Happy Holidays!

Best wishes to you and your family for a blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year!

6th Grade - Week of December 14th

Math

• Math Olympiad Contest #2 (and practice)
• Preparation for semester exam (exam designed by Mrs. Kerner)

English

• Essay #5 due
• Daily language review
• Self- and peer-assessments
• Peer editing
• The Important Book

Logic

• Math Olympiad Contest #2   
  

5th Grade - Week of December 14th

Math

• Math Olympiad Contest #2 (and contest practice)
• Tine to work on Unit 3 study guide for Mrs. Jordan (if needed)

Reading

• Essay #5 due Wednesday
• Self- and peer- assessments
• Peer edits
• The Important Book 
  

4th Grade - Week of December 14th

Math

• Math Olympiad Contest #2

Language Arts

• The Important Book
• Live and Learn and Pass It On activity due (share responses)
• Win or Lose 
  

2nd Grade - Week of December 14th

Math

• Addition practice worksheet due Tuesday
• Puzzled by Math
• 1-2-3 OY game

Reading

• The Important Book
• A-B-C OY game  
  

3rd Grade - Week of December 14th

• Measurement Olympics: Student-Created Events
• Puzzled by Math
• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
  

1st Grade - Week of December 14th

• The Important Book
• ABC-OY game
  

6th Grade - Week of December 7th

Math

• AMC 8 corrections
• Math Olympiad practice (contest #2 is next week)
• Review of graphing terms and strategies
• Homework: Practice Math Olympiad problems
  

Logic

• Alice programming 
• Homework: Practice Math Olympiad problems and continue exploring Alice
  

English

• 55-word story due on Wednesday
• Persuasive essay #5 due Wednesday, December 9th
• Student-teacher conferences
• Grammar/editing game
  

5th Grade - Week of December 7th

Math

• Applications of decimal multiplication
• Puzzled by Math (due Tuesday of next week)
  
• Math Olympiad practice (contest next week)

Reading

• Word Masters practice
• Word Masters contest
• 55-word story due on Wednesday
• Persuasive essay #5 due Wednesday, December 16th 
  

4th Grade - Week of December 7th

Math

• Math Olympiad practice (contest #2 next week)

Homework: Practice math facts.  If not currently secure in multiplication and division facts through 10x10=100, learn them by Wednesday, January 6th.


Language Arts

• Word Masters contest (be practicing at home - analogies and vocabulary)
• Live and Learn and Pass It On (start in class; finish at home - due Friday, December 18th) 
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of December 7th

Note: Students have been practicing multiplication facts (through 10x10=100) both in the gifted center and with Mrs. Kelley.  Students must be proficient with these facts by Thursday, January 7th.

Homework: Practice math facts at home.  Use flashcards, First in Math, or any method you choose.

• Fact practice
• Hands-On Equations
• Puzzled by Math
  

2nd Grade - Week of December 7th

Math

• Addition of two- and three-digit numbers
• Puzzled by Math

Note: While some students are proficient with their basic addition and subtraction facts (through 10+10), some are not.  Students must be proficient with these facts by Monday, January 11th.


Reading

• The Real Story of the Tortoise and the Hare 
  

1st Grade Reading - Week of December 7th

• Diamante poem
• Typing and editing traveling story
  

6th Grade - Week of November 30th

Math

• AMC 8 corrections
• Chapter review
• Chapter 6+ pretests, as time permits
• Math Olympiad practice
  

Logic

• Alice programming  
• Homework due Friday: Write step-by-step directions for an everyday task.
  

English

• Essay #4 due Wednesday
• DLR
• Proofreading review and activity
• Proofread classmate's essay, due Thursday
• 55-word story samples
• Write own 55-word story, due next Wednesday
  

5th Grade - Week of November 30th

Math

• Multiplication properties
• Review of decimals
• Multiplying decimals

Reading

• Essay #4 due on Wednesday
• Proofreading review
• Proofreading activity in class
• Proofread a classmate's essay (due Thursday)
• 55-word story samples
• Write your own 55-word story, due next Wednesday 
  

4th Grade - Week of November 30th

Math

• Hands-on Equations

Language Arts

• Word Masters story due
• Word Masters practice activity
• Smart Mouth (if time) 
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of November 30th

Note: No class on Friday due to the field trip.

• Hands-on Equations
• Flash Masters
• First in Math

Continue to practice your facts at home.  Students must be proficient in multiplication facts up to 10x10 by Thursday, January 7th.

2nd Grade - Week of November 30th

Math
Note: Class will be on Monday and Friday this week.

• Adding 2- and 3-digit numbers using the place-value method of adding
• Homework: Adding worksheet due on Friday
• Hands-on Equations
• Bump! 
  

Language Arts

• Live and Learn and Pass It On activity due on Wednesday
• Share Live and Learn activity
• Poetry: Diamante and Cinquain 
  

1st Grade Language Arts - Week of November 30th

Note: Class will be on Thursday and Friday this week.

