Week of November 9 - 13

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students completed a Weekly Word Study and took a spelling test.
--On Friday, students completed a journal entry.
--This week we began working on web-logs. Students will create a blog with a partner or small group. We brainstormed possible topics, set up accounts, and began designing the layout of the blogs.

Sim-Nation:
--I gave students information on Presentations of Learning. There is a link to the handout below.
--Students had some time in the computer lab to create a PowerPoint presentation.
--I gave students information on how to complete the Portfolio Skills Requirements. Reflections will be due next week. There is a link to the handout below.
--Students took a quiz on Friday over World War I and the Great Depression.
--Presentations of Learning (POLs) will be on November 19 and 20.


POL-Sim-Nation.doc

PSR-Sim%20Nation.doc

Week of November 2 - 6

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students completed a Weekly Word Study and took a spelling test.
--On Friday, students completed a journal entry.
--I taught dictionary skills this week. Students completed a dictionary scavenger hunt.
--Book logs were due this week. I met individually with students to have a conference about their independent reading over the first trimester.
--Today is the last day of the 1st trimester.

Sim-Nation:
--Students participated in a simulation of the stock market crash of 1929.
--I gave notes on the Great Depression and showed an informational video.
--Thursday was ADI #3. We went to the Leaning Tree Museum of western art.
--We watched the movie King of the Hill, which was set during the time of the Great Depression.
--Final drafts of LTPs were due on Friday, November 6. I will return these on Monday.
--Presentations of Learning (POLs) will be on November 19 and 20.
--There will be a quiz on Friday over World War I and the Great Depression. Links to download the notes are below.

WWI%20notes.doc

Great%20Depression%20Notes.doc

Week of October 26 - 30

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students completed a Weekly Word Study. Due to the snow days, the spelling test will be on Nov. 4.
--We continued our review of parts of speech.
--On Friday, students completed a journal entry. I read scary stories to the class for Halloween.

Sim-Nation:
--I gave notes and information on World War I.
--We discussed the Roaring 20s.
--I introduced the stock market and it's role during the 1920s.
--Rough drafts of the LTP were collected on Oct. 30. These will be returned on Nov. 2 with my comments. Final drafts are due on Nov. 6.

Week of October 19 - 23

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students completed a Weekly Word Study and a spelling test this week.
--Students filled out a self-evaluation on the memoir unit.
--I taught a review of parts of speech. We played several grammar games including MadLibs, In the Manner of the Word, and Grammar Scattergories.
--I introduced journal writing this week. Every Friday students will write for 20 minutes to a prompt or on a topic of their choice. The writing is graded primarily on length and kept in a folder at school.

Sim-Nation:
--We studied Reconstruction this week.
--We watched a movie on the Homestead Act and discussed westward expansion.
--We began our study of World War I this week. Students participated in a WWI simulation that helped explain the conditions leading to the war.
--Rough drafts of the LTP are due on Oct. 28.

Week of October 12 - 16

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students completed a Weekly Word Study and a spelling test this week.
--I taught several lessons on simple techniques that writer's use.
--All final copies of memoirs were due on Friday.
--Students had an opportunity to share their writing with the class.

Sim-Nation:
--Students completed their decade study poster and presented it to the class.
--ADI #2 was on Wednesday, Oct. 14. We visited the Capitol building in Denver.
--I shared some cartoon history of the Civil War.
--We watched an educational version of the movie Glory.
--All LTP research should have been completed by Oct. 15.
--I taught students how to create a simple outline to help them plan their LTP. Outlines were due on Friday. Rough drafts of the LTP are due on Oct. 28.

Week of October 5 - 9

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students are continuing to work on memoirs. I read a few out loud this week. All final copies are due on Oct. 16.
--Students completed a Weekly Word Study and a spelling test this week.

Sim-Nation:
--LTP topics were due on Monday. Students had research time in the library and computer lab on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All research should be completed by Thursday, Oct. 15.
--Students took a quiz on the Constitution and the legislative branch of the government on Wednesday. I will return these on Monday.
--Students worked in groups on a decade study. Each group was assigned a decade between 1800 and 1860 and given a text to read and summarize. Students made posters and will present their information to the class on Monday.
--Our 2nd ADI will be on Wednesday, Oct. 14. We will visit the state capitol and take a tour of the building and the dome. We'll leave around 10:20 and return around 2:30. Students need to bring a lunch, snack, and water. If you are interested in going with us, please let me know.

Week of September 28 - October 2

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students worked on memoirs in class this week.
--Students had an opportunity to share memoirs with the class.
--We will continue working on memoirs until Oct. 16

Sim-Nation:
--Students participated in a simulation of Congress and had to pass a crime bill.
--I gave notes on the the legislative branch of the government.
--We will have a quiz on the constitution and legislative branch of the government on Wednesday, October 7. Links to notes are at the end of this blog entry.
--LTP topic choices are due Oct. 5.


