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Spelling: Today we reviewed and collected the Unit 5 worksheets and also previewed some words from the next spelling test.

Cursive: Cursive pages 56-58 are available and due Friday.

Reading: Students practiced reading plays in their magazines today focusing on voice and expression. The plays will be their mini-projects for this cycle.

Writing: We talked today about writing lively leads to start a piece of writing. Students also started their prewriting conferences. The next piece of writing is due February 8. This piece should be some type of fiction not including any student from our class as a character.

Math: We used base 10 blocks to compare two decimals.  Homework is to complete Journal pp. 83-85. Click here for a website with interactive base 10 blocks to use for extra practice.

Science: Students completed the “What is Light?” experiment.  Homework is to finish the analyze and conclude questions if not done in class.

The Energy Fair in this Friday. Students are to select an object from home that demonstrates at least one form of energy that we have been discussing, and to make a poster and give a presentation that explains the exhibit. Here are the guidelines and a rubric for the project.

Social Studies: Student groups created tour guide scripts for a section of Michigan. We are taking a “tour” of Michigan tomorrow!

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 4
• Current Hours with No Orange Magnets: 0

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• The second marking period and first semester has ended. Look for report cards this Friday, January 25, or check SnapGrades if you can’t wait!
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: thanks to responsible and generous families, we have a juice backlog, so no juice volunteers needed for a few weeks!

Spelling: Most students completed their Words to Learn list today. Some students are still correcting their words or writing sentences for the homophones and should be done soon. The unit 5 spelling worksheets will also be due tomorrow.

Cursive: Cursive pages 56-58 are available and due Friday.

Reading: Today was the final Literature Circles discussion day of this nonfiction, magazine cycle. Students will work on mini-projects this week.

Writing: We talked today about ways to organize writing, either with paragraphs, or more creatively with chapters or sections of text. For example, a piece about a baseball game could be organized into innings, or a school story could be organized by period, hour or class.

Students started prewriting today for the next piece of writing, due February 8. This piece should be some type of fiction not including any student from our class as a character.

Math: We continued to review fractions and decimals using base 10 blocks. The idea was to see how fractions and decimals are related, focusing on hundredths and tenths (e.g., 1/10 = 0.1, 1/100 = 0.01). Homework is to review Journal pp. 80-82, checking them after today’s extra practice. We’ll grade the homework tomorrow. Click here for a website with interactive base 10 blocks to use for extra practice.

Science: None today due to a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activity.

The Energy Fair in this Friday. Students are to select an object from home that demonstrates at least one form of energy that we have been discussing, and to make a poster and give a presentation that explains the exhibit. Here are the guidelines and a rubric for the project.

Social Studies: We looked at images from the Civil Rights movement. We also sang “We Shall Overcome.” View the presentation below:

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 2
• Orange magnets: 1
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 3
• Current Hours with No Orange Magnets: 0*

*We went two months without an orange magnet; however, all it took was some careless impulsivity, just a little talking, and we are back to zero. Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• The office has directed me to temporarily suspend all student Gmail accounts due to two inappropriate email messages sent from one student. I am working to have these available to students again soon. This might be a good opportunity to discuss proper “netiquette” with your student and how the actions of one can affect many.Here are some resources to use:
  • PBS Kids Get Your Web License. Students have already complete this at school.
  • Disney Surf Swell Island

• The second marking period and first semester has ended. Look for report cards this Friday, January 25, or check SnapGrades if you can’t wait!
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: thanks to responsible and generous families, we have a juice backlog, so no juice volunteers needed for a few weeks!

Here’s our week in 60 seconds:

• Spelling: Unit 5 spelling test, /j/ patterns, adjectives
• Cursive: pp. 53-55
• Reading: Literature Circles books are finished, working on projects next week
• Writing: Published and illustrated our class book
• Math: Logic problems, Chapter 3 test, decimals and fractions with tenths and hundredths
• Science: Science test, forms of energy, Energy Fair project due next Friday
• Social Studies: Michigan’s natural resources and regions
• Notes: The office has directed me to suspend student Gmail accounts temporarily due to two inappropriate email messages being sent.

Play Audio

Spelling: None today. Students will complete a Words to Learn list next week.

Cursive: Cursive pages 53-55 are available and due next Tuesday.

Reading: Today was the final Literature Circles reading day of this nonfiction, magazine cycle.

Writing: Students completed illustrating and publishing for our class book entitled, Freedom Fighters: Our way of saying thank you to our troops.

Math: We started reviewing fractions and decimals using base 10 blocks. The idea was to see how fractions and decimals are related, focusing on hundredths and tenths (e.g., 1/10 = 0.1, 1/100 = 0.01). Homework is to complete Journal pp. 80-82. Click here for a website with interactive base 10 blocks to use with the journal pages.

Science: We reviewed the Energy Hunt task and I introduced the Energy Fair. Students are to select an object from home that demonstrates at least one form of energy that we have been discussing, and to make a poster and give a presentation that explains the exhibit. Here are the guidelines and a rubric for the project.

Social Studies: None today.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 3
• Current Hours with No Orange Magnets: 140

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• The office has directed me to temporarily suspend all student Gmail accounts due to two inappropriate email messages sent from one student. I am working to have these available to students again soon. This might be a good opportunity to discuss proper “netiquette” with your student and how the actions of one can affect many.Here are some resources to use:
  • PBS Kids Get Your Web License. Students have already complete this at school.
  • Disney Surf Swell Island

• The second marking period and first semester has ended. Look for report cards this Friday, January 25, or check SnapGrades if you can’t wait!
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: thanks to responsible and generous families, we have a juice backlog, so no juice volunteers needed for a few weeks!

Spelling: Today students completed a spelling test and skill test about /j/ spelling patterns. Unit 5 worksheets are due tomorrow.

Cursive: Cursive pages 53-55 are available and due tomorrow.

Reading: Today was a Literature Circles discussion day.

Writing: Students started illustrating for our class book entitled, Freedom Fighters: Our way of saying thank you to our troops.

Orders for a copy of the book are due tomorrow, Thursday, January 17.

Math: Students completed a test today over these concepts:

• multiplication/division facts
• true/false number sentences
• <,> and (parentheses)
• open sentences
• number stories
• logic problems

Science: We started a discussion on forms of energy by completing an energy scavenger hunt around the school. Homework is to complete the Energy Hunt.

Social Studies: We graded yesterday’s homework and made plans for a “scripted tour” of Michigan. The charter plane from Imagi Nation should be here any day now!

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 2
• Current Hours with No Orange Magnets: 133

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet.

Notes:

• The second marking period and first semester ends on Thursday, January 17; all work for this marking period must be turned in by that date.
• View grades, assignments, attendance and even the report card at SnapGrades.
• Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
• This week’s juice volunteers: thanks to responsible and generous families, we have a juice backlog, so no juice volunteers needed for a few weeks!