March 3rd, 2010
Class activities for Wednesday, March 3
Spelling: Students worked on completing their Words to Learn list of words missed on their last spelling test. This will be your students custom spelling list for future tests.
Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.
Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.
Writing: Students started revising conferences for their persuasive letter. Here is more information about this project, and here’s a checklist to help with writing the letter. This piece will be due Friday, March 5.
Novel Writing Project
The final piece of the 3rd Marking Period will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write a novel. You read that right! Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,000-3,500 words, based on their reading level (each student’s minimum writing goal is equal to their reading level multiplied by 500).The novels will be written in Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com) to make use of the word count feature. Final novels will be uploaded to lulu.com and published as paperback books, which can be purchased for reasonable prices. So yes, students will actually write and publish their own novels. This project is based on the National Novel Writing Month Young Writers program. Here are more details:
- We will start this project in class on March 8 and it will be due on March 26; however, students can begin early.
- This is our final fiction project; the novel can be any type of fiction story (mystery, science fiction, fantasy, realistic, historical, etc.)
- We will be working in the computer lab most days, using docs.mrhowd.com to type the novel. Students can also work on this from any internet-connected computer outside of school.
- Students might want to start thinking now about how they will use a computer afterschool if they need to, and if they will go to the library, use a home computer, or use a friend or family member’s computer.
- If friends and family would like to order a paperback version of the book, we will upload the final texts to lulu.com. Most books will cost between $5 and $10.
- A big portion of this grade will be if students complete their own, personal word count goal.
Math: We reviewed comparing and ordering decimals, and writing decimals and fractions using tenths and hundredths. We will have a MiniQuiz over this subject tomorrow.
Science: None due to library.
Social Studies: None due to watching a video about teasing and discussing how this has affected our class. “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” We discussed how the mouth reveals the true character of the heart, and how we should be thinking about things that are true, noble, right, lovely, admirable, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy. Then our hearts will overflow kindness, goodness and love to our neighbors.
- Yellow magnets: 2
- Orange magnets: 0
- Red magnets: 0
- STAR Awards: 0
- Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 8
Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade at SnapGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with SnapGrades?
Notes:
- Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
- View grades, assignments, and attendance at SnapGrades.
Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 5th grade.
