Japan's solution to driving in the snow...

How much fuel does it take to power a lightbulb for a year?

click to enlarge

Lunar Eclipse

Did you get a peak of the eclipse last night/this morning? I stayed up til 1am waiting for the clouds to clear, I only managed a glimpse and then fell asleep... If you fell asleep or missed it, check out this video:


Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

Google Earth Skydiving

History of the Ipod...an Infographic

Click to enlarge.

The Year in Rap...

The Year in Rap: 2010 from Week in Rap on Vimeo.

Chapter 5 Test is FRIDAY!

Here is the study guide(click to enlarge):

Google Docs can be AMAZING!!!

These Vampires are NOT good...

Vampire Energy Video


Vampire Energy Infographic (click to enlarge)

Tis the Season...to read a good book!

Novel Questions

Please complete the following questions about your Historical Fiction or Classic novel.

Answers must be complete sentences to be counted.

CLICK HERE

Miss B.

Winter Words Activities: Day One

Winter words

If you view this at Slideshare, you can make it full screen/zoom in further. Click "view at slideshare" OR "menu" to do that, if can also be downloaded.

LIfespan of a Dollar Bill

 Click to enlarge. Infographic from www.creditloan.com

Simlie and Metaphor

Now that we've had a quick review, check out this cool video project from a 9th grade student somewhere in the US.

There/Their/They're

CLICK HERE  to open the PowerPoint presentation that we viewed in class today. 

Test yourself!
Online Test #1
Online Test #2
Online Test #3
Online Test #4

Here is a short video (I didn't show this in class, but if you were gone it might help you) 

Spelling Words for this week

Required Words:

similar

decide

received

recognize

efficient

measure

argument

grapefruit

breakfast

forecast

Challenge words:

archaeology

entomology

astronomy

Spelling Sort -it is due on DECEMBER 9th

Test is DECEMBER 10th

Practice Sheet is due DECEMBER 10th

Excited about email!

I have recieved numerous emails from students since Thursday when we learned how to use our school email system. I have enjoyed every single one.  Thank you for all of your kind words, thoughtful ideas and downright hilarious use of emoticons. Keep em coming! :) or is it (:  

Our excitement over email looks a lot like this:

Videos used in lessons this week...

These are a few of the short videos we used in class this week.

Sprawl:

Lilium Urbanus - Short Animation Film @ Yahoo! Video

Emotions:

Chapter 5 Slides

Chapter 5

View more presentations from quesoqueen.

Assignment

1. Log in to Google Docs

2. Select "Mail"

3. Send Miss Bryant an email

4. Select "documents"

5. Start work on How to Paragraph

6. Proper heading

7. After you put the title on, "share" your paper with Miss Bryant

Using Google Docs

Click Here

Lunch Changes...

It's time for our fist lunch rotation! Starting Monday, November 29th! To figure out which lunch you are going to, find your 4th period teacher from the list below:

1st Lunch

Bryant

Buck

Daugherty

Shrider

Swayne

Topf

Willing

2nd Lunch

Gilbertson

Holden

Holverstott

Mickus

Reynolds

Rott

Schmitz

Shafer

Wells

3rd Lunch

Byerley

Canaday

Clark

Donahue

Fredrickson

Kroese

Nissen

WCP Non-Profit Research

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

http://nonprofit-data.com/index.html

http://www.faqs.org/tax-exempt/index.html

Keyboarding Practice

Looking to practice your keyboarding skills?

Try these sites:

1. Learning Games for Kids
2. Keybr
3. Fingerjig

How much your pet will cost you. Econ Infographic

from www.visualeconomics.com

Click to Enlarge

see, Stefan isn't the only crazy SMART board!

Just when I though our SMARTboard Stefan, was the only crazy one out there!

Thanks to Mrs. Shafer for passing this video our way, and for posting it on her blog!

News and Notes

Howdy.

TESTING SCHEDULE

This week and next week 6th grade students are on a special schedule due to testing. It shakes down differently for each class, but for my classes it looks like this:

AM CORE: We have only one period of core together. Because of this, we will not be doing reading log or spelling.

• 1st period A/B day: READING
• week one: Testing Mr. Masenhimer and Mr. Willing reading classes
• week two: Testing Mrs. Donahue and Ms. Buck reading classes
• 2nd period A day: PE
• 2nd period B day: Reading
• 3rd period A/B: Core

PM CORE: We have 2 periods of core together as usual, but students will miss PE, we will not do spelling or reading log as to keep on track with the AM class.  In addition, our extra period together will focus on speaking skills, and more active activities as to make up for the lost PE class.

