Winter Break Life

Happy winter break folks. I hope your time away from school is filled with family, friends, relaxation, smiles, and reading.

Your homework over winter break is to continue reading daily for at least 20 minutes.

If you are having a hard time finding a good fit book during break, check out some of these options on either of these two links:

Books Middle Schoolers in Michael's Class Should Read!!!

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/11/the-30-best-young-adult-novels-of-2018.html

If you send me an email (mjansa@pps.net) over break telling me what you read and what you thought about it, you can get some extra credit. Otherwise, that will you be your first homework assignment once we are all back at school. 

Michael's Winter Break Survey

Michael's Winter Break Survey

12/12

HW due Thursday:

***No more than $4.99 TOTAL
***Get creative. It doesnt have to cost money!!!
***Share something on Friday or Thursday + Friday

Secret Snowflake (Things We Enjoy)
Michael → Artistic creativity + chocolately peanut-butter stuff
Neamia → basketball + hot cheetos + sprite
Lalo → drawing + dr. pepper
Livy → basketball +chocolately peanut-butter things
Max → funny things + any sort of beverage
Owen → comics (marvel better than dc) and penguins + doritos (cheeesy) and don’t give Owen dust. He is allergic to it. He is actually also a no soda person.
Joseph → basketball + arizona green tea
Rowan → soccer + arizona sweeet tea (like the white bottle one)
Kai → jerky + and whatever else you want to give me… go ahead with hand-made stuff
Maya → painting + hot cheetos and any type of drink
Hannah → artistic things + any type of sweet tea + chips (allergic to peanuts)
Jo Jo → art and music (write me a song or draw me a picture) + peanut-butter chocolatey things + soda
Tallulah → art and music (a playlist would be cool) + lemonade
Violet → writing and art and something actually personalized, though I will be happy with whatever I get and 3 Musketeers
Winter → music (playlists) + any candy
Poppy → art. I like art. I don’t actually really eat that much candy so anything
Olivia → ART. Any candy. Peanut-butter cups!
Nico → art + baseball + any candy
Henry N → basketball and any type of Arizona tea
Annabel → music and anything with sugar that does NOT have peanut-buter
Alisha → painting + softball + any type of candy
Cooper → board games + card games + lime tortilla chips + sour cream and cheddar chips
Hazel → stories and writing and reading and chocolate
Henry E → soccer and the most sour candy thing you can find (steer clear of all things hazelnuts… I’m super allergic)
Chaim → music and video games (playlist would be cool) + barbeque chips and any sort of soda
Sasha → small mini-things and painting and m & m’s (carmel?)
Eva → little art stuff and those candy canes that are different flavors (especially bigger ones)
Marley → battlepass + any soda or candy + singing songs while default dancing
Levi → comic books + arizona peach ice tea + takis
Ezra → reading and cooking (desserts especially) and anything with chocolate
Elliott → pillows + any sort of soda (maybe dr. pepper) and big bags of dyanmitas
Jade → soccer + hot cheetos + caramel

Lane → foxtrot comics + mint chocolate m and m’s

12/11

My apologies for the delayed blog post today. We have meetings every Tuesday until 5:15.

HW due Wednesday:

1. Read for 20 minutes!
a. Write down 1 connection you made and 1 question you had while reading

Assuming we have a healthier and more respectful morning in PE tomorrow, we will enter into the world of Secret Snowflake tomorrow afternoon.

12/10

HW due Tuesday:

***We will figure out details for Secret Snowflake tomorrow in class***

Reading
1. Bring in silent reading material for class tomorrow

2. Over winter break the expectation is that you continue reading daily (something you should also be doing right now!). What book are you going to read over winter break??? Come to class tomorrow with a list of 3 books that are interesting to you that you could read over winter break.

Here are some places you can access some list of engaging books:
Books Middle Schoolers in Michael's Class Should Read!!!
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/11/the-30-best-young-adult-novels-of-2018.html

12/6

Tomorrow is the Riparian Festival from 5:30 - 7:30!!!

If you want to get some service hours, it would be lovely to have you commit to helping out with any of the following:

3:30 - 4:15 - ROOM SET-UP!!!
5:30 - 6:15 - Room Tour Guide Round 1
6:15 - 7:00 - Room Tour Guide Round 2

You can also sign up to help out in other community spaces here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0844aeaa29a3fc1-2018

HW due Friday: How Does Our Earth Work Interactive Project
a. Interactive Project
b. Connections Web
c. Project Write-Up

Use the rubric linked above for guidance!

12/5

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR How Does Our Earth Work - Individual Interactive Project. 

Tonight spend 21 minutes continuing your work on your project. 

This is going to be due Friday. You should try to have much of the interactive part of the project done by Thursday. We will spend time in class tomorrow working on our projects and everyone will get enough teaching and time to do the write-up and connections web in class Thursday. 

12/4

Awesome job with your work on your Writing For Justice personal narratives and preparing our class for the Riparian Festival today.

Within all the work, I forgot to talk about tonight's homework... You can probably guess what it will be.

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR How Does Our Earth Work - Individual Interactive Project. 

Tonight spend 20 minutes continuing your work on your project. 

