Email

If anybody would like to leave me their email to stay in communication, including parents who may need some information from me :), please respond to this post.

The post will not be published, and I will be the only person who sees it. Good luck with the first day tomorrow!

Middle School Madness!

First of all, I miss you guys! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I have talked about my amazing fifth graders from Gladstone, MO. You all will be happy to know that I have proudly been wearing my Meadowbrook t-shirts, including our fifth grade shirt, all over Minneapolis. I have had several people ask me what school I am representing, and I just tell them I am representing the best school ever!

A quick update on me, my wife and I have found a house in Minneapolis and we really love it. I am walking distance to about four different lakes, I told you there were a lot! I have been going to meetings at my new school, but the students will not be there until September 4. However, you all are starting on Tuesday!

I am sure you guys are all feeling some mixed emotions right now. You are scared, excited, and nervous all at the same time. Trust me, that is totally normal. You are not alone. Believe me when I tell you guys that you will do awesome! We covered everything we needed to cover, and you guys really took ownership of your learning...that is huge! You will have several of your old friends there, but you will meet so many new people too. I promise you, in no time, you will be laughing about how you were nervous to start middle school.

Side note, for those at Antioch, you may have an old friend of mine as a teacher! His name is Mr. Brosnehan, or Mr. B., and he taught with me at my old school (Genesis School) in Kansas City. He will be teaching science. If you are lucky enough to have him, you will be getting an incredible teacher! He helped me during my first year of teaching and you will love him. Don't forget to mention that you know me, that can always help too!

Well, I need to sign off, but a big thank you to Halia, Dayton, Brian, and anyone else that has kept up with this blog. Please tell everybody when you see them at school to keep talking to me! A special thank you to Halia for reminding me about middle school starting so I could put this post up. Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to tell me about your day. You are all rock stars, and you will absolutely rock middle school!

What's Everybody Up To?

Hello my favorite fifth grade class! I'm sorry that I am behind on this. I was up north, even past Minneapolis, and I did not have the most ideal internet connections. So, to put it plain and simple, I want to know what you guys have been up to this summer!

Let's start with this post to share things we have been doing, places we've gone, and people we have seen. I'll start.

I started my break by going up to the biggest lake in the world (bonus points if you can tell me the name of the lake.) I spent time with my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law, my adorable nephew, and of course my dog. My fiance is in Kansas City still because her students have school for two and a half more weeks!

I am back in Minneapolis now and will be here for a couple of more days before heading back to KC to begin packing (not fun!) OK, now it's time for you guys to tell me what you have been up to...I miss you all!

Civil War Activities (Sorry, No Fun Title)

We have been studying and talking pretty extensively about the Civil War. I would like to invite you to do some exploration on your own. Check out the links below!


http://www.mrnussbaum.com/civilwarpage.htm


http://www.civilwar.org/education/students/kidswebsites.html


http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/games/fling/americancivilwar/


http://www.history.com/interactives/civil-war-150#/home


http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/abraham-lincoln/
(Stick to the games and activities about Abraham Lincoln)


http://kids.aol.com/quizzes/civil-war-quiz/

Where Are We? Latitude and Longitude

Lines of latitude and longitude are used to identify locations on a map or globe. This includes cities, states, countries, and anything else you can imagine!

Use the links below to help you practice using latitude and longitude. Make sure you practice using the vocabulary terms as well!


http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-games/latitude-longitude-map-game.php


http://www.abcya.com/latitude_and_longitude_practice.htm


http://www.wartgames.com/themes/geography/latitude-longitude.html
(Make sure you are ONLY going to the links that have to do with latitude and longitude.)


http://www.purposegames.com/game/longitude-and-latitude-quiz


http://geography.pppst.com/latitude-longitude.html

Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address was delivered in 1863. That was a long time ago! Some of the language does not sound like the way we talk today. Use the links below, and page 458 of the text, to help you write how you think the Gettysburg Address would sound if it were given today.

In other words, I want to hear you give the Gettysburg Address in your own words. What does it mean? What message was Abraham Lincoln giving? This was a powerful speech, and your interpretation should be too.


http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm


http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=36


http://norvig.com/Gettysburg/

Learning Expo

Welcome to Mr. Aronson's Virtual Classroom! We have used this blog throughout the course of the year to allow students access to some great resources while posing questions and educational findings. It truly has been a great success, and I would love to have parents and students try it out together!

We all learn so much from our parents, or other loved ones who care for us. Students, I want you to take a moment and talk with the loved one who came to this Learning Expo with you. Your task is to collectively decide what the most important thing is that you have learned from this loved one. It could be a life lesson, academic lesson, or something completely different. If you are having trouble picking just one, then choose one of your top choices. I am anxious to hear what you have to say. I will get us started by sharing mine below. Thanks for posting!



I hit a little bit of a dead end four years ago. Due to budget cuts, my contract at the television station in Minneapolis was not extended to me for the following year. I was standing idle at a crossroad because I had always had a passion for working with children, but I did not want to turn my back on journalism and appear as though I was some sort of failure. My father gave me some simple, yet amazing advice. He told me that, as long as I was answering the calling within myself, I would never be a failure. It was that little bit of fatherly wisdom that sent me 450 miles south to Kansas City, MO to begin my teaching career. Thanks Dad!

Scientific Method...Always Includes the Controlled Variable of Awesomeness!

We have been conducting experiments throughout the course of the year using the scientific method. However, I feel as though many people are still struggling with some of the concepts. This posting includes links that should help you master the steps in the scientific method, independent/dependent/control variables, and anything else you may need. Happy experimenting!


http://science.pppst.com/scientificmethod.html
(Includes Powerpoints with awesome info. and some games to boot!)


http://www.quia.com/jg/65726.html
(Flashcards, Matching, and Concentration games)


http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1403
(Information from the University of Missouri)


http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/kroc/scimethod/t-index.htm
(You are a detective on the case, but the only way to solve the crime is by using the scientific method!)


*More sites to come soon!

SAGE Learning Expo

Welcome to Mr. Aronson's Virtual Classroom! We have used this blog throughout the course of the year to allow students access to some great resources while posing questions and educational findings. It truly has been a great success, and I would love to have parents and students try it out together!

We all learn so much from our parents, or other loved ones who care for us. Students, I want you to take a moment and talk with the loved one who came to this Learning Expo with you. Your task is to collectively decide what the most important thing is that you have learned from this loved one. It could be a life lesson, academic lesson, or something completely different. If you are having trouble picking just one, then choose one of your top choices. I am anxious to hear what you have to say. I will get us started by sharing mine below. Thanks for posting!



I hit a little bit of a dead end four years ago. Due to budget cuts, my contract at the television station in Minneapolis was not extended to me for the following year. I was standing idle at a crossroad because I had always had a passion for working with children, but I did not want to turn my back on journalism and appear as though I was some sort of failure. My father gave me some simple, yet amazing advice. He told me that, as long as I was answering the calling within myself, I would never be a failure. It was that little bit of fatherly wisdom that sent me 450 miles south to Kansas City, MO to begin my teaching career. Thanks Dad!

Move West Young Students!

The links below will help you in your journey to discover more about what westward expansion was all about in the United States. Use the activities and information to help you gather information for your pioneer journals. Safe travels!


http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210182/index.shtml


http://www.wartgames.com/themes/american/oregontrail.html
(Some of these links do not always work. DO NOT try and play the game "The Settler's Trail at the top. It is not helpful and requires downloads for the computer.)


http://americanhistory.pppst.com/westernexpansion.html
(Check out the PowerPoints on this site. They are helpful!)


http://www.educationworld.com/a_sites/sites019.shtml
(Each of these links provide awesome information. The first one, All About the Oregon Trail, has some pretty strange facts about the era.)


http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/westward.html
(More information than you'll know what to do with!)


http://www.globalgamenetwork.com/westward_trail.html
(This is a very watered down version of the game "Oregon Trail." It can help you see what some of the travelers experienced, but don't waste your time on here for too long. You have an assignment to finish!)

