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Reading: None today due to a shortened schedule.

Language Arts: Today’s mini-lesson was about showing, not telling, and writing small. In other words, don’t tell the reader that the party was fun–show the reader it was fun; make the reader feel that it was fun, by saying “everyone at the party laughed and played until it was time to leave.” Writing small is another way of saying “show, don’t tell,” and means to include details to prove what is being said.

I can’t stress enough the importance of this idea of proving with details, of writing small. Doing this one thing in writing will instantly improve any piece, so much so, that it will seem like magic!

Students should be editing or publishing for this piece of writing due April 13.

Spelling and Cursive: Today, students completed a Words to Learn list from a previous spelling test. A spelling test will be Thursday; the skill for the test will be making plural nouns (fox to foxes, city to cities).

The Level Four Core Word list is an option for continued spelling practice. 

Math: Students learned a new method for dividing called the partial quotients method. Students (and parents) can look in their SRB or math journal for directions and example problems for this method. Homework is to complete math journal pp. 150-152.

Science: None due to half-day schedule.

Social Studies: None due to half-day schedule.

Notes:

• The PTO Goodies Factory fundraiser order forms will be collected until Wednesday this week.
• Conferences are this week Monday through Wednesday; school days this week are half-days. 
• Forgot when your conference is? View the conference schedule here.
• HELP WANTED: Mr. Keilitz is looking for parents willing to help with Field Day, which is at the end of May. If you are willing to help, please fill out the form here. Thanks!
• Mackinaw Fundraising Update: our class has raised $2,078, which is 77% of our goal. We have $622  remaining to reach our goal of $2,700. Visit our Straits of Mackinaw field trip page for the latest updates. 
• Interested in going to Mackinaw? We have only two more chaperone spots available for the trip. Fill out the form here if you would like to go.
• McGrath Family Cookbooks are now on sale. Copies can be purchased for $10 and all proceeds go towards our Mackinaw trip. Checks are payable to McGrath.

Reading: Our final Literature Circles projects were presented today. Students will receive new Literature Circles books next week. We also read our Time for Kids magazine.

Language Arts: Students worked today on their piece of writing due April 13.

Spelling and Cursive: Today, we looked at words with suffixes, determined what rule was used to add the suffix, and spelled out the base words.

The Level Four Core Word list is an option for continued spelling practice. A spelling test will be next week.

Students also took a cursive quiz today.

Technology: Students completed the Student Satisfaction Survey today.

Math: Today, students worked in our Math Skills program.

Health: We discussed four kinds of control that influences our behavior choices: environment, authority, social norms and self-control.

Art: Students worked on pencil sketches of dragons today.

Character: Based on recent activities, it appears that several students in class are making poor character choices involving a lack of respect, responsibility, kindness, honesty or courage. This has come in the form of swearing, unkind notes, stealing, cheating, or fighting. Much of this behavior is done away from me, which leads to another poor character choice: insincerity.

I have informed the class that, starting after spring break, students making poor character choices will participate in a lunchtime character program to give them extra practice doing the right thing. Students will practice being kind, giving, responsible, or honest, by helping our school or community.

You’ll hear more about this program in the future; until then, ask your student if they have been participating in any of the above poor character choices.

Notes:

Reading: Today several more groups presented their Literature Circles projects. We will have the final two presentations tomorrow.

Language Arts: Today’s mini-lesson was on dividing large blocks of text into paragraphs for three different reasons: (1) for a new idea, (2) for a new time or place, or (3) for a new person talking. Students should be revising their draft by now, finishing up a revising conference, and looking ahead to proofreading/editing. This piece of writing is due April 13.

Spelling: Today, we reviewed the rules for adding suffixes onto words, and created words with the -er and -est suffixes (fast, faster, fastest). We also discussed the “Sort It” page of the spelling worksheets.

The Level Four Core Word list is an option for continued practice.

Math: Groups reviewed or extended yesterday’s lesson about dividing using multiples of 10. (120/6…10 groups of 6 is 60, and another 10 [6s] is 60, so 120/6 is 20 [6s]…120/6 = 20). Homework is to complete StudyLink 6.1, and to review journal pp. 147-148 to make sure the answers are correct.

Science: Today students completed a test over the sound unit.

Social Studies: Students who taught concepts about village life and the religion of the Three Fires people led a class discussion. The rest of the class journaled important ideas in their mini-books.

A test over the first people of Michigan will be coming up next week.

Notes:

Reading: Today several groups presented their Literature Circles projects. We will continue with the rest tomorrow.

Language Arts: No mini-lesson today due to library. Students worked on their piece of writing due April 13. Students should be finalizing their draft by now, looking ahead to a revising conference, or revising their piece.

Spelling: Today, student pairs used letter cards to create words, paying attention to how individual letters are used to create sounds.

The Level Four Core Word list is an option for continued practice.

Math: Our double session of math today included taking the test over chapter 5, and starting our work with division. Students used the stategy of counting multiples as a way to divide. (120/6…10 groups of 6 is 60, and another 10 [6s] is 60, so 120/6 is 20 [6s]…120/6 = 20). Homework is to finish journal pp. 147-149.

Science: None today due to a double-session yesterday. A test over sound will be tomorrow.

Social Studies: Students looked at the life of a typical Chippewa family, pp. 73-80 in the book. Homework is to complete the chapter 3 worksheets.

We will finish our Jigsaw cooperative group project tomorrow. Visit the Social Studies resources page for more information, and stop in to the Social Studies Jigsaw blog archives for a peek at what students worked on for this project.

A test over the first people of Michigan will be coming up next week.

Notes: