Lab Day!

In both AP bio and in environmental science, we did labs today (yay!) 

In AP, we did a webquest about biomolecules/organic compounds.  Pick up the "Organic Compounds Graphic Organizer" from Week 3 in the Document Crate.  If you did not finish, then finish it up for homework, due Friday.  Also, read the textbook pp. 68-91.  Finally, we are REALLY having the water properties quiz tomorrow, so study for it!

In environmental science, we did a Groundwater Model Activity (on Notebook p. 33.)  If you were absent, please sign up to stay after school on Wednesday to make it up.  For homework, continue to work on your new vocabulary words in your glossary.  (See yesterday's blog post or the word wall for the words.)

Sooo hotttt!

The heat has returned, much to my chagrin.

Today in environmental science, students took notes on the Groundwater Reading (text pages 185-186).  The notes are on notebook pages 28-31.)  While they took notes, I checked their notebooks. 

For homework (due Thursday) add 8 new words to your interactive notebook's glossary: groundwater, infiltration, runoff, watershed, percolation, recharge, aquifer, watertable.

In AP Bio, students took notes on notebook pp. 26-27 about solutions and hydrophobic and hydropilic substances.  (See textbook pp. 51-53.)  For homework, study for the water properties quiz (you lucked out 'cos the copies weren't done) and also scan the text pp. 68-91 (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.)

Wow! (Expressions of MJ)

Keanna and Darnielle invited me to the performance of "Expressions of MJ" at the DuSable Museum on Friday night and I am so glad that I decided to go.  The packed audience grooved to the music and enthusiastically clapped after each scene.  As a rhythmically challenged person, I am always so impressed by anyone who can sing, dance, or otherwise perform in front of an audience.  Everyone in the performance did a great job and it is clear that you and Mr. Lewis have a very professional group.  I look forward to seeing more from FCBC.  Also, I have to wonder if the teacher that Chris portrayed is a composite of teachers at Longwood?!?

First Quiz in Env. Science, Solutions in AP Bio

In Environmental Science, students took their first vocabulary quiz over the hydrologic cycle vocabulary.  As students were taking the quiz, I checked their notebooks and their glossaries/vocabulary charts.  See me to take the quiz after school on Monday or Wednesday if you were absent.

Before the quiz (in all periods but 2nd period, we took notes on notebook pp. 27).  Complete your questoins and summaries on NB p. 26 after the quiz.

There is no homework for the weekend!

In AP Biology, we answered the do now question (on NB p. 23): Describe everything that you know about the properties of water.  Then, we took notes on solutions and "Water as the Universal Solvent" on NB p. 23.

For AP Bio Homework, read pp. 51-53 and review vocabulary and water properties for Monday's quiz.

Multiple Intelligences Applied

Today in AP Bio, we analyzed the practice science ACT test that students took the first week of school.

For homework, finish making corrections to your practice test.

In environmental science, we either took the Multiple Intelligences Quiz (2nd period) or applied what we had learned yesterday about Multiple Intelligences to study for tomorrow's vocab quiz.  6th and 7th periods finished working on their concept maps to connect the hydrologic cycle vocabulary words to one another.

For environmental science homework, study your vocabulary words for a vocab quiz tomorrow.

ACT Boot Camp, Day 1

Today in environmental science, students received their practice ACT science tests back.  They had an opportunity to go over the answers and get tips for improvement.

4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th periods also completed the "Multiple Intelligences Quiz" to determine what their primary learning style is.

For homework: Finish the connections to other words and the drawings/examples in your glossaries due tomorrow!

Note: I had to cancel my office hours/tutoring because I had to leave school early due to my illness.  Sorry!

AP Biology did not meet today because juniors were taking their practice ACT tests.

Concept Maps, H2Olympics

Today in environmental science, students worked in groups of 3 or 4 to make concept maps to make connections between the hydrologic cycle vocabulary.  We also went over your homework (the meanings of the 8 word wall words) and of course there was a do now (How are "condensation" and "evaporation" related to one another?)

For homework (due Thursday): Finish the connections and drawings/examples in your glossary.

Today in AP bio, students completed the H2Olympics Lab activity.  For homework, review the vocabulary words.

Schedule Changes & Water, Water!

Today was a bit unusual due to schedule changes for juniors (during first period) and seniors (sometime during the afternoon.  I think I saw everyone, but if I missed you during the day to to rescheduling, please see me to get caught up.

In AP bio, we rescheduled the H2Olympics lab because we welcomed 5 new people and because students missed about 25 minutes of class due to having been redirected to the cafeteria to get their schedules.

We did answer a do now question (what's the difference between cohesion and adhesion?) and we went over the pre-lab questions for the H2Olympics today.  We also set up our glossaries in the back of your interactive notebooks.

For homework, read pp. 47-52 and finish your glossaries for the words on the word wall.

In environmental science, students received their textbooks.  (See Ms. Adams to get yours.)

Answer your do now (on NB p. 18.)  Then, you took notes on NB p. 15, set up your glossary with the word wall words (NB p. 192,) and began scanning textbook pp. 180-186 with the THIEVES pre-reading strategy.

For homework, Read textbook pp. 180-186 and write the meanings for the 8 word wall words.

