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Page Last Updated Nov 03, 2009
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Is your child interested in participating on a chess team outside of school hours? Here is some information about why children should learn to play chess. Parents should learn, too!
Greetings, parents! Last week, I gave students a large packet of information you are likely to find handy. If your child did not share that packet with you, please ask him/her to do so. Especially, please note that bonus points are available if you email me by the end of next week, so I will know you have had the opportunity to sign up for updates for my New.Schoolnotes.com page. This will be very handy for you. I update the pages rather sporadically, but the updates will be helpful for you, I hope. Here is the schedule for the What's the Word? Vocabulary activities this year. Please note that the "regular" assignments are on one chart and the "extra" assignments are on the second chart. Your child must record ALL of the assignments (both charts) in his/her agenda immediately. VOCABULARY HOMEWORK AND QUIZ DATES
OTHER ASSIGNMENTS
Also, please note that the review homework for the textbook must be turned in ON TIME, or an automatic grade of 50 will be entered in the grade book.
SPELLING LISTS AND TEST DATES I do not know why the following table looks so strange. I have worked on it and deleted it and repeated it too many times! If you need another paper copy, please email me. NAME ______________________________________ PERIOD __________
SPELLING LIST AND TEST DATES FOR LISTS 1 – 10
Following is the parent letter you should have received recently. G/T READING CLASSES, PERIODS 1, 2, 3, AND 6
September 2009 To: Parents of Students in G/T Reading Classes From: Jan Cooper, Teacher,
Greetings!
I appreciate your interest in your child’s schoolwork! Please take the time to read this information, and let me know if anything is unclear.
· My class is flexible, in that what I do from year to year is somewhat dependent on my students and their interests and abilities. That is, what I do one year may not be the same as what I do the next. · One of my most important goals is to assist my students in developing exceptional vocabularies. We use the text What’s the Word? Volume I. This series will facilitate your child’s development of a sophisticated vocabulary. I have used this series for about seven years, and, although this is a challenging text, former students often return to tell me that they find the words very useful. Students use workbooks which explain the word in context and have a variety of drills. I have students make flash cards with which to study the words. This year, to ensure that the words are being learned more thoroughly (and not just learned for tests), students are using a “Frayer Model” for their flash cards. Mrs. Sasko, parent of one of my sixth graders, has developed a template which will save students many hours of work, in addition to assisting them in doing neater, more readable work. Please email me for this template, if you have not already done so. It is a valuable tool for your child! In addition to discussing the words in class, students view a videotape (generally twice) in which the words are further illustrated in the context of skits, songs, drawings, etc. The video also has an activity for further practice. If you have not already done so, please purchase a workbook for your child ($12; plus $1 for a copy of Romeo and Juliet), · As you are aware, this year we are beginning with a unit about Shakespeare. The incoming 6th grade GT students received an assignment to read Tales from Shakespeare, by Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb, and instructions about completing a relevant project. Unfortunately some confusion resulted. Some students were not told they would be in our GT program until the summer was over. Others weren’t given the GT label until after school started. I would like each student to go ahead and finish the “summer reading” assignment. Late starters are encouraged to do their best to read as much as possible. Some students have already turned in their projects (and I am truly impressed with their efforts). The projects are due on October 8/9, but those students who have reported getting a late start will have until October 15/16, although projects may be turned in at any time. Instructions for this assignment are on the JMS web site. · We use the Language of Literature series adopted a few years ago by HISD. Most of the reading is done as homework. I use this as a tool to ensure understanding of a variety of literary devices, to further strengthen the students’ vocabularies, as a practice for comprehension, and to introduce a variety of writing styles and authors. Your child has been issued a copy of this text, and the first assignment will be to take it home and find a place to keep it safe. Your child will not need to carry this heavy book to and from school. I will ask your child to return the book in May. I hope to have a classroom set to use in class as necessary. · In a few weeks, I plan to introduce a unit about completing a research project. The intention is to begin with a whole-class project, then a small group project, and lead towards an independent research project which will be completed during the second semester. The topic of the research project must be one the child’s own choosing. The subject matter can be anything of the child’s interest that is suitable for his/her age and ability, and for which they can successfully complete all of the rigorous requirements of the assignment. This assignment requires written, oral, and visual (or performance) components. You may expect to receive a detailed booklet of instructions early during the second term. · I expect to require students