Homework Helps!!

Lately there has been some questions about the homework that I have been giving the students and hopefully this blog can clear up some of those questions...

First and foremost I need to say that most of the class is doing fabuously and right where they need to be. There are several that need to step it up in the next few weeks to remain able to finish strong.

Second of all each student should be spending an hour a day on work for their class, whether it is Hands on Hanford or Middle School Language Arts or History. Which means that if their homework is taking longer than that PLEASE tell me!! I don't want your child to be overwhelmed but I do they need to be researching/working everyday. So I am trying to find the perfect balance for each and every student.

As you all know as Home School parents what works for one of your children doesn't necessary work for your others and I want to follow this same belief in the classroom. This being said I dearly need your student to feel comfortable to talk to me about where they are at academically in my classes. This I know will come with time and until then I implore you to contact me whenever you need to.

Finally I am going to start publishing helps and hints for the work that is being assigned in class. This along with a calendar of topics and Unit work will hopefully make this year even better!! As always please contact me at johanna.davis@rsd.edu if you need anything what-so-ever!!

Hands On Hanford

Hands on Hanford is a culminating class including Language Arts and History. Students have focused on the foundations of US Government as well as why Hanford was seen as a necessity.

Students will recieve a packet of documents/literature/study materials that they will answer questions from on Mondays. This work is due on Thursday.

On Fridays students should be working on their Big Question!!

Each student has developed a Big Question to research for the next few months...projects will be due in January.

Some of the students are working on their Washington State History requirement and will have specific items to address as well.

Just a reminder that students should be working on research and homework for ONE hour a day that they are not in class (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday). If you see your student struggling or having dificulties please let me know!

Week of September 22nd: Students printed out an article describing life during the construction of Hanford. These were written from the point of view from someone who lived right here in the Tri-Cities!! They are to recreate a scene, diarama style, depicting life during this time period. I told them they could do it on a flat piece of cardboard, a shoe box or someother form of box would be fine as well. Students are not going to be graded on the artistic ability but rather the historical accuracy of their project. These are due on Thursday September 25th!!

Week of September 29th: Students will be evaluating the beginnings of the Cold War. They will be responsible for looking at ONE individual and researching that individual's role and responsibilities in the development of the 50 year Cold War. Students will evaluate each other's projects on Thursday and rank the indiviuals and their work.

Week of October 6th: Students will have an opportunity to hear from a retired Hanford Scientist who worked at the site for over 30 years. I have assigned the students 5 questions (they wrote them) so that they will be prepared to answer questions. Students this week will need to complete a flow chart on their BQ for Thursday.

**I am currently looking for volunteers for a "Walking Tour of ABC Homes in Richland" If you are available from 8am to 10am on Mondays or Thursdays and would like to know more please contact me!!

One reminder is that the Student's book project are due month...they are designing a 25 slide Power Point on the book they are reading.

Middle School History

Currently Middle School students are studying Washington State History. We have looked at Indians and this week Lewis and Clark.

Student's work will be centered around their Big Question. Their BQ's will include the geography of Washington, Indians, Missionaries as well as the formation of Washington from a Territory to a State.

I look forward to working with each student to assist them in developing a well focused and well done final project.

Again, just a reminder that homework should be ONE hour a day for the days we do not have class...Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

September 22nd; Students are working VOICE which means that they are writing to an audience in a descriptive manner. Their homework is to choose a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and write a letter to another member. Examples include: Lewis, Clark, President Jefferson, etc.

Letter should be a minimum of 3 paragraphs (5-7 sentences each paragraph).

September 29th: Students will be looking at the importance of the Gold Rush and the development of the State of Washington. Their homework will be to map out the route that a Gold Rusher would take and recreate the trip diary style.

