Language Arts ~
A roll of the dice helped us today. First we did our spelling. We rolled a dice and that told us if we had to do: write a sentence, draw a picture, write a synonym or antonym, define the word or write it three times. The synonym and antonyms allowed us to practice using a thesaurus. We also used story dice to help us make choices in writing a story today. Each of the stories had to use dialogue.
HW: None
Math~
Our focus today was on the power of 10s. We learned about exponents and looked for patterns in numbers of zeros. We also reviewed adding and subtracting decimals and measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch.
HW: Study link and math boxes 5.9
Science~
Today we looked at all the ways that plants and animals change the environment. We learned about how roots help soils, and how invasive plants, like kudzu can harm the environment. We learned about the changes a beaver can make on it's habitat.
HW: None.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Flexibility is Key!
Language Arts~
So the Frindle books aren't here. I went to pick them up at the store yesterday and they have not arrived yet. So we are moving on to plan b. We will pick up with Frindle as soon as we get all of the books. For the rest of this week through Monday we are going back to the reading book. There will be no reading homework or spelling tests this week. The story for this week is "Roadrunner's Dance." Our comprehension skill is determining author's purpose. In vocabulary, our focus will be synonyms. Grammar is all about subject-verb agreement and action verbs. Our vocabulary words include interfere, agile, awkward, guardian, proclaimed, and tottered. Tests over this story will be on Monday.
Math~
Our focus today was on large numbers. We practiced reading and writing numbers to the billions place.
HW: Study links and math boxes 5.8
Science~
Content 2 started a new chapter today. Our focus this chapter is how plants and animals effect the environment in which they live. We talked about seasons and plants and animals today. We started working on our study guide and wrote answers to the Before You Move On questions in our notebooks.
HW: None!
So the Frindle books aren't here. I went to pick them up at the store yesterday and they have not arrived yet. So we are moving on to plan b. We will pick up with Frindle as soon as we get all of the books. For the rest of this week through Monday we are going back to the reading book. There will be no reading homework or spelling tests this week. The story for this week is "Roadrunner's Dance." Our comprehension skill is determining author's purpose. In vocabulary, our focus will be synonyms. Grammar is all about subject-verb agreement and action verbs. Our vocabulary words include interfere, agile, awkward, guardian, proclaimed, and tottered. Tests over this story will be on Monday.
Math~
Our focus today was on large numbers. We practiced reading and writing numbers to the billions place.
HW: Study links and math boxes 5.8
Science~
Content 2 started a new chapter today. Our focus this chapter is how plants and animals effect the environment in which they live. We talked about seasons and plants and animals today. We started working on our study guide and wrote answers to the Before You Move On questions in our notebooks.
HW: None!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday News and Notes
Don't forget PJ day on Thursday! Book orders are due on Friday!
Language Arts~ Today we edited sentences with titles for grammar today. We read chapter 2 in Frindle. We ventured into vocabulary by writing down the connotation meeting of words found in the chapter. We also answered discussion questions together in class. Students worked on analyzing the two main characters in the book and also wrote journal entries to respond to literature.
HW: None!
Math~ Acuity today!
HW: Finish up worksheet and do study link 5.7 that were given on Monday.
Science~ Content 1 started a new chapter today. Our focus this chapter is how plants and animals effect the environment in which they live. We talked about seasons and plants and animals today. We started working on our study guide and wrote answers to the Before You Move On questions in our notebooks.
HW: None!
Language Arts~ Today we edited sentences with titles for grammar today. We read chapter 2 in Frindle. We ventured into vocabulary by writing down the connotation meeting of words found in the chapter. We also answered discussion questions together in class. Students worked on analyzing the two main characters in the book and also wrote journal entries to respond to literature.
HW: None!
Math~ Acuity today!
HW: Finish up worksheet and do study link 5.7 that were given on Monday.
Science~ Content 1 started a new chapter today. Our focus this chapter is how plants and animals effect the environment in which they live. We talked about seasons and plants and animals today. We started working on our study guide and wrote answers to the Before You Move On questions in our notebooks.
HW: None!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Welcome Back!
I hope everyone had a great long weekend. Don't forget PJ day on Thursday. Money raised will go to the Red Cross to help Super Storm Sandy victims.
