week of 9/17

Math (period 3)
We finished Chapter 1 of the mathematics Course 3 textbook.  Next week we will move to Chapter 2 which covers integers and one step equations.  There will not be any quizzes or tests this week.

Homework:
Monday - practice pages 2-3 and 2-4 evens
Tuesday - practice page 2-5
Wednesday - worksheet
Thursday - Iron's Oaks field trip
Friday - worksheet A

Welcome Back!

Welcome back!  I hope you had a fun yet relaxing summer!

RtI Math:  We have already begun our weekly bench marking tests.  Students take the MCOMP (math computation) and MCAP (math application) twice per month.  They have made a folder to keep and record their results of their tests.  Over time our goal is to see their scores each week increase.  Individual goals have been made for each student.  Twice a week we will also review basic math facts as well as basic math concepts that are covered as a "Daily Board Question."  Folders for these have also been made so students  can record thier progress. 

Instructional Math (2nd period):

We have begun the year using the Mathematics Course 3 book.  We have reviewed order of operations, variable & expressions, and powers & exponents.  A quiz on this material will be on Friday, September 6.  Next week we will review perimeter and area then begin Chapter 2 which covers Integers. Below is a copy of my parent letter which explains the procedures of my math class.

I am very excited to kick off the 2012-2013 school year!  This is my thirteenth year teaching at Lakeview.  I have outlined some useful information below about the instructional math program and the expectations in my class.  Please review the information and contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have.

The instructional math class offers many benefits to your child.  The small group allows more individual attention and allows more time to focus and strengthen the needs they have.  With the small group I have the flexibility to spend the time needed for the class to understand a concept.

Homework:

Homework will be assigned daily.  Homework assigned for completion is worth 3 points.  The assignment needs to be entirely completed when class begins in order to earn the points.  Assignments can be handed in late and are worth 2 points.  They must be handed in by the unit/chapter test or they will be a zero.  Your child will know ahead of time when as assignment will be graded.  The point value for these assignments vary from 10-20 points.  Again they can be handed in late but 30% will be taken off their grade.

Quizzes/Tests:

Two to three quizzes will be given per unit/chapter.  Quiz values range from 10 – 30 points.  Tests will be given at the end of each unit/chapter and when I feel that they have mastered the skills needed to do well on the test.  We will always review the day before any test.  Corrections for any quiz or test that results in a “D” or “F” are due the day after it is returned.  Corrections must be done on a separate sheet of paper and stapled to the original quiz or test.

Grading Policy:

Grades will be determined by number of points earned in the class based on the following categories:

                        Tests/Quizzes

                         Homework

                        Extra credit

                       

Grading scale:

91.5-100    A               81.5-87.4   B       71.5-77.4   C                       61.5-67.4   D

89.5-91.4  A-               79.5-81.4   B-          69.5-71.4    C-           59.5-61.4    D-

87.5-89.4  B+              77.5-79.4  C+      67.5-69.4   D+         <59.5          F

Materials Needed Daily:

-1 subject notebook

-Assignment notebook

- pencils

-correcting pens

-Calculator

Sincerely,

Mrs. Lisa Schuyler

lschuyler@ccsd66.org

630-783-5022

week of April 2

Welcome Back! I hope everyone enjoyed the week off and the beautiful weather. In instructional math we finished area of quadrilaterals and circles and are now focusing on circumference of a circle. Next week we will work on "volume." For the remainder of the year our major focus will be Geometry and solving equations. In addition, we will always be reviewing concepts learned through out the year.



In RtI reading, we are continuing to work from the Bridges of Literature book and supplementary materials. All materials focus on strengthening the basic concepts of reading comprehension while improving reading fluency.

week of March 5th

Reminder that there is no school on Monday, March 5 and Friday, March 9. ISAT testing will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning. Seventh graders will continue with an extra day of testing on Monday, March 12. All students need to come to school with sharpened pencils, a calculator, and a silent reading book (in case they finish early). Also a good night sleep and a healthy breakfast is a must!!!

Parent teacher conferences are Thursday, March 8 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

week of January 23, 2012

Third and Fourth period reading RtI is finishing up with the "Rewards" program we began at the beginning of the trimester. Within the last six weeks the students have learned many new strategies to improve their reading fluency, which in return, improves reading comprehension. Every week students have taken fluency tests and every week scores have improved. After the last lesson, we will return to work from the Inside as well as the Bridges to Literature series and apply the new strategies they have learned.

In second period Math, we have finished Chapter 5 of the Mathematics Course 2 book. This Chap included working with integers. Beginning on Monday, we will start our unit on fractions.

Rewards program

In reading RtI third and fourth period, we have completed three lessons in the Rewards program. Students caught on quickly to the daily routine that the program requires. Although, the first two lessons did not include many unknown words, the students learned the process of sounding out words using vowel blends, prefixes, and word parts. I look forward to seeing their fluency skills increase throughout the trimester!

