Welcome Back!!!!
Hi everyone and welcome back to school for what is sure to be an awesome 2010-2011 school year! Lots of students are in computer classes this year, and I'm looking forward to working on some great projects.
Laura Dacus
Summer Stuff
If a car travels at 70 miles per hour for 8 hours............LOL..........Summer vacation brings trips and new adventures. We're headed to San Diego, CA!
Newspaper Math
Today we're going to look at the Tyler Morning Telegraph newspaper. We've discussed how we hear math throughout the day (ie time, money, home loan rates, down payments and interest rates of cars, etc.) Find an example of math in today's newspaper and give a brief description of how it is being used in the paper. Post your responses here.
Science---Erosion Project
Mr. Coughlin and the science class experiment with water erosion.
TAKS TIPS
The time has come! I know that you are ready for the Math TAKS test. You've worked hard all year, and we're not going to quit now. Remember my story about my math experiences? I've come a long way, and so have you! Here are a few things we've talked about: Take a deep breath and relax.
1. When you open your test, write down all of the things you think you might forget (for example---- Least Common MultipleBunny!) Is it necessary to write down all of the formulas? No, that's what the chart is for. :-)
2. Go through the test, and draw a smiley face on every fifth problem. When you come to the smiley, take a mental break. Get a sip of water, close your eyes and take a deep breath, use brain gym at your seat!
3. Read the question---don't read what you think is there---read what is there.
4. Underline key words, but don't go underline crazy! You'll end up underlining everything and confusing yourself.
5. Put a star at the actual question; not on all the fluff and stuff they put in there to confuse you.
6. Look for the OBVIOUS.
7. Look at the answers! Does it make sense? (Work smarter not harder!)
8. Take your time, but don't go cold! If you're reading and the words look like blah blah blah blah blah................it's time to take a break. BUT don't forget what you're here to do. It's your chance to show the test makers what Arp Junior High has got!!!!!!!
9. Did someone say that the harder questions were in the middle?
10. Believe in yourself! (I, believe in you!)
LET'S WORK SOME MATH MAGIC!!!!!!!
Idioms
I really was impressed with the sayings that you all came up with. I think we only had one duplicate! I think it's interesting to hear these sayings and to learn what they mean. As you watch TV this week, listen for idioms. See how many you hear. :-)
Journal for Thursday March 25, 2010
This week we have talked about different sayings that come from different generations or cultures. "Love is blind", Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", "Like water off a duck's back, "etc. Think of a saying that you are familiar with. Post it here and explain what it means. Use complete sentences, proper grammar, and proper punctuation.
Fun With Physics
One of my students found a physics game website at home that he shared with me. One of my other students said, "Hey, we did something like this in Mr. Coughlin's class." Wow! They are actually paying attention! :-) Here is the website that we found: www.physicsgames.net
Mock TAKS
We gave a mock taks test for math today. I think my group did pretty well. They stayed on task and seemed to try really hard. I think we're doing a Reading Mock TAKS tomorrow.
"Moving To Learn"
Fifth graders at Arp Elementary demonstrate "Moving to Learn" as they work through a science lesson.
♪ ♪ Music Notes ♪ ♪
Chance James tells us the latest news. "Saturday, several of the Jr. High band students competed at the Solo and Ensemble competition held at Nacogdoches High School. I am proud to say that 100% or our students earned medals with a first division!!"
If you see these students, please congratulate them:
Colby Fountain
Natasha Crouch
Jerrica Parnell
Cortney Roach
Ethan Day
Kaleigh Moore
Mason Jones
Maverick Moore
Caden Svoboda
Austin Cooper
Tyrone Hunt
DeAndre Jones
Lacey Calicutt
Barry Martin
Samuel Dickerson
Trenton Hankins
Krista Skeen
Mandy Alibrando
Thanks to My Students!
