Week of December 15 to 19

Around the World Reports due THIS WEEK

Spelling Unit 15 REVIEW TEST on THURSDAY  - students who are absent on Thursday will not make up the spelling test.  We have so many absences that it would be difficult to administer the spelling test privately upon their return.

Spelling Lists

Christmas Around the World Web site:

Christmas Around the World

Just a reminder that our Culture Reports are due THIS week. 

Please note that students should select a country that does not include the United States, unless they are specifically reporting on Native American customs or traditions.  Mexican and Canadian traditions are fine, as they are from a country separate from the United States of America.  

Christmas is a wonderful time to think about our own family traditions and customs.  During the next week, we will be discussing ways that different countries celebrate the holiday season.  Each student will be giving a short oral presentation about a selected country.  The report will only last between 3 to 5 minutes, and nothing will need to be handed in for this report.

Students will:

* Pick one nationality to talk about (it does NOT need to be their own nationality)

* Be able to locate the country on the MAP and GLOBE

*  Bring in at least ONE, but not more than three, items that represent the country(flag, photo, drawing, souvenir, figurine, etc.)

*  Tell the class about a special tradition or custom used during a holiday celebrated in that country.

Students may use note cards, but the goal is to look up at the class and speak fluently, without reading directly off of a paper.

Around the World Reports due THIS WEEK

Spelling Unit 15 REVIEW TEST on THURSDAY

Spelling Lists

Christmas Around the World Web site:

Christmas Around the World

Just a reminder that our Culture Reports are due THIS week. 

Please note that students should select a country that does not include the United States, unless they are specifically reporting on Native American customs or traditions.  Mexican and Canadian traditions are fine, as they are from a country separate from the United States of America.  

Christmas is a wonderful time to think about our own family traditions and customs.  During the next week, we will be discussing ways that different countries celebrate the holiday season.  Each student will be giving a short oral presentation about a selected country.  The report will only last between 3 to 5 minutes, and nothing will need to be handed in for this report.

Students will:

* Pick one nationality to talk about (it does NOT need to be their own nationality)

* Be able to locate the country on the MAP and GLOBE

*  Bring in at least ONE, but not more than three, items that represent the country(flag, photo, drawing, souvenir, figurine, etc.)

*  Tell the class about a special tradition or custom used during a holiday celebrated in that country.

Students may use note cards, but the goal is to look up at the class and speak fluently, without reading directly off of a paper.

Odds and Ends

Today we took our Unit 14 spelling test.  Next week's test is a review unit, so we will take it on Thursday so as not to conflict with the holiday parties on Friday.

We read a Time for Kids article about Great Lakes and the water pollution affecting these resources.

We also worked in our Grammar workbooks to complete two review pages about singular and possessive nouns.

Most students have completed typing The Three Branches of Government essay.  Students who finished had time to work on Raz-Kids.

Culture Reports are starting on Monday.  The guidelines are again included in the Friday newsletter packet.  Please let me know if you are encountering any problems!!

Social Studies Chapter 3

Today we completed reading and taking our Chapter Quizzes over Chapter 3 in Social Studies.  Tomorrow we hope to finish typing the final copy of our Three Branches of Government essays.

We also designed and wrote about a stamp representing New Lenox.  We talked about National, Sate, and Local government.

Our spelling test over Unit 14 is tomorrow.  We did review practice today.  

Our read aloud classroom books are:

Block 2- The House Without a Christmas Tree - by Gail Rock

Block 1 - The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

Just a reminder that our Culture Reports are due next week. 

Christmas is a wonderful time to think about our own family traditions and customs.  During the next week, we will be discussing ways that different countries celebrate the holiday season.  Each student will be giving a short oral presentation about a selected country.  The report will only last between 3 to 5 minutes, and nothing will need to be handed in for this report.

Students will:

* Pick one nationality to talk about (it does NOT need to be their own nationality)

* Be able to locate the country on the MAP and GLOBE

*  Bring in at least ONE, but not more than three, items that represent the country(flag, photo, drawing, souvenir, figurine, etc.)

*  Tell the class about a special tradition or custom used during a holiday celebrated in that country.

Students may use note cards, but the goal is to look up at the class and speak fluently, without reading directly off of a paper.

Here's a web site that you can use for research at home.  You just need to navigate the site to locate the country that you are researching:

Christmas Around the World

Firestorm Story Test

Today we took our story selection test over the comprehension and vocabulary from "Firestorm" on pages 344-354 in the Storytown book.  There was also a written (extended response/essay) part on the test.  The expectation is that the essay question is written in complete, detailed sentences with support for the answer.  A model is always provided on the board to help students focus their ideas.

We completed Spelling workbook pages 57-58 to prepare for Friday's Unit 14 test.

We also read Social Studies pages 92-97 together and answered the workbook questions.  We will continue typing our Three Branches of Government essays on Friday. They are coming along very well!

Our read aloud classroom books are:

Block 2- The House Without a Christmas Tree - by Gail Rock

Block 1 - The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

Just a reminder that our Culture Reports are due next week. 

