This quarter has been a whirlwind, and the semester is nearly through! Your child has memorized poems, written descriptive, narrative, and persuasive essays, conquered fractions and geometry, and taken charge of note-taking and presentations in history. I can't wait to continue our learning in January.
In math this week, students will take their final two tests of the year. These tests are cumulative, covering units 1-5. On Monday, students will work in groups while taking a multiple choice test, and on Tuesday, students will work individually to complete the final test.
This week in science, students will conclude their lab with Ms. Chaudhury and review the parts of the cell in preparation for our plant cells unit that will begin next quarter.
On Tuesday, students' poetry packets are due. We have worked on these in class, and I have been impressed with their ability to identify rhyme schemes, rhythm, and poetic devices, as well as creating their own! Also on Tuesday, students will recite the poem "The Snowstorm" and take their final roots test over roots 26-50.
On Wednesday, we will clean out our desks and the room and celebrate the end of the quarter with a Where the Red Fern Grows party. Please note that we will be watching the movie Where the Red Fern Grows. If your child is uncomfortable with any of the content, he or she is welcome to temporarily step out of the room (supervised).
Please send your child to school on Wednesday with a bag that is large enough to hold the entire contents of their desk, preferably a reusable grocery bag. We will completely empty desks and leave backpacks, notebooks, and textbooks in the classroom over winter break. These must be hung up in the back of the room by the end of the day, with desks empty and clean. Cleaning crews will only sanitize the tops of desks over break, not the insides.
On we go to semester two!
Monday, December 18, 2017
Monday, December 11, 2017
Our week in learning 12/11
The last full week of the semester is here! Students are busy preparing to present their history
units, state brochures, and "The Snowstorm" recitations. This week, we are wrapping up our
science unit on mitosis, and have finished reading Where the Red Fern Grows and presenting
the 100-point literature projects. Students will begin bringing home graded work to stay as they
start cleaning out their desks for the end of the semester.
units, state brochures, and "The Snowstorm" recitations. This week, we are wrapping up our
science unit on mitosis, and have finished reading Where the Red Fern Grows and presenting
the 100-point literature projects. Students will begin bringing home graded work to stay as they
start cleaning out their desks for the end of the semester.
This week in science, students will review for and take their mitosis quiz, which will take place
on Tuesday. Students will be expected to know the order of the stages of mitosis and what happens
during each stage, as well as how mitosis differs from binary fission. On Thursday and Friday,
students will conduct a bacteria-growing lab in which they will practice their scientific investigation
skills.
In grammar this week, students will work on their persuasive essay final drafts and will participate
in a writing workshop on Wednesday, going through each step of writing an essay and conferencing
with a teacher after each step. They will use the AZMerit rubric as their guide. On Thursday and
Friday, students will identify each other's arguments and persuasive techniques as they present
their essays to the class. Next week students will take their cumulative roots quiz.
on Tuesday. Students will be expected to know the order of the stages of mitosis and what happens
during each stage, as well as how mitosis differs from binary fission. On Thursday and Friday,
students will conduct a bacteria-growing lab in which they will practice their scientific investigation
skills.
In grammar this week, students will work on their persuasive essay final drafts and will participate
in a writing workshop on Wednesday, going through each step of writing an essay and conferencing
with a teacher after each step. They will use the AZMerit rubric as their guide. On Thursday and
Friday, students will identify each other's arguments and persuasive techniques as they present
their essays to the class. Next week students will take their cumulative roots quiz.
This week in History, students will be presenting their Feudal Japan chapters as a groups on Monday
and Tuesday.
and Tuesday.
Students have finished the 50 states unit and will demonstrate their knowledge by creating
a brochure for a randomly chosen state. States will be chosen and information given on Monday.
Their final brochure is due for presentation on Wednesday, 12/13. We will present on their states
until Winter break. We will present on a volunteer basis, so students who will be absent the last
week of school must present on Thursday or Friday.
