Thursday, March 31, 2011

March 31, 2011

  • Journal: What is your favorite school lunch? What do you like about it?
  • Spelling pre-test - final test is tomorrow
  • Computers - We played mastermind and money from the math manipulatives link on this blog.
  • English: pg 268-269 (1-53 odd). Today was the review for the Unit 7 Adverbs and Prepositions test which will be tomorrow.
  • Reading - We selected a non-fiction book called Hot Jobs In Video Games for teacher read aloud time.
  • Math - Multipling Decimal Numbers: Using Zeros as Placeholders: Lesson 110. There will be a test tomorrow on all of the information up to lesson 105, and Monday will be an investigation.
Report cards were sent home with students today.
There will be a substitute teacher here in my place tomorrow, please encourage your child to be on his/her best behavior. Have a great evening.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

March 30, 2011

  • Journal: Write an entry using as many prepositions as you can.
  • English - Adverb or Preposition?: pg 263 (9-22) This was the last lesson in the unit.  The test will probably be Friday or Monday, depending on tomorrow's review.
  • Computer - PAWS typing program
  • Spelling - We played Sparkle. Every student that gets 100% on the spelling pre-test will get 10 bonus points and a starburst. Good luck everybody.
  • Reading - We've begun reading A Pioneer Story
  • Math - Multiplying Decimals Numbers: Lesson 109 - Test Friday
  • Science
  • P.E.
  • Social Studies: The slave trade compromise.
I have made a mistake.  It was my intention to give students their third quarter report cards to take home and I forgot.  I will send them tomorrow.  I'm sorry about the delay.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

March 29, 2011

  • Journal: If you could change one thing about today what would you change and why?
  • English - Pronouns in Prepositional Phrases: pg 263 (9-22) If students can remember to look at their list of common prepositions, and their list of object pronouns they will do well on this assignment.
  • Spelling - We got our new spelling list written down today.  Pre-test will be Thursday. Final test will be Friday.
  • Library - Peter and the Wolf
  • Math - Schedules: Lesson 108
  • Science
  • Art
  • Social Studies: The Three-Fifths Compromise. All of the preamble books were turned in! Thank you, parents, for helping to make sure they got that big assignment completed.
  • Teacher Read Aloud - We have almost finished The Watson's Go To Birmingham - 1963

Monday, March 28, 2011

March 28, 2011

  • Journal: What are three things you want to improve on this quarter?
  • English - Prepositional Phrases: pg 259 (7-24)
  • Class/Spring Pictures
  • Buddy Readers
  • Math - Using percent to Name Part of a Group: Lesson 107
  • Science
  • Music
  • Social Studies - The Great Compromise

Friday, March 25, 2011

March 25, 2011

  • Journal: What movie have you seen recently? What did you think of it?
  • Spelling test
  • English - Prepositions: pg 257 write down all of the common prepositions, then complete problems 1-9.
  • Extra P.E. Activity for sinking all of the ships in battleship.  We played dodge ball with cones.
  • Math - Reading and Ordering Decimal Numbers Through Ten-Thousandths: Lesson 106.
I will get all of the assignments posted in the grade book as soon as I can.  Report cards will be coming home with your student on Wednesday. 

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

March 24, 2011

  • Journal: What do you want to do when you grow up?
  • Spelling - pre-test, final test is tomorrow.  Everyone struggled with unnecessary. If you get a chance, please go over the spelling words with your child.
  • Computers - utahwrite.com
  • English - Negatives: pg 255 (1-18) This was a fun lesson for me. Some of the students thought I was cheating when I told them that the negatives look like "no," or "n't." They thought I was giving away the anwers to the assignment. I loved it. As a teacher, I try to "give away" all the information they'll need to complete the assignment every day.
  • Reading - This was similar to yesterday's reading activity.  Students were given a short story and asked to make a prediction before reading.  After completing the story they needed to write down the main idea, and give three details from the story - in consecutive order.
  • Math - Test 20.  I think the trickiest question on this test asked, "A foot is what fraction of a yard?  An inch is what fraction of a foot?  Use those answers to determine what fraction of a yard an inch represents."  Tricky, right? 
Remember that tomorrow is early out because it is the last day of the quarter. So . . . all assignments need to be turned in tomorrow to recieve credit.  The Preamble booklet is due tomorrow as well.  Thanks.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

