

Homework: None!

Discussion Starters: Ask students how they were able to make sure they were launching the car consistently on the track (what piece of data helped with this and why?).

Canvasser 9.18.15 Friday

Syllabus are due today (9.18.25) for RR ELA, RR Math and LRC (5th and 6th hour)

* Syllabus can be turn in next week for late points*

 Remember to  bring in your AR book everyday starting Monday (9.21.15)

Have a great weekend!

8th Individuals and Societies

-Students were introduced to current event expectations, continued our Constitution review and discussed current events in class.

-Homework is to study for our Constitution post-test on Monday.

 

8th Grade Individuals and Societies

-Students took a Constitution pre-test in class, and discussed the Constitution for Constitution day.

-No homework.

 

Canvasser 9.17.15 Thursday

Syllabus are due tomorrow (9.18.15) for RR ELA, RR Math and LRC (5th and 6th hour)

No homework tonight

Geometry; Thursday, September 17, 2015

Classwork: Completed our discussion of basic terms and constructions and began to investigate relationships in the Pythagorean theorem.

Homework: No homework! 

Discussion Starters: Ask students to explain the activity we did in class today.

Science-September 17, 2015

Classwork: Continued working on Investigation 1-A. Students collected time data for a car on a flat track.

Homework: None!

Discussion Starters: Ask students to explain how the track, car and photo-gates work together.

 

Ramin - Language Arts - 9/16/15

Classwork

• We began our Reader's Workshop Launching Unit (Day 1: Notice & Note)
• Students had independent reading time

Homework

• 9/22: Summer reading quizzes due

Announcements

• It is important that all students bring their AR books to class EVERY DAY!
• Sign up for Remind101 on my website www.norupramin.weebly.com

 

Canvasser 9.16.15 Wed.

RR Math:  Get course syllabus signed by 9/18.  Practice X Facts

RR English:  Get course syllabus signed by 9/18.  Read daily.  Pick out an AR book.

RR LRC:  Get course syllabus signed by 9/18 and parent contact form. 

All students:  Please get classroom supplies asap.  Supply list in each syllabus.

Ramin - Language Arts - 9/11/15

Classwork

Today students organized their ELA binders and Reader's/Writer's notebooks, then they wrote their first journal entry (1.1).

Homework

- Have AR Book (and bring it to class!!!) by Wednesday, September 16th. We are going to begin our Launching Reader's Unit, and it is important that every student has an independent AR book to work with and read. Bring your independent book to class with you Wednesday and every day thereafter!

- Summer reading AR quizzes are due by Tuesday, September 22. 

 

Geometry- Friday, September 11, 2015

Classwork: Discussed last night's reading assignment and students discussed their own interpretations of various geometry terms such as point, line, segment, plane, midpoint, bisect and ray. We also started practicing using the compass and explored using patty paper for constructing a midpoint.

Homework: No homework :)

Discussion Starters: Can a line be bisected? Is there a midpoint for a line? What about for rays?

Science- Friday, September 11, 2015

Classwork: Students were given an opportunity to set up binders or other organizational system to use for the year. We suggest having a binder with dividers  and the following sections: daily science, notes, homework, assessments, labs. We then began our first investigation utilizing the timers and photo-gates so that students could become familiar with these tools.

Homework: No homework, unless syllabus has not been returned with signature.

Discussion Starters: Ask your student about their reaction time using the stopwatch and how the photo-gates seem to work.

Canvasser 9-11-15

RR ELA: Students should pick out a book (AR book)

RR Math: Work on your X facts

RR ELA, RR Math, RR LRC: Get what you need for class-check the supply list in my course syllabus or on my website (on Norup's homepage.) Parent(s) need to review the course syllabus with their child and that needs to get signed and turned in.

Have a nice long weekend.

Ramin - Language Arts - 9/10/15

Classwork
Students participated in an on-demand argument writing assessment.

Homework
Tomorrow (9/11/15): Signed syllabus and materials are due. Also, please bring in some decorations (pictures, stickers, quotes, etc.) to personalize your Reader's/Writer's notebooks.

Individuals and Societies

-Students shared the 5W's of history, discussed primary and secondary sources and analyzed photographs in class today.

-Homework is to discuss 9-11 with parents.

 

Geometry- Thursday, September 10, 2015

Classwork: Completed & shared the comic proofs.

Homework: Read and take notes on constructions.

Discussion Starters: As your student what a construction is and what tools are used in geometric constructions.

Science-Thursday, September 10, 2015

Classwork: Completed the "Compass Walk" related to our first lab assessment and discussed job descriptions.

Homework: Have binder & dividers in class tomorrow for binder set-up.

Discussion Starters: Ask your student what their job was today.

 

8th Grade ELA - Kennedy

Yesterday students were given the Course Syllabus for all 8th Grade English classes.  We discussed the requirements for being successful this year.  Today we discussed the IB traits and what it means to be an IB school/student. 

Students were then shown the writing prompt to be used for our On-Demand writing assessment.  Tonight as homework students are to decide on a debatable topic and find evidence to back up their "side".  Students will be writing for the entire hour tomorrow as their baseline assessment.

 

Geometry- Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Classwork: Students worked in groups to complete proofs of comic strips.

 

Homework: Return signed syllabus if not done already.

 

Discussion Starters: Talk to your student about the comic strips they read and put in order today.

Science- Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Classwork: Daily Science #1 & Daily Science expectations and procedures were discussed. Students were introduced to the very first inquiry lab they will complete at the end of Unit 1 - "How Fast Am I?". They then worked with their table groups on a compass points visible thinking routine.

 

Homework: Return signed syllabus if not done already.

 

Discussion Starters: Talk to your student about the lab they read and what excites or worries them about this expectation.

Individuals and Societies

-Today we reviewed expectations, passed out books (to first and third hours) and reviewed the KWL and 5W's of History.

-Homework is to complete the history KWL and the 5Ws' (who writes/records, what do they record, where is it recorded/documented, when is it recorded, why to we record) of history.

 

Graham-Math8-Wednesday, Sept.9, 2015

Please check  http://laragraham.weebly.com

 

Canvasser, 9-9-15

For all classes with me:

1.  Please turn in your course syllabus signed asap.

2.  Turn in your contact form asap.

3.  Please get the items you need for my classes listed in the syllabus.

4.  Begin to find a book you would like to read.  You should be bringing a book to all of my classes daily.

Today- we continued introduction information and placement tests.

Ramin - Language Arts - Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Classwork
We reviewed the course syllabus and classroom procedures/expectations.

Homework
- Signed syllabus & class materials (including an AR book!) due this Friday (11th)

Graham-Math8-Tuesday, Sept.8, 2015

Please visit my website http://laragraham.weebly.com

 

Science-Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Classwork: Took pretest & went over course syllabus. You can find a copy of the syllabus in the science folder.

Homework: Return signed syllabus.

Discussion Starters: Talk to your 8th grader about the difference between formative and summative assessments.

Canvasser, 9.8.15

Introduction

Course syllabus was passed out- signed and due by 9/18.

Emergency form due 9/18.