Volume 7 Issue
3
September
1, 2009
Weekly
ReaderÉ
Our class will be using Weekly Reader News: Senior Edition
this year in class. The
subscription for each student is $4.00.
Mr. P had to personally purchase the subscriptions before school
began. Donations of $4.00 cash to
cover the subscription will be appreciated! Thanks to those who have already sent in $4.00!
Academic
UpdateÉ
1). In social studies, we are studying Tennessee
geography. We will have a quiz on
Wednesday.
2). In science we
are learning about scientific method.
Each team is bringing aluminum foil for an activity on Wednesday.
3). Our study of
estimation will continue in math tomorrow with an activity involving those
delicious Skittles. Each student
also need a ruler in class.
Website
Problems ContinueÉ
Since Metro blocked the port that allows our school web
pages to be viewed from outside the building there has been no access to the
daily HOMEWORK webpage. Although Mr. P owns the main website,
flyparsons.com, the web pages that contain the homework page and tech
task are on the server at school. Mr. P has purchased new server
space at another web hosting site.
We are awaiting the transfer process to be completed.
Hopefully everything will all be back to normal next week. In the
meantime, please rely on the agenda book, and posts on Twitter to get the
latest info on assignments. Log on
to: twitter.com/meigsmagnet.
TuesdaysÉ
Students receive graded papers in the Red Tuesday Folder
every Tuesday. All papers do go home on Tuesdays. If for any reason they do not arrive, let Mr. P know. Students may correct any and all
assignments and assessments for some of the credit (points) back. Those
corrections are to be stapled to the Tuesday Folder Signature Sheet. Mr. P then re-grades the corrections
and put the points earned in a category on gradespeed labeled extra
credit. The original grade does
remain, while the points earned by making corrections are cumulated in that
extra credit category. As
mentioned, student grades are on-line at https://gradespeed.mnps.org. Parents and students have a password to
check each subject in order to view grades. This should be done each Tuesday and recorded on the
Tuesday Folder Signature Sheet.
Mr. PÕs Class
Wish ListÉ
Some of the materials that Mr. P needs for upcoming science
and math activities are:
o
Small votive candles
o
Vinegar
o
Baking soda
o
Play dough
o
Plastic cups & plastic bowls
TwitterÉ
Parents have another way of staying connected to our
class. Log on to www.twitter.com on your computer or cell
phone and follow our class. Mr. P
posts daily updates about whatÕs happening at www.twitter.com/meigsmagnet
Mr. PÕs
Student of the WeekÉ
¥August
31- September 4, 2009
Sawyer Brantley
Be sure to read about Sawyer on the electronic ÒStudent of
WeekÓ board in Mr. ParsonsÕ room and on the web in the password protected area
soon.
Next weekÕs student
of the week. . . Rob Clairday
Items to
Bring. . .
Ÿ Red
Tuesday Folder Signature ChartÉ
Ÿ A
single pack of Skittles for math & ruler (Due: 08.30.09)
Ÿ CORRECTED
WORKÉ
Dates to
RememberÉ
09.02.09 Begin
Skittles EstimationÉ
09.03.09 School
Picture Day at 9:40AMÉ
09.07.09 NO
SCHOOL – LABOR DAYÉ
09.11.09 GENERAL
STORE #2É
25pts: Secret Word = ¥see the
websiteÉ
For Additional News Items &
Info Check:
On The WEBSITE ONLY:
EXTRA EXTRA
EXTRAÉ
It pays to check the website, tooÉ
This WeekÕs SECRET WORD
(Sep 1):
25pts: Secret Word = ÒFIFTH GRADEÓ
TEAM SHIRTS
COMING SOONÉ
As always, please watch the website to know which days our
team will wear the shirts in the future!
By the way, the next date to wear the t-shirts is next Friday, ????.
THE
100% CREWÉ
Each Monday, students with all assignments turned in and on
time are eligible for the special 100% CREW. Students can check Mr. PÕs door to see if they have made the
CREW each Monday. This info, as
well as the special rewards to be given each week, can also be seen on the
class website!
Mr.
PÕs Tech Task is a Daily Responsibility
Beginning today, students will be using the class website
each afternoon. Students will
check the HW (homework) webpage each day and complete a TECH TASK. Questions each day on the TECH TASK
will support learning that occurs in class and will serve as a way for Mr. P to
formatively assess student understanding.
Mr. PÕs
ProceduresÉ
Students, the following are reminders of specific classroom
procedures:
o
Push your chair in when you leave your desk.
o
Have your agenda signed daily.
o
Locker breaks are 7:45AM, and 2:45PM. Students should remember to take all
materials from the locker at that time.
Keep all materials in your locker until needed.
o
7:45AM morning work is posted on the television each
morning as you arrive in the classroom.
This is due at 8:15AM along with your daily tech task and all
homework. Students, be sure to be
prepared everyday and be on time with all of your assignments.
MORE OLD NEWS ON THE WEBSITE
ONLY:
Estimation/How
much is a million?
We are still exploring estimation this week by answering
such probing questions as ÒHow many Skittles are in the jar?Ó and ÒHow many
dogs are there in Nashville?Ó Hey,
by the way, do YOU know how many dogs there are in Nashville? Our ÒHow Much is a Million?Ó challenge
continues as students plan to represent 1,000,000 dots on the wall. Students will also examine their
understanding of exponential change with base 10.
MyGradeBook.comÉ
Grades are, as always, on line at mygradebook.com.
Secret
Words = Special RewardsÉ
Kids, be sure to check the ÒHWÓ webpage for the secret word
each day. This week a special reward
will await those who follow through!
Please donÕt forget!
Mr. PÕs
ProceduresÉ
Students, please be reminded of these procedures to follow
during the school day. Please help
Mr. P by remembering them.
In case youÕve missed the Secret
Word:
25pts: Secret Word = ¥Look above
to see itÉ
For More Info Check:
Secret
Words = Special RewardsÉ
Kids, be sure to check the ÒHWÓ webpage for the secret word
each day. This week a special
reward will await those who follow through! Please donÕt forget!
NotesÉ
¯ All
students will wear their class polo shirts this Wednesday, January14.
¯ Hey
kids, remember to send your Tech Task (Mondays – Thursday) via e-mail. Please send it to Mr. P [james.parsons@mnps.org]. Your tech
task should be saved on your computer as a MICROSOFT OFFICE WORD DOCUMENT with your name and date in the
title. Attach the document to an
e-mail to send it to Mr. P. DonÕt
forget to include your name and the date in the title of the e-mail. Doing this will save paper and get you
a HOMEWORK PASS on FridayÕs Tech Task!
Now isnÕt that a great deal?
Please
Help! [Bad Habits with Late Work]É
Please help! Due to
the absorbent amount of homework work that is not being completed or turned in on time, late assignments will not be accepted
on a regular basis any longer.
Many students are making a habit of doing this multiple times each
week! Those assignments should be
completed, but a late grade will not be given without a student discussion with
Mr. P. This discussion will need
to include a conversation with the studentÕs parents as to why this has become
a pattern. Please note,
a student with a rare late assignment does not constitute a habitual problem.
Extra
Credit & Making CorrectionsÉ
Mr. P urges all students to take advantage of the generous
extra credit opportunities that are available every afternoon on the homework
webpage. Many students are asking
for extra credit but arenÕt following through with the secret words that earn
extra credit for simply looking at the homework page on our class website. Other extra credit chances are
available in several subjects.
Watch for those on the homework webpage as well. Another great tool to increase report
card grades (and learn, too) is to make corrections on any and all graded
assignments. This does include
tests! Please remember Mr. PÕs
procedure for making corrections!