Thailand

Hope you  are enjoying your holidays..I am.. See you in the new year!

Christmas 2011 with the Buxton's

What does your family holiday animoto look like? Feel free to post links

60,000 Page Views!

Chrsitmas 2011 - Our little blog received its 60,000th hit! Do you think we will hit 100,000 by the summer?

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas. Hope you are having a fabulous time!

1st Semester Group Reflection

The most popular answers will be the largest

What was the best skill/content/concept you learned so far?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Last Academic Day of 2011

What a fantastic way to end the semester. Watch these amazing  Historical fiction reflectives again. What must you do- with your next project to meet these standards?
Rachel - Excellent evidence and visuals


Sabine - Great creativity and imagination


Nakul - Great graphics
http://prezi.com/ypjnqyaetrvs/the-night-spies-by-kathy-kacer/

Student of the Week: Madddy

Blogger of the Week: Camille

Watch the blog over the break to see a preview of what is coming in the New Year...


Bye Scott: We'll miss you.

Buxton Class - Historical Animotos

Buxton Class Copy links

Solina (loyalist)

Solina (loyalist) - Check out this persasuive argument from Solina
Enjoy's elizabeth's work below

Farewell Parties

Don't forget red shirts for music event: Thur

Enjoy the links below to Maria's and Scott's farewell videos
http://animoto.com/play/THkc1GEfU3WBQ0h7wkoCJQ
http://animoto.com/play/77A1LJ13ZNS322lClAKb1A

Final draft of your persuasive essays due tomorrow. DO NOT FORGET TO SUBMIT THIS WRITING!

Worthwhile IXL Practice - 6th Grade (only to 75 points)
A1, S2,T5,F2,E1

Tomorrow will be the last day to work in class on your historical fiction work. This will be due Friday. Br creative with how you choose to present this work.

Bye Maria - We'll miss you!

Mrs. Clayton's Class

Please copy the link to your video in a comment window.

Prepositional Phrase Test

• Do the exercises below for your prepositional phrase test.
• Don't  forget study link 6.10 (Study links will be inspected tomorrow)
• Subway lunch tomorrow
• Gift exchange tomorrow
• Persuasive historical essay (Due Thur)
• Historical Fiction work (Due: Fri)
• Patrick Henry Finalists - Practice for Friday!
• Don't forget your I-Check for Mrs. Clayton

Wow...what a load of things to be thinking about...I think we are learning...

Don't forget to vote...please!

 

Persausive Animoto Links

Use this post to copy your digital persausive essay ONLY

Qtr 2 Week 9 Day 1

Announcements:

 Don't forget to vote...please!

• Secret Santa gifts ($10 max.) must be brought in for Wed
• Subway lunch: Bring your money in tomorrow
• Music Caroling: This Thursday: Dress in red
• PJ's Day - Fri (You can wear your PJs to school)

There are a lot of pieces of work due this week. Based on progress I noted today, I am adjusting the due dates.  We will spend all week working on these assignments:

• Social Studies Animoto Patriot or Loyalist persuasive argument (Due: Thur)
• Persuasive Writing (Hardcopy) (Due: Thur)
• Persausive Animoto Essay (Due: Wed)
• Subway Lunch: (Wed)
• Historical Fiction work (Due: Fri)

Tonight's priority: BRING A HARDCOPY DRAFT OF YOUR PERSUASIVE ESSAY to school tomorrow

Prepositional Phrase Test: Wed - We will recap this topic in class tomorrow
(Make sure you can also identify an infinitive phrase  e.g. During the party and particple phrase  e.g. To begin my speech)


Use links below to practice
Watch these videos to recap what we learned about prepositional phrases  

http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/POS/pos7.htm#Pop%20Quiz%201
http://www.quia.com/quiz/298373.html?AP_rand=159214296
(drag and drop answers for speed)
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/prep_exercise.htm

Patrick Henry

YES - to Secret Santa - Max. $10 spent. Participation is optional!

What a way to end the week! So much to report....

