MrHowd.com

Spelling: Today was a preview of upcoming spelling words.

Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 85-90 are due Friday.

Reading: Students practiced reading plays from their Literature Circles magazines to share with the class.

Writing: Today was a drafting day for the novel project. Each student has a daily writing goal of 100-300 words, and your student should be about 50% 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:
  • One Demi-God’s Story
  • The Secret
  • Space Invaders
  • Lonely with Some Spark
• 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 multiplying two-digit numbers using arrays. For example, for the problem 23 x 20, the problem can be split into 20 x 20 and 3 x 20. That parts can be multiplied and added to get the answer. Journal P7-1 matches this skill. Students also practiced math skills using MobyMax. Homework is to work on MobyMax Math or Khan Academy for 15 minutes or more if there’s time.

Science: We learned that the earth revolves around the sun once in 365 days. It also rotates on its axis while it revolves.

Social Studies: We started to learn about the different levels (local, state, federal) and branches of our government.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 1
• Hours with no magnets (best: 73): 0

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade online to see if your student moved their magnet.

Multiplication Madness

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.

Here are some ideas we discussed at spring conferences this last week:

• Third Grade Math Review. The class is reviewing third grade math skills using MobyMax TestPrep Math. Most students are less than 50% complete. Working at home for 5-10 minutes a night would help everyone to finish their third grade review and move on to reviewing fourth grade skills.
• Math Facts. Some students haven’t finished their math facts mastery yet. We use MobyMax Fact Master for 5 minutes most days. Doing another 5 minutes at home, or using another method (flash cards, aaamath.com, mobile app) would help.
• Math Homework. We don’t have paper math homework this year. In its place, working for at least 15 minutes in MobyMax Math or Khan Academy would help each student work toward completing fourth grade math skills by the beginning of September.
• Daily Homework Time. One way to build responsibility, end homework battles, reduce missing assignments, and help students work ahead is to implement a daily homework time. This would be a 40 minute time every school night, no matter if there is homework from school or not. Have your student work on writing, math, and other homework for 15 minutes each. Even if a student forgets their actual homework, still have them work on homework type tasks. Students will stay on top of projects, get cursive done better, and keep working through math skills. Building the habit now will make 5th grade, and beyond, much easier.
• Reading. Keep having your student reading 20 minutes or so before bed (or another time they like). If your student struggles with being interested in reading, find an exciting book (here’s an idea) and read it to them. They aren’t too old and once the interest is there, they’ll want to read more by themselves.
• Current Grades. The third marking period ends on March 28. Students can improve grades by correcting papers, quizzes and tests. Just have your student make corrections on another sheet of paper, with an explanation about why their new answer is better, and then staple to the original paper, if available. We take many digital quizzes and tests. Results are always emailed to students. They can find the message sent and make corrections from that.
• Mackinac Trip. The trip is on May 9 (more details). There will be a Read-a-Thon fundraiser on March 28. Payments toward the trip by the end of April would be appreciated.
• 5th Grade. I’ve traditionally been a looping teacher. That is the plan for next year. Please complete this short survey to share your preference of teacher for 5th grade.
• Handouts. A bunch of handouts (see ’em all):
  • Homework helps
  • Family Science Night on March 27
  • After school homework help sessions (free)
  • Summer Skills books and order (cost is free if you fill out an order form)
  • Camp Learn-a-Lot Summer School brochure
  • Grand Blanc Sinking Fund facts
  • Grand Blanc Parent Survey
• Parent Survey. Did you complete the GB Parent Survey yet? Here it is.

Spelling: None today due to the half day schedule.

Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 81-84 are due Monday.

Reading: None today due to the half day schedule.

Writing: Today was a drafting day for the novel project. Each student has a daily writing goal of 100-300 words, and your student should be between approaching 50% 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:
  • One Demi-God’s Story
  • The Secret
  • Space Invaders
  • Lonely with Some Spark
• 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: None today due to the half day schedule. Homework is to work on MobyMax Math or Khan Academy for 15 minutes or more if there’s time.

Science: We read about how the earth rotates in space by turning on its axis. It takes 24 hours for the earth to rotate once.

Social Studies: We reviewed what we learned about comparing a fictional government to a republic and a constitution government.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 1
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 3
• 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

Practicing our multiplication facts has helped, but we need to keep practicing! To make the tournament, we can’t finish in last place.

Notes:

• 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.

Spelling: Today was a spelling and skill test.

Cursive: Cursive workbook pp. 81-84 are due Friday.

Reading: Students practiced plays from their Literature Circles magazines that they will perform for the class.

Writing: Today was a drafting day for the novel project. Each student has a daily writing goal of 100-300 words, and your student should be between approaching 35% 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:
  • One Demi-God’s Story
  • The Secret
  • Space Invaders
  • Lonely with Some Spark
• 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: Students worked on a multiplication test today. Homework is to work on MobyMax Math or Khan Academy for 15 minutes or more if there’s time.

Science: We wrote notes in our minibooks about the sun, moon, and earth.

Social Studies: We learned about a fictional government and compared it to a republic and a constitution government. Homework is to finish the Egbonia Government notes if not finished in class.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 2
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 2
• Hours with no magnets (best: 73): 2

Check your student’s Personal and Social Growth grade online to see if your student moved their magnet.

Multiplication Madness

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.

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:
  • One Demi-God’s Story
  • The Secret
  • Space Invaders
  • Lonely with Some Spark
• 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.

Behavior Update:

• 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

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.