URGENT: We still need proctors for our EOG and MSL tests, particularly for this Friday and next Tuesday. Retired family members or neighbors, siblings/cousins/friends 18 and over, work-at-home parents... We need you! Please click on this link if you want to sign-up to proctor on an EOG or MSL day:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0548A5A72FA64-proctors2
* * * * *
Week of May 19-23, 2014
Now that we have completed our Body Systems Unit, we will spend this week's class periods reviewing for next week's Mastery of Student Learning Science test (MSL-Science). We do not have a Science EOG in 7th grade, but the MSL is very similar. My review strategy is to start with the topics that are expected to be most prevalent on the MSL and that students had a hard time with on the practice MSL. Though we will have a few review/participation assignments during class this week, there will be nothing for the students to work on at home. We want to minimize stress over the next week or two, make sure students get a good rest before EOG and MSL tests, and please try to make sure your child eats a good-quality "energy" breakfast each morning -- low sugar/low carbs. (Proteins, fruits, and veggies are best. Pastries, high-sugar cereals, etc., might make your child sleepy and sluggish during test-time.) Remember, this Friday is our first EOG -- MATH!
This week's MSL-Science Review:
Monday - Earth's Atmosphere and Weather
Tuesday - Weather continued; Kinetic & Potential Energy
Wednesday - Energy Conversion; Simple Machines
Thursday - Cell Structure, Organelles, Single-Celled Organisms
Friday - Math EOG*
*On EOG days we will continue our Science review with whatever time is available in that day's schedule for Science class.
******
Week of May 12-16
I hope you had a happy Mother’s Day weekend!
On Monday this week I gave every student a printout of his/her grades (Progress Report) through the Body Systems Unit Test. There is also a letter on the back with information about grades and opportunities to retake tests. Please look over the letter and Progress Report and sign the paper to show that you did get to see the communication.
This week is our last week of “new” curriculum, and we are learning about the Nervous System and the Endocrine System. The quiz on these two systems will be this Friday, May 16.
Last Friday, we did a practice Mastery of Student Learning Science Test. This is the “MSL” test that you might have heard about, which is similar to an EOG. I have analyzed the data and the results will drive the review lessons that we will have until the real MSL Science Test on May 28th.
*** Ooops… I had stated earlier that the 2nd Chance test for the Body Systems Unit Test will be held on Friday, May 23rd. That’s an EOG day, so we will postpone that retake opportunity until after all EOGs are completed. I plan to continue with the rest of the 2nd Chance testing schedule, though, through Wednesday, May 21st. ***
Have a great week!
Ms. Makous
*****
Week of May 5-9
This week in Science class we will continue our study of the Circulatory System, the Immune System and the Integumentary System. Students will have an OPEN-NOTES/OPEN BOOK QUIZ on this information on Thursday, May 8th. Next week we will wrap-up our Body Systems Unit with a study of the Nervous System and the Endocrine System.
Progress Reports: This quarter I am printing out a Progress Report for every student regardless of the current Science grade. Please sign the progress report so I know you've seen it and return it to school with your child. I will check for the signature and then give the progress report back to the student to keep for his/her information.
*** Due to the PowerSchool system being up and down for maintenance recently, Mr. Thomas has decided that Progress Report day will be Monday, May 12.***
EOGs and MSLs: (WE NEED PROCTORS!!!) EOG tests (Math and Language Arts) and MSL tests (Science and Social Studies) will begin on Friday, May 23rd and continue through most of the following week. Yes, that is Memorial Day weekend (no school on Monday, May 26th), so please remember our Friday and Tuesday EOG tests when planning your holiday. Also, WE NEED LOTS OF PROCTORS for these tests! Please let me know (or let any of your child's teachers know, or let the office know, or sign up on our Sign-Up Genie) if you are interested in proctoring one or more of our end-of-year tests. We need you!
Enjoy this gorgeous week!
* * * * *
Week of April 28 - May 2 Wow... it's already May!
This week in Science class we have our Body Systems Unit Test (Part A) on Tuesday, April 29th. (All materials for this test are on my "Documents & Study Resources page.) Monday is the review for this test, and the study guide assignment is due on Tuesday before the test has begun. On Wednesday, we will start learning about our heart and the Circulatory System as well as the Immune System later this week.
Next week is Progress Report week, and mid-quarter grades will be ready to view in PowerSchool on Tuesday, May 6th. (Students who have a test or quiz to make-up or redo should try to get them accomplished before Tuesday, if possible.)
