Sellwood School
THANKSGIVING AFTERMATH: 4-DAY WEEK, 11/30-12/3
Submitted by James Keiter on Sun, 11/29/2009 - 12:15pm.
It was delightful to see all of you at conferences last week! Thanks for taking the time to come. A busy week lies ahead this week. Here's what will happen:
Monday: We'll cull and file work from Daily Folders and conferences. We'll look at the notes from the Oral History Interview and write the Bio-Sketch, due with the narrative on Thursday. This will be the last call for the "Hunger" Story Reflection assignment. We'll update current events and re-configure our folders for Trimester 2.
Tuesday: Bring sources for I-Search research. Personal reading time, too, with discussion of Tri2 reading goals and the Page Record. New vocab list glue-on for Tri3 Quiz1 next week.
Wednesday: I-Search research...nearing the end.
Thursday: Final day I-Search research w/project summary...DUE: FINAL COPY, the Bio-Sketch and Oral History Narrative. No other homework this week, right? We'll write the Mini-I-Search in class next week rough, then you'll finish it at home. Check the dates on the assignment sheet.
GR8 pdf MINI-I-SEARCH FINALE.pdf
ORAL HISTORY BIO ASSIGNMENT.pdf
It was delightful to see all of you at conferences last week! Thanks for taking the time to come. A busy week lies ahead this week. Here's what will happen:
Monday: We'll cull and file work from Daily Folders and conferences. We'll look at the notes from the Oral History Interview and write the Bio-Sketch, due with the narrative on Thursday. This will be the last call for the "Hunger" Story Reflection assignment. We'll update current events and re-configure our folders for Trimester 2.
Tuesday: Bring sources for I-Search research. Personal reading time, too, with discussion of Tri2 reading goals and the Page Record. New vocab list glue-on for Tri3 Quiz1 next week.
Wednesday: I-Search research...nearing the end.
Thursday: Final day I-Search research w/project summary...DUE: FINAL COPY, the Bio-Sketch and Oral History Narrative. No other homework this week, right? We'll write the Mini-I-Search in class next week rough, then you'll finish it at home. Check the dates on the assignment sheet.
GR8 pdf MINI-I-SEARCH FINALE.pdf
ORAL HISTORY BIO ASSIGNMENT.pdf
CONFERENCE WEEK: NOV 23--24
Submitted by James Keiter on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 8:35am.
We had excellent field trips this week. Read the attachment below for details if you wish. This is a short week: kids have school Monday, then we have conferences Monday night and Tuesday before breaking for Thanksgiving. Please note: Students are expected to attend conferences with parents. If you haven't done so already, please call Ann at SMS (503-916-5656) for a time. For conflicts or problems, email me at jameskeiter@pps.net and we'll work out something else. I hope to see all of you!
HOMEWORK: Students are expected to bring our only weekend homework, the "HUNGER" Story Reflection, to the conference, along with any memory work they wish to recite for extra credit. Students will receive instruction for the Oral History Narrative on Monday, and should do that over the Thanksgiving weekend.
All students should bring I-Search sources on Monday for research. 'Nuff said.
We had excellent field trips this week. Read the attachment below for details if you wish. This is a short week: kids have school Monday, then we have conferences Monday night and Tuesday before breaking for Thanksgiving. Please note: Students are expected to attend conferences with parents. If you haven't done so already, please call Ann at SMS (503-916-5656) for a time. For conflicts or problems, email me at jameskeiter@pps.net and we'll work out something else. I hope to see all of you!
HOMEWORK: Students are expected to bring our only weekend homework, the "HUNGER" Story Reflection, to the conference, along with any memory work they wish to recite for extra credit. Students will receive instruction for the Oral History Narrative on Monday, and should do that over the Thanksgiving weekend.
All students should bring I-Search sources on Monday for research. 'Nuff said.
BRILLIANT FIELD TRIP ENTRY
Submitted by James Keiter on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 9:23pm.
Great field trip learning experiences. Read summaries of same, attached below. Thanks to all the parents! If I could, I'd attach some pix...but I can't, so I'll be showing those at conferences...
