Winter Break

HAPPY WINTER BREAK FOLKS!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy your time away from school, appreciate people in your life, try something new, relax, play, and READ DAILY!!!

Here are the most updated grades that I sent home to families on 12/19. Term 2 ends in mid-January:

Michael's Class Grades - Term 2 - 12/18/19

If you need some support finding a good fit book for you to be reading check out some of these lists and options:

Books Middle Schoolers Should Read - Michael's Class

OBOB Book Titles 2019-20

OBOB Book Titles 2018-19

SES QSA 2019 Book Drive List

Michael's Class Reading Recommendations - What is a book you read in the last two years that you recommend and why?

Jonah → Bone → it was engaging
Cassius → Paper Towns → Fast-paced
Alex → Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian → plot twists
Wyatt → Gone → characters developed well… it was good. Liked the story…
Orion → Ari and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe → the characters seemed real… quick read
Maddox → the Dark Secret … Wings of Fire Series → dragons are awesome
Vanport → One Punch Man → Funny dialogue and the monsters were hilarious… the whole series gets broken down in a few pages… Is he good or evil?
Basilia → Batman! → Tells multiple perspectives in a way of having a hero without gruesome deaths and pride
Georgia → Library of Souls (Mrs. Peregrine series) → intense story and characters felt real and a satisfying ending
Jasmine → Carry On → well-written and seems like is actually happen (set in the modern world… you can connect with them)
Lucy → Paper Towns → John Green’s humor struck me
Will → Harry Potter → engaging and fantasy was cool
Haviva → On the Come Up → the book effectively connected you to the characters even if you didn’t share that much in common
Zack → the Voyages in the Underworld of Orphan’s Black → Intense… can feel those character’s emotion… get all the feels… lots of action
Ian → Crash → well read and relatable
Leo → Hate U Give → Police brutality and it’s impact… discrimination … standing up for yourself
Laura → On the Come Up → Intense and it seems like something that is happening right now in America
Abhaya → Blended → a good story … things happen that are real that was informing that not everyone understands… the story of being in a racially blended family going through a divorce… police brutality and racism are involved in this story.
Lucien → Maze Runner → detail to the point that reading it felt like a movie in your mind
Joseph → Guts → relatable and informational dealing with the fallout of getting sick in school and the bullying that went along with it.
Joaquin → Old Man on the Sea → A break from the modern world… set in the early 1950’s in Cuba… a starving fisherman going through a big battle with a large fish while out at sea… slow start but once I got passed that part it was incredibly engaging
Caleb → Lord of the Flies → an intriguing plot that was intense and unpredictable…
Logan → The Crossover → written like a poem, but flows real well
Oabiloe → Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead → part of a series involving a ship of toenails and a bank… I could connect to the character
Ruah → How it Went Down → based off a true story involving a racialized shooting… it goes through the different perspectives involved in what went down

12/19

I hope you all enjoyed your mini-classes today!!! Share a highlight with someone from your family.

What book are you going to read over winter break???

Tomorrow is the last day before winter break. It is also the day we will celebrate our secret snowflake.

Please consider the following regarding Secret Snowflake:

You can deliver a homemade gift or something under $4.99 (total for the entire week) either Wednesday or Friday. Here is a list of some of the feedback folks who were in school shared today. If you need support with this I always have back-up and extra to help people out...

Secret Snowflake 2019 - Things to Know
Michael → Personalized notes with a specific detail are most meaningful to me
Cassius → peace tea, any flavor of (normal) Lays chips
Alex → Peace tea, gum
Oabiloe → Root beer, gum, chips (potato style)
Will → peppermints, skittles, chips (gluten free)
Maddox → I like small cute art supplies
Vanport → sweedish fish, arizona, recess peanut butter cups
Lucy → Takis and yea
Emmie → Takis
Laura → gum and M&M’s
Abhaya → sour patch kids and Almond Joys
Jasmine → peppermint and milk chocolate
Georgia → art supplies, small plants, and candy
Basilia → jolly ranchers, dr. pepper, art supplies
Jonah → peace tea, candy (except for dark chocolate) + chips
Lucien → M&M’s, pepsi, and jolly ranchers
Joseph → peace tea, spiiiiicy chips
Caleb → peace tea, chocolate, and BBQ chips
Logan → soda, chips, and milky way
Joaquin → Takis, dollar store Mr. Shasta (the ‘other’ version of coke), smarties
Wyatt → Soda, candy
Leo → Gum and chips
Orion → gum, chocolate, and root beer
Haviva → coke and takis

Absent: Ruah, Natalie, Ian, Gavin, Zack

12/18

I hope everyone enjoyed their mini-classes this afternoon.

Tomorrow we will be in core class from 8:45 - 9:30 and 2:50 - 3:15. The rest of the day will be spent in your mini-class.