This is going to be due Friday. You should try to have much of the interactive part of the project done by Thursday. We will spend time in class Thursday working on our projects and everyone will get enough teaching and time to do the write-up and connections web in class Thursday. 

12/3

HW due Tuesday:

1. How Does Our Earth Work - Individual Interactive Project - work on this tonight for 26 minutes.

a. Complete Step 2: Planning + Research Organizer... You can fill this page of your green sheet out, write it down elsewhere, including a GoogleDoc. The important thing is that you know your response to these questions:
-What is my geology concept?
-What is my research question?
-How can I share my learning in an interactive way?
-What materials do I need?

If you have completed that, then move and get started with  making your interactive project! Again, we will do the write-up and connections web at school. Focus on the creating at home during your 26 minutes tonight if you get beyond step 2.

Weekend HW - Riparian Festival Project

I am sorry to say but this is one of the very few times where you will actually have real life weekend homework from me this year...

Weekend HW due Monday:

1. How Does Our Earth Work - Individual interactive Project
a. Spend 31 minutes total this weekend working on this project that we will celebrate and share next Friday at the Riparian Festival  (though you are welcome to spend more time on it if you get into it and have the space/energy to do so).

You don't need to write anything down from your work this weekend unless you want to. My goal is that you can come into class on Monday able to answer the following questions:

-What is my geology concept? 
-What is my research question?
-How can I share my learning and response to my research question in an interactive way?
-What materials do I need to make this happen?

A reminder that we will do the project write-up and connections web in class, meaning you only need to focus your energy on the questions and work above.

The project will be due Friday, December 7th, though you should be pretty be much done with everything but the project write-up and connections web by the start of the school day Thursday.

How Does Our Earth Work - Individual interactive Project

HW due Friday:

1. How Does Our Earth Work - Individual interactive Project
a. Spend 22 minutes continuing your work from this afternoon on your How Our Earth Works - Individual Interactive Project... All you need to do tonight is spend 22 minutes continuing to think about which geologic concept you are most interested in further exploring through this project. You don't need to write anything down unless you want to. My hope is that you come to class tomorrow with an idea of which geologic concept you want to focus on and what your research question could be. We will spend more time in class tomorrow thinking about how you could create an interactive project showing your learning around that research question. 

Geology - Volcano - Online Exploration

Geology - Volcano - Online Exploration

a. Read through the main volcanoes website

b. Click on any of the links you want, but you need to click on the links for volcano types (composite, shield, cinder cone)

c. Find other great resource to explore

d. Play a geology rock cycle game!!!

Please keep your volume low or off (definitely off in the game!)

11/28

HW due Thursday:

We are not travelling tomorrow. We will be working on writing and geology and awesomeness throughout the day.

1. Writing for Justice - Narrative Leads (HOOKS)
a. We spent time in class reading On Cracking White City and discussing and defining the terms Perpetrator, Target, Upstander, and Bystander. Using the Narrative Leads - Writing a Hook handout as your guide, write 3 different hooks (each hook only has to be 2- 5 sentences long... these are just the VERY beginning of the story you could tell) for a story or multiple stories that you put down on your Writing For Justice Graphic Organizer this afternoon. Don't spend more than 26 minutes on this.

2. Post Conferences Student Reflection - If you need more time to complete this, just let me know.

EXTRA CREDIT: 
Find an awesome or cheesy video that is less than 5 minutes that we could share with the class related to VOLCANOES

11/28

HW due Wednesday:

1. Geology - orange Dynamic Earth Textbook - VOLCANOES
...With the orange textbook that you took home today read pages 88-91 and and respond to questions 1-3 on p. 91. Read pages 93-102 and respond to questions 1-3 on p. 102. This is a continuation from our work this morning in class. 

11/27

HW due 11/27:

1. Plate Tectonics + Boundaries Coloring Activity

a. Follow the prompts on the worksheet. Remember you don't have to use those exact colors, just note any changes on the key. You can be quick and rushed in your coloring. What matters most is that you notice where the major tectonic plates are and how they move against the other plates. Don't forget to do the work on the side focused on convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. 

Extra Credit:

1. Find an awesome or cheesy video that is less than 5 minutes that we could share with the class related to any of the following:

-plate tectonics

-sea floor spreading

-plate boundaries

-divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries

HW due Thursday (unless we set up an alternative plan):
1. Post Conferences Student Reflection
a. Check in with your families about this and be specific in your responses

Fall Break

Enjoy your fall break folks!

Here are the updated grades for Term 2: Term 2 Grades - 11/16/18

If there are assignments on there that you need access to, send me a quick email (mjansa@pps.net) and I can pass them your way

A reminder that you should be reading daily during this break!!! Here are some great reads for middle schoolers if you are having a hard time getting a just right and meaningful book in your hands these days: Books Middle Schoolers in Michael's Class Should Read!!!

11/15

HW due Friday:
-Homework is cancelled tonight. You have no homework due Friday thanks to Henry E's amazing smiley face ball throwing skills. Hooray!
-Make sure you are reading for at least 20 minutes daily
-Has your family signed up for Fall Conferences next Monday or Tuesday? Check here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f44afa82fa0fd0-michaels3

11/14

HW due Thursday:
Create 2 vocabulary cards using any of the following geology words. Your vocabulary card should include the word, an image, and a definition that you put into your own words (Meaning you can't just copy/paste it from the internet! You have to own what you think it means after reading about it).

