September 27th

What a short week!  Today we learned about elapsed time in Math, and had three choices in Daily Five.  Mrs. Critchlow also came for our first counseling lesson. Word Study groups 1 and 2 did their word sort as well.

Homework:
Math-WS 5.2-all--I returned the Chapter 4 Math test.  Students may correct the problems they missed and earn back one point for each corrected answer.  I'm very pleased with their scores on these tests!

Word Study-1/2--Test/Contract Wednesday, 3/4--Test/Contract Thursday

Reading-Cold Read due Monday

Science-Bring rocks

Have a great long weekend and make sure to check out the two earlier posts about Carter, our Star of the Week!

Star of the Week-Carter!

My Sister's Birthday-Carter (Star of the Week)

Yesterday it was my sister's 3rd birthday.  For dinner my Mom, Dad, Claire and I  went to Chuck E Cheese's. I had 5 slices of cheese pizza!  My only thing I didn't like was that my Dad beat me in basketball a lot and Claire said to me, "Can we ride the ponies?"  Every time I go there that's what she says.  We are having her birthday party tommorow. It's going to be Toy Story themed.  I hope everything goes well!

September 26th

I had to leave early for a meeting this afternoon, but here's a quick post of tonight's homework.

Math-WS 5.1-all

Social Studies-Some students are retaking the Regions test tomorrow.

Science-Bring Rocks

Reading-Cold Read due Monday

Feel free to email me if you have questions about anything!

September 25th

Hello!  Today students took the Chapter 4 Math test.  They'll get these back tomorrow.  They continued to revised their drafts, focusing on getting rid of unnecessary parts and correcting confusing parts.  In Reading (see pictures below) we learned ways to help our partners with unknown words during Read to Someone and students got their first choice.  Groups 1 and 2 got their new word lists in Word Study and we all reviewed the States and Capitals with a fun game.

Homework:
Reading-Cold Read due next Monday--Read for at least 20 minutes

Writing-Students need one Writer's Notebook entry this week

Social Studies-Some students need to review for Thursday's re-take of the Regions test.  Everyone should study states and capitals.

Reminders:
Picture Day is tomorrow!  I only have two order forms so make sure to send it in tomorrow if you wish to order pictures this year!

Have a great night!

Choice in Daily Five

Today the students got to choose Read to Self or one of the the ways we learned to Read to Someone. I'm very proud of their choices and stamina building!

September 24th

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Today we reviewed Chapter 4 in Math, revised to get rid of boring words in Writer's Workshop, and visited the library.  We also learned a way to show our choice for Read to Someone in Daily 5.  We finished reviewing September's Reading Tungsten as well.

Homework:
Math-Chapter 4 test is tomorrow

Reading-I sent home a new Cold Read.  It will be due next Monday, October 1st. 

Writing-Choose one night (due to the shortened week) to write in your Writer's Notebooks.

Social Studies-Don't forget to keep studying your states and capitals and work on the packet!  Also, many scores from the regions test were very low so I have made up a new test which I will give on Thursday.  For the students who did well, I've shown them their score and they will not have to test on Thursday.  The new test will be over the same information and students should study important landmarks and features of each region and be able to read a map and answer questions about it.  Contact me if you have any questions about this.

Science-Bring rocks for Thursday.

Reminders:
Picture Day is Wednesday! 
No School on Friday!

Have a great night!

September 21st

Happy Friday!  Today in Math we worked on balancing equations.  In Writing students did a Pair Share (See earlier photo) to revise their drafts.  We learned two new ways to Read to Someone in Daily Five.  One way is called "I Read, You Read" and helps with fluency.  Another way is called "Read two Different Books" and lets us read with our friends while checking for understanding.  We went over the Reading eValuate this afternoon and students also went to Science.

Homework:
Math-WS 4.5--practice side

Science-Bring rocks by next Friday.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Star of the week!

Here's Elliott!

Writing Pair Share

Today students met with a partner to revise their drafts.

Elliot's book review

As our Star of the Week, Elliot chose to write a book review on one of his favorite books.  Read below:

I recomend Warriors Into the Wild. It is the first book of the first series of Warriors by Erin Hunter. I recomend this book because  it is about a cat that lived with humans but then he moved into Thunderclan and into the apprentice den his mentor Lionheart has an accident and and might not survive if you like action and adventure you'll like this book. Will the leader Bluestar survive the battle with Riverclan leader.
Find out in Into the Wild by Erin Hunter!

