Parent portals for reviewing student grades are now available. Your child was given a letter for you on Monday, 11/28.  You can obtain your ID login at the NCTHS PTSA meeting on December 6 (6 pm).

Only two weeks before mid-term exams!  Remember, these exams will be comprehensive - meaning they will cover material from the beginning of the school year.  It's not too early to begin studying.

A Days (Monday and Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: We will end this semester with a study of cellular respiration - how all organisms produce energy. 

• Mon, 11/28:  Review anaerobic respiration notes (from last week). Discuss aerobic respiration.  CW: w/s anaerobic respiration. HW: Read ch 7 section 2 and take notes.
• Thurs.,12/1: Quiz: anaerobic respiration; CW: sec rev p. 144. notes: aerobic respiration. HW: test prep p. 147 ALL

Tech Essentials: Most students have finished their two HTML assignments and are now using Dreamweaver to make their final webpages.  In addition, they are making banners in Fireworks and reviewing CSS.

• Mon, 11/28:  Complete banner for personal webpage.  Complete banner for a business. 
• Thurs.,12/1: Use Dreamweaver to create a layout. Make a second webpage - vocabulary. Make a 3rd webpage - business home page. 

Principles of Engineering: Students will look at building a geodesic dome and compare that with bridge building models.

• Mon, 11/28:  Build a small geodesic dome and test strength. HW: Research types of bridges. Complete notes in notebook. 
• Thurs.,12/1: Use homework research/notes to complete a poster on bridge types. 

Multimedia:  Your mid-term exam review is posted on Moodle.

• Tues., 11/29: Walk cycle assignment. Intro drag/drop.
• Wed., 11/30: Drag/drop assignment
• Fri., 12/2: Complete walk cycle and drag/drop assignment

Tech Essentials:  

• Tues., 11/29: Intro to Dreamweaver. Set up a site, page properties, CSS, page layout.
• Wed., 11/30: Make a banner in Fireworks for personal and business website.
• Fri., 12/2: Complete personal webpage, add business page and vocabulary page.

Honors Biology:  

• Tues., 11/29: Intro Cellular Respiration - Glycolysis, Fermentation.  HW: Vocabulary sec. 1
• Wed., 11/30: CW: w/s anaerobic respiration. Notes: Aerobic Respiration. HW: Sec 2 questions
• Fri., 12/2: CW: Test Prep p 147 (notebook); Discuss aerobic respiration. 

Happy Thanksgving!

Only two days this week, a nice Thanksgiving break, then return for two weeks before mid-term exams. Is it just me or has this semester flown by???

A Day (Monday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: Introduction to Ch. 7, cellular respiration. CW: vocab. NB check

Tech Essentials: Hopefully the few of you who have still not completed the MLA project will get that done.  Remember, if you have already clicked "mark for grading", you must upload remaining assignments using the "MLA Late ...." activity (Moodle).

• Mon, 11/21:  Create banner for webpage using Fireworks

Principles of Engineering: We will make a final decision on whether to compete in the "can" competition, discuss the Westpoint Bridge Building contest, and submit your "Scientist" homework project.  Students will present some of their work using the Elmo presenter.
Multimedia:  

• Tues, 11/22: Finish walk cycle (as a skill). Introduce adding a button to start an animation.

Tech Essentials:  

• Tues., 11/22: Same as A Day.

Honors Biology:  

• Tues., 11/22: Test, Ch. 6. CW: read Ch 7, sec. 1 and complete vocabulary. NB check.

Monday, November 14 - Friday, November 18

A Days:
Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: 

• Monday, 11/14: Review worksheets completed last week and provided correct answers. Review Calvin Cycle. HW: study for quiz on chapter 6 - TEST Thurs.
• Wed., 11/16:: Quiz, chapter 6. Lab: stomata. HW: Test, Ch. 6
• Thurs., 11/17: Test, Chapter 6. Intro. Chapter 7

Tech Essentials: Students will continue to learn HTML using resources on my Moodle site.  

• Monday, 11/14: Intro tables. Students will practice adding a table to their webpage.
• Wed., 11/16:: Students will use a table to re-format their webpage.
• Thurs., 11/17: Complete two webpages linked together following instructions on Moodle.

Principles of Engineering: Students will show robots in basketball competition

• Monday, 11/14: Mr. Morse's room - review student presentations for ITSEC
• Wed., 11/16:: Robot basketball competition.
• Thurs., 11/17: Intro Sketch-up

B Days (Tuesday and Friday)
Multimedia: Students will continue working with Flash: walk cycle, actionscript
Tech Essentials: Same as A Days
Honors Biology: Tuesday: Review Calvin Cycle; Friday: Quiz/Lab HW: Test on Tues

Monday, Nov. 7 - Thursday, Nov. 10

The "game of the century" is over ... whether your team won or lost, we can now "move on".  This is an abbreviated week - no school on Friday (Veteran's Day holiday).

