James Keiter's blog

Back after a troubling techno-failure!

    This week features a DOWNTOWN FIELD TRIP to the Multnomah County Courthouse Wednesday.  We'll be taking TriMet that day, which means an early start: students will need to be at school by about 7:30 on that day.  I'm sorry for any inconvenience, but I couldn't ask parent drivers to turn it around on February 11th and drive to Salem for our day there.  Thanks for being flexible and willing...and sending a buck to school with your child if you haven't. Not a bad price for the bus ride.

    Here's what the week looks like:

Monday:  OAKS Reading Test and in-class folder evaluation for grade;  the MID-YEAR READING EVALUATION (attached) is due, along with signed SUM-UP for Week 6.

Tuesday: Field trip prep;  Tri2CE4 is due. Progress Reports come home.

Wednesday:  Courthouse Field Trip  (7:30ish to about 2:30, when we return)

Thursday: Tri 2 Quiz 4

Friday:  WEEK 7 Sum-up comes home for parent signature

One change this week: Your child understands the sum-up will now be a weekly writing grade;  that grade drops dramatically for failure to follow directions and return the sumup signed each Monday. It's important that parents know what's going on. Please read the sum-up each week. 

Also..Cleveland High School counselors visited this week to talk about high school. Many students found the discussion of homework a bit sobering. If your child is one of those who simply won't do anything at home, this is a great time to turn that around.  Counselors return next week for actual forecasting for classes.

Several docs are attached, but NOT the I-Search notes; those will appear in class Monday. Have a good week!

We had a great first week back to start this promising new decade.  Here's the homework for this week. I've attached notes for the quiz and the Current Events assignment.

Parents, please note: I neglected to ask for $1 to cover the bus for our field trip to the Multnomah County Courthouse.  Please send a buck this week if you would. Thanks.

Homework:

> Parent signature on the glued-on Comment Sheet for 2010: Week 1 Sum-up, due Monday.

> Newsletter/ Field trip slip with $1, due Tuesday

> The Declaration of Independence excerpt, copied in class Friday, with student translation, due Tuesday

>Current Events 2, due Thursday

> Quiz 2, Thursday (vocab; attached I-Search notes; conventions correction; Service quote and Declaration of Indep. excerpt)

    Check the attachments. Have a fine weekend.

Only for the bold: I know...the boredom is setting in...or maybe you're just ready for some intellectual stimulation.  Why not get a jump on the future? I've attached two bits of pieces you can start memorizing. One is intended as a slip you can cut and carry for those boring bus rides or after-school waits.  Check 'em out. Savor this victory over procrastination. 

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    Happy Holidays to all! I hope this message finds you all healthy and happy...and resting for the busy January ahead. Those in the know will follow the Big News Story (national health care) and learn a ton about the legislative process...and that's pretty much where we pick it up when you return.  We'll move into more colonial history--mostly looking for the reasons behind creating our government as it is--with a look at the compromise process, government structure and how it all works.  Very cool stuff.

     If you like extra credit, watch or read about the battle over National Health Care coverage and write about it;  I'll accept it on the day of return, along with any re-printed, completed Oral History Narratives and any writing you care to do about any service you perform.  I've attached the form you need to complete if you wish to receive credit.  Read it, do it and turn it in when we get back.  Nice deal. I'll post the notes you'll need for our Midterm Exam later in this break.  Wow.  You could study ahead...

     Enjoy your break!

    This past week was a bit crazy:  way too much going on amidst a shifting schedule and lots of extracurricular stuff outside of the class. We wrote all parts of the rough draft of the Mini-I-Search, which is due as a final copy on Tuesday, 12/15.  We talked about inequality, global warming, homelessness...and even took a micro-field trip related to that issue. As I write this, we're waiting to go to Portland State for a geology field trip.  This week was a big rush, and  I apologized to any and all who felt pushed a bit too hard.  Most were accomodating and got the job done.

Next week:

Monday: I'll check for parent signatures on the Sum-up for the week above; students without will have lunch detention, as discussed in class.  Please help at home if you can. We'll discuss and work on the Mini I-S teaching presentations, which will take place from Tuesday to Thursday in chronological order. Students should practice at home and know their stuff.  There may be a Surprise Quiz Monday on all aspects of the I-Search.  Surprise.

TUESDAY: I-Search final copy due, with the rough draft. We'll clean the section out of the folder.

Tu-W-Thurs:  I Search presentations.

Friday: Newsletter comes home for parent signature, along with Sum-up sheet.