•  Edit and type traveling stories
  

5th Grade Reading - Week of November 16th

• Tuck Everlasting test in Mrs. Hazey's class on Thursday
• Word Masters story due on Thursday
• Time on Wednesday to review for Tuck test (if desired), work on essay #4 (due on Wednesday, 12/2), and work on Word Masters story
  

6th Grade English - Week of November 16th

• DLR
• Poem blog
• Survival test (persuasive argument, reaching consensus)
• Time to begin next essay
• Persuasive essay #4 due on Wednesday, December 2nd
  

6th Grade Math - Week of November 16th

• Both Math Olympiad and AMC 8 this week
  

5th Grade Math - Week of November 16th

• Math Olympiad practice
• Math Olympiad contest on Tuesday, November 17th
  

1st Grade Reading - Week of November 16th

• Type traveling stories
• Use computer tools (such as Spell-Check) to edit stories
  

4th Grade - Week of November 16th

• No language arts class due to the half day on Friday
• Math Olympiad on Wednesday, November 18th
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of November 16th

• Online Math League contest
• Hands-on Equations algebra program
  

2nd Grade Reading - Week of November 16th

• Poetry (cinquain and diamante)
• Live and Learn and Pass It On
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of November 16th

• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
• Adding 2- and 3-digit numbers
  

6th Grade Logic - Week of November 16th

• Math Olympiad on Monday, November 16th
• No class on Friday, November 20th due to the half day
  

Word Masters Vocabulary Activity - Grades 4 and 5

Write or type a story that uses all 25 Word Master words in context.  This means you have to show that you understand what the word means in your sentence.

BAD examples:
•    That’s a hull.
•    “Hull” is a word that starts with H.
•    I like the hull.
•    She saw a hull.
•    He looks like a hull.

None of these examples show that you know what a hull is.

GOOD example:
•    The hull of the ship carried 20 people.

I can tell that the hull is part of the ship from this sentence.

Your story can be about whatever you’d like it to be.  The challenge is to figure out a way to get all 25 words into your story.

Be sure to UNDERLINE the 25 Word Master words in your story.

Due dates:
•    Friday, December 4th for grade 4
•    Thursday, November 19th for grade 5

How you’ll be graded:
•    25 points for the words (1 point per word used correctly)
•    15 points for the story (plot, grammar, punctuation, spelling)

6th Grade English - Week of November 9th

• Grammar test on Weds. 11/11 (rescheduled from 11/5)
• Essay #3 due on 11/11
• DLR
• Poem blog
• Proofreading marks
• Number agreement
  

6th Grade Logic - Week of November 9th

• Math Olympiad practice problems

Note: The Math Olympiad will take place in class on Monday the 16th.

5th Grade Reading - Week of November 9th

• Proofreading marks
• Essay #3 due on 11/11
• Essay #3 peer assessment
• Proofreading marks
• Word Masters definition activity due 11/12
• Assign Word Masters story activity (due 11/19)
  

5th Grade Math - Week of November 9th

• Chapter 7 and 8 pretests
• Multiplication of 2- and 3-digit whole numbers
• Introduction to multiplication of decimals
  

4th Grade Language Arts - Week of November 9th

• Word Masters story assignment due
• Word Masters vocabulary game
• Smart Mouth word game, if time permits
  

4th Grade Math - Week of November 9th

• Math Olympiad practice
• Stories with Holes (if time)

Note: The Math Olympiad will take place during math class next week.

1st Grade Reading - Week of November 9th

• Type and illustrate traveling stories
• Tuesday and wordless book creation if time permits
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of November 9th

• Hands-on Equations
• Flash Masters (if time)
• Student-selected Measurement Olympics activities

Note: Students should be practicing multiplication facts at home.

2nd Grade Reading - Week of November 9th

• Read Tuesday
• Wordless books
• Smart Mouth word game as time permits
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of November 9th

• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
• Flash Master and/or contest practice

Note: Students should be practicing addition and subtraction facts at home (as needed).

6th Grade Math - Week of November 2nd

• Chapter 4 content review
• Comparing fractions using benchmarks and cross-multiplication
• Chapter 4 test on Thursday 11/5
• MOEMS and AMC 8 practice contests
  

6th Grade English - Week of November 2nd

• Wednesday 11/4: Review for grammar test
• Thursday 11/5: Grammar test (details below in an earlier post)
• Essay #3 due on Wednesday, November 11th
• Daily language review
• Poem blog for Mrs. Lee
  

6th Grade Logic - Week of November 2nd

• Math Olympiad and problem-solving stratgies
• Stories with Holes
  

5th Grade Reading - Week of November 2nd

• Discussion of Word Masters competition and distribution of word list
• 12 Word Masters vocabulary words defined with picture or sentence due Thursday, November 12th
• Time to review "When Washington Crossed the Delaware" (read in Mrs Hazey's class)
• Time for reading and discussing Tuck Everlasting as time permits
• Persuasive essay #3 due on Wednesday, November 11th (time to begin writing in class this week as time permits)
  

5th Grade Math - Week of November 2nd

• Statistics project on Tuesday, November 3rd
• Graphing in Excel
• Math Olympiad practice problems
• Chapter quiz in Mrs. Jordan's room on Tuesday, November 3rd
  

4th Grade Language Arts - Week of November 2nd

• Word Masters vocabulary project due on Friday, November 6th
• New assignment: Write or type a story that uses all 25 Word Masters vocabulary words in context (due Friday, November 13th)
• Work on immigration game PowerPoint as time permits
  

1st Grade Reading - Week of November 2nd

Note: First grade will meet on Thursday and Friday this week.

• Finish writing traveling stories and begin typing and illustrating these stories
  

4th Grade Math - Week of November 2nd

• Math Olympiad practice
• Problem-solving strategies
• Stories with Holes
  

2nd Grade Reading - Week of November 2nd

Note: Second grade reading will meet on Thursday and Friday this week. 

• Smart Mouth (word game)
• Type, develop and illustrate Sideways Stories from Wayside School student-written chapter
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of November 2nd

• Hands-on Algebra
• Flash Masters
• Bump! (mathematical card game)
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of November 2nd

• Fizz and Martina homework packet due Monday, November 2nd
• Hands-on Algebra
• Flash Master
• Stories with Holes
  

4th Grade Language Arts - Word Masters Vocabulary Activity

Due Friday, November 6th
(You must have this completed for that day’s class, as we will need your definitions to do our next activity.)

Part 1: List and define all eight of the words you were assigned.

Part 2: “Demonstrate” each word in some way.   Examples:
a.    Use it in a sentence.
b.    Act out its meaning.
c.    Draw a picture.
d.    Use a computer-generated picture

Be prepared to share your work with your classmates.  If you need to print something out or make copies, we can do that at school.  Remember, each of your classmates will be given a copy of your work and will use it to help prepare for the Word Masters contest.  Make sure your definitions are correct and that you are turning in your best work.

This assignment will be graded as follows:

• 1 point for each word
• 2 points for each definition
• 2 points for each “demonstration” – the picture, sentence, etc.
  

This is a 40-point project.

6th Grade English - Test Announcement

There will be a grammar test on Thursday, November 5th.  This test will include all of the grammar we have discussed this year to date.  This includes:

•    Nouns
•    Pronouns (take the place of a noun)
- Singular and plural
- First, second and third person
- Subject, object, possessive
•    Verbs
- Linking
- Helping
- Action
•    Interjections
•    Conjunctions
•    Prepositions
•    Adjectives (including the articles “the,” “a,” and “an”)
•    Adverbs
- That describe verbs (ran quickly)
- That describe adjectives (very nice)
- That describe adverbs (really well)

Additional descriptions of the eight major parts of speech listed above is in the packet given to you earlier this year.


•    Direct objects (nouns or pronouns that come after action verbs, answering question “who” or “what”)
Example: I ate pizza.

•    Predicate nominatives (nouns or pronouns that come after linking verbs, renaming the subject)
Example: She is an astronaut.

•    Predicate adjectives (adjectives in the predicate that come after linking verbs that describe the subject)
Example: The weather is rainy.

•    Indirect objects (nouns or pronouns that usually come right before direct objects and don’t have a preposition in front of them)
Example: Give me the book.

•    Objects of prepositions (nouns or pronouns that come after prepositions)
Example: We went to the store.

You should also be able to diagram sentences involving all of the above.


Ten Sentences

Below are ten sentences.  They contain all of the parts of speech and sentence parts listed on the previous page.  You should be able to identify every part of speech in the sentence.  You should also be able to recognize any direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, and objects of prepositions.  In addition, you should be able to diagram all of these sentences.

1.    The extremely grouchy man will be happy someday.
2.    Chris, show me your homework now.
3.    Eat your vegetables now or suffer the consequences.
4.    A boy from Brazil and a girl from Argentina visited our school today.
5.    Mr. Magoo is a nice teacher.
6.    Do you know the answer?
7.    After dinner we will play a game with our parents.
8.    Wow!  You really did an amazing job!
9.    He should have been reading The Westing Game or Holes during English class.
10.    Isn’t it a beautiful day today?

6th Grade English - Week of October 26th

• Persuasive essay #2 (with self-assessment) due Wednesday, October 28th
• Poem blog
• DLR
• Indirect objects
• Grammar review
• Grammar quiz on Wednesday, November 3rd
• Persuasive essay #3 (with self-assessment) due on Wednesday, November 10th
  

6th Grade Logic - Week of October 26th

• Problem-solving strategies and the Math Olympiad
  

5th Grade Reading - Week of October 26th

There will be no class this week due to the early dismissals on Wednesday and Thursday.  Persuasive essay #2, though, is still due on Wednesday of this week (with self-assessment).  Students may turn in the essay in person, leave it with Miss Laurie to be put in my mailbox, or email it to me at Dan.Rosenberg@dunhamschool.org.