Patrick Henry Class Champions

Enjoy Breann's superb performance in the basketball event below

Please use this link to plan out your persuasive argument. YOU need a draft copy of your persuasive writing for Monday's class.
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/

Student of the Week: HAN

Blogger of the Week: RACHEL

Friday Message: It's not what happens to you, it's how you CHOOSE to experience what happens to you

http://www.safeshare.tv/w/spQxeuWWEp

Next Week

Animoto

Post links to your animotos for me to check out. Tomorrow, we begin writing  your last persuasive essay.

Don't forget to vote!

Edublog Nomination

Our blog is nominated under  Best Class Blog for 2011
http://edublogawards.com/2011-3/best-class-blog-2011/?nominee=w70s2h

Feel free to vote!

animoto

Who will be the first to copy a link of their opening animoto?

Stem and Leaf Plots

Quick recap video on stem and leaf plots - New video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7m0Q_m2ppg

I am still not writing down your H/W, but I am just reminding you about the importance of working diligently on both of your animoto projects tonight. Start collecting images/ppoint slides/short video of material you will use in your presentations.
This is a HARD assignment - so it will require great creativity and lots of work!

1 Sammy Snake to anybody who creates their opening thesis statement by tomorrow.
Minimum - You need to be CRYSTAL clear on your topic  and p2s for tomorrow

Next Week - Pay it Forward

There was a powerful message in Mrs. Huggins session today. how will you make a real effort to 'pay it forward'. This truly would change the world?
Watch these videos again to STAY inspired
http://youtu.be/vr3x_RRJdd4 - Free Hugs




Congratulations to Sabine - Student of the Week

Alex: Blogger of the Week

Friday Message - The Girl Who Stopped the World

Listen carefully to the magnificent way this girl delivers her persuasive argument for change at the United Nations assembly so many years ago. What will your  final persuasive piece be like?



One voice - spoken loud enough CAN make a difference!

Colonial Day

Watch this to recap what we have learned so far about Colonization

Swimming

This letter about swim classes was sent to your parents today. Make sure you have read it also.


How is your idea coming for the Animoto project? Do you have a CLEAR thesis statement that states your opinion? Have you listed you P2s?  Read Maya's ENTIRE essay again to make sure you are writing a PERSUASIVE argument and not just stating your opnions about a topic. Remember: You need to be persauding somebody to do something. We will start working on it in class tomorrow

Movember

H/W
As we were rushed at the end of the day, I will recap your H/W assignments

Math

• Look at the end of unit review sheet in your study links package. Make sure you feel comfortable with all topics mentioned. If not, come prepared to ask me questions tomorrow. 
• Spend 10 mins playing one of the Unit 5 fractions game under the EDM link on the left side of my blog

RLA
Think of your 'idea' for the animoto project. It can be something new or a topic you have already used. Remember: Think about whether you can have three expandable p2s before you rest on your final idea. Today's session should have shown you the importance of first coming up with an excellent topic

Look at the sample video again for an example

Prep. Phrase Project
We will have another session tomorrow to help prepare for the prep. phrase puppet show. Make sure you have finished your portion for your team's performance. tomorrow's session

Kudos to Maya for her strong personal persuasive essay.

Movember
This is an example of how I stepped out of my comfort zone. I have never grown a beard before! The last day for Movember is tomorrow.

Don't for get to get your H/W diary signed

Next Week

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving Break.  Get plenty of rest. Complusory H/W - Make sure you tell at least 3 people how 'thankful' you are for being in your life and for everything that they do for you.

We have three exciting weeks ahead before the Decemeber break. Let's make them  the best possible.
Coming soon:

• The Patrick Henry Speech recitation (you will learn, rehearse, and perform in a passionate way an abridged version of the Patrick Henry speech)
• Historical Fiction: Make sure you are reading an historical fiction novel of quality.  You will be producing a 'higer order thinking' report on this book in two weeks. Make it a book you enjoy.
• Change the World Project - You will be working in pairs to create a persuasive animoto presentation that attempts to 'changes the world' (How you choose to define the term, 'world' is down to your creativity. Be thinking of ideas for a perfect thesis idea for this project. See example below as a  rough idea of what this might look like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Br-xbe0pt0 
• Prepositional Phrase Persuasive Performances

I'm excited...Aren't you?

