This coming week will be a short one. Wednesday, we start our Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend filled with family, friends, and food. November is passing quickly and we are already three weeks into the second quarter. Many students are doing an outstanding job and are working hard in all areas. Those who have missed assignments will continue to have an opportunity to earn 90% credit by getting an ASC slip signed by a parent and turning the work in the following day. Students who habitually do not turn in work and who also do not bring in the signed ASC note will be assigned to Saturday school. This is not meant to be a punishment, but is a second chance to make up the work. Failure in sixth grade is not an option.
This Tuesday is our first Otter Awards Assembly. All students who earned a grade point average of 3.0 or above will be recognized. Family and friends are welcome to attend, so please join us if you can. The assembly will be held in the library from 1:15 to about 2:00.
The students will have their first Otter auction during sixth period, immediately following the awards ceremony. We still could use any donated items of "fabulous prizes". If you have anything that you think an 11/12 year old might like, we would love to auction it off. The auctions will be held quarterly so you can send in donations anytime. Thank you to the parents who have already contributed to our upcoming auction.
As far as academics go, we have been very busy in both math and social studies. In math we are working on fraction operations. So far we have studied addition and subtraction of simple fractions and mixed numbers. We are also working on a project involving the application of fraction equivalency concepts. This type of hands-on cooperative problem solving gives students an opportunity to demonstrate understanding by using concepts that they have already learned. The project will be counted in the same category as quizzes and tests as it is an alternative means of assessment.
In social studies we are finishing up our study of Ancient Israel. The students have enjoyed studying this civilization. Many have a great background knowledge of the history of these tenacious people. If anyone has firsthand knowledge of Jewish traditions and/or holidays, such as Hannukah and Passover, the class would love to have you come and share. Please let me know if you are interested. Our next unit will be Ancient Egypt. This is our big unit this year and will culminate with our annual trip to the Rosicrucian Museum and Egypt Night in January. Students will learn how to do a research project in English class with Mrs. Lescroart. They will conduct research and write a report on a topic related to Egypt. The report will be done entirely at school. Students will also be required to make a project related to their topic. The project will be completed at home.
December will fly by with only three weeks before our winter holiday. It is our tradition to have an exciting and fun Otter activity on the last day of school before the vacation. We will need lots of parent help at various times throughout the day, so if you are available, please mark your calendar. We will send home more information about this activity soon.
Thank you to all of you who have supported our class in various ways. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Mrs. Shimamoto
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Otter Awards
Sunday, November 7, 2010
It's November!
Hello Otter Families,
The first quarter is over and done, and we have entered the second quarter without missing a beat. Report cards should have been mailed out. If you have not received yours in the mail already, you should receive it soon. Congratulations to the many Otters who worked hard all quarter. Your efforts have been paid off with outstanding grades. All students who earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher will be honored in our first awards assembly to be held on Tuesday, November 23. I am not yet sure about the time, but I will post the time and send a note home with your child as soon as I know. Family members and friends are welcome to attend the assembly, so please join us if you can.
Don't forget this Thursday, November 11, is the Veterans Day Holiday (no school for students and teachers...hurray). Friday will be an inservice day for teachers, but the students will have the day off. Enjoy your four day weekend.
In social studies, we wrapped up our study of early humans and Mesopotamia last week. One of the "big ideas" that we will explore this year is the importance of water to the development of civilizations. Ask your child to explain to you why water was so important. We also talked about the change the early humans went through as they developed from hunter-gatherers, to farmers and villagers, to civilizations. Our next unit of study is Ancient Israel. Many students already know this part of history and they are enthusiastically sharing their knowledge with the rest of the class. Speaking of experts, if you have personal knowledge or experience with any of the civilizations that we will be studying this year and would like to share with the class, please give me a call. It is always exciting to hear about first-hand experiences and the kids love it when adults whom they know come in to class.