5th Grade Math - Week of October 26th

• Mrs. Jordan's chapter quiz (done in her classroom)
• Calculating the variance and standard deviation using pencil, paper and a calculator
• Introduction to a normal distribution
• Creating graphs in Excel
• Strategies for creating graphs of data by hand
• Work on statistics project - due Tuesday, November 3rd
  

4th Grade Language Arts - Week of October 26th

There will be no class this week due to Friday's early dismissal.  The Word Masters assignment (define your eight words and be prepared to share their meanings with the class) is due on Friday, November 6th.

4th Grade Math - Week of October 26th

• Math Olympiad practice/problem-solving session

1st Grade Reading - Week of October 26th

• Write, edit, type and illustrate a traveling story
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of October 26th

• Online Math League practice contest corrections and discussion
• Measurement Olympics: Student-chosen events
  

2nd Grade Reading - Week of October 26th

• Edit, type and illustrate student-written chapter of Sideways Stories from Wayside School
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of October 26th

• Fizz and Martina's Math Adventures Episodes 2 and 3 practice problems due Monday
  
• Online Math League practice on Monday (www.onlinemathleague.com); registered email: Dan.Rosenberg@dunhamschool.org; password: dunham
• Fizz and Martina Episode 4 trivial computes and estimation game and extension problems
• Homework for the week: Fizz and Martina Episode 4 practice problem and Write Your Own Story Problem page, due Monday 11/2
  

Online Math League

The second- and third-grade students will be participating in this year's Online Math League.  We will practice during class, but students may also practice at home.  Twenty practice contests are available online at www.onlinemathleague.com.  The registered email is Dan.Rosenberg@dunhamschool.org and the password is dunham.

Conference Sign Up

The schedule for conferences has been posted online using Google Docs.  The log in and password were sent via email earlier this week.  If you did not receive this email or are having difficulty signing up for a conference, please contact me.

6th Grade English - Week of October 19th

• Poem blog
• Daily language review
• Prepositional phrases
• Diagramming practice
• Grammar packet due Thursday, October 22nd
• Next essay due Wednesday, October 30th
  

5th Grade Math - Week of October 19th

• Time to work on project
• Creating graphs using Excel
• Statistics and graphing project due Tuesday, November 3rd
  

4th Grade - Week of October 19th

• Math - Math Olympiad practice/problem-solving stratgies
• Language Arts - Word Masters contest vocabulary; immigration game design
  

3rd Grade - Week of October 19th

• Measurement Olympics
• Online Math League contest practice
  

2nd Grade - Week of October 19th

• Tuesday (math) - Fizz and Martina's Math Adventures; Episode 2 practice problems due; Homework: Epsiode 3 practice problems due Monday
• Wednesday (combined class) - Paper Towers
• Thursday (reading) - Creative writing activity - Chapter 31 of Sideways Stories from Wayside School
  

4th Grade Humanities - Week of October 12th

• "Win or Lose" Immigration Game
• Word Masters Contest
  

2nd Grade Reading - Week of October 12th

• Finish Sideways Stories at Wayside School 
• Writing a five-sentence paragraph: Which Wayside School student (or teacher) should come to Dunham and why would you like him or her to be here?
  

6th Grade English - Week of October 12th

• Persuasive essay #1 due this Wednesday (the 14th)
• Poem blog for Mrs. Lee
• DLR
• Grammar - review of eight parts of speech
• Diagramming eight major parts of speech
• Grammar packet due next Thursday (the 22nd)
• Essay #2 due Wednesday, October 28th
  

5th Grade Reading - Week of October 12th

• Literary analysis of short story "The Night of San Juan" (read in Mrs. Hazey's class), including setting, point of view, plot stages, genre, conflict, theme
• First persuasive essay due this Wednesday (the 14th)
• Word Masters vocabulary/analogy contest practice
  

6th Grade Math - Week of October 12th

• Chapter 4, Sections 1-3 Study Guide for Mrs. Kerner
• Divisibility Rules spreadsheet: relative and absolute addressing
• Section 1-3 Quiz on Tuesday
• Divisibility Rules worksheet
  

5th Grade Math - Week of October 12th

• Stem and leaf plots
• Variance and standard deviation
• Graph types, including picto, bar, line, histogram, pie
  
• Calculating measures of central tendency and measures of variation in Excel
• Graphing in Excel
  
• Time to work on statistics projects - PROJECTS DUE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd
• Enrichment worksheets 5.4 and 5.5 due on Tuesday (10/13)
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of October 12th

• Measurement Olympics

Homework: Continue practicing multiplication facts.

4th Grade Math - Week of October 12th

• Online math fact quiz for Mrs. Jacques
• Math Olympiad practice problems (emphasis on problem-solving strategies)
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of October 12th

• Fizz and Martina's Math Advantures Episode 2 and begin Episode 3

Homework: Episode 2 practice problems, due Wednesday.

Announcement: 6th Grade - Logic Added

A gifted logic course will be offered beginning with the start of the second quarter.  This class will take the place of Mrs. Lee's class and will be held in the gifted center on Mondays and Fridays during third hour.  Students who have P.E. on Mondays and Fridays at this time would need to modify their schedules so that logic would be on Monday and Friday and P.E. would be on Tuesday and Thursday.  If you are interested in having your child take this class, please let me know sometime this week.

