News From Miss Punt's Class
(last updated on Wednesday, February 16)

Wednesday, February 16

        Student Teacher:  We have enjoyed having Miss Koppendrayer in our classroom over the last 6 weeks!  Her last day with us will be Friday, February 25.  In her last week here, make sure you thank her for everything she has shared with us during her time her!  When she leaves, she will return to Dordt College where she will begin her second student teaching assignment. 
         

        Dordt Discovery Days:  Excitement is building as we approach the opening registration for Dordt Discovery Days on March 19!  Discovery Days, a summer camp for students who have completed 6th, 7th and 8th grades, will be held on the campus of Dordt College June 20-24, 2011.  There are 35 classes available in science, technology, art, music and more!  Class choices will be posted on or about March 10, so watch for your favorites!
        Registration opens on-line on March 19 at 12:00:00 AM at www.dordt.edu/events/ddd <http://www.dordt.edu/events/ddd> .  Last year almost 100 students registered in the first ten minutes, so don't wait!  Classes can fill up quickly.  If you have questions, contact Dianne De Wit at 712-722-6029 or ddewit@dordt.edu

       February Activities:  On Friday, February 18, the 8th graders will be sharing the History Day projects they have been working diligently on for the last couple months.  We will not have school on Monday, February 21, in observance of President's Day.  We will also not have school on Tuesday, February 22, to allow the teachers to have an in-service day. 

6th Grade Math:  In our 6th grade math class, we will be wrapping up chapter 7 with a test tomorrow.  This chapter has allowed the students to work with several sets of data and learn how to organize and display it.  They have analyzed the data by finding averages and also by determining whether graphs and information are misleading.  Next week we will begin our study of geometry in chapter 8.  This chapter will allow us to become familiar with basic geometry terms including special angles, triangles, and quadrilaterals. 

7th Grade Algebra:  The 7th graders are in the middle of chapter 8 which first reviewed positive exponents and then introduced the concept of negative exponents.  After learning how to multiply and divide numbers with exponents, the students will be using this knowledge to solve problems with scientific notation and other real-world situations. 

8th Grade Algebra:  The 8th graders just wrapped up chapter 7 with a test today.  Throughout the next two weeks, the 8th graders will be focusing on chapter 8 which will first review positive exponents and then introduce the concept of negative exponents.  After learning how to multiply and divide numbers with exponents, the students will be using this knowledge to solve problems with scientific notation and other real-world situations. 

Language Arts 6:  The 6th graders have a lot going on in language arts right now!  After wrapping up our grammar unit on adjectives, we started a unit which will focus on using correct punctuation.  To practice this punctuation, we will be writing a creative story based on one of the pictures from the book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.  At the same time, we are in the midst of two long-range projects.  The first project is to do research for the Africa research project they are working in in geography.  As part of language arts, the students will be making and turning in notecards following the given schedule during the next several weeks.  The second project is CE Night.  Guidelines and due dates were sent home about this as well.  The students have been encouraged to have their selection memorized by the end of February so that they can spend the beginning of March bringing it to life through the use of expression, gestures, and props.  If you have any questions, please refer to the handouts or contact me through phone or e-mail.  Thanks!