Spelling: We reviewed homographs, which are words that are written the same but have different sounds or meanings. This will be the skill tested on tomorrow’s spelling test.
Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.
Reading: Students worked on their Literature Circles projects to share their books with the class.
Writing: Students continued to work on their fiction novel project today. During this project, each student has a daily word goal of 150-300 words. The novel is due Monday, March 26. See below for more details. Students should be nearing the end of their draft at this point, ready to revise and edit.
Novel Writing Project
The final piece of the 3rd Marking Period will be our final fiction project of the year. Students will write and publish a novel. Each student will write their own novel, with a word goal minimum of 1,000-3,000 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 February 27 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 afters chool 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: Students worked on a math test today about multiplication.
Science: We learned more about the size and features of the sun. Homework is to finish Investigation Review p. 43.
Social Studies: We used temperature and precipitation maps to learn about of the United States:
- The southern US is warmer than the north;
- The southeast is wetter than the west, but a small part of the northwest receives the most rain;
- Higher elevations receive more precipitation;
- Areas near the ocean sometimes can be very wet; and,
- Precipitation for an area depends on the pattern of wind for that area.
Behavior Update:
- Yellow magnets: 3
- Orange magnets: 0
- Red magnets: 0
- STAR Awards: 0
- Magnets moved this week (goal: 10): 3
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.
