Parents,
I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and that all the students are rested and ready for school. Next week is a short week, but it will be jammed packed.
Fourth graders will finish up Chapter 2 in math this week and take the chapter test on Friday. This chapter was a review of addition and subtraction with regouping, using large numbers. We have focused our lessons on being slow and methodical. The students can handle the math, but it is very easy to make small errors when working with large numbers.
Fourth grade spelling is up on SpellingCity.com. Last week the students did rather well completing their assignments on line. Remember, I will check for signatures daily. If their planner is signed, I will assume the work has been done.
Fifth graders will have a Wordly Wise test on List #2 on Friday. They will continue working with Chapter 2 in the math book, but will not take a test until next week. I am happy to say they did great on their science tests! Yea. We will now be doing Social Studies for the next three weeks. We will begin with a short chapter on Native Americans, and move on to exploration.
On Friday, the fifth grade students will be tested on their knowledge of the Western States. They have completed a worksheet and can use that for study. They have been warned that the test will be a blank map of the western states (13 of them) and they must fill in the state name, the capitol, and the abbreviation.
For both fourth and fifth, the reading journal will be added to the homework this week. We have been practicing in class for three weeks now. But still, they can be confusing. This is a short week, so I will reduce the homework by one paragraph. I have told the students that the reading journal is the conversation, I wish I could have with all of them, about their reading. They are to write a letter to me about what they are reading. The first paragraph will have the name of the book, and the author. They must state an opinion about the book as well. Then they must introduce their topics for the journal. They are using the icons of depth and complexity for talking points. Then, the next three paragraphs (4 total), should be the discussion. If they said they would discuss, language, ethics and changes over time in the first paragraph, then that is what they must discuss in the next three paragraphs. I will give them a grade (each entry is worth 20 points), and give them a short note back.
I advise the students to finish one paragraph a day. This means that this week, they only need to write three paragraphs. I sugest that Tuesday night they write the introduction, then a body paragraph, describing and icon on Wednesday and Thursday. No conclusion is necessary, yet. Their reading journal should "live" in their backpacks. They should always have it at school. It can be worked on in class. I want it taken home each night for them to finish (if necessary), or for you to review.
Remember, this can be about any book. It can be about the book we are reading in class, or their own.
Good luck to everyone. P
Comments are closed.
|
In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet. LinksArchives
August 2014
|