TOMORROW IS WOW DAY! WEAR YOUR FAVORITE APPROPRIATE CLOTHES.
This morning we finished studying for the state capitals test. THE TEST IS TOMORROW MORNING.
We reviewed our five words, made spelling ornaments or snowflakes, and worked on capitalizing and punctuating friendly letters, particularly addresses. THE LANGUAGE ARTS TEST IS TOMORROW MORNING.
Johnny Tremain reading is to page 249, just to the end of Section Three. We will (hopefully!) finish the book tomorrow. There will be great cheering! We watched ten more minutes of the movie. The students are following the movie well, in part because we have discussed the book and time period in depth.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE 14. This is a difficult concept. We cut solids on edges today and made nets out of them. Students learned that adjacent edges must match in length. We cut out many nets and folded and shaped them to make 3-dimensional objects: rectangular prisms, triangular prisms, cubes, square pyramids, triangular pyramids, cylinders, etc.
4th Graders enjoyed estimating and measuring magnetic force. We attached a bent paper clip to a magnet and hung paper clips to the magnet until it could no longer bear the weight. Then we recorded the data and tried the experiment with two attached magnets, then three. The results were interesting.
After recess we participated in a Storm Water presentation. Students learned about the water cycle and water villains. We learned that only 1/2 of a percent of the earth's water is truly drinkable. We learned how to keep the gutters free of toxic waste products.
At the end of the day we treated ourselves to Bill Nye the Science Guy - Magnetism.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
December 12th, 2012
This morning we reviewed the 50 state capitals. About half of the class knows them very well. PLEASE PUT YOUR CHILD ONLINE TO "YOUTUBE 50 STATES SONGS" OR 50 STATE CAPITALS ONLINE GAMES. These interactive games are great to get the kids to learn them. The test will be two columns of states, with a line next to each state for the students to write the capitals on. The state capitals will be at the bottom of the page, for students to refer to.
Students tested each other in spelling. In grammar we searched out capitalization and punctuation rules. We also reviewed the five SAT words. I find that students aren't having as much difficulty learning the definitions as they were a few months ago. I try to smatter the words into our daily conversations. OUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEST IS ON FRIDAY!
We continued with Johnny Tremain, which is now nearing the end. We have just one chapter left. Then we watched 15 minutes of Johnny Tremain. HOMEWORK TONIGHT IS FINISHING THE "YANKEE DOODLE" CHAPTER. It is only about 5 book pages. If your child reads it aloud to or with you, comprehension will skyrocket. Be sure your child is enunciating correctly and slowing down. Don't hesitate to tell your child to speak up, sit up, or be clear.
MATH HOMEWORK IS THE CIRCLES TEST. ALSO, STUDENTS SHOULD BRING IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
RECTANGULAR PRISM
TRIANGULAR PRISM
SQUARE PYRAMID
TRIANGULAR PYRAMID
CYLINDER
We are learning about solids and solid nets. We will be "dissecting" the solids on their edges and visualizing what solids look like flat. This is pretty advanced stuff. It helps students grasp 3-D imagery. This will lead into volume.
Lots of interest in Meridian Math Club today. We reviewed rounding and estimating products.
In Writer's Workshop, several students completed their character descriptions. They are being hung under the coat racks downstairs in the common room. Yes, some are a little gory, as we brainstormed them the week of Halloween. I am impressed with the quality of illustrations that the students have worked on. They must match the details of their written work with the accuracy of the illustration. It is not easy.
History was brainstorming puppet play scenes and preferences. The students swapped phone numbers so they can collaborate about their scripts. These will not be due till after the holidays.
Students tested each other in spelling. In grammar we searched out capitalization and punctuation rules. We also reviewed the five SAT words. I find that students aren't having as much difficulty learning the definitions as they were a few months ago. I try to smatter the words into our daily conversations. OUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEST IS ON FRIDAY!
We continued with Johnny Tremain, which is now nearing the end. We have just one chapter left. Then we watched 15 minutes of Johnny Tremain. HOMEWORK TONIGHT IS FINISHING THE "YANKEE DOODLE" CHAPTER. It is only about 5 book pages. If your child reads it aloud to or with you, comprehension will skyrocket. Be sure your child is enunciating correctly and slowing down. Don't hesitate to tell your child to speak up, sit up, or be clear.
MATH HOMEWORK IS THE CIRCLES TEST. ALSO, STUDENTS SHOULD BRING IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
RECTANGULAR PRISM
TRIANGULAR PRISM
SQUARE PYRAMID
TRIANGULAR PYRAMID
CYLINDER
We are learning about solids and solid nets. We will be "dissecting" the solids on their edges and visualizing what solids look like flat. This is pretty advanced stuff. It helps students grasp 3-D imagery. This will lead into volume.
