Reading: We continued reading our new novel, Frozen Stiff, and the kids are loving the action. It is a realistic fiction novel about two kids who go on a (what started as a) two day adventure into Alaska's Hubbard Glacier without their parents knowing. We also took two assessments, the first was an open-book Shiloh summary from Marty's perspective, and the second was an open-book assessment comparing "The Cyclone" and "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," which we read last week. Ask your child about his/ her November reading goals. What is the goal? Have they worked toward accomplishing it? How can you help?
Writing: The kids finished typing their final drafts this week. They learned a lot of new Google Doc skills along the way, like starting and saving a new document, sharing it with others, making and responding to comments, and changing the fonts/ colors. We will go through one final round of editing, particularly for punctuation, capital letters, and paragraphs, as this is a skill that is needs a lot of work this year! Stay tuned for new published work on our first floor "wall!" Ask your kids what revisions they made, based on your feedback as well as mine and their peers. What skill are they strong at? What do they need work at?
Spelling: Your students should practice their list of words throughout the week by using the suggested activities listed on their yellow sheet (taped into their take-home folder and also linked to our blog and on our homework site) or by playing games on Spelling City. After they've practiced, they take their test online. They must submit their passing spelling test (80%, or 12/15) by Friday by taking a screenshot of their test and emailing it to me (directions on the yellow sheet). Ask your child to show you the Spelling City website where they access their list, play games, and take their test.
Math: This week learned many different ways to find the product of a multiplication problem. We learned how to use area to solve the problem, partial product algorithm, and we learned the standard algorithm. We will continue going over them next week and after Thanksgiving so we fully understand all three algorithms. Students will then be able to choose which way they would like to use when they solve multiplication problems. Ask your student to show you how to solve 315x5 by using both the partial product and traditional algorithm.
Social Studies: This week we continued our road trip to the Northeast. Students have researched and a little about the Northeast. We will be continuing our Northeast study after the Thanksgiving Break. Feel free to send in pictures or artifacts from your house if you have anything from vacations or if you lived in the Northeast. Ask your child to show you their booklet in iBooks.
Science: Our scientists should have finished their science project this week! We had two more class sessions to work on them. We then uploaded our projects today to Edmodo so Mrs. Weiss and Mrs. Roskos can see them. We will start to share our presentations next week! Ask your child to see their science project!
Mystery Reader: We had a great time on Monday with Sonja's mom! She read us a fun story that was a little scary too! Everyone enjoyed it.
Miscellaneous:
- If you haven't already, please sign and return the student release form for Mrs. Roskos's National Board certification. If you are not comfortable doing so, that's ok too, please let me know!
- Save the date for late January! One Book One School is back! Our PTO generously helps us coordinate this awesome whole-school novel each year and we'll be starting to take donations at the Book Fair during conferences. Please consider donating. More info to come about our book!
- The Whittier Girl Scout Troop 40908 is hosting a collection box for Kids’ Kloset, which collects and distributes sturdy, gently used, clean, cold weather children’s clothes. They will accept clothing with no holes or large stains, including outerwear, backpacks and footwear. Also, new underwear and socks are accepted. Please check your closets for extras and outgrown items. Bring them to the donation box in the Whittier Lobby BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4.
