Weekly Update 3/10-3/13

IMPORTANT REMINDERS/EVENTS:

Progress Reports go home Thursday, March 13th.

We will be out for the Spring Break holiday from Friday, March 14th (no school on Friday) though Monday, March 24th (no school Monday). Enjoy!

English:

We will finish up with 12 Angry Men. We will begin to work on content related to Laying the Foundation, a Pre-AP test that will be given in May. We will also begin talking about an 8th grade (all POMS 8th graders, not just 8C) project called “The Kindness Quilt.” More details to follow. We are excited for our 2007-2008 8th grade class to participate, as it will be a lasting artifact to leave behind at POMS.

Students received an assignment about the motifs in the play 12 Angry Men on Thursday/Friday, March 6-7. This is due Wednesday/Thursday, March 12-13.

Spring Break is around the corner. I encourage all students to set themselves up to relax and enjoy the time off; however, Independent Book Projects are due the week following Spring Break, so they need to be aware and plan accordingly. They should be done with their books, so encourage them to start now—and get it done early. With all the extra time given on this particular unit, I am expecting spectacular projects.

INDEPENDENT BOOK UNIT: Biography, Autobiography, and Memoirs
PROJECTS are due March 26-27 (this is AFTER TAKS and SPRING BREAK) and will be presented in class.
The last unit for Independent Reading is approaching. It will be free choice, as along as it follows previous guidelines for length and age-appropriateness. A parent approval form will be required. Book Checks are March 31-April 1.

History:

We felt our film festival last week to introduce the Civil War was quite successful. The work the students are doing relating to the day includes a writing assignment, a map, and an image. We are looking forward to seeing the finished product this Friday. Originally, we were going to have the work submitted by Monday, but it was more involved than we anticipated and since Wednesday was TAKS, we elected to change the due date to this Friday, March 7.

Some of the timelines the students submitted this week were just excellent. I am anxious to have some laminated and displayed in the hallway. However, some still are not following the requirements for a scaled timeline. This is a social studies skill the students are expected to have. All timelines for me must be horizontal and done to scale. Please refer to the instructions given in past updates or contact me if you still have questions.

Another skill the students are expected to have is constructing a chart. I have given the students specific instructions on what I expect. They may use the computer to do their charts, but the charts must be in “box form” with all entries in a horizontal row the same height.

Following is the assignment for the Reform Chart which is due the first day I see the students for class after Spring Break.

Chapter 14:
Chart on the Reform Movement. You should do this on plain paper or a small poster board. The chart must be done in chart form, complete, and neatly done. The reforms to be included are in Chapter 14 in the summary at the end of the chapter. You may use additional outside sources to help complete this chart.

Chart Form:
There must be rectangles for each section, the rectangles on a line must be all the same size, and the chart should be horizontal on the paper.
Following are the format and areas that must be answered.

Chart: The Age of Reform, 1820-1860

Reform:
Reason:
Leaders:
Results:
Problems Encountered:

The students will test on Monday/Tuesday over chapters ten and eleven. Those who have not completed their study guides should do so by then because these will be collected at that time for a grade.
Progress reports will be distributed on March 13, but they probably will not include this test.

With Spring Break coming, I know some of the students will be going to interesting locations. Again, they may complete an extra-credit project relating to their trip. This should be a booklet with pictures, brochures, maps, and a description of what they observed and learned. I would request that they visit a museum or some other area that includes learning. If a student is remaining here, the same type of project may be developed by touring Houston and going to some of the museums. Otherwise, the student is being a tourist in this city as if it were another location. The museum exhibits still can be used for extra credit. These assignments must be thorough, well written, and documented with tickets, pictures, and brochures. A new exhibit Pompeii is coming to the Museum of Fine Arts shortly.

Science:
Please email Mr. Scott for Science/IPC information

Math:
Algebra 1:
Last week, students completed Chapter 7 in their text. This week, students will begin the study of exponents and exponential functions. Students will cover sections 8.1 through 8.4 in their textbooks. Students are expected to complete six additional Carnegie Units during this six week period. Please ask your student to show you what unit s/he is currently in. The six units each six weeks will count as a test grade. Next week, after spring break, students will complete Chapter 8 and will review for TAKS. A test on Chapter 8 will follow the completion of the chapter.

Pre-Algebra:Students have completed Chapter 6 in their text. Students will have a test on Wednesday, covering Chapter 6 material. The exam will be open notes, but not open book. Students will need to bring their own notes. I encourage them to revise and clarify their notes prior to the exam. Students will begin Chapter 7 on Monday.

Foreign Language Department BLOG: See link below

http://pomsfl.wordpress.com/