• 4th period A/B: Core
• 5th period A/B: Reading
• week one testing in Masenhimer and Willing
• week two testing in Buck
• 6th period: A/B: Core

PLANNERS
All 6th grade students have been issued daily planner, this planner must be brought to class each period, each day


CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Congrats to Katie Wallace, Brittaney Long, and Manny Correa. They will represent our class at the city council meeting on Monday, November 15th.  They will be presenting their Design Star projects!

NOVEL PROJECT
On Wednesday, November 10 the Mystery/Adventure Project was introduced in class.  This project is worth 100 points, and is Due Friday, November 19th.  Students will have 3 work periods at school to complete the project, anything that is not finished in class must be finished for homework.

READING LOG? SPELLING?

• As mentioned above there will not be a reading log due the next 2 weeks due to testing.  The following week is Thanksgiving, which will also be a week without a reading log.  The next reading log will be due FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3rd. Even though the log isn't being collected, you are still expected to READ at home!!!
• Spelling is taking a break until the week of Thanksgiving. We will do a mini Thanksgiving spelling unit that week. 

Think Before You Post Online! Great advice!

Why we change our clocks...from CBS

Spelling Test is FRIDAY

Here are your spelling words for the week:

population

population density

population distribution

census

birthrate

death rate

urban

rural

urbanization

demography

Homophones

Everything you needed to know about homophones AND one incredibly cheesy song.

World Series Infographic

Week in Rap

Top Jobs for Critical Thinking

Wildcats in the News!

Click HERE to read a story from the Graphic about our Design Star project.

Wacky Tacky Day!

Don't forget to dress up tomorrow for Wacky Tacky Day!

Here is a picture from Wacky Tacky 2007. I can't wait to see what y'all wear tomorrow! woohoo!

Miss B

Infographics ROCK

Congressional Age Distribution from the Wall Street Journal

This is AWESOME (see how old your reps are), INFORMATIVE (compare the current ages, with those from the past), INSPIRING (the youngest person in Congress is 28), and to Miss B a bit SAD (the youngest person in Congress is one year younger than me...which in reality is very, very COOL).

CLICK HERE to check it out!

News and Notes: Oct 11th

Spelling

• Spelling practice sheet is due and test will occur on Thursday this week, be prepared.
• Required words: balcony, chorus, chimney, exercise, agent, detective, produce, meant, broken, retract
• Challenge words: North America, South America, Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, Antarctica  

Landform Test

• Scores have been uploaded to Edline
• If you would like to retake the test please schedule and after school appointment with Miss Bryant

Mark your calendar:

• October 15: BARF due
• October 15: Mini-Incentive Schedule
• October 22: Wacky Tacky Day
• October 27: Conferences 4-8p (in the gym)
• October 28: Conferences 12-3:15p (in teacher classrooms)
• October 28: Conferences 4-8p (in the gym)
• October 28 & 29: No School
• November 11: No School
• November 12: Mystery/Adventure book must be finished

Landform Notes

If you missed the landform notes.  Here is the presentation we used in class.  Each student should be able to identify these landform definitions, names, and pictures.  There will be a landform and mapping quiz on Thursday, October 7th.  Landform notes will be collected before the test.

Landforms

View more presentations from quesoqueen.

Landforms

Assignment:

1. Choose a lanndform from your notes.
2. Complete the "Required Landform #1" box on research sheet using the links below
3. Using the Wikipedia landform list choose a landform that is not on our required list.
4. Complete the "Required Landform #2" box on the research sheet
5. Done? Do the extra Credit!

Landform Resources:

Wikipedia Landform List

Enchanted Learning: Landform Glossary

Landform Picture Gallery from about.com 

Challenge yourself: Landform Game

This week in Core

Ahoy Mateys.

If you're not sure where to find out what we're doing in class. Be sure to check the calendar located on the right hand side of this blog.  There is also a calendar tab at the top of the page. Happy Homeworking.

Go Beavs.

 

Calendar, Spelling, Reading Log, and Planners OH MY!

Class Calendar
Looking for the class calendar? You can find out what we did each day, and what we'll do tomorrow by clicking on the calendar tab at the top of the blog.  The calendar is also located on the right hand side of this page.

Spelling

This week marks our first week of spelling practice.  Each Monday students will receive new spelling words. Students will practice the words 6 times (at home, due Friday) and be tested on Friday.  We will review and practice the words as a class on Thursday.  This week's spelling words are: opposite, cattle, million, column, sense, weigh, brought, born, satellite, differ, tenant, frequently, government

Reading Log
All students in core have a reading log and are required to read 150 minutes per week.  The reading log is due on Friday.  Both the reading, and writing portions of the reading log must be complete in order to avoid an MDF.  