We will start our day in core with silent reading like we do every Thursday. Be sure to have silent reading material in class tomorrow morning. We will also use that time to discuss our Winter Break Reading Assignment.

You have no other homework (besides your 20 minutes of daily reading) due tomorrow.

12/17

HW due Wednesday: 

1. Winter Break Reading Assignment

2. Secret Snowflake begins tomorrow. You can deliver a homemade gift or something under $4.99 (total for the entire week) either Wednesday or Friday. Here is a list of some of the feedback folks who were in school shared today. If you need support with this I always have back-up and extra to help people out...

Secret Snowflake 2019 - Things to Know
Michael → Personalized notes with a specific detail are most meaningful to me
Cassius → peace tea, any flavor of (normal) Lays chips
Alex → Peace tea, gum
Oabiloe → Root beer, gum, chips (potato style)
Will → peppermints, skittles, chips (gluten free)
Maddox → I like small cute art supplies
Vanport → sweedish fish, arizona, recess peanut butter cups
Lucy → Takis and yea
Emmie → Takis
Laura → gum and M&M’s
Abhaya → sour patch kids and Almond Joys
Jasmine → peppermint and milk chocolate
Georgia → art supplies, small plants, and candy
Basilia → jolly ranchers, dr. pepper, art supplies
Jonah → peace tea, candy (except for dark chocolate) + chips
Lucien → M&M’s, pepsi, and jolly ranchers
Joseph → peace tea, spiiiiicy chips
Caleb → peace tea, chocolate, and BBQ chips
Logan → soda, chips, and milky way
Joaquin → Takis, dollar store Mr. Shasta (the ‘other’ version of coke), smarties
Wyatt → Soda, candy
Leo → Gum and chips
Orion → gum, chocolate, and root beer
Haviva → coke and takis

Absent: Ruah, Natalie, Ian, Gavin, Zack

12/16

HW due Tuesday:

1. Bring choice reading material to class!!!!!!!!

2. We will be having an open E-Core geology post-assessment tomorrow afternoon. We will spend part of our morning further preparing. It will include asking you to respond to 2 of the following unit essential questions with evidence from our learning:
-How are earth's systems interconnected?
-How does geology impact my life and human beings?
-How is geological evidence gathered and used

We will determine our secret snowflake plan of action tomorrow morning

How Does Our Earth Work? - Project Write-Up

HW due Friday: 

 How Does Our Earth Work? Individual Interactive Project due tomorrow

As you wrap up, check on the rubric on the orange packet (or page 4 on the link above) to make sure you are meeting all requirements. Your work should include a Connections Web and Project Write-Up (we worked on this for over an hour and 30 minutes in class today... some of our instructions for the write up from class are included below).

Also, consider volunteering to help out as a tour guide in our classroom or to sign up for other service learning opportunities throughout the rest of the school community tomorrow. 

Riparian Festival - Michael's Class Tour Guide Sign-Up 

How Does Our Earth Work? - Project Write-Up - Student Examples

Project Write-Up Requirements:

1. Restate the question
2. Answer the question
3. Cite at least two specific examples to support your response. You need to include the sources for each example.
4. EXPLAIN how those examples support your response. 
5. Include at least one connection.

Citing Sources:

Included in the sentence → 

• According to _________
• As shown in _________
• _____ demonstrates that …

At the end of the sentence in (parenthesis). 

• … that is why this is such an important fact (OMSI Earthquakes Lab)
• … 57 people died in the Mt. St. Helens eruption (Mt. St. Helens - NewsELA.org)

Bonus → include a “Works Cited” at the end of the response listing all the different sources that you used
EXTRA BONUS → use easybib.com to create a formal Works Cited page to go along with your response.

12/11

HW due Thursday:

1. Tomorrow your interactive project is technically due at the end of class. You should spend time tonight working on it (anywhere between 15-40 minutes would be appropriate) with the understanding that you will have one hour to work on it in class tomorrow.

That said, I don't need you to have your entire project in class until Friday morning. Tomorrow in class is going to be a busy, messy day as finish up our group work and I would hate to see any projects get wrecked amidst all the work. It is ok if you don't bring your interactive project into class tomorrow with the understanding that it must be there by Friday morning.

We went over the project write-up in class this afternoon and will work on it together in class tomorrow morning.

The Riparian Festival is Friday from 5:30 - 7:30.

Service Learning Opportunities:
If you are interested in working to get some service learning experience hours there are many opportunities available at the Riparian Festival. You can sign up to help out as a tour guide in our classroom here Riparian Festival - Michael's Class Sign-Up (this is also hanging on the Agenda Board in class) or to help out around the school, including in the cafeteria, art room, or library on the sign-up sheet that we will pass around tomorrow at school. Start thinking about if you are available and what you would like to do. 