A Days (Monday and Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: Students will work through chapter 6 objectives on photosynthesis.

• Mon, 11/7:  (SUB) CW: Worksheet 6-1. Complete and have sub initial. Tape in notebook. Take notes from PPT on Photosynthesis HW:  Take notes or outline 6-2 - especially info that was not really clear from class discussion, or ppt.
• Thurs.,11/9: (SUB) CW: 1) Make observations on pumpkins. Complete Worksheet 6-2. and turn in. Take notes from PPT. Turn in notebook. Begin video: Secret Life of Plants

Tech Essentials: We continue to work on our MLA Project (resources and instructions on Moodle).

• Mon, 11/7:  (SUB) Complete HTML tutorials (intro thru images) found on Moodle. Begin HTML assignment 1 - making your own webpage using notepad.
• Thurs.,11/9: (SUB) Complete webpage.

Principles of Engineering: Design and build a basketball robot that will shoot a ball with accurancy.

• Mon, 11/7:  (SUB) Work in groups to design and make a list of materials needed to build your robot.
• Thurs., 11/9: (SUB) Build a working robot that will shoot balls into a "hoop" using requested materials.

Multimedia:  

• Tues., 11/8: (SUB) Use flash to create an animation of a turkey using movieclips.  Full instructions on Moodle site.
• Wed., 11/9: I(SUB) Use flash to create an animation of pilgrims using movieclips.  Full instructions on Moodle site.

Tech Essentials:  

• Tues., 11/8: (SUB) 1) Watch video - Cyberbully. 2) Continue work on HTML tutorials. 3) When complete, complete website assignment (full instructions on Moodle)
• Wed., 11/9: (SUB) Same as 11/8

Honors Biology:  

• Tues., 11/8: (SUB) Classwork: 1)Complete worksheet 6-2, have sub sign/initial and tape in notebook. Video: Secret Life of Plants. HW: notes/outline 6-2
• Wed., 11/9: (SUB) Classwork: 1) Take notes on PPT.  2) Complete notebook and turn in. 3) Watch video - Secret Life of Plants

A full week for you, four days for me.  On Friday, there will be a substitute in all classes ... and one more thing - GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Days:
Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: 

• Monday, 10/31: Test, Ch. 5. CW: Vocab. p. 113. Activity - Demise of the Halloween Pumpkin. HW: Read Sec 1 (ch 6). SR. P. 118. Quiz on Thurs.
• Wed., 11/:2: Test Review. Notes Sec 1. Info: Flash project. Students will create a flash animation for either image 6-3 or 6-11.  HW:  Take notes/outline 6-1
• Thurs., 11/3: Vocab/notes quiz. Lab: leaf stomata; 

Tech Essentials: Students will begin learning HTML using resources on my Moodle site.  

• Monday, 10/31: Intro HTML. basic tags, font sizes, bg color, how to use Moodle resources
• Wed., 11/:2: continue using Moodle resources and practice: center, font color, insert image
• Thurs., 11/3: insert link, bullets, numbers. Make a webpage incorporating all tags. Continue html tutorials. MLA project should be complete and all parts uploaded.

Principles of Engineering: Students are completing a website wrapping up our study of Energy. They will look at levers and make a robot/catapult that will toss ping pong balls in a basket.

• Monday, 10/31:Present Energy websites
• Wed., 11/:2: Intro Levers - notes. Robot basketball project info. Design Challenge Info
• Thurs., 11/3:Ipad challenge - wastebasket paper toss. Divide into groups.

B Days (Tuesday and Friday)
Multimedia: Continue working with movie clips: eyes, head bobble, walking. 
Tech Essentials: HTML - see A Days 10/31 and 11/2.
Honors Biology: Same as 11/2 and 11/3 (A Days)

SPIRIT WEEK!!! Mon., 10/24 - Fri., 10/28

This week is Spirit Week leading up to Saturday's Masquerade Dance. Every teacher has a list of what the "theme" is for each day.  Monday ... Pajama Day!

A Days (Monday and Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: Students will have a busy two days this week.  We are finishing our objectives on Chapter 5, Cellular Transport - completing our "egg activity" and taking a test.

• Mon, 10/24:  (SUB) Review status of our egg. Continue to write-up observations.  Eggs were placed in a hypertonic solution (corn syrup) on Thursday - how has our egg changed?  Has the fluid in the beaker changed? Today you will pour out the corn syrup and place it in a hypotonic solution of water.  What do you think will happen?  CW: Complete worksheets as a review of chapter 5.  Get substitute to initial what you complete.  Take home as a study aid along with vocab and section outlines.  Return worksheets on Thursday. HW:  Test on Thurs.
• Thurs.,10/27: Review worksheets. Lab: Red Onion cells Test: Chapter 5

Tech Essentials: We continue to work on our MLA Project (resources and instructions on Moodle).

