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small medium large NOVEMBER 16-21, 2008 2nd HOMEWORK Cover Sheet (TRIMESTER 2), GOES HOME TODAY – No NEW Homework – Study for TESTS BIRTHDAYS: Aaron P. – November 14; Olivia – November 30 Week’s HELPERS: Sean, Natalie, Olivia, Thomas LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) READING - The students will students will experience a HEAT WAVE that strikes a Kansas farm. As they read, they are to evaluate how the author and the illustrator make this story funny and incredible. SPELLING – In spelling we will work on UNIT 13 [Compound Words]. We will learn about context sentences and syllables along with dictionary/thesaurus, and proofreading/editing drills. Our REAL WORLD Connection will be Social Studies: Travel WRITING/GRAMMAR – The students will continue their new extended writing assignment “Write a Description” (Reading text pgs. 183-184) -- Focus: “expensive” descriptive detail; clear, 3 paragraph organization -- THIS WEEK they are to observe their pet and take SHORT notes/Jots – NO SENTENCES! They are to carefully observe the appearance and behavior of their pet. For those who do NOT have a pet, they are to decide on one that they would like to get someday. They may use the WEB or animal books to research what their pet might look like and how it might behave. We will be putting everything together in class. MATH * Chapter 5 TEST this Friday, November 21 This week the students will finish Chapter 5, Multiplying by TWO-Digit Numbers. We will be orally drilling multiplication tables. SOCIAL STUDIES * CHAPTER 4, TEST this Friday, November 21 The students will WRAP UP their study of Unit 2, Chapter 4 MEXICAN CALIFORNIA this week. All their workbook pages and vocabulary flashcards should be completed in class and corrected orally over the next two weeks. I will also be giving them Lesson TESTS over each lesson prior to the main test. These will be open-book and then orally corrected. These pages should also be used for review. SCIENCE -- Unit B, The Changing Earth -- BEGINNING Chapter 2 -Rocks and Minerals -- This is one of my favorite chapters and over the next couple of weeks we will be investigating Mineral Properties, Identifying Rocks, and The Rock Cycle. The chapter will culminate with a ROCK & MINERAL viewing day (teacher and student samples). The students will be reading these lessons silently to build their own study skills. I will follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book/workbook/notes. BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18) (Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) Week’s Verse NO NEW VERSE This week we will meet the prophets, Joel & Obediah. The class will be participating in a CHORAL READING to review the material. ************************************** NOVEMBER 10-14, 2008 1st HOMEWORK PACKET (TRIMESTER 2), GOES HOME TODAY – RETURN BY NEXT MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17 BIRTHDAYS: Aaron P. – November 14; Olivia – November 30 Week’s HELPERS: Marc, Aaron F., Trisha, Luke LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) READING - The students will meet a young lady from Martinique and read her version of the Cinderella story in “CENDRILLON”. As the students read, they are to think of questions to ask about how the setting affects the story. SPELLING – In spelling we will work on UNIT 11 [ôr, ûr, short vowel sound yoor]. We will learn about Synonyms along with dictionary/thesaurus, and proofreading/editing drills. Our REAL WORLD Connection will be Science: Horses WRITING/GRAMMAR – The students will continue their new extended writing assignment “Write a Description” (Reading text pgs. 183-184) -- Focus: “expensive” descriptive detail; clear, 3 paragraph organization -- THIS WEEK they are to observe their pet and take SHORT notes/Jots – NO SENTENCES! They are to carefully observe the appearance and behavior of their pet. For those who do NOT have a pet, they are to decide on one that they would like to get someday. They may use the WEB or animal books to research what their pet might look like and how it might behave. We will be putting everything together in class. MATH * Next TEST over Chapter 5, planned for Friday, November 21 This week the students will BEGIN Chapter 5, Multiplying by TWO-Digit Numbers. We will be orally drilling multiplication tables. SOCIAL STUDIES Next TEST over CHAPTER 4, planned for Friday, Nov. 21 The students will Continue Unit 2, Chapter 4 MEXICAN CALIFORNIA this week. All their workbook pages and vocabulary flashcards will be completed in class and corrected orally over the next two weeks. I will also be giving them Lesson TESTS over each lesson prior to the main test. These will be open-book and then orally corrected. These pages should also be used for review. SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- BEGINNING Chapter 2 -Rocks and Minerals This is one of my favorite chapters and over the next couple of weeks we will be investigating Mineral Properties, Identifying Rocks, and The Rock Cycle. The chapter will culminate with a ROCK & MINERAL viewing day (teacher and student samples). The students will take turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book/workbook/notes. BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18)(Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) Week’s Verse JOEL 2:13b This week the students will finish their study of the prophet, JONAH reviewing LUKE 6:37. The students “will focus on the fact that God’s message (and His compassion) is for all people; we are not to judge who is worthy of His salvation. This was the lesson that Jonah begrudgingly acknowledged after his preaching brought the people of Nineveh to repentance, and God stayed His judgment on them.” They will meet the prophets HOSEA and AMOS and begin memorizing our review Hosea 14:9. The students will meet a member of the police and a pastor (student actors). They will be learning about road signs to help them visually as they learn how important a covenant is and the possible consequences that will follow if it is broken. ***************************** NOVEMBER 3-7, 2008 8th HOMEWORK PACKET GOES HOME TODAY – RETURN BY NEXT MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10 The students have earned their first class celebration because they filled the GOLD NUGGET jar. We will be celebrating this Friday afternoon [MATH will be in the morning this day]. They have chosen the following activities: table games, free reading, or doodling. We will also have our next AUCTION/BARTER day towards the end of the school day Friday. BIRTHDAYS: Aaron P. – November 14; Olivia – November 30 Week’s HELPERS: Arlene, Austin, Joseph, Alyxandra LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) READING - The students are beginning a new unit this week, THAT’S AMAZING. When a mysterious stranger -- THE STRANGER – arrives at the Baileys’ house, unusual things begin to happen. As they read, they are to monitor their reading. If something doesn’t make sense, they are to reread to clarify. SPELLING – In spelling we will work on Unit 10 [ îr, är, âr]. We will learn about Idioms along with dictionary/thesaurus, and proofreading/editing drills. Our REAL WORLD Connection will be Recreation: Scuba Diving. The unit writing assignment is one of the students’ favorites each year. They are to write a paragraph describing an imaginary underwater creature. WRITING/GRAMMAR – The students will continue their next extended writing assignment “Write a Description” (Reading text pgs. 183-184) -- Focus: “expensive” descriptive detail; clear, 3 paragraph organization -- THIS WEEK they are to observe their pet and take SHORT notes/Jots – NO SENTENCES! They are to carefully observe the appearance and behavior of their pet. For those who do NOT have a pet, they are to decide on one that they would like to get someday. They may use the WEB or animal books to research what their pet might look like and how it might behave. We will be putting everything together in class. MATH * Next TEST over Chapter 4 planned for Friday, November 7 This week the students will finish Chapter 4, Multiplying by One-Digit Numbers. We will be orally drilling multiplication tables. All math HOMEWORK this week will be OPTIONAL. SOCIAL STUDIES * CHAPTER 3 TEST, this Wednesday, October 29 The students will BEGIN Unit 2, Chapter 4 MEXICAN CALIFORNIA this week. All their workbook pages and vocabulary flashcards will be completed in class and corrected orally over the next two weeks. I will also be giving them Lesson TESTS over each lesson prior to the main test. These will be open-book and then orally corrected— These pages should also be used for review. The CHAPTER 3 TEST will be returned with Wednesday’s GRADED HOMEWORK PACKET. SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth’s Surface The students are continuing to tour our current chapter and are taking turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) We will finish the chapter this week and take our first test this Friday (note change from Wednesday). BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18) (Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) Week’s Verse HOSEA 14:9. This week the students will finish their study of ELISHA. They will met the prophet, JONAH and review LUKE 6:37. The students “will focus on the fact that God’s message (and His compassion) is for all people; we are not to judge who is worthy of His salvation. This was the lesson that Jonah begrudgingly acknowledged after his preaching brought the people of Nineveh to repentance, and God stayed His judgment on them.” *********************************** OCTOBER 27-29, 2008 NO HOMEWORK PACKETS THIS WEEK – STUDY FOR SOCIAL STUDIES, CHAPTER 3 TEST and WORK ON DREAM JAR BIRTHDAYS: Alyxandra – October 5 Week’s HELPERS: Ben, Sadie, Alize, Egor _______________________ LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) READING - This week the students will continue to get to know the different families preparing for one Very Important Day. They will be focusing on their workbook pages. WRITING/GRAMMAR – The students will begin their next extended writing assignment “Write a Description” (Reading text pgs. 183-184) Focus: “expensive” descriptive detail; clear, 3 paragraph organization. THIS WEEK they are to observe their pet and take SHORT notes/Jots – NO