Vocabulary Voyage (I'm feeling the alliteration today)

Words are everywhere, there is no doubt about that. That being said, we should probably take the time to understand them. This will allow us to become stronger readers and writers. Beyond that, we can take the tools and skills we learn in the classroom and apply them in our everday lives. I promise you words are never going away, so deal with it by enjoying some of these activities below.


http://www.vocabulary.co.il/homophones/
(This all about homophones, words that sound the same but are different in meaning.)


http://www.vocabulary.co.il/syllables/
(Activities on syllables...play the 5th grade games!)


http://www.vocabulary.co.il/fifth-grade-vocabulary-games/
(This link pretty much has it all!)


http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills-5th-langbuilders.htm
(Think you know it all? Then put your skills to the test!)

Dynamic Decimals!

We have been working with decimals a lot lately. As you know, decimals are simply part of a whole. We have compared and converted them to fractions and percents. We have ordered these dynamic decimals as well. Now it's time to have a little fun with them! Check out the links below and work with decimals 'till you drop!


http://www.free-training-tutorial.com/decimal-games.html


http://www.math-play.com/decimal-math-games.html
(This includes adding and subtracting decimals)


http://gamequarium.com/decimals.html



http://www.decimalsquares.com/dsGames/



http://jmathpage.com/JIMSNumberplacevaluedecimals.html

Figurative Language is Music to My Ears

Lately we have been talking a lot about figurative language. We have discussed similes, metaphors, personification, onomatopoeias (awesome to say I know), and hyperboles. Take a look at some of these activities to help you understand the concepts better.

I would also like to hear from you. Why do you think it is important as readers and writers to understand, as well as create, figurative language? Why is this important in everyday life? Enjoy!

http://languagearts.pppst.com/figurative.html

http://www.wartgames.com/themes/languagearts/figurative.html

http://www.zoodles.com/free-online-kids-games/figurative-language

http://gamequarium.com/figurativelanguage.html

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/20-language-arts/343-figurative-language.html
(Use this to help you better understand the terms. It can be a great tool!)

Polygons? More Like Poly-Awesome!

Check out some of these activities helping you to sort and classify polygons based on their attributes. Don't tell anyone, but you are learning geometry!

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/shape.htm
(There are a lot of activities here. Focus on the ones dealing with triangles and quadrilaterals when possible. Sorting other 2-D shapes is fine as well.)

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/quadrilaterals-interactive.html
(Manipulate the quadrilaterals and change them as you please!)

http://www.mathplayground.com/matching_shapes.html
(Test your memory with a polygon matching game!)

http://www.what2learn.com/games/play/3084/
(Learn your quadrilateral vocabulary while warding off aliens!)

Patriots vs. Loyalists

These are a few more sites that can help you develop your persuasive essays. Feel free to post any questions or concerns you have to this blog. Happy writing!


http://www.slideshare.net/bmtoth/loyalists-vs-patriots-presentation
(A short slide show, but provides some excellent arguments for both sides)

http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/american_revolution.html
(Skim and scan! This website is loaded with information, so you will have to skim and scan to find relevant information. It's a great skill to practice!)

http://www.surfnetkids.com/american_revolution.htm
(Also full of a lot of information, so keep skimming and scanning!)

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/revleadl.cfm
(Some excellent stuff and looks at important individuals from the revolution.)

Gizmos!!

Our recent conversations about states of matter prompted me to find this site for you guys. This is a site that has different "gizmos" that we can use for math and science. I will give you all our class code and you will need to put this in when you go to the website. Have fun you guys, this stuff can be really helpful. As always, please post any questions or comments you have for me, or your classmates. This is your blog too!

http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cUser.dspInputClassCode

Class Code: CGXFDKR7ZH

Only Four More Months...Arrrgghhh!

We are over half-way through the year. It seems hard to believe that we have already been through so much together. In all honesty, I have watched each of you grow a sizable amount. You have grown academically, socially, and are on your way to being productive middle school students. However, I must admit, we are not all the way there yet!

