Winter Break

I haope everyone has a safe, happy and fabulous winter break!

First period students continue to work on proportions.

Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will have a test Wednesday covering gcf, lcm, equivalent fractions, simplest form, and comparing fractions.

Enjoy the additional snow we are predicted to get!

December!

Are you ready for snow?? The forecast is 2-4 inches by Saturday! Make a snowman!

First period had their test on rational numbers (chapter 4) today, and will start proportional reasoning Monday.
Students in periods 2,3,4,5,6 were scheduled to take a quiz today, but I decided to postpone it until Monday. Today's homework was a handout that is a good review of what will be on the quiz (and the homework will also be graded!).

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
Be safe in your travels!

November 18,2010

First period students continue to work on fraction operations.

Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will start work on preliminary fraction concepts next week.

November

First period students will be working on operations with fractions next week.

Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be working with metric units next week.

Time change!

First period students will be working with rational numbers (decimals & fractions) next week.
Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be working on decimal products and quotients next week.
Don't forget to change your clocks this weekend! It will be nice to have it lighter in the morning, but it will get dark so early! Winter is coming!!

Happy Halloween!

We certainly have had some blusterly October weather!

Next week first period students will finish their unit on solving equations. Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will finish their unit on decimals.

Have a safe Halloween weekend!

First period students are starting a unit on algebra, and will be solving equations next week.

Students in periods 2,3,4,5,6 are continuing their work with decimals. They will need their textbooks in class again next week. They will also need a metric ruler Tuesday.

MAPs testing

All of my students will be taking the MAPs math test today (Friday, 10/15).

First period students will finish their unit on integers next week, with a test on Thursday.

Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will begin work with decimals, and will not need to bring their textbooks to class all week.

Conferences

Parent teacher conferences are coming up on Thursday, October 21. We are attempting to meet with parents of all 6th graders that evening. Look for an e-mail from one of your child's teachers Tuesday afternoon.
Students in first period will continue working on integers next week.
Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will have their test on chapter 2 Wednesday. Topics include units of length, perimeter and area, scale drawings, circle graphs, mean, median, mode, and range.
Enjoy the long weekend, and warm weather!

Snodgrass Slushies!

The Snodgrass Slushies did a fabulous job selling magazines! By the end of the magazine drive, we had the most magazines of all of the Lakeview Homebases! Nice work, Slushies!!

First period students should be finishing their graphing project. Since the quiz Friday took longer than I expected, and I had promised students class time to work on the graphing project, I decided to extend the project one more day. So the graphing project is now due Tuesday, October 5. Next week we will start work on integers.

Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be working with mean, median, mode and range next week.

First period students are starting their unit on data. They should be working on their data project, which is due Monday, October 4
Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 had a lesson on units of length today. Next week we will work on perimeter and area of rectangles and irregular shapes.
Enjoy the warm weather while we have it!

Tests!

All sixth graders will have a math test next week.

Students in first period will have a test on Wednesday covering fractions & decimals. Then we will start a unit on data & graphing, which will include a project using data we collect about ourselves.

Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will have a test on Wednesday covering chapter 1. Our next unit will include measurement, perimeter and area, and scale drawings.

Our Homebase is working hard on our poster!

Some thoughts about organization

All sixth graders should have a binder that includes a folder for each subject, as well as 4 spiral notebooks. All loose papers belong in the folder for the subject. For example, a social studies handout goes in the social studies folder. One of the spirals should be designated for math and math only. All math notes and math homework (unless it is a handout) go in the math notebook. Students who follow these guidelines will have an easier time finding what they need.

Some thoughts about homework

Students should be sure to keep their notebooks organized with homework done on the next blank page. All homework assignments should have the assignment written at the top of the page. Homework problems should be corrected nightly. Students who follow these steps should be able to earn an easy "A" when homework checks are given.
Homework assignments can be found via the district website: click on Lakeview, click on 6th grade, click on 6th grade homework. Homework assignments since the beginning of the year, in all subject areas, can be found there.

Welcome to Sixth Grade!

