Week of November 24 - 28, 2014

Friday HW
1.  Our Warren Park trip takes place next week on Thursday, December 4, within the school day.
2.  We began work on our human body illness research project today.  I suggested to students that they pair up with a research buddy to share ideas if they are doing a similar topic, but the students will each produce a personal report and be evaluated individually.

Wednesday HW
1.  Warren Park trip form and fee.  The trip is on December 4.
2.  Select a human illness that you would be interested in researching for our final Human Body activity of the unit.  Some suggestions and the expected structure are in the booklet on page 22.  We are only at the topic selection stage.  Research will continue in class on Friday.  Some research is expected to be done at home through a Public Library visit or internet search.  Today we finished information gathering on the invention affecting a human body system.  We will be writing a judgement on it next class.

For absent students:

• Morning -- we started Lesson 5 in Geometry unit:  drawing triangles with a ruler and protractor.  Practice was on pages 92, #1.  We spent time reinforcing the use of a sketch as a first step before using the precise tools.  This is a natural progression to the emphasis on estimation that occurred in earlier units this year, with the addition of using "benchmark" angles (90 degrees, 45 degrees) that we confirm visually to help create and confirm guesses.
• Morning - we introduced the reading goals for the novel studies for each group.  Students have 7 days to reach each page amount, which can de done in Language classes, at DEAR times and at recess.  The novels will not be sent home due to concerns over loss and damage.
• The afternoon was spent with the computer cart.

N.B.: Absent students should expect to spend at least one recess indoors the next day to catch up.

Tuesday HW
1.  Warren Park trip form and fee.  The trip is on December 4.
2.  Journal:  "Compare your memory of the "If I Can" motivational speaker we listened to in the Library last week to Auggie's experiences in the novel "Wonder" that we are reading as a class read-aloud.
3.  Select a human illness that you would be interested in researching for our final Human Body activity of the unit.  Some suggestions and the expected structure are in the booklet on page 22.  We are only at the topic selection stage.  Research will be beginning in class on Wednesday and Friday.  Some research is expected to be done at home through a Public Library visit or internet search.

Monday HW:
1.  Warren Park trip form and fee.  The trip is on December 4.
2.  Geometry Quiz tomorrow on Unit 3, Lessons 1,2 and 4.
3.  We worked on MMS HW lesson 3.4 today in class.  It would be a good way to study for the quiz.
Last week five students stayed for HW club after school. Today four students stayed.  we worked on Math, Spelling and board practice on Multiplication and Long Division.

Week of November 17 - 21, 2014

Wednesday HW
1.  Geometry Quiz on Unit 3, Lessons 1,2 and 4 on Monday, November 24.
2.  Novel Study book cover due tomorrow.  The students have had three class times to work on it and each group received direction and modeling.  White, undeveloped spaces should be minimal.
3.  Geometry set is recommended for purchase for home use and in class.  I can provide materials but these are limited in supply and condition.
4.  Warren Park trip on December 4, all day.  The forms were handed out today.  Please return them with a completed permission form (yes or no) and the fee of $7.50 (cash, exact change please) if your child is attending.  I would like three parent volunteers if possible.

Tuesday HW
1.  MMS HW book, Unit 3, Lesson 2.  We spent a fair amount of time modeling the protractor use and practicing with it. Parents should consider the purchase of a small Math set (compass, short ruler, triangular rulers -- all transparent).
2.  Winter is here.  Students should have a pair of indoor shoes at school each day.  We use the carpet regularly and wet boots do not help maintain comfortable seating.  Thank you for your assistance.
3.  Spelling Text -- page 15 # 1 and 2.
4.  Warren Park trip on December 4, all day.  The forms were handed out today.  Please return them with a completed permission form (yes or no) and the fee of $7.50 (cash, exact change please) if your child is attending.  I would like three parent volunteers if possible.

Monday HW
1.  MMS HW book, Unit 3, Lesson 1.  We have introduced vocabulary (equilateral, isosceles, scalene, polygon, a variety of polygon names, hatch marks) for three Math periods to start this unit on the right foot.
2.  Parents should consider the purchase of a small Math set (compass, short ruler, triangular rulers -- all transparent) for our Geometry unit.  I can provide the materials, but they tend not to be clear and are often scuffed up.
3.  Winter is here.  Students should have a pair of indoor shoes at school each day.  We use the carpet regularly and wet boots do not help maintain comfortable seating.  Thank you for your assistance.
4.  Spelling Text -- page 13 # 1, 3, and 4; page 14 # 5,6,8, and 9.   Although this appears to be many questions for one evening, students had a 45 minute period to start it.  If your child has not started, this may seem to be a heavy workload.  This was independent work while I monitored small reading groups at the carpet over the previous four school days.

Week of November 10 - 14, 2014

Tuesday HW
1.  Library period tomorrow.
2.  Photo retakes are tomorrow in the North gym.  We will be summoned by a runner.
As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, my guess was confirmed about retakes: "Students who will be retaking their photos should have their proof with them to hand to the photographer."
3.  Book Report reading.  The next report is due on December 10.

Monday HW
1.  Reports went home today.  Please review your interview time and return the envelope with your signature on it.  The report itself is yours to retain. Friday is a PA day, with interviews in the morning, so there is no school for the children that day.
2.  Book Report reading.  The next report is due on December 10.
3.  Picture retakes are on November 12.
(In the past, students were asked to return the unused proof to the photographer when the retake was done for recording keeping.  This hasn't been asked of us this year and may not be a required step.  I haven't received a definitive answer about this so that is the best information I have to offer.)

Week of November 3 - 7, 2014

Friday HW
1.  Show interview confirmations.  There was a lot of demand for a couple of time periods.  I did my best to get parents as close to their preferred times as possible.  Interviews are 10 or 15 minutes based on progress.
2.  Candy wrappers for Green Team portrait.
3.  Photo orders returned.  Retakes on November 12.

Thursday HW
1.  Interview request forms were distributed Tuesday.  24 have been returned.  Slots are filling up. Please return your request as soon as possible.
2.  Photo proofs were returned Tuesday.  5 were returned.  At this time, retakes are scheduled for November 12, which could change.  I will update if it does.
3.  For Science:  think of an invention that affects the human body, such as the Fitbit, the Zag shoe or tanning beds.  Have at least three possible topics you could investigate.

Wednesday HW
1.  Quiz tomorrow on Patterning, Unit 1 Lessons 3 and 4.
2.  Return signed and corrected test packs by Thursday, November 6.
3.  Interview request forms were distributed yesterday.  14 have been returned.  Slots are filling up. Please return your request as soon as possible.
4.  Photo proofs were returned yesterday.  2 were returned.  At this time, retakes are scheduled for November 12, which could change.  I will update if it does.

Tuesday HW
1.  Quiz on Thursday November 6 on patterning, Unit 1 Lessons 3 and 4.
2.  Return signed and corrected test packs by Thursday, November 6.
3.  Interview request forms were distributed today.  Please return your request as soon as possible.
4.  Photo proofs were returned today.  At this time retakes are scheduled for November 12, which could change.  I will update if it does.