Christmas is a wonderful time to think about our own family traditions and customs.  During the next week, we will be discussing ways that different countries celebrate the holiday season.  Each student will be giving a short oral presentation about a selected country.  The report will only last between 3 to 5 minutes, and nothing will need to be handed in for this report.

Students will:

* Pick one nationality to talk about (it does NOT need to be their own nationality)

* Be able to locate the country on the MAP and GLOBE

*  Bring in at least ONE, but not more than three, items that represent the country(flag, photo, drawing, souvenir, figurine, etc.)

*  Tell the class about a special tradition or custom used during a holiday celebrated in that country.

Students may use note cards, but the goal is to look up at the class and speak fluently, without reading directly off of a paper.

Here's a web site that you can use for research at home.  You just need to navigate the site to locate the country that you are researching:

Christmas Around the World

Firestorm

Here's a link to our eBook for today's story homework, "Firestorm" on pages 344-354.

eBook

We also completed Practice Workbook p. 72 to go over vocabulary.



Just a reminder that our Culture Reports are due next week. 

Christmas is a wonderful time to think about our own family traditions and customs.  During the next week, we will be discussing ways that different countries celebrate the holiday season.  Each student will be giving a short oral presentation about a selected country.  The report will only last between 3 to 5 minutes, and nothing will need to be handed in for this report.

Students will:

* Pick one nationality to talk about (it does NOT need to be their own nationality)

* Be able to locate the country on the MAP and GLOBE

*  Bring in at least ONE, but not more than three, items that represent the country(flag, photo, drawing, souvenir, figurine, etc.)

*  Tell the class about a special tradition or custom used during a holiday celebrated in that country.

Students may use note cards, but the goal is to look up at the class and speak fluently, without reading directly off of a paper.

Here's a web site that you can use for research at home.  You just need to navigate the site to locate the country that you are researching:

Christmas Around the World

Spelling Unit 14

Last week's spelling tests were not the best.  Please continue to study at home.  We will do a few extra practice pages to help us prepare for this week's test.  This week's words all end with an/ain/en/on combinations.

Spelling List

We also worked on continuing to type our "Branches of Government" essays.  They are coming along nicely.



Just a reminder that our Culture Reports are due next week.

Christmas is a wonderful time to think about our own family traditions and customs.  During the next week, we will be discussing ways that different countries celebrate the holiday season.  Each student will be giving a short oral presentation about a selected country.  The report will only last between 3 to 5 minutes, and nothing will need to be handed in for this report.

Students will:

* Pick one nationality to talk about (it does NOT need to be their own nationality)

* Be able to locate the country on the MAP and GLOBE

*  Bring in at least ONE, but not more than three, items that represent the country(flag, photo, drawing, souvenir, figurine, etc.)

*  Tell the class about a special tradition or custom used during a holiday celebrated in that country.

Students may use note cards, but the goal is to look up at the class and speak fluently, without reading directly off of a paper.

Here's a web site that you can use for research at home.  You just need to navigate the site to locate the country that you are researching:

Christmas Around the World

Culture Reports due Week of December 15

Christmas is a wonderful time to think about our own family traditions and customs.  During the next week, we will be discussing ways that different countries celebrate the holiday season.  Each student will be giving a short oral presentation about a selected country.  The report will only last between 3 to 5 minutes, and nothing will need to be handed in for this report.

Students will:

* Pick one nationality to talk about (it does NOT need to be their own nationality)

* Be able to locate the country on the MAP and GLOBE

*  Bring in at least ONE, but not more than three, items that represent the country (flag, photo, drawing, souvenir, figurine, etc.)

*  Tell the class about a special tradition or custom used during a holiday celebrated in that country.

Students may use note cards, but the goal is to look up at the class and speak fluently, without reading directly off of a paper.

Here's a web site that you can use for research at home.  You just need to navigate the site to locate the country that you are researching:

Christmas Around the World


Today we also took our spelling tests, finished our Mountain posters, and started to type our Three Branches of Government essays in the computer lab.  Talk about a busy day!  Whew!

Friday packets with next week's spelling words are being sent home today.

Volcanoes

Today we completed reading pages 88-91 in our red Social Studies books.  We used the information in our chapter to help us complete our rough draft of our "Three Branches of Government" essay.  We will be typing these essays in the computer lab next week.

Our spelling test will be over Lesson 13 tomorrow.  This lesson is about word endings.

We read a Time for Kids story about Volcanoes and completed a cause/effect volcano worksheet.  We also continued to work on our Mountain posters.  These posters reflect the information we read about in our Semour Simon reading story on Tuesday (Storytown pages 316-329).

Mountain Project

Instead of taking a story test, students used today to organize and create a poster showing their knowledge and comprehension of the Mountain story found on pages 316-329 in their Storytown book.  Here's another link to the story:
eBook

This project requirement asked to student to identify three ways that mountains are formed, to provide an example of each of the three mountain formations, illustrate, proofread, and present their poster.  Students were allowed to work individually, with a partner, or in a group of three.  A scoring rubric was shared and discussed with the students.  Students will continue wiring on this project tomorrow as well.

