January 30, 2012- Weekly Reminders

Wow! I can't believe that January is coming to a close! February means that the FCAT Writing test is ALMOST here!

Weekly Spelling Words: This week's words have a root word plus a suffix. There are no spelling changes to add the suffix. All you do is spell the root word and add the suffix to the end.

1. locality

2. oddity

3. humidity

4. finality

5. priceless

6. flavorless

7. needless

8. lifeless

9. actor

10. editor

11. collector

12. inspector

13. normal

14. digital

15. critical

16. national

17. briskly

18. jointly

19. properly

20. vividly

CHALLENGE WORDS:

21. governor

22. certainly

23. entirely

READING- This week we are beginning our new unit: Science Fair. All of the stories in this unit deal with scientists and the scientific method. We will be conducting several experiments in class and I know that the kids will really enjoy it.

WRITING- We are moving back to an Expository this week. (writing to explain). Since we are so close to FCAT Writing, and we don't know what type of prompt they will receive, we have to be sure that they are proficient in both types and are able to tell the difference. Monday will start with a pretest, and then we will work on editing those all week and take a post-test on Friday.

MATH- We are continuing with Patterns, Input/Output tables, and double digit multiplication. Be sure that you are reviewing basic facts with your child each night. This is so important!!!

MONDAY- Homework packets are sent home. Today is the last day to comment on the blog for JANUARY'S drawing. The comments have to be on the weekly posts, have to say your child's first name, and tell me what they did on the website.

TUESDAY- Blended Lives Field Trip. We will leave at 9:30 and return at 1:30. Be sure that your child wears jeans and brings a jacket.

WEDNESDAY- Wednesday folders go home. Blue Pop money is due!!!

THURSDAY- Wednesday folders should be returned.

FRIDAY- Spelling Test; AR Test, Reading test, Expository Post-test, Blue Pop Day- homework packets are due!!!

January 23, 2012- Weekly Reminders

WEEKLY SPELLING WORDS- This week is a REVIEW week for spelling. There are 15 words, and 3 challenge words. The first 15 words review each lesson we have done in this unit, with 3 words per lesson:

Lesson 1- HOMOPHONES- These are words that have the same sound, but different spelling and different meanings. The students have to listen to the words in the sentence in order to determine the correct spelling.

1. higher

2. would

3. phrase

Lesson 2- HOMONYMS- These are words that sound the same, are spelled the same, but have different meanings.

4. pitcher

5. hamper

6. concentrate

Lesson 3- COMPARATIVES- These words compare two things.

7. cloudier

8. scarier

9. quieter

Lesson 4- SUPERLATIVES- These words compare 3 or more things, and describe one of these to the HIGHEST degree. 

10. gloomiest

11. narrowest

12. scarcest

Lesson 5- CONTRACTIONS- These words are formed by putting 2 words together by taking out 1 or more letters and putting an apostrophe in for the missing letters.

13. don't

14. weren't

15. would've

CHALLENGE WORDS: 

16. tremendous

17. gigantic

18. delicious

READING- This week we are learning all about Florida's Role in the Civil War, and the Reconstruction that took place after the Civil War ended. While learning all about this important time in our history, we are working on reading strategies, too! We are learning all of this in preparation for our Blended Lives Field Trip on January 31st. Please look for more information on this field trip in your child's Wednesday folder this week.

WRITING- Our focus this week has switched back to a Narrative- writing to tell a story. The students need to plan their writing around a BIG MOMENT, and only tell about what happened JUST BEFORE their big moment, and JUST AFTER their big moment. They will take an assessment on Friday.

MATH- We are continuing our work on patterns, equations, and expressions. 

Monday- Homework packets are sent home; Narrative writing pretest

Tuesday- no announcements

Wednesday- Wednesday folders will be sent home with grade reports, field trip info., an important survey, and any report cards that have not yet been picked up. Please be sure to look through your child's work and discuss it with them. Sign any paperwork that needs to be sent back, sign the folder, and return it on THURSDAY.

Thursday- no announcements at this time

Friday- Homework packets are due; Spelling Test; AR Tests should be taken; Multiplication Quiz, Narrative writing assessment

We are getting down to the wire for the FCAT Writing Test. Please contact me ASAP to discuss your child's progress in writing, and I will be happy to meet with you to give you some strategies to work on at home. Thanks for all you do!!!