• Mon, 10/24:  (SUB)Upload sources, thesis statement, outline. Work on essay.  Review MLA PPT (Moodle - Resources).
• Thurs.,10/27: Discuss citations to be included in essay.  Complete Star Math/Reading test.

Principles of Engineering: Students will complete their website on Energy

• Mon, 10/24:  (SUB) Finish website. Presentations on Thurs.
• Thurs.,10/27: Website presentations.  Complete Star Math/Reading test.

B Days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Multimedia:  

• Tues., 10/25: Finish flash "movie" - pics plus sound effects. Upload .fla file to Moodle.
• Wed., 10/27: Instructions on how to publish .fla files as .swf and why. Upload .swf files to Moodle. Present movies
• Fri.,10/29:  Skills to cover: stop looping using actionscript; add a button to start an animation

Tech Essentials:  

• Tues., 10/25: Finish Star Math/Reading test.  Work on MLA project.
• Wed., 10/27: MLA Project
• Fri.,10/29:  Complete and upload MLA Project to Moodle.  Review 10 selected websites for different design criteria.  Upload to Moodle. 

Honors Biology:  

• Tues., 10/25: Egg activity - shells have been removed, place egg in hypertonic solution of corn syrup.  Mark level in beaker.  Cover and label.  CW: Complete two worksheets and review.  HW: Study for test on chapter 5 
• Wed., 10/27: Lab: Observe red onion cells when placed in hypertonic and hypotonic solutions. Write up egg activity.  Remove from corn syrup and place in water. HW: Study for test.
• Fri.,10/29:  Complete write-up of egg activity based on today's observation (results/conclusion).  TEST:  Chapter 5.

Monday, Oct. 17 - Friday, Oct. 21

Oh no ... a full week...and report cards! We begin our second nine weeks and the last of the first semester.  
A Days:
Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: We are wrapping up chapter 4 and beginning chapter 5 as we continue our study of the cell. I have to add that students in both classes did a great job on their 3D model of the cell membrane!

• Monday, 10/17:Test review; HW: study for test Wed.
• Wed., 10/19: Test, Ch. 4. CW: Vocab. ch 5 sec 1
• Thurs., 10/20:

Tech Essentials: Students are working on an essay incorporating MLA citations.

• Mon., 10/17: Review MLA citation types. Complete sources, thesis statement, and outline. Upload to Moodle.
• Wed, 10/19: Review MLA citation types again and stress that 3 types must be used in essay. Work on essay.
• Thurs., 10/20: Complete essay and upload to Moodle.

Principles of Engineering: Students are completing a website wrapping up our study of Energy.  

• Complete Monday and Wednesday. Present on Thursday.

B Days (Tuesday and Friday)
Multimedia: Students will continue working with Flash - adding sound, buttons, intro to actionscript.
Tech Essentials: Review MLA Citation types. Complete essays and upload to Moodle.
Honors Biology: Chapter 5.

Tuesday, Oct. 11 - Friday, Oct. 14

A four day week after being out for our abbreviated (but welcome) Fall Break.  A little unusual this week - three B days and only one A day.


A Days (Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: 

• Thurs., 10/13: LAB Cells HW: Vocab. Sec 3 (organelles)

Tech Essentials: 

• Thurs., 10/13: Introduction to MLA, login to Moodle, select topic and begin essay

Principles of Engineering:  

• Thurs., 9/29: Online roller-coaster track

B Days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Multimedia:  

• Tues.,10/11: Complete Fireworks assignments. Intro Flash: keyframes, motion tweens
• Wed., 10/12: Flash Shape Tweens
• Fri., 10/14:  Flash project #1

Tech Essentials:  Students will complete essay on chosen topic using mla citations.They will complete and upload 10 resources, thesis statement, and outline.  Begin essay draft following online (Moodle) instructions)

Honors Biology:  

• Tues.,10/11: Review 9 weeks grades, Ch. 4 sections 1, 2, 4. 3-D cell membrane models. CW: vocab, sec. 3 (organelles and their functions)
• Wed., 10/12: Lab: cells, Test review. HW: Study for test Ch. 4
• Fri., 10/14:  Test Ch. 4 

Monday, October 2 - Wednesday, October 4

A short week, only three days until our Fall Break begins.  I will be spending my time in New Orleans with a quick trip to Baton Rouge on Saturday to see if LSU can manage to beat Florida.  Back to school next Tuesday!
A Days:
Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: We are beginning our study of the cell with an overview of the history related to the cell, how SA and volume are related, different types of cells, and the function of cell parts.

