Research Sites and 5 Paragraph Writes

English time has been very focused, and the students have put forth much effort writing 5 paragraph stories. The students have used many strategies to prepare them for communicating through written expression. The use of visual organizers, posters, word walls, and many other mapping tools to accomplish independent writing habits have been practiced daily. These practices will continue throughout the second quarter as we focus on specific subjects and charting our writing fluency.

Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Character Traits, and Words Per Story (WPS)

The 8th Graders have been working on the ITBS tests for the past two weeks. They have completed the Language Arts portions and will focus on the math areas until November 12. Please remind your child that it is important to eat a good breakfast, get plenty of sleep, and to try to do their best during the test.

In grades 7, 8, and 9 we have been focusing on character traits and using various adjectives to describe our main characters. The students have been increasing their understanding of words through the use of various web-sites. They have been defining words, learning the correct pronunciations, and identifying both synonyms and antonyms. A site that can be used to enrich their vocabulary would be www.dictionary.com.

During the 2nd quarter the students will be doing many practice writes and using webs and organizers to plan out their stories. Please encourage your child to think about stories that are meaningful to them as they express their ideas. We have been focusing on "weekly words per story" and discussing the importance of trying to meet or beat the word count from their prior write. The students will begin charting their progress and reflecting on how to improve their scores. The goal of self-regulating their own work is one that we will continue to learn about throughout the year.

Hope To See You At Conferences!

Behavioral Skills Program
340 N 56th Street
Lincoln, NE 68504


Dear Parents/Guardians:


The Behavioral Skills Program will be hosting our parent/teacher conferences for grades 6-9 on Thursday, September 30, 2010 from 4-7pm.
We would like to take this opportunity to share with you the academic and behavioral progress that your child is making in our program. We would also like to hear from you about any issues or concerns you may have about your child’s progress.

Lincoln Public Schools has implemented a new online grade book called “Pinnacle” for middle and high school students. If you would like help accessing or navigating this system we will have staff available during conferences to assist you.

During the conferences, we will provide food and beverages for those that attend. If you have any questions regarding conferences, please call the office at (402) 436-1924. We will put you in touch with the appropriate personnel.

We hope to see you on September 30th!

Sincerely,
BSP teachers and staff

Parent Conferences - September 30th

Bellringers? Objectives? Agendas?

Each day your child focuses on achieving goals that will guide them into being a successful learner and a productive citizen. As the students enter the English classroom they realize that "productivity" is the focus we are wanting to achieve. On the board a learning plan for the day directs them through what is expected.

For Example:

Bellringer - what the students are expected to do as soon as the bell rings - usually the activity is a review or an extension from the day before.
Objective - what we are wanting to accomplish learning during the class period.
Agenda - the order that we will be accomplishing our activities.

FUN, FUN, FUN
The students are creating T-shirts that display their names and a picture that reflects something they enjoy. They have been exploring various fonts, research sites, and images. Then they apply their findings by painting and illustrating the ideas on t-shirts. The shirts will be sent home in about a week.

August 2010 - Welcome Back!

All of the BSP staff members are excited to begin a new year and share many wonderful learning activities. We are encouraging the students to be prepared to try new avenues of learning and join us on a journey which enables them to discover their strengths and focus on developing their academic and social skills. Throughout the year I will be contacting you to discuss what we are focusing on in the classroom. I hope that you take time to visit this site because we try to document various learning activities every week or two. If you have any questions for me or any other staff member, please contact us either between 8-9 a.m. or 2-3 p.m. daily. We would appreciate establishing open communication which is the most important link of all in your child's education!

Thanks for a Wonderful Year!

The 2009-2010 school year quickly zipped by, and before we knew it we were finalizing paperwork and reviewing our gains in learning. The growth that each student demonstrated should be celebrated and recognized as a major achievement in his/her educational journey.

As the summer days begin I want to encourage all of the BSP students to continue writing, reading, and exploring new vocabulary words over the summer days. I hope that each of you enjoy the extra time to check out a great book at the library, listen to a concert or musical, and take a walk and enjoy nature. I have enjoyed working with each of you during the year, and I feel privileged to have spent time getting to know you!

Have a great summer!

Cordially, Cami Prochnow

Research, PowerPoints, & Presentations!

The students did an awesome job during the first two weeks of May using their creative ideas with PowerPoints. Each student had to research a topic of their choice. Then they used images, online resources, encyclopedias, and many other sources to identify facts about the topic to share in front of others.
The students learned how to use the computer as a tool to cut, copy, and apply images to a PowerPoint presentation. Music, sound, and transitions also added to the presentations and engaged the listeners. The grade for the project was worth 35 points. Each student used the rubric to guide their activity and dedicated much time practicing before presenting.

April: Posters, NESA-R, NESA-M, Words Per Story Writes, Weekly Grammar Reviews

We have been busy, busy, busy this month at BSP! The students have been focusing on accomplishing major tests and daily reviews. We are now in our final days of the semester and the students have been demonstrating their skills through summative assessments. It is extremely important that we maintain our momentum and continue to grow each day through the classroom goals and expectations. As a staff we appreciate when the students strive to do their "personal best."

