Merry Christmas from Mrs. Caldwell...

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Have a fun and safe Christmas holiday break!

 

See you "next year" (2014)!

 

 

 



DUE DATE!

 

LAST CALL for social studies . . .

 

 

ANY and ALL

 

make-up work,

 

late work,

 

missed work,

or forgotten work 

 

MUST

 

be turned in

 

BEFORE Christmas Break begins

 

on FRIDAY, December 20th.

 

 

WOW!!!

Our classroom blog,

mrscaldwellss.blogspot.com,

has received over

 

10,000 views!

 

Yay students and parents!

Keep up the good work!

 

What's going on in social studies?

"Ask your child  /  Tell your parent . . ."

 

 

INTERVIEWS WITH REAL COLONIAL LEADERS?

 

 

 

Which are you?"

 

A newspaper journalist

 

or

 

A colonial leader?

 

 

 

"Who are you?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Fun Night Cancelled

 

Due to recent weather and school closings,

 

tonight's CSMS Family Fun Night

 

has been cancelled.

 

 

Back to School...

ATTENTION:

Dr. Murry, CPS Superintendent of Schools, has announced that there WILL be school tomorrow, Tuesday, December 10th.  

I look forward to seeing everyone back at school tomorrow!

SNOW DAY!!

ATTENTION!

Due to significant icy patches along bus routes, school has been CANCELLED for MONDAY, December 9th.

This snow day will be made up on President's Day, February 17, 2014.

You can stay up-to-date on school closings on Conway Public Schools Facebook as well as KARK (Channel 4), KATV (Channel 7) and KTHV (Channel 11).

Have fun, and be safe!

SNOW DAY!!

ATTENTION!!

Due to inclement weather, school has been CANCELLED for FRIDAY, December 6th.

This snow day will be made up on Monday, January 6th, 2014 (first day back after our Christmas/New Year break). 

Note:  Make-up days will not be added to the end of the school year unless they fall after April 18th. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 





"What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?"

 

 

 

In case of an absence, here is an audio recording of the book

What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz

listened to in class on Wednesday, 11-20, and Thursday, 11-21.

 

 

What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?

 

 



Life in the Colonies

Visit this website to see how life was for the early colonists:

 

Colonial Times

 

 

"Veteran's Day"

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or a temporary halting of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as "the Great War."

The following year, November, 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of "Armistice Day" with the following words:
"To us in America, the reflections of "Armistice Day" will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

"Armistice Day" became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. 

Later, in 1954, in the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, "Armistice Day" became "Veterans Day", a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.



Today's Homework Bash

 

GREAT!  YAY!!

 

 

 

Information and Data for Parents

 

 

QuickLooks at Arkansas Student Performance
(Click to view website.)


 

Friday is "Bash Day!" Just a reminder...

 

Homework Bash Information:

 

  

These handouts were sent home with students on Friday, 11-1, or Monday, 11-4.




New Unit!

 

We are beginning

a new unit in social studies

this week!

 

"Becoming a New Nation:

Explorers and Colonization"

 

Essential Questions:  (Things to consider...)

• Who were the first explorers who discovered North America?
 
• Where did they come from?
 
• Who were the first colonists of America? Where did they settle?

• Why did Europeans establish colonies in North America?

• What conflicts existed between the early Europeans?

 

 

 

Portfolio Due!

"Early Civilizations"

(Portfolio)



*Required Contents: (All due on Friday, 10-25-13.)

1. "Discovering America and Its Early People" Graphic Organizer (Table/Chart)

2. Olmec Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
3. "The Olmecs" Article and Questions #1-10
4. Olmec Word Scramble #1-15

5. Mayan Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
6. "The Mayas" Article and Questions #1-10
7. Mayan Map - "The Mayas-Mapping It Out"

8. Compare/Contrast Essay - "The Olmec and Maya Cultures"

9. Aztec Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
10. "The Aztecs" Article and Questions #1-10
11. Aztec Map - "The Aztecs-Mapping It Out"

12. Inca Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
13. Inca Map - "The Incas-Mapping It Out"
14. "The Incas" Article and Questions #1-10

15. "Who Am I?" (to be completed in class tomorrow, front and back)
16. "Who Am I?" (to be completed in class tomorrow, front and back)

17. Vocabulary Word Cluster (terms: civilization, ancestor, theory, migration,
                                                             tradition, barter)

18. Blank sheet of notebook paper (for unit "reflection")



*Each item on this list should be complete in student's zipper binder behind the social studies divider/tab before coming to social studies class on Friday, October 25th.