I am curious, what do you feel you need to do before the end of the year in order to be the best middle school student you can? It will be different for everybody because we all need different things to help us succeed. Don't worry about what anyone else posts, focus on yourself.

Thanks for sharing!

Shadows...Not Shadow Children!

Try out a couple of these online activities practicing shadows and how they change due to the position of the sun. I realize one of the activities says it is for ages 7-8, but it is still a helpful activity so have fun!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/light_shadows.shtml
(Manipulate the sun and other objects to see how shadows change)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/scienceclips/quizengine?quiz=light_shadows&templateStyle=ages7_8&topicname=Light and Shadows
(Think you know shadows? Prove it with this online quiz!)

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/lightdark.html
(Understand the ideas of light sources and what you see!)

Simplifying, Improper, Mixed, Adding and Subtracting? Wow, When Did Fractions Get So Awesome?

http://www.math-play.com/simplifying-fractions-game/simplifying-fractions-game.html
(This is a soccer game practicing simplifying fractions and reducing them to their lowest term)

http://www.math-play.com/baseball-math-simplifying-fractions/simplifying-fractions-game.html
(Similar to the link above, but with baseball!)

http://www.mathplayground.com/fractions_reduce.html
(One more game with reducing fractions)

http://www.mathplayground.com/fractions_mixed.html
(Game with improper fractions and mixed numbers)

http://jamit.com.au/htmlFolder/app1003.html
(Another game with improper fractions and mixed numbers)

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/icecream/index.html
(Run your own ice cream shop by working with improper fractions and mixed numbers...read the directions on how to play!!)

http://www.quia.com/cb/62195.html
(One or two player game on adding/subtracting fractions)

http://jamit.com.au/htmlFolder/app1007.html
(Keep adding those fractions!)

http://www.fekids.com/kln/games/bugsplat/
(Splat those bugs! This game will make you add/subtract fractions, work with improper fractions and mixed numbers, and simplifying to lowest terms...it's the total package!)

http://www.mathplayground.com/fractions_add.html
(Add it up!)

Have fun!

Adding Fractions is Super Cool...Obviously.

These sites are specific to adding, and possibly some subtracting, of fractions. Remember, you cannot do anything until you have a common denominator!

http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/number-fun/games/game_action_fraction.html
(You MUST play Action Fraction on this site. Please DO NOT skip around to other games on Fun School.)

http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/fract.cgi
(Choose the medium questions. The easy ones are too easy for you guys!)

http://www.math-play.com/adding-and-subtracting-fractions-game.html
(This is an awesome board game challenging you with addition and subtraction questions!)

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fractions/FruitShootFractionsAddition.htm
(Choose Level 3...You got this one!)

More websites to come soon! Have fun!

More Inferences!!

Check these out as well!

http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/reading.cfm?str=reading&num=11&act=2&que=1

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/h/inferchar.cfm

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/e/drawconclusionsp.cfm

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/h/inferencesp.cfm

Let's Make An Inference!!

Making inferences can seem difficult, but remember, you really only need to do two things:

1.) Use the clues from the text. In other words, use what you have read. These clues, or words, will be right on the page for you to see. However, do not just restate these and say you made an inference. You need to use part 2 as well!

2.) Combine what you have read with what you already know. Use your background knowledge, or prior knowledge, to help you make an inference about what you have read.

Ex. Use the clues from the text, and what you already know, to make an inference about where the following passage takes place.
"The smell of cotton candy and hot dogs filled the air. We could hear the cranking of the roller coaster as it rose towards the sky only to plunge back down to earth. In the distance was the sound of laughter from a nearby ferris wheel."

If you used the clues from the text, and what you already know, to infer this takes place at an amusement park...you are correct!

Use the links below to help you continue making inferences...have fun!

http://www.philtulga.com/Riddles.html

http://www.quia.com/pop/43335.html?AP_rand=1708928301

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/o/inferencep.cfm

http://studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/o/makinginferencel.cfm