Trial Period - We will return to using our H/W daries to record our H/W for the next 3 weeks. I will not post H/W on the blog. We will see how this goes.

Qtr 2 Week 6 Day 2 - Skits

SCIENCE HOMEWORK:
Complete Response Sheet

Please turn in to Mrs. Clayton tomorrow morning before 8am.

Math
Study Link 5.9. IXL C.8

Prepositional Phrases Booklet p.11. Expand the paragraph on p.ll with at least 20 prepositional phrases. Work on your portion of the prepositional stage skit. (30 mins)

Remember: Your Unit 8 Social Studies vocabulary review is Wed. - Clayton class said it is hard! - Make sure you have studied 'smart'.

Qtr 2 Week 6 Day 1 - Prepositional and Prepositions Phrases

Math
Study Link 5.7 and 5.8

Prepositional Phrases Booklet p.7 and p.3

Remember: Your Unit 8 Social Studies vocabulary review is Wed.

Qtr 2 Week 5 Day 5 UN DAY

UN DAY - Congratulations on your work. Enjoy it again here. Many of you might choose to put a copy on your blog.


Student of the Week:
You're not born with character. You can't learn it, and  you can't buy it.

Blogger of the Week - Nakul

The Friday Moment:
NEVER TAKE YOUR EDUCATION FOR GRANTED...



Next Week

Qtr 2 Week 5 Day 4 - Persuasive Essay Final Draft. UN DAY

UN DAY Tomorrow:

You are welcome to come to school in the colors of your country  or any traditional clothes

Complete your final draft for your essay. There will be 45mins of classtime Friday morning to add any finishing touches if you need.  Due  by 12:30pm Friday

WALT: Writing a Personal Persuasive Essay

Title: Related to your topic

WILF

• Effective thesis statement that contains a S.O.R.
• Clear use of tranistional words
• Effective use of advanced sentence fluency
• Incorporating of between 3-5 persuasive techniques (HHH Stragegy)
• A restate sentence that summrizes the main points of your argument

Presentation

• Organized in paragrpahs
• Color Coded  P1 (Thesis) RED  P2s Green P3s  BLUE Restate RED
• Font 12,  1 1/2 line spacing, comic sans

Those students who want  to do the final review. Print out the editing sheet below:

NO MATH H/W tonight - Make your essay PERFECT!

Qtr 2 Week 5 Day 3 - Thesis Statement

Video recap on today's session



Writing

• You need to bring x3 thesis statements to class tomorrow. Make sure you can identify the S.O.R. in each one.
• You  should also have a PERFECTED thesis statement and P2s for your 'personal essay'. We will finish writing that personal essay in class tomorrow.

Math
IXl C2, C7, C11
Math boxes 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
(you should have already finished 50%  of the above work in class)

Qtr 2 Week 5 Day 2 - Characteristics of Historical Fiction

"You are who you are when nobody is watching"  - What did you learn today that you will remember for the rest of your life?



Math
Study Link 5.6 
IXL  C1

RLA
Rewrite an effective P1 and three P2s (Due: Wed) BE WILLING TO PUSH YOUR THINKING ON THIS PIECE. DON'T BE SATISFIED WITH OK. MAKE IT CLEAR IN YOUR TOPIC SENTENCE WHAT YOUR POSITION IS ON THE TOPIC. USE YOUR TOPIC SENTENCE TO HELP FORM YOUR P2s.

Qtr 2 Week 5 Day 1 - Persuasive Writing Draft

Math
Studylink 5.5 IXL C.6 (master) and C.9 (practice)

Writing
Finish typing up your first draft of your essay. Use the power plan color code. You must bring in HARD COPY a draft version. DO NOT FORGET to do this.  Do you power 2s fit your topic sentence?  Have you reiterated three specific persuasive points in your restate?

Do your have clear sentence fluency?

Reading
Keep your log up to date. Which new reading techniques will you focus on this week?

Next Week

Recap - Making Equivalent Fractions - This is fun!


Tech Integration
www.lingro.com
www.wordsift.com

THIS IS AN UPDATED VERSION FROM SAT AT 10am


The Friday Moment
What can you learn from this video?