NOTE:

• Class time was given to complete each item listed above, which will be included in the "Early Civilizations" Portfolio.
• Any work not completed in class should have been completed in study hall or at home.
• Students should have each of these items clicked in their zipper binders behind the social studies tab in the binder for your perusal.
• We will be compiling the portfolio in class.

Parent / Teacher Conferences

THIS WEEK!

 

Tuesday, October 22,

and

Wednesday, October 23,

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

 

CSMS Cafeteria

Portfolio Reminder . . .

"Early Civilizations"

(Portfolio)



*Required Contents:  (All due on Friday, 10-25-13.)

1. Vocabulary Word Cluster (civilization, ancestor, theory, migration, tradition, barter)
2. "Discovering America and Its Early People" Graphic Organizer (Table/Chart)

3. Olmec Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
4. "The Olmecs" Article and Questions #1-10
5. Olmec Word Scramble #1-15

6. Mayan Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
7. "The Mayas" Article and Questions #1-10
8. Mayan Map - "The Mayas-Mapping It Out"

9. Compare/Contrast Essay - "The Olmec and Maya Cultures"

10. Aztec Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
11. "The Aztecs" Article and Questions #1-10
12. Aztec Map - "The Aztecs-Mapping It Out"

13. Inca Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
14. "The Incas" Article and Questions #1-10
15. Inca Map - "The Incas-Mapping It Out"

16. "Who Am I?" (1 on each civilization, 4 total)



*Each item on this list should be complete and kept in student's zipper binder behind the social studies divider/tab.



NOTE:

• Class time is given to complete each item listed above, which will be included in the "Early Civilizations" Portfolio.
• Any work not completed in class should be completed in study hall or at home.
• All items listed above should have been completed by now.
• The students should have each of these items clicked in their zipper binder behind the social studies tab in the binder for your perusal.
• We will be compiling the portfolio in class on FRIDAY, 10-25-13, to be turned in. 



Report Cards

Report Cards

 

will be sent home

 

on Monday,

 

October 21st!

 

 

Portfolio

"Early Civilizations"

(Portfolio)

 



*Required Contents as of Friday, 10-18-13:
(more items to follow)

1. Vocabulary Word Cluster (civilization, ancestor, theory, migration, tradition, barter)
2. "Discovering America and Its Early People" Graphic Organizer (Table/Chart)

3. Olmec Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
4. "The Olmecs" Article and Questions #1-10
5. Olmec Word Scramble #1-15

6. Mayan Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
7. "The Mayas" Article and Questions #1-10
8. Mayan Map - "The Mayas-Mapping It Out"

9. Compare/Contrast Essay - "The Olmec and Maya Cultures"

10. Aztec Video Notes (Minimum of 10 facts)
11. "The Aztecs" Article and Questions #1-10
12. Aztec Map - "The Aztecs-Mapping It Out"



*Each item on this list should be complete and kept in student's zipper binder behind the social studies divider/tab. 



NOTE:

• Class time is given to complete each item listed above, which will be included in the "Early Civilizations" Portfolio. 
• Any work not completed in class should be completed in study hall or at home.
• The students should have each of these items clicked in their zipper binder behind the social studies tab in the binder for your perusal.
• We will be compiling the portfolio in class at the end of next week. 

Box Top Competition

Remember to collect

BOX TOPS

and bring them

to school!

Deadline

for the competition

is October 25.

 

Right now,

5th grade is

in third place! 

 

Come on 5th graders!

New Unit of Study

 

This week,

we began a new unit of study,

 

"Early Civilizaions of North America".

 

 

Students will be creating "flip books" and compiling

"portfolios" of these early civilizations. 

 

 

These student activities will serve

as the Performance Tasks for this unit.

