Halloween Parade and Party!

Pumpkin Run!

October 30

It was great meeting with many of you last night at conferences!  I'm looking forward to talking with the rest of you on Thursday.  Today we learned the Order of Operations in Math, revised our Personal Narratives in Writing, and read Amelia's Road to work on inferencing in Reading.  Groups 3 and 4 took their Word Study test and we all learned about similes and metaphors. 

Homework:
Reading-TFK due next Wednesday, 11/7--Students do need to the do the Bonus part as well.

Math-WS 9.2

**Tomorrow is our Fall Festival!  We will be going to an assembly, participating in the Pumpkin Run, having a costume parade and a Halloween Party.  4th grade is having their Pumpkin Run at 10:50 if any parents are planning to join.  The parade is at 1:40.  If you would like to watch the parade, the best place is in the lobby.  Our party will start at 2.  Students should bring their costumes and not wear them to school.  Masks, weapons, etc. are not allowed.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Katie-Star of Last Week-Halloween!

I can't wait for Halloween!  I am going to be a fluffy bunny and my dad is going to be a mad hatter and my step mom is going to go as Alice.  I can not wait for the parade and the pumpkin run.  I like doing the games at school for halloween.  A lot of people are going as clowns and I don't know why.  I am going to go to my church for Halloween with my best friend Ashley.  I want to get a lot of candy.  I can not belive it is almost  Halloween. Bye!!!!

Katie-star of the week! (last week)

October 29

Hello!  Here's a short post on the homework due to conferences:

Math-WS 9.1

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

Word Study Update

I have posted each groups' words on spellingcity.com.  Instead of just entering the 15 words which will be on the test, I have entered all the words we sorted together.  This will help students to better understand the pattern we are focusing on.  Their test will be over just the 15 words in their notebooks (I will remove the extras before the test) as well as two "secret words" which are not on the list.  The purpose of the secret words is to test students' understanding of the spelling principle we are working on and not just their memorization of their list.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

October 26

Today we learned the multiplication properties in Math, worked on our personal narrative drafts, and continued with context clues in Reading. Word Study Groups 1 and 2 did  a buddy check to prepare for Monday's test.  Students worked on their Regions PowerPoints to end the day.  See the pics below!

Homework:
Word Study-Groups 1/2 test and contract Monday, Groups 3/4 test and contract Tuesday

Math-WS 8.5

Social Studies-Regions presentations on Monday!

Have a great weekend!

Working on Missouri Regions Powerpoints!

October 24th

Today we continued to work on our multiplication facts, added memories about stories we've been told and how they've affected our lives, and worked on inferencing in our independent books.  Students also are working on a group PowerPoint in Social Studies to learn about the regions of Missouri.  In Word Study, I met with Groups 1 and 2 to complete their word sort.

Homework:
Reading-TFK due Friday

Math-WS 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 due Friday (practice sides)

**Tomorrow is Put Drugs to Bed Day . . . Wear your PJ's! 

Jersey Day!

Crazy sock day!

October 23rd

Today in Math we worked on fact fluency.  Students worked on their haunted houses, played fluency games, did multiplication Sudoku and more!  In Writing, we focused on memories about  when we learned something from an adult.  In Reading, we worked on inferencing in poetry some more.  Groups 1, 3, and 4 got their new word study lists today.  We also began a TFK (this week's cold read).

Homework:
Reading-TFK Worksheet due Friday

Math-WS 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 due Friday--Students may work on these at their own pace this week.  They are meant to reinforce their multiplication facts.

Tomorrow is Wear your Favorite Team's Jersey Day!

Have a great night!

October 22nd

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Today we started Unit 3 in Math.  It focuses on inverse operations and fact fluency.  Students should practice their multiplication facts nightly if they do not know them immediately.  In Writing, we continued with personal narratives and discussed when times we may have "learned things the hard way"!  In Reading, we did Read to Self in the library and began our CAFE board with two Comprehension strategies-Check for Understanding and Go Back and Re-Read.  As you read with your child at home, I encourage them to practice these strategies.  I also had everyone back for Social Studies!  This Chapter focuses on Missouri's Regions and geography.  Today we discussed the Ice Age and Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. 

Homework:
Math-WS 8.1--Some students need to get the Unit 2 test signed.  Unfortunately, I can't award points back for corrections this time because the quarter has ended; however, I encourage students to figure out the ones they missed and bring them back tomorrow if they have any questions. 