Lots of interest in Meridian Math Club today. We reviewed rounding and estimating products.
In Writer's Workshop, several students completed their character descriptions. They are being hung under the coat racks downstairs in the common room. Yes, some are a little gory, as we brainstormed them the week of Halloween. I am impressed with the quality of illustrations that the students have worked on. They must match the details of their written work with the accuracy of the illustration. It is not easy.
History was brainstorming puppet play scenes and preferences. The students swapped phone numbers so they can collaborate about their scripts. These will not be due till after the holidays.
Monday, December 10, 2012
December 10th, 2012
This morning we completed the fifty state capitals. FOR HOMEWORK THIS WEEK STUDENTS SHOULD BE PRACTICING MEMORIZING THEIR STATE CAPITALS. There will be a test on Friday.
New SAT words for 5th graders are:
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE 10. Today we learned about equilateral, isosceles, and scalene triangles. Students made their own triangles out of straws and paper clips. We had a lot of fun. Also, Meridian Math Club was full today at noon. ANY STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO REDO A MATH TEST NEED TO HAVE IT FINISHED BY NEXT TUESDAY. Next Wednesday the term ends.
For Writer's Workshop students are completing their final illustrations for their character descriptions. They are also typing stories and continue to brainstorm, edit, etc.
In history today we started the scripts for our puppet play. We used the talking stick to generated ideas from everyone. IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOTHES TO SEND TO D.I. OR EXTRA MATERIAL LYING AROUND, WE'D LOVE TO USE IT ON OUR PUPPETS.
New SAT words for 5th graders are:
-
conformist
someone who conforms to established standards of conduct (especially in religious matters) -
the act of converging (coming closer)
-
harmful to living things
-
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices
-
a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern)I was very impressed with the classifying of sentences in our grammar today. Also, STUDENTS SHOULD TYPE OUT THEIR PURPLE 3-POINT PARAGRAPHS AT HOME. THESE ARE DUE THURSDAY.
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXERCISE 10. Today we learned about equilateral, isosceles, and scalene triangles. Students made their own triangles out of straws and paper clips. We had a lot of fun. Also, Meridian Math Club was full today at noon. ANY STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO REDO A MATH TEST NEED TO HAVE IT FINISHED BY NEXT TUESDAY. Next Wednesday the term ends.
For Writer's Workshop students are completing their final illustrations for their character descriptions. They are also typing stories and continue to brainstorm, edit, etc.
In history today we started the scripts for our puppet play. We used the talking stick to generated ideas from everyone. IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOTHES TO SEND TO D.I. OR EXTRA MATERIAL LYING AROUND, WE'D LOVE TO USE IT ON OUR PUPPETS.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
December 7th, 2012
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAY "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" WAS EXCELLENT FRIDAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT, COME TO SCHOOL ON SATURDAY AT 7 P.M. AND WATCH IT. BRING FRIENDS. IT IS WELL WORTH IT, AND LASTS JUST 50 MINUTES.
This morning we started with a discussion of a country capital (Washington, D.C.) and learned four new state capitals:
Charleston, West Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Annapolis, Maryland
Trenton, New Jersey
Students completed Language Arts tests and we all congregated for a Spirit Day assembly.
In Johnny Tremain we read to the end of the section. It was very humbling to learn what happened to British deserters. We are noticing that Johnny is not so proud anymore. HOMEWORK IS TO READ A BOOK OF THEIR CHOICE FOR 30 MINUTES A DAY. Next week we will resume Johnny Tremain.
In math we made posters showing right triangles, acute triangles, and obtuse triangles. On Monday we will learn three other kinds of triangles. It is difficult for the students to draw acute and obtuse triangles. Any help you can give them (pointing out various shapes in the community, giving them scissors, rulers and pencils and having them make an art form out of triangles, etc.) will help. HOMEWORK IS A SEPERATE TEST THAT WAS SENT HOME: UNIT 4; CHAPTER 5A. THERE IS NO HOMEWORK FROM THE WORKBOOK.
We were most fortunate to attend the 12 o'clock showing of "A Christmas Carol". Thank you to the parents who made that possible.
After a lesson about our Circle of Control, from the Covey 7 Habits, we attended mini-courses.
This morning we started with a discussion of a country capital (Washington, D.C.) and learned four new state capitals:
Charleston, West Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Annapolis, Maryland
Trenton, New Jersey
Students completed Language Arts tests and we all congregated for a Spirit Day assembly.