SENTENCES! They are to carefully observe the appearance and behavior of their pet. For those who do NOT have a pet, they are to decide on one that they would like to get someday. They may use the WEB or animal books to research what there pet might look like and how it might behave. We will be putting everything together in class. MATH * Next TEST over Chapter 4 planned for Friday, November 7 This week the students will continue Chapter 4, Multiplying by One-Digit Numbers. We will be orally drilling multiplication tables SOCIAL STUDIES * CHAPTER 3 TEST, this Wednesday, October 29 The students are to continue carefully reading UNIT 2 Exploration & Colonization; Chapter 3, The First Californians [pgs.74-115]. They will be completing their workbook pages in class and we will correct them together as we review. They will participate in flashcards drills. I will also be giving them Lesson TESTS over each lesson -- open book and then orally corrected— which the students should also use for review. SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth’s Surface The students are continuing to tour our current chapter and are taking turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) We will finish the chapter this week and take our first test next Wednesday. BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18) (Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) Week’s Verse NO VERSE THIS WEEK This week the students will continue to focus on ELISHA, the prophet trained and raised up by Elijah to carry on his work. Elisha wholeheartedly chose to follow Elijah and to speak for the Lord. The students will see that it is a privilege to carry on the work of telling others about God and that they can make that same choice. ***************************** OCTOBER 20-24, 2008 7th HOMEWORK packet goes out today – Due back next MONDAY, October 27, 2008 BIRTHDAYS: Alyxandra – October 5 Week’s HELPERS: Ryan, Marianne, Aaron P., Zechariah _________________ LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) READING - This week the students will meet many different families preparing for one Very Important Day. As they read, they are to think of questions to ask about how each family reacts to this day. SPELLING - In spelling we will work on Unit 9 [ ou and o ]. We will practice Word Clues & Entry Words and their Meanings, along with dictionary/thesaurus, and proofreading/editing drills. Our REAL WORLD Connection will be Science: Dogs. WRITING/GRAMMAR – The students will begin their next extended writing assignment “Write a Description” (Reading text pgs. 183-184) Focus: “expensive” descriptive detail; clear, 3 paragraph organization. THIS WEEK they are to observe their pet and take SHORT notes/Jots – NO SENTENCES! They are to carefully observe the appearance and behavior of their pet. For those who do NOT have a pet, they are to decide on one that they would like to get someday. They may use the WEB or animal books to research what there pet might look like and how it might behave. We will be putting everything together in class. MATH * Chapter 3 TEST this Tuesday, October 21 This week the students will take their TEST over Chapter 3, Multiplication and Division Facts. This is an extremely important chapter for the students to master in preparation for Fifth Grade math and beyond! We will begin Chapter 4, Multiplying by One-Digit Numbers. SOCIAL STUDIES * Next TEST over CHAPTER 3, planned for Wed., October 29 The students are to continue carefully reading UNIT 2 Exploration & Colonization; Chapter 3, The First Californians [pgs.74-115]. They will be completing their workbook pages in class and we will correct them together as we review. They will participate in flashcards drills. I will also be giving them Lesson TESTS over each lesson -- open book and then orally corrected— which the students should also use for review. SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, "Changes to Earth’s Surface" The students are continuing to tour our current chapter and are taking turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) We will finish the chapter this week and take our first test Friday. BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18) (Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) Week’s Verse NO VERSE THIS WEEK This week the students will continue to focus on ELISHA, the prophet trained and raised up by Elijah to carry on his work. Elisha wholeheartedly chose to follow Elijah and to speak for the Lord. The students will see that it is a privilege to carry on the work of telling others about God and that they can make that same choice. ********************************** OCTOBER 13-17, 2008 6th HOMEWORK packet goes out today – Due back next MONDAY, October 20, 2008 BIRTHDAYS: Alyxandra – October 5 Week’s HELPERS: Sean, Natalie, Enoch, Priscilla LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) This week we will “Go West” as we read the biography, BOSS OF THE PLAINS. The students will discover how the cowboy hat, a one-of-a-kind hat won the hearts— and heads—of the American West. The students are to stop at different points in the story to summarize key events. This week, our WRITING drills include: * CONTINUE Writing a Personal Narrative [We should finish this up THIS week] Model: Mrs. Bryant’s embarrassing experience—The Giant “Cow Pie,” followed by the students creating a Story Web from my board sample. (ALL WRITING WILL BE DONE IN CLASS) * MODEL: Writing a Personal Narrative, using a 4th grade model from the reading text, Traditions * HOMEWORK FOCUS to date - nouns, capitalization, periods, punctuation, commas, contractions - In SPELLING, the students will work on Unit 8, [ōō, & ŏŏ]. We will practice Making Inferences along with dictionary/thesaurus, and proofreading/editing drills. Our REAL WORLD Connection will be Recreation: Camping. The writing assignment – A Friendly Letter MATH *** Chapter 3 TEST planned for Tuesday, October 21 This week the students are continuing Chapter 3, Multiplication and Division Facts. This is an extremely important chapter for the students to master in preparation for Fifth Grade math and beyond! SOCIAL STUDIES * Next TEST over CHAPTER 3, planned for Wednesday, October 29 The students are to begin carefully reading UNIT 2 Exploration & Colonization; Chapter 3 The First Californians [pgs.74-115]. They will be completing their workbook pages in class and we will correct them together as we review. They will be receiving flashcards for the chapter. I will also be giving them Lesson TESTS over each lesson -- open book and then orally corrected—which the students should also use for review. SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth’s Surface The students are continuing to tour our current chapter and are taking turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) We will finish the chapter this week. Mrs. Parker shared a vial of ash from Mt. St. Helens volcanic eruption. She shared information about volcanoes using the classroom maps to locate and identify major historic volcanic activity. This week’s ACTIVITY – Investigation - PANGEA BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18)(Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) (Week’s Verse LUKE 6:37 This week the students will focus on ELISHA, the prophet trained and raised up by Elijah to carry on his work. Elisha wholeheartedly chose to follow Elijah and to speak for the Lord. The students will see that it is a privilege to carry on the work of telling others about God and that they can make that same choice. ******************************* OCTOBER 6-10, 2008 5th HOMEWORK packet goes out today – Due back next MONDAY, October 13, 2008 BIRTHDAYS: Alyxandra – October 5 Week’s HELPERS: Austin, Alyxandra, Trisha, Luke LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) This week we will travel to Tanya’s Reunion at her grandmother’s farm. She is so excited about going ahead with her grandmother before the others because the stories she has heard and the images she has created in her head sound so wonderful. However, we’ll find that when she gets there she is really disappointed because nothing fits her memories. The students are to evaluate how the author helps them understand what Tanya is feeling. This week, our WRITING drills include:  CONTINUE Writing a Personal Narrative [We should finish this up by next week] Model: Mrs. Bryant’s embarrassing experience—The Giant “Cow Pie,” followed by the students creating a Story Web from my board sample. (ALL WRITING WILL BE DONE IN CLASS)  MODEL: Writing a Personal Narrative, using a 4th grade model from the reading text, Traditions HOMEWORK FOCUS to date - nouns, capitalization, periods, punctuation, commas, contractions - In SPELLING, the students will work on Unit 7, the [short u, long yoo, long oo]. We will practice using Word Clues and a Spelling Table, along with dictionary/thesaurus, and proofreading/editing drills. Our REAL WORLD Connection will be Health: Morning Activities. Writing Activity: Write a Personal Story MATH * Chapter 3 TEST planned for Friday, October 17 This week the students are in Chapter 3 Multiplication and Division Facts. This is an extremely important chapter for the students to master in preparation for Fifth Grade math and beyond! SOCIAL STUDIES * Chapter 2 TEST this Wednesday, October 8 This week the students will FINISH UNIT 1 Land & First People; Chapter TWO, The First Californians [pgs. 40-73] -- The reading is to be done at home. I work with the students on the vocabulary, worksheet pages and other drills. The students should take their workbooks home which should be completed. These pages will help them study and review for the test. Some important pages which the students might race through OR skip are text pages 54 & 55 AND workbook pages SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth’s Surface. The students are continuing to tour our current chapter and are taking turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) We will finish the chapter this week. Last week’s ACTIVITY was viewing The Magic School Bus video on VOLCANOES. BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18) (Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) (Week’s Verse ISAIAH 52:7) This week the students will learn that a prophet is a messenger. They will continue to learn about the courageous acts that the Prophet