Archive for November, 2011

Class activities for Wednesday, November 30

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Spelling: We reviewed possessive pronouns and remembered that they are not written with apostrophes:

  • The dog is yours/ours/hers/his/mine.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 45-47 are available and due Friday.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.

Writing: We talked about when to begin new paragraphs:

  • For a new time, or
  • A new speaker, or
  • A new place, or
  • A new idea.

The next piece of writing is a fiction story, due Friday, December 16. Students should be prewriting at this time.

Math: We practiced rounding whole numbers today. Homework is to finish Journal p. P3-5.

Science: We learned that all metals are electrical conductors. However, there are some special conductors that aren’t metal. Graphite is one of those special electrical conductors.

Social Studies: None today due to our math and reading skills time.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 0
  • 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 JupiterGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with JupiterGrades?

Notes:

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Class activities for Tuesday, November 29

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 45-47 are available and due Friday.

Reading: Today was a reading day in Literature Circles; some groups worked on breaking words into chunks as a strategy to read unknown words.

Writing: Students worked on prewriting for their next fiction piece today.

The next piece of writing is a fiction story, due Friday, December 16. Students should be prewriting at this time.

Math: We practiced comparing and ordering numbers today. Homework is to finish Journal p. P3-4.

Science: None today due to our math skills time.

Social Studies: We learned about the holiday traditions of Mexico. This December, we’ll learn about Mexican traditions and see how they are similar and different from ours. This coincides with our shared reading book, Esperanza Rising. Today, we made a traditional holiday scene, a nacimiento, complete with a stable, mountains, cacti, animals, many town and village people, lights and moss. This would have been the primary decorate in Esperanza’s house in 1930s Mexico.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 0
  • 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 JupiterGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with JupiterGrades?

Notes:

  • Students have a research challenge tonight: Where does the name “poinsettia” come from? We have several of them in our room right now, but what does the name mean? Students, bring in evidence if you find out!
  • Our class is visiting the book fair tomorrow! Bring money if you want to buy something! Or…
  • Check out the McGrath Online Book Fair!
  • Our field trip to the Michigan Capitol and Historical Museum is December 6. Click the link if you would like to chaperone.
  • Want to grab your favorite time for the Spring Parent Teacher Conferences in March? Do that here.
  • Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
  • View grades, assignments, and attendance at JupiterGrades.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Class activities for Monday, November 28

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Spelling: We reviewed possessive pronouns today and remembered that they do not use apostrophes:

  • It is their dog. The dog is theirs.
  • It is our dog. The dog is ours.
  • It is your dog. The dog is yours.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 45-47 are available and due Friday.

Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.

Writing: None today due to a Physical Education and Nutrition lesson.

The next piece of writing is a fiction story, due Friday, December 16. Students should be prewriting at this time.

Math: We practiced comparing numbers today. Homework is to finish Journal p. P3-3.

Science: Students completed an experiment about identifying electrical conductors and insulators. Homework is to finish the Conductors and Insulators experiment.

Social Studies: We watched a video to learn about how the automobile industry has changed over time.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 0
  • 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 JupiterGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with JupiterGrades?

Notes:

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Class activities for Wednesday, November 23

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

Image courtesy of Cybersalt.org

Today we focused on our Thanksgiving blessings. We listened to the Shaker song, Simple Gifts:

Simple Gifts

We then wrote down all of the things we are thankful for (our Thanksgiving blessings). Some students filled a page and started onto the back.

I hope your family has a happy Thanksgiving holiday!

From the First Thanksgiving Observance signed by President George Washington in 1789:

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 39, 40, and 44 are available and due Monday.

Reading: None today.

Writing: None today.

The next piece of writing is a fiction story, due Monday, November 28. Students should be ready to edit at this time. Homework is to finish the fiction writing piece that students are currently working on.

Math: None today.

Science: None today.

Social Studies: None today.

Behavior Update:

  • Yellow magnets: 0
  • 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 JupiterGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with JupiterGrades?

Notes:

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.

Class activities for Tuesday, November 22

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Spelling: We practiced the there/their/they’re homophones:

  • There means here or there.
  • Their means they own it.
  • They’re means they are.

Cursive: Cursive pp. 39, 40, and 44 are available and due Monday.

Reading: We reviewed the last reading test and practicing looking into the text for clues and answers.

Writing: None today due to our technology time.

The next piece of writing is a fiction story, due Monday, November 28. Students should be ready to edit at this time.

Math: We reviewed the last math test. Some students received less credit due to not proving their answers with math, a written comment, or a picture.

Science: None today due to our math skills review time.

Social Studies: Teams of students worked to place clues on a timeline of early automotive history events.

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 JupiterGrades to see if your student moved their magnet. Need help with JupiterGrades?

Notes:

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.