March Madness

It's hard to believe March will be here tomorrow. Spring is just around the corner! We are still working hard and learning new things in room 214.

Science: The students are learning more about clouds. They conducted an experiment to see how clouds are formed. It was very exciting!

Social Studies: The students finished learning information about African Americans and their struggles and contributions. They also continue to work on life skills such as making sandwiches, relaying personal information, and social skills.

Writing: Students are working on keyboarding skills. Others are working on improving their spelling. Spelling pre-tests are usually given on Mondays. Students practice their words during the week and are tested on Friday. They are also working on writing three different types of essays: persuasive, explanatory, and speculative.

Reading: Students completed the Study Island Benchmark Assessment at their grade level. This assesment is similar to the NJASK questions. IEP accomodations were adhered to while the students completed the assessment. Students continue to work on improving their individual reading skills, as well.

Math: Some students completed a test on converting and simplifying fractions. They will be learning how to compare, add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions with like and un-like denominators. This will help them when working with recipes.
Others are working on adding and subtracting numbers with one and two-digits.
All students completed the Study Island Benchmark Assessment at their individual grade level.

Fun, Fun February

Well, the second marking period ended and we are now in the second half of the school year. Most of us are happy the groundhog did not see his shadow. I think we are all done with this crazy weather.

Our whole school is working on being C.O.R.R.E.C.T! For the next few months, we will be doing various activities to focus on each character trait. The first two weeks focused on Courage. Students were paired up with a buddy from another grade level each Friday to work together to enhance their learning about this character trait. On Wednesdays, the students work-out the character trait. They may do jumping jacks, squats, or another type of work out to use their whole body to remember the trait. Students will also have lessons in their classrooms to continue to know the correct way to be.

Science: Will continue to work on life skills activities as well as learning about cloud types to be able to predict the weather.

Social Studies: Will be learning about the holidays in February as well as the Civil Rights Movement and famous African Americans.

Writing: Most of the class is working on improving their spelling. Many are also improving their typing skills. Others are writing daily and working to edit and improve their writing.

Reading: Some students are improving their sight word vocabulary. While others continue to use reading strategies to improve their comprehension of what is read. The eighth graders will be reading a book about the Holocaust to prepare them for the upcoming unit in the general education social studies class.

Math: Some students are learning more about fractions to help them with doubling and halving recipies. Others are learning about adding two digit numbers. While others are working on sorting coins.

The New Year

Welcome 2013!!!

We have some exciting things to learn about this month.

Science and Social Studies classes are learning about the weather and ways to predict and plan for it. They will also be working on life skills activities such as making snacks and lunches. We will be learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the next week and a half so that we understand the meaning behind why there is no school on his observed birthday.

Language Arts/Reading classes: Students continue to work on writing and reading skills necessary for life.

Math: Some students are working on addition and counting skills. Others are working on understanding place value to then add larger numbers. While others are working on how to use math skills for real life situations.

The 8th graders will be going to the DaVinci center on January 16th to enjoy The Bodies exhibit. I will be joining them in the fun.

December Happenings

This month, the Social Studies class will be traveling the world to learn about different holidays celebrated by different cultural regions. Students will be applying their map skills to find the country on the maps. They will be learning about the culture and holiday celebrated. Then they will have to follow directions and use their fine motor skills to make crafts to go along with the holiday. They will also be writing about the things they learned.

The Science class will be learning about all kinds of weather, how the weather can change, and how it affects us. We will be conducting experiments to understand weather better. The class will also be doing some cooking to celebrate the upcoming holidays. We will be making Lattkes to celebrate Hanukkah; baking cookies to celebrate Christmas; and making for Kwanzaaa.

The Language Arts class is working on improving sentences and writing as a whole. The students are also working on their typing skills on the computer.

The Reading class will be beginning Al Capone Does My Shirts. It is a novel that provides some great topics  and subject matter for the students.

The Math class is learning how to apply their skills to real life application. The students are so eager to learn to be good consumers.

Back to business

The students did a nice job returning back to school after our unanticipated break due to the hurricane. We have begun many new things in our classes and I am excited to share them with you.

In Social Studies, the students are continuing to work on their calendars. They are also working on filling out forms. Recently, they filled out a NJ voter registration form.

In Science, the students began a study on the weather. We dabbled a bit with hurricanes, but are now learning about clouds.

In Writing, students finished their fractured fairy tales. They will continue to write each day and refine the skills we have worked through the years.

In Reading, students have begun to study onsets and rimes. They are also beginning a new reading program called Reading Key. I am hoping these skills will help them to become the great readers they have the potential to be.

October Fun!

This month we have a lot going on. In science, we will be studying leaves and photosynthesis. We are also studying pumpkins. We will be carving a pumpkin next week and roasting the seeds for a delicious snack. We are also working on following directions on recipes to make yummy food items. Next week we will be making fresh applesauce. Yummy!




In social studies, we are working on our calendar skills each day. We will be working hard to understand the election process in our country. We are also working on various life and social skills.



In language arts, we have finished our parts of speech unit. We will be looking at writing correct sentences and beginning a writers' workshop.



In reading, we have enjoyed reading David Lubar's short stories from his latest book, Attack of the Vampire Wienies. We are working on reading strategies that good readers do to improve comprehension of what they read. I am happy to report that the students were so excited by one of the stories they took it even further and developed their own version of an old fairy tale. We will be publishing them for all to read.



In math, some students are finishing up a unit on division. Others are finishing with counting change and dollars. While, others are working on addition and telling time. All students are working hard to be great mathematicians.

MARE

Students have been enjoying class trips with their grade level classes this month. While in school, they continue to work on their individual reading goals. We are also reading Lemony Snickett's A Series of Unfortunate Events. We are working on various activities in relation to the book. We'll watch the movie when we finish the book.

The math students just finished learning about place value of decimals. To help us relate place value to real life, we play The Price is Right on the Wii on Fridays. It gives the students an opportunity to undestand the cost of items as well as apply their knowledge of place value in determining the price. We are moving on to learn about probability before the end of the school year.

Each grade level contributed to out MARE bulletin board. We are all looking forward to Ocean Night at OCS.