• Monday: Review results from Enzyme Lab - finish lab write-up. Review HW - P. 76 SR. Activity: SA vs Volume.  Leave notebooks for NB check. HW: 3-D model of cell membrane due Wed. after fall break.
• Wed: Discuss functions of cell organelles. CW: Section Review

Tech Essentials: Students will complete show competency in search keywords as well as determining valid websites.

• Mon., 10/3: Scavenger Hunt
• Wed, 10/5: Complete all missing assignments - share.

Principles of Engineering: Students will use previous studies of potential and kinetic energy to build a roller coaster using criteria handed out in class.

• Mon., 10/3: Complete roller-coaster using info gathered on 9/29 prototype activity. Students will mark positions of greatest KE and PE.
• Wed., 10/5: Complete Skate Park activity by designing their own online tracks.  Instructions.

B Days (Tuesday and Friday)
Multimedia: Students will complete all required assignments as well as two independent research assignments. 
Tech Essentials: Same as A day Wednesday assignment. HW: 3-D model of cell membrane due Tuesday after fall break.
Honors Biology: Same as A days (Wed and Thurs).

Monday, September 26 - Friday, September 30

Can you believe there's ONLY a week and a half left before fall break - AND the end of the first nine weeks of school.  One fourth of the school year is almost over!

A Days (Monday and Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: Students begin a new unit this week as we start our study of cells and their properties. Objectives: Discuss scientists who contributed to the cell theory and identify their contributions; Identify the factor that limits cell size; Complete the following before the end of the school day on Monday - 10 pts. extra credit to 1) follow my blog; and 2) email me that you have done so.

• Mon, 9/26:  Review chapter 2 test results. CW: P 79, 1-9, Q&A.  Notebook check. 
• Thurs., 9/29: Notes: Chapter 4, sec 2.  Activity: Volume vs Surface Area. Enzyme Lab. HW: P. 76, 1-8, Q&A.

Tech Essentials: Students should have completed their videos as well as digital poster on Internet Safety.  Beginning this week we will look at the topics of copyright and internet search techniques. 

• Mon, 9/26:  View videos.  Notes: copyright
• Thurs., 9/29: Notes: internet search techniques.  CW: Internet Scavenger Hunt

Principles of Engineering: Students will continue to review potential and kinetic energy. 

• Mon, 9/26:  Online Skate Park activity.
• Thurs., 9/29: Activity:  Marble Track.  Students will build a roller coaster track that will move a marble through a series of loops.

B Days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Multimedia:  We are continuing to use Fireworks as a photo-editing tool.  Students are completing work on the following assignments: Colorize black and white photo; Repair damaged photo; Remove background using rubber stamp/clone tool. As students complete required assignments, they will complete an independent study on one of the techniques listed below (9/28).

• Tues., 9/27: Colorize, repair, remove background
• Wed., 9/28: Individual learning tasks: masking; text effects; vector drawing (NO tracing); webpage design; animation. Google "tutorial _____" - fill in with task.
• Fri., 9/30:  Continue individual learning.  Prepare a movie or glog showcasing "best works". Presentations next Tuesday!

Tech Essentials:  Same as A days.

Honors Biology:  Complete the following before the class begins on Tuesday: 10 pts. extra credit to 1) follow my blog; and 2) email me that you have done so.

• Tues., 9/27: Test, chapter 2.  Turn in enzyme detergent write-up. Notebook check.
• Wed., 9/28: Review Test results. Lab: Enzymes/Detergents.  HW: Read Ch 4, sec. 1. Complete SR P. 79, 1-9
• Fri., 9/30:  HW Check. Notes: Chapter 4, sec 2.  Activity: Volume vs Surface Area. HW: SR, P. 76, 1-8, Q&A.

Monday, September 19 - Friday, September 23

Alabama Graduation Exam testing is this week!


A Days:
Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: Students will be in the lab Monday (A) and Tuesday (B)ti complete the Organic Molecules lab - specifically testing foods for monosaccharides and proteins.
Objectives: 1) Perform chemical tests and describe the function of indicators. 2) Describe the induced fit model of enzyme action. 3) List monomers of carbohydrates and proteins. 4) List examples and functions of organic molecules.

• Monday: Review indicators for proteins and monosaccharides. Lab: Organic Molecules. HW: Review for test - p. 62, 63. Test on Thurs. 
• Wed: HW Check.  Discuss enzyme lab write-up. Test Review. HW: Test Thurs.
• Thurs: Test Chapter 2 and 3. CW: Read Sec. 1, chapter 4. HW: SR P. 71.

Tech Essentials: Students will complete video on Internet safety and begin review of internet search principles.

• Mon., 9/19: Complete filming, begin editing. Complete glogster digital poster.
• Wed, 9/21: Finish video editing. Complete glogster digital poster. 
• Thurs., 9/22: Upload video. Notes internet searching. 