In case you want to plan ahead, EOG tests (Math and Language Arts) and MSL tests (Science and Social Studies) will begin on Friday, May 23rd and continue through most of the following week. That is Memorial Day weekend (no school on Monday, May 26th), so please remember our Friday and Tuesday EOG tests when planning your holiday. Also, WE NEED PROCTORS for these tests! Please let me know (or let any of your child's teachers know) if you are interested in proctoring one or more of our end-of-year tests. We need you!
I hope you are having a wonderful week!
Ms. Makous
* * * * *
April 25, 2014
NOTICE: POWERSCHOOL is having a maintenance weekend. You probably will not be able to access your child's grades until Monday.
April 21, 2014
Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you enjoyed something fun and got a little relaxation while you were at it, too.
This week in Science class we are continuing our unit on Body Systems with a study of the Digestive System and Urinary System (textbook pages B45-B55). There will be a quiz on Friday, April 25 on these two systems based on our lessons and assignments in class. (Please be sure to check the "Documents and Resources" page on my website if you are absent.)
Since the Body Systems unit covers so much material, we will split the big Unit Test into two separate tests. Each test will have about 35-40 questions, and each will be a separate formal grade. The first unit test on Body Systems will be held on Tuesday, April 29 and it will cover the following: Overview of our Organ Systems; Skeletal System; Muscular System; Respiratory System; Digestive System; Urinary System. Students should use the assignments and notes that are attached into their Science Notebook as a main study source. Also, a study guide for the unit test will be given to students at the end of this week. On Monday, April 28th we will review in class for the unit test, plus we will utilize any time available after our quiz on Friday, April 25th.
A copy of the STUDY GUIDE assignment is now on my Documents & Study Resources page (4/25). This assignment is due on Tuesday, April 29th before the test.
* * * * *
April 9, 20124 (updated)
CURRICULUM: This week in Science Class we are studying the Respiratory System, and there will be a formal quiz on the Respiratory System this Friday, April 11th. (I decided to give students one more day to learn about the Respiratory System, and am moving our study of the Digestive System to the week after Spring Break so we can spend a little more time on it.) Students who are absent on Friday should expect to take their quiz on Monday, April 21st when they return from Spring Break. All study materials for this quiz should be in the student's Science Notebook and are also posted on the "Documents & Study Resources" page of my website.
I encourage parents to check your student's Science Notebook for this week's notes and assignments and use those materials to help him or her study for the test. It really does help to have that second person call-out questions and discuss the topics. Plus, I am sure your child will enjoy spending those extra minutes with you while you study together. (I really miss doing that with my own children!)
SUPPLIES: As I have mentioned to students frequently over the past two weeks, we are coloring and labeling lots of diagrams during our study of the Body System, and it is imperative that students come to class with a set of colored pencils. (Students should also have a glue stick or tape so papers can be attached to their Science Notebook.) Please check with your student over Spring Break to find out if he or she is in need of supplies for class. It might be time to replenish.
REPORT CARDS: Third quarter report cards will go home with students on Wednesday, April 9th.
Have a wonderful Spring Break!
Ms. Makous
* * * * *
April 3, 2014
Hello families and students. This week we have been learning about Body Systems -- particularly the human Skeletal System and Muscular System. There will be a formal quiz for this material on Monday, April 7th, and students should study from the notes that we have been putting in their Science Notebook. There are also a few resources listed on my "Documents and Study Resources" that might be helpful with studying, as well.
It is very important that each student brings to class a glue stick and colored pencils, as we are coloring and labeling diagrams and gluing them into the Science Notebooks. Clear tape is helpful sometimes, too, depending on the particular assignment that is being added to the notebook. Please check your child's supplies and help make sure he or she has the materials that are needed for Science class.
Thank you SO MUCH to the parents who chaperoned our Whitewater Center field trip on Wednesday! It was a gorgeous day to be outside, and it was fun and extremely helpful to have you with us for our adventures. Thank you again for your time and energy!
*****
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Thank you to all students who have made an effort to follow the CMS Policies, the BMS School Rules, and my Science Classroom rules (which are mostly built from the CMS/BMS policies). Each rule is in place for a reason -- to give students the highest-quality learning environment possible. Our time together is so much nicer for everyone when students are making an effort to follow the established rules. On the other hand, it is a waste of everyone's time and is an interruption to the flow of learning when the teacher has to frequently divert her attention to easily-avoidable issues such as chatting during lessons, cells phones being out, gum-chewing, excessive bathroom trips, intentionally annoying other students, etc. Thank you so much to parents who have been supportive of my efforts to finish this school year with the best educational experiences I can provide for your children. I couldn't do it without you!
