January 25th Update

Upcoming Events

1/28 Book Report Note Packets are due
        100th Day of School
        School wide Backwards Day (students will have their daily schedule in reverse order)

 

1/29 Late Start

1/30 Author Visit at the high school

2/1 Pastries for Parents Starts at 7:45

 

2/11 Mid quarter grades go home

2/14 Valentine's Day Party 2-3

 

2/18 No school


Reading

This week the student explored reading and describing non fiction books. Since the students can identify the text features they are know collecting information on what the features are teaching them.

 

Next week the students will use the information they collected on their book report notes to complete a summary cube. At the end of next week, the students will share their summary cube with their classmates.  

Math

This week the students continued to work with identifying angles measurements. We also looked at creating symmetry by drawing a mirrored image. Finally, we explored what makes lines, angles and shapes congruent.

 

We will have our chapter 6 test next Friday, February 1st. The study guide will come home on Thursday with your students.   

Writing

On Monday the students will begin their personal narrative using the 3 items from their brown bag. This week we learned a personal narrative is a true story you write about yourself. This personal narrative will be in the a five paragraph essay. The students will write their paragraphs, edit with a partner, edit with me and then complete their final copy.


Science:
The student started a new unit on plant characteristics. This week we collected all the information the students know about plants. We focused on how seeds are protected in flower, fruit/veggie or cones until they are ready to become a new plant. We also learned different parts of the plants have different responsibilities. Next week we will look at different plant life cycles.

Multiplication tests:

Starting next Friday, February 1st, we will start multiplication timed tests. Yesterday in your student's take home folder there was a note explaining the multiplication program. I also made a copy of flash cards for all the problems 0-10 your students will need to know.

As a reward when students pass a number they will receive a piece of bubble gum and get to color in the corresponding number on their paper bubble gum machine here in the room.

If you would like to help, I am collecting sugar free bubble gum to give as the reward. For students who cannot have gum I also have alternative treats.

We will only take multiplication tests on Friday

Each Friday the students will get two tries to pass their level.

Practicing flashcards with your students at home is one of they best ways to practice.

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Ray

January 17th Update

Upcoming Events

1/21 No School

1/29 Late Start

1/30 Author Visit at the high school

2/1 Pastries for Parents Starts at 7:45

2/14 Valentine's Day Party 2-3

Brown Bag Writing
On Monday I will be sending the students home with a small brown bag. Attached you will find instructions to place 3 small items in the bag. The students will use these items for writing this month.

Reading The students have spend the week learning all the different text features in non-fiction books. During the week the students have searched in a variety of non-fiction books to find examples of each text feature. They also can describe what what information each text feature gives them. Today we used a Time for Kids magazine to hunt for all the different text features.

Math

This week in math the students explored different types of shapes and angles. The students leaned 3 line segment can create a polygon. We also classified different shapes based on their number of sides and sizes of their angles. The students will continue to focus on these concepts next week.

 

WritingThe students were introduced to common testing vocabulary this week in writing. They used their dictionary skills to look up these new words and shared the definitions they found with the class. The student also used their research on Martin Luther King Jr. to created summary sentences about different aspects of his life.

Next week we will explore narrative writings with the brown bag writing assignment. By the end of this month the students will complete their first five paragraph narrative essay writing!


Social Studies
The students combined their writing, research and technology skills into social studies this week. The students worked in groups of three to create a biography cube of Martin Luther King Jr. I was very impressed the students were able to share their information with each other and create summary group summary sentences. Each group then typed their information into a online program which created a biography cube. The graded flat copies of the cube will come home today along with the 3D versions they have created.


Science:
Next week in science we will explore the characteristics of a plant.

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Ray

January 11th Update

Upcoming Events

1/21 No School

1/29 Late Start

2/1 Pastries for Parents 

Quarter 2 Grade Cards

The Grade cards come home with the students today. Please sign and return the brown grade card envelope.  Your envelop will have a grade card and graphic organizer. like the one from parents teacher conferences. Each subject (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies)  will have specific goals. Goals which are highlighted need improvement, blank goals mean your students has a basic level of understanding and a start means they have mastered the goal.

Reading
This week the students focused on finding the characteristics of fiction and non-fiction books. The student were exposed to both types of books and facilitated discussions to decide if a book was non-fiction or fiction and why. Next week the students will learn to identify different non-fiction text features.

Each student picked out a book for their January book report, the genre is folktale. The book report note packets are due Monday, January 28th.

Math

We began Unit 6 on Monday. The students learned to identify and label line segments, lines and rays. We also identified the parts of triangles and angles. The math parent packet went home on Wednesday and can help you assist the students with their home work.

Writing

The students were excited to start cursive this week! For 10 minutes each day the students will learn a new cursive letter. The cursive practice also includes identifying cursive letters in text and combing cursive letters into words.

The students reflect on their break with a writing Monday. We focused on the highlights of 2012 and our goals for 2013 on Tuesday. We concluded the week by completing a narrative writing about what we think snowman do at night. The students completed the entire writing process. They brainstormed ideas, completed a writing planning sheet, edited with a peer, edited with me and wrote their final copy.

Social Studies
The students have collected information about Martin Luther King Jr. Through our research and reading we have confirmed information we "knew" about MLK. The students have also compiled the new information they have learned throughout the week. Next week the students will work in groups to determine the most important information they would like to share about Martin Luther King Jr's life.

We had a mini celebrations with the students Wednesday to celebrate my news that the baby is the boy!

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Ray