Principles of Engineering: Last week students reviewed principles of work and energy.  This week students will review the difference in potential and kinetic energy.

• Mon., 9/19: Visiting Lecturer ... engineer.
• Wed., 9/21: Discuss homework assignment on scientist. Notes: potential vs kinetic energy. 
• Thurs, 9/22: Energy Skate Park activity

B Days (Tuesday and Friday)
Multimedia: Students will continue to work with graphic editing tools in Fireworks.  Specifically they will be repairing and colorizing old photographs. 

• Tues., 9/6: Colorize and repair photos
• Fri., 9/9: Complete photos. 

Tech Essentials: Same as A days (Tues same as Wed and Friday same as Thurs)
Honors Biology: Same as A days (Wed and Thurs).  HW: TEST on Monday.

Monday, September 12 - Friday, September 17

I hope that last week's progress reports were a "wake up call" to some.  Fortunately, most students are adjusting to our schedule and doing well.  

A Days (Monday and Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: We continue our study of chemistry with a look at organic molecules. Objectives for this week: 1) Distinguish between organic and inorganic molecules; 2) Identify functional groups in organic molecules; 3) ID four main classes of organic molecules and  summarize their functions in the body

• Mon, 9/12:  Test on chapter 2. CW: Activity on functional groups. Discuss properties of organic molecules and why important. HW: p. 54, 1-10,  Q&A.
• Thurs., 9/15: HW check. Discuss nutrition. Activity: McDonald's nutrition. HW: p. 60, 1-10, Q&A. Bring in small quantities of food for lab on Monday.  Remember, lab rules regarding shoes, contacts, hair.

Tech Essentials:  Students will continue to research and learn more about various topics all relating to Internet Safety.  

• Mon, 9/12:  Students will use storyboards and scripts to film their video. Begin editing.
• Thurs., 9/15: Complete editing. Begin presentations.

Principles of Engineering: Students will address how to make a presentation "selling" their product as well as look at the topic of "work" as it relates to physical processes.

• Mon, 9/12:  Student presentations on robot arm. HW: discuss what "work" means to you and give 5 examples. HW: Take notes from online resource, Physics Classroom.  HW: Complete online lab: Which Path Requires the Most Energy
• Thurs., 9/15: Discuss lab results. 

B Days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Multimedia:  We are continuing to use Fireworks as a photo-editing tool.  This week we are concentrating on the blur, dodge, and rubber stamp tool.

• Tues., 9/13: Magazine Cover, Famous Attraction
• Wed., 9/14: Old Photograph
• Fri., 9/16:  Beach Scene, Family Portrait

Tech Essentials:  Same as A days (Thurs [previous week], Mon, Thurs this week)

Honors Biology: 

• Tues., 9/13:Same as Mon.,  9/12
• Wed., 9/14: Same as A Days, Thurs., 9/15
• Fri., 9/16:  Lab: Organic Molecules

Tuesday, September 6 - Friday, September 9

Welcome back after our Labor Day Holiday to our third A week, although this week we will have two A days and two B days.

All students - fees are due this week.  If you are not able to pay all at once, pay one class fee each month. Students should be checking all teacher blogs on a regular (weekly) basis.  Keeping up a blog takes a minimum of one hour each week for teachers.  If they can spend that much time creating it for the benefit of students (and parents), then students should be able to spend a few minutes reading it.

A few observations ...

• Too many students are still not completing homework.  I do not assign "frivolous" homework. It is used to complement class objectives.
• Too many students are not writing down or reading on-line instructions.  This is especially true in Tech Essentials.  I have to repeat instructions too many times - or point to the numbered "to do" list posted on the board that I have already spent time reviewing!
• Check teacher blogs at the beginning of the week.
• POE students ... are you checking this blog? Have you completed your essay???

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology:We are still studying basic chemistry this week.  A TEST is scheduled for Monday (A days) and Tuesday (B days).

Objectives: 1) Describe unique properties of water 2) Identify whether a substance is an acid or a base using the pH scale 3) Distinguish between adhesion and cohesion; solvent and solute.

• Wed, 9/7: HW check, objectives p. 35. CW: vocab p. 39. Activity: Properties of Water. HW: obectives, p. 39. Study for test on Monday, 9/12.
• Thurs, 9/8: HW check and discuss test objectives.  Activity: pH Lab.  Students will determine the pH of various substances and record.  HW: Complete free response question, study for test on Monday.

Tech Essentials:  Students are continuing to learn about different aspects and terminology related to internet safety and security. They have completed a presentation using google docs, researched online factsheets and videos, defined specific terms related to the topic, and  produced an online poster about a specific topic.  This week they will create and edit a video on internet security/internet safety and upload it to an internet site.

