January 31st

Today in Math, students finished up their Math tests and then began more research on their country reports.  Mrs. Critchlow visited this morning for a lesson as well.  In Reading, we looked at article about cafeteria food and discussed the importance of skimming before reading in non-fiction pieces.  In Word Study, Groups 3 and 4 got their word lists.  We discussed French explorers in Missouri in Social Studies.

Homework:
Reading-Cold Read due tomorrow; Lit. Circles meet tomorrow

Have a great night!

Serena-Star of the Week!

  One day I went to St.Charles with my grandma, grandpa, mom, dad and my sister. I got to meet a artist named Serena Boschert! Serena has the same first and last name as me. I painted her a picture and she painted a picture for me like I did! We got to know each other. When we were done meeting Serena we looked at the ice sculptures outside that people did! They were pretty good. I got to see a man make a ice sculpture! After that we went to shops and looked around. Then we went to my grandmas house and hanged out there. Then me, kayla (sister) and my mom and my dad went home. That was the end of the day for us!

January 30

We had a great time at the Sheldon this morning!  The show  taught students about how a musical is made and we got to hear some great songs!  This afternoon, students worked on their Math test and that took us until dismissal!

Homework:
Social Studies-Because of the length of the Math test, we did not get to our SS lesson today so plan on the test being moved back a day to February 7th.  (I had said the 6th yesterday.)

Reading-Cold Read due Friday

Have a great night!

Blase-Star of the week!

January 29th

Today in Math we went over the Practice test and played a review game.  Students should make sure to practice some "Interpret the Remainder" word problems tonight as I'm still seeing concerns in that area.  In Writing, students worked on choosing their topics and finding facts to go with those topics.  In Reading, we took another look at the basketball article from Friday and discussed how the text features help us understand the text better.  Groups 1 and 2 got new word study words and we ended the day with a TFK.

Homework:
Math-Study Chaptersr 13, 14, and 16.  Test tomorrow!

Social Studies-I gave out the Chapter 4 packets, but the test is not planned until February 6th.

Reading-Cold Read due Friday

Reminders:
Tomorrow is our field trip to Sheldon.  We will be back in time for lunch and are leaving from school at 9:10. 

Have a great night!

January 28th

Today in Math students worked on a practice test to help prepare for Wednesday's test.  In Writing, students continued their coutnry papers and/or began choosing 3 topics to focus on.  Mrs. Graef gave a library lesson this afternoon and we had a great afternoon enjoying some foods from Lewis and Clark's journey and learning about the rest of their trip! 

Homework:
Math-Finish practice test--Chapters 13, 14, 16 test Wednesday

Reading-Cold Read due Friday

Writing-2 entries

*Don't forget about the Six Flags Reading Minutes!  Forms are due February 15th.

Lewis and Clark

January 25th

Today in Math we learned about square numbers and square roots.  In Writing, students were able to use IPads or other devices to continue their country research.  In Reading we took a look at an article about the NBA and the WNBA.  Mrs. Jardon continued the story of Lewis and Clark and students got to seem some interesting items from their journey.  Check out the pictures below!

Homework:
Math-WS 16.5--All--test Wednesday

Reading-Literature Circles meet Monday

Have a great weekend!

Ability Awareness Day

January 24th

We had a great morning at Ability Awareness presentations.  Check out a few photos below!  This afternoon students had their literature circles and Mrs. Jardon came to continue her lessons.  We learned about Thomas Jefferson today.

Homework:
Grammar-DLR Quiz tomorrow

Math-Chapter 13, 14, 16 test is next Wednesday, 1/30  (We skipped Ch. 15)

**Students who participate in groups such as Boy or Girl Scouts, Choir, etc. should bring their shirts to school tomorrow for yearbook photos. 

Have a great night!

Lewis and Clark!

January 23rd

Today in Math we learned about factors and multiples.  In Writing we learned how to use text features of a website and how to evaluate a website for reliability and accuracy. Here is a link to the website I used in class: http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/links.html.  In Reading we continued our discussion of text features.  Mrs. Jardon came in for Social Studies and introduced us to Sacagawea.  She will be teaching us all about Lewis and Clark this week!

Homework:
Math- WS 16.2--all

Reading-Literature Circles meet tomorrow

**Please send in Jump Rope for Heart and Sheldon forms.  Thanks!

Have a great night!

January 22nd

Today in Math we learned rules for divisibility.  In Writing, students researched their countries.  In Reading, we explored a non-fiction text about T-Rex to aid us in exploring text features.  We also joined Mrs. Gastreich's class for a video about Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Homework:
Math-WS 16.1--all

Writing-2 Writer's Notebook entries this week

Have a great night!

January 18th

It was great to see so many of you at Muffins with Mom this morning!  I hope you had a nice time reading with your child.  I had a Math Workshop this morning so there was a sub, but the students had a difficult lesson in Math.  We are working on interpreting the remainder and will continue with this skill on Monday.  In Writing, the students worked on their country research.  This afternoon students took the Social Studies and we discussed some non-fiction text features.  We ended the day with a character assembly.

Homework:
Math-WS 14.6-all

Have a great weekend!

Muffins with Mom

January 17th

Today in Math we spent time practicing division and finishing up our stations.  We focused on division with zeros that seems to cause confusion from time to time!  In Writing we were busy getting ready for Muffins with Mom, but students did do some research on their country.  In Reading, students met in their literature circles.  They are having great conversations about their books and really seem to be enjoying their books and the discussions.  Word Study Groups 3 and 4 took their Word Study test today and we reviewed for tomorrow's Social Studies test.

Homework:
Math-WS 14.4--odds and MR

Reading-Cold Read due tomorrow

Social Studies-Chapter 3 test tomorrow

**Reminders:
1) Muffins with Mom is tomorrow at 7:45 in the classroom.  I hope to see you all there! 
2) Students who have earned a Grand Slam award for character (they know who they are) should wear a baseball hat for our assembly tomorrow.

Have a great night!

January 16th

Today we moved forward with long division with 3 digit dividends.  In Writing, students chose their country and began to research facts about it.  In Reading, students are working on their summaries of Amelia Earhart.  Groups 1 and 2 took their Word Study test.  In Social Studies we talked about elevation maps and reviewed information about the Native American groups. 

Homework:
Reading-Literature Circles meet tomorrow--Cold Reads due Friday

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

Math-WS 14.3--odds and all MR

Social Studies-Packet and test on Friday

**I will give one more day for January book orders. 

**See below for info. about Muffins with Mom!

Have a great night!

Muffins with Mom

Friday, January 18, 2013

7:45 AM to 8:15 AM

You and your second/fourth grader are invited to enjoy a light breakfast and reading in your child’s classroom. After you arrive, please help yourselves to muffins and juice and enjoy the time together reading.

It is very important for young children to see their parents as readers. Whether it is the newspaper, a magazine, or a great novel, children need to see and understand reading is a part of our everyday lives. These times shared will become important memories of enjoying books together.

If you are unable to attend, please feel free to send a grandmother, aunt, older sister, or another significant adult in your child’s life.

Andrew-Star of the Week!

Lunch Money

Greg hopes one day to be rich. Greg is now trying to make money at school. Greg used his moms Credit Card and he ordered 144 miniture trolls and he is going to sell them for 25 cents a peice. He made 36$ with all of the trolls. Then Greg ordered 48 more trolls,48 miniture superballs,24 small jack-and-ball sets,48 sticky-strechy spiders,and 36 plastic rings-12 for boys and 24 for girls. The students in the school got bored of Greg's stuff. But then the principle Mrs. Davenport sent Greg to the Principles office. Mrs. Davenport told Greg that he wasn't aloud to sell anymore stuff. But Greg sold some thing else. He sold comics. Greg made alot of comics. It took him a long time to do it. He sold them for 25 cents. they were called Chunky Comics. He made $15.50 on the first three and a half days. But one day when he was selling comics a kid bought a comic and he knew there was something wrong with the comic. The title was called The Lost Unicorn and it was made by Maura Shaw. Maura Shaw was Greg's worst enemy 

January 14th

(I'm posting a little early today as I have to leave to take care of my sick son!)

Today in Math we learned how to estimate quotients by looking at only the first two digits of the dividend and thinking of compatible numbers with the divisor.  In Writing, we looked at a large country book, From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and studied more countries.  Students visited the library this afternoon and met in their Literature Circles in Reading.  Groups 3 and 4 also met for their word sort.  In Social Studies, students discussed the Sac and Fox.