FIELD TRIP SUMMARY.pdf
Great field trip learning experiences. Read summaries of same, attached below. Thanks to all the parents! If I could, I'd attach some pix...but I can't, so I'll be showing those at conferences...
FIELD TRIP SUMMARY.pdf
FIELD TRIP UPDATE
Submitted by James Keiter on Wed, 11/18/2009 - 7:24pm.
WARNING: Today we did not encounter rain...which is expected tomorrow (Thursday). Make sure you come with raingear...or I will not be able to take you with me!! Come prepared, kids!
WARNING: Today we did not encounter rain...which is expected tomorrow (Thursday). Make sure you come with raingear...or I will not be able to take you with me!! Come prepared, kids!
REALLY INTERESTING WEEK OF NOV 16--20
Submitted by James Keiter on Sat, 11/14/2009 - 9:11am.
FIELD TRIP CHANGES// ADDS--Wed(am)Thurs(pm)
Sorry about this one, parents...but I made some last minute changes that will affect my chaperones. I decided to make the trip a full day, meaning we'll catch the 9:26 #70 @13&Umatilla...and that means, of course, we'll be walking out the door at 9:20. If you're coming with us, please come to my room at the bell or even before.
I told the kids I have some requirements they need to understand. I anticipate rainy, cool moments in our field trip, and we should be doing quite a bit of walking outside. Students need to come with some form of raingear--either a raincoat or umbrella--so student comfort (health, swine flu, etc.)--doesn't become an issue. Boys need to wear long pants. Comfortable walking shoes will be needed. A bit of formality isn't bad. We may be visiting businesses and government. I guess we dress with respect to audience and purpose...oh my...the same things we consider when WRITING! Oh no!
Students were also told to bring library cards and a book bag/pack (to carry any books we check out at Central Library) and either money or a sack lunch. Our lunch venue may change, but I expect it to be Portland State.
That's the field trip info. Ask your student about my Rules of the Road, discussed Friday.
In the past week we talked about all the sad stories in the news, and how those stories tend to be amplified through new awareness and the structure of media. We checked our stocks again; we did another 'freewrite'; we read The Oregonian and discussed how editorials work; we recited The First Amendment and talked about the Second; we glued in a poem--"The Wise Child"--and talked about more memorization/extra credit possibilities; and, finally, we did a micro-field trip to discuss fire drills and appropriate dress for weather. We also worked extensively on the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, a final large grade for the first trimester. We'll talk about that at the Student/Parent CONFERENCE you've already scheduled for the week after this coming week. Productive, interesting week.
DON'T TELL ANYONE, BUT this coming week will likely include a surprise quiz that will include noted definitions for government, capitalism, socialism and the political continuum, as well as the Rules of the Road discussed Friday. We'll consider the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, due Monday with the rough draft; we'll talk a bit about Portland geography and history, as a prelude to our trip, and we'll get started on The MINI-I-Search Project Monday, picking topics and laying out the folder section for three weeks of work. It's a mini-project. Ask your student.
Dates:
Monday: Tri 1 SR due, with rough draft and proofreader signature
Wednesday: AM Field Trip, full day
Thursday: PM Field Trip, full day
Friday: Conference prep
It should be a really interesting week. Those who read this will, of course, have a slight advantage over those who do not. Sigh.
>>>See attachments for last week. <<<<
FIELD TRIP CHANGES// ADDS--Wed(am)Thurs(pm)
Sorry about this one, parents...but I made some last minute changes that will affect my chaperones. I decided to make the trip a full day, meaning we'll catch the 9:26 #70 @13&Umatilla...and that means, of course, we'll be walking out the door at 9:20. If you're coming with us, please come to my room at the bell or even before.
I told the kids I have some requirements they need to understand. I anticipate rainy, cool moments in our field trip, and we should be doing quite a bit of walking outside. Students need to come with some form of raingear--either a raincoat or umbrella--so student comfort (health, swine flu, etc.)--doesn't become an issue. Boys need to wear long pants. Comfortable walking shoes will be needed. A bit of formality isn't bad. We may be visiting businesses and government. I guess we dress with respect to audience and purpose...oh my...the same things we consider when WRITING! Oh no!