My name is Karin Snodgrass. I teach sixth grade math, and am the sixth grade team leader. This is my twenty-first year at Lakeview. During that time I have taught sixth grade math, seventh grade math, and eighth grade math, as well as sixth grade science.
If your child is in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, we will be covering decimals, fractions, geometry, integers, solving basic equations, and ratio, proportion, percent. We will be using the McDougal Littell textbook series this year. This series has an excellent website at classzone.com. This website includes access to an electronic version of the student textbook. In order to access this electronic version, you will need the following activation code: 2432737-180.
If your child is in period 1, we will be covering data and graphing, integers, solving basic equations, decimals, fractions, ratios & proportions, percents, geometry, area & perimeter, surface area, volume, solving multi-step equations and inequalities. We will be using the Holt series, which unfortunately does not have an online version.
If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please feel free to contact me, ksnodgrass@ccsd66.org or (630)783-5030.
I hope to see you on Monday, September 13, 2010 for our parent open house. I look forward to working with you and your child.

Summer!

We are working hard on our lip sync!

Have a safe and happy summer!!

Boat Trip!

We had a successful boat trip! The rain stayed away, although we did have some fog. Then we enjoyed lunch at Buckingham Fountain!
Students in first period will start work on volume & surface area next week.
Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 will work on percents and a scale drawing project next week.

Boat trip!

We are looking forward to our boat trip next Friday--keep your fingers crossed for good weather!
In the meantime, 1st period students are finishing their chapter on solving equations and inequalities. They'll have a test next week.
Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 started the chapter on ratio, proportion and percent. Next week we will be solving proportions and using scale drawings.

Equations!

All sixth graders are working hard on solving equations! Students in first period have solved 2-step equations, multi-step equations, and equations with variables on both sides. Next week we will start work with inequalities.
Students in periods 2,3,4,5, and 8 are finishing their unit on equations. They will have a test on Tuesday that will cover "translating" from English to algebra, as well as solving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division equations.

Minute to Win It!

We enjoyed our "Minute to Win It" competitions with Mrs. Bretl's Homebase! I enjoyed the egg roll the most--that's the one we could actually do! And Mr.s Bretl's Homebase gave us some good competition on that one! Mrs. Bretl's Homebase really "cleaned our clock" on spin doctor, though!

First period students finished their unit on simplifying, and have started the chapter on solving (complicated) equations.
Students in periods 2,3,4,5, and 8 are currently solving subtraction equations. Next week we will move on to equations involving multipication and division.

Ride Janie Ride

Our students have been collecting money for the Ride Janie Ride Foundation. Many students have really gotten excited about this drive, and have thought of creative ways to raise money. I am very pleased and proud of all students who have donated time (to raise money) or money to this worthy cause! The drive has been extended until Monday, so if you can think of a way to raise some cash over the weekend, go for it!

All 6th graders are algebraic these days. Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 are solving equations. Students in first period are simplifying expressions by combining like terms and using the distributive property.

April 16

Next week first period students will start a unit on simplifying expressions using the distributive property and combining like terms.
Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 will start the chapter on solving equations. Since this chapter is all about the process of solving an equation (not just "can you tell me the solution to the equation?"), I am not offering a pre-test. Pre-test will return for the following chapter!

First period students will have a test on perimeter, circumference and area Friday.

Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 will have a test on integers Thursday.

Spring Break!

Have a fabulous spring break!

Spring!

Wasn't the weather amazing this week? I am enjoying the later sunsets, especially combined with the warm temperatures and blue skies!
We have completed our unit on geometry! Students in first period math are starting a chapter on area and perimeter. Students in second, third, fourth, fifth, and eighth period classes are starting a chapter on integers.

Here is the picture taken on the Skydeck at Willis Tower that I promised last week:

Notice the buildings below our feet!

All 6th graders will take a test on geometry next week. First period will have their test Tuesday. All other classes will have their test Thursday.

Sixth graders also get to go to Hinsdale South High School Wednesday to see Suessical the Musical! We are looking forward to that!

Don't forget to set your clocks an hour ahead Saturday night!

