Fantastically Fabulous Friday

Have a safe and happy holiday break!

Ask your kiddo about our party day today.. Below is a letter that Sara and I read aloud to them today. They have a hard copy on red paper which they are to read to you:

To Our Precious Students:

Arshon, Ben Bejune, Ross, Alex Breeden, Nick Gruich, Kenji, Sahan, Bradley, Chris Wilson, Heba, Alex Boutros, Lilly Douma, Niki, Maria, Cameron, Aaron, James, Nelson, Shashank, Nathan, Alison, Shelby, Lily Labovitz, Hannah, Emma, Becky, Madison, Nick Argas, Mitchell, Nick Benedetti, Chris Breeden, Ryan MacAloon, Alex Stangeland, Shounak, Andrew, Megan, C.J., Sara Kmiec, Ayah, Sarah Moreno, Maddy, Frankie, Olivia, Maggie, Natalie, Vivi, Scott Cusimano, Adam Dabaldo, Ben Kassab, Ryan Lazzell, Colton, Scott Sills, Adam Smith, and Jalen:

We love and cherish you all so much!

You are all incredibly important to us in your own way as individual learners and people. We are better teachers and better human beings because we have the privilege of working with you each day. You make us smile, laugh, and sing every day. You guide us to new understandings of what it means to try our best, have fun, and be happy. As teachers, we have the best job in the entire world because we get to spend time with all of you.

As you grow and change, you will always be a part of our classroom community. Your spirit will always fill these classrooms, and your presence will forever reside in our minds, hearts, and souls. Your impressions will always be felt and welcomed. This will always be a home for you. We will always remember you.

We want you to always bear in mind how precious you are to us both, just by being here. We celebrate you each day, and remind you of the glory of you at this holiday time.

Thank you for the eternal gift of you!

Happy Holidays,

Love,

Mrs. Sara Wilkie and Mr. Rick Joseph

Birmingham Covington School

2007-2008

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - We played School Scrabble today. Ask your child who had the most ingenious words!

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

We had our White Elephant gift exchange...what a blast!

Homework…

Language Arts:

Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

Social Studies

Business

Goal Setting

Documents

The Anticipation Builds!

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - R&E presentations are just about done except for a few loose ends.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

Colonial Assessment.

Homework…

Language Arts:

Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

Social Studies

Business

Goal Setting

Documents

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - R&E presentations

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

Colonial Assessment. 603 kids will have more time to complete it on Thursday.

Homework…

Language Arts:

Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

Social Studies

Business

Goal Setting

Documents

Too-Busy Tuesday

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - JSTF end of book projects: We presented these in class today. We also began presenting R&E's.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

We will take our Colonial Assessment tomorrow.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. We will finish Response and Exploration 3 presentations on Wednesday.

Social Studies

1. Study for Colonial America Test on Wednesday 12.19.07

Business

Goal Setting

Students received academic and character goal setting sheets to update. They require a comment from parents. We will monitor our goals every two weeks. See a template below.

Documents

Student name: Date:

Goal:

Action Plan:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Reflections

Student:

Which of the steps in your action plan have been successful? Why?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent:

What personal growth have you seen in your child as a result of their action plan?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher Notes:

"Fantabulous" Friday!

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - JSTF end of book projects: We worked on these projects today in class, and will present them on Monday the 17th.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

We continued the review of our unit on Colonial America in anticipation of a test on Wednesday the 19th. The students continued to work in partnerships on short Power Point projects based on topics related to Colonial America.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

3. JSTF project due on Monday (some students are working on this at home)

Social Studies

1. Study for Colonial America Test on Wednesday 12.19.07

2. Share TFK Year in Pictures with an adult at home. Check it out online here.

Business

1. Bring in pet supplies/donations for the Trick Dog Shelter

2. Bring in pack of pens.

Documents

Scintillating Thursday

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - JSTF end of book projects: we will work on these projects tomorrow in class, and present them on Monday the 17th.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

We continued the review of our unit on Colonial America in anticipation of a test on Wednesday the 19th. Students who did not already take their SSSG folder home yesterday received it today.

We took an online test on Moodle today. Check it out at:

http://moodle.digitalbcs.com/login/index.php

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

3. Grammar Packet #5 due Friday 12.14

4. Grammar Test 4 signed by parent and returned.

5. R&E #2 rubric signed by parent and returned.

Social Studies

Study for Colonial America Test on Wednesday 12.19.07

Business

1. Return Choice Hour form by Friday

2. Bring in pet supplies/donations for the Trick Dog Shelter

3. Bring in pack of pens.

Documents

Wondrous Wednesday

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - JSTF end of book projects: we will work on these projects the next two days in class, and present them on Monday the 17th.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

We continued the review of our unit on Colonial America in anticipation of a test on Wednesday the 19th. Students who wished to begin studying brought their Social Studies Study Guide (SSSG) folders home.