This week in Math, students find the area and perimeter of odd-shaped figures, explore the
area of a triangle (½ x base x height), parallelograms, and the surface area of rectangular prism,
cube, and cuboids. Their last test of the quarter will be on Monday, December 18th. There are
no math groups this week.
a brochure for a randomly chosen state. States will be chosen and information given on Monday.
Their final brochure is due for presentation on Wednesday, 12/13. We will present on their states
until Winter break. We will present on a volunteer basis, so students who will be absent the last
week of school must present on Thursday or Friday.
This week in Math, students find the area and perimeter of odd-shaped figures, explore the
area of a triangle (½ x base x height), parallelograms, and the surface area of rectangular prism,
cube, and cuboids. Their last test of the quarter will be on Monday, December 18th. There are
no math groups this week.
Monday, December 4, 2017
Our week in learning 12/4
The antepenultimate week of school this semester has arrived! This busy time of year brings many projects. I will continue to post important due dates on the right-hand side of the blog for your reference.
This week in language arts,
students will take their mid-year grammar test on Tuesday.
Students will begin their next writing project this week on Persuasive Writing. They’ll write an essay as a turkey to a farmer entitled “Wait, wait! Don’t Shoot!” As pre-writing and rough drafts come home, please help your child edit for spelling and grammar errors.
This week in science, students will consider the benefits and harm that eukaryotic protists can potentially bring to mankind, incorporating these viewpoints into a class discussion. Students may use this web site as a resource for the discussion worksheet: https://www.ck12.org/biology/protists-and-disease/lesson/Protists-and-Human-Disease-BIO/
Additionally, students will learn about how prokaryotic organisms choose to live together in a colony. Finally, students will be introduced to the stages of mitosis. They will take a short quiz over mitosis next week.
In literature this week, students will finish Where the Red Fern Grows. The 100-point project and packet are due on Thursday. Students will present their projects to the class on Thursday and Friday.
In history, students will study Feudal Japan, working in groups to present the unit to their classmates.
In math, students will continue the geometry unit by finding the area of perimeter of a rectangle and using the formula 1/2 base x height to calculate the area of a triangle. Math groups will take place on Wednesday.
Monday, November 27, 2017
Our week in learning 11/27
Welcome back! I hope Thanksgiving break was joyous and refreshing.
In grammar, students will be introduced to independent clauses and will be able to identify the differences between dependent and independent clauses. They will also be introduced to elements of a persuasive essay. In literature, students will read the next two chapters of Where the Red Fern Grows and continue to work on their 100-point projects. They should have completed at least 60 points' worth of projects by the end of this week.
This week in History, students will continue our unit on “Golden Age to Glorious Revolution”. We will discuss King Charles II and King James II, and the monarch’s that brought on the revolution-William and Mary. Students will complete the final draft of their Charles I articles due on Thursday. Study guides for the Glorious Revolution test will go home on Monday, 11/27, and are due on Friday, 12/1. The Glorious Revolution test will take place on Monday, 12/4.
Students have finished the 50 states unit and will demonstrate their knowledge by creating a brochure for a randomly chosen state. States will be chosen and information given on Monday. Their final brochure is due for presentation on Wednesday, 12/13. We will present on their states until Winter break.
This week in Math, students will review multiplying and dividing fractions, and solving word problems using division and multiplication of fractions. Students will test over Unit 4 on Thursday, 11/30. On Friday, students will begin learning about area, perimeter, and surface area.
This week in science, students will begin studying animal cells. They will learn the functions and locations of organelles in the cell. There will be a short quiz on Friday.
In grammar, students will be introduced to independent clauses and will be able to identify the differences between dependent and independent clauses. They will also be introduced to elements of a persuasive essay. In literature, students will read the next two chapters of Where the Red Fern Grows and continue to work on their 100-point projects. They should have completed at least 60 points' worth of projects by the end of this week.