...and about those presentations:

Nuts and bolts:

> Two minute maximum

>Should teach the basics about your topic: focus on main ideas

>Visuals are not required, but may help (pictures, maps, drawings, etc.)

>Should introduce the topic, tell us briefly about your search for information, teach us what you want to teach and conclude in some fitting manner

>Know your stuff and PRACTICE

>May involve notecards..buy may NOT be read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>Should demonstrate all the basics of presentation, including good eye contact, clear voice and a sense of confidence (established by practice, right?)

We'll walk through it Monday.  Be ready. Review your information.

The I-Search Final Copy specs are attached below.  Enjoy! Stay warm!

***

Short and sweet:  We had a long discussion in both blocks about what success would look like in Trimester 2.  Ask your child, please, and take a look at the Sum-up section of the Daily Folder to see what your student will be doing every week to be more aware of performance.  Here's the week:

NOTE:  Bring I-Search materials and a READING BOOK throughout the week. As discussed, I will be assigning lunch detention for those who show unprepared this trimester.  We tighten a bit.  ALSO, students should keep a tally of all pages READ over the weekend, at home, for Monday discussion. Please encourage.

 MONDAY: We write the rough draft of the 'Story' section of the I-Search. Last call for Oral History pieces. Returns of same with my comments; extra credit for those who wish to submit corrected piece for family archives. This will come home over Winter Break with several other representative work pieces.  

TUESDAY:  New vocab list. We write the 'What I Found' section of the I-Search. Shaded maps are due with observations and conclusions. Note: Students should complete any pieces not done in class on their own for the next day; all are due Thursday for editing.

WEDNESDAY:  Tri 2, Quiz 1, covering vocab (including political vocab, again), conventions, the Second Amendment and Helen Keller quote  and recent content. Hint: Read your notes.  'Good News' current events is due for discussion.

THURSDAY:  Peer edit of all pieces of the rough I-Search. Final copy requirements discussed and demonstrated in class. End-of-week actions, including the Sum-up and my comments for parent signature...due Monday.

FRIDAY: All-day Science field trip to Portland State.

    That's it. Have a good weekend. The Status Check Sheet is attached.

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     I'm sick...but students will continue as if I'm there:  putting the final touches on their Mini-I-Search research, answering the basic Q's and always, always, making sure they have ALL the needed bibliographical info;  checking stocks and poring over USA TODAY;  pondering and writing (as time permits in class) the Oral History piece due Thursday.  We'll WAQC those narratives in class.  Make sure to come each day with I-Search sources and a reading book;  we'll begin recording all pages read in class as part of the Tri 2 Reading Goal work discussed at conferences.  A reminder: Quiz next Wednesday.  We'll talk about contents in class Thursday;  those will also be posted on the blog Friday.

     I hope you're all feeling better than I do at the moment.   

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It was delightful to see all of you at conferences last week!  Thanks for taking the time to come. A busy week lies ahead this week. Here's what will happen:

Monday:  We'll cull and file work from Daily Folders and conferences.  We'll look at the notes from the Oral History Interview and write the Bio-Sketch, due with the narrative on Thursday.  This will be the last call for the "Hunger" Story Reflection assignment. We'll update current events and re-configure our folders for Trimester 2.

Tuesday:  Bring sources for I-Search research.  Personal reading time, too, with discussion of Tri2 reading goals and the Page Record. New vocab list glue-on for Tri3 Quiz1 next week. 

Wednesday:   I-Search research...nearing the end.

Thursday:  Final day I-Search research w/project summary...DUE:  FINAL COPY, the Bio-Sketch and Oral History Narrative.  No other homework this week, right?  We'll write the Mini-I-Search in class next week rough, then you'll finish it at home. Check the dates on the assignment sheet.

***

    We had excellent field trips this week.  Read the attachment below for details if you wish.  This is a short week:  kids have school Monday, then we have conferences Monday night and Tuesday before breaking for Thanksgiving.  Please note:  Students are expected to attend conferences with parents.  If you haven't done so already, please call Ann at SMS (503-916-5656) for a time.  For conflicts or problems, email me at jameskeiter@pps.k12.or.us and we'll work out something else. I hope to see all of you!

    HOMEWORK:  Students are expected to bring our only weekend homework, the "HUNGER" Story Reflection, to the conference, along with any memory work they wish to recite for extra credit. Students will receive instruction for the Oral History Narrative on Monday, and should do that over the Thanksgiving weekend.

    All students should bring I-Search sources on Monday for research.  'Nuff said.

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Great field trip learning experiences.  Read summaries of same, attached below. Thanks to all the parents! If I could, I'd attach some pix...but I can't, so I'll be showing those at conferences...

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