Ninety-Sixth Day of School

Today we learn about 3 sets of simple machines. Ask us some questions. Simple machines help us accomplish work. For discussion:

• What types of simple machines do you know? (wheel and axle, lever and fulcrum, inclined plane)
• Where might you see a simple machine? 
• How would you use a simple machine to help you do work? 

We are bringing home our world maps today to study for the test. The test is tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 8th (It might say 9th on the map). If anyone feels it would be better to have more time to study for this test, simply respond to this post. We aren't necessarily in any rush to take this test if more time is needed.

We will probably have Topic 13 Math test on Friday.

Reminder: Reading logs are due Thursday. New reading logs will go out on Monday. They will be in a slightly different format to accommodate a county reading contest.

Ninety-Fourth Day of School and Miscellaneous

We are finishing up the last remains of unit 3 and perhaps taking our time because it's all about having fun. We focused for a time on triple consonant blends. We compared and contrasted as a comprehension strategy. We are continuing to work on our practice opinion papers in preparing for the upcoming writing exam. Some students are struggling with writing an opinion.

Parent Conferences are scheduled for next week. Conference forms went home with each student today. Unsatisfactory notices will go out in the next day or 2.

The one hundredth day of school will be on Tuesday, February 5th. We will have our collective "birthday" celebration on this day after lunch. This is our 2nd official opportunity to share treats with classmates for anyone who would like to.

Topic 12 Math test (and possibly the 13th as well) will be discussed at parent conferences as well as district reading battery and Quarterly Math results.

Eighty-Fifth Day of School

Many (not all) students are using their independent time wisely to finish class projects over the past 6 days of school. Today we are bringing home the last stanza of the vowel poem. Five should now be at home for practicing aloud. We combined our knowledge of line, color, and shape to create turtle pictures for our family. Additionally, we have discussed the art element of value as well.

Fluency scores have been posted in the classroom on the fluency chart (above the Star Chart). A fluency score of 45 WPM with comprehension is required for this reporting period.

District Math test scores will be available soon.

Unit 3 Week 4 Preview

We will be discussing how we can be creative and resourceful and likewise how the characters in our selections exhibit these characteristics and what it is that inspires them. Our vocabulary words for this week are create, hobby, inspire, resourceful, structure. Among our selections this week is a fantasy by Harry Horse called A Friend for Little Bear, in which a resourceful toy bear learns the importance of friends over collecting possessions. Another selection is Karen Lynn Williams' story Galimoto about a resourceful child in Africa who has to make his own toys from found objects.

Our comprehension strategy will be making inferences in order to draw conclusions, our comprehension skill. Our sight words will be after done, find, old, new, work.

We will continue with final silent 'e' long vowel spellings for the remaining vowels along with open syllable long vowels as well as the remaining stanza of our vowel poem.
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In Visual Arts we will learn 3 new fundamental elements for a total of now 4 of 7.

Eighty-Third Day of School

Due to testing and lesson complexity, we will be taking our time with lesson 12-4. No homework needs to be returned tomorrow.

We took the District Quarterly Math Exam today. Next week we will take the midyear reading battery.

Home Project

For social studies we have been working on neighborhood maps. At this point in the year I like to suggest that parents direct students to a mapping program (Google Maps) on the Internet and locate their home's satellite photograph. Magnify the view to approximately 100ft/inch. Size to show their block and a portion of surrounding blocks. Have your child make a simple map (a sample is available in the classroom) with legend (key) under your direction but in their hand. On your child's map, buildings could be shown as simple rectangles. Print a view of the satellite picture (preferably w/o address and real estate information, which can be blackened out if necessary) and attach to the hand-drawn map and send with your child to class.

Eighty-First Day of School

Please send notes collected with your child to school. If you have already done so, Mr. B is probably aware of this and thank you.

Eightieth Day of School

Today most students were quite successful differentiating between fact and opinion and stating an opinion. We discussed the difference between expressing a preference (I like popcorn) and stating an opinion (Popcorn tastes great). Many students were able to substantiate their opinion with evidence or facts using a Circle Map.

In Visual Art we explored our immediate outside environment looking for instances of line. We then replicated and labeled what we observed in our Visual Art notebooks.

It is good to see more students bringing in their flash drives. One student even received his drive from Santa Mouse! What a great gift! Several students received Star Chart credit for completing a digital project.

Preview Unit 3 Week 3

This week our literature focus will be different types of art. We will take a brief look at art from other nations. Our vocabulary words are astonishing, complicated, continue, original, talented. Our high-frequency words will be every, from, into, people, soon, your.

We will begin preparing for our District writing exam by learning how to express and support an opinion with evidence.

In Science we will continue with matter and begin our study of air and it's affect on weather.

We will spell with the digraphs: ch, -tch, wh, and ph.

In Social Studies we will again compare the past with the present and examine the flag as a national symbol. We will also begin our study of the world map to learn the continents and oceans.

When choosing literature for reading practice at home, keep in mind that children will be tested on material without any illustrative support, only text, both in fiction and non-fiction.

Topic 11 Test

With an adjusted passing score of 17, 21 out of 22 students taking the test passed. There were 3 perfect scores of 30. The modal score was 28. Fourteen students scored above 24.

The 2nd District Quarterly Math Exam is scheduled for the week we return to school. Students will identify shapes and geometric solids; tell time to the nearest half hour; and identify, continue, and create patterns with numbers, letters, and shapes.