• Wed, 9/7: Discuss what is meant by a "storyboard" and how to complete one. Complete online poster using glogster.com. HW: Create a script for a video on internet safety. 
• Thurs, 9/8: HW check.  Students will work in groups and pick one script to complete.  Use the script to create new storyboard for the movie, decide on locations, practice using moviemaker. 
• Resources:
• Storyboard tutorial #1 
• Go to youtube. Search for "storyboard tutorial"
• Moviemaker tutorial
• iMovie tutorial

Principles of Engineering:  Students are continuing to learn basic engineering principles: pre-design; prototyping; and working in groups as well as organizational habits.  Too many students not completing homework, forgetting notebooks, forgetting projects, etc.  The work in class is okay ... outside ... not so much.


Students are completing a project to build a robot arm that will pick up and move a styrofoam cup from a distance of 46 cm. The primary build was last Thursday.

• Wed, 9/7: Complete arm and present. Upload essay to Moodle. HW: Create an account on glogster.com.  Review tutorial. Sketch out storyboard to create your own digital poster on robotics (the info on your essay).
• Thurs, 9/8: Finish presentations. CW: Complete a digital poster on robotics using glogster. HW: In your notebook, discuss what the term, "work", means to you.  List at least 5 examples of work being done. Begin homework assignment on a scientist (handout in class).

B Days (Tuesday and Friday)

Multimedia:  Students are REALLY doing well with their projects. Keep up the good work.  As I have mentioned in class, the hardest part of this class is staying focused and making good use of your time.  I hope that some of you have surprised yourself with the creativity that you have shown.  I am sharing the cartoons that you created with Mr. Thorson and the rest of our staff.

• Tues., 9/6: Test on Fireworks tools (black and white arrows, scale, vector and bitmap tools) as well as notes on vector and bitmap graphs. CW:  Practice using bitmap smudge, blur tools to edit photos (ex: removing wrinkles).  New skill: matching colors in different photos. Take photos of students (or students can use their own) for the next assignment.
• Fri., 9/9: Students will used skills learned to create an original "magazine cover" of themselves. 

Tech Essentials:  Same as A days (Tues same as Wed and Friday same as Thurs)

Honors Biology:  Same as A days (Wed and Thurs):

Monday, August 29 - Friday, September 2

As we enter the fourth week of school, a few reflections:

• "Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential."...Winston Churchill. Continue to show effort.
• We have established that we all have problems remembering - this includes myself and all ages of students.  However, we cannot assume that is this is "just the way it is".  I will continue to work with all classes on organization and study skills and encourage students to complete homework the night it is assigned, not the night before it is due.
• Too many students in my sophomore Engineering class and freshman Pre-AP Biology class are not completing homework or are not following written and verbal directions correctly. We will continue to discuss ways to organize assignments so that "remembering" becomes less of a problem. 

A Days (Monday and Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: Students completed their first test last week and the overall results were very good.  However, I am sure that many were disappointed that they did not get as high a grade as they were used to.  Objectives for this week: 1) Demonstrate correct use of lab equipment; 2) Demonstrate basic knowledge of chemistry principles

• Mon, 8/15: Students will complete a Skills Lab on using the microscope and determining density. HW: Complete Analysis and Conclusions questions 4-6, p. 29 (textbook). Read Sec. 1, chapter 2. Answer "Objectives" as questions, p. 31. 
• Thurs., 8/18: Review homework. Activity: Covalent vs Ionic bonds. Notes: Energy. HW: Objective Questions, P. 35

Tech Essentials:  Students will continue to research and learn more about various topics all relating to Internet Safety.  

• Mon., 8/29: 1) Students will share their google docs with two other students. Students will review the urls for factsheets and videos and post a review on Moodle (or google docs for those students without an account). 2) Define the following terms in notebooks: adware, cookie, cyberbulling, firewall, flaming, griefers, identity theft, malware, mouse-trapping, netiquette, peer-to-peer network, pharming,  phishing, social networking, spim, spam, spyware, trojan horse, trolling, worm, virus.  Turn in notebook for notebook check. 
• Thurs., 9/1: You will be making use of an online site called "glogster" to make an online poster.  Use today to familiarize yourself with how to make a "glog". Use the following resources to familiarize yourself with how to use this site as well as an example of an exemplary "report": What is a Glog?,  Exemplary Glog
• HW: On your next day in class you will use the glogster website to make a poster on one of the terms you defined in class Monday.  Select the term, make sure you have enough information on it to make a poster. You can include general or background information on internet safety as well as specific info on your topic. Draw out what you will include.  This will serve as your template for what you will complete in class. DO NOT COMPLETE THE GLOG AT HOME - that will be done in class.

