MrHowd.com

Spelling: Students completed a spelling and skill test today.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: We practiced our class play today.

Writing: Students continued to work on the draft of their fiction novel project today.

Each student has a daily writing goal of 150-400 words. The novel project is due Friday, March 27. Students should be drafting now, with about 70-80% of the word count goal complete. Check StudentVue for your student’s progress, current as of today.

Novel Writing Project 2015

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 1,500-4,000 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

Math: We practiced evaluating expressions using parentheses today:

• Visualizing and interpreting relationships between patterns

Skills your student should be finishing soon:

• Dividing decimals 2
• Dividing decimals 3
• Evaluating expressions with parentheses
• Translating expressions with parentheses
• Creating expressions with parentheses

Skills that should be finished:

• Multiplying decimals 1
• Multiplying decimals 2
• Dividing completely
• Dividing decimals 1

It would be helpful for students to continue working on these skills at home if they haven’t had enough time in class to master them.

Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes or more using MobyMax or Khan Academy, and to work on MobyMax FactMaster for 5 minutes.

Science: We started an activity about how forces are related to motion.

Social Studies: None today.

Notes:

• Our next play practice is Monday, March 23 from 4-5; students can stay until 6 to work on the set. This is a dress rehearsal; students please wear your costume.
• Our class play, The Legend of Lightning Larry, will be on March 31. Here is the practice schedule.
• 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.
• Fifth Grade Camp is May 7-8, 2015. Costs are $100 and payments are being accepted through May.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: We reviewed /ow/ patterns. This is the skill tested on tomorrow’s spelling test.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: We practiced our class play today.

Writing: Students continued to work on the draft of their fiction novel project today.

Each student has a daily writing goal of 150-400 words. The novel project is due Friday, March 27. Students should be drafting now, with about 50-60% of the word count goal complete. Check StudentVue for your student’s progress, current as of two days ago.

Novel Writing Project 2015

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 1,500-4,000 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

Math: We practiced evaluating expressions using parentheses today:

• Evaluating expressions with parentheses
• Translating expressions with parentheses
• Creating expressions with parentheses

Skills that should be finished:

• Multiplying decimals 1
• Multiplying decimals 2

Skills your student should be finishing soon:

• Dividing completely
• Dividing decimals 1
• Dividing decimals 2
• Dividing decimals 3

Skills we will be starting soon:

• Visualizing and interpreting relationships between patterns

It would be helpful for students to continue working on these skills at home if they haven’t had enough time in class to master them.

Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes or more using MobyMax or Khan Academy, and to work on MobyMax FactMaster for 5 minutes.

Science: Students completed a MiniQuiz today about motion graphs, calculating speed, and how mass affects a collision.

Social Studies: We finished watching a “Dear America” video about a slave girl that helped others escape on the Underground Railroad.

Notes:

• Our next play practice is Monday, March 23 from 4-5; students can stay until 6 to work on the set.
• Our class play, The Legend of Lightning Larry, will be on March 31. Here is the practice schedule.
• 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.
• Fifth Grade Camp is May 7-8, 2015. Costs are $100 and payments are being accepted through May.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: We practiced spelling often-confused words:

• They came from all around to play a round of golf.
• Go into the den to tune in to channel six on TV.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: Students finished the reading day started yesterday and also had a partial discussion day in Literature Circles. Some groups worked on summarizing as a reading strategy.

Writing: Students continued to work on the draft of their fiction novel project today.

Each student has a daily writing goal of 150-400 words. The novel project is due Friday, March 27. Students should be drafting now, with about 50-60% of the word count goal complete. Check StudentVue for your student’s progress, current as of yesterday.

Novel Writing Project 2015

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 1,500-4,000 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

Math: We practiced decimal division today, using this skill from Khan Academy.

Skills that should be finished:

• Multiplying decimals 1
• Multiplying decimals 2

Skills your student should be finishing soon:

• Dividing completely
• Dividing decimals 1
• Dividing decimals 2
• Dividing decimals 3

Skills we will be starting soon:

•  Evaluating expressions with parentheses
•  Translating expressions with parentheses
•  Creating expressions with parentheses
•  Visualizing and interpreting relationships between patterns

It would be helpful for students to continue working on these skills at home if they haven’t had enough time in class to master them.

Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes or more using MobyMax or Khan Academy, and to work on MobyMax FactMaster for 5 minutes.

Science: We reviewed motion graphs today, using this website. The graph at the bottom is helpful to show students how changes in the graph show changes in speed and distance. There will be a MiniQuiz about this, as well as calculating speed, and motion graphs, on Wednesday.

Social Studies: We started to watch a “Dear America” video about a slave girl.

Notes:

• Our first play practice is Wednesday, March 18 from 4-5; students can stay until 6 to work on the set.
• Our class play, The Legend of Lightning Larry, will be on March 31. Here is the practice schedule.
• 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.
• Fifth Grade Camp is May 7-8, 2015. Costs are $100 and payments are being accepted through May.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: None today.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: Today was a partial reading day in Literature Circles.

Writing: We talked about creating an internal conflict in a story, such as a character dealing with strong emotions or a dilemma that they are thinking about.

Each student has a daily writing goal of 150-400 words. The novel project is due Friday, March 27. Students should be drafting now, with about 50% of the word count goal complete. Check StudentVue for your student’s progress.

Novel Writing Project 2015

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 1,500-4,000 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

Math: None today, due to extra time with science. We’ll have extra math time tomorrow.

Here are some skills we’ve been working on lately:

• Multiplying decimals 1
• Multiplying decimals 2
• Dividing completely
• Dividing decimals 1
• Dividing decimals 2
• Dividing decimals 3

It would be helpful for students to continue working on these skills at home if they haven’t had enough time in class to master them.

Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes or more using MobyMax or Khan Academy, and to work on MobyMax FactMaster for 5 minutes.

Science: We reviewed the last experiment about mass and collisions. We learned that a larger mass makes a larger collision. We also tested speed and collisions as a class, and noticed that the same pattern emerged–an increase in speed increased the force of a collision. There will be a MiniQuiz about this, as well as calculating speed, and motion graphs, on Wednesday.

Social Studies: We reviewed dilemmas slaves faced in West Africa, on the boat through the Middle Passage, and on plantations in America. Homework is to finish reading notes pp. 46-48 if not done in class.

Notes:

• Our first play practice is Wednesday, March 18 from 4-5; students can stay until 6 to work on the set.
• Our class play, The Legend of Lightning Larry, will be on March 31. Here is the practice schedule.
• 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.
• Fifth Grade Camp is May 7-8, 2015. Costs are $100 and payments are being accepted through May.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.

Spelling: We reviewed compound words today and we also practiced the idea that r following a vowel makes a new sound.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays.

Reading: Today was a reading skills and AR practice day.

Writing: We talked about creating an external conflict in a story. Interesting stories have characters that struggle to reach a goal, but there is usually something in the way that makes reaching the goal difficult.

Each student has a daily writing goal of 150-400 words. The novel project is due Friday, March 27. Students should be drafting now. Look below for more details.

Novel Writing Project 2015

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 1,500-4,000 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
• 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 contiued to practice dividing when there was a decimal in the divisor (Dividing decimals 1 and Dividing decimals 2). Here are some skills we’ve been working on lately:

• Multiplying decimals 1
• Multiplying decimals 2
• Dividing completely
• Dividing decimals 1
• Dividing decimals 2
• Dividing decimals 3

It would be helpful for students to continue working on these skills at home if they haven’t had enough time in class to master them.

Homework is to practice math for 15 minutes or more using MobyMax or Khan Academy, and to work on MobyMax FactMaster for 5 minutes.

Science: Students completed an experiment to test if mass affects the force of a collision. Homework is to finish analysis questions 1-4, p. 20.

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

Notes:

• Our first play practice is Monday from 4-5; students can stay until 6 to work on the set.
• Spring conferences are March 10-12. View or edit your time here.
• Our class play, The Legend of Lightning Larry, will be on March 31. Here is the practice schedule.
• 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.
• Fifth Grade Camp is May 7-8, 2015. Costs are $100 and payments are being accepted through May.

Our Mission:
All students in Room 130 will do their best and get ready for 6th grade.