September 20th

Today in Math we learned how to write equations from Input/Output tables.  In Writing we worked on revising our drafts for sensory details.  In Reading we worked on Read to Someone.  See today's earlier post for pictures of this!  We discussed our eValuate scores next and finally, the students headed to Mrs. Gastreich's room for Science! 

Homework:
Reading-Cold Reads are due tomorrow

Math-WS 4.4--all

**Tomorrow is Green and Gold day!

Read to Someone

Today we learned the expectations for Read to Someone.  The students are reading and summarizing to become better readers!

September 19th

Today we celebrated Julian's birthday.  Happy Birthday Julian!  In Math we learned about the addition properties.  We continued working on our drafts in Writer's Workshop.  We reviewed the expectations for "Read to Self" and "Work on Writing" and practiced our stamina in Daily Five.  Students in Word Study groups 3 and 4 took their test today.  Students also took the Social Studies test this afternoon.

Homework:
Math-WS 4.2-all

Don't forget to write in your Writer's Notebook twice this week.

Have a great night!

September 18th

Today we wrote equations in Math, some of which used variables.  In Writing, students began drafting the piece they chose to take through the writing process.  In Reading, I introduced "Work on Writing" as part of our Daily Five routine.  For Word Study, students in Groups 1 and 2 took their test and students in Groups 3 and 4 did a buddy check.  I talked about what to study for tomorrow's test on the regions in Social Studies.

Homework:
Math-WS 4.3

Word Study-Groups 3/4--test tomorrow and contract due

Social Studies-Regions packet due tomorrow--Regions test tomorrow

Don't forget about the Cold Read due on Friday!

Have a great night!

September 17th

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Today we moved on to Chapter 4 in Math and learned about expressions and variables.  In Writing, students selected three pieces of writing  they may like to publish and are working with a partner to choose the best one.  We visited the library in Reading and also talked about IPICK which will help us to make good book selections.  Students either did a buddy check or worked on their contract in Word Study, depending on what group they are in.  And in Social Studies, we watched a video on the west and filled in our passport book.

Homework:
Math-WS 4.1--all problems--Students got their Math tests back today.  If they got below an 80% I like to have it signed and returned.  Also, all students may correct the problems they got wrong and earn one point back for each one they correct.  They should leave their original answer and write the new answer in a different color so I can see the difference.

Reading-Read every night this week.

Writing-Write in your Writer's Notebooks at least twice this week.

Social Studies-Finish Regions packet (due Wednesday) and study for Wednesday's Region's test.

Word Study-Groups 1/2--test and contract due tomorrow, Groups 3/4--test and contract Wednesday

**I have put some grades on the SIS portal.  Please contact the office if you don't know how to log in to SIS or me if you have questions about the grades.

Have a great night!

September 14th

Happy Friday!  Today students took the Math test.  They will get it back on Monday.  We worked on making lists to generate ideas in Writing and continued to build our stamina in Reading.  We also added some Non-Fiction books to our book bins.  See the previous post for a couple pictures from Reading.  I met with Groups 3 and 4 to do their word sorts and Groups 1 and 2 worked on their contracts.  Finally, we learned the states and capitals and some landmarks and features of the southwest.

Homework:
Reading-A reading passage and questions was sent home today.  This is called a cold read.  Students will be receiving one most Fridays and it will be due the following Friday.  I ask that students look back in the passage and underline where they found their answers.  If the answer is a short answer questions (rather than multiple choice) students should use R.A.P. (Restate-Answer-Prove).  They know what this means :)

Word Study-Groups 1 and 2 have a test on Tuesday.  Groups 3 and 4 have a test on Wednesday.  Contracts are due on the day of the test.

Social Studies-Study states and capitals.  Work on the southwest worksheets.  I also sent home a states and capitals packet.  Students can work on this at their own pace.  It will be due the day of the states and capitals test (Date is in the end of October TBD).  The Regions Test is Wednesday, September 19th.

Have a great weekend!

Building reading stamina!

We are working on becoming good independent readers!

September 13th

Today we worked hard to review for tomorrow's Math test!  In Writing, we brainstormed some non-fiction topics to write about.  Some of the Word Study groups met with me to complete their word sort while others worked on their contracts.  We began learning about the Southwest in Social Studies.

Homework:
Read

Writing-Many students need to write in their Writer's Notebooks tonight for at least ten minutes.

Math-Tomorrow is the test on Chapters 1-3.  Students have many options as to how to study: online Math book (link is above and password info. is in students' planners), pink practice teset, white practice tests, homework worksheets.

