Week of February 3rd

Week of February 3rd

REMEMBER:
   2 HOUR DELAY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH
   WE DO HAVE SCHOOL FEBRUARY 27TH- (Previously a break day)

  *Homework this weekend-  
Math- Workbook Pg 95 and 96 (all)  
Social Studies- some students have to complete a pamphlet. I told them to be sure they had the social studies book and the pamphlet in their backpacks for this.
This is in their planners.
Reading: Read every day and:

  February Book Project- Focus on Character (DUE MARCH 3)
This assignment has a technology component. As some students do not have access to this at home, some time will be given in class for this part. 
 Students should have a book chosen (fiction) and begin reading. I went over the assignment and took questions. I will discuss it each week and it's on planners as an ongoing assignment. At the bottom of the blog I copy and pasted the assignment. You'll also see it as an attachment on email. Students have the assignment and rubric (on the reverse side of their assignment page)
  Some students do not have access to technology at home so I will give a couple days at the end of the month for some in-class work time. I told the kids that they should have everything written out and prepared to complete the tech part of the project if they need time in class.

MATH:   

     We continue in our Multiplication of Whole Numbers and Decimals. We have been  multiplying larger whole numbers such as 456 x 34 and also decimal numbers such as 4.56 x 2.3 as well as multiplying with zeroes in the decimal such as 3.34 x .04. We have been reviewing how to place the decimal correctly in an answer. Part of our discussion is predicting whether our answers will be larger or smaller and why. For instance, $4.48 x .5 is going to be smaller because we are looking at 1/2 of $4.48. This is an important part of understanding decimals beyond just knowing the algorithm!
   We have been multiplying by powers of 10 with exponents. We will continue to work on both of these concepts, problem-solving and reviewing other past concepts as we have been daily. I'm expecting the test for this to be early the week of the 16th. I will let you know.


Delta Math Tests- 
 Several students brought home a packet to review concepts they need to continue to practice at home and school. These are to be turned in to me on Monday for a check in. There was a note attached to the front about them not having to be completed, just show that some work has been done.

READING:
We began our next genre unit novel at the end of the week. It revolves around the theme of facing challenges. We will be reading and discussing the novel as a class and in pairs. Our read aloud is Echohawk and relates to social studies and the genre unit book. We read a lot about how they have morning corn and eat corn cakes, corn pudding, corn mush, and parched corn. I brought in some cornbread on Friday and this was a hit with most kids! 
 
WRITING:                                                                                                                                       
  Students began a short story focusing on sentence fluency, simile/metaphor, prepositional phrases, and Onomatopeia (sound words). We have done some mini-lessons about these concepts. Students have an assignment page that includes a checklist of exactly what they will do, what standards they will be graded on, and graphic organizers to refer to about the concepts listed above. We will continue to work on using commas and comma rules, using quotation marks, and parts of speech.

SCIENCE:
We reviewed the moon phases and the reason why we have these. We began discussing the solar and lunar eclipses. We will finish this and add in information about the tides next week.


Spelling 
Students will take the Lesson 17 Spelling Test on Friday. The skill was lesson making plural words. 
  Next week's skill is comparatives and superlatives. (greater/greatest)
  I have been sending the spelling list home each Monday. I have been talking with the class about the fact that even though we don't take the word test anymore, those words come up in the skills and proofreading parts of the test. Knowing how to spell these words will be very helpful!

February Book Project

We are focusing on characterization this month. You will complete a project that explains details about the qualities/characteristics of your main character.

How to present the project:

1)     This project must be completed on an iPad or computer

2)    You may choose from the following presentation ideas

            *Prezi, ,     *Go Animate,    * Your idea

        *Popplet,     *iMovie,         *Google presentation

3)    Email or share the project to me

·      Be sure to choose a format that you know how to use unless you are willing to learn something new at home.

My presentation will be ________________________________

Project Minimum Requirements

(If you check these off as you complete them, you’ll know you have  everything you need!)

____ Book title and author

____ Your name

____ A picture of the character- Your creation or a picture from the book

____ 6 adjectives (describing words) that describe his/her personality

             Use your character traits list!

 ____ 4 MAJOR events from the character’s life.

 ____ The character’s major accomplishment

 ____ A line of dialogue that the person said OR might say

 ____ Write a question you would ask the character if you met him/her.

 ____ What do you like most about this person?

 ____ Who in your life is like this person?