Mrs. Paluso

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SCIENCE Club:   After school club on Tuesday           
   &           
MATH Club:      No Math Club due to noon dismissal for conferences.

November 6, 2009

Dear parents and students,

Report cards went home Friday, November 6.  My Conference Schedule has been
posted on the NewsFlash!  (If you are not receiving the NewsFlash in your
email, please subscribe by clicking on the link at the bottom of NewsFlash.) 
There will be noon dismissal next Wednesday-Friday to allow for conferences. 
Students will need to go to extended day care if they come before 7:45AM due
to conferences on Wednesday-Friday.

Seventh grade continues with their adopted Whooping Crane.  Continue to add
two events to your Time Line each week. Students should checkout the link on
the Whooping Cranes (under the LINKS).

We started our study of cell processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and
mitosis, DNA and it's replication.

My Pre-Algebra group is working on Chapter 4.  They finished that this
week and will be tested Monday, November 9.

Eighth Grade studies ionic bonding this next week as we start a new chapter.

Please feel free to email me with any concerns or questions in need of further
clarification.  Also, I want to remind you that there are notes about online
Texts, Labstracts, Lab Rubrics, Study Guides, GradeLink, and Science Fair
Projects(voluntary) after the main body of this letter.  So scroll down past
my name!

In partnership,

Mrs. Pat Paluso

PS  
Remember, Science Textbooks are now available online FREE!  Before we had
quizzes and vocabulary flashcards or puzzles available.  NOW we have the full
textbooks so students do not have to carry books back and forth to school. 
You have to register (as we did for Pre-Algebra) so go to my LINKS page for
instructions on how to register.

Class/Group name: 7th Science
Class access code: A7A9F3681ABF40172F02

Class/Group name: 8th Science
Class access code: 9A94C84AF303971B3551

*  Remember to use the Points View when viewing the science grades under
GradeLink.  I record all science assignments as points and the most important
grade to watch is the class grade.  We want to keep test scores high, keep all
assignments turned in on time, and watch lab report grades increase each time.
Study Guides are required and there is no extra credit attached for the
remainder of the year.  Two oral Science in the News are required each term.

*  Remember science and math texts by Prentice Hall also have online quizzes
andtests, science vocabulary flash cards, as well as math homework tutoring. 
Go to Science texts or Math texts on my Science with Paluso homework page. 
Remind students that they should maintain their current Study Guide in their
science folder at all times, math is filed in their Notebooks.  They should be
able to show you completed homework at anytime.

******************************************************************************

LAB RUBRICS:  
Each of the science classes uses a rubric to help with the writing of a "Lab
Report" (copies are available in the classroom or may be downloaded from my
web page link).    This helps guide students through the scientific inquiry
and communication process.  They need to grade themselves BEFORE turning in
the lab and should correct it when it is returned to them.  There is a link on
the Science with Paluso homework page or SJA Paluso website LINKS that can
assist with each step.

LABSTRACT is a paragraph of 250 words or less that contains:
    # Problem Statement (Question). Identify the problem. 
    # Procedure summary. What was your approach for investigating the    
      problem? 
    # Results summary. What answer did you obtain? Be specific and use 
      numbers to describe your results. Do not use vague terms like "most"  
      or "some."
    # Conclusions. Answer your question!
  See my Labstract page:
    http://poster.4teachers.org/worksheet/view.php?ID=28919&page=27

A STUDY GUIDE of all the chapter work (which includes written answers to each
section's review, the chapter review, and lab write-ups) is an inventory by
your student and MUST BE SIGNED by a parent and turned in the day of a TEST. 
The TEST must be signed and returned to class after it is graded.  We store
past Study Guides and Tests in a classroom portfolio, which is open to your
viewing at any time.  During Chapter work, a current study guide is maintained
in their Science folder, which they bring to class each day.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS 
may be done voluntarily as part of the HONORS science program for 6th-8th
grade.  To receive HONORS, students must earn an A or B in the regular science
curriculum as well as the science fair project.  The rubric, the timeline, and
all instruction  is available online.  A contract must be downloaded and
signed by both student and a parent.  I support students through out the
process in study hall or after school.  Deadlines must be met or the student
will be dropped from the Honors program.  The 7th and 8th  grade projects may
be screened and invited into the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering
Fair in March.

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Mrs. Paluso

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