Sixth Grade Art

Sixth grade created colorful collages for the annual fundraiser, and then worked on their symmetry skills with a special Picasso portrait challenge. They had to draw the other half of one of Picasso's famous portraits. They all rose to the challenge!

Science Fair Topic Selection Due Date Extended

The science fair topic selection form due date has been extended for all students until Wednesday, September 22nd. Thank you!

Science - Science Fair Topic Selection Reminder

This is just a reminder that the science fair topic selection form is due on Monday, September 20th. Their homework for the past week has been to research and explore topics that may be of interest to them.

Sudents need to be able to answer "Yes" to all of the project checklist questions on their form. If they are unable to answer "Yes" to any of the questions then they may need to consider a different topic. Websites that may be helpful for them are listed on their topic selection form as well as in an earlier science blog. Most of these websites also have links to other resources that may be helpful to them in narrowing down their search.

Your student will be asking you to sign their form as well. Thank you!

6th Grade Math

Hello- We are finally in the full swing of math. We have kids working on three different levels of math during our class. The kids seem to have gotten the hang of the k12 program. I am very happy, for the most part, with the work I see and the attentiveness I see as they work through the lessons. Click the following link to see the kids in action!
6th Grade Online Math Class

Reading and Vocabulary Assignments

For parents' information:

Students received a syllabus outlining their reading and vocabulary assignments for One More River. They have also received a vocabulary list for the first few chapters of the book. Please ask your student to show you this information.

We will continue with regular Wordly Wise quizzes, but there will be words mixed in from the Reading Vocabulary. Students will know ahead of time which words to focus on.

Texas History -Brochure Project

Important dates to remember for the Brochure Project:
- 1st draft of text due this Friday, Sept. 17
- Revised draft of text due next Wednesday, Sept. 22
- Pictures/captions and list of sources due Wednesday, Sept. 29
- FINAL DRAFT due: Wednesday, Oct. 6

We will be working on this in class, as well as in the Computer Lab. However, students WILL need to do some of their research and writing at home, too. The information packet is in their Texas History section of the binder, and they should have copied the above information from the board in class today.

Science - Science Fair Topic Selection

The season for science fair is upon us! Over the next few weeks, the students will be completing various aspects of the science fair process. The first step of the process, topic selection, was discussed today and students will be working on choosing just the right topics to investigate. Look for the "Science Fair Project" paper in the Science Fair section of their binder. It outlines the requirements for choosing a topic along with lists of categories, science fair dates and helpful websites to aid them in their selection process. We will be spending considerable time in the classroom working on this process as well.

Their homework for this week is simply to spend some time looking at the websites or other helpful information and choosing a topic that most interests them. Their topic selection form is due on Monday, September 20th.

The Eleanor Kolitz Academy Science Fair is scheduled for November 18, 2010. Each step of the project will be reviewed during class and due dates will be assigned for specific portions of the project. Due dates for each portion will be posted as they are given.

Some outstanding websites concerning science fair include:
www.sciencebuddies.org
www.all-science-fair-projects.com
www.sciencefairprojects.org
www.education.com/science-fair/middle-school
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral
www.arase.org

Thank you!

Book Reports

Students are expected to select books to read independently, and will complete at least one independent book report each quarter. Information on the requirements for the first quarter book report should be in your child’s Language Arts binder. This quarter, the books are “free choice,” meaning any type of book is acceptable, so long as it is age- and grade-level appropriate. All book reports include a written assignment and a creative component, similar to what was done for Summer Homework.

The due date for first quarter book reports is Monday, October 25^th.

** Stay tuned: Information on One More River reading assignments and vocabulary will be added to the blog shortly!**

English Language Arts - Welcome!

Welcome to the MS Language Arts blog!

Now that the dust has settled from the start of the year, please check here regularly for information and updates regarding class assignments, policies, and news!

In 5th-8th grade, we have established a daily routine that includes reading, writing and practice in written conventions of language. Standard homework each week includes Wordly Wise/vocabulary practice and reading of both assigned and free-choice books.

Homework assignments are checked as part of a completion grade for each week. Daily classwork and quizzes are valued as "single grades" and tests and projects are valued as "double grades" when averaged. A separate grade is determined for conduct (behavior).

Students have received instructions as to how they should organize and keep the Language Arts section of their binder. A paper regarding this has gone home to be signed and returned by Tuesday, September 14.

Copies of this organizational information, and of the course information given to all MS Language Arts families at "Back to School Night" are available from Miss Planto via e-mail.

