Week of January 10-14, 2011

Thursday HW
1.  Median worksheet from yesterday in class tomorrow.
2.  Math Quiz unit 4 lessons 8 and 9 tomorrow.
3.  Spelling Dictation # 8 tomorrow.
4.  Book Report due on January 20.
In Math class we reviewed the meaning of inference and discussed the best uses of types of graphs.  We also introduced distinctions between primary and secondary data collection and settled on the features of a complete graph in a bansho activity.  We looked at Excel and made small groups for survey and graph making using the desktop and laptop computers.  Students with access to a USB flash memory sticks should begin bringing them to school daily.  We spent some time finishing the rough draft of 'A Person I Admire'.  There are only 2 periods left to finish editing and good copy work for this in-class only assignment.  We ended the day by monting the projects and looking over our Social Studies booklets for incomplete sections prior to handing them in.  Presentations will take place next week.  Students are welcome to use the Smart board and projector combo to display websites or other material they want to show during the presentation, however this is not a requirement.  An oral presentation will be sufficient for the assignment.

Wednesday HW
1.  Median worksheet started in class to complete for Friday.
2.  Math Quiz Unit 4 Lessons 8 and 9 on Friday January 14.  If you are absent for the Math quizzes, I expect students to write them on the day they return.
3.  Social studies project due tomorrow.  We have built all of the lanterns for mounting the good copies.  Students need only bring those good copies in on Thursday to attach them.
4.  Book Report due January 20.
This morning we worked toward finishing the Person I Admire rough draft.  We also finished our text work on Median and had a period to complete the Social Studies good copies and work on the USA Economic features in the booklet.

Tuesday HW
1.  Language Power pages 6 and 7
2.  Project due on January 13
3.  Math Quizzes:
Lessons 6 and 7 on Wednesday January 12,
Lessons 8 and 9 on Friday January 14.

Monday HW
1.  Math HW Book pages 68-69.
2.  Math Quizzes this week for Unit 4
Lessons 6 and 7 on Wednesday January 12,
Lessons 8 and 9 on Friday January 14.
3.  Social Studies project due January 13.
4.  Book Report due date extended to January 20.
5.  Spelling Cycle # 8 activities.
This morning we spent considerable time on our first math lesson in Data Management.  We talked at length about the differences between facts and inferences in interpreting data; on the best uses of line, circle and bar graphs; and on developing responses to the "How do You Know?" types of questions that showed an answer/prove/extend/explain approach.  We also introduced the idea of mean, median and mode.  In Spelling we had our eighth pretest and the accompanying cycle activities.  Students were encouraged to spend enough time to correct errors accurately using their text lists.  In the afternoon we touched on Economic and Trade features of the USA and began assembling the presentation lanterns for the good copies.