Announcement: 2nd Grade - Week of October 12th

Due to chapel occurring on Tuesday of this week, the reading and math groups will be combined on Wednesday for a special activity.

4th Grade Language Arts - Week of October 5th

• Create interactive game on the topic of immigration.  See Renzulli Learning for some links that may help you with this project.
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of October 5th

• Measurement Olympics
  

5th Grade Math - Statistics Project

Note: This project extends the survey project assigned by Mrs. Jordan.  Any component of Mrs. Jordan's assignment that matches a requirement for this project may be used for both projects.  The due date for the project assigned in the gifted math class will be determined later this month.  The survey component of this project (coming up with a question, predicting the results, and asking 25 people a question that has a numerical answer) should be completed by class on Monday, October 12th. 

Directions:

Design a survey that requires an answer that is a number.  Survey 25 people and record their answers.  Before you conduct your survey, make a prediction as to what the results will be.

Create a report (typed or neatly done in print or cursive) that contains:
•    A cover page (can be done on the computer or by hand) that includes a title for your report and your name.
•    The question you asked and the reason you chose it.
•    A discussion of how you conducted your survey.  Who did you choose to ask?  Why did you choose them?  How did you go about conducting your survey?
•    A statement of your prediction as to how the data would come out and an explanation as to whether you were right or not.  Why do you think you were right (or wrong)?
•    The survey you conducted – list each person’s name, grade (unless he or she is an adult), and response
•    The mean, median and mode accurately calculated using pencil and paper – and a calculator, if you want
•    The mean, median and mode accurately calculated in Excel.
•    The variance and standard deviation accurately calculated by hand with help from a calculator.
•    The variance and standard deviation accurately calculated in Excel.
•    An explanation as to whether or not the mean, median, mode, and standard deviation would have been significantly different if you had surveyed more people or surveyed a more diverse sample.
•    A frequency distribution of your data, drawn by hand or done by computer.
•    A stem and leaf plot of your data, done by hand or by computer.
•    At least three graphs representing your data.  Choose appropriate graphs and make sure they have titles, legends (if needed), and labels.  These graphs will be drawn by hand.
•    At least two graphs representing your data.  Choose appropriate graphs and make sure they have titles, legends (if needed), and labels.  These graphs will be done in Excel.

Be sure to check your report for grammar and punctuation!

Time will be given in class to work on this project, although you will need to do some outside of class.

Rubric

• Cover page (with title and your name) – 5 points
• Stating your question and the reason for choosing it – 5 points
• Discussion of how you conducted your survey – 5 points
• Making a prediction and discussing why you were right or wrong – 5 points
• A copy of your survey – 5 points
• The mean, median and mode accurately calculated using pencil and paper (and calculator, if desired) – 10 points
• The mean, median and mode accurately calculated in Excel – 5 points
• The variance and standard deviation accurately calculated by hand with help from a calculator – 10 points
• The variance and standard deviation accurately calculated in Excel – 5 points
• An explanation as to whether or not you believe your calculations would have been different if you had surveyed more people or a more diverse group – 5 points
• A frequency distribution of your data – 5 points
• A stem and leaf plot of your data – 5 points
• At least three hand-drawn graphs with titles, labels and, if appropriate, legends – 20 points
• At least two graphs done in Excel – 10 points
• Grammar and punctuation – 5 points
• Neatness in presentation – 5 points
  

6th Grade English - Week of October 5th

• Poem blog and DLR for Mrs. Lee
• Student-teacher conferences (regarding grammar and writing)
• Time in class to work on essay (due Weds. 10/14)
• Self-guided grammar mini-unit
• Be sure to turn in to Mrs. Lee your first quarter book project and narrative paragraph
  

6th Grade Math - Week of October 5th

• Go over Mrs. Kerner's test, as needed
• Divisibility Rules
• Divisibility Rules worksheet (in class)
• Homework (for Mrs. Kerner): page 135, #11-27, odds - due Wednesday, October 7th

5th Grade Language Arts - Week of October 5th

• Finish field trip essays
• Essay writing
• Next five-paragraph essay due Wednesday, October 14th
  

5th Grade Math - Week of October 5th

• Chapter 5 pretest
• Discussion of statistics project
• Go over content from pretests
• Math Olympiad problems as time permits

4th Grade Math - Week of October 5th

• Math Olympiad problems
  

2nd Grade Reading - Week of October 5th

• Draw a picture of a favorite scene to date from Sideways Stories
• Continue reading Sideways Stories from Wayside School
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of October 5th

• Math-teroid arithmetic game
• Fizz and Martina's Math Adventures Episode 1
• Complete Episode 1 practice problem as homework
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of September 28th

• Find That Object! (measurement activity)
• Hands-on Equations (algebra)

Practice multiplication facts at home.

