Division 17 Homework/Notes for April 12-16
Monday
1.Math:Complete corrections for Math Quiz #3 in Math notebook under appropriate heading, get parent sig. on test, file in test section of binder
2. Spelling: Practice words #1-6, 3 times each in a column carefully, underlining the tricky parts.
Note: Friday's quiz will be a proofreading quiz is marked and should be filed in the Language Arts section of your child's homework binder for your perusal.
3.Independent Novel Assignment: Due dates were assigned for all assignments today. The completed contract with signatures is due on Wed. Note: Students have been very excited about their novel choices and I have been looking at them to check appropriate level and length of the books.
Thank you for taking the time to help your child learn how to plan and organize their time to read and complete assignments with longer due dates. These time management skills will come in handy in future grades.
Tuesday
1. Math: Fractions (H0) p.202-203
A. Complete Working Together Q. 1-11, draw all pictures
B. Complete Exercises Q. 1-12, write the answers as per model on the board
2. The Eternal Spring of Mr. Ito: Complete graphics for Chapter One
3. Science: Complete Purpose, Materials, Predictions in preparation for finishing the lab Wed.
Wednesday
1.Science: Complete Lab 2 write-up, both sides of sheet. For best results students should consider completing a good copy of the Conclusions and Applying Your Understanding on looseleaf paper then proofread and edit carefully to make sure they have communicated their thinking clearly.
2. Math: Equivalent Fractions (HO), p. 204-205
A. Complete Working Together on sheet
B. Copy and complete the Exercises p.205 in their notebook under an appropriate heading.
3. Puberty Booklet: Read over with your parents.
Note: A health nurse came to our class today and taught a lesson the reproductive system how it works for boys and girls and the stages of puberty. As you can imagine many students felt pretty self-conscious, but this was presented as a science lesson. There were some good questions asked by students and answered by the health nurse, but is probably worthwhile to revisit that information and reinforce the concept that everyone's body changes and develops at different rates and ages so that students feel comfortable about themselves and remember to be considerate towards others.
4.Independent Novel Study: Thank you to parents of students #2,3,4,10,11,17,19,21,26,27,28 who sent back the contract sheet signed today. To make the best use of our valuable class time, we appreciate the return of the remaining student contracts a.s.a.p.
Science: 3-Column Notes and Check Your Understanding assignments were collected and marked this week. One or both assignments were not received from the following students #'s 3, 9(ab), 22, 23(ab), 26,
Socials: Journal entries entitled "What is Discrimination" and "Secret of the Dance" were collected and marked this week. One or both assignments were not received from student #'s 7, 9(ab), 13, 14(ab), 16(ab), 20, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29
Current Events: Students are reading "What in the World" and were to complete the multiple choice and short answer questions. Due Thursday.
(students are to choose a novel that must be approved by Mrs. Pitre or Mrs. Pringle. This novel should be brought to school each day so they have material to read during silent reading times, or when completing and assignment/task early. As students ready they are to record the page #'s and the main event of that day's reading. Students will complete a Basic Book Report (in novel study duotang) to be completed by Monday May 3. Mrs. Pringle will go over due dates for level one-four assignmnets next week.
-Today I introduced students to Microsoft Excel. This program can be a little overwhelming at first but has a lot of great functions for making tables and graphs. Today the students were walked through (step-by-step) how to creat a new document, set up titles, and add 1 simple formula to auto sum the column (total). We WILL work more on this next Friday as a class, today's class was only an intro to the program.
I have had requests from a few parents for Math support suggestions. Here are a few options:
2) Outside the office is a Tutor List is on the bulletin board
3) Contact me at tpitre@sd61.bc.ca for more information, or TOC's (teachers on call) who may be interested. 4) Homework Club is now in the LIBRARY 8:00am Monday-Friday.
Have a great weekend!!!