Language Arts~
No weekly homework this week. No spelling list either! Today we started a novel study, Frindle, by Andrew Clements. Due to circumstances beyond our control the books will not be here until Wednesday. However, we still got started today. We introduced the book and made predictions about what the book will be about. Then I read chapter 1 out loud and we discussed the book. We talked about flashbacks, literary devices, character development, and the plot. We answered questions about the chapter and looked at some of the vocabulary in the story. We also practiced editing sentences for grammar.
HW: None. Don't forget that book orders are due on Friday! Check out online ordering.
Math~
Our focus today was on the lattice method of multiplication. Most children really like this method of multiplication. Ask the kiddos to explain how to do a problem this way.
HW: None. We have acuity testing tomorrow.
Science~
Today we did a science experiment with paper dots and camouflage. Students attempted to pick up as many dots off a piece of cloth as they could in 15 seconds. Some of the dots were camouflaged. We talked about how being camouflaged helps animals survive in their habitats. We also started to talk about Science Expo. Look for more information to come home soon!
HW: None.
Language Arts~
No weekly homework this week. No spelling list either! Today we started a novel study, Frindle, by Andrew Clements. Due to circumstances beyond our control the books will not be here until Wednesday. However, we still got started today. We introduced the book and made predictions about what the book will be about. Then I read chapter 1 out loud and we discussed the book. We talked about flashbacks, literary devices, character development, and the plot. We answered questions about the chapter and looked at some of the vocabulary in the story. We also practiced editing sentences for grammar.
HW: None. Don't forget that book orders are due on Friday! Check out online ordering.
Math~
Our focus today was on the lattice method of multiplication. Most children really like this method of multiplication. Ask the kiddos to explain how to do a problem this way.
HW: None. We have acuity testing tomorrow.
Science~
Today we did a science experiment with paper dots and camouflage. Students attempted to pick up as many dots off a piece of cloth as they could in 15 seconds. Some of the dots were camouflaged. We talked about how being camouflaged helps animals survive in their habitats. We also started to talk about Science Expo. Look for more information to come home soon!
HW: None.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Marvelous Monday
Language Arts~
First things first - No spelling and no weekly homework this week due to the short week. Today we reviewed past concepts. We worked on plurals, possessives, capitalization and punctuation of titles. We also reviewed parts of a book and how to use an online encyclopedia. We looked at some concrete poetry. Our focus was on figurative language and alliteration. We wrote some poetry of our own.
HW: None
Math~
Today our focus was on estimating. We reviewed extended multiplication facts and estimating sums. We learned about estimating products. For each problem we wrote a number sentence and made a magnitude estimate. Magnitude estimates are really just figuring out what place value the answer will be. For example in the problem 4 X 28, the magnitude estimate would be 100s because the answer would be in the 100s place.
HW: Math boxes and study link 5.4
Science~
Show what you know day. The students took the chapter 4 test and worked on adaptations worksheets.
HW: Finish up the worksheets. They are due on Wednesday.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thursday's News and Information
Language Arts~
The kids got a great report from music class. They are really working hard! We came back to class and went over morning work. Our focus this week has been on possessive nouns. We also worked on phonics this morning and spent a few minutes looking at base words and prefixes and suffixes. We read in our reading books an article about snakes that was set up to look like an online encyclopedia. We then went to computer lab 22 to begin researching snakes.
A book order came home today. It will be due on November 30th. There is a cover letter to explain what to do if you want to order some of the books as gifts.
Our class collected 120 cans for the food drive. The school collected over 4000 items. Way to go Northpoint!
HW: Weekly work is due tomorrow. Some students may have a non-fiction worksheet to finish up.
Math~
The focus today was on estimating. We looked at a map and estimated time and distance for a four-city tour.
HW: Pages 109 and 110 in our journal.
Science~
The test will be on Monday (for today's class). We reviewed the concepts that will be covered on the test and then learned about these adaptations: body coverings, migration, and escape.
HW: Study for the test and finish worksheets.
The kids got a great report from music class. They are really working hard! We came back to class and went over morning work. Our focus this week has been on possessive nouns. We also worked on phonics this morning and spent a few minutes looking at base words and prefixes and suffixes. We read in our reading books an article about snakes that was set up to look like an online encyclopedia. We then went to computer lab 22 to begin researching snakes.
A book order came home today. It will be due on November 30th. There is a cover letter to explain what to do if you want to order some of the books as gifts.
