Due 5/3 (class #22)
- Bring Kaplan to class.
- Finish memorizing the fractions, decimals, and percents. Spend 5-10 minutes on this EVERY DAY. Print and use this
worksheet/quiz to test your knowledge. Time yourself as you are completing the worksheet. Try to complete at least three worksheets over the next several days.
- Kaplan Ch.
Due 4/26 (class #21)
- Catch up as needed.
Due 4/19 (class #20)
- Kaplan Ch. 5 (ISEE quantitative comparisons), Ch. 10 (intro to math), Ch. 11 (as far as you can get).
- Catch up!!! You MUST finish the lower-level test assigned for 4/5 if you did not finish it already. Score yourself and analyze your scores (careless errors vs. lack of understanding). Review all answer explanations provided in the book (see detailed instructions below).
- Bring Kaplan to class.
- Practice the times table at least once -- most of you are rusty and/or slower than you were before.
- Finish memorizing the fractions, decimals, and percents. Spend 5-10 minutes on this EVERY DAY. Print and use this
worksheet/quiz to test your knowledge. Time yourself as you are completing the worksheet. Try to complete at least three worksheets over the next several days.
Due 4/12 (class #19)
- Write out parts of speech, definitions, and sample sentences for the following words from the mythology book: insatiable, appeased, lenient, sinews, sputter, inherit, slew (slay). Turn in your vocabulary work on 4/12.
- Finish memorizing the fractions, decimals, and percents. Spend 5-10 minutes on this EVERY DAY. Print and use this
worksheet/quiz to test your knowledge. Time yourself as you are completing the worksheet. Try to complete at least three worksheets over the next several days.
- Make sure you have completed the LOWER-level test assigned for 4/5 (see below).
- Make sure you are fully caught up on all assignments below.
NO CLASS ON 3/29, AS INDICATED ON THE REGISTRATION FORM.
Due 4/5 (class #18)
- Finish memorizing the fractions, decimals, and percents.
- Complete practice test (set aside about 3 hours in a single block): Kaplan lower-level sample ISEE (Ch. 22 in the 2010 edition). Do this timed, ALL IN ONE SITTING, with an adult supervising you and administering the test to you in a way that is identical to the way the real test would be administered. Be sure to use the bubble sheet provided, and be sure to do the essay. Also make sure to circle the answer choices in the book before you bubble them in. With your parents' help, score yourself after you've completed the test. Then label each error as CE (careless error), LOU (lack of understanding), LOV (lack of vocabulary), or LOT (lack of time).
- Review all answer explanations for the Kaplan test carefully. Read all answer explanations, even those for questions you answered correctly -- there might be an easier or faster way to reach the right answer!
- Sign up now for the lower-level ISEE that will be offered on 4/24 so that you can gain valuable test-taking experience in a real test setting. I sent your parents an e-mail about this. Please follow up with them; the registration deadline is this Sat 4/3. Visit
https://www.measinc.com/iseeerb/register/default.aspx to register.
- Review all the vocabulary you have learned this year so far.
Due 3/22 (class #17)
- Start memorizing the fractions, decimals, and percents on this
Excel worksheet.
- Think about where the Greek myths came from -- how and why they were created. We will discuss this in class.
- Make sure to bring all necessary supplies to class (looseleaf hole-punched paper, pencil, eraser, colored pen (NOT yellow or black), highlighter, dictionary, all your books for this course) -- don't be a mendicant! Make sure you have a three-ring binder (1" or 1.5") with tabs for the following topics (in any order): reading, writing, mythology, math, grammar, vocabulary/spelling. I will inspect binders in class on 3/22.
- We will finish the sample lower-level ISEE math test on 3/22 and go over all 20 problems in detail.
- We will play the vocabulary game on 3/22, and the game will include one round without notes. So study your harvested words assiduously!
- Prepare for a spelling test on 3/22. I will hold you responsible for knowing how to spell any words you've read. (Do you know what "assiduously" means, and can you spell it?)
- Buy the Kaplan SSAT/ISEE book (2010 edition if possible). E-mail me as soon as you receive/buy it so that I know when I can start assigning pages in that book. So far, I know that Sophie and JM have the book. Anyone else?
Due 3/15 (class #16)
- Catch up as needed. Some of you, for instance, owe me your Greek myths.
- Write a short essay (at least 200 words) on the following topic: Do you agree with the punishment meted out to Niobe by the gods? Why or why not? If you were the judge and you had to design an appropriate punishment for her, what would it be and why? Your essay should be double-spaced, with 1.25" margins on all four sides and your name, date, and essay title at the top. Proofread a hard copy of your essay and edit it before turning it in.
- Buy the Kaplan SSAT/ISEE book. E-mail me as soon as you receive/buy it so that I know when I can start assigning pages in that book.
Due 3/8 (class #15)
- Type the first draft of your own Greek myth. It should be at least 350 words long.
- Print p. 20, p. 24, and p. 35 (two short-response questions and one extended-response question) of the
2008 6th-grade ISAT math test. Do these three problems in a single sitting; use extra paper as needed. Record how long it takes you to complete EACH question.
- Prepare for a vocabulary game on words appearing in the second half of D'Aulaires'.
Due 3/1 (class #14)
- Reminder: bring your spring-term registration forms and checks to class on Mon 3/1.
- Be sure to bring a clean printout of questions #21-30 (
pp. 50-55) of the
2009 4th-grade ISAT math test to class. Thomas, please print out the preceding pages (with #1-20 on them), so that what you have is consistent with what the rest of the class has. Do #1-20 and bring those completed pages to class on Monday.
- In addition, print pp. 4-13 (questions #1-25) of the
2008 6th-grade ISAT math test. Do #1-25 in a single sitting. You may use a ruler. Record how long it takes you to complete #1-25.
- Make sure you can recite the Greek alphabet fluently -- no pauses, no errors.
- Review the vocabulary words you harvested from the mythology book; we will definitely play the vocabulary game at the start of class.
- Sophie, please scroll down and catch up on as much as you can, especially the ISAT practice tests due 1/25.
Due 2/22 (class #13)
I will e-mail spring-term registration forms today (Sun 2/21).
Two weeks' worth of homework (no class on 2/15):
- Review the words we covered in class on 2/8: placate, placid, mendicant, tacit, taciturn, privilege, exercise, communicate, persistence, attendance. I will add more words to this list for you to study. We'll have a spelling and vocabulary quiz on 2/22.
- Review the Greek alphabet. Make sure you can recite it quickly and fluently from memory.
- Review the Greek and Roman gods' names. Too many of you had trouble on the 2/8 quiz.
- Brainstorm and do a rough outline of your own Greek myth. Think of characters' names, personalities, physical features, special powers, traits, and flaws. Think about which gods and goddesses will be involved in your myth, and what their roles will be. Decide how the plot will develop. What will the central conflict or dilemma be?
- Make sure you know how to define and spell every word that appears on the web page. (How about "dilemma" above, for instance?)
- Print pp. 12-13 and 16-20 of the
2010 ISAT 5th-grade sample reading test. Do these pages all in ONE sitting. Underline important information as you read the passage. After you read the passage, tackle each question, making sure to look for specific evidence in the passage to support the answer you think is correct. Record how long it takes you to complete pp. 12-13, then how long it takes you to complete pp. 16-20. Harvest words after you complete the test.
Due 2/8 (class #12)
Note: there will be no class on Mon 2/15 (Presidents' Day). Classes will resume on 2/22 (first class of the spring term); spring-term registration forms will be e-mailed to parents after the 2/8 class.
- Continue to prepare for a quiz on the Greek and Roman names of the gods. Pay close attention to spelling. Make sure you know what each god's domain is (e.g., Athena = Minerva = goddess of wisdom).
- Finish memorizing the Greek alphabet; make sure you can recite it fluently and without hesitation.
- Do the following long division problems neatly on a separate sheet of paper:
345 divided by 5
6,043 divided by 7
1,010 divided by 5
45,034 divided by 12
302,409 divided by 11
- Make up at least three long-division problems yourself and solve them. For all these long-division problems, it would be fine to express the remainder (if any) as a whole number.
- Do the following multiplication problems neatly on a separate sheet of paper:
345 x 5
1,034 x 23
459 x 101
23 x 972
222 x 333
- Make up at least three complex multiplication problems yourself and solve them.
- Review the vocabulary you've harvested from the Greek mythology book (which you should have finished reading by now). If time allows, we will play the vocabulary game, one round of which will involve NO notes. So try to memorize words and their meanings!