Students were also told to bring library cards and a book bag/pack (to carry any books we check out at Central Library) and either money or a sack lunch. Our lunch venue may change, but I expect it to be Portland State.
That's the field trip info. Ask your student about my Rules of the Road, discussed Friday.
In the past week we talked about all the sad stories in the news, and how those stories tend to be amplified through new awareness and the structure of media. We checked our stocks again; we did another 'freewrite'; we read The Oregonian and discussed how editorials work; we recited The First Amendment and talked about the Second; we glued in a poem--"The Wise Child"--and talked about more memorization/extra credit possibilities; and, finally, we did a micro-field trip to discuss fire drills and appropriate dress for weather. We also worked extensively on the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, a final large grade for the first trimester. We'll talk about that at the Student/Parent CONFERENCE you've already scheduled for the week after this coming week. Productive, interesting week.
DON'T TELL ANYONE, BUT this coming week will likely include a surprise quiz that will include noted definitions for government, capitalism, socialism and the political continuum, as well as the Rules of the Road discussed Friday. We'll consider the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, due Monday with the rough draft; we'll talk a bit about Portland geography and history, as a prelude to our trip, and we'll get started on The MINI-I-Search Project Monday, picking topics and laying out the folder section for three weeks of work. It's a mini-project. Ask your student.
Dates:
Monday: Tri 1 SR due, with rough draft and proofreader signature
Wednesday: AM Field Trip, full day
Thursday: PM Field Trip, full day
Friday: Conference prep
It should be a really interesting week. Those who read this will, of course, have a slight advantage over those who do not. Sigh.
>>>See attachments for last week. <<<<
FOUR DAY WEEK OF NOV 9--13
Submitted by James Keiter on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 1:48pm.
Visitors:
This coming week will be a four-day week, with Wednesday off for Veterans' Day. I've encouraged the kids to do something related to the day, for discussion Thursday.
During the past week we discussed all sorts of relevant material: stocks, again; the First Amendment; current events; political terms and the personal ethics of music/video downloads. I returned folders with grades--some rather disappointing--and we had our first 'open note' quiz. This last came as a surprise to all but about 8 or so who bothered to read my blog last week. Is anybody reading this now?
In the coming week, we'll talk about more of the same, but we'll also be writing the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, which is the last big grade chunk for this trimester. Ask your student for due dates; it should all be in the planner. Some students are curious about extra credit; it is more important that they are careful to turn in all the remaining work, done well, than that they seek extra work. Even so, they may choose to memorize Amendment Two for recitation at the conference as extra credit. There is that.
We'll be starting a Mini-I-Search project before we go on our field trip downtown on the 18th & 19th. Your student will be setting up the folder for recording notes and sources soon; I've attached the assignment...but no one will know their topic until Monday, 11/16. I also took the liberty of attaching an overlapping assignment, which I expect will get done over the Thanksgiving weekend. See below.
Here's what the coming week looks like:
Monday: First Amendment, memorized, due. We start to work on the Tri 1 SR, with work continuing on...
Tuesday: yeah...
Wednesday: Veterans Day
Thursday: rough drafts of SR pieces due for edit, revision in class; shaded US maps due, with written observations and conclusions
Friday: I-Search process discussed
Should be good. We will very likely have a surprise quiz, which will include the reading goals students set for discussion at the conferences.
Please call for a conference if you haven't.
--Jim Keiter
See attached docs.
MINI I SEARCH colonial style.pdf
REVISED ORAL HISTORY narr '09.pdf
Visitors:
This coming week will be a four-day week, with Wednesday off for Veterans' Day. I've encouraged the kids to do something related to the day, for discussion Thursday.