to read several books from various genres, and students will be expected to do a few book reports. I do not assign the “read it and write about” it kind of book report. There will be a variety of ways to show learning as these projects are done. The first such project, a “Geography Book Report” will be due on October 26/27. Details are attached. · We will also read some books together. · My students will complete a variety of assignments designed to encourage creativity. One of these activities appears on page 93 of the vocabulary workbook and involves writing a song, story, or poem using at least 15 of their vocabulary words. It will be due in February. · One of the topics I often use is a unit on survival. I have a series of videotapes that were designed to enhance teamwork for corporations, and I use them in my classroom, although not with the same result anticipated. Typically students view a part of the videotape which sets up a scenario of a survival situation (in the wilderness, in a desert, in a bush fire, etc.) and shows a collection of objects. Students independently rank the value of each object as a survival tool. They then work in a group to determine the group’s ranking. Finally, they are told the expert’s ranking, and we calculate who came closest to surviving. Throughout these activities, students increase their vocabularies, learn a bit of geography, learn to work in groups, learn a little about science, work with positive and negative numbers, learn to express their opinions (and deal with the acceptance and/or rejection of them), and have a great time. In addition to these activities, we read a book called On the Edge of Survival, which is an anthology of various pieces (poetry, sci-fi, fiction, non-fiction) related to survival. · I am also developing units about “How Things Used to Be”, which will deal with history and historical fiction, and “How Things Might Be in the Future”, which will include reading some science fiction stories. · I expect to gradually add other components of the program, including spelling, poetry, and logical reasoning. Logical reasoning will involve activities in which the children will learn about analogies, syllogisms, if/then statements, etc. · You will find a list of most (certainly not all) of your child’s assignments on www.new.schoolnotes.com. Please check this site out soon. After you go to you’ll be asked for the school’s zip code (77096). On the next page, you’ll click on · About once per month students are offered the opportunity to purchase books at reasonable costs from Scholastic Books. Generally, I distribute order forms from several different “clubs”. More information is in this packet. You will not have to send any money to school, as you may pay via credit card. Cash and checks are also accepted, if your child will bring the money and the book order to me in an envelope (preferably a recycled one) along with the order; mark your child’s name and class period on the outside of the envelope. Purchase of the books and other materials, is, of course, optional. The deadline for the current offers is Friday, October 9. · Here is the supply list for this class: Supplies for Mrs. Cooper’s G/T Reading Class, Room T8a
You MAY bring a bottle of water (no other drink) to my classroom. You may also bring a jacket, with your name on it, to leave here in case this classroom is cooler than you prefer. *YOUR NAME MUST BE ON ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT INADVERTENTLY LEAVE BEHIND, FOR EXAMPLE, JACKETS, BOOKS, NOTEBOOKS, YOUR CARD CONTAINER, ETC. What you do NOT bring to class is often as important as what you bring to class. Here is a list of things you are NOT to bring into my classroom:
I look forward to teaching your child this year. I hope this list gives you and your child an idea of some of the challenges your child will meet this school year.
If you have further questions or any concerns, please email me at jcooper5@houstonisd.org.
Need: magazines with colorful pictures Tins such as the Altoid tins. & & & & & & & & & & & & & & INFORMATION FOR SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS Dear Parent and Student: You can now place your Scholastic Book Clubs orders online! Browse all the great monthly Book Club selections at low prices and order online. Plus, our class earns a FREE book every time a parent orders online.
Here’s how it works:
To get started, go to the Web address below and enter our class’s personalized user name and password in the sign-in fields on the right side of the page. Note: You do not need to create your own user name and password. www.scholastic.com/parentordering User Name: jancoopersclass Password: greyhoundreaders
Ordering online is the most convenient way to use Scholastic Book Clubs. You can order anytime, right up until the online order due date. You’ll also get instant access to over 500 additional titles plus online-only specials and discounts.
October 14: NOTE: The previous offers are no longer available for online ordering. Three new offers are now online. If your child would like to order from the previous offers, the child will need to bring the order and money directly to me.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Jan Cooper
Of course, those who do not care to use credit cards online, may send an order in an envelope (prefer recycled envelopes), marked with your child’s name, to class. Orders from multiple book clubs may be paid with one check, made out to Scholastic Books.
Please don't forget that book orders for the current offer are due by midnight tomorrow, Friday, October 23. If you order online, you will receive a coupon for a free book! J J J J J J J DUE DATES OCTOBER 28/29
PLEASE NOTE: THE DUE DATES HAVE BEEN CHANGED DUE TO THE UPCOMING FIELD TRIP TO THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL.