We will have a spelling test on Friday.

In social studies we are working on the three branches of government.  Student government essays will replace the chapter test.

On Friday I will be passing out a sheet to explain a social studies culture project.  This project will be a brief oral report presented to the class the week of December 15-19.  Students will be selecting one country to locate on the map and globe, and they will share a tradition or custom celebrated in this country.  Details will be coming home.

Mountains

Today we read the expository nonfiction test, Mountains.  This book is found on pages 316-329 in Storytown.  Here's the online link:

eBook

We took a long time to read this story together in class, as we discussed the four types of mountain formations in great detail.  Tomorrow we will be creating posters to show the ways that mountains are formed.  This project will take the place of our story test.  Students will use their knowledge of vocabulary words to show understanding and to provide examples of each kind of mountain.  Students are expected to reread this story tonight as homework.  We also completed our Practice workbook page 67 for vocabulary.

Welcome Back!

We worked on practicing our spelling words, and this week we are on Unit 14.

Click here for a link to our words:

Spelling List

We completed Spelling workbook pages 51-52.



We also learned about the difference between a dictionary, encyclopedia, atlas, and globe.  We completed a Practice workbook page over this skill.

We are also continuing to read and learn about the Three Branches of Government.   If all goes well, we will continue our essays about the branches this week, and the final copy of the essay will take the place of our Chapter 3 social studies test.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a fun morning!  Students in Block 2 (Danforth's homeroom) earned a classroom movie, so we enjoyed Rio 2.  We also worked on some Thanksgiving activities and have our Friday newsletter in our take home folders.  I am looking forward to meeting with many of you next week.  I am so grateful to have such a great group of students, and I appreciate all of the parent support and involvement that has made this first trimester a success.

Turkey Talk

Our day was all about turkeys.  We read and researched these birds, and we learned that wild turkeys can fly up to 50 miles per hour, and they do sleep in trees.  Their head coloration can even be red, white, and blue.  

We also finished learning about the judicial branch of government and are in the process of completing our expository essays.

Report cards were sent home today.  I'm looking forward to meeting with many of you at conferences next week.  Please send me a message if you are unable to come during our scheduled time.  

Story Test and Government

Today we took our vocabulary and comprehension test over "Mimicry and Camouflage."  We also are working hard to write our essay about the Three Branches of Government.  Block 2 students went to the Book Fair today.  Students who forgot money today will be allowed to shop tomorrow or Friday morning.

There's no spelling test this week.

Friday will be a reward day!  We are looking forward to watching Rio 2.

Mimicry and Camouflage

Here's our link to the eBook version of today's reading story:

eBook

Today we read the story "Mimicry and Camouflage" on pages 287-299 and completed Robust Vocabulary Practice workbook page 61.  We will have a story test tomorrow and the green story homework sheet is due tomorrow.  HOWEVER, I did tell the class that parent verification that you were at Nelson Ridge Family Night between 6:00-7:30 tonight would work as an "excused" for the assignment.

There is no spelling test this week.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Our review skill in grammar was to identify singular and plural nouns.  We also reviewed unusual nouns, such as goose to geese, and foot to feet.

We will NOT have a spelling unit this week.

Our homerooms (Block 2) took a Geography Bee "test" to find a class winner to participate in the grade level Geography Bee in December.

We also worked on "I am Thankful" paragraphs.

Nouns

Today we reviewed common and proper nouns, and we also reviewed abbreviations.

We took our spelling Unit 12 test and will not have another spelling test until the Friday after Thanksgiving (December 5).

Have a great weekend!

Conference Forms

Parent Teacher Conference forms are being sent home today.  Please check your child's folder and return the form to your child's homeroom teacher.  Unless otherwise specified, the conference is with your child's Block 2 (homeroom) teacher.  If you did not request a conference with me for Block 1, please know that you can call or email at any time and I will give you an update of your child's academic growth.   All grades are updated on Web Grader, so you should be able to see your child's report card grades as they currently stand.

Tomorrow is our Unit 12 spelling test.  We worked on workbook pages 49-50 in class today to practice our spelling words.

In Grammar, we are working on common/proper nouns (Grammar workbook 37) , as well as reviewing clauses (dependent and independent), phrases, and complex sentences.  Your child did receive a handout page with examples of each of these kinds of sentences.

In Social Studies we are learning about our Government, and we read pages 78-83 in our red book.   After each section in Social Studies we take a short review quiz with 5 questions.  Students are strongly encouraged to use their books to help them find the answers to these quizzes.

We also read a Time for Kids magazine article called "Whale Watching,"  and we finished our sea turtles informational display board.

Story Test and Sea Turtles

Today students took their story test over Emerald's Eggs, and we completed further research about sea turtles.  We are learning how to read non-fiction, expository test to learn facts and information.

