PARCC

Coming home in students' Beaver Folders today are notices regarding PARCC dates (the assessment taking the place of MSA).  In addition, the letter outlines PARCC testing policies, one of involves cell phones.  Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with any indicated regulations, and review them with your child, if applicable.  Thank you!

In Readers' Workshop, students identified beginning, middle, and ending evidence to support their ideas from The Other Side, by Jacqueline Woodson, in their literary essays.

In Writers' Workshop, students created a "Fab 5" on their blog.  A Fab 5 is a quick strategy to kids the kids to write about their reading, thinking, and inferences in just 5 short sentences.  I was really impressed with what the kids had to say about our new read aloud Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper.  Encourage your children at home to write a Fab 5 before or after reading!

In Math Workshop, students used multiple mathematical approaches and avenues to solve a multi-step word problem involving 4 different mathematical operations.

In Social Studies, students engaged in a "Gallery Walk" where they reviewed each others' informational comic strips, and noted economic vocabulary.  We used our creations to determine definitions for said terms in language we're comfortable using.

Students visited Reading Beaver Block today.

Homework: 

• Practice multiplication facts
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Debate Videos!

Hi All,

Below I've listed the links to our SeaWorld debates!  You'll notice the groups who chose to argue for SeaWorld were outnumbered by those who argued against; thus, our "for groups" had to engage in more than one debate to allow all teams to participate.

The links below are to my private YouTube account.  The only way to view these videos, is by clinking on the links I've included below.  No one will be able to search for and/ or find these videos without the links below.  This is to ensure the privacy of our class.  Hope you enjoy their debates!

• Ryan, Chelsea & DJ vs. Oshea, Teagan & Christian
• Christian, Teagan & Oshea vs. Brielle, Kris & Jamirra
• Zayda & Kiersten vs. Dayana, Jazella & Kyra
• Kylie, Kennedy & Brea vs. Christian, Oshea & Teagan
• Jordan, Julius & Ke'Shawn vs. Kiersten & Zayda

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Practice x7 times tables
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• x7 Quiz Friday
• Jump Rope for Heart: Friday
• Opinion essay sign & return due: Friday
• Unit 5 sign & return due: Friday
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Debate!

Today was our SeaWorld debate in Writers' Workshop!  Students presented, communicated, and respectfully argued their opinions using factual information, reasoning, and speaking and listening skills. I recorded each debate; however, it may take me a little time figure out how to download and post the videos on here.  In the mean time, I (of course) took pictures of our debate teams in their "professional attire".

The kids' opinion essays are coming home today with a 4 point rubric.  A 3 on the rubric indicates your child met the expectation.  Please review the essay with your child and sign and return only the blue letter at your soonest convenience.  Thank you!

Please note, the kids' x7 Fluency Quiz is this Friday.  Please encourage them to practice their times tables daily!  Your support with this is so helpful! Thank you!

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Practice x7 times tables
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• x7 Quiz Friday
• Jump Rope for Heart: Friday
• Opinion essay sign & return due: Friday
• Unit 5 sign & return due: Friday
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Debate Tomorrow!

Tomorrow the kids will engage in a debate over SeaWorld.  To prepare for this debate, students spent time identifying key talking points and purposeful facts, studied model debates, and practiced using debate language.  This debate works towards speaking and listening standards outlined in the Common Core.  Again, students are encouraged but not required to dress up for our debate.  I'll be sure to post pictures (or hopefully videos) tomorrow!

Students have their Unit 5 Math Test results coming home today.  Please review and sign and return the assessment at your soonest convenience.

Homework: 

• Practice x7 times tables
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Debate tomorrow! 
• Jump Rope for Heart: Friday
• Unit 5 sign & return due: Friday
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

x7 Quiz Tuesday

In Math Workshop, students constructed viable arguments using words, pictures, and numbers to defend their thinking.  Specifically students studied a word problem and made sense of its matching equation.  Following our mini lesson, students learned a new game reinforcing multiplication and division skills, facts, and processes.  Students have their x7 multiplication quiz this coming Tuesday.

In Writers' Workshop, students divided into debate teams.  Students started planning their opening and closing statements.  Our debate is tentatively scheduled for Monday.  Students are encouraged to dress up so we are taken seriously as speakers (dress up is optional and not required, but encouraged).

In Readers' Workshop, students read informational texts "with a pen".  They read paragraphs and pages, synthesizing main ideas and jotting down supporting facts or details.

In Social Studies, students continued to plan and create their informational comic strips pertaining to key economic ideas.

Students visited Reading Beaver Block today.

Homework: 

• First in Math: 20 minutes
• Practice times tables
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Debate!

In Math Workshop, students applied their understanding of ways to show and solve multiplication word problems to help them solve division problems.  For homework, students need to play First in Math for 20 minutes as well as practice their times tables.

In Writers' Workshop, we began prepping for our SeaWorld debate.  Today we closely watched a clip of a fourth grade debate.  We jotted down what effective strategies the students used to build on our speaking and listening skills.

In Word Study, students applied their knowledge of letter patterns and prefixes to spell words in Boggle.

In Readers' Workshop, students learned another informational text structure: description.

In Social Studies, we began our comic strip project.  Students will use precise economic words and principles to create an informative comic strip about the production process.

Students visited Reading Beaver Block today.

Homework: 

• First in Math: 20 minutes
• Practice times tables
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Happy Valentine's Day!

In Readers' Workshop, students learned another informational text structure: cause and effect.  Again these text structures help us focus our expectations and grow ideas about author bias.  Encourage your child to read informational texts at home; have them identify a text structure within the paragraphs.

We had a mini Valentine's Celebration today.  The kids made a craft today and passed out their valentines. See a few snapshots below!

