March 18th, 2014
Class activities for Tuesday, March 18
Spelling: None today.
Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 85-90 are due Friday.
Reading: None today due to an assembly.
Writing: We talked more about using fresh language in writing, using new words or using words in different ways. That also includes writing different kinds of sentences that don’t all sound the same.
Today was also drafting day for the novel project. Each student has a daily writing goal of 100-300 words, and your student should be about 70% 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:
- 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 multiplying multiples of ten using mental math. Journal P7-2 matches this skill. Students also 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: We learned that the moon revolves once around the earth in about 27 days, and it also rotates once on its axis in 27 days. The moon rotates and revolves once in the same amount of time. Homework is to finish the Earth and Moon Movement review page.
We also went to an assembly about energy. Each student received a kit of energy-saving materials, including CFL bulbs, a shower head, and a faucet aerator. There is a student booklet that includes some activities to try at home. Homework is to complete the activities, fill out the student booklet, and bring the booklet back by Friday.
Social Studies: None today due to an assembly.
- Yellow magnets: 1
- Orange magnets: 0
- Red magnets: 0
- STAR Awards: 0
- Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 2
- Hours with no magnets (best: 73): 1
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:
- See our St. Patrick’s Wearin’ o’ the Green pics 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.
