Mr. Morgan Room 113: Friday 9/21

Academic Calendar
Science: Friday 9/21 and Monday 9/24 Fed Ex Day Presentations!!
Writing: Descriptive Journal pre-writing due Tuesday, 9/25
Math I and II: Pearson due Thursday, 9/27
Writing: Wordstudy Packet #4 due Friday, 9/28
Writing: Wordstudy Test on Friday, 9/28
Writing: Descriptive Journal Rough Draft due Tuesday, 10/2
Writing: Descriptive Journal Final Copy due Thursday, 10/11

The 162/Hayes Calendar

9/24 Student Council Campaigns begin
9/24 Nickel War Week
9/27 Student of the Month Breakfast
9/28 Student Council Speeches – 9:30 am - Gym
10/2 School Picture Day
10/2 Interim Reports go home with students

Sir Ken Robinson

Parents....

Here's a TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson--

"....Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity."

It's an interesting point of view. If you have time you should watch it.

Pearson Assessment from Week 4

Math I:
Still, nobody has made it to the ranks of light green or green
Top Score of the Week: Riley
Top Scorer on the Year: Sam (with Alex 1%-point behind him)

Math II:
Green: Calista and Nathn Cr.
Light Green: Grace, Veronica, Aaron, Raj and Kurt.
Top Score of the Week: Nathan Cr., Veronica, Allyson, Raj Aaron, KurtTop Scorer of the Year: Nathan Cr.

In Class today...

Science:

Fed Ex Day Presentations!!!

Finally, after 4 Fridays of preparation 1/2 of our groups presented today. Overall, we did good with 216/240 points filled, however, it was feast or famine. Of the 8 groups that presented, four of them, got a perfect 30/30. One group recieved a 29/30...then, a 24/30, 23/30 and a 20/30. The biggest thing missed? The science behind it!! I told groups time and time again that they better know the science behind it and be ready for me to come after them with questions. Just because you wrote it down on powerpoint or prezi doesn't mean you understand it. Be prepared to answer questions live and in prime time!! :)

Hopefully, those that present Monday will take heed.

For those who presented today, your scores are in Infinite Campus if you wish to check them out.

I like to show of student work when I can. I really enjoyed Raj, Luke, and Andrew's Powerpoint. If you visit the Linsting Folder (tabbed at the top of blog) and then look for Lava Lamp, you can download it and check it out.

Also, I thought Michaela, Jenna, and Emma had a really good Prezi. To check it out go here:

http://prezi.com/-sgs_uufenlg/gummy-bear-volcano/

Pictures from Fed Ex Day are below.

Writing:

We took our Wordstudy Test, and I'm not thrilled by the results. Here's the breakdown:

100%-ers: Riley, Morgan, Jenna
A's: 7, B's: 5, C's: 5, D's: 2, F's: 4
Average: 74% (171/230)
We need to utilize BCO time better. Study more. Play the Wordstudy games I put up every week.

The results are posted in Infinite Campus.

Math I:

We went over our quizzes from yesterday and looked over our Pearson results.

I did throw out a challenge to Sam and Alex, who are 1% away from each other on Pearson and are the top 2 scorers in the class. Whoever scores the lower of the two has to carry the books of the higher for a week. :)

Math II:

We went over our Pearson results. Worked on p. 45/46    #'s 39, 40, and 41. I gave them a new question that is similar to the one I gave a few weeks ago (about the cubes). I'm calling it my 'Math Resiliency Question'. The Math involved in all of these questions is Math they know. It's not like they need to have some exposure to calculus or be versed in some random theory or conjecture. They are equipped. Now, can they stick with it long enough to solve it?

Only one (Aaron) solved the last one I did...but I think I'll have more rising to the challenge and proving how resilient they can be.

The question?

Math Resiliency Question

Who’s got it in them to solve it??

In Mr. Morgan’s Math Class, Kurt’s grade is based on the average score of 6 tests, each worth 100 points. Kurt always worries about his grade. He knows that his average on the 1^st 4 tests is 88.5. What is the lowest average Kurt could get on his next two tests and still average 90 overall?

Also, I kinda wanted to play with the dynamic of group competition...Just a little bit. So I set up a little competition and threw Aaron and Kurt into the gladiator pit. I asked for 2 students who thought they could out-score those two on next week's Pearson assessment. Grace and Allyson stepped up to the challenge. The winning duo will get a 500-point card each, and can sit anywhere they want in class for a week.

The new Pearson is online, can't wait to see this week's results.

Fed Ex Day Pictures