I wanted to say "Thank You" to all of my students for behaving so well while I was in Austin at TCEA. Thank you for being respectful to my sub and not trying to take advantage of the situation. I bragged on you to the people I met at the convention. You all are great! :-)
Soldiers in Strange Places
Today some of us ate lunch at Chili's. We found out that our waiter was a captain in the Army!!!!!! He had done two tours in Iraq. He has two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. While in Iraq, he was in charge of a patrol. He had a new soldier on his team who was really scared. This guy was wearing shoulder guards and decided to give them to the new soldier. While on patrol, they came under fire. The captain (our waiter) was shot in the shoulder, right where his shoulder guard would have been. He got all of his team to safety and then grabbed his own shoulder. This young man was waiting tables at Chilis..........Incredible.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TCEA Wednesday
Oh wow! Today was great! I got to go to the vendors. Got free stuff. I also went to three different presentations. I also got to meet Mr. Chris Garder. The movie "Pursuit of Happiness" was based on his life story. It was a pleasure meeting him.
Stick Figure Animation
Several of my Tech Apps 2 students have been working with Pivot Stick Figure Animator. We've tried to come up with some fun ways to incorporate animation in an everyday class. Peyton brings the alphabet to life with her "ABC" animation! Kalik works his way through some shapes.
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Accountability Equals Email
Ok techies, I was a bit disappointed in some of your grades in other classes. We are going to have to become more accountable for our own education. If a teacher gives you pleanty of time to come in for tutorials or to make up a test grade or paper, we have GOT to take advantage of it! As we heard from Mr. Wes Wood at our Veteran's Day Celebration, "With Freedom comes Responsibility." I know that each one of you really enjoys your email time in class. I know that because when checking email is our first task of the day, I never have late students! Therefore, as my momma used to say, "Tend to you business; then you get to play." Well folks, your school work is your business. So.......with that in mind, we are going to take a page from the business world. We are going to create SMT's: Success Management Teams. These will be your classmates who will hold you accountable; likewise, you will help hold them accountable as well.
Freedom Writers
There are so many topics that we are discussing about this movie, that it is difficult to choose one for you to comment about. Click on this link and read about the movie Freedom Writers.
Your Day in History!
We all like to celebrate our birthdays. (Well, maybe not some of us as we get older! lol) The day you were born is a very important day. Have you ever wondered what other events happened on the day your were born? For your journal entry today you will visit a history web site where you can find out about other things that happened on your birth date. Visit this link on
You can choose to look at any of the topics, from natural disasters, to entertainment! After you have read the article, post your response here in the blog. In your own words, describe one of the other events that took place on your birth date. Be sure to use proper grammar and punctuation.
6th Grade TAKS Math Review
OK, 6th graders. The time has come! I know that you are ready for the Math TAKS test. You've worked hard all year, and we're not going to quit now. Remember my story about my math experiences? I've come a long way, and so have you! Here are a few things we've talked about: Take a deep breath and relax.
1. When you open your test, write down all of the things you think you might forget (for example---- Least Common MultipleBunny!) Is it necessary to write down all of the formulas? No, that's what the chart is for. :-)
2. Go through the test, and draw a smiley face on every fifth problem. When you come to the smiley, take a mental break. Get a sip of water, close your eyes and take a deep breath, use brain gym at your seat!
3. Read the question---don't read what you think is there---read what is there.
4. Underline key words, but don't go underline crazy! You'll end up underlining everything and confusing yourself.
5. Put a star at the actual question; not on all the fluff and stuff they put in there to confuse you.
6. Look for the OBVIOUS.
7. Look at the answers! Does it make sense? (Work smarter not harder!)
8. Take your time, but don't go cold! If you're reading and the words look like blah blah blah blah blah................it's time to take a break. BUT don't forget what you're here to do. It's your chance to show the test makers what Arp Junior High has got!!!!!!!
9. Did someone say that the harder questions were in the middle?
10. Believe in yourself! (I, believe in you!)
LET'S WORK SOME MATH MAGIC!!!!!!!