Our class collected 120 cans for the food drive. The school collected over 4000 items. Way to go Northpoint!
HW: Weekly work is due tomorrow. Some students may have a non-fiction worksheet to finish up.
Math~
The focus today was on estimating. We looked at a map and estimated time and distance for a four-city tour.
HW: Pages 109 and 110 in our journal.
Science~
The test will be on Monday (for today's class). We reviewed the concepts that will be covered on the test and then learned about these adaptations: body coverings, migration, and escape.
HW: Study for the test and finish worksheets.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Tuesday's Information
I was out sick yesterday so here is all of the info for the week. Thanks for the generous donation of cans. So far we have collected 74 cans. The cans are being picked up tomorrow.
LA~ Our story for the week is Dear Mr. Winston. It is humorous fiction. Our comprehension skill for the week is making inferences and generating questions about what we read. Our vocabulary words for the week are weekdays, apologize, cardboard, harmless, slithered, ambulance and genuine. We are focusing on base words this week: harm means hurt or injury. Harmless is without hurt or injury. Our grammar skill continues to be possessive and plural nouns. Last week's grammar test was not pretty. We will continue to review this skill for this week's test. In spelling we continue to work with r-controlled vowel sounds.
Common Core Vocabulary:
Humorous Fiction, encyclopedia, toolbar, parts of a letter: heading, inside address, greeting, body, closing, and signature.
HW: Weekly Homework
Math~ Yesterday we took a test over unit 4. Today we jumped into unit 5. Our focus today was on extended math facts. Basically we reviewed the rule that if one of the factor ends in zero we can add a zero to the answer: 8 *6 =48 then 80*6=480 and 80*60=4800.
HW: Math boxes and Study Link 5.1
Science~ We continued to look at plant and animal adaptations that help things survive in their environment. Our focus today was plants and fossils. Don't forget content 1 has a test next Monday.
HW: Worksheets on hibernation and pretending to sleep adaptations.
LA~ Our story for the week is Dear Mr. Winston. It is humorous fiction. Our comprehension skill for the week is making inferences and generating questions about what we read. Our vocabulary words for the week are weekdays, apologize, cardboard, harmless, slithered, ambulance and genuine. We are focusing on base words this week: harm means hurt or injury. Harmless is without hurt or injury. Our grammar skill continues to be possessive and plural nouns. Last week's grammar test was not pretty. We will continue to review this skill for this week's test. In spelling we continue to work with r-controlled vowel sounds.
Common Core Vocabulary:
Humorous Fiction, encyclopedia, toolbar, parts of a letter: heading, inside address, greeting, body, closing, and signature.
HW: Weekly Homework
Math~ Yesterday we took a test over unit 4. Today we jumped into unit 5. Our focus today was on extended math facts. Basically we reviewed the rule that if one of the factor ends in zero we can add a zero to the answer: 8 *6 =48 then 80*6=480 and 80*60=4800.
HW: Math boxes and Study Link 5.1
Science~ We continued to look at plant and animal adaptations that help things survive in their environment. Our focus today was plants and fossils. Don't forget content 1 has a test next Monday.
HW: Worksheets on hibernation and pretending to sleep adaptations.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Thusdays News and Notes
Thank you for all of the food donations!
Language Arts~
Today we reviewed the r-controlled vowel sound. We identified words with the sound and wrote the symbol for those sounds as well. We also reviewed our grammar skill for the week. We partner read the story and talked about figurative language. We also reviewed the vocabulary and comprehension skills for the week. We put the finishing touches on our published book.
HW: Finish up weekly homework.
Math~
We had centers today. Students worked on decimal place value, multiplication facts, and data landmarks. I met with students individually to practice reading and writing numbers to the thousandths place.
HW: None - Don't forget the math test over Unit 4 is Monday! Review the study guide.
Science~
Today we looked at adaptations that help animals eat. We also did an activity that compared different tools to different types of beaks.
HW: None
Language Arts~
Today we reviewed the r-controlled vowel sound. We identified words with the sound and wrote the symbol for those sounds as well. We also reviewed our grammar skill for the week. We partner read the story and talked about figurative language. We also reviewed the vocabulary and comprehension skills for the week. We put the finishing touches on our published book.
HW: Finish up weekly homework.
