Apr. 28-May 2

This Week In...
Reading: Sequence; Text Structure
Math: Three Digit Addition and Subtraction
Language Arts: Using Commas
Science: The Moon and Earth

Homework...
*Students have an extra HW each night...they need to complete their moon calendar nightly*
M: DEAR Log, mClass Math, Math Practice 11-5
T: DEAR Log, mClass Math, Math Practice 11-6
W: DEAR Log, mClass Math, Math Practice 11-7
Th: DEAR Log, mClass Math, Math Practice 11-8
F: Get behavior card signed over the weekend and return to school Monday

April 14-18

This Week In...

Reading: Author's Purpose; Summarizing

Math: Time; Data and Graphs

Language Arts: Quotation Marks

Science: States of Matter

Homework...

M: DEAR Log, mClass Math, Math Practice 16-5

T: DEAR Log, mClass Math, Math Practice 16-6

W: DEAR Log, Time Practice

Th: DEAR Log, Topic 16 Study Guide

F: Get behavior card signed to return on Monday

 Spelling List

Red, White, and Blue: The Story of the American Flag

Rule: Abbreviations

1.   Mr.

2.   Mrs.

3.   St.

4.   Jan.

    5. Feb.

    6. Aug.

    7. Dr.

    8. Ms.

    9. Rd.

  10. Oct.

  11. Nov.

  12. Dec.

High Frequency Words

   13. important

   14. mountain

   15. south

   16. north

   17. almost

   18. freedom

   19. America

Transfer Word

   20. Sept.

Apr.7-11

This Week In...
Reading: Compare & Contrast
Math: Graphs, Time, & Data
Language Arts: Using Capital Letters

Homework:
M: DEAR Log, Math Practice 16-1, mClass Math
T: DEAR Log, Math Practice 16-2, mClass Math
W: DEAR Log, Math Practice 16-3, mClass Math
Th: DEAR Log, Math Practice 16-4, mClass Math
F: Get behavior card signed over the weekend

Reminder- Muffins with Moms is on Thursday at 7:30am!

Back on track in April

I'm sorry I've let the blog fall behind lately! Life has been so busy it's hard to keep up. How is it already April?! I'll be better about updating the blog with the weekly information and more pictures.Today I will add some photos from our dinosaur exploration this week. I will get pictures of the students with their rain forest projects posted on the blog soon so you can save a copy too. I'll email you when I have those posted for all to see! :)

This Week In...

Math- Measurement

Reading- Review Unit 6

Language Arts- Pronouns and Contractions

Science- Dinosaurs/Fossils

Homework:

M: DEAR Log, Math Practice 15-8, mClass Math

T: DEAR Log, Math Practice 15-9, mClass Math

W: DEAR Log, Topic 15 Study Guide

Th: DEAR Log

F: Get behavior card signed over the weekend

Fun in Class:

We've been studying dinosaurs this week. Here's what we've done so far! 

Students learned some basic facts about dinosaurs and the periods they existed in. We also read about the most popular types of dinosaurs. Students learned the characteristics of herbivore dinosaurs vs. carnivore dinosaurs and can now identify which one the dino is by just looking at its picture! We also talked about a paleontologist's job and the tools they use to explore. Later this week, students will find out how fossils are made. They'll also get to do their own dinosaur report and make a fossil of their own! 

First we learned about a paleontologist's job and the tools they use. Then the kids met Paleontologist Pete. There was one problem...Pete didn't have any tools, so the students each had to make a tool and tell how Pete would use it while digging for fossils. 

Some tools they gave Pete were a rock hammer, a map, a pick ax, a tool belt, gloves, goggles, sunscreen, brushes and MUCH more!  

They also wrote a list of safety tips that paleontologists should follow.

Now that they knew about a paleontologist's job, it was time for them to BE paleontologists themselves! Students had to excavate "fossils" from cookies like a paleontologist's excavates fossils from our Earth's surface. Students got a chewy cookie and a hard cookie to compare the difference while digging. They used toothpicks and spoons as their tools.

We learned that being a paleontologist is fun, but it takes lots of time, patience, and hard work.

Come back to see more dino pictures after the week is finished! :)

MLK, Valentines, 100th Day & More!

In January we learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the importance of what he wanted and stood for. I did a little experiment with the students. They all got a piece of paper to tape on their shirts. If it was blank, they were my "favorites". I let them be in the front of the class and line. I let them use any sink or water fountain they wanted. I gave them candy and spoke very sweetly to them.

The kids who had an X paper had to be in the back. They weren't allowed to talk to anyone, and they did not get candy. They also were not allowed to share sinks/fountains with the blank paper kids. They could only use the sink/fountain that was marked with an X.

Afterwards we talked about how being treated differently made all of them feel. 

Then we compared and contrasted a white egg and a brown egg. We found that the only thing that was different was the color. The two eggs were exactly the same every other way, even on the inside!

We recently learned about land forms. The students then created the various land forms out of Playdough.

We celebrated the 100th day of school by imagining what we would look like and do when we were 100 years old. Students also wrote about things they hope to accomplish before they're 100. Their writings are adorable. They had the BEST time coming up with ideas about old people. These projects came home today. Be sure to check out your student's writing.

Old Man Ashton

Old Man Kayden

Old Woman Delaney

Old Man Sebastian

Old Men Kyle and Ben...Old Woman Alyvia

We got into the Valentines spirit by writing about who we love. Students then turned their writing into a "love bug". This sweet writing will be sent home in the coming weeks.

Cameron decided to write about his cat. Other students wrote about their pets, siblings, parents, grandparents, or teachers.

We had LOTS of fun at our Valentines party. A BIG THANK YOU to the parents who came to help or donated items for the party.

Every day during Reading, students work on different centers that target different skills such as phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

Connor, Ben (above), Cameron, and Syndee (below) sort words according to their suffixes. 

Sebastian times Logan as he reads words from a Fluency ring.

Ashton highlights words he finds in the decodeable that fit our weekly phonics rule.

 Syndee gives Kayden feedback during our 5 Minute Fluency drill.

Cameron works on making vocabulary flashcards.

Logan, Sebastian (above), Kyle, Aiden, and Connor (below) play a phonics game.

Alyvia and Cameron talk about what they read during our 5 Minute Fluency drill.

Delaney listens to Giovanny read during our 5 Minute Fluency drill.

We have been learning about weathering and erosion. Today students set up an experiment to see which would cause more erosion: wind, water, or ice. They worked together to create three pans with a mountain of sand in each. We will apply the wind, water, and ice each day and observe the results. At the end of the week, we will see which element caused more erosion in our sand mountains. Here is what we have now. Come back later to check out our results!