5th and 6th Grade Language Arts - Persuasive Writing Guidelines

Using the list of prompts from the book 50 Debate Prompts for Kids (provided in class), you will be writing five-paragraph essays on those topics.  You will not have to write 50 essays in all.  You may choose your topic, provided it comes from the list.  Choose a prompt for which you feel you can write a five-paragraph essay.

To Avoid:
•    Contractions, slang, and clichés
•    The words “get,” “stuff,” and “things”
•    Second person (the word “you”)
•    Phrases such as “I believe,” “I feel,” and “I think”

Each essay must contain:
•    An introduction that is at least two sentences long.  The last sentence of the introduction must be the thesis sentence, the one sentence that sums up your entire essay.
•    Three body paragraphs, each of which contains at least five sentences (one of which is the topic sentence).
•    A conclusion that is at least two sentences long.  Do not begin your conclusion with the words “In conclusion.”

Tips:
•    Follow the writing process – PREWRITE, write a rough draft, revise (make content stronger), edit (grammar/spelling/punctuation), publish.
•    Vary sentence length (have some short sentences and some long ones)
•    Have strong details – good reasons to support your opinion
•    Use (but don’t overuse) transitions – “in addition,” “furthermore,” etc.
•    Topics about schools (such as #31) can be written about schools in general or specifically about Dunham
•    Get feedback – parents, friends and teachers cannot write this for you, but you may ask them to proofread it.  You can send drafts to me via email at Dan.Rosenberg@dunhamschool.org or drop them off in the morning for pick up at the end of the day.

Grading
•    Writing about a topic on the list of debate prompts and stating a clear opinion (5 points)
•    Sentence and essay requirements (such as the sentence and paragraph lengths) (5 points)
•    Grammar/spelling/style – proper grammar, correct spelling, appropriate style (such as avoiding slang and contractions) (10 points)
•    Content (what you say in your essay) (25 points)

Due Dates (every other Wednesday):
•    October 14th – first essay
•    October 28th – second essay
•    November 11th – third essay
•    December 2nd – fourth essay
•    December 16th – fifth essay

Essays must be typed.  Prewriting and rough drafts may be typed, but do not have to be.  You may not choose the same topic twice.  Please include your topic number on your essay.

4th Grade Math - Week of September 28th

• Math Olympiad sample contest
• Problem-solving strategies
  

6th Grade English - Week of September 28th

• Wednesday: Make-up projects due; field trip essay due
• Wednesday in class: Review of diagramming and selected parts of speech (nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs); blog on a poem for Mrs. Lee
  
• Optional homework: Grammar book pages 38-39 as review of Chapter 2 grammar content
• Thursday: Grammar packet assigned last week due
• Thursday in class: Additional strategies for essay writing
• New five-paragraph essay due Wednesday, October 14th

5th Grade Reading - Week of September 28th

• How to write a five-paragraph essay
• Field trip essay discussed on Wednesday; due on Thursday (10/1)
• Second essay discussed on Thursday; due on Wednesday, October 14th

6th Grade Math - Week of September 28th

• Chapter 2 Test on Monday 9/28 (from Mrs. Kerner)
• Chapter 4 pretest
• Practice Math Olympiad contests - Contest 1 as homework due Tuesday, 9/29; Contest 2 as homework due Monday, 10/5
• Discussion of Math Olympiad practice contests and problem-solving strategies in class as time permits
  

5th Grade Math - Week of September 28th

• Math Olympiad 2007 sample contests
• Problem-solving strategies
• Contests 1 and 2 discussed in class
• Contest 3 to be done at home (time limits not required) for Monday (10/5)
  

2nd Grade Reading - Week of September 28th

• Read aloud and discussion of Sideways Stories from Wayside School
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of September 28th

• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
• Flash Masters (multiplication)
• Bump: The Sneaking Numbers Game
  

4th Grade Language Arts - Week of September 21st

• Brainteasers
• Extension of landforms project: plan a trip to a region in the Rocky Mountains
  

6th Grade English - Week of September 21st

• Discuss project corrections
• Optional project corrections due Weds. 9/30
• Parts of speech overview - nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
• Hamburger model for prewriting
• Writing a persuasive five-paragraph essay
  
• Homework (due Thurs. 10/1): Grammar worksheets 18-20, as modified (including diagramming of selected sentences)
• Homework (due Weds. 9/30): Rough draft (typed is recommended) of 5-paragraph field trip essay (specifics discussed in class on Thurs. 9/24)
  

6th Grade Math - Week of September 21st

• The metric system
• Metric prefixes
• Metric conversions
• Homework (due Weds. 9/23 in Mrs. Kerner's class): page 76, #3-26
• Homework (due Mon. 9/28 in my class): Finish Metric Mania worksheet
  

5th Grade Reading - Week of September 21st

• Create PowerPoint game relating to "The Daring Nelly Bly"
• Adjective project corrections due Wednesday 9/30, if assigned
  

5th Grade Math - Week of September 21st

• Discuss selected Math Olympiad (MOEMS) contest problems (more next week)
• Algebraic expressions
• Basic algebraic equations
• Monday's homework: page 6 from Real World Algebra (worksheet)
• Tuesday's homework: page 7 from Real World Algebra (worksheet)
  