Math~
We had centers today. Students worked on decimal place value, multiplication facts, and data landmarks. I met with students individually to practice reading and writing numbers to the thousandths place.
HW: None - Don't forget the math test over Unit 4 is Monday! Review the study guide.
Science~
Today we looked at adaptations that help animals eat. We also did an activity that compared different tools to different types of beaks.
HW: None
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Waffles Wednesday
Don't forget to send in items for our food drive. We will be collecting until next Wednesday. Remember that if we collect 150 cans, we will earn a no homework pass for the week.
Language Arts~
We worked on Acuity in computer lab. We practiced writing titles correctly and also worked on possessive nouns. We read our story and talked about figurative language and problem and solution. We worked on our published book. Last call for those orders. The book will be mailed away on Friday.
HW: Keep working on weekly homework.
Math~
Our chapter 4 test is on Monday. Today we reviewed the concepts as a whole group.
HW: None
Content 1~
Art Smart today! We learned all about Egyptian art! Thank you, Moms!
Language Arts~
We worked on Acuity in computer lab. We practiced writing titles correctly and also worked on possessive nouns. We read our story and talked about figurative language and problem and solution. We worked on our published book. Last call for those orders. The book will be mailed away on Friday.
HW: Keep working on weekly homework.
Math~
Our chapter 4 test is on Monday. Today we reviewed the concepts as a whole group.
HW: None
Content 1~
Art Smart today! We learned all about Egyptian art! Thank you, Moms!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Tacos Tuesday
We are still collecting canned goods for needy children!!
Language Arts~
We practiced writing singular possessive nouns and plural possessive nouns today. We also discussed that not every s needs and apostrophe. We sorted and worked with word meanings for r controlled vowel sounds spelling words. In reading, we focused on non-fiction. We read a short article about hamburgers and talked about the figurative language the author used to make the writing more interesting to the reader. In honor of election day, we read an article about voting and how one votes in the United States. We also wrote persuasive paragraphs on why it is important to vote.
HW: Any unfinished work and weekly homework. A note about the research project: Weekly homework is still due on Friday. Children will have to copy their facts to note cards before then for the presentations on Monday.
Math~
Our focus today was measuring using millimeters. We also converted from millimeters to centimeters. We completed journal pages 101-104. We also completed a putting decimals in order from least to greatest practice page.
HW: Math boxes and study link 4.10
Science~
Today we looked at adaptations that help animals eat. We also did an activity that compared different tools to different types of beaks.
HW: None
Language Arts~
We practiced writing singular possessive nouns and plural possessive nouns today. We also discussed that not every s needs and apostrophe. We sorted and worked with word meanings for r controlled vowel sounds spelling words. In reading, we focused on non-fiction. We read a short article about hamburgers and talked about the figurative language the author used to make the writing more interesting to the reader. In honor of election day, we read an article about voting and how one votes in the United States. We also wrote persuasive paragraphs on why it is important to vote.
HW: Any unfinished work and weekly homework. A note about the research project: Weekly homework is still due on Friday. Children will have to copy their facts to note cards before then for the presentations on Monday.
Math~
Our focus today was measuring using millimeters. We also converted from millimeters to centimeters. We completed journal pages 101-104. We also completed a putting decimals in order from least to greatest practice page.
HW: Math boxes and study link 4.10
Science~
Today we looked at adaptations that help animals eat. We also did an activity that compared different tools to different types of beaks.
HW: None
Monday, November 5, 2012
Macaroni and Cheese Monday
Don't forget that we are collecting food for families at Northpoint and another elementary school in the district. We will be collecting until a week from Wednesday.
Language Arts~
Our story this week is "How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning." This story is a biography. We will be focusing on generating questions about what we read and by looking at the problems and solutions that are in a story. The story vocabulary for the week: hilarious, convinced, mischief, independence, (come in) handy, dizzy, whirlwind, and nowadays. Our vocabulary skill is understanding idioms. An idiom is a group of words that has a collective meaning different from that of each individual word. It's raining cats and dogs is an example of an idiom. Our grammar skill is possessive nouns.
Common Core Vocabulary
Biography - The story of some one's life.
idiom - see above.
alliteration - The repetition of the initial sounds of words. Sally sold seashells.
onomatopoeia - A word that is also a sound. buzz, hiss
hyperbole - an exaggeration. He is so hungry he could eat a horse.
figurative language - idioms, alliteration, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, similes, metaphors, personification.
