December 15-19, 2014

Happy New Week Parents!

This week will be chock full of learning and activities so please do all you can to have your children here at school. We will be studying about Christmas traditions and Christmas history from around the World this week. I will send home a letter for things I would like for students to do this week to participate. We will be doing a Pre-Winter Break Celebration on Friday, December 19. Children have been asked to get a gift for his or her Secret Surprise and $3.00 for lunch from Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Monday: Vocabulary Cards: Students will write their list of vocabulary words on index cards and find the definition, write a sentence, find a synonym and an antonym, and illustrate/draw a picture if possible, of the word. 5th-6th Grade Words: intense, immense, attention, altitude, protagonist, blizzard, exhibit, combine, access, deprive (Due 12/16/14)

School-wide Spelling Bee will be the week we return from Winter Break. Students already have the words please encourage your students to continue to study and prepare for the Bee. 

Tuesday: Use Monday's Vocabulary Words to complete the following sentences (intense, immense, attention, altitude, protagonist, blizzard, exhibit, combine, access, deprive)  (Due 12/18/14):

1. If you _______________ Mentos and Coca-Cola, you create a fizzy explosion.

2. Pay__________________! You will miss important information if you talk now. 

3. Superman would be considered the ____________________ , or the hero, in this story while Lex Luther is the antagonist, or troublemaker/bad guy.

4. I cannot  _________________ this website because I don't have a login or password for it.

5. Hitler wanted to _________________ the Jews of life and liberty during the Holocaust of WWII.

6. Visiting the Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg gave me a sense of __________________ sadness. 

7. My sister got caught in the middle of a ____________________. Her car was covered in snow and ice!

8. The __________________ of Mt. McKinley makes this mountain the highest in the world.

9. We walked through the art ___________________ at the Dali Museum.

10. Studying such sad and disturbing things like the Holocaust can be very ___________________ for young children.

Wednesday: Study for Spelling Test of Previously studied words from the semester. (Due 12/18/14). Students will identify incorrectly spelled words or words with no mistakes from a list. Spanish: Create a Christmas Card for a friend in Spanish. Art: Sketch potential faces for the mask that you would like to make (after the Break).

Thursday: Write your prediction (what you think the story is about or what is going to happen) of the story of Hana's Suitcase in your Language Arts Journal. (Due 12/19/14)

Friday: Class Party: Remember to bring in $3.00 for Chipotle Lunch and Secret Surprise Gifts for Classmates. Have a Happy Holiday and A Prosperous New Year!!

The Types of Conflict--Video

Spelling Words for this Week

Good Evening! As promised, here are this week's Spelling words and the links to Spelling City. You may practice your words on Spelling City to help you to better acquaint yourselves with the words in a more fun and creative way. Spelling Word work is still due on the date specified in yesterday's post found here:  November 10-14 Post. Use the following links to access the lists, activities and worksheet helps:

Spelling City 5th and 6th

Spelling City 7th and 8th

Words for 5th and 6th Grades:

1.	usual
2.	arise
3.	visual
4.	leisure
5.	tease
6.	version
7.	enterprise
8.	treasury
9.	bronze
10.	seasonal
11.	recognize
12.	trousers
13.	Louisiana
14.	optimism
15.	advertise
16.	compromise
17.	symbolize
18.	civilize
19.	composure
20.	diseases

Spelling Words for 7th and 8th Grades:

1.	graphology
2.	microcircuit
3.	biology
4.	parallelogram
5.	microphone
6.	photography
7.	astronomy
8.	microscope
9.	grammatical
10.	ecology
11.	cablegram
12.	microbe
13.	hectograph
14.	asteroid
15.	geology
16.	microwave
17.	spectrogram
18.	mythology
19.	asterism
20.	sociology

November 10-14.

Happy New Week Everyone!

I hope the weekend proved to be restful to everyone and we are ready to get into the swing of things to learn.

This week will be very busy for all as there are a number of events to keep in mind:

Wednesday, November 12, 2014--Picture day. Students are allowed to take a set of pictures in non-uniform clothes, but must take pictures in uniform for the yearbook. Also, Wednesday is a uniform day so students must return to uniform after pictures are taken. You may pre-order your pictures with the envelopes sent home earlier last week. If not, you may order pictures online.

Thursday, November 13, 2014--Thanksgiving luncheon for Pre-school to Grade 8. I hope that you will join us for this special occasion. We will send information home soon in order to get an accurate count of how many will attend.

Please don't forget the Great American Teach-In next week on Thursday, November 20, 2014. If you are interested in coming and sharing your career (what you do) with our students please contact Ms. Francine Brown at mcjakindergarten@gmail.com for more information and to give her an accurate count of who is coming.