Constitution%20Notes.doc

Legislative%20Branch%20Notes.doc

Week of September 21 - 23

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students worked on memoirs in class this week.
--Students should be finished with at least one memoir.
--We will continue working on memoirs until Oct. 16

Sim-Nation:
--Students participated in a simulation of the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
--I gave notes on the constitution.
--Students took a quiz on the American Revolution.
--I explained the requirements for the Long Term Project (LTP). Topic choices are due on Oct. 5. For more information and other deadlines, please see the LTP information sheet (link is at the end of this post).

Co-op:
--Goal Setting conferences were September 24 and 25.
--Fall Trip is next week. Please see info in the CHOICE Weekly.

LTP-Lamb-Sim-Nation.doc

Week of September 14 - 17

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--We looked at examples of effective and ineffective memoirs.
--I taught a lesson on using leads in narrative writing.
--I showed students how to use the editing checklist when finished revising a draft.
--Students should now be drafting their own memoirs. I am not setting a deadline for individual pieces. Students will write more than one memoir over the next several weeks. The rough draft of the first memoir should be finished early next week. Students should work for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes each night.

Sim-Nation:
--I gave notes on the American Revolution. A link to these notes is at the bottom of this posting.
--Students participated in a game simulation this week. We played Capture the Flag but with the rules changed to simulate aspects of the Revolutionary War.
--We watched part of the movie The Revolution.
--Students completed an activity called Analyzing the Declaration of Independence.
--Students wrote a paragraph from the perspective of a loyalist and a paragraph from the perspective of a patriot.
--We played American Revolution Jeopardy.
--On Thursday, we had our first ADI. We visited the City and County Building in Denver and had Chief Judge Larry Naves speak to us about the American judicial system.


Co-op:
--Conferences are next week. Please contact me if you don't know your conference time.
--Fall Trip forms are due by Sept. 24 or 25.

American%20Revolution%20Notes.doc

Week of September 8 - 11

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--Students completed a Weekly Word Study and took a spelling test.
--We studied elements of writing. Students acted out one of the elements in groups.
--I read several examples of memoir out loud to the class.
--Students brainstormed topics for their own memoirs.
--Students should now be drafting their own memoirs. They should work for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes each night.

Sim-Nation:
--Students participated in a simulation of the trial of Anne Hutchinson.
--Students took a quiz on early American history.
--I gave notes on events leading to the American Revolution.
--We watched part of the History Channel series called Revolution.
--Next Thursday, Sept. 17 will be ADI #1. We will be going to visit a courtroom in the City and County Building in Denver and have a judge speak to us about the court system. We will leave around 10:30 and be back no later than 2:30. Please email me if you want to come along.

Co-op:
--Fall Trip forms are due by Sept. 24 or 25.

Week of August 31 - September 4

Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2):
--We began our independent spelling program this week. Students will choose 5 words each week and focus on their spelling. The Weekly Word Study was due on Tuesday and is designed to help students learn the spelling of each word. Our spelling test was on Thursday.
--Final copies of the "Who I Am" poem were due on Wednesday. Many students shared their poems in class.
--I gave a brief intro to memoir writing. Students will be writing in this genre next week.

Sim-Nation:
--Integrated classes began on Monday.
--We started with an examination of primary and secondary sources.
--I shared some "cartoon history" up to the 1600s.
--Our first simulation was an online simulation about Jamestown.
--Students created journal entries from the point of view of a Jamestown colonist.
--Next week, we will be working on our second simulation--a role playing simulation of the trial of Anne Hutchinson.

Co-op:
--Students brought home a sign-up sheet for conferences. If you haven't sent it back yet, please email me asap with your date and time preferences.
--Students will continue to work on goals next week.
--Back to School Night is Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:00.

Week of August 19 - August 28

Welcome to all new and returning CHOICE families! This is my blog where I will post weekly updates about what went on in the classes I teach, as well as important due dates.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions throughout the year (ronaldlamb@yahoo.com or 720-561-6838). Language Arts (Blocks 1 & 2): --Students have started our independent reading program.  Students will have time to read for a few minutes most days in class and are expected to read at home for at least 30 minutes five nights per week. --Each student has a Book Log to record completed books. --Students completed a writing piece about their names.  These were shared in class on Wednesday and will be returned next week with my comments. --Students are working on a "Who I Am" poem.  We began the process of writing this poem by working on a brainstorming sheet and looking at several examples of this type of poem.  Final copies will be due on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Sim-Nation: --My Integrated class on US history and society begins on Monday, August 31. Co-op: --For the first week and a half of school, we have had extended time in Co-op.  We have been using this time for team-building, mask-making, and Regatta planning. --The annual CHOICE Regatta was on Friday, August 28.  Mr. Waldman's 8th graders won the race.  Our Co-op won the Spirit Award!  We will have a pizza party during lunch next week to celebrate! --We have been working on goal setting and will continue this work next week.  Students are required to set three year-long goals (2 academic and 1 personal).  Goal setting conferences with parents will be on Sept. 24 and 25.  Look for my sign-up sheet on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Mr. Lamb's Homework blog

This is where Mr. Lamb will post her homework and assignments.