Harper: December 2009

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Heading toward the Holiday

Greetings;
As we head toward the holiday I thought I would add one more note about items relating to schoolwork and related activities. Our AR points are going to be due next Thursday and will be a part of the decision making process regarding the end of quarter party. We are also going to be finishing up our look at Explorers in Social Studies and continuing with items relating to Matter in Science. Please check the planner periodically for information on these things. I will also continue to update the assignments portion of this Blog.

Thank you and I hope everyone is well.

Mr. Harper

Planner / Homework

Bellwork is in Social Studies this week.

SS - We are working on the Causes of the Civil War.

Monday: Finish Notes on Causes Civil War

Tuesday: Go Over Notes / Start Time Lines

Wednesday: Time Lines

Thursday: People / Civil War

Friday: People of the Civil War

Science - We are going to be looking at Clouds and Weather.

Monday: Hour 1 - WS - HW
Hour 3 - Finished notes
Hour 4 - Start Notes

Tuesday: Hour 1 - Check WS
Hour 3 and 4 - Go Over notes / WS - HW

Wednesday: Go Over WS

Thursday: Clouds

Friday: Clouds

Bellwork is something we have in front of us in the beginning of each period. It is made up of review questions from previous units. It has the students engaged in an educational pursuit during the time when I am required to take attendance and other paperwork for the school. (Please see the following reference for more information - "How to Be an Effective Teacher" by Harry Wong, page 121, et al.) The Bellwork alternates from Science to Social Studies weekly.

Classroom Procedures

Sharing Subjects Procedures

Of a given day, we endeavor to split each period to include both Science and Social Studies. Times vary slightly, but are held as close to an even amount of time as possible, as per DESE. The only times when this may differ widely is when we are to incorporate DARE, Counseling, or Information Literacy classes into our timeframe. The planner entries will reflect this when it applies.

Textbook Checkout Procedures

I thought I would let everyone know how we handle the situation with Textbooks in Social Studies and Science.

In Science we actually check books out to individuals who are then responsible for keeping track of them throughout the school year. Periodically, we take a few minutes in a class to see if the books are, indeed, the correct ones. This also gives us a chance to implement a quick search of the room and desks for books that may have been misplaced or left behind.

In Social Studies, we implement a system to where an individual can check out a book for night. The individuals are asked to come in to check out a book at Team Time, which is right before the end of the day. In doing it this way, we are sure to protect instruction time in the core classes, as per administrative edict.
The individual, in checking out a book, is asked for the book number. The person's name is also recorded. That individual is then responsible for the book for the night.

Returned Papers Procedures

As papers are graded and entered into the computer, they are kept in a file, at my desk. On Fridays, as a part of our normal Bellwork time when the students are to AR read, the papers are passed back and are then to be taken home. This is done to maximize instructional time during the previous days of the week. It also helps to assure a minimum of interruption to our day's program and procedures.

Assignment Book Procedures

For the last 5 minutes or so of class each day we engage in a "Planner Time." During this time the studnets are asked to write the day's activities in their planners that are taken from the north maker board in the room. The planners are then signed by me or the team teacher in the room. The teachers also make note, in the planner, or any late or missing work as a means of communication with you at home. While we don't require that the planners be signed, we do strongly recommend refering to it nightly for information on homework and as a method of understanding what is happening in the classes.

Harper

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Explorers Projects - Look Great!!

Explorers Projects - Look Great!!

Explorers Projects - Look Great!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Heading toward the Holiday

Planner / Homework

Classroom Procedures

Websites of note