Sunday, December 15, 2013

Study sessions

Reminder that the 6th grade study sessions will be on Monday and 7th grade study sessions will be on Tuesday.

Sessions are 7am-8am and 3:15pm-4:15pm.

Students will need to bring their study guides.  Study guides need to be mostly completed.  Students who do not have a study guide will not be allowed to stay for the study session.

Friday...

On Friday, we will be watching a movie in class.  Students can bring snacks (nothing that has to be cooked) and a drink to class on Friday.

Social Studies 12/16-12/20

6th Grade:

6th graders will be finishing up Section 5 of Chapter 2 this week.  We will take a quiz over Section 5 on Wednesday.  This will be a multiple choice quiz.

7th Grade:

7th graders will be finishing up their political party research project.  This project will be due on Wednesday, December 18th.


REMINDER THAT THE 1ST SEMESTER EXAM WILL BE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19th FOR ALL 6th and 7th GRADERS!


Monday, December 9, 2013

Social Studies 12/9 - 12/13

6th Grade:

6th Graders will be starting Section 4 of Chapter 2.  The quiz will be on Friday.  This will be a fill-in-the-blank quiz.  Study materials can be found here (link).

7th Graders will be doing some research on political parties.  They will be taking the 7-4 quiz on Friday.  Study materials can be found here (link).

1st Semester Exam Study Sessions:

6th Grade:  Monday, December 16th at 7am and at 3:15am.
7th Grade:  Tuesday, December 17th at 7am and at 3:15am.

Students will need to have their study guides completed to attend.  If students show up with no work having been done on their study guide, they will not be allowed to stay!

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions...

7th graders are studying the historical sources for Thomas Jefferson's idea that the states could ignore any acts of the federal government that are unconstitutional.  The title of the article we are reading is is "Where Did Thomas Jefferson's States' Rights Ideas Come From".  The article is in the book 33 Questions About American History You're Not Supposed to Ask by Thomas Woods.



Sunday, December 1, 2013

Social Studies 12/2 - 12/6

Social Studies this week...

6th Grade:

6th graders will begin Section 3 of Ch. 2.  We will have a quiz on Friday.  This will be a matching quiz.  In anticipation of the 1st Semester Exam which will be given on December 19th, I have emailed students and parents a study guide and have posted study materials for all sections in Chapters 1 and 2 on my website.  Study materials for the 1st Semester Exam can be accessed here (link).



7th Grade:

7th graders will begin Section 4 of Chapter 7.  We will be starting a research project on political parties next week so we will not be taking the Section 4 quiz until the week of December 16th.  I am working on the 1st semester exam and will have a study guide available for students and parents this week.  The exam will cover Chapters 6 and 7.  Student study materials can be found here (link).

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Social Studies 11/18 - 11/26

This weekly update will take you all the way to next Tuesday.  That will be the last day before we go on Thanksgiving break.


6th Grade:
6th Graders will be reading some articles on the legacy of Christopher Columbus.  They will then be writing a paper in which they discuss their personal opinion about Columbus's place in history.  We will be taking a quiz over Section 2 of Chapter 2 next Tuesday (11/26).  This will be a fill-in-the-blank quiz.  Study materials for the Section 2 quiz can be found here (link).



7th Grade:
7th Graders will be finishing up Section 3 of Ch. 7.  We will be taking the quiz next Tuesday (11/26).  This will be a fill-in-the-blank quiz.  Study materials for the quiz can be found here (link).

 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Social Studies 11/11 - 11/15

Updates for this week of 11/11 - 11/15


6th Grade:
We will be starting Section 2 of Ch. 2.  No quizzes or tests this week.  Study materials can be found on my website here:

6th Grade Student Resources (link)


7th Grade:
We will be starting Section 3 of Ch. 7.  This is a pretty long section so we will be spending about two weeks on it.  No quizzes or tests this week.  Study materials can be found on my website here:

7th Grade Student Resources (link)

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Social Studies 11/4 - 11/8

Parents and Students - 

Reminder that we have parent-teacher conferences on Thursday from 12pm-8pm and on Friday from 8am-1pm.  I hope to see you there!