Monday, November 20, 2017
Our week in learning 11/20
Students will be introduced to direct objects and take a brief quiz tomorrow over Monday’s lesson.
Students will complete a weekly literature summary from last week’s reading of Where the Red Fern Grows, and continue to read the next three chapters of the book.
Students will begin their 100 point project this week based on Where the Red Fern Grows. Look for an information packet coming home! Students are given a number of mini-assignments work various point values ranging from 5-40 points, and must complete any assignments whose value adds up to 100 points. This will be primarily the student’s responsibility, and they will have until December 7th to complete it. I will give students some time in class to work on this, but it will primarily be homework.
This week in science, students will be introduced to the structure of cells. They will extend on the differences between Prokaryotes (cells with no nuclei) and Eukaryotes (cells with nuclei), a concept touched upon in our Classification unit. On Tuesday, students will write a short compare-contrast paragraph about Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
This week in History, students will continue our unit on “Golden Age to Glorious Revolution”. We will discuss the cowardice and execution of Charles I and the reign of Oliver Cromwell. Students will get to write an article describing the reasons behind the execution of Charles I. The rough draft is due on Tuesday, 11/28 and the final draft rewritten on construction paper is due 11/30. This assignment is normally given over 2 days, and students have 2 non-R&R days to complete the rough draft. Please note that there will be a 50 states location test on 11/21. Here are some online resources for students to use to study: https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3003
https://www.bls.gov/k12/content/games/geography-quiz/geography-quiz.htm (This one lists statistics about the state.)
This week in Math, students will continue to learn about multiplying and dividing fractions. Students will be working on solving multi-step word problems that involve fractions. Monday, November 13, 2017
Our week in learning 11/13
States location quiz: https://www.bls.gov/k12/content/games/geography-quiz/geography-quiz.htm
The second quarter is already halfway over, and Thanksgiving approaches!
Starting today, November 13, registration for the 2018-2019 school year at Arete Prep is open. If your child plans to attend next year, please make sure you register him or her.
Please note there will be no math groups on November 15. I hope to see you all at the Winter Concert!
This week in language arts, students will continue crafting their personal narratives, moving from abstract ideas to rough and final drafts.
Starting today, November 13, registration for the 2018-2019 school year at Arete Prep is open. If your child plans to attend next year, please make sure you register him or her.
Please note there will be no math groups on November 15. I hope to see you all at the Winter Concert!
This week in language arts, students will continue crafting their personal narratives, moving from abstract ideas to rough and final drafts.
Students will complete a weekly literature summary from last week’s reading of Where the Red Fern Grows, and continue to read the next three chapters of the book.
This week in science, students will take the unit test on Classification on Tuesday, 11/14. Study guides are due Monday, 11/13 and will be reviewed in class. Students will begin their next unit on cells by reading a selection of a text by Robert Hooke, a scientist from the 17th century who first looked at cells under a microscope. Students will compare prokaryotic cells (cells with no nuclei) to eukaryotic cells (cells with nuclei) and will begin to study the difference between plant and animal cells next week.
This week in Math, students will continue to learn about multiplying and dividing fractions. Students will divide a whole number by a fraction and divide a fraction by a fraction. There will be no math groups this week.
This week in History, students will begin our unit on “Golden Age to Glorious Revolution”. We will discuss the monarchs of England starting with Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) and Queen Elizabeth I. We will also go over England’s defeat of the Spanish Armada, Sir Francis Drake, and the English Civil War, focusing on King James I, King Charles I, the Cavaliers and Roundheads. Please note that there will be a 50 states location test before Thanksgiving Break on 11/21. The study guides for this 50 states test are due on 11/20. Here are some online resources for students to use to study: https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3003
https://www.bls.gov/k12/content/games/geography-quiz/geography-quiz.htm (This one lists statistics about the state.)
This week in Math, students will continue to learn about multiplying and dividing fractions. Students will divide a whole number by a fraction and divide a fraction by a fraction. There will be no math groups this week.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Our week in learning 11/6
As the winter concert grows closer, students will be rehearsing at 8:00 a.m. this Wednesday and the following. This will shift math groups to 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 15. Thank you for your understanding.
In science this week, students will wrap up the Classification unit by learning about Kingdom Protista and Kingdom Monera - quite different organisms from plants, animals, and fungi! The Fungi Kingdom open-note take-home quiz sent home last Friday is due Monday, 11/6. On Friday this week, students will participate in an in-class unit review to prepare for the upcoming test.The Classification study guide that students have been working on nightly is due Monday, 11/13, and the unit test will take place on Tuesday, 11/14.
This week in language arts, students will continue crafting their personal narratives, moving from abstract ideas to rough and final drafts.
Students will complete a weekly literature summary from last week’s reading of Where the Red Fern Grows, and continue to read the next three chapters of the book.
This week in History, students will begin learning about the Reformation. We will be addressing this topic as a historical event-not labeling “good” and “bad”. Students will be learning about the objective corruptions within the Catholic church at this time, then the Counter-Reformation, and lastly, the Reformation’s effect on science. This week, we will review the study guide for their test. The Reformation test will take place on Tuesday, November 7th. We will also learn about Alaska and Hawaii. Please note that there will be a 50 states location test before Thanksgiving Break on 11/21. The study guides for this 50 states test are due on 11/20. Here are some online resources for students to use to study: https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3003
https://www.bls.gov/k12/content/games/geography-quiz/geography-quiz.htm (This one lists statistics about the state.)
This week in Math, students will continue to learn about multiplying and dividing fractions. Students will solve word problems that involve multiplying a fraction by a fraction and divide a fraction by a whole number. Open tutoring is on Mondays, 3:05-3:40. Math groups will take place this week at a different time due to the winter concert rehearsals. Math groups will be at 8:45-9:45.
Monday, October 30, 2017
Our week in learning 10/30
Click here for the Fungi and Protists Presentation
The second week of block has already arrived! Students have been enjoying changing classes and experiencing new teachers.
The read-a-thon takes place on October 31! Our class is having a lunch pizza party, so students do not need to bring lunch to school.
Friday, November 3 is a half day.
Note - due to starting a new unit on Wednesday, there will be no math groups Wednesday, November 1.
This week in History, students will begin learning about the Reformation. We will be addressing this topic as a historical event-not labeling “good” and “bad”. Students will be learning about the objective corruptions within the Catholic church at this time, then the Counter-Reformation, and lastly, the Reformation’s effect on science. This week, we will discuss the Counter-Reformation and the revolution in science that occurred with Copernicus and Galileo during the Reformation. Study guides will go home on Monday, October 30th and due Monday, November 6th. The Reformation test will take place on Tuesday, November 7th. We will also learn about the Northwest region of the United States. Please note that there will be a 50 states location test before Thanksgiving Break. The study guides for this 50 states test will go home on Wednesday, giving students 3 weeks to prepare.
In language arts this week, students will be practicing coordinating conjunctions. There will be a quiz on Friday. In literature students will read chapters 4-6 in Where the Red Fern Grows. They will take a cumulative roots quiz on Friday that includes roots 34-36. Recitations of the poem "Narcissa" will take place on Wednesday.
The second week of block has already arrived! Students have been enjoying changing classes and experiencing new teachers.
The read-a-thon takes place on October 31! Our class is having a lunch pizza party, so students do not need to bring lunch to school.
Friday, November 3 is a half day.
Note - due to starting a new unit on Wednesday, there will be no math groups Wednesday, November 1.
This week in History, students will begin learning about the Reformation. We will be addressing this topic as a historical event-not labeling “good” and “bad”. Students will be learning about the objective corruptions within the Catholic church at this time, then the Counter-Reformation, and lastly, the Reformation’s effect on science. This week, we will discuss the Counter-Reformation and the revolution in science that occurred with Copernicus and Galileo during the Reformation. Study guides will go home on Monday, October 30th and due Monday, November 6th. The Reformation test will take place on Tuesday, November 7th. We will also learn about the Northwest region of the United States. Please note that there will be a 50 states location test before Thanksgiving Break. The study guides for this 50 states test will go home on Wednesday, giving students 3 weeks to prepare.