In second period math, we are continuing chapter 4 in the mathematics book. Next week we will focus on probability, least common multiple, and comparing & ordering fractions. There will be a quiz Wednesday on Chapter 4.6-4.8.

week of November 28

On Monday, 3rd and 4th period RtI reading we will begin working with the "Rewards" program. This program is designed to teach strategies used to decode long words and to increase oral and silent reading fluency. Seventh period class will continue to work from the Inside Series.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

week of October 24

In 2nd period math class, we are continuing to work on data and statistics in Chapter 3. There will be a quiz on sections 3 and 4 on Wednesday and a quest on Chapter 3 on Friday.

In RtI reading we began Unit 3 of the Inside Series. We will continue to learn about people in history that made a difference during the Civil Rights Movement such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall.

In RtI math, students are learning about the different strategies used in the problem solving method. Such methods are "Making a Table","Working Backwards," and "Finding Hidden Information."

week of October 10

In 2nd period math, will be reviewing the the Chapter 1 test that will be on Friday, October 14. On Wednesday, while the 8th graders are taking the Explore test, we will be reviewing some basic concepts that need reviewing. On Monday, October 17, we will begin Chapter 2 which covers frequency tables, bar graphs, and histograms.

In RtI math we will be focusing on Greatest Common Factor and reducing fractions.

RtI classes

This week in RtI reading we are continuing to read from the "Inside" series. Unit 2 of the series focuses on the elements of fiction....plot, character, and setting. In class we are continuing to test fluency and reading comprehension on a weekly basis.

In RtI math this week, the focus is long division with decimals, changing fractions into decimals, and scientific notation. Students will be taking a "Mad Minute" test (factors of 4). Next week will test factors of 5.

Instructional Math information

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year. My name is Lisa Schuyler and I will teaching 2nd period math. After a wonderful summer spent with my family, I am eager to start my twelfth year at Lakeview Jr. High.
To remain updated on the events in math class, please check my blog found on the district website (www.ccsd66.org). Information will be updated weekly. The topics we will be covering this year in class are decimals, fractions, measurement, problem solving, equations, and geometry.
Student's grades in math are composed of the following items:
Homework: Homework will be assigned on a daily bases. However if I feel the class needs further instruction on a new concept or skill, I will not assign homework. On assignments that cover new concepts students will receive completion points. Three points will be given when the assignment is completely finished. Assignments that are not complete will receive a zero. Review assignments will be taken as a grade. Missing work can be completed for a late grade as long as they handed in before the unit test. If your child does not understand the homework, they are highly encouraged to visit me in the morning.
Quizzes/Tests: Quizzes are given three to four times during a unit. Point values range from 20 to 40 points. Tests are usually given every four to five weeks. Point value range from 60 to 80 points. Partial credit is given on quizzes and tests based on the work the student shows. If your child receives a D or F on any test or quiz, corrections can be made to improve their grade. All corrections are due the day after they get their tests back.
ISAT Practice: We also use class time to prepare for the ISAT test. Problems will be in the form of multiple choice, short answer, and extended response.
Please review this information with your child. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at lschuyler@ccsd66. I will respond as soon as possible.
I am very excited to be working with you are your child this year!

Mrs. Lisa Schuyler

week of April 11

In first period language arts, we are continuing to work with direct quotes. The students practiced punctuating declarative, imperative and interrogative sentences with quotations. We also learned how to write quotations within dialogue which will be our focus next week. In third period reading, we are continuing to read "Taking Sides" by Gary Soto. They will be reviewing on Wednesday and Thursday. The quiz on chapters 1-8 will be on Friday. In 8th period math, we began our money unit. This week we reviewed identifying and adding coins. On Monday, will be finishing learning about the value of money. We will then continue or unit with budgeting, sales tax, price increase and working with interest.

Week of March 21

In 1st period language arts students will be using a critique sheet to check their character sketches. This essay follows the same format as the persuasive essay. The checklist ensures that the students have all the required components of the character sketch, that detail is included and that the student used correct grammar, punctuation, and grammar. After critiquing their own, they will peer edit a classmate's, then conference. Final drafts are due on Wednesday, March 23. On Tuesday, we will begin learning about quotations and how to use it correctly within our writing.

In 3rd period reading class, we will continue reading Taking Sides by Gary Soto. We will continue to learn new vocabulary while strengthening our inferencing skills and predicting skills. Students will also complete a character map of the characters we have met so far.

In 6th period RtI reading, we will continue doing activities that focus on inferencing skills. On Friday, the students are excited to play the spelling game Boggle.

In 8th period math, we have finished the fraction unit! This week we will learning about range, mean, median, and mode. After spring break we will begin the "money" unit.

week of March 7

ISAT testing has been completed! Thank you to all the students for their hard work while preparing during the weeks prior to the tests.

In 1st period language arts we will be continuing the writing process and will begin planning and writing a "Character Sketch." The "Character Sketch" involves the students writing about someone they admire and know very well. The essay follows the same format as the persuasive essay we completed a few weeks ago. In class, students will follow the same format. We will break the essay into parts and focus on one component at a time.

