Tuesday October 11, 2011

8th Grade Math:  Today in math students began class with the problem of the day.  We then transitioned back into chapter 2 section 2 and the distributive property.  Students were introduced to the distributive property last Friday, and we revisited the concept again today in class.  Mr. Olsen reviewed the rules that were introduced last week, and continued working with the students on example problems and the reasons for each step in the process.   Students were then handed the 2.2 worksheet and given 37 minutes of class time to complete the assignment for Wednesday.  

Assignments:  Students should complete the 2.2 worksheet on the distributive property for class on Wednesday.  Review homework #10 is due on Wednesday. 

7th Grade Math:  Today in math students began class by using their flashmasters.  We then jumped back into chapter 2 section 2 on adding and subtracting decimals.  Mr. Olsen led students through the important rules of lining up the decimal points and filling in zeros in order to make sure that both or all numbers involved in the problems have the same number of digits according to place value.  Students were then handed the section 2.2 worksheet and given 45 minutes of class time to complete the assignment. 

Assignments:  Students should complete the 2.2 worksheet for class on Wednesday.  Review homework #10 is due on Wednesday.

Science:  This week in science students are beginning the rotation we have planned for our students here in the Aurora House.  Mr. Olsen's students are with Mr. White this week, and will be learning about the otilith bones in the salmon heads, in order to age them and search for copper wire tags that were inserted at the hatchery when they were reared.  In Mr. Olsen's classroom this week, Ms. Pasteris's students are working on learning about habitat and the water quality parameters associated with salmon rearing and spawning.  Today Ms. Collins students were taken outside by guests from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game sportfish division, who took students out to Switzer Creek and measured eight identifiable stream parameters as well as why these parameters are important to the salmon.  Students from Ms. Pasteris's  home base should be prepared to spend the entire afternoon outside on Wednesday. 

Assignments:  Students can be spending some time furthering their knowledge of the physical parameters we are looking at here in science class.