In language arts this week, students will be practicing coordinating conjunctions. There will be a quiz on Friday. In literature students will read chapters 4-6 in Where the Red Fern Grows. They will take a cumulative roots quiz on Friday that includes roots 34-36. Recitations of the poem "Narcissa" will take place on Wednesday.
This week in Math, students will finish our first fractions unit. We will review on Monday and take their test on Tuesday. We will jump right into our next unit on Wednesday, so there will be no math groups on Wednesday. Our next unit is continuing with fractions, focusing on multiplying and dividing fractions. Open tutoring is on Mondays, 3:05-3:40.
In science week, students will continue their study of the Animal Kingdom and will be assigned a take-home quiz on Monday, due Thursday. They will also learn about the Fungi Kingdom and complete a take-home quiz over the weekend. Students will fill out portions of their Classification study guides concurrent with the day’s lesson each night. Study guides will be collected for points at the end of the Classification unit.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Our week in learning 10/24
Click here for Classification presentation
Click here for Kingdom Animalia presentation
Welcome back from the long weekend! This week begins block. Grammar will be with Ms. Speagle, History will be with Mrs. Lynch, and all other subjects will take place in the homeroom. I am pleased to see that students are so excited for this change.
This week in History, students will begin learning about the Reformation. We will be addressing this topic as a historical event-not labeling “good” and “bad”. Students will be learning about the objective corruptions within the Catholic church at this time, then the Counter-Reformation, and lastly, the Reformation’s effect on science. This week, we will focus on
Click here for Kingdom Animalia presentation
Welcome back from the long weekend! This week begins block. Grammar will be with Ms. Speagle, History will be with Mrs. Lynch, and all other subjects will take place in the homeroom. I am pleased to see that students are so excited for this change.
This week in History, students will begin learning about the Reformation. We will be addressing this topic as a historical event-not labeling “good” and “bad”. Students will be learning about the objective corruptions within the Catholic church at this time, then the Counter-Reformation, and lastly, the Reformation’s effect on science. This week, we will focus on
Zwingli, Calvin, and briefly, Henry VIII. We will get to have an enrichment day going over Henry VIII more in-depth after the unit is finished. On Wednesday, students will take the Midwest, Great Plains, and Rocky Mountain Region location quiz. We will also learn about our own Southwest region of the United States. Please note that there will be a 50 states location test before Thanksgiving Break.
This week in Math, students will continue with our fractions unit. We will work on converting measurements and solving word problems. Our unit test will be next week. There will be math groups this Wednesday, 8:00-9:00.
In science this week, students will begin their classification unit, studying the animal kingdom and several different phyla and classes. They will learn the traits of different kinds of animals and how scientists distinguish them from one another. Additionally, students will put their roots skills to work learning species’ scientific names in Latin. There will be an open-note take-home quiz on Friday.
This week, students will learn about pronouns. They will begin reading “Where the Red Fern Grows.” Expect to see a homework comprehension sheet for each completed chapter.
In grammar, students will learn roots 30-33 and take a short quiz on Friday. They will review classifying and diagramming throughout the week. Next week, students will begin studying possessive nouns.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Our week in learning 10/16
Roots quiz link: https://www.playfactile.com/vanceroots/play
Welcome back from fall break! This parent conference week is comprised of half days to ease into our second quarter. This week students will remain in their home rooms, and next week block scheduling begins!
This week in Math, students will continue with our fractions unit. We will work on multiplying fractions by whole numbers and estimating answers for reasonability. There will be no math groups this Wednesday.
In grammar this week, students will review subjects and predicates and will begin writing bi-weekly prompts focused on showing, not telling. Students will have the opportunity to strengthen their descriptive writing skills by sharing and discussing their paragraphs with the class.