Our spelling test will be on Friday.  We are currently on Spelling Unit 12.

Spelling List

Please continue to read together at home, even if your child is not completing Book-it.  Reading every night is very import and and helps to build vocabulary skills.

Here are some sea turtle videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFDBtVupyqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0kXtmXuj8

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/north-america/videos/sea-turtles-run-the-gauntlet.htm

Emerald's Eggs

Here's a link to tonight's reading story, Emerald's Eggs:
eBook

Students should read this story tonight for homework.  The green homework sheet has the vocabulary definitions on the back.  Comprehension and vocabulary are both on tomorrow's story test.

We are working on making research display boards about sea turtles.  These display boards will be ready for parents to view at the Family Reading Night on Tuesday.  They will also be on display at Parent Teacher Conferences as well.

Spelling test on Friday!

Spelling Unit 12

Today we worked to learn our Unit 12 spelling words.  These words contain the prefixes un, re, and non.   We completed workbook pages 70-71 in spelling.
Click here for our spelling lists:
Spelling Lists

We completed Grammar workbook pages 31 and 32 today as we learned about clauses and phrases.

In social studies we are beginning to learn about the three branches of government.  Last week's social studies tests have been graded and returned.  Check Power School if you are unsure of your child's final grades in any subject.  The first trimester ended Friday.

Sea Turtles

We are continuing to learn about sea turtles, and today we read a Time For Kids magazine about invasive animals.  We also took our Unit 11 spelling test.  Newsletters have been sent home with Unit 12 word lists.

Please continue reading at home.  The goal for Book-it (which is optional) is 300 minutes.  Even if your child is not participating in Book-it, they are expected to be reading on a regular basis.

Social Studies tests were OUTSTANDING, as this was a very lengthy chapter BRIEFLY covering almost every historical event in our nation's history.  The students asked so many educated questions, and I did my best to research and share the answers (Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War, Communism...).  It was a learning experience for me as well!


Sea Turtle Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFDBtVupyqY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0kXtmXuj8
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/north-america/videos/sea-turtles-run-the-gauntlet.htm

Social Studies and Sea Turtles

Today we took our Social Studies test.  Students were allowed to use their books, but they were not able to use their study guides.  I'm looking forward to great grades to end the first trimester!

We also read about sea turtles.  We are creating a classroom research project about sea turtles.   Here are some interesting videos about sea turtles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFDBtVupyqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0kXtmXuj8

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/north-america/videos/sea-turtles-run-the-gauntlet.htm

We will be taking our Unit 11 spelling test tomorrow.

Test TOMORROW -- Social Studies Unit 2

Today we worked very hard to prepare for our Chapter 2 social studies test TOMORROW.  Students CAN use their books to look up answers during the test, but study guides will NOT be allowed.  Study guides were sent home on Monday, and a review page was completed in class today.  All students should be going home with the correct answers on today's social studies review page, as we did correct all of the answers together in preparation for tomorrow's test.  Tomorrow's test will be the last social studies grade of the first trimester. This was an action-packed unit that covered hundreds of years of history.

We also are starting a unit on sea turtles which we will continue next week in reading.  Today we read a National Geographic Explorer magazine article about sea turtles, and next week we will be reading "Emerald's Eggs" in our Storytown book.  We are also creating a sea turtle display board to show visitors during the Family Reading Night.

Our spelling test will be on Friday.  We are currently on unit 11.  Here's a link to the word lists:
Spelling Lists

Please return Parent Teacher Conference request forms as soon as possible.  You will be meeting with your child's HOMEROOM teacher, unless you request a separate conference or additional teacher to attend.  Evening time slots fill up quickly and are provided on a "first come" basis.

Our classroom read aloud books are:
Block 1 -  Little House on the Prairie
Block 2 - Mrs. PiggleWiggle

Social Studies Test THURSDAY - Unit 2

Today we practiced our Unit 11 Spelling words and completed workbook pages 43-44.  We will have a spelling test on Friday.

Spelling List

We are preparing for our Unit 2 Social Studies test on THURSDAY.  A yellow study guide is being sent home today, and it is stapled to a packet of graded review quizzes.  Please help your child to use these materials to prepare for the test.  I WILL be allowing the students to use their books during the test, but they can NOT use their study guide during the test.

Parent Teacher Conference Notes were sent home today.  Please return them as soon as possible for your best selection.  The evening time slots fill very quickly.  You will be meeting with your child's homeroom teacher (Block 2 -- math & science) unless you specifically request a conference with additional teachers.

Enjoy the day off tomorrow for Voting Day!

Finishing our Posters

Today we completed our "Creepy Creatures" posters that provide facts and information about some animals, reptiles, and mammals that are known for their frightening behavior.

We also read a non-fiction book about Skeletons, and we took our Unit 10 Spelling Review Test.  The spelling tests are in your child's take home folder to show you tonight.  Grades were great!!!

Book-it (optional) is due tomorrow. A new calendar for November will be sent home.