Planner (POW)
Students should be keeping track of the week's events on their GREEN POW(plan of the week) sheet. These will be collected and graded every 2 weeks.  

Don't forget to wear comfy, cozy clothing on Friday! Show your spirit WILDCATS! 

Core Survey

Click HERE for today's assignment.

Today in Core

Current Events: News you may have missed this summer

The Week in Rap - 2010 Summer Recap from Week in Rap on Vimeo.

One cool map!

from http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/
Click to enlarge.

This Week in Core and Wildcat Pide

6th Grade Core (same for AM and PM classes)

Monday: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

Tuesday: Getting to Know You

Wednesday: Reviewing the Student/Parent handbook, name tents

Thursday: Writing Notebook expectations, embellishment and how to. Also, crafting the perfect heading

Friday: Library tour, magical phrases (a writing activity), PICTURE DAY! Syllabus slip DUE!

Wildcat Pride 

Monday: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

Tuesday: Intro to WCP. "I'm the one who..."

Wednesday: Vote on spirit days. Review handbook

Thursday: Sign making lesson. Sign making practice

Friday: Sign Due! Boundary Breaking

**WCP students need to bring a spiral to class on Monday, September 13, 2010!

Back to School Tips from Miss Bryant

The first day of school is just around the corner (only one day of summer remains)!  It was absolutely fantastic to meet so many of you and your families at back to school night.  As the summer draws to a close and back to school excitement and jitters kick in, I offer a few tips to going back to school with ease.

1. Get some zzzzz's!!! Students that come to school tired often struggle to keep up. Try setting a bed time for yourself, take it easy with activities the first few weeks of school so that you don't completely wear yourself out.

2. Eat Breakfast! Whether you eat it at home or when you get to school, having a bite to eat before you head to class can really help your brain and body to wake up.  Breakfast jump starts your metabolism and helps your mind focus on the day ahead.

3. Breathe. The first day of school can be stressful and sometimes scary, but you honestly have nothing to worry about.  So take a deep breath and relax. We'll start off slow the first week and work on establishing our routine, and getting to know each other.  By the second week of school you'll be a middle school pro!

4. Get organized. Stay organized. Avoid rushing around in the morning by laying out your clothes the night before and planning what you need to take with you each day.  Keep your school things in one place so they are easy to find.  Set up a place to do your homework.  Use your dividers to organize your binder (if you need assistance, ask Miss Bryant to guide you with binder organization).  Together we will work to keep your binder neat and organized.

5. Remember to have fun! School at times can be a lot of work, remember to set aside some after school and weekend time for fun activities that you enjoy.  Spend time with your friends and try and get outside as much as possible.  Fresh air and friendship really can save mind and body from the headache of stress.

Keep calm students, I can promise you that this year is going to be TOTALLY AWESOME!

I can't wait to see your smiling faces on Tuesday morning. May your last day of summer break be utterly fabulous.

Welcome Back!

Wow!

My sister is in Alaska...went outside and look what she found in the driveway!!!

Real Life Grammar Check...

Looks like someone needed to proofread their rough draft before publishing their final copy...can you see the error in this road sign from North Carolina? I sure hope we don't run into similar road blocks in our writing process this year in core!

Eek! 33 Days until your first day of school!

What have you been doing with your summer vacation? Traveled? Taken a class? Gone to camp? Stayed at home? Spent time with friends? I can't wait to hear all about it.

My summer has been spent taking classes and preparing for my sister's wedding, which was this last weekend.   Here, as promised are a few pictures, do you recognize anyone?

Picture number 1: the Wedding party
Picture number 2: 3 of my fav Newberg students :)

Summer School: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Check this out this awesome infographic from chacha.com (click the image to enlarge)

WOAH! Check out this WHALE!

So far, news people believe this to be a real picture, I can't believe the amazing size of this HUUUUUGE whale just as it swims/jumps into this sail boat. The huge whale weighs approx 40 tons!

Videos!!

If you haven't checked out the Video Vault lately, you should...I've added some new things and will continue to do so over the next few weeks. You can access the Vault by clicking on the link to the right, at or near the top of this page.

Enjoy.

News, News, News

Just because it's summer, doesn't mean we can slack on current events!! I know how y'all love Carl Azuz and his infamous end of show pun...so here you are, a little summer gift ;)

CNN Student News

Summer Break: post 1

We're on our third full week of summer break, I hope that you have enjoyed every single minute of it thus far. I know that I have.