Whew! ISATs are over!
We'll be continuing our study of geometry next week.
Mrs. Crews, Mrs. Maass, Mr. Urbas, and I had the pleasure of going to the Skydeck in Willis Tower (formerly The Sears Tower) this week. What an experience! It was a beautiful, clear day so we had amazing views of the city and the lake! It was exhilarating (and a little scary!) to be standing on glass over 100 stories above the ground. We're working on getting a picture in electronic form--I'll post it next week if possible!
Enjoy the warmer weather!

Here's the very cool person our Homebase made when they were in Mrs. Mesker's room last week:

We are the Snodgrass (White) Sox (hence the baseball theme).

On a more serious note, next week all Lakeview students will be taking the ISATs. Of course, ISAT tests are very important to our school and district, so it is very important that all students are able to do their very best work. In order to achieve this, students should get a good night's sleep and eat a hearty breakfast. Also, students should have a couple of sharpened number 2 pencils, and a calculator for the math sessions (Wednesday and Thursday).

Math Club had fun at MathCounts. Our we will celebrate Pi Day at our last meeting this Wednesday, February 24
All sixth graders are in the midst of geometry. Use those flashcards to learn vocabulary words!

Geometry!

All sixth graders are currently working on geometry. Use those flashcards to learn the vocabulary words!

Math Club has its final competition of the season, MathCounts, Saturday at DeVry University in Addison. Wish us luck!

February 5,2010

We did not place in the Latin School Math Competition, but we had fun and enjoyed the donuts and pizza! Thank you to Miss Enzbigilis (the sister of our Miss Enzbigilis!), Mr. Azriel, and Mrs. Maass for chaperoning us on a cold January Saturday!

Pack the Place was a success--lots of students, parents, teachers, and alumni attended!

All sixth graders have a test next week. Students in first period math have a test Tuesday on percents. Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 have a test Monday on adding & subtracting fractions and mixed numbers. All students will be studying geometry next. We will be making flashcards of vocabulary words, so all students will need notecards.

Pack the Place!

Sixth graders are showing their school spirit! We had many twins yesterday, many of us are cozy in our pajamas and/or snuggies today! Let's continue showing our school spirit with ugly shirt day Monday, green day Wednesday, and gold day Thursday. And most of all, let's have a huge turnout for Pack the Place Wednesday and Thursday.

Math Club has a tough competition Saturday morning at the Latin School--wish us luck!

New chapters

All students will start work on a new chapter next week.
Students in first period will begin work on percents.
Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 will begin work on adding and subtracting fractions.

We successfully completed the Iowa Test of Basic Skills--yeah!

All sixth graders have a math test next week. Students in first period math have a test on ratio and proportion on Wednesday. Students in periods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 have a test on multiplication and division of fractions on Friday.

Enjoy the (relatively) warm weekend!

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

I hope everyone had a restful, fun-filled winter break!
All sixth graders will take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next week. Since these tests are used to help us make placement decisions for individual students, as well as district-wide curriculum decisions, it is important that students do their best work. To that end, students should get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast so they are not distracted by sleepiness or hunger.

Test Corrections

I am offereing test corrections (for half credit) for the chapter 5 test, which was given the week before winter break. Since this chapter lays the foundation for our work with fractions in the next two chapters, it is important that students review and reinforce the skills and concepts from chapter 5. Here is the imformation given to student in class Monday regarding test corrections:

You have been given the opportunity to improve your chapter 5 test grade by making corrections. You may earn back up to half of the credit lost for completed corrections. If you choose to make corrections, you MUST:

• do NOT write on, erase or otherwise change your original test
• complete corrections on looseleaf paper (no spiral edges!)
• for any problem you choose to correct, you must complete the entire problem
• show your work in a neat and organized way
• complete corrections by Thursday, January 7, 2010
• turn in corrections and original test

You may use your notes, homework assignments, textbook, textbook's website (classzone.com), and review packet. You may seek help from me (before school, study hall), other teachers, parents, siblings, tutors, and friends regarding how to do problems, but the work should be your work.

Please note that test corrections will not be routinely offered.