Homework this week: 

Spelling Word Work for List 1 of new Theme Book: Spelling words 5 times each, words defined, words in a sentence, Pre-Test signed by parents/guardian/helper. I will list a link to the words on Spelling City today. (Due Friday, November 14, 2014)

Students need twigs for Wednesday's craft by Tuesday. (Due November 11, 2014)

Review Spanish Lesson 1 and all notes for a quiz this Wednesday. (Due November 12, 2014)

Review Art notes on space and form for a quiz this Wednesday. (Due November 12, 2014)

Review Science Vocabulary from lessons 1-2 this week for a quiz onWednesday. Know the difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Know the classification breakdown of a common housecat (8 classifications). (Due Wednesday November 12, 2014)

Good Afternoon! Today's homework is as follows:

Spelling-- Word Work (words 5 times, definitions, words in a sentence, pretest done with parent/partner)  All word work is due on Friday, November 7, 2014.

Here are this week's spelling words: (5-6th) peanut butter, headphones, campsite, old-fashioned, VIP (very important person), B.C. (before Christ), OR (Oregon), pkg. (package), roller coaster, make-believe, thunderstorm, semi-sweet, angel, align, personnel, breadth, Gal. (Galatians), hosp. (hospital), RADAR (radio detecting and ranging).

Science-- Complete today's fact research about Galapagos Tortoises the 8 classifications of the  Galapagos Tortoise. Extra credit-- Compare and contrast the Galapagos Tortoise and the Common Housecat (Felis catus) by using a Venn Diagram or a T-chart. Look below for example of each.

October 31

October 31, 2014

Happy Friday!

I have been gone for the majority of this week to Camp WeWa in Apoka, FL. I have been considering how to best get the homework out to everyone since posting the homework for the week is not as helpful as I had hoped it would be. There are homework assignments that re-occur throughout the quarter such as Spelling work and Handwriting work. Please be aware that as long as there are spelling words posted there will be corresponding word work. Other subjects such as Science, Social Studies and Bible will have varying assignments.Occasionally there will be assignments with Language Arts, Art, and Spanish. Please check the blog daily as I will try to regularly post the assignments that come up during the week that are not re-occurring. This coming week's spelling words will be posted on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Note: Esperanza Rising dioramas are due on Monday for those who did not turn them in today otherwise the grade goes in as a zero.

October 14-October 18

Happy New Week Everyone! Welcome back from your long weekend.  This week's homework is as follows:

Monday: NO SCHOOL

Tuesday: L.A.--(5th and 6th) Create a shoe box display (diorama) of a scene from Esperanza Rising that has affected you the most (e.g. the house fire, Esperanza on the train with her mother to California, riding on the jalopy truck, Esperanza sweeping for the first time, the jamaica, etc.). Project is due next Thursday (October 23,2014)

(7th and 8th)-- Bavaria project: Students may choose one of three options: PowerPoint presentation, 3-D architectural model of a well known building of Bavaria, or a poster showing examples of the dress, culture, food and architecture of Bavaria. Project is due next Friday (October 24, 2014). following the presentation of projects there will be a celebration of Bavarian culture (Oktoberfest).

PowerPoints should be from 7-10 slides long and contain images and brief descriptions of the culture, food, clothing and architecture of Bavaria. Posters should be colorful and detailed and should only have one or two points about each section (clothing, food, culture and architecture. 3-D models can be made of foam board (easiest to use and found at  Dollar Tree) or cardboard. Students should make the displays colorful and accurate to the architecture of Bavaria. All students must submit a 1 page summary of the culture, food, clothing, and architecture of Bavaria (Germany). Please remember NOT to cut and paste information (plagiarize) and remember to cite your sources (tell where you found your information) in APA format. You may watch the video below to help you know where to put your sources and how to write your sources:

Wednesday: SS-- Look for articles on climate change in the U.S.

Thursday:SS-- Look for articles about weather anomalies (unusual events) in your region or other regions of the U.S.Bible--Study for memory verse test 6 on Friday.

Friday: Have A Great Weekend!

October 6-10

Happy New Week Everyone!

Monday:  Bible-Review Lessons 3 and 4 for the test on Friday. Be sure to know the Memory Verse Philippians 4:11-13--"I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need."

Science--Science Test on Wednesday. Please review the parts of the cell and mitosis/meiosis. Know the vocabulary and terms.

Handwriting: Lesson 4 (5th/6th) and Lesson 3 (7th/8th) Days 1-4 Due Friday.  

