MrHowd.com

Spelling: We finished a mini poster about using apostrophes in contractions, but not in possessive pronouns. You student has a copy in their Google Drive; ask them to show you!

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due on Fridays. One easy kind of sentence to write over and over is a pangram (has all letters of the alphabet). Here are two examples:

• The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
• The five boxing wizards jump quickly.

Reading: Today, we practiced visualizing a text and determining important parts.

Writing: None today due to our technology time. We solved computer programing puzzles at Code.org today.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 22. Students should be finishing their draft at this point. Homework is to finish the draft by Tuesday.

Math: We practiced converting between fractions and decimals. Students also used MobyMax to practice math skills. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes, using Khan Academy or MobyMax.

Science: We started learning about the skeletal system. Homework is to finish the “Saved by a Skeleton” review page if not done in class.

Social Studies: We started to learn about how people from Asia migrated to North American and became the ancestors of Native Americans.

Notes:

• View our daily learning targets.
• 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 6th grade.

Spelling: We started to make a mini poster about using apostrophes in contractions, but not in possessive pronouns.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due next Friday.

Reading: Today, we practicing thing what a text reminds us of.

Writing: We talked about proving general statements with details. Instead of saying something is fun, prove it by adding details to show what was fun.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 22. Students should be drafting at this point. Homework is to finish the draft by Tuesday.

Math: We practiced reading and writing large numbers. Students also used Khan Academy to practice math skills. Homework is to practice math for at least 15 minutes, using Khan Academy or MobyMax.

Science: Students worked in groups to predict important internal features of living creatures. This begins our unit about body systems. View the creatures.

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

You can now view our daily learning targets online to see what we’ve been learning about lately.

Notes:

• View our daily learning targets.
• Do you have a reluctant reader? Here are some ideas.
• Want to get an early start saving a spot for Fall Conferences? Go to MrHowd.com/conferences to sign up.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that 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 6th grade.

Monday: Crazy Hair Day

Tuesday: Silly Sock Day

Wednesday: Red and Black Day

Thursday: Slipper Day

Friday: Hat Day

Image Credit

Students just completed a spelling pretest, so this might be a good time to talk about spelling:

1. The spelling page at MrHowd.com has a lot of information on how spelling works in Room 130.
2. We’ll have 2-3 tests per marking period, and they will be included as part of your student’s writing grade (there’s not a separate spelling grade this year).
3. Your student will not know the words ahead of time in order to study.
4. Your student should study words they have missed on prior tests. We haven’t taken any spelling tests this year, other than the pretest, but your student can study words missed from last year. Your student has a list of these words in their Google Drive. The list is called their Core Word List.
5. See the Core Word List here or print a copy.
6. One way to use the Core Word List is to choose about 10 words each night. Make up a sentence that includes the word and ask your student to spell the word. The sentence is important because that’s how your student learns what the word means. If your student spells the word correctly, cross it off the list! Whittle the list down to just words your student keeps missing and needs to practice.

Spelling: Students completed a spelling achievement pretest today.

Cursive: Ten cursive sentences, seven or more words each, are due next Friday.

Reading: Students received notebooks and bookmarks to use during Literature Circles this year as we read novels and informational writing. We also reviewed common reading strategies that good readers use: asking questions, finding important passages, visualizing, and making connections. Today, we practicing writing good, open ended questions.

Writing: We talked about focusing a topic on just the best part and time of the story. For example, if a student wanted to write about Christmas break, then they could focus in on just New Year’s Eve, then just the New Year’s Eve party, then finally focus on the ball dropping (the best part of the story). Focusing gets the writer to concentrate on the best, most interesting parts.

A personal narrative is due Monday, September 22. Students should be drafting at this point.

Math: None today due to Patriot Day activities.

Science: None today.

Social Studies: We remembered Patriot Day today by viewing some footage of the September 11 events.

Notes:

• Do you have a reluctant reader? Here are some ideas.
• Want to get an early start saving a spot for Fall Conferences? Go to MrHowd.com/conferences to sign up.
• Need to update your contact information or send in your email address or phone number? Do that 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 6th grade.