Here's what we are doing in class this week:

6th Grade:
6th graders will be finishing up Section 1 of Ch. 2.  We will take a quiz on Wednesday.  This will be a true/false quiz.  Study materials are available on my website here:
6th Grade Social Studies Resources (link)

7th Grade:
7th graders will be finishing up Section 2 of Ch. 7.  We will be taking a quiz on Wednesday.  This will be a true/false quiz.  Study materials are available on my website here:
7th Grade Social Studies Resources (link)

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Social Studies 10/28 - 11/1

6th Grade:

6th graders are going to begin Ch. 2.  We will  be talking about the first European contact with the people and environments of the Western Hemisphere and the results of that contact.  There will not be a quiz this week.

Reminder that some students still need to complete the 1-4 quiz re-take and the Ch, 1 Test re-take.  I emailed the re-takes to those students.  The 1-4 quiz has to be made up by Wednesday and the Ch. 1 Test has to be made up by Thursday.  Both of these assessments are online.  They were sent to students' email accounts.

Make sure you take a minute and check out the pictures from the Medieval Times field trip, in the previous blog entries.

7th Grade:

7th graders will finish up Section 1 of Ch. 7.  We will take a quiz over Section 1 on Tuesday.  We will begin Section 3 of Ch. 7 on Wednesday.  No quiz on Section 3 until at least next week.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

New Chromebook lab!

We just got a new mobile lab with 30 Google Chromebooks.  Awesome!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Social Studies 10/21 - 10/25

6th Grade Social Studies:

6th graders will be finishing up Ch. 1 this week.  We will be taking the Section 4 quiz on Wednesday.  This will be a matching quiz.  Also, the Ch. 1 Test will be on Thursday.  Students received a study guide last week to help prepare for the test.  I will be holding two study sessions on Tuesday (before school from 7am-8am and after school from 3:15-4:15) for any 6th graders who would like to attend.  Student study resources are available on my website.

Also, the field trip to Medieval Times is on Friday.  I want to leave as close to 8am as possible.  Reminder that students CAN wear their Halloween costumes on the field trip (there is a Halloween dance after school on that day).  We should be back from the field trip between 2:30 and 3:00.


7th Grade Social Studies:

7th graders will be getting their Constitution/Government test back on Monday.  Any student who received a 70% or lower on the test will have to re-test.  The re-take is an online test and I have already emailed it to the students who will need to take it.  Students will need to take the test by the end of the day on Monday if they want the re-test score applied to their 1st Qt. grade.

7th graders will have a quiz on Friday over Section 1 of Ch. 7.  This will be a fill-in-the-blank quiz.  Student study resources are available on my website.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Medieval Times field trip

6th grade parents and students -

Reminder that the Medieval Times field trip is next Friday (10/25).  We are going to leave as close to 8am as possible.  Students CAN wear their Halloween costumes on the field trip if they want.

Government/Constitution Test

7th Grade Students and Parents -

This is a reminder that the Government/Constitution Test will be tomorrow.  Study materials are available on my website:

Ch. 6 Study Materials

I also sent a study guide/review sheet through Google Drive.  This will have the format of the test and important study questions.

Here is a link to that document:

Ch. 6 Study Guide/Review Sheet


Good luck!


Friday, October 11, 2013

Social Studies 10/14 - 10/18

This is what we are doing in Social Studies the week of 10/14-10/18.

Reminder that Monday is Columbus Day and we don't have school.

6th Grade:
6th graders will be finishing up Section 4 of Ch. 1.  We will take a quiz over Section 4 on Wednesday, October 23rd.  This will be a matching quiz.  We will also be taking the Ch. 1 Test on Thursday, 10/24.  Students will be getting a study guide on Tuesday 10/15.  I will have a study session before school on Tuesday 10/22 starting at 7am and I will also have a study session after school on Tuesday 10/22 from 3:15-4:15.  Students will need to bring their study guides to the study sessions.

