Week of September 12

Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend!  We typically update the blog on Mondays, and we try to post up-to-date information later in the week.  Please feel free to contact us via email if you would like an update on how your son/daughter are doing in class.

NEWS:

• Homework Club and Youth Resource Center starts today. 

ACADEMICS:
Language Arts:  1)  Vocabulary list (students had time to work on it in class, but should be working on this all through the week.) List is at the bottom of this post. Test on spelling and definitions will be Friday.  Vocab homework due Friday.   2)  Seedfolks - took notes in class.  3)  All School Literacy in-class today. 

Reading:   1)  Independent reading project assigned on Friday. 

Math:  1)  Worksheet started in-class.  If it wasn't completed, it is homework due Tuesday.

Science:  1) Created mini-ponds in groups today. 

Social Studies:  1)  Current events due on Friday. 

Vocabulary Week of September 12
Assignments are: 1)  Look up each word in the dictionary, and learn it.  2) Write each work 3x each 3) Descriptive words 

1. important
2. importance
3. comparison
4. organization
5. character
6. categorical
7. numerical
8. distribution
9. current event
10. geography
11. Didgeridoo
12. safety
13. electrical
14. laboratory
15. resource book

Update September 8

NEWS:  More and more parent essays, "In a Million Words or Less," have been turned in this week.  We really appreciate learning more about your child.  Not only do we have a great group of students, but we have a great group of parents, too.  So, thank you!

Thank you to our JoMaNa students who have volunteered to be peer helpers.  Your support is noticeable and appreciated. 

ACADEMICS:
Language Arts:  1) Vocabulary due Friday; Test Friday (words are at the bottom of this post). 2) "The Important Thing About Me . . . " poem is due tomorrow - this is the rough draft, edited.  Final will be written in class tomorrow.

Reading:  1)  Continuing Seedfolks as a class.  2)  Ms. Conklin gave a book talk today.  Students will be given their Independent Reading Project requirement sheet tomorrow.  The genre of the month is Fiction, and the theme is Identity/Adolescence.  Students will be choosing their book, and will have 3+ weeks to complete the Independent Reading Project. 

Math:  1)  Blue worksheet due Friday.

Science:  1) In-class work in lab book.  Unit is Diversity of Life.  Starting with Characteristics of Life.

Social Studies: 1)  Current events due Friday.  2)  Given Interactive Notebooks for the study of Australia and Oceania.  This notebook will stay in class. 

Vocabulary Words to study (spelling and definitions)
1. traits
2. conventions
3. diversity
4. community
5. identity
6. mean
7. median
8. mode
9. statistics
10. Australia
11. indigenous
12. Oceania
13. Ms. Jorgensen
14. Ms. Matson
15. Ms. Naputi

Assignment: 1) Definitions 2) Write descriptive sentences 3) Write words 3x each

Weekly Update September 6, 2011

NEWS:  Students have their planners - please make certain a parent/guardian is reviewing assignments listed in your planner.  This is an important communication tool.  Parent signatures or initials are required daily. 

Middle school is a great time to learn organizational skills.  JoMaNa teachers stress the importance of consistent organization for each subject.  

Thank you parents for taking the time to write a personal essay about your child.  We enjoyed reading the essays we received today, and look forward to hearing from the rest of you.  Thank you again!  

ACADEMICS:

Language Arts:  1)  Reading Seedfolks as a class.  Took notes in-class.  2)  Vocabulary words were given out for the week.  Due on Friday, test on spelling and definitions will be Friday. 

Math:  1)  Worksheet due Wednesday.  2)  Finish Part C, page 8 in Data About Us book.

Science:  1)  Students were given science resource books, and will receive lab books this week.  2)  Safety talk and worksheet were done in class. 

Social Studies: 1)  Finish Hand Collage.  2)  Current events assignment explained today - due every Friday. 

A Great Start as a Sixth Grader!

Thank you for sending such engaging and attentive students to the Jomana Team.  You should all feel proud that they are making successful a transition to middle school.  Here are some things to remember for Tuesday, September 6th.

NEWS: 
----> JOMANA Team dress-up day is every first Tuesday of the month.  September 6th is the first one.  In the past, we have had students come in a suit and tie, dresses, skirts, or just an outfit that is *Different* from what they would normally wear to every day school.  Please come dressed up to show your Jomana Team pride on Tuesday!

----> Students received their school planners.  This is an effective tool for keeping students organized, and parents informed.  Please sign their planner every day.  Later in the year, parent signatures will be fazed out as students become more responsible.  Thank you for your support.

ACADEMICS:
1)  Language Arts:  a)  Students wrote a Writing Warm-up in class.  b)  Students started reading the book, Seedfolks, and took notes in their notebooks, in-class.  c)  Homework for Parents/Guardians:  "In a million words or less, tell us about your child . . . "  Due next Friday, Sept 9th. 

2)  Math:  a) Students started Investigation 1 in the new math book, Data About Us.  b)  Homework is to find the average name length of family members.  Students wrote instructions in the homework section of their math binders.  c)  Students set up math binders - ALL students are required to have a math binder. 

Have a great long weekend!

Welcome JOMANA Team 2011-12

Welcome to all new sixth graders!  We especially want to welcome the students on the JOMANA team.  We are looking forward to a year of learning and building community.  Check back here frequently for updates on assignments and news.  We will see you Thursday, September 1! 

Sincerely,
Your JOMANA Teachers

Vocabulary Words

ACADEMICS:  Since this is a short week, students were given a class period, plus additional study time in-class for their vocabulary.  We quizzed them orally on the words today.  Study! 

1. rhyme
2. rhythm
3. crescent
4. adolescent
5. conscious
6. foreign
7. cologne
8. raspberry
9. asthma
10. vehicle
11. rhinoceros
12. fluorescent
13. reign
14. afghan
15. psychology
16. psychiatrist
17. pneumonia
18. heirloom
19. shepherd
20. rhinestone

CHALLENGE:

1. rhapsody
2. acquiesce
3. arraignment
4. pseudonym
5. graham cracker

Weekly Update June 1

ACADEMICS:

Language Arts:  1)  Vocabulary is due early this week (by Thursday) as students were given sufficient time in class to work on it.  2)  Media Influences Final Essay Test Tuesday  3)  In-class writing assignments

Math:  1) Independent assignment for What do You Expect - "Design a Game" project pages 61-62.  2)  In-class work

Social Studies: 1)  Current events  2)  Apartheid stamp project in-class

Science:  1)  Science Fair  2)  Turn in lab books - Many student still have not done this yet. 

Reading:  1)  Book review/or Letter to the author of Ninth Ward due Thur  2)  SRI test given this week