November 7th, 2012

This morning found us speed reading Level S for one minute sprints.  Students will be graphing their success on Friday.

5th Graders need to memorize the following vocabulary words and their definitions:
abate: become less in amount or intensity
abdicate: give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
abberation: a state or condition markedly different from the norm
abstain: choose not to consume
adversity: a state of misfortune or affliction
THE ABOVE WORDS WILL BE TESTED ON FRIDAY MORNING.  STUDENTS HAVE HAD SINCE MONDAY TO MEMORIZE THEM.

4th Graders continue to work on their Root Word packets.  THERE WILL BE A TEST ON THESE WORDS NEXT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH.

Spelling and Testing worked well today.  Students should be finishing off their spelling word stories.  Requirements are 15 words, must make sense, and a title, picture and their name.THESE SPELLING STORIES ARE ALSO DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH.

Reading groups were formed today.  Students' names were drawn to be visualizor, predictor, sequencer, fix-upper, questioner, and vocabularist for each group.  Students were given reading Part II of Johnny Tremain and teaching each other the above concepts for the selection.  THE READING (PAGES 25-42) NEEDS TO BE FINISHED BY MONDAY MORNING.  Students will review and prepare visual aides on Monday to help them teach the concepts on Tuesday.

Math focused on dividing odd numbers.  We reviewed division steps. 1. Divide 2. Multiply 3. Subtract 4. Compare 5. Bring Down 6 Write the remainder as a fraction.  A new concept was drawing the improper fraction as a picture.  It took a while, but really clicked.  HOMEWORK IS UNIT 3:CHAPTER 4:TEST A.  We did Exercise 11 in class.  It would be helpful if your child were to create equal groups of items in the kitchen or bathroom, laundry, etc.  We will be working with fractions of a set beginning tomorrow, e.g., 1/3 of 15 = 5.

If your child doesn't have a library card, please visit the library this weekend.  And, it really helps kids out if you read to them each night.  (My dad used to read aloud to us over the breakfast table, and we didn't want to leave for school in the morning.  We wanted to see what was going to happen next!)  Ask your child what he is really interested in, and get the librarian to help select an appropriate book.  Or, get a list of the classics and read aloud to your child.  Stop and explain and discuss things once in a while.  Let your child form his or her own opinion about the plot, character development, problem solving, etc.  HAVE YOUR CHILD BRING A BOOK TO SCHOOL THAT THEY WANT TO READ DURING S.I.R. TIME  MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS.

Writer's Workshop continued at top-rate today.  Students described hair and clothing in their short character descriptions.  We will be describing movement next, then speech.  These snippets are fun to read.  A few students will be bringing their books home to complete illustrations.

History was totally hands-on today.  We learned about type for printing presses.  Iver was most helpful.  He explained the steel tips of the type and the backwards lettering.  He will bring in a sample tomorrow.  The students got to create their own potato letter, backwards and raised.  Tomorrow we will create messages using paint and butcher paper.  FOR HOMEWORK STUDENTS SHOULD READ THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE "QUARREL" SHEET.  STUDY IT HARD!!!  We will play Around the World tomorow and each participant will get a prize!

Thanks.  It was a good day.