Our classroom Halloween party will be tomorrow.  We are looking forward to it, but we will have a little bit of "work" time tomorrow when we switch to Block1 and Block 2.  Friday newsletters will still be sent home tomorrow.

Please use good judgment in helping your child prepare their Halloween costume.  See the Nelson Ridge newsletter for guidelines.  Weapons of any kind -- even pretend weapons -- can not be brought to school.  Masks should not be worn to school but can be put on for the party.  Students have 10 minutes to change in/out of costumes.  Hair color can be put on at home, but it will not be allowed to be applied at school.  Make up should be saved for after-school wear.

Creepy Creatures

Today we worked on creating our fact-based posters about the creepy creatures from our reading story.  We also read about other creepy creatures, such as bats, wolves, owls, and snakes.

Students also reviewed for tomorrow's Unit 10 spelling test.  We had fun solving word searches to review our spelling words.  Students in our class made their own extra-credit word searches for classmates to complete.

We will plan to have a Unit 2 Social Studies test NEXT Thursday, November 6th.

Quick reminder about snack time:  I realize that students will be having some fantastic candy treats from their Halloween trick-or-treating.  However, I will encourage these treats to be kept in their lunch boxes until lunch time.  Morning snacks should remain on the nutritious sided.

Book-it is due to your child's HOMEROOM teacher on Friday.  Book-it is OPTIONAL.  A new November Book-it form will be sent home.  The goal is to read 300 minutes each month.

Frightful Animals

Students have a homework assignment to reread "Frightful Animals," which was a selection from National Geographic Explorer for Kids.  They researched and found important details that will be presented in a poster format for our class.  We learned about the European owl, the Gila monster, the goliath tarantula, the spotted hyena, great white shark, and blood python.  Creepy!

We will have our Unit 10 spelling test on THURSDAY.

Optional Book-it is due on FRIDAY.  A new November Book-it form will be passed out on Friday.  The goal is to read 300 minutes per month (about 10 minutes a night) to become a stronger and more fluent reader.

Review Unit 10

Today we discussed and practiced our spelling words for review unit 10.  We will have our spelling test on THURSDAY since Friday morning we will be pretty busy with Halloween activities.  We did complete Spelling workbook pages 39 & 40 in class, and many students chose to create an extra credit word search that will be distributed in class later in the week.

We also read pages 58-63 in Social Studies and took a review quiz over the material.  Students are ALWAYS encouraged to use their books for these review quizzes.  We will look at having a social studies test at the END of NEXT week.  We are learning a brief overview of  US History in this chapter.  It is a full, action-packed chapter!

Book-it (optional) is due on Friday.  A new November Book-it form (also optional) will be sent home on Friday as well.

Block 2 has started reading the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.   Block 1 is continuing to read Little House on the Prairie.  

Prepositions

Today we worked on completing our Preposition Treasure Maps.

We also took our Unit 9 Spelling Test, and we agreed to have our Unit 10 Spelling Test on THURSDAY due to a half day of school and Halloween on Friday.  This coming week's spelling words are all review words from Units 6-9.

Here's the spelling list:
Spelling Lists

Block 1 worked on "Type to Learn" today.  Block 1 is reading aloud the story Little House on the Prairie.  

Block 2 had LRC (Library) today and also completed reading Bunnicula.  We watched an old Bunnicula cartoon and will start reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes in Block 2 next week.

OPTIONAL Book-it (300 minutes of reading for the month) is due Friday.  A new sheet will be given out for November.

Preposition Treasure Maps

We read a variation of The Three Little Pigs called "The Three Pigs Revisited" on pages 226-231 in our Stortytown book.

We also completed review spelling pages 37-38 to prepare for tomorrow's test.

Our grammar skill is focusing on prepositions this week.  We started creating buried treasure maps using prepositions to describe the location of the treasure.   We will continue our maps tomorrow.  Funbrain has many enjoyable grammar games to play at home.

http://www.funbrain.com/tour/gg.html

We've been discussing computer vocabulary words and internet safety tips.

Readers' Theatre

We practiced our fluency skills by rereading Three Little Cyber Pigs on pages 217-223 in our reading book as we reviewed internet safety rules.  We also took our story selection test and vocabulary test.  We worked together to compare and contrast the similarities and differences of the Mother Goose characters in this modern version of the Three Little Pigs.  We used the information from our "Top Hat Organizers" to help complete the essay question at the end of the selection test.

We are also continuing to read Unit 2, Chapter 3 in social studies, pages 58-63.   There is no test date in sight yet.  This is an action-packed chapter that takes us through American history from Early European Settlers to the Civil Rights Movement.  

Our grammar skill is working with prepositions.  Prepositions combine with a noun or pronoun to show location, time, and movement. ( I walked over the bridge and under the tree to Grandma's house. )

Our unit 9 spelling test will be on Friday.  

Three Little Cyber Pigs

Today we enjoyed practicing the roles of different fairy tale characters in our play "Three Little Cyber Pigs."  This story helped us learn about internet safety and cyber terminology.  The story should be reread for homework tonight.   We also completed a workbook page to practice the vocabulary words in the story.