12/10

HW due Wednesday:

1. Continue working on your  How Does Our Earth Work? Individual Interactive Project.  It will be due Thursday at the end of the day. We will work on the project write-up together in class on Thursday. Tonight you should spend at least 17 minutes on the project.

Tonight you could make use your homework time to make sure you have completed the Connections Web (page 4 of the document linked above) that we started working on in class on Monday. You should be connecting the main geologic concept of your project to at least 3 other geologic concept. For each connection you need a 1 sentence explanation detailing how these two concepts are connected and an image. A reminder that this connections web will be on display in front of your entire project at the Riparian Festival.

The Riparian Festival is this Friday from 5:30 - 7:30. We will have sign-up opportunities for service learning experiences at the festival in class tomorrow afternoon. 

WEEKEND HW

HW for the weekend...

Yes, you do have homework this weekend. This is also the only weekend of the entire school year where I am saying it is ok to not read for 20 minutes each day.

Instead of reading for 20 minutes daily this weekend, I want you to work on your  How Does Our Earth Work? Individual Interactive Project for a total of 40 minutes. You will get a full hour to work on your project in Art on Monday. Please bring any necessary materials. The entire project is due by the end of class on Thursday, December 12th. A reminder that we will work on the write-up and connections web in class on Thursday.

We will start Monday morning with silent reading to make up for it. Please bring reading material.

12/5

HW due Friday:

1. Just like last night, continue to work on your How Does Our Earth Work? Individual Interactive Project - Work on this for another 23 minutes today for HW. Do you know the geological concept you want to focus on? The research question that will guide your project? Can you find enough information about it? How will you show your learning in an interactive way? Can you access the materials you need? Bring in any materials you need to work on this in class tomorrow. 

12/4

HW due Thursday:

1. Reed College Cooley Art Gallery
a. Extra Credit --- Come with three facts about our exhibit tomorrow: https://www.reed.edu/gallery/
b. We will be eating lunch in the cafeteria. You can bring a lunch or buy one there (no more than $9, 1 special treat, and no caffeine).

2. How Does Our Earth Work? Individual Interactive Project - Work on this for 23 minutes today for HW. Do you know the geological concept you want to focus on? The research question that will guide your project? Can you find enough information about it? How will you show your learning in an interactive way? Can you access the materials you need?

We will work on this more tomorrow in class after our field study. Bring in any materials you may need for your project into school tomorrow. 

How Does Our Earth Work Online Resources

How Does Our Earth Work - Individual Research Project - 2019

Consider while using one of these online resources... Will this research question work for you? Are you engaged, curious, and confident? Can you independently access enough information? Can you figure out how to share your learning in an interactive way? What materials will you need?

Online Research Resources:

KidsGeology

Its OK To Be Smart YouTube Channel

Crash Course - Earth Science

OPB Oregon Geology Tour - Video

Mt. Hood Fault Lines

Mars InSight Landing

Bill Nye - Earth Science Home Demos

12/3

HW due Wednesday:

1. Geology Vocabulary Card: create a vocab card with the word, definition in your own words, and image for one of the following volcano terms...

• Shield Volcano
• Composite Volcano
• Caldera
• Volcanic Soil
• Crater
• Ring of Fire
• Hot spot Volcanoes. 
• Cinder Cone Volcano
• Vent

OTHER HW: 

Consider what geologic concept, research question, and interactive project you might do for your How Does Our Earth Work - Individual Research Project - 2019.

***Sarah Kastrup came and talked to us Monday morning about an awesome service learning opportunity in the coming weeks working with folks at the retirement community on 60th and Division to connect, listen, and work with them to help write some of their stories.

If you are interested it would require you to go with Sarah to the retirement community on Friday, 12/6 for roughly 1 hour at 10:00 AM. You would miss school and need parent permission. You would then work with Sarah to write their stories. You would go back to share and celebrate on Wednesday, December 18th at 10:00 AM with Sarah. ***

12/2

Welcome back to the world of school folks!

HW due Tuesday:

1. Post Conferences Student Reflection  --- If your family hasn't had their conference yet, check to make sure they have one scheduled and then complete this reflection once it is over.

Extra Credit: What is one thing you read over the Fall Break and what did you think about it???

***Sarah Kastrup came and talked to us this morning about an awesome service learning opportunity in the coming weeks working with folks at the retirement community on 60th and Division to connect, listen, and work with them to help write some of their stories.

If you are interested it would require you to go with Sarah to the retirement community on Friday, 12/6 for roughly 1 hour at 10:00 AM. You would miss school and need parent permission. You would then work with Sarah to write their stories. You would go back to share and celebrate on Wednesday, December 18th at 10:00 AM with Sarah. ***

11/21

HW due Friday:

1. Writing for Justice - Self-Editing - No matter where you are at in the writing process, assess yourself on a 1-4 scale (1 is no evidence, 2 is close to meeting, 3 is meets expectations, 4 is exceeds expectations) on the main components of the Writing for Justice narrative we have been working on. Give evidence for your score.