There will be a short roots quiz on Friday, 10/20.
This week in history, students will begin their Reformation unit, learning about important figures such as Johannes Gutenberg and Martin Luther. They will use their Reformation folders that they constructed before fall break to keep track of vocabulary and notes for this unit.
Welcome back from fall break! This parent conference week is comprised of half days to ease into our second quarter. This week students will remain in their home rooms, and next week block scheduling begins!
This week in Math, students will continue with our fractions unit. We will work on multiplying fractions by whole numbers and estimating answers for reasonability. There will be no math groups this Wednesday.
In grammar this week, students will review subjects and predicates and will begin writing bi-weekly prompts focused on showing, not telling. Students will have the opportunity to strengthen their descriptive writing skills by sharing and discussing their paragraphs with the class.
There will be a short roots quiz on Friday, 10/20.
This week in history, students will begin their Reformation unit, learning about important figures such as Johannes Gutenberg and Martin Luther. They will use their Reformation folders that they constructed before fall break to keep track of vocabulary and notes for this unit.
This week in science brings our much-anticipated science fair presentations. Students’ diligence and perseverance has paid off with the result of wonderfully-constructed science fair projects. All this week, students will present their projects to classmates in their home rooms during approximately 5-minute long presentations. Please note that everything your child needs to present his or her project should already be at school - the trifold board and written essay. Other components of the projects should not be brought to school; however, students may bring additional pictures they wish to share.
On October 25, our all-school fifth-grade science fair will take place. All students’ projects will be submitted to qualify for awards! You are invited to come with your child and explore the fifth-grade projects, but attendance is not necessary for your child’s submission.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Parent Conference Sign-ups
Your child has been working hard, and fall break is finally here! I hope everyone has a refreshing R & R break and comes back ready to begin a new quarter and block scheduling.
Parent conferences begin on Monday, October 16 and run through Thursday, October 19. Conferences will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday and until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Please sign up using the link below.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084ba9a72fa2ff2-quarter
You may sign up for conferences with specialists using the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4ea8a92aa7fe3-25specials1
Parent conferences begin on Monday, October 16 and run through Thursday, October 19. Conferences will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday and until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Please sign up using the link below.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084ba9a72fa2ff2-quarter
You may sign up for conferences with specialists using the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4ea8a92aa7fe3-25specials1
Monday, October 2, 2017
Our week in learning 10/2
The last week of the quarter is already here! Our end of book party will be on Friday, October 6 at the end of the day. Students will play games, do crafts, and have lots of snacks related to the book!
Science projects are due on Friday, October 6.
In science, students will learn about Mendeleev’s ordering of the Periodic Table - so precise that he even guessed where undiscovered elements would fit on it! Students will learn about atomic properties and their relations to the Periodic Table, and watch two videos about the mystery of the Periodic Table, relating historical discoveries to our modern-day understanding of chemistry. On Friday, students will take an open-note matching quiz on the chemistry unit. Science Fair packets and projects are due on Friday, October 6!
This week in History, students will finish the Renaissance Unit. Study guides were due today, Monday, 10/2. The Renaissance test will be on Tuesday, 10/3. We will be learning about the Great Plains region of the United States this week. We will set up their Reformation foldables on Thursday.
This week in Math, students will continue with our fractions unit. We will work on adding mixed numbers, word problems, multiplying fractions. We will have math groups this Wednesday 8:00-9:00.
This week in language arts, students will finish up their final drafts and begin typing and publishing them within the class.
In literature, students will finish out the Voyage of the Dawn Treader with a test (they will be expected to put main events of the story in chronological order) and discussions about the characters and their journeys.
Friday, we celebrate the end of the quarter and the end of our book!