Spelling-Word work (5th-8th) All work due on Friday. Monday's work: Write words 5 times each: This week's words are acronyms and abbreviations: FL (Florida), AZ (Arizona), RADAR (radio detecting and ranging), hosp. (hospital), Gal. (Galatians), VIP (very important person), illus. (illustrated), CT (Connecticut), atty. (attorney), Hab. (Habakkuk), ASAP (as soon as possible), B.C. (before Christ), OR (Oregon), misc. (miscellaneous), SDA (Seventh-day Adventist), pkg. (package), Corp. (Corporation), pop. (population), ND (North Dakota), etc. (et cetera).

Tuesday: L.A. --  Write a newspaper editorial about someone "famous" or that you know very well. Look to newspapers or magazines for inspiration (Do NOT copy and paste or take words directly from articles) write in your own words. Science--Study for Wednesday's Science Test 1.Spelling-Define Spelling words

Wednesday: Art (all grades)-- Skechbook-- Create an op art sketch in your sketchbook like MC Escher.
Spanish--Look around you as you ride this week. Record any Spanish words you find on billboards and store fronts/signs and look them up in your Spanish-English Dictionary.
Spelling: Use spelling words in a sentence
SS--Review for Test 1 on Thursday.

Thursday: Bible--review Memory Verse and Lessons 3 and 4 for test on Friday. Spelling--Pretest (parents call out words and initial at end of test).

Friday: Have a great weekend!

September 29-October 3

Happy New Week Everyone!

Monday:  Bible-Review Lessons 3 and 4 for the test on Friday. Be sure to know the Memory Verse Ps. 100.

Science--Science Projects to be presented today!

Handwriting: Lesson 4 (5th/6th) and Lesson 3 (7th/8th) Days 1-4 Due Friday.  

Spelling-Word work (5th-8th) All work due on Friday. Monday's work: Write words 5 times each: background, grown-up, warehouse, peanut butter, home run, life-size, checkbook, headphones, campsite, headphones, root beer, trade-off, silverware, old-fashioned, first aid, ice cream, roller coaster, teammate, make-believe, thunderstorm, semi-sweet. Bonus: all right, cross-country, well-to-do, sister-in-law, air conditioner.
Tuesday: SS--  Chapter 1: Read Lesson 3 of Chapter 1 in textbook and prepare for the Chapter test on Friday. Spelling: Define Spelling Words  Science--Draw what happens as cells divide during mitosis and meiosis and answer questions at the end of the chapter (p. 39)

Wednesday: Art (all grades)-- Skechbook-- Create a sketch of your Batik you plan to paint next Wednesday and practice contour drawing of an object at home.
Spanish--Complete the worksheets on Lesson 1 about the story of the trash.
Spelling: Use spelling words in a sentence
SS--Find a news article about immigration.

Thursday: Bible--review Memory Verse for test on Friday. Make a list of people we would like to bring joy to for Friday's joy note activity. Spelling--Pretest (parents call out words and initial at end of test).

Friday: Science--Remember cell poster projects are due for groups. Have a great weekend!

September 22-25

Happy Week Everyone!

We are still doing the ITBS testing this week and should hopefully finish by the end of the week. Students have a memory verse this week (Psalm 100:1-5) Students may use the version from the textbook or the King James Version of the text.

Don't Forget: Home and School Association will have its first meeting on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. Please come out and support the school by sharing your ideas and enthusiasm.

In Science, students have a project on either a plant or an animal cell. He or she must create only one of three displays: a Power Point, a full color poster, or a 3-D model of either type of cell. Students must identify the parts of the cell and the purpose for each cell part. All presentations are due on Monday,  September 29, 2014. Please remember to cite your sources for pictures and information (tell us where you found your information). Also remember to put all the information in your own words. Do NOT cut and paste information please! Look below for examples of projects and videos with more information that may be useful to you.

http://doginstructions.com/science-teaching-on-pinterest-25-pins.html/animal-cell-project-dscience-teaching-on-pinterest-pins-oudabu 

http://doginstructions.com/animal-cell-project-labeled-we-havent-done-a-fun-project.html

September 15-19, 2014

I hope everyone has had a good week so far. We have been doing ITBS testing this week. Students have been working hard and giving their best efforts. We will complete testing next week, so please continue to help your students get a good night's rest. Please remember to avoid unhealthy snacks and meals. We ask that you serve minimally processed snacks and foods with low sugar. Have a wonderful weekend!

Homework for September 8-13, 2014

Monday:  Bible--DALD #2 (Will give handout Tuesday). 

Science--Read Chapter 1 Lesson 1 p 16-22 on living things and define highlighted vocabulary words: organism, cell, unicellular, multicellular, reproduction, stimulus. Extra Credit: Find pill bugs (rollie pollie bugs) for tomorrow's science experiment! 

Handwriting: Lesson 3 (5th/6th) Days 1-4 Due Friday. 

Spelling-Word work (5th-6th) All work due on Friday. Monday's work: Write words 5 times each: lease, least, angel, angle, alien, align, country, county, personal, personnel, breathe, breadth, beliefs, believes, envelope, envelop, athlete, athletic, cooperate, corporate. Challenge words: clarification, elaborate, negativity, positivity, productive, 

Tuesday: SS--  Chapter 1: Read Chapter 1 about the United States and  define a democratic republic, Interview family members to discover what ethnicity you have in your family background. 

Spelling: Define Spelling Words 

* Study for quiz in Spanish tomorrow. 

Wednesday: Art (all grades)-- Skechbook-- Create a positive and negative space drawing using your sketchbook  and any color marker, colored pencil, or crayon. will try to post the day's videos on the blog Wednesday.
Spanish-- Study your Spanish  greetings (Como estas?  Como te llamas? etc) (Familiarize yourselves with the story of the trash p7-8.
Science-- Spelling: Use spelling words in a sentence

Thursday: Bible--review Memory Verse for test on Friday. Make a list of people we would like to bring joy to for Friday's joy note activity. Spelling--Pretest (parents call out words and initial at end of test).

Friday: Science--Remember cell poster projects are due for groups. Have a great weekend!

Hi everyone I just wanted to clarify what I expect for the Art Sketch Assignment due next Wednesday. Please look at the examples of color value scales below to help you create the value scales in your sketchbooks Remember you must only choose three colors:

This value scale is taken from www.painting.about.com

Do not forget to study your notes on color theory and the terms that we learned today such as hue (color) value (how light or dark a color/hue is), color scheme (the organized way artist use color to create pleasing artwork--eg. warm and cool colors, monochromatic, analogous, complementary or split complementary colors, etc. ), the names of the seven elements of art (color, texture, value, form, shape, line, space) Correction: Balance is actually one of the principles of art and design that we use to help us create proportioned, even and pleasing artwork.  There will be a quiz on the information you got today next Wednesday. Have a great evening!

Homework this week:

Monday:  Bible--Review Lessons 1 and Lesson 2 and the Lessons' big ideas ( Love is contagious and God is a God of Love)  for a quiz on Friday and Write down this week's memory verse on an index card (John 3:16, 17).
Science--Read SS4-SS5 experiments to do for Tuesday.
Handwriting--Do Lesson Two-- Days 1-5 (all due by Friday)

Tuesday: SS-- Look up songs lyrics that talk about America in a positive way to discuss for Thursday.
Bible--Look for stories that in the news this week that reflect the love of God or love for others.

Wednesday: Art (all grades)-- Create three color value scales in your sketchbook. Eg. red with 5 shades and tints (dark red to pink/white).
Spanish-- Study "The Story of the Trash/ La historia de la basura" for a quiz on next Wednesday.
SS-- Create a map of your home/room to share with classmates on Thursday.

Thursday: Bible--Study John 3:16, 17 and study the stories for the test Also study for Memory Verse Test 3. SS-- Find a news report about the current situation in Ferguson, MO.

Friday: No homework. Have a great weekend!

Happy New School Year!

I welcome you to another school year at MCJA! I know that there have not been posts since the first day of school however, not all of my students were in class because of the International  Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, WI last week. Now that everyone is here I will post homework and upcoming assignments for you. Please check back often for messages and assignment updates. Parent Open House will be this Thursday at 6:30 starting in the chapel area. Please come out to have your questions answered.

Homework this week:

Monday:  Writing--Create a story, poem, essay or other writing out of today's quick write activity.
Science--Study 5 vocabulary cards with definitions for quiz Tuesday.
Handwriting--Do lesson one Days 1-5 (all due by Friday)

Tuesday: S.S.-- In your composition notebooks, write about why you like living in the United States. Describe your country/state and  and what you enjoy best.
Bible--Look up the word "love" in the dictionary and count how many definitions for love there is. Look at each definition and determine if the definition can relate to the following: love for God, love for man, or the fruit of the Spirit.

Wednesday: Art-- Sketch a drawing of a self-portrait that shows what you like to do (for fun, hobby, as a person). Use your portrait to tell us more about yourself as a person.
Spanish-- Read over the story of the Trash (basura) and look up any new words you don't know or remember. review last year's words for a quiz next Wednesday.
SS-- Create a map of your home/room to share with classmates on Thursday.

