Lesson Review                       1 ASE Morning                           June 2007

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Monday, June 04, 2007                                      5 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                     R3.5a Take notes of key ideas while reading  (Reading Strategies)

                W2.4d Use expanded vocabulary with increasing frequency and precision  (Writing: Structure and Mechanics)

Chose Word Bank Words for June

People looked through the History Book (World War II and Post War era/Cold War) to choose

words, but other words from their reading and writing were also considered.

We chose genocide, simultaneously, coalition, inflation, and extraordinary.

During Individual Learning Time most people continued to work on their Vocabulary/Sentence

Structure Activities and some finished and did extra.

  Student Comments

Female                   18.00 -- 24.99

[Word Bank words:] genocide, simultaneously, coalition, inflation, extraordinary

[What didn't help?] It was hot

Tuesday, June 05, 2007                                     3 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                       Forces affecting continuity and change (Continuity & Change)

                           R3.3a Focus on chunks of meaning rather than individual words  (Reading Strategies)

                 W3.1a Copy models (of letters, words, phrases, numbers, language experience stories) (Writing: Strategies)

               CT2.2d Monitor understanding and recognize failures to comprehend (Critical Thinking: Cognition & Strategies)

World War II - Before, During, and After (especially after)

After some discussion we read about the post war era:

Conversion of industries from wartime production to peacetime production

Truman's attempts to build upon the "New Deal" and the conservative coalition that resisted it.

McCarthyism and the Cold War

The Communist government in China and the Korean War.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007                               5 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                  N-3  Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates (Number Sense)

       SELF MANAGEMENT - Accurately assess self, set personal goals, monitor progress & exhibit self control (Personal Qualities)

Math - People worked on their own study plans.

One person had to be assessed. Two others are nearly finished with their units.  One started a

  Student Comments

Female                   25.00 -- 44.99

[Word Bank words:] trickle, wither, balk, mindful, enhance, capitalist, resettlement.

Female                   60.00 +

I did some word problems in decimals in adding and subtracting. I did good.

Thursday, June 07, 2007                                   3 Learners Present                3.5 hours

Field Trip to the Worcester Ecotarium


Monday, June 11, 2007                                      4 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                   W3.4b Practice all steps of the writing process:  (Writing: Strategies)

Writing - Individual Writing Projects.

Two people chose to use this month's suggested topic "A Healthy Decision I Made" and two

others worked on topics of their own choosing.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007                                     6 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                           Dynamics among power, authority, and participation (Power, Authority, & Participation)

                             R3.4c Underline or highlight key ideas or words while reading  (Reading Strategies)

                 W3.1a Copy models (of letters, words, phrases, numbers, language experience stories) (Writing: Strategies)

            CT2.3b Create charts, graphs, graphic organizers, and outlines to organize information (Critical Thinking: Cognition &

How the Constitution Divides Power

 

Dividing power between separate branches of government is usually called "SEPARATION OF

POWERS".  In reality the branches of government cannot be kept completely separate.  So the

powers of one branch to INTERFERE with the powers of another branch are called "CHECKS

AND BALANCES".

 

But government powers can also be divided between the national and local levels. In America

power is divided between the central (NATIONAL OR FEDERAL) government and state

governments. This is called FEDERALISM.

 

We also tried to look at non governmental sources of power (centers of wealth or influence

based on numbers or popularity).

 

People did reading, fill in the blanks, note taking, asking questions, and then took a TEST to

review the important concepts.

  Student Comments

Female                   18.00 -- 24.99

[Group Time:] Constitution Words

Talked about the different kinds of powers in the Constitution

[Word Bank words:] executive, legislate, judicial, v[e]to, federalism, separation of powers

[What helped you learn today?]  the test.     talking and learning new words

Female                   25.00 -- 44.99

[Group Time:] Us Constitution - divide[d] sovereignty

[Word Bank words:] limited gov't, separation of powers, veto, sovereignty, enforce

Female                   16.00 -- 17.99

[Other Learning (or Work) Efforts:] divided sovereignty    separation of power & checks [and

balances]


Wednesday, June 13, 2007                               5 Learners Present                3.5 hours

MAPT Testing

and Individual Learning Time

  Student Comments

Female                   25.00 -- 44.99

I understood the meaning of decimals. I still need help locating decimals in a [number] line.

Female                   16.00 -- 17.99

Math Work Today:] having trouble with dividing and multiplying decimals

get some Stephen King books I can read!

Thursday, June 14, 2007                                   4 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                   Complexity of managing and resolving conflict (Conflict & Resolution)

                                     R3.5a Take notes of key ideas while reading  (Reading Strategies)

                  N-1  Represent and use numbers in a variety of equivalent forms in contextual situations (Number Sense)

Individual Learning Time -

Three people finished Math Units (Meaning of Decimals or Decimal Operations).

We also did a Reading Journal Activity based on a rather difficult article about the ongoing

conflict between the Executive and Legislative Branch regarding the firing of the Federal District

Attorneys.  Today's Recorder had an article about the two Congressional subpoenas of former

White House officials.

Monday, June 18, 2007                                      4 Learners Present                3.5 hours

       SELF MANAGEMENT - Accurately assess self, set personal goals, monitor progress & exhibit self control (Personal Qualities)

Individual Learning Time

One person finished a Math Unit and 2 others another are nearly finished.  One person spent the

 entire class working on her Writing Project.

A learner had brought in some information about the Supreme Court and the current 9 justices.

