Next week by Monday, we will be collecting $5.00 per person for the bus fee for the field trip on May 10th. We had low enough numbers to reduce the total number of buses down to just 1 to help keep costs down. Chaperones will also need to pay for the bus fee but not for the canoe. We could still use a couple more chaperones if you are interested, please let me know by next Thursday, May 2nd. With warmer weather comes issues with dress code, so I want to make sure we are all on the same page and no dress code issues arise in my class. Shorts can be worn but must be longer than the child's fingertips when his/ her arms are at the side. Shoes need to be worn at all times outside with a closed toe. Open toe sandals, flip flops, etc. are not permitted outside for safety reasons, and if they are worn inside, the child also needs to be wearing socks for health reasons. Spaghetti straps, halter tops, and mesh shirts are not to be worn. Hope this helps and alleviates any student having to call home for a change of clothing. I will be out Friday, May 3rd and at least Monday, May 6th for another round of surgeries. Please remind your children to be respectful to the sub on each of these days. There will be no spelling or vocabulary tests next week due to my absence. There will be a reading log due Friday, May 3rd. Progress reports will come out on Monday, April 29th, but will not be issued out on Monday, May 6th.
Reading News
We reviewed strategies for taking reading comprehension tests. Students had to identify if a question is implicit or explicit, locate key words and phrases in the questions, then scan for them in the text. We will continue other reading test strategies next week, and work on taking notes from informational text.
Writing News
This week, we created an outline for our persuasive papers. These papers will be 5 paragraphs long and the student positions will be supported by three main reasons. Next week, we will write our first rough drafts of this paper and critique them.
Math News
This week we worked on rate and comparing them. Next week we will find percentage of a whole number, discount prices, and calculate sales tax. We will also be starting our Math Project where students need to finish off a basement on a $10,000.00 budget. Go to http://wwcsd.net/groups/homeimprovement/ to preview it. the user name is: scottj password: jason2011.
Science News
Next week on Monday, we will have our big race for the balloon car project. We will also be covering heat transfer and wrapping up our unit on energy, force, and motion. The test will be on Thursday, May 2nd.
Social Studies News
We looked at Cuba this week, and saw how Cuba is today culturally. Next week, we will briefly cover Guatemala and wrap up chapter 8. Look for that test on Wednesday, May 1st.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Week of 4-22-13
Next Thursday, April 25th, the kids will not be in school due to teacher in services. Please plan on your child being home that day. The canoe trip has been officially slated for May 10th. This will be the second Friday of May. Chaperones are asked to be at the school by 8:30, the bus will leave around 9:00, and we should be back by 1:30 p.m. Look for slips to go home with the kids for bus fares next week. We wanted to hold off on charging for the buses until we knew if we needed two of them or just one. It looks like we'll need the two we reserved from the district. Progress reports will go out again on either Monday or Tuesday of next week. One change to the late work policy this quarter is that no copies will be made for missing work. Late work will be accepted, but for half credit except in the event of an absence. The book fair is coming to Marshall! Hopefully you have received information on this already. If not, a second announcement is going home on Friday, April 19th.
Reading News
This week, we looked at making inferences and decoding the meaning of new words using context cues. Students also learned a new method to take notes from informational text. Look for more note taking skills next week! We will also be working on reading test strategies as the students prepare for the second round of District Reading Tests.
Writing News
This week, we worked on the pre write of our persuasive essays. These essays will be five paragraphs long, with introduction and conclusion paragraphs. This week, the students selected from a list of 101 topics, selected an effective opening strategy, and outlined their introductory paragraphs. Next week, we will write the introductory paragraphs and revise them, plus mp out our body paragraphs.
Math News
This week we worked on ratios and started chapter 7. Next week, we will learn how to calculate rate and work on figuring the percentage of a whole number.
Science News
We have completed all of our testing on the prototypes of the balloon cars. Students also went on line this week, selected a balloon car design they intend on building, and delegated who is responsible for which supplies. These supplies need to be in the room by Monday, April 22nd as we will start building the cars next week in time for the big race on Monday, April 29th.
Social Studies News
We are covering the chapter on Central America and the Caribbean. We looked at the cultures of both regions, and compared and contrasted them. Next week, we will look at Cuba and its history, then study Guatemala. In both countries, the United States played an important role in shaping them and their current government systems. Both countries were at one time major exporters of sugar, fruit, and other farm goods.
