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Spelling: Students worked on MobyMax Vocabulary with a guest teacher.

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

Reading: Today was a final practice day for groups to prepare plays from their Literature Circles magazines. Two groups also performed today, practicing reading with good speed, tone, volume, and accuracy.

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 90% 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, with the goal of finishing the draft by Friday. 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
• 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 math skills with a guest teacher using MobyMax Math. Homework is to work on MobyMax Math or Khan Academy for 15 minutes or more.

Science: Students began working on their Space Fashion Show scrips today (more details and a sample script). The Space Fashion Show is our final project of our space unit. Students are working in groups to write a fashion show script that tells about the sun, moon, or earth. One student from each group will “model” a costume of the sun, moon, or earth. The Space Fashion Show is Thursday, March 27 at 2:oo. Family members are invited!

Homework is to continue to complete the activities from kit students brought home Tuesday from the energy assembly, to fill out the student booklet, and bring the booklet back by Friday.

Social Studies: None today due to extra with with reading.

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 2
• Hours with no magnets (best: 73): 15

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.

Spelling: Students started making their Words to Learn lists from words missed on the last spelling test.

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

Reading: Today was a reading and AR skills day.

Writing: We talked more about writing realistic and believable dialogue that sounds like real people talk.

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 80% 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, with the goal of finishing the draft by Friday. 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
• 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 extra time with science. Homework is to work on MobyMax Math or Khan Academy for 15 minutes or more.

Science: We started planning the Space Fashion Show today (more details). The Space Fashion Show is our final project of our space unit. Students will work in groups to write a fashion show script that tells about the sun, moon, or earth. One student from each group will “model” a costume of the sun, moon, or earth. The Space Fashion Show is Thursday, March 27 at 2:oo. Family members are invited!

Homework is to continue to complete the activities from kit students brought home Tuesday from the energy assembly, to fill out the student booklet, and bring the booklet back by Friday.

Social Studies: We reviewed the levels (local, state, federal) and branches (executive, legislative, judicial) of the government, and tried to think of positions and jobs that the government does (here is what the students came up with).

Behavior Update:

• Yellow magnets: 0
• Orange magnets: 0
• Red magnets: 0
• STAR Awards: 0
• Magnets moved this week (goal: 9): 2
• Hours with no magnets (best: 73): 8

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.

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

Behavior Update:

• 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

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.

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.

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.