ELIJAH performed in the face of danger. He chose to stand up for God. When the odds were against him and he was totally outnumbered, Elijah delivered God’s message. Elijah chose to serve God at a time when worshiping God was not the popular thing to do. We will learn that in our world today, we can choose to be like Elijah and stand up and make our beliefs known, or we can sit back and pretend that we do not know God. We will find that standing up for God can be a difficult thing to do. ************************************ SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 4th HOMEWORK packet goes out today – Due back next MONDAY, October 6, 2008 BIRTHDAYS: Alyxandra – October 5 Week’s HELPERS: Austin, Alyxandra, Trisha, Luke _______________________ LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) This week we will travel with Tomás and his family from Texas to Iowa in, Tomás and the Library Lady. His parents were farm workers heading to their summer job picking fruit and vegetables. We experienced Tomas’ first visit to a library and the wonderful adventures he discovered in books. He became the family storyteller and brought much pleasure to his family. This week, our WRITING drills include: CONTINUE Writing a Personal Narrative Model: Mrs. Bryant’s embarrassing experience—The Giant “Cow Pie,” followed by the students creating a Story Web from my board sample. (ALL WRITING WILL BE DONE IN CLASS) MODEL: Writing a Personal Narrative, using a 4th grade model from the reading text, Traditions Our first WRITING PROMPT, MEETING OUR BUDDIES for the first time. * HOMEWORK FOCUS to date - nouns, capitalization, periods, punctuation, commas - In SPELLING, the students will work on Unit 5 Homophones. The focus will include context sentences, challenge words, spelling-meaning connections, proofreading and writing,. The week’s Real-World Connection is Science – Metals. Our writing drill : Write Instructions (Spelling Text) MATH * Chapter 2 TEST this Thursday, October 2 This week the students are wrapping up their work on Chapter 2, Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Money. They are continuing to practice and to build their problem-solving skills. A Fourth Grade weakness is racing through work without listening to directions, reading directions carefully, or checking work. We will probably be focusing on this the entire year. The CHAPTER 2 TEST will be this Thursday. We will be practicing by taking the Text test – PAGE 69 - in class and going over the answers. The test they will be taking is very close to this practice test. If students do not understand certain problems well, they should go back to the lesson that covers the information. SOCIAL STUDIES * Chapter 2 TEST planned for next Wednesday, October 8 This week the students will continue UNIT 1 Land & First People; Chapter TWO, The First Californians [pgs. 40-73] -- The reading is to be done at home. I work with the students on the vocabulary, worksheet pages and other drills. The students are encouraged to take their workbooks home as we complete assigned pages. These pages will help them study and review for the test. SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth’s Surface. The students are continuing to tour our current chapter and are taking turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) We will finish the chapter this week. Last week’s ACTIVITY was viewing The Magic School Bus video on VOLCANOES. BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18)(Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) (Week’s Verse Deuteronomy 13:4) Last week we met the prophet ELIJAH. This week the students will learn that a prophet was a messenger of God. They will continue to learn about the courageous acts that Elijah performed in the face of danger. He chose to stand up for God. When the odds were against him and he was totally outnumbered, Elijah delivered God’s message. Elijah chose to serve God at a time when worshiping God was not the popular thing to do. We will learn that in our world today, we can choose to be like Elijah and stand up and make our beliefs known, or we can sit back and pretend that we do not know God. We will find that standing up for God can be a difficult thing to do. *******************************8 SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 4th HOMEWORK packet goes out today – Due back next MONDAY, September 29, 2008 BIRTHDAYS: Alize – August 3; Ben – September 8; Priscilla – September 10 Week’s HELPERS: Arlyn, Sadie, Joseph, Egor ______________________ LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) This week the students will experience a train ride in the 1870s. They will travel with the Ingalls family in the story, By the Shores of Silver Lake. They will be on board for their first train ride to a new homestead. The students will work silently in their reading/writing workbook. Exercises which we will correct orally include: vocabulary drills – Railroad Words Detail Map, homophones, word roots, spelling strategies, proofreading, reading for comprehension. Our reading strategy is – to QUESTION. This week, our WRITING drills include:  CONTINUE Writing a Personal Narrative, Model: Mrs. Bryant’s