In Johnny Tremain we read to the end of the section. It was very humbling to learn what happened to British deserters. We are noticing that Johnny is not so proud anymore. HOMEWORK IS TO READ A BOOK OF THEIR CHOICE FOR 30 MINUTES A DAY. Next week we will resume Johnny Tremain.
In math we made posters showing right triangles, acute triangles, and obtuse triangles. On Monday we will learn three other kinds of triangles. It is difficult for the students to draw acute and obtuse triangles. Any help you can give them (pointing out various shapes in the community, giving them scissors, rulers and pencils and having them make an art form out of triangles, etc.) will help. HOMEWORK IS A SEPERATE TEST THAT WAS SENT HOME: UNIT 4; CHAPTER 5A. THERE IS NO HOMEWORK FROM THE WORKBOOK.
We were most fortunate to attend the 12 o'clock showing of "A Christmas Carol". Thank you to the parents who made that possible.
After a lesson about our Circle of Control, from the Covey 7 Habits, we attended mini-courses.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
December 6th, 2012
This morning we started with Florida and worked our way around the South. New capitals learned were:
-Tallahassee, Florida
-Atlanta, Georgia
-Montgomery, Alabama
-Jackson, Mississippi
-Columbia, South Carolina
-Raleigh, North Carolina
We review daily the capitals we have learned .
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN MRS.GREER'S CLASS, BE SURE TO RETURN THE BOOKS AND FOLDERS DAILY.
During spelling several students shared their Christmas songs, written with words from their weekly sorts. In grammar we applied capitalization and punctuation rules to a friendly letter and classified sentences. Students were able to critique each others' 3-point paragraphs in preparation for writing a revised version.
JOHNNY TREMAIN READING IS PART IX, THE SCARLET DELUGE, PAGES 186-191.
Math today focused on the word "Quadrilateral". We made creative interpretations of what the word would mean, then learned the true meaning (4-sided figure). Students practiced drawing parallelograms, trapezoids, trapeziums, rhombi, rectangles, squares, etc. HOMEWORK IS ONLY PAGE 140. We will do page 141 in class tomorrow.
4th Graders learned and observed "magnetic field" with iron shavings and magnets. We created our own magnets using iron nails and magnet rubbing. We also reviewed the words repel, attract, and magnetic force, and learned what metals are alloyed to make magnets today (iron, nickel, and cobalt).
5th Graders attended art.
After recess we dramatized the seige of Yorktown in the final chapter of the American Revolution. All students who were wearing red shirts were British troops under General Cornwalis. The shaded are of the field represented the Atlantic Ocean; the sunny side was the colonies. George Washington was in NYC and heard that Genreal Cornwalis had his troops in Yorktown. Based on the geography of the area, GW decided to march 500 miles south, engage the French in keeping the British navy away, and take the British army by surprise. It worked.
We started our puppets. STUDENTS NEED TO FIND OUT EVERYTHING THEY CAN ABOUT THEIR WAR HERO.
TOMORROW IS OUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEST.
We will be attending Capri's stage production at the Hale Center Theater tomorrow at noon.
-Tallahassee, Florida
-Atlanta, Georgia
-Montgomery, Alabama
-Jackson, Mississippi
-Columbia, South Carolina
-Raleigh, North Carolina
We review daily the capitals we have learned .
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN MRS.GREER'S CLASS, BE SURE TO RETURN THE BOOKS AND FOLDERS DAILY.
During spelling several students shared their Christmas songs, written with words from their weekly sorts. In grammar we applied capitalization and punctuation rules to a friendly letter and classified sentences. Students were able to critique each others' 3-point paragraphs in preparation for writing a revised version.
JOHNNY TREMAIN READING IS PART IX, THE SCARLET DELUGE, PAGES 186-191.
Math today focused on the word "Quadrilateral". We made creative interpretations of what the word would mean, then learned the true meaning (4-sided figure). Students practiced drawing parallelograms, trapezoids, trapeziums, rhombi, rectangles, squares, etc. HOMEWORK IS ONLY PAGE 140. We will do page 141 in class tomorrow.
4th Graders learned and observed "magnetic field" with iron shavings and magnets. We created our own magnets using iron nails and magnet rubbing. We also reviewed the words repel, attract, and magnetic force, and learned what metals are alloyed to make magnets today (iron, nickel, and cobalt).
5th Graders attended art.
After recess we dramatized the seige of Yorktown in the final chapter of the American Revolution. All students who were wearing red shirts were British troops under General Cornwalis. The shaded are of the field represented the Atlantic Ocean; the sunny side was the colonies. George Washington was in NYC and heard that Genreal Cornwalis had his troops in Yorktown. Based on the geography of the area, GW decided to march 500 miles south, engage the French in keeping the British navy away, and take the British army by surprise. It worked.