Homework:
Reading-Cold Read due Friday

Writing-2 Writer's Notebook entries

Math- WS 14.1, odds and all MR

Social Studies-Chapter 3 test is Friday.  Packet is due Friday.

Reminders:
Students should be bringing their recorders to music. 

Book orders are due Wednesday.  There is a special coupon that was sent home with this month's orders.  If you spend $5 or more, students can choose a book that costs or less for free with the coupon.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Have a great night!

Andrew-Star of the Week!

January 11th

Today students took the January Math eValuate.  We also read a biography about Amelia Earhart and worked on a re-telling which will evenutally become a summary.  Word Study groups 1 and 2 met with me for their word sort and we talked about the Osage in Social Studies.

Homework:
Reading-Literature Circles meet on Monday.  Students all have assigned chapters to read from their group book and are to write down their thoughts (predications, wonderings, inferences, etc.) on sticky notes in the book.

Social Studies-Work on your packet.

*Report cards were sent home today.  Please sign and return only the slip on the last page. 

Have a great weekend!

January 10th

Today we spent some time going over last month's Math eValuate.  Mrs. Critchlow came in for a counseling lesson.  We made schedules for our new literature circle books and discussed what Lit. Circles will look like and sound like.  We also shared our primary sources in Social Studies and discussed a little bit about the Missouri and the Iowa Native American groups.

Homework:

Grammar-DLR Quiz tomorrow

Reading-Cold Read due tomorrow

Writing-Writer's Notebook

Social Studies-Students should be keeping up with their packet!  I'm anticipating a Chapter 3 test late next week.

**Tomorrow is Concord Spirit Day!

Have a great night!

January 8th

Today in Math we did word problems with a missing divisor.  We had to use the strategy of  "predict and test" to figure these out.  In Writing, we learned a little about Italy and explored many other countries.  In Reading, we continued summarizing Flight and I began new reading groups.  Word Study groups have been changed up a bit and Groups 1 and 2 got their lists today.  Students also had time to take a look at a TFK of images from 2012.

Homework:
Reading-Cold Read

Math-WS 13.4-all

Social Studies-Bring in an object that belongs to you.

Tomorrow is EARLY RELEASE at 1:40.

Have a great night!

January 7th

Today we continued with long division in Math and started some centers for the week.  Students are doing a great job learning the process!  In Writing we read about Mexico and looked at some library databases we can use to research countries.  Students may bring in their own devices if they'd like to use them to research countries during class.  In Reading, students visited the library for a lesson from Mrs. Graef and checked out some new books.  We ended the day by learning about the Mississippian culture.

Homework:
Reading-Cold Read due Friday

Writing-2 Writer's Notebook entries

Math-WS 13.3, evens and all MR

Social Studies-Students need to bring in an object that belongs to them by Wednesday.  We will use it to discuss primary sources.  I told them nothing living and it must fit in their backpack :)

*Wednesday is Early Release at 1:40.
*Friday is Concord Spirit Day.

Have a great night!

January 4th

Today in Math we continued with long division and worked on problems that have double digit quotients.  Students may need some assistance with their homework, but are getting the hang of it.  In Writing, we read part of a question and answer book on Rwanda to discuss how important it is for writers to have curiousity about their topic.  Students brainstormed more countries and topics as well. In Reading we continued with Flight and began pulling out the main ideas to write a summary.  I also had Reading conferences with many students.  We discussed the Adena and the Hopewell in Social Studies and created a timeline in our notebooks.

Homework:
Math-WS 13.2--odds and all MR

Have a great weekend!

January 3rd

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing break and enjoys this short week.  Today in Math we started . . .  Long Division!  We will be working on this for awhile, but I cannot stress enough how important it is for students to know their multiplication facts.  In Writing we are starting a non-fiction unit and students will be researching and writing about a country of their choice.  In Reading we are also working on non-fiction and read Flight today which tells the story of Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic.  I gave students a Word Study assessment to check in on their overall spelling progress and we began learning about early Native American groups in Social Studies.

Homework:
Math-WS 13.1--odds and all MR

Reading-Read at least 20 minutes every night!

Have a great night!