8/29/14

Math
GCF using prime factorization
no HW

Language arts
List and paragraph - due Tuesday!!
Book Orders - DUE NEXT Friday (9/5)

Science
Weather video
Weather measurements

Social Studies
Review for Ch. 1 test
Test next week

8/28/14

Math
Prime Factorization
Greatest Common Factor
no HW

Language arts
Finish autobiography list
Choose one from list and write a paragraph
Both due TUESDAY!

Lesson Packet 2 - due TOMORROW!!

Science
Weather tools
Investigation 1, pt. 3
Two liter bottle or similar

Social Studies

Spelling
TEST TOMORROW!!! Take your list home!!  Actually look at the words!!!!!

8/27/14

Math
Prime factorization
p.28 4-24 - due tomorrow

Language Arts
Finished "Knots in my Yo-yo string"
Lesson 2 packet - due Friday

Science
Model of the atmosphere

Social Studies
Finished Ch. 1 notes
History detective game

Spelling
Test Friday

8/26/14

Math
Discussed letter grades
Quiz

Language arts
List of autobiography ideas
Lesson 2 packet - due Friday
Spelling
Test Friday

Science
Weather pretest
Bill Nye weather

Social Studies
Ch. 1 notes
History detective game

8/25/14

Language Arts
Started "Knots in my Yo-yo string" Lesson 2

Math
Order of Operations
p.20  3-25 - due tomorrow

Science
Earth's atmosphere
Survey science test

Social studies
Cave paintings
Ch. 1 notes
Game

Spelling
Pretest Lesson 2
Test Friday

8/22/14

Language arts
Weekly test - Lesson 1

Math
Exponents
Powers of 10
Math notebook

Science
Mass of air
Earth's atmosphere
Look up first people who climbed Everest

Spelling
Final test

Social Studies
Cave paintings
Ch. 1 notes

8/21/14 - New Math!!

Every seven years, the ICCSD goes through a course review for each subject area.  This year it is mathematics' turn!

As part of this process, some teachers (Mr.Balke) are being allowed to pilot some new materials that may be adopted next year.

For the first half of the year, we will be using Big Ideas Math, by Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt:

https://www.bigideasmath.com/

For the second half of the year, we will be using Envision by Pearson.  Sorry, don't have a good link for that yet!

I'm pretty pumped to be trying out some new materials!  If you have students in younger grades, they will still be using Everyday Math.

Have a peaceful evening,
Mr. Balke

8/21/14

Language arts
Finshed 'School Story"
Finished going over Lesson 1 packet

Math
The Lazy Guy Story! (2 digit division)

Science
Air pressure and mass labs

Spelling
TEST TOMORROW!!!
Take home your list!!
ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT!!!

Social Studies
Class notes
Cave paintings
Archaeologist garbage dig

8/20/14

Language arts
More on "School Story"
Lesson 1 Packet - no due date!

Math
Explored the Record and Practice Journal
Operations and Estimation review - in class

Science
Air/Atmosphere Ch.1

Social Studies
Cave art Ch.1

Spelling
Final test Friday!!

8/19/14

Language arts:
Lesson 1 Vocabulary, Intro to "School Story"

Math:
Book covers
Intro to new book, Ch. 1

Spelling:
Pretest
Final test Friday

Science:
Air pressure experiment

8/19/14 - A great first day!

Couldn't be better.  A few little items to think about:

Before school
As I mentioned before, we will line up on the wall across from the Trailer.  But we will go in the ramp instead of the back door.

Water Bottles
These items are acceptable in the classroom as long as they are not a nuisance.  I do have water available in the room.  Do not send them with anything but water, no Gatorade, soda pop, Crystal Lite, etc.

Books
Our library time is not until Thursday, but students may bring appropriate reading materials to school to have handy.  Avoid picture books, Guinness book of records, Ripley's Believe it or Not, comic books.  Graphic novels okay if they are heavy on text and dialogue.

The Blog
I will post assignment book information on the blog, in case students are absent, don't or can't fill it out, or are untrustworthy (highly unlikely!!)

Have a great evening!
Mr. Balke

8/17/14 - Welcome!!

Welcome to Mr. Balke's Class!

I''m looking forward to a great school year.  Here a few odds and ends to start off your school year:

Where is Mr. Balke's Classroom?
As you might already know, our classroom is located in the "trailer" or the temporary building, behind the main school building.  Mrs, Hall's room is on the left side of the trailer, and Mr. Balke's is on the right side.

Where do students line up before school?
As of right now, we would like Mr. Balke's homeroom to line up on the wall directly across from the trailer. Please make every attempt to arrive around 8:20.  The bell rings at 8:25.  I will lead them in the trailer.  We are going to try to go in the BACK door of my side of the trailer.

Visiting the room
You MUST check in at the office.  I know it seems impractical, but we must be safe and be aware of all adults coming in and out of the building.

Schedule
An approximate daily schedule:
8:35 - Specials
9:25 - Language arts
11:15 - Lunch/Recess
11:55 - Students go to Mrs. Hall for science and social studies
1:30 - Students return to me for math and writing
3:00 - Dismissal
Students will receive a more detailed schedule.

First week - 2:00 dismissal!!
Yes, it's true.  First week of school. then Thursday only 2:00 dismissal.


See you Tuesday!