Principles of Engineering: I thought you worked well in groups last week to complete the project, "Building a Better Candy Bag".  The bags produced were, in general, well designed and, as you saw, were quite different from each other.  It is unfortunate that some of you lost points because you did not complete your homework or you did not have your bag for the final presentation. 

• Mon., 8/29: Login to moodle and complete individual review of candy bag project.  Review new project guidelines with new group. Students will begin work on designing a robotic arm. Brainstorm, sketch, decide. HW: Complete scale drawing of arm. Begin research for essay.
• Thurs., 9/1: Build and test prototypes.  Redesign if necessary.  HW: Continue research. Be prepared to upload essay to Moodle 9/7.

B Days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Multimedia:  

• 8/30: Complete cartoon character, t-shirt design. Intro to bitmap tools, specifically looking at the functions of different lasso types, selection, and changing colors.  Students will practice removing selections and changing colors..  We will also work with making colors more transparent. Create personal avatars.  Follow blog and upload avatar.
• 8/31: Edit selected images. Begin magazine cover assignment
• 9/2:  Complete and upload magazine assignment. 

Tech Essentials:  Same as A days (Thurs [previous week], Mon, Thurs this week)

Honors Biology:  

• 8/30: CW: Review Lab Skills - goggle use, getting equipment, clean-up, taking temperature, making a wet-mount slide, correct way to draw/label microscope drawings. HW: p. 29 - read/review density activity (will complete 8/31).  In notebook - answer objectives - p. 31 Q&A
• 8/31: HW check and discuss correct answers.  Review covalent and ionic bones. Lab: Determining density of oil and water.  HW: Objectives p. 35
• 9/2:  Lab: Microscope Use/Drawing Slides.  HW check. Notes: Energy

Monday, August 22 - Friday, August 26

Welcome to week three and our second A week!

All students - make an effort to pay fees this week.  If you are not able to pay all at once, pay one class fee each month.

A few observations from the first two weeks:

• Attendance has been excellent - keep it up!
• Do not wait for me to tell you to "take notes", "get out your notebook", etc.  You should begin each class with an open notebook and a pen/pencil.  If you hear information that is new to you, write it down! 
• We have already determined that remembering is difficult - what have you already forgotten this past week - instructions, login/password, homework, HR info, pictures??? Take positive steps to get organized.
• Check teacher blogs on a regular (minimum of weekly).
• Remember, you have homework EVERY night to study your notes.  

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology:Our first test is scheduled for this week.  I hope you took good notes during our test review.  Fees are due ($20/year).  I need to order lab supplies and dissecting materials as soon as possible.  Extra credit: +5 points on your first test for bringing in a minimum of 2 rolls of paper towels and one box of tissue.  Make sure your name is on each. Must be received by the beginning of class on Thursday. 

Objectives: 1) Use a compound light microscope to draw and identify microscopic images; 2) Correctly convert metric measurements (kilo, centi, milli); 3) correctly ID the metric terms for mass, measurement, volume, and temperature; 

• Mon, 8/22: Test: notes on Intro to Biology. Material to be included: vocabulary; scientific method; identifying dependent/independent variables; graph interpretation; and lab equipment. Class activity: Review parts of a microscope HW: Study notes, study for Lab Safety test, SR P 24, 2-9, Q&A (notebook)
• Wed., 8/24: HW check and review correct answers. Lab Safety quiz. Free response part of test.  ***Lab Skills activity: Use a microscope to focus microscopic objects and correctly draw image. Review test results. HW: ***Review Lab Skills activity page 28/29.  Begin write-up in your notebook.  Write objectives, answer background questions, and complete data table (#1) as well as familiarize yourself with the experiment. ***Not completed or assigned as too many students did not have HW!
• Thurs., 8/25: HW check and discussion. CW activity: Review Lab Skills activity page 28/29.  Begin write-up in your notebook.  Write objectives, answer background questions, and complete data table (#1) as well as familiarize yourself with the experiment. Lab skills - use correct lab equipment to determine temperature and compare the density of oil and water. HW: Complete lab graph. Review notes. Familiarize yourself with the experiment - density, microscope lab.

Tech Essentials:  We are continuing to get all new students a login as well as ncths email account - in addition to getting enough computers to accommodate all students. We are continuing our review of internet safety, netiquette, and internet searching

• Mon., 8/22: notes - internet safety, videos - internet safety, presentations - internet safety. CW: complete Google Doc presentation on Internet Safety (one rule per slide/ one appropriate image/slide).  Share non-edit presentation with me.
• Wed., 8/24: notes - Internet searches using keywords, safe searching, finding valid sites. CW: Internet Scavenger Hunt. 
• Thurs., 8/25: notes - MLA citations.  CW: Complete MLA Citations page using Google docs (document) on 3 internet sites, one textbook. Share non-editing document with me.

