3/16/10: Report cards went home today with each student.  The signed report card jacket needs to be returned to homeroom tomorrow--you may keep the grade report at home.  Thanks for your help on this.  If you add the 1st 9-weeks grade to the 2nd 9-weeks grade and to the 3rd 9-weeks grade and subtract that total from 280, then you will know exactly what a student will need to make during the 4th 9-weeks to pass that class for the year.  HW: Study for tomorrow's quiz on Chpt. 19, Magnetism.  Next, we'll study Chpt. 20, Electricity.  Finally, the 3rd MAP test (MCSD practice CRCT) will be given for "science" on Friday, 3/19. 

3/8/10: HW--Study for tomorrow's quiz on the human eye (Chpt. 18, Sec. 4, p. 631 plus handout from class).  Grades close-out for the 9-weeks on Wed. at 4:00.

3/5/10: HW--read Chpt. 18, Section 3 and study the parts of the human eye on p. 631--quiz on the eye Tuesday, 3/9/10.  Pls encourage students to take the on-line practice CRCT  at Georgia OAS--they have been taught how to do this.  Have a nice weekend.

3/4/10: HW--study for quiz tomorrow on Chpt. 18, Sec. 1 & 2, Light.  Grades and missing assignments were reviewed with the students on 3/3/10--last day to turn in make-up work is 3/5/10. Report cards close out on 3/12/10 and go home on 3/16/10.  Monday, 3/15/10 is a "no-school" day.

3/1/10: We have picked up the pace in class in order to cover all course work prior to the science CRCT on 4/20/10.  Tomorrow will complete our study of Chpt. 17, Electromagnetic Waves.  HW: Study for the Chpt. 17 quiz to be given in class tomorrow.  As a reminder, we are spending about 15 minutes during each class reviewing for the CRCT and there are on-line practice tests at GA OAS--students have been instructed how to access and take them.

2/22/10: Today we completed the study of Sound, Chpt. 16, in the text.  Tomorrow will be a review day and the chapter test will be on Wed.  HW: Review Section 3 and begin to prepare for Wed. test.  Also, today we went to the computer lab and took an on-line practice CRCT--I've placed 6 of the tests on line and will give extra-credit to students who take them--go to http://www.georgiaoas.org; students must know their 10-digit code to log on (if they've forgetten it they can get it from the RMS Media Center).  Actual CRCT dates will be April 13 - 21, 2010, so we only have six weeks to get ready!

2/19/10: We are continuing to study Chpt. 16 in the textbook, Sound and the Human Ear.  Today we had an open notes quiz on the Human Ear--most students did well but a few failed because they aren't doing their classwork or homework nor are they studying.  We'll continue our study of sound on Monday.  Also, on Tuesday we'll be in the computer lab to take a practice CRCT--students will be given info on how they may go on-line and take additional practice CRCT's for extra-credit in class.  The actual CRCT will be administered the week after Spring Break (2nd week in April).  Have a good weekend.

2/17/10: Today was the last day to turn in the optional extra-credit report on earthquakes--very few students took advantage of this opportunity to improve their grades.  We are now studying "Sound"--Chpt. 16 in the textbook.  HW for tonight was to read Section 1 and define this sections key terms and answer the assessment questions at the end of the section.  We have been studying the "Human Ear" (Section 4) as it relates to sound, and we will have a quiz on the ear on Fri., 2/19--start to study now.

2/10/10: Today we completed our study of "Waves" and Chpt. 15 of the text.  When students return to school on 2/16/10, their optional extra-credit reports on Earthquakes will be due (if they chose to do it, but it is not required); and, we will begin to study the text Chpt. 16, Sound.  Grades and missing assignments were reviewed with the students this week and e-mail progress reports were sent home today.  The third 9-weeks grading period ends on 3/12/10.  Pls have a safe 5-day weekend.

2/8/10: HW is to read Chpt. 15, Sec. 3; define the "Key Terms" and answer the "Assessment" questions at the end of the section.  We will go over in class on Tuesday; test of Chpt. 15, Secs. 1, 2, & 3 will be on Wednesday--Study!!!  Optional extra-credit assisgnment (ref Chpt. 15, Sec. 4) due not later than Tuesday, 2/16/10; a one typed/word processed page report on Earthquakes & Seismic Waves.

2/4/10: You should have received a paper copy of the students progress report yesterday; if you haven't seen it pls ask them for it and return the signed note saying that you have reviewed it--Thanks.  In class we're studying "Waves"--this is typically a very difficult concept for students so pls encourage them to keep up with their work.  Again, thanks.

1/25/10: We have finally been given the green light to send home e-mail progress reports, and they went out today.  In class, we took a test covering Chpt. 14, Sec. 1 & 2 only, Thermal Energy.  HW for tonight is to read Sec. 3.  We well have a test over sections 3 & 4 on Friday.

1/20/10: I'm sorry to say that our Intergrade system (computerized grade book) is still inoperative--we will not be able to send home e-mail progress reports until it is back up.  Today, we started our study of Thermal Energy and Heat, Chpt. 14, in the textbook--we will spend the next two weeks in this chapter.  IB open house will be the night of 1/27/10. and we will all be here if you'd like to touch base with us about something.

1/12/10: We will have our test over text Chpt. 13, Energy, on Friday, 1/15--start to study now!  IB only: IB students have a project on nuclear fission that is due Friday.  They should: (1) Research how nuclear fission is used to generate electricity (all IB students do this one) and then list the positives and negatives regarding nuclear generated electrical power.  Then, they should choose one of the following to do: (2) Describe the main parts of a fission reactor and what each part does;or, (3) Write a 3/4 - 1 page long paper on their opinion about the the future of nuclear generated electrical power. 

1/11/10:  Last week was spent reviewing "simple machines" and doing a CALI reading assignment.  In Physical Science we are now studying "energy."  This is GPS S8P2 and is covered in Chpt. 13 of the textbook.  HW: Students should have read at least througy Section 2 of this chapter.