March 10th, 2014
Class activities for Monday, March 10
Spelling: None today. We’ll have a spelling test tomorrow, and the skill tested will be about common /j/ spelling patterns.
Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 81-84 are due Friday.
Reading: Today was a discussion day in Literature Circles.
Writing: We talked about using fresh language. That means:
- write new and different sounding sentences, not just ones that sound the same
- write and interesting talking, action, or visual lead, not just start with “One day…” or “One time…”
- use new and different words, not just the same ones over and over
Today was also a drafting day for the novel project. Each student has a daily writing goal of 100-300 words, and your student should be between 25-30% complete so far. Ask your student or check StudentVue to see how much your student has done so far. The novel project is due Friday, March 28. Your student should be drafting at this point. Look below for more details.
Novel Writing Project 2014
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:
- Here are some novels written by former students:
- We will start this project in class on March 4 and it will be due on March 28; 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 on this in school 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 after school 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.
- Half of this grade will be if students complete their own, personal word count goal.
Math: We practiced looking for extra or missing information in number stories. Students also worked practiced math skills using Khan Academy. Homework is to work on MobyMax Math or Khan Academy for 15 minutes or more if there’s time.
Science: Students practiced making food chains and webs, and completed a MiniQuiz about that idea.
Social Studies: We learned about a fictional government and compared it to a republic and a constitution government. Students also completed a MiniQuiz about republics and constitutional governments.
- Yellow magnets: 0
- Orange magnets: 0
- Red magnets: 0
- STAR Awards: 0
- Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 0
- Hours with no magnets (best: 73): 11
Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade online to see if your student moved their magnet.
Multiplication Madness
| W | L | PCT | GB | |
| Johnston | 5 | 0 | 1.00 | 0 |
| Moul | 2 | 2 | 0.50 | 2.5 |
| Bell | 2 | 3 | 0.40 | 3 |
| Watkins | 1 | 2 | 0.33 | 3 |
| Howd | 1 | 4 | 0.20 | 4 |
Practicing our multiplication facts has helped, but we need to keep practicing! To make the tournament, we can’t finish in last place.
Notes:
- Spring Conferences are March 11-13. See or edit your conference time here.
- Feb Factor Valentine’s Party pics.
- View the second marking period report card and third marking period progress report here.
- Visit our Links page: keep track of all the websites we use for learning, or try something new.
- Check out our class calendar to stay up-to-date.
- View grades, report cards, behavior, assignments, and attendance online.
Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 5th grade.