Principles of Engineering:  We have reviewed the Engineering Design Process, Engineering notebook procedures, and completed several activities to practice each.  We are beginning a fairly simple activity to reinforce how to correctly proceed with each.  Specifically, students will design a candy bag using the design process as a guideline and correctly record the process in their notebooks.  

• Mon., 8/22: Check homework - notes on candy bag design, scale-drawn sketch of bag design in notebook with annotations and dimensions. Complete paper prototype. CW: Review materials for design. Test prototype, determine volume, re-design, re-sketch and get teacher approval to continue. HW: re-write and study for test on Thursday - Design process, sketches, scale drawing, engineering notebook.
• Wed., 8/24: CW: Finish bag and present design and show volume/weight held ratio. HW: study for test.
• Thurs., 8/25: Test.  Finish presentations.

B Days (Tuesday and Friday)

Multimedia:  We continue to review vector tools and create original graphics using these tools.  

• Tues., 8/23: Complete NCTHS Logo. Complete original cartoon graphic or approved cartoon graphic (ex: Spongebob, Hello Kitty, etc.) HW: Study for test - notes on graphics formats, Fireworks
• Fri., 8/26: Test.  CW: Introduce skills - modify vector objects - join, punch.  Practice skills

Tech Essentials:  Same as A days (Mon and Wed)

Honors Biology:  Same as A days (Mon and Wed):

Monday, August 15 - Friday, August 19

Week 2!  We all made it through the first week - finding classes, getting mountains of papers signed, getting lunch, logging on to our domain (or not in some instances), and trying to remember each teacher's specific rules and requirements. It's downhill from here ... and only 3 more weeks until our first holiday!

A Days (Monday and Thursday)

Honors (Pre-AP) Biology: Students made good progress last week - homework was completed in a timely manner, tardies were almost non-existent and mostly due to finding your way around the first couple of days, and class participation was good. Objectives for this week: 1) Describe and implement correct uses for lab equipment; 2) Design a data table and graph results; 3) Demonstrate knowledge of scientific method (dependent and independent variables, constants, control)

• Mon, 8/15: Signed safety contracts are due. Discuss correct lab write-up procedure. Begin "Penny Lab" experiment and write-up. HW: Study notes on scientific method and design, vocabulary and prepare for a quiz on Thurs covering notes on scientific method, lab safety and equipment.
• Thurs., 8/18: Complete "Penny Lab". Quiz on notes. Activity: Determine measurement, volume, mass of various objects.

Tech Essentials:  A pretty bumpy road last week - not enough computers (19) for students (27), incorrect passwords, email signup problems.  However, you coped (better than I did) and by the end of the week all but a few had been able to login to our domain. It appears that most of the problem with your email was due to mis-typing of the security letters, NOT with your login and password. This week we will begin working with Google Docs as well as setting up your personal calendar. 

• Mon., 8/15: Notes: vocab - cloud computing, blog, browser, search engine, url,  Review internet usage agreement. Review collaboration and google docs.  Sign up to follow teacher blogs. Complete google docs presentation on Internet Usage Agreement and share with me (jljones@ncths.net)
• Thurs., 8/18: Notes: Effective ways to search the internet. Set up google calendar. Continue working with google docs.  Students will work together to produce a collaborative document on Internet Safety.

Principles of Engineering:  Last week was spent reviewing how to use the Engineering Design Process. Students showed lots of creativity and "thinking outside the box" as they worked on their "Tall Tower" activity.  Students were given two sheets of paper and told to make the tallest tower they could.

• Mon., 8/15: Notes - Engineering Notebook setup; Activity: "Build a Better Bag" (from IEEE lesson plan).  Students will work in pairs to design a candy bag and predict the volume and strength of their design. Students will then build a model of their design, redesign it, build an improved bag, retest using weight, discuss findings, and share results. HW: Bring in toothbrush (used is OK, flat bottom). Work on write-up if bag is completed.
• Thurs., 8/18: Complete candy bag presentation and present findings to the class.  HW: Write up reflection questions (if not completed 8/15).

B Days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Multimedia:  Students were able to logon and practice using some of the vector tools in Fireworks.  This week we will review how to save in different formats, where to save work, as well as complete projects using vector tools. 

• 8/15: Review moodle login and uploading. Complete or update iGoogle page. Review vector graphics tools, as well as fill and text tools. Complete spongebob drawing or original graphic and upload to moodle.
• 8/17: Notes - designing logos.  Project: Design logo for NCTHS and Firefighters. Upload to Moodle.
• 8/18: Complete logo designs.

Tech Essentials:  Same as A days (Thurs [previous week], Mon, Thurs)

Honors Biology:  Same as A days (Thurs [previous week], Mon., Thurs):