March 23, 2011

  • Journal: What did you think of the Discovery Gateway presentations yesterday?
  • English - Adjective or Adverb?: pg 253 (1-18). Adjectives describe nouns, adverbs (which often end in ly) describe verbs.  I made a copy of the proofreading section so students could just write in the corrections.
  • Computers - studyisland.com.  This can be a great resource to help students prepare for the end-of-year testing, please encourage your child to practice on it from time to time.
  • Spelling: Spelling Spree worksheet pg 110
  • Reading - Students were each given a short story and instructed to make a prediction, and ask a couple of questions as they read the story. When they finished the story they were to state the main idea in one or two sentences and give three details from the story, in order.
  • Math - Symmetry: Lesson 105  test tomorrow - Please review topics from lessons 96-100 to review for the test.
  • Science
  • P.E.
  • Social Studies - This was the last day we spent class time working on the preamble booklets.  Several students handed the assignment in today.  Please check with your child to see how their book is coming along. Please let me know if you would like me to keep him/her in from recess to spend time working on it.
I don't know how they did it, but with 18 hits at my enlarged Battleship grid, the students were able to sink all 5 ships today.  Maybe my placement of the ships is too predictable, or they need an even larger grid. Anyway, the next reward they chose was an extra P.E.  I might be able to fit that in tomorrow or Friday.  They are slowly but surely earning battleship marks because several times throughout the day their behavior is great.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

March 22, 2011

  • Journal: Who is your favorite super hero?
  • English - Comparing with Adverbs: pg 251 (5-20)
  • Library
  • Math - Rounding Decimal Numbers to the Nearest Whole Number: Lesson 104
  • Discovery Gateway came to our school today.  It was great!

Monday, March 21, 2011

March 21, 2011

  • Journal: What have you liked about science classes?
  • English - Adverbs: pg 247 (6-20)
  • Computers - PAWS - typing program
  • Spelling - Find the new list on the spelling page on the right. This weeks spelling pattern deals with prefixes and suffixes.  The pre-spelling test will be Thursday morning. If the student misses one or more words on that test, he/she will take the test again on Friday morning for the final grade.
  • Reading - A Boy Named Slow - We read a story about how Sitting Bull got his name. Some of the comprehension skills we are working on this week include: predicting, questioning, stating the main idea, and remembering three or four details in order.
  • Math - Volume: Lesson 103.
  • Science
  • Music - The orchestra song.  Today we learned the clarinet, horn, trumpet, and drum parts.
  • Social Studies -  I gave each student a piece of construction paper for a cover, and we assembled the preamble books together.  Remember that these short books are due Friday.
Thursday and Friday are early out this week because Friday, March 25, is the last day of the quarter. The students earned another reward activity. They are allowed to bring E-rated, personal, electronic games to school tomorrow. A note was sent home with each student today with more detailed information. 

Friday, March 18, 2011

March 18, 2011

  • Journal: Give examples of object pronouns. When would a person correctly use them?
  • Spelling test
  • Computers - math manipulatives site, from my blog links
  • English test
  • Reading - We finished The Jacket today. Phil and Daniel were able to resolve the frustrations they had with each other, and Phil took care of the issues he was battling inside as well. It was a quick read, but I think it gave us something to think about and discuss.
  • Math - Subtracting Decimal Numbers Using Zeros: Lesson 102 This concept seemed to be really easy for the class. 
  • Science
  • ABA
  • Social Studies - We played Ameriquake on mrnussbaum.com.  It is helping students with their geography of the United States, and it's fun.
Thank you for the treats and cards for teacher appreciation week.  I love working with the students and parents at our school!  Have a good weekend.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

March 17, 2011

  • Journal: Give some examples of subject pronouns.  When would a person use them?
  • Spelling: pre-test on the names spelling list - final test tomorrow
  • English - review for Unit 6 Pronouns test tomorrow
  • Reading - We read quite a bit in The Jacket today. Phil is worried that he might be prejudiced, and begins to think that others around him might be prejudiced too.
  • Math - Rounding Mixed Numbers to the Nearest Whole Number: Lesson 101
Happy St. Patrick's Day. This morning the tradition of pinching someone not wearing green got quickly out of hand, so I didn't allow any pinching at school. Bah Humbug. However, things were looking up this afternoon when the students were able to find and sink all of the ships in battleship. Look for a note coming home to allow students to bring something electronic to play for 45 minutes one day at school sometime next week.  The next activity they are working for in Battleship is extra recess. Yeah!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

March 16, 2011

  • Journal: What are some of your favorite snacks?
  • English - review Unit 6 Pronouns. This is a difficult unit for the students. If you have time to help them study for the upcoming test that would be great. The test will be Friday.
  • Computers - studyisland.com
  • Spelling - We played sparkle to study the names of the class members.
  • Reading - We are still reading The Jacket by Andrew Clements. As we read today, Phil, the main character, is beginning to think about racial diversity in his school and neighborhood. 
  • Math - Graphing Points on a Coordinate Plane: Investigation 10
  • Science
  • P.E.
  • Social Studies: Preamble Books - Several students are passing off the preamble and other requirements for the Great American Award.  It is so exciting!  I am planning to have their names posted on the board in the hallway by Friday morning.
Thank you for the treats, cards, and food you have sent for teacher appreciation week. It feels like my birthday all week long. The students and parents at this school are awesome!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

March 15, 2011

  • Journal: What have you been learning in science?
  • English - Using We and Us with Nouns: pg 230 (9-20) the unit test will be Thursday or Friday
  • Reading: The Jacket
  • Library
  • Math - Test 19 Students got their tests back at the end of the day.
  • Science
  • Art
  • Social Studies: Still working on the preamble books.