Last week, we spent a few days in the computer lab working on a data analysis mini-project. The kids learned how to use Excel to create graphs. We also finished our study of chapter three, fraction concepts. The kids began the chapter test on Friday, but it was longer than I had anticipated and many did not finish in the allotted time. I will give them additional class time to finish on Monday. Chapter tests differ from quizzes as they are summative. In other words, they assess the student's learning at the completion of the unit. There are no revisions allowed and students cannot use their math journals. Our next unit will be operations with fractions and decimals.
In math intervention, we are continuing to build basic skills. In addition, the students are supported in the regular class curriculum with pre-teaching of the day's lesson and homework assistance. Grades for this class are based on effort, attitude, and participation.
As a team, one of our main goals as we progress through this sixth grade year is to be a community of learners. As such, we are working on staying focused as this allows us to efficiently use our class time. Off-task behavior prevents the whole class from learning, so we are working on improving in that area. Interruptions that impede the learning of others will not be tolerated and students who engage in this type of behavior will be asked to write a note home for a parent signature.
This past weekend, I spent a good deal of time reorganizing my classroom. The kids will be surprised to see the changes when they come to school tomorrow. I hope that the new layout will help me utilize the classroom space more efficiently. There will be new seats on Monday!
Thanks to those of you who have sent in donations to the classroom. The students in room 301 and I greatly appreciate your support.
I hope you have a wonderful extended weekend next week.
Mrs. Shimamoto
The first quarter is over and done, and we have entered the second quarter without missing a beat. Report cards should have been mailed out. If you have not received yours in the mail already, you should receive it soon. Congratulations to the many Otters who worked hard all quarter. Your efforts have been paid off with outstanding grades. All students who earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher will be honored in our first awards assembly to be held on Tuesday, November 23. I am not yet sure about the time, but I will post the time and send a note home with your child as soon as I know. Family members and friends are welcome to attend the assembly, so please join us if you can.
Don't forget this Thursday, November 11, is the Veterans Day Holiday (no school for students and teachers...hurray). Friday will be an inservice day for teachers, but the students will have the day off. Enjoy your four day weekend.
In social studies, we wrapped up our study of early humans and Mesopotamia last week. One of the "big ideas" that we will explore this year is the importance of water to the development of civilizations. Ask your child to explain to you why water was so important. We also talked about the change the early humans went through as they developed from hunter-gatherers, to farmers and villagers, to civilizations. Our next unit of study is Ancient Israel. Many students already know this part of history and they are enthusiastically sharing their knowledge with the rest of the class. Speaking of experts, if you have personal knowledge or experience with any of the civilizations that we will be studying this year and would like to share with the class, please give me a call. It is always exciting to hear about first-hand experiences and the kids love it when adults whom they know come in to class.
Last week, we spent a few days in the computer lab working on a data analysis mini-project. The kids learned how to use Excel to create graphs. We also finished our study of chapter three, fraction concepts. The kids began the chapter test on Friday, but it was longer than I had anticipated and many did not finish in the allotted time. I will give them additional class time to finish on Monday. Chapter tests differ from quizzes as they are summative. In other words, they assess the student's learning at the completion of the unit. There are no revisions allowed and students cannot use their math journals. Our next unit will be operations with fractions and decimals.
In math intervention, we are continuing to build basic skills. In addition, the students are supported in the regular class curriculum with pre-teaching of the day's lesson and homework assistance. Grades for this class are based on effort, attitude, and participation.
As a team, one of our main goals as we progress through this sixth grade year is to be a community of learners. As such, we are working on staying focused as this allows us to efficiently use our class time. Off-task behavior prevents the whole class from learning, so we are working on improving in that area. Interruptions that impede the learning of others will not be tolerated and students who engage in this type of behavior will be asked to write a note home for a parent signature.
This past weekend, I spent a good deal of time reorganizing my classroom. The kids will be surprised to see the changes when they come to school tomorrow. I hope that the new layout will help me utilize the classroom space more efficiently. There will be new seats on Monday!
Thanks to those of you who have sent in donations to the classroom. The students in room 301 and I greatly appreciate your support.
I hope you have a wonderful extended weekend next week.
Mrs. Shimamoto
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween
Dear Otter Families,
I hope you have a safe and happy Halloween tonight. Don't forget, it is a school night, so don't stay out too late! Friday was our costume day at Dartmouth. What a crazy day. The kids were so excited all day, and we teachers went home exhausted. Thank heavens for our fabulous Art Vistas moms who bravely came to share an interesting hands-on lesson on cave art. The kids really enjoyed it.
Friday was the last day of the first quarter. Grades will be finalized this week and report cards will be mailed out by the end of the week. Congratulations to the students who worked hard all quarter. Your efforts are reflected in your outstanding grades! Monday marks the beginning of the second quarter, and at that time, grades begin anew. As is our tradition on the Otters team, we will move several students within the team from Mrs. Lescroart's morning group to my morning group and vice versa. Our goal is to give the students an opportunity to meet many teammates as well as to even out the groups. Currently, we have one group that has a disproportionate number of girls and one group is also larger than the other.
In math, we are continuing our study of fraction concepts. Last week we looked at simplifying fractions, as well as improper fractions and mixed numbers and their relationship to decimals. The kids took their weekly quiz on Friday. Many did well, but I think that the distraction of Halloween was just too much for some of them. Grades from Friday's quiz will be reflected on the second quarter grade. Remember, quizzes are meant as formative assessment. This means, that they are only a measure of progress toward mastery of a given concept. That is why revisions and journals are always allowed on quizzes. This week we will spend some time in the computer lab working on a data analysis mini-project.
In social studies, we are wrapping up our study of early humans and Mesopotamia. We will review for and take the end-of-unit test this week. Thanks again to our Art Vistas volunteers for an interesting lesson on cave art, which was tied to our studies in social studies.
In math intervention, we continue to strengthen our math skills with homework assistance, previews of the day's lesson, and skills practice. On good days, when we get through the lesson, the kids are rewarded with math games, which also help reinforce skills.
Mark your calendars. Next week, November 11 is a holiday, and November 12 is an inservice day for teachers. The students will have a 3 day week. The Thanksgiving holiday is also just around the corner. School will be closed on the 24th, 25th, and 26th.
We have yet to schedule our 1st quarter awards assembly but anticipate that it will be sometime in the next few weeks. I will let you know as soon as a date is set. We will also hold our first Otter auction in the near future. Thanks to those who have sent in items for this exciting event.
Happy Halloween.
Mrs. Shimamoto
I hope you have a safe and happy Halloween tonight. Don't forget, it is a school night, so don't stay out too late! Friday was our costume day at Dartmouth. What a crazy day. The kids were so excited all day, and we teachers went home exhausted. Thank heavens for our fabulous Art Vistas moms who bravely came to share an interesting hands-on lesson on cave art. The kids really enjoyed it.
Friday was the last day of the first quarter. Grades will be finalized this week and report cards will be mailed out by the end of the week. Congratulations to the students who worked hard all quarter. Your efforts are reflected in your outstanding grades! Monday marks the beginning of the second quarter, and at that time, grades begin anew. As is our tradition on the Otters team, we will move several students within the team from Mrs. Lescroart's morning group to my morning group and vice versa. Our goal is to give the students an opportunity to meet many teammates as well as to even out the groups. Currently, we have one group that has a disproportionate number of girls and one group is also larger than the other.
In math, we are continuing our study of fraction concepts. Last week we looked at simplifying fractions, as well as improper fractions and mixed numbers and their relationship to decimals. The kids took their weekly quiz on Friday. Many did well, but I think that the distraction of Halloween was just too much for some of them. Grades from Friday's quiz will be reflected on the second quarter grade. Remember, quizzes are meant as formative assessment. This means, that they are only a measure of progress toward mastery of a given concept. That is why revisions and journals are always allowed on quizzes. This week we will spend some time in the computer lab working on a data analysis mini-project.
In social studies, we are wrapping up our study of early humans and Mesopotamia. We will review for and take the end-of-unit test this week. Thanks again to our Art Vistas volunteers for an interesting lesson on cave art, which was tied to our studies in social studies.
In math intervention, we continue to strengthen our math skills with homework assistance, previews of the day's lesson, and skills practice. On good days, when we get through the lesson, the kids are rewarded with math games, which also help reinforce skills.
Mark your calendars. Next week, November 11 is a holiday, and November 12 is an inservice day for teachers. The students will have a 3 day week. The Thanksgiving holiday is also just around the corner. School will be closed on the 24th, 25th, and 26th.
We have yet to schedule our 1st quarter awards assembly but anticipate that it will be sometime in the next few weeks. I will let you know as soon as a date is set. We will also hold our first Otter auction in the near future. Thanks to those who have sent in items for this exciting event.
Happy Halloween.
Mrs. Shimamoto
Sunday, October 24, 2010
5 days Until the End of the Quarter!
Dear Otter Families.
Amazingly, we only have 5 more days until the end of the first quarter. All work that is missing due to absence must be made up before Friday! Grades must be turned in by next weekend and report cards should be mailed out the following weekend. Most of the team have worked hard this quarter and have done well adjusting to middle school. Grades will begin anew on November 1, so everyone starts with a clean slate.
In middle school, we do not have parent-teacher conferences. If you have concerns regarding your child's progress, please email me with any questions or to schedule an after-school conference. I am available most days after school to help students, unless I have a meeting. I am very sorry that the past couple of weeks have been so packed with meetings. I really prefer to be able to spend the time with students. This week looks like a better week, with Tuesday as my only meeting day. Your child is welcome to drop in for help any time.
In math, we have been very busy since I last posted on the blog. The kids have taken their first quarter district-wide benchmark exams as well as the end of unit test for Chapter 2. Grades for both are posted on Powerschool. This past week we started our new unit, fraction concepts. We have been working on prime factorization, greatest common factor, and least common multiple. Next we will look at equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions, and decimals. Many students have already filled up a spiral notebook with notes and homework. Please make sure they bring a new one to keep their notes neat and organized.
In Social Studies, we finished our unit on Geography. The kids did a beautiful job on their world maps and I am now in the process of grading those projects. Grades should be reflected on the first quarter report cards. This week we will begin an ongoing project related to geography. Ask your child to tell you all about the postcard project. He/she will need your help sending out letters to family and friends. We are also studying the beginning of civilization from prehistoric times through Mesopotamia. Next week we will be treated to our first Art Vistas presentation on Cave Art.
Friday, students may wear their Halloween costumes to school. They can wear the costumes all day as long as it doesn't interfere with their learning. Costumes must be appropriate for school, following school dress code regulations. They should not be violent or risque. There is a costume contest during the morning snack break, but we will not have a classroom party.
With the end of the first quarter, comes our first Otter Awards assembly. The assembly will be held during the school day. I will let you know the date and time as soon as we schedule this important event. All students who achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher will be recognized at the assembly. Parents, family, and friends are welcome to attend, so please join us if you can. We will also hold our quarterly Otter Auction, where students can bid their hard-earned Otter Bucks for "fabulous prizes". Speaking of prizes, we are in need of donations. If you have any interesting and inexpensive items that you would like to donate, the kids would love it. Items that have been popular in the past include, craft kits, books, toys, puzzles, sports equipment, games, school supplies, stuffed animals, and gift cards.
Thank you for your continuing support. Your generous donations to our classroom are greatly appreciated!
Until next week,
Mrs. Shimamoto
Amazingly, we only have 5 more days until the end of the first quarter. All work that is missing due to absence must be made up before Friday! Grades must be turned in by next weekend and report cards should be mailed out the following weekend. Most of the team have worked hard this quarter and have done well adjusting to middle school. Grades will begin anew on November 1, so everyone starts with a clean slate.
In middle school, we do not have parent-teacher conferences. If you have concerns regarding your child's progress, please email me with any questions or to schedule an after-school conference. I am available most days after school to help students, unless I have a meeting. I am very sorry that the past couple of weeks have been so packed with meetings. I really prefer to be able to spend the time with students. This week looks like a better week, with Tuesday as my only meeting day. Your child is welcome to drop in for help any time.
In math, we have been very busy since I last posted on the blog. The kids have taken their first quarter district-wide benchmark exams as well as the end of unit test for Chapter 2. Grades for both are posted on Powerschool. This past week we started our new unit, fraction concepts. We have been working on prime factorization, greatest common factor, and least common multiple. Next we will look at equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions, and decimals. Many students have already filled up a spiral notebook with notes and homework. Please make sure they bring a new one to keep their notes neat and organized.
In Social Studies, we finished our unit on Geography. The kids did a beautiful job on their world maps and I am now in the process of grading those projects. Grades should be reflected on the first quarter report cards. This week we will begin an ongoing project related to geography. Ask your child to tell you all about the postcard project. He/she will need your help sending out letters to family and friends. We are also studying the beginning of civilization from prehistoric times through Mesopotamia. Next week we will be treated to our first Art Vistas presentation on Cave Art.
Friday, students may wear their Halloween costumes to school. They can wear the costumes all day as long as it doesn't interfere with their learning. Costumes must be appropriate for school, following school dress code regulations. They should not be violent or risque. There is a costume contest during the morning snack break, but we will not have a classroom party.
With the end of the first quarter, comes our first Otter Awards assembly. The assembly will be held during the school day. I will let you know the date and time as soon as we schedule this important event. All students who achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher will be recognized at the assembly. Parents, family, and friends are welcome to attend, so please join us if you can. We will also hold our quarterly Otter Auction, where students can bid their hard-earned Otter Bucks for "fabulous prizes". Speaking of prizes, we are in need of donations. If you have any interesting and inexpensive items that you would like to donate, the kids would love it. Items that have been popular in the past include, craft kits, books, toys, puzzles, sports equipment, games, school supplies, stuffed animals, and gift cards.
Thank you for your continuing support. Your generous donations to our classroom are greatly appreciated!
Until next week,
Mrs. Shimamoto
Sunday, October 10, 2010
10-10-10
Hello Otter Families,
It has been another exciting week for the Otters. We are already winding down our first quarter of school with just three weeks left. Please review your child's grade on Powerschool and encourage him/her to continue to work hard.
We had an unusual day on Wednesday with our emergency evacuation. I was amazed at how well the kids did, especially since we were out on the field for two hours before we got the all clear signal. I was so proud of them!
In math, we are preparing for our first district-wide benchmark exam. On Thursday and Friday we worked on practice problems in class in order to get ready. Tomorrow, Monday, the kids will take the test. The benchmark is a measurement of student mastery of the sixth grade standards. Scores will count on the first quarter grades. After the test on Monday, we will finish up chapter 2, integers, and then the end of the unit test will be on Friday.
In social studies, the kids have taken home their world maps and should be working on them every day. Their homework for the week is to complete small sections of the assignment and then get a parent signature verifying the completion. So far, your child should have finished the islands and mountains. Next are the rivers. In addition, he/she should begin coloring the oceans and seas blue. This is a very time-consuming part of the project as the area to cover is very large. Students can use colored pencils, water colors, or oil pastels. Water colors and pastels seem to be the easiest and neatest. If your child chooses to use colored pencil, please make sure they color neatly with even pressure in one direction. Oil pastels should be set with a coat of hairspray when finished. Otherwise, the color will smudge and make a mess. In class, students took a test on geography and maps with the electronic responders. Results of the test are now posted on Powerschool.
Thanks to all the Otter families for your continuing support.
Until next week.
Mrs. Shimamoto
It has been another exciting week for the Otters. We are already winding down our first quarter of school with just three weeks left. Please review your child's grade on Powerschool and encourage him/her to continue to work hard.
We had an unusual day on Wednesday with our emergency evacuation. I was amazed at how well the kids did, especially since we were out on the field for two hours before we got the all clear signal. I was so proud of them!