Mrs. Pitre
5. Homework Club Reminder:
Many of you might not be aware that Monterey offers a homework club beginning at 8 a.m. The location has been changed to the library each morning. There is an Educational Assistant on duty to help students with any aspect of their learning. If your son or daughter is having difficulty keeping up to date with work, would like a quiet place to work or needs help with a concept, please keep in mind that this program is in place to assist these students. I am available Monday through Thursday most days after school and am happy to assist students who would like extra help with their work. Students who are challenged by new Math concepts are invited to stay.
Friday:
Reminder about catching up on missed work:
- When students are absent due to illness or holidays, they are encouraged to catch up on missed assignments.
- A purple folder is placed on absentee students' desks and handouts and notices are placed in the folder during their absence.
- When students return they need to organize time after school to meet with a homework buddy (a student who they know could help them out) and/or see me to see what they need to do to catch up on missed assignments that are in the folder and/or are posted on the Homework Board.
- It is not often possible to outline lessons, assignments in advance of vacations as the lessons, directions, models and criteria for assignments are discussed, agreed upon and presented on the white board during class.
- Schoolnotes also provide a basic outline of what was assigned in class.
- If a child is absent from school for several days due to illness, please feel free to come in and see me after school for missed assignments.
- Thank you for your support in helping your child learn to take responsibility for their learning. We are pleased to see more and more students taking greater responsibility for managing their work time and focusing on the outlined criteria for assignments.
Parents as Partners (ways to support your child at home)
Helping your child with organizational skills and time planning:
- Check the student agenda daily with your child and have them estimate how much time it should take to complete each assignment and to establish priorities, based on when assignments are due.
- Plan time without computer or T.V. distractions to complete the work. Challenge them to focus for periods of time to accomplish tasks. (Using a timer is sometimes helpful for children who are easily distractable.)
- At least twice a week do a binder check with your child and have them show you that they have their completed and marked assignments filed by date behind the various subject tabs in their binder and duotang papers are actually placed inside the books.
Helping your child focus on work quality:
- Go over the criteria sheet with your child to review what is required on assignments. (This has been done in class, but many students are not yet in the habit of using the criteria as a checklist to complete assignments.)It is a good idea to have them read it to you, discuss it with them and then have them use the criteria as a checklist as they complete and proofread the assignment. This may help them focus their efforts and improve achievement.
- Encourage proofreading and editing for grammar, spelling, capitals and punctuation, by asking them to read their assignment aloud to you with a pencil in hand. They will often hear and see the errors when they are reading it aloud.
- If you assist them with proofreading, point out the line that has the error and have them find it so that they start to develop their own proofreading skills and don't rely on yours.
- What do I do if my child has a busy night of extra-curricular activities and does not get the homework done? - Of course I want the students to keep up, but if for a good reason, homework completion is a problem, please provide a note explaining why the homework is not done and when you can support your child to get it in. I will provide extensions when a note is provided.
- What to do if my child is absent? We have had a large number of students ill. Although we don't want the kids to get too far behind, we are also encouraging students to stay home long enough to get well and to prevent the spread of germs. While at home, check schoolnotes for homework and information. Call a homework buddy for further information. Parents, if you can, drop by the classroom and collect handouts, etc from the Absent Box (in the window on the heater vent). All items will be labeled with your child's name. Try to do what you can at home. The rest might require extra help at 3 pm upon your child's return. We will make a plan to get caught up that is not too overwhelming for your child.
- Please help your child learn the multiplication tables so that they can complete the test in less than 3 minutes with 99% accuracy. Make flashcards of the facts left to learn and play games to learn them. We have been reviewing the multiplication tables for over a month now. Some students have shown great improvement while others have not. About half the class have learned their times table at an acceptable level for grade 6. Please look at your child's test results over the past month to see if there has been an improvement and discuss memorization strategies with your child. It takes practice each night to commit these to memory (instant recall).
- Each section in the Homework Binder has a Learning Assignment Log complete with all assignments, handouts, etc. Please check this to be sure your child is up to date and to discuss learning. The homework binder is your ticket into your child's learning.
- Please remember to read and sign your child's agenda everyday. Use the agenda and this website to discuss school happenings. The kids are very excited about the agenda draw, helping to motivate them to keep an organized and complete agenda. Parent signatures are required to be eligible for the draw.
