Mr. Jay Schulman TeacherWeb Update NewsFlash

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Thanks -- Jay Schulman

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NEWSFLASH #6 – December 11, 2008

* PR Quiz #2.  There is a second quiz on the PR chapter next week, Day 2.  It will cover the same
material as PR Quiz 1, with the added topic of finding equivalent fractions, decimals, and percents
using a shaded 100-grid.  There have been several problems like this in the chapter.  Students found
out about this on Day 1 this week.

* Report Cards and First Trimester Review.  By now you should have either had or know about a
conference with your child about math.  Last week a file of the semester’s work, along with a
letter, summary of scores, self-evaluation, and more went home with your child.  The file, along
with a signature and a list of goals for the second trimester, are due no later than next Monday. 
Happily, many of you have already met with your child and I have several folders returned and
checked in.  I hope that you find this process useful.  Thanks for your time on it.

* Four 4’s Update.  For those who were curious, the Four 4’s extra credit challenge was really
successful.  Most students chose to at least attempt the work, and many students got most of the
possible solutions (I’m sure with some help in cases – which is great!).  Depending on how many
solutions were completed, a student could receive up to eight extra credit points.  For those who
are still working on it for fun, 36 out of the 40 numbers are possible.  The most challenging
target?  Try to get 31.  Hint: Factorials are your friends.

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NEWSFLASH #5 – November 24, 2008

* PR Quiz #1.  The quiz and a copy of correct answers went home from school today.  As I hope you
know, a signature is required by tomorrow, and I hope that those are already all taken care of.  I
told all the classes that it was their responsibility to review their errors and the correct answers
to make sure that they could avoid similar errors in the future.  Some students will be taking a
retest when they come back from the Thanksgiving break.

* Deadline for Missing and Incomplete Work -- Reminder.  The absolute deadline for turning in
missing or incomplete work is the Monday, December 1, when we all return from the long weekend. 
Students have been receiving notices of missing work, so there should be no surprises.

* Extra Credit.  There’s a great extra credit opportunity for those who love them.  Students have
received a gold sheet called something like the Great Four 4 Challenge.  The deadline for turning
this in is Friday, December 5.  The more boxes filled in with neat and correct work, the higher the
extra credit value.  Not all “target numbers” on the sheet are possible, but many many are.  Family
members are encouraged to have a look as well and give help and hints.  We haven’t taught factorials
yet to help with this challenge, but I will do so next week.  If you know factorials and want to
give a head start, that’s fine with me.  Better yet, have your child visit my website and go to the
link with math definitions and have them figure it out themselves.

* Happy Thanksgiving!

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NEWSFLASH #4 – November 17, 2008

* PR Quiz #1.  Day 4 this week will find your children taking their first quiz in the Pig Race
chapter.  Topics are listed on the Homework page of my website.

* Returned Work.  This week your child will also be receiving back several TOC packages from me. 
All returned weekly work will be put into a file at school.  In early December this file, along with
a printed summary of all scores for the term and a letter from me, will be sent home for a trimester
review, kind of a student led conference with all of you.

* Redoing TOC Packets For Better Grades.  If a student has turned in a TOC package that either has
substantially incomplete work, or is missing an assignment, I am encouraging them, if they want, to
complete missing work and resubmit it for a higher grade.  If they do, the whole package should be
turned in with the new work.  I will accept this no later than the Monday after Thanksgiving, but
I’d prefer it sooner.

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NEWSFLASH #3 – October 27, 2008

* GS Chapter Quiz.  We took a chapter quiz on Day 4 last week and it’s going home tomorrow.  It
should be corrected already, or nearly done.  I’m looking for a parent signature as part of the
homework because I want you all to know how your child did.  The test on Day 3 this week will be
very similar, but longer and in some cases a little more broad in scope.

* GS Chapter Test.  Again, this is on Day 3 this week.  I do have office hours Monday, Tuesday, and
Thursday afternoons for anyone who wants to drop by and get help.

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NEWSFLASH #2 – October 21, 2008

* GS Chapter Test.  Our second chapter test will be next week on the third day I meet each class
(this makes it Wednesday for Sapphire and Topaz, Thursday for Ruby and Amethyst).

Tomorrow we begin formal review with a Xerox that has test topics and related chapter problems
listed.  There also is a way to record how confident they feel about each topic.  I’ve always been a
big believer in students learning to take an honest pulse about what they know.  The better they are
at that step, the more likely it is that they will be able to best focus their studying time on
those items on which they need the most work.  Another way they will prepare is by taking a quiz at
the end of this week.  This will give them practice working on similar test-type problems.

* TOC Parent Signing.  Most students have been great about getting parent signatures on the weekly
TOC packet.  Many, though, have gotten a little lax about this, and they are regularly losing
homework points as a result.  If you aren’t being given a TOC package to review (and check for
completeness…) every week, you might want to remind your child about this on Friday if you can.

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NEWSFLASH #1 – September 23, 2008

Welcome to the first NewsFlash announcement this year.

* AR Chapter Test.  Our first chapter test will be next week on the third day I meet each class
(this makes it Wednesday for Sapphire and Topaz, Thursday for Ruby and Amethyst).  This week we are
sharing ideas about how to prepare, and I’m passing out a page that outlines most of their good
ideas.  The most important suggestions on there?  Study a little every day, and be more prepared
than you think you need to be.  Being familiar with topics is much different than really knowing
something backwards and forwards.

* Extra Textbooks.  For those students who live in more than one household, I do have extra copies
of the textbook to check out.  I’ve let everyone in class know.

* Cooperative Groupings.  We’ve moved into three and four person groups.  As we are making the
transition, we are trying to be extra good about practicing skills and phrases that make a group
productive and positive.  Being overly hammy and saying things like, “I didn’t know that.  Thanks
for sharing!” and “We’re a great group, aren’t we?” sounds funny and they laugh, but they get the
point and the practice helps.

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