Additionally, we finished our read aloud today, Among the Hidden.  Have your child identify the theme.  Encourage them to use the language we use in Readers' Workshop ("In the text.... the theme is...").

I also wanted to sincerely thank all kids and families for the valentines gifts they brought in for me. Every day I reminded of how lucky I am to work with, teach, and watch your kids grow.  What a privilege! Have a very happy Valentine's Day!

Homework: 

• 0-7 Multiplication facts: 20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Goblins in the Castle
• The One and Only Ivan

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Lemonade!

In Math Workshop, students applied their understanding of multiplication strategies to solve real world division problems.  Additionally, students made their x7 flash cards today.  Please encourage your child to practice their 0-7 facts.

In Writers' Workshop, students learned that authors of opinion writing use three word lists to make their writing long, strong, and more convincing.  Students then applied this lesson to their SeaWorld essays.

In Word Study, students identified and discovered another prefix: "re".  Ask your child what this prefix means (A: again).

In Readers' Workshop, students used the "Problem and Solution" informational text structure to focus their reading expectations and ready their minds to think about author bias.

In Social Studies, students specialized in a job for our assembly line in order to increase our production when making lemonade.  Ask your child what their job was.  Have them tell you why assembly lines are helpful in the production process (A: they are effective, efficient, and quick for producing certain goods).

Students visited Reading Beaver Block today.

Homework: 

• Math homework
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: tomorrow
• Bank Day tomorrow
• Signed report card envelopes due back ASAP
• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Goblins in the Castle
• The One and Only Ivan

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Assembly Line

In Math Workshop, students applied their knowledge of multiplication and missing factors to help them solve division strategies.  Students are discovering that there are multiple ways to show and solve division problems.  Students have homework tonight, due tomorrow.

In Writers' Workshop, students identified and studied strong titles to help them gain insight for attracting a reader for their SeaWorld essay.  Ask your child what they titled their essay.

In Word Study, students identified another prefix, "un".  They then used a word list to help them discover this prefixes meaning.  Not only do prefixes help us spell words correctly as writers, but they also help us figure out meanings of unknown words.

In Readers' Workshop, we're learning about text structures, and how they structures can help us ready our minds and focus our expectations for reading.  Additionally, using informational text structures will eventually help us grow ideas about author's bias.

In Social Studies, we used the assembly line to plan our lemonade production process.  Tomorrow we will put our planning and knowledge of natural, capital, and human resources to the test!

Students visited Reading Beaver Block today.

Homework: 

• Math homework
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: Friday, February 13.
• Signed report card envelopes due back ASAP
• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Goblins in the Castle
• The One and Only Ivan

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

x6 Quiz Wednesday

In Math Workshop, students applied their understanding of multiplication and division to solve areas and perimeters with missing areas.  Please note, the kids have their x6 fluency quiz on Wednesday.

In Writers' Workshop, we studied handwriting and determined its importance when publishing a piece.  Students decided that it's important to have clear, legible handwriting so our readers take us (and our writing) seriously.

In Readers' Workshop, we closely read an informational text about Iceland.  Students will use what they learn from the text as well as other resources to create and write an informational brochure.

In Social Studies, we looked at the production process and the resources that go into making a good.  We decided what goods and resources we will need to make lemonade.  On Wednesday, we will use our capital, natural and human resources to produce this good.

Students visited Math Beaver Block.

In Word Study, students discovered the meaning of the prefix "mis-". Ask your child what this prefix means (A: wrongly).  See if they can come up with any words that contain this prefix!

Homework: 

• Multiplication facts 0-6: 20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• x6 Multiplication Quiz: Wednesday
• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Goblins in the Castle
• The One and Only Ivan

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Report Cards

Report cards are coming home in your child's Beaver Folder today.  Please make sure you review their progress and sign and return the envelope at your soonest convenience.

See our Math Fluency stars below!

Homework: 

• Multiplication facts 0-6: 20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 5 Geometry Test:  Tomorrow
• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Should There Be Zoos? 
• Exclamation Mark 
• Goblins in the Castle
• The One and Only Ivan

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Missing Book!

Our class is miss the following books:  Should There Be Zoos? and Exclamation Mark (a yellow picture book with an exclamation mark on the front).  If you happen to find these at your house, please send them back with your child.  Thank for your help!

In Math Workshop, students played Math Jeopardy to review for our Geometry Test tomorrow.  Students' reviews are due tomorrow.  Please encourage them to review and practice any difficult problems.

In Writers' Workshop, students spent time revising, editing, and publishing their SeaWorld essay.  Most students are currently publishing.  Our goal is to finish these by next week.

In Readers' Workshop, students used informational reading strategies to help them identify and synthesize main ideas from paragraphs and list supportive information under each idea.  Essentially, students are learning that when readers read informational text, we usually "read with a pen", taking notes to help us hold on to and organize new learning.

Homework: 

• Math homework review due tomorrow
• Multiplication facts 0-6: 20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 5 Geometry Test:  Tomorrow
• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Should There Be Zoos? 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

Clip Hall of Fame Breakfast Tomorrow!

Please note that the January Clip Hall of Fame Breakfast is tomorrow.  

Thank you! 

Homework: 

• Math homework review due Friday
• Multiplication facts 0-6: 20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 5 Geometry Test:  Friday, February 6.
• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: TOMORROW, 9:30 AM
• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith 

SMI

Students took the Scholastic Math Assessment (SMI) today.  Ask them if they beat their score from October.  They have a pink slip coming home, documenting their growth.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow
• Multiplication facts 0-6: 20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 5 Geometry Test:  Friday, February 6.
• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: Thursday, February 5 at 9:30 AM.
• Jump Rope for Heart donations due: February 17.

Classroom Supplies:

Thank you,

Ms. Smith