 

 

American Symbol Performance Task

 

 

 

The

"American Symbol"

Performance Task

 

is due next week

 

on Monday (A-Day) 

or 

Tuesday (B-Day).

 

Research assignment!

In social studies class,

students are

researching an American Symbol

of their choice.

 

After conducting their research,

students will publish their findings, 

draw an illustration of their symbol

and share in small groups.

 

To help with their research,

I have listed the website links below:

 

 

CSMS Portaportal:

(Online resources used at school)portaportal.com/csmsstudent

BrainPop Jr

BrainPop



 Fact Monster
 

 

Assignments

Don't forget to check our blog pages:

 

 

"Current Lessons"

 

or

 

"In Case You Missed It..."

(Last week)

 

Teacher makes mistake . . .

AGAIN!!

Please forgive me for my big blunder on eSchool! 

(New computer program vs. Old teacher)

I failed to click the little "Publish" button each time I posted a new assignment and/or grades... As a result, you were not able to see the assignments and grades posted. 

A big "thanks" to a sweet mom for giving me a heads-up.  I THINK it is now corrected. Hopefully, you can now see each assignment and each grade in your child's social studies class.

 

I welcome any/all help you can give me! :)

Power Of Work (POW) Form

 

POW Parent Contact Notice

(for Carl Stuart Middle School)

 

 

 

 

 

This is the form that will be sent home with your child if a homework / daily assignment is not turned in on the date due.

POW Info

They're baaa-aack!

 

POW = Power Of Work

 

CSMS POW program begins this week...

 

 

 

2013 POW Process

• POWS began Monday, September 16, 2013.

 

• Students will be issued 1 POW only per incomplete assignment. The issued POW will automatically be counted as one of 5 POWS (accumulated in all classes per each 9 week period) in not attending the Homework Bash. Once a POW is issued, it will count regardless if the work is completed or not.

• Students will have 24 hours to complete and return the assignment along with the signed POW for partial credit. The teacher will determine the amount of partial credit the student will receive.

• Students will only receive partial credit for returning both the POW and completed assignment.

• Failure to complete the assignment and signed POW within the 24 hour allotted time will result in a zero being entered in the grade-book.

• The names of students who receive 10 or more POWS in one 9 week period will be sent to Mr. Benton to determine a plan of action in preventing failure. (Considerations could include counselors assigning a mentor, Watch-Dog Dad Assignment, parent contact on potential failure, or other plan as decided by administrators.) 

 

• All staff members issuing graded assignments will participate in the POW Program. A POW can be issued for any graded assignment. 

 

• There is no carry over in POWS per 9-Weeks. Students will get a fresh start at each 9-weeks.

 

• The POW process was explained to students via morning announcements on Friday, September 13.

 

Mrs. Caldwell's Social Studies Class



eSchool will finally be updated on Friday, the thirteenth.
(Hmmmm... that's a little scary...) 

Our first Progress Reports, Interim Reports,

will be sent home with your child 

on Monday, September 16th.

Mrs. Caldwell's Social Studies Class

What a great start to a great school year at CSMS!!

 

Your children, our 5th graders, are getting settled in and adjusting so well to life in middle school.

 

Thank you, parents, for the good job you're doing as middle school parents. It's not an easy one; I know.
 

 

 

 

Mrs. Caldwell's Social Studies Class

I am still unable to update the pages on our classroom blog... 

Our technical staff is working to correct the problem.  As soon as it is corrected, all blog pages will be brought up to date immediately. 

Thank you for your patience. 

Mrs. Caldwell's Social Studies Class

There are technical problems with our classroom blog at this time. Conway Public Schools' technology department is addressing the problem. 

Sorry for the inconvenience.  Hope to be up and running very soon. 

Thank you for your patience.

Welcome Back Information

Welcome Back Students,

Please visit our schools website for some back to school information!!

cs.conwayschools.org

Summer Break!

This was one of my very best school years ever! Thank you!

I fell in love with your children! 

I am so sad that I did not get to see my students the last week of school but want to send a big, heart-felt "thank you" for all the cards, messages, gifts, flowers and memorials sent in response to the loss of my Dad (on Tuesday, May 28th). Your kindness is overwhelming and means the world to me! 

Have a wonderful, safe, restful summer.