During the past week we discussed all sorts of relevant material: stocks, again; the First Amendment; current events; political terms and the personal ethics of music/video downloads. I returned folders with grades--some rather disappointing--and we had our first 'open note' quiz. This last came as a surprise to all but about 8 or so who bothered to read my blog last week. Is anybody reading this now?
In the coming week, we'll talk about more of the same, but we'll also be writing the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, which is the last big grade chunk for this trimester. Ask your student for due dates; it should all be in the planner. Some students are curious about extra credit; it is more important that they are careful to turn in all the remaining work, done well, than that they seek extra work. Even so, they may choose to memorize Amendment Two for recitation at the conference as extra credit. There is that.
We'll be starting a Mini-I-Search project before we go on our field trip downtown on the 18th & 19th. Your student will be setting up the folder for recording notes and sources soon; I've attached the assignment...but no one will know their topic until Monday, 11/16. I also took the liberty of attaching an overlapping assignment, which I expect will get done over the Thanksgiving weekend. See below.
Here's what the coming week looks like:
Monday: First Amendment, memorized, due. We start to work on the Tri 1 SR, with work continuing on...
Tuesday: yeah...
Wednesday: Veterans Day
Thursday: rough drafts of SR pieces due for edit, revision in class; shaded US maps due, with written observations and conclusions
Friday: I-Search process discussed
Should be good. We will very likely have a surprise quiz, which will include the reading goals students set for discussion at the conferences.
Please call for a conference if you haven't.
--Jim Keiter
See attached docs.
MINI I SEARCH colonial style.pdf
REVISED ORAL HISTORY narr '09.pdf
FOUR DAY WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2-5
Submitted by James Keiter on Sat, 10/31/2009 - 9:26am.
Concerned Readers: Welcome to November, a shocking month--not only because the clocks roll back, but also because of all the interruptions to the school calendar. Check the SMS homepage for a complete rundown.
This last week was truly excellent in many ways. We took a close look at American currency and selected stocks to follow for the next few weeks--the better to feel some connection to the American economy. We started our recitation of the First Amendment, the first Memory Assignment of several; I've included the text here for your benefit. We continued our discussion of rights, and explored the idea of coloring 'inside the lines' with Jerry Spinelli's excellent autobiography, Knots in my Yo-yo String. We practiced proofreading our colleagues' work. On Friday, we traveled to Oregon State University (where every day is Halloween, as I pointed out); attentive travelers with Mr. Keiter met Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama's brother--coach of the OS basketball team--aside from visiting the very cool Tsunami Research Lab after an excellent campus tour, featuring a discussion about the possibilities of higher ed. (I will continue this theme when we visit Portland State on the 18th and 19th.) Talk to your student about all this stuff; I rank this an Extremely Cool Week.
The coming week is a four-day week with NO SCHOOL Friday. We will follow our stocks, follow up on OSU, discuss student Reading Goals and do more writing. I will do several surprising readalouds. Students: DO NOT READ THIS PART. I'll return student folders with my grades for same on Monday. We will have a surprise quiz on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday...but not Friday. We will, in general, be preparing to move toward the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, which will take place next week, and will count substantially toward the final grade. We will also move toward preparations for the Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences, coming on November 23 &24. If you have not scheduled such a conference with me, please do so by calling Ann (the secretary) @ 503-916-5656.
DUE THIS WEEK:
Monday: Folders will be returned; Students who didn't turn them in to me will.
Wednesday: Paragraph (attached below) due for proofing practice. All students must have completed stock selection.
Thursday: Change! Current Events due...a day late, since I had many student folders over the weekend. Fair?
Friday: No School.
USEFUL THOUGHTS: Students who traveled with me Friday did an excellent job. I haven't had occasion to say this for some time...but these guys listened well, followed instructions and were respectful and bright. I was genuinely proud of them...and was able to relax a bit more as a result. I'm looking forward to our downtown trip later this month.
We start to move to the end of the first trimester. Students who have performed below their standards should see me about extra credit possibilities this week; I won't accept such work at the end of the term. See the attachments. Turn those clocks back!
