midterms

As per the test calendar, the cumulative midterm for both 6th and 7th grade history are on Friday.  Students, start refreshing your memory on those critical vocabulary terms!

Yours in accumulation,
Miss Fischer

Paul Revere's Ride

Here is a neat interactive map that my U.S. History students may find interesting:

http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/virtual.html

tutoring is Tuesdays at 7:40am

Well, here I am at tutoring and unfortunately the room is empty!  Please note that one of the easiest ways for your child to work on weaknesses in my class is for me to be able to address them one-on-one.  This is very difficult for me to do during class, which is why I have tutoring once a week.  I'm also available by appointment pretty much every day before school, after school, or during lunch.

Yours in an empty room,
Miss Fischer

Touchstones reflections

I really enjoyed reading all of the Touchstones reflections from last week; I can tell almost all of the students put a lot of thought in to them.  Interesting ideas included:

-If there were no death, there would only be familial love, not romantic love.
-If there were no death, the most important thing in religion would be forgiveness.
-If there were no death, there would be no grief, and therefore more hope.

Yours in reflection,
Miss Fischer

My name

There has been some confusion.  My last name is spelled Fischer, not Fisher.  I have a feeling some e-mails have not made it to my mailbox because of this.  Please double-check that my e-mail address is

lfischer@northphoenixprep.org

in your mail client; I don't want you to think I'm not responding!  :)

Yours in name,
Miss Fischer

this week

This week in US History, we will be exploring causes and effects of the French and Indian War (including a reading of Benjamin Franklin's Plan of Union).  There will also be a unit 2 (chapters 3 and 4) test of Friday.  Start looking over those vocabulary words.

In Ancient History, as per the test calendar, there is a test tomorrow.  Students will also receive their essays back tomorrow, which they will be able to rewrite and turn back in for more credit.  We will begin studying daily life in Ancient Mesopotamia.

We have implemented a new test calendar on the website.  It is on the left-hand navigation bar, under the school calendar.  Here is the direct link.

Finally, a word on absences.  I have noticed many absences lately.  Whether this is due to illness, vacation, or something else, students are still responsible to make up the content missed.  This means copying any notes taken that day and turning in assignments missed.  If making up the content requires resources (books, maps, etc.) I have in my classroom, that student would of course be welcome to come use those resources during tutoring.  Note that unexcused absences (vacation, prolonged illness with no doctor's note, etc.) may not be eligible to retake any quizzes or turn in minor assignments.

Yours in presence,
Miss Fischer

Pop Quiz Performance

6th grade did not meet their full potential on the pop reading quiz today.  Most students said that they either didn't read or didn't understand the reading.  Parents, you can help with this!  Encourage your child to read their homework aloud to you dramatically.  This will help them to retain the information.  Other ideas:

-have your child summarize each paragraph after they've finished reading it
-make your child feel comfortable asking questions, particularly about vocabulary
-have your child isolate specifically what word or phrase he/she doesn't understand
-have your child take notes on the chapter
-have your child read it twice, once for understanding (pronouncing all the words correctly) and once for solidifying the information (remembering the content of the passage)

None of these things should take longer than 30 minutes, but all of them will be very valuable to your child.  He/she should also feel free to come see me in tutoring if he/she needs any extra reading help.  I'm also available by appointment.

Yours in comprehension,
Miss Fischer

6th grade chapters 1 and 2 test questions

I've gotten a couple of requests for test questions from the most recent US History test.  Without further ado, here they are:

Chapters One and Two Assessment

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. Name one result of the Spanish armada.

2. What is the leading theory on how human beings first came to America?

3. Which city was the center of the Aztec empire?

4. Why were Native American customs so varied?

5. How many people did Christopher Columbus say would be required in order to keep all the people of North America in subjection?

6. Give one reason the Iroquois Federation Constitution was written.

7. What is the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?

8. What is the difference between an astrolabe and a compass?

Define the following terms.

9. Protestantism

10. plantation

11. presidio

12. mission

13. pueblo

14. conquistador

15. circumnavigate

16. mosque

17. archaeology

18. strait

19. nomad

20. irrigate

Bonus: Name as many Touchstones rules for productive discussion as you can.

pop-quiz signatures

7th-grade parents, please note that tomorrow (Tuesday 9/4) is the last day to send in signed pop-quizzes from last week.  Students who do not turn them in signed tomorrow will receive 0/10.

Yours in accountability,
Miss Fischer