Thursday: Bible--Write a prayer to God in your bible composition notebooks telling Him how much you love Him. Also study for Memory Verse Test lesson 2.

Friday: No homework. Have a great weekend!

A BIG THANKS

Thanks so much to all the 5-8th grade Parents and Students for attending and participating in this year's Art Show! We had a great turn out from parents and students. I hope that you caught the pride and enthusiasm of your students as they presented their works. This is just the beginning and there are more great things to come. I can't wait to tell you about next year's plans. I look forward to sharing all the exciting activities I have planned for my students and I hope that you will join us as we go into this next school year.

New Week

Happy New Week Everyone!

There is a lot of activity going on this next to last week of school. Students will be hosting an Art Show this Wednesday, May 14, 2014  starting at 5:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Come out and see what creative works your "budding artists" have on display!

Don't forget: Home and School and the Title 1 teacher, Ms. Leslie Daniel will be having a meeting tonight at 6:00 pm in the Library (Red Door). Please come out for this important meeting tonight.

The following lists of spelling words will be the last lists of words for each class for the school year:

5th and 6th:                                           7th and 8th:

disgrace                                                See Previous post from May 5, 2014.
unjust
unfortunate
untitled
midweek
enforce
discovered
disturb
uncovered
untied
midyear
endanger
disappoint
discontinue
uncommon
unwrap
midnight
endure
unusual
entrust

Reminders...

Don't forget: Spelling Test on Monday, May 12, 2014. The words are on the blog post from yesterday.

Please bring 1 bag of  individually wrapped mini-serving candies/candy bars (Hershey's, Skittles, m&m's, Hershey's Kisses, etc.) for Art Class and 6 photos of yourself at various stages in life (baby, toddler, preschooler, etc).

If you have NOT brought in your foam board for framing then please do so tomorrow. 

Remember your brochure project on Islam, Christianity, and Judaism is due on Friday, May 09, 2014. 

Happy New Week Parents and Students! This is going to be a very busy week indeed as we are preparing for several events this week and next week.

Firstly, The school wide field trip to Legoland Theme Park will be this Thursday, May 8, 2014. Student fees should already be turned in as well as permission slips. Students must wear the casual field trip uniform: MCJA P.E. T-Shirts and blue jeans. Also please wear comfortable shoes as we will be walking the park most of the day. If students would like to eat at the park please bring adequate funds to purchase food from the vendors; however, the school is encouraging all students to bring a sack lunch which will be more time and cost effective for all.

Next, on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, beginning at 5:00 p.m. we will have the 5th-8th Grade Art Show. We would like for all parents, students and anyone else interested to attend. Come see your student's best pieces and progress for this year!

Additionally, We have a few projects to do this week for Art (5-8th Grade). I am reminding students to bring in their foam boards for framing.  Each student needs to bring in the following items: 1 multi-serving Bag of Miniature Candies ( Like Hershey's Kisses, Skittles, Hershey's bars, Snickers, Mini M&M's, etc). They do not have to all be chocolate,  but they do need to be mini packages and hold approximately enough for each class member (24 in all) to get one mini serving. If your student has any photos of themselves (old or new) that they can bring in for an art project please send them in no later than Wednesday, May 7, 2014.

Lastly, 5th and 6th Grade will have a test on Classification of Living things this Friday, May 9, and will also have a project to do in Social Studies on the 3 main religions of the Middle East and North Africa. These are in addition to the Spelling and Bible Tests at the end of the week. Please be sure your students take good notes this week and thoroughly study them and all handouts for upcoming tests.

Look below for Spelling Words for 5th - 8th and Have a Great Week!

This Week's Spelling Words are as follows:

5th and 6th Grade:

1.	oven
2.	carbon
3.	cannon
4.	onion
5.	frozen
6.	raisin
7.	posture
8.	differ
9.	mention
10.	bother
11.	mayor
12.	dungeon
13.	senator
14.	either
15.	profession
16.	calendar
17.	gesture
18.	particular
19.	governor
20.	denture

7th and 8th Grade:

1.	escapades
2.	solidifies
3.	victimize
4.	arthritis
5.	susceptible
6.	crystals
7.	encyclopedia
8.	juiciest
9.	ancestral
10.	scorpion
11.	competitive
12.	increasingly
13.	planetary
14.	triangular
15.	beneficial
16.	liquefy
17.	synthetic
18.	conquering
19.	luxuries
20.	delicately