Qtr 2 Week 3 Day 4 - UN Day

Sorry for the late post.
H/W
Math Study Link 5.4 and IXL L.2 and Persuasive Writing P3s

I am very hopeful that I will be able to look into sharepoint and see your individual files listed there by the end of the evening. - Make me smile!

I would like people to reflect on the productivity of group work. What do we need to change to make sure that groups are working more effectively?

You should be creating your p3s for your personal persuasive piece. Make sure you are applying the techniques we are learning. Avoid weak language and keep control of your sentence fluency. You should have nine p3 sentences in total.

Qtr 2 Week 4 Day 3 UN Day Preparation

You must finish your section tonight for the UN presentation. This might mean finishing your powerpoint slide or recording and saving your video portion.  (People can record videos in school tomorrow, but what you are going to say must be completely read. Make sure you practice using PEX and BEVES). You must save the slides in the correct order on sharepoint in class tomorrow.

Use http://www.befunky.com/   to make your images/jpeg owerpoint slides amazing. Takes seconds to learn how to use. DON'T go over the top. Remember, people need to clearly understand your point in a few seconds

Look at this DRAFT video copy of a reading caption. What is being done well? What aspects need to be improved upon  for the final version?

Math
Study Link 5.2
IXL L. 4
Math Boxes 5.2
Math Recap video

Qtr 2 Week 4 Day 2 UN Day Preparation

Complete your research on your UN Day author. You must come to school with precise and concrete ideas of what information you want to present and how you want to present it about your author. Remember:

1)You are presenting the author NOT the book. In class tomorrow, you will have to synthesize your ideas as a group to form your author presentation.
2)Think 'persuasively'.

Math
Unit 5.1 Study link and Math Box 5.1
IXL Unit L.1 (I will be checking. Make sure this is done)

Some people need to finish their weekly blog post or IMPROVE on it. Read Maya's weekly reflection to see how this should be done! Comment on people's work on their blog if you get the chance.

Next Week

Student of the week:

Blogger of the Week : Jacqueline

New Photos up for you to view in 2nd qtr link on right side of my blog

Tech Integration: http://animoto.com/ -  This is by far my favourite tool! Check in out. You can  make a free video of 30 seconds in length. This is what my students were able to do with it last year. Make sure you understand how it works.

The Friday Moment  - Sometimes you got a just have a good giggle...
 What would you do it you discovered your parents had eaten all your Halloween candy?

Qtr 2 Week 3 Day 4 Word Study

Homework

• Finish the 'Home Learning' Word study chart you were given today by my subsitute teacher
• Finish the  Math Races chart
• Be ready for your Book Club group presentation

All due for Friday

Don't forget the P1 and P2s from yesterday that are also due for Friday

Qtr 2 Week 3 Day 3 Annoying People

Use this link to contribute your ideas to today's class  discussion
http://todaysmeet.com/Peoplethatannoyme

 

Math - IXL  H 6, 13,14 - Complusory

 

RLA - Power Plan

• Take one of your ideas for today's or yesterday's class and write a P1 and  three P2s. Make sure your P2s clearly relate to your P1
• Do not use any banned words or weak sentence constructions.
• Use the link below to write them into a power plan (Due: Fri)

 

Book Club Presentation -  Spend 30 minutes working on your part. You will also get one session in class tomorrow to put the final touches to your presentation

Qtr 2 Week 3 Day 2 Persausive Writing

Science I Check - Despite multiple reminders, these students still need to get their Science work signed.
Maddy
Nick
Emma
Zack
Aditya
Maria
Scott
Please make suere this is DONE tonight!

Mrs Clayton's class - Use this video to take notes  on your Social Studies - 13 colonies  handout.


My class
Math
IXL  H.11 & H.12 COMPLUSORY - I will be checking who has done the assignment
Study Link 4.7

RLA
 Write a list of 5 observations that frustrate you ‘why is it impossible to get a taxi in Singapore when it is raining? (Due: Wed)
Book club  project work - Presentation date is now Friday morning

November

Can you work out what our new writing unit will be?

Qtr 2 Week 3 Day 1 Halloween

No H/W tonight. Enjoy your Halloween!