2. Conferences - check with your families... Are your people signed up to come have a conference with me next week? https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f44afa82fa0fd0-fall3

11/20

HW due Thursday:

No field study tomorrow. Come with silent reading material! We will work on editing our Writing For Justice narratives, getting set-up for our conferences, and exploring volcanoes!

1. Tonight your homework is to continue working on your Writing For Justice narratives for 19 minutes. If you don't have access to the document or technology, hand-write it and we can add it to your story later.

As you are working on your Writing For Justice narrative, consider the handouts in your WW Journal, and SES Student Examples 2017-18.

Your writing should include the following:

• Hook
• Dialogue (with blocking) AND CORRECT PUNCTUATION 
• Inner Monologue!!!
• Add a clear and obvious SLOW MOTION MOMENT for a very important part of your Writing For Justice narrative. This can include sensory details, inner monologue, and metaphors/similes

Writing For Justice - Examples

Writing For Justice - Student Examples - 2017 +18

11/19

HW due Wednesday:

1. Punctuating Dialogue - Practice

11/18

HW due Tuesday:

1. Dialogue writing - Write for 13 minutes about any conversation you have had between now and tomorrow morning. The purpose of this 13 minutes of writing is to practice writing dialogue.

Reference this punctuating conversation sheet to make sure you are including correct dialogue conventions.

Can you include blocking (the action going on while people are talking) with your dialogue? Inner monologue?

Use the Narrative Criteria Sheet as a back-up support if you are struggling with blocking or inner monologue.

11/14

HW due Friday:

1. OMSI Field Study Assignment (EQs + AQs) ... We worked on this for 20 + minutes in class this afternoon. Be sure to use the rubric on the back of the itinerary as a guide. 

11/13

HW due Thursday:

1. Field study to OMSI!!! Come prepared for our Earthquakes Lab and the Exquisite Creatures exhibit with a lunch and engaged mind!!! If you need a little motivation about what Earthquakes are all about, check out what the Amoeba People have to say about it.

2. Writing For Justice - HOOKS (Narrative Leads) - Write out 2 different kinds of hooks for two of the stories on your Writing For Justice - MY LIFE brainstorm sheet (2 hooks TOTAL). Remember these are only the beginning of the stories. You don't need to tell everything, just the first few sentences. Use dialogue, action, or thought to begin your hook. No need to spend more than 22 minutes on this at the most.

11/12

HW due Wednesday:

1. Writing For Justice - My Life

a. Today we defined target, ally/upstander, bystander, and perpetrator and then read On Cracking White City in class. We discussed who in that story played what role while citing evidence as support. 

b. Your homework tonight is to think of examples in your life of when you have experience as a target, ally/upstander, bystander, and perpetrator. Add a total of 9 examples on  your list (no explanation necessary). Don't spend more than 21 minutes working on this. If you are struggling, you can see my examples here at the bottom of page Writing For Justice - My Life

: 

11/7

HW due Friday:

1. Portland Art Museum - Assignment Questions

2. Community Expectations Sheet signed by an adult in your life + dance permission slip (if you are coming to the dance that is happening tomorrow night). 

11/6

HW due Thursday:

1. Field Study to the Portland Art Museum
a. Come prepared to leave by 9:10. Bring a lunch and water bottle and an engaged mind.
b. Come with 3 facts about the Hank Willis Thomas - All Things Being Equal exhibit
https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/hank-willis-thomas/
Hank Willis Thomas - All Things Equal - Interview (5 minutes)
https://www.hankwillisthomas.com/

2. Bring in your Community Expectations sheet signed by an adult in your family. 

Danger of a Single Story

Single Story 
a. We watched the first 9 minutes and 30 seconds of this TED Talk: Danger of a Single Story
b. I shared examples of different experiences I had with single stories and we brainstormed using the Danger of a Single Story - Graphic Organizer
c. Single Story - Student Examples

11/5

Hi all, sorry for the late blog update. I have meetings every Tuesday right after school until 5:00.

HW due Wednesday:

1. Single Story 
a. We watched the first 9 minutes and 30 seconds of this TED Talk: Danger of a Single Story
b. I shared examples of different experiences I had with single stories and we brainstormed using the Danger of a Single Story - Graphic Organizer
c. Tonight write 1 paragraph about 3 single story experiences you have. Each story is only an intro to that story, not all of it. It is quick writing tonight. This should take you anywhere between 14-26 minutes.

HW due Thursday:
1. Bring in  your Community Expectations form signed by an adult in your life.

A reminder that there is a dance this Friday, November 8th!

