6th and 7th grade Science students took their semester exams online this semester, using Quia, an online program which allows teachers to create custom games, reviews, quizzes, and tests.  Student reponses were very positive and grading was a snap!  The online program includes detailed analysis of student reports which enables teachers to make better decisions about what students need.

Quia also has hundreds of shared activities, games, and quizzes and anyone can access for free.  Check it out!

7th grade students in Mrs. Heath’s, Mrs. Norman’s, and Mrs. Hogg’s Science classes researched factors impacting the environment and studied the eco-regions of  Texas.  Students shared their findings in PowerPoint, Photo Story or Publisher creations.

Let’s get excited about reading!!  DMS is participating in Scholastic’s 90th Anniversary Global Literacy Campaign.

Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life.

READ NOW! with Taylor Swift is a LIVE WEBCAST exclusively for schools in the U.S. and around the world. In this 30-minute literacy event, Taylor Swift will participate in a live interview with actor, musician and host of “America’s Got Talent”, Nick Cannon, about the importance of reading and take questions from students in the audience and online.

Read Now!

Mrs. Messinger’s & Mr. Pool’s 8th grade English Language Arts classes finished up a unit on analyzing fiction and drama.  The student project was to “write an imaginative story that embraced a meaningful theme using the conventions of language and a range of literary elements, strategies, and techniques.”  Students used technology to publish their final drafts and help in the revision process.

Some students used drop caps to add a little flair to their printed works.  Drop caps, or large initial letters or words at the start of a paragraph or document, can add style and focus to your documents.

Every DMS student will participate in the Science Fair this year!  Students and teachers are exploring a wide variety of options and using their research skills to narrow their choices and find additional information. 

One technology tip that can help when you are scanning for a specific topic in a long article is to use CTRL F to FIND a particular word or phrase.