*****
A NOTE ABOUT SUPPLIES: Now that over half of the school year has passed, many students need to replenish their school supplies. Ms. Taylor's original Science Class Supply List included these items: Spiral Notebook, Glue Sticks (3 large), Pencils, and Scotch Tape (3 rolls). Also included for other Cobra Team classes were: Pens, colored pencils, highlighters, and index cards. In my Science class, it would be helpful if students brought these things to class with them each day: (It is easiest if students carry their supplies in a zippered pouch or Ziploc-style baggie.)
*(If your child does not have the appropriate supplies due to financial difficulties, please contact me or Ms. K. Fulcher. We have resources that can provide discreet help.)
#2 PENCILS
Colored Pencils
Glue Sticks
Highlighter (yellow)
1 Color Ink Pen - gel or ballpoint (not blue or black ink)
Loose-Leaf Paper
Science Notebook (spiral)
TISSUES: Allergy season is upon us, and we desperately need tissues in our classroom. So far I have been supplying these myself; any donations toward our supply of classroom of tissues will be greatly appreciated! (We have been going through a large box every week or two and the pollen has barely started!) By my estimations, we will need at least 10 boxes of tissues to get us comfortably through the rest of the school year. Thank you for any help you can provide.
*****
March 24, 2014
Hello, parents and students. I know some of you are concerned about grades, particularly quiz grades. I have been trying to figure out how I can let students try again on quizzes/tests and still continue to move forward in our curriculum. I think the best way to tackle this -- at least for this quarter -- is to let students MAKE CORRECTIONS by looking up missed questions in their notes and the textbook and writing-out corrected answers. Following BMS policy, students who need to do this can earn up to a 77% as a replacement grade for their lower score. Test corrections can be made during Working Lunch this week, or students can work on it during class if the current classwork has been completed. (I am available for working lunch on Wednesday and Friday this week, or students may go to another teacher who has working lunch duty on Tuesday and Thursday.)
Apparently, these quizzes/tests should have been entered as "Formal" instead of "Informal," something I had not realized earlier. (Please remember, I have only been here a little over a month; still learning a few things.) The "formal/informal" grading is new to me, and I had originally entered everything as "informal." This is another reason why I want to be sure students have a chance to improve their quiz and test grades this week in a way that is most advantageous to the student. I think corrections (rather than taking the entire quiz over again) is in the best interest of the students.
I will print a grade sheet for each student so he/she will know what needs to be completed.
Ms. Makous
*****
March 17, 2014 Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Today (Monday, March 17th), students took a Formal Quiz/Test on Mitosis and Meiosis. The study guide was discussed and handed-out on Friday, and the quiz was written directly from the study guide with our previous in-class lessons and assignments in mind.
We have spent a lot of time in class on this GENETICS UNIT, learning about DNA, The Cell Cycle, Mitosis & Meiosis, Asexual & Sexual Reproduction, and Heredity. Early this week we will wrap-up the unit by studying textbook Chapter 5 - DNA and Modern Genetics. Our GENETICS UNIT POST-TEST (a FORMAL grade) will be on THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH. The study guide for this test will be discussed and distributed on Tuesday, March 18th and will be posted to my webpage.
Next week we will begin a new unit: BODY SYSTEMS. This is my favorite part of the 7th grade curriculum, and I am hoping the students will enjoy learning about it as much as I expect to enjoy teaching it!
*****
March 10, 2014 (UPDATED MARCH 12)
On Monday, March 10, students were given an opportunity to retake the DNA/Chromosomes/Cell Cycle quiz. My first glimpse of the grades shows me that most students did improve from their original scores, and many made significant improvement! Yeay! I knew you could do it! Please remember that this was a once-only event, that informal quizzes are not usually something that we re-do for a better grade. (Formal tests only, according to the CMS and BMS policies, which can be taken for a score of no higher than 77%.) I realize that some of my students needed a little time to adjust to their new teacher and realign with the school rules and procedures, and felt that it was worth giving the students another chance at the assignments and quiz that we did during my first week at BMS. I am very happy that so many students took advantage of this opportunity, studied, and really worked to do a better job the second time around!
Beginning on Tuesday, March 11, we will start a short unit on Meiosis. Students are already familiar with much of this process as it is very similar to Mitosis (which we studied quite recently).
THERE WILL BE A FORMAL QUIZ ON MEIOSIS AND MITOSIS ON MONDAY, MARCH 17. (Students will receive a Study Guide for this quiz on Friday, March 14th.) This is not the big "Genetics Unit" final test (which will come soon after we finish studying heredity and pedigree). Monday's quiz will assess student knowledge of Cell Division through Mitosis, Cell Division through Meiosis, and what kinds of cells are produced by each process. Students have been encouraged all week to review their notes and assignments each night, as well as any resources I place on the "Documents & Resources" page of my Weebly site.