Notes from the Music Room

In music we continued learning our Samba-style dance which contains 4 different dance steps. We also discussed the geography of Brazil, the history of the samba, and a little about the culture of Brazil. Ask your child to show you some of the dance steps.
We also practiced writing notes on the musical staff in preparation for a simple composition project which we will play on the hand chimes.

Science Updated 9/2/10

The sixth grade students will have their first test on Wednesday, September 8th over laboratory safety and metric measurement. They were given a test outline earlier this week that identifies the concepts they need to review. The outline should be in their binders behind the Vocabulary/Notes Tab. A class review will be held the day before the test during their class time. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Science

Welcome back to Middle School Science!

The first few days of school have passed and classroom procedures, safety rules and basic laboratory policies have been reviewed. The students are now diligently working on reviewing the basics of the metric (SI) system of measurement and they will be using various laboratory tools to aid them as they continue their study. This nine weeks the focus will be on:
*Measurement and Lab Tools
*The Scientific Method
*Science Fair
*Work and Power

Each day they are writing their homework assignments in their agenda on the day they are due. Look for my "green" initials in their agenda by their homework.

The students have been doing a great job bringing their science textbook, science workbook, binder and agenda to class each day. They have set up three tabs for science in their binders. Look for their vocabulary/notes, labs/assignments and science fair information in each section of their binder.

It will be a great year in Science!

Notes from the Music Room

New to the music curriculum is the addition of a middle school musical revue on April 7, 2011. The revue is a collection of songs woven together with dialogue. All middle school students will learn the songs and choreography. Students will be able to audition for spoken parts and possibly solos. We will probably need a small technical crew as well. The set will be designed and created by Miss Bella and students in art classes. We will wear costumes instead of uniforms. I will try to keep our rehearsals limited to class/school time. Special parts will probably need after school rehearsals, and possibly a couple of dress rehearsals in the evening. In preparation for the choreography, we will be learning dance steps throughout the year. I am extremely excited about our new performance!

Sixth Grade Art

Sixth grade followed in the time-honored tradition of artists such as Picasso by copying the work of Paul Klee and Henri Matisse. These two artists used distinctly different types of line. We are also exploring line as used by the artists of PreColumbian America.

Technology Class Homework Due 8/27

How terrific to see our returning 6th Graders in class today. In our first class we reviewed what makes a good password and made sure everyone could log in to our network and school email. 6th Graders got their own logins today. They will no longer all use the same login and password.
HW

All 6th Graders should bring their flash drives to class next Friday (8/27). The flash drive (or usb) will be a tool in many of the classes this year. It's a great way to carry a project to and from school. I've assigned this as homework because I will be checking to make sure everyone has a flashdrive, it's labled and all know how to use their flash drive.

I look forward to a great year!

Gail Markson

Judaic Studies-Rabbi Marrus' Class 6/19/10

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a new year. I'm very excited to teach your child and am looking forward to a successful year. As there are some students that find the Hebrew text difficult, I am including some links of where you would be able to purchase a book with English translation (books used in my class are Hebrew only).

If you child has difficulty with Hebrew reading and comprehension, please purchase the books. If however your child can read and understand the basic Hebrew I encourage you NOT to buy the English translation books as they will hinder the student's Hebrew skills.

click on links below

Navi: Prophets - Book of Yehoshua-Shoftim
Mishnah: Tractate Brachot -First Semester
Mishnah: Tractate Pesachim - Second Semester

Judaic Studies and Tefillot Tracks

Dear Families:

With all of the changes underfoot at the EKA and family responses not always being timely, we really have worked up to the minute on settling schedules and making decisions.

As we work through the schedule for the first week of school, we are seeing things that looked good on paper, not work out in the day-to-day. All of these items are being addressed, but it takes time. The students are still in their classes with the teachers that are going to teach them, but it may be that the times that they take each class may change.

After hearing from the majority of families, I have decided that for Judaic Studies, the students will take a Mishna / Navi class with Rabbi Marrus, a Chumash / Holiday class with Mr. Olitzki, and students requiring an Orthodox teacher for their studies, will take a the Chumash / Holiday class with Rabbi Levi Teldon. Tefillot classes will be tracked into Orthodox and Egalitarian with the choices made during the summer holding.

Please understand with the dual tracks and three grade levels having two classes, the schedule is complicated. We are working diligently to make right anything that appears to be off.

Thanks for your understanding and support.