embarrassing experience—The Giant “Cow Pie,” followed by the students creating a Story Web from my board sample. (ALL WRITING WILL BE DONE IN CLASS)  MODEL: Writing a Personal Narrative, using a 4th grade model from the reading text, Traditions  Our first WRITING PROMPT, MEETING OUR BUDDIES for the first time. In SPELLING, we will focus on Unit we are working with long o and short o sounds. The students will practice “making inferences” and focus on words of exploration. Our writing drill : Write an Essay (Spelling Text) Focus on nouns, capitalization, periods, and punctuation MATH * Chapter 2 TEST planned for Thursday, October 2 This week the students are continuing to work on Chapter 2, Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Money. They are continuing to practice and to build their problem-solving skills. A Fourth Grade weakness is racing through work without listening to directions, reading directions carefully, or checking work. We will probably be focusing on this the entire year. SOCIAL STUDIES * Chapter 2 TEST planned for Wednesday, October 8 This week the students will begin UNIT 1 Land & First People; Chapter TWO, The First Californians [pgs. 40-73] -- The reading is to be done at home. I work with the students on the vocabulary, worksheet pages and other drills. The students are encouraged to take their workbooks home as we complete assigned pages. These pages will help them study and review for the test. SCIENCE Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth’s Surface. The students our continuing to tour our current chapter and are taking turns orally reading the text. I follow each section with an oral discussion of key terms, headings, paragraph organization, topic sentences and supporting details. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) Last week’s ACTIVITY involved student groups moving miniature block of ice mixed with rocks (glaciers) across cardboard (landforms) to investigate what would happen. They also shared globes to locate major areas where icebergs are located. BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6: 13-18) (Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) (Week’s Verse ECCLESIASTES 12:13 This week we journey back in time to continue our visit with King SOLOMON. Last week the students memorized Proverbs 1:7, one of the many proverbs that he wrote. We will learn two new words from Proverbs 1, prudent and discerning. The students will create some proverbs of their own. Last week we witnessed one of Solomon’s wisest actions as we watched him settle a case between two women who each claimed they were the mother of the same baby. We studied some special posters showing the magnificent temple that God allowed Solomon to build. This week we will find that Solomon allowed power and all his wives to distract him and draw him away from following God. The students will observe the consequences of Solomon’s poor choices. ************************************** SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 ___________________ BIRTHDAYS: Alize – August 3; Ben – September 8; Priscilla – September 10 Week’s HELPERS: Ben, Marianne, Aaron P., Alize _______________________ LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) This week the students will journey with Bob Ballard on his “high tech’ ship to search for the wreck of the Titanic. He will tell a story of the disaster, focusing on the experience of a young girl who survived the dreadful night. They will learn that the literary genre for this story is Narrative Nonfiction. They will work silently in their reading/writing workbooks. Exercises which we will correct orally include: vocabulary drills –Seaworthy Words, Time Goes On (timeline), Syllabication, spelling strategies, proofreading, reading for comprehension. We will focus on the reading strategy – to MONITOR/CLARIFY This week, our WRITING drills include:  Writing a Personal Narrative, Model: Mrs. Bryant’s embarrassing experience—The Giant “Cow Pie,” followed by the students creating a Story Web from my board sample. (ALL WRITING WILL BE DONE IN CLASS)  MODEL: Writing a Personal Narrative, using a 4th grade model from the reading and writing texts, Traditions (all writing will done in class) Focus on nouns, capitalization, periods, and punctuation In SPELLING, we will focus on Unit 3, the long i and short i sounds. The students will practice “making inferences” and focusing on words of exploration. They are to Write a Description for this unit. MATH next test over Chapter 2 planned for Thursday, October 2 The students completed Chapter 1, Place Value, and took their test last Friday. The tests will be sent home this Wednesday. We are beginning Chapter 2, Adding & Subtracting Whole Numbers and Money. SOCIAL STUDIES (check homework) 1st TEST – Unit 1, Chapter 1, Tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 16 The students will take their first test over Chapter 1. This week they will begin UNIT 1 Land & First People; Ch 2 The First Californians [pgs. 40-73]. They are to begin carefully reading the chapter at home and should be finished by Monday. September 29. USE WORKBOOK TO REVIEW FOR TEST (see pages for Ch 1 in TABLE of CONTENTS for the pages we corrected in class and the back section SUMMARY pages!) [LS 1-4] SCIENCE The students have toured our current chapter and shared “jump out” pages for Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth’s Surface. We will be studying this text in class, for now, and participating in group INVESTIGATIONS. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE– Ephesians 6:13-16) (Class Verse – Psalm 119:105) (Week’s Verse – Proverbs 1:7) see homework Last week and this week we be focusing on the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, We were encouraged to follow Solomon's example and ask God for wisdom because he will give us the guidance we need to solve our problems and to help others. Our Activities: Posters of the temple Solomon oversaw (one of the 7 ancient wonders of the world, and an animated video SOLOMON. We got to visualize the famous case that caused the king to become a world celebrity as he judged the case of two women fighting over a baby. We will discuss what the words fear, knowledge, fools, despise. wisdom, and discipline mean. This week’s activity will include writing some personal proverbs. *********************************************** SEPTEMBER 8-12, 2008 _____________________ BIRTHDAYS: Alize ¡V August 3; Ben ¡V September 8; Priscilla ¡V September 10 Week¡¦s HELPERS: Ryan, Natalie, Enoch, Zechariah ______________________________ LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling, Writing/Grammar-Conventions, Reading) Last week, we traveled to Alaska and became participants in the famous Iditerod race as the students read the story, Akiak, by Robert J. Blake. We focused on the reading strategy ¡V to SUMMARIZE This week, the students will journey, with grandfather, from Japan to San Francisco. They will get to know the author's grandfather who came to America as a young man but later went back to Japan. Unable to return, his grandson later established homes in both countries, missing each one when he was in the other. The biography, GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY, by Allen Say, won the Caldecott Medal, as well as other awards. They will work silently on reading/writing workbook exercises which we will correct orally. These include: vocabulary drills - traveling words suffixes, spelling strategies, proofreading, ordering, subjects-predicates, proofreading, and reading for comprehension. We will focus on the reading strategy ¡V to PREDICT This week, our writing drills include: „« Writing a Personal Narrative, Model: Mrs. Bryant¡¦s embarrassing experience¡XThe Giant ¡§Cow Pie,¡¨ followed by the students creating a Story Web from my board sample. (ALL WRITING WILL BE DONE IN CLASS) „« MODEL: Writing a Personal Narrative, using a 4th grade model from the reading text, Traditions „« Our first WRITING PROMPT, a three minute timed writing In Spelling, we will focus on Unit 2, the long and short ¡¥e¡¦. Last week, in Unit 1, we learned the rules for the long and short ¡¥a¡¦. MATH Chapter 1 Test planned for this Friday, September 12 We have been working our way through Chapter 1, Place Value. The students have math folders where they are to keep all their class labs, and OPTIONAL assignments. There progress will be checked at various times. The BEST way for students to study for tests is the use the TEXT Chapter test. It is very close to the one I administer. I always have them take this practice test in class and orally go over it with them. Some will need more study. SOCIAL STUDIES 1st TEST ¡V Unit 1, Chapter 1, planned for Tuesday, September 16 We began touring our text by checking out all the parts that are often skipped (table of contents, index, glossary, maps and atlases, California trivia¡K) The students are learning the importance of understanding how to use textbooks. Individually, they took a quick tour through the text by themselves picking out one or more pages that ¡§jumped out¡¨ to them. Then, we went around the class having each student share one of the pages they selected. We are in a brand new text with many new and exciting features. This week we will be working on the workbook pages and the vocabulary. The students are to be carefully reading their work at home. SCIENCE The students have toured our current chapter and shared ¡§jump out¡¨ pages for Unit B, The Changing Earth -- Chapter 1, Changes to Earth¡¦s Surface. We will be studying the text in class for now and participating in group INVESTIGATIONS. Chapter tests will be open-book, in-class LABS (2 lab grades for now.) BIBLE (LACS SCHOOL VERSE¡V Proverbs 3: 5 & 6) (Class Verse ¡V Psalm 119:105) (Week¡¦s Verse ¡V Psalm 28:7) see homework For half of this year, we will be focusing on the Old Testament stories of the Judges through the life of David, through the nations of Israel and Judah. This review will show us God¡¦s gracious provisions for His people. These provisions were examined in light of the kinds of choices¡Xgood and bad¡X made by the Bible heroes. Last week we TIME TRAVELED back to the days of Deborah, Gideon, Sampson, Ruth, Samuel, and King David. They each visited us and shared the good and bad choices they made.
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