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.
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