October 6th: Students will wrap up the Gold Rush and will be introduced to the Missionaries that came through the "Oregon Territory"...soon to be Washington. Each student will be responsible for reflecting on who came over Jason Lee and the Whitmans and anwering questions. There is also a "Do With Parent" section that they are supposed to work with you on and I am asking you to sign it. I am hoping that this will allow you to see more clearly the topics and work that your student is responsible for!!

We will also be cooking "Indian Fry Bread" on Thursday and a few students signed up to bring itemsl..please check with your students in regards to if they signed up!

Middle School Language Arts

This class is focusing on the six traits of writing; voice, conventions, ideas, organization, sentence fluency and word choice.

We are doing this through 1. Writing Journals, 2. Spelling/Vocabulary tests, 3. Literature Samples as well as Daily Oral Language activites.

What this means to you as parents is this:

1. Writing Journals; I give the students a writing prompt when they come in and they are responsible for a page response. On Tuesday and Wednesday they are responsible to write a page on their own. You may need to help them in this to begin with as I have found many students are struggling to write a full page...with time I have found that this gets much easier!

2. Students receive 10 words on Thursday that they are responsible for writing their definition on a loose piece of paper and turning in on Monday. On Monday they will take a pre-spelling test if they get 100% they do not have to take the test on Thursday.

3. Students will go over literature either orally (outloud reading by me and/or the class) and analyzing what the author means, inferences, and characterization. Students will keep this literature in their 3 ring binder.

4. Daily Oral Laguage drills are when I write two sentences incorrectly and they have to individually solve the mistakes. We then as a class go over the mistakes so that ALL students get the correct answers.

**Students taking both Language Arts and History have their homework assigned after history...students ONLY taking one of the two have individually assignments that are due the following school day.

September 22nd: Students are working on VOICE...they should be able to hear their descriptions, write to a specific audience and most of all know what they want their audience to feel after reading their writing.

September 29th: Students will continue working on VOICE by making a classroom newspaper. Each student will take on the role of a newspaper writer and on Thursday turn in an article that follows their selected category.

October 6th: Students will continue their discussion on the creativity it takes to write a newspaper article. Students will look at different articles looking for the hook, facts, details and the effectiveness of the article.

Great news! Sara Schilling of the Tri-City Herald will be in class on Thursday to share with the students what life is like as a reporter! If you want to come in and hear her or really ANY day feel free to do so!

Team Sports

Students on Monday are working as a team learning volleyball and preparing for a showdown of sorts for the Volleyball tourney set for October 17th.

Students should wear athletic wear, tennis shoes and bring a bottle of water to class. There is plenty of time to change before class begins.

All students looking to earn credit should be keeping a log of their hours. 75 logged hours equals .5 credits. It is recommended that in one semester a student should be turning in at least 75 hours. If you have a unique situation in which you find yourself in please contact me as soon as possilbe.

Cooking

The Cooking class that is offered on Thursday and I have split up the Middle Schoolers from the High Schoolers. So on the week that the High Schoolers are cooking the Middle Schoolers are in the classroom and vice versa.

I have given each student a schedule of not only when they are in the kitchen but also what food item they need to bring...or when they were in the classroom what topic they are going to cover.
If you have not seen this schedule please let me know and I will make sure you get another copy.

To clear a few things up on the days that they are in the classroom they are able to bring a homemade snack as long as they bring in the recipe so that others can see what is in it.

Also cooking three meals a week is what is recommended for those students that are wanting to earn credit at the High School level. They should be taking pictures and developing a portfolio of thier creations. If this is a concern or your student needs modification please let me know.

Middle School students need not make three meals a day but should be assisting you in the kitchen and developing creative meal ideas. They CAN develop a portfolio if they wish.

September 25th High School students need to bring in a few apples (any variety); Middle School Students will be discussing Kitchen Cleaning!

October 1st Junior High students need to bring in 3 onions (any variety); High School studnets will be doing a kitchen cleaning exercise.

October 9th High School students need to bring in their favorite pizza toppings and Junior Highers will be in the classroom.