Environmental Awareness Posters

The students have been applying their creativity to make others environmentally aware of the need to take care of our Earth. The students created posters and some students chose to submit their posters in a calendar contest for the Nebraska Environmental Department.
Many thanks to our college student. We have been enjoying Macklin from Wesleyan. He has been earning college hours through classroom experiences. His time with us introduced him to the various responsibilities of an educator. His twenty hours will be up this week and his supportive endeavors have been greatly appreciated by students and staff. We wish him good-luck in his career!

Speaking Presentation Topics

Students researched, shared, and practiced speaking techniques during the final days of the quarter. The skill of presenting to another person and creating an opportunity for others to learn through their 5 senses was highlighted. The students completed their CRT's with pictures, posters, props, and samplings.

What a wonderful way to end the quarter!

Researching and Speaking Presentations

The 7th and 8th grade students have been reading and researching various topics online. They created essays on topics of their choice and shared the information in front of an audience. The students had to supply a visual, write 5 paragraphs, and complete a speaking presentation rubric. Many of students chose to write on an edible topic; thus, the class then enjoyed a "taste" of their topic.

The frame that the students have been using to guide them through a 5 paragraph write is the following:

Introductory Paragraph ( 2 - 3 sentences & a "Hook" )

Body - 3 Paragraphs (3 - 5 sentences in each paragraph with details, comparisons, and supportive evidence)

Conclusion ( 2 - 3 sentences )


This valuable experience was a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn more about the importance of using computers and the web in a safe manner!

Major Accomplishments at BSP: Parent - Teacher Conferences and WGDE Testing

Last week was very successful! The staff was excited to meet with parents and guardians to discuss major learning accomplishments. The evening was enjoyed by all with community donations of chicken, bread, cookies, and potato salad. The students were able to discuss classroom learning objectives and behavioral expectations.

The (7,8,9) English students led discussions which focused on the following classroom learning goals:
(1) words per story - (weekly writing / progress charts)
(2) descriptive / narrative writes - (introductory, body, and conclusion)
(3) various computer programs and classroom computer privileges.

The 9th grade students accomplished the final day of WGDE testing last Thursday, March 4th. They put forth a great amount of effort as they completed 3 days of writing and answering comprehension questions. Then the students completing their tests celebrated with a few "special" lunch orders.

The 7th and 8th graders have been using a great deal of their time practicing for the NESA-R test that will be administered the first week in April. The students have been given many opportunities to learn, discuss, and practice various types of questions which will be associated with assessments for the district and state.

Mark Your Calendars for March 4th Parent Teacher Conferences

Dear Parents/Guardians:


The Behavioral Skills Program will be hosting their parent/teacher conferences for grades 6-9 on Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 4-7pm.
We would like to take this opportunity to share with you the academic and behavioral progress that your child is making in our program. We would also like to hear from you about any issues or concerns you may have about your child’s progress.

During the conferences we will be providing food and beverages for those that attend. If you have any questions regarding conferences please call the office at (402)436-1924 and you will be put in touch with the appropriate personnel. As usual, we request that students attend with their parent or guardian.

We hope to see you on March 4th!

Sincerely,
BSP teachers and staff

Identifying the importance of learning and respecting all cultures is a daily emphasis. We research and write about important people within our lives and from our history. Students engage in researching people and places. A wonderful site that we recommend exploring is:

Funfacts.com

February - State Writing Exam

The 8th graders just completed their writing exam for the state of Nebraska, NESA-W. The student papers will be graded and compared with other 8th graders across the state of Nebraska. This exam enables educators to focus on what modifications need to exist in order for students to strengthen their writing skills. It guides students and teachers in the direction of more successes in written communication.

At BSP this week the 7th graders took a "practice" exam with the same state prompt and completed the identical writing process in preparation for their 8th grade NESA-W exam next year. The 9th graders have been preparing for their 9th grade WGDE writing exam which will take place the week of Feb.24th.

The English students are now working on the next set of Elements of Fiction vocabulary terms. It is vital that students understand the vocabulary which is woven into the reading and writing curriculum. The students have been reading, writing, defining, and illustrating the words in preparation for a weekly quiz.

In English we will continue to work on locating and recording Web-Site citation information. The students need to be able to use the computer as a tool to identify specific information and generate appropriate facts to share within their assignments. They will be focusing on speaking and oral presentations this semester which will give them an opportunity to share freely some talents they have or wish to achieve.

The parent-conference date is set for March 4th, 2010 from 4 - 7 p.m. The BSP staff and students are always excited to share the accomplishments that the students have achieved. Please mark your calendars for this exciting evening!

2010 - Snow, Fog, and CRT's

Happy New Year from the BSP students and staff.
It has been a busy month. The students have been trying to get back into a schedule and attempt some common routines. The weather though has been testing all of us. The month of January was truly a month of surviving the snow, cold, and the completion of many CRT's.
The students have been demonstrating growth in their weekly writing (WPS) and focusing on the state writing assessment which will be administered the second week of February. The students have enjoyed researching through the use of exciting new avenues of "technology." The "clickers" have allowed for quick and easy communication. Teachers can review, preview, and assess in a much faster amount of time through just a quick click of a hand-held device.
Our activities in English will center on "5 paragraph" stories. The students will be writing independently an introduction, 3 detailed supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. Please help prepare your child(ren) for the weeks ahead by making sure that they get to bed earlier, plenty of sleep, and healthy foods.
I know that we are off to a great new year!