11/4

HW due Tuesday:

1. Dynamic Earth (orange) textbook - finish reading pages 33-39 and 42-47 (this is something we worked on in class this afternoon). Respond to questions 1-3 only on page 39 or on page 47 (You pick which section to respond to. You only have to do one).

Thursday = field study to Portland Art Museum

Term 1 Feedback

Michael's Class - Term 1 Reflection + Feedback 

Sarah's Science Lab - Feedback

End of Term 1 Stuff

Term 1 Service Learning Reflection 

Term 1 Updated Grades - 10/30/19

The Amoeba People - Alfred Wegener Song

REMEMBER TO READ FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES DAILY OVER THE LONG WEEKEND 

10/30

HW due Thursday, October 31st!!!

1. Work on your  Final Choice Fiction Novel Assignment for 24 minutes. You don't have to finish it tonight. You will get time to work on it tomorrow in class as well. It will be due at the end of the class.

2. Tomorrow is the last day of term 1. All late work is due by the end of the day tomorrow. Term 1 Updated Grades - 10/28. If you didn't bring in your evidence of one hour of service learning, be sure to have it tomorrow.

3. NO SCHOOL FRIDAY, 11/1!!!!

10/29

HW due Wednesday: 

1. Service Learning - 1 hour completed with evidence of that hour (which can include a parent signature) ---

2. RICE Museum Essential Question ONLY  - We worked on this on 10/10 in class and again this morning in class.

3. Beacon Rock Field Study Assignment - Your Assignment Questions for this were due on 10/25. We worked on the EQ on Monday and this morning in class. 

HW due Thursday at the end of class:

1. Final Choice Fiction Novel Assignment (you will get 20 minutes to work on this Wednesday and an hour to work on this in class on Thursday)

2. All late work!!! Term 1 Updated Grades - 10/28

Term 1 ends Thursday, 10/31

10/28

HW due Tuesday: 

1. Bring silent reading material to class for tomorrow morning
2. For My People poem

For My People Poem - Requirements

Content:

• Names at least 1 group you identify with and at least 3 characteristics about that group
• References at least one misconception or stereotype that group faces 
• Includes at least one idea about the group that shows what makes them awesome or gives hope to the group

4 Writing Moves:

• Repeating lines
• List
• Specific detail
• Other: Action words, similes/metaphors, alliteration, or any other writing move you can identify 

Term 1 ends on Thursday, October 31st. You have until then to turn in any late work. Here are the Term 1 - Updated Grades - 10/28 that I shared with families via email on Sunday. 

10/25

Harvest Fair - Saturday 4:00 - 7:00 --- Michael's Class Sign Up (there are still open slots if you want to help out!!!)

Make sure you are reading daily for at least 20 minutes this weekend!!!

10/24

HW due Friday:

1. Beacon Rock Field Study Assignment - ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS ONLY (not the EQ)

Friday = SES Run/Walk/Move - Can you get anyone to support you and our school through pledges???

Your first just right choice fiction novel should be complete by Friday, October 25th.

Saturday = Harvest Fair - Do you want to sign up for our fishing booth that evening in the gym? Harvest Fair - Michael's Class Booth - Sign Up Sign ups for cafeteria support will be available tomorrow. Can you bring in any old toys for our fishing booth? Do you want to make a cake for the cake walk? 

10/23

HW due Thursday:

1. BEACON ROCK FIELD STUDY!!!!
a. Come prepared for cold, windy, wet weather... It might not be like that the entire time, but be prepared for all weather!!! We will be hiking up and down Beacon Rock. Bring appropriate shoes for hiking.
b. Come with 3 facts written down about Beacon Rock - https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Beacon_Rock

Friday = SES Run/Walk/Move - Can you get anyone to support you and our school through pledges???

Your first just right choice fiction novel should be complete by Friday, October 25th.

Saturday = Harvest Fair - Do you want to sign up for our fishing booth that evening in the gym? Harvest Fair - Michael's Class Booth - Sign Up Sign ups for cafeteria support will be available tomorrow. Can you bring in any old toys for our fishing booth? Do you want to make a cake for the cake walk? 

10/22

HW due Wednesday:

1. Geology Vocabulary Card - Create a vocabulary card with your assigned geology word (if you forgot or were absent, pick one from the list below). The card should include your word, an image (it can be created or printed), and a definition in your own words.

Geology Vocabulary: Missoula Floods, Basalt, Fissure Volcano, Cinder Cone Volcano, Glacial Erratic, Magma, Beacon Rock, Rock Cycle, Sedimentary Rocks, Igneous Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks

If you left the Terra Tempo graphic novel at home yesterday, please be sure to bring it back tomorrow. Robinś class needs this book!

Thursday = Beacon Rock Field Study (be prepared with appropriate clothes and shoes... It has the potential to be windy, cold, and wet, and we will be hiking for almost 2 total miles up and down).

