Research projects are due Wednesday, March 7th, which is an early release day.
Students learned how to use Easybib to help them cite their sources. (If you hated citing sources in high school and college, you will want to go back just to use this resource! If was only that easy back in the day of the dinosaurs...)
Students can access Easybib from the CTMS library Citation Sources link. Students who do this at home need to print their Works Cited page and bring it to school on Monday. The Works Cited page is due Monday. Some students already completed the Works Cited page and have saved it to the server at school.
Explore UT is tomorrow! This is a FUN family outing. Check the website to plan which areas you want to visit. There are many hands-on activities. I suggest students attend the demos/activities in which they have the highest interest. You can create your schedule online. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers. I also suggest packing your own lunch since the lines at various restaurants near the campus can get quite long. The event is FREE and it's never to early to start looking at colleges and universities.
http://www.utexas.edu/events/exploreut/I am giving students 10 extra credit points on their research projects if they can prove they attended.
The research unit due dates calendar is now available on my handouts page. I have revised it since I gave students their copies. Student copies have been updated by students in their folders.
I am excited about using an online network called Edmodo. It is similar to Facebook, but it is only for educational use. Students sign up and are added to my group. This will allow me to post online assignments, files, videos, etc. Students can also turn in assignments via Edmodo, upload files, links, etc. that fit our units of study. I am new to the site, so we will learn as we go. Parents may also sign up to see their student's posts. There are no ads on the site. If I see any students posting inappropriate comments or material, I will block them from the group, contact you, and take any disciplinary steps that are necessary to alleviate the problem. I don't forsee that happening, but be assured I am using this site only to supplement my students' classroom experience.
Reading records are due April 2nd. I have new books in my classroom library and students are checking them out and reading them. I also try to take students to the library every other week to check out books. Please make sure your student has something to read at all times whether it is a personal book or one checked out from any library.
Unfortunately, there are still many students failing to document their reading. With such short class periods, it is essential for your child's success to read daily. Please be sure to ask them about what they are reading. If they don't know the title of the book they have checked out and can't tell you the names of the main characters and how they behave, they are either not understanding what they are reading, or they aren't reading at all. Please chat with them about their books.
Encourage your student to read CTMS' Read It Forward book,
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick. Check out the CTMS Library page for more information. This is an excellent book and it's a quick read. I'm doing all I can on my end to encourage kids to read. Getting encouragement at home helps even more.