  Student Comments

Female                   60.00 +

trying to rewrite some of the essay sentences before I show the teacher.

Female                   18.00 -- 24.99

[I learned today because . . .] I put my ef[f]ort into it.


Tuesday, June 19, 2007                                     4 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                    Allocation of power and authority (Power, Authority, & Participation)

                                     R3.5a Take notes of key ideas while reading  (Reading Strategies)

Separation of Powers and the Powers of Congress.

We reviewed "Separation of Powers" as a concept designed to avoid tyranny and promote

stability in government.

Then we read through Article 1: Section 8 of the US Constitution to group the powers of

Congress as:

1. Powers of the Purse (taxing, borrowing, and appropriations

2. Regulation (and Promotion) of Commerce

3. Control of the Military

4. Administration of Federal Properties (especially the Capital District)

5. Power to pass legislation "necessary and proper" to the above poers (Elastic Clause)

 

Students read silently, read aloud, took notes, asked questions, and gained vocabulary.

  Student Comments

Female                   18.00 -- 24.99

[I worked toward one of my goals in Individual Learning Time] re[a]ding Romeo & Juliet

Female                   25.00 -- 44.99

[What helped you learn today?] We work[ed] as a group

Wednesday, June 20, 2007                               4 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                  N-3  Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates (Number Sense)

Math

Two people worked on multiplying and dividing decimals (and estimating products and

quotients).  One person worked on adding and subtracting decimals (finishing her unit), and

another worked on whole number basics.

  Student Comments

Female                   60.00 +

I worked on the pretest on multiplying and dividing decimals.  I got an 86%

[Other Writing You Did Today:] I worked tryring to come up with some good vocabulary sentences.


Thursday, June 21, 2007                                   4 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                          Where and why there is conflict (Conflict & Resolution)

                                     R3.5a Take notes of key ideas while reading  (Reading Strategies)

                            W3.4a Use graphic organizers to generate and organize ideas  (Writing: Strategies)

                        the rights of the individual to health care information and services (Promotion and Advocacy)

        The important role of science & scientific thinking in political decision making & lawmaking for mutual benefit (Using Science

                                                             and Technology)

                 CT2.1a Identify what’s known and what’s unknown about a topic (Critical Thinking: Cognition & Strategies )

Politics, Vetos and Stem Cell Research

In Social Studies we have been looking at "Checks and Balances" and "Separation of Powers".  

Today we looked a little bit at the science of stem cell research which partially involved listening

to an NPR report discussing the state of the research.

Students listed the pros and cons of federally funding stem cell research, and were asked to

write out their opinion.

We also looked at three ways that Congress could respond to a presidential veto:

1. Override the veto with a 2/3 vote (in both houses)

2. Attach the provision to another "must pass"  bill

3. Use the next election campaign to elect more supporters.

  Student Comments

Female                   25.00 -- 44.99

[I learned today because . . .] we work[ed] as a team asking questions

[I could have learned more if . . .] If I could understand more about veto

Female                   18.00 -- 24.99

Human Stem Cell Research

How do[e]s a baby grow up with eyes - legs

Female                   18.00 -- 24.99

[Word Bank words:] derive, ban, bipartisan, veto

[What helped you learn today?] Talking about something new.  I thought class was pretty good[.] I

understood more than usual

Female                   60.00 +

[Other Writing You Did Today:] The embryonic*al* stem cell issues which is [a] very controversial

issue for a lot of voters.

Monday, June 25, 2007                                      2 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                W2.4d Use expanded vocabulary with increasing frequency and precision  (Writing: Structure and Mechanics)

Vocabulary Review and Usage

Given 5 sets of pictures and the five Word Bank words for June (coalition, extraordinary,

genocide, simultaneously, inflation) students were asked to link each word to each picture set.

Then they wrote a paragraph using all five words.

  Student Comments

Female                   60.00 +

[Word Bank words:] halcyon

I asked Joe if he would come year.  He said he liked the idea and would think about it.


Tuesday, June 26, 2007                                     3 Learners Present                3.5 hours

               W2.5c Revise an essay for clarity, organization, word usage, and mechanics (Writing: Structure and Mechanics)

Writing Projects

Two people worked hard revising their projects.  One person was encouraged to get more of a

start on hers, but she was not feeling well and opted to split her time between Math and Reading

 (Romeo and Juliet)

Wednesday, June 27, 2007                               4 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                   W3.4b Practice all steps of the writing process:  (Writing: Strategies)

Finishing Up

One person finished his Writing Project and another Math Unit that he had been working on

throughout the month.  Another worked on major organizational revisions of her Writing

Project.  One learner avoided starting a Writing Project for another day, choosing to work on

Vocabulary, Math and Reading.  And the last learner (being new) got a start on his before

  Student Comments

Male                     25.00 -- 44.99

I finish[ed] bar graphs and  [am] on my way to finish[ing] circle graphs.

[Word Bank words:] draconian, confiscation

Female                   60.00 +

I cut some of the Thoreau essay.

Thursday, June 28, 2007                                   3 Learners Present                3.5 hours

                                   W3.4b Practice all steps of the writing process:  (Writing: Strategies)

Finishing Up

  Student Comments

Male                     18.00 -- 24.99

[What helped you learn today?] reading my essay over again and correcting the mistakes

Female                   60.00 +

Joe and I went over some simple and complex connecting words in sentence structure.  My essay is

almost done. It needs just a little more work.