Writing-two entries this week

*Tomorrow is Crazy Sock Day for Drug Free Week!

Making Fact Family Haunted Houses!

Students learned about inverse operations and made haunted houses to show their understanding!

October 19th

What a short day!  Students took the Math test and did some Daily 5 and that was it!  I sent home a lot of papers today including school pictures, States and Capitals tests, Word Study contracts, etc.  Make sure to check the blue folders.

Only homework this weekend is to read and maybe get a head start on Writer's Notebooks (2) entries for next week.

Make sure to check out the posts below for a picture of our Star of the Week and a poem she wrote!

Have a great weekend and GO CARDS!

Lilli!

Lilli-Star of the Week!

It is almost Halloween, that's what I want to say!
It brings much fright and more than enough cheer!
talking fills the air, laughter everywhere
tricks are played all day long.
time to trick or treat !
grab your bag for the candy!
it will be very dandy!
until that special day, let's just say Halloween is great!!!!!!!!

October 18th

Today we continued to review for tomorrow's Math test and had a visit from Mrs. Critchlow to talk about Disability Awareness.  Some students took their Word Study tests and/or States and Capitals tests, as well as the Science test.  It was a busy testing day!

Please remember that tomorrow is a half day with dismissal at 11:50.  Please send a note if your child is going home in a different way than normal. 

Homework:
Math-Unit 2 test tomorrow/Reading Minutes Line Graph due tomorrow

Have a great night!

October 17th

Today in Math we did the Unit 2 practice test.  We will go over it tomorrow.  In Writing we wrote down memories of breakfast for a personal narrative.  We read another poem from My Man Blue to make inferences in Reading.  Groups 1 and 2 took their word study test and Groups 3 and 4 did a buddy check. 

Homework:
Word Study-Groups 3 and 4--test tomorrow and contract due

Math-Study Unit 2

Science-test tomorrow

Social Studies-Study States and Capitals if you still need to take your test.  Some students still need to hand in their States and Capitals packet as well.

Have a great night!

October 16th

Today in Math we learned how to draw conclusions from graphs and used the clickers to learn when to use which type of graph or plot.  In Writing we continued with our personal narratives and discussed some text features you would find in personal narratives.  For Reading we made inferences in the poem My Man Blue and word study group 4 did their sort while Groups 1 and 2 did a buddy check.  We ended the day with a review game for states and capitals. 

Homework:
Math-WS 7.5, 7.6

Word Study-1/2--test and contract due tomorrow

Science-test Thursday

Social Studies-States and Capitals!

Have a great night!

October 15th

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Today we worked on circle graphs in Math, began personal narratives in Writing, and visited the library for a lesson on electoral votes.  Group 3 did their word study sort and reading groups continued to focus on inferencing. 

Homework:
Math-WS 7.4--Unit 2 test is Friday (Chapters 5, 6, 7)

Science-Test Thursday

Social Studies-States and Capitals test is Thursday (or any day before that), States and Capitals Packet due on Thursday

Word Study-1/2--test and contract Wednesday, 3/4--test and contract Thursday

*Just a reminder that Friday is a half day at 11:50.  No lunch will be served.

Have a great night!

October 12th

Today we worked on line graphs in Math, had an author's buffet in Writing (see pictures below), and made inferences in Reading using a video.  Groups 1 and 2 did their word sort.

Next week is the last week of the first quarter so there are, unfortunately, a lot of assessments taking place.  So that students can have more time to study, they do not need to write in their Writer's Noteboks and there will be no Cold Read.

Homework:
Word Study-Groups 1/2--Contract and test Wednesday, Groups 3/4--Contract and test Thursday

Math-WS 7.2 and 7.3, Unit 2 test on Friday--I gave students a blank line graph.  They are to record their reading minutes from Monday through Thursday (or they can start on Saturday) and make a line graph to show that data.  They need to include all parts of a graph including a title, labels, a scale and interval.

Science-Test Thursday

Social Studies-States and Capitals test Thursday (or before if students choose)

Have a great weekend!

Author's Buffet

Today students got a chance to read everyone's published writings!

October 11th

Hello!  Today students took the Math eValuate and finished up the Reading.  They worked SO hard!  We also finished up our publishing.  Groups 3 and 4 got their new Spelling words.