- Prepare for a times-table quiz (likely our last one for a while).
Due 2/1 (class #11)
Note: Together with Tatyana Stepanova, piano, and Brian Hoffman, cello, I will be performing Schubert's gorgeous B-flat major piano trio next
Fri 1/29 and Sat 1/30 in Northbrook and in downtown Chicago. Both concerts are free and will last about 40 minutes. See details
here. Let me know if you plan to attend -- I hope to see you there!
- Harvest any unfamiliar words you noticed in the ISAT reading tests you did last week.
- Prepare for a quiz on the Greek and Roman names of the gods.
- Start thinking about your own Greek myth. You will soon be asked to write and illustrate your own Greek myth.
- Practice mental math at home, especially division.
- Practice long division at home; ask your parents for help if you need it.
Due 1/25 (class #10)
- Follow instructions carefully and print ONLY the specified pages (ask your parents for help to ensure that you don't print the entire PDF file):
- Finish reading the mythology book if you have not already done so.
- Catch up as needed.
Note: I apologize for posting the homework late. I had a very slow recovery from my laryngitis/bronchitis/cold, and then was felled by the flu this past week.
Due 1/11 (class #9)
- Most of you were not in class on 12/21 because of the holidays. Please make sure you have completed all the homework due 12/21. See below.
- Keep reading the book (go as far as you can, but make sure you are at least up to p. 176) and harvesting words.
- Review the first 69 pages of the book. We will go over the mythology quiz in class.
Due 12/21 (class #8)
- Catch up as needed. If you owe me homework logs for previous weeks, bring them on 12/21.
- Keep reading the book (go as far as you can, but make sure you are at least up to p. 146) and harvesting words.
- Prepare to play the vocabulary game. The game will have two rounds: (1) with notes and (2) without notes (no notes allowed). So study and try to memorize your vocabulary words from the mythology book!
- Prepare for a spelling test (covering words that appear on this web page or anywhere in your assigned reading) and a test on the myths you've read so far. If you found the 12/7 mythology quiz difficult, you need to study and memorize facts from the reading more thoroughly.
- If you did not earn a perfect score on the times table on 12/14, practice it at home.
Due 12/14 (class #7)
- Prepare for a timed
times-table; we'll do one in class on 12/14.
- Check your list of harvested words from the mythology book against
this list. Make sure you are harvesting words carefully and thoroughly. Too many of you seemed unfamiliar with the 5 words I gave you as part of the 12/7 quiz!
- Keep reading the book (go as far as you can, but make sure you are at least up to p. 131) and harvesting words. Catch up as needed (Rahul, Chase, Alec, Jill).
- Prepare to play the vocabulary game. The game will have two rounds: (1) with notes and (2) without notes (no notes allowed). So study and try to memorize your vocabulary words from the mythology book!
- Prepare for a spelling test (covering words that appear on this web page or anywhere in your assigned reading) and a test on the myths you've read so far. If you found the 12/7 mythology quiz difficult, you need to study and memorize facts from the reading more thoroughly.
- Describe (in 1-2 paragraphs) how you studied/prepared for the mythology, spelling, and vocabulary quizzes to be given on 12/14. What did you do, and how long did it take you? I am especially interested in how you prepared for the mythology quiz, so be sure to give me a detailed description of your study methods for that quiz.
Due 12/7 (class #6)
NO CLASS ON 11/23 OR 11/30.
Reminder: I will be performing Bruch's gorgeous Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor with the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra (CBASO) at St James Cathedral in downtown Chicago on Thu 11/19 at 7 PM. The concert will also include Mozart's Overture to the Marriage of Figaro and Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, all conducted by the CBASO's professional music director, David Katz.
$10 suggested donation; $5 students/seniors; FREE for children 12 and under
General seating; doors open at 6:30. Arrive early for best seats.
I will perform from about 7:10 to 7:35. (The concert will end around 8:20.)
Validated parking may be available at Millennium Center Garage, 33 W. Ontario (between State and Dearborn). See http://www.saintjamescathedral.org/quickinfo.asp#parking.
This assignment represents three weeks' worth of homework.
- Turn in your homework log.
- Read at least up to p. 122 in D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, harvesting all unfamiliar words as you go along. Prepare for a quiz on the first portion of what you have read (through p. 72).