Friday, August 20

In environmental science on Friday, August 20 we did our first hands-on activity, a model of the world's water availability called "Water, Water Everywhere" on notebook p. 17.  If you were absent, please sign up to make up the activity after school on Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 in Room 214.

The do now question was: Is water a renewable or a nonrenewable resource?  Explain your answer (write your answer on the second half of notebook p. 14.)

2nd and 4th period classes also took some brief notes on notebook p. 15 about water as a renewable resource and freshwater sources.  5th, 6th, and 7th period classes will do these notes on Monday.

For homework, please write a summary and review questions about the activity on notebook p. 16 (all classes except 5th period.)

In AP Biology today, students took notes about a reading strategy called THIEVES.  Then they took notes about the Properties of Water.  Finally, we went over the pre-lab for H2Olympics.

For homework for AP Biology, review your notes, read and highlight the H2Olympics lab, and make sure to bring your one inch binder for class on Monday!

Can't Wait to Start Doing Labs

I'll admit, I'm ready to do some labs and I'm getting a bit tired of this procedural stuff that is necessary at the beginning of the year.

Today in AP bio, the kids took the ACT science practice test.  They also turned in their Quantitative Skills Pre-Tests.  For homework, they just need to get all of the supplies that are listed in teh syllabus.

Today in environmental science, the kids answered the do now question on notebook p. 14: What strategies do you use to help you understand a complicated science text?

Then in env. science, kids turned in their Quantitative Skills Pre-tests (except for 2nd period, who will have one additional day for them.)

Today I also introduced the THIEVES Reading Strategy, so get the notes for this on notebook p. 6.  There were also a couple of other documents that were handed out that you should put in your notebook: The syllabus (put on the inside cover of your notebook) and the lab safety contract (put on pp. 10-12 of your notebook.)  Get all of the documents from the Document crate.

Big Fat AP Bio Books & Interactive Notebooks

Today in AP Bio, we went over the syllabus and lab safety rules (get both documents from the AP bio document crate.)  Studnets also received their textbooks.  (See Ms. Adams for yours.)

The AP Bio homework is to get the rest of your materials that are listed in the syllabus (plus a one inch binder for labs) and to finish your Quantitative Skills Pre-Test.

In Environmental Science (all except for second period, which should read yesterday's entry,) we first discussed the questions "Is knowledge power?" and "Is knowledge of science power?"  Then we set up our interactive notebooks by numbering the pages and finally we discussed lab safety through student-performed skits.

Environmental Science homework is to finish the Quantitative Skills pre-test if you didn't turn it in early.  Also, remember that you need all of your materials by Friday!

ACT Assessment

Today was a necessary, but not necessarily exciting day in class. 

For all environmental science classes (except 2nd period,) we took a practice science ACT.  If you were absent, get the Practice ACT and Scan-Tron sheet from the Document Crate and complete the work in 35 minutes.

Your homework is to complete the Quantitative Skills Pre-Test (due Tuesday) and bring your composition notebook tomorrow.

For 2nd period, please look at yesterday's blog entry.

For AP biology, I introduced the basics of the AP Bio expectations and we also began the Quantitative Skills Pre-Test.  Finsh this for homework.  Get your materials.  Get the Pre-test from the Document Crate.

First Day!

Today was the first day of school and I was very excited to meet most of the seniors at Longwood.

Today's envrionmental science objectives: I can articulate class expectations.  I can write a science autobiography.

Homework: Get your materials (composition notebook by Wednesday, pencil and eraser by tomorrow, other materials (see the whiteboard in the classroom) by Friday.)

Today I introduced myself and my two rules: Be respectful and be responsible.  Then we read and discussed Alice Walker's Book, "There is a flower at the tip of my nose smelling me."  Finally, I introduced the Science Autobiography and students began their homework.  If you were absent, please pick up the following from the Document Crate: Get to Know you Sheet and the Science Autobiography.

I did not meet with the AP biology class, nor the second period class due to the assembly.

T minus 36 hours

I will get to meet the Longwood students in about 36 hours. I am very excited to meet my senior environmental science and my junior AP biology students. I spent all day on Friday getting Room 214 ready and I'm pretty pleased with how it looks. I have far more bulletin boards in my lab than I've ever had before, so I'm excited about being able to use them to show student work, post grades, have a nice word wall, and, well, the possibilities are endless!

Here comes science!

I ordered a whole slew of lab supplies today, so I'm holding the picture that they all get approved so my AP biology and senior environmental science classes will be well-outfitted for some serious science! In my career, I've definitely worked in a wide range of environments in terms of availability of funds for science, so it'll be interesting to see what transpires when the orders get approved.

Focus on teaching & learning

Yesterday was my first day at CICS-Longwood. I can already tell that it is going to be a positive envrionment and a great place to focus on teaching and learning.

There is a flower at the tip of my nose smelling me

For my daughter's first Christmas, I bought her a children's book by Alice Walker, one of my favorite authors. It has become one of our favorite books to read aloud and I plan to read it to my classes on the first day of school this year. The title of the book is There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me.

The book is written as a poem and on every page, there is something from the world (flower, sky, ocean, song, etc.) that is acting upon the reader...the song is singing me, the ocean is swimming me, etc. The notion that humans are not the center of the world appeals to me. It gives us perspective on our place on this planet. That's why I've named my blog "World Exploring Me."