Top Ten Science Scores

Hi everyone,

I decided to try something new.  It’s an idea I stole  borrowed 🙂 from another teacher.  Basically, what I am going to do is each week (if I have time) I will figure out the top ten percentage scores in my science classes and post them on my web site.  They will also be posted in my room as well.  The students will only be identified by student ID number, so you must know your child’s ID number to find out of they are on the list.

I am hoping this will do two things.  1) It will give some recognition to those students who work really hard all the time and never really get recognized for their hard work.  and 2) It might motivate some students to work harder to get on the list.

Oh yes, some very detail-oriented folks might notice that there may be MORE than ten students on the list — this is because when there are ties for that percentage I post ALL students who earned that percentage — have to be fair, right!

You can visit the list here! 

Enjoy!

 Mr. Yerington

NO Assignment Today

Hi all

 The assignment listed on my web site (Lever Pictures A and B) was NOT given today.  We ran out of time.  Instead, students will get this assignment tomorrow after the quiz.

Thanks

Mr. Yerington

Lever Quiz

Attention Everyone:

There will be a 19 point quiz over Levers this Thursday (November 29) Following are some items to study:

• Know the following vocabulary words:
  • lever
  • lever arm
  • load
  • effort
  • fulcrum
  • Newton
• Be prepared to read a spring scale
• Know how the three classes of levers differ
• Be able to diagram a lever of the class specified

We will be taking a practice quiz Monday to help prepare!!

Thanks

Mr. Yerington

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!

This post is just to wish all my students, parents and guardians a very happy and safe Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time off school and we’ll see you on Monday!!

I’m interested in knowing what some of you are thankful for — leave a comment and let me know!!

Well shame on me. I asked YOU what you are thankful for, but I didn’t tell you what I’M thankful for. So, here you go:

1) I’m thankful for my family and the fact that we can be together for Thanksgiving

2) I ‘m thankful for my job and the fact that I get to work with such a great group of sixth graders!!

OK, let me hear from YOU!!

Thanks

Mr. Yerington

Response Sheet: Levers

Students will receive a response sheet on levers today.  I have stressed that they need to write COMPLETE SENTENCES and be very THOROUGH in their explanation if they want to get all the points.  This assignment is due tomorrow.

Thanks

Mr. Yerington

Table of Contents for Levers and Pulleys Notebooks Online

Hello,

I have posted an online table of contents as I mentioned to some of you at conferences.  This page will allow you to see what “should” be in your child’s notebook that they are keeping for the levers and pulleys unit.  Also, please note that they ARE allowed to bring home the notebook any time for you to look over, to use for assignments, or to study from. 

The link for the table of contents can be found —–>  here!!

Thanks

Mr. Yerington

Thanks for Coming to Parent/Teacher Conferences

This is just a note to say THANKS to all of you who came to parent/teacher conferences.  Your support and involvment is appreciated.  For those who were unable to get a conference scheduled due to me being filled up, I do apologize and you can still e-mail me or call and I will be more than happy to update you on your child’s progress. 

Thanks again

Mr. Yerington

Test “Results”

WOW!!! This is me smiling at the results of the cells and brain test! 🙂 I am SO excited I couldn’t wait to share the results with you. OK, not individual results, but some interesting data overall. Here goes:

A’s — 50 (16 of which were A+’s!!)

B’s — 20

C’s — 17

D’s — 8

F’s — 13

Isn’t that great!!??!! That means that 87 out of 108 students who have taken the test so far got an A, B or C!! In addition that means that approximately 88% of students ‘passed’ (when one defines passing as A-D)  Yes, I am certainly pleased!

Congratulations to all my students for doing such an awesome job today.

Thanks

The very happy Mr. Yerington

Next Unit: Levers and Pulleys

Hello parents, guardians and students:

Just a note to tell you about our next science unit.  We will be starting a unit on levers and pulleys.  This is a kit based unit that will take us through about winter break to complete.  We are trying this kit out to see if it fits our curriculum and if we should make it a permenant addition to our new curriculum. 

Some of the things students can look forward to in this unit are:

• learning about and working with levers
• understanding the three classes of levers
• learning about and working with single fixed pulley systems, single movable pulley systems, and double pulley systems

This is a very hands on and team-based approach.  There is  much, much more in this unit and I am really looking forward to teaching it.  Be sure and ask your child about what they are doing in this unit. 

Thanks

Mr. Yerington

Parent/Teacher Conference Update

I have been informed that my schedule for both Thursday evening and Friday morning is COMPLETELY BOOKED!  I apologize for those of you who have tried to schedule conferences and have been unsuccessful.   There is a  * chance *  that I will be able to fit a few people in, but I can’t promise that.  However, if you would like to have a conference with me below are some possibilities:

• Contact me via e-mail and ask me any specific questions you may have.  I will respond as soon as possible with details on how your child is doing, their current grades, etc.
• Call the school and leave a message if I am teaching.  I will call you back and we can do a phone conference.
• If you happen to seem me out and about (Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee, Fareway, etc) we can chat there
• Call and we can set something up for sometime after the “official” conference times.

Thank you!

Mr. Yerington