For Mrs. Clayton's Science class: One last reminder - Do you have your I-Check signed by your parents? Students who forget a second time will receive a consequence!

Next Week

The following students need to make sure your parents sign your I-Check for Mrs. Clayton's Science class

Jacqueline
Rachel
Maddy
Maya
Emma
Nick
Zack
Rohan
Nakul
Aditya

Below is the 'Week at a Glance Sheet' for next week:

Technology is important in our lives, but should never be allowed to take over our lives. Everything should be used in appropriate degrees. Spend these days AWAY FROM THE INTERNET. Get outside and play. Stay away from my blog. NO POSTS are allowed over this break. Get some fresh air, play. and READ

Everybody is welcome to bring in treats for Halloween - If you bring in treats, you must bring in treats for the entire class. Can you imagine how you would feel if you were left out

Set yourself the target of earning 'one piece of genre pie'  for the start of next week!

See you next week for Halloween!!!!!!

Qtr 2 Week 2 Day 1 Knovios

Sign in to for live chat during class today
http://todaysmeet.com/RLA
http://todaysmeet.com/konvios

H/W
Finish your expository paragraph. When you think you have finished,copy the entire text into this link and press 'visualize'. What can you learn from the result
http://tagcrowd.com/

Your Knovios must be ready for presentations tomorrow. The only additional class time will be during morning work or recess for any finishing touches

Math
Study link 4.4
Finish the workbook pages from today's lesson

Final Book Club - Fishbowl tomorrow

Next Week
This is the last H/W for week. If you have already finished much of the above, be thinking about your book club presentation and your responsibilities.

Next Week

We will be using this website to brainstorm for our final Book club project.
Create an account and check out how to use it below:

Qtr 2 Week 1 Day 5 The Friday Moment

Check out some new photos under the 2nd qtr link (not working yet)

I forgot to tell you all to add me to your blog invite.
rbuxton@charlottelatin.org Do this now as I cannot read your blog if you don't.

Student of the Week - Camille

The Friday Moment

"Life is not what happens to you; life is about how you choose to experience what happens to you"

Qtr 2 Week 1 Day 4 "...He who numbers the stars one by one..."

RLA
Complete your power plan for your essay. Make sure your p3s are clear elaborations to your p2s. Does each of your p2s relate to your p1? Don't forget to clearly restate your main points in your  restate sentence. You may choose to type this up in google docs. for easy access in school. (typing this tomight is completely optional)

October Reading Response
This should be on your blog by tomorrow. Make sure you are demonstrating advanced thinking about your reading.

Math
Study link and Math boxes 4.2.  IXL H.5 (Optional H.6)

Read-a-loud - Optional
What are your thoughts about the use of the title, 'Number the Stars'  in today's chapter? Why is this an important concept in the book? Plus point for great responses


How are your personal goals coming along? - spent some time this evening reflecting on your porgress.

Qtr 2 Week 1 Day 3 Essay Writing

You are in the process of writing two pieces: 
Your monthly reading  response about your book (Due: Fri)
Your non-fiction essay (Due: Next Tue)

Tonight's Priorities

1) Write one topic sentence and two (or three) power 2s. 

REMEMBER the Do's and Don't about  writing P1 and P2s

2) Math H/W (Thur)

3) October Book Reading Response (Fri)

4) Vocaroo (Fri)

5) Social Studies - Knovio preparation - Think about just creating certain slides (Next Tue)

Make sure you use your power plans to outline both these peices before you begin.
Make sure you are writing with advanced sentence structure in  both pieces

Qtr 2 Week 1 Day 2 GRAAB Techniques

Conjunctive Adverb Practice
Try the 2 min exercise below to practice the structure and format of your conjunctive adverbs
http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/ell-conjunctive-adverbs-test2.html

Reread your notes on GRAAB  Techniques. Don't try to master all 5 of them in one go. Focus on just two of them for the time being. These are great techniques that will help you immensly (voc. word) with your non-fiction writing. - Make sure you have good notes on your topic. 
Why do you think I call these GRAAB techniques?

Below is a video for Mrs. Clayton's class that explains how they can use  Wallwisher to collaborative and the S.Studies project.