Social Studies-Students may begin working on the Southwest worksheets.  Continue to study States and Capitals!

Reminders:
Tomorrow is Spirit Day.  Wear your Concord Gear!

Have a great night!

September 12th

We had a quick day with the Early Release schedule today.  We did a lot of Math!  Students took the September Math Tungsten and we worked on a practice test for Friday's Math test.  We also learned about three different ways to read a book independently: Read the Words, Read the Pictures, Retell the Story.  Students are enjoying our first Mark Twain read-aloud, Twenty Gold Falcons. 

Homework:
Reading-Read
Writing-Write in your Writer's Notebook.
Math-Study Chapters 1-3.  Chapter 4 is a part of Unit 1, but we are testing on that separately.  On the practice test we did today, students crossed off from #31 on.  I sent home the Chapter 1, 2, and 3 tests that students can use to help them study.  These do not need to be returned, but can just be used for extra practice.

Social Studies-Keep studying states and capitals and work on your worksheets.  Our regions test is next Wednesday and students will begin Science next Thursday.

*Book orders are due tomorrow!

Have a great night!

September 11

Today we celebrated Shelby's 10th birthday!  We worked in centers in Math, wrote in our Writer's Notebooks, and read a Time for Kids.  We also began the Daily Five in Reading.  This program will help us to build our stamina as readers and become independent readers. 

Homework:
Reading-Read

Writing-Remember to choose two nights to write in your Writer's Notebook for at least ten minutes each.

Math-WS 3.5--All problems.  Start studying for the Unit 1 test on Friday.  We'll take the practice test tomorrow.

Social Studies-Some students need to finish their TFK worksheet.  Leap students and those in resource or speech at the time do not need to complete this assignment.

Reminders:
Tomorrow is early release.  Please send a note if your child is going home a different way than usual.

Book orders are due on Thursday.

Don't forget to work on states and capitals.  I've added some fun games to the Social Studies link at the top of the page.

I've also put all the spelling words on Spelling City.  See the above link for instructions on how to access that.

Have a great night!

September 10th

I hope everyone had a great weekend and had time to go out and enjoy the perfect weather!  We had a great day today!  Students spent some time in Math centers today and we also learned how to identify when a word problem is asking for an estimate vs. an exact answer.  We visited the library this afternoon, started Word Study groups, and learned some more about the Mountain States.  Students also took the Reading Tungsten for September.

Tonight's homework:
Math-WS 3.6-all problems--Please show work on a separate sheet of paper and staple to worksheet.
          Unit 1 test on Friday.

Social Studies-Study States and Capitals
                       Work on Mountain States worksheets.

*Book Orders are due Thursday!
*Early Release on Wednesday!

Have a great night!

September 7th

We are really getting into the swing of things now!  Today we tried Math Stations for the first time, wrote as an animal in first person, and learned about the Mountain States.

Homework:
Reading-Read!

Math-WS 3.4-odds and all MR

I sent home some book orders today.  I would like to have them returned by September 13th.  The students wrote a code on one of them (GP6FX) that allows you to order books online if you would like to do so.  If not, please send checks only made out to Scholastic. 

Have a great weekend!

September 6th

We had a great day today!  We got to meet with our first grade buddies to get to know each other and make cards for local firefighters for 9/11.  We also kept busy with estimating in Math and the Mid-West Region in Social Studies.  Students learned how to make book recommendations in Reading. 

Tonight's homework:
Reading-I ask that students read at least 20 minutes daily.  This can be anything of their choice.

Math-WS 3.3 (evens and all of MR)  Please note that on the problems, students need to estimate and get the actual answers.

Social Studies-There will be a test over the states and capitals before the end of the first quarter (mid-late October).  Students will be given an alphabetical list of the 50 states and will need to write the capital.  There will not be a word bank.  I told the students that they have enough time if they just learn one a day to know them all by the test! 

For the remainder of the Regions Packet, I will give students some time in class to work on it, but will collect it and grade it on September 19th.

As always, if you have questions about anything don't hesitate to contact me.  Have a great night!

September 5th

It was so nice to be back today!  Mrs. Nikodem did a fantastic job getting the students going and in school-mode and I plan to pick right up where she left off.  I will post on the blog daily so make sure to favorite the blog.  I usually post by 4 each afternoon.  As I get settled back into the school routine, I look forward to getting to know each student and working with them each day.

Here is tonight's homework:
Math Worksheet 3.2--odds

Feel free to contact me if you need anything!