We started our puppets. STUDENTS NEED TO FIND OUT EVERYTHING THEY CAN ABOUT THEIR WAR HERO.
TOMORROW IS OUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEST.
We will be attending Capri's stage production at the Hale Center Theater tomorrow at noon.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
December 4th, 2012
Hi! Sorry for not posting yesterday. We had a busy day, to say the least!
We reviewed many more state capitals, got new SAT and Root Word packets, and Mrs. Greer started teaching her Language Arts class.
Our new spelling activity is to be creative and set our spelling words to a Christmas tune, which can be performed individually, in a group, or collectively on Thursday and Friday. We have been laughing at the emerging results. Some patterns are like tongue twisters!
We continue expository writing with 3-point paragraphs about Favorite Places. We should finish writing them tomorrow, edit them together on Thursday, and students will type and illustrate them to be handed in next week. THE YELLOW -POINT PARAGRAPH ABOUT FAVORITE FOODS IS DUE TOMORROW. PLEASE REFER TO THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH BLOG POST FOR THE EXACT SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ASSIGNMENT.
In grammar, we have moved on to classifying prepositional phrases. We continue to review capitalization and punctuation rules, and tomorrow we will begin parts of a letter.
Johnny Tremain is a long book! But key reasons for reading it are that it complements so well the American Revolution focus of our history theme, the vocabulary is so rich, the story is complex - yet understandable, and students feel such a sense of pride in completing such an advanced and refined piece of literature. It is a Newbery Award book. TONIGHT'S READING IS THROUGH PAGE 181.
We reviewed many more state capitals, got new SAT and Root Word packets, and Mrs. Greer started teaching her Language Arts class.
Our new spelling activity is to be creative and set our spelling words to a Christmas tune, which can be performed individually, in a group, or collectively on Thursday and Friday. We have been laughing at the emerging results. Some patterns are like tongue twisters!
We continue expository writing with 3-point paragraphs about Favorite Places. We should finish writing them tomorrow, edit them together on Thursday, and students will type and illustrate them to be handed in next week. THE YELLOW -POINT PARAGRAPH ABOUT FAVORITE FOODS IS DUE TOMORROW. PLEASE REFER TO THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH BLOG POST FOR THE EXACT SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ASSIGNMENT.
In grammar, we have moved on to classifying prepositional phrases. We continue to review capitalization and punctuation rules, and tomorrow we will begin parts of a letter.
Johnny Tremain is a long book! But key reasons for reading it are that it complements so well the American Revolution focus of our history theme, the vocabulary is so rich, the story is complex - yet understandable, and students feel such a sense of pride in completing such an advanced and refined piece of literature. It is a Newbery Award book. TONIGHT'S READING IS THROUGH PAGE 181.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
November 30th, 2012
This morning was the Language Arts test, after which we attended BYU's "Christmas Around the World". It was incredible. Thank you so much for driving, you wonderful parents!
Students learned about Togo, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Algiers in Cultural Round Table today. The Middle School French class conducted presentations. Particularly funny was the student reaction to food names, such as 'fufu'!
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXCERCISE 4. We did 3-4 more timed multiplication tests, as well as measuring for angles larger than 180 degrees. It is difficult!!! I gave a 'hair' analogy. The angle is the amount of hair on the head. The face can be seen in the part that isn't the angle being measured. If that sounds like Double-Dutch to you, please see me! We found two ways to measure the angles. #1. Measure the non-angle and subtract it from 360 degrees. #2. Measure the amount of the angle that is greater than 180 degrees and add it to 180. Either way, children must measure the angles!
READING HOMEWORK IS COMPLETING THE JOHNNY TREMAIN PACKET TO 155.
Mini-courses followed.
Have the best weekend!
Students learned about Togo, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Algiers in Cultural Round Table today. The Middle School French class conducted presentations. Particularly funny was the student reaction to food names, such as 'fufu'!
MATH HOMEWORK IS EXCERCISE 4. We did 3-4 more timed multiplication tests, as well as measuring for angles larger than 180 degrees. It is difficult!!! I gave a 'hair' analogy. The angle is the amount of hair on the head. The face can be seen in the part that isn't the angle being measured. If that sounds like Double-Dutch to you, please see me! We found two ways to measure the angles. #1. Measure the non-angle and subtract it from 360 degrees. #2. Measure the amount of the angle that is greater than 180 degrees and add it to 180. Either way, children must measure the angles!
READING HOMEWORK IS COMPLETING THE JOHNNY TREMAIN PACKET TO 155.
Mini-courses followed.
Have the best weekend!
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