Thursday, March 28, 2013

Thursday

Today students took the political map assessment over South American countries and capitals. I have not graded all of them yet but the initial results are fantastic. Great job! If you missed today, you may take it when you return after break and you can see your score on HAC. If you scored below a 70% on the C level (capitals/countries), you may retake that part after break. If you scored below a 70% on the Enlightenment assessment from last Thursday, you may retake it when we return from break as well.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tuesday

Tuesday here. Today we worked to complete the Geography Challenge for the Americas and connected the capital cities to each South American country in preparation for Thursday's assessment over the same. The C level will be to connect the capital city to its country and the B-A+ will be to locate the South American country on the South American continent. You will have to have both of these down pat or you will be lost on this assessment. Make study cards, Study Stack, or anything that works for you and get it down! Here is another blank map for you to practice on. If you cannot complete this practice map with all the countries and their capitals (two for Bolivia) you will be out of luck. Practice!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Monday

Hey guys, it's Monday. Today we began work on the Geography Challenge for the Americas. We are working toward an assessment on Thursday over the countries of South America and their capitals. It will only be on the South American continent proper and not any islands. We will look at Central America and the Caribbean islands after break. I am including the geography challenge handouts with this post if you were absent or lost yours. We will work on the challenge again tomorrow.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday

Friday students took the Performance Literacy Task for social studies. This hour long literacy task assesses student ability to read a collection of primary source documents, some text and some images, and write an essay arguing a point of view backed by the documents of choice along with outside (the test) knowledge on the subject. The purpose is to not only assess students current ability but to contribute to preparing students for like assessments in the near future as standardized testing evolves. The assessment will be counted for a grade for the fourth quarter. There really is not a way to prepare ahead of time for this assessment.

Thursday

Thursday students took the assessment for chapter 35 over the Enlightenment. They also began work on the blue book introduction to the Americas when finished with the test.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wednesday

Hey, it's Wednesday. Students had a short time in class to complete their Reading Notes and or their question sheet over the last two sections of chapter 35. We then played a game or had a competition which included identifying each of the five Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas. The first assessment for the fourth quarter is tomorrow and below I will place the TIP section. Both the C level and B-A+ level of the assessment will be multiple choice. Twelve for the C and 20 for the B-A+. The basic level contains the twelve vocabulary terms and the higher level essentially covers the thinkers. There may be some accidental overlap both ways and a couple questions cover bigger themes such as impacts or themes that the Enlightenment impacted.

Assessment Tips! The following resources are available and should be utilized in preparation for the chapter 35 assessment:
*Read chapter 35 in your text book. The book will not be posted on Edmodo. You will have to take your book home.
*Video data chart we partially completed using the two videos. The remaining information may be obtained from your text book chapter 35.
*Video posted on March 15 in Edmodo
*Reading Notes you should have completed using the text book and the thought bubbles in class. The notes are posted along with the thought bubbles on March 19th.
*Cobb Web containing the 12 terms. We completed most of the Web last Thursday in class. This will be necessary for the C Level assessment.
*You may make or use student posted study guides and or Study Stacks your fellow students may have made and posted to Edmodo. You may make and use your own. It is much more effective to make your own as part of the study is accomplished in the making of it.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tuesday

Hi all. Today we worked on the Reading Notes for chapter 35 and began work on a question sheet for the final two sections of chapter 35. Tomorrow, we will play a game of sorts and compete to figure out which primary source document goes with or is the comments that could be made be each of the Enlightenment thinkers. We are working toward the assessment on Thursday. Tomorrow, the Cobb Web is due which should have each of the vocabulary terms completed. They will be the basis for the C level assessment or basic level.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Age of Enlightenment Chapter 35

Hello! Today students completed a second retake (if needed) for the Age of Exploration quiz while others worked on the Cobb web. That is due on Wednesday. Students then completed the 2 videos that were started on Friday and took notes on their video notes data sheet. (See earlier post for copy) Students then started work on the reading notes with their partners. We will work on those tomorrow with quiz likely to come on Thursday.