Your assignment is to read a book about a country (not a city, continent, state, province, etc.) in which neither you nor your parents were born; then construct a small poster to share information you gained from reading the book. The requirements are: 1. Select an appropriate book, and read the entire book before you begin your project. 2. Do not do a written report. Instead, you are to make a poster that provides information about the country. 3. Your project must be between 8½” X 11” (the size of a sheet of regular printer paper) and 11” x 14”. The reason for this instruction is that I expect to display approximately 100 of these posters, so I have to limit the size. Do not ignore this. I have recently purchased packages of packages of several of these small (11”x14”) poster boards at both the “99¢ Only Store” (south, on Chimney Rock) and “Wal-Mart”. I will not, of course, be able to guarantee that any store will have them at any particular time. Also, I would be delighted it you recycle an appropriately sized poster board (perhaps use the back of it), cardboard box (carefully cut out a poster the size you need), a cereal box (many are big enough), foam core board (like you’d use for a science fair project, etc. My classroom is not far from the dumpster, so bring a note if you’d like to check out the dumpster for an appropriate piece of cardboard. 4. The border and/or background should represent the country in some way. In other words, show your creativity there! (Examples: images of the Mexico’s coins around the border of a poster about Mexico; Egyptian hieroglyphics decorating the border of a project about Egypt; illustrations of unusual Australian animals around the edges of a project about Australia; a background of France’s flag on a poster about France) 5. Include a hand-drawn or traced map of the country. All information should be PRINTED, and the printing should be HORIZONTAL, whenever possible. Include on your map: a) Show the surrounding bodies of water, bordering countries, etc. b) The name of the country’s capital, appropriately placed and marked with a star. c) Natural features such as major rivers, mountains, swamps, deserts, etc. d) You must color your map attractively, 6. On your poster, show: a) The population of the country. b) Information about the products this country exports and imports. c) Some (or all) of the following: the country’s language, government, customs, common religions, unusual plants or animals, etc. You may simply include a fact box, or you may choose another way to present the information. d) Other information you would like to share. 7. Color or decorate your poster accurately and attractively. 8. On the back of your poster, print your name and period, as well as the title of the book you read and the name of the author of that book. 9. In class you will give a brief (2 or 3 minutes) oral report on your book, during which you will use your poster to illustrate your report. Do not read from your poster. Be prepared to share about 6 – 8 interesting facts with your audience. 10. Speak loudly and clearly, and learn how to pronounce all of the words you will need to use. Avoid, “…uh…um…and stuff…ah…” Also avoid “like”, unless you mean “similar to” or “have an attraction to”. 11. On the due date, do not tell me about how somebody “messed up” your project, you left it in your mama’s car, you couldn’t do it, etc. All problems must be solved ahead of time. You may bring it to my classroom before school on the due date. 12. I expect to evaluate this project primarily on the bases of: a. Timeliness (This means turn it in on time!) b. Accuracy c. Neatness d. Grammar/spelling/etc. e. Completeness f. Creativity g. Oral report (confidence, volume, clarity, preparedness) h. Attention to the instructions above So, get busy reading and learning! NNNNNNNNN FOUND: ONE PAIR OF GLASSES. BLACK FRAMES. PROBABLY FIRST PERIOD STUDENT. IF THEY ARE YOURS, PLEASE GET THM FROM ME FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, OR I WILL SEND THEM TO THE NURSE.
vvvvvvvvvv FIELD TRIP NOTES:
Students who are in my first, second, or third period classes should visit me tomorrow afternoon to get a more complete list of field trip notes.
Here are some things to remember: 1. Dress code: Either wear a complete Renaissance costume OR your regular JMS attire. Also, the weather may be a problem. If it is a rainy day, be sure to bring rain gear (umbrella, rain poncho, etc.) 2. If you owe ANY money to the library, including money for ID badges, you must clear that in the library by Monday afternoon. You cannot board the bus when you owe money to the library. 3. You will be responsible for all assignments you miss. You should mention to all of your teachers tomorrow that you expect to be on a field trip on Tuesday, October 27, and ask for any assignments that you will need to complete for Thursday's classes. 4. Your teachers will receive an email about your absence for the field trip, so you will not need to check in with them on Tuesday. 5. If you have not brought in your money and permission slip, you must do that tomorrow.
I WILL SHARE MORE INFORMATION AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
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