MrHowd.com

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.

Spelling: We reviewed compound words today.

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

Reading: None today due to art.

Writing: Students started drafting their novel writing project. Each student has a daily writing goal of 150-400 words. The novel project is due Friday, March 27. 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 practiced dividing when there was a decimal in the divisor (Dividing decimals 1). Here are some skills we’ve been working on lately or will begin soon:

• 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 planned our next experiment to test if mass affects the force of a collision.

Social Studies: We started to learn about life in colonial America.

Notes:

• 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.

Spelling: We reviewed homographs, words that are spelled the same but have different meanings or pronounciations. Here are some examples:

• The bandage was wound around the wound.
• The farm was used to produce produce.
• The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
• We must polish the Polish furniture.
• He could lead if he would get the lead out.
• The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
• Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present .

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

Reading: Today students received their Legend of Lightning Larry play scripts and we read through the script. Our first after school practice is Monday, March 9 from 4-5 pm.

Writing: Students continued prewriting for the final fiction project of the year, and students completed prewriting conferences. Each student has a daily writing goal of 150-400 words. The novel project is due Friday, March 27. Your student should be finished with prewriting at this point and ready to start drafting. 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 practiced dividing completely using decimals. Here are some skills we’ve been working on lately or will begin soon:

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

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 interpreting motion graphs.

Social Studies: Students continued to work on a test about colonial regions.

Notes:

• 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.