Reading News
This week, we looked at making inferences and decoding the meaning of new words using context cues. Students also learned a new method to take notes from informational text. Look for more note taking skills next week! We will also be working on reading test strategies as the students prepare for the second round of District Reading Tests.
Writing News
This week, we worked on the pre write of our persuasive essays. These essays will be five paragraphs long, with introduction and conclusion paragraphs. This week, the students selected from a list of 101 topics, selected an effective opening strategy, and outlined their introductory paragraphs. Next week, we will write the introductory paragraphs and revise them, plus mp out our body paragraphs.
Math News
This week we worked on ratios and started chapter 7. Next week, we will learn how to calculate rate and work on figuring the percentage of a whole number.
Science News
We have completed all of our testing on the prototypes of the balloon cars. Students also went on line this week, selected a balloon car design they intend on building, and delegated who is responsible for which supplies. These supplies need to be in the room by Monday, April 22nd as we will start building the cars next week in time for the big race on Monday, April 29th.
Social Studies News
We are covering the chapter on Central America and the Caribbean. We looked at the cultures of both regions, and compared and contrasted them. Next week, we will look at Cuba and its history, then study Guatemala. In both countries, the United States played an important role in shaping them and their current government systems. Both countries were at one time major exporters of sugar, fruit, and other farm goods.
Friday, April 12, 2013
The Week of 4-15-13
On Monday, April 15th, we will be sending home report cards. Also going home with the report cards, will be your conference time for those that signed up. If you receive a report card without a note for conferences and wanted to come to conferences, or if you cannot make the time assigned to you, drop me an e-mail at: scottj@wwcsd.net and I will make arrangements for you. Book Fair is coming up on the last week of April. Students will get a preview of what is available prior to that week. Look for fliers to go home. We have a teacher in service coming also on the last week of April, check the school calendar for specifics about it, and look for fliers to go home reminding you of the day off. Progress reports for fourth quarter are beginning again starting with the first one on Monday, April 15th. The canoe trip is coming up, and we had to change the date to May 10th because I will be in surgery on the 3rd of May, and will be out Monday, May 6th. Sorry for this, I could not get around it. I look forward to seeing you at conferences, and have a great weekend!
Reading News
We are now looking more carefully at character traits, and also locating the author's main idea. A new reading log will go home today, April12th. This was a huge weekly assignment that cost many kids an 'A' in reading. So please be sure your child gets these turned in weekly.
Writing News
This week we looked at homophones, homonyms, and homographs. These are words that are either spelled or sound the same with different meanings. The word 'bat' for instance is a homonym that sounds and is spelled the same but can have 2 different meanings. The words 'red' and 'read' would be homophones that sound the same, spelled differently, and have two different meanings. Look for a new spelling list to come home today, April 15th.
Math News
We just finished chapter 6 this week and will begin chapter 7 on Monday. This will be a challenging chapter as the lessons involve multi step problems that deal with fractions and percents.
S. Studies News
We are beginning our chapter on Central America and the Caribbean. Students will study the countries of Guatemala and Cuba over the course of this chapter.
Science News
We did the second set of tests for our balloon cars. We had to test the different positions the straw for the car could point towards (up, down, or straight) to determine which direction gave the cars the best performance. Next week we will test straws of different widths to see how that factors into a cars ability to go fast/ far.
Reading News
We are now looking more carefully at character traits, and also locating the author's main idea. A new reading log will go home today, April12th. This was a huge weekly assignment that cost many kids an 'A' in reading. So please be sure your child gets these turned in weekly.
Writing News
This week we looked at homophones, homonyms, and homographs. These are words that are either spelled or sound the same with different meanings. The word 'bat' for instance is a homonym that sounds and is spelled the same but can have 2 different meanings. The words 'red' and 'read' would be homophones that sound the same, spelled differently, and have two different meanings. Look for a new spelling list to come home today, April 15th.
Math News
We just finished chapter 6 this week and will begin chapter 7 on Monday. This will be a challenging chapter as the lessons involve multi step problems that deal with fractions and percents.
S. Studies News
We are beginning our chapter on Central America and the Caribbean. Students will study the countries of Guatemala and Cuba over the course of this chapter.
Science News
We did the second set of tests for our balloon cars. We had to test the different positions the straw for the car could point towards (up, down, or straight) to determine which direction gave the cars the best performance. Next week we will test straws of different widths to see how that factors into a cars ability to go fast/ far.
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