Friday, March 15, 2013

The Enlightenment

Hello! Today students who needed to do the retakes for the Age of Exploration took it. Unfortunately, many students results were still not as expected. Those students should expect to try again on Monday. In Mrs. Cobb's class students study page needs to be initialed by parents to take this retake. Mr. Hogue has posted study tools here as well. Reminder that the end of the quarter is Wednesday of next week. Students then viewed videos where they took some notes on the BIG IDEAs related to the Age of Exploration. The Youtube video is posted here. Mr. Hogue has posted the data chart as well.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Thursday

Today we introduced chapter 35, The Enlightenment. We will take a look at this period of history, its players, and how what they said and their thoughts shaped American history (government). We also began work on a new Cobb Web for vocabulary and viewed a CNN Student News report. The Focus Sheet was posted on March 12th. We will work toward completing The Enlightenment section near the middle of next week and have an assessment on Thursday. The assessment we took yesterday will be the fianl grade for this grading period and The Enlightenment assessment will be the first one for the final quarter of the year. Let's get off to a great start!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Scientific Revolution Assessment

Hello! Today was test day! Students first reviewed with their partner and discussed the concepts as a whole class. Students took both levels of the assessment. When finished, they were able to read Upfront magazine. Some classes also watched video of CNN Student News. Those students who completed the take home retake for the Reformation (pink sheet) turned it in. Retake for the Age of Exploration is on Friday in class.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Preparation for Scientific Revolution

Hello! Today students reviewed in class for the test tomorrow on the Scientific Revolution. Students worked with their learning partner to complete the definitions and the sentences. Students will need to finish them up tonight as they are due as the ticket to take the test. Students then completed a cafe conversation about the 5 big ideas of the Scientific Revolution. Students then discussed what they would need to do yet to be prepared for the assessment tomorrow. Please take the time to do it tonight!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Completion of Reading Notes for Scientific Revolution

Hello! Today in social studies all classes were able to complete the reading notes and discuss them. Most classes were given some time to study and work on the Cobb web which is due on Wednesday for the ticket to take the test. Again....take home retake on Reformation (pink sheet) is due on Wednesday and retake for Age of Exploration is in class Friday. Homework is to study the vocabulary for the c level of the test and the 5 BIG IDEAs for the B to A level.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Reading Notes Scientific Revolution

Hello! Today we worked for a bit on the Cobb web which will be due as the ticket to take the assessment which is likely on Wednesday. Students also were returned their assessments from the Reformation and the Age of Exploration. The retake for the Reformation is a take home (pink sheet given today) retake due on Wednesday. The retake for the Age of Exploration is on Friday in class. Students were told exactly what to do today (Mrs. Cobb talked to both classes.) to prepare for it. Students with scores below 70% are expected to retake these for a highest possible retake score of 75%. Students then worked on the reading notes for chapter 34 with their partner. We discussed them one section at a time. We will complete them on Monday. Hope everyone gets out and enjoys the weather this weekend!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Beginning Study of Scientific Revolution

Hello! Today we completed the preview with all the classes. Students did a pre-read of the chapter with their partner and we read/discussed 34.1-34.2. Students then worked on their own to complete the 12 vocabulary words. (There are 16 on the focus sheet. They will not do the people listed there.) This is not homework.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Scientific Revolution BIG IDEAs

Hello all! Today we reviewed the BIG IDEAs for the Scientific Revolution with the handout from the video notes. Students viewed a video of the Rosco's overview of the chapter about the Scientific Revolution. Students shared the notes and added to make theirs more complete. Some classes were able to begin the preview for the chapter. There is no homework except eat and sleep well. Tomorrow we will compete the LA portion in the morning and then students will complete the science portion during their science class.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tuesday

Hey all. Today students took the first portion of the ISTEP exam. In SS they began viewing and recording information for their data charts on the Scientific Revolution. We will continue that theme tomorrow and have no SS activity at home for a couple of days as we concentrate on doing our best on the ISTEP exams.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Age of Exploration Assessment

Hello all! Today we reviewed for the quiz on Age of Exploration assessment and then took it! Students cleared out their binders in Mrs. Cobb's class and took the papers to their portfolio boxes. Mr. Hogue's class will do this soon. Students then read from blue books about Reformation and Enlightment or read the Upfront magazines. There will be no homework during iSTEP testing which is be finishing up on Thursday. Eat well and get some good sleep.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday

Hey all. Today we completed the reading notes and went over the correct responses. We also took another look at the C Level basic facts. There is a study guide posted which has the essential themes that you should be familiar with. Assessment tips are listed at the top of it, as well. I also posted an alert which lets you know to update Adobe so that you can read the textbook pages. The assessment is on Monday.