Math H/W
Study Link 3.11 and Math Boxes 3.11

RLA
Write your Letter to your teacher about your personal  reading on  your blog. Upload an image of the novel you are reading to the post. Make sure you  are applying some of the advanced readinng skills we have been discussing.  consider  trying to integrate some SSS techniques sentences and a GRAAB technique. Remember also, those students who have a goal of improving their sentence fluency. Letter is due by Friday

Qtr 2 Week 1 Day 1 - The Early Settlements

H/W
Math - Study Link 3.10

Social Studies Research - Spend 15-20mins (Due Wed)
Use these links to help you with your Social Studies Research
Jamestown
http://zunal.com/process.php?w=97072
Plymouth
http://www.zunal.com/process.php?w=50249
Ronaoke
http://www.zunal.com/process.php?w=39690
You do not need to do the activities, but use the resources are a source of notes

Non-fiction Writing: (Due: Wed) - From Week at a Glance Sheet
You willl need facts for a real topic for your final 'non-fiction' essay. Choose a topic you like. Collect facts not whole sentences. Not needed until Wed -BUT we will practice writing up some of these facts using SSS and GRAAB techniques tomorrow. The more facts you have for tomorrow's session- the more sentences you can create  in class for this essay.

Use the new search engine too: http://www.zakta.com/  for both research tasks

2nd Quarter

Next Week:




Tech Integration
Set up accounts with
http://www.voki.com/
http://knovio.com/
http://www.zakta.com/

Can you add your voki to your blog?  Who will be first?

Some of you need to change the color schemes of your blogs. It is too difficult to see your posts or links
If you know how to do it, please add me as a member to your blogs. This way I can comment.
rbuxton@charlottelatin.org

"The use of technology is a priviledge, not a right. Use it wisely"

End of the First Quarter

Can you believe you have actually made it through one quarter. Take a look back through the acrchives and see at all the different material we have covered. We have come such a long way already.

Next Qtr.

We begin with our class giving announcements. Make sure you are READY and PREPARED with excellent PEX. This for many of you will be your largest public speaking audience to date. Make sure you  EXCEL! - no pressure :-)

• The first week  we will craft our first non-fiction essay. Make sure you know how to effectively use a powerplan and SSS techniques. Be thinking about a topic you would like to write about.

• You may spend some adding all your digital work (popplets, booktalks, notas, photopeach etc and the links we have used so far this year to your blog. I am very proud of my blog because of the work i have put into it. The way I have designed the blog is symbolic to how I work as an educator. What will be the symbolic messages found in your blog. Feel free to as one blog post talking about how you spend your long weekend. (Optional). Next week - In a gadget window, you will list your goals for this next quarter.
• Math - The next unit we will do is EDM is Division. The IXL unit to practice this is Unit H 1- H 14 (These will be set as H/W over the next few weeks. Feel free to work ahead if you choose)

Future learning... 2nd qtr
We will learn  more about how to read non-fiction, and we will begin our persuasive writing unit.
The grammar topic will be prepositional phrase. We will learn what 'isn't a sentence by looking at fragments and run ons.

Congatulations on such a great first qtr...

Let's try and get to the top of the ladder to laughter quickly, so we can truly celebrate in style

Week 9 Day 2

RLA
Complete Unit 1 from this link. You must do this exercise. I have checked in with some of my websites and can see that some students have not been doing the online practice. YOU are losing out if you don't practice the skills we are learning!
As the famous quote goes: "Be careful not to fool yourself becasue you are the easiest person to fool"
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/llc/academic-writing/tsent4.html

Then create your powerplan outline as described on the 'Week at a Glance' sheet. Use your notes from the Jane Reyonlds talk to create your powerplan. Read back what you have created after you have finished. Do the P3s relate to the P2s? Do the P2s all relate to the P1?  - Have you repeated the same word/phrase/used banned words? Next week will be your first official expositiory paper. Practice the skill now!

Math Study Link 3.9
Optional: For those who like a challenge - Review this link and answer the questions below
http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/polygons.html

BookClubs
Make sure you are ready for your bookclub tomorrow