NOTICE: POWERSCHOOL is having a maintenance weekend. You probably will not be able to access your child's grades until Monday.
April 21, 2014
Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you enjoyed something fun and got a little relaxation while you were at it, too.
This week in Science class we are continuing our unit on Body Systems with a study of the Digestive System and Urinary System (textbook pages B45-B55). There will be a quiz on Friday, April 25 on these two systems based on our lessons and assignments in class. (Please be sure to check the "Documents and Resources" page on my website if you are absent.)
Since the Body Systems unit covers so much material, we will split the big Unit Test into two separate tests. Each test will have about 35-40 questions, and each will be a separate formal grade. The first unit test on Body Systems will be held on Tuesday, April 29 and it will cover the following: Overview of our Organ Systems; Skeletal System; Muscular System; Respiratory System; Digestive System; Urinary System. Students should use the assignments and notes that are attached into their Science Notebook as a main study source. Also, a study guide for the unit test will be given to students at the end of this week. On Monday, April 28th we will review in class for the unit test, plus we will utilize any time available after our quiz on Friday, April 25th.
A copy of the STUDY GUIDE assignment is now on my Documents & Study Resources page (4/25). This assignment is due on Tuesday, April 29th before the test.
* * * * *
April 9, 20124 (updated)
CURRICULUM: This week in Science Class we are studying the Respiratory System, and there will be a formal quiz on the Respiratory System this Friday, April 11th. (I decided to give students one more day to learn about the Respiratory System, and am moving our study of the Digestive System to the week after Spring Break so we can spend a little more time on it.) Students who are absent on Friday should expect to take their quiz on Monday, April 21st when they return from Spring Break. All study materials for this quiz should be in the student's Science Notebook and are also posted on the "Documents & Study Resources" page of my website.
I encourage parents to check your student's Science Notebook for this week's notes and assignments and use those materials to help him or her study for the test. It really does help to have that second person call-out questions and discuss the topics. Plus, I am sure your child will enjoy spending those extra minutes with you while you study together. (I really miss doing that with my own children!)
SUPPLIES: As I have mentioned to students frequently over the past two weeks, we are coloring and labeling lots of diagrams during our study of the Body System, and it is imperative that students come to class with a set of colored pencils. (Students should also have a glue stick or tape so papers can be attached to their Science Notebook.) Please check with your student over Spring Break to find out if he or she is in need of supplies for class. It might be time to replenish.
REPORT CARDS: Third quarter report cards will go home with students on Wednesday, April 9th.
Have a wonderful Spring Break!
Ms. Makous
* * * * *
April 3, 2014
Hello families and students. This week we have been learning about Body Systems -- particularly the human Skeletal System and Muscular System. There will be a formal quiz for this material on Monday, April 7th, and students should study from the notes that we have been putting in their Science Notebook. There are also a few resources listed on my "Documents and Study Resources" that might be helpful with studying, as well.
It is very important that each student brings to class a glue stick and colored pencils, as we are coloring and labeling diagrams and gluing them into the Science Notebooks. Clear tape is helpful sometimes, too, depending on the particular assignment that is being added to the notebook. Please check your child's supplies and help make sure he or she has the materials that are needed for Science class.
Thank you SO MUCH to the parents who chaperoned our Whitewater Center field trip on Wednesday! It was a gorgeous day to be outside, and it was fun and extremely helpful to have you with us for our adventures. Thank you again for your time and energy!
*****
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Thank you to all students who have made an effort to follow the CMS Policies, the BMS School Rules, and my Science Classroom rules (which are mostly built from the CMS/BMS policies). Each rule is in place for a reason -- to give students the highest-quality learning environment possible. Our time together is so much nicer for everyone when students are making an effort to follow the established rules. On the other hand, it is a waste of everyone's time and is an interruption to the flow of learning when the teacher has to frequently divert her attention to easily-avoidable issues such as chatting during lessons, cells phones being out, gum-chewing, excessive bathroom trips, intentionally annoying other students, etc. Thank you so much to parents who have been supportive of my efforts to finish this school year with the best educational experiences I can provide for your children. I couldn't do it without you!
*****
A NOTE ABOUT SUPPLIES: Now that over half of the school year has passed, many students need to replenish their school supplies. Ms. Taylor's original Science Class Supply List included these items: Spiral Notebook, Glue Sticks (3 large), Pencils, and Scotch Tape (3 rolls). Also included for other Cobra Team classes were: Pens, colored pencils, highlighters, and index cards. In my Science class, it would be helpful if students brought these things to class with them each day: (It is easiest if students carry their supplies in a zippered pouch or Ziploc-style baggie.)
