Update

Greetings!

First of all I must say what a busy 2nd term it has been. After school help continues to be available on Monday and Wednesday afternoons until 3:00. Term 2 is closing on Thursday.

Lately in Math students have been working towards adding and subtracting mixed numbers including renaming when borrowing from a whole number becomes necessary. There is a lot going on in these seemingly short problems as students need to identify preferably the least common denominator, create equivalent fractions, see about renaming where a whole number is converted to a fraction using the denominator such as 8/8's, and simplifying the proper fraction or converting the improper fraction to a mixed number. Students have also identified differences in patterns in order to continue the pattern after identifying the rule such as adding or subtracting 3/5's. This is by far the most challenging chapter. There is far less entailed when multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers. Students enjoyed seeing each other's Birthday Projects. There is no doubt the students who have consistently put forth effort are making the most gains and solving problems now that seemed so difficult back in the fall. It's a matter of staying with it, and believing you can do it! Day 2 and 3 of each lesson is where the concept 'sinks' in for all. Kudos!

Lately in Science students are completing the Solar System Unit. Next week students will read and respond to articles from sciencedaily.com that I printed back in late January. These are cutting edge updates of what is being discovered in the Solar System and beyond. Students have learned characteristics of each planet in the Solar System, the Sun and Moon, Asteroid Belt, and about the possibility of any planet supporting life. We viewed images of these planets from the site: SciTechUniverse.com We also discovered what is outside our Solar System and the comparison between our tiny Earth and Sun to Illium and Betelgeuse. What do we know about what is beyond and what will we aim to discover in our lifetime? Do little green people know that we exist? :) Will you be involved in any of these discoveries? As we viewed the timeline of events, theories, and beliefs over the past 20,000 years and consider the telescope was just invented recently, then aren't we at the beginning of time for discovering what's out there? I still can't believe Elon Musk put a race car with a mannequin driver (Starman) into space headed for Mars. Unfortunately, it is headed for the Asteroid Belt. It's amazing, and the best if yet to be!

Thanks,

Chris