7th Grade:
7th graders will be taking a quiz over Section 3 of Ch. 6 on Thursday.  They will also be taking the Ch. 6 Test on Friday 10/18.  This is the Government/Constitution test.  Reminder that I will hold a study session after school on Tuesday (10/15) from 3:15-4:15 and another session on Wednesday morning (10/16) from 7am-8am.

All study materials for 6th and 7th graders are available on my website.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Exercising our First Amendment rights...

7th graders are writing letters to our elected leaders about important issues.  We are writing letters to President Obama, Senators Kirk and Durbin, Representative Bustos, Governor Quinn, and Representative Stewart and Senator Bivens (our representatives in the Illinois General Assembly).




Monday, October 7, 2013

Social Studies this week...

Apologies for the late notice.  I was busy all weekend and wasn't able to get this out earlier.


6th Grade:

6th graders are finishing up a comparison of different kinds of governments.  Later this week, we are going to study the achievements of the Persians and Greeks.  No quizzes this week.  Reminder that the Medieval Times field trip will be on Friday, October 25th.


7th Grade:

7th graders will be researching Alexis de Tocqueville's observations of America.  They will also be writing letters to elected officials.  The section 3 quiz from Ch. 6 will be next week.  Also, the Ch. 6 test (Government/Constitution Unit) will be next Friday, October 18th.  I sent a study guide home with students today.  I also shared a copy with them via email.

I will be holding two study sessions next week for the Ch. 6 test.  The first study session will be on Tuesday (10/15) immediately after school in my classroom.  The next study session will be Wednesday morning (10/16) at 7AM in my classroom.  7th Grade students can attend either session or can come to both if they want.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

5th period...

These are 5th period students learning about governments.


Learning about governments...

6th graders are studying the different types of government.  They are watching 2 short videos, shared with them via Google Drive, and then they will read several articles that discuss the different types of government.  They will have a writing assignment (all done through Google Apps) based on the videos and articles.




Sunday, September 29, 2013

Social Studies 9/30 - 10/4

Social Studies 9/30-10/4

6th Grade:
6th graders will continue with Section 4 of Ch.1.  This is a long section and we will be spending several weeks on it.  There are many resources, including short videos, on my website that will help students better understand the material in this section.  We will also be using the laptop lab to research different types of governments.

Reminder that I need the field trip permission forms and $30 for the Medieval Times field trip by this Friday (October 4th).  I have had several parents inquire about attending the field trip as a chaperone.  I should be able to let you know this week if we will be taking parents.


7th Grade:
7th graders will finish watching the film Gideon's Trumpet.  We will also be practicing our First Amendment right to petition the government by writing letters to government officials.

Also, my 7th grade students will be taking the Ch. 6 Test (the Government/Constitution test) on Friday, October 18th.  Study materials are on my website.  I will provide a study guide when it becomes available.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Culver's Ice Cream Night!!!

Culver's Concrete Mixer Ice Cream Treats on sale at the PCMS volleyball game.  $5. We have Oreo, Cookie Dough, and Peanut Butter Cup.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Culver's Ice Cream Night at PCMS!!!

This Thursday, (September 26th) PCMS 8th graders will be selling Culvers Concrete Mixers (ice cream treat) at the middle school volleyball game against Shirland.  The mixers are $5.  Flavors are Oreo, Peanut Butter Cup, and Cookie Dough.  100% of the profits will go to helping 8th graders fund the Spring Break trip to Washington, DC.  The game starts at 4:45.  We will start selling the mixers at 4:30.  Thanks and we hope to see you there!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Social Studies 9/23 - 9/27


6th Grade:

6th graders will be starting section 3 of Chapter 1.  Course materials are available on my website.  We will take a quiz over Section 3 on Thursday.  This will be a fill-in-the-blank quiz.  Also, I will be sending home permission slips for the Medieval Times field trip on Monday.



7th Grade:

7th graders will be finishing up Section 2 of Ch. 6.  We will be taking the quiz on Thursday.  This will be a true/false quiz.  Also, I have the Supreme Court/Bill of Rights research graded.  Students can view their grades and the comments I made on the assignment by viewing the document on their Google Drive.