It was great fun seeing so many of you at the midnight show of Eclipse. Definitely one of the nuttier(in a good way) and more fun of the midnight shows that I have been to (and that is in large part because I got to see so many ex-students). The next town event I hope to see your smiling faces at is the Old Fashioned Festival fireworks show, I never miss it ;)

One of the best things about summer (aside from the sunshine, the beach and the relaxing) is the reading! Have you read any good books yet? I'm always looking for a good read so send me some great ideas (or post it in the comment box). You can also use your school, or personal email to send me a message!

Now that Eclipse has come on and gone, what movie are you most looking forward to? For me it's Harry Potter. Check out the new preview:

Field Day 2010

End of the Year Survey Results...

***Note: On many computers, the graphics will not show up. I am working on this, and apologize for the inconvenience!  


Reflection is a big part of teaching AND learning.  Everyone on the planet whether they are 4 or 104 has something that they can wake up each day and learn.  One important lesson that I hope I have given you this year is that it is ok to make mistakes.  As humans we are far from perfect. We will make mistakes.  We can't avoid it.  What we can do is look at our mistakes, analyze the series of events that brought us an unfavorable outcome and work hard to have a positive turn around, or a beneficial outcome the next time around.  The end of the school year provides a ripe time for reflection; both for students and their teachers.  I greatly appreciate the honesty that went in to the comments that I received on the end of the year surveys in both Core and Reading class.  As I design my Core and Reading classes next year, I will keep these comments with me. 

Below you can see some of the results. I thank each and every student that participated in these surveys, with your help I can move our class in a positive direction. I will be adding some of the written comments a little later...

What units of study did you like BEST?

What units of study did you like the LEAST?

What is your favorite way to "show" your learning?

I wish we could have done MORE

I wish we would have done LESS

 I feel the school email system is...

 I feel Miss Bryant's blog is...

 I check Miss Bryant's blog...

 How much have you learned in Core this year? (1 = nothing, 5 = A LOT)

 How hard have you worked in Core class this year? (1 = it was easy, 5 = I have worked REALLY hard)

 Does Miss B grade your work fairly? (1 = no, 5 = yes)

 From the Reading survey...

How often do you read at home?

Does your Core teacher require you to read outside of class?

 I liked Reading class (1 = worst class ever, 5 = looooved it)

 What units did you like BEST?

 What units did you like the LEAST?

 I wish we could have read MORE...

 How many books did you read this year (approx)?

 I am a better reader this year than I was last year...

Our Fabulous Year in Core!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Click HERE for Core survey

World Cup 2010

50 players to watch

There are also a few videos on the video blog for soccer fans!

Reading Class Survey

Reading Class Survey

Reminder from the CRAZY Squirrel

Chickens!!!!!!! Congrats Paxton (from The Poultry Press)

Current Event Assignment

Want 5 points extra credit? Do your CE assignment online using this form:

CE Form

CE Links

CNN
C-SPAN
White House Press Release/Weekly Radio Broadcast
NPR
MSNBC
CBS
ABC
Fox News
C-SPAN in the Classroom
Associated Press
KOIN TV
KATU
Oregonian
BBC
Bloomberg Business News

Time for Kids

CNN Student News

The Week in Rap

Scholastic News Zone

Wall Street Journal Classroom

Current Events...

For your CE assignment, you will need to have an article (not a tv program or video) but if you are looking for a way to get started, you can watch student news and get an idea...then look for an article on one of topics you saw. If you need a great sight for actual articles, check out the Current Event section in the links above (under Miss B's Fav Links)

Check your email....

If you are a student in my PM core class...PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL!

thanks

Miss B

Travel Project Hints

1. WikiTravel is a great starting point for this project. http://wikitravel.org/en/Latin_America

2. If you run across a site that does not work, keep trying the link list until you find one that does!

3. Don't get frustrated! Sites will work one day and then be broken the next, don't get discouraged.

Latin America Project/Market Day/Tater Travel

The project that you will begin in class today goes by many names...at the very basic level it is a project on Latin America. In the past, the project was called Bryant Travel or Tater Travel and this year as we combine forces with Mr. Willing and Mrs. Rau the project will be called Market Day.

As we begin our research today, you will need the following:

1. Your country assignment
2. Country profile (aka research sheet #1)
3. Research sheet #2
4. A patient, positive, cooperative attitude: some links will be broken, some computers may be slow, some information may be hard to find but YOU WILL GET THIS DONE! You've had a lot of practice and you can and will create something very, very awesome.

A Midsummer Night's Dream: Characters

Please use the following slides to fill out the character map.

Creature Feature

Please do not work ahead!

Both classes can work up through step #4

1776

After our discussion today, I thought it would be a nice idea for you to review the following information...

from wikipedia: 

"In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain."