Weekly Gazette (Feb. 23-Feb. 27)

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are finished with our unit on measurement. For the next two weeks, we focus on subtraction, estimating, and place value up to 1,000.

Reading-We continue with cause and effect. Our primary text this week is Machines in Our Everyday Lives (non-fiction text).

Science-We continue with learning about the six simple machines.

Writing-We continue focusing on the Ideas trait. Students are learning to use ideas from books to help in their writing. Also, we focus on adding more details to help the writer visualize our thoughts. We continue with cursive writing.

Word Wall words: We are reviewing past words this week.

Tests and Quizzes this Week

• Measurement quiz on Friday, February 27th. Study guide will go home tomorrow.

• Simple machines quiz Thursday, February 26th. Students may prepare for the quiz by reading pages 314-317 in science textbook.

• Reading quiz on cause and effect Thursday, February 26th. Study guide is in your child's homework folder today.

Reminders

• Color's Day this Friday, February 27th for five (5) lempiras
• Graded papers go home this Thursday.
• Mardi Gras party tomorrow!, February 24th :) 

Weekly Gazette (Week of Feb.16-Feb.20)

What is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are almost finished with our unit on measurement. This week, we are exploring cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. Next week, we will prepare a delicious recipe in the Science Fair using these measurements! :)

Reading-We are integrating reading with science for the next two weeks. We are learning cause and effect (related to simple machines) and will be reviewing main idea/summarizing using non-fiction text.

Writing-For the next six weeks, we are exploring writing through the Six Traits: conventions, ideas, voice, sentence fluency, organization, and word choice. For the next two weeks, we will focus on ideas. Students will focus on adding more descriptive details to their writing and focusing on one main idea/topic. We will also explore creative writing! Rubrics will be sent home as we study in depth each trait. We continue with cursive writing.

Science-We continue with force and motion. This week, students will be introduced to the six simple machines: wheel & axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, screw, and lever. During the next two weeks, students will participate in various experiments related to this theme to faciliate deeper learning of the concept.

Word Wall words for the week: can't, caught, could, found, it's (focus is contractions and irregular past tense).

Reminders

• Progress reports will be distributed Tuesday, February 17th. Progress reports are distributed only to students achieving significantly below standards or minimally approaching standards. Students may also receive a report based on social concerns.


• Spanish Spelling Bee is Wednesday, February 18th from 8:30 to 9:50 a.m.


• Please write to me requesting a conference if you are concerned about your child's Plato scores or any other areas.

Tests & Quizzes This Week

• Subtraction timed quiz this week. (Friday, February 20th). Parents, your child needs to study. This is so important. In about a eight weeks, we will begin three digit addition and subtraction. If your child isn't succeeding in the basic facts, they will continue to struggle in the other areas.

Weekly Gazette (Week of Feb.9- Feb. 13)

What Is My Child Learning This Week?

Math-We are reviewing inches, feet, and temperature. Students will explore measuring liquids using a cup, pint, liter, and gallon.

Writing- For the next two weeks, students will learn how to evaluate writing pieces using the Six Traits writing program rubrics. The traits include Ideas, Word Choice, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Organization. Students will learn that a good piece of writing includes all six traits. Everyday for the next two weeks, students will be freewriting (writing independently) using their own topics. Using the Six Traits rubrics, students will evaulate their daily writing and the writing of their peers. We continue with cursive writing this week.

Reading- We continue learning about the tradition of Mardi Gras. We will focus on interactive editing/main idea with the Mardi Gras nonfiction story. In addition, students will learn how to ask good questions from a piece of text using the 5 Ws + 1(who, what, when, where, why, how).

Science-Science Fair is this week! I hope that you received an invitation. In addition to Science Fair, we begin our unit on Force and Motion.

Word Wall Words for this week: rain, their, there, they're, very

Grammar Lesson: irregular past tense verbs

Tests and Quizzes for This Week

• No subtraction timed test this week!


• Mardi Gras comprehension quiz on Wednesday, February 11th. Study guide is in your child's homework folder.


• Mardi Gras vocabulary quiz on Tuesday, February 10th. Study guide is in your child's homework folder.


• Math quiz on measurement (inches and feet) this Thursday, February 12th. The study guide is your child's homework folder. The study guide is homework for tonight.


• Students will have two graded writing prompts this week.

Reminders

• Early dismissal is this Thursday, February 12th at 1:00 pm. Please make proper transportation arrangements.


• NO SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH. (Winter Break holiday!)


• Valentine's Day party is this Thursday at 12:15. Students may bring cards and/or treats to pass out to their classmates.


• Please sign and return graded papers after reviewing them with your child. Thanks! :)

Weekly Gazette (Feb.2-Feb.6)

What Is My Child Learning This Week?

math-double-digit subtraction with borrowing

reading-We are taking a break from Magic Tree House for the next two weeks. We are reading about the Louisiana holiday of Mardi Gras. Skills we will cover are cause/effect, main idea/summarization, locating information in a text, visualization, character traits, and vocabulary.  We are reading from two texts, one fiction and the other non-fiction. 

writing-Students are learning how to evaluate writing samples. We are using the rating scale A+, A, A-, and B. This helps them to evaluate their own work. We continue with cursive writing.

science-force and motion; students are also learning how to present information to an audience in preparation for the science fair!

Tests/Quizzes

• Subtraction timed quiz on Friday, Feb. 6.
• Science quiz on the scientific process on Thursday, Feb. 5. Students have to describe the steps of the scientific process. Study guide is in your child's homework folder. 
• Cursive writing quiz Thursday, Feb. 5. We have learned the letters l, h, k, i, u, t, and e. Students need to practice these letters in preparation for the quiz.

Reminders

• Science Fair is next week! Invitations coming soon! :0)
• Field Trip to Chiminike is tomorrow, Feb. 4th from 9 to 11 am. Please have your child bring a snack/breakfast to school; they will be allowed to eat before the field trip @ about 8:30 because they will miss recess. Students may also bring money to purchase food items at Chiminike.