*(If your child does not have the appropriate supplies due to financial difficulties, please contact me or Ms. K. Fulcher. We have resources that can provide discreet help.)
#2 PENCILS
Colored Pencils
Glue Sticks
Highlighter (yellow)
1 Color Ink Pen - gel or ballpoint (not blue or black ink)
Loose-Leaf Paper
Science Notebook (spiral)
TISSUES: Allergy season is upon us, and we desperately need tissues in our classroom. So far I have been supplying these myself; any donations toward our supply of classroom of tissues will be greatly appreciated! (We have been going through a large box every week or two and the pollen has barely started!) By my estimations, we will need at least 10 boxes of tissues to get us comfortably through the rest of the school year. Thank you for any help you can provide.
*****
March 24, 2014
Hello, parents and students. I know some of you are concerned about grades, particularly quiz grades. I have been trying to figure out how I can let students try again on quizzes/tests and still continue to move forward in our curriculum. I think the best way to tackle this -- at least for this quarter -- is to let students MAKE CORRECTIONS by looking up missed questions in their notes and the textbook and writing-out corrected answers. Following BMS policy, students who need to do this can earn up to a 77% as a replacement grade for their lower score. Test corrections can be made during Working Lunch this week, or students can work on it during class if the current classwork has been completed. (I am available for working lunch on Wednesday and Friday this week, or students may go to another teacher who has working lunch duty on Tuesday and Thursday.)
Apparently, these quizzes/tests should have been entered as "Formal" instead of "Informal," something I had not realized earlier. (Please remember, I have only been here a little over a month; still learning a few things.) The "formal/informal" grading is new to me, and I had originally entered everything as "informal." This is another reason why I want to be sure students have a chance to improve their quiz and test grades this week in a way that is most advantageous to the student. I think corrections (rather than taking the entire quiz over again) is in the best interest of the students.
I will print a grade sheet for each student so he/she will know what needs to be completed.
Ms. Makous
*****
March 17, 2014 Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Today (Monday, March 17th), students took a Formal Quiz/Test on Mitosis and Meiosis. The study guide was discussed and handed-out on Friday, and the quiz was written directly from the study guide with our previous in-class lessons and assignments in mind.
We have spent a lot of time in class on this GENETICS UNIT, learning about DNA, The Cell Cycle, Mitosis & Meiosis, Asexual & Sexual Reproduction, and Heredity. Early this week we will wrap-up the unit by studying textbook Chapter 5 - DNA and Modern Genetics. Our GENETICS UNIT POST-TEST (a FORMAL grade) will be on THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH. The study guide for this test will be discussed and distributed on Tuesday, March 18th and will be posted to my webpage.
Next week we will begin a new unit: BODY SYSTEMS. This is my favorite part of the 7th grade curriculum, and I am hoping the students will enjoy learning about it as much as I expect to enjoy teaching it!
*****
March 10, 2014 (UPDATED MARCH 12)
On Monday, March 10, students were given an opportunity to retake the DNA/Chromosomes/Cell Cycle quiz. My first glimpse of the grades shows me that most students did improve from their original scores, and many made significant improvement! Yeay! I knew you could do it! Please remember that this was a once-only event, that informal quizzes are not usually something that we re-do for a better grade. (Formal tests only, according to the CMS and BMS policies, which can be taken for a score of no higher than 77%.) I realize that some of my students needed a little time to adjust to their new teacher and realign with the school rules and procedures, and felt that it was worth giving the students another chance at the assignments and quiz that we did during my first week at BMS. I am very happy that so many students took advantage of this opportunity, studied, and really worked to do a better job the second time around!
Beginning on Tuesday, March 11, we will start a short unit on Meiosis. Students are already familiar with much of this process as it is very similar to Mitosis (which we studied quite recently).
THERE WILL BE A FORMAL QUIZ ON MEIOSIS AND MITOSIS ON MONDAY, MARCH 17. (Students will receive a Study Guide for this quiz on Friday, March 14th.) This is not the big "Genetics Unit" final test (which will come soon after we finish studying heredity and pedigree). Monday's quiz will assess student knowledge of Cell Division through Mitosis, Cell Division through Meiosis, and what kinds of cells are produced by each process. Students have been encouraged all week to review their notes and assignments each night, as well as any resources I place on the "Documents & Resources" page of my Weebly site.
(The original message written on February 28th was deleted before I started this part of my webpage.)