We discussed and reviewed prepositions.

We had a safety drill today to practice campus and bus evacuations.

Internet Safety

This week's reading story is a Readers' Theatre version of the "Three Little Pigs," and it is called Three Little Cyber Pigs.  

We worked on learning our spelling words today.  The are VCCCV words (vowel/consonant/consonant/consonant/vowel).  We completed Spelling workbook pages 35 & 36 for practice today.

Spelling List

We have also been learning about prepositions.  We completed Practice workbook page 47 about prepositions.  Students were given a little pink paper listing the 29 most common prepositions, such as to, in, on, up, by, of, at for, above, with, under, from, near, across, among.

We are reading in social studies about the Westward movement, including the Louisiana Purchase and the Gold Rush.  We read pages 58 to 63 and took a little "quiz" over this section.

Westward Ho!

We are learning about the Westward Movement in Social Studies.  This includes the Civil War, the Louisiana Purchase, Gold Rush, and end of slavery.  Whew, we covered many, many years in Lesson 3 of Chapter 2!  There is not a test date in sight yet, but I will let you know when we have covered all of the material in this chapter.

We also took our spelling test and students have their new newsletters with next week's words listed.

Illinois State Test scores were sent home today.  These tests were taken in third grade.  The scores/results are fairly easy to read, but please let us know if you have any questions.

Keep reading at home.  Book-it is optional, but 300 minutes by the end of the month earns a Pizza Hut certificate.

Spelling Words

Our New Nation

We are working hard to read Chapter 2 in Social Studies and we have completed lessons 1 & 2.  This is a fast-paced chapter that takes us from Christopher Columbus to the Cold War.  It touches very briefly on each topic.  Students are always welcome to take home their red Social Studies books for at-home review and discussion.

We have a Unit 8 spelling test over VCCV words tomorrow.

Book orders are due tomorrow.

Don't forget to send back photo orders from Picture Day.

Book-it is optional, but please read at home.

Big Run Wolf Ranch

We had a very good -- but wet -- time on field trip to Big Run Wolf Ranch.  There is a Family Open House on Saturday, October 25th.  We were able to see wolves, a cougar, a bear, coyotes, a skunk, and porcupines.

We will have a spelling test over Unit 8 on Friday.

Field Trip Tomorrow

Tomorrow we will be attending our outdoor field trip.  Please have your child dress warmly (layers) with outdoor footwear.  The event will happen rain or shine.  We will be departing at 8:30 and returning for lunch at 11:30.

Today we learned the new spelling words for Unit 8.  Our test will be on Friday.  Today we completed workbook pages 31-32 in Spelling.
Click here for the Unit 8 words:
Spelling List

We are reading Social Studies Unit 2, Chapter 2 and 3 this week in our red Social Studies books.  We will also continue to work on Christopher Columbus activities.

Book orders are due on Friday.  Don't forget to send Picture Day orders back to school.

Picture Day

Today was a busy day with class pictures.  We did complete our Unit 7 Spelling test, and students have a new newsletter with next week's words on the back.  We will still have a Spelling Test next week, although we will NOT have a Tuesday story to reread for homework.  Next week will be a "catch up" week to review Grammar skills, work on Unit 2 in Social Studies, and learn about prepositions (over, under, on, above...)

Please remember to encourage your child to read at home, even if they are not completing Book-it.

Have a bread day off school on Monday for Columbus Day.  We are completed some Columbus Day activities today in class.

Picture Day Tomorrow

TOMORROW IS PICTURE DAY.  Students will take their photos with their Block 2 (Homeroom) class.  

Today we listened to several cowboy songs and practiced reading cowboy poems for fluency (Reading book pages 206-207).  Tomorrow students may present an extra credit recipe for fluency and oral presentation practice.  This extra credit assignment is optional.

We  worked on Spelling workbook pages 29-30.  Our Spelling Test Friday is over Unit 7  -  Click here for words:  Spelling Lists

We are learning about Columbus and other European explorers in Social Studies as we complete pages 38 - 45 in our red Social Studies book

Book-orders are due October 17.

Book-it is optional.  300 minutes of reading for October earns a Pizza Hut certificate for a free pan pizza.  

Big Wolf Run Field Trip permission slips are due October 14, the day before our field trip.  http://bigrunwolfranch.org

Block 2 - Be sure to return your permission slips to watch the movie The Indian in the Cupboard, as will have finished reading this book together in class. 
Block 1 is currently reading Little House on the Prairie.  

Story Test

Today we reread and took our story comprehension and vocabulary test over "Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World."   We also worked on learning the steps in a process and looked at the order in which to follow a recipe.  As an extra credit assignment, students are invited to bring a short recipe to class to share orally with the class.  Please see the direction sheet in your child's folder for more detailed information about this project.

We also worked on compound subjects and predicates in Grammar workbook page 20.