January 16, 2012- Weekly Reminders

Weekly Spelling Words: This week's words are contractions. A contraction is the shortened form of two words. It is formed by combining two words and leaving out one or more letters. It includes an apostrophe to show where the letter or letters have been left out. (Ex: I am- I'm)


I'm
don't
he'll
weren't
it's
can't
hasn't
we'll
we're
she's
we'd
o'clock
you'd
they'd
I'll
won't
isn't
wasn't
that's
we've

CHALLENGE WORDS:
would've
doesn't

Reading- This week's story is on Abraham Lincoln. It is a biography that tells the story of his life from birth. Most notably, this story discusses how Abraham Lincoln changed America through the Emancipation Proclamation- ending slavery.

Writing- We continue our work on Expository Writing. Students will take a timed test on Tuesday, and the rest of the week we will work on editing and improving it.

Math- This week we will continue on our two digit by two digit, and three digit by two digit multiplication. We are also going over another benchmark that deals with finding the pattern to fill in a chart.

Monday- NO SCHOOL- Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Tuesday- Honor roll Assembly; Homework packets will be sent home; Writing Assessment; Math Benchmark MA4A41 Pretest

Wednesday- Wednesday folders and grade reports will be sent home.

Thursday- Reading Assessment

Friday- AR Test, homework packets are due, Spelling Test. St. Augustine payment is due!!!!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 

The 2nd payment of $20 for the St. Augustine is due this Friday, January 20th. Please send cash or money orders ONLY. 

Also, if you were not able to attend report card pick-up, please contact me so that we can set up a time for you to pick up your child's report card and discuss his/her progress. 

THANK YOU! :-)

Report Card Pick Up

This is just a friendly reminder that Report Card Pick Up is TONIGHT- January 12, 2012 from 3:30-5:30 and 6:00-7:00. I am looking forward to seeing everyone! 

Change for Monday's Homework

The students will not have a writing prompt to complete at home this week. Instead, I have sent home a Similes worksheet that needs to be completed and turned in TOMORROW. Your child should also have come home with his/her homework packet to be completed each night and turned in Friday.
Please call or email me with any questions!
Thanks!

January 9, 2012- Weekly Reminders

Weekly Spelling Words- This week's words are superlative adjectives. A superlative adjective compares three or more nouns and describes the noun to the highest degree. EX: July 8th was the hottest day of the summer. In this sentence, no other day during the summer was hotter than July 8th.

hottest

neatest

fullest

oldest

bravest

sweetest

brightest

fondest

clumsiest

dearest

sharpest

gentlest

smoothest

gloomiest

narrowest

fittest

heaviest

noblest

fanciest

CHALLENGE WORDS:

friendliest

scarcest

Reading- This week we are reading A Covered Wagon Girl: The Diary of Sallie Hester. This story is a series of diary entries written by Hester as she and her family traveled by wagon train West in search of gold. The assessment for this test will be on Thursday.

Writing- We are continuing our work on Expository writing. We are working on an essay to explain something we enjoyed over Winter Break, and 2 reasons why we enjoyed it. Our writing assessment will be on Thursday.

Math- We are reviewing word problems that deal with multiplication and division concepts. This benchmark will be tested on FCAT. It is important that your child knows how to multiply two-digit by two-digit number.

Monday- P.E. Day- Don't forget your sneakers!!! Homework packet sent home.  Writing homework- Plan and Introduction- due TUESDAY!

Tuesday- Writing homework- 2nd paragraph- due WEDNESDAY

Wednesday- Writing homework- 3rd paragraph and conclusion- due THURSDAY. Wednesday folders sent home. Please review the work and return the folder SIGNED on Thursday.

Thursday- Report Card Pick-Up from 3:30-5:30 and 6:00-7:00. I hope to see you there!!! Reading and Writing Assessments.

Friday- Homework packet is due completed and signed; Spelling Test; AR Test; Fun Friday

Welcome Back!!!

I am so excited to see what this year has in store!!! Since this is such a short week, I will resume with the Weekly Reminder posts and extra credit on Monday, January 9th!