--Keiter
***
HERE'S THE PARAGRAPH ASSIGNMENT>>><>
OPTION 1: Consider your reaction to Jerry Spinelli's "Staying in the Lines," and think about what you wrote last week in connection with Gandhi's quote ("Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes."). Write a thoughtful paragraph--again, a rough draft and final, corrected copy--beginning your paragraph with the words:
"I am// am NOT a person who likes to stay within the lines."
With the rest of your paragraph, explain what you mean. Give reasons and examples as possible.
--OR--
OREGON STATE: List three things you learned from our visit to OSU Friday...then write a thoughtful paragraph about the most INTERESTING single learning of that day. Make a rough draft and final copy. Due Wednesday. THIS OPTION IS PREFERABLE.
***
THE FIRST AMENDMENT (to be memorized in full by Monday, 11/9):
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Good words to know! ***
Concerned Readers: Welcome to November, a shocking month--not only because the clocks roll back, but also because of all the interruptions to the school calendar. Check the SMS homepage for a complete rundown.
This last week was truly excellent in many ways. We took a close look at American currency and selected stocks to follow for the next few weeks--the better to feel some connection to the American economy. We started our recitation of the First Amendment, the first Memory Assignment of several; I've included the text here for your benefit. We continued our discussion of rights, and explored the idea of coloring 'inside the lines' with Jerry Spinelli's excellent autobiography, Knots in my Yo-yo String. We practiced proofreading our colleagues' work. On Friday, we traveled to Oregon State University (where every day is Halloween, as I pointed out); attentive travelers with Mr. Keiter met Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama's brother--coach of the OS basketball team--aside from visiting the very cool Tsunami Research Lab after an excellent campus tour, featuring a discussion about the possibilities of higher ed. (I will continue this theme when we visit Portland State on the 18th and 19th.) Talk to your student about all this stuff; I rank this an Extremely Cool Week.
The coming week is a four-day week with NO SCHOOL Friday. We will follow our stocks, follow up on OSU, discuss student Reading Goals and do more writing. I will do several surprising readalouds. Students: DO NOT READ THIS PART. I'll return student folders with my grades for same on Monday. We will have a surprise quiz on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday...but not Friday. We will, in general, be preparing to move toward the Trimester 1 Self-Reflection, which will take place next week, and will count substantially toward the final grade. We will also move toward preparations for the Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences, coming on November 23 &24. If you have not scheduled such a conference with me, please do so by calling Ann (the secretary) @ 503-916-5656.
DUE THIS WEEK:
Monday: Folders will be returned; Students who didn't turn them in to me will.
Wednesday: Paragraph (attached below) due for proofing practice. All students must have completed stock selection.
Thursday: Change! Current Events due...a day late, since I had many student folders over the weekend. Fair?
Friday: No School.
USEFUL THOUGHTS: Students who traveled with me Friday did an excellent job. I haven't had occasion to say this for some time...but these guys listened well, followed instructions and were respectful and bright. I was genuinely proud of them...and was able to relax a bit more as a result. I'm looking forward to our downtown trip later this month.
We start to move to the end of the first trimester. Students who have performed below their standards should see me about extra credit possibilities this week; I won't accept such work at the end of the term. See the attachments. Turn those clocks back!
--Keiter
***
HERE'S THE PARAGRAPH ASSIGNMENT>>><>
OPTION 1: Consider your reaction to Jerry Spinelli's "Staying in the Lines," and think about what you wrote last week in connection with Gandhi's quote ("Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes."). Write a thoughtful paragraph--again, a rough draft and final, corrected copy--beginning your paragraph with the words:
"I am// am NOT a person who likes to stay within the lines."
With the rest of your paragraph, explain what you mean. Give reasons and examples as possible.
--OR--
OREGON STATE: List three things you learned from our visit to OSU Friday...then write a thoughtful paragraph about the most INTERESTING single learning of that day. Make a rough draft and final copy. Due Wednesday. THIS OPTION IS PREFERABLE.
***
THE FIRST AMENDMENT (to be memorized in full by Monday, 11/9):
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Good words to know! ***