Friday = SES Run/Walk/Move - We passed out pledge forms today. Can you get anyone to support you and our school through pledges???

Your first just right choice fiction novel should be complete by Friday, October 25th.

10/21

HW due Tuesday:

1. Terra Tempo geology graphic novel. Read your Terra Tempo graphic novel for 20 minutes (this can count as your expected 20-30 minutes of daily reading!). Write down 1 connection you made while reading and 2 things you learned about geology through the text. You can write these out anywhere. Please make sure to get the book back to school tomorrow. Thank you!

Thursday = Beacon Rock Field Study (be prepared with appropriate clothes and shoes... It has the potential to be windy, cold, and wet, and we will be hiking for almost 2 total miles up and down).

Friday = SES Run/Walk/Move (I will be passing out forms tomorrow in class)

Your first just right choice fiction novel should be complete by Friday, October 25th.

Saturday = SES Harvest Fair

Outdoor School + Health Rotations Week

6th grade students are Outdoor School this week (10/14 - 10/18).

7th and 8th grade students are at school but in grade level health rotations and are not meeting as core classes. 7th and 8th grade students also have math and Spanish everyday this week.

7th and 8th graders should be reading daily for at least 20-30 minutes this week.  Michael's core class students should be working to finish their first just right choice fiction novel by Tuesday, October 22nd. If 6th graders are worried about finishing their first book by this date, they can have an extension as a result of their time at Outdoor School.

Nobody needs to worry about their Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals field study assignment. We will wrap up that work together in class next week. 

10/9

HW due Thursday:

1. Field study to the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals. Come to class prepared with 3 facts about the museum. We will be leaving at 9:30.

https://ricenorthwestmuseum.org/

2. You will have 9 minutes in class tomorrow to finish your Age Poem that we've been working on all week. If you need more time than that, continue to work on it at home tonight.

3. Bring your choice fiction novel to class tomorrow for silent reading. 

10/8

HW due Wednesday: 

1. Choice Fiction Novel Assignment #3

The Rock Cycle - Online Activity

Rock Cycle - Online Learning Worksheet

The Rock Cycle Online Learning Notes

• Explore each website (links are on the blog… ses211.blogspot.com)
• List at least 2 notes per website

Interactive Rock Cycle (With Animations) 

Point and click on rock types and how they move from type to type: http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/rock_cycle/

Interactive Rock Cycle: 

Click on illustration of rock type and description pops up. http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/rocks/cycle/index.htm#map

Rock Collection: 

Types of rocks, description of rocks, and interactive locations of where these rocks can be found
http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/types2.html

Interactive Types of Rocks 

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0602/es0602page01.cfm

10/7

HW due Tuesday: 

1. Bring your Just Right Choice Fiction novel to class for silent reading to start the day.

2. Complete the Age Poem - Graphic Organizer #1 with at least 8 specific memories filled out.

Thursday = Field Study to RICE Museum
Friday = NO SCHOOL - "State Inservice Day"

Weekend Updates - 10/5

Here are the Term 1 - Updated Grades - 10/4/19 that I sent home to your families this weekend.

A reminder that you should be reading 20-30 minutes DAILY, including on the weekends!!!

Tomorrow is Garden Day from 9:00 - 1:00 at SES. You are all highly encouraged to go!!!! This is a part of our service learning!

Garden Day THIS Sunday, October 6, 9:00-1:00

For a few hours each Fall and Spring, Sunnyside families come together to take care of the school grounds on what we call "GARDEN DAY." The productivity we can accomplish during this short amount of time is incredible if people show up! Drop by and work for however long you can between 9:00am-1:00pm. Projects that require adult-sized bodies, brains, and tools will be the priority. There will also be small tools and smaller jobs for young people. Please do not drop off your student, there will not be supervision- this is a community event, we encourage you to come as a family or together in chaperoned groups.

For more information on Garden Day, please visit our Garden Day Event Post or contact SES Garden Coordinator Steph at sunnysidesustainability@gmail.com.

10/3

HW due Friday:

Thanks to Oabiloe’s epic toss of the ball into the recycling bin, HOMEWORK IS CANCELLED TONIGHT!!!!!!!!

Thanks for an engaged and productive day and my apologies for the hail-storm/break timing in the afternoon.

A reminder that I will be sending your updated grades home this weekend. You can check in with me tomorrow at lunch or after school if you want to take ownership of anything before it goes home to your families.

Intro to Geology Project

Local (and Semi-Local) Geologic Wonders - An Introduction to Geology

Research Requirements: 

Using the Local Geological Wonders Project Document spend least 15 minutes just exploring your group topic.

Watch at least 1 provided video, access at least 1 provided website resource, and find and list at least 1 new helpful, engaging, and informative resource on your own.

10/1

HW due Wednesday:

Things we finished (or almost finished in class) that need to be done by tomorrow:

1. Zoo Tunnel Field Study Assignment + Self-Assessment. Have this completed and turned into the grey E-Core Bin by the start of class tomorrow

2. Metaphor and Simile Graphic Organizer (at least 3 similes, 3 metaphors, and 10 sentences)

Things we didn't work on in class that are due on Wednesday:

3. Choice Fiction Assignment #2 
***Reminder, you only have to complete questions 1, 2, and 3. We will work on question 4 tomorrow in class.*** You can complete these questions on a blank paper or in your Reading Journal.

A reminder that we are not going on a field study this upcoming Thursday.

Saturday is Garden Day at Sunnyside from 9:00 - 1:00.

9/30

HW due Tuesday:

1. Bring "Just Right Choice Fiction" novel into class for silent reading on Tuesday.

2. Finish the Zoo Tunnel Field Study Assignment that we worked on in class this morning. This is due at the start of class tomorrow.

A reminder that our first round of updated grades have been shared and posted in the classroom. These are NOT your final grades for the term, but do provide a snapshot of where you are at now that we are midway through Term 1. These will be shared with your families at the end of the week. 

NewsELA

NewsELA:

Click on the following link to join the class: https://newsela.com/quickjoin/#/FX5GRB

Friday - Easy CBM

Friday AM - Core Class:

Students should be silently and independently engaged during the Easy CBM testing process in the morning.

1. Take Easy CBM vocabulary and comprehension tests. Click here for the link: https://pps-or.easycbm.com/

2. Michael's teacher name is mjansa.

3. When done with the test you can work on your Zoo Tunnel Field Study Assignment Essential Question or continue with the Geologic Time Online Exploration activity from Thursday: 

THE WORKSHEET:
Geologic Time Exploration

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

9/26

HW due Friday:

1. Zoo Tunnel Field Study Assignment - ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS ONLY (we will work on the EQ in school on Friday)... There are only 3 questions. All 3 are graded on completion only. This should take no more than 20 minutes.

If you were absent today, you can spend 10 minutes with the Geologic Time Exploration activity below:

THE WORKSHEET:
Geologic Time Exploration

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

9/25

HW due Thursday:

1. Remind your families that tomorrow is Back to School Night from 6:00 - 7:45. Families should meet in my room at 6:00.

2. Tomorrow we are going to the Zoo Tunnel to connect our learning on geologic time to our own local history. Come prepared for a field study, which should include warmth as we will be in the cold tunnel for up to 45 minutes. You should also come with 3 facts about the zoo tunnel written down. Here are some helpful links related to the Zoo Tunnel:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Park_station_(TriMet)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_Tunnel
https://trimet.org/pdfs/history/railfactsheet-westside.pdf

3. If you didn't finish your Who Am I?! - Personal Poem in class this morning or this afternoon. Please finish it and share it with me before 8:30 tomorrow.

EXTRA CREDIT: 

What is one awesome part of the Zoo Tunnel exhibit that this person talks about on their Zoo Tunnel blog:
https://maxfaqs.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/the-robertson-tunnel/

9/24

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONAH AND LOGAN!!!!!!!

HW due Wednesday:

1. Choice Fiction Novel Assignment #1 (A reminder that this is a 10 point assignment and you can skip the "pacing" part on the back-side. We will do that part together in class tomorrow).

2. Tomorrow is the class group photo. We will be taking our picture at 12:45.

Families are welcome to issue payment for a photo from tomorrow using the following SchoolPay link(s) or by bringing cash or check to the school office.  The best part ~ ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT SUNNYSIDE'S GO FUND!

Goofy Photo:  https://www.schoolpay.com/link/2019-Goofy

Formal Photo:  https://www.schoolpay.com/link/2019-Class-Photo

***Tomorrow is the first Students of Color Affinity Group gathering at 8:45 in Monica's room.***

We will be headed to the Zoo Tunnel to learn about Geologic Time on Thursday. Also, a reminder that Thursday is Back to School Night from 6:00 - 7:45

Those of you who are still wanting to practice your "First Thoughts" from class on Monday can check out the OK GO - This Too Shall Pass video here. 

9/23

Enjoy birthday living Caleb!!!

HW due Tuesday:

1. Have your "Just Right Choice Fiction" novel in class tomorrow.

2. Mt Tabor Field Study Assignment - Complete the EQ and all AQs (we worked on this all day Friday in core class)

***If you were absent from that field study you can read about Mt. Tabor (The Story of Mt. Tabor - One Theory ) and begin working on your Make-Up Field Study Assignment. Check in with me at lunch or after school to set a reasonable due date***

A reminder that Wednesday is our class photo day in the afternoon and that Thursday is Back to School Night for your families from 6:00 - 7:45

9/20

I hope everyone had a meaningful, empowering, and powerful Friday. I'm excited for us to come back together as a community to hear about our experiences.

Those who were in core class had an opportunity to work on our Mt. Tabor Field Study Assignment. We will not be working on this in class on Monday. This assignment will be due Tuesday morning. 

A reminder that all students should be reading 20-30 minutes daily. This weekend your reading time should focus on your "Just Right Choice Fiction Novel" that we officially started reading on Thursday.

9/19

HW due Friday:

1. Create a geology vocabulary card using one of the vocabulary stickers you had on your forehead during our field study today. The vocabulary card should include the word, an image, and a definition of that word in your own words (Don't just copy/paste a definition off the internet. Spend enough time reading about your word that you think you could explain what it means in your own words). If you weren't on the field study or forget what geology stickies you had on your forehead you could pick from any of the following words: geology, plate tectonics, continental drift, layers of the earth, or Mt. St. Helens.

9/18

HW due Thursday:

1. In preparation for our field study tomorrow take 10 minutes to read the Mt. Tabor Geology handout and complete the three "To-Do" questions on the back of the handout. This is a 5 point assignment that is graded on completion.

2. Come to class tomorrow with your "just right choice fiction" book (a reminder that this should be a book you have never read before and that you think you can finish within 1 month). If you are having a hard time finding something, consider our book talks in class today or anything from this list: Books Middle Schoolers Should Read

9/17

Thank you for your patience with the late blog update. Every Tuesday I have meetings right after school until 5:00.

HW due Wednesday:

1. Writing Territories - In class today we came up with 10-15 specific writing territories that we have in our life. Stories that we carry that have shaped us, small and big. For homework pick one of the writing territories from your list and write about it for 14 minutes. If you finish early and don't know what else to write, pick another territory and keep writing. What you bring into class should reflect 14 minutes of engaged writing.

A reminder that tomorrow is individual picture day. We will be taking photos from 10:30 - 10:55. Next week on Wednesday, September 25th we will be taking our class photo.

HW due Thursday:

1. Have your "Just Right Choice Fiction" novel in class (a reminder that this should be a book you have never read before and that you think you can finish within 1 month). If you are having a hard time finding something, consider our book talks in class today or anything from this list: Books MIddle Schoolers Should Read

9/16

Due Tuesday

1. Thursday @ School and Beyond Assignment we worked on all Friday afternoon will be due tomorrow morning at the beginning of class.

2. Read choice reading material for 20-30 minutes.Write down 2 connections you made while reading. Have these connections that you wrote down in class tomorrow morning. As a reference, here are our notes from our Reading Journal today about "Good Reader Strategies", including "Making Connections." A reminder that you should have reading material in class every Tuesday and Thursday.

Good Readers Make Connections (while reading)

• Text – to – Self → a connection you make between what you are reading and your own personal life
• Text – to – World → a connection you make between what you are reading and the greater world you live in
• Text – to – text → a connection you make between what you are reading and any other book, magazine, article, song, movie

Good Readers Build Background Knowledge

• ALWAYS start reading by building background knowledge (it takes 1 minute!)
• Stop and think about what you last read
• Re-read… beginnings of past chapters, last paragraph, etc…

9-13 - Weekend Updates

Weekend HW:

READ DAILY for 20-30 minutes. 

The Thursday @ School and Beyond Assignment we worked on all Friday afternoon will be due on Tuesday.

Be thinking about what book you want to read for your "Just Right Choice Fiction Novel Unit." 

A few reminders about the expectations. The book should be a "Just Right Fit" and something that you could finish reading within 1 month. It should be within the very wide genre of fiction. You should never have read it before.

I am expecting students to have their book in their hands by this Thursday, September 19th. If you have any issues with that date due to library holds or something else, self-advocate and communicate with me ahead of time and we can set up an alternate time for you. If you are having a hard time finding a book that fits well for you, check out this book list: Books Middle Schoolers Should Read

7th Grade Spanish Class - Cultural Exploration RESOURCES

Culture Exploration Worksheet - Fall 2019 - 7th Grade Spanish

General Info + Facts

https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Spanish_language

https://baselang.com/blog/travel/spanish-speaking-countries/

Culture

https://artsandculture.google.com/project/uslatinocultures

https://www.spanishplayground.net/category/culture/

https://www.fatherly.com/play/best-spanish-culture-kids-movies/

https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2015/12/south-americas-top-5-most-inspiring-cultural-festivals/

https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/7-festivals-of-latin-america/

Landmarks + Natural Wonders

http://carrolltonspanish.weebly.com/7-wonders-of-the-spanish-speaking-world.html

https://www.bestlibrary.org/vis/2011/06/unesco-world-heritages-sites-in-spanish-speaking-countries.html

People

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/influential-latinos-world_n_5052118

https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/latinx-actors

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/nba-playoffs-latino-spanish-players-watch-n747311