In Social Studies we read pages 38-43 as we learned about how Europeans and Native Americans made a great impact in our culture.

Spelling Test Friday over Unit 7  -  Click here for words:  Spelling Lists

Marchelloni's Pizza Day is tomorrow.  Pizza needed to be ordered in advance.

Book-orders are due October 17.

Big Wolf Run Field Trip permission slips are due October 14, the day before our field trip.  http://bigrunwolfranch.org

Block 2 - Be sure to return your permission slips to watch the movie The Indian in the Cupboard, as will have finished reading this book together in class.
Block 1 is currently reading Little House on the Prairie.  

Justin and the Best Biscuits

Today's reading story can be found on pages 187-202.  We read "Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World" and discussed the vocabulary for this story, found on Practice workbook page 37.  Our story and vocabulary test will be tomorrow.  Students should return their green homework sheet tomorrow. The eBook can be found here:

eBook

Please remember that field trip permission slips for next Wednesday's trip to Big Run Wolf Lodge are due at the end of this week.  Information about the activities on this trip can be found here:

http://bigrunwolfranch.org

Please continue to read at home.   Book-it is optional but encouraged.

Our Spelling Unit 7 test is on Friday.

In Social Studies we are reading Chapter 2, Lesson 1, found on pages 38- 41 in our red book.

Spelling Unit 7 and Compound Subjects/Predicates

Today we competed our Spelling unit 7 workbook pages, 27 and 28.  All of our words this week are vowel, consonant-consonant, vowel (VCCV) words.

We also discussed compound subjects and predicates and completed Grammar workbook page 19.

In social studies we are starting Chapter 2 by reading about Abraham Lincoln Civil War President in our red social studies book pages 35-37.  We are also learning about early Americans and early Europeans in Lesson 1.

Please remember that Book-it is optional, but reading at home is VERY important.  The goal is to read 300 minutes at home each month.

Social Studies Test & Robert Crown

Since today was our Robert Crown presentation, we had to use every minute of class time to work on completing our Social Studies tests.  The students seemed confident when taking the test so I am looking forward to good grades!

Spelling Unit 6 test is tomorrow.  I will be at a funeral and will not be here tomorrow.  I know that the students will be great.  Please look for the Friday newsletter to come home.

Book-it is OPTIONAL but encouraged.  Our goal is 300 minutes of reading per month.

Chapter 1 Social Studies Test TOMORROW

Our Chapter 1 Social Studies test is tomorrow.  Students should be well prepared but can study at home by reviewing their orange study guide as well as the workbook pages (31 & 32) being sent home today.  Students WILL be allowed to use their social studies book to look up  information during the test, but they will NOT be allowed to use their study guides during the test.

We also took the story and vocabulary test over "On the Banks of Plum Creek" by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

OPTIONAL Book-it forms have been sent home today.  Raz-Kids computer log-in cards have been sent home also.

Spelling Test Unit 6 will be on Friday.  I will be attending a funeral on Friday morning and will not be here at school. I am sorry to miss the day, but I know that the children will be in good hands.  Our classroom newsletter will still be sent home on Friday.  

On the Banks of Plum Creek

We did have a very busy day today.  We learned the "Robust Vocabulary" words in preparation for our reading story, On the Banks of Plum Creek.  We completed vocabulary Practice workbook page 31, and we read the story on pages 159-169.  Tonight's homework is to reread the story and have the green story sheet signed at home.   Here's the link to the online version of the story:

eBook

We also worked hard to prepare for the Social Studies Chapter 1 test on THURSDAY.  An ORANGE study guide was sent home.  Students should know the answers to the material on the study guide, and there were four "quizzes" attached.  The quizzes can also be used to help prepare at home.  The quiz grades are shown on web grader as part of your child's Social Studies average.

We will have a Spelling Unit 6 test on Friday.  Here's a link to the words:
Spelling Words

Book-it forms will be sent home tomorrow.  Book-it is OPTIONAL but encouraged.  The goal is for students to read 300 minutes each month.  Even if students are not participating in Book-it, there is tremendous value in reading at home.

Social Studies Test THURSDAY

Since we will have a reading story as homework on Tuesday evening, I think it would be better to move our Chapter 1 Social Studies test to THURSDAY.  We will be prepared in class with a study guide and practice pages.  Today we spent a large amount of our class time working on Social Studies review material.

Today we completed Spelling workbook pages 23 and 24.  All of our words end with the letters -le.  Our spelling test is always on Friday.  The class has been doing a GREAT job on spelling tests!

Spelling Test -- Time for Kids

Today we completed our Unit 5 Review Spelling Test.  We also read about a farm in New York from our Time for Kids magazine.  Students will receive a Time for Kids magazine on a periodic basis.

We completed reading the final section of our of the first Social Studies chapter.  We will plan to have a test on Wednesday.  A study packet will be sent home on Monday.

Fluency

This week we are working on fluency by practicing a variety of Readers' Theatre stories.  Becoming a confident reader is a goal this year.

