HOMEWORK and MORE

#1 Read any book you would like for 20 minutes.  We haven’t started our book report books yet.

#2 Spelling Quizlet practice.  

#3 FRONTROWED assignments (little pig assessments)  IF you already have them done, do recommended practices for 20 minutes each night. 

 Spelling Quizlet practice.  

The GRADES are all fixed.  The percentages are being calculated correctly.  I need you to look at all your grades and let me know if I have made any mistakes on your scores.  I am human and it happens.  

I had a parent(s) ask me about ASPIRE and I want to make sure you all understand how to see how your child is doing.  Here is my response to them: Aspire is the grading program that the school uses to input scores into.  Their score is input under the standard that is being tested.  For example, if you want to know how she/he did in “Adding Fraction” you would go into ASPIRE and see her/his specific scores.  Most parents just check to see her overall grade (average grades).  Anything over 90% is scored as an “A” or Mastery grade.  I wouldn’t have her/him retake scores higher then 85%-90% if I were her/him parent.  It gets overwhelming to them to retake the same skill again and again.  Only to miss it because of a small error.  If they can test above 90% anytime I assess them, then they are understanding the standard-which would mean Mastery.  I would celebrate any score over 85% in our class-they are being challenged daily and that score is a victory!  The office can help you receive your user name and password for access to this program.   


We are starting our Rock Unit in Science.  There is going to be a parent bringing in a rock collection to share with us.  She has a rock that has a sulfur/salt taste to it.  She lets the kids lick a small piece, then throw it away.  The kids can choose to lick this rock (which is clean before they lick it) or not lick it.  If you want them to not have the choice of licking it, let me know.  I did this last year and I survived.  

BLOXELS
Also, we are starting a STEM project that using a gaming board program called Bloxels.  You can see more about it at this website.  www.bloxelsbuilder.com

For your student to participate in the game building you (their parents/guardian) will need to sign a permission slip and verify an email confirmation.  Mostly, because they will be playing the game after they create it.  They will also be setting up their own accounts.  This will make it possible for them to save their games and be able to play it after they create it on their own time.  They will get to play the other student’s games as well in our class.  This is a STEM project that is a fun way to learn programing and building. 

Please look at the website if you have any other questions.  The permission slip link and account setting up information will be coming as soon as a finish some logistics.  I just wanted you to look over the program and become familiar with what we plan to work on soon.