Monday, March 14, 2011

March 14, 2011

  • Journal: What do you like about spring?
  • English - Double Subjects: pg 228 (1-17) the Unit 6 test is coming up - probably Thursday or Friday
  • Spelling - names of their classmates.  I will send the list via e-mail this afternoon.
  • Reading - We are reading a book called The Jacket by Andrew Clements, we just started the story today. I plan on us having it finished by Friday.
  • Buddy Readers - with a kindergarten class
  • Math - Simplifying Decimal Numbers: Lesson 100 test tomorrow, investigation Wednesday
  • Science
  • Music - melody and harmony with rounds
  • Social Studies: Preamble book due March 25.

Friday, March 11, 2011

March 11, 2011

  • Journal: Tell me about pronouns.
  • Spelling Test
  • Computers - studyisland.com, PAWS typing program, and games
  • English - Contractions with Pronouns: pg 226 (7-30)
  • Reading - The Reader's Theater stories worked out much better today.  Several students are very dramatic and had a fun opportunity to show it off.
  • Math - Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers and Decimal Numbers: Lesson 99
  • Science
  • ABA - Above and Beyond Acheivement activity (I think they did tesselations - the winter pod rotates classes for ABA).
  • Battleship - We hit one ship, but had to stop because it was too noisy.
Have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

March 10, 2011

  • Journal: What are you reading about lately?
  • Spelling pre-test; test tomorrow
  • Computers - Circle 0 (click on the link "math manipulatives," it's really fun!)
  • English - Possessive Pronouns: pg 223 (6-22)
  • Reading - We attempted some more reader's theater reading today.  It takes some cooperation and patience.  We'll give it another attempt tomorrow.
  • Math - Negative Numbers: Lesson 98
  • Teacher Read-A-Loud - The Watson's Go to Birmingham - 1963 In the story today, the family has finally arrived in Birmingham and Kenny gets to see Grandma Sands for the first time. She doesn't look quite like the troll he was picturing.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

March 9, 2011

  • Journal: What do you know about the Articles of Confederation?
  • Reading - We have been reading plays in class. It took up all of our English time today, so no English assignment.
  • Computers - studyisland.com
  • Math - Ratios: Lesson 97
  • Science
  • P.E.
  • Social Studies - Constitutional Convention

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

March 8, 2011

  • Journal: Where are you going on your next vacation? or Where do you want to go?
  • English - Using "I" and "Me": pg 220 (1-20)
  • Reading - Predict, Clarify, Question, and Summarize
  • Library
  • Math - Using Reciprocals to Divide Fractions: Lesson 96
  • Science
  • Art
  • Social Studies - We discussed the benefits and challenges Americans faced with the Articles of Confederation.
If anyone has extra pencils they would like to send to school, we would be happy to have them.  It seems like students are often without pencils. Thanks.

Monday, March 7, 2011

March 7, 2011

  • journal: What did you think of the read-a-thon?
  • English - Object Pronouns: pg 218 (5-20)
  • Computers - PAWS typing program
  • Spelling - this week's list has words with unusual spelling patterns
  • Math - Test 18: no homework
  • Science -
  • Music - the Preamble from School House Rock
  • Social Studies - The Articles of Confederation

Friday, March 4, 2011

March 4, 2011

  • Journal: Tell me about a favorite movie.
  • Spelling Test
  • Computer - PAWS typing program
  • English - Subject Pronouns: pg 217 (7-22)
  • Math - Reciprocals: Lesson 95 test Monday
  • Read-a-thon
  • Assembly
  • Social Studies - mrnussbaum.com "Ameriquake"
Have a fantastic weekend.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

March 3, 2011

  • Journal: Have you ever seen/heard a great hail storm?  Tell me about it.
  • D.A.R.E.
  • Spelling pre-test
  • English - Unit 5 tests were returned today
  • Reading
  • Math - Using Estimation When Dividing By Two-Digit Numbers: Lesson 94

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

March 2, 2011

  • Journal: If you were the Principal what would be different at our school?
  • English - Unit 5 test on "Capitalization and Punctuation"
  • Computers - Studyisland.com
  • Math - Comparative Bar Graphs: Lesson 93
  • Science - Magnet Investigation
  • P.E. - exercise
  • Social Studies - Test on Chapter 8: "The War for Independence"
Friday is a pajama party/read-a-thon.  The read-a-thon will be after lunch, before the assembly to wrap up Dr. Seuss month.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

March 1, 2011

  • Journal: What do you know about the Revolutionary War?
  • English - Review Unit 5: Worksheet 6 Quotations - due tomorrow and test tomorrow
  • Reading - "Summer On Wheels" by Gary Soto
  • Library
  • Math - Dividing by Two-Digit Numbers: Lesson 92
  • Science
  • Art
  • Social Studies - We completed the outline and review of Chapter 8 (The War for Independence). It went quicker than I anticipated. We will have the open book test tomorrow instead of Monday. Sorry about the change from yesterday's blog entry.