In math, we are preparing for our first district-wide benchmark exam. On Thursday and Friday we worked on practice problems in class in order to get ready. Tomorrow, Monday, the kids will take the test. The benchmark is a measurement of student mastery of the sixth grade standards. Scores will count on the first quarter grades. After the test on Monday, we will finish up chapter 2, integers, and then the end of the unit test will be on Friday.
In social studies, the kids have taken home their world maps and should be working on them every day. Their homework for the week is to complete small sections of the assignment and then get a parent signature verifying the completion. So far, your child should have finished the islands and mountains. Next are the rivers. In addition, he/she should begin coloring the oceans and seas blue. This is a very time-consuming part of the project as the area to cover is very large. Students can use colored pencils, water colors, or oil pastels. Water colors and pastels seem to be the easiest and neatest. If your child chooses to use colored pencil, please make sure they color neatly with even pressure in one direction. Oil pastels should be set with a coat of hairspray when finished. Otherwise, the color will smudge and make a mess. In class, students took a test on geography and maps with the electronic responders. Results of the test are now posted on Powerschool.
Thanks to all the Otter families for your continuing support.
Until next week.
Mrs. Shimamoto
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A BUSY Week for the Otters
Hello Otter Families,
Whew...it was a very busy week for the Otters. Thanks to all of our great sixth grade parents, we had our first social on Friday. We had a record attendance, perfect weather, and it seemed that a great time was had by all who attended (adults included). Thank you to all of you who so generously donated supplies and your time to make this event possible!
It is hard to believe that it is already October. The end of October marks the end of the first quarter and our first report card of the year. Congratulations to the students who are working hard and doing well. For those who have had a rough start, it is not too late to bring up those grades. Please be sure to turn all work in on time, give your best effort, and to make up any work that is missed. If you were absent, make up work should be done as soon as possible.
In Social Studies we have spent the past week working on our globes in class everyday. Thank you to many of our Otter parents for volunteering to help with this big project. You helped to avert many disasters...I couldn't have done it alone. We are now free-hand drawing our islands. I will send this project home early this week for completion. Please make sure your child works on it little by little every night. There will be little additional homework in social studies during this time. I will send home a grading sheet so students will know exactly what they need to do to earn a good grade. Neatness and effort will make a big difference!
In math we are working on the four operations with integers. Last week was addition and subtraction. This week will be multiplication and division. Friday's quiz had mixed results. It seemed that the kids either really got it or they didn't. They will have an opportunity to do quiz revisions. If they need assistance, please make sure they see me for help. I am available most days after school in my classroom.
Thanks again and again for all the support you give your child and our Otter team.
Until next week.
Mrs. Shimamoto
Whew...it was a very busy week for the Otters. Thanks to all of our great sixth grade parents, we had our first social on Friday. We had a record attendance, perfect weather, and it seemed that a great time was had by all who attended (adults included). Thank you to all of you who so generously donated supplies and your time to make this event possible!
It is hard to believe that it is already October. The end of October marks the end of the first quarter and our first report card of the year. Congratulations to the students who are working hard and doing well. For those who have had a rough start, it is not too late to bring up those grades. Please be sure to turn all work in on time, give your best effort, and to make up any work that is missed. If you were absent, make up work should be done as soon as possible.
In Social Studies we have spent the past week working on our globes in class everyday. Thank you to many of our Otter parents for volunteering to help with this big project. You helped to avert many disasters...I couldn't have done it alone. We are now free-hand drawing our islands. I will send this project home early this week for completion. Please make sure your child works on it little by little every night. There will be little additional homework in social studies during this time. I will send home a grading sheet so students will know exactly what they need to do to earn a good grade. Neatness and effort will make a big difference!
In math we are working on the four operations with integers. Last week was addition and subtraction. This week will be multiplication and division. Friday's quiz had mixed results. It seemed that the kids either really got it or they didn't. They will have an opportunity to do quiz revisions. If they need assistance, please make sure they see me for help. I am available most days after school in my classroom.
Thanks again and again for all the support you give your child and our Otter team.
Until next week.
Mrs. Shimamoto
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