Homework:
Writing-Writer's Notebooks and finish publishing if needed

Math-fact fluency--Unit 2 test next Friday, the 19th

Social Studies-I told students they could take the States and Capitals as soon as they felt ready, anytime before or on October 18th.  There seem to be a lot of tests ending up on next Thursday and Friday due to the end of the quarter so this may help some.  They can take the extra credit (optional) anytime before or on next Thursday as well. 

Science-Test on October 18th

*Book orders due tomorrow.

*Thank you for returning the conference forms!  All buzz book forms are due tomorrow!

Have a great night and GO CARDS!

October 10th

First off . . . Go Cards!  Today we learned about bar and double bar graphs in Math and published in Writing (see picture below).  In Reading, students began the Reading eValuate and we also enjoyed an extra recess as a reward for good behavior!  Students went on an erosion walk in Science.

Homework:
Math-WS 7.1--work on fact fluency

Continue to read, write in your Writer's Notebooks, and study states and capitals.

*If you haven't sent in your conference form and/or buzz book form, please do so tomorrow.

Have a great night!

Publishing in Writer Workshop

Students are making many creative choices as they publish their first writing pieces!

October 9th

Hello!  Today was Hannah's birthday.  Happy Birthday Hannah!  Today in Math we learned about pictographs and how you might sometimes need to show half of an item depending on what your data is and what each symbol stands for.  We continued to publish in Writing.  In Reading, we learned how to use different forms of context clues to define unknown words.  Reading groups worked on inferencing and using context clues.  Word Study groups 1 and 2 got their new words today.  We also squeezed in some States and Capitals practice at the end of the day.

Homework:
Reading-Cold Read due Friday

Writing-Writer's Notebook entries

Math-WS 6.6-- Also, I am noticing that many students have forgotten some of their multiplication facts.  As we get into large multiplication problems soon, it is vital that they are able to recall their facts quickly and accurately.  Repeated practice at home with flashcards, games, etc. is really helpful to review every night.

Social Studies-States and Capitals

Reminders:
-Book Orders due Friday
-I sent home a note about the Buzz Book.  If you would like your info. to be in the book, this form must be signed and returned by Friday.
-A note was also sent home about conferences.  Some of you signed up at Back to School night so it is a reminder of  your time, but please verify that that time still works for you.  If you did not sign up yet, please note which times and day will work for you.  I will do my best to accomodate everyone!

Have a great night!

October 8th

Today we learned about intervals and scales on a graph in Math, published in Writing, and made inferences in Reading.  Students earned an extra recess which we will have when everybody is here later this week!

Homework:
Reading-Achoo!  Cold Read due Friday

Writing-two entries this week

Math-WS 6.5

Social Studies-States and Capitals test is getting close . . . . October 18th!

*Don't forget book orders are due this Friday!

Have a great night!

October 5th

Happy Friday!  Today we learned about line plots in Math.  In Writing, we began publishing.  Students are very excited to make choices about how to publish their pieces.  In Reading we read a book called Hurricane and made some inferences.  We continued with questioning in our groups. 

Homework:
Math-WS 6.3

I sent home book orders today.  They are due next Friday.

Have a fantastic weekend!

October 4th

Hello!  Today we learned about mean, median, and mode.  Ask your child to tell you their tricks for remembering the definitions of each!  We continued to edit in Writing, focusing on Spelling.  In Reading we began inferencing.  Groups 3 and 4 took their Word Study tests as well.

Homework:
Math-WS 6.2

Writing-Many students still need to write in their notebooks.

Social Studies-States and Capitals!

Have a great night and make sure the post below from Dante . . . our Star of the Week!

Performance for Choir (Dante-Star of the week!)

I am having a choir performance at the high school football game.  If not it's at city hall, it's going to be all grades. I hope you come.  It will be really fun.  It will be this Sunday.  See you there!  Bye!

October 3rd

Today we made surveys in Math (see photos below) and attended a weather assembly with Glenn Zimmerman!  We focused on Questioning in Reading and students in Groups 1/2 took their Spelling test while Groups 3/4 did a buddy check. 

Homework:
Math-WS 6.1--all

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

Writing-Don't forget about Writer's Notebooks!

Social Studies-Keep working on those States and Capitals!

Have a great night!

Surveys

Students surveyed their classmates and turned the information into a frequency table!  Next they found the cumulative frequency.