In 3rd period reading we will begin reading the novel "Taking Sides." We will begin the unit with prereading activities that will focus on ethnic diversity and social classes. Through out the story we will be reading as a group, independently and conduct literature circles. We will complete activities that focus on all elements of a story, vocabulary, and complete character analyses.

week of January 31

In first period language arts, we completed writing our first persuasive essay! I am very impressed with how well the students worked and the effort they put into their rough drafts. In class today (Friday), teacher edits were done and the second rough draft is due on Monday.

In third period reading, we are continuing with the second unit in the Inside series. We will be reading Film Fright beginning on Monday. Preparation for the ISAT's will begin the week of February 7.

In eighth period math, the students are diligently working on fractions. Although they have become frustrated at times, their hard work is paying off. This week we have reviewed finding the LCD (least common denominator) and then focused on adding fractions without common denominators. We will continue with subtraction next week. There will be a quiz on Friday, February 4.

*** Don't forget....Downers South's Orientation Night is Monday, January 31 at 6:30!!!

week of January 24

In 1st period language arts, we have completed a graphic organizer in preparation for the persuasive essay. Students learned how to write a thesis statement and then thought of 3 reasons to support their thesis. Today they learned about attention getters and the three types they could use. Next week, we will continue to write 3 body paragraphs which will include one topic sentence and two transitional sentences. The majority of the writing process will be done in class.

In third period reading, we will be starting the first story, Frankenstein, in our next unit from the Inside series. Within this story we will be focusing on the plot. We will also learn about prefixes and how we can use them to decode unknown words in a piece of writing.

In math, we will be continuing to work on fractions. We have learned how to add and subtract fractions with a common denominator. We have begun adding and subtracting mixed numbers. Next, we will add and subtract fractions without a common denominator.

week of January 18

In 1st period Language Arts, we will begin writing a persuasive essay. Students will learn the correct format and learn the major components of a writing a persuasive essay such as thesis statement, transitional sentences, and effective introductions and conclusions. The writing process will be a "step-by-step" process and we will focus on each component separately. The majority of the writing will be in class.

In 3rd period Reading, we will continue reading from the Inside series. Our next unit is called Creepy Classics beginning with Frankenstein.

In 8th period Math, we are continuing fractions. Students will have a quiz on Thursday on adding and subtracting fractions with common denominators. Next we will focus on adding and subtracting mixed numbers.

week of January 10

In language arts first period, we are continuing to learn about adjectives. We will finish up the unit with proper adjectives. On Thursday we will review for Friday's quiz.

In reading 3rd period, students received a written explanation for the book report that is due Tuesday, January 18. Students are to make a poster board explaining the plot of the book they read. Each poster board, is to include the title and author of their book, and 8 boxes. In each box a well detailed picture needs to be hand drawn with a written explanation underneath the picture. All pictures need to be in color. The explanations underneath, can be hand written or typed. On Tuesday, January 18, the students will present their poster boards to the class.

In math 8th period, we are continuing to work on fractions. This week students will learn to add fractions with common denominators (changing to mixed numbers included). We will begin to cover subtraction of fractions but will continue the week of January 18.

In first period language arts, we are continuing to work on narrative essays. Students filled out story maps which included characters, setting and plot. We discussed and practiced how to write a "attention getting" introduction to their story. Through out the rest of the week we will be working in class on the rough and final drafts. After the holiday break, we will focus on parts of speech, specifically adjectives. Learning and reviewing adjectives will help improve our creative writing.

In reading third period, we are working from a new series called "Inside." This series incorporates and focuses on specific reading skills and genres in each story. We started the series with natural disasters. Last week we read about Hurricane Katrina, this week we reading about earthquakes. After the holiday break we will take the first week to read and discuss volcanoes. After we finish the last story, we will take a quiz on the vocabulary covered in the unit and comprehension of the stories.

In 8th period math, we are staring our second week on fractions. We have worked on equivalent fractions, ordering and finding the greatest common factors. This week we are reducing fraction to lowest terms. After the holiday break, the class will add and subtract fractions with common denominators.

week of November 29

Language Arts (1st period):

After focusing on writing well detailed paragraphs, we focused on grammar. The students learned verbs. We focused on action verbs (mental and physical), verbs of being, irregular verbs, verb tenses and verb phrases. Beginning next week, we will redirect back to writing. Students will focus on writing multiple paragraphs and learn when to begin with a new paragraph. We will also learn to complete an outline which will aide with paragraph writing.

Math (8th period):

After a few weeks and extensive practice, students have greatly improved their division skills. While learning how to do long division without a calculator, students have also improved their knowledge of multiplication facts. Next week, we will begin our Fraction Unit. Students will use manipulative to gain knowledge and understanding of fractions. We will also learn to add and subtract fractions as well as reduce to lowest terms and change mixed numbers into improper fractions.

Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving!