Archive for April, 2011

Class activities for Tuesday, April 19

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Spelling: Students made Words to Learn lists by correcting words they missed on the last spelling test.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: The final three groups presented their Literature Circles plays today.

Writing: Students worked on their I-Search project by collecting research and working on their digital presentations.

Here are more details about the I-Search project. Our general timeline :

  1. Week 1: Collect research
  2. Week 2: Select research, plan presentation, start draft of presentation
  3. Week 3: Finalize presentation, present at our I-Search Conference at the end of April

Math: We practiced interpreting what the slope of line graphs meant.

Science: Students used clues to interpret motion line graphs.

Social Studies: Students completed a district Social Studies test today.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 1
  • Orange magnets: 0
  • Red magnets: 0
  • STAR Awards: 0
  • Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 1

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

Notes:

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.

Class activities for Monday, April 18

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: Three groups presented their Literature Circles plays today.

Writing: Students worked on their I-Search project by collecting research and working on their digital presentations.

Here are more details about the I-Search project. Our general timeline :

  1. Week 1: Collect research
  2. Week 2: Select research, plan presentation, start draft of presentation
  3. Week 3: Finalize presentation, present at our I-Search Conference at the end of April

Math: Students started to learn how to use a slide rule to add and subtract fractions. Homework is to finish Journal pp. 198-200.

Science: We reviewed the calculating speed experiment and started an experiment about using motion graphs to understand speed and direction.

Social Studies: We started a unit about life in Colonial America. Homework is to finish Notebook p. 51.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 0
  • Orange magnets: 0
  • Red magnets: 0
  • STAR Awards: 0
  • Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 0

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

Notes:

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.

Class activities for Friday, April 15

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: None today due to working on our spring showcase.

Writing: Students worked on collecting research for their I-Search project. Students will research a topic and create a digital presentation using Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com).

Here are more details about the I-Search project. Our general timeline :

  1. Week 1: Collect research
  2. Week 2: Select research, plan presentation, start draft of presentation
  3. Week 3: Finalize presentation, present at our I-Search Conference at the end of April

Math: None today due to STAR Friday.

Science: We reviewed how to calculate speed from a distance and time measurement. We also learned how the height of the model cart on the ramp affects the speed of the cart.

Social Studies: None on Fridays.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 1
  • Orange magnets: 0
  • Red magnets: 0
  • STAR Awards: 0
  • Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 2

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

Notes:

  • Report cards and MEAP reports were sent home today with your student or via email.
  • View or edit the spring “Paper and Coffeejuice volunteer list.
  • View our class calendar.
  • Check grades, assignments, and attendance at SnapGrades.

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.

Class activities for Thursday, April 14

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Spelling: We reviewed common spelling patterns for the /er/ sound: er, ar and or.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: Students worked on group projects to share their Literature Circles magazines with the class.

Writing: We talked about how writers can move in close to a subject with specific details, and move back from the subject to provide the wider background of a subject.

Students worked on collecting research for their I-Search project. Students will research a topic and create a digital presentation using Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com).

Here are more details about the I-Search project. Our general timeline :

  1. Week 1: Collect research
  2. Week 2: Select research, plan presentation, start draft of presentation
  3. Week 3: Finalize presentation, present at our I-Search Conference at the end of April

Math: Students practiced organizing data and making a graph. Homework is to finish Journal pp. 190-191.

Science: Today was the first day of the A World in Motion Jet Toy Challenge. Engineers from General Motors introduced the project and then teams of students started building their car chassis. Some teams also tested the chassis to see if it rolled fast and straight.

Social Studies: Students worked on a test today about slavery in the American Colonies.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 0
  • Orange magnets: 0
  • Red magnets: 0
  • STAR Awards: 0
  • Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 2

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

Notes:

  • Students have been asked to bring a brown paper grocery bag for a project that we will do tomorrow.
  • View or edit the spring “Paper and Coffeejuice volunteer list.
  • View our class calendar.
  • Check grades, assignments, and attendance at SnapGrades.

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.

Class activities for Wednesday, April 13

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Spelling: We reviewed common spelling patterns for the /ul/ sound: el, le and al.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences of seven or more words each are due on Fridays.

Reading: Students worked on group projects to share their Literature Circles magazines with the class.

Writing: We continued to talk about how to use a natural voice in informational writing, rather than sounding like a stuffy encyclopedia.

Students worked on collecting research for their I-Search project. Students will research a topic and create a digital presentation using Google Docs (docs.mrhowd.com).

Here are more details about the I-Search project. Our general timeline :

  1. Week 1: Collect research
  2. Week 2: Select research, plan presentation, start draft of presentation
  3. Week 3: Finalize presentation, present at our I-Search Conference at the end of April

Math: Students practiced matching graphs to data sets using clues. Homework is to finish Journal pp. 181-183.

Science: None today due to library.

Social Studies: We reviewed for tomorrow’s test about slavery in the American Colonies. Here is an online study guide for the test.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 1
  • Orange magnets: 0
  • Red magnets: 0
  • STAR Awards: 0
  • Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 2

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

Notes:

Our Mission:
Every student in Room 130 leaves improved and prepared for 6th grade.