Geology Vocabulary:
-Caldera
-Cinder Cone volcano
-Composite Volcano
-Shield volcano
-Plate tectonics
-Pangaea
-Continental Drift
-Fault (related to earthquakes)
-Earthquake

11/13

Welcome back to the world of daily homework. Hooray. Make sure you are reading daily for 20-30 minutes.

HW due Wednesday:
1. Coming of Age - Short Stories Assignment #4

Fall Conferences - 11/19 + 11/20

Fall Conferences for Parents/Guardians/Loving Adults are Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th. There is no school for students those two days.

Please sign up for a conference slot using our Sign Up Genius:
Fall Conferences Sign-Up Link - CLICK HERE

Can We Predict Earthquakes? - Video

Today we watched a video about earthquake science by SciShow. Here is a link to their video "Can We Predict Earthquakes?". 

Missoula Flood Online Exploration

To reinforce our knowledge and follow-up on our field study, we will be working on the Missoula Flood Online Exploration during Core today (10/30/18). The worksheet with links can be accessed here. 

Baby Life

Hi All,

A reminder that I will be back at school on Monday, Oct 29th to work with Jeff to submit your grades for Term 1. Your Writer's Workshop, Reading, and E-Core journals should all be turned in to Jeff by the end of the day Friday.

Because my baby was 10 days late, my family is still getting settled into this new reality and I will not be able to join you all on the Beacon Rock field study this Thursday like I had hoped. Sorry!!!!!!! I look forward to hearing about your trip and seeing some pictures of you all during the climb! Have fun!!!

As promised, here are some baby life pictures.

Introducing Zephyr Caselle Jansa.  Born 10/16/18 @ 7:44 PM weighing 7 lbs 4.4 ounces! My wife Him, my wife Julia, and I are all living with overflowing hearts and are doing well!

Michael's October Baby Leave - Homework, Grades, and Other Notes...

Hello Core Class Community!

First of all, you are all awesome. Thank you for being patient and flexible with me as I take this leave from school to take another leap on life's journey to welcome a new human being into my family's life.

The following is the only blog post I am going to make while I am gone. I want to fill you in on what to expect in terms of calendar stuff, field studies, homework, and grades.

Much of this is the exact same as what I shared in class on Friday, 10/5, but I wanted to put it into writing in case anyone forgot...

If you need to get in touch with Jeff via email to advocate for yourself or to share some work his email is t.jeffkessler@gmail.com

READ DAILY FOR 20-30 MINUTES!!!!!!

Grades: 
This is the most current Grade Assignment Spreadsheet - Updated 10/14/18. This is a good indication of your progress in Term 1. Any missing work or resubmitted work should be turned into my HW Bin by 10/26 (the last day of Term 1). I will update this Grade Assignment Spreadsheet again on October 29th (the final grading day for Term 1) after working with Jeff to review your core class work during the two weeks you will be with him before the end of the term and after reviewing your E-Core, Writer's Workshop, and Reading journals. Make sure all 3 of your core class journals are turned by Friday, October 26th!!!

Week of Oct 8th - 11th
-6th Graders at Outdoor School (All the best 6th graders!!! Enjoy the learning, adventures, and fun!).
-7th/8th Grade Health Rotations
-Core class does not meet this week
-Wednesday, October 10th - 3:45 - 5:00 - Garden Day
-No school Friday, October 12th

Week of October 15th - 19th
- Tuesday, October 16th - 1st Just Right choice Fiction Novel finished
-Tuesday, October 16th - Extra Credit - Read the following article and write down one though you have about this issue: Youth Sue US Government Over Failure to Protect Future Citizens From Climate Change
-Tuesday in Class PM - Rock Cycle Online Learning Activity (Interactive Rock Cycle - Animations + Interactive Rock Cycle + Rock Collections + Interactive Types of Rocks)
-Final Just Right Choice Fiction Reading Assignment due Thursday, Oct 18th
-Thursday, October 18th - Field Study to the R.I.C.E. Museum to connect our work with geology to the rock cycle
-R.I.C.E. Museum Field Study Assignment due Monday, October 22nd (use your time to work on this in class on Friday well!).
-Friday, Oct 19th is the SES Run/Walk/Move.
-Harvest Fair @ SES is Saturday, October 20th. Please volunteer to support our class fishing booth by using the sign up sheet on our Agenda Board.

Week of October 22nd - 26th

-Coming of Age - Short Stories - Assignment 1 - 2018  due Wednesday, October 24th

-Thursday, October 25th - Field Study to the Columbia River Gorge + Beacon Rock (bring appropriate clothes and hiking gear --- you are hiking Beacon Rock!)
-Thursday, October 25th - 3:15 - 4:30 - Garden Day

-Beacon Rock Field Study Assignment  due by the end of the day Friday (you will have all of class that Friday to work on this)

-FRIDAY IS THE LAST DAY OF TERM 1!!!! Turn in all journals (E-Core + Writer's Workshop + Reading) to Jeff by the end of the day Friday. Together Michael and Jeff will be working on grades on Monday, October 29th. Your journals need to be submitted to receive full credit for you work while Jeff is your teacher. Without a journal turned in by the end of the day Friday, October 26th, Michael cannot give you full credit for your work. Turn in all journals by this day!!!!

A Note on Term 1 Service: 
Because Michael did not do a good enough job making space to introduce, explain, and set expectations for service LEARNING with our current core class, you do not have any service reflections due in Term 1. This is the Service Learning Term 1 Reflection, but completing this is not required. You can turn this in by Friday, October 26th for Extra Credit. Know that you will have extended expectations for Term 2 + 3 + 4 that Michael will help to set once he returns. Any and all service learning completed in Term 1 will count towards future service learning expectations and reflections. Sorry for any confusion or inconvenience.

No school Monday, October 29th - Term 1 Grading Day 
I will update this blog again on Monday, October 29th with info on what is going down for me in Baby Land, when I am returning to SES (currently this is unclear as I am waiting to see when my baby will arrive!), and what you can expect in the weeks ahead as we start Term 2.

10/4

HW due Friday:

1. For My People poem - DRAFTa. Work on the For My People poem that we spent over an hour writing in class tonight. Spend 14-19 minutes working on your poem. If you want me to print it, please send it to me before 8:30 tomorrow morning.

Here are some resources that we used today with our poem:
For My People - Margaret Walker + For My People - SES Student Examples
For My People - Graphic Organizer

10/3

HW due Thursday:

1. Read 30-40 minutes tonight. 

a. I screwed up my afternoon plan and didn't teach you all enough to assign the homework I had planned based off our work. Happy no homework night. Instead, I am adding an extra 10 minutes on to your usual daily reading routine.

We are not travelling on a field study tomorrow. I am excited for the learning we have in store tomorrow at school!

If you haven't already done so, make sure you have Sarah Rosmna's business consent forms signed.

Leadership in Business - Important Documents

Business Contract- MUST BE SIGNED BY AN ADULT FAMILY MEMBER!!  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T30g8qkQdRDgAiHbYpQZnLAJ_6wAKF1EQqIb7t33nPE/edit?usp=sharing

Rubric for approval - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A4La-AcNzeWUkVdPxTE6b5ITkAo_R6pQ_SvgZAnMDIg/edit?usp=sharing

Business Plan - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SC4-iJr0Dn8_IR-jHC0cEzaVi2dVD_Yl4SxxFmgjj9g/edit?usp=sharing

10/2

HW due Wednesday:

1. Choice Fiction Novel Assignment #3 (We worked on this for 25 + minutes in class today so all you have to do is finish your work that you started while you read tonight)

10/1

HW due Tuesday:

1. Age Poem 
... Refer to your Age Poem Graphic Organizer #2 + the Age Poem Rubric for guidance as you work
... We have spent two class sessions working on this draft. It should take no more than 24 minutes tonight. Don't work for longer unless you want to.

2. Sarah Rosman's Leadership in Business Class
a. Come to class with a signed Business Consent form
b. You will have the first 25 minutes of core class tomorrow to prepare for your presentations. Be ready to share your business plan in your 5 minute presentation starting at 9:20.

Leadership in Business - Important Documents

Business Contract- MUST BE SIGNED BY AN ADULT FAMILY MEMBER!!  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T30g8qkQdRDgAiHbYpQZnLAJ_6wAKF1EQqIb7t33nPE/edit?usp=sharing

Rubric for approval - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A4La-AcNzeWUkVdPxTE6b5ITkAo_R6pQ_SvgZAnMDIg/edit?usp=sharing

Business Plan - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SC4-iJr0Dn8_IR-jHC0cEzaVi2dVD_Yl4SxxFmgjj9g/edit?usp=sharing

9/28

HW due Monday:

1. If you didn't finish it during our 35 minutes of work-time in class today, you should finish your Zoo Tunnel Geologic Time Field Study Assignment this weekend. It is due at the start of class on Monday.

2. READ DAILY (including the weekend) for 20-30 minutes!!!!

9/27

HW due Friday:

1. Zoo Tunnel Geologic Time Field Study ASSIGNMENT Questions complete (questions 2, 3, and 4)

Share what we are working on with someone in your family --- Skunk Bear - Geologic Time in a Football Field

9/26

HW due Thursday:

1. Field study to the Zoo Tunnel MAX stop to study Geologic Time. Come prepared with warmth (it can get cold down there), a lunch and water, an engaged mind, and a positive attitude. I encourage you to share the TED ED Geologic Time video we watched today with folks in your family!

2. Age Poem Graphic Organizer #2 (scroll down to find Graphic Organizer #2... It is ok if #1 is incomplete) - Complete the graphic organizer related to a specific age you want to focus on in your Age Poem. Don't work on this for more than 22 minutes.

Geologic Time - An Exploration

Geologic Time - An Exploration

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/geotime/index.html

If you finish the scavenger hunt early, complete the assigned Geologic Time NewsELA article in  your assignments.

9/25

HW due Wednesday:

1. Just Right Choice Fiction Novel Assignment #2
... Reminder to complete your connections WHILE you are reading your book and to include the page number

2. Back to School Night 6:00 - 8:00 --- Check in with your adults to see if they are coming. I'm looking forward to connecting with everyone's family!

9/24

HW due Tuesday:

1. Geologic Time - Introduction Article
a. Read the article and write down 3 things you learned about Geologic Time

2. Personal Poem 
a. If you didn't finish the Personal Poem in class today, finish this as HW

Wednesday = Back to School Night from 6:00 - 8:00

Thursday = field study to the Zoo Tunnel to extend our learning on Geologic Time

9/20

HW due Friday:

1. Mt. Tabor Field Study Assignment
a. Complete Assignment Questions 3 + 4

2. Picture Day is happening @ 12:40 tomorrow

Extra Credit: Tomorrow morning we are having a guest presentation in core class from Portland Metro called the Story of Stuff... Watch the 9 minute Story of Stuff video related to our presentation tomorrow and write down 2 ideas that stood out to you from the video and turn it into the HW bin for extra credit.

9/19

HW due Thursday:

1. Mt Tabor Field Study!!! Come prepared with appropriate clothes, lunch, and water bottle.
a. To build background knowledge, read through the Mt. Tabor Geology Brochure I handed out today in class, underline 4 geology vocab words you think you recognize, put ? next to anything that felt confusing, and list 3 details you understood at the bottom of the brochure.

2. Bring your Just Right Choice Fiction Reading Novel to class tomorrow morning.

9/18

HW due Wednesday:
1. Just Right Choice Fiction Novel Assignment 1 - Checking In

In case you didn't get a chance to complete this yesterday, here is access to Sarah Rosman's Ethics Reflection homework from yesterday (the questions are also on the previous blog post if you can't access them with that link)

Thursday = Mt. Tabor Field Study + Just Right Choice Fiction Novel in Class

9/17

HW due Tuesday:

1. Mudbone Grown Unity Farm Field Study Assignment

2. Sarah Rosman's Family Ethics Conversation + Worksheet

(in case you don't have the sheet, there are three questions that she wants you to address):
a. Ethics (moral principles) can be a complicated subject because everyone has their own code of ethics. Talk with your adult about what they value and what you value and how all like to be treated.
b. Discuss how your group identities (ability, gender identity, race, nationality, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion/spirituality) may help influence your ethical beliefs and values.
c. Together, write down a family code of ethics.

Fall Literacy Check In - EasyCBM Instructions

1. Go to:  pps.or.easycbm.com
2. On student side, click on "click here"
3. In teacher login type: mjansa
4. Find your name on the drop down menu
5. Select test 1: FALL reading comprehension
6. Select test 2: FALL vocabulary
7. When done, smile and go explore the NewsELA website by logging in through Google using your PPS account info

9/14

Happy weekend folks! We will finish our Mudbone Grown Unity Farm Field Study Assignment in class Monday morning. You do not need to work on this over the weekend.

You should be reading 20-30 minutes each day this weekend. I recommend (but do not require) that you read your Just Right Choice Fiction Novel.

See you all on Monday!

Here is some exciting info about the middle school musical that starts this Wednesday, September 19th (anyone in middle school can participate!!! You just have to show up!): Middle School Musical INFO

9/13

Awesome field study today folks!!! I hope you went home with some dirt/mulch on your pants and hands!

HW due Friday:

1. Mudbone Grown Unity Farm Field Study Assignment
a. Assignment Questions only (You do not have to do the Essential Question... We will work on that tomorrow in class)

A couple of things that Shantae said today after lunch while talking about the story behind the farm...
"Food is the the cornerstone of culture" and "We are putting the culture back into agriculture!"

9/12

HW due Thursday:

1. We are going to Mudbone Grown Unity Farm. We will be leaving class around 9:00. Come prepared with a lunch (or get one from the cafeteria first thing in the morning), water bottle, your just right choice fiction book to read in class, weather appropriate clothes that can get dirty and muddy, and a positive attitude. Tomorrow is going to be awesome!

2. Read the Mudbone Grown Unity Farm articles and respond to the three questions

Extra Credit: In honor of our conversation this afternoon, what is your favorite line from the this very important and amazing and serious and not at all creepy song? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwgP2gCzSC4

9/11

Sorry for the late blog update today. I have meetings Tuesdays until 5:00. This is the blog is a back-up to your planner, not your planner...

HW due Wednesday:

1. Writing Territories --- Pick 1 writing territory from your list that we worked on in the Ideas section of our Writer's Workshop Journal today in class and write about it for 14 minutes. Don't worry about content, spelling, organization, etc... The goal is to simply practice writing on a topic you are an expert on (you!) for 14 minutes. If you choose to write longer than 14 minutes please make a note of that on your work.

Thursday we are headed to Mudbone Grown Unity Farm for our field study!

9/10

My bad for not updating this over the weekend. Sorry. As of right now, you are not going to be having any assigned weekend homework so long as you are reading 20-30 minutes daily (including on Saturday and Sunday).

HW due Tuesday:

1. Just Right Choice Fiction Novel
...Have your just right fiction novel in class tomorrow. This should be a fiction book that is a good fit for you (this includes graphic novels), that you have never read before, and that you can finish within 1 month. If this is going to be in class tomorrow you should communicate that with me before 8:40 am and have a plan for how you are going to get this book.

If you are still struggling to find a good fit book you should check out some of these options here: Books Middle Schoolers Should Read (I have many of these in my classroom)

2. Quote - Bring in a quote you stand for or a quote that you think best represents the way life should be lived.

...This quote can be written down, typed, printed. It can be from someone you know, someone you look up to, someone who is no longer living, or someone who is currently living (including your own self). It can be from a song or from a fictional character. It should be middle school appropriate. This quote will live on our wall all year long. Make sure you are willing to stand by it!

Here are some examples of quotes if you are struggling to come up with one: http://brightdrops.com/inspirational-quotes-for-kids

If you want more time to think about it you can have it as long as you let me know tomorrow before 8:40 (mjansa@pps.net).

9/6

HW due Friday:

1. Making Sense of Summer activity
...Use the rubric on the handout (and in the link above) as your guide. You can print, draw, paint, or bring in your artifact. Include a current event from your summer.
...You should spend at least 8 minutes on this tonight, even if you finished it at school since we worked on it for 30 minutes. You should spend no more than than 31 minutes on this tonight unless you want to add more.

9/5

HW due Thursday:

We are not going on a field study tomorrow.

1. Important Moments in My Reading History
...Follow the prompts on the worksheet to make sure you are responding to questions with detail and explanations. I will be collecting this at the start of class tomorrow.

2. Bring choice reading material to class tomorrow. We will always start Thursday (and Tuesday) with silent reading and it is expected that you have reading material that you are reading to engage in with you on those days.

3. We are going to the Belmont Library in the afternoon. If you want to check out a book, bring your library card (if you have one). If you don't have one and you have permission from a guardian we can help get one set up for you tomorrow. 

9/4

HW due Wednesday:

1. Moda Center Fountain Field Study Assignment
...A reminder to use the Field Study Assignment Rubric for your work and R.A.C.E. (Re-state + Answer + Cite Evidence + Explain) with at least two specific examples from the field study and a connection for your Essential Question

2. Perspective Card
...Create a 1/2 of paper with the word Perspective on it from your perspective. Meaning, write that word however you want on the card. The only requirement is that the word Perspective is somewhere on the card. You can do whatever; write, draw, paint, use technology, or anything else so long as the word is on the paper.

For Example:



We worked on this HW for 20 minutes in class this afternoon. I don't expect students to work on this for more than 32 minutes tonight unless you want to. If you have been working on your field study assignment for more than 32 minutes and you aren't finished, stop and email me (mjansa@pps.net) and we can set up a plan to finish the rest tomorrow. 

8/31

We did it! We are one full week into the school year!!!

HW due Tuesday:

You do have actual real life homework this weekend. You should be reading every day this weekend
for 20-30 minutes. That is all you have to do, just read any choice reading material (which includes  Audible and Learning Ally) and stay engaged for at least 20 minutes.

Enjoy your long weekend folks and I will see you for a community circle/class meeting Tuesday morning at 8:45.

8/30

Awesome first field study today. Great job on the bus/max, connecting as a community, and fountain frolicking.

HW due Friday:
1. Moda Center Field Study Assignment - Assignment Questions ONLY
...Complete assignment questions 2, 3, and 4 in your E-Core Journal (or type them out, get them printed, and taped into your E-Core Journal). 

8/29

HW due Thursday:

1. We are going on a field study tomorrow!!! We are headed to the Moda Center Fountain to practice field study expectations and build community around 9:45 and should be back no later than 2:30. Make sure you bring a lunch (or get one from the cafeteria in the morning), bring a water bottle, a towel (if you want to get wet), and a positive attitude.

2. You are expected to come to class tomorrow with choice reading material (Anything you want to read!). This could include a book you are reading, a comic book, a newspaper, magazine, an audible book or kindle (we will set up a plan for how to use these in class in the coming weeks), something on Learning Ally, etc... The important thing is that you come to class with something to read!

See you all tomorrow for what should be a radical day!

Happy Summertime!!!!

HOORAY FOR SUMMER

The homework that I am giving everyone for the rest of their lives is to keep reading daily!!! Here are some great book options for summer reading: Michael's Class - Great Summer Reads

May your time away from school be filled with joy, family, reading (and maybe even some writing!), relaxation, friends, adventure, challenges, growth, hammocks, smiles, and life! Happy summer everyone!!!

Big thanks to Crea for this epic picture that captures the beauty that was our Room 211 Community:

6/6

HW due Thursday: 

1. Class Appreciations ... spend 11 minutes working on your class appreciations (Michael's Class List). Our goal is to have them done by the end of the day tomorrow.

2. 8th graders, you need to bring your portfolio into class tomorrow to share. This is in the place of your service reflection this term.

3. If you want to bring in any food that reminds of home or family to celebrate our creative cooking challenge tomorrow afternoon please do so as long as you have enough for everyone and can share what the ingredients are.

6/5

HW due Wednesday:

1. All late work is due no later than tomorrow, Wednesday, June 6th, at 4:37. I will be closing the gradebook after that time. Updated Grades - 6/1

2. Spend 11 minutes work on your class appreciations Michael's Class List

6/4/2018

HW due Tuesday:

1. 6th + 7th Graders - Term 4 Service Reflection is due tomorrow
a. Use the rubric for your reflection as you work to make sure you meet all expectations
b. If you work on your reflection for more than 36 minutes, stop, email me (mjansa@pps.net), and show me evidence of 36 minutes of work. If necessary I will give you space to finish it at school tomorrow.

Term 4 Service Reflection Rubric + Graphic Organizer

Term 4 Service Reflection - Alternative Options

8th Graders, you need to have your entire portfolio finished and ready to share with our class (this is your Term 4 Service Reflection!) on Thursday.

Tomorrow we will start the process of writing our class appreciations. If anyone wants to get a head start, here is a class list: Michael's Class List

A reminder that the end of the day Wednesday is the last day to turn in late work. The grade book closes after that. Take ownership of any missing work before then.

6/1/18

HW due Monday:

1. Service Learning
a. 6th + 7th grade come into school Monday with your 3 hours of term 4 service learning complete
b. 8th Graders come into school Monday with your Remember Me poem complete. We will be sharing them Monday afternoon.
c. We will have the afternoon hour to work on our service reflections and 8th grade portfolios.

2. Bring your narrative nonfiction that you should have finished with you to class Monday.

Next Wednesday, June 6th is the last day to turn in any work for Term 4. Here is the most up to date assignment spreadsheet: Updated Assignment Spreadsheet 6-1-18

If you would like to order a yearbook, do so here: https://www.schoolpay.com/link/2018MiddleSchoolYearBook

If you are interested in participating in the Creative Cooking Challenge take a look at the ingredients in the SES garden, the guidelines, and bring in a potential recipe that you think we could use. People who demonstrated interest in this process will be considered for the cooking with Steph next week.

5/31

Thanks for an awesome last field study up at Mt. Tabor, where it all started this year.

HW due Friday:
1. Mt. Tabor Field Study Assignment (last field study assignment of the year!!!)

2. Finish your narrative nonfiction book and bring it into class tomorrow.


EXTRA:

If you are interested in participating in the Creative Cooking Challenge take a look at the ingredients in the SES garden, the guidelines, and bring in a potential recipe that you think we could use. People who demonstrated interest in this process will be considered for the cooking with Steph next week.

5/30

HW due Thursday:

1. LAST FIELD STUDY OF THE YEAR to MT. Tabor!!!
a. Look through your e-core... All of it! Write down your 3 favorite field study memories and why
b. Bring appropriate clothes like you would for P.E... We will definitely be doing some running tomorrow
c. Since it is our last field study of the year, if you want to bring any snacks that can be shared with everybody in our class to help celebrate, please do so.

2. Bring in your narrative non-fiction book for silent reading tomorrow (you need to be finished with your first book by Friday).

3. We will be finishing our ancient cultures post-assessment in class tomorrow, make sure you come prepared with your blue folder and e-core journal to finish up this assessment!

Be thinking about what you are doing for your Term 4 service learning experience. You should have your hours complete by Monday. 

Ancient Cultures Unit - Post Assessment

Ancient Cultures Unit - Post Assessment

5/29

Welcome back to the world of our core class blog. There are two weeks left in the school year!!!

You have no specific homework due tomorrow. Your homework is to check in and catch up based off the following details that we talked about during our planner time. Starting tomorrow you will get nightly week day homework through next Tuesday.

Here is a link to the grades I sent home to your families yesterday:
Updated Grades 5-29

Thursday, May 31st - Final Field Study - Mt. Tabor

Friday, June 1st - Narrative Nonfiction book complete

Monday, June 4th - 6th + 7th grade has finished their term 4 service hours and 8th grade has finished their portfolio

Tuesday, June 5th - Term 4 Service Reflection due (we will work on these all afternoon Monday).

Wednesday, June 6th = Last day to turn in work!!!

5/17

HW due Friday:

1. Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project
... After working on this in class for over 2 hours you should be close to done (if not done already) by now. This is due tomorrow morning. Come in ready with any of your work and with anything you need printed shared with me before 8:30.

8th Graders, we are doing your official Catalina portfolio check-in tomorrow. Everything (except for the 2 letters) that is due before May 18th should be completed by tomorrow.

5/16

HW due Thursday:

1. Narrative Nonfiction book in school
2. Work on Ancient Cultures project for 21 minutes

a. Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project PROPOSAL
b. Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project
c. Bring in any materials needed for your project to class tomorrow!!!

8th graders... As a reminder, I am giving you until Friday to be able to show all of your 8th grade portfolio work. You will get between 39 minutes to an hour to work on portfolio stuff in class on Thursday.

5/15

HW due Wednesday:

1. Late opening!!! School starts @ 10:45. You will be starting the day tomorrow in Library.

2. Narrative Nonfiction Assignment #4 ... Complete what you didn't finish in your 20 minutes of class work today as homework. Work on this assignment WHILE you read.

8th graders... As a reminder, I am giving you until Friday to be able to show all of your 8th grade portfolio work. You will get between 39 minutes to an hour to work on portfolio stuff in class on Thursday. 

Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project!!!

Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project PROPOSAL

Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project

5/14

HW due Tuesday:

1. Bring narrative nonfiction book to class for silent reading

2. Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project Proposal (green sheet)
a. Spend 16 minutes working on your project proposal, which asks you to choose to ancient cultures to focus on, 1 element of culture to further research, and 1 artifact from each ancient culture that could connect to that element of culture. Your main note-sheets in your blue folder will help you with this! You do not need to finish this, just spend 16 minutes on it as HW

Wednesday = Late Start @10:45

Ancient Cultures - Learning Extension - Resources:

Student View - Updated Term 4 Grades

Ancient Cultures - End of Unit Project - Proposal

Ancient Cultures - Learning Extension - Resources:

Ancient Cultures - Pathfinder

The Ancient World - History Alive
Use the following chapters from History Alive to support your learning

Ch. 1-6: The Rise of Civilizations
Ch. 7-12 - Ancient Egypt
Ch. 13-18 - Ancient India
Ch. 19 - 24 - Ancient China
Ch. 25-31 - Ancient Greece
Ch. 32-37 - Ancient Rome

Australian Aboriginal Resources:

Myths of Australian Aborigines

History and Culture

Legends

Aboriginal Culture

The British Museum - Indigenous Australians

PBS Australia - the First 4 Billion Years

Ancient Sub-Saharan West Africa Resources:

The Age of Pre-colonial Civilization

Timeline of Sub-Saharan Africa

The History of Sub-Saharan Africa

Ancient Sub-Saharan Africa

Native Cultures in Sub Sahara Africa

British Museum - Kingdomof Ife

Mr. Dowling - Ancient Africa

Ancient Egypt Resources:

The British Museum - Ancient Egypt

PBS - Golden Empire

Mr. Dowling - Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Culture and Traditions

Explore the Pyramids

Pharaohs

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Ancient Mayan Culture Resources::

Guide to Mayan Culture

Ancient Mayan Facts

Mayan Culture

Maya History

Maya History and Maps

The British Museum

BBC - The Fall of Mayan Civilization

National Geographic

Ancient Greece + Rome Resources:

Ancient Greece for Kids

Ancient Greek City-States

BBC Primary History - Greece

BBC History - Rome

Ancient Rome for Kids

Roman Life

Mr. Dowling  Rome and Greece

Ancient Gods and Goddesses - Greece

The British Museum - Greece and Rome

More sites about Greece here, here, and here

More sites about Rome here, here and here

Ancient Roman Clothing

5/11

Happy weekend folks!

Your weekend homework is to read your narrative nonfiction book each day for 20 minutes. You don't need to write anything down. You need to have finished your book by June 1st.

If you have not already brought in the $5 for our Japanese Garden field study, please do so on Monday.

5/10

HW due Friday:

1. Japanese Garden Field Study Assignment
a. You have no Essential Question due tomorrow!!! However, you do need to make up an essential question based off your experiences that will you can make me answer
b. Complete your 4 assignment questions based off your experiences

2. EARLY DISMISSAL @ 11:45

5/9

HW due Thursday:

1. Ancient India - Elements of Culture Notetaking Worksheet
a. Using your learning, previous worksheet, and History Alive textbook (Ch. 13-16) find an artifacts related to Ancient India that can connect with each element of culture. In addition, list 2 things that stood out you in your learning, 2 vocabulary words from the unit, and 1 question about Ancient India you still have or what you want to learn more about

2. We are going on a field study to the Japanese Gardens for our field study tomorrow. Bring a lunch, water, and appropriate clothing. The trip costs $5. If you can bring that in tomorrow great, otherwise I will collect next week when I have given you more support/communication around that

EXTRA CREDIT: 3 facts about the Japanese Gardens (https://japanesegarden.org/)

Ancient Cultures - Learning Extension - Resources:

Ancient Cultures - Learning Extension - Resources:

Ancient Cultures - Pathfinder

The Ancient World - History Alive
Use the following chapters from History Alive to support your learning

Ch. 1-6: The Rise of Civilizations
Ch. 7-12 - Ancient Egypt
Ch. 13-18 - Ancient India
Ch. 19 - 24 - Ancient China
Ch. 25-31 - Ancient Greece
Ch. 32-37 - Ancient Rome

Australian Aboriginal Resources:

Myths of Australian Aborigines

History and Culture

Legends

Aboriginal Culture

The British Museum - Indigenous Australians

PBS Australia - the First 4 Billion Years

Ancient Sub-Saharan West Africa Resources:

The Age of Pre-colonial Civilization

Timeline of Sub-Saharan Africa

The History of Sub-Saharan Africa

Ancient Sub-Saharan Africa

Native Cultures in Sub Sahara Africa

British Museum - Kingdomof Ife

Mr. Dowling - Ancient Africa

Ancient Egypt Resources:

The British Museum - Ancient Egypt

PBS - Golden Empire

Mr. Dowling - Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Culture and Traditions

Explore the Pyramids

Pharaohs

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Ancient Mayan Culture Resources::

Guide to Mayan Culture

Ancient Mayan Facts

Mayan Culture

Maya History

Maya History and Maps

The British Museum

BBC - The Fall of Mayan Civilization

National Geographic

Ancient Greece + Rome Resources:

Ancient Greece for Kids

Ancient Greek City-States

BBC Primary History - Greece

BBC History - Rome

Ancient Rome for Kids

Roman Life

Mr. Dowling  Rome and Greece

Ancient Gods and Goddesses - Greece

The British Museum - Greece and Rome

More sites about Greece here, here, and here

More sites about Rome here, here and here

Ancient Roman Clothing