Please bring in Where the Red Fern Grows after fall break. :)
Monday, September 25, 2017
Our week in learning 9/25
The eighth week of school is upon us! It's hard to believe the quarter is coming to an end, and soon students will begin preparing to switch classes after conferences. There is no school on Friday this week, and the Mother-Son event takes place at Archway Arete this upcoming Saturday. Science fair projects are due next week! On Friday, October 6, students will turn in their completed science fair packet, essay, and tri-fold board. This week, we will finish The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and next week we will hold an end-of-book party to celebrate the end of the quarter and the end of our last Narnia book!
This week in Language Arts, students will begin the writing process with pre-writing tools such as graphic organizers and outlines. They will be composing a descriptive essay about an imaginary field trip their class took. Please look for rough drafts coming home to help your students with spelling and grammar checks!
This week in literature, students will finish The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and update their notebooks in preparation for the last literature test of the quarter. They will be expected to place the events of the children’s adventures in the order that they occurred.
Finally, students will be preparing for their Latin and Greek Roots (1-25) test on Thursday.
In science, we will begin to wrap up their chemistry unit, delving into the structure of the Periodic Table and how atomic properties give the Table its order. They will learn how atomic weights were discovered and that the order of the Periodic Table is extraordinarily regular. There will be an open-note chemistry quiz on Friday, October 6.
This week in History, students will continue learning about the Renaissance, focusing discussion with the Castiglione and Machiavelli readings, and the Renaissance in northern Europe. Study guides are going home today and will be due on Monday, 10/2. We will have a catch up day on Thursday for students to finish any incomplete notes, work on their study guides, and study for their test. The Renaissance test will be on Tuesday, 10/3. There will be a states location quiz covering the South, Mid-Atlantic, and New England regions this Wednesday 9/27. We will be learning about the Midwest region of the United States this week.
This week in Math, students will continue with our fractions unit. We will work on understanding the relationship between fractions and division, addition of fractions, and subtraction of fractions. Math groups will continue this Wednesday, 8:00-8:45.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Our week in learning 9/18
This week, we cordially invite you to Math and Phonics Night on Wednesday, September 20th. In addition to word problems and Spalding, we will also be covering the basics of sentence diagramming.
There will be no school on September 29.
Another week has come and gone, and before we know it, the quarter will be over! Students will continue to work on their science fair projects at home. By now, they should have their hypothesis written, have decided on their variables, and may soon begin conducting their experiments.
We will continue with math groups on Wednesdays. On Thursday, students will take a unit test. If you would like to help students prepare for this test on Wednesday, please let me know that you are interested in leading a math group.
This week in grammar, students will explore descriptive writing. They will describe items such as their favorite foods using details that appeal to the senses. They will also draw a Narnian creature of their own invention, which other students will write a detailed description of, and will write their own description of another student's Narnian creature.
In literature, students will read through chapters 12-14 and continue building their summarization skills.
This week in History, students will continue learning about the Renaissance, focusing on Venice, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Castiglione. On Friday, students will get to read unabridged excerpts from Castiglione’s The Courtier and Machiavelli’s The Prince in preparation for a socratic discussion on leadership on Monday. Please note that these are difficult passages and may need some parental or older sibling assistance to comprehend. I would suggest taking time to read these, and maybe creating a vocabulary list. The readings can count for reading log credit. We will also be learning about the South region of the United States on Wacky Wednesday. There will be a states location quiz covering the South, Mid-Atlantic, and New England regions next wednesday, 9/27.
In science, students will continue studying chemistry by learning about molecules and compounds, as well as mixtures and solutions. Students will practice writing chemical formulas with atomic symbols, and learn the difference between a solute and a solvent. They will read about the difference between acids and bases and conduct a lab to determine which known substances are acids, bases, or neutral, based on their prior knowledge of the substances.
This week in Math, students will finish the unit on “More Calculations with Whole Numbers" and will take a unit test on Thursday. Students will start Unit 3: Fractions on Friday with a review of fractions, equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and comparing fractions. Math groups will continue this Wednesday, 8:00-9:00.
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