4th Grade Math - Week of September 21st

• Math fact test for Mrs. Jacques
• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of September 21st

• Brain Games: calculator fun and money words
• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
  

2nd Grade Reading - Week of September 21st

• Making "sentence sandwiches"
• Sideways Stories from Wayside School
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of September 21st

• Flash Masters
• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
  

6th Grade English - Week of September 14th

• Way Beyond Description Project due Thursday 9/17
• Grammar Quiz (Unit 1) on Thursday 9/17 - compound and simple subjects, compound and simple predicates, basic diagramming, sentence vs. fragment
• Poem blog for Mrs. Lee
• Additional practice in diagramming sentences
• Transmogrifications, as time permits
  

5th Grade Reading - Week of September 14th

• Way Beyond Description Project due Thursday 9/17
  
• Character motives
• Practice book pages 14-15
• Transmogrifications

4th Grade Math - Week of September 14th

• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of September 14th

• Hands-on Equations
• Flash Masters

Homework: Practice multiplication facts.

2nd Grade Reading - Week of September 14th

• Sandwich sentences
  

6th Grade Math - Week of September 14th

• Multiplication of decimals
• Multiplying decimals by powers of 10
  
• Homework (due Tues. 9/15): page 58, #10-30 evens
• Homework (due Weds. 9/16 to Mrs. Kerner): page 63, #11-31, odds
• Quiz on Chapter 2, Sections 1-4 in Mrs. Kerner's class on Wednesday
  

5th Grade Math - Week of September 14th

• Brief review: adding and subtracting decimals
• Ordering rational numbers, including mix of decimals, fractions and percents (introduction)
  
• Brief review of numerical benchmarks
• Math Olympiad: 2007 Contest #1
  
• Homework due Tuesday 9/15: Challenge Math worksheet on adding and subtracting decimals
• Homework due next Monday (9/21): Practice Math Olympiad
  

4th Grade Language Arts - Week of September 14th

• No class (early dismissal on Friday)
  

2nd Grade Math - Week of September 14th

• Hands-on Equations (algebra)
  

Game Library

The following games and devices are available in the gifted center. While students may use them occasionally in class, they may also be borrowed for use at home, during indoor recess, and/or during aftercare.

• Rush Hour
• Pay Day
• Pizza Fraction Fun
• Checkers
• Make n Break
• Monopoly
• Clue
• Risk
• Make 7
• Bump: The Sneaky Numbers Game
• 1-2-3 OY!
• A-B-C- OY!
• 24 Game (multiple levels)
  
• O'NO 99
• 1-2-3 Think!
• The Ultimate Crazy Maze
• Equate (including junior and advanced tiles)
• Stock Market Tycoon
• Spy Alley
• Multi Flyer
• Stay Alive
• Tip Over
• Equations
• LinguiSHTIK
• Set
• Quiddler
• Labyrinth: The Card Game
• Tic-Tac-Chec
• Chess
• Clue Suspects
• Safari Rush Hour
• Smart Mouth
• Pick Two!
• Blurt!
• Apples to Apples Junior
• Blokus
• Flash Masters
• Geoboards
• Tangrams
• Play money
• Sudoku and other puzzle books
  

Webinar for Parents of Gifted Children

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is offering free webinars on selected Wednesdays between now and December. Next Wednesday (the 16th), a session will be offered for parents of gifted children entitled Back to School, Back to Gifted Ups and Downs. The session will be led by Robin Schader, NAGC's Parent Resource Advisor. For more information or to register, visit http://www.nagc.org/wow.aspx.

4th Grade Language Arts - Week of September 7th

• Adjective list iMovies
• Apples to Apples
  

3rd Grade Math - Week of September 7th

• First in Math
• Begin Hands-on Algebra unit
• Calculator math puzzles
• Saying and writing large numbers
  

6th Grade English - Week of September 7th

• Time to work on "Way Beyond Description" project (due Thurs. 9/17)
• Poem blog for Mrs. Lee
• Sentence fragments
• Diagramming sentences
• Homework: Grammar packet (as modified) due on Weds. 9/16
  
• Grammar test (Chapter 1) on Thurs. 9/17
  

6th Grade Math - Week of September 7th

• First in Math
  
• Ordering rational numbers using inequality symbol
• Homework (due Weds. 9/9 for Mrs. Kerner): page 46, #11-25 (odds)
  

5th Grade Reading - Week of September 7th

• Finish "Line Drive" and Practice Book page 8 (if needed) from Tuesday's class with Mrs. Hazey
• Figurative language - idioms and onomatopoeia
• Plot stages and type of conflict for "Line Drive"
• Time to work on "Way Beyond Description" project (due 9/17)
  

5th Grade Math - Week of September 7th

• First in Math
• Additional topics relating to exponents
  

4th Grade Math - Week of September 7th

• First in Math
• Flash Masters
  

2nd Grade - Week of September 7th

Math

• First in Math website
• Brainormous software

Reading

• Adjective poster
• Additional parts of speech, as time permits
  

Contact Information

Phone: 225.767.7097, x367

Email: Dan.Rosenberg@dunhamschool.org

First in Math

In the coming week, all students in the gifted math program will be given individual IDs to access First in Math. Students may use this site, www.firstinmath.com, both at school and at home. A parent welcome letter from the First in Math site can be found at http://firstinmath.com/welcomeparentsflyer.asp. Students are encouraged to use this site on a weekly basis. Their progress will be monitored and certificates will be awared upon completion of the various activities within the site.

