Friday, March 30, 2012

Happy Spring Vacation 201!

Today I sent home a note with students that I hope they will share with you. It lists any missing assignments.  All missing work is due the Monday we return from break.  The 3rd quater gradebook will close Tuesday morning!  Missing work will be entered as a "0" and will significantly lower averages.   Most students are up-to-date on class and homework!

Help!  Is there a 201 parent who can come in on Monday, April 9, to help us with our April bulletin board?  Please send me an email if you can help. 

Spring Break Homework:
Please read every day and keep a log of minutes read.
Don't forget about the Extra Credit!

CAC: Our unit begins on April 30.  Parents, we  hope that you can join us as we learn about Light!  All volunteers are welcome!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Extra Credit Opportunity!

Watch the Brain Pop segment on Tsunami's.  Complete either the "Activity" or the "Vocabulary" page and bring it to class.  If you don't have access to a printer, you may do your work on a separate sheet of paper.

Have a great evening 201!  Don't forget to:
-Do your SS homework
-Complete wkpbk 23.5
-Finish your Vocabulary windows
-Study the vocabulary words

Young Authors Update
Today's "yellow note" outlines a timeline for this annual project.
201 students will work on the first stages of this project in class. We will begin right after Spring Break.
Ms. Cali and I will have tips and templates that will help students use the writing process to develop ideas,  draft, revise, edit, and finally, publish.
Students who use their class time wisely will finish the bulk of the work at school!

*If you have submitted your Green Valley Picture Prompt Writing on Edmodo, don't worry, I got it!   I will attempt to change your status from "late" to "turned in."  I am learning as I go, and I appreciate your patience!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Hi 201!

I am looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.  Here is the school spirit schedule for the remainder of the week.

  • Wednesday – School Pride Day:  wear blue, white and green
  • Thursday – College or Sports Shirt Day
  • Friday – Wear Your Favorite Color Day.
Tonight's homework:
Nightly Reading and Reflection
Math workbook page 23.4, 
....or, whatever Ms. Cali or the Substitute teacher assigned.  I will be checking in with them later today. 

Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will go to the Science Lab, and we will practice our Water Cycle Reader's Theater.

Best,

Mrs. Ginn 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Good afternoon 201 Families,

Please bring in your Edmodo Contract!
We need:
-Glue
-Kleenex

Parents, most 201 students do not have crayons, markers, or colored pencils.  Our classroom supply is depleted, and it appears that two or three generous students are lending their personal supplies.
Crayons ( or markers, or colored pencils), glue,  and scissors are used almost every day!  Please check your child's supply box.

Science News Flash: Today we learned about Earth's atmosphere.  This week we will go on to discuss weather patterns, and air pressure. In the lab, we will create a wave simulation.




Sunday, March 25, 2012

Weekend Reminders...


  • Tomorrow is Hat Day!
  • Don't forget to bring in your signed Edmodo Contract. Students without Contracts should expect a status change to "read only."
  • Green Valley writing prompt: Do this and turn it in.  You can find this on Edmodo.  Your response can be submitted online and is due Monday.
  • Enjoy this beautiful Sunday!
:-) Mrs. Ginn

Friday, March 23, 2012

Happy Friday 201!  Don't forget to give your parents the Edmodo letter and code so that they can set up an Edmodo Parent Account.  Please bring in your signed Edmodo contract on Monday.



Have you posted your response to the "Green Valley" picture prompt on Edmodo?

Have a great weekend!




Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Do you edmodo?  Today we created usernames and passwords for our classroom edmodo accounts.  Tomorrow I will send home an Edmodo Conduct Contract, that requires parent and student signatures.  Edmodo will be your "go to" spot for finding important class room documents.  Edmodo is interactive, which makes it highly appealing for students.


A special "thank you" is extended to Mr. C. and Mrs. S. for their chaperoning efforts today.  Thank you so much for joining us today.


Gallery Walk Invitation: All parents are invited to the Biography Project Gallery Walk on Friday at 12:45.  The invitation will go home tomorrow and will be posted on edmodo.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Please bring in a clear, plastic bottle and the cap!  We need them for tomorrow's lab!

Thanks!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 
  
We need empty, clear plastic bottles with caps!  We will use them in the Science Lab on Tuesday.  This week, we will visit the SL on Tuesday, as we will be on our field trip Wednesday.




  Don't forget to bring your field trip form and money on Monday.  If you do not have the form, you can bring in a hand written note that includes:

  • Permission to go on the trip on Wednesday, March 21
  • Emergency contact information
  • Parent signature.
  • $9.00
Are you practicing your speech?  Remember that the time limit is 2 minutes! This is how you will be graded. 
  • Content: Did you include meaningful and important information about this person's influence?
  • Organization: Is your speech well organized and focused?
  • Language: Do you use strong words?  Are they clear?
  • Contact: Do you maintain strong eye contact with your audience?
We will deliver our speeches on Thursday afternoon.  I can't wait to hear them.  The two stamp projects that have already come in look great!  I can't wait to see the rest of them!

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Good evening 201!

Newsflash!  Tomorrow Disney is going for a "blue out" to show support for the basketball teams. Wear all blue to show your spirit!

Tell your parents about our Science Lab today.  Our question was: How did glaciers affect Illinois landforms?  We used ice, water, sand, plastic tubing and stream tables to melt our own glaciers.  What did you observe?  How did our models differ from glaciers?  Can you use the words erosion and deposition in your explanation?

Next week in the lab, we will learn about condensation as we create a "Cloud in a Bottle."

I hope that you are all working on your Biography Reports.  Parents, I hope that you will be able to join us on Thursday March 22 for our Gallery Walk.

Don't forget your field trip money and forms!  The trip is next Wednesday, and yes, students will need to bring a bag lunch.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Hello 201!  The expression "In like a lion and out like a lamb" is traditionally used to described the month of March.  What do you think of this bit of figurative language?  Is this March coming in like a lion or a lamb?

Students, have you told your parents about your Modern Mona Lisa design?  We will finish with phase 3, the water color wash, sometime this week.