Tomorrow is our Review Unit 5 Spelling Test.  Studying for this test is tonight's homework assignment.

In Grammar we are reviewing the four sentence types as well as subjects and predicates.

At this point, I am planning to have a Chapter 1 Social Studies test on Wednesday, October 1.  We will work hard to be prepared for the test, and a study guide and review packet will be sent home in advance.  We will adjust this test date if more time is needed for preparation.

Block 2 (Mrs. Danforth's homeroom) has LRC (Library) tomorrow.
Block 1 has "Type to Learn" tomorrow.  Headphones make this program more enjoyable to use.

Pedro Puts on a Play

Today we practiced our reading story, Pedro Puts on a Play, prior to taking our story selection test.   These types of stories (Readers' Theatre) are especially useful for fluency practice.  This selection contained many large vocabulary words.  We practiced using the words, and we always enjoy playing a vocabulary game called "I Have, Who Has?"  Pedro Puts on a Play helped a young boy learn about a special part of his family's heritage.  At Christmastime, students in our class will be working on their own short reports about a tradition or culture.

We aslo completed our Spelling practice workbook page 21 to prepare for Friday's review test.

In social studies we are reading Lesson 3 of Chapter 1, pages 18-24.  I am hopeful that we will be ready for a social studies test on Wednesday, October 1.

Today we had an evacuation drill as a practice.  Students walked from Ridge to Prairie.  The class did a great job of following expectations for this safety drill.

Pedro Puts on a Play

Our homework story tonight it to reread Pedro Puts on a Play, pages 137-143.  A play is written in script form.  Students should practice their assigned part for fluency (not memorization) and expression.  There will be a comprehension and vocabulary test over the story tomorrow.  The green story sheet that is sent home should be returned tomorrow with a parent's signature for homework.

The eBook can be found here:
eBook

There is a spelling test over the Review Unit 5 on Friday.  The spelling lists can be found here:
Spelling Lists

Today we completed Grammar workbook page 13 to review simple and complete subjects and predicates.    Here's a fun game called "Grammar Gorillas" that you can have your child play at home:
Grammar Gorillas/

We will have a social studies test over Chapter 1 on October 1.  This date is tentative and may need to change if extra classroom preparation is needed.  A study guide will be sent home in advance.

Tomorrow is midterms.  Please check web grader and let me know if you have any questions.

Review Week

This week's spelling words are all review words from previous units.  Every five weeks there is a review unit in both our spelling and grammar material.  The spelling test on Friday will test over these review words.  Today we completed Spelling workbook pages 19-20.  In grammar, we are reviewing punctuation and sentence skills.  We are completing Grammar workbook pages 17-18 to review these skills.

Our story on Tuesday will be a "Readers' Theatre" production.  This style of text is similar to a play/script.  Students will be assigned a role to practice for fluency (not for memorization) for Tuesday evening's homework.

In social studies we are continuing to read Chapter 1, Lessons 2 & 3.  After each lesson we take a practice quiz (students are allowed to use their books for this quiz).  The quizzes will be sent home at the end of the chapter to be utilized as part of their study guide.  At this point, I anticipate a Chapter 1 social studies test on Wednesday, October 1, but that is subject to change based upon how much practice is necessary prior to being prepared for the test.

Because the fifth graders are at "Camp," we will be having a morning educational wildlife movie in place of music and p.e. on both Monday and Tuesday.

Half Day

Today was a busy day with early dismissal.  Our Block 1 students took their spelling unit 4 test and worked on social studies skills.  Block 2 students took their spelling test, had library class, and worked on "Character Counts" activities.

Next week's spelling unit is a review unit.  Students should be familiar with all words on their list.  A newsletter is sent home every Friday with the words on the back.   A spelling link can also be found here:

Spelling Lists

Type to Learn

Today we worked on our computer typing program, Type to Learn.  Students are working hard to learn how to position their hands on home row.

We also completed some Compare/Contrast skill activities, and we completed a grammar "Types of Sentences" review page.

Tomorrow is a half day of school for students.  Students will still be going to both blocks, Block 1 & Block 2.  My homeroom students will have LRC (Library) tomorrow.

Book orders from Scholastic should be sent in or ordered online by tomorrow, if you are interested in ordering.

Friday newsletters will be sent home tomorrow.  Our Unit 4 spelling test will also be given tomorrow.

Story Selection Test

Today we reviewed and reread Kai's Journey to Gold Mountain, and we also took our story test.  Students are allowed to use their books and vocabulary sheets to help them.  We also work together to generate ideas for the extended response question at the end of the test.  As the year progresses, students will take on more independence with this extended response question.

In social studies we completed our first chapter of Unit 1.  We took a quiz over the chapter.  Each chapter will have a five question quiz at the end.  Students should do very well on the quiz, as it is covering topics that were discussed extensively in class.  There is no test date yet scheduled for Unit 1, but I will let you know in advance and a study guide will be provided.

Yesterday we did a practice safety drill, and the students were incredibly well behaved!