HW: Weekly Packet. The second page of the weekly packet is a biography research project. Each child will research a person and write down 10 facts about that person. They will then report on that person beginning next Monday. See rubric in the packet.
Math~
Today our focus was on the metric system. We discussed how each metric measurement was a times 10 from it's neighbor. We did a measurement journal page and a decimal place value review sheet. Our next test is scheduled for Monday, November 12th.
HW: math boxes and study link 4.8
Science~
We began our new chapter today. Our focus will be on the adaptations that help animals survive in their environment. Today we learned about adaptations that help animals to move.
HW: Before you move on questions on page 139 and 141.
Language Arts~
Our story this week is "How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning." This story is a biography. We will be focusing on generating questions about what we read and by looking at the problems and solutions that are in a story. The story vocabulary for the week: hilarious, convinced, mischief, independence, (come in) handy, dizzy, whirlwind, and nowadays. Our vocabulary skill is understanding idioms. An idiom is a group of words that has a collective meaning different from that of each individual word. It's raining cats and dogs is an example of an idiom. Our grammar skill is possessive nouns.
Common Core Vocabulary
Biography - The story of some one's life.
idiom - see above.
alliteration - The repetition of the initial sounds of words. Sally sold seashells.
onomatopoeia - A word that is also a sound. buzz, hiss
hyperbole - an exaggeration. He is so hungry he could eat a horse.
figurative language - idioms, alliteration, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, similes, metaphors, personification.
HW: Weekly Packet. The second page of the weekly packet is a biography research project. Each child will research a person and write down 10 facts about that person. They will then report on that person beginning next Monday. See rubric in the packet.
Math~
Today our focus was on the metric system. We discussed how each metric measurement was a times 10 from it's neighbor. We did a measurement journal page and a decimal place value review sheet. Our next test is scheduled for Monday, November 12th.
HW: math boxes and study link 4.8
Science~
We began our new chapter today. Our focus will be on the adaptations that help animals survive in their environment. Today we learned about adaptations that help animals to move.
HW: Before you move on questions on page 139 and 141.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Terrific Thursday
Wow! It is Thursday already! Wow! Wow!! It is November already! Time Flies!
Language Arts~
Today we practiced our spelling skill of complex consonant clusters. We also practiced finding the correctly spelled plural nouns. Some of them were quite tricky. We worked on the test taking strategy of the author and me. Basically, we made inferences based on the text and our own experiences. We wrote a timed journal entry about a special object that we lost or found. In vocab vine we learned about cur (care, attention) and vis, vid (see).
Word Masters - A paper about the word masters competition came home today. This is a national contest that involves knowing the listed words so well that you can use the words to complete analogies. We are not assigning the words as homework. However, if a student wants to learn the words, they may do so on their own. The test will be given the first week of December. Everyone will take the test, but the test will not count against the students grade.
HW: Finish packet.
Math~
Our focus today was the thousandths place value. We used our base ten blocks to visualize the thousandths place. We also practiced writing and reading the place value.
HW: Journal pages 93-95 and study link 4.7
Science~
Today was a hand's on day. We observed and studied plant fossils. We then compared the fossils to a modern plant. We designed an environment where the plant fossil might live.
HW: None
Language Arts~
Today we practiced our spelling skill of complex consonant clusters. We also practiced finding the correctly spelled plural nouns. Some of them were quite tricky. We worked on the test taking strategy of the author and me. Basically, we made inferences based on the text and our own experiences. We wrote a timed journal entry about a special object that we lost or found. In vocab vine we learned about cur (care, attention) and vis, vid (see).
Word Masters - A paper about the word masters competition came home today. This is a national contest that involves knowing the listed words so well that you can use the words to complete analogies. We are not assigning the words as homework. However, if a student wants to learn the words, they may do so on their own. The test will be given the first week of December. Everyone will take the test, but the test will not count against the students grade.
HW: Finish packet.
Math~
Our focus today was the thousandths place value. We used our base ten blocks to visualize the thousandths place. We also practiced writing and reading the place value.
HW: Journal pages 93-95 and study link 4.7
Science~
Today was a hand's on day. We observed and studied plant fossils. We then compared the fossils to a modern plant. We designed an environment where the plant fossil might live.
HW: None
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