5th Grade Reading/6th Grade English Project

Way – y – y – y – y – y Beyond Description!

We know, we know – you are unique. No one in the world who has ever lived is exactly like you and, unless cloning becomes popular, that is the way that it will be.

There are qualities, though, that each of us has that other share – like athletic or kind-hearted or thoughtful or spirited. Maybe some qualities are truly individual to you – perspicacious, pedantic, or idiosyncratic (look them up). In fact, if you try really hard, I bet you can come up with 100 adjectives that describe the person that you are.

…And that will be the first of your three tasks to complete this assignment: finding 100 adjectives that describe who you are. Create a numbered list (hand written or typed) and try to locate some words that your classmates don’t know. Make sure you know what all the words mean, though!

As you probably know, you have become the person you are thanks to those with whom you have had contact, including friends, family, God, teachers, strangers, and even book characters. Your second task is to complete a short essay (one page or so, double spaced) describing both an individual and an incident that has made you the person you are. This essay, in effect, explains the adjectives you chose to describe yourself.

Then comes the most revealing, creative and interpretive part. For your third activity, you are going to take all 100 adjectives (or as many as you can fit) and create an illustration using only these adjectives that is connected, somehow, with the essay you just wrote. Perhaps it will be the image of a tree because the person who wrote about shared her love of nature with you. Maybe it will be a spiral, as the person about whom you wrote enters and re-enters your life occasionally and always teaches you something about yourself. Whatever you choose will be fine. No drawing is wrong because, after all, this is your life we’re talking about. You may create this picture on the computer using Word Art (or something comparable) if you prefer.

Think deep, find some big words in a thesaurus or dictionary, and start revealing your life. Have a great trip!


Rubric

Numbered list of 100 adjectives, handwritten or typed (20 points)

Including at least ten adjectives on the list that are new or unfamiliar words (10 points)

Essay (20 points)

Illustration (20 points)


Due Date: Thursday, September 17th

A Few Websites...

The National Association for Gifted Children: http://www.nagc.org

Cogito: http://www.cogito.org/default.aspx

Hoagies' Gifted Education Page: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org

GT World: http://gtworld.org

Highlights of the Gifted Curriculum in the Middle School

Mathematics

• First in Math
• Probability and statistics
• Algebraic reasoning
• Challenge folders consisting of a variety of problem-solving activities
• Different number systems and number bases
• Graphing and the coordinate plane
• Jump Rope Geometry
• Number theory, including patterns of primes, squares and cubes
• Introduction to set theory
• Alice computer programming
• Exponents and logarithms
• Functions, including polynomials and trigonometric functions
• Problem-solving strategies
• Participation in Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle Schools contest
• Units of study from Mentoring the Mathematical Mind, curriculum developed specifically for gifted learners

Language Arts

• Units of study developed by the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary
• Elements of plot and literary analysis
• Extensions of novels read in class
• Creative and persuasive writing
• Storytelling (both oral and digital)
• Magazine/newspaper writing
• Drama and improvisation
• Marketing and advertising
• Mystery writing and forensic science
  
• Symbolism and figurative language
• Public speaking and debate
• Essay writing
• Mythology
• Poetry

Note: Not all topics will be covered in all grade levels.

Highlights of the Gifted Curriculum in the Lower School

Mathematics

• Hands-on Equations
  
• First in Math
  
• Muggins Math Games
  
• Fizz and Martina’s Math Adventures
• Probability and statistics
  
• Measurement Olympics
• Challenge folders consisting of a variety of problem-solving activities
• Different number systems and number bases
  
• Graphing and the coordinate plane
• Jump Rope Geometry
  
• Sir Cumference math series
  
• Number theory, including patterns of prime numbers and square numbers
  
• Participation in contests such as the Online Math League and/or the Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle Schools
• Units of study from Mentoring the Mathematical Mind, curriculum developed specifically for gifted learners
• Problem-solving strategies
• Primary Education Thinking Skills
• Logic Safari

Language Arts

• Units of study developed by the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary
• Wordless books
• Elements of plot
• Literary analysis
• Extensions of novels read in class
• Creative and persuasive writing
• Digital storytelling
• Magazine/newspaper writing
• Poetry
• Word Masters competition
• Marketing and advertising
• Symbolism and figurative language
• Storytelling and public speaking
• Word analysis
• Parts of speech and diagramming sentences
  

Note: Not all topics are covered at all grade levels.

Welcome

Welcome to the blog for the gifted program at The Dunham School! Class activities and homework assignments will be posted here beginning the week of September 7th.