- Harvest at least five words from whatever book you are currently reading for pleasure. (If you are now reading a different book from the one you were reading earlier, that's fine.) If you harvest more than five words, you'll receive bonus points during the vocabulary game (5 points for each extra word, as long as your sentence for that word clearly shows the meaning of the word).
- Prepare for a spelling and part-of-speech quiz on words that appear anywhere on this web page or in any of the reading we have done so far (including the D'Aulaires book).
- Practice mental math at home, focusing on division (e.g., what is 21 divided by 7? what is 56 divided by 8? what is 132 divided by 12?). Ask your parents and older siblings to drill you this way on numbers that appear in the 12x12 times table.
Congratulations to the perfect scorers on the 11/9 times-table, all of whom earned prizes!
1. JM (2:32) -- times-table champion yet again!
2. Rahul (3:20) -- still perfect, and faster too!
3. Alec (3:27) -- perfect and very fast -- great job!
4. Claire (5:10) -- still perfect (but a little slower than before)
5. Chase (6:03)
Izzy had one wrong (4:26), and Natalie had two wrong (5:20) -- so close...
Congratulations, too, to the top three scorers on the 10/26 spelling quiz, who have also earned prizes (to be collected on 12/7)!
1.
2.
3.
Due 11/16 (class #5)
- Turn in your homework log.
- Start reading D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, harvesting all unfamiliar words as you go along. Read at least up to p. 32. Prepare for a quiz on what you have read.
- Harvest at least five words from whatever book you are currently reading for pleasure. (If you are now reading a different book from the one you were reading earlier, that's fine.) If you harvest more than five words, you'll receive bonus points during the vocabulary game (5 points for each extra word, as long as your sentence for that word clearly shows the meaning of the word).
- Prepare for a spelling and part-of-speech quiz on words that appear anywhere on this web page or in any of the reading we have done so far (including the D'Aulaires book).
- Practice mental math at home, focusing on division (e.g., what is 21 divided by 7? what is 56 divided by 8? what is 132 divided by 12?). Ask your parents and older siblings to drill you this way on numbers that appear in the 12x12 times table.
Reminder: there will be no class on 11/23 or 11/30. After 11/16, the next class will take place on 12/7, and you'll have three weeks' worth of homework during those three weeks.
Due 11/9 (class #4) -- no class on 11/2
- Turn in your homework log.
- Practice the times table so that you can become even faster (and, in the case of those with mistakes, more accurate). We'll do another one in class on 11/9; that will be the last times-table for a while (the next one will be in December). Again, all perfect scorers will earn prizes.
- Finish harvesting words from the "Life on Her Own Terms" article and from "The Dinner Party." Practice spelling (by hand) any difficult-to-spell words from the article and story.
- Bring to class (again) whatever book you are currently reading for pleasure. Harvest at least five words from that book. (If you are now reading a different book from the one you were reading on 10/26, that's fine.) If you harvest more than five words, you'll receive bonus points during the vocabulary game (5 points for each extra word, as long as your sentence for that word clearly shows the meaning of the word).
- Prepare for a spelling and part-of-speech quiz on words that appear anywhere on this web page or in any of the reading we have done so far.
- Practice mental math at home, focusing on division (e.g., what is 21 divided by 7? what is 56 divided by 8? what is 132 divided by 12?). Ask your parents and older siblings to drill you this way on numbers that appear in the 12x12 times table.
- Buy the paperback version of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths. You may start reading it if you have time.
Agenda for the 11/9 class:
- Timed times-table
- Mental math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
- Spelling quiz (possible)
- Vocabulary game (based on words from the David Brooks article and the Mona Gardner short story -- you will be allowed to use vocabulary notes during the game, so be sure to harvest words thoroughly and have copious, excellent notes)
- Review of fractions, including improper fractions and mixed numbers; quiz on this material at the end of class
- Discussion of article and story
Due 10/26 (class #3)
Note: I will be performing in a choral concert at St James Cathedral downtown (Huron & Wabash) on
Sun 10/25 at 3:00 PM. (I am a soprano in the St James Cathedral Choir.) See
http://www.saintjamescathedral.org/NewsDetail.asp?id=206 for details (free admission for children under 12). The concert will be preceded by a free jazz brunch from 12:30 to 2:30 PM on the Cathedral plaza at Huron & Rush; all are welcome. The concert will end by 4:15 PM.