We discussed our current events activities and will begin our study of current events in January.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

3. Grammar Packet #5 due Friday 12.14

Social Studies

Study for Colonial America Test on Wednesday 12.19.07

Business

1. Return Choice Hour form by Friday

2. Bring in pet supplies/donations for the Trick Dog Shelter

3. Bring in pack of pens.

Documents

none

Terrific Tuesday!

What a great day in 504!

Pens - A number of students have run out of pens, which is normal for this time of year. Please equip your child with another 10 black or blue pens.

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - We discussed JSTF end of book projects. We will work on these projects the next three days in class, and present them on Monday the 17th.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) - We reviewed the concepts for Grammar Packet #5.

Social studies

We continued the review of our unit on Colonial America in anticipation of a test on Wednesday the 19th.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

3. Grammar Packet #5 due Friday 12.14

4. JSTF Project Prospectus signed by parent due Wednesday 12.12.07.

Social Studies

Study for Colonial America Test on Wednesday 12.19.07

Business

1. Return Choice Hour form by Friday

2. Bring in pet supplies/donations for the Trick Dog Shelter

3. Bring in pack of pens.

Documents

none

Marvelous Monday!

Choice Hour forms went home today. Please return them by Friday.

Our school Community Service Project will be to raise money for the Trick Dog shelter. Please ask your student about the flyer that was sent home today.

We discussed the theme of personal character in the book Jump Ship to Freedom today and the students crafted an expository essay in their Reading Response Log.

We reviewed terms and definitions relating to Colonial America by playing a team matching game. Check out the pictures and watch the video.

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - We discussed JSTF themes and wrote a response (see above)

Writing - We wrote responses related to Daniel Arabus's personal character in our RRL's.

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) -

Social studies

We played a matching game in review of our unit on Colonial America.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

Social Studies

1. Share TFK with adult at home.

Business

1. Return Choice Hour form by Friday

2. Bring in pet supplies/donations for the Trick Dog Shelter

Documents

none

Fantastic Friday

We held our class spelling bees today. I was very proud of all the kids who chose to participate. As I always tell the kids, what truly matters most is that we try our best and enjoy ourselves. Hopefully, then, we'll be happy.

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - We read JSTF in silence for the last time

Writing - We wrote responses in our RRL's.

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) - We had our class spelling bee today.

Social studies

We examined different points of view in the landmark case of the slave ship Zong.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

3. Finish reading Jump Ship to Freedom if not already done.

Social Studies

none

Business

Progress Reports will come out next Friday, December 14.

Documents

none

Thursdaylicious

Another great day in 504.

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - We reviewed the qualities of good expository writing through our favorite JSTF entries. We shared them with partners.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) - We took our grammar quiz today.

Social studies

We examined the diary of Olaudah Equiano. a former slave and abolitionist working in Britain in the late 18th century, and the story of the slave ship Yong

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

3. Study for class spelling bee on Friday. (optional)

Social Studies

1. Share TFK p. 4-5, 6 or 7 with parent

Business

none

Documents

It's Great to be Back!

I am so thrilled to be back with the best students and families anywhere in the world (and I can actually say that, since I just came back from the other side of the planet!)

I returned on Monday at 1:30pm, and am still on KSA time. It's eight hours ahead of Detroit time.

Please check out my Saudi blog. I will continue to check and respond to the comments even though it is now done: http://rjksa07.blogspot.com/

Thanks for all your support and kind words as I experienced the trip of a lifetime. All of my expectations were exceeded. I look forward to sharing my experience with you in the weeks and months to come. Stay tuned for more details.

What we’re doing in class…Language Arts

Reading - We will continue reading JSTF in class on Friday. I reviewed my Saudi blog with the students and gave them an opportunity to ask me questions about my trip.

Writing -

Word Study (Grammar, Vocabulary, Spelling) - I passed back Grammar Packet 4 today so students could study for our grammar quiz tomorrow.

Social studies

We reviewed some details of the Middle Passage and the ways slaves were treated. I passed back the Colonial Economy quiz and a TFK magazine.

Homework…

Language Arts:

1. Read a book of your choosing for at least 20 minutes.

2. Response and Exploration 3 due Tuesday December 18. Students must try a new response and exploration. They are only allowed to do each type of response and exploration once.

3. Study for class spelling bee on Friday. (optional)

4. Study Grammar Packet 4 for Grammar Test tomorrow.

Social Studies

1. Share TFK p. 4-5, 6 or 7 with parent

2. Sign and return Colonial Quiz. Do revisions, if desired.

3. M&M's share. Every student received a fun size bag of M&M's from Saudi Arabia stapled to a sheet of paper with directions. See the Documents section below for explanation.

Business

none

Documents

December 5, 2007

A very small gift for you and your family from Saudi Arabia

1. Take these M&M’s home and open them there.

2. Share them with at least one adult.

3. As you enjoy them, think, “Do these taste the same or different from the M&M’s here?

For extra credit, answer the following question:

Can eating candy from a different country help you think about that country, its people, and its culture in new and different ways? If so how? If not, why not? Explain in at least three sentences or more.

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