- Turn in your homework log for this week (and for last week, if you didn't bring one last time).
- Practice the times table so that you can become even faster (and, in the case of those with mistakes, more accurate). We'll do another one in class on 10/26.
- Bring to class whatever book you are currently reading for pleasure. Harvest at least five words from that book. If you harvest more than five words, you'll receive bonus points during the vocabulary game (5 points for each extra word, as long as your sentence for that word clearly shows the meaning of the word).
- Prepare for a spelling and part-of-speech quiz on words that appear anywhere on this web page, including the following words from the 10/19 spelling quiz:
accelerated
assignment
announcement
instructions
vocabulary
unfamiliar
section
practice
accidentally
abbreviated
definitely
definition
successful
sentence
possession
approach
ability
communicate
except
receive
achievement
embarrass
exercise
separate
mission
recommend
frantically
minutes
prioritizing
possible
Some additional words that may appear on a future spelling quiz: misspell, quizzes, deceive, perceive, conceive, grammar, grammatical, error, and any word that appears in the David Brooks article or in other reading that I assign.
- Print, read, and harvest as many words as you can from
this article.
- Prepare for the vocabulary game (see additional details in the agenda below).
Note: I have room for one more student in the class. If you know of someone who might be interested (it's not too late to join), please have him/her contact me directly as soon as possible. 4th and 5th graders are welcome.
Congratulations to the perfect scorers on the 10/19 times-table, all of whom earned prizes!
1. JM (3:12) -- times-table champion for the 2nd class in a row!
2. Rahul (4:23) -- perfect for the 2nd class in a row!
3. Chase (4:28)
4. Claire (5:00) -- perfect for the 2nd class in a row!
Everyone else had 1 or 2 wrong -- all careless mistakes. Please be more careful next week!
Congratulations, too, to the top three scorers on the 10/19 spelling quiz, who also earned prizes!
1. Chase and JM (27/25)
2. Jillienne (23/25)
Alec was very close -- 22/25.
Agenda for the 10/26 class:
- Timed times-table
- Mental math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
- Spelling quiz
Due 10/19 (class #2)
NO CLASS ON 10/12 -- so the assignment below represents two weeks' worth of homework.
- Practice the
times table (I suggest doing one times table a day, timed with a stopwatch, and checked for accuracy by your parents or older siblings). We will do another timed times-table in class on 10/19. Prizes will again be awarded to all perfect scorers, with a bonus prize awarded to the fastest perfect scorer. Aim to complete the times table accurately in 4-6 minutes. You will be surprised by how much faster you'll be after just a week of daily practice.
- Practice spelling the following words (from the 10/5 spelling quiz) at home. Write each word out five times (stacked vertically, on 5 lines) or more, and have your parents quiz you once you think you have mastered the spelling.
Most students spelled only 3 or 4 words correctly on the 10/5 spelling quiz. So study these words diligently! I will test you on these words (plus some others, from this web page) on 10/19. Prizes will go to the top three scorers.
- Make sure you know the parts of speech of the spelling words listed above (i.e., noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition). The 10/19 spelling quiz will include parts of speech; you will be required to supply the abbreviated part of speech for each word.
- Read everything on this web page carefully (see the general notes above). Any word on this web page is fair game for a spelling or vocabulary quiz. (Also, if you are interested, feel free to explore the rest of my web site.)
***Clarification: vocabulary words almost always will come from reading assignments or practice tests (harvesting will take place after the test is completed). Once in a while, I may mention or discuss additional vocabulary words in class (e.g., a word that I happen to use when talking to you) and require you to write those words down and learn them as well. I expect you to know the meaning of all words that I use on the class web page. I may occasionally use an advanced word (like "meticulously" or "assiduously") when I describe a portion of a homework assignment, and I expect you to look up those words if they do not already know them.***
Congratulations to the perfect scorers on the 10/5 times-table, all of whom earned prizes!
1. JM (5:04)
2. Isabel (5:28)
3. Claire
4. Rahul
5. Natalie
Congratulations, too, to the top three scorers on the 10/5 spelling quiz, who also earned prizes!
1. Chase (9 right)
2. JM (6 right)
3. Alec (5 right)
Agenda for the 10/19 class
- Timed times-table
- Spelling quiz
- Writing exercise